Tests in High School is a waste of time

The minimum school days in Alabama is 180 days according to this website that was accessed on January 14, 2012 ( http://teaching.about.com/od/ProfilesInEducation/a/Alabama-Schools.htm ). Let us do some math and we can show just by doing math that taking tests will use up valuable time in our schools that could be used for more study.

Let's say for talking purposes that you have 7 periods each day. For argument sake, you have tests each Friday. If you have 7 periods a day, you in essence meet 180 times minimum for each subject. Let's do some subtraction.

The average school will lose one day per school year for Homecoming activities, Christmas parties, some kind of assembly or field trip. Just those days will add up to at least 5 days. That now leaves you with 175 days.

Some more subtraction. Tests on Fridays will subtract 36 days of study time to write answers down. You have now lost 36 days plus 5 days plus an additional 3 days for unforeseen circumstances. That is a grand total of 44 days. That gives you now only 136 days of school learning.

Here is my proposal to offset such waste of time. Throw away the idea or notion that you have to test everything you teach. That is totally ludicrous and it is almost barbaric to keep this tradition going. Here is another alternative for tests. According to Lynn Jacobs and Jeremy Hyman from http://www.delaneykirk.com/2008/10/how-to-take-goo.html, taking notes for yourself is the single best way to engage in and remember the lecture.

The key to this is remembering the lecture. The idea is for our students to remember what was taught to them. Therefore, grade the notebook and see if they are taking notes. The idea that you have to test the student to see if they remember the material is asinine. What if that student had problems in the car before attending school? What if they had problems with parents, or siblings and their mind just isn't into the test? A student studies all week and then has one bad day and gets a bad grade and we label them by the test.

Throw away the tests and grade the notebooks.

Alternate lifestyles are kind of wrong

It is not ok to live a lifestyle that is separate from God. You deceive yourself when you think that because you attend church or throw a few pennies in the offering plate, you are committed to Christ. It is sad or sickening; depends on which way you want to flow with this for people to parade around the world claiming their relationship with Christ is solid when in fact they are far from Him. There is forgiveness for all sins. However, you must come out from among the dead and start living with the living. What you use to be when you were in sin should change when you come into Christ. When a man marries a woman, he doesn't continue to see his past girlfriends. Our relationship with sin should be the same way. When we come into Christ, we should try and walk the way that Christ walked.

Do you recall the story when the rich ruler came to Him and wanted to serve Him? Christ told him to honor the commandments. The rich ruler said, "great, I am doing these." (paraphrasing) and then Christ told him to sell all he had to give to the poor. The man walked away from Christ due to this. HE HAD HONORED THE COMMANDMENTS but gave up God because of a little money. Sad!

Now, we live in a world that says Homosexuality is acceptable. In spite of the growing secular humanist trend to think "it's ok to be gay," it's not a righteous lifestyle. Most vocal Christians are not homophobic, but are trying to share Christ's love for homosexuals and trying to keep them from horrific judgment. (http://www.allaboutgod.com/is-homosexuality-a-sin.htm)

Our world is littered with people who claim to be something their not because they honestly don't want to change their lifestyle. It is not McDonald's fault when a person is overweight. It is not Marlboro's fault when a person gets cancer from smoking. It is not the local car wash problem if your car is still dirty. You were born into sin for the Word teaches us that. However, once you know the difference, then you choose to continue that lifestyle is your choice. God created us in His image and if you think for one second that God was a ? because you are one, then you are mistaken my friend. You are a ? because you desire to be a ?

Now, on the day of judgment and I am not your judge. I will stand before my Father for my actions, but let's be clear on this. Christ loves you and he desires you to change. You can change if you want to change, or you can continue to live the same way. Judas went to church for three years with Christ and you know what happened to him. Change my friend, change.

Our Blood is the same color

The color of skin has caused many problems over our lifetime and I suppose it will continue to serve as a serious issue unless we come to terms with this remarkable opportunity to show love. Charles Manson wanted to create a race war and he would come to be the savior of this tragedy. Churches today are fighting over people of color worshiping together. True story. We wanted to have a kids crusade on a certain street in a certain town. I went to the local authority (mayor) and got permission. I didn't have to do such a thing, but I chose to inform him of my actions in case we had cars lined up watching the crusade, due to it being an outside event. This particular city leader told me that in no way any "coloreds" would attend his church. I will not bore you with my comments to him about how Christ died for all and we are all His kids, etc.

There is a time that we will all stand before a Jewish looking Christ one day my friends. White, blacks, Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans, Africans, and the list goes on. The only thing that will matter will be what He says to us. I asked this question many years ago and I ask this same question in 2012. Can a person be a Christian if they hate someone due to the color of their skin? The answer back then is the same as today. No. If you hate your fellow man due to the color of their skin, then you cannot live for eternity in heaven.

I am in Wendy's restaurant right now. Across from me is a young man who has a Black father and a white mother. According to some churches, he is not welcomed. Why? What did he do to be born the way he is?

My wife and I went to a tent revival many, many years ago. We were sitting behind the pillar of the church when all of a sudden she gasped and said "oh my God!" I thought she was having a heart attack. I asked her what was wrong? She replied and I quote her. "Look over there." I looked over there and three elderly Black women were sitting under the tent. They came to hear the Word of God being preached. I am no man's judge, but I ask the question. Is this pillar in heaven or not? We will know a tree my friends...

The dignity of death

Death is inevitable in our lives. We will all face the "reaper" one day. We can run and hide from the law, i.e. D.B. Cooper, but in the end, Death will find us. I will not waste your time by telling you that your heart should be right with God when you take that final breath. Man, the consequences of not being right with God will be painful. This post isn't about that. This post is about the people who fail to live the word dignity in their visits.

Someone who is dying doesn't need undignified guests. Do you know what that means? There are many individuals who come and visit and they visit for the right reason. However, is that reason right? The average person doesn't know the real answer. The real reason is that they come to "gaulk" at the individual. That person is slumped over in the bed/chair. Their countenance is lacking human viewing. Their speech is lacking clarity. Their handshake is weak. Their pleasantry is changed to groaning.

Then here we come and we stare at them and say the normal "bless their heart" statements. If you are visiting the deathbed of a friend and you desire to help, then visit away. If you come to rob them of their dignity by gaulking at them, then stay away. That person deserves better respect than what we give them. The only difference between them and you is that they know they are about to depart soon and you think you are not. Look them in the eye and treat them with respect for they are still the same person they were before death became their life. Give them the dignity they have earned prior to death coming to their doorpost. Look them in the eye and love them for this could be the last day you love them on earth. Now, you come to their doorpost to bring your "i'm so sorry" statements when you never darted the doors while they were alive and full of dreams. That is so hypocritical my friend. Try this today. Find that person that you use to be friends with and try to start again. Don't let death bring you closer to someone that you should have been closed to in the beginning.

A friend

Proverbs 18:24 sheds the light on what I perceive is a misused verse in the Bible. We say this verse for various occasions, but do we really use it? What does it mean to have a friend and to stick with that friend to the point that you sacrifice because of their sacrifice?

I have had many friends in my lifetime and I still count them all as my dear friends. However, when someone you care for as a friend is mistreated, you must take action, regardless of the consequences.

The reason we do not "stand" up for our brother/sister is because we are afraid of the consequences that will happen as a result. If we fail to stand with our brothers/sisters in their struggle, then I cannot see how we can say we are their friend.

I have lived in several states during my lifetime. I have served my country in the United States Navy and lived/stationed in 5 different locations with one of those locations being on a ship. I have ministered the Word of God since 1979 and I have pastored in three states. Through all of this experience, I have noticed that people say they are friends, but in reality, they are not Proverbs 18:24 friends. A true friend is someone that hurts when you hurt. They feel your pain and they support you when you go through your pain. There was a movie many years ago, North Dallas Forty, that starred Nick Nolte and Mac Davis. Mac Davis' character was good friends with Nick Nolte's character, but, when Nolte's character got in trouble, Mac Davis' character encouraged his friend not to bring him into the situation. He was a good friend until the problem came up. If you count yourself a friend to someone, then be a Proverbs 18:24 friend.

So, what does that mean? If a friend of yours loses a job because he did something wrong, then you still stand with him. You tell him the truth and you encourage him. However, if your friend loses his job for no right reason, then you stand with him and you encourage him and you then go one step further. You approached the situation and take a stand with him. You take that stand even if you have to lose your job or you have to quit your job. If you claim to be a Proverbs 18:24 friend, then be a true one. Christ was that friend to you my friends. He stood with you. He left his job for you when you lost your job. He wasn't afraid to tell your bosses the truth, even if he knew he would never be allowed to work there again.

I desire to be that friend!

Change is needed

Our last Presidential race had the slogan that we needed change. I would use that same slogan with Christianity. We have so many Christians who are using the title Christian, but yet, they have not changed. Why is that so? Many years ago, and I mean, many a woman accepted Christ. She was attending our church and through God's grace and nothing we did, she accepted Christ. The problem was that this woman was living with a man. She went home that night and said she had to get married or he had to get out. They were living together for something like eight years. Man, She changed!

It is easier to point a finger at someone than to accept the fact that you haven't changed. It is hard to admit when you have done wrong. I think the reason why people fight change is that they like the lifestyle they enjoy. That road to change is difficult and it takes courage to change. It really isn't that difficult.

The power of giving

I love to give. I wish there were enough words to describe how I feel about giving things away. I will not spend time on this blog sharing what I have given away, because frankly, it is no one's business. My purpose for giving is simple. God told me to do it. Why is giving needed more today than ever before? There are so many believers and non believers alike who have forgotten what it means to be charitable. We have forgotten that it is really a great feeling to give to others. Christ always gave. Let's give today.