What’s Wrong with the Music?

In last week’s Principal Thoughts (Heart's Theme), we explored the correlation between musical theme and the mission of Christian education. As you read the article, you may have asked this question, “If the mission of Christian education is resonating like a musical theme throughout the school, why doesn’t the ‘music’ always sound right?” At the core of this question, rests a compelling reason for Christian education.

In a former ministry, my office was directly across from the music room. I loved having my door open so that I could hear the “music” from the room. Those of you that have experience with elementary music students learning their craft are questioning my sanity in intentionally exposing myself to such an endeavor. It is true that dissonance and chaos seem to reign in the beginning, but then you hear it. A melody, broken and distorted, can be faintly discerned. As the students mature and develop, the theme grows more distinct and purposeful.

In classrooms across the world, the mission of Christian education resonates. Yet sometimes, the melody of our mission is broken and distorted. What is wrong with the music? Our classrooms share something in common with every classroom that meets: 100% of the people in the classroom including the teacher battle a sin nature. Guided by the Holy Spirit, our teachers guide our students through the brokenness and distortion we find evident in our lives. Through loving and firm guidance, the melody of our mission grows more distinct and purposeful in the hearts of the child. What better place to address the distortions of sin than where the Word of God is applied toward each situation. The reformer Martin Luther proclaimed, “I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign supreme.”

Worldview Challenge

It is hard to believe that our course is coming to an end. As you prepare to continue your studies at Azusa Pacific Online University, I desire to share my heart about my hope for each of you. You have analyzed your strengths and come to a better understanding of the purpose of a Christian liberal arts college. God is preparing you to use your gifts and passions to impact our culture with the Truth of the Gospel through the disciplines you are perfecting in your studies. The world that you are preparing to serve is changing rapidly and you will be equipped with the unchanging Truth of the Gospel. The following YouTube video illustrates the changes that you will face: http://youtu.be/YmwwrGV_aiE.

You will face a variety of worldviews in your experiences and relationships in life. Each person has a worldview whether they are able to articulate it or not. A worldview seeks to find answers to the following questions: How did we get here? Why is the world the way it is? How do we fix and improve the world around us? The more I study; the more I am convinced that the Biblical worldview answers these questions and best fits the world as we actually see it.

We were created in the image of a Triune God (Trinity). This image gives us great capacity for creativity and relationships. Since God has eternally existed in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; we can see that relationship is essential to our Creator. How did we get here? God created us and endowed us with great potential.

Our first created ancestors, Adam and Eve, chose to rebel against the Creator and infected the world with the curse of sin. We observe a world where men have a great potential, but their best efforts still reveal a brokenness that is evident to the very core of our being. Why is the world the way it is? The human race fell into sin resulting in brokenness and imperfection that impacts all of creation.

From the moment of the fall, God revealed His plan to redeem back His fallen creation. The plan came to fulfillment as Jesus, the Son of God, provided the necessary perfect sacrifice as He experienced the penalty of sin that I deserved to pay. I can echo the words of the Apostle Paul, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (I Timothy 1:15) How do we fix and improve the world around us? Accept the payment of sin that Jesus has offered and then use our gifts and passion to display His image in our lives and vocations; to be instruments of redemption in our world in preparation for the culmination of our salvation: the return of Jesus to rule His creation in perfect justice.

As you continue your studies, my prayer is that you will come to the same conclusion and seek to use that understanding to impact your world with Truth. I have truly enjoyed “listening” to you through your discussions and coursework. I am impressed by the passions that you have already developed. I am confident that God is equipping this cohort with the knowledge to influence your fields of study through excellent and dedication. Finish well!! ¡Vaya con Dios!

Hearts' Theme

Great music has a theme! Beethoven’s fifth symphony has a recognizable theme; that theme allows this work to be distinguished from other music. The theme is creatively woven throughout a diverse set of movements that expresses the heart of the musician. The theme may be subtle while the music builds to a grand climax that boldly highlights the theme, but its foundational importance remains.

The Mission of Christian education is our musical theme. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ provides the inspiration for this theme. Amidst the beautiful diversity of the Body of Christ, the theme weaves Biblical Truth throughout the halls and into the hearts of our students. Step into a classroom; listen for the theme. At times, its notes are bold and clear as a child quotes from the Living Word of God. Often, it artfully provides depth and perspective as students marvel at the creativity of an author who has been made in the image of the Creator. Listen . . . its foundational strength is resonating in the hearts of our students and families from young to old.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Colossians 3:16-17

Spelling Bee and Truth

This past week at PCA was filled with the excitement of competition. There was nervous energy as several young people prepared to stand before their classmates for the 2012 Spelling Bee. Watching a spelling bee creates a range of emotion for me. First, I am amazed. I have never been a great speller and find myself attempting to spell many of the words that the young people process and spell with apparent ease. Second, I am heartbroken. Spelling bees have strict rules which must be followed. The expression of disappointment on a child’s face, when they know that they spoke the wrong letter and cannot take it back, always gets to me. Third, I am thankful. Whether the children at PCA are star spellers or not, each PCA student is developing the skills to discern Truth and to make that Truth known. Spelling is just part of the process as PCA partners with parents to develop the ability to communicate the Truth to our culture. In accordance with our mission, I look forward to how God will use the foundation being laid in your child’s heart and mind. I am sure that you will echo my thoughts – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” III John

Cultivating Leaders and Selecting Representatives

This past week, there was an election in the student body at Penn Christian Academy. Some might say that PCA selected leaders for the 2012-2013 school year, but upon further observation, I believe they selected representatives on Friday. Leadership was already evident! Before the election, these students and others could be observed encouraging their classmates, reaching out to new students, supporting their teachers, and much more. There was no need for an election to highlight leadership.

Leadership development is essential to the mission of Penn Christian Academy. It is our desire to nurture students who “don’t let anyone look down on (them) because (they) are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (I Timothy 4:12)  As parents and staff partner together in developing these leaders, we are humbled by the truth that these young people are watching us as well. In I Corinthians, we are challenged by this phrase, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Sometimes the best examples of leadership come from those who are young. I am thankful for the many leaders God is developing through PCA, and am looking forward to learning from those who have been selected to represent the student body.