Outgrown

It is not easy trying to stay in the flow of the digital age for someone who grew up in the last century. (that makes me sound old-ha) The fact is I probably do a pretty good job of it. Many of my friends can't stand new technology and the pace at which the digital world changes. It is mind blowing for those of us that grew up with phones attached to the walls not our hips. Nevertheless, I am along for the ride and most of the time I am loving it.

One of the blogs that I follow is from one of my favorite writers Angela Hunt and this morning reading her blog sent me right over here to mine. Her post shared the lessons she has been learning from her Orchid that had outgrown its pot after 8 years. On this morning, I too have outgrown a "community" for which I have been involved with in one way or another for the last 8 years. Some might call it an extra curricular activity and others "the league." Time to move on and it is bittersweet. My two youngest children, who are now young adults (we have been calling them that since each was around 15 and the younger is nearly 19) went out the door as alumni of the NCFCA speech and debate league to go judge at a practice tournament. My visible time in the league is up yet this very morning I am doing some consulting work for the first qualifying tournament this season in Region 10.

The end of a season in our lives means that the LORD is clearing things away to make room for new adventures and new lessons in our lives. The whole experience of being a part of the league without reservation I can say, that I am grateful for each and every season, tournament, person and club that we have been a part of one way or another. Thank God for the NCFCA and thank God for the opportunities that we have had through this homeschooling speech and debate league.

The Power of Words

Young people who can communicate WILL serve and lead

When writing is sterile it holds no power. The words in essence are empty. When “these words” comes in the hand delivered mail we can still simply toss it in the trash, shred or crump it up. Here in the digital world simple hit the delete button. If you are going to remove it from “the trash” you might have 30 days in which to do so, otherwise it is gone.

My last blog post was pretty clean. Just the billboard, the tag line, less than catchy. Not a tag line that would cause one to ponder or comment or even like. It wasn’t bad, it was truthful but held not one ounce of power.

This morning I turned to a book that sits on my bedside nightstand, one that I am reading just a bit at a time and it is written in such a way that I can do that. One that caused me to put it down and go to my computer to write this blog post.

“wherever God uses human agents, he gives them his power, pours into them his life and illuminates them with his light. If men only realized what it means to be used as God’s instrument, what supreme joy came from the least touch of his hand, there would be no lack of volunteers for his service.”

….it is exhilarating and energizing to be an instrument in the hands of such a supreme wordsmith as our Lord and Savior. And this is as true for those whose “pulpit” is a table at Starbucks, the boardroom, the commuting car, or a child’s bedroom as it is for those who earn a living by speaking in church.

In a world bursting with communication, transformed speech proclaims God’s empowering life.”

The Beautiful Fight by Gary Thomas

“Transformed speech” is something we want for ourselves as well as for each of our children. I submit to you that if we do indeed believe that words have the power of life and death, that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Word who became flesh, that God spoke the world into existence, and that by a response to the Word preached is the vehicle used to give us New and Everlasting life in Christ then we who are raising children for the Glory of God ought to be purposeful and deliberate in the training of speech. I am not simply talking about taking the public platform, but about greeting one another, asking for assistance, being an attentive listener and then responding appropriately and of course, being prepared to give an answer for the Hope that lies within us.

Training takes time, effort and preparation. Dan and I got our children involved in a number of activities to develop their skills. And people know that if you want to become proficient or dare I say excellent at skills you need to practice and one of the best ways to practice is through competition. Our family has been affiliated with NCFCA, National Christian Forensics & Communications Association since 2004. And yes, my children have achieved some measure of success in competition but more importantly, their skills are being put to use to serve others, to share the love of Christ, to have meaningful conversations just about anyone they meet and to encourage and train others to do the same.

Next Blog…..the IMPACT…….

NCFCA National Championship

June 15-18, 2011

Gordon College, Wenham, MA

Volunteer to Judge!

No experience is necessary.

Hundred of young people...

... from across the country are coming to Massachusetts to compete.

These competitors will be our future....

..... leaders in the home, in our government and in our communities.

Please consider serving them in this way.

They will indeed delight and inspire you.

For more information about the

National Christian Forensics & Communications Association (NCFCA)

go here

To Register to judge

Go to Judges

For questions please contact me at NCFCANatsJudges@gmail.com

post revised 5/29/11

Community Members Wanted

Community members

wanted

for

DONE

(Debate Only in New England)

Tournament

January 21 & 22, 2011

(Friday and Saturday)

at

The Fellowship

604 Foundry Street Easton, MA

Dear Members of the Community of Easton and its surrounding towns,

One week from Friday Debaters from all over the Northeast will come to the town of Easton to compete in their first qualifying tournament for the 2011 NCFCA Season. These young people have been working hard this past fall to prepare to enter this arena to sharpen their skills, compete with excellence and enjoy the process.

"Tournaments have two concrete requirements: rooms and judges." *

We have the rooms and a roster of competitors. Now we need to fill a number of judging slots in order to make this tournament run.

So we kindly invite you to come and judge these young people who are our future leaders. Community members who have served in the past haven't given high praise to the quality of these young communicators and often have renewed hope in this future generation.

Anyone willing to judge can register at our website If you need further assistance just leave a comment with your email address or email me at macsgrill@gmail.com and I will get back to you asap.

Judge registration www.ncfcajudges.com

Thank you,

Catherine

*NCFCA Judge Philosophy 2005

TEAM 10 Initiation
As many of my readers know our family has been involved in NCFCA (ncfca.org) a competitive speech and debate league for students educated at home since 2004. The first 3 seasons we spent competing in the Southeast (Region 8) and resided in Florida. This past fall we moved to MA (a place we are somewhat familiar with ;-) and we are now competing in Region 10 with a great gang some natives, like ourselves and some wonderful transplants. Last week we experienced our first tournament in the Northeast and it was an experience.
Before moving here there was a strong desire to return to Region 8 but as our kids know we stay open to what the Lord would have us do that included where we will live in any given season. So Katie and Michael have gone with the flow as their sister Grace has gone over the big pond.(that is a whole other blog) We have all made new friends and renewed some old ones.

Now it is not hard to imagine being on an adventure in the home land and it is a fantastic way to be baptized into the pool from which you were originally born. Day 2 of the S.U.N. Tournament it snowed all day and we lost very few community judges and I didn't hear of any competitors or parents being involved in fendah-bendahs. To say I was excited to be at my first tournament in the snow would probably be an understatement. There is a whole different flavor to this Region and we are grateful to be welcomed in with open arms. THANKS TEAM 10!
Working hard is good for the parents as well as the competitors. Those who work hard together also know how to have fun and "initiate in the new kids on the block." The Mullaneys are feelin' the Love.
Pax Vobiscum,
CM