Who wants to share the team creed after the game?

On Saturday, the CCA Eagles middle school football team finally got to play their first football game.  They traveled out west to face the Patriots of American Heritage Plantation.  It was an epic battle between two big (AHP was very big), hard hitting teams.  While both teams made their advances near the end zone, the Patriots were the only team who managed to cross the goal line.  The game ended 6 - 0.

But, as hard fought and physical as this game was, it was the spiritual battle that brought both teams to their knees in the middle of the field after the game.  Jameson Offerdahl, CCA's middle linebacker, stood in front of both teams and shared the CCA football team creed.

Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross I have a relationship with God. As a man I have put away childish things and I choose to represent that relationship at all times.

I am confident the Patriot players, coaches, and parents were elated by the win and may have expected from CCA a short post game prayer before running off to celebrate.  But, for an 8th grader to step up and share his teams' creed with the opposing team right after the game and ask them to let him know if they had any questions about their own relationship with Jesus, it makes you (it made me) stop and ponder.

To all of the parents in the stands, it displays love and a commitment that regardless of the outcome, we will honor God.  It shows that Jameson and his teammates have truly chosen to represent Jesus Christ "at all times".  It shows that discipleship in athletics IS the focus and it's having an impact on our community.

And it begs the question, who do we need to tell?

Missionary with a Major League Arm

What do Baseball Hall-of-Fame inductee Nolan Ryan, the 43rd President of the United States George W. Bush, and Grammy Award Winner Taylor Swift, and all have in common? All of these famous celebrities have had their picture taken with Calvary Christian Academy alumnus Luke Jackson.

Luke, who last year led the CCA Eagles to the 2A Regional Quarterfinals by going 8-1 with 96 strikeouts and an earned run average of 0.90, signed a contract with the Texas Rangers that included a $1,545,000 bonus. So, meeting Mr. Ryan, the current owner of the Texas Rangers and President Bush, the past owner of the Texas Rangers, was a special privilege for their first-round pick. But, the picture capturing him getting a peck on the cheek from Taylor Swift, well, let’s just say that’s “par for the course” in the life of Luke Jackson.

Luke is a unique individual that excels in just about any sport. He’s won a two-man beach volleyball tournament, he was First Team All-County in soccer, and he hits the golf ball as far as anyone on the professional golfer’s tour (just ask him).
But, what really sets Luke Jackson apart is his relationship with the Lord Jesus, his love for his family, and his heart for others. Behind the long hair, laid back approach, and the black-and-white checkered shoes and matching backpack, is a genuine “class act”. Luke is friendly, fun-loving, and compassionate.

Benefiting from spending time on the mission field and being led by parents who diligently taught him the Bible, Luke learned at a young age what it meant to live, to give, and to serve in obedience to Christ’s command. When asked about what he would do with his signing bonus, he responded that he would like to build schools in remote areas of the world and continue the mission work that inspired him as a child.

Who knew Luke Jackson, caught on television at a Florida Marlin’s game dressed in a bright orange Spandex body suit dancing on the seats, was a tender hearted, Spirit-filled missionary, who, o yeah, throws a baseball 96MPH.

Is today the Day?

In sports, there's a saying that on "any given day" a team or an individual has the opportunity for victory.  Let's look at a few sayings that accentuate just how much power and promise a day can hold.

1. This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).  Be very thankful for the gift of another day.
2. Our day will come.  We may have lost to Pine Crest this year, but the Facebook post from Shawn Lashbrook and the response from Rod Pearcy show that character is shaped by adversity. 
   

   "Ya live and ya learn. Tough loss, but we will go at this week in practice and get better. Learn our lessons and improve." 

   "When faced with adversity, great players redeem themselves by being great leaders. The only real score that will be remembered is that 3 were added to the kingdom...great job Shawn."

   And, for those three Pine Crest players and coaches, they're day of salvation did come when they accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior through prayer after the game.
3. Exhort one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approching (Hebrews 10:25).  The Day is coming.  King Jesus' return is fast approaching.  Our life may end before His return, but either way, soon and very soon, we will be in His presence.  May I join with the author of Hebrews and implore you, Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.

The day has a lot to offer.  It may be a chance to play better, run faster, jump higher than you ever have before.  But today may also be the first time you heard a call from the Lord to join into a personal relationship with Him.  Or, it may be today you are being challenged by the Lord to be obedient with the day He has provided.  Whatever today is for you, embrace it with all your heart.  Accept the challenge of competition, accept the free gift of eternal life, accept the call to obedience and experience the power and promise a day can bring.