"What Does It Cost?"

by Kelly Knowlden

If you had been a wealthy sky-gazer and had seen a new star in the sky, you would have immediately turned to the sources you had to find out what could it mean. Conjunctions of planets, comets, and sun disturbances were regarded as signs that had specific implications for people on earth. You would have turned to books and writings that only the wealthy could afford.

Then in looking through your sources, you would have discovered that there was a specific star mentioned in an ancient writing, perhaps the book of Numbers, an ancient Jewish text ... A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. ... A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel.

Now comes the Big Question. What would you do with that information?

The magi in the story of Matthew, decided that they would take time away from their work, spend money on a long trip in a dry and dusty land and look for this new born King. They also decided to bring Him gifts worthy of a king! They counted the cost and said it was worth it.

If you read carefully through the passage (Matthew 2:1-12), you will read that they were convinced that this was no earthly king. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.” They went believing that they were going to see God-become-man.

What does it cost to seek Him today? Will it be convenient? Will it be comfortable? Will it fit with your work schedule? Will it make sense to anyone else? Will it be fun? Will it gain you anything? These are questions that we usually try to figure out before we venture into a new endeavor.

But the Big Question that we must answer is, “Do I really believe that I am going to find, know, understand the God-become-man?” If so, the questions I will ask will go like this: What is He like? How does He deal with the world? What about the tragic events that happen? How do I know Him? What does He require of me? Do I need to win His favor? What does it take to be good enough to see Him?

My prayer is that this Christmas season, you will ask these last questions and seek the wonder of the God-become-man. Wise men still seek Him.

"Lying in a Manger"

by Charlie Brown

When Linus walks onto the stage during a rehearsal for the Christmas program in “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” he quotes the story of the birth of Christ from Luke 2:8-13. “And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Of course the background music and the mood created by the production crew is to say, “Yes, this is the real meaning of Christmas.” And it is! However, because of those words being common to this time of year, I fear that we miss the impact of the drama.

I do not know the last time you were in a stable, but my experience of working on my in-laws dairy farm made me realize that that is NOT where I would want my children to be born. The cleanest barn I was ever in was one that kept the floor covered with new straw everyday. The purpose for that was to make it so that the manure (which is on all floors in a barn) was easier to walk on without getting your boots terribly dirty. Even scraping the floor daily leaves an unclean-able residue of manure that becomes commonplace. And then there is the manger. Often made of metal today, the sides of the top rung are covered with cow “slobber and snot.” The hay stuffed into it (not golden colored straw as in the pictures) is a mixture of dried grasses that are very scratchy. Of course there are rats (not the cute-eyed Disney kind) that are always part of a barn scene. It would not win any health and cleanliness awards!

Into that setting, the Lord of the Universe came. He was the long foretold Messiah. He was the One who created all things. He is the Being that commands the hosts of heaven. He is the Lord of lords and King of kings. He is the One older than eternity. He is the One for whom all people were made. He is the One we were designed to love and adore. He is the One that ought to be our heart’s delight. He is the Lover of men’s souls! He is the Savior of the world. And He was born into this world and laid in a cow’s food trough!

This was just the beginning of God’s thirty-three years on earth which ended in the humility of hanging as a common criminal on a cross. The Everlasting Father sent His only begotten Son into a dirty world in humble circumstances to share in our flesh and blood that through death He would conquer death and bring powerful life to us. O come let us adore Him!

Signs, and Wonder!

by Kelly Knowlden

I remember those days when as a young man trying to figure out life and what my part was in it, I wished that God would be more demonstrative in His statements telling me what vocation to pick, where to go to college and who to marry. “If only God would drop a sign on my head that said ‘DO THIS,’ I would be sure to not miss His direction.”

The shepherds were on a routine night of work. They may have been wondering whether they want- ed to be in the sheep-watching industry for the rest of their life, whether they could change vocations, or maybe thinking about whether the pretty girl in the village would be a likely wife. God DID drop a sign on their “heads” in the form of a heavenly visitation. They were basically told: “Here is what you are to do: Go into the town of David and find a baby lying in a food trough. That will be the sign of the long-awaited Messiah.”

Then the wonder of the moment was gone. All other questions concerning their future suddenly took second place. “We must go to Bethlehem and see this thing that the Lord has told us about.” They were impelled by the message of the angels to act on what they knew and to trust that God would fill in the blanks.

We do not get angelic visitations (though their intrusion into our lives is probably more common-place than we often think. See Heb. 13:2, Psalm 91:11) However, we have a different kind of “sign.” In II Peter 1:19, we are told that “we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place...” The answers we want, or our high school students want, about our lives is found in pursuing what is right in front of us that has been revealed, all the while believing God will fill in the blanks. As we are being faithful in the work we have to do, and the relationships that are immediate (not virtual), and in reading the “more sure Word,” God has promised to give us direction as we wait in wonder at the sign of the Baby in Bethlehem!

Peace

by Kelly Knowlden

In the1960’s there was a group of young people that made “peace” be their mantra. They drew peace symbols on everything they could think of and used it as their greeting and their benediction. Their focus was on desiring war to cease, racial tensions to be non-existent and for people to generally get along. By the end of the movement, they were willing to fight for their ideals.

Almost two thousand years before that, there was another group announcing the same thing. It was their greeting and their benediction. It was spoken into a world on the verge of war. It came to people who knew the rankings of class, the discrimination of race, and the oppression of power.

There were several major differences. The former peace-speakers were focused on the outward circumstances that they felt needed changing. They were clueless as to what the basic problem was that caused these circumstances. They only knew that people needed to get along - to just LOVE ONE ANOTHER - but how to do that was outside the scope of their thinking.

The latter peace-speakers were messengers. Their announcement was not a hopeful idea - but rather a reality in the making. They knew that the real problem was that man is rebellious at heart... that he always thinks he is better than others and will find all kinds of reasons to fortify that belief: race, class, intelligence, looks, money, power, etc. They also knew that God did not design man for that kind of existence. Instead, God designed man to be His friend. Because of man’s insistence on being his own god and trying to figure out how to run his world most effectively, he is at enmity with his Creator.

So the peace-messengers were really speaking a wonder: “The Creator God is coming to solve your most basic problem and make peace with you!” As you see the Christmas season unfold, remember this: “For unto you this day a Savior is born; He is Christ the Lord”... on earth there is peace to men who submit to His rule.

Thankfuls

by Kelly Knowlden

The work staff at a camp that I am affiliated with ends their day with devotions and a time of “thankfuls.” Each staff member tells what they are most thankful for from that day. Sometimes staff will say who they are thankful for; sometimes they will mention a circumstance; sometimes they will just point out the goodness of God in the normal things like sunshine or stars in the dark.


So here is my list for this past week: I am thankful for the auction team’s hard work: April Talanca, Ivette Perez, Michelle Berner, Christine Stock, Judi Hall, and Ali McKittrick. I am thankful for God’s working out details of my Tuesday morning because my wife needed to leave at 4:30 am to take a friend to the hospital and I needed to get my mother-in-law out of the house in time for school. I am thankful for my daughter who took care of her grandma on that day. I am thankful for the crisp mornings and sunshine! I am thankful for God’s overwhelming mercies in showing me my sin and His sufficiency. I am thankful for my grandsons: Edmund and Eamon. I am thankful for my wife who is investing in the unseen kingdom by giving her life away to serve others. I am thankful for our church where God’s Word is faithfully preached. I am thankful for the aches and pains of working hard outside and knowing that I am older and in more need of God’s sufficiency. I am thankful for the ladies that work in the office: Michelle, Maureen, Justine, Karen and Kim, and for my administrative assistant, Susanne. I am thankful for the students and families we serve, and their sacrifice and commitment to Christian schooling.

Okay... you’ve got the point. Perhaps this Thanksgiving, wherever you are, it would be a good thing to do to go around the table and have everyone tell one thing that they are thankful for. Then sing the doxology and give thanks to God in prayer. It is good to give thanks to the Lord. [Psalm 92 :1] Enjoy your holiday!

Hard Lessons

by Kelly Knowlden

In my pile of notes, I have an article that gives me ideas to write about, saying, “Things I am missing that are truly important.” In it are ways to note what I am missing. Here are two:

• The kids are startled when you want to interact with them.
• When you say, “I’ll play with you later,” and you actually think there will be a “later.”

 Of course we have reasons. And of course they are legitimate. They even may have to do with the work of God’s Kingdom, like: calling the widow, helping the unsaved neighbor, being at Bible study. The real problem is generally not that we are involved in things that we ought not to be. Rather, it is that we invest in the good things and miss out on those things which are most important. God does not call me to do everything. He calls me to be faithful in some things. I choose what I want to invest in.

My children are one of those “most important things.” My times with them will come to an end (all too quickly, I might add!) Bath times, bed times, seeing them play a Little League game, reading to them, praying with them, having conversations at the table with them, helping them with homework, all will come to an end. The call of the yard work, the vocational work, even the work for the church must take second place in vying for our time. I must be building relationships with them now so that when they are grown and gone, we will still have a relationship.


Sometimes the seed of teenage rebellion is simply our lack of investment. They seek a relationship with those who are most important to them (Mom and Dad). When we are too busy, they develop relation- ships elsewhere... someone WILL satisfy those needs. Let’s work at winning the hearts of our kids now.

Private School Education

by Kelly Knowlden

According to the Council for American Private Education, private school students perform better than their public school counterparts on standardized tests. While I am not aware of what scores the children are earning in local public schools, I do know two things about how we are doing as a school.

First, the standardized test scores that the K-8 students receive with their final report card for the year indicate a general trend that goes like this: in the early years, the children are at grade level or above in the two primary areas tested—reading and math; If the student started here, then by the third grade, most are testing above grade level in those two areas; By 6th grade, many students are reading at a post high school level and are testing in math at a high school level. For those who had the privilege of being here since Kindergarten and are in 8th grade, students are often testing post-high school in both reading and math. The primary reason is because of your influence in holding children accountable to high standards of excellence and diligence. If that continues into high school, students will excel in their college years and beyond.

The second thing that I know is that children who come to us from most other schools, regardless of whether they are from a local school district or another state, are behind. Many of these children bring a report card that says they are achieving A’s and B’s. In our entrance exam, many high school students struggle with finding parts of speech and in simple computation involving dividing and fractions. That is not usually the student’s fault. It is simply a failure of the public school system to attain to high standards. I am not stating that the work that they do is inferior or that the teachers are less dedicated, I am simply saying that the system is not producing results.

Pray for us. We have the two sided task of offering an excellent education that is rooted in historic Christian thought, and making it affordable. We need to pursue foundations, grants and funding provided by legislation that has been enacted. Pray that God will help us do that.

Tone-Deaf Children

by Kelly Knowlden

Did you know that newborn children pick up on tone of voice first—before they ever understand what the words spoken mean? That continues for a long time into adolescence. Children learn that the tone of voice often conveys what is meant.

Here is a parent problem. Why do children ignore a teacher, even when the teacher is calling their name? I wonder if it is because the student doesn’t have a context for the words that are spoken and is relying on the tone of the words to convey meaning. So rather than having the words, “No, you may not talk now,” spoken in an even tone and without any ‘edge’ to them, mean that the child cannot talk - instead it means that because there is no raised volume, no threat, no frustration lining the words, then the teacher must not mean it.

In some ways, what we want to be doing as parents is raising children who are tone deaf. That is, they are more concerned with the information-value of the words spoken [what they mean] rather than the tonal-value [how they are spoken]. What this requires is to generally be using the same tone in our speech whether we are instructing, whether we are reasoning or whether we are directing or giving commands. The words themselves need to carry the weight of our intentions.

Another thing this presupposes is our understanding the nature of authority. It will require us to remember that as a parent in the home, I speak with the authority of being a vice-regent of God Himself. He has given parents the task of raising children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. He has required us to be the ones who put ‘feet’ to understanding and communicating His ways to the next generation. God gave that task to parents in families. Therefore, a primary task is to make the words you speak be words of life-giving direction with a tone that does not detract from the message. I need help doing that. Thankfully, Jesus Christ has sent us a Helper in the form of His Spirit. Let’s rely on Him today.

Battles for the Heart

by Kelly Knowlden

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings.”

The book of Proverbs is a practical book of wisdom. It gives the story of how the world works. Many of the sayings are not addressing the issues of “why” one should do what is being extolled, but rather what are the outcomes of the practice. The proverb above (Prov. 22:29) is one of those. It is simply saying that a man who becomes skilled in what he does will be valued.

So how does that work? How does a man become skilled in his work? He learns the hard battle of how to overcome his desires to “kick back” when he thinks that he has done his task. He learns that when the dishes are washed, he will also clean out the sink trap. He understands that when he is done practicing his assigned piano lesson, he will practice some scales or finger exercises that are not assigned. He learns his own propensities toward laziness or “getting by” and decides to not give in to them. He begins to experience the accolades of praise when he does well from those who care for him. Those in his world identify with the struggle and do not point fingers as though they are foreign to the experience of laziness. The “boss” in his life will also bring appropriate censure (it is always inconvenient and usually carries a degree of pain - like delaying his supper if work is not done!) that fits the deed. He will learn through regular discussions about the other proverbs that tell how the world works. (“All work brings a profit, but mere talk leads to poverty,” [14:23] or, “One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.” [18:9]) He will learn that his handwriting matters. He will not come up with excuses that “get him off the hook.” He will own his errors. He will do all parts of the directions, not skip steps or come up with short-cuts that “get the right answer” but do not show the work.

All of these are battles that parents must fight and help their children learn to fight as well. Regular investment into the book of Proverbs will help accomplish the practical wisdom and will make our children be people of influence.

Fun

by Kelly Knowlden

I love to “have fun.” So do children. Can I bring a distinction to you that will help your children as you discuss this with them?

There is a type of behavior that would be perfectly okay in your backyard but which is never appropriate at school—both inside the building and at after-school events. The friendly tussling that may be okay at home, should not take place here. Here is the distinction that you will want to make sure your children understand. Hitting, pinching, punching, and kicking are never appropriate—even for fun. Slapping someone on the back (always harder than friendship would merit) with a “How are you?” is not appropriate. Pinching someone’s cheeks with a playful pretense of being Grandma “Oh, you’re so cute!” is not appropriate. Pummeling another is never appropriate. Why?

God has called us to remember the inherent image of God borne by all people. This demands us to respect the person and their property. Familiarity with one another's bodies breeds disrespect that allows the mind to have NO stopping point in behavior towards one another. I have had children stomp on my toe, kick me in the shins, and have not hesitation to come and take a pen from my pocket... all for fun!

Because we need to continually hold out a high standard of behavior, we will be continually holding out the awareness of this to students. Wrestling, tussling, punching, hitting (even with lunch boxes) is inappropriate - EVEN WHEN IT IS DONE AS A MATTER OF TEASING OR FOR FUN!
This is true regardless of age. We want our young men and women to not mimic the casual attitudes toward other’s person or their things. Please keep your eyes open for how this looks at home... not the tussling, but the inappropriate handling of one another.

Important People in Education

by Kelly Knowlden

William Bennett, former education secretary for the United States under Ronald Reagan, has said that “The single most important adult in a child’s life is the parent. The single most important thing about the education of a child needs to be the parent and the parent’s attitude toward education...” He amplifies that by mentioning that a parent can be illiterate and not be able to do any homework with the student, but still hold out to the kid that “this is important.” He can make the child understand the value of work by turning off the TV and stressing that the child must listen to the teacher.

The second most important person in the education of children is the teacher. Mr. Bennett’s comment is that “the research is clear: you are much better off is a bad school with a good teacher than a supposedly really good school with a bad teacher.” He goes on to say that it really is not about class size. That is an issue that is touted by teacher’s unions as a reason for failure, but in truth, is not statistically defensible.

At Immanuel Christian School, we suggest that the most important person in education is Jesus Christ. He is the One who wrote the “operator’s manual” of each endeavor of study. [Psalm 111:2: Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.] He is the One who gives understanding of how things are made and work together. [Psalm 119:27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.] He enlightens man’s heart in knowing how to live in a broken world. [Ecclesiastes 2:14 The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness;] He helps men understand their own brokenness and need for help. [Proverbs 14:16 A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.]
The most significant person in education is Jesus Christ. You, as the most important person in your child’s life, need to be reading of Him and His wisdom everyday to your children. Otherwise, the foolishness of the world’s wisdom will win.

Safety Film

by Kelly Knowlden

In the olden days when teachers could sign out reel-to-reel movies from the Intermediate Unit for children to watch, I signed out a likely film called “Safety for Children.” Mrs. Tripp told us to always preview films and usually I did. However, due to many pressures, I did not get a chance to watch this one before the day I needed to show it to my class of first and second graders. We were watching it together and it started out with play-ground safety - reminding children to not walk in front of the swings when someone was swinging, to be careful to hold on to the monkey bars, etc. (Pay no mind to the fact that we had access to neither of those things at school.) Then it moved into the ‘safety at home’ section and talked about not putting things in outlets, not running down stairs, and stay away from dad’s tools in his workshop. It then proceeded to show a boy of about 9 or 10 running the radial arm saw over his han.... PROJECTOR OFF! LIGHTS ON!

It strikes me that parents make my mistake all the time. They give their children things that have serious consequences in their using, but do not teach them how to use them. “Safety” is not even in their thinking. I am thinking of things that children see as necessities and parents are sure that not having them will scar their children. Things like cell phones with abilities to communicate ‘facelessly’ or be on the internet with little or no restraints. (Why is ‘sexting’ an issue?) Or even the ‘harmless’ game systems that are the desires of every boys heart. They would be odd-man-out if they didn’t know something about Call of Duty, right?

Let me be frank with you. You are paying big money for one of the best educations in the city. We have hired the best teachers in the world. However, they cannot compete with the adrenalin-pumping action of gaming systems nor the text- induced drama of social media. Students will yawn when hearing of the wonders of God’s world. Eyes will glass over when reading the stories of men and women who have lived nobly. The tools provided are like radial arm saws to their souls ... unless you have been vigilant in teaching them how to use them.

Language is Peppered

by Kelly Knowlden

“Keep your nose to the grindstone.” “Too many irons in the fire.” “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” ”Nature abhors a vacuum.” “Make hay while the sun shines.”

You and I hear these kinds of phrases often in our conversations. They add a dimension to communication by making references to commonly understood ideas. The problem is that language and ideas suffer when the populace no longer understands nor uses these expressions. Hence, a good education will expose children to the cultural background of these expressions by three things: family ‘field trips,’ good reading together, and sending children to a school that values the historic content of education.

A trip to a grist mill might provide you with information about the “nose to the grindstone” quote. It was important for the miller to smell the flour periodically to tell if the grindstones were too close and therefore scorching the wheat. [It could cause fire or explosions!] Visiting a blacksmith would help you understand “too many irons in the fire.” The blacksmith would put irons in the fire to heat them up to bend. Too many at once would disallow him to effectively keep track of all of them. Wide reading will expose students to Lord Acton, a Catholic historian, that made many observations about governing bodies and individuals in his quote about power. Knowing a bit about Aristotle from a solid academic education will help understand his observation about how water pumps work and why he would say, “nature abhors a vacuum” and its application to situations where there is an empty space that usually gets quickly filled. Of course, knowing a bit about making hay from the local farmer [cutting hay too soon and it will be too green and spoil; too late and it may get wet from the rain and not be suitable for baling] will help interpret the need to use the window of opportunity at hand to get work done.

I mention all these not so that you will “brush up” on your understanding of American idioms, but rather to show the need to give children a good education while they are young so that they will be able to understand the world that we live in.

What a Good Education is NOT

Stating what does NOT comprise a good education will be a good and practical exercise in contrasting what our goals are.

A good education is not driven by getting a good job. (A good job may be the by-product of a good education. The key here is focus... what is it that impels me - or my student.) Here is how that works.

I want children to pursue their education and work hard at understanding each subject from God’s perspective. I want them to know as much as they can about as much as they can. I want them to delight in the world that God has made and be awed by His work in all they see - everything from architecture (man’s dominion over the world), to zoology (a branch of biology concerned with the animal kingdom). Therefore, I will not stress over good or bad grades, but rather I will be concerned with them faithfully doing their work to the best of their ability (neat handwriting included!) and talking to them about what they’ve learned.

As they get older, I will continue that plan so that if there are difficulties in understanding, I will call the teacher to understand the problem and come up with solutions until we see success. Grades will only reflect whether they are “getting it” - not whether they are going to get a good job. (Smart children who “get it” and are lousy workers are not guaranteed a good job!)

Report cards are only that - reports to the parents about whether learning is taking place. They are not an indicator of intelligence, nor of diligence. They should not be points of stress for you or for your children.

I know that grades are important for getting into college, and I will address that in another topic. However, at this point, if you are not already, I would like to persuade you to shift your emphasis to doing well and learning everything.

What is School Supposed to Do?

by Kelly Knowlden

On this first day, students are excited to be back and see friends and test their skills against a body of knowledge that they are supposed to re- member. It is exciting to see them all!

But what is it that you are trying to accomplish by sending them to school?

You might be thinking, “Duh, Mr. Knowlden. I want them to get a good education!”

So now comes our challenge. What is the definition of a GOOD education? Is it academically rigorous? Does it employ certain methodologies? And what is the goal? Some answers to these questions will be topics at our convocation this Thursday evening that will guide us toward a common goal in educating our children. But what I wanted to mention here is really a perspective that I ended last year with... that of having a long term vision for your task of educating your children.

Let me tell you an analogy that might help. If you enrolled your child in a good track and field program, they would go to practice with the goal of increasing their skill and performance in a specific area. They would do that particular task again and again. They would develop the muscles needed for that particular skill. They would assess with the coach what they are doing that is not helpful and how to improve. There would be small tests of skill along the way against teammates preparing them for their first meet. The big goal in mind would be to make it to some district or regional event if possible.

In schooling, it is the same. You are preparing them for life. You are giving them an education that is second to none that will prepare them to understand the world from God’s perspective. They will practice their concepts again and again with the goal of having them understand “why” the particular subject works the way it does. Along the way there will be little “tests” preparing them for the bigger goal of being ready to live as an educated person in this world and make a contribution to the society in which they live. As they buy into these goals, they will be useful in whatever setting they find themselves.

It is the Hebrews 12:1-3 perspective that has students learning to look at another inspiring runner (Jesus) who has done the race already and was successful. He will be their ultimate inspiration!

Accuser or Advocate

by Kelly Knowlden

Satan, the accuser, presents himself to the Lord in the book of Job. Lying and twisting truth, he accuses God’s blessing of Job as being the reason why Job fears the Lord. When his plotting and conniving do not get him his desired results, he tears at Job’s body until he is a pile of sores.

Contrast that with the Lord Jesus Christ. Even in His moment of agony on the cross, he breathed out words of life for a dying thief, promising him paradise.

Now make application. How do we speak? What kinds of words are ours to our children? Do we speak words that accuse, or come alongside to help? If we stand back from the circumstances of our home life as if we were the observer seeing it all on video, would we see interactions that promote peace or are the blaming, accusing words that tear down?

Probably a bigger question is, “Why do I resort to words that point out faults?” Answers like, “My parents always spoke that way to me and I learned it,” may address the shaping influences but not my heart. For if I am in Christ, and know Him as Savior, He has promised me a Helper to live in me and give me power to change. That power is that which raised Jesus Christ from the dead! So help in identifying my real problem will come from seeking Him. Here is often the way that I think: “My sensibilities are offended when I see children doing what they ought not to do and THEY KNOW IT! I respond in the moment as though I would never do what I know I ought not to do... I point my fingers (roll my eyes, sigh, shake my head, yell, communicate my disgust) and in reality, make myself out to be God. I become the accuser, prosecutor, the jury and the judge.”

“O Lord, undo my pride that makes me be the accuser. Teach me what it is to come alongside my children when they do what is wrong. Forgive me for my arrogance in making me out to be God. I trust you to change me. Amen.”

Expressing Thanks

by Kelly Knowlden

One of the things that we talk about at various points in a student’s career here is how to write a meaningful “thank you” note. It goes like this:

“Begin with thanks for the specific ways that you have been helped. Note how you have benefited from their service. Tell how it is just one example of their giving to you. Include the spiritual benefits of their service and sacrifice. End using their name, and a short statement of appreciation or verse of Scripture that expresses thanks.”

Obviously this is just a template. But our goal is to have students learn both to state thanks in black and white [different from saying it], and also to under- stand that God’s call to us is to be thankful people for the abundant blessings He gives. Both of these are wrapped up in this week’s attempt to notice our teachers. They give sacrificially of themselves. [All of them could be earning much more doing something else!] They spend a lot of time on preparation both during the evenings and then all sum- mer long. They keep perspective on their investment into your children. They attempt to give help to you in noting character issues. They actually enjoy working with your children day after day and do it with reliable patience! They understand the world from a biblical perspective and convey that through the things they are teaching. They monitor children’s progress. They pray for your children. They talk to your children with interest in their lives. They stay in touch with students and families even long after they leave ICS.

And you have been the recipient of those blessings as a family. While we want students to state their appreciation of their teacher’s work, I heartily commend to you as parents that this is a golden opportunity [especially when the teachers are tired and need a final “cheering on” as they run to the finish line] for you also to express your thanks for their work. More than the little gifts that are often given during this week [which are nice!] a note expressing your true thankfulness is like gold to a teacher. I still have a collection of them from my teaching days that remind me that it is not all in vain.

I am thankful for each of them and the work that they do in contributing to the whole education of your children. Their value cannot be measured by dollars and cents.

Hebrews 6:10 says this: “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the
love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” This is what the teachers do every day. Express your thanks this week!

"Bumpa"

by Kelly Knowlden

In my “blurb” pile (which is where I keep ideas for these articles) I have an article that lists things I am missing that are truly important if...

• the kids are startled when you want to interact with them.
• a fun weekend for you is working at the office, or working in the yard—by choice, not necessity.
• when you way, “I’ll play with you later...” and you actually think there will be a “later.”

Your children are one of those truly important things. Your days with them are short. You have only eighteen years or so to form in them the things that are most important... like loving God and others, living for God’s glory and not their own, enjoying each day as a gift from God, valuing God’s Word more than video games or all other pleasures here below, enjoying family life together, teaching them what true success is all about, etc.

That means that bath times, bed times, seeing them play a Little League game, reading to them, praying with them, having conversations at the table with them, helping them with homework, all will come to an end. Building relationships with them now is essential so that when they are grown and gone they want to have a relationship with you. I know because now I am “Bumpa.” [grandpa]

When I read this list of things that I should have done, I think that I could have done that more conscientiously. I should have kept those perspectives in view. I work with students—surely I should know those things. But the truth is, busyness—even those legitimate pursuits—must keep me going to Christ to help me not neglect the things that are truly important. Yard work, calling the widow, helping the unsaved neighbor, vocational work all must take second place in the investment of time.

So this is a reminder. Now is your chance. Invest in the relationships that will matter. First God, and take your family with you in that investment. Sometimes the seed of teenage rebellion is simply our lack of investment. Children will seek a relationship with those who are most important to them. When we are too busy, they will pursue relationships elsewhere. Do it now, so that you can enjoy developing relationships with the next generation as “Bumpa.”

Roadblocks

by Kelly Knowlden

Life has its bumps and roadblocks. For students who are learning about life, they are also learning how to handle those setbacks as they come. One of the things that I have noticed is that increasingly students do not know how to deal effectively with the disappointments that come to them. Often they emote: “It’s too hard.” “My fingers are tired.” “I think this is a stupid assignment.” Rarely do they immediately think, “How do I solve this?” Parents don’t help by taking part in their child’s hurts. This results in discouragement and giving up.

Here is an example of how the process could go: Problems come. Students emote. At this point, they need to hear that being sinned against does not always demand justice; that losing their book demands that they find it; that forgotten homework means doing it over if it is due that day; that being late is inconsiderate of others; that teachers have the right to run a class in the way that they see best. Ultimately, children and young people need to see the sowing and reaping principle that God has established in the world. Rules not kept, deadlines unmet, angry responses bring consequences. The same is true on the positive side of things. Rules kept bring blessing. Deadlines met bring not only the accolades of a good reputation, but also the commending to bigger and better things. This is the way the world works. Learning to heed this early on, informs them that they may not give in to whatever they feel at the moment.

Perhaps it is all tied to “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge...” [Proverbs 12:1]. The discipline of doing what ought to be done, whether or not “I feel like it” is a necessary ingredient of becoming a productive member of society. It is the path to becoming wise. It is essential for life. As parents, we get to help our children and young people be students who are living out of that reality of self-discipline that is motivated intrinsically by a love and desire to serve God. Let us press on.

Ruts in the Driveway

by Kelly Knowlden

For those people who contend with dirt driveways, spring becomes one of those times when an evaluation of its condition is necessary. After driving all year in the same spot, the tire tracks are packed firmer creating a hump in the middle and along the sides. To level this off requires a great deal of work or a big machine.

Overcoming habits of sin - those well-grooved, hard-packed paths of response - is equally hard and requires “Big machinery” as well. When my children do not obey, my frustration level is high and I go into “rant mode.’ When I am late and my children seem not to be concerned about hurrying, I use short, caustic remarks. When my children say the most impossibly-stupid things that are not true, my response is to roll my eyes toward heaven. All these kinds of responses show my desire to control my world and my displeasure at not being able to do so. They are no-faith responses because they show that I believe that if I were running things, it would all be different. (Praise God that I am not running things!) My responses are deeply rutted and come quickly and without impediment.

In having these things be brought to my attention as sin, I am convicted and ask my God for forgiveness and help. Yet, the next time those situations come along, I “travel in old ruts.” So I purpose to be different. I pray harder and longer. I commit myself to staying away from situations that are particularly tempting. I do fine for a day or so—but eventually I “mess up.” My soul becomes convicted and I repent and wonder if I will ever change. Old ruts run deep. And at some point I say, “Forget it, I am just made this way and people will have to deal with me as I am.”

Then comes conviction and I start all over again. Probably, my mind replays all the times I have failed and I half-heartedly think that “I’ll try, but I’ll probably fail again.”

Phil. 3:13 says, “But one thing I do; forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Let us have the attitude of an athlete that didn’t win the last time. I am going to work at this again, and with the help of Christ, He will change my sinful habits of response. He does this as we seek Him. Press on!

Stupid Teacher!

by Kelly Knowlden

Sometimes our children come home with the kind of statements that are reflected above. Then they proceed to tell us why they think that the teacher is stupid. They, like us, are compelling in their reasons because they feel wronged. “If they would only see it my way...” and they proceed to tell how the situation “should have gone.”

As parents, how do we deal with this in a way that is sympathetic to our children and yet helps them understand the nature of reality as God created it? I cannot dismiss their feelings and tell them to “grin and bear it.” Nor can I agree with them that the teacher is stupid. (Even if I suspect that there is something not quite right about what the teacher is demanding or the way a teacher is handling the situation, I must log that into my head to deal with at a separate time. I cannot undermine my own parental authority by questioning the teacher’s decision in front of my child.) So what do I do?

I must listen and ask a lot of questions about what my child is saying. I must refine their statements with them and question their statements when I hear that which is illogical or wrong. I must not assume that my child is purposefully belligerent or lazy or wrong-headed. I must “be on their side” in the sense that the things that they are saying are the things that they “feel” and that must be governed. Then I must help them see things from the teacher’s perspective. Here, I must posit that the teacher is not their enemy and to assume that or respond in that way, denies God’s ordaining authorities for our benefit. (I do not agree with, but must submit to, all the laws of the land as long as they do not violate God’s law.) Learning how to do what the teacher is asking in spite of what it seems is never a bad lesson to teach our children.

Ultimately, I want them to see the authorities in their life as good. I realize that that will not always be true, but for now they will learn how to trust others. There is no better place than learning it here, where our teachers are trustworthy!

Communication

by Kelly Knowlden

In the student handbook we have two statements concerning communication that I want to bring to your attention.  The first is under the GOALS section and states: “To maintain regular communication with parents.”  We want to do this because parents are primarily responsible for their student’s education.  The second is in the section titled: PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY.   It says that “Communication with the school is a parental responsibility…”  We are asking parents to stay in touch with us about homework, concerns, ideas, forgotten items, etc.

One of the problems that we are faced with is that with all the various forms of communication used by people today, there seems to be NO ONE WAY to keep in touch with all parents.  That is why we have a Facebook page, use e-mail, send paper copies, and can even text you with information.  However, in a sound-bite age, it is difficult to communicate larger truths that are necessary for us to maintain community.  Even this blurb is too big to text to someone and therefore is relegated to the too-many-words-to-read category.

So two things we are asking.  One is that if you have other suggestions on how to communicate with you that would be effective and sensitive to time use (no, I cannot call all families with information), then we’d like to hear it.  The second is that YOU are responsible to keep in the know.  It is incumbent upon you to find out what is going on at the school, making sure that you are timely with returning forms, and being in the know about current issues affecting the school.  (Watch for EITC information coming soon.  This could affect your financial outlay for next school year!)  

Our desire is to help you in the process of education.  Please be in touch with us about what you’d like to see continue as well as those things that you need more information about.

Thanks are Due!

by Kelly Knowlden

One of the marks of Christians is that they are thankful.  They understand that God, who is good, oversees all things and can be trusted to bring what is good.  They recognize the work of others and are thankful, as well.

So, I would like to commend the students for their hard work on Friday.  Many students proved their good work ethic by going above and beyond what I expected.  The third floor itinerant room had everything removed to the hall, and shelves, window sills, floors and desks thoroughly cleaned.  Then before things were put back, there was a determination made as to what was worth keeping.

The back side rooms of the auditorium were also thoroughly cleaned and rearranged to be ready for the drama production!  (Mr. Knowlden, the younger, was thrilled!)  Stairwells and edges of the hall were scrubbed, metal trash discarded and items needed for the future were put in storage.

Meanwhile, Mr. James Wolfe, a parent of one of our students, was painting the walls in the art room, and long after the students went home, Jerry and Becky Tomassacci were sealing and waxing the third floor hallway!

Of course, the teachers in the classrooms and particularly Mr. K and Mr. Riggall were busy overseeing students and making things happen.

On top of all that, we were served by parents and friends of the school going to the Elementary Speech Meet as chaperones and judges!  Jen Shoemaker, Carola Galliani, Jerry Tomassacci, Michelle Patalau, Kim Broskoskie and a former graduate, Jenessa Tomassacci, all helped. They were headed by Megan Kerrick.  Kim Broskoskie also helped with the in-school practices for these students and should be commended.  Brian McGrory also went as a judge!

Here is the neat thing: I was interviewing a potential school family during part of this and they were impressed by the ownership of Christian education by the students and parents here.  Thank you all for demonstrating that!

The King is Coming

by Kelly Knowlden

Picture this:  a man dressed in uniform with sword strapped to his side, regal in his bearing, strides to the front of a crowd.  On his head, a circlet of gold.  Splendor and majesty mark his bearing.  His face is set with determination that is fearful to behold.  He casts out evildoers from his presence with his glance.  He smiles with twinkling eyes at those who love him.  He is adored by thousands.  And his enemies do not have a chance against the arrows of his indignation and they know it.  He is the King.  For us, it is King Jesus!

Now read this: “What we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him.”  While this passage is not primarily one about physical resemblances, it does imply likeness of character.  And, if we love King Jesus (live for Him), that will be you and me!

My purpose in writing this is the same as the apostle John.  In the midst of trials here below, the overwhelming work or the severe circumstances, the encouragement of a coming King who will set all things to right buoys our hearts.  Gone will be our sin of boredom, our impatience at sameness, our lust for excitement.  Gone, too, will be tears, hurts, fears, and needs.  What a day!

Encourage your children, too, with that biblical hope!

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

by Kelly Knowlden

Because we think about life in terms of what is seen, felt and heard, we often get caught in these circumstances thinking, “This is a bummer!” “I don’t like this!” “This is stupid!” “Why did God let this happen?” “Why doesn’t anything ever go my way?” etc. The consequence of this thinking is to make choices based on how we feel at the given moment (anger, yelling, mental predictions of what will happen next, withdrawal, frustration, etc.)  which we later regret and repent of and tell ourselves we won’t do again.

Into this cycle (which we don’t learn from very well) put this thought: "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (I Cor. 10:31). Here we have a statement that tells us that ALL of life is spiritual. What does this mean? It means that when Freddie won’t eat his oatmeal (do his homework, take out the trash, etc.) there is a spiritual dynamic to this event that MUST not be ignored. On one hand is the spiritual stuff that is going on with Freddie. “Why doesn't he want to eat it?” “What spiritual truth does he need to know?” “What appropriate correction is necessary here?"

There is, on the other hand, our own spiritual response to him not eating. “Why am I angry?” “Do I feel affronted by a kid who will not listen to me?” “What reasons would I give to God for my responses?” “Do I know what it is to not want to do something?” “Do I let him off the hook because it is a universal response?”

Ultimately, we want our children and ourselves to find that peace in the midst of ALL circumstances that comes from entrusting our days to Christ and submitting to His good and perfect will.  In so doing, we will be able to truly eat, drink and be merry.

Joy in My Work

by Kelly Knowlden

This next month is one of the most difficult for students to maintain the proper perspective toward their work.  Long weeks of due dates, or drilling lessons or repeating same ‘old’ tasks, [studying spelling], bring out in children all sorts of reasons to procrastinate, to balk, and simply to refuse to
do work.

And our response? “My dad always said, ‘Tough luck, just do it anyway!’”  While it is true that ultimately our children must get past their ‘feelings’ of not wanting to do work, those parental responses will not achieve the goal described in Ecclesiastes 5:18-19:

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot.  Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work, this is a gift from God. 

So then, how will students learn to find joy in their work?  First, do you empathize with their feelings?  Tell them so.  Help them to see that you need God’s grace too, in order to desire what is right and good.  Ask them if they think that God can help us even to enjoy our work - not just do it.  Encourage them with knowing that God will reward those who are diligent. [See Prov. 10:4; 12:11-12; 22:29; and 28:19].  Pray with them.  Remind them that playing now is not going to bring lasting happiness despite what their heart may say.  Help them with godly resolve, to do their tasks as unto the Lord and let Him measure their final worth.  May these next weeks be opportunities to build godly work habits in our children that they might enjoy their work!

Why Christian Education?

by Kelly Knowlden

When re-enrollment comes around it is an opportunity to re-evaluate why you choose Immanuel Christian School to be the means of educating your children.  After all, there are many educational opportunities possible: home school, cyber school, public school, or a combination of all of these. 
So I decided to list reasons that ICS made the most sense for our family:

1. We have godly voices other than ours speaking to our children about life: why learn, what good behavior looks like, why do they do what they do, the importance of good study habits, etc.
2. The quality of education is excellent!  Not only are students taught well and creatively, but what they are teaching takes into account the God that made the whole world.  They will learn to critique what they see and hear from a biblical perspective.
3. Teachers are not going to ignore bad behavior and are going to hold out a high standard.  Along the way, they will also talk to our children about the heart issues that causes behavior.
4. There is great benefit in having our children be a part of a social environment where other parents are making different choices than ours but are still wanting their children to do what is right.  
5. It gives us opportunities to talk to our children about how to live in a fallen world when they sin against others or are sinned against from those outside their immediate family. 

There are other reasons that are nuances of those above that made our children’s experiences of education very valuable.  The cost was worth it!

Horizontal Comparisons

by Kelly Knowlden

One of the aspects of living in a fallen world is that we are continually making comparisons to others.  We compare our hair style, our car make, our economic status, and our parenting rules to those around us.  It usually has devastating results.  Comparisons to those who are presumed to be “better” will leave us with a sense of failure, envy, covetousness, discouragement, and having a desire to somehow bring them “down” to our level.  Comparisons to those that we perceive who are worse off [dumber, poorer, uglier, goofier, etc.] leaves us feeling superior, proud, boastful, sinfully smug, and having a desire to let everyone know that we know we are “better.”

Kids tend to do the same things and end up with the same problems.  The spillover of all that is that kids try to “prove” that they are tougher, stronger, cooler, smarter, by a number of different methods.  This includes bullying, which is the number one problem  in schools today.

As a Christian School we are obviously against bullying, however, we are also against all that underlies the reasons kids bully.  I am sure that you will agree that you do not want your children to be bullied nor to be bullies. Here is how you can help.

Compare them to NO ONE.  Tell them how much you love them for who they are.  Even if they get under your skin, commend them for their desire for what is right.  [I have never had a kid tell me that he purposefully wanted to do what was wrong.]  Tell them about God’s work in fulfilling what He has for them.  Give them that gospel hope that says Jesus Christ is able to work in them to fulfill the potential for which He made them.

Conversation

by Kelly Knowlden

Conversation, generally defined, means to talk.

However, there is a lot of talking which would never fall into the category of an “interchange of thought” (Prov. 10:19).  What often happens in group settings where talking is taking place, is one person speaks about a topic and all others stand around waiting to lunge in with their perspective or their “story.”  And so they do.  And then the next person puts in their piece and so on…

Now here is where the Christian mind must do its work. For the mouth speaks out of the over- flow of the heart (Luke 6:45).  Self-centeredness of living will never see conversation as an opportunity to find out what is going on in the heart/mind of someone else.  Rather we will “air our own opinions”  (Prov. 18:2).

In talking to our children, we often end up telling them how we would deal with the problems they face (or how we did “when I was a boy…”), or we tell them what we think they need to hear.  Very little time is spent in finding out what they are thinking and feeling.  And so we reproduce by modeling, people who mostly fill the air with self talk.

Conversations with our children ought to be a combination of instruction in truth coupled with finding out what they are thinking.  Prov. 20:5 says, “The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.”  Learning how to ask effective questions that get “under the skin” will help them understand themselves.  This will take time, effort and repentance from our own self-centered conversation, but the results will be children who feel heard and engaged in the lively discourse of truth!

Grades Are NOT Important

by Kelly Knowlden

As parents, we sometimes emphasize grades in ways that undermine what we really want.  Let me show you what I mean.

Your child gets a “D” or “F” notice in the mail.  You are upset.  You want them to do well.

However, how we respond is usually our problem.  We need to remember that the grade is an ALERT.  It is saying, “Something is not working right.”  Our job as parents is to find out the problem and then solve it without focusing on the grade.  For example, why is your student not doing well?  Is it the amount of time they study?  Is it the way they study (sit and stare at the information to memorize it)?   Is it a disconnect in their learning?  Is it their refusal to do work?  Is it their distraction during class so that they really don’t listen well (draw pictures, stare out window, play with pencil, try to do other homework)?  You see, there are many factors that caused the low grade and we need to find out what combination of issues needs our attention in solving it. 

This is where the teachers and administration come in.  First, our teachers are all ready for a phone call during after school hours if something is not right.  (This includes amount of work, something not understood by the student and general help.)  Then if that doesn’t seem to solve the overall problem, call the office and talk to me

Whatever you do, do not tell your child that you are displeased with the grades.  We are more concerned with that which is reflected by the grade - “what problems need solving?”  If a student is doing the work and being diligent in it, generally the grades that you desire will follow.  (If grades do not improve, that is a different issue which I would also be glad to talk to you about.)

Time to... read?

by Kelly Knowlden

In preparing for Book Week at ICS, my wife and I talked a lot about various books, how to inspire kids to read, what books are best for which age group and how difficult it is to inspire young people to read.  

As we were talking, I thought about the difficulty of trying to find time to read.  I love to read.  I used to devour books.  We read together as a family.  But now, it seems that there is not time to sit down and enjoy reading something just for fun.  Sure, I read the Bible, and even am working through a book about praying.  But to read a story… well that is more difficult to fit in.

Here are some of my musings.  See if any match your thinking. 

1. I have other pressing things that must be done.  (shoveling snow, cutting grass, household maintenance….etc.)  
2. There is computer work that has deadlines. (notes to send to others, e-mail to check and committee work to do…)  
3. It doesn’t seem to fit the dynamic of family life anymore.  (I get home, we get ready for supper, we eat, do school work, play a game / watch Jeopardy / read the newspaper / catch up on little projects at home.)  
4. Media distractions take up time (TV, Facebook, YouTube, texting, etc.)

In thinking about my musings, I realized that I will give myself to what I deem important. And the bottom line is that reading has become not that important to me.  That is scary!  Reading has become utilitarian.  I read for information.  I read to understand something about the world.  But at this point in my life, reading for pleasure is not as pleasurable as other things.

I will find time for what I value.  I need to begin again a re-valuing of reading for pleasure.

Imagination

by Kelly Knowlden

“They are darkened in their understanding…” 

What a horrible thing for mankind to experience when in fact we were created to  be image bearers of God!  Futile thinking, Paul writes, is the result of living in this world with regard to only that which our senses tell us is real.  He goes on to say, that we have need “to be made new in the attitude of our minds.”

Let me suggest, along with many others, that training  children to live as new creatures is done in a many-pronged plan.  Obviously, we will read to them from the Word of God.  Surely we will take them to church and teach them to pray.  But I would like to suggest that we also “fire their imagination!”

In a book entitled Subversive Spirituality, Eugene Peterson says that people generally want a detailed “why,”  (Why did this happen to me?) and a specific “how,” (How do I get out of this mess?) to life’s circumstances.  But what they need is imagination.  “Imagination is the ability to make the connection between the visible and the invisible… It is indispensable to see reality as real…”  So when the child spills milk again, we need to see the connection between the visible and the invisible.  Our imagination, our spiritual thinking about what is real, and our ability to find what is real beyond that which is immediately apparent will win the day!  Our ability to do that is one of the ways our children will learn to live beyond the immediate.

Another way to inspire our children's imagination is to read good literature to them, regardless of their age.  Family times where good stories are enjoyed, inspire thinking beyond the living room
and beyond the immediate circumstances.  It enlarges possibilities.  It opens doors to worlds we do not know.  And it does it through the ear gate!  That means that the mind must actively picture the world being read about.  That is inspiring imagination.  

Ultimately, we encourage our children to be people of faith, because we have taught them the truth of Heb. 11:1: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Another Culture Shaper - YOU!

by Kelly Knowlden

You are the most powerful culture shaper that our nation has.  Here is why:

You will demonstrate your value of hard work by the way you talk about the weekend.

You will model good communication skills by the way that you talk to the dog, the kids and your spouse.  If respect, care and concern mark your conversations,  then we will eventually see the presidential debates marked by cordiality and compassion even if there is disagreement on ideology. 

You will show what is really valuable by how you spend time.  If creative projects, reading aloud, playing family games are your habit, and not sitting in front of the TV every night, then you will communicate that creativity, being busy with one’s mind and hands, and learning about the world and one another is important.

You will show how to think and understand our present culture by helping your children critique what they see and hear instead of simply allowing them to consume it and be at its mercy.

You will teach your children to be responsible and to not shift the blame to someone or something else by how you respond to someone who is upset with your choices.  If you apologize for the way that it made them feel and seek their forgiveness, you will show how to be humble.

You will demonstrate your faith in God and His goodness by accepting the way that life comes to you, believing that He has a plan that is bigger than yours … and better.  That will inform your child’s heart that there is Someone who can be trusted in all of life’s circumstances.  

Parenting is a great privilege and awesome responsibility.  Now is your opportunity to affect the next generation.

Culture Shaper in a New Year

by Kelly Knowlden

The calendar has turned a new page and now the 2012 year is underway.  At Immanuel Christian School, our tradition for January has been to engage in a book week that allows children the delights of telling about the stories they have been reading and enjoyed.  Of course, our desire is for students to love to read over a lifetime.  Here is why:

A culture transmits its beliefs through a number of methods that are continually changing. Historically that has been through the literature, music, art, and architecture that are dominant at any given moment.  Today we need to include the electronic media forms that are ways people communicate and express what is important.  These beliefs come from the prevailing philosophy and the religious orientation of the people of the culture.  Education and books help define what is important. 

The influence of education and books on American culture has left us believing that man has evolved and is not any different essentially from the animals that co-inhabit the earth.  (Animal rights activists want people to have the right to allow their pets to receive an inher- itance.)  It has also caused us to think that all cultures are equal in their contribution to the flow of history.  (Celebrating Kwanzaa is as important to the African cultures as celebrating Christmas is to us.)

The literature program we have chosen tells another story.  The book list in our library extols a different sort of story that maintains the values of a Judeo-Christian heritage.  Books matter.  The Bible, as a book, informs us of how to think about the world, ourselves and God.  We need to invest in understanding it and in reading good literature to transmit a common core of values based on truth.