Impact 2008 Day of Reckoning
2008: Day Of Reckoning: Year two in the big house. Without a doubt this was a great year, possibly the best theme and maybe even skit ever. I have no doubt that many of you will proclaim 2008 as your favorite year. There is a difference between my personal favorites and best themes, and skits. While the theme and skit are a big part, our personal favorites have more to do with things going on in our lives and the general week itself (perhaps you were baptized one year, making it your favorite). I can tell you for example that I thought (just my opinion) that as a theme I was not to high on “ 1995 Live To Tell” but the timing in my life was so perfect, it did not matter whether I liked the theme or not. This year was a little marred for me by my families various sicknesses as Amanda had strep, Brock took a nasty ear infection, Battle was okay, but Brewer my youngest was still dealing with a nasty cold. On top of this Amanda had to get healthy because she was leaving for a medical mission trip to Belieze the day after Impact. This led to some stress as I had my Impact jobs to do and I needed to take care of the crew. Its a whole new ball game with three kids.
I can without hesitation say I worked harder this year than ever. I think because of all the work I have the strangest emotion I have ever felt after leaving Impact. For some reason I do not return home with the same empty feeling I have had in years past. I think because Rubio, Skid, and I worked so hard it made the week fly by. It’s kind of odd, I miss that empty feeling. I almost feel like I missed it. It feels like I was moving my stuff in yesterday. Usually I come home and am little depressed. Last year I year I missed my freinds a great deal. Here is the botttom line, in years past I have been able to hang out with you guys, playing games, hanging out in the Coffee House, and just talking to the campers. This year I was so busy, I did not get to do that as much. I think I got to see Grits and maybe had one free afternoon, which I spent at the dodgeball cage. So I am wrestling with the fact that I did not get to enjoy Impact with you. That is the only reason I would not rank 2008 as high as many of you will. I will however say that I hope the hard work helped make 2008 your favorite week ever.
With that out of the way I will still say Impact 2008 was awesome. Like I said the theme was among the all-time greats, as was the set (thanks to Skid), a top notch Morning Impact with loads of new stuff, and this year’s Junior week was by far the best Junior week ever. The theme this year was a year long process. We probably spent more time debating and discussing this theme more than any other. We knew what we wanted to do very early it just took a long time to put it together. Skid wanted to do a prophets theme in the old west. After disscussing it, we all agreed. Rubio and I really wanted to highlight the poor choices point so the two matched well. We really debated the skit over the course of about 10 months, I even wrote an entire skit we did not use. Seeing the finished product was very satisfying. So let’s reflect on what was Impact 08.
How about that Morning Impact? In my 07 Impact blog I told about how I thought we needed some new material. So we met the mysterious Squirrel, and we had some new videos, but we also brought back some guys who had not been used recently. I guess that was a re-occurring theme this year, the Gnomes, Power Force One and Mr. Bill all made triumphant returns, although the Gnomes return lasted about 30 seconds. Their attempt the overtake Morning Impact was a week long highlight at senior week. On a sad note during the melee with Power Forc One an original gnome from way back Blimpy was either smashed or stolen. This made me a little sad as we had just gotten him back from someone (name withheld to protect the offender)who had stolen him 5 years ago. Amanda hand painted those gnomes and I would have liked for him to come hang out in my office. Who knows maybe the gnomes could have returned? But whats done is done now. Flannel Board Theater was strong in year five for the video series with High Scool Musical, Charlotte's Web,and Narnia providing the stories. Rubio won the ball race, again this time in the closest competition ever, it came down to the last ball race of the week. I think this was one of the best weeks for Morning Impact ever.
I think I should mention the Roadies here. This years group was about the best ever. The roadies are high school seniors and some college students who volunteer to help Impact go smooth. They put in alot of hard work and are vital to the week. We have had roadies every year since 2002 and they mean alot to us. This year however was in my opinion the best group yet. Thats high praise because we have had some fabulous groups in years past. Also a shout out to our video guys Paul and Joey who were awesome staying up all night making the videos great every night. And I cannot forget the ETS guys who were also great this year. It takes more then Skid, Rubes and I to make Morning Impact great.
As far as the spiritual side it was great we had probably over 100 baptisms as a result of the week, over 60 at Impact and at least 40 at home churches. Our speakers, Walt Leaver, Wiley Lowe, Don McGlaughlin, Jeff Walling, and David Fraze were on target. I think everyone was blown away by Fraze at senior and we have already asked him to clear his calendar for next year. Our classes were fabulous. The theme was about the prophets and there call to wake people up from sleepy and sloppy lives. Each class focused on a different prophet. The skit helped drive home the point, with Dave Clayton as a young Josiah in the western town Rath City (based on an actual ghost town, look it up). His father played by Danny Gregg, Asa Rath was betrayed by the cunning Mannaseh McReynolds aptly played by Rubio. The Sherrif and Assistant to the regional Sherif were played by Skid and Jon. I was the instrument of destruction Gentleman Jim, and Haley Todd played Josiah’s love intrest Belle. Frank Dockins was the Undertaker. Patrick Chapel and Drew Lewis also played key roles. The skit culminated on the last night each session and was about as intense as I have ever seen. Only the last night of 2006’s “The Story” could compare.
On other fronts, entertainment wise, Grits played to a packed Coffee House at Senior week, and Taylor Mason was a huge smash hit. At junior, comedian Joby Sadd provided the skit guys with loads of material at Junior week. Who could forget the random breakouts of the Cupid ShuffleThe week will be remembered as the year the air went out in High Rise but our campers did not complain as God blessed us with cool weather. The week just had a trouble free vibe that helped make it run smooth. While I cannot say 2008 was a personal top three for me, looking back I think I will look back and remember it more foundly every year. I still have to stay the week was a great one and a week that helped teens identify what exactly we meant by Day of Reckoning!
I can without hesitation say I worked harder this year than ever. I think because of all the work I have the strangest emotion I have ever felt after leaving Impact. For some reason I do not return home with the same empty feeling I have had in years past. I think because Rubio, Skid, and I worked so hard it made the week fly by. It’s kind of odd, I miss that empty feeling. I almost feel like I missed it. It feels like I was moving my stuff in yesterday. Usually I come home and am little depressed. Last year I year I missed my freinds a great deal. Here is the botttom line, in years past I have been able to hang out with you guys, playing games, hanging out in the Coffee House, and just talking to the campers. This year I was so busy, I did not get to do that as much. I think I got to see Grits and maybe had one free afternoon, which I spent at the dodgeball cage. So I am wrestling with the fact that I did not get to enjoy Impact with you. That is the only reason I would not rank 2008 as high as many of you will. I will however say that I hope the hard work helped make 2008 your favorite week ever.
With that out of the way I will still say Impact 2008 was awesome. Like I said the theme was among the all-time greats, as was the set (thanks to Skid), a top notch Morning Impact with loads of new stuff, and this year’s Junior week was by far the best Junior week ever. The theme this year was a year long process. We probably spent more time debating and discussing this theme more than any other. We knew what we wanted to do very early it just took a long time to put it together. Skid wanted to do a prophets theme in the old west. After disscussing it, we all agreed. Rubio and I really wanted to highlight the poor choices point so the two matched well. We really debated the skit over the course of about 10 months, I even wrote an entire skit we did not use. Seeing the finished product was very satisfying. So let’s reflect on what was Impact 08.
How about that Morning Impact? In my 07 Impact blog I told about how I thought we needed some new material. So we met the mysterious Squirrel, and we had some new videos, but we also brought back some guys who had not been used recently. I guess that was a re-occurring theme this year, the Gnomes, Power Force One and Mr. Bill all made triumphant returns, although the Gnomes return lasted about 30 seconds. Their attempt the overtake Morning Impact was a week long highlight at senior week. On a sad note during the melee with Power Forc One an original gnome from way back Blimpy was either smashed or stolen. This made me a little sad as we had just gotten him back from someone (name withheld to protect the offender)who had stolen him 5 years ago. Amanda hand painted those gnomes and I would have liked for him to come hang out in my office. Who knows maybe the gnomes could have returned? But whats done is done now. Flannel Board Theater was strong in year five for the video series with High Scool Musical, Charlotte's Web,and Narnia providing the stories. Rubio won the ball race, again this time in the closest competition ever, it came down to the last ball race of the week. I think this was one of the best weeks for Morning Impact ever.
I think I should mention the Roadies here. This years group was about the best ever. The roadies are high school seniors and some college students who volunteer to help Impact go smooth. They put in alot of hard work and are vital to the week. We have had roadies every year since 2002 and they mean alot to us. This year however was in my opinion the best group yet. Thats high praise because we have had some fabulous groups in years past. Also a shout out to our video guys Paul and Joey who were awesome staying up all night making the videos great every night. And I cannot forget the ETS guys who were also great this year. It takes more then Skid, Rubes and I to make Morning Impact great.
As far as the spiritual side it was great we had probably over 100 baptisms as a result of the week, over 60 at Impact and at least 40 at home churches. Our speakers, Walt Leaver, Wiley Lowe, Don McGlaughlin, Jeff Walling, and David Fraze were on target. I think everyone was blown away by Fraze at senior and we have already asked him to clear his calendar for next year. Our classes were fabulous. The theme was about the prophets and there call to wake people up from sleepy and sloppy lives. Each class focused on a different prophet. The skit helped drive home the point, with Dave Clayton as a young Josiah in the western town Rath City (based on an actual ghost town, look it up). His father played by Danny Gregg, Asa Rath was betrayed by the cunning Mannaseh McReynolds aptly played by Rubio. The Sherrif and Assistant to the regional Sherif were played by Skid and Jon. I was the instrument of destruction Gentleman Jim, and Haley Todd played Josiah’s love intrest Belle. Frank Dockins was the Undertaker. Patrick Chapel and Drew Lewis also played key roles. The skit culminated on the last night each session and was about as intense as I have ever seen. Only the last night of 2006’s “The Story” could compare.
On other fronts, entertainment wise, Grits played to a packed Coffee House at Senior week, and Taylor Mason was a huge smash hit. At junior, comedian Joby Sadd provided the skit guys with loads of material at Junior week. Who could forget the random breakouts of the Cupid ShuffleThe week will be remembered as the year the air went out in High Rise but our campers did not complain as God blessed us with cool weather. The week just had a trouble free vibe that helped make it run smooth. While I cannot say 2008 was a personal top three for me, looking back I think I will look back and remember it more foundly every year. I still have to stay the week was a great one and a week that helped teens identify what exactly we meant by Day of Reckoning!
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