MIDDLE SCHOOL RETREAT finally has a home! For those of you who didn't already know, the camp that we were booked to stay at for MS Retreat is now housing evacuees from Louisiana and has cancelled all fall bookings. Because we didn't have a place, we didn't know what the cost would be or all the details we needed for registration brochures. When we found out about this, we immediately began calling other local camps; however, everyone was completely booked for October.

We're excited to announce that we finalized a contract for Camp Kaleo; who was on standby for evacuees but has now been cleared and had available space to accomodate us. With that underway, registration brochures will be available beginning Sunday, Sept 18.

MS Retreat is going to be an awesome weekend. Marc and I are talking about it right now, as I write. We're currently in St. Simon's having a little R & R...but still working, of course.

Be sure to pick up a brochure Sunday morning to register for MS Retreat 2005, "XLR8".

I almost forgot, the new Switchfoot cd is in stores now. Save your allowance money this week and pick it up. It's awesome. Hit this link, Switchfoot, and scroll down the page a little to browse some audio clips of Switchfoot's "Nothing Is Sound." And...be on the lookout for David Crowder's new cd, "A Collision", coming out September 27. There's a link to Crowder's website on the left side of this blog.

We're off to see the Sea Turtles............

We're famous! I knew that this day would come....mama always said it would. As if you didn't know already, we love to make videos. Now, we've hit the public market. Check out Youth Group Videos and see one of our first ever videos. This is the promotional trailer for Baywatch: Hero, filmed on location at Ft. Walton Beach in 2004. See the video that made Seth McKay the David Hasselhoff of 2005 and won 3 Oscars, including "Best Actor - Drama ", "Best Director", and "Best Cinematography".

I know most of you have worried yourselves into states of panic as I have not posted another gripping tale in several days. It is not good to worry like that. Worry causes ulcers...and ulcers hurt real bad - especially if you have one and you drink milk. So, do not worry because I do not want you to get an ulcer...and if you already have an ulcer because of intense worry, then do not drink milk because it will anger your ulcer.

Revenge was taken upon me for my previous mockery of Marc's fright. Close your eyes as I repaint the scene. Wait...do not close your eyes - you need to be able to read this. How about having someone else read this out loud while you close your eyes and try to imagine the scene. I'll give you a second to yell for your brother/sister to come help you....................................................

Here we go. It was Wednesday night after The Gathering for Middle School. Most all had vacated the premises except for some adults practicing music in the choir room and a few people meeting in the Conference Room. Stillness seems a fitting word - as the only audible sound carried from the choir room.

I sat in my office chair gathering my belongings for the ride home. While I let my computer shut down I had turned to grab a book from the bookshelf. I sat with my back to the door (mistake!) thumbing through a book while my computer synchronized and all the other stuff it has to do before going to sleep for the night. As I sat with my back to the door I heard the sound of footsteps entering the office.

Believing someone was going to attempt a "scare", I immediately turn around to backfire their evil plan. As I turn to my head to look over my left shoulder, all I see in front of me is Joe Alexander holding a 3-foot snake only inches from my face. Immediately, my chest tightened and my breathing became constricted. I pushed off in the chair to move away from said death-causing agent and as I pushed away my chair refused to roll over the carpet. The chair flips over - Gabe hits the ground.

Was I hurt, you ask? Only emotionally, as I heard the laughter of Pastoral Associate Josh McClendon on the ground in the hallway laughing hysterically and the snickers of my attacker, Joe A., as he strutted out the office with his head held high after his victory.

As we know, all stories have morals; applicable truths for each of us to find. What, you ask, is the moral of this tale? I shall tell you the moral; and it is this.

Never mess with Gabe, because he will get you back. The other day I let all the air out of Joe's tires....who's laughing now? I know I am. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!