Easter Celebration

Each year at this time, Christians remember the incredible sacrifice and love displayed on the cross, and celebrate the hope and joy that comes from serving a risen Savior. I love the Easter celebration, and how it is so full of hope, promise, compassion and love. As I am writing this week's blog, I can hear the violins of our strings program playing the tune, "Holy, Holy, Holy" in our elementary chapel program across the foyer (I actually stopped writing to go and listen to our students worship through music this morning). What a blessing!

That is what this week really represents. We as Christians acknowledge that we serve a righteous, holy, loving God. We recognize the familiar and powerful words of John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." God has promised us that we can have a relationship with him, if we believe.

Our hope at Mandarin Christian School is that each student will one day proclaim that Jesus is Lord, and will follow Him as His disciple. That is my hope for each of you reading these words as well this week. If you are in the Jacksonville area and do not have a church home, I would like to invite you to get connected this Easter and join us this weekend (March 22 and 23). Christ's Church is located at 6045 Greenland Road, Jacksonville, FL and we have services on Saturday, March 22 at 5pm and Sunday, March 23 at 9am and 10:30am. For more information go to http://www.ccontheweb.com/.

Thank You

Two little words, so often ignored. It is so nice to hear those words when someone recognizes a job well done, or a kind deed, or a kind word. I wish that I was always quick with a "thank you" and never missed the opportunity to say "good job" when the opportunity arises. With those thoughts in mind, I would like to say a big "THANK YOU" to the many people involved in the 13th Annual MCS Auction last week, to raise money for our new playground equipment and materials.

What a tremendous blessing. What a huge success. What a great evening of fun, fellowship, food, and even fund-raising. Thank you to the auction committee that began preparations as soon as last year's Auction ended. Thank you to the many volunteers that worked diligently to solicit items for the Auction, to set up and decorate, to organize class baskets, to fix and serve the food, and to stick around until late at night to clean up and set up for church the next day. Thank you to the MCS staff and Christ's Church staff for all of their coordination of efforts to make this year the best ever. Thanks to the students that came out and helped serve.

One of the many things I love about MCS is the way we work together with volunteers, staff, and families. It would be impossible for us to have such an event if it were not for the many hours that our volunteers lovingly sacrifice for the greater cause of Christian education.

Thank you all! Keep on serving others!

Clean Hands and Pure Heart

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness the God of his salvation." Psalm 24: 1-5

Last week, I challenged each of you to join us in praying for Mandarin Christian School, our families, our faculty, our finances, our facilities, and our overall program. I would like to invite you to join with us each Wednesday morning in Room 104 in the back of the auditorium from 7:30 - 8:00 a.m. for a special time of prayer and praise. This opportunity to pray is open to all students, parents, staff, and friends of MCS who desire to join with us.

My hope is that each of us will come before the Lord with clean hands and pure hearts, and lift up the needs, hopes, dreams, and vision of Mandarin Christian School before our Lord, the Creator and Sustainer of all. I believe that God wants His people to pray and He wants to bless His children as they humbly come before Him. Please prayerfully consider joining us each Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m., beginning this week on March 5th.

We read in Psalm 25:4-5 of David's prayer to God when he writes, "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

I pray that you will come and share with us on Wednesday mornings.

In Christ!