Chair's Message

Bright moonlight beamed into my room and reminded me of the spiritual festival, Ramadan, Islam's holy month that is currently being honored.  Ramadan is about the calendar and the clock.  Early August, the world's largest clock began ticking in Mecca.  It took about 90 million pieces of colored glass mosaic to cover its tower.  Green and white lights flash five times daily to remind Muslims to pray.  This reflects the Islamic worldview of imperialism that Islam must eventually dominate the entire world.  This has been commaded by the Koran and Muhammed.  For those who are in Mecca, there are cell phone apps like iPray, which beeps at prayer times.

There are other apps that support the ancient tradiations of Islam in a high-tech way.  'Find Mecca' (all need to face Mecca when they pray) and 'Mosque Finder' help Muslim travelers in unfamiliar cities to find the nearest place to pray.  There are other religions that have gone high-tech as well.  The objective is to help Muslims become more fervent and to live a more observant life.

1 Chronicles 22 reports on King David's enthusiasm to build a temple that would truly be representative of his worldview in which God was the center.  He stockpiled the following: 3,775 tons of gold, 37,750 tons of silver, tons of bronze and iron, and charged his son, Solomon, to do the job that God had given him to do.  David's enthusiasm was a reflection of his great love for the God who had chosen him, forgiven and redeemed him.

The Biblical worldview does not advocate imperialism, but rather a missionary zeal.  E.G. White reflects on communion with God as the highest education: "Whatever line of investigation we pursue, with a sincere purpose to arrive at truth, we are brought in touch with the unseen, mighty Intelligence that is working in and through all.  The mind of man is brought into communication with the mind of God, the finite with the Infinite.  The effect of such communion on body and mind and soul is beyond estimate," (Education, p. 14).  Do we need apps to remind us to stay in touch?  Is it only about calendars and the biggest clock in the world?  Or is it about the Light of the World that we reflect as missionaries with a message of good news, all day, everyday?

This new year, have you dedicated your whole being to your Creator?  Education is about the restoration of the image of God in man.  It is about redemption and how we are special to God who sent His Son to redeem us.  He made us and He will remake us.  Communion with Him is the most important communication activity that we will study about and learn to value.

                                                 Dr. Delyse Steyn