Message from Lisa Blake, Head Counselor

So let's just say being a mother of 4 is certainly the greatest challenge of my life! This last weekend felt like an episode of Nanny 911 except I didn't have the Super Nanny flying in to save the day. After a long trying day on Sunday, I escaped out to the front porch to try to find my way back to sanity.  As I let out a deep sigh, I found myself reflecting on the "centering" prayer that Jeff taught that very Sunday morning at Joy. "Be still and know that I am God." So I began with Be Still. Why is this so hard for us? I ask this question to my kids all of the time. Why can't you just be still? I'm sure that's what God's asking us.  Why can't  you just "be" Lisa? I want you to be still with me Lisa. I want you to be with me Lisa. I want you to be still and know Lisa. I want you to be still and know Lisa that I am. I want you to be still and know that I am God Lisa. Be still when you're trying to make dinner and you have two little ones crying for your attention. I Am God! Be still when you look at that stack of 50 essays to grade. I Am God! Be still when you hear the news you've always dreaded. I Am God! Be still when you're head is pounding, you're back is aching, you're stomach churning. I Am God! Be still be still be still. I wonder how many more times I 'll need to hear that before it becomes second nature. It's almost as if we cannot really KNOW God until we are still. I often reflect on my grandfather's last few months. With his memory failing and his body deteriorating, I imagine him in his stillness and can't help but believe that He was in this powerful communion with His God. 

The funny thing is even just sitting here for these few minutes tonight "being still" I find myself breathing more deeply, experiencing the peace that can only be found when we rest in the truth that He Is God!

Message from Jeff Blake, Jr/Sr High Principal

Brian McClaren, in his book Finding Our Way: The Return of the Ancient Practices, quotes this wonderful little song by Carrie Newcomber:

holy is the dish and drain
the soap and sink, and the cup and plate
and the warm wool socks, and the cold white tile
showerheads and good dry towels
and frying eggs sound like psalms
with bits of salt measured in my palm
it’s all a part of a sacrament
as holy as a day is spent

holy is the busy street
and cars that boom with passion’s beat
and the check out girl, counting change
and the hands that shook my hands today
and hymns of geese fly overhead
and spread their wings like their parents did
blessed be the dog, that runs in her sleep
to chase some wild and elusive thing

Find more similar lyrics on holy is the familiar room
and quiet moments in the afternoon
and folding sheets like folding hands
to pray as only laundry can
I’m letting go of all my fear
like autumn leaves made of earth and air
for the summer came and the summer went
as holy as a day is spent

holy is the place I stand
to give whatever small good I can
and the empty page, and the open book
redemption everywhere i look
unknowingly we slow our pace
in the shade of unexpected grace
and with grateful smiles and sad lament
as holy as a day is spent

and morning light sings “providence”
as holy as a day is spent

McLaren’s point in highlighting the song is very simple.  We are to move each day closer to a discipline of “faithing our practices” (p. 184).   And by that we are to learn spiritual intimacy in the simple routines of day. 

This morning and this moment, there is a simple beauty in the back and forth questions and answers between Lisa, my wife, and Brooklynne, my daughter—as Lisa fills lunch boxes. In their dialogue, I hear simple expressions of love and intimacy, which flow from our Creator’s passion for relationship.  And by the way, I can also celebrate the cooing of my youngest upstairs anticipating his day.

Take a moment today to “faith your practices.”  Brother Lawrence once remarked that he could sense God’s presence while doing the dishes as much while taking the Eucharist.  May we sense God’s presence in our empty and full classrooms, the wet grass after an evening of rain, the laughter from the play ground, and the fellowship we enjoy from each other.

Armstrong passed away on Aug. 25, 2012 following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. He was 82.

"High Flight"
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

 

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds...and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of...wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up, the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, nor even eagle flew.
And while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space...
...put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

President Reagan used a portiong of this poem during his speech at the memorial for the Challenger astronauts in 1986 with this well remembered line, "We shall never forget them nor the last time we saw them, as they prepared for their mission and waved good-bye and slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God."  I thought the entire poem would be appropriate in recognition and honor of the passing of Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon.

Message from Phil Adams, Superintendent

Matthew 13

I was reminded in the worship service yesterday that the quality of soil is not the primary concern of the sower.  His job is to scatter the seed as far and as wide as possible. In the short term it would seem to be more efficient if he got to decide where the seed would go, but that would only slow him down over the course of time. Make no mistake, the fruit that the seed will bear will reveal the soil in due course.  Our students are "soil". No one knows but God whether they are fertile or not. Their soil may be thin. It may be choked with weeds. But just like soil can be amended, cultivated, watered, and fertilized, people, especially young people,  do not remain static. And thank God we are not responsible for the quality of the soil, just the spreading of seed. 

A criticism often leveled at Christian schools is the lack of maturity of their students. They can be indifferent, even hostile to spiritual things. They may be lukewarm or uncommitted. Christ's disciples were all adults and He often admonished them, yet they changed the world. Our kids will change the world too. Let's be as patient with them as others were of us.

Message from Connie Williams, Elementary Teacher

As the school year winds down, I'm reminded of the many choices and decisions our students and fellow staff members have ahead of them over the summer months. It is comforting to know we can entrust them to the gentle yet strong arms of our loving Savior.

This prayer is from the book, Power Prayers for Teachers by Denise Shumway.

Under His Wings

Psalm 91:4 NKJV

He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

Father, what a comfort to know we're securely sheltered under You.  Like a mother hen, You supply us with everything we need.  Likewise, You can provide for those we work with-students and staff alike.  We rest in Your truth, which surrounds us and offers safety in the storms of life.  Like armor, Your Word protects us in battle.

Have a restful summer!

Message from Donna Thornton, Elementary Art Teacher

On The Seashore

Sunday in our Bible class we were talking about Jesus' appearance on the seashore to the disciples who had gone fishing.  I thought it was interesting that Peter needed to be doing something while he was waiting on the Lord so he went fishing. Jesus seemed to be okay with that since he was preparing a little barbeque fish lunch for them on the shore. 

   Sometimes I get a little over anxious while waiting.  I often wonder how many years of life I could add if I was given back all the wait time.  Given this story in the Bible it seems that it may be a common human problem, not just a modern day problem.  So, is it better to be doing something while waiting?  I think so.  I'm often amazed at the calming effect this has and also the many everyday tasks that can be checked off my list by doing so. 

   Another thing the lesson brought out, that I hadn't thought of before, was the personal characteristics that Jesus demonstrated as he encountered these seven disciples - kindness, generosity, empowering teamwork, and servanthood. He didn't give them a lecture. Instead he gave them a job," Feed my sheep". 

   My birthday last week gave me a few moments of reflection concerning time.  Life is short.  I hope that in the time I have left I will take these lessons to heart. I want to use my waiting time, work together with others, and also take seriously the task of feeding the sheep.

Message from Carol Stines, Director of International Program

My method of Bible reading is that I alternate between two translations or versions.  I read the Bible through using the Message translation then I read the Bible through using the Chronological Bible then I go back to the Message.  So, I’ve read the same passages a number of times, but recently, while reading in Exodus a simple verse struck me.

It’s Exodus 16:36: The Israelites ate manna forty years.  40 YEARS! 

Immediately the song came to mind – Our God is an Awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from Heaven above
With wisdom power and love
Our God is an awesome God

Just to think about the Lord providing for the Israelites every single day for 40 years is just one reason to sing that Our God is An Awesome God!  As the song says …

I hope that you have not
Too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God

Message from Dan Stauffer, Jr./Sr. High Teacher

Many of you have probably read Francis Chan's little book, Crazy Love.  From my perspective, he has a poignant way of reminding his readers about who God is and who we are as His children.  Here are a few lines from his book that encouraged me in my busyness:

"When I am consumed by my problems-stressed out about my life, my family, and my job-I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have a "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities. Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives. Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control. Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed. Why are we so quick to forget God? Who do we think we are?"

Message from Jamie Ross, Elementary Teacher

Kudos to Preschool

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
        Proverbs 22:6

My grand daughter and I have these philosophical discussions on our way home each day, from preschool.

Grand child: “Grawma, why did Jesus hafta die, then rise up again?”
Jamie: “Someone had to take the punishment for our sins.”
Grand child: “Do you sin, Grawma?”
Jamie: “Yes, I do. I ask Jesus to forgive me every day, for my sins.”
Grand child: “In that case: Grawma, will you give me some of yours? Cause I already gave Jesus all of mine.”

Not long ago, my darling grand daughter committed a biggie. As I turned to the sign out page, my heart sank. A note was attached: Please see Mrs. Furedy. She told me of how she spoke with Hailey and gave her consequences. The most important thing she did was to pray with her. When I told Hailey how sad I was for what she had done, she said that she had already said her sorries and she didn’t see the need for me to show the note to her mommy & daddy. Well of course, I did any way. Hailey wondered if this would ever be over with.

I appreciate the preschool teachers and director: Mrs. Furedy ever so much! They are helping parents & grand parents to raise kids for the kingdom.

Kudos to you: preschool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Message from Michele Reyman, Cafeteria Manager

Lighthouses shine their light into the darkness guiding weary and lost travelers to safety. They weather the storms, and as the wind and waves batter against them they stay solidly fixed on the rock. As we stay fixed on the rock we can weather the storms and shine our light to lead others to the safety of Jesus arms. " For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of the darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." ( Corinthians 4:6 ) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven." ( Matthew 5:16 "

Message from Karla Mungillo, Elementary Teacher

I heard this song a few weeks ago on the radio and it has now become my "theme" song.  The words are simple yet profound.  They sum up the attutude of every heart of a Christian.  I know at times we all fail but that doesn’t mean we give up.  Take the time to read the lyrics and see if these words don’t say what you think every time you come to work.

Sometimes I think
What will people say of me
When I'm only just a memory
When I'm home where my soul belongs

Was I love
When no one else would show up
Was I Jesus to the least of those
Was my worship more than just a song

(Chorus)
I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You
If love is who I am
Then this is where I stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back
I want to live like that
I want to live like that

Am I proof
That You are who you say You are
That grace can really change a heart
Do I live like Your love is true

People pass
And even if they don't know my name
Is there evidence that I've been changed
When they see me, do they see You

Chorus

I want to live like that
I want to live like that

I want to show the world the love You gave for me
(I want to live like that)
I'm longing for the world to know the glory of the King

Chorus

I want to live like that
I want to live like that

Message from Jennifer Pellish, High School Teacher

Worship and the Expression of Guilt (from Today in the Word)

Leviticus 5:1 “If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.

Although federal prosecutors had taped conversations that clearly implicated Rod Blagojevich, former governor of Illinois, in federal crimes, he continued to publicly deny his guilt: "I don’t believe there’s any cloud that hangs over me. I think there’s nothing but sunshine hanging over me."

Sin has a track record of self-deception. We can be made to feel guilty when we’ve done nothing wrong or believe ourselves innocent when we’re guilty. Feelings are no fail-safe guide for exposing sin; the Bible is our only reliable authority when it comes to probing our inner motivations and arbitrating our actions.

Leviticus offers a thorough look at what is and isn’t sin. In our passage today, we see that sin isn’t only a descriptor for the evil things we’ve done intentionally. Sin can also include unintentional acts. Guilt or innocence is not weighed on the scales of motivation. To mean to do right while inadvertently doing wrong is still sin. Sin is the transgression, or betrayal, of God’s holy standards, whether we’re conscious of those standards or not.

We betray God’s law not only by doing bad things (sins of commission) but also by neglecting to do good things (sins of omission). In Leviticus 5, we see someone who refused to publicly testify about a situation which he witnessed. He was guilty because of what he failed to do.

Because sin wields such power of self-deception, it is our inclination to justify ourselves before God. We make excuses for why our sin isn’t really that bad. But all of our well-reasoned arguments don’t exonerate us. The good news is that God is always providing a means for atonement. It’s His gracious desire to forgive and reconcile people to Himself.

Apply the Word

We need the light of Scripture to shine in our hearts even as we ask, "Search me, God, and know my heart; . . . See if there is any offensive way in me" (Psalm 139:23–24). Make this your prayer every evening when you lie down or every morning when you wake up. Accept any conviction from the Holy Spirit, and then accept His forgiveness when you confess.

Message from Kristin Ornoski, Development Office

Go All The Way Through

~Joyce Meyers~

God wants us to be diligent and go all the way through with Him, not just go until the way becomes difficult, and then stop there.  One of our greatest challenges is to face our mountains rather than trying to go around them.

Sometimes we go around and around the same mountain, and we end up like the Israelites in the wilderness who wandered around for forty years (Deuteronomy 2:1-3).  We must learn to face our mountains and determine to go all the way through with God.  That is the only path to victory.

I encourage you to go all the way through with God no matter how difficult it may seem.  Let God have His way in your life.  Pray for God’s will and not your own will.  God’s way is for you to set your face like a flint, dig in both heels, and go all the way through.

Determine to enjoy the journey.  Enjoying life is an attitude of the heart, a decision to enjoy everything because everything -even little, seemingly insignificant things- has a part in God’s plan for our lives.

As we believe that it is God’s will for us to experience continual joy, we will discover a power that lifts us above life’s circumstances.

Thank you Joyce for that reminder!

Have a Blessed and Fantastic Cinco de Mayo weekend.  

Message from Judy Nunez, Admin. Assistant Elementary Campus

Cutting A Trail… Proverbs 4:1-7

            Taken from Our Daily Bread

The Native Americans of Michigan were the state’s first highway route engineers.  With few exceptions, Michigan’s major highways follow the trails they cut through the wilderness hundreds of years before the white man came.  A trail was 12-18 inches wide, and for safety the people followed single file.  Then pack horses followed these trails, widening them.  Later came wagons, and the trails became dirt roads and then highways.

            In a similar way, Solomon followed the trail of his father and in turn paved the way for his sons and grandsons.  He did this by encouraging his sons to heed his instructions just as he had followed the sound teaching of his father (Prov. 4:4-5).  So this father, giving his sons good practical and spiritual counsel, was passing on what he had learned from the boy’s grandfather, David, who was called a “man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22).  The younger generation of believers often learns best about God from the family.

            Our physical and spiritual children watch the path we’re taking.  As God’s men and women, let’s make certain we cut a righteous, wise, and clear trail.  Then if ongoing generations choose to follow, the trail can become a highway---an ongoing legacy to God’s glory. ---Dave Egner

Lord, as I walk my path of life,

Help my feet step straight and true;

That those who follow after me,

Will be tracking straight with You. ---Egner

 

Thank you to all the teachers at Phoenix Christian who are blazing a trail for those students who would follow.

Message from Margarita Llanes, Spanish Teacher

It seems like in the last couple of weeks I had found myself praying extra hard for the problem of how to handle a teen’s occasional sarcasm- or, as what I call, “back talk.” It was during one morning reading Becky Freeman, that the Lord gave me the following sweet poem from her friend Faye Yates. I hope the words will remind you today that we are created to be loved and to love. Not to love only the smart, fast and beautiful. Simply put we need to love others at home or at school just because they belong to God’s family. Enjoy!!

 
Just Because You’re You

 They say some babies born will only be
 A heavy burden to a family
 Because they’ll never act the proper way,
 So find a place for them to stay…
 But a mother looks through tear filled eyes
 And begins to sing this lullaby…
  “I don’t love you, for what you can, or cannot do
     I love you, just because you’re you
  Though many others may question your worth
  I’ll treasure you, more than all the earth.”
And when we see our soul so scared with sin
We are surprised to find God takes us in
For all we have to give Him is our shame
And though we fail the Lord, we hear Him say,
  “Though I look at you through tear filled eyes,
       I still sing to you this lullaby,
  “I don’t love you, for what you can or cannot do
      I love you, just because you’re you,  Though sometimes, you may question your own worth,
    I’ll love you, more than all the earth.”

Message from Lois Leader, High School Teacher

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."

Psalms 24:1

In honor of Earth Day on this past Sunday (April 22), I dedicate my blog entry to God’s creation.

One of the most profound duties God gives us is stewardship over His creation. Scripture tells us how much He loves this work of His hands. After every act of creation He blessed it and declared that it was good. Reading the first chapter of Genesis it is obvious that God takes delight in every aspect of the world He created. Yet He trusted us to be caretakers of His great work of art.

The creation teaches us about the attributes of God:

Psalms 104:24. How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number - living things both large and small.

It shows His infinite compassion:

Matt 6:26. Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. And are you not worth much more than they?

God has established a relationship with us and with our environment:

Genesis 9:8-9. Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: "I now establish my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you - the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you - every living Creature on the earth."

God pays attention to the way we fulfill our role as stewards:

Jer. 2:7. I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and you made my inheritance detestable.

Luke 16:2,10,13. And He called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward. He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous in much. You cannot serve both God and mammon.

Although Earth Day was not established as a Christian observance, I think it is a good opportunity to remind ourselves of the trust that God put in us when He gave us dominion over His creation. How we fulfill that trust is an indicator of the respect we hold for the Creator.

Message from Monique Lara, Preschool Teacher

Proverbs 1:33

But all who listen to me will live in peace,
Untroubled by fear of harm.”

I read this poem to my sister on Sunday, she was finding her self lost and stuck in her own misery. I pray for her everyday, for the Lord to give her strength even if she does not choose to seek him. When I brought this to her attention the expression on her face seemed somewhat confused yet she felt as if relief has took the stress away. I told her to hear Him, sit and pray as hard as you can and open your door to Him. The Lord is always here to take away the pain and sorrow you are in, you just got to believe and let him in. His wonders can do much more then you can imagine. She understood why I put much faith in Him; He has helped me in everything I have been through. I am far from perfect but I do believe the Good Lord is with us through anything and I feel if I can pay it forward through prayer or words of The Lord, I’ve done my part because I am and we all are Gods children. He is part of my family and family is very important to me.

Message from Janice Koivisto, Junior High Teacher

At 8th Grade Camp last week, I was blessed to lead Chapel services each evening for our 41 junior high students…. One evening I challenged them to learn more of who God is by learning some of His Old Testament names… He reveals His character and his attributes through His interactions and His relationships with us…. A few of the names of God that rang clearly in the hearts and lives of the kids were…..
Yahweh- I Am
El Shaddai- The Covenant God, The Promise Keeper
Jehovah Jireh- The God Who Provides
Jehovah Tsidqenu- The Righteous One Jehovah Shalom- The God of Peace
Jehovah Repheka- The God Who Heals
Jehovah Nissi- God is My Banner
Jehovah Shamah- The God Who is Already There
Jehovah Tsebaoath- The God of the Armies of Heaven
Jehovah Elohim- The Three In One
Jehovah Elyon- The Lord Over All

Call upon Him by His names!

He WANTS us to know Him and call on Him! Blessings! Janice Koivisto

Message from Gretchen Janes, Development Office

As the days fly by, I am realizing that I must be intentional in just about everything I do. This devotional helps me to sort through stuff and establish priorities. Heaven knows there's a lot of stuff going right now! I pray that your motives are pure and your priorities are aligned with God's and that this helps you to sort through your stuff!

What's Your Motive?
by Charles R. Swindoll
Read Philippians 1:17; James 4:3
During my days in seminary, I formed a habit that helped me immensely throughout life. I had my artistic sister, Luci, print a simple, three-word question on a small rectangular card I placed on the wall above the desk where I spent so much of my time.

Just black letters on a white card, with a bold question mark at the end:

WHAT'S YOUR MOTIVE?

I no longer have the card, but the question is now indelibly etched on my mind. I ask it almost every day of my life. It has proven to be an essential checkpoint I now apply on a regular basis:

Why are you planning this?
What's the reason behind your doing that?
Why did you say yes (or no)?
What is the motive for writing that letter?
Why are you excited over this opportunity?
What causes you to bring up that subject?
Why did you mention his or her name?
What's your motive, Swindoll?

Searching, probing, penetrating questions.
Because the path of servanthood is so perilous, we need to cultivate a sensitive walk with God marked by obedience.


Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Improving Your Serve: The Art of Unselfish Living (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1981), 157--58. Copyright © 1981 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Message from Dave Huss, High School Teacher

In this election year, the leadership of our state and nation are on the forefront of our hearts and minds. Years ago, when I served in the US Army during the Vietnam era, we were trained in 7 Principles of Military Leadership which, we were told, applied particularly to combat situations when serving in a war zone. These principles were:
1. Set the example
2. Know your mission
3. Take responsibility
4. Delegate authority
5. Keep superiors informed
6. Train subordinates
7. Ensure the task is accomplished
In the intervening years after discharge from the Army, in business, in church, and particularly in family life, I have come to realize that these principles are applicable to far more than military combat situations.
1. Paul, while encouraging the leaders of the Church in Corinth said 'Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Jesus Christ' (1Cor. 11:1) Paul knew that, by the Holy Spirit, he was empowered to, and must, Set the Example to fellow believers.
2. The prophet Micah, by the Spirit, gave the all encompassing statement by which we Know our Mission ' He has shown thee, oh man. what is good. And what does the Lord require of thee? But to do justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God.' (Micah 6:8)
3.Taking Responsibility is demonstrated by scores of biblical characters. James, to pick just one, said 'Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says..' (James 1:22-25)
4. Perhaps the clearest teaching on Delegating Authority in scripture is provided by Jethro as he watched his son-in-law, Moses, act as sole judge for most of a million Jews as they wandered in the wilderness enroute to the Promised land. He said ' What is this that you are doing?.... what you are doing is not good....you will only wear yourself out...you cannot handle it alone...... select capable men from all the people.... That will make your load lighter.... you will be able to stand the strain....and the people will go home satisfied...' (Exodus 18:13-23)
5. God is the 'Superior' of every believer, and of course, we don't have to 'inform' Him of anything. He does direct us, however, to continually keep in contact about 'everything'. 'In everything, by prayer and supplication, make your requests known unto God.' Phil 4:6
6. Training Subordinates is part of leadership. Training,(as opposed to teaching) children is a large part of our mission as parents. ' Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.' (Prov. 22:6)
7. Ensure the Task is accomplished. Finish the race. Be faithful to the end, no matter what the Lord has given you to do. Paul said, probably just before he was executed '....the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.' 2Tim. 4:6-8

I never learned who formulated these 7 principles of leadership, but I expect, who ever it was, knew the Word of God and certainly understood the importance of appliying the Word to our own lives.

Message from Gena Horn, Technology & Facilities

Our Daily Bread

In August 2009, Blair and Ronna Martin lost their energetic 9-year-old son Matti when he was dragged to his death by a family cow. I had a chance to meet this Kenai, Alaska, family and share in their grief. And I know how tough this tragedy has been for them.

I also know that they are seeking God’s care and comfort for their pain. An observation made by Matti’s mom is valuable for anyone walking through one of life’s valleys. During one of her down times, Ronna was reading 2 Corinthians 1:9, which says that “we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.” She felt as if Jesus were telling her, “Ronna, I know the journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life.”

When the journey gets too tough to navigate, 2 Corinthians 1:9 is a reminder to us that we don’t travel alone. We have the help of the One who showed us His power in the resurrection, and who will demonstrate His power again when He raises believing loved ones of all generations to eternal life. “My strength and my hope have to be in Christ alone,” Ronna said. That’s a truth we all need as we travel the journey God has for us.

When life’s journey gets so difficult
That it feels too much to bear,
Just remember, we don’t walk alone—
Our almighty God is there. —Sper

The storms of life remind us to take shelter
in the loving arms of our Savior.

Message from Mary Hendricks, Elementary Teacher

I chose the following story to inspire and encourage the faculty and staff of PCUS, in whatever season of your career you may be serving the Lord. May He shower His blessings on us as we share His love with our students and our school families.

Forever Young
by Vicki Caruana, from Kisses of Sunshine
When our youngest child was beginning kindergarten, I didn't know much about the teachers at his school. The word was that Mrs. Sexton was the best kindergarten teacher. She was full of enthusiasm, yet maintained discipline. She loved teaching and she loved kids. I decided Mrs. Sexton was the best choice for Charles. I turned in a brief but expectant letter to the principal in hopes that he would place my son with the best.

He did.

But she turned out to be older - much older - than I expected. By the time she taught my son, Molly Sexton had taught for thirty-two years. When I found this nugget of insider information, I contemplated whether it was worth upsetting the apple cart (so to speak) and request a different teacher. How could someone still have enthusiasm after all those years? Charles was already reluctant to go to school. I didn't want him discouraged by a seasoned teacher - one seasoned with vim and vinegar instead of sweetness and spice. Finally, though, I chose not to make waves and left the assignment as it was. And boy, was I glad I did.

I knew Mrs. Sexton was a pro from the first day I stepped into her classroom. Her room was one of the most inviting classrooms I had ever been in. Not too busy with over-decoration. Not sterile like many high school classrooms. It was just right. She welcomed each and every child as if their class was her very first class. For my son, it was love at first sight. I knew it would be a good year when he slipped his hand out of mine and followed Mrs. Sexton to the activity center without looking back. I stood there, mesmerized by her confidence and her grace. I wanted to linger, but knew it was better for Charles if I didn't.

I once asked Molly Sexton what kept her going. "Loving these little ones as my own makes all the difference," she said. "And remembering how much their parents love them helps when they're driving me crazy!"
Nine hundred students and their parents later, Molly reminisced about her own growth as a teacher. "I still don't know it all," she explained. "I still have a lot to learn and I pray that I learn what I need when I need it."
All of those years of teaching helped her to quickly see the light inside each child put in her care. It was as if she cherished the time she had with them. But even with all that experience, she treated each child as an individual and drew out of them the best they had to offer. They wanted to please her. They wanted to linger. Leaving a teacher you love, even to advance to the next grade, seems both unnecessary and even painful to some children. Charles wanted Mrs. Sexton to be his teacher forever and for always. That is the greatest compliment a teacher can receive.

In the minds of our students, we are still the same as when they sat in our classes. We are, therefore, forever young. Look at yourself through their eyes, aged as they may be now, and recapture for yourself the enthusiasm and dedication you had long ago. Decide to grow into a seasoned teacher - seasoned with all the ingredients of a teacher they will never forget. And when you are faced with the prospect of working with a veteran teacher, honor him or her with the respect they have earned.

“A wise teacher's words spur students to action and emphasize important truths. The collected sayings of the wise are like guidance from a shepherd.” ECCLESIASTES 12:11 NLT

Jay Hendricks, High School Teacher

176 years ago today, on April 11, 1836, George Mueller opened his first orphanage in Bristol England. Mueller grew up as a thief and troublemaker and even did time in jail. In 1825 he began a relationship with Christ, which led to his plan to help homeless children make better lives for themselves. George Mueller took in more than 10,000 orphans and made it a practice to never ask for money. The most amazing legacy, however, was that he recorded over 50,000 answers to prayer in his lifetime. Mueller prayed for and trusted God for his needs and the physical and spiritual needs of the children in his care, and God provided again and again.

Matthew 6:26-34

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Over 50,000 answers to prayer, why should we expect less? God answered prayer in 1836 for George Mueller in Bristol England; God answers prayer today in Phoenix Arizona.

Message from Colleen Helman, High School Teacher

Will I Let God’s Truth Make a Difference in Me Today?

As I sit down to write, I am aware that I am full of inconsistencies in my daily life and walk with the Lord. I know that He is changing me, but it doesn’t seem to go as quickly as I would like.

What encourages me is that the Words of our Lord are always the Words of Truth. And so, this is a reflection of the reminders that God has sent my way recently, along with conviction of my lack of action, and the hope of His renewal and transformation of who I am in Him.

Here is God’s Truth:

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Colossians 3:15-17 MSG

A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

James 3:3-5 MSG

And my favorite:

And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24 MSG

Have a blessed day!

Message from Brandon Harris, Development & Varsity Football Coach

2 Samuel 9:1-13

1 Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
He said, “At your service!”
3 Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?”
And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”
4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?”
And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?”
And he answered, “Here is your servant!”
7 So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
8 Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”
9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.”
“As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table[a] like one of the king’s sons.” 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.

I love these obscure stories in the Bible that basically encapsulize a person's entire life in a single chapter. This person is Mephibosheth who was the son of Johnathan whom David loved. He showed kindness to Mephibosheth after his father's death. What I like about this story is it is clear to me that there is emphasis placed on the deficiencies of this person. He was crippled, but the fact he was crippled is a metaphor for our deficiencies today. Crippled can also mean he wasn't "high class," he didn't come from the right schools or the right side of the tracks, didn't wear the finest of clothes or have the best things, he didn't have the connections or resources, didn't talk with proper English and wasn't "perfect" like all of us, but David went to Lo Debar, which means some interesting things (hiding place, no pasture, no word) ouch!!! When we are struggling--when we are down--when we are having a hard time or a rough day-- do we hide? We turn our cell phone's on silent, don't respond to email and just don't want to talk about it? This isn't a new phenomenon. It was happening before Mephibosheth. When Adam ate from the tree and God searched the garden calling out for him what did Adam do? He turned his Iphone off and hid!!

So Mephibosheth was "crippled" in a place of hiding, shame, no pasture (nothing fruitful there at all) and no Word (Bible). Basically in a place that was an afterthought. But David asked for Johnathan's remnant, sought him out and actually sent men out and got him. I can see David's men saying come on out and Mephibosheth saying "he didn't feel like it" or "didn't want to get up." How many blessings have we missed because we wouldn't just get up? But David didn't take no for an answer and sent his men for him and brought him back; restored everything to him and more and here is the real cool part…underneath that table cloth Mephibosheth was still crippled. But as you look across the table at him, he looks the same as anyone else--that table cloth hides his imperfections!!! So the question is, who is your Mephibosheth? Who do you know is hiding, ashamed and don't think God has love for them? Do you need to send for them? Actually go pick them up and bring them to church or to pray with them? Are you struggling with some Mephibosheth challenges of your own? Well Jesus is our David and he is reaching out to get us out of that hiding place where we are alone and exactly where the enemy wants us to be, isolated and without the word (Lo debar) so he can work on our minds telling us how imperfect we are and no one cares…but remember Jesus does care and is sending for us so we can take our seat with him at His table no matter what we look like under the table cloth.

Message from Harold Harmon, High School Teacher

I have always had a difficult time wrapping my finite mind around the Biblical truths regarding God’s design and plan for our lives when I have seen first-hand so much poverty and sickness in this world. I have seen malnourished children begging in the streets of Ecuador and Morelia and Jalapa and the list goes on. And these are not the poorest of the poor. Sandy and I have picked up the pieces of 60+ children who have come from abusive and neglectful homes – children we introduce to Jesus and have to explain why God allowed them to be born to parents who were drug addicts or alcoholics and who didn’t care for them. And then, the puzzling question is: Why was I born into a loving family and was given the best of everything? Why do I live in a beautiful home and have bounty, when our good friends in Rocky Point live in shanties and rarely have enough to eat?

I know in my mind that the answer lies in the profound affect that sin has had on this planet. And all I can do is thank God for the blessings that He continues to give to my family and do what I can to ease the misery of those who lie in my sphere of influence. Even though our efforts are but a drop in the ocean, we will continue to take food and clothing to Mexico and we will continue to provide foster children with a loving home who, otherwise, would be living in a shelter. Jeff will continue to bless less- fortunate children from MC Cash as well as an array of others that are blessed by the service projects and blood drives. Howard, Jan and Jim will continue to bless the refugees from Uganda. And the teachers and staff at PC will continue to make a difference in the lives of thousands who are blessed by their efforts.

God blesses us so we can, in turn, be a blessing to others. Jesus’ ministry was to the poor, the lame, and the sick of this world. If we see the world through our Father’s eyes, we will be a channel of God’s love to those around us. It is far better to give than to receive.

Message from Alicia Galindo, Human Resources Manager

“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say Rejoice”. Philippians 4:4

This is a small but powerful verse from Philippians. Even though at times, we may choose not to “rejoice”, this is actually a commandment from our Lord to rejoice regardless of our circumstance. Not always easy but again, this is directly from the Lord. Are you rejoicing today despite what you are going through?

Have a blessed day!

(Taken from Word for the Day from Tom Nannarone)

Message from Laura Furedy, Preschool Director

Communion on the Moon: July 20, 1969
(An article by Eric Metaxas)

Forty-two years ago two human beings changed history by walking on the surface of the moon. But what happened before Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong exited the Lunar Module is perhaps even more amazing, if only because so few people know about it. "I'm talking about the fact that Buzz Aldrin took communion on the surface of the moon. Some months after his return, he wrote about it in Guideposts magazine. And a few years ago I had the privilege of meeting him myself. I asked him about it and he confirmed the story to me, and I wrote about it in my book, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about God (But Were Afraid to Ask)."

The background to the story is that Aldrin was an elder at his Presbyterian Church in Texas during this period in his life, and knowing that he would
soon be doing something unprecedented in human history, he felt he should mark the occasion somehow, and he asked his minister to help him. And so the
minister consecrated a communion wafer and a small vial of communion wine.

And Buzz Aldrin took them with him out of the Earth's orbit and on to the surface of the moon.
He and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Aldrin made the following public statement: "This is the LM pilot. I'd like
to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of
the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way." He then ended radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000
miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John, and he took communion. Here is his own account of what happened:

"In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had
given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the scripture, 'I am the
vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.'

"I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute [they] had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a
legal battle with Madelyn Murray O'Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at
Christmas.
I agreed reluctantly.

"I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility.
It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements."

And of course, it's interesting to think that some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ, who made the Earth and the moon
- and Who, in the immortal words of Dante, is Himself the "Love that moves the Sun and other stars."

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.”

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.

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?”

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

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.

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.”

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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.