Des Moines Christian School ePulse

Des Moines Christian School

August 3, 2012

Des Moines Christian School

13007 Douglas Parkway

Urbandale, IA 50323

Phone: (515) 252.2480

Fax: (515) 251.6911
www.dmcs.org

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"Celebrating Life and Maturity!"
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Our Mission -Equipping students with an excellent biblically-directed, Christ-centered education.

Our Vision -Students will become servant leaders who think critically, discern spiritually, and act biblically.

Our Core Values -

∙ Christ-centered

∙ Student-focused

∙ Wise stewardship of

all resources

∙ Serving those inside

and outside the body
of Christ

∙ Striving toward

excellence in all of our
endeavors

ePulse

Editing and Periodic Writing by Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent

Development by Marilyn Wilson and Published by Lisa Fitzgerald

PURE JOY WHENEVER!

Des Moines Christian School's theme passage for the 2011-2012 school year was Proverbs 3:3-5, and the catchphrase, "Trust in the Lord," focused our attention on God as the source of our faith and trust. We are adopting a new passage for the 2012-2013 school year -- James 1:2-4 -- and the catchphrase is "Pure Joy Whenever." Can you "find" joy wherever and whenever you go? Is the joy pure (or tainted by inauthenticity or faulty motivation)? I call all of us to think about how we can find joy in spite of circumstances. As with Jesus and men like Paul, we can experience pure joy in spite of trials in our lives, because we know that the trials develop perseverance in our lives, and that perseverance will hopefully one day result in our being mature and complete before the Lord. Find "pure joy whenever!"

Index of Blurbs:

This Week's Opening Quote from Mother Teresa
This Week's Scripture - Nehemiah 8:10
This Week's Prayer
2012 All-State Softball Players!
Graduated Senior to Participate in the 2012 Senior All-Star Games!
Meet!
2012 All-State Golfers!
Meet the New Secondary Instrumental Music Instructor/Director!
Request for Secondary Spiritual Emphasis Items
The All-Parent Meeting in August Is No More
Report About Clean-Up Efforts at the new Joshua Christian Academy Campus
Indoctrination
Be a Box Tops Hero
Fundraising Efforts You Can Join
The Great Relationship Experience
Spirit Midwest - Iowa's Largest FREE Christian Music Festival
New Teacher Looking for Home
PromiseKeepers Message Summary - "Called Out," by Derwin Gray
PromiseKeepers Message Summary - "A Call to Duty," by Bob Beltz
CrossTrainers Message Summary - "Light or Darkness?" by Dr. Bob Stouffer
Fundraising Effort to Eradicate Malaria in the World
Closing quote from C.S. Lewis

This Week's Opening Quote -

"Joy is prayer - Joy is strength - Joy is love - Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls." (Mother Teresa, 1910-1997)

This Week's Scripture -
". . .the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10, English Standard Version)

This Week's Prayer -

"Lord God, I desire joy. Happiness is not what I seek, because happiness is dependent upon life's circumstances. Pure joy comes from YOU, Lord, no matter the circumstances. So please shower me with joy, Father in heaven! AMEN!"

How awesome that three of our softball players -- all graduated seniors -- have been named 2012 All-State softball players! Pitcher Leah Harris was named to the First Team! Infielder Tierra Fletcher was named to the Second Team! And Annette Bosman was named to the Third Team! Well deserved by all! An athletic TEAM generally must be consistently excellent for individual student-athletes to receive all-state recognition. Congratulations to Coach Howard Harris, Coach Doug Glade, Coach Britt Schoon, and all of the softball players for achieving at such an outstanding level in the 2012 season!

In addition, graduated senior Tyler Osborn ('12) has been selected to participate in the 2012 Senior All-Star Baseball games as a member of the Small School West Squad. The All-Star games will be played in Clinton on August 2-5. This is a great honor for Tyler, his teammates, and his coaches. There are many deserving student-athletes in the state. Congratulations to Tyler, Coach Derek Flack, Coach Clint Luscombe, and all of the Lions baseball players!


Finally, we celebrate the successes of our *2012 All-State Golfers:* Katie Barbee, '13, First Team, and Chris Sturdivant, DMC '14, Second Team! Special congratulations to Katie, Chris, and Golf Coaches Matt Fynaardt and Bruce Kolling!

In order to refresh the content of summer newsletters, I have decided to regularly "introduce" the new 2012-2013 staff members to you. DMCS is pleased to introduce Rob Lane as the new Secondary Instrumental Music teacher. Mr. Lane has extensive leadership in concert, jazz, and marching band. He marched in college on the only blue football field in the United States for the Boise State Broncos! He has taught jazz, marching, and concert band with great success in his previous positions. Mr. Lane left his public school teaching position in Drummond, Wisconsin last month to heed God's calling and move his wife and children to Des Moines. Before teaching in Drummond, Mr. Lane was on staff with New Tribes Bible Institute in Milwaukee as the Director of Education, while teaching and leading the choir and instrumental music programs. Mr. Lane comes highly recommended from both his previous employers and church community. You will understand why DMCS invited Mr. Lane to be the instrumental music teacher after you read the comments from his references below:

He is a man of integrity and cares deeply for other people.
His character is exemplary.
He is very good at keeping discipline and organization.
He has a passion to think outside of the box and yet be very analytical.
He is an excellent Bible teacher, but music is his gifting.
Appreciate his care and concern for details
He did a very good job teaching the students and understanding what the students need.
Enjoys playing and watching others perform
He finds a way to make things work no matter what the situation.
He is innovative, creative, and very dedicated.
He takes time to get to know those around him.

Mr. Lane will bring compassion, excellence, perspective, experience, wisdom, and rigor to an already established program. He is eager to kick off the year with band camp on Monday, August 6^th and transition to the Des Moines area in the ensuing days. Please pray for Mr. Lane and his family during their transition.

This year's theme for Spiritual Emphasis in the Secondary school is "Training for Godliness - Spiritual Leadership." We will be conducting many team-building and leadership-focused activities to foster collaboration among the student body. One of our team-building activities will require bandanas and small stuffed animals, i.e. Beanie Babies or similar-sized stuffed animals. If you would be willing to lend us a few bandanas and/or small stuffed animals, please contact Michelle Drefke or Austin Temperley in the Secondary Office, so we can get an accurate count of items. We will need roughly 50 clean bandanas (although they do not have to be new) and 60 small stuffed animals. Thank you in advance for your generosity. If you would like your items returned, please be sure to put your name on the items.

In the interest of saving you time, I have made a very difficult decision for me. I have ended the tradition of the all-parent meeting on the Thursday before the first day of school. Some of you will be ecstatic. Some of you may be a little sad, because that's been a great "cheerleading" and community-building session. But I have decided that we will now release class assignments electronically or by mail, and I can produce some fun website and video postings which will replace the rah-rah time with a permanent record of important information. Keep your eyes and years open in the days ahead. We'll try to deliver some performances worthy of consideration for Academy Award nomination!

I am sore in places I didn't think I could be sore. I have an irritating blister on one of my fingers. My shoulders ache. But I am very proud of the Administrative Team and several volunteers today. They worked EXTREMELY hard during a clean-up project at Joshua Christian Academy's new location in East Des Moines on Monday of this week. By the time the Administrative Team and a bevy of other Des Moines Christian volunteers left the Logan Center campus 8 hours later, we had picked up all of the garbage on the spacious campus, swept and removed large quantities of broken glass, removed all Logan Center signage in preparation for the new JCA signage, puttied holes, pulled countless sidewalk weeds, blew clean loose dirts and leaves, trimmed trees, washed down walls, cleaned and putty-knived goop off floors, and painted primer on the walls of one once purple-adorned classroom! And we prayed. Perhaps prayer was THE most important thing we did. We gathered at the end of our day, circled, held hands, and prayed prayers over the property for the days, months, and hopefully years to come -- representing Jesus as neighbors observed and cars drove by. We are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! This is also, hopefully, not the last time we are on this JCA campus. There is MUCH more work to do. I can envision hoards of DMC volunteers and others from the body of Christ in Greater Des Moines enhancing the look of this excellent JCA property. (Secondary students, can you say, "Ministry Service Hours"? I knew you could!) JCA now has a real "home" for the students of inner-city Des Moines! I praise the Lord for DMC's involvement in this excellent Christian school. Again, thanks to all of the following people who made for such an enriching day on Monday, July 30th: Karla Van, Karla Lowe, Julia Veenstra, Jahna Duda, Samona Yentes, Kirk Yentes, Austin Temperley, Cliff Anderson, Barbara Hawley, Nathan Hawley, Daniel Hawley, Caroline Pryor (a JCA teacher), Steve Gallaher, Chris Hurley, Abby Hurley, Emily Hurley, and 2 neighborhood boys!

I bet you didn't know that I was a regular blood donor. I am! Well, during one of my double red donations this summer, I was able to watch a very powerful documentary on the state of American education. The name of the documentary is "Indoctrination." The subtitle is "Public schools and the Decline of Christianity in America." I am NOT ever going to criticize public schools, but the DVD is very provocative and challenges any of us -- whether we are homeschool, public school, or non-public school educators -- to seriously consider our roles in raising the next generation to impact the culture for Jesus Christ by living-out a biblical worldview. If anyone would like to borrow my copy of the "Indoctrination" DVD, do not hesitate to e-mail or call me at (515) 252-2480.

Be a Box Tops Hero -- Help DMCS earn cash this summer!! Box Tops and other companies are giving away thousands of free eBox Tops. Box Tops earned will be credited to our school account this summer when DMCS supporters take a few minutes to play a fun game, enter a sweepstakes giveaway, or answer 4 short survey questions. You can even spin the Chex wheel for a chance to earn free Box Tops, too!! Enter daily for more chances to win. Just go to www.btfe.com for a chance to earn Box Tops for DMCS!


Looking for a way to support DMCS with your back to school shopping? Click here for details about fundraising efforts you can join.

We are a charter school for The Great Relationship Experience! Please keep investing in your relationships this summer - with Christ and with all of the members of your family!

Two years ago, we studied great relationships through the filter of the Joseph the Dreamer. This past year, we look at life through Nehemiah's eyes. In 2012-2013, The Great Relationships Experience schools across the United States will take a markedly different path. America's Family Coaches and Des Moines Christian School are placing the six keys to godly relationships DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF PARENTS! Moving forward, we are pleased to announce that TGRE will be available directly to you parents to utilize on your schedules, in your homes, and in your own creative and innovative ways through e-book format -- allowing for maximum exposure to families and true ownership of TGRE concepts by parents.

America's Family Coaches will also open a new Teacher Forum for educators to use. AFC will provide a link to all current TGRE schools to allow DMC to connect openly about real classroom experiences and how to integrate the keys to godly relationships in the curriculum on a daily basis. It is AFC's hope that, through the Teacher Forum, administrators and teachers will be able to develop their own unique and viable TGRE experiences in their respective schools.

In light of these new steps, AFC will not be creating content for a new biblical hero for the 2012-2013 school year. Dr. Gary and Barb Rosberg will be evaluating what TGRE will "look like" in 2013-2014, and they are excited to support DMC in getting parents involved in TGRE.

Spirit Midwest is a non-profit ministry that runs Iowa's largest FREE Christian music festival. Spirit Midwest has just announced FREE CAMPING to accompany the always FREE festival, which is now in its seventh year. Just fifteen minutes south of Des Moines, the two-day festival will provide an idyllic family vacation setting in a beautiful grove surrounded by food, fun, guest speakers, concessions and - of course - lots of music. Spirit Midwest begins at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 3rd and runs through Midnight on Saturday. Along with more than 60 bands -- including national artists Todd Agnew, Manic Drive, The Museum, The Wedding, Willet and more -- the festival will also feature a free Kids Zone, guest speakers, food, and merchandise. The three stages will host everything from contemporary pop to country, hip hop, rap, heavy metal, hard rock, acoustic, classic rock, and everything in-between. The schedule and artist information can be found on the Spirit Midwest website. For more information, contact Julie Barnes at 515-577-8035.


Rob and Leila Lane are looking for a home in the Greater Des Moines area. Mr. Lane is the new Secondary Instrumental Music Instructor/Director. Are you aware of an affordable three- or four-bedroom home for sale or rent which would accommodate their family? If so, please contact Secondary Principal Austin Temperley at 252-2490.


One hundred sixty-two (162) men and boys either committed their lives to the Lord or recommitted to Christ after Pastor Derwin Gray's opening PromiseKeepers message of Friday, July 13, 2012. If you would like to read my written summary of the former NFL player's message, *"Called Out,"* please click here.


Bob Beltz, who helped produced the Amazing Grace film about William Wilberforce, decided he should join the ranks of Christians when two church football teams got into a free-for-all fight! If you would like to read my summary of Bob's PromiseKeepers message of Friday, July 13, 2012, *"A Call to Duty,"* please click here.


During CrossTrainers on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, I took the time to address the metaphor of light and darkness from various portions of Scripture. If you would like to consider the points of my teaching outline, *"Light or Darkness?"* please click here

Nate Beaird, an Urbandale High School student during my tenure as Principal of UHS, is turning 30 this year; he wanted to find a cause to get behind and do something different for his birthday. He made a video and posted it on his Facebook and Twitter accounts. The video laid out his birthday wish, and directed interested parties to his website, where people can donate to World Vision as part of his project. EVERY DAY, 2,000 people (mostly children under the age of 5) die from Malaria, a completely preventable disease. Treated Mosquito nets can last up to 4 years, are washable, and can protect 2 children at a time. When 80% of a certain community uses these nets, the cases of Malaria drop by 50% in the first year. Although we've eradicated Malaria here in the United States, still over half the world's population is at-risk. World Vision is on a mission to eradicating Malaria by 2015.

There's two parts of his birthday wish:

He wants to raise $300,000 to purchase 50,000 treated Mosquito nets to protect 100,000 lives from Malaria.
And he also wants to find 10,000 people to be generous with their resources - generosity impacting both the giver and the receiver in incredible ways.

Amazing goals! His birthday wish has spread all around the country, 30 of our 50 states have participated in donating for his birthday. The wish has also gone world-wide, with 14 countries participating! The local TV News station has done a story on the fundraising effort, as well as the local newspaper, not to mention blogs. So far 174+ people have donated $23,301, which will buy 3,884 nets and protect 7,768 lives!

Nate is not a World Vision employee. He is just a guy trying to encourage generosity in people while working to eradicate the largest human killing disease of all time. Check it out, if you're interested!


The next ePulse will be published on Friday, August 10, 2012. *Closing Quote -* "I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy." (C.S. Lewis) Sincerely, Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent Des Moines Christian School