Back to School!

Most of you went back to school this week. Ah, I can remember the times of going back to school on the first day and remembering this is one more year closer to getting out. And one more first day of school. Can you believe that is was 10 years ago that I was a senior in high school? Makes me feel old!

But now that I look back upon the school days, I sort of wish that I were in school. Don't get me wrong I love how God is blessing me right now, but it was fun in high school. So I know that right now you are thinking that this is a hard time because you have a whole new year ahead of you, but everything will work out. You just have to believe that God will help and protect you. Just know this that there are people praying for you as you go back to school.

Today school is so much different that it was 10 years ago. You have so much courage and I truly believe that going to school makes you a stronger person for His kingdom. I have a lot of respect for you because of what you do for your friends and peers at school. Just remember that your school is a field waiting to have seeds planted. Love ya!

BB

Favorite Movie of all Time

Well, I have done some reflecting over the past days. And one of the things that I thought about was my favorite movies. Not my favorites that I have watched this month or year, but of ALL TIME!!!! Yes that is right, Ebert and Roper are going to be seeking this list out.



1. Sandlot.....does the phrase "You play ball like a girl" mean anything to you?



2. Remember the Titans......Ahhhh!! Such a good movie!



3. Lean on Me.......Morgan Freeman at his finest!



4. Lion King.......Have you seen Rafiki! He does such a good job! And those hienas, simply hilarious. And when are you going to get an all star cast such as Whoopi Goldberg, James Earl Jones, Jonathon Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, Robert Guilliume, and Cheech Marin.



5. Speaking of Matthew Broderick.......Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The scene where the principal is running around in the back yard of Ferris and that dog chasing him is just hysterical.



6. Field of Dreams......I am a baseball man. "If you build it, he will come." Again James Earl Jones stars in good movies.



7. It's a Wonderful Life.....you can only watch this movie around one time a year, but it is great!



8. Lord of the Rings Trilogy....... Good always prevails in the end! Such a good analogy of humans struggle against evil in this world.



9. Lonesome Dove......"You run with thieves, you die with thieves". This movie is filled with life lessons.



10. Hoosiers......Best basketball movie ever made.



Honorable Mention.......

Finding Nemo, E.T. Dances with Wolves, Dumb and Dumber, Goonies, U-571, Secondhand Lions, Sound of Music, Anne of Green Gables (Avonlea), Shawshank Redemption (H.M. b/c it is rated R), Bucket List (again Morgan Freeman), Blazing Saddles, The Last Samuarai, Les Miserables, and Hidalgo (movie about a man and his horse...fabulous)


Now, what are your favorites?

BB

Would You Rather.....

Would you rather is an intriguing game. For example, here is how the game is played. Would you rather do the preparatory work for mountain oysters or eat them? Would you rather lick the floor 5 times at Baybrook Mall or lick a frozen flagpole (i.e. Christmas Story)? We had some time to spend on Wilderness Trek one afternoon, so we burned a couple of hours with this game. You can really get to know someone by playing this game.

One of the would you rathers that was mentioned was would rather be tempted by Satan for 40 days in the desert (just like Jesus) or be tested by God for 40 days? This question really made me think. Because I would say that both of them cause us to struggle spiritually. Hopefully, both of them could cause us to be closer to God. 40 days being tempted by Satan probably consisted of no one else around.......no food......hot climate.......being in the presence of Satan........etc.

40 days being tested by God would be difficult as well because think of the people who were tested by God in the Bible......Abraham.......Joseph......Job.....the Exodus. The Israelites were tested several times during the Old Testament to see if they would follow God instead of other worthless gods. These people went through some trying times......almost having to sacrifice your own son, sold by your brothers into slavery, lost everything in your life, wandered in a desert for 40 years. If God were to test me, would it be in the same ways as these people?

This is a tough question. So I need your help. What do you think? Would you rather be tempted by Satan for 40 days or be tested by God for 40 days?

Trek

We had a great time at Trek. We spent 5 days hiking, walking, relaxing, and living on Mount Grizzly. God is so awesome!! I can't believe how people say they do not believe in God. They must not have seen the sights of Grizzly. No there wasn't any grizzly bears on Mt. Grizzly. It is just a name.

Thanks to all of our church members who made this trip possible. I also want to thank our adults who also accompanied us on the trip. David Flores did a great job! Who's Your Daddy with some tabasco on top. Julie Welch was the engine that could! She never gave up. I was encouraged by her tenacious spirit. The Morris' were such a help to have there. They made things much easier when we were packing, loading, unloading, and our first day. Richard, Cindy, Jessica, and Jennifer were such an encouragement to all of us. This was the first time any of us had gone, and they lessened the nervousness we all had about the trip. Our guides (Mark and Ashley) were wonderful! I was a little uneasy about our guides before the trip because I had heard that the spiritual motivation will come from them. Mark and Ashley were instruments of God this week.

Thanks to all!!

How can I forget the teens! As I am writing now, I get a little choked up about. Watching our teens go through the week and encourage one another, helping each other, acting craziy, surrendering their hearts, and seeking God was supercalafragalisticexpealadocious!! (I hope that is how you spell it.) They did an awesome job! Parents you should be proud of your teens!! I am!

Anyway, I will write more. There are many stories that need mentioning.

BB