Extreme Impact '07 Done!

This weekend has been rewarding though tiring at the same time. Extreme Impact has ended and yes there will never be another Extreme. That doesn't mean that you can't shepard the students in other ways. Future youth will never get to experience what others in the past have. But I digress, the journey to know is not over.

Even though I would have liked to be on the worship team, I am now realizing that being on security is a blessing in disguise. Even though the worship team put a lot of time and effort into getting the worship all planned out and whatnot, they didn't get much time to talk with the students. That's one thing my friend Mark wished he could have done due to being so busy with the worship team and practicing for each session.

We were getting things fine tuned right up to when the students were coming and getting signed in on Friday. On Friday after the sign ins there was some free time before the first session. Then the first worship was at 7 PM. We managed to cram the students, CBC students, and the staff into the worship space. It got hot in there and that was a sign of things to come. We got to hear a story from one of the CBC students on Friday. There were also some games for prizes at these sessions. At this session, they had to find a piece of gum this questionable looking stuff on a plate and blow a bubble, but the blowing of a bubble wasn't working.

Later on Friday we went to the Southland Recreation Center where we could go so swimming, skate, play hockey, play basketball, play badminton, or just chill and hang out. I chose to play basketball. It was fun. Luke Carlson got stuffed by his little, I should say younger brother Matt Carlson, who is a CBC student. Although he doesn't like to admit it. I said to him: "You were stuffed by your own little bro." Luke replied to me by saying: "Yeah, as he was holding my other arm." I just won't let him live that down. But it was all in good fun.

Saturday came soon and well, the second session was at around 9 AM. We got to hear more stories from CBC students and from a couple of youth pastors. It was a chance to hear a how their lives have continually been shaped as they have been a Christian. The game they did was that one person sat on a chair while another person had to shave the balloon without breaking it. In the end, one of the MC's Kara broke them anyways and the two people sitting got wet.

After lunch there was a variety of activities people could participate in if they so wished. I played ultimate Frisbee. It was fun, but I haven't play in months. Then at 5:30 the coffeehouse started with the act the opened and closed. I did two things in the coffeehouse. I did a Kiss cover with Manny Coon and the Facelickers. We did "I Was Made For Loving You." The crowd went nuts when it did the wailing part of that song. People were saying how much they loved it. I do have to admit that it was awesome.

Later on Saturday, We had a bit of worship after setting up our God encounter stations. After the worship we went to our God encounter stations. The station I was at for the students to come to was the spontaneous prayer/song/scripture station. Everybody got into it when I "Gotta Serve Somebody" by Bob Dylan. Near the end of the song as I was singing the chorus, people would repeat by saying "serve somebody." I just love that song. It's one of the few Bob Dylan songs I like. It has a gospel like feel to it. It was great.

Then we finished out the night we more worship. We hard people share some how they see the kingdom of God and what it means to them. Near the end people were getting into. It was awesome. People were jumping, dancing, singing, and just worshiping. Sure it may seem like a Jesus high, but it was great in that moment to see people worshiping God in their own way. Then after people could stay and worship or go out to the lounge or where ever and chill. I being on security got to lockup that at midnight.

Sunday came soon as well and we hard our last session. It was the last time that we as a large group could come and just worship as a whole before going back home. Then the CBC students pitched in and got the place cleaned in great time. No class tomorrow (Monday) morning. Only one class in the afternoon.

This body of Mr. C.C. although tired feels a sense of accomplishment. Thanks for reading. Now here is some food for thought.

"Anyone desperate enough for suicide...should be desperate enough to go to creative extremes to solve problems: elope at midnight, stow away on the boat to New Zealand and start over, do what they always wanted to do but were afraid to try."
-Richard Bach, American writer

"The less secure a man is, the more likely he is to have extreme prejudice."
-Clint Eastwood, American actor and writer