Team Jesus!

At last week's New York Jets v. Miami Dolphins football game, I witnessed two very passionate groups who were both incredibly loyal to their team and both diametrically opposed to those with differing views, or as one Dolfan put it, "beware of those rude ones in the ugly green shirts from the dark side."  It didn't matter if they were your friends or not, if a group had a different color jersey you didn't like them, you treated them poorly, and felt an overall disdain for them.

While this seems fun at sporting events, it is unfortunately a poor practice of how Christians are supposed to treat their neighbors. We want our team to win yes, and it's alright to cheer for your team, but to taunt and belittle the opposing fans lacks spiritual maturity.  Be passionate, but remember those Jets fans or Patriot fans or Seminole fans may be on the same team as you... Team Jesus.

Jesus prayed for the believers to behave as one in John 17:22-23.  Jesus prays to God, "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one; I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

The message Bible says "The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind - Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So they might be one heart and mind with us.  Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.

What's that?  Jesus is praying to the Father that we need to show the world we're on the same team.  Regardless of our team, our school, or the church we go to, Christians are all on Team Jesus.  Again, this doesn't mean we can't cheer for our country or hometown team or favorite university, but it does there is a bigger team we belong to and we are to behave like it.

Childish ways vs. The Way of Love

I'm sorry, please forgive me... five words that can restore a friendship, save a relationship, and promote discipleship.  Jesus did not have to utter these words, but His Spirit within us cries out when we've acted in a childish way and leads us to repent, to say, "I'm sorry", and to work to reconcile the situation.  The question is, "do we respond when the Holy Spirit prompts us to apologize or do we continue to harbor that resentment?"

Let me confess to you today that I have been slow to respond and allowed myself to harbor some bitterness towards another school that has caused tension and created division.  The Bible says, "we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body" - 1 Cor. 12:13.  As Christians, we are all on the same team.  Sure we can compete against other schools in sports and maintain a friendly rivalry, but our hearts and minds and faith should be, "As One!"

The apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:5, "Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near."  No matter what school we represent, regardless of the color jersey we wear, those who are watching should   have trouble telling Christians apart because how we act towards one another.  Remember the song, "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they'll know we are Christians by our love."  Easy to sing, yet hard to live out.  But, that's why Christ died, so we could, through the power of His resurrection, live a life of love.

And, love doesn't mean we always act like perfect angels, but it does mean we put God first, we serve others before ourselves, we are patient and kind and forgiving, and we apologize when we act childish...why, because we are one in Him and that's what our heavenly Father wants us to do.

Dominick Pierre...committed to God's call

This week's blog was written by Anitra Parmele, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Communications Team

As a fifth grader at Calvary Christian Academy (CCA), Dominick demonstrated his incredible athletic abilities on the football field, basketball court and the track. Anxious to do it all, Dominick was intrigued when JV Basketball Coach Tom Crenshaw suggested he try out for wrestling, although it meant his talents would be lost to the team halfway through the season. Dominick remembers, “Coach Tom thought I could excel as a wrestler so he encouraged me to attend one of the practices. I had fun and wrestling is a sport that helps you with football, so I stuck with it.”

By Dominick’s 8th grade year, Coach Tom’s insight was confirmed as Dominick barely missed out on districts because of an injury. Freshman year Dominick was one match away from going to states. By his sophomore year, Dominick was ready. “I was wrestling at 171 (pounds) and won the district tournament. A couple days before the regionals, I went to the ER with a strained chest muscle. I wasn’t sure what was going on. I really started digging into the Bible and praying. A group of pastors from Calvary laid hands on me and prayed for my healing. When I weighed in at regionals, I was still stiff- I tried to play it off but I didn’t know if I could wrestle. As soon as I shook my opponent’s hand for my first match, I stopped feeling any pain and I ended up making it to states. The guy who made it to the state finals had a similar problem with his knee. I was able to talk to him about God and to pray with him.”

Dominick has gone on to achieve success on and off the football field at Dartmouth, where he starts for the Big Green as a junior. “I’m not the most vocal person but athletics have forced me into a leadership role. I wouldn’t be where I am without the faculty and coaches at CCA shaping, molding and guiding me as an athlete, a Christian and a man. Having an impact at a secular school like Dartmouth is difficult but my athletic success gives me the opportunity to lead people to God. I am committed to pursuing what God wants me to do.”

To God be the glory!

2012 Girls Track State Champs

Back in the spring, the Calvary Christian Academy Girls Track Team won the FHSAA District 1A State Title.  Emily Gale won the Pole Vault competition (her second state championship in as many years).  The 4X800 relay team and 4x400 relay team also won the state championship for the second year in a row.  All that success is quite an accomplishment, to which the coaching staff proclaimed as they lifted the trophy, "To God be the glory!"

Emily Gale

You hear that during interviews of Christian athletes or may see one point heavenward as they cross the finish line, but what does it mean to compete for the glory of God.  It's simple really, it means giving your best, doing something with all your heart (Col. 3:23), not for the praise of men, but for God.

Yes God, our Creator and heavenly Father, cares about how we compete, perform, study...  He wants commitment, discipline, and perseverance, not so we come out victorious every time, but that throughout the "race" our heart becomes more dependent on Him, our mind begins focusing on eternal rewards, and our mouth bestows praises to the Savior and Redeemer of the world, Jesus.

Ascend

The 2012-2013 school year has begun at Calvary Christian Academy.  From Wednesdays exciting opening day "pep rally" to Fridays worship and Word at high school chapel, the pace on campus has been invigorating.  Beginnings give everyone a new start, and this year there is freshness that is fueling what may be a spiritual revolution at CCA.  Our commitment to be a "Christian" school, not only in title, but in testimony.  Our words, our actions rooted in Biblical truth and lived out in a spirit of genuine love.
What does this have to do with Athletics?  You see... at a church school our mission in Athletics is the same as our mission at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale and that's to "make disciples."  Our sports programs are designed to transform the hearts of the athletes so they can experience a changed life and impact a community for Christ.
Are you ready to ascend to a higher level of spirituality?

Disciples Making More Disciples

What's God doing in Athletics at Calvary Christian Academy?  He's transforming the hearts of athletes... even those who attend other schools.  Calder Alfano, son of CCA lacrosse head coach Jerry Alfano, attends Boca High School.  Because his dad coached at CCA and he played on the same team as some of our players during the summer, Calder forged a close relationship with Dawson Allen, a student-athlete from Calvary Christian Academy.
Calder noticed something different about his life.  Dawson told him the difference was Jesus and encouraged him to follow Christ.  Acknowledging his need for a Savior and a life with meaning, Calder prayed and asked Jesus into his heart.  Coach Jerry Alfano believes his son getting "saved" was the very reason he was asked to coach the CCA lacrosse team a year ago.
Andrew Lundy, High School Youth Director at the Calvary Boca Campus, invited Calder to share his testimony to the high school students in Boca.  Calder got to share his experience which included how he now leads prayer with his own teammates at Boca High.
Praise be to our Lord, who used a CCA lacrosse player to further His kingdom and freely gifted eternal life to Calder because of a repentant heart.  The discipleship continues for Calder as he spends time with Dawson and other CCA lacrosse players Christian Coy and Tres Huizenga.