Tag: history

Bibles in Classrooms?

by M Newberg

The hot topic lately is a new mandate, by our state superintendent, that requires each classroom 5th grade through 12th to keep and teach the bible and Ten Commandments.  Should this be a requirement in public schools? 

Personally, I’m very conservative and rely heavily on my faith in The God of the bible to get through each day.  Of course, I wish everyone felt this way, but that’s my perspective and opinion.  The bible even says that won’t happen.  Do I wish there were bibles all over the public schools, yes!  Let’s break this down a little bit more with more information to make a rational decision about the subject. 

Now, from what I understand our state superintendent is requiring that a bible will be in each classroom, grades 5-12, and that teachers will teach from it, and the Ten Commandments.  Mind you that he has very conservative ideas and hopes for our state public schools.  He’s not blinded by the liberal media and politicians that drive their agendas very hard, not only outside of the classroom but in our public schools as well. 

Those that oppose him seem to be shouting, “you can’t teach or push one religion in public school”!  “We won’t do it”, some schools are relaying.  “Separation of church and state”, they whine.  One gentleman on television exclaimed, “what version of the bible are you requiring, what makes your version right”?  I haven’t heard or seen the superintendent require any one version or translation yet. 

In a local newspaper letter to the editor, one person suggested that if required to use bibles, that the schools should use “The Jefferson Bible”.  I’m not sure if it was with sarcasm she wrote this, since she ended her opinion with the mention of Jefferson owning over 600 slaves.  This bible, she referenced, is a cut and paste bible that Thomas Jefferson, a founding father, assembled which ultimately cut out the divinity of Jesus.  I say, unacceptable! 

They’re not even listening!  What the superintendent is requiring is that the bible be taught as a part of history, not as any religion or church organization.  He’s not requiring that it be taught to convert anyone or to bring people to church.  The opposition doesn’t seem to understand this. 

So, we should ask, is the bible historical fact?  I would beg to say it is.  Archeology, geology, written history, and biology, have all proven the historicity of the bible.  Along with other non-biblical writings and historical accounts such as Flavius Josephus the Jewish historian.  These writings line up with events written in the bible. 

Just a little sidestep to the issue of separation of church and state.  This is not in our constitution.  In short, it is to help us understand that we should not have a government with a state-run church or religion.  Which, check me if I’m wrong, some other countries have a state-run church that in order to fund, requires a portion of taxpayer’s money.  The founding fathers wanted to protect the new country from government control of religion. 

If we had a government-controlled religion or church, then it could be a concern if a citizen were to oppose it in any way, they would be criminalized and prosecuted harshly for doing so; an enemy of the state.  This I would be opposed to.  The liberals have fed the separation of church and state lie to us so long and hard that people have become afraid to discuss religion in public places, especially where they work.  I don’t think that is the real purpose of separation of church and state.  But I digress. 

Let’s look at some other thoughts about the subject that might continue to help us make an informed decision. 

Are there already beliefs, religion, and faiths being taught in our public schools?  Well, yes as a matter of fact there is.  One example is evolution, which is taught as fact in our public schools.  Evolution has never been proven as fact scientifically; it is a very old, outdated theory.  It is not repeatable nor observable, which makes it deniable according to real science.  Since it is not a proven scientific fact, and only a theory and a belief of many scientists, should it be mandatorily taught in public schools?  I conclude that it is merely a form of religion; a belief. 

What about mythology?  Is it being taught and read in our public schools?  I remember learning some about it when I attended public schools (I wasn’t interested in their myths).  There’s no fact behind mythology except the history of societies and cultures that believed in it, and some people still believe in.  Mythological characters are not real people; merely a myth.  Again, they’re teaching a belief system even if it’s taught historically.  Could mythology be considered a religion? 

Parents and teachers, you have no problem with the above-mentioned fictional theories being taught in public school, yet you have a problem with the bible being taught as history.  The events, places, and people in the bible have in many ways been proven as historical fact.  There are numerous archeological finds, and historical writings found, in addition to the bible, that support the historical soundness of biblical text. 

Another suspiciously religious subject being taught in our public schools is Yoga.  Hmm, and let’s see, did I say religious?  Yes, Yoga has Hindu roots.  According to Dictionary.com: 

yoga 

or Yo·ga 

[ yoh-guh ] 

Phonetic (Standard) 

IPA 

noun 

a school of Hindu philosophy advocating and prescribing a course of physical and mental disciplines for attaining liberation from the material world and union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle. 

any or all of the methods or disciplines prescribed in the Hindu philosophical school of yoga, especially a series of postures and breathing exercises practiced to achieve tranquility, control of the body and mind, etc. 

union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle. 

No date found. Yoga.  Retrieved from YOGA Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com 

And, yet another religious practice taught even in elementary school classrooms, Tai Chi, (which I know because my son was taught this without our knowledge).  According to Wikipedia: 

In Chinese philosophy, taiji (Chinese: 太極; pinyin: tàijí; Wade–Giles: tʻai chi; trans. “supreme ultimate”) is a cosmological state of the universe and its affairs on all levels, including the mutually reinforcing interactions between the two opposing forces of yin and yang, (a dualistic monism),[1][2] as well as that among the Three Treasures, the four cardinal directions, and the Five Elements—which together ultimately bring about the myriad things, each with their own nature. The taiji concept has reappeared throughout the technological, religious, and philosophical history of the Sinosphere, finding concrete application in techniques developed in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  This page was last edited on 17 July 2024.  Taiji (philosophy).  Retrieved from Taiji (philosophy) – Wikipedia   

The above-mentioned forms of meditation and exercise are taught or guided by teachers nationwide to calm and refocus their selves and their students.  Yet, they have a problem with biblical concepts that can do both and have a positive impact on society.  You’re hypocritical, teachers and educational decision makers, you want peace and order in the classroom without Christian religion, yet you do the very thing you oppose by teaching from other religions. 

There you go, check it out for yourself, don’t take my word for it.  The evidence is overwhelming and too much for me to list in this article.  It really is a spiritual matter.  The world opposes the Creator and embraces anything outside of the proven Word of God.  They’re inclusive and tolerant except towards the Word of God, the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, and those that follow the God of the bible.  So, don’t be fooled by their liberal propaganda and evil brainwashing.  Remember, we’ll always have opposition to the bible especially in public schools.  The truth is that we need it there. 

I personally support the bible being kept and taught in schools as history, science, and reading.  But if you teach it as a religion then lawfully, and worldly you must allow teaching of all religions, which I would oppose. 

Have you considered what you believe regarding bibles in the classroom? 

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” 

(New American Standard Bible, NASB 1995, Colossians 2:8) 

 

Curling Anyone?

 

In keeping with the season of the 2018 Winter Olympics I’ve had a love hate relationship with the sport of Curling. Hate is really too strong of a word to use so maybe just a strong lack of excitement for it. Love it because it intrigues me why anyone would be interested in playing such a sport. Still wondering why it is considered a sport especially in the Olympics!

The first time I watched the sport of Curling it seemed almost comical. I thought, “is this really a sport?”. How do you train for it? Help mom sweep the floors. Practice pushing a stone across some ice, bending, sqauting, or long distance running?

Upon a quick search of the history of this sport I find that it has Scottish origins and is reportedly one of the world’s oldest team sports dating back to the early 16th century. In its earliest record the sport was played on frozen ponds or lochs in the winter. The Curling stones are made of special granite that is found in Scottland and Wales.

The sweeping helps clear the path for the stone to travel towards the target area called the house. Sweeping provides some warmth which helps keep the stone from veering right or left keeping it on a smooth straight path. I observe this as a very strategic sport which requires much patience and calculation.

Now knowing some background on Curling I can see how it could have been created; out of boredom. I still think that it is boring to watch, sorry, can’t quite get that loving feeling for it! I could understand how it could be fun and more challenging played outside on a pond or lake. I could see myself all bundled up from head to toe, trying to keep my glasses defrosted, sweeping the snow and ice so that some lonely stone can travel home to its destination. Then maybe it would be fun, invigorating and exciting!

Curling reminds me of a book a friend of mine mentioned to me a long time ago titled Balcony People by Joyce Landorf Heatherley. I never read it but she explained that it was about the people around you that cheer you on and give you encouragement throughout your life. I can picture myself as the Curling stone put in motion by God at the beginning of my life. The sweepers are the Holy Spirit and the Angels that want to sweep away the bumps and blemishes of life’s road and make it warm so my path stays straight, showing me the way home, the target area. I can picture those Balcony People cheering me on even when the path isn’t so smooth and straight. Cheering and shouting, “you can make it through the rough road!”. Home isn’t far away.

Something to think about.

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but [only] one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1

 

 

Popcorn Ceiling

“Who likes Popcorn Ceiling?”

“Raise your hands way up high so I can see them!”

“Oh do I see a hand? Oh you’re just scratching your head.”

“Okay last chance, anyone?”

“Oh, yes little one do you like Popcorn Ceiling?”

“No? Then why’d you raise your hand?”

“What is Popcorn Ceiling, you ask? Well, let me tell you.”

“Look up at your ceilings, everyone, no cheating just look up. Is your ceiling smooth or bumpy? Bumpy? Like little bumps? Like gravel on a road bumpy?”

“Yes?”

“Well more than likely that is Popcorn Ceiling!”

Personally, I didn’t notice it when I was a kid but once I began cleaning and actually looking up (especially at the area by the ceiling fan), I have found that no, I do not like Popcorn Ceiling. How in the world do you clean that stuff? One of my friends was talking about removing their Popcorn Ceiling and I thought, I wish I could do that but instead I will write a Blog about it.

I wonder when was the first Popcorn Ceiling done? Like, what year? Who first started doing it? Who “invented” it? Why? Did people really like it? Do people still like it? Are they still using it today? Why?

Popcorn Ceiling also know as “Cottage Cheese Ceiling” or “Stucco Ceiling”, was developed out of necessity instead of creativity. It was formally known as acoustic ceiling (hmm…does it have any thing to do with acoustics?). It basically was a shortcut that was marketed as a new or luxury item. Economical and speedy for the construction industry it consisted of materials such as plaster mixed with asbestos and sprayed on.

This type of ceiling started showing up as early as the 1930’s in the United States. The Clean Air Act of 1978 in the U.S. banned asbestos forcing the industry to seek other resources to use. However, the remaining inventory of the asbestos mixture was allowed to be used and could possibly be found in homes constructed through the 1980’s.

Probably out of economic reasons and convenience or time saving efforts, it is still being used in housing of course without the asbestos.

When you’re looking up pondering how to clean the dust and phantom spider webs clinging to your popcorn ceiling, you can enjoy the plethora of random designs that are naturally unique only to your home. You have a one of a kind just like a snowflake, and while enjoying a bowl of fresh popped corn or some fruit and cottage cheese, you can do so feeling much better about your popcorn ceiling!

Have you considered whether you like popcorn ceilings or not?