COMMUNITY–Jan. 19
Playing on a team requires a willingness to sacrifice for others; to put aside one’s own desires and goals and think of the greater good. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). The relationships that are developed on a basketball team are strong, and regardless of the outcome, the players, coaches, and parents are committed to the well-being of each other. Community means that time spent on and off the court is meant to developed strong bonds which will last for a life-time.

CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER–Jan. 15
One sign of a successful basketball program is that coaches and players are on the same page. For me, in my fourth consecutive season as head coach and eighth overall at FC, the values of the program have been the same since day one.

Christ-like Character, Community and Competition are three things that are preached over and over to the boys and communicated to the parents. John 15 serves as the source of these values. Value #1 is Christ-like Character.

Jesus Christ is the source of all things for believers and it is only being connected to Christ that a team can produce characteristics that reflect the nature of God. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

A team that is connected to Christ through prayer and Scripture has the opportunity to bear witness to Christ and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. I challenge the boys to take their faith seriously and be ready to bear witness to Jesus in all that they say and do.

IMMANUEL HOLIDAY INVITATIONAL/ FC HARDWOOD CLASSIC–Dec. 13
The varsity team went 2-2 at the Immanuel Tournament. We played two excellent teams in Immanuel and Bakersfield Christian. They are basketball powers in Division IV.

This young team learned alot about what it takes to compete at the varsity level in these games and it translated to the next two as we defeated Fowler and Parlier. I let the boys know in the locker room that this was the first varsity victory against Fowler in football, basketball, or baseball in a long time, so that is a major accomplishment.

Its a memory that these seniors and the rest of the team can be proud of. Also we beat a Parlier team that last year beat us by 35 points at the end of the year.

It was a good start and we look forward to moving on and growing as a team. I’m also pleased with the witness that we have been to other teams after the games. We invite our opponents to pray with us.

We’re opponents on the court, but we also recognize that competition is God-given and he deserves glory and so we are trying to honor him after each game.

The JV team didn’t get a victory but for a team that just got together last week with its full team they played very well. We’ve got several kids playing basketball for the first time and so we’ve got some learning to do.

A close loss to Laton and several other hard fought games showed this team will only get better as the season goes on. Please pray for Stephen Grimes as he suffered a knee injury. We are praying that he would be able to return to us as soon as possible.

NEW SEASON, NEW EXPECTATIONS–Dec. 9
Last year’s varsity boy’s basketball team started with hope and optimism and a belief that the year would produce a successful year that the program had not experience for several seasons.

Transfers, injuries, and expulsions instead decimated the squad and left the team scrambling to put together enough boys to even play, let alone compete. What emerged from these difficult times was the resolve of a group of young men and a coaching staff that recognized that while winning has value, what matters most is Christ and the relationships that develop because of athletics.

While the 2009-10 season offers another clean slate and the hope of winnings games and league championships, what matters most to the team and I is that they bear fruit in how they conduct themselves, they are willing to lay down their lives for each other on and off the court, and that they compete in such a way that brings honor and glory to God.

It was a tough year for us. I know it was one of the more difficult ones that I have ever experienced as a coach. But through all the challenges that we faced, we recognized that we cared deeply about each other and we could reflect Christ and give our very best, no matter what the final outcome was.

I am excited about the group of young men who are donning Eagle uniforms, starting tonight against Immanuel. I believe this will be a year to remember.