Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Message from Yvonne Calderon, JH Teacher

Psalm 4:8
8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
In keeping the theme that the chapel team set forth. Here is a slice of my

REAL WORLD.

I have learned in my life there are things I do well and other things where I just plain ol’ stink up the joint! Sleeping is one area where I stink up the joint. I like to tell myself I am not a worrier but in the middle of the night, I worry!

This last Monday night I had one of the best nights of sleep in the past 20 years. I have been worried about my husband, Art, losing his job. The company he worked for was sold and they are moving to New Jersey. August 31st was to be his last day. I have been praying for a new job for Art. I have prayed that prayer 1,000 different ways. I did not get any peace or rest!

Monday night, this was my prayer. Dear Lord, you know the wants and needs of my family. You know where Art is in his return to health. Lord, I know that Art wants to serve you by doing volunteer work over the next several months. I know that volunteer work will not pay the bills. Lord, will you make a way to pay the bills AND serve you?

God answered my prayer the next day. Art’s boss told him they will need him PART TIME over the next few months to get through a transition.

It is amazing to me when Art and I began to pray for a way for Art to serve the Lord AND get paid is when God made the way. He created a change in my heart! Before, I was just praying for a new job. When I changed my prayer to SERVE THE LORD and pay the bills is when God revealed his plan.

I can rest in Psalm 4:8 that I can lie down in peace and SLEEP, because he will make me dwell in safety.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Message from Karen Boyce, Business Manager

I am now “enrolled” at PC. I love it. A lot of green. A cougar mascot. Symbolism. But my inquisitive mind wants to know if there a deeper meaning for me and my new journey? So I began my homework…

Green. Green is the color seen as tranquil and refreshing bringing about peace, natural balance and self-control. Ahhh … now there is a Biblical target.

Cougar. Cougars can leap vertically and horizontally. Their eyes are spaced to maximize visual acuity and distant sight. They have strong, short limbs that lead to large paws with retractable claws. The easiest way to determine the presence of a cougar has been to confirm the imprints or “pug marks” left in its track. Their pug marks are distinguished by three lobes and are large – about the size of an adult hand. Because they retract their nails, their footpath lacks nail marks. They are able to sprint, but also can lope at an even, long-striding pace. Cougars cannot roar, yet they are the largest cat that can purr.

Now I’m really thinking… and praying …

Dear God,
As I walk my daily journey at PC, please …
… help me to be a person that others will see as “green”- a peacemaker, calming, refreshing, with self-control and balance. Remind me to speak truth in love, not a roar.
… provide me visual acuity here, yet guided with eternal perspective.
… direct my path so that, like a Cougar, my “pug marks” can leave identifying characteristics. Help me walk a path that each step is distinguished with three lobes - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Please let the largeness of any imprint be measured only by the size of God’s presence. Help me to be “retractable” when needed so that my path does not leave any evidence or reminder to others of my ability to wound through defensiveness.
… Thank you for already providing me with the short limbs.  Let my gait be known as graceful yet strengthen me to lope at a pace that sustains a long-stride so that no step is ever too big, the path ahead too long, or I become too weak to fulfill your kingdom purpose.

PC … Thank you for welcoming me along this journey and I truly am blessed at the opportunity of this footpath alongside each of you. Go Green! Go Cougars!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Message from Jeff Blake, High School Teacher

PC Family,

Our high school students have decided this year to pursue “Our Real World” as their theme. Honestly at the beginning of the year, the theme seemed a little clumsy and I was not sure of its potential to set a spiritual tone for our year.

Equally, our planning this summer seemed a little awkward at times especially at our student leadership retreat where the students seemed to forget the spiritual mission for which they had originally committed. I feared there was a little too much “real world” at play. Yet as we finished our last night of leadership retreat, hearts began to soften. God, our Creator, was still creating. God was on the move, and I saw it.

I am embarrassed to admit that I doubted my own prayers of desperation. I feared there was something I was doing wrong as their teacher. And in that fear I submitted to the lie that their spiritual formation is up to me.

This summer, 2 months passed before it dawned on Lisa and I—that we were pregnant AGAIN. The Creator, had secretly began to knit within my wife, a whole new life. Our Creator is still creating. The Creator often moves in places far from the reach of my awareness. Surely He is working in you and I such places even NOW.

At high school retreat, we witnessed (in part) of the work of His creative Spirit. God took our disjointed elements of planning and wove them into something which exceeded my wildest expectations. Our Creator is on the move in our students’ real world. May they journey even closer toward the likeness of Christ.

May we continue to pray for the Creator to mold and shape us all increasingly into the image of Christ, not as drones but as unique and creative reflections of the One who taught us how to live and love.

Jeff Blake

"All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being."
(John 1:3)

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Message from Sonya Berges, JH/SH Teacher

Are you for Real?

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:8-9

Do you ever find yourself pretending you have it all together? Why? Do you think you’ll poorly represent Christianity if your imperfections show? Are you afraid people will discover you aren’t perfect? This is dangerous. Why? Because it’s fake. Most people are tired of Christians wearing masks, tired of hypocrisy. They want the real deal.

Why is it so necessary to be real?

First for your relationship with Christ. You can’t get close to God without being real and vulnerable. He already knows your weaknesses but trying to hid them keeps you from letting God into your heart. There’s nothing hiding in your life that will make God love you less.

Second your relationship with others requires you to be real. How will people see God’s love if they don’t see Him working in your life? Your imperfections allow others to see God’s grace, forgiveness and healing. If you had it all together, you wouldn’t need God. Others won’t understand their need for God unless they see your need for him.

Being real means admitting you don’t have it all together. Don’t worry about others’ opinions. You have nothing to prove, your worth comes from Christ. People will gain respect for you when you’re honest. They’ll open up to you when they know you can relate.

From “Conversations with Jesus” – Youth for Christ

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Message from Roger Bemis, Band Teacher

The grand chess master quietly smiles as his opponent makes a move that seems to advance his side against the master. But the chess master isn't concerned about how things look now, he's smiling because he's already 10 MOVES AHEAD IN HIS MIND WHERE HE WINS THE MATCH! God's telling you to not worry because ' ALL THINGS WILL WORK TOGETHER FOR YOUR GOOD' NO MATTER WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW!! HE'S 10 MOVES AHEAD WHERE YOU WIN!!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (KJV)

Monday, August 22, 2011

Message from Phil Adams, Principal

Why do we do what we do? Jesus has set the example that we be leaders of no reputation. Not bad reputation, just no reputation. The following hymn, familiar to many of us, expands on the theme. If you are unfamiliar with the tune, or even if you know it well, click on the link below.

May the mind of Christ my Savior live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow'r controlling All I do and say.

May the Word of Christ dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph only through His pow'r.

May the peace of Christ my Savior rule my life in every thing,
That I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me, as the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing, this is victory.

May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus as I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me as I seek the lost to win, and may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/401#ixzz1Vli8QR9q

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8 (English Standard Version)