Please pray for the families impacted by Friday’s shootings. Pray for our own children who may have questions and fears. Pray for the parents and teachers everywhere who are answering questions and may be dealing with their own fears. Pray that hearts and souls everywhere are impacted and the saving power of Christ is revealed to them.

Bud Schindler has the following thoughts about the Sandy Hook tragedy:

Many thoughts are flooding our minds as a result of the senseless murder of the 26 people in Newton. As believers in the sovereign work of our God, we search for the lessons that He wants us to learn. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3) and can relate as we mourn with the parents and families who lost loved ones.

The good news is that those precious children are now in heaven seated in the lap of our Savior (Mark 10:16) as He blesses them where they will spend eternity. They will never from this time forward suffer from the trial and difficulties of life. For those who have received the gift of eternal life from our Savior, Jesus, there will be a day of reunion with these in the near future.

We live in a secular society where God has been removed from our schools and government.  Without knowledge of Jesus, the people run wild (Proverbs 29:18). Only the gospel can have a preventative effect on our culture and we must return to the Bible with a focus on Him as the only true solution to the evils of our day.

Dayton Christian and Xenia Christian stand to equip young men and women in order that they will be “strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might ‘by putting’ on the full armor of god, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). 

During times like these, there is a desperate need to return to our precious Lord and Savior with our minds full and overflowing with His Word. Scripture teaches us to “Guard your heart (mind) above all else for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23 NLT).

Our Savior was right there at Newton with each child as they were being ushered into heaven as God the Father was with our Lord and Savior as He bore our sins at Calvary. And, He has promised never to leave or forsake us. 

Missions

We have a big heart for missions in our schools. Missions is simplistically defined is "the act of sending." As Christians, we tend to think this as meaning proclaiming the gospel to people-groups in a foreign country. And, we do! But as followers of Christ, we also need to think of how to send His message of salvation to those in our immediate vicinity: the Miami Valley. Our students are very good at doing both, as is evident throughout the school year and most recently through Thanksgiving food drives, hurricane help, jeans days, and coat donations!

This week at Dayton Christian, we had visitors, Comfort and Gifty (shown here with DCSS President Bob Elliott), from International Needs share their ministry of rescuing girls and women from physical and sexual bondage in the country of Ghana. You can read more about their wonderful visit to our campus and their heartfelt story here. 

The same day they came, we also heard about children in Dayton who rarely get hugs or are told "I love you." We heard about our students who have started to minister to those children. Their mission is just down the road and is as vitally important.

Please pray for all those involved in missions - be it in an office cubicle, down the street, or across the ocean! Pray for our children who are now developing their own passions for sharing God's love. Pray that one day they can boldly proclaim the saving grace of our Heavenly Father! Pray for our alumni who are serving all over the world, that God keeps them safe.

Matthew 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Heroes

Election day is behind us (hooray), and immediately on its heels is Veterans Day. Over and over, during the political season, I heard how veterans "fought for our privilege to vote." This is a day to thank them for that and the many other various freedoms they have insured our nation.

Our military personnel sacrifice a lot for us, especially those who have spent time away from their loved ones. We have many families in our school system with relatives who have been on tours of duty or are currently deployed. Not only do the military personnel sacrifice, but the family he or she has left behind carry a great burden to live life without that special person beside them, be it a husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, etc. They love, worry, and care about them constantly!

Over and over, I have seen our schools' love and support for the veterans and their families. I have seen classes who send care packages to far off countries to supply both servicemen they knew as well as total strangers. I have seen hundreds of encouragement cards and drawings placed in the mail. I have seen children reunite with their dads and moms after a long deployment.

This month in particular, our students are learning about the heroes who have dedicated their lives and sometimes given their lives to securing our freedom. We are supporting Operation Heal Our Patriots (a project of Samaritan's Purse) and Operation Gratitude. Pray that these and all opportunities we have to bless our military personnel also bless the DCSS families who donate to them. My own two airmen (shown above) have been recipients of such packages and prayers and were greatly touched by the outpouring of care and concern over them. It meant a lot to me, as well. 

God bless our armed forces!!

Thank you for your service.

Joshua 1:9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Honor your father and your mother that it may go well for you

Someone asked me for something particular they could pray for. There are obviously many areas we need to keep praying for in general, but the specific burden on my heart this fall has been for all those in our school system with elderly parents, some who have died this fall. Some of us have recently watched our loved ones struggle with disease and fought alongside them to the end. Others had parents taken suddenly and without warning. Either way, it is a painful void. Pray for healing and comfort.

For many of my peers and coworkers, our parents are aging and are needing our care and we are finding ourselves in the position of trying to balance work and raising a family, along with assisting our mom and dads. It's not easy. Pray for those you know who are in that position but please pray as well as the ones being cared for. It's not easy for them, either, to acknowledge the loss of independence and youthful vigor.

We place a lot of emphasis on teaching our students to respect, honor, and obey their parents. As much as we remind our children to do that, it is something we all need to remember. 

Leviticus 19:32 “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord."

Parent-Teacher Conferences

This Thursday and Friday are our scheduled Parent-Teacher conferences. Please pray for those meetings, for the faculty, for the parents, and for the students. 

While our students are thrilled they get the day off, little do they know how critical these face-to-face meetings are for their educational success. The faculty at our schools truly and intentionally get to know the children they serve. They pray for them. They invest in them. They mentor them. 

As a parent, I always look forward to these meetings as they always give me invaluable insights as to the academic strengths and weaknesses of my children. However, not only do I get to find out where my children are academically, I also learn about their character. My children's teachers see them through a different set of eyes than I do and let me know where they are socially and spiritually. 

The teachers see our children interact in groups; they see them struggle socially; they see them lead or follow. They see the ways they help reach out to each other. They listen to their prayers and can give us insights to their praises and sometimes their fears. 

In other words, I have always been blessed beyond words by the conferences and walk away assured that my children are in the best hands!! Remember to thank and pray for those teachers who pour into our students' lives and partner with our families. 

1 Peter 4:9-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Fall Concerts

Pray for our student-musicians!

XC held their fall concert last Friday night, and DC hosts their fall concert tomorrow night at 7PM in the DC cafeteria.  These programs are led by faculty who absolutely love music and know how to work with their students to get the best results. 

For weeks, families have been listening to their children and siblings diligently practicing. Measures are repeated over and over, as the musician strives for perfection. I, for one, am always eager to see how the struggle of learning new pieces works out for the child. And I am always pleasantly surprised to hear how the "part" fits into a "whole" and beautiful music is made. It's kind of like life, isn't it? 

I highly encourage you to attend one of the concerts this year. You will be blessed!


Psalm 150:1-6

Let Everything Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
    praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
    praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
    praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
    praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Praise!!

In the last two posts, we prayed for DC's Spirit/Homecoming week and XC's Spiritual Emphasis Week. Both were a resounding success, much to His glory!!

During our 50th anniversary year, we are being deliberate in reconnecting with our alumni, friends, and families who have supported us. DC alumni and family plus veteran faculty and staff were warmly welcomed back for several alumni-specific events Friday and Saturday. Relationships were renewed and strengthened, and we are already looking forward to next year! DC's first ever social dance was well-attended, and I have heard nothing but positive feedback from faculty and staff regarding the demeanor of our students and how they made sure everyone felt a part of the event.

A faculty member accidentally "stumbled upon" the end of spiritual emphasis week at XC. She entered a hallway, noticed that it was filled with middle schoolers, yet it was extremely quiet. (Middle school students and "quiet" don't normally go together.) Then it hit her: they were praying at lockers of fellow students. She was taken with how serious and respectful they were as they prayed and wrote notes of encouragement under prayer requests that were taped to the locker fronts. No one said a word but were silent in their petitions as they moved from locker to locker. Then she entered the high school building and found the same sight there. It was extremely touching. She said, "This is what it is all about!"

Praise God!!!!


Jeremiah 15:16

Your words were found, and I ate them,
    and your words became to me a joy
    and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,

    O Lord, God of hosts.