Edison FCA 3/31

Today at Edison, about 150 students, 4 youth workers and 4 parents showed up at FCA. We were again blessed to have Whatta-A-Lotta Pizza and fresh baked cookies (both generously provided by Grandma & Grandpa Boyer).  After a fun game lead by Josh Gane and Rayan Mustafa we had the priveledge of listening to Seabreeze Church's Youth Pastor Dave Strobel. He shared about what it truly means to be an imitator of Christ and not merely a copier. It was a great challenge to each person in the room!

Edison SAC Lunch Day

On 2 out of the last 3 Thursdays Edison FCA student leaders joined together to go serve some of the students from the Special Abilities Cluster (SAC) program at Edison.

Every other Thursday one of the SAC teachers hosts a lunch for some of the SAC students, so they can work on their manners and social skills. So, the FCA leaders went and had lunch and interacted with the SAC students. It was a very rewarding time for both parties and our leaders were especially blessed by the experience. It is so cool to see the leaders serving the Edison community in a bigger way! God is Good!

GOD Given Talent...

The Evolution of March Madness: How Come Talent is “God Given” When there is no God?

March 23, 2011, 9:20 am » Christian Buckley

The Evolution of March Madness Evolution:
How Come Talent is “God Given” When there is no God? 

I don’t profess to be an expert on evolution or the defense of creation.  I can’t explain the mutative process and how only some mutations are passed down and some are not.  I can’t explain how natural selection, in combination with randomness and time, has produced human beings. At the end of the day, I really can’t explain why, “Evolution means that we’re all distant cousins: humans and oak trees, hummingbirds and whales.” 

What I can tell you is that most of the world that has a platform to talk about it, at least in the media, seems to reject any possibility for a creator.  Not hard to see that. 

But what I find really interesting is that same “media” – the one that finds the idea of God as creator synonymous with garden gnomes as mischievous creatures that ruin my strawberries -- uses the phrase “God given talent” quite a bit. As I was watching the NCAA Tournament over the weekend, and the Oscars before that, and the Super Bowl before that my ears just continued to be pricked by commentators constantly referring to a standout actor, musician or athlete as having “God given talent.” 

It’s the go to phrase when there just seems to be an astounding difference between say Lebron James and the next best athlete.  Like when the Jamaican runner Usain Bolt smashed the world record in the 100 meter dash a few years back and there was no way to explain it really other than aparently God given talent.  When an actor, say a really young one, just has an unparalleled ability to present that art or when a phenom artist or musician just pops up – God given talent.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By1JQFxfLMM
 
Not once have I ever heard a media personality say, “What amazing evolutionary talent that player has” or “just look at the power of mutation, natural selection, and time at work.”  


So how come when most of the enlightened part of the world thinks I have more in common with the UCLA or Florida mascots (bruins and gators) than a creative force do we still fall back on God as the final explanation for uncanny unexplainable human ability?
  
Maybe we just haven’t evolved beyond that silliness.  Or maybe we just can’t get away from the fact that when we witness something truly amazing like a Jimmer Fredette jump shot – we intrinsically know that whatever is good and beautiful and astounding might not have trickled down from goo.

Verse of the Week

“He has made the earth by His power;

He has established the world by His Wisdom,

And stretched out the heaven by His understanding.

When He utters His voice-

There is a multitude of waters in the heavens;

He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;

He makes lightning’s for the rain;

He brings the wind out of His treasuries.”

 Jeremiah 51:15-16

What is it today that is causing you doubt or concern? He can handle it,  He is ABLE!

HCS Huddle

Last Friday we kicked-off our first ever huddle at Huntington Christian School. About 100 6th, 7th, and 8th graders participated in our huddle during their PE period. We played Ninja, clumps, and Blind-folded musical chairs, the kids all had a blast. I then had the opportunity to share my story of faith with them. It was a great event and we will be hosting an FCA huddle once a month at HCS.

Edison FCA

Today 160 students showed up at Edison FCA to the smell of fresh baked cookies and pizza! After piling in the students got into groups and played a fun game that got everyone laughing. We were then blessed to have student leader Riley Mailman share his heart with us. He spoke about "Fired Up" Christians and what it truly means to be a real fired up Christian. It truly struck a chord with each person in the room! Thanks Riley and thank you to all the parents and youth pastors who showed up to support the huddle!

Marina FCA

On Tuesday 50 students showed up to Marina FCA to eat pizza and cookies, play a fun game and hear from CPC youth pastor Justin Herman. After lining up and mowing down some pizza the students got into groups and played 2 truths and 1 lie, it was a fun way to get to know each other. Then Justin got up and encouraged the students to be bold in their faith and stand strong with the transforming power of Christ. He was a true encouragement to everyone in the room!

FCA Leader Nick Marshall

CPC Youth Pastor Justin Herman

Heart of an Athlete - Caroline Smith

Heart of an Athlete

 March 2011

Q&A with Caroline Smith Florida State Swimming

“Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” – Psalm 37:4

Florida State University sophomore Caroline Smith made an immediate splash with the Seminole swimming team when, as a freshman, she set the school record in the 500-yard freestyle. Even more impressive was the fact that she did so while turning in a stellar classroom performance, earning ACC Honor Roll honors and a 4.0 GPA. Still, as member of FSU’s FCA leadership team, Smith knows the records and honors are blessings from the Lord, whom she joyfully worships both in and out of the pool.

STV: Were you a natural-born swimmer, or did you ever doggie-paddle like the rest of us?CS: I took to the water naturally. I’ll never forget my mom begging me to get out of the bathtub as a little girl. I loved being around the water and spending my summers at the local pool and at swim camps.
I did have to work at the competitive side of it, though. In my very first race I finished dead last and was lapped along the way. But my mom says that after that race I was smiling like I’d won. I was just happy being able to swim. It didn’t matter what place I finished; I just loved the sport.

“You can’t sprint and expect to hold on; you have to be patient and endure.”

STV: You swim distance races at Florida State. What’s the key to success in those events?CS: It is all about endurance and patience. I’ll swim about 400 or more laps in practice to build my endurance. Practice also helps me with pacing and teaches me to be patient during competition. You can’t sprint and expect to hold on; you have to be patient and endure.

STV: In 2008, you qualified to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Is it still a goal of yours to compete in the Olympics one day?CS: I think, at some point, every kid dreams of competing in the Olympics. If I made it to those starting blocks I would be very appreciative to God, realizing that it wouldn’t be just my efforts but His grace and the help of the people around me who got me there. But right now I’m taking one day at a time and focusing on the goals of an ACC Championship for our team and individual championships in my events.

STV: What do personal accolades mean to you in light of your relationship with the Lord?CS: I know they are blessings from Him, and they’ve had a huge impact on my faith. I believe the truth found in Philippians 4:13: “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” If it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I prayed a lot about where I should go to school, and I know my prayers were answered. God led me to Florida State, and the people here have really blessed my college experience.

STV: Is FCA a part of that sentiment?CS: Definitely! Sometimes God drops down on the priority list, especially in the lives of athletes who have rigorous schedules and schoolwork. But FCA has helped me put Him first. It has encouraged me to grow stronger in my faith and reach out to others. The guidance we get through FCA helps mold us into who God made us to be.
The people I’ve met through FCA have been great, too—especially our leaders, Denise Bernath and Reggie Hutchins. It’s awesome to come together as athletes who have the same goals and ambitions of wanting to represent our teams well and serve God the best way we can.

Basketball Tournament Sign Ups

The FCA 3 vs. 3 Basketball Tournament sign ups are now live on OCFCA.org! You can register your team and pay right there.

Click here to Register