As our children notice the significant adults in their lives shirking responsibility for the world around them, largely because of their anger and fear over loss of control, they become confused. They wonder…”Is God real?” “Is God in control?” “Does God have a plan for me that is good?” “If He does have a plan for me, will it come to fruition?”

We need to live our lives in such a way that we instill hope in our children. Hope in God and hope in the future because He is in control . God is working out His plan. Hope inspires and courage comes as a result. Of all people Christians need to be fearless about the future.

No one can blame the non-Christian for being angry and afraid. A.W. Tozer in his book This World: Playground or Battleground? claims “that the world is a baptism of fire, and whether or not these present conflicts are just the beginning of the ordeal, such a baptism will surely come sooner or later. God declares this by voice of all the holy prophets since time began…there is no escaping it. But are not we Christians a people of another order? Do we not claim a place in the purpose of God altogether above the uncertainties of time and chance in which the sons of this world are caught? Have we not been given prophetic preview of all these things that are happening and are to come upon the earth? Can anything…should anything take us unaware?”

Surely Bible-reading Christians should be the last persons on earth to give way to hysteria. This is a big old world, and it is full of the habitations of darkness, but nowhere in its vast expanse is there one thing of which a real Christian need be afraid. Surely a fear-ridden Christian has never examined his or her defenses. Remember fear-stricken Christians cannot help a scared world, nor do they provide the right example for their own children.

The tribe of Issachar was the smallest of the Twelve tribes of Israel; however, we must not underestimate their influence as we read in First Chronicles 12:32 that they “understood the times in which they lived and knew what to do.” Shouldn’t Christians be the ones who understand these times and know what they ought to do? Fear not and know that God is working out His perfect plan…trust in that Truth!

Every new year is an unchartered and unknown sea. No ship has sailed this exact course before; however, we are well under way in our planning to launch the “ship” for another year of sailing. We do have two new academic programs we are launching in high school that we are very excited about. We have scheduled an Honors English class for 10th through 12 grades, and an AP Caluculus course. Additionally, we will be using a web based school management program called GradeLink that is designed to equip families to stay current with student assignments and grades. A great deal of information concerning GradeLink is forthcoming is our annual “Back-to-school” packets.

Of course we covet your prayers as we continue making preparations for another exciting school year. May God richly bless you in your summer activities and remember God is in control!

On May 1 st David and his family visited the Empire Mine blacksmith shop and Marilyn demonstrated how to make the “Priarie” ring and the wall hook. She explained the history behind the ring and told stories about other items in the shop. David’s mother especially liked the story of the Courting Candle. She purchased one to display and the story was included on the photo board at David’s shop in “Millersville”. The Empire Mine shop supplied David with 1 00 rings and 1 00 hooks. David made up a game for people to win a ring or hook, using a gun to shoot a rubber band at a tin cup target.

The grand Open House at school was held on May 7th, and afterwards Marilyn received this note from David: “My Blacksmith shop was a huge hit! I had a line of people waiting to win a Prairie Ring or Wall hook all night! The rings and hooks were such a hit, we had a lot of parents that came up and just bought several at a time and did not even play the game. My parents and I talked a lot about the Empire Mine so I hope more people will go and visit it. I only had 3 wall hooks left and I think my mom hid those so she could have some …. I had so much fun, thank you for helping make that happen for me. . .. Maybe when I am old enough I can come and learn how to be a real Blacksmith from you. Thank you again and we all hope to see you again. The Wickstrom Family”

Special thanks go out to all the blacksmiths who helped make David’s project a reality. And, David, you are welcome to visit our shop anytime. And when you are older, training happens every Spring!

Story by: Marilyn Sakowicz

I guess for a high school principal one of those memories that “stick” is senior high graduation. Certainly the finality of the event itself is memorable as you realize these young men and women will never again darken the doors of Forest Lake Christian School as students. Often the graduate is the last of a family group, and in those cases, the memories take on a different level of consideration.

On Friday, June 4th the thirty sixth graduating class of Forest Lake Christian School collected their diplomas at Bayside Church of Granite Bay. The fifty six graduates joined the ranks of over fourteen hundred others who have gone before them to become alumni of this wonderful educational institution.

I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation by our superb Chamber Choir, was blessed by the talent of the Miller family singers, and was impressed by the insights offered by our valedictiorians, however; the highlight for me was the commencement address by Congressman Tom McClintock.

The Congressman is an American of incredible stature. He made me proud to be an American, and I was humbled by his kind words of affirmation specific to the work that is being done with the next generation of leaders at Forest Lake Christian School.

Of course our prayers go with our graduates and our thanks to their families for recognizing the eternal value in Christian Education. I would encourage you to listen to the Congressman’s speech below.

2010 FLCS Commencement Speech by Senator Tom McClintock from Forest Lake Christian School on Vimeo.

FLC hosted Capitol Christian on Thursday and Hanson’s two-love victory helped lift the Falcons over the Cougars 7-2. Hanson, who is playing out her senior season, has not dropped a league match since her freshman year.

“It’s crazy to think I have not lost in three years,” Hanson said. “It’s not something I think about.”

She’s not flashy or a power player, but FLC coach Steve Robinson, who has coached her all four years at the varsity level, describes her as a multi-faceted player.

“She uses the entire court,” said Robinson, who has been leading the program since it began in 2002. “She uses various angles in her application of her forehand and backhand slice.”

Hanson did give up a game early in the first set, but took lead 2-1 and on her way to a win in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.

“I’m a strategy player, but I will occasionally hit the ball hard,” said Hanson, who started playing tennis in the fourth grade with Frank Gaillard at Lake of the Pines. “I don’t like running, I get them running so I don’t have to.”

The Falcons were playing from behind when Menary dropped the first game, but kept the pressure on the Cougars’ No. 2 singles player good for a 6-2, 6-3 victory.

“I have not picked up a racket in a while. I have been in Kentucky,” said Menary who was visiting the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University in Lexington.

FLC’s Nathan Burnett, the boys No. 1 singles player, dropped the first set 7-5 and won the second set 7-6, winning the tiebreaker 7-5. That sent the match into a third and final set, which was won by Burnett 7-5.

“It was a huge first match for him today,” Robinson said.

The big surprise of the day was the win by sophomore Brandon Bryditzki at No. 2 singles, who moved from doubles to singles due to a challenge, as well as a teammate being sick. Bryditzki won the first set 6-1, lost the second 7-5 and won the third and final 6-2.

“It’s his first big win in singles,” Robinson said. “Very good win.”

The girls No. 1 doubles went to FLC’s Ally Weir and Amanda Timmerman 10-0, and the No. 2 girls doubles team of Courtney Turner and Holly McClain followed with a 10-2 win.

The final win for the Falcons was in mixed doubles, the outcome of the match went to a 7-5 tie breaker won 10-9 by FLC’s Ben Gamel and Anthony Dechene.

The win moves Forest Lake that much closer to the postseason.

Robinson feels that if Hanson is going to make a run deep into the playoffs, she needs to play postseason tennis and has to progress and keep her composure.

“To have that in a game this challenging is difficult,” Robinson said. “She lives her faith and I feel that is a big part of her ease and confidence.”

Hanson is the team’s co-captain with fellow senior Menary.

“To me it (being a captain) means to be encouraging, no matter what level you play,” said Menary, who is 7-1 on the season. Her only loss came at the racket of Marysville’s No. 2 singles player. “We try to be the kind of leaders we would want to be led by.”

The two girls have been teammates for four years of varsity tennis, as well as volleyball.

“Caitlin is not only a spectacular athlete, she has the most respectable character,” Menary said. “There are not even words. We are so lucky to have each other.”

The two met in the eighth grade, but played on different volleyball teams and really connected there freshman year.

With Hanson and Menary finishing up there high school career, they will have one last chance to make a run into the playoffs. Menary feels her team will need to be determined, committed and disciplined. But first they need to pick up a win over Lindhurst on Tuesday. Lindhurst has three losses this season, while the Falcons only have fallen to Marysville twice.

Last season, Hanson took a first-round loss in the GEL tournament, which could not have made her happier. The loss gave her the opportunity to be teamed up with Menary.

“They won handily and were the No. 1 (doubles) seed,” Robinson said. “They were a unit, an incredible balance of poise and confidence. It is a rare thing to have at this level.”

Hanson, who will be attending Pacific Union College in Napa in the fall, said she is not sure if she will be playing volleyball or tennis, because she says school comes first. She will look back on her high school career with fondness and hopes younger players have learned from her example.

“You never know who is watching you,” Hanson said. “Be the friendly face. You never know whose day you are going to affect.”

Article Courtesy of The Union / sports writer Scott P. Hopper

That’s when Forest Lake Christian (18-7-1) downed LeGrand (14-3-4) in a sudden-death shootout to win the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI championship by a 5-4 score at Lincoln High School in Stockton.

FLC sophomore Lia Hegarty and senior Morghan Pomeroy proved to be the lethal combination for the Falcons, who earned their second section championship in three years.

Hegarty was called to make the sudden-death kick against LeGrand’s senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Lopez, which was a call Hegarty was not expecting.

“I was going to pee my pants,” Hegarty said of when she heard her name called by coach Trenton Mol.

Hegarty went high to the left corner and made the sudden death’s game-winning goal.

“I called her (Hegarty) because she can do what she did,” said Mol.

With the lead, it was up to Pomeroy, Forest Lake’s four-year starting goalkeeper who also won a section title in a shootout during her sophomore season.

LeGrand called on senior Maggie Perez to take on the veteran keeper. Pomeroy blocked the kick to seal the 5-4 deal for the Lady Falcons.

“I was confident,” said Mol. “We have been working on those.”

The team ran to embrace Pomeroy once the game was over.

“It was the most amazing four years of my life,” Pomeroy said. “I cherish the relationships.”

Not everyone ran to the celebration, however. The team’s senior captain Katelyn Seitz was carried by her coaches to join the party.

“I don’t feel the pain anymore,” said Seitz, who suffered a broken ankle in the first-round playoff win over Lindhurst.

This was the first time LeGrand had appeared in the section final, while it was Forest Lake’s fifth consecutive trip.

“We played well. Forest Lake is a great team,” LeGrand coach Frank Ferreira said. “The game went as it should have, down to the last shot.”

At the end of the second overtime, Mol and Ferreira turned in their rosters of the five players to make the free kicks. Each team had the opportunity to go one on one with the other team’s goalkeeper in a best of five shots shootout.

“I have a lot of trust,” Seitz said. “I’m confident in my teammates.”

Both teams sat on the 50-yard line and waited to see what would happen.

First on Mol’s list was senior captain Kacie McGeary, who stepped up and fired at the upper left corner to beat the Bulldogs’ senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Lopez for the Falcons’ first lead of the game at 2-1.

Now it was Pomeroy’s turn.

LeGrand sent Ivana Barajas to try and tie it up. The shot went off her left foot to the low left, where Pomeroy dove to the turf and made the stop to hold the 2-1 lead. Emily English, who is known as “the wall” by her teammates, stepped up to the ball and kicked a soft shot to the right that found the back of the net for a 3-1 lead.

Griselda Garcia kicked the ball at Pomeroy, who tipped the ball as she dove to the right, but the shot was good —— 3-2 Falcons.

FLC’s Weisman kicked the ball low and right for a 4-2 lead. Nancy Medina scored on a low right kick to move to within one at 4-3.

Dana Ormiston’s shot sailed over the crossbar, leaving things at 4-3.

LeGrand’s Bertha Granados was next for the Bulldogs, kicking the ball to the right side past Pomeroy.

With the game tie at four all, each team sent its final player to the field. FLC sophomore Rachel Jordan took the final shot and it was blocked.

The final kick was between two of the game’ss top players. Veronica Lupian went one on one with Pomeroy, power kicking to the right at the veteran keeper that was deflected and the score remained 4-4.

“I keep a calm head,” said Pomeroy. “I look my opponent straight in the eye and try to make them nervous.”

The score was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, on goals by Lupian and FLC senior Christa Weisman, who kicked a hard low ball to the opposite side of the net that LeGrand sophomore Sonia Medina got a foot on but could not stop.

McGeary had a corner kick early in the first half that found Weisman in front of the net and the Falcons took a 1-0 lead, but the goal was called off. The referees ruled the ball was out of bounds and came back into the field of play.

The Central Valley Christian League champion Falcons played through adversity late in the season, as they had to play without Seitz, the team’s leading scorer. When her team took to the field for the semifinal match against Mariposa County, Seitz was on the operating table having five screws put into her right leg to stabilize the two broken bones so a detached ligament would heal properly.

She is number three in the program, but when she was introduced the roar of the crowd said she was number one in the attendees’ hearts.

Forest Lake freshman Makena Wong drew the defensive assignment of marking Lupian, while FLC’s Bethany Derenne marked Nancy Medina, LeGrand’s leading scorers.

“Number 16 is big and fast,” said Wong about her mark as she returned to the field for the second half of the game.

The halftime score was 1-1 and Mol’s half time speech was one of confidence.

“We are going to win 4-1,” Mol said. “We are going to score at least three this half. You know memory lane? We want this team up on the wall.”

At the 10-minute mark in the second half Lommori kicked a hard, curving ball on a corner kick to Weisman, who headed a ball that looked as if it was headed for net. But Lopez made a diving stop.

With just more than 3 minutes to go, play picked up speed and fans became very passionate.

“It’s so hard to watch,” Seitz said, as she sat in a chair reclined with her right leg elevated.

Ormiston kicked the ball 35 yards, but as the ball bounced in front of the LeGrand goalie the referee blew his whistle indicating the end of regulation.

The section title was the first for FLC’s Mol, a first-year head coach who took over for Ken Raskin.

“These seniors have carved this team out,” Mol said. “We have five captains and their leadership showed today.”

“We played without our leading scorer, so we had four seniors and the rest were freshmen and sophomores.”

Article Courtesy of The Union photo/ Sports writer Scott P. Hoppe

In the book of Psalms alone there are at least 16 separate references to the idea of making a joyful noise unto the Lord. I suspect that some of you may take exception to my application of a joyful noise being something other than music, but to my ears the sound of young men and women engaged in the joys and struggles of healthy competition is joyful.

My thanks to our coaches for their tireless efforts and enduring acts of service to our school community. The sportsmanship they model and the life lessons they teach through their respective sports is exemplary, and it is much to their credit that the sounds of competion are joyful and bring glory to the Lord.

The degree of success that our teams achieved once again this spring are worthy of note, and if we were to only use the world’s definition of success, our teams are well defined. But my heart is grateful for the Christ-like character that I routinely see exhibited by our athletes within the context of competition.

Our Golf and Tennis teams both finished second in their respective leagues and participated in section playoffs. Our softball team finished first in their league and made it to the quarter finals of their post-season playoff format. As of this writing, our girls soccer team will be competing in the finals of their section for the fifth year in a row. Additionally, they went undefeated in league play and by so doing captured yet another league championship. Time and space does not really allow me to identify all of the individual athletic honors that were awarded our athletes throughout their respective seasons; needless to say, they were myriad as we have many outstanding Christian athletes throughout our program.

I wanted to specifically thank our parents for their incredible support of our coaches and the teams throughout the spring. You worked tirelessly to arrange rides to and from games and practices, you opened your homes for meals (I know how much they can eat) and fellowship, you kept us all informed, connected and encouraged; what a fabulous community I am privileged to work with.

Lastly, I wanted to encourage as many as are able to be involved with our Falcon Summer Sports Camps. I strongly believe that a good deal of the success our teams have every season can be contributed to the work done by athletes in the off season. Our Falcon Sports Camps are conducted by quality coaches who love young athletes and love their respective sports. The depth and breath of each camp is wonderful and they present an excellent value. Both of my children attend a variety of camps every summer.

You will find a complete listing of the camps and a registration form under “Downloads” on this same site. Just because the school year is over and our athletic teams are through competing for the season does not mean the joyful noise needs to end; sign up for a summer camp!

The process of accreditation causes you to focus on all aspects of your program. Although it is important to self-evaluate and to seek feedback from all of your stakeholders, I am increasingly aware that my focus must first and foremost stay riveted upon my heavenly father. One of my favorite authors, Charles Swindoll, writes about this God first focus in his book “Encouragement for Life”.

“There is a mystery, an aura about the living God that is designed to force us to trust Him, and Him alone, even when we cannot figure Him out (which is most of the time). The mystery is purposeful, because His overall plan is profound…His plan is not designed to make us comfortable; it is designed to make us more like Christ, to conform us to His will…In this life, we have focus choices. We can focus on ourselves, we can focus on our circumstances, we can focus on other people, or we can focus on God. When you think Biblically you focus first on God. Regardless of what you want, regardless of the circumstances you’re under, regardless of what others say or think, regardless of how you feel, God and God alone is working out His great plan. And in the final tally, it will be fabulous!

Nothing touches us that has not passed through the hands of our heavenly Father. Nothing. Whatever occurs. God has sovereignly surveyed and approved. We may not know why (we may never know why), but we do know our plan is no accident to Him who guides our lives. Isaiah 41:10 Keep your Focus upon God!

The better you are at things, the fewer mistakes you make, the fewer mistakes you make, the less embarrassment you usually go through. Generally, I like to avoid embarrassing myself. I enjoy doing things I am good at. I am usually more reluctant to dive into things I am not good at. I am not good at sports. Some people are natural athletes. I am a natural klutz. This does not matter to the state of California, however. It still requires for all able-bodied (walking, breathing) students to complete a certain amount of physical education units throughout their high school career. Download full article “Thoughts from Left Field”

Suffering is a brick wall

I was just contemplating suffering. Why do we suffer? What is its purpose? How should we respond to it? Much musing, and several passages of Scripture later, I found that suffering is a brick wall. Everyone experiences suffering. Ever since the first offense in the Garden of Eden, sin and evil have poisoned the earth. Our world convulses with the physical and spiritual pain accompanying sin’s disease. As a Christian we know that ultimately, our sins can be forgiven when we accept Christ as our Savior – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 3:23).” Why then must the Christian still suffer if our sin is no longer deciding our fate, but rather we have been made new in Christ? Download full article “Suffering is a brick wall”