The greater truth in the Tim Tebow debate

There have been several times over the last few months where I wanted to share my perspectives on the media darling/villain that is Tim Tebow. To say that people love or hate Tim Tebow is an absolute understatement. He is as polarizing a sports figure as we have seen in our generation, perhaps in any generation. The reason I have resisted to share my thoughts has been a desire to genuinely listen to the criticism and analysis of fans, peers in the league, and of course, the members of the over-analyzing and ratings driven media.  As I listened, what I heard was quite revealing and in my estimation highlights something much more significant and deeply rooted in the souls of all men and women.

What has been incredibly apparent in all the discussion of Tim Tebow is the inability of anyone to come to a consensus or present a definitive objective standard by which to judge him. Skill wise he is an average NFL quarterback at best. However, it is unquestionable that he is the reason that the team is thriving after a 1-4 start under a different QB when one considers his numerous clutch performances or listens to the respect his teammates have for him and his leadership. In short, I believe all the debate illustrates a more significant and spiritual truth; the inability of man apart from God to clearly define the difference between good and evil or in other words, absolute truth. If man is unable to conclusively agree on what makes a QB good or bad, how can we even begin to entertain the thought of defining ourselves as good or bad people with regard to our spiritual condition. In 1 Samuel 16:7 God instructs the prophet Samuel when seeking the one God has selected to be king, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”  Sometimes those who look the best on the outside, like the religious leaders of Jesus’s time on Earth are indeed the worst of sinners. Conversely, there are those that appear to be bad on the surface level, much like the woman caught in adultery, but are the very people whom Jesus forgives and declares righteous.

In conclusion, Tim Tebow has enjoyed the favor of God (not everything going his way, but the sustaining strength of God in all situations) because his heart is right with God, having freely received the love and peace of God through death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. John 1:14 states, the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Apart from receiving the truth of God’s word we are wholly incapable of judging correctly and objectively, whether that is something as critical as our spiritual condition or as entertaining as the merits of a certain mile high quarterback.

One Word

Here I am December 26, 2011 looking back on a year that has experienced much CHANGE. There is not a better word that describes it as I have experienced this change from the very beginning of the year all the way up until now. Just to share some of that change. On January 1^st 2011 our foster daughter was reunited with her family; On August 1^st I resigned from my position at the Boys & Girls Club to join an awesome new team, Team FCA. Perhaps the biggest of all the change is the news that my wife, Shelli, is pregnant again!! (Yes it was planned) Some of the other changes are smaller in nature but have been more impactful; like the change in my priorities, habits, and thinking. As I was thinking about all this change and the theme of this past year, it got me thinking about next year and what I want the theme to be.  The word that came to me was GROW.  I have experienced change and now I want to be able to GROW positively from that change. The word change has been thrown around so often and as I was reading the devotional Coach WOODEN ONE-ON-ONE there was a saying that stuck out to me from Coach and it was this “Although there is no progress without change, not all change is progress.” So how do we make sure that my change produces progress? I believe it starts with a game plan and for me that game plan is first identifying the things that I want to GROW in 2012. I want my relationship with my Savior to GROW, I want my relationship with me family to GROW, I want the ministry of FCA to GROW. These are just a few of the items on my game plan but the question I have for all of you is what’s your game plan for 2012? I know mine do you know yours?

Xavier-Cincinnati Brawl

  For all those that underestimate the value or doubt the extent of a coaches influence and how it translates beyond the field or court of competition, I would like to submit this most recent case study as overwhelming proof. Last weekend the ugly side of competitive sports was on display as benches cleared and a brawl ensued during the last ten seconds of the Xavier vs. Cincinnati basketball game. It would be easy to focus in on the physical actions of the athletes because they are disturbing,graphic and grab our attention. However, what was most revealing to me was the post game comments by some of the players that indicate that the coach had no game plan for his team beyond fundamentals and little commitment to developing them as young men. Several players indicated that they felt “disrespected” by comments made by the other team before and during the game and that quote, “if somebody put their hands in your face or try to do something to you, where we from you gonna do something back”. This is an annual rivalry game! One would assume the coach would prepare his team mentally and emotionally for the obvious circumstances that would accompany such a heated contest. However, these comments reveal that the coaches were a miserable failure in preparing their teams to win or lose with integrity and humility. With the subsequent disciplinary actions (or lack thereof) by the universities failing to send the proper message to their student-athletes about real life decisions and consequences and the DA now considering criminal charges against the players involved, one must admit that the influence of a coach has far reaching implications beyond the game. What if these players behaved the same way off the court? Are we coaching to simply win games or to also help young men and women win in life. Mark 8:36 says, “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul”. Sadly, poor coaching and the answer to that question were on display for all to see this past weekend. – Josh Q.

The first-ever …

The first-ever FCA 5K is less than a week away! I’m so excited to see what God is going to do through this event. At first, I will admit I was a little nervous about getting hands-on into the ministry with our first ever 5K… what a great responsibility that is! However, as we have gotten closer to the event our daily prayer and worship meetings every morning have really helped instill an indesribable peace that I know has only been given by God Himself. Doors have been open for new sponsors, participants and opportunities for the FCA ministry to expand into the lives of more athletes and coaches. If you haven’t already signed up for the Race of Faith or the family Walk of Faith, I encourage you to do so! This event is a great opportunity for your family to come together to enjoy a walk on the beach with eachother and with the God who loves you! You can sign up at www.fca5k.com. Oh and by the way – a big thanks to Jon Gordon and The Jon Gordon Companies for being our Title Sponsor for this event. He has gone ABOVE & BEYOND in supporting FCA and we are so thankful for everything he, and everyone on our board has been doing to make this event a success. To God be ALL the Glory!!!

LABORING for the PROSPERITY of others

Great leadership principle: A good leader will LABOR for the PROSPERITY of those he/she leads. Jesus modeled this principle at the highest level. He gave everything of himself for the benefit of those He led. He spoke to this ideal in the following scripture. . .

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:25-28; also Mark 10:42-45)

God, help me to be a leader built for others. So often in our society leaders serve their own cause and agenda but Jesus modeled something different. Help me to lead like Jesus and LABOR for the PROSPERITY of those I lead.

- Clint Hendry

Week of Training

I had the privilege of going back to FCA’s National Support Center in Kansas City Missouri for a week of training. Our schedule was full each day with devotionals, prayer groups, and teachings from amazing leaders on our different programs. My favorite thing about training at the National Support Center is meeting my fellow “trainees”! We end up becoming a little family by the end of the week.

I am so thankful that I am a part of a ministry that truly focuses on showing the love of Christ to coaches, student-athletes and all whom we cross paths with. We as a staff are taught and trained from the beginning to have an understanding of God’s love for us. We are encouraged to lift each other up in prayer first and then are able to go and do the work of the ministry.

I have learned through training last week that FCA is now booming nationwide through our camps. We had over 40 people attend Camp School at the National Support Center  last month,  and over 1/3 of those people were from different countries! It is crazy how many people the Lord touches through FCA.

After a week of information overload and new relationships, I am full! I am excited to put into practice all that I have learned. I am thankful for a wonderful and safe week in Kansas City.

-Nicole McCann

UNF Men’s Soccer: Serving their community

UNF Men's Soccer staff and players

On November 21st a team representing UNF men’s soccer volunteered their time at the Nemour Children’s Clinic to sort and package food for needy families around the Thanksgiving holiday. Head Coach Derek Marinatos in his first season as a head coach has demonstrated great leadership by emphasizing integrity amongst his players. As much as he has valued on the field excellence, he has also placed great value on working in the classroom and serving in the community.

Nemours Children’s Clinic is a part of the Nemours Foundation which is a non-profit organization in Jacksonville, Florida created by philanthropist Alfred I. duPont in 1936, and dedicated to improving the health of children. They see on average over 500 children per day for various medical reasons. Needless to say, the clinic staff are stretched thin and their appreciation for volunteer assistance with even small tasks is great.

All together the team from UNF was able to sort and package groceries for over 36 families! In addition, they were able to go from floor to floor and hand out kids magazines to all the children waiting to be seen by doctors. It may again seem like a small gesture, but to see the parents and children’s faces as we simply acknowledged them was priceless. Whatever cares and concerns were being carried as they sat in solitude seemed far away as the team offered smiles and a simple act of kindness. For me personally, what made the day even more gratifying was the part FCA was able to play in making it possible. After hearing that Coach Marinatos wanted an opportunity to serve the community we were able to make phone calls on his behalf in order to free him and his staff up to focus on end of the year meetings and recruiting. What a privilege it is to be able to serve coaches in this way! I am so thankful for coaches like Derek and thankful to all those who support FCA so that we can continue to serve them. Happy Thanksgiving!  -Q

Packaging food for needy families

FCA: Ministers of comfort and clarity

As I have watched the events surrounding Penn St. unfold this week I have been struck by a couple of things. First, it is amazing how prevalently the editorials and opinions on morality have flooded the airwaves and print media (so much for the relativity of truth, especially amongst atheist commentators). Second, it is clear that almost all those involved, from media, students, athletes and a nation of observers that there is just as much confusion about how to move forward as there is about how something like this can happen. I believe that in times of trial and uncertainty, especially in situations that are so incredibly shaking(Virginia Tech shooting, etc.),  FCA is poised and positioned to bring not only the comfort of God to allow healing, but also the truth of God’s word to bring clarity. The events at Penn St. illustrate that the problems confronting us on our campuses, in our athletic associations and even in our homes are not an issue of morality (as Joe Paterno has been an unquestionable man of moral character for over 50 years) but rather they reveal to us the fragility of man and the issue of sin that confronts all mankind. No matter how good we are, all are susceptible to moments of weakness and errors in judgement, especially when we are leaning on our own understanding. We have the privilege as ministers of the gospel through the platform of sports to reach not only athletes and coaches but all whom they influence with a message of restoration that brings comfort for the unfortunate victims and a message of clarity for those who are left with the task of picking up the pieces. It is clear that the only foundation we can build upon that will remain is that of Jesus Christ himself. We are not facing a morality problem, we are faced daily with a sin issue and confronted in these times of trial with an opportunity to both comfort the hurting and clearly communicate the hope of the gospel to the lost. I pray for all those who have been affected by such a tragedy but I also thank God for the influence of FCA in times of trial.   -Josh Q

Leading From Our Strengths

The moment a leader steps away from his core competencies, his effectiveness as a leader diminishes.

Thank you Andy Stanley . . . Wow, what a true statement this is. I have found in my life that no matter how hard I try in my own power, or better yet, no matter how much I lean on God’s power I am limited in my effectiveness when I am not operating in the core competencies God has created in me. I used to assume that God would give me grace to do certain things because I was doing His will and His work. What I found out is that God did not offer the grace I was looking for with some of the tasks I was handling. I was doing His work and His will but I was doing alone and not surrounding myself and entrusting that work to people who could do it more effectively.

I am so thankful for our growing staff because we are moving toward the opportunities to lead from our strengths, staying in the areas of our core competencies. Every one of our staff member does their job more effectively than I could. Of course it may not be realistic to always have someone who can take on the tasks that I am not gifted with but the greater percent of time I am doing “what only I can do” the more effective leader I am the more effective we are as a FCA staff. I have found so much freedom with the addition to our incredible team because I don’t get as bogged down and drained by the things that are difficult for me to do. God created me with strengths and weaknesses. He wants me to lead from my strengths.

God, help me lead from my strengths, to operate in my core competencies so I can increase the effectiveness of the work you have given me to do. Thank you for surrounding me with a FCA team that is strong where I am weak!

– Clint Hendry

Difference Makers

  Over the last couple of months I have met some of the most incredible people. They spend countless hours each week preparing young men and women for athletic competition, many of them going straight from the classroom where they are helping to educate and enrich their students. Many are vastly under-compensated and their investment and sacrifice rarely recognized by anyone. I am of course talking about the coaches in the greater Jacksonville area. These men and women are truly making a difference both on and off the field of competition and it is a tremendous privilege to serve and encourage them on a daily basis. It is difficult to remember with great clarity most of our early life relationships, let alone things that were spoken to us. However, most everyone, whether an athlete or not can remember a PE coach or other from their childhood that was in some way a instrument of influence, and more often than not, can remember something inspirational that they shared with us. Billy Graham once said that, “one coach will influence more people in one year than the average person will do in a lifetime.” Our desire as FCA staff is to continue to influence the influencers, to minister to and through coaches. Would you take a moment today to partner with us and pray for the coaches in your community? Pray that they would be godly coaches with a desire to influence their athletes and students for Jesus Christ. – Josh Q