Last night I attended the Kennedy
High School open house for prospective students. Our oldest child is in 7th
grade so we’re starting to prepare for the next step. Kennedy has some
positives (free and close to home!) but I don’t trust my own intuition and
desperately need God’s direction. He often speaks to me through a ‘sense’ of
yes or no as I go somewhere and start to experience the atmosphere.
This open house was just a first
step and we will look at a couple more schools. After a brief introduction from
some of the staff they had us walk around with the some of the honor students
who volunteered to spend some time giving a tour.
(By the way, of the 25 honor
students that escorted us there were only 3 guys. Not sure why. Are 90% of the
honors students girls? Do the guys just not like to give tours? Where are the
young men?)
3 positive things stood out to me:
- We’ve come a long way as a church. New Life used to
meet in Kennedy High School from 2002 until 2004 when we purchased the
building at 51st & Keeler. The group that fit in one
service of about 400 people at Kennedy now is known as ‘New Life Midway’
and includes over 1100 people at our Keeler building and has birthed out a
group of 200 more folks at Tri-Taylor.
- I’ve come a long way as a Christian. I never liked High
School, mainly because I was aimless and didn’t know what I wanted to do.
I still feel a little uncomfortable in a school, hearing the bells and
seeing the classrooms. Just a few months out of High School in 1983 I heard the gospel and came
to Christ. Now, 25 years later, I have experienced peace, purpose, passion
and any other good thing you can name by the grace of God. Every day is a
blessing and I’m serving the King of Kings and helping other people to
follow Him. I never would have dreamed in High School that I could have
such a life.
- God will direct us in choosing the right High School.
The Lord has guided me so clearly for 25 years in every major decision and He
knows where our kids should go to High School. Since I’ve been married (16 yrs)
my wife and I have prayed separately and together on major decisions and always
wind up with the same strong conviction. God gives wisdom when we ask (James
1:5-6) and can enable us to choose the best over the good (Philippians 1:9-11)
