Living the Resurrection

As we look at the busy calendar it is easy to rush from one event to the other without taking time to really think on the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This coming weekend we remember and celebrate the resurrection. Recently I have been reminded by a colleague to also live the resurrection, not only during Holy week but every other day of the year as well. I had this brought to my attention once again as the busyness of the week was already creeping in. We may have heard sermons on this topic or we may have read an article or two about what this looks like in our lives but I would like to also see what that means for our students and our teachers in our community school. We live in the reality that Jesus’ death and resurrection are authentic and genuine. Living in this space allows us to say, even in very tough circumstances, that God is good. This is part of providing a Christ-centered education. We live in that reality and worldview and we are able to openly confess that each day.

Also, knowing all that was accomplished in Christ’s life, death and resurrection brings us to recognize that we do indeed need to respond with turning our lives over to what is good, holy, and just. We turn our lives over to God so He can use us to be a faithful presence. We follow the example of Christ and clothe ourselves with His characteristics so we are free to give of ourselves humbly and honestly. As students and teachers we respond to this by looking to serve God in all that we do.

Living in the resurrection, we come to see God in all things and we are able to walk and talk with God continually. As we live, learn and serve at DCCS we can spread the joy that comes from knowing and loving Him. When we develop the gifts of God’s children we desire for them to live the resurrection in a life of service to the King. We do not just work for a kingdom to come but we work in that kingdom already. ~ Mr. Bouwers

Chains & Anchors

Yesterday I was reminded, once again, about the need to ensure faith formation in our young children.  The recent events brought to mind an illustration I heard a long time ago about the heritage of faith we hope to see developed in our families.  It likened this heritage to a large boat anchor chain.  This is not just any chain, it is a heavy duty chain used to anchor battleships or large tankers.  The chain is only as strong as the weakest link.  The heritage of faith we desire to establish in our families is also like a heavy duty chain.  We want to do all that we can to strengthen our own faith and that of our children to minimize the possibility of encountering weak links.  I was challenged at that time to not be the weak link in the heritage of faith in our family and I want to encourage my children in the same way.  We know also that it is not all of our efforts that keep things strong and healthy.  We must also rely on the Lord, His strength and faithfulness to buoy us in times of inevitable struggle and weakness.  The events that brought this to mind came as I was reading a wonderful article the other day about Christian education.  It was an excellent reminder to me about why I choose to send my children to Christian school.  On the heels of that article came a comment during the opening devotions of a recent meeting.  It was stressed that we want to ensure that the truth is heard by our children and that it will give them anchor points to build upon in the future.  I am excited that my children will continue to have their faith strengthened and will be given strong anchor points when they are eventually called to discern the spirits of the age.  I pray they are anchored in the truth so they are not tossed to and fro by the wind of doctrine, human deceit and cunning.  Pray for our school and our children to grow up strong in faith. ~ Mr. Bouwers

Searching for Titles at the Oscars February 25, 2013

Last night millions of people watched as individuals were celebrated and honoured at the Oscars. The top award was sought after by so many but ended up being handed out to just a few. They will hold that title long after it is forgotten by so many. Although it truly is an honour for these actors, they are broken down or identified by these titles. It makes the individuals objects. If we and our student just seek the titles or labels of power, prestige or popularity there is a danger that we lose our testimony in the process. If we just seek the title of the joker or the vice president but we fall short in living our lives in way that is pleasing to God then we will gain nothing. Our story should be informed by love and lived in a grateful response to what God has already accomplished. Living for titles is a hollow pursuit but living to share the testimony of what God has done and continues to do in our lives will have a longer lasting impact then an Oscar would give.

Spreading the Joy, Sharing the Brokenness March 4th, 2013

Today, March 4th 2013, we had a group of missionaries come and speak to the children this morning.  This group, Youth With A Mission (YWAM), is an organization we are linked to through former graduate Brittany Vos who organized the “Sponsor a Stuffie” program at the school in late December.  Brittany Vos travelled to Uganda to show the love of Christ to the orphans there. Some of our students, teachers and parents partnered with her to help bless the children in that part of the world.

This morning the YWAM Madison team shared the video of the children receiving the gifts and the joy it brought to the children.  They also shared with the students their passion to do something special for the children they come in contact with.  Through these special interactions they hope to share the Good News, the Gospel story. 

They did this through sharing stories of their experiences.  These experiences included: songs, food they have eaten, items made in the area, the sanitation hurdles, the languages they learned, the sadness they encountered, scripture passages, as well as how they were able to share the Good News.  They pointed out the brokenness in these situations and how God was using them to spread joy. 

At the end of the assembly the team asked for the younger ones to be dismissed and shared with the older students, the students in grade seven and eight, about the brokenness that exists in Human Trafficking.  This was a heavy message for the students but it was also coupled with how they try to bring hope and spread joy in those situations as well. 

 The heart breaking stories of brokenness in our world did impact our students.   They were encouraged to pray for these situations and the work of missionaries throughout the world.  It fits in so well to the Bible curriculum where we learn the story of God, His people, and redemption through Christ Jesus.  We hope to prepare our students for lives of Christian service and we were reminded of God’s call on our lives to reflect His light into all the dark corners of this world.  As the students develop their gifts in response to what God has done in their lives, they are called not only to know and grow in that love but to share that love with others.