Over the past several weeks I have allowed myself to get discouraged. I care too much about our great nation to simply "turn the news off" and not think about it. To do so would be like the man who put tape over his engine warning light so he wouldn't have to see it.
We are truly in unchartered waters; never before has our nation gone through such transformation with such rapidity. What does it all mean? I do not believe anyone knows for sure but I have yet to meet or talk with anyone who believes all this change is good. Quite to the contrary, it appears that unless something should happen to derail this juggernaut of government intrusion, America will never be the same. The loss of wealth alone over the last year is in the trillions of dollars (that's a number with 12 zeroes!).
We have spent quite a bit of time this school year impressing upon our students the genius of our Founding Fathers, their faith, fortitude and foresight to lay the groundwork for what would become the greatest nation in history, enjoying the greatest freedom and liberty ever experienced. One would be hard pressed not to see the hand of Providence in our founding documents, particularly the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. The basic principles were so simple yet profound. You can almost hear the collective spirit crying out, "Look, just let me enjoy my right to life and liberty that my Creator has endowed and then let me pursue my happiness with little intrusion and interference and great things will happen." And they did!
What has since happened? Just as the economic events of last fall could be summed up in our Integrity Institute Study of Fig Leaf Economics, I believe the events of the last several months can be summed up with this verse:
Exod 14:12 Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"
Despite being miraculously led out of Egypt, at the first hint of trouble, the Israelites professed their desire to be enslaved by Pharaoh rather than to live in liberty by faith under God. They were choosing a life of governmental bondage as slaves rather than soar like eagles under the freedom of God!
I'm sure many of you, like me, have shaken your head recently and asked yourself what is the answer? Well, I do not have all the answers but I do have one. It may take a while but then again we did not get in this overnight. I believe we need to raise a generation of informed, educated and discerning voters. I believe we need to a raise a generation that is not only proficient in math and science, articulate with the fundamentals of Language Arts, energetic as the result of a strong and healthy PE and athletic curriculum, but perhaps most importantly for today, raising a generation that is passionate about our country, its greatness, its uniqueness, its free market economic roots and especially the biblical values and principles that laid the foundation. "America is great," as de Tocqueville put it because, "America is good." Never has a country accumulated so much wealth and prosperity but never has a nation so devoted itself to charitable giving, at home and around the world. Freedom, liberty, personal responsibility, self governance, a charitable spirit, integrity... these are the hallmarks of our Founders and I believe should characterize our leaders today.
I believe the only possible source of that type of education lies within independent, Christian schools; independent in order to teach the desires of our heart without fear of government restraints and Christian to provide the filter of Truth in all facets of academic life. Consequently, I believe with all my heart that God has raised Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy... a school for such a time as this. Our nation is experiencing a dearth of Godly, principled leadership; the type of men and women that made our country great. It may indeed take a generation, but the future always starts right now. For all we know, the next Billy Graham, or Condoleezza Rice is in our school right now!
Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy... a school for such a time as this!
SMLCA admits students of any race, color, national origin and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activitiesgenerally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
New Years Greetings!
I remember vividly 12:00am on January 1, 2000. Everyone had a sense of anxiety over
what Y2K would bring. Unbeknownst to the gathering at our home, a few adults and lots of
teens, our oldest son snuck down the basement and precisely at midnight flipped our main
breaker. The TV, lights, everything went blank. It created a collective gasp, but before
panic settled in, I noticed all of our neighbors had power and so, then realized
something was up!
Perhaps no other New Year brought on so much anticipation, until now that is. Listening
to pundits and reading the headlines makes one think 2008 was the worst ever and
consequently couldn't end soon enough. Granted, there were quite a few interesting
developments, but for us, the birth of our first grandchild and the birth of Smith
Mountain Lake Christian Academy alone made it a fantastic year!
Regardless, 2008 is behind and as Paul said in Phil 3:13-14, "Brothers, I do not
consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. 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."
So, it is time to look ahead to 2009 and beyond! It should be an exciting winter and
spring for SMLCA with educational and entertaining field trips, not the least of which
calls for a day at Wintergreen Ski Resort!
Our Board is currently hard at work on what I am sure will be amazing fundraising and
promotional opportunities. In fact, at a meeting over the break, the Board has never been
more encouraging and excited about the future of SMLCA!
Although Paul says to forget what is behind, he also says he "thanks God every time he
remembers you" as we all do for you, our first families-our foundation. May this year
be your richest ever in Christ's glory.
The wise man still builds on the Rock!
Deke
Fall 2008 Greetings!
Representatives of the Lions Club are coming in today to offer our students vision
screening. I used the opportunity to introduce and discuss our memory verse of the day, 2
COR 5:7 For we live by faith and not by sight, in this morning's Integrity Institute.
During our discussion, I offered that every day is a walk of faith at SMLCA. We have never
before experienced Oct 28, 29, 30... as a school. Consequently, regardless of schedules
and lesson plans, we don't really know what surprises, blessings and even miracles
tomorrow may bring. At times, that walk of faith may be challenging but it certainly is
never boring!
Reflecting back a year ago, if we were forced to live by sight, I doubt if The Academy
would be where it is today or even exist at all. The idea of starting a new, Christian
school in less than nine months was too daunting to rationally consider. However, by
faith, we forged ahead and here we are; a vibrant community of learners, taught by a
talented, enthusiastic faculty incorporating an extremely effective and challenging
curriculum. To see our vision manifest itself on a daily basis is a blessing I could only
have imagined. Right in front of our eyes, our students are "developing the heart of a
lion, acquiring the eye of the tiger, soaring like eagles and walking as gently as
lambs." Trust me, the concept of a third grade prayer warrior is not an oxymoron!
We have just completed our first grading period. What a great milestone that was! After
a half day of teacher/parent conferences, our faculty spent the remainder of the day
self-evaluating most of what we do. Yes, there will always be tweaking and improving, but
for the most part, the dust has settled, we are comfortable with our surroundings
and each other and couldn't be more excited with the privilege that God has blessed us
through Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy.
Our vision not only calls for the addition of an 8th grade for next year, but we are
dedicated to adding students at all grade levels. Consequently, we have two upcoming
events that you or your friends may have an interest. First, next Tuesday, November 4, we
are offering FRIEND DAY AT SMLCA. Students currently in grades 1-7 are invited to come
and spend all or part of the day with us to get a feel of what school life is like at SMLCA. If interested, please email me or call 719-1192 to register and discussdetails. Our school day begins at 8:10 and dismisses at 2:50.On Tuesday, November 18, we will host an OPEN HOUSE from 6:30-8:00pm. This will provide an opportunity for a casual visit and spend time with our faculty to discuss curriculum details.
As to the economy... (We actually spent several weeks in The Integrity Institute
discussing what I refer to as "Fig Leaf Economics". Students learned the concepts of
supply and demand, how inflation occurs, what taxes are and how they work, the ultimate
role of the "public, pews and politicians", all within the framework of biblical principles.) We remain absolutely committed to the priority of funding sufficient financial aid so that expense will not be the prohibitive factor of a student attendingSMLCA. Yes, that challenge has become more prolific in the last six weeks... but not necessarily to those "who live by faith and not by sight!"
The wise man builds on the Rock!
Deke Andrews, Head of School
Summer 2008
We have been overwhelmed with the community response to Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy. Although the original vision called for a middle school, based on feedback and much prayer, we have committed to launch as K-6 with plans to add a grade level each subsequent year. The vision of SMLCA has been in the making for several years and now, after a season of prayer and laying a foundation, is ready for harvest.
Having raised six children of our own, my wife and I know too well the burden that parents face deciding on the best educational alternative for their children. For years, we would spend Labor Day Weekend (all schools used to open the day after Labor Day) in prayer, seeking God’s will as to where to send our children to school. Consequently, we have experienced it all; public, private, Christian, home schooling and even a tennis academy! If you are reading this, you too, may be struggling with what is the best option. After all, your children, God’s gift to you, will spend more time in school than any other place outside of home. That is a humbling thought. Jesus said it would be better to have a millstone around your neck and cast into the sea than to cause a child to stumble. That is a fearful thought and a highly motivating thought!
Our prayer is for SMLCA to be a community school and that means whether you have children, grandchildren or maybe just a concern for the education of future generations, we welcome your involvement.
I invite you to reflect on our Mission Statement. We feel it conveys our passion and what we want to be about. It actually is a paraphrase of the four pillars of our own Integrity Institute curriculum which reads in full:
Acquiring the eye of the tiger… becoming academically acute
Being gentle as a lamb… becoming a selfless servant
Soaring like an eagle… having a mind for the Master
Developing the heart of a lion…. becoming physically fit
We hope you will share in our vision of raising a generation of students with the heart of a lion, the eye of the tiger, gentle as lambs and soaring as eagles; a generation that is strong, wise, humble and godly.
Sincerely,
Deke Andrews
SMLCA is a member of Association of Christian Schools International.
GO Agency
