Dear Parents,
As you know, flu can be easily spread from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu here at Jacksonville Christian Academy. We want to keep the school open to students and functioning in a normal manner during this flu season. But, we need everyone’s help to do this.
We are working closely with the state health and education agencies and obtaining information from even the CDC, to monitor flu conditions, and find the best precautions. We are using that info to make decisions about the best actions to take at school. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.
**If the flu becomes more severe, the CDC recommends additional steps to prevent its spread such as:
- Conducting active fever and flu symptom screening of students and staff here at school. **
- Making changes to increase the space between people such as moving desks farther apart and
postponing class trips. **
- Dismissing students from school for at least 7 days if they become sick. **
- Closing a class or school for a time if someone is diagnosed with a condition more severe than
regular influenza.
**Again, these are CDC recommendations that we will only consider if the flu becomes more severe. We have had a few regular flu cases so far, but our present situation is normal for this season.
We are doing many things to keep our school functioning as usual, including daily cleaning and disinfecting. Here are a few things you can do to help:
1. Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water and use an alcohol-based hand rub in-between washings. You can train this habit by doing it yourself.
2. Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food, or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm, or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.
3. Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
4 Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
5. Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
For more information, visit www.flu.gov, or call1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu. We will notify you of any additional changes to our school’s strategy to prevent the spread of flu.
Sincerely,
Joe Tarr
Principal
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Why a Christian Education.
It is amazing to see how many parents are abandoning their once "dearly held" conviction of a Christ centered education for their children. Whether it is the economy, the new charter or magnet school down the road, or the idea that "my child will have to face the world and the devil sometime anyway", we have a rash of changing ideals that govern the decision most impacting our children today.
While I cannot say that it is shocking, I must say that the present day movement away from Real Christian Schools is disturbing. While my school has enrolled as many this fall as we had at the end of last year, we are across our state and others seeing a huge wave of change. So what is the cause, who is the one to blame, why is it happening now?
The Bible says that "without Me ye can do nothing". (John 15:5) Yet so many parents are opting for the educational facility that seemingly prides itself on being Godless, without any teaching on Christ at all. How can they, it is forbidden. It is most certain that no matter what you believe the level of spirituality in your local public school district's school, IT IS NO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. No matte what your perceived virtue of the charter school in your area....it is a public / non -Christian School. It is a place where God is left out. On purpose. No appology.
Why the toughness. "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5)... that's why. Americans are proud enough to say, "we are doing great w/o God now, our kids will be great w/o later Him too". I say, sure, If you are of the belief that "doing nothing" is ok. You had them in a Christian school before because you really want to "do something" for them, and now you are, without realizing the destructive nature of your actions, dooming them to a "do nothing" education. Sorry, that is not my prognostication, it is Bible, and it is Truth. The real way to a productive life is also in the same verse " He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit..." Keep your children in a spiritual place. That is the priority.
I am certain I will be accused of saying that good Christian families have no possible way of rearing good kids since they have now put them in a non-Christian school. On the contrary, now you have the added possibility of rearing a child who thinks it is not as important to keep God first in every area of life, no matter the cost....for that is what you have shown them is acceptible thought.
I am not mad at you, I am instead very sad and disturbed. In my few decades of Christian Education, I have seen it too many times not to speak out. Too many families - that realize sometimes too late - that they have made a poor academic and spiritual choice for their family. Too many times I have set in the office with parents bringing children back to the Christian school, having now experienced personally what they were warned of before leaving (by me, and mostly by the Holy Spirit inside of them). Only now, we have the task of making up the gap caused by the missed time in good curriculum and around good Christian kids.
I am just saying, a non-Christian school is just that ... Non-Christian. Without Him we can do nothing. That has always been truth, and always will be the Truth. I want more for your child than any place else can offer. Nothing less will do.
While I cannot say that it is shocking, I must say that the present day movement away from Real Christian Schools is disturbing. While my school has enrolled as many this fall as we had at the end of last year, we are across our state and others seeing a huge wave of change. So what is the cause, who is the one to blame, why is it happening now?
The Bible says that "without Me ye can do nothing". (John 15:5) Yet so many parents are opting for the educational facility that seemingly prides itself on being Godless, without any teaching on Christ at all. How can they, it is forbidden. It is most certain that no matter what you believe the level of spirituality in your local public school district's school, IT IS NO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. No matte what your perceived virtue of the charter school in your area....it is a public / non -Christian School. It is a place where God is left out. On purpose. No appology.
Why the toughness. "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5)... that's why. Americans are proud enough to say, "we are doing great w/o God now, our kids will be great w/o later Him too". I say, sure, If you are of the belief that "doing nothing" is ok. You had them in a Christian school before because you really want to "do something" for them, and now you are, without realizing the destructive nature of your actions, dooming them to a "do nothing" education. Sorry, that is not my prognostication, it is Bible, and it is Truth. The real way to a productive life is also in the same verse " He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit..." Keep your children in a spiritual place. That is the priority.
I am certain I will be accused of saying that good Christian families have no possible way of rearing good kids since they have now put them in a non-Christian school. On the contrary, now you have the added possibility of rearing a child who thinks it is not as important to keep God first in every area of life, no matter the cost....for that is what you have shown them is acceptible thought.
I am not mad at you, I am instead very sad and disturbed. In my few decades of Christian Education, I have seen it too many times not to speak out. Too many families - that realize sometimes too late - that they have made a poor academic and spiritual choice for their family. Too many times I have set in the office with parents bringing children back to the Christian school, having now experienced personally what they were warned of before leaving (by me, and mostly by the Holy Spirit inside of them). Only now, we have the task of making up the gap caused by the missed time in good curriculum and around good Christian kids.
I am just saying, a non-Christian school is just that ... Non-Christian. Without Him we can do nothing. That has always been truth, and always will be the Truth. I want more for your child than any place else can offer. Nothing less will do.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What Convinced the Atheist that God Exists
DNA Evidence Convinces Atheist that God Does Exist
By Melvin Richardson
Have you ever been in an argument or a discussion and you tried to convince someone that your point of view was correct? As you struggled with the argument it was apparent that you needed some concrete evidence in order for you to make a valid point and get this person to think along the lines of what you felt was right. So you lined up all your ducks in a row and presented you case in as convincing a way as possible. Finally, when you had all of your facts straight, up to the point where the person who you were trying to convince began to at least listen. Only to have something come along that completely cast doubt on what you were talking about. And as strong as you felt your point of view was it now paled in comparison to the other point of view, based on the new evidence.
Well this exactly what happened to Dr. Anthony Flew.
There was this guy, by the name of Dr. Antony Flew, who was an atheist and he was known for arguing and debating with various individuals trying to get them to believe in his atheist point of view. Only one problem, he ended up changing his mind because of DNA evidence. After everything was said and done he gave in to the fact that there must be some supreme intelligence behind the origin of life. He likened DNA to a computer program. When you have a computer program it consists of codes or ones and zeros which is called a binary program. It's the arrangement of these ones and zeros that establish the computer program and ultimately tell the computer what to do or how to perform.
a.) According to www.everystudent.com, in the same way, DNA is made up of four chemicals, abbreviated as letters A, T, G, and C. The sequencing of these letters tells the cell how to behave. Much like the ones and zeros, these letters are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on. The order in which they are arranged instructs the cell's actions. Within the tiny space in every cell in your body is a code three billion letters long!!
Dr. Flew understood that a computer program cannot just exist on it's own. It has to have a creator and therefore intelligent design is the only answer. He stated that this DNA program was the most complex he had ever seen.
This is very powerful information when you consider here is an individual that has a conviction about a certain concept or idea only to have his belief completely shattered or totally eradicated.
Share that with your unbelieving family and fellow students!!
By Melvin Richardson
Have you ever been in an argument or a discussion and you tried to convince someone that your point of view was correct? As you struggled with the argument it was apparent that you needed some concrete evidence in order for you to make a valid point and get this person to think along the lines of what you felt was right. So you lined up all your ducks in a row and presented you case in as convincing a way as possible. Finally, when you had all of your facts straight, up to the point where the person who you were trying to convince began to at least listen. Only to have something come along that completely cast doubt on what you were talking about. And as strong as you felt your point of view was it now paled in comparison to the other point of view, based on the new evidence.
Well this exactly what happened to Dr. Anthony Flew.
There was this guy, by the name of Dr. Antony Flew, who was an atheist and he was known for arguing and debating with various individuals trying to get them to believe in his atheist point of view. Only one problem, he ended up changing his mind because of DNA evidence. After everything was said and done he gave in to the fact that there must be some supreme intelligence behind the origin of life. He likened DNA to a computer program. When you have a computer program it consists of codes or ones and zeros which is called a binary program. It's the arrangement of these ones and zeros that establish the computer program and ultimately tell the computer what to do or how to perform.
a.) According to www.everystudent.com, in the same way, DNA is made up of four chemicals, abbreviated as letters A, T, G, and C. The sequencing of these letters tells the cell how to behave. Much like the ones and zeros, these letters are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on. The order in which they are arranged instructs the cell's actions. Within the tiny space in every cell in your body is a code three billion letters long!!
Dr. Flew understood that a computer program cannot just exist on it's own. It has to have a creator and therefore intelligent design is the only answer. He stated that this DNA program was the most complex he had ever seen.
This is very powerful information when you consider here is an individual that has a conviction about a certain concept or idea only to have his belief completely shattered or totally eradicated.
Share that with your unbelieving family and fellow students!!
Endurance
CONDITIONED TO ENDURE
2 Tim. 2:3
Verse 3 says, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of JesusChrist.
"Tozer said, "In our eagerness to make converts I am afraid we have lately been guilty of using the technique of modern salesmanship, which is of course to present only the desirable qualities in a product and ignore the rest. We go to men and offer them a cozy home on the sunny side of the brae(hill). If they will be accept Christ He will give them peace of mind, solve their problems, prosper their business, protect their families and keep them happy all day long. They believe us and come, and the first cold wind sends them shivering to some counselor to find out what has gone wrong; and thatis the last we hear of many of them."
I continue to quote Tozer: "The teachings of Christ reveal Him to be arealist in the finest meaning of that word. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find anything visionary or over optimistic. He told His hearers the whole truth and let them make up their minds. He might grieve over the retreating form of an inquirer who could not face up to the truth, but He never ranafter him to try to win him with rosy promises. He would have men follow Him, knowing the cost, or He would let them go their ways.""All this is but to say that Christ is honest. We can trust Him. He knows that He will never be popular among the sons of Adam and He knows that His followers need not expect to be. The wind that blows in His face will befelt by all who travel with Him, and we are not intellectually honest when we try to hide that face from them."Jesus conditioned His followers to endure. We should do not less. There is that temptation to soften by our presentation the harsh reality of "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." We who believe the gospel love the lost and desire their conversion and know if they truly experience it, they will be able to see things from our viewpoint. Salvation does bring a new power of perception of spiritual things. But in stark reality the change that brings about this change cannot take place unless the candidate hasbeen told the naked truth without any softening of the message. Jesus was not a modern psychologist who had figured out a way to slip in the Sword without pain. The message of the cross offends the natural man (Gal. 5:11).The Bible is a Two Edged Sword: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful,and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunderof soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thethoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).
A friend of mine told about a lady who had wandered out of an alley screaming for help. She had her insides in her hands and said, "I've been gutted. Someone call for help."Well, when the Word of God penetrates deeper than anything has ever been.You are brought by it to the brink of the abyss and you are given the opportunity to accept or reject God's remedy. Jesus always gave those with whom He dealt the opportunity to say no without begging for a change ofmind. Now to the over zealous, this will be offensive.
Just remember this."He that is persuaded against his will is of the same persuasion still."
I believe the churches are being filled with people who have never repented and have been told that they can have all of this down here and heaven to."God wants you to be prosperous. God does not want you to be sick. Send meyour money and I'll pray for you, etc., etc." This is not what the Bible teaches. Jesus had a tough message for the present life. He informed His disciples that they would be persecuted.Jesus said, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hatedyou. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because yeare not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore theworld hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is notgreater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecuteyou; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all thesethings will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not himthat sent me." Jesus is clear in His message. He is conditioning them to endure. He does this by telling them, "IF the world hate you (and it will), ye know that it hated me before it hated you." Jesus is telling them in advance that becoming my disciples has put you at odds with the world around you. The world hates me and since I am going to relive my life through you after I am gone they are going to hate you as they hate me. They are going to express that hatred toward you in the same way they have expressed it toward me. If you are a Christian, you have been conditioned to endure. Are youenduring?
2 Tim. 2:3
Verse 3 says, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of JesusChrist.
"Tozer said, "In our eagerness to make converts I am afraid we have lately been guilty of using the technique of modern salesmanship, which is of course to present only the desirable qualities in a product and ignore the rest. We go to men and offer them a cozy home on the sunny side of the brae(hill). If they will be accept Christ He will give them peace of mind, solve their problems, prosper their business, protect their families and keep them happy all day long. They believe us and come, and the first cold wind sends them shivering to some counselor to find out what has gone wrong; and thatis the last we hear of many of them."
I continue to quote Tozer: "The teachings of Christ reveal Him to be arealist in the finest meaning of that word. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find anything visionary or over optimistic. He told His hearers the whole truth and let them make up their minds. He might grieve over the retreating form of an inquirer who could not face up to the truth, but He never ranafter him to try to win him with rosy promises. He would have men follow Him, knowing the cost, or He would let them go their ways.""All this is but to say that Christ is honest. We can trust Him. He knows that He will never be popular among the sons of Adam and He knows that His followers need not expect to be. The wind that blows in His face will befelt by all who travel with Him, and we are not intellectually honest when we try to hide that face from them."Jesus conditioned His followers to endure. We should do not less. There is that temptation to soften by our presentation the harsh reality of "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." We who believe the gospel love the lost and desire their conversion and know if they truly experience it, they will be able to see things from our viewpoint. Salvation does bring a new power of perception of spiritual things. But in stark reality the change that brings about this change cannot take place unless the candidate hasbeen told the naked truth without any softening of the message. Jesus was not a modern psychologist who had figured out a way to slip in the Sword without pain. The message of the cross offends the natural man (Gal. 5:11).The Bible is a Two Edged Sword: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful,and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunderof soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thethoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).
A friend of mine told about a lady who had wandered out of an alley screaming for help. She had her insides in her hands and said, "I've been gutted. Someone call for help."Well, when the Word of God penetrates deeper than anything has ever been.You are brought by it to the brink of the abyss and you are given the opportunity to accept or reject God's remedy. Jesus always gave those with whom He dealt the opportunity to say no without begging for a change ofmind. Now to the over zealous, this will be offensive.
Just remember this."He that is persuaded against his will is of the same persuasion still."
I believe the churches are being filled with people who have never repented and have been told that they can have all of this down here and heaven to."God wants you to be prosperous. God does not want you to be sick. Send meyour money and I'll pray for you, etc., etc." This is not what the Bible teaches. Jesus had a tough message for the present life. He informed His disciples that they would be persecuted.Jesus said, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hatedyou. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because yeare not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore theworld hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is notgreater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecuteyou; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all thesethings will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not himthat sent me." Jesus is clear in His message. He is conditioning them to endure. He does this by telling them, "IF the world hate you (and it will), ye know that it hated me before it hated you." Jesus is telling them in advance that becoming my disciples has put you at odds with the world around you. The world hates me and since I am going to relive my life through you after I am gone they are going to hate you as they hate me. They are going to express that hatred toward you in the same way they have expressed it toward me. If you are a Christian, you have been conditioned to endure. Are youenduring?
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