The Four Soils (as delivered at the Logic School awards ceremony)

There have been many sermons given on the parable of the four soils.  The first soil, is really not a soil at all – it is so hard and the seed does not sprout.  The two middle soils are rocky or filled with thorns, the seeds sprout but are soon snuffed out.  Then the last soil, is the good soil.  It is freshly tilled.  The seeds sprout and produce fruit 100X, 60X or 30X its fold.  This parable is found in Matthew 13.  If you don’t happen to know it, read it this afternoon with your parents and discuss it. 

 

I have heard many preachers preach on this parable throughout my life.  They all agree on the first and last soils.  The first soil is definitely the unbeliever – the seed (being the Word of God does not sprout at all). The last soil is definitely the believer (the seeds sprout 100X, 60X or 30X its fold …the healthy crop in the good soil).  It is the two soils in the middle that cause controversy. Are the people represented by the soils saved or not?  Can we fall away if there is a true conversion?  Well, I finally heard someone say something that made a lot of sense.  You see, preachers are apparently commonly asked by people to determine what soil they are.  The people tell the preachers all their faults, all their sin, they open up their thoughts and then they ask “Which soil do you think I am?”  This one preacher had finally had enough and started to ask back “Which soil do you want to be?  Do you want to be someone whose life is filled with rocks and thorns on the hope that it is good enough or do you want to be tilled and freshly made ready for the seed.”  Upon hearing this, I wondered do most Christians walk around today, trying to be just good enough?   That is a sad state of affairs indeed.  Would your basketball coach want you to be just good enough?  Would your math teacher ask for you to be just good enough?  Does your parent say, “All we ask is that you do your good enough.”  No, they want your best. So does God.  If I were asked, I would have to say, I want to be the tilled soil. I do NOT want to have rocks or thorns in my life preventing me from living the full life Christ intended.  But am I willing to give my whole life over to the Lord.  Am I willing to remove the rocks and thorns?

 

What about you? Are you the good soil? Do you want to be? This summer, students, you should examine your walk with God.

1.  Do you go to the Lord in prayer and listen for His answer?

2.  Do you hunger after the Word of the Lord?

3.  Do you desire to be with others who pray, listen, and study the Word?

4.  Do you apply the lessons learned in church to your life and change your behaviors, your thoughts, even your lifestyle? 

(continued next week)

 

Jeremy Scroggs represented Coram Deo Academy at the National Forensic League National Speech Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama during the week of June 14-19.  Jeremy reached the semi-finals round of Student Congress in the Senate chamber, placing him in the top 64 students in the nation in this event.  Jeremy received the Karl E. Mundt medal for his efforts.  Mr. Mundt was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a U.S. Congressman in the years between 1939-1972.  He also was president of the National Forensic League during those years.  The medal honors his work in Congress and his recognition of outstanding high school students in the NFL Student Congress.  Congratulations to Jeremy for advancing higher than any student ever has at Coram Deo Academy and for representing our school at this prestigious tournament.

 

To the parents, faculty, and staff CDA Flower Mound students,

 

When Coram Deo Academy first opened its doors to 57 students ten years ago, an amazing journey began. The Lord has greatly blessed this enterprise with expansion to three campuses and ever-increasing enrollment. I am pleased to announce that we anticipate approximately 1050 students will join us on an “adventure of a lifetime” in the 2009-2010 school year. We are in awe of the remarkable devotion of CDA parents who have invested greatly in their children’s education.

 

Robi and I received many letters from parents, as well as students following the end-of-year award ceremonies and commencement exercises in May. These marvelous stories of success and determination are inspiring. Even amid our current economic uncertainties, families are seeing the Lord’s greater purpose in preparing Christian youth through classical education.  We celebrate with all of you and rejoice in the high calling to press past mediocrity to achievement which glorifies Christ.

 

This summer the CDA staff is working diligently to ensure facilities conducive to learning will be ready for the coming school year. Please allow me to take a few moments to update you on construction, financing, and capital development for the Flower Mound campus.

 

CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION BEGINS

 

Renovation of the Flower Mound gym began on June 1 and will provide seven new classrooms with expanded restroom facilities by the start of school in August. The two temporary buildings will be removed over the summer as per the town of Flower Mound’s ordinance. Comparable in size to the classrooms occupied the past three years by Logic and High School students, the new ones will match the industry standard of 600 square feet each. Two classrooms equipped with science labs will be even larger and all will be enhanced with natural light.  

 

Plans also include the addition of three new classrooms to the lower school building. CDA has already applied to the town of Flower Mound and per city code we are permitted to expand the building by twenty-percent through a simplified administrative process. While we do not anticipate any problems, we would appreciate your prayers for the Lord’s favor. In short, the Flower Mound campus will replace nine temporary classrooms with ten permanent ones. Assemblies will be held in Orand Chapel at St. Nicholas Anglican Church and Flower Mound students will join the Carrollton campus in using the MAC http://www.advantagebasketball.com/map-mac.com at I-35 and 121 for athletics.

 

Following classroom renovations and expansion of the lower school, Phase One of the Flower Mound Campus master plan will begin toward the end of the summer. New entrances with monument signage will replace existing entrances and incorporate a deceleration lane from Skillern, as well as a perimeter roadway with fire protection around the back buildings and Performing Arts and Athletic Center (PAAC) site. Expansion of the practice field and miscellaneous landscaping are also included in Phase One.

Thank you for your continued support.

 

Rodney J. Marshall

CDA had a great showing at TPSMEA State solo and ensemble! 

The brass quintet made up of Musgrove, Stephen Drew, Tucker Middlebrook, Andrew Kuydendall, and Josh McAlister made an "Excellent" (grade 2) rating.Becca

The clarinet quartet made up of Lauren Devoll, Hannah Bowen, Ariel Heinsius, and Devin Scott made a "Superior" (grade 1 - highest possible) rating.

The following soloists made a "Superior" (grade 1 - highest possible) rating:

    Becca Musgrove

    Lauren Devoll

    Hannah Bowen

    Ariel Heinsius

    Sarah Smetana

    Matthew Walsh

These students had the opportunity to play and be critiqued by university music professors and professional musicians from organizations like to these students who performed very challenging music to make it to state and then walk away from state with such high ratings!the Fort Worth Symphony!  Congratulations

 

 

Coram Deo Academy Commencement exercises will be at Valley Creek Church in Flower Mound, Texas on May 15^th, Friday evening, at 7:00 PM (click here for a map).  

Please come and celebrate with the seniors of Coram Deo Academy .  Our Commencement speaker will be Jonathan Rogers, alumnus of Coram Deo Academy , Class of 2004. He is currently the Field Coordinator of National Right to Life in Washington where he assists with the development and support of regional NRL chapters.

Full-time Students need to attend the M/W Awards Ceremony at 10am. Students should wear uniform and tie, or better. The T/Th Awards Ceremony begins at 1:00pm.  See you there!! 

Jonathan Rogers to be CDA Commencement Speaker

When CDA opened its doors ten years, ago, Jonathan was among the first 59 students, coming to then Flower Mound [Classical] Christian School as an eighth grader. Prior to that he had been home schooled. Jonathan always had a passion for history, particularly military history, and it was not surprising that he chose to pursue that discipline at the University of Dallas. After graduating with honors from UD in 2008, he interned at the National Right to Life Committee headquarters in Washington, DC where he now serves as Field Coordinator and assists with the development and support of regional NRL chapter.

 

We welcome Jonathan back to Coram Deo Academy!

 

High School award ceremonies are at 10:00AM on May 14th for M/W students and 1:00 PM on May 14th for T/Th students.  Meet at Orand chapel.  High School students need to wear uniform and ties, or better.

Commencement:  7:00PM at Valley Creek Church

In support of excellence in Athletics and Academics at CDA!

If our girls (2 of which are seniors) play in the state softball championship game, we will push Commencement back to 8:00PM.  An email will be sent out on Thursday evening to confirm the schedule. Thank you for understanding. Go Lions!

Calendar

The calendar received in The Forum last week is a great snapshot of some of the wonderful events in CDA schools district-wide.  For campus specific dates, please check the campus on which your student attends.

Sports - softball

The Lady Lions will play Legacy Christian at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) on Saturday, May 9, 2009. Game time is at 1:00 PM and the winner will qualify for the Final Four in TAPPS 3A with a trip to Waco next week. The address for UTD is 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, Texas 75080. There will be an admission charge of $5.00 for adults and $ 1.00 for students. TAPPS cards will be accepted.

 

High School has final exams until 2:30 on May 11/12.

 

High School award ceremonies are at 10:00AM on May 14th for M/W students and 1:00 PM on May 14th for T/Th students.  Meet at Orand chapel.  High School students wear ties.

Commencement:  7:00PM at Valley Creek Church

In support of excellence in Athletics and Academics at CDA!

If our girls (2 of which are seniors) play in the state softball championship game, we will push Commencement back to 8:00PM.  An email will be sent out on Thursday evening to confirm the schedule. Thank you for understanding. Go Lions!

 

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High School Award Ceremonies

May 14, 2009, 10:00-11:30 – parents are invited

M/W students will meet for end of the year awards at Orand Chapel.  Parents and students go directly to Orand Chapel.  Students will sit in their houses. Students should wear ties.

May 14, 2009, 1:00-2:30PM – parents are invited

T/Th students will meet for end of the year awards at Orand Chapel.  Parents and students go directly to Orand Chapel.  Students will sit in their houses.  Students should wear ties.

 

Commencement: May 15^th Valley Creek Church

Rehearsal for seniors begins at 9:30AM.

Commencement begins at 7:00 PM.  Seniors should arrive 45 minutes prior to the Commencement.

 

Swine Flu Information

We are aware of the school closings resulting from the H1N1 flu concern. There are no reported cases among the students at Coram Deo Academy . We remain open for next week. If there is any reason to close the school we will contact you by posting it on the website and sending a global email.  The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) also remains active for athletic and academic events.

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