Welcome back! It has been so good to see your children again this week, and I am grateful for the holiday break each of us was able to enjoy. God loves rests and restarts (so do I), and I hope you'll share my enthusiasm for our kids this spring. Every day forms them, and by partnering with ACA, you are changing their lives right now.

As we kick off this new year, I'd like to remind you of ACA's wonderful educational mission: ACA exists to provide an education that is both classical and Christian. It exists to equip students to know, love, and practice what is true, virtuous, and beautiful. It challenges them to strive for excellence as they live for the glory of God and for the good of all people.

I encourage you to take a fresh look at these words and contemplate them carefully. As you do, I've found the quotes below to be an excellent aid in helping me continue to grow through this mission:

1) "In vain does one repeat what the heart does not find sweet." So said Alexander Solzhenitsyn, prominent Russian author and political prisoner in themid-20th century. If we teach our children all the right things with good teachers and perfect curriculum, but we do it without sweetness and beauty, our education is to no purpose.

2) "'Ye were bought at a price,' and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us." Dietrich Bonhoeffer said this, and it reminds us in a wonderful way that we are all called to high and hard things. Education is difficult for theglory of God.

3) "Take heed to yourselves, lest your example contradict your doctrine."Richard Baxter, an English Puritan and poet, spoke these words to fellow pastors -- but what excellent wisdom for us as teachers and parents as well! Our students are keen to detect our hypocrisies, and so we must hold ourselves to high standards of faith and conduct for the sake of our children.

Let's continue to partner together for the long haul. God loves long obediences in the same direction, and you are each doing a good work for your children. Onward for Christ's kingdom!