Observation, Imitation, Proof

Last week I finished reading a book entitled “Renaissance Engineers – From Brunelleschi to Leonardo da Vinci,” written by Paolo Galluzzi.  The main theme of the book is that during the Renaissance there were many engineers who built upon each other’s work.  The magnificent gains in architecture and mechanical engineering were the result of many people, not just one man working in isolation. 

The author describes the exchange of ideas in a mentoring fashion as “a transcription-assimilation process.”  Each engineer kept a journal in which he copied the work of others, and made changes or improvements based on his own knowledge and insights.  The process steps included:  Observation, Imitation, and Proof. 

The first step, Observation, included copying the work of another engineer and studying the design.  Imitation involved taking the design and applying it to your own project.  And, finally, you would work to either prove or disprove the integrity of the design.

This description of this process made think about modern education.  How many times are students taught the facts, and then just told to repeat the information on the tests?  It seems that standardized tests are, by nature, limited to the Observation phase of learning.

Then I started wondering about our Christian education.  How many times do we go to church and listen to a sermon, and then go home and forget everything that was said?  How hard do we work at progressing to the Imitation stage of taking what we learn and applying it in our own lives?  And, what about Proof?  Are we committed to our Christian education enough that we take time to validate what we are taught by searching the scriptures?  Do we test what we are taught by both investigation and implementation?

Two Young Men

This weekend I’ve been working on our next study guide that will be based on Ephesians 6:10-20.  In the process I found an interesting comparison between two young men.

Genesis 39 tells the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery.  He ended up a slave in the house of Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh.  His master’s wife pursued him on a daily basis, but Joseph rejected her advances.

Proverbs 7 tells a story of a “young man lacking sense.”  He too, like Joseph, was pursued by a married woman.  She is described as being “dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.”  After listening to her passionate pleas, he followed her home and surrendered to her seduction. 

In comparing the two tales, you have to wonder what made the difference.  Joseph had every reason to reject God after being kidnapped by his brothers and sold as a slave to a foreign country.  And yet, he stayed faithful to God.

In the study guide, we will look at both of these stories and evaluate them based on the Full Armor of God.  How did Joseph stand firm while the young man lacking sense sinned with the wayward wife?  I believe one major difference is that Joseph was wearing the Breastplate of Righteousness.  That is the piece of armor which protects our heart.

Hopefully, we’ll have this new study complete and read for publication by the end of September.  It’s going to be a very interesting study!

Is It The Best?

A few days ago, when announcing the release of our new study guide, Wisdom – The Next Step, I posted on Facebook that this book is “the best study guide ever written on Proverbs.”  A family member immediately challenged me, and warned that Proverbs has something to say about pride.

So, please let me explain why I think this is the best study guide ever written on Proverbs.  In general, Proverbs is a difficult book to study because it is a collection of wise sayings.  There is no historical narrative, as is common in the Old Testament.  And, it is not a letter, as is common in the New Testament.  There really is no pure outline as we tend to prefer in Western Culture.

Wisdom – The Next Step begins with the last poem found in Proverbs, and then uses that poem as a launching point from which to explore the rest of Proverbs.  There are six major themes found in Proverbs 31:10-31 which are also found throughout the entire collection.  By building a foundation from the poem located at the end of Proverbs, you gain insight into the entire book.

Is it the best study guide written on Proverbs?  That’s hard to prove.  But, I do guarantee that once you have completed the study you will have gained valuable insight into Proverbs 31:10-31, the entire book of Proverbs, and how to apply wisdom in your everyday life.

All our study guides are available on Amazon.com.  http://www.amazon.com/David-Carpenter/e/B0050ZFF1O

Words that have lost their meaning

This morning I got my basketball out of the garage to go shoot some hoops.  Glancing at the label on the ball I noticed it is an “Official Indoor/Outdoor Basketball.”  Really?  Seriously?  In who’s opinion?  Is there an official indoor/outdoor basketball committee?  Or an official indoor/outdoor rating criteria?

That got me thinking about words we use every day that have lost their meaning.  “Official” is a good example.  Everything these days is “official.”  But, they never tell you which organization determined that it is genuinely official.

“Love” is another good example.  People “love” their dog, their car, their kids, their food, their hair color.  We “love” so many things and events and people that the word has lost its meaning.

How about “free”?  What is the first thing you do when you see “free” in any advertisement?  Look for the fine print!!  “Free, with $500 purchase.”  “Free, when you sign up for 2 years of service.”  “Free, when you pay $20 for shipping and handling.”

Oh, there’s so many more.  “Fresh” means that at some point in time, this product was baked.  The exact point of time being … Maybe in the last 24 hours, or 5 days.  “Homemade” is another good example.  Every restaurant in the world has food that is “homemade.”  Really, they live in their restaurant?  Or, they cook it in their kitchen and bring it to the restaurant?  Either way, that doesn’t sound healthy.

Maybe you can think of some other words that have lost their meaning.  If so, write them in the comments section!!

Invest, Improve, Increase

Third of a series of three posts.  Warning!! Before you read this post, it is absolutely essential that you read the previous posts from May 19 and June 4.

Here are some final thoughts on the quote from Jesus, “It is better to give than to receive.”  This post is following-up on the idea that there is a 3X the blessing in giving because you first receive, second develop, and third give.

In the previous two posts we talked about teaching.  First you learn, then you combine what you know with this new information, and then you share it with someone else.  You benefit from learning, you benefit from processing, and you benefit from giving.

Here is another example I like that shows the 3X increase.  You met someone new and benefit from the new relationship.  You develop that relationship, getting to know the person and sharing adventures.  You benefit from a growing relationship.  Then, you introduce that person to another one of your friends.  Blessings all around!

The struggle, I think, is when you apply this principle to money.  For some reason, some people think we should not benefit from money.  However, the same 3X factor applies to money and material resources.  Let’s say you receive a gift of $100.  You could just give the entire amount to someone else.  That would be a 2X benefit. 

Instead, let’s say you have some computer skills, so you buy an old computer for $100 and a few extra parts.  You spend a few days fixing up the computer and adding new programs.  Then, you donate the computer, now worth $400 to your local charity.  Do you see how you can add value to what you have received, and then bless others with this improved gift?

Some people feel like our monetary giving is limited to “giving back to God” our 10% tithe.  No thought, no added value, no personal investment … just put your money in the plate and you’re finished.  Not that I’m opposed to tithing.  But, I hope that people will begin to see the power of personal investment in their giving.  Receive, invest/improve/increase, then give.

Blessed - The Third Element

Warning!!  Before you read this post, it is absolutely essential that you read the previous post from May 25.  Failure to do so will result in brain overload because the math equation presented in this post is dramatically more complex than the math in the previous post.  And, the math in the previous post is the starting formula for today’s post.

OK, moving on now that you have read the May 25 post.  The equation in the previous post was really only part of the formula.  There’s more to the story.  To be more precise, there is another element in the equation.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  (Acts 20:35)

The whole equation:  1+1+1=3

There is a blessing that comes from receiving.  There is a blessing that comes from giving.  And, in between, there is a blessing that comes from processing and producing with our own personality, experiences, and talents.

Let’s go back to the teaching example.  When you learn something new, you are blessed to receive more knowledge.  When you teach something to someone, you are blessed by sharing that information with someone else and watching them learn.

The additional element is the processing and preparation time between learning and teaching.  You take the new information, and add it with your previous knowledge and your previous experiences.  Then, through your own personality, goals, and talents you create what you will share.  You decide when to teach, identify who the students will be, how you will teach, and what you will include and exclude.

This middle step is what allows us to add our own impact on the act of sharing.  God has given each of us a unique set of talents, experiences, and level of understanding.  It is this unique personality that influences when and how and what we share with other people.

We are blessed when we receive + we are blessed with talents and knowledge and experiences that we use to prepare what we will share + we are blessed when we share with others = blessing upon blessing upon blessing!!

It is more blessed to give...Mathematical Proof

A few weeks ago our pastor gave a sermon based on Acts 20:35.  This is a quote from the Apostle Paul, spoken to the elders in Ephesus:  “…remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

There are several things interesting about this quote.  First, this is the only recording of these words being spoken by Jesus.  So, how did Paul know Jesus made this statement?  Did he actually hear Christ speak these words while He was on earth?  That raises some interesting thoughts.

Second, what exactly does this mean?  In his sermon, Pastor Dave defined blessed as being “happy.”  The statement then can be interpreted to mean that “we are happier when we give.” This being the title of the sermon.  You can listen to the whole message at http://www.corkingoodsermons.com

Finally, why is this true?  Personally, I’m pretty happy to receive a gift.  So, why is it true that we are happier, more blessed, when we give?  Well, I have a theory, but it involves some math, so try to follow along.  Here’s the math:  1 + 1 = 2

Here’s the word problem to go along with the math.  If receiving equals one unit of happy and giving equals one unit of happy, then the entire process of receiving and giving equals two units of happy.

My theory is that you cannot give until you have received.  Therefore, both elements are present and the act of giving is equal to the blessing of both receiving and giving.

Before you click and run off to another website, let me try putting this into a practical example.  How about teaching?  That should be a good example.

It is more blessed to teach than to learn.

In order to teach you first have to learn.  And, you get the blessing of learning.  Then, when you share that information with others, you get the blessing of helping them learn.  Teaching is a double blessing.

What happens if you teach without first learning?  That’s fraud.

What happens if you learn without sharing with others?  That’s selfish greed.

To receive the double blessing you must first receive/learn.  And, then you must share/teach.

Mathematically, it is more blessed, 2X, to give than to receive.