Thursday, March 29, 2012

Message from Irma Flores, Elementary Teacher

In my reading of Romans 6 I was reminded of the newness of life that we have in Christ Jesus.

Verse 6: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

It’s Spring time and I can’t help notice all the new things in nature that I see. Another verse I memorized as a new Christian was 2 Corinthians 5:17:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed way, behold, all things are become new.” God makes me new spiritually and I will never grow old. Even though my outward appearance may, my inward spirit will be renewed daily.

Praise God that Jesus has made me a new creature and all the old things have passed away. Jesus is life.

John 10: 10: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Message from Angie Dickerson, Admin. Assistant to Principal

Planting for the Lord

Looking at our website verse: Proverbs 22:6 - "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." It struck me that the PC teachers and staff are "soldiers" involved in the battleground for these young people's souls - assisting their families in the "training" of the way they should go. This is an extremely important mission and one that God has definitely hand picked each one of us for.

It is a daunting and tiring task to work with children day in and day out, and we don't always see any results. However, as Proverbs 22 says - "when he is OLD he will not depart from it". The word OLD caught my eye. We may never see all of the seeds planted here bloom, it may be years before some of these students blossom into the men or women that God created them to be. But, we are being faithful to plant the seeds as the great Gardner has instructed us. Remember we are working toward eternal treasures for ourselves, our families and our students.

Matthew 6:19
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Matthew 6:20
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Message from Keith deLaet, High School Teacher

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

In some respects this is a fantastic time of the year. Spring is here, we have just had a nice break, and the time remember and celebrate Jesus’ victory over death is only days away. That always provides a great opportunity to look at life, God’s calling, and how we are doing in our walk with the risen Christ.

Right in there, however, is income tax season. I know a great many people enjoy the challenge of the annual return and I am also aware of the fact that many earn their salary based on their knowledge and application of the IRS tax code. I’m thankful for those people because for me, it might as well be written in a different language. I just don’t follow it and it causes me frustration and fatigue.

In regard to taxes, Jesus message is simple. Give to Caesar, in our case the government, what belongs to them but also remember to give to God what belongs to God. There is no griping about the misuse of tax money or a long discourse on the responsibility of government. The only thing present is the admonition to be a good citizen, fulfill your responsibility. As you do this, Jesus reminds us to also make sure we are also good citizens of the eternal kingdom. Don’t forget to give to God the things that belong to God.

For me this is a wonderful reminder, using the tax season as a lesson in faith. It can be easy to itemize our deductions and see just what we have done with our money. Jesus calls us to step beyond that and to evaluate our entire relationship with God. Give to God that which belongs to God, He says. When we really think about it, it creates a compelling list and begs the question: “Do I really give?”

Friday, March 23, 2012

Message from Margaret Crotts, Elementary Teacher

Look at the birds in the air. They don’t plant
or harvest or store food in barns, but your
heavenly Father feeds them.
Matthew 6:26

Consider the earth! Our globe’s weight has been
estimated at six sextillion tons (a six with twenty-
one zeroes). Yet it is precisely tilted at twenty-three
degrees; any more or any less and our seasons would be lost in a melted polar flood. Though our globe revolves at the rate of one-thousand miles per hour or twenty-five thousand miles per day or nine million miles per year, none of us tumbles into orbit…

As you stand….observing God’s workshop, let me
pose a few questions. If he is able to place the
stars in their sockets and suspend the sky like a
curtain, do you think it is remotely possible that God
is able to guide your life? If your God is mighty enough
to ignite the sun, could it be that he is mighty enough
to light your path? If he cares enough about the planet
Saturn to give it rings or Venus to make it sparkle, is
there an outside chance that he cares enough about you
to meet your needs?

Max Lucado
Grace for the Moment

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Message from Marc Cram, High School Teacher

I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your doings;
I muse on the work of Your hands.
I stretch out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You, as a parched land.

Answer me quickly, O LORD, my spirit fails;
Do not hide Your face from me,
Or I will become like those who go down to the pit.
Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning;
For I trust in You;
Teach me the way in which I should walk;
For to You I lift up my soul.
Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies;
I take refuge in You.

Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me.
In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
And in Your lovingkindness, cut off my enemies
And destroy all those who afflict my soul,
For I am Your servant.

God led me to this Psalm this week for my wife (fyi it is so fun to say I have a wife now :) and I found that it also applies to PC. This part of the Psalms, verse 5, starts with remembering the days of old and what the Lord has done for us. I remember only a few years back we were teaming with students and at full capacity. PC has had many great years in the past and have been blessed with so many students. Now we look at our school which was cut in half pretty much for enrollment and it has been hard and stressful through these last few years. But as the Psalms tell us, “For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to you I lift up my soul.” We know we need to trust in God and we know that He will lead us as He wants us. We have seen great things from our small body of students, great leaps in faith and a community that seeks the Lord. I see this Psalm as an encouragement to keep in going, to battle through the hard times, to trust our Guide and Leader, to take the hits and get back up again. I KNOW GOD WILL LEAD US AND WE WILL BE ALL RIGHT!!! (I was getting a little fired up there…) We have a great Leader and a community of love that follows Him, with those two things all is possible. I look forward to the years to come for this school and to see where God is guiding us. It is exciting and scary all at the same time, but I trust in God and know He has a great and wonderful plan.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Message from Bruce Consier, Athletic Director

THE BUZZARD, THE BAT AND THE BUMBLEBEE" from D. Silver

BUZZARD - If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

BAT - The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

BUMBLEBEE - A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

TEACHER/COACHES
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up.

Read about the persons of great faith in Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11 ends with this:
“God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Message from Jim Callahan, High School Teacher

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation – if indeed you have tasked that the lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV


We all start the Christ life as babies in Christ. There is nothing bad or shameful about this. It is a spiritual reality that we all experience. We also are to remain as babies or children throughout our Christian lives in regard to humility (Matt. 18:1-4) and evil (1Cor 14:20). However, it is not the will of God that we remain as babies in every sense forever; we are to “grow up into salvation” (1Pt 2:2). Paul tells the Corinthian Christians “Brothers, do not be Children in your thinking (1Cor 14:20). How does Peter direct us to grow in this passage? The answer here is by the elimination of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander in our lives. What is very interesting here is that Peter does not say that when you grow up you will be able to eliminate these things, but rather that the elimination of these things is a prerequisite to growth through the proper use of “pure spiritual milk.” May God by His grace enable us to eliminate these things in our lives.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Message from Yvonne Calderon, Junior High Teacher

Psalms 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.


Monday: a razor blade in my tire
Wednesday: I locked my keys in my car when the manual and the dealer tell me that it is IMPOSSIBLE
Thursday: After leaving school early to take Julia to the doctor, my CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SOON came on 2 miles from the dealership.
Friday: Art was diagnosed with glaucoma

If I looked at those situations just as I wrote those, my week would look fairly icky!

Here is the part where Psalm 91:4 became REAL!!!

Monday: The razor blade in my tire was about 1 mile away from school and Jose and Carroll changed my tire. When I called the tire store we patronize, the gentleman told me that they only had one tire to fit my car in the entire city. The tire was out in Goodyear. Would it be ok if I drove out there? God was watching over me because the ONLY store was 1.5 miles from my home.

Wednesday: Locking my keys in my trunk allowed me to remain on campus for another 30 minutes. I am not sure exactly how God was protecting Julia, Sihao and I. I am confident that His protective wing was over me.

Thursday: The CHECK ENGINE SOON light coming on 2 miles from the dealer was amazing. The bolts on my engine were cracking and set off the sensor. What a blessing that they were covered under warranty.

Friday: Art received the diagnosis we were warned may happen after the brain bleed. “You have glaucoma” However, this came with the encouraging words, “We caught this very early!”

I marvel at how the Lord went before me every minute of every day. I am not sure I would have noticed if it had not been for my bible study. It is interesting when we are reminded to see God’s goodness; it is right before our eyes. In lieu of feeling overwhelmed, I felt blessed.

Dear Lord, may we find the blessings you send our way!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Message from Karen Boyce, Business Office Manager

Its almost spring break!

"Are you tired? Worn out? … Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30 The Message

I was camp counselor at a Jr/Sr High youth retreat a couple of weekends ago. The theme of the camp was “rest” focusing on Matthew 11:28. Honestly, teenagers and rest are an oxymoron in my mind. But, I was able to observe the teenagers “unplug” from their worlds, pause from their difficult situations, and seek oneness with God.

For me, I would prefer to replace the word “rest” with “sleep”, but I have subtle reminders that sleep was not God’s intention. Rather, God’s intention is for me to surrender, seek sanctification and He will lighten my burdens. Rest is divine diversion from the hectic human world we live in.

Each of us has our own cross to carry. My heaviest cross was losing my mom two years ago yesterday. But, through this journey, I have learned about the cost and yet the necessary craving for sanctification.

My response to the command “Come to Me” allows me to measure my commitment to God. Oswald Chambers says it best, “Sanctification … will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also bring profound joy to Him.”

With Spring Break next week, I will pray for your rest. Hopefully you will get some sleep too, but more importantly, that whatever cross you carry, my prayer is that you will find time to get away with God and that He will lighten your burdens. Your “resting” will bring our God great joy!

Have a great week!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Message from Sonya Berges, JH/SH Teacher

This school year my personal life has been a year of ups and downs; extreme situations and conflict. Situations in my extended family have challenged us in many ways. There are a couple of things that God is working with me on but the one key element has been prayer.

Prayer without ceasing has never been a virtue of mine. I’m impatient; I want to see action, solve a problem and move on. If you have a plan or idea, get started on executing it. God doesn’t always work that way – or maybe He just doesn’t show it to me as quickly as I’d like. Through the situations in our family, I’ve experienced first-hand the significant difference that consistent, regular prayer makes in a situation. When I don’t pray regularly, I find myself trying to take over and control people and circumstances. When I pray regularly, the situations may not change but I do. The circumstances may remain uncertain but my heart and life is securely held by Christ; nothing gets into my life that he hasn’t allowed.

Ephesians 3:14-21 has been a passage I’ve turned to, repeated and taken a stand on.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Message from Roger Bemis, Band Teacher

Recently, I saw the movie "Act of Valor" opening weekend (Feb 24). I encourage you to go see it. If for no other reason, than to support our military and to send Hollywood a message; that we don't like most of the crap they put out. It stars real Navy SEALS acting out a fictional story based on several true life events woven together to make the movie.


1 John 3:16
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:15-17 (in Context) 1 John 3 (Whole Chapter)

1 John 3:15-17
New International Version (NIV)
15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

For me, there was lot's of "eye candy"; Blackhawks, .50cal machine guns, gatling guns, fast river boats, HALO jumps, submarines and more.

For a good review from a Christian perspective: http://www.movieguide.org/reviews/movie/act-of-valor.html

Friday, March 2, 2012

Message from Phil Adams, Superintendent

Acts 26:24-26
English Standard Version
And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.

As with Paul in the first century, so it is with us. Christians are often accused of being nuts. Paul knew and spoke the truth. He was not intimidated by power or insults. Just the opposite – he spoke truth to power. The truth of God’s Word is not limited to the facts contained in it but extends to the effects it should have on all of us. The fruit of the Spirit is as factual as the theology we see. Sometimes scripture is attacked for its mere existence, more often it is attacked for what it demands of us in our everyday lives interacting with our fellow man.
I also find Paul’s last statement interesting. We can’t live out our Christian faith as if no one is watching. People are watching. Students, parents, colleagues, and family. We do not live in corners even if we wanted to.