“The true meaning of life is to plant trees

under whose shade you do not intend to sit.”

                                                                        Nelson Henderson

Dear Parents,

Christian education is best summed up as an act of faith.  It is like Nelson Henderson states, planting a tree, under whose shade you will likely not sit. 

What we do.  If our kids are trees in process, there are some things we can do to assist their growth.  We can plant, water, prune, protect for some time and we can watch and cheer on growth.  At Unity and our entire network of Christian schools, parents entrust their children to us.  We partner together in the growth process.  We are a team, church-home-school, committed to providing the best growth conditions. Isn’t it wonderful, that it is not just up to the parents?  Or just the school? Or the church, to ensure the best growth conditions?   We can rely on each other.  It is good to remind us of our triangle of support.  

What God does.  If our kids are trees in process, we can also rest in faith that they are God’s workmanship, and it is His Spirit at work in them and His timetable that matters most.  We can do our best to provide the optimum growing conditions, but the tree all along is God’s.  As parents, and grandparents, many of us can tell stories where growth in some of our kids takes time, sometimes painful time.  It is good to remember the tree belongs to God.

Trees, rooted in Christ, are giving off shade that our world needs more than ever.  We can aimlessly obsess over the news of the day: ISIS, measles, 50 Shades of Grey and news anchormen who lie.  Or we can fix our minds on God’s Kingdom and invest our efforts in life giving, tree planting efforts for Christ. 

We invest in Christian education by writing checks, going on cookie walks, attending soup suppers, sitting on bleachers.  We invest our time serving as volunteer Board members, committee members.  In the grind of it all, it is easy to lose sight of the goal. Your time, talent and treasure, when applied to the Church, the home and the school, is not in vain.  When we look back we see thousands of stories of growth.   

Planting is an act of faith.  Planting brings glory to God. In faith, we keep planting.  John 12:24  tells us, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. We plant and we trust that in God’s time trees will grow and shade will be given off to many. 

W. Dykstra

Dear Friends of Unity,

How do you feel about enrollment growth?  What would your dream for Unity be in the area of optimal enrollment?  We are currently at 264 students. 

What would increased enrollment growth mean for Unity Christian?  Would a higher enrollment mean lower tuition?  More services?  Better co-curricular programs?  Is bigger better?  What might be overlooked if growth happens?  What might be gained?  What can Unity Christian physically handle for enrollment growth? 

I think it is safe to say that enrolment crisis has not been a part of Unity’s past.  We have not had potential “ close the door” conversations, or severe budget cut decisions, like schools across this country.  For that, we thank God.  

In a recent parent survey, we learned that 63% of those surveyed, or 81 respondents, desire Unity to grow into the broader evangelical church community of Northwest Iowa.  I share in that sentiment.  This school is an active sphere in the Kingdom of God.   We want others to join us!   

Enrollment growth based on the desire to build the Kingdom of God is what we are aiming for as a Christian school.  To grow, we do not need to sell out on who we are, but we may need to be more intentional in our efforts to share who we are.   Sharing who we are, will take us out into the public more with more marketing efforts.   Last Spring we wrote a philosophy of marketing for enrolment growth.  It is found on our website under the title, Considering Unity.  I encourage you to read it. 

Prayer for us, as we seek enrollment growth.  Help us share the good things of Unity with those around you.  Tell your story of how Unity blessed your family.  Be ready to tell your Christian education story.  I have heard many tell a story like this: tuition seemed like a mountain at the time when many of us started, but looking back we can say it is one of the best investments we could make for our children.  

WD

Even Greater Than A Victory at State

Dear Parents,

Yesterday was a great Unity day! Our girls basketball team played an outstanding game. So
many Unity fans had safe travels and cheered loudly. It was a great day; to God be the glory!

We are so thankful to God for his presence in our lives. This presence goes beyond a great
day like yesterday. His presence and his love for us is everlasting. 

Psalm 89: 1-3 ( NIV)
I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness
known through all generation. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. You said,“I have made a covenant with my chosen one.."

At our pep rally send off, the girls team and all present were challenged to play and to cheer for an audience of One. The One we cheer is our Lord Jesus Christ. And this One does not measure us on our playing time, our shooting percentage, our grades in school or our volunteering in the community. 

His love stands firm forever. 

All Knotted Up

Dear Parents,

Have you ever had the privilege of learning how to tie knots with your cadet son? Last night, I had that privilege. I ventured into the world of knot tying for an embarrassingly long 2 hours.  At one point in the evening, I became absolutely convinced that the author of this knot diagram page had to be a member of the family of Beelzebub.  I am still stumped by the “sheepshank” knot.

Speaking of knots, our schedule is all knotted up with postponements and cancellations.  It is amazing how we have even postponed the same event multiple times.  Will there be a golf season?  I truly believe that we will speak about the winter / spring / winter of 2013 for some time to come. 

Knots.  Cadet ropes and calendar aside, are a reality each day.  I heard an expert tell me once that the number one source of anger is unmet expectations.  We think life will be a certain way and even the slightest detour from the course causes us angst.  How do you respond to knots? I know I don’t always do so well. 

Proverbs 3:6 reminds us, “ In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”   To acknowledge is to stop and recognize or highlight that the Lord Jesus Christ, our Father God and Holy Spirit are sovereign over every knot, every moment, every relationship and every sphere of all things. 

W. Dykstra

  

And I Feel Fine

Hello Friends, 

There is a show on the History Channel called The Doomsday Prophets. Have you watched it?  In this show, cameras follow various people through their strategies for preparing for the end of the world, or a calamity close to it.  These individuals believe the end of the world is at hand and they are prepared for it, with weapons caches and food stockpiles, escape routes and multi-step strategies for survival. It’s a bizarre show that has little to do with history, and many Americans are tuned in. 

The show Doomsday Prophets reminds me of a favorite song I listened to in college…by 90’s rock group REM.  They sing a song, It’s the End of the World as We Know It and the chorus ends with the line “and I feel fine.”  Most of the stars of this show are far from fine.  They are paranoid.

Christmas is coming.  Jesus in a barn, an unsuspecting, kingdom changer.  Son of God and Son of Man.  He is the one the Prophets spoke of.  He was there in the beginning and he will be there when it all comes down.  No need for escape routes and weapons caches for those who put their trust in him.

We celebrate Christmas because this world belongs to Jesus, all of it.  From REM to the Doomsday Prophets.  In the beginning and in the end, it all belongs to Jesus.  He came into our world to give us peace, to give us hope to give us joy and love.  And because of it I do feel fine.

Standing With Jesus

Dear Unity Friends,

I recently heard these words in the classic hymn by Edward Mote, and I have not been able to shake them from my mind.  Has that ever happened to you?

On Christ the solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand

In recent weeks we have seen images of sinking sand all around us.  Super-storm Sandy damage along the east coast. Missiles rocketed in the Gaza Strip. Wall street embezzlements.  Storms, missiles, and corporate greed aside, what does it mean to stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ?  

It means we are cared for. John Calvin wrote that “we will never be able to arrive at a calm state of mind until we are taught to repose ( rest) with implicit confidence in the providence of God.”  To rest in the implicit confidence in the providence of God means resting in the unquestioning, protective, providing care of God. All other ground is sinking sand

In our high school we work with teenagers who are trying to figure out where they stand. Facebook “likes” and Twitter “re-tweets” appear to be the number one validation many strive for. Students are hungry for a digital affirmation from their peers. That might sound superficial to adults, but it is a new neighborhood where they walk.  And as we walk alongside these kids in person and on the internet, we get to remind them and ourselves, that we stand with Jesus Christ and he will not let go of us.  We stand in his protection and in his safety.  All other ground is sinking sand.

And we join you the Christian church and Christian home in the work of Kingdom building on Jesus Christ.  What a joy we have in standing with Jesus Christ.  What an opportunity we have to take a stand for Jesus! 

God bless you with His powerful this Christmas season,  

Thankful for Home

Hello Unity Friends,

Can you believe that Thanksgiving Day is landing in our lives next week?  My internal calendar clock tells me that Thanksgiving should be at least another 2 weeks away. Growing up Canadian, this is by far my favorite US Holiday.  America knows how to celebrate being thankful!  And that added day of Friday was a brilliant move by the founding father or president who made that decision. 

A few weeks ago, I watched a documentary called The 4^th World, written and produced by Unity parent Mark Volkers.  In this documentary Mark introduces viewers to a growing population of people in our world who live in what is known as the 4^th World. These people live in tin shacks, under bridges, work in garbage dumps, peddle on street corners and earn pennies a day.  The documentary has affected my thinking greatly. 

When I contrast that documentary to my living conditions, I am speechless.   I don’t get why some people live under bridges while others like myself, get to live in a country and culture that might just be the most prosperous of any other place in the world ever.  I have vowed never again to complain about leftovers, my old car or my not-so-new house.     

For me being thankful is one of the best ways to grow closer in my relationship to God.  Maybe God wants us to recognize that the chasing after the things of this world will never bring us true joy and peace.  Our desire to acquire the latest tech gadgets, cars, homes and toys will never bring us true joy and satisfaction.  These things will rust, spoil and fade away.  

 Perhaps God wants us to be most thankful for our salvation in Christ alone.

This piece of art captures what I am most thankful about.  It is a depiction of the story of the Prodigal Son.  This story belongs to us all in many ways.  

 For when we realize that chasing after the things of this world, leaves us defeated and destitute, we are still welcome home, into the embrace of our Father God.  Notice in the painting how the Father is running down the driveway to greet the returning son, who blew his inheritance.   We serve a God who runs to us!  What love !

May the grace of God and his amazing love, fill our hearts with thanksgiving and praise!  

Happy Thanksgiving,

                                 

Mr. Dykstra