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by Jamie Bonnema

This past year has been a struggle and a blessing. At both ends it has been immensely intense. Some may find it odd to even think about this past year as a blessing when at times we would rather close that chapter and never remember. But through this amazing struggle, I have learned much. My heart will never be the same, and I have a feeling that this is for an extremely important reason: there is much ahead.

This year has changed all of us. We were on our knees, sobbing in prayer, joining others across the globe, with unified pleas to heaven. Prayers were not little. They were not taken lightly. For the first time in a long time, many of us came to the realization that our simple way of living had been taken for granted, and we had left so many conversations with God behind, not understanding what was at stake. We left action in a box on the shelf. We left decisions up to others when we should have been leading the charge. We just wanted to live our own lives and let others live theirs, while different plans were going on behind the curtain. And then, little by little, we began to see the consequences of leaving things up to others. We saw what we should have seen before—the abandonment of morality and logic took charge, and the golden calf is now visible before us as other “gods” have the attention. It seemed too much to take in, more was piled on, and even more came to light. There were mornings in which I was surprised when my eyelids opened to see that life was still happening. Christ can return at any time, and today could be the day—or last night could have been.

But when I open my eyes in the morning, aware that I’m still breathing, I understand that I have another day to do something right. Many times, I fail, but when the sun comes up, I still have another chance. God, what do you want of me?

by Jamie Bonnema

It seems that the ink in the pen has been dry for quite a while. The fluid thoughts and heartfelt responses to everyday life came to a screeching halt when suddenly more was on the plate than anyone expected. The moments in which ideas did began to form were stolen by the harsh reality of the aggressive type of reactions that were happening so frequently—by people we love, by colleagues, by neighbors, by friends, by family members, and by people we have never even met, too.

And so, many, many blogs ended with only a first paragraph, and abandoned with more disheartening thoughts, adding to the already heavy burden: What if this is taken the wrong way? Will this be taken out of context? Will people understand the heart behind the thoughts or will they read it in their own tone and apply their own pre-conceived perspective to the meaning? For someone just trying to do good, provoke thought, and challenge our own thinking, this has been a writer’s dream (with so much to write about) and nightmare (I am opening myself up to attack) all in one.

There are times when God gives us a message and we just go. Other times we second guess that message, maybe deciding if it is safe to proceed or not. Subconsciously we are weighing the cost. But all too often, we forget to weigh the cost of not acting—and those consequences we may not even be able to imagine. But God knows the cost from all angles. He also knows the blessing should we follow Him.

Genesis Classical Academy has just completed the first quarter of the 2020 – 2021 school year on our new campus at the edge of town, and we are settling in nicely to our new spaces. We also have added many “new faces” this year, including 24 new students and several highly-qualified teaching and support staff.

by Jamie Bonnema

If I had written about a chapter of my life, specifically of the past year and a half, I would have begun the chapter by describing how challenging life has become. As this chapter drags on, I would say life is no longer a challenge—it is an intense battle. I think we can all agree that we long for a new chapter to begin soon. Hopefully, this part of the story is similar to stepping out of the desert, leaving behind slavery, plagues, and hearts that wander aimlessly away from God. Life lately has become about reflection, and part of looking further inside involves my responsibility and privilege as a parent.

Our parenting has always been about raising our kids to be good stewards of what God has given and helping them find their identity in Christ. All of this, plus keeping them alive and healthy, seems like an enormous undertaking that can break at any point. Our family depends on God’s grace every moment.

by Judy Ness

My husband and I enjoy sailing as a leisure activity. He grew up learning to sail, but for me it was much later in life when I fell in love with the sea. We have been blessed to sail the beautiful blue waters of the Caribbean on several occasions.

On a trip this past year, we enjoyed sunny skies, balmy breezes, and gentle seas. But then, the weather changed abruptly. Although we were not in any real danger, gusts of wind heeled the sailboat over uncomfortably. The wind seemed to shift without warning, and the sea swells came from every direction. Although there is no proof, a panicked first mate MAY have pleaded with the captain of the boat to “DO SOMETHING!”