The Markham Center renovation is nearly complete. For those who are new to BJA, the Markham Center is the high school “snack shop,” which is used by our students as a place for enjoying food, fellowship, and studying. I hope you all will make a point of stopping by this year to see the transformation.
With great anticipation, we look forward to the start of BJA’s 90th year in just two-and-a-half weeks! We look forward to getting to know our new families and trust that the Lord will unite our hearts together as we partner in the education of your children. Overall, our enrollment total has increased about 55 students, and we give a special welcome to over 150 new BJA students—for whom we praise the Lord!
The Markham Center renovation is nearly complete. For those who are new to BJA, the Markham Center is the high school “snack shop,” which is used by our students as a place for enjoying food, fellowship, and studying. I hope you all will make a point of stopping by this year to see the transformation.
Most important, we look forward to what God has in store for us this year as we seek to know Him better, to look to His Word for direction, and to challenge our students to follow Him faithfully. Please pray that God will teach us in the classrooms, in the hallways, and on the ball fields.
It has been said that the heart of education is the education of the heart. Our goal at Bob Jones Academy is to provide quality academics to prepare our students to be effective servants in their local churches and godly influences in society. Academics alone cannot do that—more importantly, a student needs to yield his heart to the Lord.
Many truths can be drawn from the familiar story of David and Goliath. First, we need to fear the Lord—not our enemies. David did not fear the giant; he feared the Lord. It is so important that we not fear those enemies that Satan brings into our life to destroy us. They are real. Many enemies we can see. Yet we need to trust in the Lord, Whom we cannot see. That is faith.
When David protected his heart and gave it wholly to the Lord, the Lord blessed him and gave him victory. In fact, because of David’s stand, the once cowardly Israelites found courage to pursue the Philistines when they saw what God had done in David’s life. Oh, that we would see many Davids in the lives our students here at Bob Jones Academy!
Children today are growing up in an electronic world full of distraction. While devices keep us informed and instantly connected with anyone from nearly anywhere, one of the unfortunate sides of an electronic age is the pull for families to be more connected to their devices than to each other. True “face time” is suffering in the society in which we live. Occasionally it is good for us to take a step back and watch ourselves for a day. Are car rides spent talking together or is everyone focused on their devices? What about dinner times? Is one hand texting while the other manages the silverware? No doubt, we have all been at a restaurant and witnessed a family around a table all individually captivated by their devices. A friend of mine who has several teenagers has a family rule that the first one who picks up a phone during a meal pays for the meal. Wow! I was very challenged by their dedication to family interaction over meals. It is those times—whether in a car, at a meal, or even around a table playing a board game—when strong, lasting relationships are built.
Multitasking has become a way of life; and amazingly enough, even children seem to be increasingly adept at it. However, studies have shown that a child’s ability to communicate significantly decreases when the child is consistently exposed to adults who perform other tasks or do not maintain eye contact while the child is speaking. Reading that information challenged me again to stop what I’m doing and listen when a student talks. I enjoy communicating with our elementary students; and when they talk, I need to give them my full attention. I have been challenged to recognize that a looming task can actually wait so I can encourage them to be good communicators and also show them that I care. Similarly, I’ve noted times when a student ends up deflated at a program or activity when the person who came to cheer on the student seems more attentive to a device than to the student. Setting down a device may be a simple act, but it reaps a significant benefit in the life of a child. None of these thoughts is new or profound; they are just areas I have been reminded of lately. How important it is to literally look up—to look up from our devices…and beyond that to look up for help from our loving Heavenly Father and make every day count with the wonderful children the Lord has entrusted to us. Bob Jones Academy exists to assist like-minded Christian parents in challenging students to love Jesus Christ, to embrace God’s truth, to exercise integrity, to pursue excellence, and to serve others.
Would it be a surprise to say that Bob Jones Academy is not for everyone? We hold tenaciously to the doctrines of the Bible, seek an intimate relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ, and strive to honor Him by living obedient, Christ-centered lives. We seek to join hands with parents who desire the same for their children. The mission statement describes a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with others. Our relationship with Christ is the most valuable thing that we have and ought not be traded for anything else, not even life itself. Because of His love for us, we are compelled to love Him. Daily, we challenge students to love Christ—in chapel, in the classroom, in the hallways, and on the ball fields. He has provided all that we need to live a life that honors Him. God is truth; His Word is truth. Therefore, because of our love and in order to grow in our love for Him, we must embrace His living Word. We preach and teach the Word of God directly; we teach every course from a biblical worldview, and we approach difficulties and blessings from God’s perspective. As the Bible says, “Do all to the glory of God.” As we love God and learn His Word, we are challenged to become like Christ—to exercise integrity. The Bible says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” We challenge our students to obey the clear commands of Scripture and to establish standards that are based on the principles of the Bible. For example, we desire that our students honor Christ by being honest, kind, obedient, and respectful. Integrity reflects our love for Christ and consideration for others. BJA is known for challenging students to pursue excellence. In order to achieve high goals, a person needs to be challenged. BJA’s motto bears testimony to this—dedicated, focused, proven. Do we challenge students to excellence so that they can become somebody? No. Our desire is to challenge them to become the best that they can be for the glory of the Lord and for their ministry to others. And that leads us to the last statement of serving others. Life is not about me. It is first and foremost about God, and, secondly, about shining as lights and serving others in order that they, too, are drawn to Christ. As we begin the year, let’s partner together to challenge our students to grow in these areas for the glory of God. It is somewhat like the mile (or 400-meter) race. Students are entering the last lap and anticipating the final stretch. Often seniors will post a countdown calendar and X-out each day as they approach that final graduation day. From Bible Conference to graduation, there are less than 35 days! My encouragement to all of our students is to keep their eyes on the finish line. Many things can happen in the last lap. Some want to quit because they have lost their focus. They are falling back in the pack. They are tired and sometimes discouraged. What should we do? Point them back to Jesus! Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Some become distracted. They lose interest in the race and give their attention to things usually of far less importance. We need to help them regain their focus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Some are slowed by obstacles in the way. Let us remind them to turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones while clinging to God's promise of faithfulness. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Others pick up baggage along the way that slows them down. Again, we can point to Scripture. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. I can still hear my old track coach, Mr. Eisenhart, barking out the exhortation, "Don't look back! Don't slow down until you cross the finish line! Go! Go! Go!" That is good advice for our students. Heeding this advice at the end of the year (and at the end of our lives), we can echo the words of Paul: I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. God promises to reward the person who has that attitude. Together, let us challenge our students to keep their eyes on Christ as we accelerate to the finish line.
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