Principal

Greetings Friends!

I am taking sabbatical leave this year in 2 blocks and my first ‘block’ was recently taken for a study tour in Israel.

The tour focused on Jesus’ life and ministry; how he ministered and built his team for the Kingdom. It was such a wonderful time which has refreshed me spiritually and encouraged me as a leader. 

My understanding of Jesus’ humanity (in seeing places where he walked, lived and ministered) and divinity has deepened my passion for developing leaders for Christian schooling, here at St Andrews and throughout the world.

Before I left for Israel, I was sent some signs from a prominent Australian University which encourages students to “unlearn truth” and that it is important to have a lesson in UNLEARNING.

If this learning is based on lies and untruths - what value is the learning?

To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:31-36

God gives us truth, He is truth and our learning is unending, exciting and purposeful when based on God’s truth. This truth is based on His love and He knows what is best for us.

No wonder so many people in society are so mixed up. It is because society is saying “you can establish your own truth, you can lay down the rules as to what is important, you can actually be god yourself.”

Parents and teachers, we have such an important role to teach our children the truth. When they know this truth and know God’s love they will actually live in freedom - not in bondage.

We go to Deuteronomy 6:5-9.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

The directions are clear to us all as parents and Christian educators. It is God’s love, grace and hope that we daily want our students at St Andrews Christian College to not only to understand but to experience.

Did you know that the early Jews also took this verse literally, and on the gates into Jerusalem you can see little metal boxes which held scrolls of God’s Word?

Here is a scroll box on the side of the JAFFA GATE into Jerusalem.

Blessings to all!

Shalom,

Catriona