To Be Wholly Holy

by Dick Buckingham
Administrator

The theme verse we are studying at the school this year has some really amazing things to say about who we are in Christ. In I Peter 2:9, it says “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation….” Whoa. That last one should cause us to pause and marvel. Often when we think of holiness, we think of doing that which is right. It has something to do with our behavior and therefore our standing before God. This is not even close.

The root of the Hebrew word for “holy” has the idea of cutting for the purpose of separation. It carries with it the idea that there ends up being two directions, one of separation from and one of separation towards. Another word that comes to mind when thinking about the actual meaning of holiness is consecration. When something is consecrated it is set apart from the ordinary for an extraordinary purpose.

Thus God calling something “holy” is a really big deal. A quick (and incomplete) review of things that were called “holy” in scripture will help us make that point.

Seventh Day of Creation - “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it He rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:3) God separated the final day of Creation from the other six by ceasing from His creative activity. Thus he consecrated this day as a day to be treated differently than the other six. This becomes the foundation for the fourth Commandment in Exodus 20 where He requires His people to consecrate the seventh day by making it holy. I is because we follow His example that this day becomes something unique and set apart.

Burning Bush – When Moses approached the bush that burned but was not consumed, God told him to take off the shoes on his feet, for the ground upon which he walked was holy. (Exodus 3:5) Clearly here, it was because of the presence of God in the bush that consecrated the ground around it. It was ordinary ground before and as soon as the presence of God was no longer there, it would become ordinary ground again. Therefore it was set apart, and should be treated differently by Moses who was commanded to walk upon it barefooted.

Covenant people of Israel – On many occasions, the people of Israel were referred to as holy. This was not the case because of their level of goodness but because they were inseparably connected to the God who was holy. His presence among them consecrated them and made them holy.

The Tabernacle – In the instructions for the Tabernacle, it furnishings, and all the trappings that were used in its service, God repeatedly called these things holy. They were made of ordinary things that were found around them, cloth of various colors, gold and silver and other metals. We understand that the purpose of the Tabernacle in the midst of the people of Israel in the wilderness was to be a visible representation of the presence of God among them. There is no building that can contain God and the Tabernacle was never meant to do that. But it was consecrated to represent the relationship they had with God in His covenant and thus was called holy.

God’s Name – “Do not profane my holy name.” (Leviticus 22:32) The reason we are commanded to honor the name of the Lord and not profane it is because it is holy, set apart, consecrated as the name of God. It is because of its connection to God that it is considered holy.

Heaven – Heaven is also referred to as holy. (2 Chronicles 30:27) Once again, it is the presence of a holy God that makes the dwelling place of God to be separate, consecrated.

Jesus – “…because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let you Holy One see decay.” (Psalm 16:10) One of the ways the Old Testament refers to the coming Messiah is as the Holy One. The Messiah was holy just as God is holy because the Messiah was none other than God in the flesh. Thus Jesus was also called holy because He is God.

In our text in I Peter, we see that those who have been redeemed by Jesus, those who belong to Him, those who are called by His name are also called a holy nation. It is pretty easy to see it is not on the basis of their behavior or relative goodness, but rather because of their connection to the One who is holy. Because they are called by His name, Christians, they are holy. Because He indwells them by His Spirit, they are holy. Because whenever two or three are gathered in His name and He is present with them, they are called holy.

This is an incredible thing and something that should cause us to stop and consider that God, who is holy, has called us, believers, holy. We are like the ordinary ground that was no different than any other dirt around it until God came near. We are to be separate from everything else around us, consecrated to the special and wonderful purpose He has called us to. We are holy because He is holy.

If you are a believer, what an awesome thing to consider today!

Olympic Lessons Learned

What is it about the Olympics that draws us in and compels us to set our DVRs? Why do we hear the
Olympic theme song and well up with pride for our country and athletes? I don’t think it is the events themselves. In fact, I would venture to guess that most of us have watched little if any ice skating, speed skating, slope style, luge, or curling over the last 2 years. Yet, if you are like our family, the Olympics have become our “go to” show during dinner and in the evenings.

I am struck by the number of life lessons that can be learned in just one evening of Olympic competition. Every evening seems to be filled with stories of sportsmanship, patriotism, teamwork, and discipline.  In a day and age where most of the programs on television are inappropriate for my young children, I love that they can rally behind an event that in my opinion stands for something special. I know that with each Olympics comes some controversy, but there is the opportunity to stand together to cheer on our fellow man. The commercials alone are enough to bring you to tears and well up with pride at the stories of determination and perseverance. 

My girls are getting to see the agony of defeat and the sweet thrill of victory. They are getting to see that sometimes, things aren’t fair. People can work all of their lives chasing a dream that never comes true. They can also spend their lives chasing a dream that is finally realized despite all of the obstacles in their way.  We find ourselves routing for the underdog, crying for the heartbroken, cringing at the crashes, and cheering for the victors. 

And yes, lessons can still be learned from the athletes that don’t display the levels of sportsmanship we would hope to see. 

 

The Blame Gamers – those who try to point the finger and blame the weather, the slope, the other competitors, or anything else they can to help navigate the disappointment. 

The Entitled – those who think they deserve it more than everyone else and aren’t happy with any medal but the gold. 

The Havic Hopefuls – those who secretly (or openly) hope that the other team will fall, get hurt, or make a mistake that will give them the advantage. 

God created each of these athletes with amazing abilities. Whether they are using their gifts for God’s glory or their own, we are reminded that God has called each of us as believers to run the race to receive the prize. 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

2 Timothy 2:5
Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.

I know I will never win an Olympic medal, but I am fully confident that my prize will be far greater! I may never stand on the podium in front of millions of people and hear the National Anthem play, but I look forward to that amazing day when I will sing with the angels in the presence of my KING!

Security Blanket

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Assistant Principal

We've all been there....it's bedtime.  We are exhausted and the kids are grumpy.  We can't wait to tuck them in and have a little peace and quiet.  And then the unthinkable...you can't find Blankie! For my Caleb, he HAD to have Wally and Sienna - his two stuffed Labradors.  If there was no Wally or no Sienna, there was no sleep.  That child's bed was half full with nearly thirty other stuffed animals, but he had to be cuddling with Wally AND Sienna to fall into a peaceful sleep.  I remember the nights of searching and pleading and crying, and I'm sure you have had them too.

It seems most kids grow away from the security blanket phase of life.  Is that true or do we just replace our stuffed toy with something more grown up?  We may not need to snuggle with a soft, yellow, furry something-or-other to get to sleep.  However, we do hold onto things and people that give us the security we think we need.  I've recently been convicted of this very thing - why am I not 100%, solely, completely, desperately dependent on God?  Why isn't God enough?  God has even gone far enough in me to take away those security items so that I would lift my eyes to Him and realize that my security must rest in Him alone.

I would challenge you to consider what may be standing between you and your utter dependence on God.  Some people find security in their relationship with their spouse.  Others may find that a beloved grandparent or friend is the one that constantly comforts them when times get tough.  Some of us may find that our security blanket is a sin, even an addiction, that we depend on to give us what we think we need.  But God calls us, beckons us, to find our rest in Him.  Isaiah 41:13 says "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'"  He is the only place where true peace is found.  Everything else provides us just a temporary fix.

My favorite image of the Lord as my security blanket comes from Deuteronomy 33:12.  "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders."  Resting between the shoulders of the almighty God....that's where I want to be!

May we be like the psalmist who says:

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge" (Psalm 62:5-8).

1 + 1 = 2

by Dick Buckingham
Administrator

1+1=2

Everyone will look at the above equation and agree that it is true.  It will be accepted without question and anyone who says otherwise will be ridiculed or ignored.  But what if I ask you why you believe it to be true?  

Some may give answers like the following:

                “That is what my teachers taught me.”

                “It just is.  It is a statement of fact, like gravity.”

                “Everyone knows that it is.”

But how do you know it is true for certain?  Already, there are some who are rounding up the paddy wagons, heading in my direction.  Allow me a little latitude to discuss with you further.

If you believe it to be true because your teacher or anyone else told you it was true, then I would ask how do know they were right?  What if someone else comes along and says 1+1=6, will you accept this as easily as you did your teacher’s statement?  And if not, then why not, since you are basing the authority of your acceptance of this math statement upon the teaching of another?  What would make one teacher superior to another?

If it just is, then how do you know that?  It really doesn’t answer the question; it just ignores it and says the same thing a little louder, giving us the impression that whoever can shout it loudest is right.

If it is because everyone knows that it is, what if I find someone who doesn’t?  Does that nullify it?  And if not just one, then how about two or three or four?  How many would it take to disagree with the proposition before you would reconsider its truth?  Are truths such as these dependent upon majority acceptance?  Of course not!

What if I said, “1+1=2 may be true for you, but it is not for me.”  Would you allow my relativism to have credibility?  Would that work in a real world where I could change this addition to be whatever I like?  Likely not as the feet of the men in the white coats grows ever louder.  Yet, you have not yet given me solid reason as to why we must both conclude that 1+1=2.

Perhaps now, with some measure of sighing, you realize I am serious and you are about to set out to carefully prove that adding one to one is always true.

“According to our counting system, two is the next number following one.”

Why?  Couldn’t our counting system have six following one?  And why can’t we change our counting system everyday if we want?  What is there to keep us from doing that?  Why must we insist on 1+1=2?  Why can’t it be 1+1=6?  Excuse me, there is a knock at my door.

Clearly this is nonsense.  That fact that I even spent this much space in this blog is silly at best.  Why did I do so?  Because there are many people today who want to discuss other truth and try to handle it in the way that I have above and we allow them credibility to think they could possibly have a point.  An example is the declaration that God is.  I make such a statement about God and very quickly I am challenged.

“You can’t insist that is true for everyone!  It may be true for you, but it is not for me and many others.”

While this may seem like a gracious, generous statement, not forcing me to move away from my assertion as long as I don’t force it on others, but it is just as ridiculous as the argument above.  There either is a God or there isn’t.  It can’t be both ways.  To insist otherwise is foolishness.

So that brings me back to my assertion that there is a God.

“What proof do you have?”

I will use the math above as my evidence.  If there is no God, and the world and everything in it has come about by chaotic chance than we would not be able to insist upon our counting system and statements of mathematical facts.  If everything is in a state of change, then so is our math system and what we once thought true about it no longer is and even that won’t last forever.  The reality is, unless there is an orderly God who has created a world of order, we could not make any useful conclusions about anything that would help us in anyway.  The fact that when you add one more to one the answer is always, always, always two is because there is order in the universe established by the Creator of order, none other than God himself.

You see, God has left Himself many witnesses of His existence in the things that He has made around us.  An orderly world is just one of them.  If one is so inclined, we can see evidence of a Creator in just about everything.  That is what the scriptures reveal.

The heavens declare the glory of God.  The skies proclaim His handiwork.  Day after day they pour forth speech.  Night after night they display knowledge   (Psalm 19:1).

Is it any wonder that the psalmist also proclaims “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1)

Time Flies

We've all heard the expression, "Time flies when you are having fun!"

The older I get, the more I realize that time just flies . . . period.

A few weeks back I celebrated my 35th birthday. I know that a woman is never supposed to reveal her age (and I secretly hope that those who know me have fallen off their chairs in shock at this revelation), but hitting this milestone has had me thinking about time and how fleeting it really is. As a mother of 4, watching my children grow is just another reminder of how quickly life flies by. It feels like my youngest daughter Beaux was just born yesterday, and yet, here she is at almost 7 months old and she is starting to crawl and sit up. How does this happen?

It happens because time is a complex thing.

Time is free,

but it's priceless,

You can't own it,
but you can use it.

You can't keep it,

but you can spend it.

Once you've spent it
you can never get it back.

Life is so short and I don't want to miss a moment! This is true not just in the lives of my kids, but in my life as a believer and follower of Jesus.

The Bible is full of verses about time and how we are expected to use it.

Ephesians 5:15-17 says, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Ultimately, we don't know what the future holds or how many days we have to walk on this earth. James 4:14 reminds us, "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

But one day is as a thousand years with the Lord! II Peter 3:10-12d says, "The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God."

We are expected to wait for the coming day of the Lord with great anticipation, and yet, we are to live the days He allows us pursuing holiness and godliness. What does that look like in your life? How can you pursue holiness and godliness in your home? In your job? With your friends?

Time is precious and we know it flies (no matter how old you are), so let us grab hold of each moment and make the best use of the time we are given.

Humble Pie

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal

Humble pie is not something most people want to eat.  It usually means we've done someone wrong and face humiliation as we seek restoration.  Humility is a character quality that we like to avoid - it has a negative connotation.  However, humility is a godly characteristic; "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind" (I Peter 3:8).

Humility is a hard quality to come-by as it is very counter-cultural.  Our culture says to teach our kids to be proud of their accomplishments, to have a high self-esteem. Teaching them to be humble seems to be in direct opposition to building them up.  

However, I've recently learned that humility is a key element in handling times of deep suffering.  A recent article I read states:  "Humility is the way to wisdom..  Humility is the way to contentment in the midst of confusing suffering"  (Welch, 2012).  I Peter 5:6-7 says:  "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  Even Jesus approached the time of his death with true humility when he says "yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).  Although we never want to think of our kids encountering a time of significant grief and trial, the facts demonstrate that those times are inevitable.  Our time to teach our kids is so short and we should not overlook the importance of working on this character trait with them.  

Teach Them Who God Is
Micah 6:8  teaches us "to walk humbly with your God."  A reminder that God is God and we are not instills the godly humility that will carry one through many, many trials.  When we think of Job and the tremendous suffering he endured, we call to mind the last few chapters when God finally speaks.  What does he tell Job?  "Through gentle, yet relentless, fatherly questions, he was taught that God is God and our aim in suffering is not to get answers but to submit to his lordship" (Welch, 2012).  If we can have our children grasp who God really is, and give them a proper respect for his sovereignty, hopefully they will bring these things to mind when faced with trials.

Recognize the Power Source
This is one of my favorite definitions of humility:  "Humility is not denying the power you have but admitting

that the power comes through you and not from you" (Smith, 1984).  Our kids have been gifted in unique and special ways.  They may be great athletes, be really astute in math, or be musically talented.  True humility is not a denial of the gifts they've been given, but a recognition that these things are from the Lord.  A little girl I once knew had the most beautiful curls.  Even at the young age of 4 and 5, if you said to her, "I love your hair"  she would respond "God gave it to me."  I always loved her sweet heart - never realizing that her parents were instilling a humble spirit in her.  We are never successful in our own power - it comes directly from the Lord, and He should be the one to receive the praise.

Provide Opportunities for Them to Serve
The very nature of a servant is humility.  As Jesus taught his disciples, he told them over and over again to be servants, and also demonstrated the same in his actions.  "...But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45).  Are there places where your children can serve and reach out to others in need?  

Teaching our children to be thankful and helping them learn to ask forgiveness are more ways that they may learn humility.  Let's take the bad taste from humble pie and give our children (and ourselves) the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of walking humbly with our God.


Smith, F. (January 1, 1984).  "Christian Humility."  Leadership Journal, Winter 1984.

Welch, E. (July 18, 2012).  "Suffering, Step One."

We Are Part of Something Bigger

by Dick Buckingham
Administrator

The theme verse we are looking at for the school this year comes from I Peter 2:9:

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”  ESV

One of the things we are noting from this verse is that all of the phrases are referring to us not as individuals, but as a collective group.  The words race, priesthood, nation, people indicate something larger than just who we are in Christ as individuals.  It has caused me to ponder about the way God seems to deal with groups of people as a whole.

Adam was an individual, but God established a covenant with him such that what he did, reflected not just upon Adam as an individual, but upon all the people represented by the covenant.  Thus we are all sinners because Adam disobeyed God in the garden.  God dealt with the group we call humans globally in this case.

Abraham also had a relationship with God, but it wasn't just about him as an individual.  God’s arrangement with Abraham included all of his descendants.  They would all be recipients of God’s blessing of a pleasant land.  Much of scripture is the dealings of God with these people as a whole, not as individuals.

David was a man after God’s own heart, but God was looking at his descendants as the ones who would be royalty and would sit upon the throne of Israel and later Judah (and ultimately all mankind) forever.  In this line there were good kings and not so good kings, yet God dealt with them as a group.

Sometimes God deals harshly with a group of people because of the actions of one individual.  In the case of Ahab, wicked king of Israel (not a descendant of David), God sent Elijah to inform him that it would not rain until he said it would.  It did not rain for three years and the drought affected both the wicked in Israel and the 7000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal (I Kings 17, 19).

In the New Testament, we see God’s concern for and dealings with such groups as the elect, the church, the people of God.

Clearly the interest of God is more than in just the individual person.  Don’t get me wrong; God does deal with individuals.  He does love individuals such as you and I and He is concerned about our personal obedience.  But I think too often we tend to focus only on how God looks upon us as individuals and not as a group.  There is something to be said for broadening our vision.

First of all, it causes us to be more humble.  We tend to be a bit myopic at times and view the whole of scriptures as being put there for us.  It is about my personal walk and personal salvation and how I will spend all eternity with God in heaven.  We tend to think of ourselves as the reason why God created everything,  that He chose to send His Son into the world, in order to save us personally.  The truth is, it is not all about us as individuals.  It is ultimately about God and how He has chosen to relate to His creation.

Second, it reminds us that we are not separate; we are part of a group.  That group is important in God’s sight and we need it.  We too often view our participation in that group, the Church, the people of God as secondary or unimportant when compared to our own individual relationship to God.  It is something that is necessary and vital to be actively participating in a local church and God’s way of addressing groups in verses such as the one above reminds us of that.

Third, it makes it clear we are not alone.  Sometimes we get the feeling that we alone are dealing with the struggles of life and there is no one who understands and cares like we do.  Not so.  Elijah fell into that temptation when he implored God to take him home after his encounter with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.  He was certain everyone else had forsaken God.  He was told that there were 7000 that God had reserved for Himself.  (I Kings 19).  Likewise, we are not alone.

Finally, it makes it clearly apparent to us that we are part of something bigger.  We are part of nothing less than a “people for his own possession.”  We are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, a participant in His body.  Everyone likes to be part of a powerful movement.  There is nothing more powerful than the mighty work and people of God.  There is a confidence and encouragement that this gives as we live out our daily lives for Him.

I encourage you in this New Year to observe other places in the scriptures where God is addressing us not so much as individuals but as a whole.   May this grow in you a clearer view of who you are in the sight of God.