Here we are—May. Or, as I like to call it, the month of “Mayhem”.

 You know the signs: the calendar is a jigsaw puzzle of programs, field trips, graduations, field days, testing, and “please send in one dozen cookies shaped like the solar system” type requests. Backpacks are fuller than ever, yet somehow no one has a pencil. Lunches are creative (snacks in disguise), and bedtime routines are holding on by a thread.

 And through it all, you’re still showing up—with patience, grace, and maybe a touch of dry shampoo. Can I just say: you're doing amazing.

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH VCA

As I approach the last days that I will be teaching at VCA, I do so with mixed emotion.  VCA has been a major part of my life for almost 15 years.  When I started, I was the only social studies teacher in Middle School/High School.  The memories I have of this part of my later life are wonderful and sweet (I don't remember any of the negative ones).  They have been a major factor in shaping who I am today.  From classes I have taught, leading student council and National Honor Society, the guy's Saturday morning breakfast club, speaking in chapels, two years as interim principal, close relationships with students (many of whom I still have contact with today), and the privilege of working side-by-side with the greatest staff and faculty.

The Cross and the Great Commission -

During Holy Week, the hymns, sermons, and traditions point our thoughts and souls to our risen Savior in powerful ways. Praise to the risen Christ! 

 Next in the liturgical calendar is the Day of Pentecost, in which we reflect on how the Holy Spirit indwells in the believers, empowering us to complete Christ’s final marching orders, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19-20). While all have been given the same Great Commission, each of us has a unique role in it. My wife and I believe that our role in the Great Commission is to return to Lima, Peru to help train the next generation of Peruvian missionaries in taking the Gospel to the 3 billion people who have no access to the Good News. 

Since the beginning of February, our elementary students have been walking through a chapel series called “Changed.” Each week, we’ve looked at how ordinary people in the Bible were radically transformed by encounters with Jesus — all for a greater purpose.We met Abraham, who received the desires of his heart because of his faith.  We followed Moses, who trusted God and was blessed with a life far greater than he could have imagined.  We saw Peter exchange independence for dependence, false courage for trust, and self-confidence for a deep reliance on Christ.  We listened to the story of the woman at the well, whose identity was changed from sinner and outcast to forgiven, washed, and made new — all because Jesus showed her what He could do in her life.  And we encountered Paul, whose heart, once hardened and lacking compassion, was replaced with one that loved people deeply.

“The Lord’s plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken.”

 As we continue navigating this school year without a dedicated Head of School, the Transition team and the Board have prioritized transparency with you. There have been moments where we felt certain God was leading us down one path, only to discover He had different—and often better—plans for us. This journey has been full of growth and learning, and I am deeply grateful for it. I believe, as a team, VCA has grown alongside me through this experience.

When music and meaningful words come together, these poetic thoughts stick in my mind and return as I muse on life, future, and purpose. In my seating chart 3-ring binder is a printed copy of the words by a wonderful couple named Keith and Kristyn Getty that I heard a couple years ago. It spoke to me deeply, so, I wanted to share this with you in hopes that the words and melody might touch your heart deeply as well.

My worth is not in what I own

Not in the strength of flesh and bone

But in the costly wounds of love

At the cross

I retired from swimming in 2016. Swimming has always been a big part of my life. It was the sport that engulfed my life for 20 years. I was blessed to have such a lengthy career with Team USA and competed all over the world in such places like Germany, Australia, Russia, and South Korea to name a few. I swam against the best swimmers in the world, names like Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, arguably some of the greatest Olympians of all time and to be honest, that created a little timidity in my own heart at times.

Obedience to God is a vital aspect of a believer’s walk with Him. It is a demonstration of our love, faith, and trust in His wisdom and sovereignty.   In my journey of “attempting”  to be obedient to God I have failed so many times, yet He has still loved me, sought me, and taught me many things. 

Today would have been my dad’s birthday. He passed away in July of 2023, but I think of him daily—his wisdom, his humor, and the lessons he taught me, both in words and in the way he lived. He was the minister of our church, but more importantly, he was the same man at home as he was in the pulpit. He taught me to love Jesus, to be a man of God, and to understand that faith isn’t just about the next life—it’s about how we live this one.

I think most of us have at least that one relationship, chalked full of unconditional love. The other day I got to spend every minute of the day with “my person!” It was such a blessing.  Sometimes in life there are disappointments, misunderstandings, days that don’t go as planned, but having that encouraging person in life is a tremendous lift.

John 15:13 – "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."

 Valentine’s Day is often associated with love—roses, chocolates, and heartfelt expressions of affection. While these tokens of love are wonderful, they pale in comparison to the love demonstrated by Jesus Christ. His love is not based on fleeting emotions or temporary gestures but is sacrificial, eternal, and unconditional.

A Message from the VCA Board of Directors

The Lord’s Prayer is something many of us have recited countless times. But how often do we pause to truly reflect on the meaning behind the words Jesus taught us? This past week, the Bible App shared Matthew 6:11 as its daily scripture, highlighting the line, “Give us this day our daily bread.” My Bible notes suggest this could be interpreted as “give us today the food for the day.” I don’t know about you, but there are times when I wish God would just provide a whole month’s worth of food and leave the rest to me. However, God, in His perfect wisdom, desires us to trust Him, to have faith that He will provide exactly what we need, when we need it.

What is Faith? I’m sure you’ve been asked that question a few times in your life…or maybe you’ve asked yourself that question. It’s such a powerful five-letter word. A word God tells us if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains. Let me repeat that…MOVE MOUNTAINS. I can’t even fathom that at times. Can you?

Hitting the 80-year old mark, I have to confess that I have been thinking a lot lately about LEGACY. I have 3 major prayer objectives that are a part of my daily prayer life--1) To be a godly man 2) To mature in wisdom 3) To leave behind a godly legacy. Every Christian needs to be aware of the legacy they are in the process of leaving behind. Your legacy is about sharing the good news of God's grace in your life. It's about contributing to the building up of the kingdom of God through family, church, and relationships. Psalm 78:3-4 tells us, "What we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us, we will not hide from our children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders He has done." …

Worship. I love to worship. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t have worship music blaring on the car radio, on my phone, or on our JBL speaker at home. When I am struggling, feeling overwhelmed, or just wanting to center my heart…I worship.

We are designed for worship, it is how we are made. We have hearts that are attracted to God. As redeemed people we should overflow with thankfulness for what God has done in our lives. In worship we are reminded of how awesome our God really is. We discover him as our Creator, Redeemer, and Lord…

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; it is the honor of kings to search a matter out." - Proverbs 25:2

When I began teaching at VCA six years ago, the one thing I was most intimidated by was the idea of praying in front of the class. I had been trained to guide young minds academically, but that training had not prepared me for the gravity of leading those minds before the throne of grace. Then again, I knew I could not allow fear to control my own understanding of prayer…

My husband has one rule when it comes to Christmas: “No tree before the turkey.” Every year, our girls and I try to convince him to bend that rule, but he always holds firm. Finally, this year, it happened—we got to put up our tree in early November. The Jett girls rejoiced!

Why is it that we’re so eager to get the holiday season started? 

Finding Joy During the Holidays…

 The past ten years have been difficult to navigate after losing my grandfather and my husband’s grandmother within days of each other and in more recent years, a grandmother just after the holidays. These people were pivotal in raising me and laid the foundation for the person I would become, and the person I aspire to be one day. But in the past decade, Christmas has been less of a “magical time” for me, and more of a grieving season. As a family though, we joked that of course grandpa would pass away a few days before Christmas because he would have wanted to celebrate Christmas in Heaven with Christ.

I was recently listening to a podcast where the speaker shared a poignant story about a time when she was feeling overwhelmed. A friend sent her a bouquet of flowers with a simple card that read, "Give it to God." Four words, so simple, yet so profound—reminding us that no matter what challenges we face, we can always surrender them to God.

The holidays are upon us! What are you thankful for?