Facing The Facts

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This week I want to discuss our use of technology. There is no getting away from it. It is everywhere you look. You may not use a lot of it, you may not like it but you still have to face it whether you like it or not. In fact, if you listen to Bill Buxton, who recently spoke on an episode of Spark (episode 66) we have been using technology for a long time. What are the preset buttons on your car radio? Are they not bookmarks? Is not the radio the earliest form of streaming music? He goes on to say that the computer is only a different package for what we have been using for years. If you would like, an evolved pencil, and so much more. The big difference is that we now use one tool in place of the hundreds of tools we use to use. We use it instead of the pencil, DVD player, TV, radio, record player, game consol, finance books, tax forms, recipe book, telephone, type writer, etc. Is it any wonder that we spend so much time on it?

Now what we are doing in our schools is training our students to use this multiple tool called technology in a manner that honours our Lord and brings balance to their lives. This is done by training teachers, students and parents not only how to use the technology but how to apply the character of Christ in its usage. Considering the almost single minded usage of this technology by our students and the technology challenged parents they have, it ends up being a very tall order; but not impossible.

Imagine if we started a Social Studies group comprised of teachers, parents and students who took on the challenge of sharing information about one new country every two weeks. In a year we would be well versed in 26 countries. In the five years of Secondary we would have learned about 120 countries and their cultures. Through technology it is possible to follow blogs from each country over the two weeks, watch videos, listen to its music, discover the news, learn new recipes, learn a bit of language. This is only one simple form in which technology can be used in a way to bring us closer to other people and their cultures.

There are too many ideas and possibilities to list them all here but we do need to understand that the Father has allowed weeds to grow among the wheat. There is evil amongst the good. We need to understand this and learn how to help our children walk through this mine field without destroying themselves. This requires training. This requires vigilance. This requires diligence. Parents must be involved in all their children's online activities. There is no other way to protect them. Remember that the Father has lent us these children and expects us to raise them according to his ways, and to keep them safe.

We will be conducting training in all the schools over the next couple of months. We are making this training mandatory for all parents. Without it we will not accept your child's application to our school. If we are going to be training the students in this area of technology we need to make sure the homefront is covered as well. So when the dates are announced please make every effort to be in attendance. Together we are forming a team that will surround these children in love, accountability and mentoring.

Our children cannot afford for us to stick our heads in the sand. We need to face the fact we must learn this stuff. Their future, and maybe their eternity depends on it.

An Amazing Journey, With Good Company

It is amazing where we can find ourselves when we allow the Spirit to lead us. Here I am writing on my laptop going down a twisting highway at 90 km/h as we head back home from our most recent trip to the Cree Nation of Mistissini. What were we doing there, you may ask? The Christian Academy there, known as Dabwetamun Academy, asked my son and me to come and help them with introducing technology to their school. An easier task said than done. Nonetheless we both felt this was a door that was opened for us by the Spirit and having walked through we are amazed where it has lead us.

While we were there this week I was asked to give an one hour presentation to the community on Internet Safety. The Internet is something everyone has but few understand, especially when it comes to what the children are doing with it. It was so well received that one of the churches wants us back to do some workshops in their church and the community has also asked us back to do a week of workshops for the parents. This is an incredible opportunity to remind parents of their God given responsibilities to train up their children in the Father’s ways. We have no idea where this is all going but we are glad to go as long as the Spirit is leading.

We are all fortunate to be part of this incredible thing the Spirit is doing in all of our schools. By “we” I mean parents, teachers and students. We are fortunate that the Father saw fit to raise up a number of Christian schools to form an incredible team of people who are seeking his will in everything we are doing, and it is taking us to incredible places. We are glad you have joined us in the journey.

This brings me to the reminder it is renewal season, the season of rumours, doubts and fears. Although we know this is the Father’s work we often take it on as our own and we wonder how we will make it each day. That is where we are, wondering if we will have enough families to be viable. Each year we hear rumours of who will not be coming back and every year we wonder. Yet every year the Father gives us just what we need, students, families and money. We always see ourselves as partners with parents but due to the busyness of life parents do not always see themselves in the same way. What we are doing requires a great deal of faith from both parents and staff, and together we grow in the Lord. The sooner you are able to let us know what you are doing for next year the better it is for us, both in planning and budgeting.

As Ian drives and I write the highway stretches out ahead of us. Forest to either side of us, high snow banks ensuring that we remain straight and a road ahead filled with twists and turns. We cannot see very far ahead on this highway, only as far as the next turn. We have no idea what lay around the corner but we keep going ahead regardless because we know this is the road that leads to home. It is no different with the Christian Education we are involved in. We have no idea what lay around the corner but we know this is the King’s Highway and we are glad to travel it. The “forests” remind us of the lost condition of the world and the Holy Spirit is like these snow makes, keeping us on the correct path. What lay around the corner is no surprise to the Father and he has already laid down his provision for us. The most pleasant thing about this journey is that we are not travelling it alone. Let us keep journeying, growing and exploring together. As we say every year, next year will be the best one yet.