Why I am thankful my kids attended HCA

 

Raising children is hard.  Parenting might be the most consequential thing we ever do in life because the direct result of it is the formation and transformation of a human heart, soul, and mind that will have effects for 80 years.  As someone who has raised six children, I speak from experience, but limited authority, because after all, for Gayle and I to be successful in our parenting, it required a total surrender more than careful planning.  Just like all of you, we had our own personal hopes and dreams for our kids.  We had preferences for their friend groups, the movies and music they were exposed to, the indoctrination of their minds from the outside world, their athletic teams, their college choices and even their hobbies and how they would spend down time. 

But, as we, and our children, got older, we began to realize that all the efforts we were making were inconsequential without the presence of God in our home and in the lives of our kids.  We could go through the motions of attending church every Sunday, having them memorize scripture, being involved in youth group, and even sending them to Christian school, only to see them struggle and fall prey to sin in their lives.  In reality, this should be no big surprise.  They have a sin nature…and guess who they inherited that from.  If we believe the scriptures to be true (I do), we quickly understand that all of humanity is desperately lost and wicked in the eyes of a holy God.  So, I shouldn’t ever be shocked if my children, my wife, or I act on that sin nature.  It is what is naturally inside me. 

When Jesus came to the world in the form of a man, He experienced all the same temptations and worldly influences that you and I face each day, but without sin.  Therefore, when He died on the cross, his sinless sacrifice was the only solution to the daily struggle my family faced on earth.  I can’t stop sinning.  My kids can’t stop sinning.  But, Jesus did become the solution to that endless problem, and in Him alone my children have hope.  But if they ever get to a point where they feel they can forge their own path and fix their own problems apart from Christ, they are doomed to live in darkness.

Hickory Christian Academy is far from perfect because it is filled with imperfect people.  The guy writing this is the best example of this point.  I would be foolish to believe that my children would be rescued from their sin nature simply by attending this school, or any school.  The presence of Christ must be the difference.  Therefore, HCA has been formed not to be the stand-alone magic formula to overcome a secular life, but a partnership between parents who invite the Holy Spirit into their homes and a school who does the same. 

Likewise, the partnership between like-minded families has been priceless. Our kids spent many hours with their school friends in the classrooms, lunch tables, athletic events, field trips, and even at the homes of other HCA families.  The consistency of spiritual values in each of those homes was refreshing and encouraging to us.  Of course, there were conflicts with others from time to time, but when a biblical worldview is central to both homes, there is always an avenue for peace, joy, and trust, and a chance to learn to handle life situations the right way. 

Even as the Head of School, my dad side would never send my kids here if it didn’t have eternal value for them.  For 25 years, we watched our kids struggle with friendships, get frustrated with homework, win and lose sporting events, and have bad attitudes about Monday mornings.  Similar things they could get at any school, and honestly things that garnered a lot of attention at the time.  But, what locked us in was the knowledge that a dedicated pursuit of God’s Word would be a daily part of their routine, and as a result, the presence of Christ would permeate their lives far beyond Sunday mornings. 

Our kids were raised well and given clear boundaries.    Our priority in placing them in a Christian school was not because we were worried about them drinking or doing drugs.  We didn’t worry about them using vulgar language or listening to music that contained it.  We didn’t worry about them questioning their gender or embracing godless ideals.  We had some control over those things.  What we did worry about was our kids growing up believing they were self-sufficient apart from a relationship with Christ.  We worried that they would just become comfortable in a sinful world and not separate themselves from its subtle draw.  We worried they might one day get married and have children, and not choose to point our grandkids to a Savior, but to be accepting of other religions, ideals and false teachings.  These are things that, apart from the daily presence of God are prevalent and powerful, and any young person will fall prey to them in the wrong environment. 

Christmas at the Robinson house
with six HCA alums and a
classically trained son-in-law!

Gayle and I chose HCA because the Word that we hold true is consistent in our home and in the school.  There is not a conflict.  We were never put in a position to say, “don’t believe what your teachers are telling you at school.”, which can cause conflict in a young mind.  Our adherence to an environment that attempts to know the Lord, understand His Word, and embrace the Holy Spirit gave our children a clear message.  Christ is King in our home and we won’t water Him down for any other pursuits you may be tempted to follow. 

Again, this school is far from perfect, but the imperfect teachers and administrators at HCA partnered well with the imperfect parents of my kids to point them to a perfect Savior, Who is their only hope.  That partnership has produced fruit in our family, but Jesus gets all the credit.  We must point our kids to Christ 24/7 in today’s world or they will bite the first forbidden fruit offered them, and regardless of how good it tastes in the moment, the lasting effects will never be worth it.  That is why my kids attended HCA, and as I watch my young adults navigate this crazy world, it was all worthwhile. 

Celebrating Progress!

Future HCA high schoolers celebrating their new space

25 years after I first set foot on the campus of HCA as a 29 year old parent of a student in the newly-created TK class, it is hard to describe the journey from then to now. With growth always comes the challenge of maintaining the standards of excellence we have established. We have never been perfect, and never will be, but we have always had Godly, wonderful teachers, parents, and board members who have pushed us, prayed for us, and challenged us to be the best school option in this area. The bigger you get, the harder that is to manage, but I believe we have been able to do just that - to have a school that combines the highest level academic experience with an authentic Christian culture, partnering with the best parents in the area. It's an amazing formula that continues to produce amazing results. 

High School Students on the new field

As you pass by the property today, you will quickly see that the vision continues to develop. One year ago, we purchased 7 acres of land next door with the dream of a new space for our high school families to enjoy, while freeing up areas on the current campus for the yearly addition of new classrooms. Last year was a capital campaign, this year is fruit from our labors and gifts. As we watch the new facility going up one brick and stud at a time, I can't help remembering back to the dozens of people who prayed for modular units, begged for more Sunday School classrooms, set up an entire school every Monday morning and broke it back down each Friday afternoon, and dreamed that we might one day have a graduate who goes to college, or a soccer team that wins a trophy. Those folks were not just living for their own children back then, but for your children a few decades later (who were not even born yet).

First home game in September

What is the timeline? 

While the next stage of school development has taken a little longer than we had hoped, there is great excitement building as we see things coming together. Our beautiful new turf soccer field was completed in August, giving our team the best home field anywhere around. Now, the new facility is nearing completion, which will provide the best high school academic experience for our students as well. This is all not to mention the shiny new asphalt parking lot that will save your car's suspension beginning next fall! Just before Thanksgiving break, I met with our contractors and received an updated timeline on finalizing our new high school. We are now scheduled for completion in late March. At that time, we will relocate our high school students to make room for renovations on the current facility to create bigger rooms for our 3rd - 5th grade teachers in the fall. A year from now, we will repeat that process for 2nd grade and lower. As I said earlier, in between, we will pave the gravel lot (June, 2024). 

How much is this costing our school? 

As we discussed last year, the total cost of this project is around $4 Million. This includes the purchase of the land, the creation of a turf soccer field, the construction of a new high school, the renovation of current classrooms, and paving the parking lot. During our capital campaign last year, we receive over $3.2 Million in pledges, so we are just under $1 Million short of the goal. Focus has been shifted to construction this year, but at some point, we will revisit the remaining financial need to try to finish the project debt free after the three year pledges are all received. If you did not have an opportunity to contribute to the project last year, we still need you! Please let me know if you want to discuss. 

Back entry

What will this provide in future growth needs? 

Our school currently has about 520 students. Most of our grades have two classrooms per grade, but we have begun the process of adding a third classroom, which has grown through 3rd grade this year, and will continue to climb up through the school over the next 9 years. At that time, we will likely enroll between 650-700 students, which will probably be our long term landing spot. 

What is the community impact? 

While we have heard from those in our community who lament the loss of a public soccer field, a playground, a pottery class or who get frustrated with our traffic line every afternoon, the big picture is that young people are being trained to think, develop wisdom and discernment, become a positive influence on an increasingly negative culture, and be well-prepared to not only go to college, but be good moms and dads, community leaders and promote biblical worldview in the darkness. I heard someone recently say that what we are doing today is not for our children, but for their grandchildren. As a fellow parent, it is often difficult for me to see beyond my own household at times, but we all need to understand that as our society continues to decline, the importance of what we are doing here becomes increasingly critical. What will American culture look like in 30 years? We need to prepare for that, even if it is not in the forefront of our minds today. 

View of construction from the field

Why should I care? 

As I just mentioned, the world our children and grandchildren will grow up in will continue to change at least as much as we have seen changes in our world over the past few decades. HCA provides a few things that will equip our kids to thrive in that difficult future. First and foremost, our kids need biblical worldview. When newscasters and politicians are raging over endless topics, Christians should always ask the question of what God's Word says about these things, and pointing our children to that. This is beyond political parties. Every day on our campus, every viewpoint and every lesson are grounded in Biblical truth (the only real source of truth). Secondly, a Classical education will train our students to learn to reason, discern, debate, and discuss. Make no mistake that modern education primarily teaches memorization of facts through standardized testing. Those who have been raised on decades of memorization are now leading our culture into chaos, because they were not equipped to think and process and because they have only a secular definition of truth. We need to think well beyond high school and college. What will this type of education produce in our children when they are 30, 40, 50 years old? There is so much at stake, and we need to train up reinforcements for tomorrow's world. Finally, the Christian community at HCA is unparalleled. 350 families raising their children together for a common purpose is such a beautiful thing. The only thing greater would be 500 families doing the same thing. There is amazing strength in numbers, and a difficult world to raise kids is just a little easier when we do it together. 

Enjoy the ride HCA! The best is yet to come!

Future high school breezeway

Hallway between the old and new

Arched walkway for a classical look

Plumbing in place for the bathroom

Two classrooms and a gathering area planned for this space

The First Day of School

First Day of School

Today I hurry off to school, 

To work and learn and play. 

I'm in a brand new grade this year,

What a happy day!

- Author Unknown

My first grade pic

When you actually add them all up, I am entering my 45th year of school, as a student, teacher, and administrator.  45 first days of school.  Hard to fathom that is even possible.  

To some extent, they all run together, but each one certainly has its own story to tell.  12 years ago, I created this blog that I called "Principal Perspective", with the intent of sharing the fleeting thoughts in my brain with the folks God had placed in my life at HCA.  My very first post ever was about the first day of school in 2010, but written on the first day of school in 2011, when the building shook from a surprise Hickory earthquake (I suppose all earthquakes are a somewhat of a surprise).  Here is the link: http://hcaknights.blogspot.com/2011/08/first-day-of-school.html

As I think back over my life, being a "school guy" for most of it has its advantages and disadvantages.  But one of the great perks to being a "school guy" is a fresh start each August, which builds another new experience for that following school year.  Whatever didn't go well last year is in the past, and we get a chance to clean it up and move on and whatever did go well, can go again, but be improved upon.  

The Johnson family starting a new year at HCA

Each first day of school is a significant milestone in a child's life.  I remember buying school supplies, writing my name in all my notebooks, and vowing to be much more neat and organized this year (I continue to go through that same process today!).  Unfortunately, within a few weeks, I was back to my old self.  But, even with that track record, it was always exciting to get a new start.  There were always a few new kids in the class, a different teacher, and a new outlook on life. 

It was a joy to see all the kids and parents taking pictures this morning, celebrating (some with tears) the next step in the parent/child relationship.  Today, Gayle and I sent our youngest of six children to his final first day of school.  Levi is a senior!  Our oldest daughter began in the very first Transitional Kindergarten class back in 1999, so we are tying the bow on 24 consecutive years of sending our kids to HCA.  What a blessing to our family!

For 24 years, our children have been challenged and have grown academically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially.  They are all in good places in their young adulthood now, in large part due to loving, supportive teachers who were rooted in truth and who helped us hold our kids accountable, knowing we needed all the help we could get!  I am super excited for each of your children to have a similar blessing this year.  We are humbled to serve you this year.  Welcome back!

Mrs. Peeler's 25th Anniversary

We have all been in gatherings over the years where someone was honored for something they did. Sometimes in those events, the person being honored had a specific personal impact on SOME of the individuals in attendance. But, rarely do you honor someone who had an impact on EVERYONE in attendance. However, such is the case with Connie Peeler at HCA. 

Having joined the school in the fall of 1998 as a kindergarten teacher, Connie quickly displayed her passion for the hearts and minds of young children, including my own daughter, Sydney, who was in Connie's kindergarten class in 2001-2002. Mrs. Peeler simply wants her students to know Jesus, love one another well, display discernment, and develop the heart and mind of Christ to become adults who will also make a difference in the lives they touch. 

Connie's drive for excellence in what she did, the respect she held on campus from parents and teachers, as well as her understanding of Classical education, led us to hire her as the Grammar School Principal in the fall of 2006, where she continues to serve to this day. When our accreditation team visited campus last fall, they were quickly impressed to recommend Mrs. Peeler present her skills at the national conference this summer, as other school could learn from her leadership. 

To say that Connie has had an impact on HCA is a massive understatement. She has been the foundation for our Grammar School, and a stable rock upon which the success and growth of the entire school has been built. Of course, Connie would deny that, which is part of what makes her so special to this place. To do something so well with such humility is an example to all of us who claim to be believers in Christ. For, after all, isn't that the standard that Jesus Himself set two thousand years ago? 

More than 500 cards from the HCA family!

As Mrs. Peeler completes 25 years at HCA this Spring, please join me in celebrating a life well-lived, and a job well done. Thousands of young lives have been pointed to the Lord, and strengthened for success because of her endless hours of devotion to them. The Proverbs 31 woman is often celebrated as the example for biblical womanhood. As I read it, these two verses stand out and make me think of Connie Peeler: 

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. - Prov. 31:25-26 

If you are a student, Mrs. Peeler simply loved you. 

If you are a parent, Mrs. Peeler partnered with you in the growth of your children. 

If you are a teacher, Mrs. Peeler led with wisdom and grace. 

If you are me, Mrs. Peeler has been an unwavering friend, a partner in ministry, and a true servant to our mission at HCA.

Thank you Mrs. Peeler for your faithfulness to the students and families at Hickory Christian Academy! Congratulations for 25 years of excellent service to the Lord! We wouldn't be who we are without you!

Waiting on the Lord

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.  It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.   - Lamentations 3:25-26

For the past 28 years, Hickory Christian Academy has been defined in many ways.  We are a Classical school.  The only one in our area.  This means that we have rejected the modern educational model of rote memorization, and maintained the centuries-old method of training young minds to think for themselves.  Around 85% of our graduates attend 4 year universities straight out of high school, with most others doing a community college first.  This is an impressive academic statistic for any school in today's world, and can also lead to community identity as well.  Sometimes we even are defined by athletics, when we happen to have championship years, like our girls soccer team has seen recently.  But, in my 23 years with HCA, my main desire is that we would be seen as an authentic Christian school community.  

For those who have been believers for a long time, you know that true Christianity is not an easy life.  Trusting in a God you cannot physically see is challenging, especially when dealing with humans each day whom you can see (and hear).  In the effort to be authentic in our Christian faith at school, we have never claimed to be sinless or perfect in any way.  Instead, we believe we are a collection of flawed, sin-stained individuals who are actively and collectively seeking a Savior.  That is what we do each day on campus...we study academics to develop our understanding of the world and humanity, with the end goal of knowing the one who can point us to truth.  And, we do believe that absolute truth exists, as clearly stated in God's word to us and in the incarnation of His Son.  (John 17:17, 14:6)

But, even as those who make every attempt to hear from the Lord and understand His will, life can be frustrating.  We all have an impatient nature to want what we want, right now.  It starts immediately from the womb, and never ceases.  Sometimes our wants are purely selfish (a certain vacation, a particular home or car, as much money as our neighbor, etc.), and other times our wants are seemingly good things (healing from sickness, enough money to pay the power bill, reconciliation with a family member) that just don't seem to be happening for reasons unknown to us.  

A Sunday School teacher once told me that God has three answers to our questions, "Yes", "No", and "Not Yet".  While the "yes" answer is always satisfying, and is the one that we like to post about on social media, the other two answers can confound us, especially as we become adults who feel we have matured to the point where we can be granted our requests without challenge.  But, from a spiritual standpoint, we have to remember that we are God's children and He is our Father.  

When my teenage kids ask if they can go to a party because everyone else is going, I might say "yes" and I might say "no", based on the facts I know about the party and about my child.  I might also say, "not yet", if I don't feel my child has the maturity to handle these situations well, but in a year, they may gain that trust.  Regardless of what my answer is, it is always grounded in unconditional love for my child to do what is in their best interest.  Might they get angry if I say "no"?  Of course.  But, the fact is they have not gained the life experience to know what is best for them quite yet.  So, they need a father (or mother, as the case may be).  It is just as difficult for that teenager to trust his father at that moment in time as it is for God's children to trust His answers, but in both cases, a loving father has chosen to provide for and to protect his child, whether they understand that or not.  

HCA Employees in the fall of 2006.  You may
still see a few familiar faces!

In November, 2006, Hickory Christian Academy moved onto the campus we now enjoy.  We had 278 students at that time, spread over three church campuses in town.  While we had desired to move years before, God's timing was perfect, and the space was exactly what we needed.  However, we knew the growth was likely to continue, and we continued to pray for God to provide what we needed for the long term.  The easy solution seemed to be the building next door at the city park.  The location and size were ideal.  But, all conversations with the city about this property were quickly shut down.  It seemed God had clearly answered "no".  

In the fall of 2013, our enrollment had increased to 414 students, and we were again out of space.  Simultaneously, God had blessed Hickory Bible Church with growth and a new campus across town.  The church moved in September the next year, just in time for HCA to fill what is now our middle school building (as well as full use of the chapel building).  This gave us what we needed for the near future, but again, we believed that the growth would continue.  Since then, we have increased to about 520 students, again in need of solutions for space.  In the meantime, multiple school boards have painstakingly looked into land and property opportunities.  We have literally entertained a half dozen possibilities, but nothing ever fully developed.  All the while, we continued to ask about the property next door.  Literally a few times per year for 15 years we asked the question, and continued to get the same answer.  

Current Board Chairman, Justin Query,
and I celebrating closing on the new property!

Fortunately, while the answer from the city was "no", the answer from God was "not yet".  He knew what we needed, and He knew exactly when we would have to have it.  In each recent year we have examined our current space and had doubts that we could make it work, but every year there was a solution.  It wasn't until now that the viable solutions have vanished.  We are truly packed out in every classroom and the interest in our school continues to increase.  So, in His perfect timing and according to His will, it took 15 years to purchase the property next door.   But, on December 20, 2022, we finally closed on the deal and took ownership.  

There is still a ton of work to do to get this new property ready for HCA to grow into, but even though it was often painful and frustrating to wait, I am thankful that God chose to hold off on us paying for a new property, power bill, extra employees, etc. until we were ready.  He waited until we were debt free before we took on this new project.  He waited until we had enough families in the school to stand a chance of a successful capital campaign.  So, while we didn't get what we wanted exactly when we wanted it, we now have what we need in much better shape as a school than if He had given it to us way back then.  

I am sharing this as a celebration of God's continued provision for our school, and I am sharing this because many of us have things in our lives that we want right now, and the Lord does not seem to be listening.  As children, sometimes we just have to trust our Father, even when it doesn't make sense in our own minds.  

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.  - Psalm 27:13-14

O Holy Night

 Infinite, and an infant.  Eternal, and yet born of a woman.  Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman's breast.  Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother's arms.  King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph.  Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter's despised son.  Oh, the wonder of Christmas!"

-Charles Spurgeon

Those of us who have been Christians for a long time tend to use some special words in an all-to-familiar fashion at times, because after decades of hearing them in church, we can become numb to the meaning and significance.  "Holy" is such a word.  At Christmas, when we hear 'O Holy Night' or 'Silent Night, Holy Night', we often just hold our candle and run through the verses, so we can get to the family dinner.  

But, the word 'Holy' is special.  It deserves more attention.  Literally, 'Holy' means "set apart".  When we say God is holy, we are literally saying He is set apart.  He is not only different that you and I, but He is different than anything ever created or imagined.  On a plane and in a lane of His own.  Inconceivable to the human mind.  We get a glimpse of this in the sixth chapter of Isaiah, where we look into the throne room of God in heaven, surrounded by angels who are constantly crying out, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory!"

A similar scene is described in Revelation 4, where scripture says the angels "day and night, do not cease to say, 'Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is, and who is to come."  Think about that.  Since the beginning of time, there has never been a moment where God is not hearing the words 'Holy, Holy, Holy'.  Literally, these angels are acknowledging that there is something very very different about the Lord.  He cannot be adequately described or put in a 'box', so they just keep saying "Set apart, Set apart, Set apart."  Not like us.  Beyond our understanding.  Holy.  

Christmas is a prime moment for us to honor the significance of this term, which is why it is included in so many songs of the season, as well as other hymns throughout the rest of the year (i.e. Holy, Holy, Holy).  The events of the nativity are holy indeed.  Never before, and never since has anything like this unfolded.  God Himself became a helpless infant.  The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  When this happened, the angels Isaiah saw in heaven came down to earth to continue the celebration of God's holiness - And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.' - Luke 2:13-14.  

The next two weeks are full of fun stuff.  Lights, trees, presents, gatherings, time off of school and work.  I tell students all the time that we take one day off for George Washington (President's Day), and one day off for Martin Luther King, Jr., and one day off for the birthday of our nation on July 4.  But, for Jesus, we take two weeks off!  It is that special, that different, that holy.  Even the secular schools and organizations will shut down for multiple days at Christmas, and although they would never admit it, if it were not due to the significance of this particular occasion, they would just do the one day holiday and move on as well.  Christmas is holy.  It is set apart.  It is different.  

As we all make our way to various locations next week to celebrate the holiday, I hope, in the midst of all the Santas, trees, lights, tinsel, shopping, movies, etc., that we can keep ample focus on the holiness of our Savior, and this amazing event we observe in December on His behalf.  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas celebration this year.  Jesus is worthy of our praise!

Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly?  Whoever finally lays down all power, all honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger; whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high; whoever looks at the child in the manger and sees the glory of God precisely in his lowliness.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Thank You Card

There are a few people throughout life who have a special impact on us, beyond the normal routines of life. Obviously, our parents, spouse, and other family members fall in this category, along with certain close lifelong friends. But, then you also have other folks who display such consistent examples of character, faith, integrity, etc. that they influence you without really even trying. Erin Sipe was one of those people for me. 

 In a world of self-indulgence, entitlement, and constant demands for our "rights", Erin was a bright light of selflessness, kindness, and sacrifice. She was one of the hardest working teachers I have ever seen, but never asked for anything from me other than a classroom and students. It was her sanctuary where she felt at home, at peace, and full of joy. Other than God and her family, Erin's greatest treasure was to love, teach, and influence the next generation. She simply thrived as an educator, and her students loved every minute of her class; certainly not because they loved the selected novels or papers to write, but because they loved the one who was loving them first. They knew that Erin's purpose in their lives was far more than passing the test on The Great Gatsby. She cared about them. What was in the Great Gatsby that could lead her students to understand God in a deeper way? What life lessons were there in that book that might bring them joy and success in life? Her students knew that they were her personal focus, far more than the curriculum.

  When we hired Erin to teach at HCA, six years into a 10 year battle with cancer, we knew we would likely face this moment in time. Erin was very candid about that as well, almost to a fault, always trying to protect the school and me from undue stress. But when you get one of those special people in life, you take it, even if it carries risk, and even if it is for a short time. She taught two of my own children, and I am forever grateful for the influence she had on them during that time. 

 Monday night, when I knew Erin's time was at its end, my wife and I were on a walk, and I asked her, "What stands out to you about Erin?" Gayle mentioned five or six things that everyone who knew Erin would agree with, but the very first thing she said struck me, and has stuck with me this past few days. When asked what stood out to her, Gayle said, "Erin always hand wrote Thank You Cards". At first, I thought this was a minor thing, but the more I think about it, this truly defines who Erin was. 

Erin leading morning faculty devotion

 Someone who hand-writes Thank You Cards in 2021 has some unique qualities. It would be so easy to do what we all have become accustomed to do these days, and just text my "thank you" to someone. Or maybe email. But, to take a couple days to go to the store, pick out the right cards, find a pen in the drawer, use cursive handwriting you learned back in school, lick the envelopes, buy stamps, and put it in the mailbox displays more than thanks. This is someone who is so intentional in showing kindness and gratitude that she refused to rush through it. And, when you recieve that card in the mail, there is little doubt that you have someone on the other end who loves you. This is not just going through the motions. It is deliberate in its personal touch, a truly rare thing in today's world.

So, as I take the quick route and electronically type my words, I just want to say Thank You to Erin Sipe for showing me how to endure a trial as a believer in Jesus. You never complained, even though you had more reason to do so than anyone reading this today. In the midst of stage four cancer, you loved my kids more than you loved yourself, and you taught them eternal truths far more valuable than any high school novel could reveal. You also loved Hickory Christian Academy, teaching through a pandemic while going through chemotherapy and other treatments, all the while knowing it could threaten your life. But, the beauty that we all saw was that your life was never your own. you knew you had been bought with the matchless grace of God, and so your desire was that the rest of us would see what you already knew - life is not about protecting, but about giving (a lesson you learned from Jesus Himself). Thank you for giving yourself to our school, our families, and our students for these four years. You are already greatly missed, and you will always be loved and treasured at HCA.

The Return of Chapel

 Some Classical Christian Schools have chapel, others do not because of the constant integration of scripture into the daily school environment.  At HCA, Chapel has been a long-standing, integral part of our weekly routine.  

For 26 years, our inter-denominational Christian school has invited parents and pastors to present a Biblical worldview lesson from the truths of scripture to our students each week.  The tangible benefits of this are obvious.  I love hearing multiple people from differing Christian backgrounds (who have become one Christian family at HCA) speaking on the impact that Jesus has on their lives, and on the things He is teaching them.  It is so important that the adults in our children's lives display an authenticity of their Christian walk to the kids.  And, weekly, that is what we try to share with our students at Chapel.  

Life is hard.  If we pretend that being a Christian erases all of the hurt, anguish, frustration, and fear, our children will feel like they are failing when they experience the same things.  But, when we tell them that, even as adult Christians, we struggle with life, it helps them see the reality of their own issues, and further, when we explain that the steadfastness of the Lord is our rock to lean on, we reveal that even when we are six feet tall, we cannot truly succeed in life apart from a relationship with God.  

Last school year, as everything was unusual, we stopped our normal chapel services.  While we had to do what we had to do in the covid year, the impact on the school was real.  Without the weekly gathering of believers, we all felt a void that transferred into fears and frustrations that may have been alleviated to some extent by the truth reminders from the Holy Bible - God's Word.  

Motions with the school verse song

We were all so excited to be able to start up chapel services again last week.  Mrs. Peeler started off the Grammar grades with our school verse (John 16:33), and the reminder that we can find peace in troubled times because Jesus has overcome the world.  Yesterday, Pam Starnes shared with our students that they all have eternal worth as Children of God, even when it doesn't feel that way.  

High School Praise Team leading worship

In the upper grades chapel, Dan Tarr shared from James chapter one about how believers should be set apart from the world in how we handle trials.  James tells us that we should find joy in our trials because they solidify our faith and point us back to the Savior, who is the real source of joy and contentment.  

As God would have it, both chapels were full of wonderful reminders for the crazy times in which we live. I am sharing all of this today simply to celebrate the fact that we are able to slowly get back to the real mission and vision of HCA, and we are already seeing a difference.  

Congratulations HCA Class of 2021

 Most of the time at HCA you hear me talk about spiritual growth, cultural issues, and the benefits of classical methodology.  Although they are primary reasons people look for schools, I rarely highlight test scores or athletics because of the fear of "selling out" to the things that are popular in the world over the things that God has pointed to in scripture as eternally beneficial.  Jesus himself is the one who said, "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?"  The pursuit of "success" by the world's definition has always been a trap for our flesh, and HCA has historically tried to steer away from those secular values, to point students toward eternal things.  

However, the truth is that our students are getting the best academic education in the area as well, and sometimes, even the best sports experience, as evidenced by the girls 2021 soccer state championship.  MaxPreps ranked our girls as the #8 overall soccer team in the state, including all public and private schools of all sizes.  That's a big accomplishment for a high school of 145 people!

But, where I want to briefly focus is on the academic accomplishments of our most recent graduates, the HCA class of 2021.  I am going here because, by not hyper-focusing on academic achievement, we may have led folks to wonder how we compare with other schools in this area.  So, using Friday night's graduates as evidence, here is the product that just left HCA:

Of the 30 graduates in the class of 2021, one is entering the US Navy, one is going on the mission field, and one is joining a family owned business right away.  The other 27 are entering college in the fall.  These 27 students received 105 total college acceptance letters to 42 different colleges including:

HCA Class of 2021

Alabama, Appalachian State, Auburn, Belmont, Berry College, Campbell, The Citadel, Clemson, CVCC, East Carolina, Florida State, Florida, Fordham, Furman, Gardner Webb, Georgia, High Point, King University, Lenoir Rhyne, Liberty, LSU, Montreat, NC State, North Greenville, Ohio State, Pembroke, Radford, South Carolina, South Florida, Tennessee, UConn, UNC, UNC Asheville, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, Virginia, Virginia Tech, VMI, Wake Forest, Western Carolina, Wingate.

In addition these 27 graduates accumulated $2.6 Million in scholarship offers for their four years of college.  Yes, you heard that right ... $2.6 Million.  Now, that is offers, not accepted scholarships, but regardless, it is an amazing accomplishment.  The bottom line is that graduates from Hickory Christian Academy are getting into their colleges of choice, and most are being offered money to come.  

Now, back to my normal mantra.  These 30 graduates are simply amazing young adults who are defined by kindness, servanthood, and friendship, as well as many who have a tangible pursuit of Christ in their lives.  Since they have been trained to think for themselves, and to communicate intelligently and effectively, each will be well prepared to enter the secular world of universities and other social pressures with a Biblical Worldview and a strong foundation.  Pray for these wonderful young people.  Most have been at HCA since Kindergarten, and it has been an amazing privilege to see them grow into this moment in time where they will now be influencers of the culture they enter.  

Can it really be 20 years?

On May 1, 2001, an idealistic young man walked into Hickory Christian Academy, on his first day of work, with a dream of making a difference.  20 years later, here I sit, still talking about it!

I remember that first day included my first chapel service where the students were able to vote on the school mascot, as formal athletics were going to begin in the fall.  They excitedly picked "Knights" as they represented defenders of the faith.  At the end of that day, we had a faculty meeting where I was formally introduced to the teachers and staff, including one kindergarten teacher named Connie Peeler.  You may have heard of her.  

The school was split between two campuses, using Highland Baptist Church for PreK through 3rd grade, and First Baptist Church for 4th - 7th grades.  Around 170 students total.  I had been hired specifically to help develop grades 8 - 12 over the next five years, to make sure those kids would be noticed and ready for college, if they chose to go, to begin athletics as an extra-curricular for our students, to develop Classical methodologies for our upcoming Rhetoric grades, and most of all, to point young people to the cross of Jesus Christ, as the culture around them was beginning to crumble.  Tangibly, my job was setting up and breaking down classrooms every week, as we were sharing space with two (eventually three) churches.  That helps explain why they hired a young man for the job.

I had been specifically trained as an educator, and had several years of classroom experience, so I felt confident and ready for my new responsibilities.  As long as I was following expectations set by someone else, and not the lead guy, I was excited to serve.  

My yearbook picture from 2001.
I still have that tie!

Well, 6 weeks later...

The board met with me to inform me that there was going to be an administrative change, and that I would be the interim Headmaster until we figured out what to do long term.  Gulp!

20 years to the day later, God has blessed us with a $7 Million campus, virtually no debt, about 500 students, a faculty and staff of 70 amazing people, and 360 alumni who were introduced to a daily interaction with the Lord at school, in order to prepare them to face a mostly secular world.  

This year (2020-2021), we began the process of adding a third classroom per grade in Kindergarten, which will lead to further growth over the next 10 years, and a greater impact on the Christian culture of Hickory, NC.  

I continue to believe that Classical education is the greatest way to train our young people to discern what is true, good, and beautiful in this world, and to defend against all the imposters of those virtues.  If all our kids do is memorize stuff for a standardized test in order to impress a college acceptance committee, we will lose the fight for their minds and our future.  They are worth more effort that that.  I continue to believe that the cross of Christ is the only hope we have, and in today's world, if that is not emphasized to our young people on a daily basis, the future is in trouble, not only for them, but for our culture as a whole. 

The past 20 years have been amazingly difficult, but defending the souls and minds of our children can never have a price too high to pay, and I am honored to have been a small part of that.  The 20 years have also been incredibly rewarding, not only in the daily interactions with thousands of precious children and parents, but also now as I see alumni in their 20's and 30's with children of their own - Young parents who are planting the same seeds in their own homes as they had growing up at HCA, and at least seven of them who have returned to put their kids back in the same classrooms they grew up in back in the day.  

Thank you Hickory Christian Academy for welcoming in and tolerating a young guy who honestly didn't know what he was doing, encouraging me throughout each year, and raising your children alongside of mine for two decades.  I could not ask for a better collection of people to influence my kids that what we have had.  Kristen was in Kindergarten in my first year, and is now completing her 4th year on the mission field in Haiti.  Sydney was in PreK that first year, and is now a 2nd grade teacher at a Classical Christian School in Nashville.  Amy and Sam are finishing college this year, and Julia and Levi (who were not born the day I started at HCA) are in our high school, and beginning to make their life plans. HCA has formed me and my family much more than I could have ever formed it.  Every minute was totally worth it.

On Monday, I will begin the first day of my second 20 years.  I am so excited to see what God has in store!

Happy Birthday HCA!

In the fall of 1994, God provided a vision to two young moms at Highland Baptist Church to begin a school for their children, and for the kids of other dedicated believers in the community.  Desiring their kids simultaneously have a strong spiritual foundation as well as a strong academic environment, they were discouraged by the lack of choices, and followed the Lord’s lead to begin Hickory Christian Academy. 

On September 5, 1995, HCA opened its doors to 19 students.  Four children entered Mrs. Ennis’ 1^st grade, Five kids were in Mrs. Huffine’s Kindergarten class, and Mrs. Ragan had 10 in her K4 class.  And, all of a sudden, HCA was off and running!  The original Mission Statement, which we still adhere to today, was written as “Equipping children today to become God’s leaders tomorrow.”

25 years later, as the school hovers around 500 students and 40 teachers, a lot has changed.  We have our own campus, students through 12^th grade, over 325 alumni (seven of whom now have their kids back at HCA as current students).  We have student athletes, a daily lunch program, hundreds of college graduates, an alumni association, and a community footprint where we are respected and appreciated as a beneficial asset to the Catawba Valley. 

But, the mission has not changed.  Our desire was, and is, to produce Christian leaders.  That does not necessarily mean that every student becomes a boss, but rather that they become steadfast in their faith, unwavering in their commitment to Jesus through a combination of true biblical worldview (Christian) and training of the mind (Classical).  Upon graduation, an HCA student will be a combination of spiritual and intellectual strength, making them difference makers for the gospel. 

From year two.  Wearing uniforms for the first time!

I don’t know exactly what Karen Johnson and Debbie Bolch had in mind when they founded the school 25 years ago, but I do know that something beautiful has emerged from their prayers and obedience, and every one of us benefits from that today.  Any time you do something significant, you will encounter resistance, rough patches, and fears (including this year for sure), but when you receive the reward, it is all worth the work. 

As Hickory Christian Academy celebrates 25 years of Classical Christian education, I invite you all to be a part of the celebration.  For now, we cannot hold a large gathering, but maybe soon we will be able to do something a little more formal.  Until then, let me simply say THANK YOU to all who have played a part in the success of this school, from founders to teachers to board members to parents and students.  And, let me just say Happy Birthday HCA! to each of you.  So, wherever you are, and however you choose, please join me in celebrating God’s faithfulness to our precious school.  Whether you have been with us for 25 years, or just a couple weeks, you are now part of a very special story, and we are excited to rejoice over this milestone, and the ones to come, alongside each of you.

Rejoice in the wife of your youth

Gayle and I have been married for 27 1/2 years.  July 11, 1992 was a scorching hot day in Hickory, and I was wearing a tuxedo.  Normally, that would put me in a crabby mood, but on that particular day, I didn't bother to think about the drops of sweat dripping down my back, or my lack of oxygen.  Rather, I was focused on the moment in time that would shape my future, and everything about me from that day forward.  I was a mature 22 year old, or so I believed at the time.  I had just graduated college, and landed a job teaching high school math and physics, making a whopping $19,000/year, which, fresh out of college, seemed like a million bucks to me.  We had arranged a honeymoon through a timeshare tour agreement in Florida and the Bahamas, bought a plane ticket, had the world on a string, and were ready to share life.

She still looks at me like this!

Well, as you know, "life" has many flavors and seasons.  Six kids, one son-in-law, four colleges, 20 used cars, aging parents, 5 houses, and a dozen pets later, we have seen a lot, and shared a lot.  When two individuals choose to unite in one household, there are many more ramifications to that decision than a glossy-eyed 22 year old can possibly comprehend.  It would be nice if we always agreed on everything, but the fact is, we don't.  It would be great if we always said kind words to each other, but we fail there as well.  It would also be nice if we were both always self-sacrificial, thinking of the other first, but...

Marriage can be hard, and over the years, Gayle and I often found ourselves co-existing more than celebrating our union.  Many times, we were defined more accurately as business partners than husband and wife.  After all, there is a BIG household of children to manage, a bank account to watch shrink, and a busy schedule to check off, among a myriad of other things that life throws at each of us.

But, she stuck it out with me all these years, and put up with my quirks, pride, attitudes, and snoring, and I am so thankful that she did.  Because, I cannot imagine a better scenario for my life than to be married to Gayle.  She is compassionate, caring, honest and joyful.  She is a prayer warrior for our family, and for many of yours as well.  She taught me how to love Jesus unconditionally , and continues to do so daily.  Marriage is not about being happy every day (repeat that 100 times).  Rather, it is about choosing someone to share the daily grind of life with...the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, victories and defeats.  It is also a reflection of Christ's relationship with His people (Eph. 5:25), and the sacrificial love which forms that relationship.  We have an opportunity every day, just by being married, to show people how much Jesus loves His Church, starting with the people living in our house...


Two became Nine

So, as I think of my Valentine today, and the legacy we are forming through this spiritual bond God has placed us in, I just want to encourage all of you to rejoice in the wife (or husband) of your youth today (Prov. 5:18).  She is worth rejoicing in because she is more than a roommate or business partner.  She is a gift from God.  She's not perfect, and neither am I, but the One who placed us together is perfect, and therefore we are excited to trust Him with our lives and with our family.

I love you Gayle.  I can't wait to see what the next 27 1/2 years holds for us!

The Word became Flesh

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... - John 1:14a

I am a big sports fan. I love competition. I love the battle between teams, and the dedication, sacrifice, and teamwork that goes into a successful sports season. Most of my time on the field as a kid was in baseball. My dad was a baseball player, and taught me the beauty of a cognitive game without a clock, that is one-on-one (pitcher vs. batter), while simultaneously team vs. team. I also played basketball, golf, and even a season of soccer in the 6th grade. I wasn't very good at that one, but I could kick pretty far.  

But, in light of that personal draw toward athletics, I must say I HATE the modern phenomenon of instant replay. I am old school to the core. Part of the fun of sports used to be the "can you believe that call!?!" conversations the day after. Now, we spend an extra 30 minutes in every game to review every breath to death just to make sure the call was correct, and eliminate the controversy. I like human umpires and referees overseeing human athletes apart from cameras and computers, even if it is not perfect. The flow of the game was better. The excitement was better. The constant stoppages in today's games just mess it up.  

However, I totally understand the reason we rely on instant replay these days - because it reveals the truth. Did the guy really catch the ball? Let's check the replay. Was his foot on the line? Let's go to the review booth. Did he beat the throw to 1st base? We need to take a look because we want to know the truth, or it will negatively affect the bigger outcome. Hopefully, that is the same attitude we all have in life. What is the truth? How do I find it? Who ultimately has the authority to declare what is true?  

This is all the more important in today's crazy world of emotionalism, political correctness, and media sensationalism. We are inundated with everyone's opinions on everything. For those of us who are the pre-internet generation (graduated high school before 1995), we can cope with today's world, because we grew up in a time when we were influenced by only a few dozen people (parents, grandparents, teachers, pastors, friends), and still hold those simple values. No one else's opinions really mattered. But, for those who came along afterward, every day of life is filled with thousands of opinions on hundreds of topics. We no longer ask key life questions to our mentors and friends; instead, we "Google" them (and tend to believe whatever pops out of that search, regardless of who wrote it). This is our children's world.

So, truth is at stake more today than it has ever been, and is watered down at times beyond recognition. How do we know what we are reading is true? How do we know what we are feeling is true? How do we know what we are seeing is true? (There used to be a saying, "seeing is believing", but with Photoshop, virtual reality, and other altering technologies, you just never know anymore).

In John 17:17, Jesus was praying for His disciples, as well as for all those who would be born after his crucifixion, when He said, "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth." To sanctify means to grow in the knowledge and image of God - To become more like Him. When Jesus spoke these words, He was literally saying that to become more like God, we need to have access to the truth. Then, He immediately identifies the source of that truth - The Word. A Robinson Version paraphrase of this verse might read something like this: "Lord, make these people more and more like you each day by reinforcing in them the truths found in your Word." This would be very similar to the overall vision HCA has for its students on campus.

So, assuming that Christians reading this blog believe that Jesus speaks absolute truths, we can bank on the fact that God's Word is truth, and can be relied upon for our daily and eternal direction. In the first verse of scripture, we see that "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." God's first recorded words are found in Genesis 1:3, "Let there be light". God is the only one who can make light out of darkness. This is deeper than just physical lights, like the sun and moon. It also refers to intellectual and spiritual light - the revealing of absolute truth to a dark, confused, lost world. This is why Jesus is referred to as the Light of the World. He didn't just make the sun shine brighter. He illuminated our minds and souls to the truth.  

In those first few verses of the Bible, we see all of creation come into being through words. God spoke light into existence. He spoke the earth, sky, water, plants, birds, and animals into being. Then, he spoke mankind out of the dust of the earth into His image bearers. The words of God were all that existed, and all that was needed.  

Later, in the first chapter of John, we see it all come together in verses one and fourteen. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." The Word of God that spoke into existence all life, embodied all truth, and existed from the beginning was born in a feeding trough in Bethlehem around 2000 years ago, and walked the earth just as you and I. To quote the familiar song:

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
That sleeping child you're holding is the great I am?

The truth is simply this: God created the heavens and the earth by speaking them into existence, and then entered the world in the flesh to become the only source of truth for mankind, meaning He is the only hope we have. Everything else is a smokescreen and a distraction, pointing us in other directions. So, as we watch the evening news, and hear about the political circus, the vying for attention and power, and the emotional breakdown of our culture, the simple story of a virgin holding her divine infant under the celebratory watch of angels, shepherds and wise men is indeed cause for joy. A baby born to die for our sins, when we could not save ourselves is Good News of Great Joy for all mankind. 

How do I know this is truth? Let's watch the replay again for the 2000th time. 

"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." - Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas!