January 20th "Tell me a story"

We love to hear interesting or compelling stories.  They just roll off of our tongue and easily fill the space when chatting with friends.  We also love to talk about what is close to our hearts, especially when we have that in common with other people.  We can talk about church, school, or our kids with the people who share the same passion as we do.  The harder part can be conversing about something, oh let’s say education, when you don’t share the *same passion.  This got me to thinking about our school and how our parents are our biggest ambassadors.  Paul Rand, in his book “Highly Recommended”, conducted a survey to which 92% of respondents reported that a positive recommendation from a friend, family member, or someone they trust is the biggest influence their decision making.  That coupled with your passion for your child and the Christian faith creates a wonderful platform to talk to others about Providence Christian School.  If you are thinking about talking about our school to someone then just speak through those passions and tell of an interesting story or event in your child’s life that either opens the door or express what Christian education is all about.  If we do believe that God is the Lord of all the big things and the little things then surely he is the God of education as well.  Consider talking to someone about our school and if you would like a resource “Considering Christian Education” you can contact the office and we would gladly send home a copy.  It gives practical answers to some of the questions or critiques of Christian schools. You can also check out www.whychristianschools.ca for more information. 
* thanks to www.freedigitalphotos.net for the photo.

January 13th 2014 The Little Things...

As I pray for the school my mind often goes to the big things like enrollment forecasts, sustainability, fulfilling the mission and vision of the school. We know and trust that God is sovereign and he is quite capable of handling all of these things and much more.  We can surrender to God the biggest things in our lives but part of the sermon I heard on Sunday reminded me of another key point.  The pastor made the case that it is easier to trust God with the bigger things yet try to remain in control in the smaller things.  If the Lord is Lord of all then we must surrender the small things as well.  Please do continue to pray for the bigger things but let us not forget the little things as well.  We should seek His will and apply biblical principles to the big and lofty and the nitty gritty.  He is Lord of the Board room and of all the nooks and crannies in our school and in our lives.  We are called again and again to surrender to him our big plans and our lesson plans, our almanacs and our attitudes.  Join me in prayer for our school as we continue to surrender to Him in 2014. 

Focus. We use the word in many different contexts. “Focus on your work.”  “The focus of this lesson will be mapping terms.” “The picture is out of focus.”  “I would like to focus on this particular part.” Or “My focus is all crocus.”  Even though the context varies, there are normative truths revealed in the mechanics of focussing. 

So what are the key elements of focus.  Well, in regards to taking photographs, it is dependent on the convergence of a number of different elements to bring the objects into proper focus.  The more I got to thinking about this the more I believe this falls in line with what we are trying to do as a school.  If we focus on the wrong things then we lose the ability to see what is important.  Further to that, if our focal point shifts we, literally, lose sight of what should be driving our aims and objectives.  The focus at the school is dependent on a number of different pieces that must converge to bring everything into focus.    There are a number of different spokes to the wheel of Christian education but the hub, the center, is the mission of the school.  It should all work together to focus on the fulfillment of what we believe we are called to do at Providence Christian School.

I was intrigued by this idea of centrality as the staff contemplates our focus in regards to our professional practice and learning. Using our school mission as the tool we use to focus our efforts we can see the central element needs to focus on a quality, Christ-centered education so that we may develop the gifts of God’s children and prepare them for a life of Christian service.  Adjusting the focal length to bring objects into focus in a photograph can be likened to adjusting the length or our educational gaze to take the long view of what it takes to live out the mission of the school.  It does help put things into the proper perspective and focus.  We may take time to examine the different spokes of the wheel but our focus will always be the mission and vision that is borne out of the constitution of our school.

January 7th, 2014 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2014. It is a new year on the calendar as the school year continues.  It is an excellent time to take stock of God’s good gifts in our lives and what we do with them.  Reflections on the year past will bring some fondness, some sadness, possibly times of great joy and remembrances of the brokenness that plagues our world.  In all of the ups and downs and twists and turns it is right to start this year off in that sweet spot where we choose to say, “God is Good.”  Living in that truth through the redeeming work of Christ enables us to respond with heartfelt sacrifice.  What sacrifice is asked of us?  We are called to be living sacrifices to God, humbly serving in the body of Christ through love.   Providence, as part of the body of Christ, looks to live and learn and serve humbly in 2014.  We are so thankful for the opportunities that we were presented with in 2013 and was we now approach a new year we humbly ask for more way to grow in the knowledge, and wonder and grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  We ask you to pray that we will continue to seek ways to provide quality education founded on Him who does not change like shifting shadows.  Pray also that we will humbly develop the good gifts God has graciously given each student from above.  Ultimately, we ask you to pray that the Spirit will continue to knock on our hearts that we may persistently and respectfully prepare these children for a life of Christian service that is born out of a life of profound gratitude and living sacrifice for the accomplished work of our Saviour and Lord.  May we follow closer to Jesus this year than in any other.  ~Mr. Bouwers