From the Principal - October

Welcome back to Term 4. I pray that you had a relaxing break and are excited about the shortest term this year, one that promises to be full of learning and end of year celebrations. I have been fortunate to have hosted many guests at the College already this term. Their feedback is important to our development, and I am thrilled that they are all sharing the same positive observations. The overwhelming commentary from visitors is that they are incredibly impressed with all of the changes at Hillcrest, from both a physical and learning perspective. I have to thank all of the amazing Hillcrest Christian College staff for working through these changes, and ensuring that our learning program is preparing students for current and future success. Their dedication to the development of new teaching pedagogies and curriculum plans has been profound, and demonstrates their incredible professionalism and commitment to our students.

Over the holidays, I have been reading through two books of the Bible - Daniel and Luke. This week I wanted to share something from the story of Daniel. The book of Daniel was written around 500 BC and chronicles the life of Daniel, who was captured by King Nebuchadnezzar and made a servant. Daniel and his friends made choices to honour God and obey His commands, rather than follow the demands of Nebuchadnezzar and his officials.


Daniel 1:8-20
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favour and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

One of my responsibilities is to interview every child and family that hopes to join our College community. Now that we are reaching capacity, I am having to make some difficult enrolment decisions. If Daniel was to seek enrolment at Hillcrest, I know that his commitment to God, his attitude, strength of character and discipline would make him stand out from others, and be considered very favourably by our College. His counter-cultural approach showed that he was not following others, but rather choosing to be different and do what God called him to do.

In a time where everyone seems to imitate one another, it is refreshing to read that 500 years before Christ, Daniel and his friends chose to honour God in all that they did. Following others can often lead to problems, especially when it involves lack of honour toward God. In our current “ME” society, I am frequently faced with youth who seem so focussed on their own needs, rather than doing what God would want them to do. Daniel and his friends’ actions were counter-cultural to what we often see today. They chose to be different and to do what God would want. The Bible is a book that offers incredible insights and thought-provoking messages that should challenge our lives. My question to each of us is simple:

‘How can we change our lives to honour God more in what we do?’

I encourage parents to talk to your children about what changes they could take to honour God more in their lives. This could be as simple as having a technology-free time where families choose not to use mobile devices, or maybe even a night dedicated to sharing with each other and not watching TV. It might be as simple as children completing their chores before they go to their rooms. You might find that these simple changes will see incredible improvements in your family and beyond. If you need any ideas for how your family can honour God more, our Hillcrest LIFE team are here to help and can be contacted via email: life@hillcrest.qld.edu.au.

Blessings,


Jeff Davis
Executive Head of College