Dear
CCS
Family,
 |
| [Click on Bible references in this post] |
As
you remember, the year 2020 was the 40th Anniversary of Calvary
Christian Schools. The student body printed “spirit shirts” that
spoke of “20-20 Vision,” we had a great banquet in the fall of
last school year, an unforgettable outdoor Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2020 complete
with an impressive fireworks display. In many ways, it was a great
year, and we have so much for which to be thankful. For instance, our donors provided over $65,000 in essential Covid-reopen funds last August, and an additional $110,000 in needed year-end gifts came in December. Thank you, donors, for your generous support.
Let’s
admit it, however… most of us were ready to stick a fork in 2020
a week ago tonight. Many
of my friends
didn’t
even stay up to watch the ball drop that
night.
Who can blame them? The
year 2020 for
some was a time of sorrow and for others
a parody of living. Those four digits became an adjective: If something was inexplicably senseless or
defied all odds,
people said:
“That’s so 2020!”
Like many of you, I hoped
2021 would
somehow change
the
trajectory of the
previous year God brought us through together.
The
unexpected turn of
events yesterday
afternoon, January
6th,
in the Capital Building in
Washington DC was
troubling at
many levels.
Though
many facts remain to be learned, the
difference between the
peaceful assembling
(in the morning) and what a smaller group of
instigators later
did
inside the capital building is an important distinction. I
know of no one who is not disheartened by the images being
flashed on TV and social media from yesterday's late afternoon events.
The
reality is this:
we
live in a broken world and the snippets
being looped by networks
are echoes of similar events
through the centuries (and
other events this past summer).
What
was true in
the last
days
of Christ remains
true in the last
days of man:
whenever
human nature reaches a boiling point and is driven by fear rather
than faith, it is most in need of our
Savior’s
words:
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
So
when people of faith are understandably anxious about political
and social upheaval,
they should take heart in the words of
Psalm 112:7 addressed
to believers:
“They will have no
fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in
the Lord.” The
Psalmist
doesn’t
deny that bad news is bad. He
rather implies we can expect it in
the midst of sin, evil and brokenness. So
whether
the bad news is a troubling diagnosis, a lost job, the death of a
loved one, or bad behavior of people, our
focus and hope cannot be in men—“Our
HOPE is in
the Lord.”
Why
can we trust the Lord? He is good (Psalm 106:1). He is our help
(Psalm 115:9). He reigns (Psalm 96:10). He is sovereign (Psalm135:6). He is unchanging (Hebrews 13:8). He is near in the midst of
trouble (Psalm 46:1). He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). He loves you
and His love never ends (Romans 8:38-39). Take a few moments to look
up these comforting verses. Think on them. Rest in them.
Simply
put, we can trust the Lord for He is supremely trustworthy, unlike
our circumstances, our health, our relationships, our politicians or
our finances.
So,
what is God’s will for us today? While much more could be
written, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 certainly gives us a great place to
begin: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for
you.” We're in God's Hands in all states.
It
is a joy to be a part of the CCS Family.
Tom
Kapanka
Note: I would like to thank my dear friend Pastor Stephen Schultze who shared the encouraging words and references at the end of this post in a letter this morning.
