I don’t know about you, but I think I blinked somewhere along the last few weeks. All of a sudden, it is September. I could swear it was just July yesterday. As I pause and look up for a minute, it seems summer is long gone. The first of our fall microclimate weeks is here. The cool breeze calls us to come play outside again. Footballs are flying… along with the banter. And the upcoming holidays are on full display at the stores and in commercials.
I have sat down to write this post more times than I care to admit—without getting fired. It was easy to put it aside because payroll needed to be processed, students needed help, and my own kid’s endless requests kept piling up. So here we are… bear with me as I merge the last two months into more than a blink. My emails are usually not this long, I promise!
If you are new to Tabernacle, we welcome you! We truly are so thankful you have joined us. If you have been with us for many decades (and yes, some families have been with us for decades), we are so thankful you have stayed with us.
One of the foundations of Tabernacle is our focus on partnership—to share in the joy of watching your children learn and grow, and to walk with you as you face the struggles thrown at your families. To watch them turn into leaders, servants, artists, musicians, doctors, scientists, teachers, friends, and even spouses. But also, to listen as you share the challenges that are reshaping your lives. Sometimes we nail it! Other times, not so much. In our almost fifty-five years as a school, the ripples of one woman’s vision to start a school that teaches foundational Christian faith to all people are felt near and far. It has impacted generations.
As this year passes, Tabernacle offers many tools and resources to help: family events to provide time for fellowship, opportunities to serve, and most importantly, to share the faith that holds us up when we don’t know what to do. The faith that gives joy for what is coming. The faith that makes us get up each day and do it all again.
As we do every August, Tabernacle’s focus verse is John 14:6 – “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the father except through me.” This is the key foundation of Christianity itself. John tells us that there is only one way and one truth. That concept is not only unpopular, but even revolting to some. The Bible teaches that there is only one way to God, and that is through Jesus. It does not matter how amazing we are, how horrible we are, what church we attend, who we know, etc. We can’t buy or work our way out of what eternity holds. It is also not our truth or our way. Through Jesus’ self-sacrifice, we are given the chance to know The Way, The Truth, and The Life eternally. These are the foundations that Tabernacle builds on.
As humans, we make choices each day. Are we going to go to X or Y? Should your children do sports, music lessons, or both? The decisions are endless! Our perceived truth decides what we do. But what do we base those truths on? Advertising? Advice? Life experiences? Scientific research? Even though the things of our world can seem to point in all different directions, truth must be based on something outside of opinions or feelings. As Christians, we choose to base our beliefs on the entirety of the Bible and its teachings. The choice is ours—to either accept or reject it. What path are you choosing today?
That was a lot…. But wait there is more behind door number 2.
If you don’t know who Joshua was, look him up. Joshua had a big job! He was called to step into the role of leading Israel after Moses—THE GUY who had roughly two to three million people relying on him to lead them on a road trip across the desert. Basically, the equivalent of two to three children who just lost their devices and comfortable AC homes. Oh—and should you accept the mission, you’d be telling your children that so much of what they want and are pushed to be can really cause them great destruction. Also, they must use a flip phone instead of e-power, AI, and social media. Good luck, right? I think I’d rather be Joshua.
To fulfill Joshua’s calling—and ours—he needed to “be strong and courageous, not be afraid, and not be discouraged.” So far, not very helpful. My boots are not that big and I defiantly can’t pull myself up with those on. Many of us get stuck or stop there. We see Jericho. We see the giant problems and struggles. We see our shortcomings. And we walk away. Because it is easier to turn the calling into something that fits our truth, our way, and how we want our lives to be.
“Because I am with you WHEREVER you go”. He has already put people, places, jobs, family, whatever where we need them to be for GOOD to come if we turn to Him and His ways. Not perfection. Not the best thing ever. And not easy. But good.
As we walk together this year, please know that we love your kids, we love your family. And we strive to walk and teach in God’s ways. Not perfectly, but with the hope and longing for the good. To lay a foundation that will transform your kids into leaders of the next generation that spreads the good news of God. And God’s promise and faithfulness will see them through to the end.
That was a lot. To help families dive into finding God’s truth and way I would like to tell you about a free resource Tabernacle provides all enrolled families. At no cost to you, Tabernacle has provided access to Right Now Media. This is streaming platform that has everything from adult, family, children’s devotionals on a vast number of topics to movies and shows for kids. To access your free account please click on the flyer attached for the direct link.
