Message from Jeff Blake, MS/HS Principal

Matthew 28:16-20

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Great Commission

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

I am on a journey of learning to seek God’s eternal presence.  I am on a journey of learning perpetual awareness of my eternal reality.  And in this place, moments of struggle are yet another opportunity to invite God into every dimension of my living and wait expectantly for Him and His miracles.  God is preparing you and I for all that is to come. 

One author notes how many occasions creation and the teaching of prayer are connected in the scriptures.  The author suggests our spiritual ancestors’ knew the Creator could do with creation what He chooses.  In this sense, miracles are simply God interrupting the natural order we have come to expect.

And consider Jesus in the moment of the Great Commission, with some of his students still confused.  Jesus is still teaching and challenging, with an eye on their eternal reality.  Let your mind drift further into the stories which come after the Great Commission.  We see His students unshackling themselves from fear and doubt.  We see miracles among them and lives rooted in an incredible courage that could only come from their embrace of an eternal reality.

As an educator, I am drawn to the absence of the word “should” from the Great Commission.  Jesus commands “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 
Jesus taught and modeled what he expected.  His teaching was not limited to a list of “shoulds.”   He lived what he taught and invited His disciples, you, and I into His reality.  May this day be another step closer to living into the truth of our existence. The Church, that is the collective body of Christ followers, is designed to lead the world.   This year, our Phoenix Christian students have chosen to dedicate themselves to a theme of “illuminate”, this year.  May we join our students by modeling lives anchored in eternity as we observe and reflect the life of Jesus.  May we resist reducing the Great Commission to a list of “shoulds”  as we make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Jesus  has commanded, and remembering his promise: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Message from Cathy Birdsong, High School Teacher

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

There would normally be so much anxiety about the first days at a new school, but I knew God wanted me here.  I had continual questions about procedures and details.  After two days of classes, we were off to retreat where I was to supervise freshmen girls.  I was frazzled with not enough sleep and a staff member prayed for me.  What a blessing just to know others are praying for me.  We can be anxious in our daily experiences, but what a comfort to know our Creator is in control.  I encouraged the girls in my cabin to remember to pray for each other after the retreat.  There was a spiritual bond created when we prayed together.  

There have been many opportunities to pray and the photograph above is from the football game on Friday, August 30^th.  We were all praying for the player from the other team as he lay on the field waiting for the ambulance to arrive.  This public display of prayer is a witness as to why Phoenix Christian is a “light” to the world.  The blessing of prayer anyone can give to others.  The bond of Christ has made me feel instantaneously connected and blessed to be here.