Yet, we all know those who will deny the very existence of God. In fact, we live in a society that at best pays lip service to the reality of God. While I cannot understand this, we shouldn’t be surprised. Paul continues in Romans 1:21 by stating “Although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Psalm 14:1 boldly declares “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

   It is because of this that I am thankful for Fairview Christian School where we can boldly declare, with the heavens, the Glory of God. We can lead our students to the reality of God. We can and do prepare them to live in a society that will often deny God and His Glory.

• “We want our children to be in the ‘real’ world.”  What is the “real” world for Christians?  Is it a world informed by secularism or one dominated by the love, reconciliation, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ?
• “We don’t want to abandon the public schools.  We want our children to be a witness there.”  Should the youngest members of God’s kingdom be on the front lines, or is it wiser to prepare them much like we would care for young plants in the garden?
• “We would like to have our children in a Christian school, but we can’t afford it.”  What better stewardship of personal and church finances than to use them for the education of children?  “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)
• “The Christian school is hypocritical.”  Christian schools do not claim to be perfect or without their share of sinners any more than churches do.  The difference with the Christian school is the way in which it deals with the sin, how it models restitution and accountability, and how it encourages repentance and restoration.

   Why send kids to Fairview Christian School? My answer is I truly believe that at Fairview Christian School students will receive the best Christ-centered education available. They will be taught to evaluate life from a Biblical Worldview. They will be given the opportunity to follow Christ in all they do. They will be loved and nurtured to become the best that they can be in Christ. I could go on, but I would like to just change my question. Why would you not send kids to Fairview Christian School?

   It seems that there is some confusion as to who Saint Valentine was. In fact, many sources report that there were probably many priests named Valentine. Most sources agree that whether Saint Valentine was one individual or many, he (or they) was martyred under Roman rule. So, why is Valentine’s Day associated with love?

   Well, there’s confusion on that front too. One source said that Saint Valentine married young couples against the emperor’s wishes. Another reported that when Valentine was in prison,  he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter; and just before he was beheaded he sent her a letter signed “from your Valentine.” Another suggests that the connection comes because Valentine was buried on February 14 which coincides with the pagan Feast of Lupercalia, a festival of love.

   So, I came to the conclusion that the whole thing is just a confusing mess that has survived to this day where we give and receive valentine cards, candy and flowers. Now, I’m not knocking all the sentimentalism surrounding Valentine’s Day – I actually rather enjoy it. But I began thinking that perhaps as Christians we should be working on how we love at all times. Read 1 Corinthians 13 again and see how you measure up. I know that I fall short so often.

   Then I was again reminded of the words of Jesus: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” Seems like a rather simple plan of salvation. And John tells us in 1 John 4:12 “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”  So as we think about Valentine’s Day, let’s be reminded that the world will be pointed to the Father through our love.