Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Message from Brandon Harris, Development & Head Football Coach

Ever felt like you were facing a situation and the stakes were extremely high? Felt like there was no way out of the situation; maybe it was a friendship, financial, something involving a family member or friend? Back taxes? Legal issues? A home you need to sell or buy? God can get you out of any situation no matter how bleak and turn your challenges (enemy) into victory for his glory!

Acts 12: 1-11


1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

Friday, December 16, 2011

Message from Alicia Galindo, Human Resource Manager

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
– Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

Sometimes we can get bogged down when we look at our surroundings and the situations we are in. Know that our Lord wants to fill us with joy (The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength) and though nothing may be easy on this earth, our hope is in eternal salvation. Now that is joy unspeakable….Have a blessed day!

(Taken from "The Word of the Day" by Tom Nannarone)

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Message from Joe Frost, Director of Technology

Matthew 14:20-33

They all ate...and they took up twelve baskets full of...leftovers. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Immediately, He (Jesus) made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side while He dismissed the crowds.

After He had dismissed them, He went alone to pray...and the boat was a long way from land being beaten by the waves.

In the fourth watch of the night, nearly morning, He came to them walking on the sea...and they were terrified. But Jesus immediately said to them do not be afraid, it is I.

Peter replied, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." And Jesus simply said, "Come."

Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind he was afraid and as he began to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."

And Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him saying "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

*************************************

Jesus just fed well over five thousand people with a small basket of fish & a side order of bread.

And if His crew didn't get it passing out the food, they had to when the 12 of them picked up 12 baskets of leftovers - yup, there's something different about Jesus...

So, after dinner Jesus sends the 12 ahead of Him to the other side of the sea so He can say good night to the crowd and go off for a few minutes of alone time, to pray.

Nobody asks how Jesus will get there, no doubt they expect a boat, so when they see Him, barely, in the dark, walking on the wind tossed, white capped sea they think He's a ghost and just like at any good horror movie they all begin to scream.

Sure, they just witnessed Jesus perform the miracle with fish & chips, but this is hours later, it's still pretty dark outside, it feels like a storm is coming, they can barely keep their eyes open and suddenly this guy comes along side the boat walking on water, yeah it's okay to scream.

After they settle down a bit, Peter thinks it's pretty cool to walk on water and Jesus grants his request by letting him walk on water too, but remember it's still cold, dark, wet, and windy.

Peter steps out of the boat and doesn't sink, but that doesn't mean he's not getting drenched by the wind and waves and probably the second time he gets slapped in the face & eyes by the stinging spray he starts thinking maybe he should get back in the boat - and then he realizes the water has begun climbing over his feet and up his legs...he's sinking, and he starts to scream again.

But, remember, he's a fisherman. He can swim, but instead he screams to Jesus, "Lord, save me." And though there's much to be said in Peter's choice to ask Jesus for help rather than stripping and swimming, it's Jesus' response that stands out, "Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him" and lifted Peter out of the water and they got into the boat.

Jesus reached out and GRABBED Peter and kept him on top of the water until they got into the boat.

Jesus didn't have to grab Peter, but He did.

Jesus didn't have to spend hours saying good night to the crowd after dinner either... but He did. He cares. He's relational.

And, like Peter (and the other 11), even though Jesus may perform miracles in front of us or for us we too may still doubt, slip, sink, get frustrated... And then we hear that song, read that verse, feel that peace, and realize He cares enough to reach out and take hold of us, lift us up, and set us back in the boat, with HIM.

He cares. Trust Him.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Message from Laura Furedy, Preschool Director

Gold, Fur and Common Sense

My husband and I had been happily married (most of the time) for five years but hadn't been blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide.

God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son.
The next year God blessed us with another son.
The following year, He blessed us with yet another son.
The year after that we were blessed with a daughter.

My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children, and the oldest was only four years old. I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a minister once told me, "If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."
I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs.

I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint Him.
I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding...
when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.
When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess.

In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children. While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother - I didn't even come close...

I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God.
I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too. Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and m y son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man.

This was their moment to shine.
My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes." But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes." My four-year-old "Mary" said, "That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."
A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing.

I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama." Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back upand held it tightly as the wise men arrived. My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, "We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."
The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation.

"I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one," laughed the pastor, wiping tears from his eyes. "For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur."
"My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing," I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.
Unknown

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Message from Irma Flores, Elementary Teacher

Acts 8:8 And there was great JOY in that city.

Bah! Humbug! I caught myself being a “Scrooge” as I thought of all I had to do for Christmas and how time goes quickly and so on. As I prayed and studied my Scripture for that day, the Lord redirected my thoughts and helped me change my attitude.

In Acts where the early church is growing, I noticed many “greats”.
“great power” (the apostles had)
Great grace (on all that heard)
Great wonders (Stephen did)
Great lamentation (over Stephen’s death)
Great persecution
And Great JOY!

Because of the persecution, the people were scattered abroad and went everywhere preaching the Gospel. Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ to them and they believed. There was great JOY in that city.

Praise God that we have great JOY here as we present the Gospel in our classes and especially now at Christmas. Phoenix Christian is bringing great JOY to our city of Phoenix. Merry Christmas.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Message from Angie Dickerson, Admin. Assistant to Principal

It was an unwelcomed interruption to the day of many tasks. A student who was mourning the loss of a loved one showed up at my office door. “Lord,” I thought, “I don’t have time to deal with this right now. I have A, B, C and D to finish. I don’t know what to say, what to do.” But here the student was at my door, crying and very distraught.

I asked the Lord to give me the wisdom to comfort this hurting child. I prayed aloud for comfort for this child and offered a few words of wisdom. Mostly I just stood there and handed out Kleenex as needed. A few hugs and back pats later, and the student was ready to go back to class.

As the day progressed and I finished my tasks, it struck me that in God’s economy my “interruption” was probably the most important part of the day for Him. I was here, I was available, and He gave me the words to say. But even more than that – He gave me the opportunity to minister to this child. Me! – the cranky lady trying to get her “things” done! Me! – the one who didn’t want to be bothered!

I felt humbled. I knew it was a prompting to start seeing things from a more eternal perspective. The little moments – maybe even the things we disregard in our rush through each day – are the blessings God gives us.

We don’t have to go very far to do the Lord’s work. He has us all right here at PC and offers us opportunities each day to minister to the students, the parents and our co-workers. What a total blessing for all of us.

Thank you, Lord, for using us to comfort, guide, support, encourage and walk alongside those you put in our path each day! Amen

Friday, December 9, 2011

Message from Keith deLaet, High School Teacher

Keep it simple. That’s my vow this Christmas. Of course it has started out a little bit rough with a trip to the Emergency Room and a Kidney Stone procedure with a complication. Upon further reflection, now feeling better, I believe that the experience has just added to the resolve that birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is meant to be observed in simplicity. The fact that He entered the world in the manner in which He did, simply, and the fact that Mary and Joseph were people of simple means really drives this home, at least for me. So this year, I’m dusting off my simple list which is provided below, in hopes that in a quiet moment, or a simple gesture, or an inexpensive way, we all can have a magnificent moment in the presence of Jesus!

Merry Christmas!
Keith de Laet

12 HOLIDAY FAMILY & DEVOTIONAL IDEAS (using the 12 Days of Christmas)
1. Open an advent calendar
2. Spread out your holiday gift giving
3. View holiday specials together and have a group discussion.
4. Donate to the Thrift Shop.
5. Pick an Angel Tree gift
6. Bake and wrap gifts for others, talk about why these people are important.
7. Make an event out of decorating for the holidays
8. Visit free light displays, the electrical parade, etc.
9. Emphasize family meals
10. Attend at least one Christmas church service
11. Have a family wrapping party
12. Establish a holiday tradition – May I suggest watching or reading Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol?

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Message from Margaret Crotts, First Grade Teacher

“ I will thank you Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled WITH JOY because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.”
Psalm 9 : 1-2

Teaching should be a joyful experience, but every teacher knows that some days are so busy and so hurried that JOY seems a distant promise. It is not. Every day, we can claim the spiritual abundance and JOY that God promises for our lives….and we should.

C.H. Spurgeon said: “Rejoicing is clearly a spiritual command. To ignore it is disobedience”. We are called by our Creator to live abundantly, prayerfully, and joyfully. To do otherwise is to squander His gifts.

Today let JOY be evident in every aspect of your life, including life inside the classroom. Today, JOYFULLY let your words and deeds be a testimony to Christ’s love and to His grace.

JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD HAS COME!!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Message from Bruce Consier, Athletic Director

Hindsight

"Life has to be lived forwards but it can only be understood backwards."
- Søren Kierkegaard

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, And he will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

"Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?" Job 12:12 (NIV)

Hindsight
If we could walk backwards through life, so many times of doubt and questioning would be erased from our path. But sadly, we would have missed those desperate moments of trusting in the Lord, and clinging to him for guidance.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Message from Jim Callahan, High School Teacher

Then Pilate said to him,” So you are a king?” Jesus answered him, “You say that I am king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world – to witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” John 18:37-38 ESV

There are times when it is easy to think that truth relativism is a 20th century invention. This is not the case. Pilates’ question “What is truth?” shows this. Normally, when people ask the question that Pilate asked, they do so because they believe that truth is ultimately person relative --- your truth is your truth and my truth is my truth, or that no person is able to know for sure what the really truth is. If this view of truth is the is the truth (please notice the consistency problem here), then anyone who claims to witness to the truth is either simply expressing their own opinion which has no more or less value than anyone else’s, or is completely mistaken in thinking that they know something that cannot possibly be known. I have had students at PC that are truth relativists and an alarming number at that. I suspect that some of you also have had students of this kind. Our ministry to these students must focus on the reality that Jesus is the truth. We must all provide a sound apologetic for the claims of Jesus Christ that he is the truth, that he has come to witness to the truth and that everyone “who is of the truth” listens to Him.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Message from Yvonne Calderon, Junior High Teacher

I heard this song a few years ago. This song became my favorite song to play at Christmas. I think the band Go FIsh says it best.

Turn up your speakers and enjoy.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkIj94yepfU&feature=related