Unite your two passions, faith and athletics, to impact the world for Jesus Christ.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: YOUR GREATEST
WEAKNESS COULD ACTUALLY BE YOUR
GREATEST STRENGTH
From the best-selling book "Chase the Lion"
by Mark Batterson
Around the turn of the twentieth century, Alfred Adler proposed the counterintuitive theory of
compensation. Adler believed that perceived disadvantages often prove to be well-disguised
advantages because they force us to develop attitudes and abilities that would have otherwise
gone undiscovered. It's only as we compensate for those disadvantages that we discover our
greatest gifts.
Seventy percent of the art students Adler studied had optical anomalies. He observed that
some of history's greatest composers, Mozart and Beethoven among them, had degenerative
traces in their ears. And he cited a multiplicity of other examples, from a wide variety of
vocations, of those who leveraged their weaknesses by discovering new strengths. Adler
concluded that perceived disadvantages, such as birth defects, physical ailments, and
poverty, can be springboards to success. And that success is not achieved in spite of those
perceived disadvantages. It's achieved because of them.
Subsequent studies have added credibility to Adler's theory. In one study of small-business
owners, for example, 35 percent were self-identified dyslexics. While none of us would wish
dyslexia on our children because of the academic challenge that comes with it, that
disadvantage forced this group of entrepreneurs to cultivate different skill sets. Some of them
became more proficient at oral communication because reading was so difficult. Others
learned to rely on well-developed social skills to compensate for the challenges they faced in
the classroom. And all of them cultivated a work ethic that might have remained dormant if
reading had come easy for them.
Saul slept in the palace while David's band of brothers camped out in a cave. Saul's army
was well equipped. David's mighty men were not, as evidenced by the fact that Benaiah had
to snatch a spear out of the giant Egyptian's hand. And while Saul's army had provided for
them, David's men had to hunt and kill everything they ate.
Those disadvantages developed skills in David's mighty men that they didn't know they had.
They had to work harder, grow stronger, and get smarter.
Destiny isn't revealed on sunny days. It's usually revealed on snowy days. Destiny isn't
revealed while watching cute kitten videos. It's revealed when you cross paths with a fivehundred-pound lion. Destiny isn't just revealed in your natural gifts and abilities. It's also
revealed in the compensatory skills you have to work extra hard to develop.
I felt called to preach when I was nineteen, but public speaking isn't a natural gift for me.
When I was in Bible college, I had friends who could preach a thirty-minute message from an
outline on a three-by-five note card. Not me. Speaking extemporaneously didn't come
naturally. I needed to study longer. Then I had to script and rescript every single word, every
single time.
I thought my inability to speak extemporaneously was a preaching handicap, but it proved to
be a writing advantage. Those sermon manuscripts, after some adaptations and alterations,
would become book manuscripts. And without that perceived disadvantage, I doubt I would
have cultivated my writing gifts. Writing, for me, is a compensatory skill.
You have gifts and abilities that you aren't even aware of, but they are often buried beneath
perceived weaknesses. In those disadvantages, dreams are playing hide-and-seek.
"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf
does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalm 1:3)
Attention All 7th - 12th grade students!
Eastern Iowa FCA is giving
students a chance to win a
FREE scholarship to attend the
FCA SPORTS CAMP in Pella, Iowa!
July 10-14, 2017
See Your FCA Huddle Coach or Eastern Iowa FCA Area Rep. Shannon for more details and how to enter your name.
Pella FCA Sports Camp is a "week of
inspiration & perspiration"! Check out this
great video!
Register TODAY at
www.iowafca.org/pellacamp.
CR Washington High School FCA Huddle
The Washington High School FCA Huddle met during lunch last
M onday. They welcomed special guest, Jennifer Peterson, who
shared her testimony and encouraged the students to make their
faith story their own!
Consult the Counselor
READY
"Many plans are in a man's heart, but the Lord's decree will prevail." - Proverbs
19:21
SET
Third and long. It would take a miracle to get the first down.
I called timeout and entered the huddle. With my clipboard, I revealed a simple
plan for the running back to go left and hit an open hole. I pumped the players
up and left the huddle. The ball was snapped, and the running back went right,
not left, and then turned left, right, backwards, in a circle, left again, then right
and finally down the sideline for a touchdown. That was not how I'd planned it!
But then again this was second grade flag football.
Ever have one of those days when things don't go the way you planned? As a
coach, I make a lot of plans that I'm really confident about, and sometimes they
fail. It's incredibly frustrating.
Proverbs 19:21 reminds us that we can develop and dream up many great plans,
but it's the purpose of God that prevails. The word "purpose" here comes from
the Hebrew word meaning "counsel." God is the Almighty Counselor, full of
wisdom and truth. He is the One with whom we should consult.
God has a plan for each of us to live joyful and productive lives for Him. We
have to be willing to not only seek His plan, but to follow it no matter where it
leads. Start each day by spending time with the Almighty Counselor. Seek His
wisdom in making plans. Trust His answer and follow through in obedience.
GO
1. How do you react when your plans don't work?
2. Who helps you make plans?
3. What is your daily routine for spending time with the Almighty
Counselor?
WORKOUT
Isaiah 14:26-27
Jeremiah 29:10-12
1 Corinthians 1:18-30
OVERTIM E
"Heavenly Father, this is Your day. I lay aside my plans and ask You
to lead me. Guide me as I make decisions. I know You have the game
plan, so help me to be coachable. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
AUTHOR
Rex Stump
www.easterniafca.org
Connect with Eastern Iowa FCA on any of our social media channels and
website where we share the latest news on events, huddle happenings
and camps, as well as cool videos, articles and photos.
April 14, 2017 7:00 - 9:00 AM
Doors Open at 6:30 AM
Cedar Rapids Marriott on Collins Road
Keynote Speaker - T.C. Stallings
Actor, Speaker & Author
Known for his roles in the hit movies Courageous and War Room.
Enjoy breakfast, share in prayer and hear a fantastic message.
EVERYONE Welcome!
Tickets available NOW online at Eventbright and at
Family Christian Stores
4701 1st Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
66th National Day of Prayer
May 4, 2017
Prayer for our nation will be held from noon to 1 pm on the May's Island.
(downtown Cedar Rapids, between the Linn County Courthouse & Veterans Memorial Coliseum)
Mark your calendars today.
Eastern Iowa FCA - 1800 46th St NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
[email protected]
319-832-1461