Posts in ✝️Spiritual Life
God at the Center of the Old Testament: A Glimpse of the Old Testament Course

This semester, students of NorthStar Academy continue to dive deeper into the roots of the Bible by taking one of NSA’s best beginner theological courses, Old Testament Survey. Taught by one Jason Harvel, this course invites the students to see the Old Testament not as a collection of stories and tales, but as one unified story about a God who keeps his promises.

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NSA’s ESOs: Globally Minded

Speaking as a senior, I see many direct ways that a topic like NorthStar’s ESOs (Expected Student Outcomes) are relevant. Surprisingly, the more I learned, the more I realized this subject is applicable to all grade levels. In an interview with Mrs. Peterman, a staff member of NSA’s Instructional Development Department, I got the opportunity to dive into the topic of being globally minded.

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Responding to Criticisms of the Faith

Back in 2020, two YouTubers I often watched released a video where they talked about their spiritual deconstruction journey. These two men were former missionaries in eastern Europe and had been leaders in their church. I was only twelve years old when they released this video, so I did not want to watch it. Thinking my faith was not strong enough at the time to handle hearing a critique of Christianity, I completely stopped watching their YouTube channel.

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Seasons of Transition

Everyone has a favorite season, and, for me, fall and spring are at the top of my list. I love camping in the fall and cooking chili or a cobbler in the dutch oven over an open fire. I love watching the leaves change colors and begin to cover the ground. It also means sweater weather has arrived! My favorite season is probably spring, though, because it represents new life and I love all of the green and everything beginning to bloom. My husband and I love to go hiking in the spring in the Sipsey Wilderness. It is known as the “land of 100 waterfalls” and they flow so well after the spring rains.

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The Media We Consume

...Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (NIV Bible, 1 Kings 19.11-19.12)

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The Word Weaver

 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (New International Version, John 1:1-5).

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Bringing the Z

“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."

I do not know if you had previously heard the news about the fox and the dog, but this is a sentence I learned as a young child. Now I have heard and read lots of sentences in my lifetime, of course, but there is a reason that I have remembered this one when so many others have, as poet laureate Billy Collins once put it, "retired to that little fishing village in my brain" to be remembered no more.

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How the Reformation Changed Education

Education is a big topic of debate. Whether it’s going to school full-time, part-time, or being fully homeschooled, you have probably heard your family discuss the topic of school. It is a major part of children's lives. It is essential that a person's education is solid. A biblical education is also important, but how did Christian schools come to be? How did the Reformation play a part in that?

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A Community of Christ-Followers

At NorthStar Academy, students have the choice to join a wide variety of clubs - nine to be exact. One club, the Bible Club, is rather popular among NSA Students. This club discusses everything Bible-related and has caused many NSA Students to experience growth of some sort. This article will provide background information and current data about the Bible Club as well as information regarding the content within the club, the growth of the club leaders, and the plans for the club’s future. 

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Living Secure: How to Have Peace In Times of Chaos

Waves cascaded over the small cracked wooden boat, which keeled under the weight of the breakers. Salt water filled the men’s nostrils, and heavy rain splattered onto their already soaked tunics. “Turn the boat!” screamed a man with brown curly hair and flashing eyes. Although he had screamed with all his strength, his voice was picked up by the wind and carried far away, tossed on the waves and drowned in the sound of cracking thunder. A huge lightning bolt raced across the sky, followed by a split of thunder that seemed to come from the heavens themselves.

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