The Youth Week Cruise: One Last Day

We've toured the world, had a lot of fun and explored our faith in new and exciting ways, but eventually every Youth Week- even an imaginary one- must come to an end.  It's Friday, our final day at sea before it all ends on Saturday morning.  But before it all ends, we have one final, amazing day and night to spend together.  Here is your schedule of events:
On-Board Activities

10 AM-  Bible Study-  Come to the Youth Room and we will explore the story of Jonah and The World's Worst Cruise.  Discover how God can use you in places and ways you would never dream of.  (SPF 75)

12 noon-  Lunch and Pool Party-  Meet at the church and we will shuttle over to Dr. Jill's house for a leisurely afternoon of poolside fun and fellowship.  Sandwiches will be served, and we will see (as we often really did back in the day) how many people we can fit in her pool- and house.  We may even sing some Karaoke to see if we can scare her neighbors!  (SPF 20)  You can be picked up at the church at 3 PM.

5 PM-  Rec Around the Clock-  Our Worldwide Cruise wraps up with our signature event.  Arrive at the church hungry and rested, because it is going to be a HUGE night!  Here we go (this schedule would both exhaust us all and break the bank, but in my imagination it is completely possible!):

• It's off to a final dinner party at Miyabi/Kyoto (who have just re-opened in time to hold a private party for their favorite group- right?)!  The rice will be piled high as we eat until we can hardly move.  But move we will, as we head for stop #2...
• We'll visit the Florida Mall for one of our infamous Scavenger Hunts, including the always embarrassing Search for the Pink Panther!  Winning team gets vintage 2003 Graceland t-shirts and a can of SPAM!
• From the mall we head over to Springfield Friends Meeting (I know it's in NC- but for this night time, distance and location do not matter- only dreams!) because it is the best place ever for playing SARDINES!  The many rooms, twisting stairwells and hidden closets make for incredible hiding places. Plus there is some chance it is haunted (The Ghost Room)! We will also work in a few games of Kick the Can in the Graveyard (which unless you were with me at New Garden or Springfield you never got to play).  And the games are just beginning...
• It's time for Midnight Disco Bowling!  A RAC staple for many years- in fact, I don't know the last time I bowled when it wasn't midnight or later!
• SLURPEE BREAK!

• We're back at the church where a huge surprise awaits us in the Chapel.  It's Real Worship, Real Late & Real Loud, featuring the David Crowder* Band!  They will blow the roof off the place, and we will get a final Save the Humans message from old friends Cathy Thacker and Darin Miller.  SPF 200 - at least!!!
• Then we are off to play Laser Tag, which always seemed so high-tech back in the '90's.  Now it is just fun to play when you know everyone in the room and get to shoot them- like we will!
• It should be around 5 AM by now, which means one very important thing- the Hot Doughnuts NOW sign is on at Krispy Kreme!  And we will make every effort to eat them all!  Breakfast is served!  YAY for exclamation points!!!
• Now that we have a good sugar rush going, there's no need to stop, right?  I said RIGHT?  If you still need help staying awake, a little 6 AM Ice Skating should take care of the trick.  If you can't wake 'em up, FREEZE 'em, I always say.  Plus there will be full-body ice sliding.  NOW you are awake...
• We wrap up the night by heading down to the Lake Toho shelter and singing a song or two and sharing in our prayer circle together.  And for anyone who remembers the last time we tried this so early in the morning, I promise no mosquitoes. After all, this is all in my imagination anyway!

And we are done.  Quite a week, huh?  I don't know about you but I am worn out.  But just like with all of the real Youth Weeks, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.  As for my original query about getting adults excited about church again, I still have no answer.  But maybe, just maybe, if we were to approach adult ministry with the same outside the box thinking it takes to draw youth to the church then our churches would be much stronger.  Adults get side-tracked by business and politics.  With youth, it's all about building relationships, and it is all about Jesus.  It's just a thought.  This blog will return to regular programming tomorrow.  Thanks for letting me live out TW3.

Because of Jesus,