Curiosity

Sometimes curiosity gets a bad rap.  Apparently, it killed the cat, or so they say..... It can get us into trouble, especially as children.  How many times were we as children reminded to 'mind our own business' when we pried into our parents' world?  How many times were we told not to worry about things we questioned about or cautioned against exploring parts of the world that are dangerous? Certainly, curiosity can lead to dark and dangerous places from which we need to adequately protect our children.   But what is that seemingly insatiable need to explore and know more that is built into us and into each child?  It is a gift from God that He created us with - a pre-existing condition that prepares us to fulfill His blessing and command:  "Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it..." " (Genesis 1:28a)

In an article she wrote for Chrisitan Parenting, Sharon Miller reminds us that our task "...is to raise children who want God. When our kids inherit a holy curiosity, they will never stop exploring their infinite Creator and never stop asking for more of him."  It's why our Community Character traits begin with curiosity.  It is that posture of excitement and desire for more that sets us up as people who seek God and to fill His creation.  It is central to our task not only as guardians and rulers of creation, it is also central to our need to know God more and to connect with Him.  In order to be a student, we need to be curious; and God, knowing that, built it right in!  

It also reminds us that we don't need to answer every question that our kids or students ask with a factual answer.  Sometimes they need to wonder, to exercise their curiosity, to search for wonders in creation, to search for God.  The next time your child asks 'Why?' (and perhaps it will be the 100th time that day!), thank God for planting curiosity in each of us, and pray that we as a school community can celebrate that need to know, desire to learn, and thirst for God in our students!

Connected in Christ

By now, you have all been introduced to the six character traits that surround our schools' themes this year. These six traits are part of a longer story that originated more than a year and a half ago when we asked the NACE community 'Why?'

Why do you send your kids to a Christian School? Why is Christian Education important? What do you hope for in Christian Education?

These important questions revealed some important data which included a number of things that we would all expect: We knew that the foundational world-and-life view that keeping Christ at the centre of all we study was important. We also knew that we all desire a safe and loving place for our students where we know that they will be cared for as children of God and image bearers of Him.

One other item surfaced loud and clear at that time: You had a deep desire to see your children live out their Christian faith in a real and tangible way - not just as head knowledge, but as heart and hands knowledge as evidenced by character and service.

As a teaching staff, we dove deep into this concept to uncover what character traits we could intentionally develop over the long term that would not only encourage deeper learning and academic excellence but ones that would model Christ and discover His story in our lives.

You will hear more about these six character traits over the coming months and years. We don't intend just to 'teach' them to our kids. We intend to make them central to who we are and how we do things as an entire learning community - entering with Curiosity, and responding in Joy. Working with Compassion, Collaboration, Integrity, and Perseverance in all that we do.

In living and working together, we are connected together, to God's world, and in Christ.

Blessings to all of you as we enter into a new year of living, learning and serving together to God's glory!

Helping the Kingom come about

The title of this week's ED-you-cate comes from a chapter of a book by Henri Nouwen called 'A Spirituality of Fundraising'.  Nouwen is one of my 'heroes of the Christian faith' and I have grown to love his writing over the years.  This little book is no exception.  It was required reading for an administrator's conference I attended last week, where we were inspired and encouraged to articulate our organization's mission in the world, and how that related to the kingdom of God.  

I spent the next evening with a large group of 'friends of NACE' at our annual board fundraising dinner event, and shared for devotions the following passage from Nouwen's book:

Fundraising is a very concrete way to help the kingdom of God come about. What is the kingdom? Jesus is clear that if we make the kingdom our first priority, "all these other things will be given you as well' (Matt. 6:33, NJB). The kingdom is where God provides for all that we

need. It is the realm of sufficiency where we are no longer pulled here and there by anxiety about having enough. 'So do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself" (Matt. 6:34, NJB). Jesus also compares the kingdom to a mustard seed," which, at the time of its sowing, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth.Yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade' (Mark 4:31–32, NJB).

Even a seemingly small act of generosity can grow into something far beyond what we could ever ask or imagine (see Eph. 3:20)—the creation of a community of love in this world, and beyond this world, because wherever love grows, it is stronger than death (1 Cor. 13:8). So when we give ourselves to planting and nurturing love here on earth, our efforts will reach out beyond our own chronological existence. Indeed, if we raise funds for the Creation of a community of love, we are helping God build the kingdom. We are doing exactly what we are supposed to do as Christians. Paul is clear about this: "Make love your aim" (1 Cor. 14:1, NJB). (Nouwen, 2004)

That evening, amongst the great service(thank you, NACE board!), excellent food, and fantastic entertainment it was obvious we were in a community of love, and that they, in turn, were supporting our schools as communities of love.  The kingdom of God depends on small and large gifts alike, and He will bless those far beyond what we could ever imagine.  With your time, your talents, your resources, and your finances give knowing that you are a part of the Kingdom, where we are making love our aim!!!

Everything is different, everything is the same

Christian Education Week 2017 at both CCS and JKCS is a 'wrap'. What an exciting time to be in our schools as students eagerly awaited and greeted visitors, as people experienced us for the first time, and still others who have watched us grow since before we had our own buildings. Many, many wonderful interactions took place over the past two weeks, but an underlying sentiment struck me, in the words of a few of our grandparents in discussion with me: "Wow, education has changed a lot in the past few decades.... and is that ever a good thing!"

The grandparents have changed a great deal as well! One image that will stick in my mind for a long time is that of a visiting grandparent couple taking a 'selfie' on their smartphone with their grandchild in the classroom. At the moment, it was a major mental shift for me, but also seemed so normal and natural. As they looked around, they noticed other things that are 'different': the desks and chairs aren't all in rows, there isn't necessarily a textbook and workbook for each subject, technology is present but not front and centre, the principal and teachers are not filling positions of authority over students but of relationship WITH students.

"Why is it a good thing that things have changed?", I asked.
"The kids are at the centre." was the answer.
Simple, yet equally profound. This will stick with me for a while.

Just as nearly every workplace in our society has changed (some dramatically) over the past decade, so has the education work/learning place. I've had a few visiting parents come in to see JKCS or CCS, hoping to give to their children "the same experience I had as a kid." It's an interesting conversation that ensues. "Everything is different, and everything is the same," is one of my answers. We do not 'do' education the same way I experienced it when I attended Christian School. Students engage in learning experiences very differently than the traditional teacher-directed format of the past. However, we still teach and weave through everything we do that God is the LORD of all, that Christ is the saviour of the world, and the Spirit is active in our lives and in our everyday. In fact, decades of experience and research has taught us new ways to make this relevant and alive for students.

What is so exciting for me? That fact that grandparents are encouraging us to forge forward. They have seen generations of change and perhaps aren't so afraid of it. They certainly are passionate and excited about our current growth at NACE and the ways in which they see their grandchildren thriving. To God be the glory in each new day, with each new change, and in the ways in which we continue to seek Him in all that we do.
_______________________________________________

The Christian Courier, a Reformed Biweekly publication, released a special Christian Education Issue on April 24, 2017. The whole issue is a great discussion about Christian Schooling in Canada. One column, in particular, was a fantastic read. By Kathy Vandergrift entitled 'School bullying: Zero-tolerance to mutual respect'. I have included it at the end of today's print version of Journey/Connection. If you are reading a digital version, you can access it here: https://goo.gl/S9ApgG

Growing and Stretching our Faith

I am writing this at the middle point of two Christian Education Weeks at NACE. Last week we welcomed well over 1000 visitors through our doors and hallways at Covenant to see what Christian Education is all about.  Now we're ready to do the same at John Knox!  Student work is on display, songs and acting practices taking place, our classrooms are a little more 'open', and the regular 'busy' of school life is even busier!!
These weeks place us in contact with all kinds of people.  Some are our dedicated founders - those who worked to establish our schools.  Some are family supporters, excited to see how Christian Schools are working in the lives of their children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.  Still others are new to Christian Education - just beginning to see what happens at John Knox and Covenant, and by extension, at Christian Schools rooted in the richness of the gospel woven through every moment of the day.
One of the lessons that I'm continuing to learn is that we are always on stage. Some of the most rewarding conversations that I've had over the past days, weeks, and months are with those who have recently discovered Christian Schools and the unique blessing that we enjoy.  One of those was last week with a grandparent who shared with me that she just wished that she had known about Christian Schools when her own children were school aged.  She is now excited to support the decision that her children have made to become a part of the Christian Education Community, and sharing that with anyone she meets.
I, and I think we, need to remember that there are opportunities every day, and especially in our own Christian Communities.  The good news of God's grace is relevant always, and applicable at all times.  There are always those who are struggling with their faith, those who are new to the message of the gospel, and those who are discovering Christ's work in the world for the first time.
Christian Education doesn't stop at grade 8, at grade 12, at post-secondary studies, or ever.  Our faith is never at a state of completion or arrival.  It is always growing, always stretching, always renewing not only so that we can share the good news, but because we are presented with the opportunity to do so!!
"But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." - Acts 20:24

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some of you will have caught our 'Niagara Christian Schools' broadcast that we are undertaking with the help of Scott Street Church in St. Catharines and in partnership with Smithville Christian High, Beacon Christian, and Dunnville Christian Schools.  These programs are broadcasting on WDCX 99.5 FM on Sundays at 12:45 on a show entitled 'Voices of Niagara'.  The first three episodes have highlighted the group of schools, and then Covenant and John Knox individually.  The voices of teachers, parents, and students all attest to how God is working through our schools.  If you missed them, we have downloadable recordings available online at:

Episode #1 (all five schools): https://goo.gl/cqOh6n

Episode #2 (Covenant): https://goo.gl/43x2nH

Episode #3 (John Knox): https://goo.gl/xg8yaz

Episodes #4-6 will highlight the other three schools over the next few weeks.

www.voicesofniagara.ca

www.niagarachristianschools.ca

Walking from Palm Sunday to Good Friday

We are now in Holy Week.  Many of us celebrated Palm Sunday in church yesterday, many with actual palm branches, commemorating the day in which Jesus comes into Jerusalem, knowing full well that it was here that he would meet his 'end', so to speak.  He was greeted with all of the adoration deserving of a king, with shouts of admiration. 

In a very powerful devotional experience years ago when I counselled at a kids camp, we walked up 'cross hill' as it was affectionately known, to the wooden cross erected there, overlooking the camp.  Each child brought forward a slip of paper forward.  Mine said 'Kevin's Sins'... each camper had a personalised card they had made with their name.  We nailed each of the 100 slips of paper to the cross and the kids were allowed to leave once their paper was hung.  I have a photo of that cross up in my house still: cross with sins attached and kids playing on the field below... 'released' as it were from their sins by Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

The next time many of us will be in church will be to celebrate and mark Good Friday.  I've always found this an uneasy transition.  It's kind of like a movie or a bad dream where everything slowly starts to unravel and gets worse and worse. How did we get from the triumphal entry with shouts of 'Hosanna!'  to screams of 'Crucify Him!' less than a week later?  It has underscored for me the fact that Jesus' disciples and his followers, and indeed the world, misunderstood who He really was and what He really was there to do.

I wonder about our own faith walk.  How much of our own view of Christ is made into what we want him to be?  When we approach God in worship, do we really understand fully what and who He is?  I'm inclined to think that we also need to do this Holy Week walk.  Where have we made God into our own object?  Where have we sold him short?  How have we misunderstood and underestimated his power?  In what ways do we need to acknowledge our own sinfulness and take it to him on the cross?

This week, may you experience the heaviness of your own sins, may we as a group of people acknowledge our own shortcomings and the ways in which we have often made God into something of our own crafting, and may we all end up at the cross - the only thing that can release us into Joy.  May we be ready to release our sins to the healing power of Jesus' death and resurrection.  

May your week, in this way, be truly Holy.

Leadership Wisdom and Faith

I don't often write about leadership in this column, but it is a topic on which I dwell, think, and pray about a great deal.  A friend shared a very poignant article with me the other day entitled "How To Know Whether You’re Trusting God…Or Just Being Stupid"  (if you're interested in the entire post, you can find it here: https://goo.gl/D2Wn7K )  Initially, I laughed out loud because I have this conversation with other leaders in Christian organisations often.  It seems to be a very delicate balancing act to figure out just how bold to be in one's vision and decision-making while remaining appropriately cautious and careful.

The author Carey Nieuwof breaks down the decision between trust and wisdom in a great way and one that is helpful for anyone running any organisation, and for distinctively Christian organisations in particular.

1) "Is ‘wisdom’ killing my trust in God?" and 2) "Does my ‘trust’ in God disregard all wisdom?"

The second question here is much easier for me.  It's safer, it seems more calculated, and we can all think of examples in which perhaps someone was misguided in their conviction to move forward in faith and watched as it felt apart. Unfortunately, our faith is always an imperfect faith and we are also blessed with wisdom, discernment, and people on whom we can rely for sober second thought.

The first question is unsettling for me, but lurks as a constant reminder that I am part of something much bigger than the individual parts.  God is working through NACE in amazing ways, and I find that He surprises me weekly by showing me ways in which my vision was limited.  I often do more harm to my faith and trust in God by being calculated and careful in my response.  

So, how can we grow in our balance of wisdom and faith?  James 1 has some advice (which I need to turn to often!)  "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver..." (NLT)

Do we need to have wisdom, or faith?   Both!  Please pray for the leadership of NACE that we will seek wisdom, boldly asking God with a faith in Him alone!!  This prayer is also for our students who watch us keenly each minute, hour, and day.  Modelling our faith and a desire for wisdom is one of the best gifts we can give them to prepare for a life of service.