New For The Fall
Although I hear many words used to describe the times in which we are living, and those words are delievered with a wide range of emotions (fear and anger top the list), I constantly encourage myself with the Word of God. Dr. Francis Schaeffer astutely noted that Christians suffer from viewing the world in “bits and pieces instead of totals.” When we as Christians lose sight of the totals we gradually lose our ability to discern correctly. We can enter a downward spiral in which global problems seem so overwhelming that even most Christians numbly retreat from responsibility into the comfort zone of “self”. Unfortunately, by doing so we shrink in our ability to become men and women of God.
As our children notice the significant adults in their lives shirking responsibility for the world around them, largely because of their anger and fear over loss of control, they become confused. They wonder…”Is God real?” “Is God in control?” “Does God have a plan for me that is good?” “If He does have a plan for me, will it come to fruition?”
We need to live our lives in such a way that we instill hope in our children. Hope in God and hope in the future because He is in control . God is working out His plan. Hope inspires and courage comes as a result. Of all people Christians need to be fearless about the future.
No one can blame the non-Christian for being angry and afraid. A.W. Tozer in his book This World: Playground or Battleground? claims “that the world is a baptism of fire, and whether or not these present conflicts are just the beginning of the ordeal, such a baptism will surely come sooner or later. God declares this by voice of all the holy prophets since time began…there is no escaping it. But are not we Christians a people of another order? Do we not claim a place in the purpose of God altogether above the uncertainties of time and chance in which the sons of this world are caught? Have we not been given prophetic preview of all these things that are happening and are to come upon the earth? Can anything…should anything take us unaware?”
Surely Bible-reading Christians should be the last persons on earth to give way to hysteria. This is a big old world, and it is full of the habitations of darkness, but nowhere in its vast expanse is there one thing of which a real Christian need be afraid. Surely a fear-ridden Christian has never examined his or her defenses. Remember fear-stricken Christians cannot help a scared world, nor do they provide the right example for their own children.
The tribe of Issachar was the smallest of the Twelve tribes of Israel; however, we must not underestimate their influence as we read in First Chronicles 12:32 that they “understood the times in which they lived and knew what to do.” Shouldn’t Christians be the ones who understand these times and know what they ought to do? Fear not and know that God is working out His perfect plan…trust in that Truth!
Every new year is an unchartered and unknown sea. No ship has sailed this exact course before; however, we are well under way in our planning to launch the “ship” for another year of sailing. We do have two new academic programs we are launching in high school that we are very excited about. We have scheduled an Honors English class for 10th through 12 grades, and an AP Caluculus course. Additionally, we will be using a web based school management program called GradeLink that is designed to equip families to stay current with student assignments and grades. A great deal of information concerning GradeLink is forthcoming is our annual “Back-to-school” packets.
Of course we covet your prayers as we continue making preparations for another exciting school year. May God richly bless you in your summer activities and remember God is in control!
