09/11/2025
This morning I had planned a remembrance post in honor of 9/11. While I still think that is important, I cannot let today go by without acknowledging the tragedies of yesterday as well. For the first time in my lifetime (but definitely not the first time in the course of this nation) an innocent man, who was not a politician, who promoted peaceful and logical discord in public was gunned down exercising his free speech. For many, Charlie Kirk's passing hits close to home, but for those of us in Classical Christian Education, it hits right to the heart.
People often ask what makes schools like Crestline different. While we know what we do, it can seem a little abstract to the world around us. However, today it may seem a little more clear. We live in a world where disagreeing with someone also means that we must hate that person. Culture says that we must "go no contact" with those who cause us to feel anything other than validated. Public institutions tell our students that truth is relative and worldview should be taught as neutral so as to not hurt anyone's feelings.
However, schools in our circle of the world know that this couldn't be further from the truth. We know that there is only one Truth and it is the Word of God. We know that students must be able to give an account for their personal Faith in the God of the Bible, through a personal knowledge and understanding of His Word. They must also be able to understand history in its full context and speak and write eloquently not only with people who agree with them, but more importantly with the people who disagree with them. We want them to understand well that God is their Victor and the ultimate Judge, and we want them to rest in a Hope that only comes from knowing that they are a child of the One who was and is, and is to come. We do what we do, so that others (our students and those they encounter in life) can ultimately see Jesus. It is for the Glory of God.
Today, I feel much like I did on the morning of 9/11/01. The world is changing. I am more and more aware that there is indeed good and evil and we must know how to discern what is True. While we can feel sad during these times, we should not be scared. We serve a big God and there is nothing new or unknown by Him. So today we remember the innocent lives lost, not only yesterday, but also those lost on 9/11 and every day of the year. We pray that our lives might reflect God so that others might know Him, for His glory.
1st John 2:9-17
9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[a] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[b]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
