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Archive for the ‘February 2009’ Category

Proverbs 1:7: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

Like me, have you ever done something wrong, and then said: “I should’ve known better”?

To be correct, though, often we should’ve said: “I did know better.”

The western world has touted the importance of education for centuries and poured into that process its resources, particularly for the young.

So who has made a mess of our economic and political systems? Mostly, the educated – the MBAs, highly degreed politicians and professionals. Those without degrees make little mistakes affecting a few people. But those with “big educations” make big mistakes affecting hundreds, even millions of people.

Does education stop people from smoking, or drinking and driving? Or placing the good of others before their greed? Are alcohol, drug and sex parties prominent in many “places of higher learning?” Or “getting high” is higher learning?

After six or more years of medical education, people may become “medical professionals.” That should be enough time for them to learn healthful living for themselves and others. So, none of them smoke or overeat or indulge in unhealthful practices. Oh yeah?

Or, such educated doctors would not implant at least six embryos in a woman who already has six children, and no husband or financial stability. And then he excuses himself by saying, “It’s not up to doctors to determine how many children should be in a family.”

Now, I’m not against education, for ignorance doesn’t guarantee wisdom either. Only seeking the way of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, whether you have a ton of degrees or none at all. To that point, here’s a quote from my wife’s great-great grandmother, Ellen G. White, in her book Education, p. 18 [“men” is generic]:

“Instead of educated weaklings, institutions of learning may send forth men strong to think and to act, men who are masters and not slaves of circumstances, men who possess breadth of mind, clearness of thought, and the courage of their convictions.”

“Educated weaklings” — people who are mugwumps! Those are people who are unable to make up their minds on an important issue. Or, unable to follow through on what they know to be right.

“A mugwump is a person educated beyond his intellect.” (A slogan of the Cleveland-Blaine campaign, 1884; from the Algonquin muggumquomp).

Proverbs 11:25: “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

Starting in mid-20th century, in philosophy, arts and entertainment the world was heading toward an attitude of despair. Examples: Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett; Jean-Paul Sartre with No Exit and existentialism.

No more heroes. Hollywood was quickly becoming less and less the producer of happy movies. Dark heroes and downer endings became popular. For instance: James Dean in East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause, and even westerns such as Once Upon a Time in the West.

Then along came Eugene Maurice Orowitz. Because of his early life, he could’ve easily fallen into despair.

Raised in New Jersey, he was a bedwetter into his teens. His mother tried to change him through humiliation—hanging his wet sheets out the window for all the neighborhood to see. When school was out, often Gene ran immediately home to remove the sheets. In high school, he graduated 299th out of a class of 301. The two students below him—couldn’t read or write.

Perhaps his running home after school helped him be athletic. He got a scholarship to the University of California. But soon lost it in his freshman year because of a torn shoulder and poor performance. I guess they didn’t emphasis self-esteem back then! You either did well or you were out.

So, no more college and no money to return home. Eugene sold blankets door to door, slept on park benches, and spent a lot of time at the movies—an escape from reality. And a motivating force for his sharp sense of drama and his sympathetic nature.

This “loser” became a TV and movie producer with a 100% success rate. He was known as a loving man who treated everyone, from the gofers to the actors, with utmost respect and kindness. He often generously shared his profits with his crew and others.

And he was big on family values. I still watch some of his films. Yes, you and I know him as Michael Landon, actor, writer, director and producer, “Little Joe” in Bonanza, Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairieand Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven.

His family-centered works often ran counter to entertainment trends that had to “push the envelope.” He summed up his attitude this way: “I want people to laugh and cry, not just sit and stare at the TV. Maybe I’m old- fashioned, but I think viewers are hungry for shows in which people say something meaningful.”

His entertainment and generosity refreshed others. That’s living out the wisdom of the Proverbs. “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health” (Proverbs 15:30).

“Whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows.” – Michael Landon (1936 – 1991).

Proverbs 12:15: “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.”

Big thieves start as little thieves. I’m sure the crooked financiers and CEO’s who wound up ripping off people for billions of dollars didn’t start with large sums. Just a little fudging here and there, a little creative bookkeeping, little lies. Perhaps finding ways to get a free treat or beverage at the coin dispenser. Or taking home a few office supplies for their own use.

This story of a backwoods guy illustrates, with a laugh, how our small misdeeds can grow up to be bigger and bigger. The perpetrators, whether in ritzy super-offices or in mountain shacks, justify themselves in the same way. (The story was in Beliefnet.com for 2/3/09).

Boudreaux was feeling guilty, so he went to confession.

“Father, I kinda took a little lumber from that new construction site.”

Priest: “What did you do with the lumber, my son?”

Boudreaux: “Well, Father, my porch, she’s had a hole for a long time. I’m ‘fraid someone will break their leg, so I fix the hole.”

Priest: “Well, that’s not so bad.”

Boudreaux: “Well, Father, I had a little lumber left.”

Priest: “What did you do with it?”

Boudreaux: “Well, my poor dog, Phideaux, he ain’t never had no place to get outta the weather, so I make him his own little doghouse.”

Priest: “OK, anything else?”

Boudreaux: “Well, Father, I had a little lumber left. So you know, my truck, she ain’t never had no place to get outta de weather either, so I make her a two-car garage.”

Priest: “Now, this is getting a little out of hand.”

Boudreaux: “Well, Father, I still had a little lumber left.”

Priest: “Yes?”

Boudreaux: “Well, my wife, she always want a bigger house. So I add two bedrooms and a new bathroom.”

Priest: “OK! That’s definitely too much. For your penance, you are going to have to make a Novena. You do know how to make a Novena, don’t you?”

Boudreaux: “No, Father… But, if you got the plans, I got the lumber.”

Funny. Unless a person like Boudreaux stole the lumber from me or you. Or our investments disappeared because of greed on the part of our bank or investment firm.

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” — Jesus (St. Luke 16:10.)

Proverbs 4:25-27: “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”

Do we ever need to stretch the truth, even a little—or cheat–even for what we think is a good outcome? Solomon of old said to look straight ahead, which means have total integrity—never follow evil.

But that was then—three thousand years ago. What about today?

A book just published is titled, Winners Never Cheat: Even in Difficult Times, by industrialist, billionaire and philanthropist Jon Huntsman. Did the proverbial upright life work for him in business? What about the turmoil we’re facing today?

Born in 1937 in Blackfoot, Idaho, Jon knew poverty. The house his family lived in was finished inside with cardboard. At age seven, Jon sold newspapers, not by subscription but daily sales. He remembers: “I wet my pants because I didn’t know how to go door-to-door without a bathroom nearby.” He earned two cents on a five-cent paper. A good week for him was about $2.00.

From that job and others to follow, right through high school, most of the money went into the family fund for auto expenses, doctors’ bills, and the like. “I put my dad through college,” he recounts, “even though in most houses it was the other way around. He lived in student housing for three years. He ultimately got a Ph.D. at Stanford and became a teacher.”

After serving as staff secretary in the Nixon White House, Jon concentrated on his own business, a petrochemical firm. It eventually became the biggest privately held company of its type in America, before going public.

Jon Huntsman became a multi-billionaire. He did it by following the highest principles he learned from the Bible ever since he was a child.

There were some rough times in his business. When his company, Huntsman Chemicals, was near bankruptcy, he went to the banks for financing. He promised that they would never lose any money on him.

After he got the company back on its feet, he asked the banks for an additional loan for his charities. He took out almost as large a loan for these–$100 million. When most bankers balked at his request, he told them: “The kids can’t wait; the women in shelters can’t wait. Nor can the cancer patients.” Seven or eight banks out of 80 helped, with no collateral. “As of yesterday,” he said a few days ago, “I paid off the banks for those loans.”

The way Jon is going, he’s going to die broke, for he plans to give away his riches before then.

To Jon Huntsman, winners never cheat. And the greatest winners never horde; they invest their riches of money, talents and time, for those in need and pain.

Today, as I write this, I’m deeply motivated to follow God’s plan for a rich life so I can share more with others. There’s also so much more from Huntsman’s life that I want to write about. So I’ll have more articles in the coming days. I hope you’ll be inspired like I am.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931).