Tag Archives: teacher

Use It or Lose It

These are words a coach, parent or teacher may express to someone they care about.  The basis for this expression, “use it or lose it,” serves as a warning to anyone who fails to practice a newly acquired ability.  The longer individuals wait before they apply information, the greater the probability someone will forget this skill.  Fearful leaders encourage their pupils to seize the moment or risk losing their lesson until next week, month or year.

One of the first students, Adam, was given a few simple commands from the Lord in Genesis 2:15-17.  First, Adam was promoted to become the caretaker of Eden’s Garden.  Secondly, Adam was given clear boundaries defined by God, “you can eat from every tree except for one,” this is off limits.  In other words, God told Adam, use it or lose it.  After a long day of work, Adam was tired, not having the strength to contain his wife’s curiosity in Genesis 3:6.  By not using his God given authority, the first family loses it all, kicked out of their home, Genesis 3:23.

Today, father’s are suppose to be the head of their family, 1 Peter 3:1-7.  Unfortunately, children born out of wedlock, divorce and absentee dad’s are signs of wasted authority.  If these trends continue, fathers will suffer the same fate of Adam, a man without a place to call home.  I can hear the following words being shouted from heaven to dad’s on the verge of disaster, “use your God given authority or lose it!”  Like the movie Courageous, may today’s blog inspire parents to leave a legacy of integrity for their children to follow.  Or else you may lose your children to a similar fate.

by Jay Mankus

 

Sorry Harry Potter… You’re Wrong!

As a former teacher, invoking the name of Harry Potter was like stirring up a hornet’s nest.  I spent years trying to find out what made students tick, probing with topics to ascertain where their allegiance lies.  To my surprise, some of the most apathetic, passive and timid individuals, transformed before my very eyes with the slightest mention of Harry Potter.  Enraged with passion, any criticism of this wizardly magician resulted in anger as if I was picking a fight with their baby brother.

Before I go any further, I don’t want to share my opinion on this issue.  Rather, I seek to confirm God’s words to the Israelites.  The Lord is starting anew in the Old Testament, introducing a set of boundaries and guidelines for the Jews to adhere.  This moral compass served as basic civil laws so that citizens would treat one another as God desired.  Under a section of instructions on social responsibility, Moses writes down God’s own words in Exodus 22:18, “do not allow a sorceress to live.”

This leads one to ask, “what is a sorcerer and why does God specifically refer to a female, not a male?”  According to Webster, a sorceress is a witch.  Meanwhile, a sorcerer is someone who claims to or displays magical powers known as an enchanter, warlock and wizard.  Now if James 2:9 speaks out against showing favoritism, Exodus 22:18 eludes to both men and women.  Therefore, sorry Harry Potter, you’re wrong for what you practice, even in a fictional series, for God is jealous, seeking our complete attention, not just when we feel like it or want to, Exodus 20:3-5.

by Jay Mankus