Video of the Day: Clip from the 1989 movie “Dead Poets Society”
Bible Verse of the Day:
You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4.
Biblical Connection:
As a former educator, I’m a big proponent of Benjamin Bloom, the creator of Bloom’s Taxonomy. As John Keating begins his poetry, class .students are introduced to Bloom’s framework for educational thinking. Students shouldn’t just write down and memorize the words of a PhD. Rather, Keating wants each student to develop their own theory on how to evaluate poetry.
Following a supernatural encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus in Acts 9, Saul would change his name to Paul. As a Jewish child trained to become a Pharisee, Saul was a stickler for Old Testament law. However, the Holy Spirit taught the apostle Paul to trust God and not religious leaders. Like Mr. Keating’s students ripping out pages of poetry, Paul was forced to re-evaluate his own life by getting rid of man-made beliefs that stood opposed to God.
Closing Song:
While I’ve never experienced a teacher telling me to rip out the pages of a textbook on the first week of class, I did have a college class where my professor handed out a fake syllabus. At the beginning of the second class, the real syllabus was passed out, making sure only those students who wanted to take this higher-level class remained. Although going against the grain will leave many people unhappy, the goal of a Christian is to try to please the Lord daily.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 