Principal’s Blog

OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, April 25th

3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

          During the month of December we will celebrate Christmas.  Christmas is obviously the best time of year for many of our students.  I remember as a child eagerly anticipating December 25^th and time almost standing still.  It seemed like Christmas would never get here.

          This year it is my prayer that we remember why we celebrate.  You are all probably saying, “I know, I know.  We celebrate the birth of Christ.”

          That’s right but that is so incomplete.  There is so much more.  Babies are born every minute.  That’s no big deal.  The big deal is why He was born.  He was born so He could die.  His mission in coming to earth was not to be a good teacher, not to heal the sick, not to raise the dead or not to have compassion on those that were hurting.  He did all of those things and more great things, but that was not why He came to earth.  He came here to die on the cross.  That was the mission.  That is why He came!

          So let’s not just celebrate His birth, let’s celebrate His death.  That almost sounds wrong doesn’t it?  Well, it makes complete sense when we understand what He accomplished on the cross.  When He came and lived the life we couldn’t live (a sinless life), He gave us something we couldn’t get.

          You see we get to exchange our sin and unrighteousness for His purity and righteousness.  If we choose to make Him our Savior and Lord, when we face judgment, we will be seen as righteous and deserving.

          That is why we should celebrate at Christmas and every day.  If it weren’t for what Jesus did on earth for us, we would have no reason to celebrate His birth.   

     There is a trend in our society that really bothers me.  This trend is hurting our families and eroding the foundation upon which our society is built.  What is this trend?  It is that men no longer know their roles.  Men should be the head of their households, the protectors of their children, the lovers of their spouses, and the providers for their families. 

     I now often see wimpy men who let someone else take the reins, gutless men who allow others to victimize their children (and more and more often victimizing their own children), uncommitted men who make children without ever being committed to the mother, and lazy men who won’t work and want someone else to provide for them.

     If you are a man, it is time to step up.   Reclaim and embrace the role that God has given you. 

     I have recently seen an article that explains this in more detail.  It is actually a transcript of a sermon given by Pastor Mark Driscoll in 2001.  It is entitled Pastor Dad and can be found at http://relit.org/pastordad/ .  It can be downloaded for free.  I encourage everyone, men and women alike to read this.  Below is a brief excerpt:

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion! . . . May you see your children’s children! – Psalm 128:1–6

The Good Life

According to the Psalmist, the good life for a man is to be blessed by God. That blessing includes fearing God, walking in his ways, working an honest job to provide for his family, enjoying his believing wife, eating dinner around his table surrounded with children, and living long enough to buy ice cream for his grandkids.

The means to this end is simply the grace of God. The first thing we must note is that before a man can be a good father, he has to be a good Christian. To be a good Christian he must realize that God is his Father, as Jesus taught us to pray.

            Classes at Veritas started on August 13^th.  We began the new school year with 112 students, an increase from 97 at the end of last school year.  We are in a very challenging environment for private schools, so we are very excited to have a 15% increase in our enrollment. 

            Even more importantly, school is off to a fantastic start.  I am writing this on the fourth day of school, and I truly mean it when I say things could not be going better.  The uniforms look great and create a positive atmosphere, and the students have been awesome.  They have earned accolades from me.  We just pray for more of the same.

            On a final note:  Welcome Matt Austin, DaLin Gillis and Brad Griffith to our staff.  Also, welcome Tina Stamps to a new position as our Kindergarten teacher.  You are an integral part of what we are doing here at Veritas Academy.

The correct answer should be the parent.  In so many cases today, the children have been given the corner office and all of the perks that go along with the Chief Executive Officer role.

If this is the case in your family, it is my prayer that the parents take the corner office back.  You are the authority figure.  You set the rules, you enforce the rules, and you decide what the consequences are if the rules are broken.

If you are in an upside down family where the kid is CEO, then it is time for a hostile takeover.  Your children do not benefit from a situation where they get everything they want.  Those who don’t learn to hear “no” as a child will have trouble as an adult dealing with realities: realities such as you can’t buy something just because you have a credit card; realities such as you have to submit to and respect authorities or you may not keep your job.

Do your children a favor and make sure you are the CEO.  Raising your children is the most important job God has given you.  The clock is ticking.  19 years go by fast.  Keep them in the management training program, so they will be ready to be CEO of their own family one day.