Dear all,
Joyous New Year of 2018!
Our first year at Butterfly Valley Campus has proven to be full of God’s blessings and I trust that the key to an abundant year ahead can be found in the life of Caleb, who is said to have a different spirit (Number 14:24).
Caleb’s legacy is a result of him following the Lord wholeheartedly, regardless of the size of his challenges, the passing of his age, and the change in his context. Indeed, our attitude can make all the difference in our relationships with others as well as in the processes and outcomes of whatever we do everyday.
As a young leader, Caleb went with the eleven other spies to explore the land of Canaan for forty days. At the end of this adventure, ten of them brought back a bad report. The land was exceedingly good, described as flowing with milk and honey. Yet the people there were big in stature. They were stronger and more powerful. Their cities were fortified. In comparison, the Israelites were like grasshoppers: fragile and insignificant. To the ten spies, there was no way for them to conquer the Promised Land. They stirred up fear; the crowds were discouraged; and the whole assembly grumbled and complained. During this upheaval, Caleb stepped up and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13: 30). Joshua and Caleb had conviction that “if the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land… the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them” (Numbers 14: 8-9). Their eyes were not fixed on the physical constraints of their resources but God’s spiritual provision.
Furthermore, at the age of eighty five, Caleb went to Joshua and asked for another challenge. He said,
I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out: I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said (Joshua 14: 11-12).
Caleb was no longer a young man. Yet, his zeal was not dimmed by his age. Even after they had entered the Promised Land, his devotion to serve was the same as they were in the wilderness. As a result, Joshua honored Caleb’s request and gave him the land of Hebron where their inhabitants Arba were the greatest among the Anakites (Joshua 14: 15).
Caleb’s life stories are inspirational to all of us at CAIS community. He was a man who followed the Lord wholeheartedly. This was commended by God (Numbers 14: 24), Moses (Joshua 14: 9) and Joshua (Joshua 14:14). It is also Caleb’s own reflection of his life (Joshua 14: 8). His devotion to God was neither shaken by the size of the challenge, nor dampened by the passing of time or the changes in his circumstances. He was bold enough to ask for a greater challenge. His desire was to be useful for God.
As our school continues to equip Phase 1 of our building; begins to build Phase 2 of our campus; moves forward to full accreditation with Alberta Education; explores to diversify our curriculum offer and services to students; and commits to embed Biblical principles into our learning and teaching, we can rest assured that our success hinges on…
following the Lord wholeheartedly. Let us be bold and commit to greater challenges for God in this coming year!
Warmest regards,
Dr. Hui
Grow In God's Grace 