Posted on 12/26/2009 1:06:10 PM PST by Colofornian
CHICO —
Changes in the curriculum at Crosspoint Academy have some parents, including prominent radio host Delilah Rene Luke, concerned the private Christian school in Chico is straying from its biblical focus.
But school leaders defend the changes, saying the new materials will grow the school’s 290 students into the next generation of Christian leaders.
“The idea that Crosspoint is still fundamentally rooted in strong Christian values and delivers a curriculum with a Christian perspective in mind has not changed and that has never changed in this process,” said Eric Rasmussen, superintendent of schools for Crista, the Christian ministry organization that owns Crosspoint.
The school, formerly known as King’s West, announced this fall that it had a new plan for a curriculum focused on leadership and on five pillars: critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, contemplation and cultural competency. Much of the work has been based on “The Leader In Me,” a program for students from Stephen Covey, author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”
The emphasis on Covey’s work is what most concerns Delilah. She recently disenrolled three of her children from Crosspoint.
“I would like to say that I am merely ‘deeply concerned’ about a recent addition to the school’s teaching philosophy, but instead, I am forced to admit I am actually HORRIFIED by the recent addition of a book by Mormon author Steven (sic) Covey,” she wrote in a Nov. 24 open letter to Crosspoint parents.
Further, she wrote that she believes in freedom of religion and does not object to Mormon beliefs or the yoga-type, Eastern religion activities Covey advocates. She said in a recent interview, however, that the materials don’t belong in a Christian school.
“It’s not about being intolerant. It’s about being true to my faith,” she said. “I don’t have a problem with Stephen Covey and businesses that use it. I don’t have any problem with people who want to sign up for yoga classes or attend the church of Satan if they want to. That’s their right. But I can’t imagine someone paying money to send their kids to Brigham Young University so they can get a good basis in Mormon faith and then having their kid come home and saying his new teacher was a Catholic priest teaching the Apocrypha.”
After her letter circulated, Delilah held an informational meeting in Port Orchard for Crosspoint parents. About 30 attended. She also received many supportive e-mails. But the parents contacted by e-mail by the Kitsap Sun about the controversy either declined to be interviewed or did not respond.
Covey has denied in recent years that his leadership materials are repackaged Mormonism. But Delilah is concerned that the leadership materials introduce Mormon tenets in a way that is palatable to non-Mormons.
“He intends to indoctrinate the world with his theology by wiring it in a way that people can accept,” she said.
Delilah questioned whether Crista and Crosspoint leaders were aware of Covey’s beliefs before they adopted the materials. But Rasmussen said the bigger question is whether Crista schools only take materials from Christian publishers. The schools draw from a wide variety of materials and “we will continue to seek and find the best resources and put them in the hands of outstanding Christian educators,” he added.
Additionally, Rasmussen said teaching at Crosspoint goes well beyond “The Leader In Me” to focus on the five pillars. For example, he said, the core value of contemplation means to be “people of reflection.”
“From a Christian standpoint, that means kids would meditate on their faith and the significance of biblical truth in their life, or they would read and think contemplatively about great literature.”
“We believe leaders do these core things, that kids should be contemplative in life and think about next step, about what God has in store and in place for them.”
Delilah said smaller issues have led her to believe Crosspoint is trying to rebrand itself to attract families familiar and comfortable with Covey, but not perhaps with Christianity. A plaque with the Ten Commandments was recently moved from a prominent spot in the school’s main hallway to a not-so-prominent classroom. A “Seven Habits” poster advocating meditation was put up at Crosspoint, with a Bible verse taped to it “as if to make Eastern religion acceptable to the Christian,” Delilah wrote in her Nov. 24 letter.
“They even changed the school’s name to take the Lord’s name out,” she said.
Further, school leaders did not properly inform parents of the changes until the beginning of this school year, giving them little time to understand or react, she said.
But Rasmussen said the school’s changes are not about rebranding, rather it’s trying to improve on past success in academics and extracurriculars.
“We’re thrilled in terms of where we’re going and moving forward to make this great school better to be really intentionally focused,” he said. “We see the need in terms of this world for good intentional Christian leaders who will lead in their churches and their communities and their homes.”
Who has communicated the most anger and frustration on this thread?
It hasn’t been me. I have been trying, in vain, to say what I believe and what we need to do in order to communicate better, but, like I said, it’s all been in vain.
Where is the light that Christ has given you to help the lost find their way to him? Have you even shown it on this thread? I haven’t seen it, so the question I keep asking myself is what is the reason you would want to hide that light from me. Can you tell me why?
Sadly, your professional blinders hide the light from your soul. But isn’t it just so mormonismesque to blame someone else for the blindness you suffer!
There is no addition you can add to Christ's work for your salvation. Whenever you see a 'fullness of doctrine necessary for your salvation', you can be sure you're learning the deceits of men, sent to your consciousness from the father of lies, because what Jesus did on the Cross is all there is and the individual 'faithing' in His work is all that is required for salvation. As the saying goes--which seems to iritate Resty no end--everything else is as filthy rags in God's sight because it detracts from the Glory of His suffering for you.
reaganaut said: You keep throwing out this accusation, thread after thread, even though there HAS been much discussion of Christian beliefs.
I ask: Okay, what Christian beliefs have been “discussed” on this thread other than Mormons are evil and need to be put in their place? Maybe I have missed that discussion somewhere along the way.
All I have seen is people telling me why I’m wrong, but not why they are right. I have seen some scriptures thrown out, but no discussion on them.
I patiently await a discussion of that genre, but I sure haven’t seen it in this thread.
Saying things like “I believe in Christ,” “the Bible is the word of God,” or “I have been saved” aren’t discussions, they’re just statements thrown out.
Show me scriptures from the Bible why you are right and explain how they support your position. All I have seen from you and those who support your position are “Mormons are bad,” “Mormon leaders are bad,” or “Here are a thousand verses from the Bible that says I’m right, but I won’t take the time to explain how they support my position to you, I’m too busy bashing Mormons right now.”
MHGinTN, show me the light. Show me what you believe so I can see the light. Show me the truths you believe and not the lies you know I believe.
Bring your light out from under the bushel while the others refuse to do so.
The others all use confrontation as their way of showing me that they love me and that they love God, that way hasn’t worked. Show me that you love me and love God by letting your light shine. Let it shine forth brightly. Win me over to Christ with his pure love and not with angry confrontation and bitter words.
Did you even read the post I offered? ... I doubt your sincerity, frankly. God’s message for salvation is not complicated. You show an agenda by trying to make it complicated. ‘Get thee to school’
People tell me to accept Christ, but I can’t accept Christ until Christ himself gives me the power to accept him. It’s not within my power to accept Christ, but one Christ gives me the power to accept him, then I don't have a choice, I choose him, maybe not immediately, but eventually I will.
If I could, on my own in any way, accept Christ or convince him to accept me, then it would have to be considered a work, but like I’ve been told over and over again, works are not important.
So, what I can't figure out is why am I being demanded and told to do things that I can’t do?
Are any of the statements below wrong? If so, how are they wrong and will you correct them and/or expound upon them for me.
You say I have an agenda here. I admit I do. Are you wiling to admit that those who are attacking my beliefs here also have an agenda? Is having an agenda something wrong?
Still revealing more of your desire to make salvation complicated, in your mormonismesque mindset bent on rejecting God’s simple plan in favor of your self-aggrandizing religion. Sad really ...
So you ask me to discuss the gospel with you and I try, then you shoot me down saying that I don’t believe like you. I asked you to help me understand where you are coming from when it comes to salvation, yet, it appears to me that you don’t want to.
Are any of the statements I made incorrect? If so, how are they incorrect? Am I asking too much?
Don’t lie, Mormon. I have never asked you to discuss the Gospel with me. ... BTW, it is basic deceit to pretend someone has not offered a clear direction so that you can promote your confusion. I won’t waste any further time on you. May God have mercy upon you, Mormon.
Okay MHGinTN, if you think that I’m asking the wrong questions about your beliefs, could you please start the discussion?
You told me to get to school, so I thought you were saying that you were willing to teach me or at least make the attempt to do so. My bad.
I hope that God has mercy on both yours and my souls. After all, He is a God of love and of mercy.
I could be very mistaken here, but it seems that you were more than ready to condemn me from the get-go. Is this what it means to be a Christian.
This is how I saw our conversation:
<<<<<<<<<<<<
You: Mormon, you are a vile sinner!!! Accept the truth as taught in the Bible, truths you don’t have, truths that I do have.
Me: Okay, what are these truths? Will you tell me so I may know and understand them also?
You: You vile, filthy Mormon. I refuse to talk about the truths of the Bible to you. You only seek to twist the truths so you may drag others down to Hell with you. I turn my back on you like you have on Christ. May God have mercy upon your soul. I am a true Christian, full of the love of Christ, and I am more than willing to help Christ find his lost sheep, but you, you lustful, degenerate Mormon, are no sheep. Be gone with you, you filthy goat.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thanks MGHinTN for showing me the light and the pure love of Christ you have in your life.
BTW, if you have children, were you this delightful when they ever questioned you?
Are any of you willing to try to explain to me if any of those statements I made to MHGinTN are wrong and why they are wrong?
Am I wrong to ask for help here?
Sorry; but there is not ONE reference here from the BoM - which supposedly contains it...
Surely freeper posters—even blind mormonism fr posters—are old enough to not whine when they don’t get the attention they demand. Sad really ... reminds one of a child rolling on the floor throwing a tantrum to try and get its way. Best to ignore while the floor-tantrum is in evidence.
If it's so PLAIN; why can't Chapter and verse be POSTED?
Oh really? So why did smith have to supplement the bible with three other pretenders? Where in the Bible is the first principle of the gospel found?
I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:
“Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble Me no more on this matter.”
I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of the son of Man will not be any sooner than that time.
Joseph Smith, February, 1835
For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house
Joseph Smith, 1831, D&C 84:5
(The Saints were expelled from Jackson County in late 1833, before they could make any progress on the temple. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to return to reclaim their lands.)
President Smith then stated that the meeting had been called, because God had commanded it; and it was made known to him by vision and by the Holy Spirit. . . . it was the will of God that they should be ordained to the ministry and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, for the coming of the Lord, which was nigh - even fifty six years should wind up the scene.
History of the Church, Vol. 2, page 182, February 14, 1835
(The above prophecy was given on Valentine’s Day, 1835. 56 years would place Jesus’ return on or before February 14, 1891)
...for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it.
Joseph Smith, Doctrine and Covenants 127:2
(Contrary to his prophecy, Smith’s enemies stormed the Illinois jail where he was being held and shot and killed him.
Smith died on June 27, 1844, less than two years after he gave this prophecy.
The phrase “for the Lord God hath spoken it” officially qualifies Smiths’s statement as a prophecy according to the LDS organization.)
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