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

December 16, 2013 Winter Wonderland

A teacher shared that a student came into the school and exclaimed, “I wish it was only one second until recess.”  Why the excitement for recess?  It is the snow.  The sun is ablaze and the ground alight from the freshly fallen snow. The world outside is whiter and brighter than it has been all year.  Students dig, tunnel, laugh and play in this new world.  It would be safe to say, for the most part, that there is great joy from such a transformation.  Just as the snow reflects the light of the Sun, we too are tasked to reflect the light of God’s Son as image bearers.  As we look outside on a morning like this it is easy to make connections to the Christmas story.  We see before us things anew.  The generous cover of snow reminds us that through Christ we can be washed clean, whiter than snow.  As we are made new we have new life in Christ and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be transformed.  Glimpsing out the window once more I am again humbled by the beauty of it all and how God, over and over, meets us where we are.  God is good; all the time.  I am so very thankful that God chose to meet us here, through the person of Jesus Christ and for what that means at Providence.  We have the opportunity, through education, to know Christ’s love, to grow in and through His grace, and to demonstrate that love to others. 

December 9, 2013 Focus

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.

December 2, 2013 Under Construction: Kingdom Building

The Kingdom of God.  My mind has been swirling with what this means.  The Kingdom of God.  I pray for it.  I long for it. I pray for it to come for the kingdom that is here now and yet to be.  I am humbled by the opportunities to work and serve, as I have said on more than one occasion, in this small corner of God’s Big Kingdom.  It provides purpose and context to what we do each and every school day. What better reason is there to get out of bed and do what we do than to say we are faithful servants in God’s kingdom? 

We see other kingdoms around us. In the time of Jesus it was the Empire, the Kingdom of Rome:  Strong and powerful, full of pride and honour, with its defences and an all-encompassing way of life.  It was in this setting that Jesus introduced a very controversial and contrary way of kingdom building.  Today there are other empires with just as much bluster.  In the west we have the countries of NATO.  More specifically to us, we have Canada and the United States.  The pervasive, ladder climbing notion of kingdom building remains but Jesus has shown us a different path.   

But then we don’t think of that each and every day.  We cling to our own devices.  We are kingdom builders who constantly engage in advancing one kingdom over another and we don’t always get it right.  We contribute,  probably all too often,  to our own kingdoms with selfish kingdom efforts.  We place ourselves on the throne and subjugate the things that are around us.  We employ defences to ensure we keep our kingdoms the way they are. 

Our priorities can get out of whack.  I have done some recent readings that focus on the following theme.  The path of descent is the path of transformation.  The parables, when read back to back to back explicitly state “The kingdom of heaven is like….”  These illustrations often flip our idea of kingdom completely upside down.  We need to pay attention to these images for they do show that we must decrease and He must increase. It starts with a humble and contrite heart and progresses (down) from there.  Let us then be intentional about our kingdom efforts and  direct our efforts towards building a community of grace where we celebrate and live out the Good Gift of God’s grace in community.  “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

November 25, 2013 Bazaar Community

It is a busy time of year on the school calendar with things like report cards, parent teacher conferences, volleyball tournaments, Membership meetings and the Bazaar.  The frenetic pace is somewhat infectious as the community buzz becomes as constant as the sound emanating from the florescent lights above.  I had the distinct pleasure of seeing wave after wave of volunteers streaming through the doors and into the school.  Our community pours life into these events and, in turn, pours life into our students.  Thursday night three alumni families came in to volunteer.  It is a tremendous blessing to see some of our “graduated” families in these life giving roles.  On to Friday where parents and a number of students were eagerly volunteering as they helped set up chairs and tables.  There were at least three generations involved in setting up for this community event.  What a testament to the strength and commitment to Christian education in the Flamborough area. I heard someone remark that it must take a small army to get ready for the bazaar.  It may not be an army but it does take our whole community, and what a community that is.  Thank you to all of the organizers of the Bazaar, the volunteers, the cooks, the patrons, and any other group that I somehow missed.  It was a wonderful event and I am already looking forward to next year.  ~Mr. Bouwers

 

November 18th, 2013 Membership Meeting - God's Good Gift of Christian Education

We have the Fall Membership meeting tonight at the school and there are so many things that we could share with you.  I will be taking a look at how the mission and vision of the school is living in the hallways and the classrooms of Providence Christian School.  The theme of the principal’s report will be  “Walking the Hallways.”  During the last report we had a chance to look into the windows of the classrooms and this time we will be walking the hallways to see what is going on.  We can give thanks for this learning community.  We are thankful for the support of the community, the dedicated professionals in the building and the volunteer Board to direct us.  We are especially thankful for the students who grace our classrooms, halls, busses and playground as it is a joy to be called to educate them  in Jesus’ name.   Come tonight and share the joy of Christian Education. 

We Remember - November 11, 2013

Eruptions of mud and deafening explosions riddle the pictures used to commemorate Remembrance Day.  These stark images are reminders of the tragedies of war and the brokenness of this world.  These obvious reminders can elicit visceral reactions to what is adroitly perceived as our humanness at its worst.  War crimes and profiteering darken an already dismal image.  It brings to mind the call from the Word to hate what is evil and cling to what is good.  It stirs in us the God given desire for justice. 

 

We see, as well, through the videos, pictures and print articles an expression of hope and self-sacrifice.  As we wade through the ocean of details and media, the stories of hope reveal themselves to us. It is often in the darkest of time that even the smallest of lights can be seen clearly.  We have that visceral desire for light and hope and justice when we are faced with the uneasiness of obvious darkness.  Our souls are disquieted and long for the one who brings restoration and reconciliation.   On this day we not only remember the stories of hope but the narrative of sacrifice.  As Christians we are familiar with the narrative of sacrifice as embodied in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  We experience a great peace that came at a great cost.  This is true not only for the state our souls but also for the generally peaceful existence we enjoy today. 

 

The grade 6 class did a wonderful job this morning of representing the sacrifice of our veterans and current military service personnel.  We spent our moment in silence for in honour of those who have given their lives in service to our country.  We thank God for the good gift of peace this day as we remember.