Exploring New Worlds

By Bonnie Boer

       From Shakespeare to segments, Da Vinci to diaries, and microscopes to missionary journeys, Heritage Christian High has been taking me to many new places.

     As a freshman, my day starts out in ancient times. I am shocked by the godless culture of Rome as I walk along its streets, seeing the horrible persecution of Christians. The Coliseum is roaring with the sounds of Roman cheers. Christians are being torn apart by vicious lions and used as torches to light up Nero’s party. Faithful martyrs are proclaiming the truth and dying heroically for their faith. 

     After Church History, I find myself surrounded by fascinating floating objects – triangles, polygons, and those ugly proofs and theorems that torment young fourteen and fifteen year-old tourists like myself. 

     Then come the cells! Big ones! Mostly small ones with many organelles inside. Mr. Plant is heading my way. He doesn’t seem too peppy. His cytoplasm is not working well, and he is not getting enough energy.

     After break I head off to South America, the Indies, and North America, places which are being discovered before my very eyes! I see too much fighting in the Spanish settlements. Indians are being massacred for “religious reasons.” The lust for riches, which many men desire, is a horrendous sight!

     English I brings me to a whole different experience. Are you a noun, a pronoun, or what?!! I really can’t tell at first glance. This place is so confusing!

     When English is through, I am shipped off to the food planet for lunch. In front of me are foods of all different types, ready to be gobbled. My stomach is telling me to dig in.

     After my belly is filled, I find myself pressing the keys of a weird alphabetized keyboard, another new experience for this foreigner.

     My exciting trip is almost complete. A quick tour of the gym and the world of physical exercises bring my vacation to a close. It was certainly not a relaxing vacation, but a wonderful experience nonetheless. The great thing about it is…I get to do it all over again tomorrow! New worlds and new discoveries await me at a place most people call “school.”

Girl’s Volleyball Schedule

Oct. 11        South Haven Christian

Oct. 12        Illinois Lutheran

Oct. 25        Demotte Covenant Chr.

*Practices on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 2:45 – 4:15.

Oct. 11                        BBQ / Taffy Apples

Oct. 25           Pizza / Mom’s Choice

Nov. 1             Open Lunch / Nachos

Nov. 8             Hot Dogs / Mom’s Choice

      Although it has been three weeks since the Twin Towers and part of the Pentagon were destroyed by terrorists, people are unable to forget what happened. This was an incredible tragedy, but we, as Christians, must not ignore this as a sign of Christ’s return.

     God is telling us that the time is near, the time when His Son, Jesus Christ, will come again to take us from this sinful world. We must not deny this fact. The Lord is sovereign, and we must trust that these events are in His hands.

     The view of many people in the United States concerning this tragedy is a worldly view. Many people think that the reason for this tragedy is because the terrorists dislike the United States. This is true, but many people refuse to believe that this is in God’s plan. For example, a minister stood up and said that these events were the judgment of God. He was greatly criticized by the media, so he took back what he said on public television.

     Rev. Haak talked to us in chapel last week about being “men and women of the times.” He told us that we must be aware of the world that we are living in. We must be able to see what is going on around us, looking for the signs of Christ’s coming.

Church History
By Melinda DeJong

     In Church History, we are learning about the martyrs, and how they so eagerly suffered for Christ. We read about the Roman persecution of Christians in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. The Romans did unspeakable and wicked things to the Christians. However, even through this, the Christians did not give up their faith. We should have the same attitude. We should be willing to suffer for Christ. Paul tells us in II Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

     In class, we all had to write a report on a famous martyr or faithful saint from Professor Hanko’s book, Portraits of Faithful Saints. By the end of the first semester, we will all have written and presented a report on a martyr or faithful saint of Christ. I chose Polycarp, a minister at the church of Smyrna, who was martyred because he confessed that he was a Christian.

     When the end of the world comes, we will all have to suffer for Christ, His kingdom, and His cause. We know that the destruction of the World Trade Centers is a sign of the times. We must put our trust in God as our nation will go to war. Our country should be relying on God, not on the power of an army to save them. We must be ready to suffer for Christ as the end of the world comes about. We will need to defend our faith and be ready to die like those who died so readily before us.

Birthdays in High School

By Gina Verburg

     One of the many privileges of going to this school is how spoiled we all get with good food and treats! This year is going to be the greatest year ever! So far, we’ve had three birthdays…and a special treat for each birthday!

     Meghan Looyenga’s birthday was first. She turned sweet sixteen, the anticipated age for all of us teenagers because at last we can drive. For her birthday, Meghan made two kinds of cake. Both were delicious.

     Bonnie Boer’s birthday was next. She turned fifteen. Her dad is famous for his delicious pies, so Bonnie brought apple slices for us as her birthday treat. They were delicious!

     We had one more birthday: Josh Dotson’s. He turned 16. For his treat, his mom made us lunch! She prepared some really good lasagna, Jell-O, and garlic bread. We devoured it and had cake for dessert.

     October 24^th will bring Katie Van Baren’s 16^th birthday. However, the biggest party will be on October 27^th. Why? Well, it happens to be both Mrs. Looyenga’s birthday and my own! We’ll all have to make room for these birthday feasts.

     As you can tell, we are all very spoiled. We look at it as just another blessing of attending this high school.