New Beginnings
There is something exciting about new opportunities and new situations. Every school year is a fresh start. It is a chance for new choices and better results.
But, new things can also make us a little nervous. We don't know what will happen. We don't know what to expect.
Some of us don't really like new things. We like our ruts and routines. But, a life of faith is meant to be on the move. Moving forward with Christ. Not much growth happens without movement.
So let's keep in mind, God gives us the new opportunities, He has gone before us and holds our futures, and He will be using new things in our lives to make us who He wants us to be.
This year may you seek Him, trust Him, and find Him faithful in all the new things He has for you!
Stay the Course
Every year, there are changes and improvements. It is one of my key goals each summer to look back and see what we can do better. How can we provide a better experience for our students and families?
This year we added electives, trimesters, classes in partnership with the high school, a fourth pep rally, and Red Ribbon Week. I believe that all of these things add value and improvement to our junior high school. But, we will never lose sight of why we do what we do. We are here to provide a place where your student can learn and grow in an eternal relationship with Christ. Through education, athletics, and activities, we seek to build up students that are equipped to make a difference in a world that has drifted from its Maker. As a ship that started only a few degrees off course at the beginning, our culture has now become miles and miles from the destination that God desires. Because of this, we must be able to understand, to communicate, and to defend what the divine course is and pursue it with all the strength we can muster. People have lost focus on what is really important. Even in Christian circles, there is a turning to fame, image, and popularity. Self-serving, humanistic, shallow living is commonplace. My prayer is that through the time your student spends at CCJH, they will be equipped, exhorted, and shown by example how to follow a course that will allow them to know the truth, follow the truth, and arrive at the ultimate destination, the center of God's will and purpose for their life. Let us stay the course in which all our lives may be presented to God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable which is our reasonable act of worship.
Making it Last Forever
One thing that stood out to me recently in Scripture was the motivation of the Apostle Paul. He says “I have made myself a servant to all that I might win the more.” His motivation was winning souls. Did he like to suffer? Did he give up all his rights for money or fame or a good name in the community? No, he gave up all he had because he knew what truly mattered were the eternal lives of those he served.
It draws me back to our school. I love to have our students excel on SAT’s and have so many students on the honor roll. It is great that so many students are rewarded for their good behavior. I love when our teams win championships. But, the reason we do what we do is different. It is not to get our name in the paper or to be known in the community. Earning high test scores, winning games, and producing great students is not the end game. Our end game is heaven. We do it because we love and serve Jesus. We do it because we know that when all is said and done, what we have done for Christ is all that will last. And, it will last forever. Let us continue to pursue excellence, but not just for excellence sake, but for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Parenting is Hard Work
As a parent, you are often going to be the "only one" who does not let them do such and such. You will be told "everyone else" gets to do everything. From rated PG-13 movies to staying on campus until church, from dressing appropriately to using coarse language, there are many stands that you as a parent must make. Thankfully, the everyone is doing everything thing is hardly ever true. But, even if it is, do what the Lord is leading you to do. Here are three quick ideas and three things to avoid. Number one, walk your talk. Lead by living. Number two, pray. Every day pray for wisdom, discernment, salvation, and love. Lastly, seek Godly counsel. Read the Word. Ask people that have raised Godly kids about their experiences. Three things to avoid: treating them like an adult, thinking they won't sin, and disconnecting from their life. Parenting is hard work. Don't doubt it. So, stay on your knees, keep your eyes open, your ears listening, and your heart soft. Wait upon the Lord, and He will renew your strength. Never give up.
With Thanksgiving
The other day I was reading in I Timothy chapter four. Paul talks about "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer." It sparked several thoughts for me. One is just the reminder that God is good. My five year old the other day said it this way "God is good and there is no badness in Him at all, so He can't get any germs." Funny, but true. God is entirely good. Even when sometimes things don't always "feel" good; God is greater than our feelings. In fact, God is greater than our thougths and ideas too. His good is truly good, even if it feels not so good. His good is an eternal good. A good that we will never regret and may not even understand in this life. Just like homework, surgery, and exercise do not always "feel" good to us at the time, they actually are good. Even when our feelings betray us, our faith knows that God is good, and we can "receive" what He has with prayer and thanksgiving.
NBA-NFL-Character
Maybe you have seen the email recently in which you are supposed to guess which group, the NBA or the NFL are responsible for a list of crimes, suits, and other civil and moral problems. When you get to the end of the email, you find that it is not the NBA or the NFL, it is actually about Congress. I researched it a little, and found it is actually a 10 years old forwarded email by now, and snopes.com does not substantiate any of the facts.
However, it did start my mind thinking. This week we are having our campaigns for Council of Five (our student leadership group). Students will vote for those they want to represent them. Kids come up with all sorts of reasons to get votes: candy, no homework, more free dress days. But, you know whether it is the junior high world or the real world, people are often fooled by personalities that look good, but really are empty or self serving. There is a common lack of substance and character. I recently read an interesting quote from Albert Einstein, “Most people say that it is the intellect that makes a great scientist. They are wrong. It is character.” I like that. In the long run, it is not so much about talent, intellect, promises or people skills; character is what stands the test of time.
Ready or Not...
As I write this in my office at school, I am sure that many of you have enjoyed all sorts of summer fun, swimming, sleeping in, video games, and various sports camps and activities. Some of you are looking forward to school (especially if you are a parent!), and some of you are dreading it. Either way, I just want you to know that we are praying for you.
My prayer is that when the day comes you will be ready. That is a prayer that I will continue to pray not just for the first day of school, but all year long. I pray when the day of temptation comes, you will be ready. When the day to show compassion comes, you will be ready. When the day to stand up for the truth comes, you will be ready. When life throws you a surprise that threatens to dismantle your faith, you will be ready. When Jesus comes to take us home, you will be ready.
That is what we are all about, making sure that whatever comes your way, you will be ready. This year, may you be equipped for every good work with the wisdom, the heart, and the courage you need. Because, ready or not, those days are coming. Let’s be ready.
Finish Line
I don't know whether it is the weather or just the whirlwind, but here we are in June, and I just can't believe it. The older I get the faster it seems to go. This year has had joy and sorrow. I know that many of our students have endured trials, struggled through difficulties, and fought adversity. Many have laughed and smiled and conquered. For me, now is the time of year when I start to look back and ponder the year. As I recall the year, countless faces flash through my mind, situations and conversations replay before me.
Sometimes I feel like a worker at an aid station in some long distance race. I stand pointing the way, encouraging them along, handing out Gatorade and wet sponges as they run by. Some are flying by with the wind in their face and determination in their eyes, others are running along with a smile and strength, still others are jogging by laughing and enjoying the company of the other runners, and lastly there are those with a pained look on their face just putting one foot in front of the other. In the case of each one, I am so proud of them. They are in the game, they are giving it their best, and they are moving forward. Some more quickly than others, some carrying more baggage than others, some not quite sure where they are going, but they are all running the race. I feel so privileged to stand along the side, giving high fives, cheering them on, handing out the Gatorade and the wet sponges. Thank you for a great year. I will see you at the finish line.
The New American Way
I think the American way used to be related to working hard, doing things better, and being committed to your family, job, and faith. I think those ideas are closely related to what God's Word reveals. However, for the most part, that no longer seems true. It seems like the "New American Way" might be more like: work if they make you, do it easiest, cheapest, and quickest, be committed to your leisure and get what you want, never offend anyone, follow your feelings, and when things go wrong look for someone else to blame or sue.
But, that is not how God's Word instructs us to live. When facing a tough choice, don't rely on what the culture tells us, what Dr. Phil says, or the latest news poll, read the Word and listen to His counsel. The story of Noah relates to us that "he prepared an ark for the saving of his household". Are we making sure our kids and family are "prepared", like Noah's, for God's revealed truth? Or are we more concerned about their comfort, feelings, wants, and happiness. Our children have been given to us by God for His pleasure, not ours. Living for His pleasure is a tough concept for most of us, American or not. It is a life that will call us to make sacrifices, surrender rights, stand against the world, make others and ourselves uncomfortable, and ultimately please Christ. The world is on the wrong track. Our American culture is no longer Christian. May we be like Noah who heard God, obeyed God, and prepared for his family's future, not just their temporary comfort.
Where do you stand?
Today in chapel we are going to be looking at part of the week's One Year Bible readings in Numbers. It is the amazing story of Korah. One of the things that struck me as I was reading over the section is in verse 27 of chapter 16, "So all the people stood back from the tents of Korah." God has instructed everyone to step away from Korah. If you are not familiar with the story, Korah has decided that Moses was taking too much for himself. Korah and the other Levites wanted more of what Moses had. Moses tells him that he has done nothing on his own, but is only doing what God has chosen him to do. God then tells everyone to back away from those that are rebelling with Korah. I thought that this was such important advice for us too. Where do we stand? Are we standing too close to those that are in rebellion to the Lord. Where we stand will also be where our children stand. The books, the TV, the movies, the entertainment industry are all in rebellion against God and His order, and they will be judged. What happened to Korah? The earth opened up and swallowed everyone, including those that were following. Spiritually, we have been entrusted with our children to raise that they might bring glory to Him. In investment terms, if you are spending thousands of dollars a year on the Christian education of your child, don't waste your investment by allowing it to be spoiled through Godless trash that enters and influences young minds so easily. Let us be those that stand for righteousness, goodness, and truth staying far away from those things that God will ultimately judge.
