Even More - December 19th, 2011

Writing out Christmas cards is not my favourite thing to do. It is not that I am some grumpy curmudgeon who does not want to put the time and effort into spreading the joy of Christmas. It is due to the fact that I don’t always know what to write; I want to send a Christmas blessing and bring to light the Good News and do all of that in a line or two. As I was contemplating what to write out I was captivated by the phrase

“Even More”. It could strike you as odd that in a season that is often dominated by extravagance that I would want to bless you with even more. That being said, as you celebrate Christmas and enter the new year may you be blessed with “Even More”. May you be struck, even more, by the humanity of Christ to

deepen your personal connection to Him. May you be overwhelmed, even more, by His Divinity to intensify your admiration and awe of your Maker. May you realize, even more, His engulfing Love. May you be transformed, even more, by the Holy Spirit to reflect the image of Christ Jesus. May we be committed,

even more, to raising and educating our children in the fear of the Lord. May we be convicted, even more,

to know and show the love of Jesus to a broken and lost world. In all these things God is faithful and keeps His promises; it is my prayer that we may be even more faithful in our response of gratitude to His lavish love for us all. As we have been blessed let us also then be a blessing, even more.

Words, Words, Words

I am neither a poet nor an author of fiction.  I don’t write biographies or participate in public speaking engagements on the weekends.  All things considered, it could be said that I do not exclusively use God’s gift of language within the context of my calling. What could be said is that I extensively use His gift of language every day.  It is not only part of my “job” it is part of my life.  I know I am responsible for how I use or abuse this wonderful gift.  We are called to develop the gifts God has placed within us and in His creation.  When we consider the words that we speak we must take note of their powerful impact and their importance.  The Bible recognizes the power of words.  Creation was spoken into existence, Jesus was referred to as the Word, and it is God’s Word that still speaks to us today.  With our use of language we always have choices: life giving or life breaking, edifying or demolishing, building up or tearing down, blessing or cursing, vulgar or wholesome etc.  At school we will be discussing with some of our students how the words that come out of our mouths are a reflection of what is in our hearts.  I would encourage you to join us in this conversation at home.  The fruit of the Spirit should be evident in our actions as well as our words.  Let us keep praying for the Spirit to transform us so that we will honour God in all that we do, in all that we say, and all that we think.  ~Mr. Bouwers

The Kitchen Table

7:10 a.m., that was the time my family would congregate for breakfast.  Eating around the table together was part of our family tradition and, as is turns out, a healthy tradition at that.  Recent studies have shown that families who sit down for meals together are healthier, happier and better adjusted.  Time magazine, in the article “The Magic of the Family Meal”, outlines numerous benefits for the children of the families who share meals together.  Indeed, there is nothing “Magic” about it.  Families are part of the structure God places in this world.  God works through families and households; he always has and always will.  “Every good and perfect gift from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  (James 1:17)  The family unit is one of the good gifts from God.  Unfortunately, this gift has been corrupted to some degree by sin and there are situations of brokenness where we long for restoration and healing.  Even though that is the case, when things are going well in the family structure I believe we get a foretaste of the Kingdom of God.  This month the students in grades 5-8 will be discussing God’s plan for marriage, the changes they will experience in the next few years, and a faithful response to the good gift God has entrusted to them, their bodies.  Addressing these themes regarding “Family Life” may present opportunities around the kitchen table to discuss the topics dealt with in class.  God will continue to work powerfully through families for generations to come as he does not change like shifting shadows.  God’s blessings to you and your families.  ~ Mr. Bouwers

Growing in Community - November 28, 2011

Last week was an excellent opportunity as a school to grow in community.  The membership meeting, held last Monday, included a number of reports from various committees and it was great to hear what is going on at various levels to support the education here at Calvin Christian School in Dundas.  One of the heart-warming moments was when each member of the Board of Directors took the time to introduce him/herself.  As they did this they also took the opportunity to share what it is that they love about DCCS.  What an excellent example it was for the entire school community!  They took the opportunity to be ambassadors for His school, in His Kingdom. I encourage you to come out to the next meeting and hear of all the wonderful things happening in this school for His names sake.  We also had the privilege of discussing Christian education and the progress of our learners during the annual Learning Dialogues.  I was happy to see how well this was attended by parents in the community.  It demonstrates how involved and connected the parents are in the education of their child(ren).  The partnership of home and school was manifested in each of the conversations that occurred and in the conversations that followed.  Thank you again for your intentional efforts at building community here at the school and around the kitchen tables.  Let us keep working together to educate the next generation in the fear of the Lord. ~ Mr. Bouwers

Shaping Culture November 21, 2011

Not too long ago the teachers gathered at the annual OCSTA convention and were inspired by the key note speaker Andy Crouch.  He was an engaging speaker with a personable nature and musical gifts that added a unique flavour to his educational address.  Each of the aforementioned attributes would have made it an easy lecture to sit through but what made it a dynamic discourse was the combination of the gifts he has with a powerful message for educators.  He challenged the members of OCSTA (now Edifide) to establish culture-forming practices in education.  I will avoid a detailed account of his analysis but I would like to outline what he presented as the posture we should take in regards to culture.  Too often, he argued, we take a passive and reactive approach to culture.  We respond and react to what is happening in our culture when it is clear that God calls us to form culture.  In the vision statement of this school we state a desire to see God’s children actively reforming His world.  This falls in line with Crouch’s call for Christians to spread the good news by contributing to culture to initiate change. Christians should engage in cultivating, contributing, and creating culture to impact the lives of others around us.   As stated in our mission statement, we desire to develop the gifts of God’s children to prepare them for Christian service.  Each child, as an image-bearer of God, is uniquely gifted for service in God’s kingdom.  We have a passion for the students to receive an education to develop their gifts to the best of their ability so that they, in turn, will be equipped to better serve the Lord and advance His Kingdom.  Thank you for joining and supporting us in our commitment to the mission of the school. ~ Mr. Bouwers

The Faces of the Bazaar - November 14, 2011

I was able to attend my first DCCS Bazaar this weekend. What an awesome event! There was much to see and do throughout the day and evening and there were smiles on many different faces.  It is the many different faces that stirred in me an extended appreciation for this community.  It was a generational mosaic that came together for the cause of Christian Education on Saturday.  Since God established His covenant with Abraham he has chosen to work through families and the generations that followed.  Even now, God continues to work through this generational faithfulness in places like Calvin Christian School in Dundas.  Praise God for His faithfulness exhibited in each of the smiling faces seen in His school this weekend.  Those smiling faces belonged to at least four generations and to school families of various backgrounds.  We could not serve the students of DCCS without multigenerational support and that of all of our school families. That fact was evident at the Bazaar.  The funds we raise aid us in our goal of providing Christian education to enable our students to be active in transforming His world not only for today but for the many years to come. ~ Mr. Bouwers

The Bottom Line - November 7, 2011

The Bottom Line

Sitting in the church service the pastor used a term that has stuck with me. There are times when people say things to us and it sticks not just because it is profound but also because of the context in which it is used.  The pastor called for us to look at the bottom line and tried to direct us away from its financial use.  The term “the bottom line” comes from the last line on the balance sheet or it can refer to the lowest amount of money someone is willing to pay.  This common phrase speaks not only to the context but also to how we evaluate and measure different items.  So what’s the bottom line for Christian Education?  What is the bottom line for DCCS?  The bottom line for us is not purely financial, although we are still called to be good stewards of the resources God has given us.  Christian Education is a means for students to develop a response to God’s call on their lives. We pray this is done by developing the knowledge of God and His creation and using that knowledge in contributing, cultivating and creating.  The bottom line is that we aim to integrate faith, learning, and serving.  To God be the glory. ~ Mr. Bouwers

What's in a Name? - October 31, 2011

“So, why is our school named Calvin Christian?”  This was the question posed by one grade eight student to another during the Reformation Day chapel held at DCCS today.  Seeing the students articulate the reasons for linking the school name to the reformer was entertaining and enlightening.

They did a remarkable job of tying together the topics of the Reformers, the school theme, and the history of the school.  So what were the foundational reasons brought forward by the grade 8 students?  In the skit the students referred to the correlation with the views of Calvin and that of our school and a few key statements were made.  The first is the belief that every part of this world belongs to God and that includes every aspect of His creation.  The second is the belief that we were created for one purpose and that is to serve and honour God.  The third element to the correlation is the Bible is central to our lives, reading and learning from it on a regular basis is very important.  The next key aspect is the strong emphasis on education as an integral tool to enable people to serve God in all that they do.  These key elements are still found in our mission statement and have served as a solid foundation since 1961; 50 years ago.  We will continue to bring this school under the Lordship of Christ as we seek to serve as a dynamic school community providing solid Christian education for many years to come.

~ Mr. Bouwers

The Lord of All - October 24, 2011

The Lord is Lord of all.  Christians everywhere usually agree to the fact that God is sovereign over all things.  If we really do believe that then it has to have an impact on the way we view education.  I was reading a section of the book “Praying at Burger King” by Richard Mouw and I came across a quote that I think is very applicable to our context here in Christian schools.  The title of the piece was “Christian Stuff” and it discussed what could be considered Christian stuff or the things of the Lord.  It stated: “Jesus is Lord over books, term papers, quizzes, laptops, dissertations and class discussions.  He is Lord over all of the other ‘stuff’ in our lives as well.  He is Lord of these things even when his Lordship is not acknowledged.”  As we go about our daily lives and get caught up in the everyday practices and rituals it is a good reminder that all of those are the things of the Lord.  All these things were created by God and were designed to bring him glory and honour.  We are called at Calvin Christian School to help the students realize this and, as we live out our calling, be reminded that we are to do all our tasks as if we were doing them for the Lord.  God be with you this week.~ Mr. Bouwers

The Butterfly - Ocober 17, 2011

Have you ever seen a butterfly trying to fly against a strong wind?  I was making my coffee this morning and looked out the window; I could not help but watch as a Monarch butterfly was struggling against the wind to reach the tree branches and leaves.  It was getting tossed about, blown back and, at one point, grounded by the strong winds.  Time and time again this butterfly would correct its course.  It would continue towards the tree even as it was blown back a number of feet.  It took a tremendous amount of perseverance for that butterfly to make it to its destination.  The journey was not an easy one to take and it was full of its ups and downs.  Eventually the butterfly made it.  Through God’s insight in His word and His world we can learn and apply lessons like this to our lives.  We can apply that principle of perseverance to our lives as individuals as well as the life we live in community.  Calvin Christian, as a community, can learn and live this lesson from the butterfly as we continue to live with perseverance while trusting in the Lord and resting in His strength.~ Mr. Bouwers 

Creation Proclaims the Creator - October 11, 2011

In looking for inspiration for this portion of the Connects I poked my head outside to experience the fall colours and the beautiful weather.  On a hike last week with the grade 5 class we went to Webster’s Falls and participated in a “Creation Scavenger Hunt” set up by Mrs. Alkema.  The boys and girls broke into groups and went searching for the items on the checklist.  It was an amazing way to take a good look at God’s handiwork.  Creation proclaims the work of the Creator: the cascading waterfall, the majestic stonework, the plethora of colours, the meandering water, the finest of details, and the grand  portrait of it all.  Ingrained in that picture are the students and the way they interacted with the work of His fingers.  The students and teacher, at times, stood in awe of what was before them, and at other times were prodded by curiosity.  The boys enjoyed their time turning over rocks and looking for crayfish while the girls were driven by their desire to explore, to keep going and to see more.  The list of items became almost secondary to the interaction of the students and God’s creation.  It was a wonderful inspiration to me as we entered the weekend of Thanksgiving.  These students, your children, proclaim the Creator and bear His image.  Enjoy this season and the joy it brings!

~ Mr. Bouwers

A Thankful Response - October 3, 2011

The season has shifted on the calendar and now we are starting to see the other signs of the changing season.  The leaves on the trees are definitely turning different colours.  We definitely noticed this when visiting my parents in Barrie.  The weather seems to be shifting as well as some of the days are darker, colder, and definitely wetter.  In the midst of these transitional days we find our next holiday on the calendar.  The feast of the harvest, the time we call Thanksgiving, comes to us at the changing of the season.  We see again God’s faithfulness as one season rolls into the next.  Psalm 100 is a Psalm of Thanksgiving.  It is great to have part of this Psalm as our theme this year and it is a wonderful time of year to dedicate to Thanksgiving.  We approach this day with a spirit of true thankfulness and carry that forward throughout the year.  We express that thankfulness for all the Lord has done with words, songs, shouts, actions, and the way we live our lives.    At school we will take some time to express our Thanksgiving in a chapel that will be held on Friday.  You are more than welcome to join us on that day as  Grade 7 will lead us in a time of reflection and thanksgiving.  They are also encouraging the school community to share in their abundance as we commence a drive for food this week.  We have been blessed and we are also called to be a blessing.  Let us join together and help provide the differently blessed with the items they require. ~ Mr. Bouwers

Time - September 27, 2011

Blink twice and you’ll miss it.  The month of September is coming to a close as we turn the calendar to greet October starting next week.  “Time flies” is a common idiom we use to help us make sense of our often frenetic schedules and the pace of the lives we live.  As time does seem to pass us by so quickly it is then good to set a few moments aside to evaluate time.  In a discussion I’ve been a part of this past week someone mentioned that we often refer to having “free time” when, in actuality, time is never “free.”  What we use it for comes at a cost.  Time matters, and as we look into our schedules we can evaluate the use of the time we’ve been given and count the cost as well as the blessings.  We are thankful for the time you’ve committed to our school.  We could not operate without the assistance of the parents and the surrounding community.  I would like to thank the volunteers for making our school run so well: the library, the Willing Workers, the various committees, the Board, Yard Duty supervision, the upcoming BAZAAR and many more.  There never seems to be enough time and the demands seem to be ever increasing.  In all of this we must also remember the giver of that time and to take a while to commune with Him.  May you be blessed and also be a blessing with the time God has given you. ~ Mr. Bouwers

A Teacher's Passion - September 19, 2011

We are settling into the routine of school and things are off to a good start.  Going into the classrooms here at DCCS has provoked thoughts of the many teachers whom I have had and seen in my years of education.  We can all remember the teachers who had a positive impact on us or whom we thought were good teachers.  I am sure that if we got together and compared their characteristics that we would definitely find some common themes.  One of those would surely be the fact that those teachers cared about and for their students.  I know it sounds obvious but we can also remember the teachers who may have been somewhat lacking in this area.  Well, I can tell you that as I have made my way through the halls and into the classrooms that your children are cared for here at DCCS.  It is the one characteristic that I have seen displayed over and over again from one classroom to the next.  The teachers at Calvin really do care and are passionate about the children in their charge.  God’s love is evident in them and made real by their words, their actions and their attitude.  Praise God for wonderful teachers!   ~ Mr. Bouwers

God's Faithfulness - September 12, 2011

Welcome to the new school year and what a year it promises to be!  It is a wonderful milestone year to land in a new community.  It will be great to hear and learn the story of this school as we look back on 50 years of God’s faithfulness to Calvin Christian School in Dundas.  The bricks in the walls stand as a testament to the generational faithfulness we’ve experienced.  Even more so, the graduates continue to be living stones that speak to the strong heritage of faith in this community and the work of the Living God at DCCS in the lives of the students and staff.  I have felt warmly welcomed and I am inspired by the rich history of this school to look to the future rooted in God’s faithfulness.  The Golden Anniversary of DCCS is a foundational block to build upon for enhanced Christian Education in the years to come.  It is a legacy that we can count on to enable us to provide a dynamic education with Christ, our Saviour and Lord, as the center.  Please join us this year in celebrating the past and considering the possibilities for the future in Him.  To God be all the glory, honour and praise!  ~ Mr. Bouwers