Prevent Brain Drain

Recently saw a sign in front of a school that said Prevent Brain Drain __ Read, Read, Read.

Brain-drain is sometimes referred to as “human capital flight” usually involving a mass emigration of technically skilled people from one country to another country. Brain-drain can have many reasons __ political instability, lack of opportunities, health risks, or personal/spiritual conflicts.

The first reaction I had to the school sign was true human capital flight is not easily solved by reading. In fact, the more one reads the more likely you would entertain the idea of moving from one country to another for one's livelihood.

The school sign actually used a clever play on words to encourage student reading over the summer vacation.

Now let's merge the brain-drain school sign with another piece of information that recently crossed over the Internet. Christians are becoming more and more biblical illiterate. Believers are forgoing bible study for lighter studies, typically a book written by some “successful” pastor promoting the latest model to attract millennials, grow church attendance or increase financial commitment.


Joshua 1:8 encourages us to read the right material and reminds us what the outcomes will be when we focus on the Word of God.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

What ever happened to the biblical model clearly detailed throughout Scripture? Is it too simple or old fashioned? Has the bible lost its attraction and the power to change lives and communities?

Bible reading apps are readily available to help us get through the Bible over some time frame. But one has to be careful the medium does not become the message. Reading the Word without studying the Word may not be enough. “Day and night” means just that __ day and night! And not just occasionally.

Want to prevent Biblical brain drain? Read, read, read and then study,study,study.

Robert Parlante

July 1, 2014

FEAR and TREMBLING

Book 1 of my Christian fiction series titled Patch Town recently completed the editing stage and is now in the creative stage where the layout and book cover are established. I am looking forward to a mid-September launch of my first novel. When the editing stage began, I faced the process with some degree of fear and trepidation. Nobody likes criticism even when it is repackaged as “constructive criticism” which somehow is supposed to be more palatable.

Writers tend to be defensive of their prose, and editors are supposed to be the “culprits” who suggest rewrites, make punctuation changes and require clarity. The first steps in this process are nerve-wracking because you feel like a child about to be disciplined by a parent. You know you’ll feel the pain, but you can’t always figure out the reason why.

At my publisher Ambassador International I was blessed with a great editor. She was a pleasure to work with, and I did not question any suggestions or changes she made. When I read the final clean copy I was surprised to see how much better the manuscript had become. In fact, I dropped her an E-mail and said she had taken something I thought was good and turned into something great (at least from my perspective).

Then I thought: What was the point of all that fear? Does it serve any purpose?

Philippians 2:12-13 reads: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

In these Scriptures verses Paul can hardly be encouraging believers to live in a continuous state of anxiety and worry. There are too many other verses that speak about peace and joy of being one with Christ.

I believe Paul is exhorting us to press forward to bring our Christian walk to fruition and completion as much as we humanly can. In order to do this, we need a healthy fear of offending God through disobedience and a respect for His majesty and holiness. I expect when I stand before the Lord one day, I will be trembling, not out of fear, but more because I will be in awe.

Bottom Line: Some things are worth fear and trembling. But it has little to do with selecting the right verb.

Now, is it laying or lying down? Affect or effect?

Robert Parlante
June 21, 2014

An Angel in Red Square on May Day

I believe I may have met an angel in Red Square on May Day while on route to my final destination in Siberia to minister to Russian school children.

It was the first time a May Day celebration was held without the usual military display of Soviet Union military power. The day was a mixed bag with old line Communists standing on a soap box extolling the glory of the former days. This was contrasted by young people who were experiencing joy for their first taste of freedom from totalitarian rule. In the midst of all this was a small band of believers led by Scott Temple who traveled from the other side of the world to distribute Bibles to anyone in Red Square who would take one.

There were the typical delays. The shipment of Bibles did not arrive. There were not enough people to distribute Bibles because of the surge of request. There were people who liked us being there. And there were people who definitely did not want us in Red Square!

The small missionary team gathered in a small circle to pray for success and the enlightenment of the Russian people.  We were feet from Lenin’s tomb. The prayer in English began with weak voices barely audible in the noisy celebratory surroundings. When we opened our eyes we noted the circle was growing larger and larger as more Russians joined the circle. I looked like the circle exceeded 100 people at its peak. Our prayer leader asked for a translator, and seemingly out of nowhere came a tall Russian woman who volunteered. As she began to translate the prayers into Russian, it seemed like her voice could be heard across Red Square, drowning out noisy protests, music and soapbox speeches. More Russians joined the circle. When we finished, she disappeared into the crowd as instantly as she appeared.

To me she felt like an angel. She was gone with no opportunity to thank her, no chance to introduce ourselves, no request on her part for anything.

Hebrews 13:2 reminds us: Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Have you ever thought you had an angel experience? Why not encourage each other by sharing that moment.

Robert Parlante

May 2014