We're getting an education, diploma, degree, or we just got our passing grade, now what? 

I remember when I graduated from high school – about the time when rocks were being formed – television was in its infancy, science fiction was a Dick Tracy two-way wrist radio/TV and gas was about 18 cents a gallon. My class was told that the world belongs to us. Our class motto was, "Learn by the mistakes of others because you can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself."

I kid you not! The first part, about the idea we could have it all, was pretty factual. The motto was pretty lame.

The reality was that we were in a post-war era and our economic growth was almost guaranteed. Most grads could pick a company out of the phone book, give them a call and get hired on the spot. We could then work for about 45 years and receive a nice pension, insurance and a gold watch at our retirement dinner. Hey! Those were the so-called "good old days."

There were some other pluses that we took for granted: church growth was phenomenal, family cohesion expected, governmental officials were respected, laws obeyed and society as a whole was stable. Don't scratch your heads in disbelief. Things were downright possible for most.

It must be scary and difficult for so many of our young graduates today.

Retirement plans – for the most part – will be a rarity if unavailable for the working class. There may be some governmental benefits, if congress doesn't eliminate the programs due to outrageous wasteful spending or giveaways. Job competition will be the toughest in history. This is only an educated guess, mind you, that for every available job, there may be 50 qualified applicants but only one hired, so the other 49 will continue the search for employment. I don't mean to get gloomy.

I do want to emphasize how absolutely imperative it is to get an education. Living in a hi-tech, soon to be clobbered by AI (that's artificial intelligence), world demands that each worker must be able to deal with the mass of information available, and be also flexible, intuitive, creative and dependable.

Gone are the days of rote learning (memorizing stuff) because employers will be looking for those special individuals who can think on his or her feet, solve problems that aren't always textbook and accountable and responsible.

I have not forgotten the church and the Christian. If we ignore the dedication of the church, this hi-tech AI consumer society will eat us alive! If our church sits idly aside and assumes that righteous indignation is a substitute for righteous involvement, it has another think coming! Material success is a poor substitute for spiritual empowerment.

Without the church, we are lost. Without the family, we are alone. Without the irrevocable promises of God, paupers are dressed in gowns and tuxedos. Without Jesus Christ, we are the greatest successful failures money can buy!

The church has the power to change the world! Yes, it does.

Thanks, God!