Archive for October 12, 2013

Chuck Smith a champion for religious freedom

October 12, 2013 Faith, Viewpoints

By Brad Dacus

Dear Friends,

I learned with great sadness last week of the passing of Pastor Chuck Smith. Pastor Chuck was known around the world (and to many of you) as the founder of Calvary Chapel, which from humble beginnings in Southern California today includes more than 1,600 congregations around the world.

What you may not realize is the impact Pastor Chuck had on our ministry here at Pacific Justice Institute. Since he touched so many lives in so many different ways, it’s easy to overlook the crucial role Pastor Chuck played in protecting our religious freedom. Several years ago, Pastor Chuck caught the vision of PJI and suggested we begin a radio commentary heard weekly on radio stations. Soon after that, the Legal Edge was born and produced by Calvary Chapel station KWVE.

Today, we are heard on more than 200 stations nationwide, and countless individuals have contacted us for help after hearing the Legal Edge. Before the Legal Edge, PJI handled about 700 requests for assistance a year. However, after the Legal Edge was launched, that number has since multiplied to several thousand each year. And, I firmly believe that, but for the success of the Legal Edge, we would never have been approached to begin The Dacus Report, a weekly half-hour show where I discuss legal issues that affect families and people of faith.

Besides personally representing Pastor Chuck and Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, it has been our privilege over the years to represent countless Calvary Chapel pastors and congregations as they boldly speak the truth and advance the gospel — sometimes in the face of governmental hostility. Just last year, we were very blessed with a good outcome as we went to court to defend a small home Bible study led by Chuck Smith, Jr.

As I reflect on Pastor Chuck’s legacy and the difference he made in my life, I am more motivated than ever to advance our mission of proclaiming truth, defending our families, and preserving religious freedom so that our children will have the unhindered opportunity to hear and speak the gospel.

Running the Race,

Brad Dacus
President, Pacific Justice Institute

 

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Whittier sports briefs for Oct. 9, 2013

October 9, 2013 Sports

El Rancho legend to be honored

Legendary El Rancho High School football coach Ernie Johnson, who died Sept. 15 at the age of 87, will be honored by the school at two upcoming events.

Johnson will be remembered at halftime of El Rancho’s Del Rio League contest against Santa Fe on Friday, Nov. 1. A memorial is also scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at El Rancho’s gym. Several of Johnson’s former players are scheduled to speak.

Johnson coached the Dons from 1956 to 1968, posting an overall record of 108-31-5 and leading El Rancho to three CIF crowns.

For more information, call 562-801-5300.

Fit for Life

Whittier’s 5K “Fit for Life” run/walk, presented by the Whittier Community Foundation and the Whittier Host Lions Club, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Whittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Ave.

The event will start with the “Children’s Creepy Crawly,?” a timed half-mile dash, at 7:30 a.m., followed by the “Spooktacular,” the 5K run/walk, at 8 a.m.

For more information, call 562-567-9400.

Adult softball

Open registration is under way for Whittier Adult Softball.

The signup deadline is at 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25. Teams will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until each league is full. Payment and completed application must be submitted at time of registration.

The $490 fee includes games, balls and awards. Play will start on Sunday, Nov. 3.

Leagues play at York Field, 9119 Santa Fe Springs Road in Whittier.

For more information, call 562-567-9430.

A kick for kids

The city of Whittier’s Lil All Star Soccer program gives youngsters ages 3 to 6 an opportunity to learn about the fundamentals and rules of the game.

The Saturday program is scheduled to run from Oct. 12 to Nov. 2, at Michigan Park, 8228 Michigan Ave. The fee is $50 for residents and $55 for nonresidents.

Children ages 3 to 4 can sign up for either the 8:30 or 9:15 a.m. class. Youngsters ages 4 to 6 can register for either the 10:10 or 11 a.m. session.

The final week will be a scrimmage to imitate a game situation and children will receive an award.

Parents should bring a soccer ball and water, and must stay at park for the entire game.

For more information, call 562-567-9430 or visit www.WhittierRec.com.

Soccer for toddlers

Youngsters ages 18 months to 3 can register for the city of Whittier’s Soccer Starter: The Beginning program.

Through the use of games and activities, children develop basic motor skills needed to play organized soccer. The program focuses on the foot-eye coordination needed to kick stationary and moving objects. Parents participate with their child to develop improved balance, strength and patience.

Two classes are offered at Whittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Ave.: 4 to 4:30 p.m., Thursdays, Oct. 24 to Nov. 21, and 9 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 29 to Nov. 26. The fee is $47 for residents and $52 for nonresidents.

For more information, call 562-567-9430 or visit www.WhittierRec.com.

Beginning skateboarding

Children ages 6 to 17 can register for a beginning skateboarding class scheduled from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays from Nov. 2 to 30, at Whittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Ave.

Participants must wear a helmet, elbow and knee pads, and bring their own skateboard. The fee is $107 for residents and $122 for nonresidents.

For more information, call 562-567-9430 or visit www.WhittierRec.com.

Youth wrestling

The city of Whittier offers a youth wrestling class for youngsters ages 5 to 18.

The Saturday program is slated from Nov. 9 to Dec. 14, at Whittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Ave. Children ages 5 to 12 will participate from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., followed by youngsters ages 13 to 18, who will wrestle from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The fee for both programs is $59 for residents and $69 for nonresidents.

For more information, call 562-567-9430 or visit www.WhittierRec.com.

Tae kwon do

Uptown Whittier YMCA, 12510 Hadley St. in Whittier, offers tae kwon do classes for ages 3 to adult.

Instructors place strong emphasis on self-discipline and building self-esteem. They will teach how to use strength effectively, maintain cardiovascular fitness, improve flexibility and coordination, as well as tone the muscular system.

For class times and more information, call 562-907-6530.

Martial arts

East Whittier YMCA Impact Martial Arts program offers several classes at 15740 Starbuck St. in Whittier.

Classes are available for all ages and levels of experience. Impact Martial Arts and Fitness is staffed by professional and experienced instructors who have dedicated their lives to sharing the power of martial arts with the community.

For class times and more information, call 562-943-7241.

 

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Boys, Girls Club goes country at annual gala

October 8, 2013 Local News

: Theola and Norm Kirschenbaum donned cowboy attire as they were honored with the Lee Owens Award at the Sept. 21, 2013 gala fundraiser at Friendly Hills Country Club. The annual event provides about 10 percent of the club’s annual budget.
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Boys and Girls Club of Whittier.

By Jarred Galloway
Special Correspondent
411whittier.com
WHITTIER – Several hundred people, many dressed in cowboy garb straight from the Wild West, recently came out with guns ablazing to support the Boys and Girls Club of Whittier and Whittier’s youths.
Club director Debra Arroyo estimated the event, held Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 at Friendly Hills Country Club, raised thousands of dollars for the club, which currently serves more than 1,600 children, ages 6 to 18.
“People really liked the theme,” Arroyo said. “They all came dressed up in cowboy attire. Our silent and live auctions are always known for their quality. It’s kind of like asking a parent if their kids are cute.”
Although actual totals were not immediately available, Arroyo said the club hoped to raise $108,000. It is the group’s largest annual fundraiser.
She said 252 tickets were sold.
“It’s pretty cool to see the community come out and support the kids,” Arroyo said. “Everyone had a great time supporting the club. It’s not just a party, but how they support the club and its efforts.”
“We are very pleased with the outcome of the gala, as it usually represents approximately 10 percent of our budget each year.” said Samantha Ridout, BGCW executive director.  “Not only is it a great party each year, but the proceeds from the event go directly into serving our more than 1,600 members.”

Theola and Norm Kirschenbaum were honored for their longstanding support of the club by accepting the 2013 Lee Owens Award.
“This is such an honor,” said longtime BGCW supporter and board member Theola Kirschenbaum. “To us the Boys and Girls Club of Whittier is a great place for the community and getting the Lee Owens Award, especially honoring Lee Owens, the one who brought me onto the board, was great.”
Owens served as a longtime editor of the Whittier Daily News and has a park across the street from the BGCW on Greenleaf Avenue named in his honor.
And the importance of the club to the community?
“Because all of the boys and girls there are our future,” Kirschenbaum said.
Jarred Galloway can be reached at soccerbrojarred@gmail.com

 

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This week’s homily

October 4, 2013 Faith, Local News

By the Rev. Thomas M. Boles PhD., DMin., D.D.

One night during the Civil War, a stranger arrived at Henry Ward Beecher’s home. Mrs. Beecher answered the knock at the door and found a tall and gangly stranger, muffled to the eyes, asking to see the great preacher privately. He refused to give his name.

Because her husband’s life had been threatened recently, Mrs. Beecher declined to receive him into their home and sent him away into the night. She returned upstairs and told her husband about the stranger at the door and what she had done.

Beecher, who never seemed to know fear, descended at once and hurried after the man.

He invited him back to his house and brought him inside, where he conversed with him privately for some time. Later, when Beecher rejoined his wife, he told her what he had done. He also revealed that the muffled stranger had been none other than Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States.

He, too, was in a crisis and feeling threatened by evil. He came requesting prayer.

While we are never asked to openly defy natural law or to show disregard for life, the Lord does ask us to take risks, in showing His love and sharing the gospel with those in need.

Love without courage is ineffective, but love with courage can change the world.

Consider the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Matthew 4:12-23

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Heralds, Swordsmen optimistic about 2013 volleyball prospects

October 3, 2013 Local News, Sports

Whittier Christian High School’s girls volleyball team holds a team practice on Oct. 2.

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By Eric Terrazas

Staff Writer

411 whittier.com

WHITTIER – Whittier Christian High School, armed with a roster featuring several talented seniors, is aiming to maintain its girls volleyball supremacy in 2013.

The Heralds were second to none in the CIF-Southern Section 2A Division last year, capturing the Olympic League crown with an 8-0 record before finishing with a 35-5 mark and the 2A title.

Led by their talented senior cast, the Heralds have picked up right where they left off. With their Oct. 1 league-opening victory over Heritage Christian, the Heralds improved their record to 15-5.

The senior duo of outside hitters Kylee Wolfe and Deanna Blaine pace the Heralds’ attack. Blaine turned in a terrific junior season, capturing both CIF-SS Division 2A Player of the Year and league most valuable player honors. She has committed to Loyola Marymount.

Wolfe, who committed to the University of Rhode Island, is coming off a season in which she earned both first team All-CIF and first team all-league awards.

Joining the 1-2 punch of Blaine and Wolfe are the senior group of setter Jennifer Washle, libero Nicole Santos, middle blocker Stephanie Stevenson, outside hitter Kylie Cooke and middle blocker Meghan Buchanan.

“Our goals for the season are similar to last year – but we also realize we have a lot of work ahead of us,” Whittier Christian coach Shawn Hunter said. “We played some good competition and we have competed consistently well. I’m excited with where we are at.

“We’re excited to get under way, and we’re excited to compete against our league. We think our league is going to be a good test and we’re excited about that.”

The Heralds resume league play Oct. 3 with a home match against Village Christian.

ST. PAUL

The Swordsmen are also seeking to build upon last season’s success, which included a Camino Real League championship and a second-round appearance in the 2012 CIF-SS Division 4AA playoffs.

“We’re a little older and a little wiser,” Swordsmen head coach John Van Deventer said.

Junior outside hitter Riley Kelly, who captured league most valuable player honors last season, paces the St. Paul attack.

Senior outside hitter Ariel Bonderov, junior setter Jillian Saenz, sophomore libero Katie Engle and junior middle blocker Marissa Aquilar also play essential roles for the Swordsmen. Bonderov, Saenz and Engle each earned first team all-league honors last season while Aquilar was named second team all-league.

Senior setter Amanda Encinas, a transfer from Santa Fe who becomes eligible in October, will also look to make an impact.

St. Paul has looked strong so far, posting a 13-4 overall record. The Swordsmen, who are ranked No. 4 in the CIF-SS Division 4AA poll, open league play Oct. 3 against St. Monica at home.

eric.terrazas@411whittier.com, @411whittierspts

 

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College conference set for Saturday, Oct. 5

October 3, 2013 Around Town, Local News

WHITTIER – Rio Hondo College and the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce (HOT), Whittier College and many local school districts are collaborating to educate parents about higher-education opportunities for their children at the 15th annual “Empowerment through Education” conference on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 at Whittier College.

The daylong event is meant to curb high school dropout rates among Latino students by helping parents learn how to encourage their children to graduate from high school and go on to earn their college degrees.

College recruiters will be on hand to help parents better understand the school application and financial aid process.

A student symposium will offer workshops giving information on the college admission process and more.

A workshop titled “The Path to College” will be offered by Rio Hondo representatives to entice students to attend the hillside campus.

“It is our job as educators to ensure we prepare our prospective future students as best we can by giving them and their parents the necessary tools to help them succeed in higher education,” Rio Hondo Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss said in a written release.

One highlight of the event will be a student panel consisting of young men and women from Rio Hondo who have begun successful careers in higher education. That panel is slated for 8:30 a.m.

For more information call 562-692-0921 or visit www.riohondo.edu

 

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This day went to the dogs

October 1, 2013 Local News

 

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By Sergio Lopez, Jr.

Staff Writer

411whittier.com

WHITTIER – In a continuing effort to bring a special park for canines and their human companions to Whittier, some 300 to 400 people came out in force Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013 for the fourth “Paws 4 a Cause” at the Palm Park trailhead along the Greenway Trail.

The successful event brought the Whittier Dog Park Task Force and the Whittier Community Foundation closer to their goal of establishing a dog park in Whittier planned for an area north of Philadelphia Street between Gregory Avenue and the Greenway Trail.

According to Jeff Lopez, management assistant for the city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, the event drew 110 registered furry friends and raised about $10,000 for the Whittier Community Foundation.

“It was our most successful event of the past four years running,” Lopez said.

The morning began with registration for a 3-K walk/run and a “Mini-Mutt March,” then went into a performance by members of the Disc Dogs of Southern California and their high-flying, disc-catching canines.

Shortly afterward, dogs and their owners lined up and started down the Greenway Trail, with the smaller pups heading toward Palm Avenue, while bigger dogs raced to Norwalk Boulevard and back.

Whittier High School cheerleaders encouraged participants and welcomed them back from their runs with cheers usually reserved for Friday night football games. As noon neared, a dog fashion show commenced. Dogs and their owners participated in three categories, which included a “Cutest” group as well as a “Funniest” and an “Owner Look-a-Like” class. The day came to a close with another performance by the Disc Dogs.

The addition of a Whittier dog park means the city will join the ranks of Pasadena, West Covina and Downey as places for canines to congregate with their owners.

Sergio Lopez Jr. can be reached at bmsurg5@gmail.com

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This week’s homily

October 1, 2013 Faith, Local News

By the Rev. Thomas M. Boles PhD., DMin., D.D.

On a trip to Israel, a tourist was amazed to hear a young Jewish man recite his

family lineage back 14 generations. She reflected upon her own family

tree, and realized that she could only trace her own lineage back five generations.

She concluded, “God is the only one who knows my beginning from my ending.”

Ultimately, that is true for each person. No one fully knows what another has

experienced early in life, or what genetic influences may be brought to bear in a

person because of the behavior of his or her parents and other ancestors.

A part of each person will always remain a mystery,

known to God alone.

Or struggled beneath his load.

There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,

Though hidden away from your view,

The burdens he bears, if placed on your back

Might cause you to stumble, too.

Don’t be too hard on the man who errs,

Or pelt him with wood or stone,

Unless you are sure, yea, double sure,

That you have no fault of your own.

Success is to be measured not so much by the

position that one has reached in life as by the

obstacles which he has overcome while trying.

Don’t find fault with the man who limps

Or stumbles along life’s road,

Unless you have worn the shoes he wears,

to succeed.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because

when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of

life that God has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12

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