Today’s cover article comes from a 3rd grader who is moving to the mainland and applying to another school. That school’s application called for an essay on any topic. This student decided to write about Trinity…
Born and raised in Hawai'i and born-again in Christ, my heart is especially moved by Hawaiian songs of worship. There is something so powerful about praising God in a multitude of languages. I not only get a glimpse of Heaven, I also learn new ways to offer praise to God with the beautiful metaphors and melodies of Hawai'i. Across space and time, cultures and populations are distinguished by their music, and lifting up songs of worship to God has been and always will be an integral part of the Church. The Classical method affirms this significance, as we train our students to make a joyful noise unto the Lord and seek that which is good and beautiful. Below are the lyrics and translation to one of my favorite hymns, "Kanaka Waiwai (Walk Through Paradise)." Ma ke alahele ʻo Iesû I hālāwai aku ai Me ke kanaka ʻōpio hanohano Kaulana i ka waiwai Pane mai e ka ʻōpio ʻE kuʻu Haku maikaʻi He aha hoʻi kaʻu e hana aku ai I loaʻa e ke ola mau? Hui: E hāʻawi, e hāʻawi lilo I kou mau waiwai Huli a hahai mai iaʻu I loaʻa e ke ola mau ia ʻoe Minamina e ka ʻōpio I kona mau waiwai I ke kūʻai a hāʻawi lilo aku I ka poʻe nele a hune Huli aʻe ʻo Iesū lā Pane aku i ka ʻōpio ʻAʻole aʻe hiki ke kanaka waiwai I ke aupuni o ka lani Along the road, Jesus met With a distinguished young man Who was known for his wealth The young man said, "My good lord, What must I do To gain eternal life?" Chorus: "Give, give away all Of your possessions Then come and follow me In order to gain eternal life" The young man grieved Over his wealth Unwilling to sell and give all To the poor and destitute Jesus then turned And answered the man, "Rich man, you will not enter The Kingdom of Heaven Additional Verse: Let me walk through paradise With you Lord Take my hand and lead me there All my earthly pleasures I will gladly give Teach me how to love And how to share Greed and lust and vanity were mine Lord Then I found your love divine Now on my knees I pray I will find a way Let me walk through paradise with you Oh, my Lord, my Savior Take my hand an lead me on to paradise Oh, my Lord, just let me follow in your footsteps Let me walk through paradise with you Visit this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxd9VFNuVTQ from one of my favorite TV Shows, Hi*Sessions, for another beautiful hymm. Please listen to the rendition of "Ke Akua Mana E" ("How Great Thou Art") by local artist Mark Yamanaka. May your heart be moved and encouraged to worship. Blessings, Irene Kano Preschool Director Not too long ago I realized that my kids knew more than me. Not more in the sense of balancing your checkbook or how to drive a car, but more in the sense that they were always curious. They were always willing to ask questions, read a book, or dig a little deeper to discover a new truth. I felt complacent. I felt like they were immersed in learning and constantly being challenged. But me, I was suck in the day-to-day grind of work and family life. I was no longer excited to be alive and learn...constantly learn more about the world around me. So I decided to change. I wanted to set a good example. If my kids were able to have this fantastic and challenging education then I needed to keep up with them and be just as inquisitive. How about you? Do you feel a little stuck? Maybe you even feel a little jealous that your kids are learning so much while you may have gotten swept away in the daily activity? I'm here to encourage you that it's not too late. Here are a few things that have worked for me and given me a new enthusiasm for life. Books! When was the last time you read a book? It needs to be something uplifting and instructional, no fluff novels allowed. Pick any aspect of your life that you want to work on and only get books that align with that goal. For me, its been entrepreneurship and personal development. Or, read the books your kids are reading for school. Podcasts! Pick a few podcasters and listen to them every time you are in the car or exercise. Have your kids listen too and then discuss. This will keep you motivated and "in the know" about new happenings for the topic you've chosen. Strangers! Talk to strangers. Talk to them while waiting in-line, on an airplane, or anytime you really would rather stare at your phone. I can't tell you how many interesting people I've met when in the past I would just be surfing Facebook. Put your phone away, ask interesting questions, and then listen to what others have to say. Not only are you increasing your emotional intelligence and conversational skills but you are learning from others. So how about you? Are you excited to keep learning? Are you being curious and maybe even showing-up your kids a little bit? I'd love to hear how its going for you. Do you have some tips or methods that have worked for you? Find me at drop off or our next school event. I want to hear your stories. We are all in this together and our ultimate goal is to be the best we can be. Get out there and be great! Marian Diop TCS Parent PK & 3rd Amidst the many meetings and correspondence over the past two weeks, I have remained fairly silent (due in part to being sick virtually all last week). But, I want to assure everyone that I'm still leading this school through the end of the school year, which is what the Board has always supported and intended, and it is my delight to do so. Here are a few other things I'd like to clarify: God is good! All the time! This change in the strategic leadership of the school was not anticipated by many, but that does not mean it will be bad. On the contrary, God is actively working for our good (Rom 8:28). For years, I've been preaching to the Principals with each new decision that "change is hard, but it is good for our school and good for our souls." I think God does his finest work when we are shaken from our comfortable places. So, whatever else might seem uncertain or confusing, there are a few things I know for sure:
I came to Trinity in faith, and now I will be leaving this summer in faith. And, that faith is not without an object; it is not merely a vague sort of confidence. Rather, it is an abiding faith in the one true God, whom we know through His son Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of this school and the Lord of my family and the Lord of my life. I started this "assignment" (to use my Navy parlance) not knowing if it would last beyond a year, and by His grace it has been four. Now, I will continue to follow in faith as He leads us to the mainland. Many have asked me or my family about leaving Hawaii. Hawaii has been our home for the past six years, and we love its people, community, and culture. But, I feel a strong commitment (and my wife agrees) to leadership in classical Christian education (CCE). We have been so convinced of this kind of school for our children and as our ministry to other families, that we want to continue serving in this way, wherever it may take us. At this point, it means moving to the mainland to contribute somehow to this growing movement (close to 300 CCE schools nation-wide!). But, one more thing I want to make clear. I found myself saying this to someone early in the week, and I think it's worth repeating for all of you: If we were to stay here on Oahu and do something else, we would not hesitate to put our kids in Trinity. For all the great things we could say about the school, the essence of its magic is what happens between teacher and student. Our children have been so blessed by our teachers. They have made-- along with all the supporting staff, volunteers, churches, and parents--a precious gem in Windward Oahu and among all the schools in Hawaii. Soli Deo Gloria! Stephen Sprague Headmaster "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are this judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" Romans 11:33 It was with great pleasure that we announced Monday to the staff and faculty that Vicki Leong has accepted the position of Elementary Principal beginning in June of this year. We have repeatedly seen God provide exactly the right person at the right time, and we are confident in his choice of Vicki. Many people may not realize that Vicki has a long history here at Trinity Christian School. In 1988, she was a teacher in our pre-kindergarten program. After that year, she went on to be an educator in a variety of capacities: public and private schools, elementary and college levels, remedial and gifted, teaching and curriculum development. Her wide range of experience will be an asset to our school as we continue to improve and develop our programs. She also previously taught at another classical Christian school in Oregon, so she brings a perspective that can only improve our adherence to this proven and effective method. Most recently, Vicki completed a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership through the University of Hawaii in conjunction with Hawaii Association of Independent Schools. Not only was she able to learn from some of the most experienced independent school educators, she formed ties to the local educational community that will pay off for our school in the years to come. Clearly, God provided the best professional for this position. However, as we all know, our school is not just a place of education. It is a family and a body of Christ with a unique culture. I have been blessed to work alongside Vicki both as a teacher and as a principal. I know first-hand her dedication to our students and our faculty, and her deep love of our school. I know already that she puts our students first, and brings wisdom and godly perspective to her decisions. I am deeply grateful that she will be able to continue the great work that is our grammar school, and it is with joy that I pass the torch to her at the end of this school year. Please take time to introduce yourself to Vicki if you are not already acquainted. I think you will agree that God continues to bless us at Trinity. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4:19-20 Jennifer Cable Elementary Principal I was recently talking about gifts and investments people make in the school, and I said to the audience, "Whatever the school gains will be used for God's glory. We believe in what our teachers are doing in the trenches." Of course, there are more people in this school endeavor: support staff, administration, parent volunteers, the Board, partner churches, etc. But, our teachers are the ones in the trenches. They are most directly carrying out our mission. In its essence, at the end of the day, the bottom line, where the rubber meets the road… our teachers fight the battles for the hearts and minds of our students. I'm jealous at times, like when I see a few teachers taking the seniors mid-day to Starbucks for some "extra instruction." When I hear about a defiant 3rd grader who eventually melts into the love and grace of a teacher and begins to trust… I want to be involved in that! Part of me wants to be doing their job. But, a larger part of me sees the calling that God has put before me, to lead and enable teachers to do what they do. I delight to see 2nd graders lining up to hug their teacher at the end of a day, and I delight to hear about a teacher going surfing on the weekend with some of our teenage boys. It's a privilege for me to play the role of assistant, to tee up the teacher for success. Am I'm thrilled when they exceed my own knowledge and ability to instruct on a subject. The teachers' success is what brings me joy in my job as Headmaster. Of course, it helps that we have such wonderful and talented teachers. They are joyful and exuberant role models who blend high moral standards with grace and humility. And, it doesn't hurt that they have an average of 13 year of teaching experience among them, many with advanced degrees. And, for all the praise we could heap on our teachers, they are selflessly thinking and relentlessly pursuing ways they can enable the parents and help them succeed with their children at home. So thank you to all the teachers in the trenches! In Christ, Stephen Sprague P.S. I count coaches among the teachers, but the alliteration didn't work as well (coaches in combat?). You probably know that Trinity Christian School is the only classical Christian school Oahu. But how much do you know about classical Christian education? Early in January, the Gospel Coalition website featured an article that highlights the recent and continued growth of the classical Christian school movement. Over the last twenty-five years or so, this movement has grown exponentially. In 1993, there were only ten schools in the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS), but this year there are over 250 member schools-including TCS. Beyond this, there are many other classical Christian schools and classical Christian homeschoolers across the country. When you add them all together, there are as many as 300,000 students across the country receiving a classical Christian education. As the only classical Christian school on island, we might be tempted to feel like we are all alone in this venture. But I’d encourage you to read the whole thing to get a better sense of the exciting movement that our school is working to help grow here in the islands. But the article also helps us see that classical Christian education is not just an option for the wealthy or elite. It describes Hope Academy, a classical Christian school in urban Minneapolis, MN. Shortly after we were married, my wife and I lived in Minneapolis for a season, and my wife’s younger brothers attended this school. It was just getting off the ground, but it was exciting to see a classical Christian school established in inner-city Minneapolis. The school was founded because the head of school wanted to “venture something for God that is a little bit crazy.” Now almost 17 years after it started, Hope Academy is a model of how a classical Christian school in an urban and largely economically disadvantaged area can partner with parents and families to transform lives for the glory of God. As you read about Hope Academy, maybe God will stir your heart to pray for something similar for students and families here in Hawaii. Maybe God will even give you a burden to work to establish a classical Christian school that can serve low-income families here on Oahu. And maybe God will push you to do something that is a little bit crazy to see this happen. I think God would be pleased to use the families at Trinity Christian School to venture something risky for their neighbors here on Oahu. One of our goals in the coming years at TCS is to improve the quality and reach of classical Christian education in the islands, and it is my prayer that we can find ways for TCS serve more students from lower-income families. These students who bear God’s image and have the same potential as our TCS students, but they might otherwise not have opportunity to receive a classical Christian education unless we get involved. Who knows how God might use you to make this a reality? Chris Bruno Director of Advancement Recently I spent time on the mainland helping to care for my mother who has become very ill very quickly. Such situations are never easy, and long dormant family dynamics can perk up just enough to make a difficult time even more challenging. Those of you who have been through a similar experience know how painful it can be, and those of you who have not should be sufficiently uncomfortable now to wonder! I bring this topic up not just because it is timely for me personally, but because this experience was a great reminder that I am not an orphan. Not only in the literal sense that I was born into and reared within a family, but that as a child of God, I have the fellowship of believers. One of the many good gifts our Father in heaven gives to us is each other. We have brothers and sisters in Christ who will pray for and with us during the many trials this life can bring. Though this world bears the curse of the fall, we are not left to bear these burdens alone. I encourage you to ask for prayer and ask how you can pray for those around you. The prayers of the faithful will bear fruit in your own life, and sustain you through trials you cannot imagine navigating on your own. And your prayers for others will do the same for them. Each time I had to deal with a difficult situation, I was able to do so. Not because I am particularly capable, but throughout my trip, friends, colleagues and the TCS Moms in Prayer group were texting and emailing to tell me they were praying for me. What an amazing gift being in Christian fellowship has been and continues to be! Having benefitted greatly from the prayers of the faithful I will move forward into the new year newly committed to prayer. I encourage you to do the same. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2 NIV Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 This year, my husband and I are marking the first realization that our job of parenting is taking a dramatic turn. Our older child is off to college and our younger one will soon follow. As you might imagine, this has brought about much reflection on this stage of our lives, and on our performance as parents. Mostly, I feel like if I could just have one more chance, I’d do it so much better. There are some deep truths that would have helped me, had I been able to reflect, rather than be so distracted by daily tasks. First, we didn’t fully grasp the idea that God had made us completely and righteously in charge of our children, and that we did know better than they did what was right for them. While we were relatively firm parents, we still cared too much whether they were happy with our choice of restaurant, movie, weekend activity, or dinner selection. We parented like their needs were more important than our needs. Of course, their needs are more important, but their wants are not. Their perspective should be, “Daddy and Mommy have important things to do, and places to go, and isn’t it great that they let us come along?” My own parents enjoyed bluegrass festivals and running races. They never asked my sister or me if we would rather do something else, and I gained a lifetime appreciation of an art form that is definitely an acquired taste, and a way to stay healthy before that was even a thing. And, most importantly, I always knew I was not the most important person in the room. Children don’t need choices as much as they need direction and training. I spent far too much time on things that didn’t matter much, when I could have spent more time playing with them (they do grow up so, so fast). On the other hand, I also spent far too much time insuring that my children were “busy” all the time with adult-led activities. I have come to realize that children learn much, much more when they are “bored” than when they are constantly entertained. Whenever we decided to turn off the television for a weekend, we experienced an initial, painful phase of whining, then, miraculously, our children became creative, joyful and occupied with ingenious play. Why didn’t we turn the television off more often? Why did we put them in so many afterschool activities? Finally, I was too emotional in my discipline. When my children misbehaved, I took it personally and got angry. I forgot that they sin because they are human, just as I do. I should have expected their misbehavior, so that when it happened, I could take a matter-of-fact tone, expressing my sadness and disappointment, and providing consequences. My calmness would have illustrated to them that, while we love them more than anything, God tells us we must be the parents and parents must obey him too. That means we will make decisions with which they won’t agree. That’s okay. They can yell and scream and stamp their feet if they must (but in the bedroom so they don’t disturb the rest of the family.) In all situations, we should have realized our children were simply doing what comes naturally to human beings—rebelling against authority. And the response to one rebelling against a righteous authority is love—and authority. The most important thing I wish I had known is that only God has the power over my children. He is loaning them to my husband and I for a time, but they belong to him alone. Ultimately, all he expects of human parents is for us to teach our children about him and guide them in his ways. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Jennifer Cable Elementary Principal Dear TCS parents,
May God's grace in Christ be yours in abundance this New Year! For many years, it has been my joy to come alongside Trinity parents and offer biblical counsel on the challenging task of raising children. I want to encourage you and build you up in hope as you parent your children and to do this, a workshop is being offered on Saturday, January 28th. I hope you will gain not only insights into Gospel-parenting, but that you'll also feel part of a community of parents who share your struggles. The workshop is entitled, "Gospel-Centered Parenting." From 8:30-9:00am, there will be coffee and a light breakfast, check-in, and a chance to look at the resource table. The workshop concludes at 11:30am. Childcare is offered but registration for childcare closes on January 21st. "When I was parenting my children, they are all in their thirties now, I was focused on their outward behavior. It wasn't until I was exposed to the idea of shepherding a child's heart that I realized that behavior flows from the heart. The principle in shepherding a child's heart helped me to move from a moralistic parenting model to the freedom of a Gospel-centered approach." - Sandy Scafe-Kalama, Kindergarten Teacher This is the first in a series of workshops entitled. "Strengthening The Family." We hope that you and your spouse will both be able to attend and enjoy this event together. We'd love to hear from you if you have any questions regarding this workshop. The church office phone is 262-8587, or email [email protected] if you have any further questions. Exciting for this opportunity to be with you, Pastor Todd |
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