The cards were dealt and the game was underway. After a few rounds, I noticed that Charleston Jane apparently had skipped my turn. What?! Not fair! She kept drawing when it was my turn to draw!
“Charleston Jane! What are you doing? Did you skip my turn?” I asked.
“No, Grammy. It’s my turn,” she replied.
“Why are you drawing more cards?”
“That’s the way you play Crazy 8’s, Grammy!”
I started laughing so hard. “I thought we were playing Gin Rummy!”
You see, before the game began, we decided to play Crazy 8’s. During the deal out, her brothers got into a fight and appealed to me to mete out justice. Thoroughly distracted, I started playing Gin Rummy while Charleston Jane played Crazy 8’s! Same cards. Different game.
In Gin Rummy, the object is to collect all the right cards. In Crazy 8’s, the object is to get rid of all your cards. Once my mindset was corrected, we started over. You could say that I repented.
THE EDUCATION GAME
To win at the Game of Life, at its heart, we must win the Education Game. That’s why Christians historically start schools. We learn how to live from who teaches us and what they teach.
The Game Creator owns the game and makes the rules.
The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)
To win the game, we play by His rules. Here are the rules.
STEP ONE.
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart (deepest motivation, desires),
with all your soul (entire living, physical being)
and with all your strength (total resources of mind, strength, and wealth).
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
STOP. LET THAT SINK IN A MOMENT FOR YOUR OWN LIFE….OK, CONTINUE…
STEP TWO.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down,
and when you rise up. (Deut. 6:5-7)
STEP THREE
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of
mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
do not merely look out for your own personal interests,
but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves
which was also in Christ Jesus, who…emptied Himself, taking the
form of a bond-servant…He humbled Himself. For this reason also,
God highly exalted Him. (Phil. 2:3-9)
…AND GAME!
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. (II Tim. 2:12)
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you,
and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11)
SCHOOL CHOICE
So, how do we Christians choose who helps us educate our children?
Look at the school’s (or college’s) ultimate goal.
U.S. Department of Education
“Our mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.”
Christ’s Department of Education
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (I Cor. 10:31)
The Great Commission of Jesus: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go and make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matt. 28:18-20)
Another word for “disciple”: apprentice. Will we trust our children to Jesus’ internship to prepare for their career, life’s work, their calling, whatever good work He has called them to do?
It seems upside down, countercultural. Our mindset must be to serve others, not ourselves??
The Creator of the ACTUAL Game of Life insists we teach His thoughts, His way, all day, every day.
To win the game, we play by His rules.
Whose game are we playing?
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
(Psalm 1:1-3)
PEP’s Vision
To fulfill the Great Commission by discipling a new generation of students to have a passion for glorifying God through their ability to think as freemen, to reason biblically, and to discern and communicate Truth to all areas of society.