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BEREAN BULLETIN

Berean Christian High School is dedicated to providing a college preparatory, Biblecentered education to develop lifetime followers of Jesus Christ.

BEREAN CHRISTIAN HS 2024 C

WOUR AIM WITH THE BEREAN BULLETIN ARTICLES IS TO SHARE IDEAS THAT CHRISTIANS, WHO ARE INVESTED IN EDUCATION, WILL FIND INTERESTING. ALL OF THE ARTICLES IN THIS BOOK WERE PUBLISHED DURING 2023 OR 2024 AND COVER A BROAD RANGE OF SUBJECTS. IN SAYING THAT, WE BELIEVE THAT THESE CONCISE ESSAYS OFFER INSIGHTS INTO OUR APPROACH TO NURTURING AND MENTORING OUR STUDENTS.

IF YOU WISH TO ACCESS FUTURE ARTICLES, TYPICALLY RELEASED MONTHLY, WE INVITE YOU TO SUBSCRIBE ON OUR WEBSITE!

4WHY IS A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SO IMPORTANT?

A TRIP TO HELL AND HEAVEN IN 48 HOURS MEETING GOD WHILE TRAVELING

8 FOR THE LORD, OR WITH THE LORD? MEETING GOD WITH MISSIONS

10 SEEKING THE WELFARE OF THE CITY MEETING GOD RIGHT NEXT DOOR

TRADER JOE AND VAN GOGH MEETING GOD WHILE SHOPPING

5 AREAS WHERE YOU CAN HELP ARTICLES GETINVOLVED

14 DON'T MISS THE JOY

18 THE GREAT "EUCATASTROPHE" WHAT WE LEARN FROM HOBBITS

"MOM, I FAILED THE TEST" HELP YOUR KIDS KNOW GOD'S GOT THIS

20 ON AI TEACHING IN THE MODERN WORLD

22 2024 GRADUATION SPEECH KILLING THE DRAGON

25 BECOME A FRIEND OF THE EAGLES

WHY IS A CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION SO VALUABLE?

BY BOB FRY DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Oneofthethingsweallfaceasparentsisthequestionofourchildren’seducation.Mywife, Susan,andIatdifferenttimeshadourthreekidsinayear-roundpublicelementaryschool,a farmschool,aChristianK-8school,apublichighschool,andaCatholichighschool.Andthiswas inadditiontopreschool,Sundayschool,andchurchyouthgroups.Tryingtogetit“justright” wasexhaustingand,inhindsight,wedidn’tneedtobesoanxious.Buttherealityisthatany choiceotherthanthelocal,automatic,freepublicschooltakestime,effort,and(usually) money.Sowhydoit?TheshortansweristhataChristianeducationgroundedinGod-given humandignityandabeliefintruthisapowerfultoolforhelpingstudentsnavigateandthrivein aworldthatdoesnotknoweitherinherentdignityortruth.Forme,thatisreasonenough.But, attheriskofwritingtoolonganarticle,thereareatleastfivespecificreasons:

1CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO THINK

Thecalltothinkisbakedintotheveryfabricofourfaithand usuallyisaresponsetooursalvationthroughChrist.“Since, then,youhavebeenraisedwithChrist...setyourmindson thingsabove”(Col3:1-2).Oragain,“Therefore...inviewof God's mercy . . . be transformed by the renewing of your mind”(Romans12:1-2).Oursisathinkingfaith.Goddoesn’t want us to love Him in an indiscriminate, unthinking way. AlexanderMaclarenwasawonderfulBritishBaptistpreacher of the late 19th century whose commentaries are still used today. He summarized the issue this way: If a man wants to loveJesusChrist,hemustthinkaboutHim.

CHRISTIAN THINKING HELPS US EXTEND GOD’S LOVE AS HE INTENDS

The most well-known verse in the Bible (John 3:16) is that “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son.” The wordfor“world”intheGreekisCosmos,anditmeansthe whole thing, the entire universe, and, by extension, all of thepeopleinit.And,asweexperienceeveryday,ourworld isaverycomplicatedplace.Ifwearetoloveitandcarefor it and care for the people living in it, we have to be thoughtfulandknowledgeableofGodandHisaffectionfor Hiscreation.

3 KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT CHARACTER IS WORSE THAN WORTHLESS

In his famous “Finest Hour” speech, Winston ChurchilldeclaredthatifEnglandlostthewar, allthatwehaveknownandcaredfor,willsink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister,andperhapsmoreprotracted,bythe lights of perverted science. Nazi scientists, guidedby“thelightsofapervertedscience,” were knowledgeable, but they were putting that knowledge to evil purposes. It is as Christians that we uniquely recognize that all thelittle“truths”oftheworldflowoutofthe Capital“T”truthofJesusChristandoughtto be subject to His guidance and control. As a result, passages, such at Romans 12 and Colossians 3 quoted above, both point to the formation of character and the ability to joyfully worship as the reason for thinking and, ultimately, for education. We seek the "renewing of our minds" in Romans in order to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable” to our Lord. We set our minds on things above in Colossians 3 so that “the peace of Christ [will] rule in our hearts” as we “teach and admonish one another with all wisdom,” ultimately so that whatever we do,inwordordeedwe“doitallinthenameof theLordJesusgivingthankstoGodtheFather through Him.” It is the Christian part of a Christianhighschooleducationthatharnesses rawknowledgeandeducationintosomething that builds character and is useful for the Lord. If the only goal is to “get into a good college,” then there are still a number of secularschoolsthatcanhelpyouachievethat result.Iwenttoasecularprepschoolinwhich half the 50 students in my graduating class had some level of recognition from National Merit. We were an extremely well-educated group. But it was my pastor leading me to memorize passages such as Romans 12:1-2 and Philippians 4:4-8 who gave me a fighting chanceatputtingthatknowledgetogooduse.

HIGH SCHOOL IS THE PIVOT POINT

The “high school” part of a Christian educationisalsocritical.Ourstudentsare nolongerchildren,buttheyarestillwithin our ability to teach and to guide. They need both knowledge and the ability to think critically if they are to successfully navigate all the challenges to come. We now live, for example, in an age of runaway subjectivity in which “feelings” determine whether or not something is true, not objective standards. If we help ourstudentslearnthatsomethingsare,in fact,trueandteachthemtoanalyzeideas and not just blindly accept them because everyoneelsedoes,weequipthemtofind theirwaythroughtheconfusion.

And it would be hard to overstate the importance of developing Christian character at our students’ ages. The very first thing that students experience when going away to college (or anywhere else, for that matter) is that Mom and Dad aren’ttherewatching.Havingthedepthof character to manage temptations of all sorts is amazingly important. John Wooden, the most successful college basketball coach of all time, liked to say, “Thetruetestofaman’scharacteriswhat he does when no one is watching.” A Christian high school education can’t guarantee such character, but it can, and oftendoes,help.

FLOWS OUT OF AND LEADS TO JOY

One of the most remarkable and unusual passages in the New Testament is Paul’s exhortation to get a Christian education! After urging the believers in Philippi to “rejoice always” (from a word in the Greek tied intimatelytobothjoyandgrace),hegivesthis instruction:

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Philippians 4:9 (1984 NIV)

TheremarkableaspectofthisverseisthatPaul is consciously embracing all the normal scholarly ambitions of his then Greek and Roman world. Any educated person of his day would have recognized all six concepts as virtues that were worth knowing and contemplating. It is in part because of this passage that our students listen to Beethoven, read Shakespeare, perform Broadway plays, sing pop songs, and study all that the best of our historic civilization has to offer. Thinking on these things leads to a fuller, more joyful life.Andthinkingonthesethingsalsopointsus back to God. The word here for “think” in the Greek, is derived from logos, the word the ApostleJohnusestodescribeJesus!

A FINAL THOUGHT

IsaidtherewereatleastfivereasonsforaChristianeducation,butI’malawyerbybackgroundandtraining,soI’mgoingtoletmyselfaddone more! A really solid Christian education is an important source of appropriate humility. One of the conceits of our day is that we are the smartestandbesteducatedpeoplewhoeverlived.Wealsotendtothinkthatwearedealingwitheveryissueforthefirsttime.Itwillhelpour students understand that many, many brilliant people have come before us if they know that the Pilgrims tried and rejected communism in 1623. Or that inflation was such a problem in colonial America that Abigail Adams, in one of her wonderful letters to her husband, John, admonisheshimtonotsendhomeanymorepaperdollarsasopposedtogoldorsilver. Oreven,justforfun,thatpeopletakingdogswiththem everywhere isn’t a “new” thing. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Plutarch, the famous Roman historian, wrote: [Julius] Caesar once, seeing some wealthystrangersatRome,carryingupanddownwiththemintheirarms...youngpuppydogsandmonkeys,embracingandmakingmuchof them,tookoccasionnotunnaturallytoask,“aren’tthewomeninyourcountryusedtobearingchildren?” IchuckleeverytimeIseeadogin Starbucks! SusanandInowhavefivegrandchildren,and,byvirtueofgeography,IdoubtifanyofthemwillbeabletoattendBereanChristian HighSchool.ButIcan’tthinkofanythingmoreimportantfortheirhealthandlifeandwell-beingthansuchaChristianeducation.Itisworththe effort.

2“Thiswastheirfinesthour.”SpeechbyPrimeMinisterWinstonChurchilltotheHouseofCommons,June18,1940 3OfPlymouthPlantation,WilliamBradford,1620–1647,EditedbySamuelElliotMorison 4MyDearestFriend,LettersofAbigailandJohnAdams,HarvardUniversityPress,2007 5Plutarch’sLives,TheDrydenTranslation,editedbyArthurHughClough

AUG 2023 | PRINCIPAL’S PEN - NICHOLAS HARRIS

A TRIP TO HELL AND HEAVEN IN 48 HOURS

MEETING GOD WHILE TRAVELING

oaboutimmersingyourselfinthehistory, arlocation.LastJune,mydaughterandItooka stwith25otherChristianschooladministrators edtoPolandandIsrael,makingstopsatallthe wellasthepresentday-sitesthathavewitnessed hilethetriplasted11days,therewasa48-hour itzandtheMt.ofBeatitudes.Thesesites,and theirproximityduringthetrip,providedoneofthesharpestcontrastsbetweenevilandgoodthatcanbe imagined.OneprovidedapictureofHell,whiletheotherpaintedaportraitofHeaven.

TheNazideathcampknownasAuschwitzisahorrifyingtestamenttothedepthsofhumandepravityandevil manifestedonamassivescale.ItwasaplacewherethemurderofJewsbecameindustrializedandefficient,a placewherethe“FinalSolution,”theHolocaust,tookplace.Andbeingtheremadeitreallikenohistorybook ormovieevercould.Whilewewerethere,wesatonthestepsofthebuildingwhereJosefMengeleperformed hisgruesomeexperimentsonJewishchildren,traversedthroughgaschambersbuilttokillthousandsata time,andwalkedontherailroadwhereNaziofficersanddoctorsdecidedwhichprisonersgettingoffthe trainswouldliveandwhichwouldbeinthecrematoriumahalfhourlater.Seeingitmadeitreal.Andwhat wasreal,morethananythingelse,wastheknowledgethathumanbeingsarecapableofdoingsuchthings.A millionpeopleweremurderedinAuschwitz-10,000soulsperdayatitspeak.Undoubtedly,Auschwitzgave theworldasnapshotofHell.

PICTURED LEFT the view looking onto the Sea of Galilee in Israel

PICTURED RIGHT inside the furnace room at Auschwitz

TwodaysaftervisitingAuschwitz,mydaughterandIwereintheGalileeregionofIsrael,sittingonthe Mt.ofBeatitudes,whereJesuspreachedtheSermonontheMount.Thecontrastbetweenthosetwo daysandthosetwoplaceswasachasmthat,duringourtimeonthemountain,couldonlybebridged bysilence.ForitwasonthatmountainthattheKingdomofGod,inallofitsidealsandperfections,in allofitspicturesofeternallife,thewaytheworldshouldbe,wasdescribedbyJesus.Foritwasthere thatJesusspokeofHispeopleasthepoorinspirit,themeek,thosethirstyforrighteousness,thepure inheart,andthepeacemakers.AnditwastherewhereHeraisedtheearth'sstandardstothoseofHis Kingdom.Heequatedlustwithadulteryandangerwithmurder.HepicturedHispeoplegivingto thoseinneed,lovingtheirenemies,andturningtheothercheek.Indeed,thisstarklycontrastedthe Nazis’actionsagainsttheJews.Inshort,JesusgavetheworldapictureofHeaventhereonthat mountain.AndinlightofHiswordsandwhatHeeventuallydidontheCross,allmydaughterandI coulddotherewassilentlyreflectonourliveswhileimaginingtheLordstandingbeforeusinthat veryspot.Itwasn’tlongbeforetearscame.

JustasthereisamassivechasmbetweentheatrocitiesofAuschwitzandtheidealsoftheKingdomof God,thereremainsanunbridgeablegapbetweenthisworldandtheKingdomyettocome.ButGod haspromisedtofinallyandfullybridgethatgap,removingthepossibilityofevil,unleashingjustice, andmakingeverythingwrongright.Johnrecordstheoutcomeofthispromiseinthebookof Revelation:“Iwillwipeawayeverytearfromtheireyes,anddeathshallbenomore,neithershall therebemourning,norcrying,norpainanymore,fortheformerthingshavepassedaway”(21:4, ESV).Whiledepictingeternallifeforthefaithfulandtheeradicationofevil,thispromisenevertheless remainsinthefuturetense,i.e.,“Iwill.”ButthosewhohavetrustedinChristhavebeenwelcomed intothefamilyofGodandareabletoexperiencethisdivinetransformationnow.ForGodhas promisedthema“newheart,”aheartthatenablesHispeopletoliveinthepresentageas “ambassadors”(2Corinthians5:20),“exiles”(1Peter2:11),“strangers”(Hebrews11:13),“thelight oftheworld”(Matthew5:14-16):“AndIwillgiveyouanewheart,andanewspiritIwillputwithin you.AndIwillremovetheheartofstonefromyourfleshandgiveyouaheartofflesh.AndIwillput mySpiritwithinyouandcauseyoutowalkinmystatutesandbecarefultoobeymyrules”(Ezekiel 36:26–27,ESV).

Theologianscallthisthe“already,butnotyet,KingdomofGod.”TheKingdomis“already”present andactiveinthelivesofGod’speople,but“notyet”fullypresentinitsfinalform.ThisiswhyJesus taughtHispeopletopray,“YourKingdomcome…”(Matthew6:10).Andwhileweawait“thelastday” whilelivinginthe“lastdays,”wearecalledtobefaithfullypresentwhereverGodputsus.Andbeing faithfullypresentmeansengagingandbattlingagainstevilwhereverwefindit.Butfightingagainst evilisdifferentforthepeopleofGod.“Fortheweaponsofourwarfarearenotofthefleshbuthave divinepowertodestroystrongholds”(2Corinthians10:4,ESV).Theweaponswefightwithcomefrom thesacrificeofJesusontheCross:“AndtheyhaveconqueredhimbythebloodoftheLambandbythe wordoftheirtestimony…”(Revelation12:11,ESV).Wefightevilintheworldbysharingthestoryof thelife,death,andresurrectionofJesusChrist-theGospel.

TheprimarylessonfromtheaftermathofAuschwitzis“ifitcanhappenonce,itcanhappenagain.” Andwhilewecanimaginemodernideologiesonceagainmanifestingintomassivegenocideandother evils,wecanalsoimaginehowthespreadoftheGospelcanpreventthem.AndsowedowhatJesus imploredustodo:“prayearnestlytotheLordoftheharvesttosendoutlaborersintoHisharvest” (Matthew9:38,ESV).Andwhenwepraythatprayer,werealizewearetheanswer!Wearethe laborers!WearetheonesHehascalled!

MaytheLordblessyouasyouliveforHimandbattleagainstevilinHisworld!

FOR THE LORD, FOR THE LORD, OR WITH THE LORD? OR WITH THE LORD?

MEETING GOD WITH MISSIONS

One of the great challenges in mission work for young Christians, such as our Berean students, is finding ways to involve them in working “with” Jesus as opposed to “for” Jesus. This has been a challenge from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, as detecting what Jesus is doing in the world and joining "with" Him is more difficult than finding things to do "for" Him. Come to findout,prepositionsmatter!The story of Martha and Mary illustratesthechallenge.

"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42, ESV).

In this account, the reader finds Martha engaging in service "for" Jesus, which, on the surface, seems to be the right thing to do "for" her very significant friend. One can imagine Martha preparing a meal, cleaning, and tending to the moment-bymoment needs of Jesus as He spent time in her home. Her actions were "for" Jesus' wellbeingandcomfort,andshelikely did everything with perfect hospitality on His behalf. But the reader is told how Martha's efforts"for"Jesusdistractedher from a better choice, a better prepositional descriptor that wouldhavegivenherwhatJesus called"thegoodportion,"thatis, being"with”Him.

Being "with" Jesus is the more favorable preposition in the story. Here, Martha's sister, Mary, deliberately chose not to serve with her sister but rather to sit at the feet of Jesus to engage in meaningful interaction "with" Him. Jesus praises her choice and, in so doing, emphasizes the significance of aligning oneself "with" Him rather than resolving merely to do things "for" Him. This underscores the text's theological principle: It's better to actively engage "with" Jesus, joining in what He is already doing, rather than coming up with things to do "for" Him on ourown.

So how can the church join "with" Jesus in His continuing mission to proclaim the Good News of the KingdomofGod?Thefirststepisto maximize the "with" posture and minimize the "for" approach for both local ministry and international missions. Many have heard the story of the church in Mexico that was painted six times in one summer by six different church groups from the United States. Undoubtedly, this story is an embarrassing example of work done "for" the Lord rather than "with" Him. Some of those church groupsmaywellhavemissedways of joining “with” Jesus that summer in promoting and proclaimingHiskingdom.

To discover what Jesus is up to, sending churches and individuals –and schools like Berean - need to search out the real needs in their own backyards and abroad. What would it have looked like for the American churches who sent painters to Mexico to do some research, contact local missionaries, and find out what conditions and specific challenges people were facing there? Any one of a number of things might actually have been needed as a result of rampant poverty. And whateveritwas,fromconstruction to teaching to supporting local healthcareproviders,itcouldhave been done in the name of Jesus, opening a door for maximizing the proclamation of the Good News of the Kingdom of God. It just takes more prayer, more reflection, and moreresearchtofindplaceswhere we are in fact working “with” Jesus.

It turns out that many missions organizations have discovered waystoinvolveyoungChristians from the United States in international ministry work "with" Jesus. One such organization is Student's International (SI). This ministry pairs high school and collegeaged students with vocational missionaries working in professional capacities in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. Individual students and groups register for a trip with SI, usually for a few weeks in the summer, and then they choose a full-time vocational missionary to work alongside as they share Christ through their vocation.

Examples of missionary vocations include Medicine, Physical Therapy, Dentistry, Education, Special Education, Finance, Sports, and Social Work.Studentsusuallystayata ministry base complete with men's and women's dorms and enjoy home-cooked, locallyinspired meals each morning and evening. Ultimately, students can witness and participate in seeing the Lord meet locals' spiritual, physical, and emotional needs. They also get on-the-job training from experts in what could become their future professions. Furthermore, students are immersed in Spanish and Latin culture,whichisafantasticway toutilizeandfurthermasterthe language they may have begun toacquireinhighschool,though it'snotrequired.

I was blessed to have joined Students International for a weeklong vision trip to Nicaragua and Guatemala last October. I stayedatSI'sbaseinNicaraguaand toured all of their ministry sites there and in Guatemala. I was blessed to witness Christian missions done well, that is, "with" the Lord and His purpose. And because SI is "doing it right," I am pleased to announce that Berean Christian High School will be planning a trip for a group of studentstoanSIsiteinthesummer of 2025. Dates and locations will be announcedintheSpringof2024.

I look forward to seeing Berean students have the opportunity to see what the Lord is doing internationally and to see them interact “with” missionaries in the field through their vocations. It’s suretobealife-shapingexperience!

Nicholas Harris BereanChristianPrincipal

SEEKING THE WELFARE SEEKING THE WELFARE

Last month, I represented the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) by leading an accreditation team to a classical Christian K-8th school in San Francisco. Like all accreditation teams, we were charged with evaluating the school in the areas of academic excellence, spiritual formation, and organizational effectiveness within the Christian Worldview While our task focused on appraising the school's success in those particular spheres, it became evident that another sphere, a higher and transcendent one, permeated every inch of the school's philosophy and drove its educational mission.

Our accreditation team first noticed it during a dinner meeting with the school's board of directors. When asked about the school's mission and expected student outcomes, one member simply said, "Our school exists for San Francisco." The next day, we heard a similar comment from a teacher, "Our school is a ministry for the city." In another meeting later that day, and during every stakeholder meeting after that, someone else said the same

While at the school, our team used a staff workroom to host meetings with the various groups and complete our written evaluation

The room was on the second floor of the school building and had panoramic windows offering views of the San Francisco skyline.

As group after group joined us in that room and told us of the school's divine mission to the city, I found myself looking out those windows and reflecting on some passages in the Bible The first was Jeremiah's words from God for the exiles in Babylon: But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare (29:7, ESV) Undoubtedly, the people who joined us in that room over three days understood and lived out the theological principle God gave to His people some 2600 years ago. They, too, were to benefit the city in which they lived. And they were doing it by preparing young people to do the same.

Like ancient Babylon, San Francisco is an international center of trade and commerce filled with a diverse population of people from various ethnicities, cultures, and religions People move there to get ahead in the world, to employ the dynamics of the city to their advantage

ACCREDITATION TEAM WORK ROOM OVERLOOKING SAN FRANCISCO

OF THE CITY OF THE CITY

But in Jeremiah, God tells His people not to advantage themselves in Babylon, but first to set their hearts on the city itself and employ their talents, skills, and abilities to seek its "welfare." If they started with Babylon's welfare, they would do well themselves.

The Hebrew word for "welfare" in Jeremiah 29 is "shalom," which is commonly translated as "peace." But it means so much more than the absence of war or conflict It has a meaning closer to "health, harmony, completeness, safety, and flourishing " That is what the people of God are to work and live for in whatever city they find themselves But doing so requires selflessness and service, a giving of one's life for others, a "my life for yours" type of living How do you teach that in school? How do you motivate young people to seek the welfare of a city filled with unbelievers who differ in their values and are sometimes antagonistic to them? Christian schools like Berean and the school in San Francisco filter everything we do through the Christian Worldview and the fundamental questions of life. Every day of school, winsome Christlike teachers educate students in the subjects they've mastered. But they do so as redeemed people grounded and formed in the Word of God and by the Spirit living in them And while they are teaching Science, Math, and English, they tell their students of the One who created them and their infinite worth and value to Him

They tell them that the purpose of their lives is to make much of God by maximizing the gifts He's given to them, for that is how they can worship Then, they teach them why the world is broken and, of course, what Jesus did to fix it

And therein lies the answer to how you teach and motivate young Christian students to answer the call to seek the city's welfare and those in it Redeemed people, redeem people! Every Christian was once an unbeliever who utterly differed from Jesus in what they valued, living a life that was antagonistic toward Him But He loved us anyway! And before we believed, He served us by coming to our city, our world, to lay down His life so that we might believe and trust in Him and be saved "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, NIV) We can work for the welfare of the city because Jesus worked for ours And He has left us an example that we might follow in His steps (1 Pet 2:21).

As the 2023-2024 school year draws to a close, we, too, are ready to celebrate launching another graduating class into the world to serve the cities God places them in. May our graduates employ all of their talents, skills, abilities, and everything they've absorbed of the Christian Worldview from our winsome teachers, churches, and families to seek the city's welfare. And may the Lord bless every Christian school that has a mission to do the same! IN CHRIST,

CHRISTIAN

TraderJoe& VanGogh

Meeting God

while Shopping

Another"atmosphericriver"hittheEast Bay in the middle of March. And this time, the storm came with destructive windsthatblewoverhundredsoftrees, causing more than 250,000 residents to lose electricity when they fell Many schools and local businesses were forced to close their doors for up to 48 hours until the debris was cleared and powerrestored.Buttherewasonestore in the city of Concord that conspicuouslyhaditslightsonandwas open that first night as the rest of the town was dark, cold, and wet: Trader Joe's. The grocery store was prepared; theyhadagenerator

Light emanating from just one building amid an eerily dark and storm-battered city is undoubtedly mesmerizing, if not metaphoric. And since that particular building in Concord houses Trader Joe's, a grocery store chain universally regarded as having exceptionally friendly, inquisitive, and happy employees, the metaphor, ie, "light in the darkness," is appropriate Trader Joe's describes its friendly staff, or as theycallthem"crewmembers,"ontheir website when they speak of their nationwide "store environment that imparts adventure, humor, and a warm sense of community." Few who have shopped at any Trader Joe's in the United States would deny the truth of that statement Indeed, the company has found a way to achieve its goal of having its customers' shopping experience be one that is "rewarding, eventful,andfun."Seeingtheirlightson inthedarknesswasjustasnapshotof

Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night (1889), The Museum of Modern Art (WikiCommons)

what is true during a sunny day; the peoplewhoworktherearedifferent.

InrelationtothepictureofTraderJoe's in the darkness is Vincent van Gogh's iconic oil painting, The Starry Night, produced in 1889. Many believe the paintingwasinspiredbyoneofthePost Impressionist's favorite poems, "Under the Stars," by Diana Craik (1877) In a historicalanalysisofhispersonalletters, van Gogh frequently quoted Craik's poem. Still, he often concentrated on one verse that likely motivated his painting of the masterpiece: "When earth sounds cease, God's voice is heard." Indeed, the brushstrokes of swirling gold and white stars and buttery yellow fireballs hovering over thetinytown,eachasupernovaof

Trader Joe's in Concord, CA

indescribable energy and heat, are meant to tell of the One who spoke themintoexistence Iftherewereevera work of art that rightly captured the essence of Psalm 19:1 on canvas, it would be van Gogh's: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky aboveproclaimshishandiwork."

But there's more to van Gogh's masterpiecethanthemajesticdisplayin the sky. For the town underneath the Creator's vibrant cosmos likewise has hints of the same shades of yellow, white, and gold that make up the stars and moon bearing witness to their Maker.Infact,everyhomeandbuilding inthecityhasaspeckoflightemanating from its windows and doors except the one that stands prominently at the center of the canvas commanding the viewer'sattention:thechurch.Certainly, van Gogh was not attempting to paint thechurchas"thelightoftheworld"or a "city on a hill that cannot be hidden" asdescribedbyJesusintheSermonon the Mount. By the looks of the dark church, van Gogh was doing the opposite. The church he painted was lifelessandcold,failingtoliveuptothe centerstageroleGodgaveit.

ButtheviewerofvanGogh'sworkmust further inquire about the nature of the light emanating from the homes and buildings surrounding the church in the town. Is it the light of "general revelation" as described in Psalm 19, i.e., light coming from created beings, who, by their very existence, testify to thegloryandgoodnessofGod?Ifso,the people working and living in those buildings and homes are synonymous with the stars in van Gogh's vibrant night sky Surely, creatures bearing the "image of God" declare His glory and proclaim His handiwork without saying a word. But Van Gogh's church is likewise filled with image bearers, and lightdoesnotshinefromthere.

Itismorelikelythatthelightinthetown wasmeanttocontrastthekindnessand approachability of people in the illuminated dwellings with those who guarded organized religion in the town It must be noted that van Gogh was denied entrance into a divinity and missionaryschoolbeforepainting

TheStarryNight,sohelikelyheldsome bitterness toward the religious institutionsandthoseinthechurchwho rejectedhim Laterinhislife,hestated, "When I feel a terrible need of - shall I say the word - religion, then I go out at nightandpaintthestars."

But it is undoubtedly evident in The StarryNightandmanyofhislaterworks thattheartistdidnotrejectGodordeny particulartruthsintheBible.Infact,van Gogh's The Raising of Lazarus, The Sower, and The Good Samaritan are some of the most cherished works of Christian-themed art in existence And while able to produce timeless masterpieces of biblical events, van Gogh nevertheless lived as a theologicallyincompleteman,wounded andestrangedbythechurch.Helooked fortheCreatorinHiscreationandinthe acceptance of those in town who welcomed him Had he lived in the modern world, he may have recognized thepeopleandplacesthatstandoutas lights in the darkness, like those at Trader Joe's. And he probably would havepaintedthemintohisscene.

But general revelation or the kindness of God's image bearers could only providevanGogh,andcanonlyprovide us, with the realization that God exists What van Gogh needed, and what we need in addition to a Creator, is a Redeemer. And the God of the Scriptures has revealed He is indeed a Redeemer. Through “special revelation,”thelivingandwrittenWord, God has revealed who He is, what He has done, and how His creatures can receive forgiveness by banking on the life, death, and resurrection of His son, Jesus AndthroughtrustinJesusChrist, we too can know the Creator "who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name" (Isaiah 40:26). Christians, i.e., the church, can also learn from van Gogh's struggle to connect with the people of God. Redeemed people are called to stand out amidst the darkness of the world, yes, through kindness and approachability,butprincipallythrough the joy of being related to the Savior who makes us clean and welcomes us into His family. And being part of His familyissomethingthat,overthecourse

of a lifetime, shapes us to be more like Him.But“onthejob”trainingispartof being a member of God’s family, the church One reason Trader Joe's employees are so friendly is that they aretrainedandregularlyencouragedto be amicable, hospitable, and curious about others. Every local church would do well to add such training to the discipleshipprocessfornewbelievers. May the Lord help us to make Him look goodtothewatchingworld.

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” Philippians 2:14–15 BLESSINGS,

DON’T MISS THE JOY

FROM A STUDENT-LED WORSHIP NIGHT JAN 2024

BY BOB FRY / DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Weareallfamiliarwiththestoryoftherichyoungman in Matthew 19. He was, by his own account, a very faithful Jew, following all of the commandments But he knew that there was still something missing in his life,soheasksJesus,“WhatdoIstilllack?”

AndJesustellshimtosellallthathehas,giveittothe poor and come “follow me.” The young man walks awaysad“becausehehadgreatwealth”

This story is often discussed in the context of either theproblemofwealthorthecostofnotbeingwilling to do everything or give everything for Jesus. And I believe the usual assumption is that the young man nevercomestofaithinJesus Whileallofthatmaybe true,Ithinkwemissthemoreimportantpoint.There isnothinginthestory(orlaterintheGospels)totellus what ultimately happens to this young man. We have noideaifheevercomestofaithinChristornot.Allwe knowisthatwhenhefirstlearnswhatitwillcosthim to follow Jesus, he walks away sad But there is nothingtotellusthatthisistheendofthestory.And there is nothing by way of condemnation in Jesus’ remarks. If anything, there is a wistful compassion. “It’s hard for a wealthy man to enter the kingdom of heaven.Reallyhard.Impossiblyhard.”Butthenwhen pressed by the disciples He tells them, “All things are possible with God.” The story ends on a very hopeful note.

However his story ultimately ends, one thing is certain: the rich young man misses out on joy. He arrivesburdened “whatdoIstilllack” andhe leaves burdened, trapped, if you will, in his wealth, unabletolaythatdownforthethingthathedesires. It’s impossible to imagine him sitting joyfully with familyandfriendslaterthatday.Hemissedthejoy.

How many of us at some point in our lives have walkedawayfromfollowingJesusbecausethecost wastoohigh?Probably,ifwearehonest,mostofus. And no matter how thankful we are to have been allowed back, to have found our faith in Christ, we carrythescarsofhavingmissedjoyintheinterim.

Jesus doesn’t call us to be His employees who do good things for Him and His kingdom as a part of our life. Jesus calls us to be children whose only concern is to enjoy being with Him with reckless abandon. That’s why He tells us we have to become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. In fact, twice in Matthew immediately before the story of the rich young man, Jesus tells His disciples to become like little children. It’s adult burdens we need to set aside, to abandon, to enter into Christ’s joy.

PHOTO

Attheendoftheday,mostofusthinkmorehighlyofourselvesthanweshould,worktoohard,worrytoo much,andsinganddanceandplaytoolittle.Indoingso,wemissthejoy.Ifyouwouldliketobecome morechild-likeinwaysJesuswouldapprove,perhapsdropsomeofthethingsyouaredoingandcome playwithusatBerean!Despitethestressesandpressuresandoccasionalsorrowsoflife,ourstudentsare overwhelminglyjoyful,andittendstoruboffonuswhenweletit!Don’tmissthejoy!

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name ' s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

MATTHEW 19: 28-30 ESV

THE GREAT “EUCATASTROPHE"

PRINCIPAL’S PEN

| BY NICHOLAS HARRIS

"THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IS THE EUCATASTROPHE OF MAN'S HISTORY. THE RESURRECTION IS THE EUCATASTROPHE OF THE STORY OF THE INCARNATION. THIS STORY BEGINS AND ENDS IN JOY."

-

J.R.R. TOLKIEN, ON FAIRY STORIES

J.R.R. Tolkien, the esteemed author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, once wrote about the essence of good storytelling in a notable essay entitled “On Fairy Stories” (1947). In this classic work, he explored the nature of authoring the genres of mythology, fantasy, and classic fairy tales, arguing that thesetypesofnarratives,whenwrittenwell,heldvalue beyond that of entertainment. Tolkien proposed that thesegenrescouldilluminateprofoundtruthsaboutthe shared human experience, offering glimpses of the redemptionandjoywealllongfor.

Central to Tolkien's argument was the concept of a "eucatastrophe," a term he coined to capture the development of a story to a pivotal moment where things change dramatically (in Greek, “eu” means “good” and “catastrophe” means “to overturn”). He defined it as “the sudden happy turn in a story, which pierces you with a joy that brings tears it is a miraculous grace, never to be counted on to recur.” In other words, according to Tolkien, good storytelling musthavetheelementofanunexpectedmiraclewhere the scene moves from a place of darkness and hopelessnessto

whateveryonewants:a"happyending"Inthese"good catastrophe moments,” characters encounter unexpected grace that ends their distress, adversity, or “lotinlife,”causingthemtoreachastateofhappiness, flourishing, and destiny. Traditional examples of a "eucatastrophe" include Cinderella's transformative experience at the ball following the appearance of her Fairy Godmother, the awakening kiss from a prince in classic tales like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, or Belle'sconfessionoftrueloveinBeautyandtheBeast.

Tolkien's concept of a "eucatastrophe," exemplified in thesestories,aswellastheonesheauthored,capturea fundamental aspect of what we all long for in someone or something to deliver us from the tribulations,andevilthatbringsufferinganddeath our world. We yearn for real “eucatastrop miraculoustransformations,loveconqueringdeath all kinds of supernatural reversals Who amon wouldn't yearn for the chance to see a kiss brea curse of death at a loved one's funeral? Who do desire to be captivated by genuine love that over theirphysicalandmoralflaws?Whowouldn’tlovet good triumph over evil once and for al "eucatastrophe"isthehopewelongforamiddesp reminderthateveninourdarkestmoments,welon thepossibilityofareversal,ofredemption.Butwil possibilityevercometrue?

In light of Tolkien's insights, we are reminded of the greatest eucatastrophe of all, the one written by God, theGospel,theGoodNews,whichlikewisecentersona miraculous reversal: the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is the supernatural turn of the Son of God from death to life, from despair to hope, from sorrow to joy. But the Gospel, the moment of divine intervention,isnotafairystorybutahistoricaltruth.It really happened! The Son of God rose from the dead! Andbecauseithappened,humanityisofferedaglimpse of how that story can become our own. Forgiveness, redemption, and the promise of everlasting life can be ours through faith in Christ and the eucatastrophe He wentthroughonourbehalf. NoonesaiditbetterthanTolkienhimself:“TheBirthof Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man’s history. The Resurrection is the eucatastrophe of the story of the Incarnation.Thisstorybeginsandendsinjoy.”

BLESSINGS,

BEREAN CHRISTIAN PRINCIPAL

Nicholas Harris

M A R 2 0 2 4

“MOM,IFAILED THETEST!”

We are a family of academic overachievers. Susan and I and our 3 adult children have six post graduate degrees between us, resulting in two attorneys, a physician, a petroleum geologist, and a special education teacher with a master’s in early childhood development from Columbia University. If we include our parents, we get another teacher, a Navy physicist, two attorneys and a doctor And if you wonder how four parents can add five careers, it's because my dad practiced both medicine and law as an anesthesiologist and an attorney.

But for all of that, the best thing that ever happened to our family academically was the day our older daughter, Jennifer, "bombed the LSAT," as she described it at the time It’s a bit of a long story, but if you’ve ever had a sleepless night

worrying about your kids in school or been through a failure yourself, I think you’ll find it encouraging

Our story begins a year or so after Jennifer came home from England She had just spent two years at Oxford University where she earned a master’s in Byzantine Art History. But she soon discovered there were practically no jobs in the Art History world, so she went to work at an art gallery in Laguna Beach During that time, on an overnight flight to New York, she sat next to a law school professor and the two of them talked their way across the country. When she got off the plane, she called home to declare, "I'm going to law school." Her law school decision was late in the academic year, but she signed up to take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) anyway, even

though she had very little time to study or prepare. As a result, she scored so poorly that she could not get into the schools she wanted to attend, such as Harvard, Stanford, or Duke

But Chapman University, near our home in Orange County, was actively recruiting students to their young law school, and they offered Jennifer a full scholarship The blessings from having "bombed the LSAT" were beginning Jennifer saved $100,000 on a law degree in addition to “qualifying” for three years of free room and board! And we were blessed to have our daughter come and live with us again after she had been away for six years And as wonderful as those blessings were, there was much, much more!

While attending Chapman, Jennifer threw a party at home for her law school friends. And she also invited Martha Gilbert Martha was Susan's aide at the time at the special education preschool in Irvine where she helped Susan nurture a class of severely handicapped children. At that party, Martha met one of Jennifer’s friends, Dave Kelly. Martha went on to become a teacher, Dave became an attorney with whom I now work, and, as all good stories should end, Dave and Martha dated and married and became the parents of Nate, who you can see in this photo. But there's more!

At that time, a graduate from Chapman Law School who was working for the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) in Sacramento came and gave a talk to his Alma Mater. PLF is a public interest law firm that seeks to protect private property rights and other individual liberties In that talk, Jennifer learned that PLF had an internship program for law students. So she applied for and was accepted into that internship. She did well and was then offered a job after law school, which she accepted.

She then took the Bar Exam (which she did not bomb!), became an attorney, and moved to Sacramento to practice law at PLF

One day Jennifer called me from work and said, “Dad, one of the attorneys I work with at PLF wants to ask me out. Do you think it’s okay to date someone at work?” My answer was, “Sweetie, you can always get another job.”

So Jennifer did date Joshua Thompson and later became Mrs Joshua Thompson, and after that the mother of Juliet, Eddie, and Baby Arthur, as shown in the next photo.

Now, I know my daughter. If she had aced the LSAT, wild horses could not have dragged her back home and away from a prestigious national law school; she would certainly have gone to one of them And if she had, Dave would never have met Martha... and they wouldn’t be the parents of Nate. And Jennifer would never have met Joshua... and they wouldn’t be the parents of our grandchildren: Juliet, Eddie, and Arthur

Epilogue

The most important word in the Old Testament is “Remember ” God is constantly telling Israel to remember how He brought them out of Egypt and to remember all the other ways in which He blessed them in the past. He tells them to remember these past blessings as they go from one failure to the next. In so doing, the comfort He offers is the promise of His continuing faithfulness, which they can never see at work in the middle of their sufferings and trials. In the same way, we only know what God was doing when looking back; we cannot see it at the time.

The day Jennifer got her LSAT test scores was not a happy one in our home She was in tears, and we were not celebrating But looking back, there isn’t a day that goes by that Susan and I, and indeed Jennifer and everyone in our family, aren’t grateful to God for the day that Jennifer bombed the LSAT It turned into one of the greatest blessings of our lives!

“‘FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU,’ DECLARES THE LORD, ‘PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE.’”

JEREMIAH 29:11

SPOKEN TO THE EXILES IN BABYLON SEVENTY YEARS BEFORE THEIR RESCUE

A FUTURE WITHOUT CRITICAL THINKING OR INDIVIDUAL VOICES

BY NICHOLAS HARRIS PRINCIPAL’S PEN

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes an increasingly prevalent part of our lives, it's no surprise that it's also making its way into the classroom through platforms like ChatGPT and others. While AI has the potential to provide many benefits in education, such as personalized learning and efficient grading for teachers, there are also some serious dangers to consider.

As for the potential negative impact on education, ChatGPT and similar technologies may be able to complete tasks previously done by humans, such as grading essays or answering simple questions. This could potentially lead to a reduction in the need for certain types of educators or a shift in the role of teachers towards more supervision and guidance of these technologies. Additionally, students may become more reliant on using these technologies, which could negatively impact their ability to think critically and independently. ChatGPT and other similar AI models may make it easier for students to find answers to homework and other assignments and reduce the need for critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, ChatGPT may make it easier for students to plagiarize written work, as the model can generate text similar to existing sources.

USECHATGPT

as a supplement to instruction rather than a replacement for it. This can help ensure that students still engage in critical thinking and problem-solving activities.

INCORPORATEACTIVITIESANDASSESSMENTS

that require students to generate original content. This can help ensure that students are not relying too heavily on technology to produce work.

PROVIDEOPPORTUNITIES

for personal interactions with students. This can be important for building relationships and providing individualized support.

CONTINUOUSLYMONITORANDEVALUATE

the usage of ChatGPT and its effects on students' learning. This will allow us to adapt and improve the use of the technology.

USEDIVERSEANDINCLUSIVEDATA

to train the model and be aware of the potential biases in the model's responses.

PROVIDEPROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT

for teachers to help them understand the technology's limitations and capabilities and how to effectively incorporate it into their instruction.

ENCOURAGETEACHERS

to use the technology in a way that aligns with their curriculum and instructional goals and aligns with the school's educational policies.

In summary, ChatGPT and other AI technologies have the potential to provide many benefits in education, such as personalized learning and efficient grading. However, there are also potential negative impacts to consider, such as the reduction of certain types of educators and the negative effects on students' ability to think critically and independently. It is important to consider both the potential benefits and drawbacks when considering how to use these technologies in education and take steps to mitigate the adverse effects.

Everything you read before this sentence was written by AI on the ChatGPT platform. I simply typed the prompt, "Write an essay on the dangers of AI and ChatGPT for education and critical thinking." Thirty seconds later, the above essay emerged. All I had to do was copy and paste. To be honest, I did omit one paragraph that was a bit redundant, but for the most part, the short AI essay was propositional, informative, and well-rounded. It could have expanded more on the critical thinking problems with AI, but maybe it didn't want to argue against itself too strongly.

Artificial intelligence will undoubtedly change the landscape of education. Certainly, there are some positive applications for the technology. Still, it's up to educators not to let AI end critical thinking and the production of original ideas in the next generation. Several AI-based mitigations already stand ready to help teachers detect AI usage in the educational sphere. One comes from Turnitin.com, a plagiarism detection software that claims its product can spot AI-assisted writing, especially the kind generated by ChatGPT.

Other mitigations are less complicated. At Berean, teachers already require students to compose their essays on digital platforms like Google Classroom (Docs) with the history function turned on. This function allows teachers to see a "version history," showing whether large sections of an essay were "cut and pasted" from another source. These and other mitigations are necessary if schools like Berean are to preserve and foster the highest forms of learning the human mind is capable of, i.e., analysis, creation, and evaluation. Students must continue to learn how to gather and judge the quality of information, arrange component ideas into original wholes, and generate and defend their own opinions. These capabilities are what make us human, i.e., "intelligent." And if not reined in, "artificial intelligence" will continue to minimize original human thought and creativity.

Last fall, the Berean administration and board of directors added the following statement to our Schoolwide Expected Student Outcomes list: "Berean students are expected to become critical thinkers who analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information to establish its accuracy, relevancy, and significance for human flourishing in an ever-changing world." Undoubtedly this outcome will remain one of the most essential qualities a young person can possess in the 21st century. There will not be a lack of information in the future, but there may be a lack of people who can detect quality information and think for themselves.

May the Lord lead us as we teach the next generation of His people!

GRADUATION SPEECH

I'm Principal Nicholas Harris, and I, too, want to welcome you to Berean Christian High School's 55th commencement in honor of the Class of 2024 Today, we celebrate sending these graduates into the world, where they will join nearly 4,000 Berean alums who have gone before them

Only God knows the experiences that lie ahead in their journey through life the places they will go, the things they will accomplish, and the marks they will make on this world – this world that God has created for Himself Graduates, you were made for God, and if you are rightly related to Him, He will undoubtedly use you to display His glory He will use you in your colleges, churches, neighborhoods, and businesses - in relationships with coworkers, friends, in your marriages, and, Lord willing, to disciple the children you bring into the world or in the lives of the ones you teach

Like those who have gone before you, you too will leave artifacts of your presence here. Artifacts that tell of a people with an eternal perspective – a people, as the writer of Hebrews puts it, who are "strangers and exiles on this earth" – artifacts of "people who are seeking a homeland, a heavenly homeland and a God who is not ashamed to be called their God "

Graduates, the Bible assures you that God has a path for you to follow all the days of your life - a path that is good, a path that makes much of Him every step along the way! You need only to trust Him, thank Him for every moment, listen to His voice, and say "yes" to whatever He asks of you. For that is the secret to life! A willingness to say "yes" to God, even before you know His questions, is what it means to live as a Christian Doing so will always ensure you are right where God wants you to be! The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, declared: "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." May you always have a posture that says "yes" to God and walk in the path He has for your life!

From my vantage point, I see the Class of 2024 poised and ready to move into their next stage of life They possess diverse interests and callings and showcase their talents in numerous ways This is seen in their scholarly achievements, contributions to the performing arts, and participation in various clubs at our school. Their dedication to serving the Lord is evident in their commitments to their local churches, food pantries, and homeless ministries in the East Bay I celebrate their service at a summer respite camp for families of special needs children, the graduates who volunteered weekly at John Muir and other hospitals, and the impressive $65,000 of Lego sets one of these graduates raised and donated to children with life-threatening diseases while they stay in local hospitals

And I must comment on their athletic achievements At a school with an enrollment of 400, competing against public schools with thousands of students, seniors in the Class of 2024 led their teams to the playoffs in 18 of the 20 sports we offer We had 23 first-team all-league selections, two league MVPs, four team league championships, and, ladies and gentlemen, for the second year in a row, Berean Christian High School earned a NorCal State Championship And, ladies and gentlemen, our women's softball team won the North Coast Section Championship just three hours ago!

While we are pleased with all the Seniors have done, we are thrilled that they did all those things with a charge to be "salt of the earth" and "a city on a hill" as Jesus envisioned in His Sermon on the Mount One of the greatest joys of being the principal of Berean Christian High School is receiving comments and emails from outsiders and public school parents after they spend time with a group of our students or watch them compete in the secular setting

One of my favorite all-time comments came in the form of an email from a mother after a football game we played at her son's public school She wrote:

“After watching last Friday's game, I felt the need to reach out to you Seeing your team interact with our team and invite them to pray after the game was the most amazing thing. Then, to say the final shout-out together was the most heartwarming thing I've ever witnessed in my son's football career Believe me, it resonated with my son and the rest of the team My son made that interception at the end of the game, but when he came home, the first thing out of his mouth was how cool it was to join your players in that prayer He said your kids were the nicest guys

That warmed my heart. As proud as I was of my son for expressing this and not the highlights he had during the game, I was just as proud of your team for being so gracious Many of the parents I spoke to felt the same way We have played teams that beat us, and they would talk smack at our team and be disrespectful to us It was just nice to see a team react in such a positive manner It's rare It may not mean much coming from a mom, but I felt you should know our thoughts and feelings. You have a great group of kids there I'm sure you are super proud of them also Thank you!”

I am proud! I am very proud! But there's more I want to tell you

A few weeks ago, I gave our graduates a survey to let us know of their future plans and callings Here's what the survey revealed about them: Ninety-six percent plan to attend college next year Their top intended career choice is in Medicine and Health Care, followed by Business and Finance Many aim to become Engineers or Architects, while some want to pursue careers in Science and Technology or Computer Science. A handful are interested in Performing Arts, Education, Politics, and Law. I am pleased to announce that this class has reported receiving scholarships totaling $3,432,800

Some have referred to the world you are moving into as "postChristian" or "the secular age," a world where divine transcendence has been lost, and mankind, not God, has become the measure of all things. It's a place where people decide for themselves what is right, fostering a culture where the only sin is to claim that there is such a thing as sin A world where individual rights and perceived identities have triumphed over the collective good; a place where marriage has been redefined from the creational norm; a place where the educational system teaches children that gender and sexuality are fluid; a place where material wealth has become the sole measure of a successful life; a place where youth soccer and baseball games on Sunday mornings have usurped worship with the local church; a place where social media shapes thinking without conscious consent; a place where people discuss news, and the lives of the famous and infamous, and neglect to discuss truth, ethics, and godly living; a place where people look to political candidates as saviors, believing a mere human can make everything right In short, we live in a world that is moving further away from faith and worship of the one true God.

What does the Bible say about this? The Bible says a world like this is to be expected even in the midst of Jesus growing His church. In the book of Revelation, John tells us – through vivid apocalyptic imagery – what has happened in the past, both on Earth and in the spiritual realm, that has real-world ramifications, the very ramifications that are causing this world to drift further and further away from the Creator.

In chapter 12 of Revelation, John tells of a war that ensued in heaven between the angels of God and a great red dragon. At the triumph of Jesus Christ over sin and death, the angels of God win the battle, and the dragon is cast out of the heavens Verse 9 of chapter 12 reads, "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him " But after his defeat, the dragon is overcome by rage, and though he's a defeated foe who knows his time on Earth is short, he sets out to do as much damage on the Earth as he can. Since then, the dragon, the Devil, has existed to cause chaos, lead believers into despairing sin, and turn the heads of the lost away from God and away from faith in Jesus Christ. Verse 17 reads, "Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus "

Who are those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus? Christians! 1 Peter 5:8 reads, "Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour " Do you feel it? Do you feel the battle that is going on for your soul, your thoughts, your affections, your devotion, and your love for Jesus?

As has been said many times, the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. We think that the problems in this world are economic, political, and with other people; yes, those things are real But the Bible tells us that our struggles are deeper than that – deeper than what we can see. Ephesians 6:12 – "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Graduates, you are moving into the center of that battle! What are you to do? How are you to live? How can you win? I'm glad you asked. Revelation 12:6 tells you how to win – here it is –listen closely! "They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death "

Graduates, three powerful truths are contained in that statement!

First, above all else, you win through Jesus Christ, who has already won the battle by His life, death, and resurrection His blood has redeemed you, ensuring peace with God and your place in God's eternal kingdom

Second, your testimony is a powerful weapon against the forces of darkness Your words and actions, rooted in your faith and enabled by the Spirit, will shine light in the darkness wherever God takes you from here. May you be bold in sharing the gospel, standing firm in your convictions, and living out the love of Christ in every interaction and relationship you have

Third, a true disciple of Christ lays down their life. And graduates, that is the question God is asking you today and every day! Will you deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Christ? I pray you answer "yes" every day of your lives!

Graduates, as you step into this new chapter, trust in God's plan for you Lean on His strength, listen for His guidance, and say "yes" to His call. May you go forth with courage, faith, and an unwavering commitment to live as Christ's ambassadors in this world Remember, the battle is already won, and you are on the victorious side

May God bless you all!

Nicholas Harris

Photo: DALL-E

BECOME A FRIEND OF THE EAGLES

BY BOB FRY DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Insuchaworld,BereanChristianHighSchoolisonthefrontlineofthebattlenotjustforthehearts,minds,and soulsofourchildren,but,insomeways,forthewholeworld.Havingacadreoffutureadultswhoknowtheyare lovedbyGod,savedbyChrist,andcalledtojoyfullyshareallthetruthsthatflowoutofthosecapital“T”Truthsis indeedtheworld’sbesthope.

FortheNext50Years

FromtheRomansfacingHannibaltoour101stAirbornefacingtheGermansatBastogne,warsarewonbylogistics. Whoeverdoesthebestjobfeeding,clothing,andarmingtheirtroopswins.Inthislight,thefinancialsupport Bereanneedstosuccessfullyengageinthebattleforhearts,minds,andsoulsisn’tjust“nice;”it’sessential.

Formostofits55-yearhistory,Bereanhasbeenprimarilysupportedbytuition.Thatremainsthecasetoday.While wehavedoneagreatjobutilizingthosedollarseffectively,mostofourparentsarealreadydoingallthattheycan. Consequently,therearethingsthatcannotbefundedbyparentsaloneunlesswewanttobecomeanexclusive schoolfortheverywealthy.(Whichwedon’t!)

Toaddressourfutureneedsandtoassurethattoday’sstudentsreceivethebestChristianeducation,ourBoard hasadoptedaVisionStatement,whichyoucanreadinitsentiretyhere.

BecomeaFriendoftheEagles

Ifyouwouldliketohelpinanyoftheseareas,youcanbecomeaFriendoftheEagles.WhenyoubecomeaFriendof theEagles,wewillletyouknowaboutcurrentopportunities,solicityourinputonourfutureplans,andinviteyou tooccasional,specialevents.

5AREAS WHERE OUR FRIENDS CAN HELP

FACILITIESANDFINANCE

Teamchargedwithexploringthecostofvariousoptionsanddetermining thetotalfundingthatthecampaignrequiresoverthenext3to5years.

JoyandThanksgiving

PRAYER STEM,INDUSTRIAL,ANDPERFORMINGARTS

TeamchargedwithregularlyprayingforBereanandforitsstudents,staff, alumni,boardmembers,andotherfriends.

Teamschargedwithevaluatingexpandedcourseofferingsintheseareas andidentifyingpotentiallocationsandfacilities.

ALUMNIANDCOMMUNITYRELATIONS

Teamchargedwithengagingalumniandthebroadercommunityprimarilyasan outreachtothosegroupssothattheybenefitfromBerean’sfuturegrowth.

FUNDRAISING

Teamchargedwithcollectingdatafromotherteams,establishinga campaigngoal,recruitingtechnicalgivingsupport,andultimatelysharing thegivingopportunitieswithourcommunityoffriends.

ThereisarelationshipbetweenJoyandThanksgivingandthestressoflivinginthemodernworld.It’sarelationship thatisuniquelyChristian.InoneofPaul’sveryfirstletterstoagroupofyoung,strugglingChristiansinthecityof Thessalonica,hetellsthem,“Bejoyfulalways.Praycontinually.AndgivethanksinallcircumstancesasthisisGod’s willforyouinChristJesus”(IThessalonians5:16-18).Theirchallenges,whichPaulcalled“suffering,”werean opportunityforjoy...asareours!Asweworkhardtoprovideagreateducationforourkids...inatoughworld... don’tmissthejoy!Inthatregard,pleasefeelfreetocontacteitherSimoneSmithormeinourDevelopment Departmentat925-945-6464x255orbyemailatssmith@bereanchristian.comorrfry@bereanchristian.com.Wewill alwayshaveoccasionsforyourjoyfulparticipationintheworkwearealldoingforourstudents!Thankyouforall thatyouarealreadydoing.