From the Principal's Desk

Dear Parents,
 
     What is inside a person comes out when he is most comfortable or when he is under pressure.  Most often it is words that express the thoughts stored in the vault of one’s heart.  Whether good things or bad, what we store up in our heart will come out.  Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”  Since we are to love God with all of our heart, what should come out of our mouth should be words that reflect the nature and will of God.  Words that dishonor God should never come out of our mouth, such as vulgar words, euphemisms, and words that take God’s name in vain.
 
     Many kinds of words dishonor the Lord.  Paul calls them “corrupt communication.”  He said in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”  Corrupt communication is a broad classification that includes four-letter words.  As our society has moved further away from the influence of the Bible, swear words have become more base.  Both men and women shamelessly drop these four-letter bombs wherever they trod.  This should not be.
 
     Corrupt communication also includes softer forms of vulgar words called euphemisms, like h_ck, cr_p, and d_ng.   Even though euphemisms are not the direct vulgar word or swear word, they are related to those words and thus communicate the related idea of the foul language.  Therefore, euphemisms should be purged from our vocabulary.  
 
     Another euphemism that is commonly said is g_sh, a substitute for the word God.  It is used as an expression of shock or surprise.  Again, people may think that it is acceptable because it is not the offensive version.  Of course, OMG should be eliminated.  The reason for not saying these words is because these expressions violate the command in Exodus 20:7:  “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.”  To take God’s name in vain is to use His name in a careless, empty, worthless way.  It is to say God’s name but have no reverence behind it.  Psalm 111:9 says that the Lord’s name is holy and reverend. 
 
     In all, we should be careful with the words we say.  We should remove vulgar words and softer forms of them, as well as words that take God’s name in vain.  To do this, we must have an agenda to honor God and to edify others.  If our thinking along these lines is correct, we can speak the way the Lord wants us to speak, uplift others, and exalt the Lord.
 
                                                                        Sincerely, 
                                                                        Pastor Sutton

From the Principal's Desk

Dear Parents,
 
     The holiday season is upon us.  That means a lot of things as it pertains to shopping and gift giving.  One of the things it means to us as a school is the Christmas program.  We have done Christmas programs probably since the founding of the school in 1950.  Schools typically do Christmas programs.  But why do we have Christmas programs and other productions during the school year?  I think this is helpful to know, because as parents we can support the preparation and performance of these programs as part of our children’s development.  We put on school programs to develop poise, public speaking ability, and skill in music.
 
     One of the things young people need to learn is how to accomplish a task under pressure.  All of us face deadlines and other key moments where we have to produce and not wither under the strain of a task.  This is called strength.  Maintaining strength and confidence in front of people is called poise.  We develop poise through practice.  If children are regularly in front of people, over the course of time, they learn to be comfortable in those situations.  The more natural we are, the easier it is to communicate the message we are giving.
 
     Going along with poise is public speaking ability.  We want our students, especially the boys, to have skill in public speaking.  This does not mean that we are trying to develop professional actors; we are not.  But we do want students to speak up and address a crowd in a confident, natural style.  These skills greatly aid communication.  Public speaking ability starts with having something to say, and then it moves to learning how to say it.   Again, all of this takes practice.
 
     A third reason we have school programs is to develop music skills.  We teach choir so our students can learn how to praise the Lord vocally with skill.  We want them to be good at music.  One of the reasons is so they can use their music skills in church for their entire lifetime to praise the Lord with godly music.  In addition, some of these students will go on to study music in greater ways.  This is good because we need young people to carry the torch of teaching music to the next generation.  Our instruction now builds their foundation for greater growth later.
 
     School programs are a lot of work for everyone.  But the benefits are worth the effort.  Through them students learn poise, public speaking ability, and music skills.  If students will work at it by learning their lines, taking rehearsals seriously, and working at bettering themselves, they can get a lot out of these opportunities.  As we parents understand the benefits of school programs, we can encourage and prompt our children to do their best.  All of this leads toward greater development in our children’s lives.  We will see you Friday night, December 13 at 7:30 in the church auditorium.
 
                                                                              Sincerely, 
                                                                              Pastor Sutton

                                                   From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Parents,

       All of us, I am sure, use expressions or idioms to communicate our thoughts to those around us. They are figures of speech that culture has accepted as useful in communicating thoughts succinctly and accurately (hopefully). For instance, someone tells of a situation, and the reply is, “Wow!” or “No kidding” or “That’s too bad.” A simple expression can, with brevity, communicate both thoughts and emotions. Figures of speech are inherent to language.

       But not all expressions or figures of speech are good. Some are four-letter words. These are bad and should never be uttered. The Bible says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). It doesn’t matter if it is a man or woman, boy or girl, old person or young, foul language is wrong and should not be said.

       The other expressions invoke the name of God, and these abound, for instance OMG! or the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The problem with these expressions is they use God’s name in an empty, worthless, devalued way. God Himself said in Exodus 20:7: “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” God’s name is to be revered because God is to be revered. If He is to be honored and respected, then so should His name.

       A softer version of these expressions is common: “O my g_sh!” or “g_e” or “g_lly.” These are euphemisms for God. They make mild reference to God, but not out of respect for God or a plea for His help and guidance. These expressions fall under the prohibition the Lord gave in Exodus not to take His name in vain. Out of respect for the name of God, we should purge these expressions from our vocabulary.

       Our children learn so much about what to speak while framing their values on what is acceptable from us as parents. We should be careful to exalt God to them, which would include not taking the Lord’s name in vain.

                                                                                    Sincerely,
                                                                                    Pastor Sutton

                                                           From the Principal’s Desk
Dear Parents,

      This Friday night at 7:30 is our annual Science and History Fair. There are a couple of major goals we have for the students in their projects—1) to learn to do research and an experiment and 2) to make a compelling presentation. The kindergarten through third grades do a class science project. We want to develop some simple research skills and a beginning understanding of the scientific method—what it is and how to use it.

      During the fourth through sixth grade years, we switch to individual history projects. Here, we are looking to develop research skills through guided research. The fourth graders study California, and the fifth and sixth graders study a country of their choice.

      When the students get to junior high, they resume a science project of their choosing and the research is on their own. They choose an experiment, conduct the experiment, and present their findings. The process continues in high school, but with more detail. The cumulative work, from teacher-led projects, to guided projects, to individual projects helps students get to the goal of independence in a natural, incremental way.

​      The second major goal we have is developing presentation skills. This is done primarily through the display board. The display board presents the project as an overview but in a creative way. The boards need to present the material clearly but also in an aesthetic way. Overall, we are developing the analytical side of the students and the creative side. A good combination. See you on Friday.
                                                            Sincerely,
                                                            Pastor Sutton

                                                     From the Principal’s Desk
Dear Parents,
  
      One of the joys of parenting is seeing your children get along with each other. Right sibling relationships add so much to the peacefulness in the home, but wrong relationships disquiet that structure. Constant antagonism, bickering, whining, complaining, name-calling, and even fisticuffs create turmoil that gets old in a hurry. These ugly behaviors are works of the flesh. However, we want to train traits that align with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, and so on. With these qualities as the standard, what eventually comes out in sibling relationships is cooperation, respect, affection, and spiritual help, wonderful descriptions of Biblical friendship. This is what we should want to develop with our children in their relationships with each other. But how do you do this?

      First, you must be saved. Developing biblical sibling relationships is developing peaceful relationships. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). When a person has peace with God through salvation, he can help others as well to live in peace. Second, Scripture must rule the home. The Bible says, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1). The Lord must be in charge of the home. What that looks like is the home being governed by Scripture. The Lord does His work in the lives of our children, largely through us as parents as His instruments, even as we submit to the authority of a Bible-believing and-practicing church. Third, model right relationships with others.

      In terms of leading your children in the home, require that they get along. Often parents think that a regular regimen of sibling squabbling is normal, and that you really can’t eliminate it. This is saying the same thing as you don’t have to love your neighbor as yourself. But we are required to love our neighbor, including siblings. Parents must require right relationships between their children and refuse wrong relationships. Anything short of this opens the door to regular squabbling.

      Use verses to guide them. Have a band of verses you use with your children to guide their relationships. Here are some examples:
     Matthew 22:39: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
     Philippians 2:3: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each 
     esteem other better than themselves.
     Galatians 5:13: By love serve one another.
    Ephesians 4:29, 32 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

      Make rules for the relationship. Have rules for how they talk to each other, how they take things from each other, and how they tease each other. Rules for Talking: require that they speak kind, polite, helpful words to each other. Do not allow name-calling, tattling, or arguing. Rules for Taking: do not allow them to snatch toys from each other or to say, “Give it!” If they “borrow” something, they must ask first; this applies to toys, clothes, or other belongings. At the same time, the other sibling must also learn to share when appropriate. Rules for Teasing: teasing should be in good fun. Do not allow them to make teasing personal or to put the sibling down. Be careful with sarcasm. Children need to learn how to tease and how to take teasing. These are some ideas that can help you develop right relationships between your children.
                                                
                                                                        Sincerely,
                                                                        Pastor Sutton

                                                   From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Parents,

     The philosophy of our school is one of discipleship. Academically, we strive to teach our students to excel in math, reading, history, and so on. But these are secondary goals in importance to be sure. The primary focus of our school is to train children to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. This means teaching them what the Bible says, and then teaching them how important it is for them to observe to do all that the Lord commands. Jesus said this Himself right before He went back to heaven:

     “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

     Verse 20 begins with the word teaching, which means “continually instructing.” Being a follower of Jesus Christ requires knowing what He said. To know what He said, we must learn what He said, and learning implies being taught. If people do not know the truth, how will they live the truth? Plus, ignorance of the truth makes one prey to deception. Those who know the truth are responsible to teach the truth. Children need to be taught the truth.

     It is hard to imagine a world in which more lies exist than the world in which we live today. There are lies in religion about salvation and about doctrine in general, there are lies about Christianity, there are lies about government, lies about social architecture, lies about life itself, lies about marriage, lies about chastity. Essentially, these lies seek to undo what is true, what is good, and what is beautiful. We are surrounded by them. The lies of this world can definitely influence our children.

     As a rule, nobody says, “I want my child to believe a lie!” But people do choose to believe something that is false and then present it as true, and things that are true as false. Easily people can be influenced to believe something false thinking it is right. It is part of the nature of deception. This can happen religiously, politically, and morally. What sorts it all out is the Bible, God’s Word, which is Truth.

     The Bible says about itself that it is like a two-edged sword that pierces and divides the soul and spirit, the joints and the marrow. In other words, the Word of God penetrates, cuts open and exposes; and it discerns or judges the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible correctly exposes error and accurately expresses truth. The key to getting the issues of life right is looking to the Bible for guidance. When error is exposed and truth is expressed, we must humbly and willingly receive it.

     One of our goals as a discipleship-oriented school is to teach students the truth about what God says in His Word. This is not always popular and sometimes parents disagree. But our approach has always been the same: to find out what the Bible says and do it. This is what Jesus expects of a disciple, of those who follow Him.

                                                                                          Sincerely,
                                                                                          Pastor Sutton

                                                  From the Principal’s Desk
Dear Parents,

     Scripture teaches that when Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem inquiring the whereabouts of the one born King of the Jews. They had seen His star in the east and were come to worship Him (Matthew 2:1-12). These wise men, called magoi in the originals, were men of renown. They were men of great intelligence and influence. They had both prestige and power. They were intellectuals and rulers; thus they are referred to as “wise men” and also as “kings.”

     They were from the east, from Persia. Yet, they knew about the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth, most assuredly from studying the writings of Daniel, who himself was a wise man in both the Babylonian and Persian empires. His influence as a godly man spread through the generations of his successors. The wise men in our text traveled the several hundred-mile journey to coronate the newborn King. We do not know for certain how many wise men traveled to Palestine at the birth of Christ, but tradition supports three. What we do know is that they offered three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

     Gold was a gift associated with royalty; thus they recognized Jesus as King. Frankincense was an ointment used as incense offered to deity. They knew the Christ child was God. They also gave a gift of myrrh, an embalming agent used in burial. Hence, the humanity of Christ was in view and that He would die for the sins of the world. These wise men had remarkable understanding of the nature and work of the Lord Jesus Christ and offered to Him gifts consistent with who He is and what He would do.

     The Bible says that they worshipped Him. Here they are kings themselves, yet they recognized the King of kings; and in humility and reverence, they gave the Lord Jesus the honor and glory that He deserves. They understood who the Christ-child was, made great effort to be where His earthly presence was, and then worshipped Him in humility and reverence, offering Him gifts (sacrifices) consistent with His nature.

     What a prescription for us today! However, most today care nothing for the Christ born 2,000 years ago. Their interest is not in honoring Him, but in denying His Lordship. Worshipping Him where His special presence is (in church) is of no desire to them. When they do, the so-called worship is casual and sensual, not at all consistent with His holy, righteous, exalted nature.

     Why did the wise men get it right? Because they were looking at Scripture, framing their understanding of God and their subsequent worship from holy writ. Over 30 years later, Jesus said in John 4:23-24 that the Father is seeking for true worshippers. “And they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” True worship, worship that the Father accepts, is sincere and it is Scriptural. If one or both aspects are missing, the worship does not count. Sadly, most people today are not concerned if their worship lines up with the Bible. The standard has become what they like and what they want.

     The wise men were concerned with true worship, and we know this because of what they did. Jesus Christ received glory and honor from these wise men, something Mary and Joseph would have recognized and agreed with. Our obligation is the same today: recognize Christ correctly and worship Him Scripturally.

                                                                                         Sincerely,

                                                                                         Pastor Sutton

Dear Parents,

We are canceling school tomorrow, Friday, November 16, 2018.  The air quality presently is verging on "Very Unhealthy," and it is supposed to be worse tomorrow.  We will return to school on Monday.

Also, Parent/Teacher Conferences are canceled.  We will send home report cards on Monday.  If you would like to contact your teacher for a meeting, you may.  But that will be up to you.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,
​Pastor Sutton

​                                                        From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Parents,

      The Bible teaches that in a multitude of counselors there is safety (Proverbs 11:14). The idea of counsel is input intended to give perspective and advice. Counsel taps in to the experience one has gained in life for the purpose guidance. Many voices, generally speaking, offer their counsel. Psalm 1:1 talks about the counsel of the ungodly. That counsel gives direction that contradicts the actions and purposes of the Bible. Christian counsel, on the other hand, instructs from God’s Word and offers wisdom applied to a specific situation. “What should I do? Here is what the Bible says.”

      Parent-Teacher Conferences are this week. This is an opportunity to get feedback from your child’s teacher on his progress. Sometimes, things are going well for a child academically, but not so much socially. It could be that academically one or two subjects need attention, but in specific ways. The conferences designate time for parent and teacher to discuss the progress of the child.

      These conferences are required. You will receive your child’s report card at the conference. So make sure you schedule a time. If your child has multiple teachers, you only need to meet with one teacher. Thanks for the effort. It makes a difference in the training of your children.

                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                    Pastor Sutton