"It"...can happen here.

America is unique.  

It's amazing what people can do when given the freedom to succeed AND to fail.  Our "Super Bowl" has become a metaphor.

Back in July, each team started at the same place, 0-0, as every other franchise in the NFL.  Now, 106 young men, two teams remain standing; black, white, brown...not all born equally, privleged start and not.  All shapes, sizes...some more talented than others.  All making the most of what they've been given, working hard and sacrificing for a dream.  Working together to create synergy.  All competing on a level playing field, and yet, a few with a clear advantage over others, not all endowed equally--size, strength, speed.

That said, each strives to overcome, to elevate their game and maximize their opportunity, against all odds. The underdog can prevail, because "heart" can't be measured.  Mistakes will be made, injuries will occur that force a change to the gameplan and the unexpected, will be the norm.  Bad calls?  No doubt; someone is going to feel like it wasn't fair.  Most will perform up to standard, a few will be disappointed--and not play well at all.  The ball will be dropped and it will take some bad bounces.  But there won't be any do-overs.  One performance will be judged most outstanding of all...and propel that player to a new level of achievement and noteriety.

At the end of the day, some will win, others will lose.  And tomorrow morning?  Each will crawl out of bed, and begin again, in an attempt to make the ascent to the top of their profession; each sore, tired, some beaten, all driven by conviction: it's a new day, it's a new opportunity,  "I believe 'it' can happen, if I work hard, stay focused and apply myself."  

This hope compels them to bear down, start over and try again.  They will take what they learned (the good, the bad and the ugly), winners and losers, and use that as leverage to get better and they will.

I believe this is why this night, this event, is more celebrated, anticipated and watched than any other event on the calendar in America.  It reflects our hopes and dreams, our core values as a nation, at so many levels.  We watch these young men compete and we are reminded, dreams come true here; hard work pays here, the hope of success far outweighs the risk of failure.  Bottom line: "It" can happen, it does happen."  If it doesn't?   Failure isn't the end of the world, it's the begining of a new cycle.

Everyone has to play by the rules, but the rules aren't designed to produce pre-determined outcomes.  So, many compete; some win, some lose; some never win or lose, because they never try, that's ok too.  America is a place where dreaming is a part of our culture, where we, as free people, set the bar; where people can "do better" and to no one's surprise, we do.  

America, "we hold these truths..."

Devolution...losing minds.

Education in America, and educators are in trouble. 

By any reasonable measure, what we are asking our educators to do is unreasonable. The result: the implosion of the system.  It's happening right now, this year, this month, TODAY. Entire teaching staffs being reassigned; schools closed or being "taken over" by the State and teachers dismissed.

Effective education is a partnership on at least four levels.

Level 1: Parents and teachers. I don't know why we tolerate it, but I do know we, our culture, have lowered our expectations for parents and shifted many parental roles onto public education. It's a fact, parents are AWOL; parents from every demographic: busy parents, tired parents, distracted parents, ambitious parents, selfish parents, economically disadvantaged parents. Unless and until parents see parenting as a worthy vocation--a selfless vocation--a social responsibility, and we can build accountability into the system for PARENTS, as well as teachers, our system will continue to devolve.

Level 2: Teachers and administrators. The current "political climate" makes this partnership difficult, if not hopelessly ineffective. "No Child Left Behind" has administrators focused on the wrong outcomes: Administrators chasing the holy grail--passing scores on standardized tests.  Under pressure to achieve a "passing grade" Administrators have dumbed the system down and mandated teaching to the lowest common denominator. The result: a brain drain of gargantuan proportions.  We've given up too much real education in the race to measure "skills." 

Leaders in education must get back to "leading."  They must be good managers; they must also be effective Innovators, Team builders and Coaches.  They must get out of their offices and into the halls and classrooms of the buildings they manage.  Teachers must be challenged to grow as professionals, taught to, and rewarded for, "thinking outside the box."  The system must be able to shed under performing (based on fair-minded, role appropriate, measurable, attainable and negotiated standards of praxis and outcomes) teachers and administrators.  Otherwise we will, without question, produce underperforming schools.

Teachers must be coachable.  Unions must be student as well as teacher focused.  Department Chairs must be trained as Master Teachers and empowered to Coach teachers under their charge, evaluate them and reward merit or remediate poor performance.

Level 3: Education and the public.  Federal oversight is an impossible burden.   There is a role for the Federal government, but not what we've seen develop over the last decade.  Educational oversight and policy creation must be sent back to the most local units of government possible and/or practical.  In most cases, that would be the locally elected School Boards.  

State oversight is critical to resource multiplication, curriculum development standards, training, and compensation.  But the State must also recognize the limits of effective management.

Communities must create opportunities, then call their citizens to participate as volunteer tutors, mentors, after-school staff, security workers and any of a dozen other functions that can be filled by people willing to give-up time, and get training or invest their expertise to give school age kids a shot at a brighter future.  This would, at the same time, preserve and extend financial resources which in turn would make it possible to provide funds for merit based pay incentives.

I challenge families who've abandoned public education for private, private-parochial or home-shooling to re-engage and re-think their decision.  It is in the long-term best interest of their kids to support and work to reform and strengthen public education.  Their unwavering commitment to quality education and the quality of the kids their raising is integral to lifting education for all our children to the next level.  This has significant implications on so many elements that are critical to the future of our nation and our children.  Look back at the 19th Century to discover what a culture of "education haves" and "have nots" becomes; it's a most unsavory image.

Level 4: Education and the private sector.  I'm a small business owner.  Much of the property tax bill I pay every six months goes to support education.  But that's not enough.  The partnership with local business, while it's there, needs to be expanded and much more highly developed.  The answer isn't higher taxes, it's bigger hearts, fueled by shared vision and better communication.  Not only should business be there for internships, but for aggressive sponsorship--without expectation for anything in return--beyond all the significant benefits local business enjoys from a sterling school-system.

Parents need to be selfless.  Politicians must stop acting out of self-interest.  Educators need to step-up. Citizens need to act like patriots.

It is easy to blame someone else; the problem is us.

Meanwhile, another generation gets left behind.

bN

Feeling "g-old"...

Conventional wisdom is that "the benefits don't outweigh the tradeoffs" associated with growing older.

True enough.

But if through that process, one discovers tenderness, that...is a "state of being" more precious than gold.

bN

No more "do over's..."

My heart breaks for America.  

Our political polarization has brought us to our knees.  This isn't, at it's core, a "left v. right" issue.  The problem is on both sides of the isle.  We must seek out and elect politicians who will act in America's interest, from a "base-commitment" to social justice and Constitutional integrity.

America wake up and get it right--elect patriots from the left and right; punish partisan and personal power brokers.

We are out of "do over's."  Get prepared to make a bold statement in November.  "We aren't going to take it anymore!"

bN

One survived...

"Lone Survivor..."  the story of operation Red Wings.

Listened to the book, read the book, re-listened to the book.  Now I've seen the Docudrama.  

A number of significant changes for dramatic effect.  But the core of this heroic story remains intact.  It's sad in a way that all wars are sad--people on both sides of conflict, loved by other people, losing their lives.  

Marcus Luttrell's brothers-in-arms gave their last full measure doing what we train and pay them to do: stand in the gap and face down bad people.  Don't be distracted by the politics of war.  

This is a story about service, valor, love and sacrifice.  Be grateful.  Be respectful. Be gracious.

Save your rage for the politics of war, for the politicians, and make them pay.  

Hold those who serve so selflessly, in your hearts.   

bN

Yesterday... Ruthann Blosser Longcor

I am delighted to share this space with a dear friend, Ruthann Blosser Longcor.  She reflects on the mystery of the Church.  bN

"Today finds me pondering....reflecting. 

Yesterday, as Natalie and I turned left off of 67 to go to church (not our usual route as we opted for a safer path), I reflected on the phenomena of the members of the "body of Christ" gathering Sunday after Sunday. Grace's parking lot was not full, but it had a surprising number of cars in the lot. Why? 

For most people, a paycheck does not depend on it, a law does not require it. All around the world, people make space for this gathering on mostly Sunday mornings. In some countries, people risk their very lives to gather in a secret place. For many, not only do they attend, but they give enormous time, money, and energy to serving children and others at this time. There are good reasons to stay home some weeks (and certainly, yesterday there was good reason to cancel services), my standing with God does not depend on something I do. 

Yet I am in awe of how people who love Jesus gather as the Church. I reflect on stories of those who say a particular gathering changed the trajectory of their life. My whole being is silenced at the thought of what this draw might be. Who commands such devotion, such motivation? Perhaps there are mixed ambitions, but for the most part what/who fuels this activity? I think of the ONE who lures us. I love gathering with other believers...to hear their laughs, to see their worship, to witness this "invisible force" that commands our love--but WHY am I hooked? 

I think of children who climb under pews and chase one another around parents' legs and as they do, they experience this phenomena before words make sense. Sometimes this group is just a family in a living room...other times it is with thousands of others...why? Not sure I understand it...but I have this mystery deep in my soul that tugs me week after week."

Amazing grace.  bN

New Year's Solution!

I propose a solution to the gridlock in DC.

As a nation of Voters, we all agree to replace every elected Representative and Senator currently serving--with another member of the same party over the next three election cycles. In order to garner the support of the electorate these new members of Congress must agree to three conditions: 

1. They will be candidates committed to social justice.
2. Their governance must be guided and limited by fiscal responsibility.
3. They must limit themselves to a period of service not to exceed 4 terms for a Representative and 2 terms for a Senator.

Wouldn't this make 2014 a Happy New Year! 

Oh, yes, before it slips my mind...don't follow that White Rabbit down the hole.  We lost Alice that way.   Wink. Wink. :)

bN

Happy New Year...indeed

Someone recently asked me about a passing comment I'd made about the Tower of Babel, wanting me to expand on what was said.

Over the years I've always attempted to find "dynamic equivalents" in the culture around me to help people understand a deeper principle from the Scriptures. The Tower of course was the ultimate expression of hubris on the part of humankind; our effort to shake a collective fist at God and say "See, you aren't so transcendent after all." Foolish pride led to an inflated opinion of who we were; God breathed, language changed and chaos ensued. We discovered we were no match for the transcendent God.

Fast forward to modern culture: God, in his grace, has allowed mankind to apply his intellect and ingenuity, these also graciously granted by God, to "discover" thousands of things that insulate us from the ill-effects of the fall: drugs, asphalt, steel, plastic, roads, air conditioning, engines, automation--the list is endless. We in turn, tainted by sin and swelled with pride, believeing ourselves to be wise "shake our fists" at God and say, "You see, the Scriptures are myth; there was a big-bang and then there was mankind and look at how we have evolved...we have the power to give and take life. We don't need myths to prop us up anymore. We are God."

In reality, everything we touch we corrupt. Look at what we call our "system of Justice." We condition the air at the same time we poison it with hydro-carbons. We pollute the planet, poison our bodies, can't beat cancer or aids and when/if we do, something else always emerges. Regardless of how effective we are at blunting the effect of sin on life and the planet, sin always trumps our best efforts...and God allows it, to point us to our need for a Savior and His gracious provision for our redemption.

The farther evolved civilization becomes the further it devolves into moral and spiritual chaos--abortion, failed economies, addiction, violence, corrupt governments, greed, broken relationships, idolotry, shaminism, social injustice. Think about it, in 1965 LBJ gave us the Great Society. These unfunded mandates have done nothing to enlighten culture and end poverty--but they have driven us to edge of bankruptcy and destroyed families while perpetrating genocide on the poorest of the poor. The smarter we get, the dumber we are. We can run from God, but we can't hide.

So then, civilization as we have fashioned it, has become humankind's' most recent "Tower of Babel;" the work of "our hands" which demonstrates our independence, our ability to "get it done without God." We set out to be like God, and in a final irony, we create the very modality that could be the end of life as we know it. We can destroy it, but we can't fix it..."and all the king's horses, and all the king's men, couldn't put humpty-dumpty back together again." 

The lie that deceived Eve, continues to vex us; but we aren't beaten. This Truth has set us free..."When we were utterly helpless...God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5.6a,8

Hallelujah, what a Savior!  Happy new year, indeed.

Beautiful minds...

The cause/effect relationship between the way we think and the outcomes we achieve is uncanny.  

A "mind," even a poorly developed one, is a powerful force.  God blessed us all with beautiful minds; having been fashioned in His image gives us access to resources beyond the natural, built right into our DNA.  

Our minds are, of course, the most unique aspect of our beings.  So...what are you doing with yours?  It's the first day of the rest of our lives, December 31, 2013;  a wonderful moment to look back at what was, then gaze into the new year at what might be.  

Here's a perpetual list I use to keep my life compass oriented, "true North." Quite frankly, this is a "three steps forward, two steps back" process much of the time; but even one step at a time is progress!

For a better 2014...

Go to and get out of bed earlier.
Be active, body and mind, with the extra morning time.

Give up painful thinking.

Don't throw others "under the bus."

Refuse to think like a victim.
Seek balance in my life.

Look for the best in people.

Find ways to add value to other peoples lives.

Give generously to a cause you feel great passion for.

Volunteer and serve in some fashion, some place.

Don't be a cynic.

Refuse to associate with negative people.

Spend time in dialogue with people who don't think like me.
Make the effort to grow my intellect and expand my perspective.

Transform obstacles into opportunities.
Begin something that makes me feel challenged.

Mentor someone younger and/or less experienced.
Find someone to mentor me; be accountable to someone.

Read good books that make me feel enriched.
Journal: keep it simple and short; then watch that discipline begin to expand. 

Finally, and most significantly...

"Love justice, do mercy and walk humbly with your God."  Micah 6.8

For me, it starts by asking God (again) to empower me to resolve and retool the way I think and as result, the way I experience life. 

"Father in heaven give me clarity to know myself; give me desire to reflect Christ; give me discipline to lean into You; give me focus to remain on task; give me wisdom to make 'best decisions.' All this through Jesus name I ask, amen."    bN

How democracy ends.

While I don't believe the answer to our education challenge in America is to turn the keys back over to the unions, this is a clarion call to citizens; it's time we take the education of our Kids back from private and public politicians--regardless of who they might be, who they work for, or their party affiliation. It's been hijacked and demagogued by adults, labor AND management; they have all forgotten who matters--KIDS, and what's at stake--THE FUTURE OF THE NATION.

Follow this link..."This is how Democracy ends: Apology from a former teacher"
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2013/01/this-is-how-democracy-ends-apology-from.html