Message from Jim & Jan Wolfe, High School Biology and Art

This year has been a year of mountain top highs and valley lows.

From the amazing birth of our first grandchild, to the passing of a loved peer.

We thank God for our mountain top experiences.  They help us see our way across the valleys and helps us to anticipate what is to come. Things begin to make sense and we have an understanding of the way God wants us to go.  It is a wonderful time of focusing on allowing the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and enjoy the majestic views of the valley below.

Likewise, we need to thank God for those valley experiences.  The valley is where we can be fruitful and grow as well.  The valley is where crops are planted because they cannot grow in the thin soils of the mountain top.  True, we can't see as far in the valley.  But, it is in the valley that the people live their lives with all of its challenges, hurts and pain.

Jesus lived on a mountain top.  He didn't stay there.  He allowed himself to descend to the valley to be with a people who are hurting and doing their best to make it back up to the mountain top. 

"In Matthew 17:1 Peter wanted to stay on top of the mountain and build a tabernacle after the transfiguration of Jesus. Peter didn't understand that mountain top experiences are not stopping places. They are starting points. "*

The birth of our grandson was a wonderful day, but it is just the first of many days in the life of a child.  We will have many more mountain top experiences with him and others that may come along.  Connie's passing was a low valley experience for us, but it is an everlasting time of mountain top experience for her as she delights in spending every day with Jesus.  May we too strive to enjoy not only the highlights of our lives, but the low spots as well.  Jesus is with us every step of the way and can bring us joy regardless of where we are in our walk with Him.

* Tammy Darling, Evangel Magazine May 2013

Message from Carol Stines, Director of International Programs

It’s sort of strange to think about, but I’ve already decided what I would like written on my gravestone – or on a plaque on my ashes.  Here are the words:

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.

This is the final stanza from ‘How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” by Stuart Townend.

Stuart says he wanted to tell the story of Christ from the Father’s point of view – what it cost Him to give His son - that’s what the first two stanza’s are about.  Next Stuart talks of his complicity in what happened – that it was his sin that held Christ there – upon the cross.  Lastly are two stanzas that are from a personal perspective on what Christ has done for us.

Songs really draw me closer to the Lord.  I am so thankful for Christian song writers. When you sing a song, really think about what you are saying.

Message from Jamie Ross, Kindergarten Teacher

Where is your treasure?  Where is your heart?

The words of Jesus from Matthew 6:19-21 (NAS):

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

On the last day of 2012, I attended a celebration of life memorial service. Family & friends said so many wonderful things, but the most profound and touching for me was what a family member said: “We would always give a kiss, hug & I love you before we left home, even if we were only going to be gone for a few minutes.”

I was faced with my own mortality, not too long ago. All the business of life seemed to stay at a stand still for a couple of weeks. I remembered those precious, tender words that Jesus spoke and that my friend spoke. I thought about where my heart and treasure was.

A song, by Deanna Edwards, from an old 33 1/3 LP album came to mind:

 

Live Each Day

 

When you live, live every day as if it were the last day that you’ll be living.

When you give, give every day as if it were the last gift that you’ll be giving.

 Don’t ever give with half a heart, or shine with half a light.

Live each day as if it were the last day of your life.

You can’t take back those thoughtless words you said before the dawn was breaking.

But you can say “good-bye” today to all the big mistakes that you were making.

You can take just one more step and give it one more try, living each day as if it were the last day of your life. You don’t have to save the world, just mend one broken heart.

Even if you’ve never loved before, it’s not too late to start.

Love begins where “now” begins, it doesn’t take too much to ease the sorrow.

It matters not what fortune brings, for only God can give tomorrow.

When you sing, let each man hear one sweet song through the strife, living each day as if it were the last day of your life.

Message from Jennifer Pellish, Drama Director/English Teacher

The Path of Life Leads Upward for the Wise (taken from Today in the Word)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. Proverbs 15:9

In “The Road Not Taken,” poet Robert Frost reflected on the significance of a choice. Walking in the woods one day, he came to a fork in the path. He could not see what lay ahead in either direction. Which way should he go? In the end, he chose “the one less traveled by, /And that has made all the difference.”

Two contrasting paths is a common picture in the wisdom literature of Scripture. Just as Proverbs gives us a portrait of the godly person who takes the first path, it also gives us a picture of the sinner who takes the second path. What might that second picture look like, based on today’s chapter? A fool has a poor relationship with his parents (vv. 5, 20). He spurns discipline and correction (vv. 10, 12, 31–32). The things he loves are stupid or evil or both (vv. 14, 21). The words he says are harsh (v. 1), deceitful (v. 4), ignorant (v. 7), quarrelsome (v. 18), and impetuous (v. 28)—and since “the mouth of the fool gushes” (v. 2), there are a lot of them!

Comparison proverbs make even better sense in light of the two paths (see vv. 16–17). The general form of this type of proverb is, “Better is A with X than B with Y.” A is usually an apparently negative quality, activity, or circumstance, with B as an apparently positive opposite. X is usually a genuinely positive quality, activity, or circumstance, with Y as an opposite, resulting in a reversed perception of A and B. For example, in verse 16, A is “a little” (materially) and B is “great wealth.” B seems preferable. But add in X as “fear of the Lord” and Y as “turmoil” and the perception flips. A right relationship with God is far more valuable than financial wealth!

Message from Adam Olson, Physical Education Teacher

From the book of Exodus:
There are countless people and stories in the Bible involving strength and perseverance through God.  One such person was a man named Moses.  His story is amazing, so much in fact, that he is known in both the Christian and secular world for parting the Red Sea in order to let his people escape slavery from the Egyptians. 

What many people are unaware of, is the journey and the burdens that Moses bore throughout his trek to the Promised Land.  Even his most loyal followers questioned his leadership and therefore God's leadership.  The Jewish people's faith wavered at the slightest hint of adversity.  They complained, betrayed and even created false idols.

Moses himself never reached the Promised Land, but he delivered his people and remained faithful to The Lord.

The connection between teachers and Moses is strong.  In a world where we may feel alone, we must stand up and have an unwavering faith that we are living a Christ-like life.  In our own classrooms, we set the tone, handle discipline and undergo daily disputes.  Every day we are faced with trials that can make even the strongest of Christians waver.

We as adults (administrators, staff, teachers and coaches) are all expected to do the "right thing".  In today's world, the "right thing" is not always what lines up with what God wants us to do.  We feel pressured to let something slide because "it's not that big of a deal".

I'm sure that Moses was tempted to let things slide and even question God himself.  He was probably tempted to abandon his people (at least the "defiant and ungrateful" individuals) and continue on his journey himself.  By trimming the so called fat, his journey would be shorter and easier.  But Moses never wavered.  He saw to it that all Israelites would have opportunity to reach the Promised Land.  He had faith in God, even when all the people he led questioned him and complained about hunger, thirst or being lost, he had a servant's heart. 

In the same way, we must do this with our students.  Knowing that we are leading them to the Promised Land despite the obstacles we may face.  I am encouraged every day by my interactions with our students. 

As the school year winds down, I encourage you to lead like Moses led.  If he could do it for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for 40 years straight in the desert while fighting wars, we are more than capable of teaching on the current schedule.  We have a great faculty and administration here at Phoenix Christian capable of extraordinary faith!

Message from Andi O'Dell, Junior High Teacher

“I Will Save the Best for Last”

They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.  Revelation 22:4

I have shown you so many good things-my favor, my mercy.  I have granted you forgiveness, gifted you with insight, and flooded your life with my own joy.  But there is so much yet to come.

The day is coming when disappointment and death will be no more.  In their place will be abundant healing and fruitfulness, rich beauty and satisfaction.  The day is coming when I will show you what will bring your greatest joy and satisfaction.  I will show my face to you.  You will see the radiance of my countenance smiling down on you, welcoming you, rewarding you.  You will see the beauty of my character like never before-clearly and completely.

I am giving you abundant life now and in the days to come.  But you can celebrate in knowing that I will save the best for last-when you will see my face.

I have been marked as yours, Lord.  How I long to see the beauty of your face smiling as you look me in the eye and say, “Well done.”. . .

-Abundant Life by Nancy Guthrie

Message from Karla Mungillo, Elementary Teacher

Romans 15:4  "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

 I'm tired,  I'm worn
My heart is heavy from the work it takes to keep on breathing
I've made mistakes,  I've let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed by the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest  so I cry out with all that I have left

And my prayers are wearing thin I'm worn even before the day begins
I'm worn I've lost my will to fight, I'm worn so heaven come and flood my eyes
Let me see redemption win Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn
I want to know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Cause I'm worn

I heard this song on the radio and I quickly realized that this sums up the way I have been feeling.  I am simply worn out.  Worn out from the demands of everyday living, worn out from the stress of trying to raise godly children, worn out from teaching my students to make wise decisions and to have a servants heart, worn out from pretending to others that I have it altogether when inside I'm falling apart.  But I know there is hope and I know that redemption wins.

What a treasure we have in God's word.  It's packed with lessons about people who walked with God.  They experienced great success and tremendous failure.  They were real people with real problems, people who struggled, just like we do, to grow in their faith.  What an encouragement to press on, even as they did, to help others know God.  May our lives be living messages for others to see.  He has placed each of us believers in a particular place, at this particular time.  Maybe it's to encourage another teacher who's afraid to ask for help.  Maybe it's to help those experiencing physical or emotional weakness, who struggle just to make it through the day.  Just stop and consider what others are dealing with in their classes or at home, and then offer them the same understanding and patient you desire from others.

Romans 15:4  "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."