Technology versus the Brain

Recently I read an article on how technology is causing our kid's education to be dumbed down.  It was by Konstantin Kakaes and called "Why your kids can't add without a calculator." The article reported that old textbooks, which really taught math, should be the ones being used, not the new technology where the computer or calculator does everything.  Below is a guest blog by my spouse, Chris Brown.  He relates how the teaching of math in such a way can be applied to teaching on the water navigation :

As you well know I am involved in teaching marine navigation. The same issues arise in navigation as does with math. To put it simply, the modern world, aka Technology, is taking over. Some of this is good and some of this is bad.

In navigation, it is simply a matter of running down to the marine store and plopping down several thousand dollars and a person has a very complete navigation system that could literally take him around the world. (Actually a simple system could be purchased for a few hundred, but this takes a little more knowledge.) We call the general phenomenon: "Too Much Money, Too Much Boat!"

So the person gets all this stuff installed (probably hiring some professional installer to do so). Then they watch a few videos and maybe even have the installer give them a few basics. From there it is a matter of pushing buttons and the boat miraculously follows a line drawn on the electronic chart, right before their eyes. Basically they don't have to know a thing, or at least very little (like not hit the dock when coming in or avoiding other boats, although there are instruments that can take care of that for the person too).

But, this person doesn't have a clue what is happening in their marine environment. And there is plenty going on. The electronics are flashing away and they are sitting back enjoying the scenery. But without some basic knowledge, these fancy navigation tools can lead them into terrible danger without their even knowing it -- these tools lack intelligence to make decisions that one might face if anything goes other than to plan. Plus, if the electronics fail -- oh, oh, what now?

Without a basic, traditional foundation in marine navigation, or in mathematics for the student, there can be no personal growth. For the student it is even worse. Intellectual curiosity requires a prepared mind. Watching a computer screen won't do that for a student.

It would be like watching people play songs on a piano on TV and then wondering why he or she can't sit down and play "mom's" old upright. 

Potty Mouths

After extensive research, (I looked it up on the internet, read a blog, and asked a couple of people), it is my conclusion that people swear and cuss because they are arrogant.  They believe that they are better than others and so owe them no respect.  Also, some people have a limited vocabulary and don’t know how to express themselves in words. 

When my cousin, at 3 years old, heard the neighbors swearing, he decided to try it out on his mom.  He got an immediate reaction.  I haven’t heard him use such words since.  Some people use these words when they are teenagers to try to get attention.  Apparently many politicians, the military, and Hollywood have used this language extensively.  A few people say words are not important but why use them then? 

Many today use OMG not realizing they are using the name of God in vain or even believing in God.  I wonder what the Muslims would do if people said OMA?  Below is a video about the FCC ruling and a picture of a T-shirt that the President is selling to raise campaign funds.

Marriage is a Mystery

God created marriage between one man and one woman to show the mystery between Christ and the Church.  The Judeo/Christian Worldview of marriage has led, and I pray will still lead the culture, in the definition of marriage.  It shows how Christ is faithful even when we are not faithful.  He will never divorce the Church or walk away. He loves the Elect and is beautifying us.

I was listening to Andy Lewis, pastor of Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. preach on Revelation.  He pointed out that Solomon messed up God’s design for marriage.  In 1215 the Catholic Church made marriage a sacrament.  Protestants only have the Lord’s Supper and Baptism as a sacrament.  In Roman times people did not marry for love.  A Roman Senator was kicked out of the senate for kissing his wife in public.  The French philosopher Montesquieu, said that anyone who is in love with his wife is too dull for other women to love him or something like that.  In the 17^th and 18^th centuries philosophers encouraged people to marry for love.  But even with the evolving thoughts about marriage it is still the design of God.

As Christians we can set the example in our marriages for unbelievers.  We need Jesus in order to do that!

Fear of Housework

"As they passed the rows of houses they saw through the open doors that men were sweeping and dusting and washing dishes, while the women sat around in groups, gossiping and laughing. "What has happened?" the Scarecrow asked a sad-looking man with a bushy beard, who wore an apron and was wheeling a baby-carriage along the sidewalk. "Why, we've had a revolution, your Majesty -- as you ought to know very well," replied the man; "and since you went away the women have been running things to suit themselves. I'm glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in the Emerald City." "Hm!" said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully. "If it is such hard work as you say, how did the women manage it so easily?" "I really do not know," replied the man, with a deep sigh. "Perhaps the women are made of cast-iron.""

- L. Frank Baum, "The Land of Oz"


Frank Baum's quote tickles me every time I read it.  I can picture the scene clearly.  When I was thirteen my fifteen year old brother knew my negative opinion about housework. My struggle was very clear in a letter he wrote back in the summer of our teen years.  His letter, that I found recently, he wrote from Mexico.    He spent that summer living with a family in Mexico so he could improve his Spanish.  He wrote that the family had three live in maids and he could just hear me howling.  It was my opinion, which was very clear to him, that our family should hire a maid!  I didn’t realize it until now, that somehow, because of my genetic make up or something else, that I was trying to organize my life so that I would have no housework.  (My father wanted to live in a box car and not own anything. I must have inherited this desire from him.) One plan was to never get married.  Another plan was to live in a small apartment and not own anything.  I even wanted to simplify my life by designing a uniform for myself such as the jump suits the characters wore in Star Treck.  If I wore the same thing every day I would never have to think about or shop for clothes.  I envied the Israelites who wandered in the desert for 40 years because their shoes and clothes didn't wear out.

Fortunately or unfortunately I couldn’t help myself when I became attracted to boys as a teenager.  Never was I tempted to think about marriage until I met this cute guy who said he wanted to marry me and that we could live on a boat.  A light went on in my brain.  That would be how to marry and have no housework!  We did marry and did live on a boat but too late I found out that it is even more critical to work on a boat because it can become unseaworthy and sink!  We lived in several houses while our children were young. I would ask my husband for help with the house work.  One time when I asked him for some help with washing the dishes he immediately ran out and bought a dishwasher then instructed me on how I should load it.  Forty-six years later we live in a condo and have a housecleaner!  We are still trying to eliminate “stuff” so that we spend less time taking care of stuff and more time with people and working on relationships.  Retirement solves the wardrobe problem too.  Jeans and a t-shirt make life simple!  Below is a video about men and housework.

Men in Black III and the Paranormal

Men in Black III was an enjoyable movie for me.  Once again good overcame evil.  I have had some thoughts about paranormal events.  Have you thought about these?




1. Bigfoot could exist. I believe there could be dinosaurs roaming the Earth in uninhabited places too. But what difference does it make? 



2. I don’t believe there are UFOs or aliens from other planets. My reasoning is this—God chose the earth because it was one of the smaller planets. He chose Israel because it was small, so that when Jesus came to earth this was the only world He came to.  Earth and believers are small and insignificant, so He has shown His glory! 


3. UFOs could be angels or evil spirits. 



4. Ghosts are probably demonic forces. Jesus was the only human who came back to earth. 



5. I would say that alien abductions are also demonic forces. Have you ever known a Christian who has been abducted?


Below is the trailer from the Men in Black II movie:

Pray that Brett Kimberlin will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus

Brett Kimberlin needs Jesus.  

She's the Man

1. 
   

   I can remember always wanting to be a boy because I had an older brother who was the first grandchild on both sides. He was adored, his every move was attention getting. I insisted that I wear his hand me down clothes.  I  was able to dress that way as long as we lived in California and Alaska. Kindly church members would give my mom dresses for me but I would never wear them. Then we moved to Virginia and I was forced to wear dresses. My mom allowed me to wear jeans to Sunday School one time but the peer pressure was too much.  I wore dresses after that. When I  married and had a strong willed two year old I turned to God and started attending Bible study. Then when my children were 11 and 5 I came down with fibromyalgia. That drove me to prayer. God used those things in my life to help me to trust that He made me just the way He wanted me. I'm not good at anything much ( my husband said one time that I was like a BMW--not outstanding at anything but above average in everything.) But with God's help my children turned out great, and I have a prayer ministry.   I'm a slow learner but I think the best thing we can teach our kids is to love others and love God.  If we are going to compare ourselves to anybody it should be to Jesus!  When believers see Him face to face we will be like Him!  Below is a clip from a movie I enjoyed.  It shows how difficult it is for a girl to be a boy!