As a father and a lifelong Christian, I’ve witnessed firsthand how Artificial Intelligence (AI) captivates our imagination and stirs deep ethical debates within our community. Its influence is poised to reshape our families, faith, and the very fabric of society. I remember a conversation with my daughter where she asked “Siri” a question about Solomon from the Bible. Her innocent question underscored the importance of engaging with AI proactively and using it for good, in accordance with the Truth.  ..read more

When I was growing up, difficult things didn’t scare me. Life was simple, and I was content with what we had. I felt loved and valued at home, which reflected positively in my relationships and academic efforts. Many colleagues of my generation had similar experiences in their youth.  Fast forward several decades. Times have changed. New challenges abound. Uncertainty is a certainty. Anxiety is at an all-time high, with up to 60% of children and adolescents reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression.  ..read more

I follow several social media accounts that post funny, thought-provoking, or inspiring posts for those who serve as educators. I recently saw a post that said:  A messy classroom means students are engaged! GO FOR CHAOS!! I confess, my immediate reaction was, “YES! We want engaged students! And learning is messy, so let’s embrace the ‘messy!’” After a minute’s reflection, however, I’m not so sure that my gut reaction was the right response ..read more

I am a terrible golfer. Honestly, I really shouldn’t call myself a golfer. I golf so rarely—almost never—that it’s no surprise at all that I am dreadful at it. If you were to describe my golf game, the phrase “lost in the weeds” could certainly apply. The last time I golfed, I spent more time in the rough than on the fairway, and much of that was way, way in the rough. At least three little white balls were lost in the weeds that day ..read more

The cultural moment of our day is one of seemingly constant change and confusion. Amidst this change, there is a trend that has been constant over the years—people are leaving the church at a high rate. In a time when people need purpose and community more than ever, they are abandoning the very thing that God has designed for us to thrive and flourish in a challenging world: the church.   Christian school leaders have a unique opportunity to teach their communities God’s vision for the church and its integral role in spiritual formation ..read more

In my almost 25 years in Christian education, I have never encountered a group of students like the ones we have the privilege of serving today. They are brave yet fearful. They are thoughtful yet guarded. They are entrepreneurs yet oftentimes struggle to get started. They are filled with hope yet pensive about the future. They are our students, and we get the privilege of serving them. Guiding them. Giving them hope ..read more

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  ~1 Corinthians 9:24-25       Starting Right Matters ..read more

Reflection is widely known as an educational best practice. My fierce plea to those like myself battling at the helm of Christian education is to reflect earnestly on the practices in place surrounding curriculum and instruction. Simply put, curriculum is what we teach and instruction is how we teach it. Therefore, we mustn’t overcomplicate the need for reflection in this arena. We have to answer two simple questions: Are students genuinely learning? If the answer is no, we must follow up with the question: Why aren’t they learning ..read more

“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.”—Isaiah 25:1 (NIV)   Do you ever struggle to remember God’s faithfulness? I do. Sometimes it’s easy to forget His faithfulness or to take it for granted, especially in the day-to-day, small things ..read more

As is our tradition, we have once again asked our ACSI blog authors, friends, and colleagues to recommend their favorite books to share with our readers. This year we received many wonderful suggestions. We’ve compiled a list of books with topics touching on leadership, faith, business, family, students, and more. There are some old favorites, as well as some new discoveries. We hope you find a new book to read in this new year. In alphabetical order, here is this year’s selection of favorite books along with a short reason why they’re recommended:  A Minute to Think: Reclaim Creativity ..read more