He Came!

I have now officially become a man of the 21^st century. I attended a fashion show. Don’t get too excited though – I still refuse to wear pink or carry a “man” purse.

How in the world did I end up at a fashion show? It was Adelynn’s fault, to be honest! See, our youngest daughter has spent quite a bit of time at DeVos Children’s Hospital over the past nine months, so when the hospital held its annual fashion show benefit, they asked if Adelynn and six other patients would model kid’s clothing during part of the program. Well, that sounded kind of exciting to us, but since neither Stacy nor I had actually ever been to a fashion show, we had no idea what we were getting into! Needless to say, we felt a little out of place. Affluent benefactors strutting around, drink in one hand, appetizer in the other – not exactly our cup of tea! And speaking of appetizers, for the most part I had absolutely no idea what I was eating. I did recognize the pizza, and the mushrooms looked vaguely familiar. I have traveled far to experience different cultures. Who would think that I could feel so out of place in Grand Rapids!

I wonder if Jesus felt out of place as he became a man and entered our world. I wonder if the food tasted funny or the clothes looked ridiculous. I wonder if he silently laughed at our many strange customs. Perhaps not, for he knew (and knows) his creation intimately. He was not surprised by what he experienced. In fact, he came knowing full well what he was doing. Yet he came. HE CAME!! How we often take his coming for granted! We speak and sing of his birth but often fail to see the wonder in God becoming man and coming to our world. This Christmas, remember the energizing splendor of those two words: He came! He came for you, for me, for all people. He came to save! He came to die! He came to live again! HE CAME!

Merry Christmas from all of us at Providence Christian High School. During this Christmas season, may you feel the presence of the One who left his throne of glory and came to earth for us.

A Learning Community - Our Mission, Part 2

Providence Christian High School exists to provide a Christ-centered learning community....

In the last issue of the Storm Bulletin, I took a feeble stab at what it means to be a Christ-centered school. The more I think about it, the more I realize how difficult it is to maintain "Christ-centeredness" over any period of time. With that in mind, I welcome your input as we try to live out our Christian faith at PCHS!

This week I'd like to consider for a few moments what a learning community is. The two words work well together, but are worthy of being discussed separately.

Learning: Learning has sometimes been defined this way: The act, process, or experience of gaining knowledge or skill. I've been in a lot different schools in many different countries over the years. On more than one occasion I have spent time in classrooms built for 15 but holding 40, often with no desks or chairs, and one under-trained teacher standing up front telling the students to "repeat after me." Not exactly a place conducive to learning, yet even there, some knowledge and skills were gained, given enough time and effort. But that is not the way that we want to define learning at PCHS. We are looking instead to create an environment where significant knowledge and critical thinking skills can be gained, to a degree that allows our students to not only succeed academically, but more importantly to grow spiritually, so that they can impact the world for Christ.

Community: Nowhere is the concept of community more important than in a school. A school is a cooperative venture involving parents, students, staff, and community members. If any one of these critical links breaks or is weakened, the entire chain is weakened. Obviously, then, we must work together to be successful. But community means more than working together. It also means caring for each other, loving each other, and supporting each other, through good times and bad. It means constructively and lovingly pointing out that which needs correction. One of my favorite quotes goes like this: Criticism is pointing out flaws. Correction is pointing out potential. Community is all about helping others reach their potential by using the unique talents that God has given each one of us. As Paul writes in I Cor. 12:12, "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." And so it must be with our school, if we are truly to be a Christ-centered learning community.

On Being Christ-Centered - Our Mission, Part 1

As we head full steam toward Christmas break, I would like to spend some time over the coming weeks examining our mission statement. I'll break it into smaller, "bite size" pieces so that we can better understand the document that lies at the very core of everything we do at PCHS.

Providence Christian High School exists to provide a Christ-centered learning community....

What exactly is a "Christ-centered learning community"? This phrase captures three very important aspects of a Christian school: it must be Christ-centered, it must be a learning environment, and it must be a community. There is a significant amount of overlap of these three aspects, yet they can also be examined individually. Today I will tackle just the first aspect: our school community must be Christ centered.

Our school is and must always be Christ-centered. It must be evident to anyone walking through our doors that we are a Christian school. It must be reflected in more than just our chapel services and Bible classes; it must be evident in the way we love and respect others, the way we serve our community (both our school community and the Newaygo County community), and the value we give to each member of our school. Teachers must consistently model the love of Christ, they must walk the talk, and their lessons must effectively integrate faith with learning. Students must develop a desire to serve and to share the good news of Christ with others, in addition to a desire to improve academically. A sense of cooperation must be obvious to all, a desire to work through even the most difficult situations with respect, bringing glory to God in all we do. To be Christ-centered means to never forget that Providence Christian High School is completely, without exception, God's school. Everything our school accomplishes is by his grace and through his strength. What a privilege it is to be a part of a school which is Christ-centered! May we never take it for granted!

I Can't Wear This?!!

Adam and Eve had it easy before the fall. They had no dress code to worry about....

As long as there are clothes I suppose there will be dress codes, and as long as there are dress codes, there will be disagreements about what is appropriate to wear. The truth is, as long as there are schools, dress code will always be an issue. Not that this is entirely fair, mind you. We do not exist to make sure that students wear what we want them to wear; however, you just can't get around the fact that, in a school at least, there must be some guidelines for what can be worn, and it is up to the school and the parents to enforce those guidelines as consistently as possible.

As we work through some "dress code issues" at our school, I thought it might be helpful to share the following thoughts:

1. It is absolutely impossible for everyone to agree on the dress code. There are just too many ideas about what is proper and what is not. We can have healthy dialogue on the topic, but we will never agree. The only thing we can do is to agree to live by the code and how it is interpreted by the administration.

2. Yes, consistency is important, but.... A police officer does not stop every speeder. That's impossible! However, it never works to argue that "the car ahead of me was speeding, and in fact was going even faster than I was!" The bottom line is, you were speeding and deserve a ticket. If a student violates the dress code, then there are consequences, even if yesterday a student got away with wearing the same thing. This truth leads us to a related thought...

3. Teachers can't catch every infraction. Enforcement of the dress code is not our most significant concern, and you really don't want it to be either! Teachers have lessons to teach, and they don't generally look for dress code violations, but when they see them, they report them. That means that sometimes we miss something, especially when you consider that...

4. There are a lot of specifics in the dress code. It is hard to remember them all! However, we will certainly be guided by the three major themes of our dress code: modesty and moderation, cleanliness and neatness, and appropriateness.

5. We need parental support to make it work. When the school needs to enforce rules or carry out discipline, support from home makes all the difference! Help your child understand that even though you may not agree with a school rule, you believe it is very important that it is obeyed. Not only will this help our school day run more smoothly, but more importantly will teach your child a life lesson in social responsibility! And one more thing, whenever possible, take a look once in a while at what your child wears to school in the morning - you might be surprised!

This is not the Garden of Eden, and I'm certainly not advocating a return to Adam and Eve's dress code (before or after the fall!). But I do encourage you to read over our dress code and make suggestions that might help us improve. (You can read the dress code in our Student/Parent Handbook.) Just keep my points above in mind when you tell us your ideas!

Sledding Anyone?

From the Storm Bulletin, Jan. 30, 2009

People my age should not go sledding. People my age should realize this before they go sledding. This way they can prevent broken bones, strained muscles, sore necks, and other unwanted aches and pains. On the other hand, perhaps it is worth it all for the fun of sliding down an icy hill at breakneck speed, especially when you share the sled with a seven year old. I had this experience recently with one of my African-born daughters who had rarely even seen snow, let alone slid down it on a tiny blue disc. Her laughter and yelps of excitement made up for my groans of pain.

Sometimes we all need to be pushed, whether we are students, teachers, parents, or administrators. We need to allow ourselves to be challenged, even to the point of pain, if we wish to grow. I wish there was another way, but experience has told me that very little growth takes place when we are not challenged to be the very best we can be. I appreciate those of you who have pushed me and our staff to be the best we can be. At best this is uncomfortable, at worst it causes significant pain. I read recently that fire either burns or it purifies. My desire, for myself and for our school, is that any flames we go though will purify us like fire purifies gold, instead of leaving us charred and useless. James’ words ring loud and clear: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4). May we keep challenging each other with love and respect so that each of us can be all that God intends for us to be. While I did not enjoy every minute of my sledding experience, I would not trade it for anything. May the same be true of difficulties and challenges we face together in this world.

A Turkey-less Thanksgiving

From the Storm Bulletin, Nov. 26, 2008

Thanksgiving is a distinctly North American holiday, so you can imagine that trying to celebrate it overseas was often challenging. Buying a frozen Butterball in the grocery store was hardly an option! Of course, that didn't stop us from celebrating, even though our school in Uganda, being an international school, didn't break from school on Thanksgiving. We often would invite our Ugandan friends over in the evening or on the following Saturday to celebrate with us, introducing them to the least secularized of American "religious" holidays. Our second Thanksgiving in Uganda was the most interesting. We had purchased a very large turkey, planning to have many guests. Stacy began the usual process of thawing the big bird in the refrigerator several days before Thanksgiving. This, unfortunately, was about the time that our power decided to go out. And, since the power company was not particularly concerned about our turkey or Thanksgiving, they were in no apparent hurry to get the electricity back on. So, as you can imagine, the turkey flew south, and we were left wondering what to feed our friends. Stacy, being ever the resourceful missionary, put together a wonderful beef stew with biscuits meal, and, since Ugandans aren’t terribly fond of turkey anyway, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We laughed and talked and thanked God for all of his provisions, though most in the room had almost nothing in the line of material possessions, especially compared to what we have here. Of course, it helped that we still had homemade pumpkin pie for dessert. It also helped that we didn’t have to watch the Lions, who were bad even eight years ago.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year with your family and friends, remember that we do not have to be comfortable to be thankful. We do not have to have what we want or be with family and friends. We simply need to have a heart full of thanksgiving to God for who he is and for how much he loves us. And a nice beef stew with biscuits meal enjoyed by a turkey-less group of Ugandans is a great reminder of how much God loves us and what is really important in life.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving, giving thanks to the Lord, our God and King, whose love endures forever! We have MUCH to be thankful for!

Seasonal Growth

From the Storm Bulletin, Nov. 21, 2008

As I write today, I am watching what is, for me, an unfamiliar sight. Snow is falling and life as I know it is slowly changing before my very eyes. What was once green is now white, what was once dry is now wet, the clear has become hazy, and warmth has been replaced by arctic cold. Cautious drivers are now respected (usually) on the roads and grabbing the hand of your friend while walking on slippery sidewalks is seen as prudent, not weird (OK, not for teenage guys). But in a matter or hours, or days, or weeks, or perhaps months, the white will once again become green, the wet will become dry, haze will give way to sunshine, and the frigid air will warm the face. Cautious drivers will once again get run off the road, and holding hands will be reserved only for those in the best of relationships.

That’s nice, you say, but exactly what does it have to do with Providence?

I’m glad you asked. You see, life at school is a bit like the weather: erratic on the one hand, yet perfectly predictable on the other. It can be 75 degrees in November but snow in April (in Michigan, at least). How do we know what to expect (That’s the erratic part) But one thing we do know about the weather: there will be seasons; a winter, a spring, a summer, and a fall. And over the course of the entire year we will see them all (that’s the predictable part). Educational methods, priorities, and even results can vary from day to day and from year to year. And our students (as you may know, since they are your children) are about as unpredictable as the weather! We are never quite sure what we will see on a given day; students will go through distinct seasons in their lives, as we all do, only more pronounced (like the differences in seasons in Michigan compared to the differences in seasons in Morocco). But just as we enjoy both the warmth of summer sunshine and the powerful beauty of a blizzard, there is much to appreciate in our kids and in our school. We may not particularly like blizzards, but you have to admit, they are amazing things to look at. We may not like everything we see in our kids, and we certainly may not like everything we see in our school, but when you take a step back and really contemplate, both are absolutely amazing works of God. He is
clearly the Lord of the weather, the Lord of our school, the Lord of our students, and the Lord of all creation!

Everyday at Providence may not be like soaking up the sun on the beaches of Florida. Some days are just plain cold and snowy. But we can be sure that the weather will change; springtime is coming – it always does. And for that, we can all be grateful to God.

What's Your Story?

From the Storm Bulletin, Nov. 7, 2008

I recently mentioned that there are some tough questions which we as a school need to be focusing on in the coming months. Discussing, and hopefully answering, questions like “What makes Providence different?” and “How can we help students reach their potential academically, spiritually, and physically?” is crucial to our success. As we tackle these questions, something else becomes equally important: the telling of our stories. Stories about this school and how it came to be; stories about how this school has impacted lives; stories about how Christian education has impacted you. By telling our stories, we can gain a better understanding of why we exist. Let me begin with my story….

I attended Christian schools all the way from kindergarten through college. My parents sacrificed significantly to put each of their eight children through Christian schools. My parents were never rich but somehow always made sure that my brothers and sisters and I were always enrolled in a Christian school. Why did they do that? They could have easily said that the cost was too high and that they could not afford to send us. People would have understood. However, I don’t recall them even considering other options. I never really appreciated their sacrifice until I had kids of my own and started thinking about their education. I asked myself, “is a Christian education worth the cost?” I began to think about the positive role models who shaped me into what I am today. I began to think about the many Christ-like examples who spoke words of everlasting value into my life. It wasn’t so much the Bible curriculum or the chapels that had the longest lasting and deepest impact, nor the strong academic program, although they were important to be sure. It was instead being consistently and constantly surrounded by the values of Christ; it was about hearing in school the same ideals and principles that I heard at home; it was about building a foundation upon which all further learning would rest; it was about being prepared to make a difference in this world after leaving school. To be sure there were kids around me who did not reflect Christ very well! There was the kid who tied my shoelaces together in sixth grade causing me to trip when I stood up, and the one who called me four-eyes when I got glasses. There were the ones in high school who got involved in improper behavior and influenced others negatively. But while I remember those events and those classmates, neither shaped me into who I am today. That was done by my teachers and administrators, who despite their own imperfections consistently challenged me toward living a Christ-centered life. Those positive and daily relationships with Godly role models, spanning many years, made Christian education significant in my life.

So, what’s your story? I’d love to hear about the impact Christian education has had on you and your family. I’d love to hear why you send your children to Providence Christian High School. I would love to hear from parents, teachers, and students about the difference Christian education has made in your lives. By sharing our stories, we encourage each other as well as remind each other (and ourselves) of our common desire to grow and nurture the body of Christ academically and spiritually. Christian education does make a difference! Let’s make some noise so that everyone hears the message!

Refinishing

As we have resettled here in the states, we have discovered that furniture is not cheap! To save some money, my wife decided to buy some old chairs which we could refinish. After buying 57 packages of sandpaper, a can of varnish remover, gloves, scrapers, wood filler, wood glue, a power sander, and lots of paint, I can honestly say that while our chairs look great, it might have been cheaper to just go out and buy new chairs! It certainly would have been easier!

Working with high school kids is a bit like scraping and sanding and painting those chairs. Over the years, some of our kids have built up several layers of varnish, stain, and paint, layers which protect them but also cover up who they really are. Their self-esteem may have been damaged so that now they expect to fail rather than succeed. They are almost assuredly unsure of themselves and their abilities, no matter how confident they may appear. They might work hard to make sure that people don’t ever see who they really are. They use those layers that have been added over the years to protect and insulate themselves.

And then they come to high school, and we start applying the varnish remover and the sandpaper in an attempt to get down to the beautiful wood underneath. At first we use rough sandpaper, which can be a little painful. Blemishes are exposed, but that’s OK, because only then can we make the necessary repairs. Over the years we begin using a finer paper, until finally the wood is smooth and ready to be repainted or restained by the world they enter. It is our prayer that Providence will be a productive and dynamic part of this process; that we can do our share of refinishing so that the final product will be God-honoring. That’s why we are here – every teacher, every staff member, and every volunteer – to help make something beautiful out of every student who comes through our doors. By working together as family and school, that time consuming “project” we call a teenager will mature (yes, it’s true!) and grow and bring glory to God.

May we keep this focus as we work together this year. By doing so, we (who in our own way often need to be refined and refinished), bring Glory to the God who created each of us in His own image.

Winning isn't Everything...is it?

School athletic programs have a long history in the American educational system. The phenomenon is rather unique, however, as school systems in most countries do not sponsor athletic programs (athletic programs are instead handled by local "clubs.") Having experienced both sides of the coin, I can say unequivocally that there is great value in a school athletic program. Many of us, unfortunately, easily take it for granted, even those of us who participated in sports programs as students. Our recent winter sports banquet prompted me to think a bit about why we have an athletic program. There is more to it than just “doing what we’ve always done!” There are at least six main philosophical reasons for having a well-developed competitive sports program at Providence.

The athletic program at PCHS promotes:

1. Fitness. What better way to stay in shape for a lifetime than to learn how to play a sport (or two)? Our goal is that PCHS graduates will maintain a lifestyle of physical fitness, thereby taking excellent care of the body God has given them. Participating in sports can help instill in students a love of the game which will inspire them to keep playing for years to come.

2. Healthy Competition. We believe that competition is good for everyone, no matter their athletic abilities, as long as it is kept in the proper perspective. While we strive to win, it is our primary goal to compete to the best of our abilities, to give 100% every time we play. In doing so, we challenge ourselves to be the best we can be, and to use well the talents and abilities that God has blessed us with.

3. Fairness. We are committed to playing by the rules. This means that not only will we demand that our athletes play fairly, but that as an institution we will follow all the guidelines and rules that we are expected to follow, including all MHSAA rules. Our coaches will never ask players to break rules, but will instead encourage them to respect those rules. As a Christian school, this respect is even more important, since we represent Christ wherever we go.

4. Sportsmanship. Not only will we play by the rules, but we will win with humility and lose with dignity. We will keep our emotions under control, even during the most stressful times, and will always respect our teammates and coaches, the opposing players, coaches, and fans, and the officials. We will expect our fans to do the same.

5. Teamwork. Life is about working together with others. Most of the time, those “others” are very different from who we are – they have different skills, likes, interests, and desires. Yet, to succeed as a team, everyone must be included and everyone must work together. It is, in fact, those differences that make the team strong. After all, could a basketball team be successful with a roster of 5’3” point guards?

6. Variety. Though we are a small school, it is our goal to provide a wide variety of athletic options for our students, so that many students can participate, and so that athletically gifted students can thrive. We believe that our athletic program is one of our best tools for teaching lessons about life. In fact, coaching is one of the very best ways to teach! Sports can teach life lessons about how to handle adversity and success, how to work hard to be the best you can be, how to lead, and how to effectively work together with others. Let’s keep all of this in mind whenever we participate, as athletes, coaches, or fans, in sporting events at PCHS.

Splng Duznt Cownt!

Try reading the following:

A rceent sudty funod taht it deosn't meattr waht odrer the ltteers of a word are in, the olny ipmraotnt tihng is taht the fsirt and lsat ltteers are in the crrocet piotiosn.

I am quite certain that you had an easier time reading that than I did typing it! Here's one thing we can learn from that study: our brains can do amazing things! But here's something else that is important as we work with teenagers: we may not always see things the same as our kids, but if we work hard enough at communicating with each other, both sides can be understood. So what if the order of the letters is all mixed up? And who cares if the music isn't the same, and the clothes are different (way different), and the sleeping patterns don't match with ours? Don't give up on your child, and eventually the letters will fall into place. In the meantime, keep trying to understand each other!

A Vision for PCHS

The following was written for the Storm Bulletin in May, 2009...

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to share my vision for Providence during the Annual Meeting. It is very useful to think beyond today to what we envision our school to be like in the coming years. A very strong foundation has already been laid by all those who have gone before, and the future looks very bright. To summarize my vision, I’ve listed the five areas of primary focus that will drive our decision making in the coming years. If you would like to read the entire text, we’ve posted it on the download page on our website at www.pchsmi.org.

1. We will be academically excellent. While we are an extension of the home and the church, we would be mistaken to think that we could set low academic standards as long as we were doing everything else well. While above all, what matters most is a child’s relationship with God, it is clear that as a school we are mandated to challenge and encourage our students to develop and use the intellectual gifts that God has given them, for his honor and glory, and the benefit of mankind. We will revise our curriculum, train our teachers, and continually strive to improve our academic program. We will not stop with accreditation but will use that as a building block for academic success in the future.

2. We will develop Christian character in our students and lead them toward growth in their walk with the Lord. This is on equal footing with our desire to be academically excellent, for without it we are worthless as a Christian school. We will take every opportunity to help students grow spiritually. For those students who do not have a personal relationship with the Lord, we will encourage them in that direction. We will build relationships with students so that we can effectively speak truth into their lives. We will not in any way neglect spiritual growth in our pursuit of academic or athletic excellence.

3. We will become known as a school of servants. We are commanded to be doers of the Word, not only hearers. We will be out in our community, both in group school organized activities, and in individual, non-school organized activities. We will rake lawns, pick up garbage, play bingo with elderly people, and shovel snow, not because it is required of us, but because we owe it to our Lord. We will do all we can to instill in our students a desire to serve, not just while in high school, but throughout their lifetimes.

4. We will be athletically excellent. We consider the athletic program to be integral to the success of our school as a whole. Physical development, leadership development, and learning how to win gracefully and lose with dignity are just a few of the reasons for this. A positive and successful athletic program is also good for school morale and for our standing in the community. At the same time, the academic and spiritual growth of our students will always outweigh the importance of athletic success.

5. We will do all of the above while treating each other with love and respect. If we are academically, spiritually, and athletically excellent, but fail to love each other in the process, we have not been successful. If we shovel every driveway and rake every yard in all of Newaygo County, but fail to care for each other, we have failed. We are a landmark on the bend in the road, showing the people of this community the way of Christ and the way to Christ. In every proceeding, in every event, in every meeting, we must reflect Christ. Board and staff must love and respect each other; parents and administration must love and respect each other. We are called to do this; it is an expectation, not a request.

I welcome your thoughts and comments as together we formulate and refine a vision for this school.

Finishing well

Eddie Boersma died last week at the age of 97 1/2. That means nothing to 97.5% of you, but it means a lot to me and anyone else associated with YMCA Camp Pendalouan in Montague. When Stacy and I were camp counselors together at Camp Pendalouan in the mid-80s (yes, another camp romance), Eddie was working at the camp at the ripe old age of 72. To a 21-year-old like me, he seemed ancient already then! He was so filled with energy that when he hiked with the kids (which was often) we all had a hard time keeping up with him! I was amazed to return to the US last year and find out that Eddie was still alive, and in fact had been involved with the camp until he was in his mid 90s. What a blessing he was to so many over his 60+ years of selfless work with young people!

Eddie’s life reminds me of the message of John Piper in his book "Don't Waste your Life." I'll let him summarize: “Consider a story from the February 1998 edition of Reader’s Digest, which tells about a couple who “took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.” At first, when I read it I thought it might be a joke. A spoof on the American Dream. But it wasn’t. Tragically, this was the dream: Come to the end of your life—your one and only precious, God-given life—and let the last great work of your life, before you give an account to your Creator, be this: playing softball and collecting shells. Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: “Look, Lord. See my shells.” That is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. Over against that, I put my protest: Don’t buy it. Don’t waste your life.”

Eddie Boersma didn’t embrace that tragic dream, and I don’t want to embrace it either. Though I’m still far from retirement, I can see even now how easy it is to get caught up in myself and my own needs. We are blessed to be surrounded at Providence by countless people who have chosen to spend their lives wisely, investing their time, energy, and money into God’s Kingdom; people who don’t see retirement or wealth as opportunities for selfish gain, but as opportunities for investing in others. To all of you, I say thank you for not wasting your lives, but instead, like Eddie, making a difference in the lives of so many. Those of us looking on are inspired by your selfless devotion to God, his people, and Christian education.