Holidays

Saturday, Dec 11th. we are having our annual Mall Invasion.

This is a chance for you to get your Christmas shopping done with style. (In the new church bus - if you haven't had a chance to roll in the new ride, this is your day!)

We will be going to South Park Mall, shopping there, eating there, and coming back to wrap presents (we provide wrapping paper, tape, bows, etc.!!

We will be LEAVING @ 8:30 and returning @ 1:30pm (that is a change)

From 1:30 to 2:00 we will be helping do a little cleaning up from the Friday Night musicale.

It will not take long, and we will really be helping the church as there will have been about 900 people through the auditorium for the Christmas Musicale!

Don't for get to plan for our HUGE Parent-Teen (and family) New Year's Eve bash. We will have games, gym time, movies, lots of food, and an overview of the 2010 year.

12-31 7pm 'til 2010.

Be looking for your Missions Trip Sign Up and Applications. They will be coming out in the next week.

AND, while I am gabbing.

This Wednesday, we will be continuing our Survivor Series.

We are currently looking at surviving Spiritual Doubts.  This week, we start looking at - 'The Top 7 Reasons You Shouldn't be a Christian!'

Sunday School - We are starting the series on prophecy.

That's enough! (for now)

Pastor Dave

-If you didn't get this as an email, then I don't have your correct email address!

November 2k10

Hey, this is a little update post for the month.

This weekend is the Hebron retreat "The Following"

Leave @ 5pm Friday, return @ 6:30pm Saturday.

Bring: Bible, clothes (could be cold) bedding, towel, toiletries, permission slips, and money

NEXT weekend: WOL Superbowl

leaving @ 5:30pm returning @ 6am

Three pages of permission slips (for the different locations)

BRING: $ and permission slipS!

Printable Permission Slip 09-10

________________________ (name)
has my permission to go on the

________________________ (event)
on

______________ (date)
In the event my child becomes ill or is injured while under church supervision; I approve the sponsors taking the following steps:

Contact a parent or guardian of the young person and follow his instructions.

In the event that neither parent or guardian can be reached, contact the young persons’ physician and follow his/her instructions.

If the young persons’ physician cannot be reached, the sponsors will use their own judgement in contacting a properly licensed practicing physician and follow his/her instructions.

In the case my child is involved in an accident and requires treatment, the attending physician has my permission to examine and begin treatment in my absence.

I agree to relieve the church and youth group sponsors from any liability in connection with these activities and instructions.

________________________ (family doctor name)

________________________ (doctor phone)

________________________ (parents name)

________________________ (home phone)

________________________ (work phone)

________________________ (parents signature)

September

Well, everyone is finally in school, so the facebooking during the day has settled down.

Junior High has started their AWANA year. I am teaching a series this year called "The Dif" speaking to why and how Christians are different. We will deal with a TON of relevant issues. What is a godly young man, what is a godly young woman, modesty, personal hygiene, personal appearance, life relationships, relationships with the other gender, communication, music and media choices, family, etc. Each area we will be looking at what the Bible specifically says, and what principles in the Bible apply.

JH Sunday School will be about Spiritual conflict! Pride v Humility, Deceit v Truth, Wickedness v Obedience, Doubt v Trust, Impurity v Purity, Distraction v Decision, Compromise v Set Apart, Resisting v Yielding, My Will v God's Will, Giving Up v Perseverance, Division v Unity, AND Halfhearted v Wholehearted.

WHEW! The Junior High will definitely be getting their fill of Good, Godly teaching, with a lot of fun mixed in.

At the Senior High level, Wednesday Nights has started with a deeper look at what it REALLY means to do God's will. We are looking at the Biblical principles brought forward from the book "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung. This will be followed up by our series on Engaging the Mind. Where we will cover what the Bible says and how to think through, well, a lot, including:
creation
masculinity and femininity
God's view of the nations
a 2 week study on music
the blessing and pitfalls in both Christina and public schooling
biblical counseling v psychology
economics
a Scriptural view of science
origin of sin
naturalism v transcendentalism v theism
(not necessarily in that order)

Senior High Sunday School starts with a study through I and II Timothy and Titus. Looking at how a young person can be ready for the life and decisions they are facing and will face.

And that is just the teaching part. We also have events! (as you see on our calendar)


Our next big night is Saturday night, September 12. USC @ OSU! Big time college football with lots of food and fellowship, and we are praying for more decisions for Christ!



Short list of announcements:
Puppets starts on September 13th with a big kickoff!
BIG SNAC that night! ALL 7-12 teens invited!
Senior High Groupies Night Out will be on September 23rd

Keep Up! God is working, get on board!

PDave

Welcome to FALL!

I continue to be the ever vigilant blogger. (and I am REAL active on TWITTER!)

Our new Youth Ministries year has already started off with a bang! Our new activity "FiredUp FridayNight" was a huge hit. We had 61 teens and 14 leaders. About 25 of the teens were new to our Youth Ministries, and they got to see us at our best (worst?!)

We had a hot wings eating contest, milder wings for everyone, 8 different salsas for the chips, popcorn, and dessert. We also had the Carlisle fire dept show up with one of their trucks, a great big wet water game, a HUGE bonfire, and lots of fun.

We also saw 7 decisions for Christ! Praise the Lord!

A big thanks goes out to all the leaders who helped. And to all the leaders and teens who invited. I can't think of an event where we had more NEW teens at.

What's coming up, you ask?

Look at the calendar!!! It's on the page!!!

HOME

I know, I know,

Start strong and finish weak. I blogged so well, then fell off the map. I formally apologize!

SORRY!

While we were not as "ministry" busy. We were all over Boston, seeing the city, doing Bible studies, and going wherever Pastor Edmundson wanted us to go.

I would tell you all about it, but then you would not come on Sunday night to HEAR all about it.

So, see you SUNDAY @ 6pm!!

Pastor Dave

SATURDAY!!! JULY 4th!!!

I will try to divide this up into two parts.

First, Team 1. The One Weekers had to take up an awesome, yet big task. Because Team 2 left so early, the campers would only be able to love on/say good bye to Team 1. At this point, I will assume they had a lot of goodbyes.

With Mike and Stuart in a van with all the girls, they headed home. The trip included singing If I Were a Butterfly, and sending Team 2 an audio text of it, plus doing devos. They arrived home @ 4:30PM, and all apparently are safe at home.

Now, about Team 2.

Boston was only a 5 hour drive. After saying Hi, and Bye to Deanna Parker, and those from Team 1 who had got up early, we headed off. One stop for gas and Dunkin' Donuts and another for a bathroom break (good bus discipline!) got us to Boston by 12:20p.

Our first stop was Matapan, MA. It was a very tough neighborhood, that a couple starting to work with Bill Edmondson (Our missionary for the week, and former prof of Pastor Dave) lives in. I will not be able to give all the wonderful info, it would take WAY too long, but I will take a shot at giving a good overview.

This is church planting at ground zero. Adam and Heather are the first and only white couple to move in to this neighborhood in a long time. It had caused quite a stir. (they even had their tires slashed on an almost daily basis for the first three weeks) They had invited all they had met in the neighborhood to a 4th of July BBQ in their backyard. Their home has been being slowly redone by Adan, the Edmondson's, and friends.

According to Doc Bill (our name for our missionary) All the people who arrived were new contacts accept for a number of people from his church. The local Community rep came, Mabel Graham. The state representative for the area came, and probably 9 or ten families/couples as well. Many races, many kids, two missionary couples, two interns from FBBC, and our team in the backyard fellow shipping hardcore and having a great 4th BBQ! Most visitors were unsaved, and Dana and I ministered to a special needs young man that came, Stevie (we determined God was getting us ready the week before, because he was very hard to understand, but once he knew we were getting most of it, he came out of his shell and really talked our ears off)

We also met Steve, from Doc's church. He is Harvard grad with a masters in Archeology. He helped us through Boston for the remainder of the day.

We left Aaron, Jared, and Derek with Doc's intern from FBBC, Andy to help clean up. The rest of us jumped into the bus (whose tires WEREN'T slashed!) with Doc, his wife, and Steve for a tour ride through the streets (lined with 4th celebrators) of Boston. I was nervous, the streets were tight, but we had NO incidents! (please tell Pastor Quick)

We all ended up at the Edmondson home. After I parallel parked the bus in an alley (WHOO HOO!) we all brought the luggage in the house. It filled their living room!

We all crashed and waited for the guys to return. (they were coming by subway) Supper was hoagies, and then we were prepped for the evening.

We were going to go downtown by rail/subway, walk through the streets downtown, tour a bit, then end up on the Charles River Bridge for Boston's 4th of July fireworks!

Doc lives two blocks from the rail, so we all got our week-long rail passes, and headed off!

What an exciting evening. Too many stories! After taking a coffee/ice cream break, we tried to find a spot to get too. It was shoulder to shoulder people! We had to make a train to get through the crowds. We went over fences, then back over fences, and finally got to the middle the bridge (or close to it) for the 10:30pm fireworks.

They were AWESOME! And we had a great time. Little did we realize the MASS of humanity we would have to weave through (in a train of 19 people) to get back to the station! The kids sang songs all the way back at the top of their lungs! (obviously fatigue was setting in) We sang, and laughed and some people in Boston probably were thinking that there were some really nutty Christians downtown!

A crammed train ride home, a walk up the street, and we were all (19!) back home. Floors had bodies everywhere, and finally we were all down.

Doc - Bill Edmondson is an incredible man. He has such a passion for this city, and has a dream of starting a church planting movement from here in Boston. He is a Baptist Mid-Missions missionary, who a reaching into a truly cross-cultural center. He has Bible studies @ Harvard, MIT, Harvard Medical, and multiple other schools. Just sitting and walking with him and letting us tell what God is doing is incredible. The guys were impressed that he had a study going with some of the New England Patriots and their strength coach. One of the new believers in his church is a former Top Gun instructor who is getting a Masters @ Harvard. After weeks of meeting in Doc's home, and after blasting Doc for believing in creation for weeks (Doc starts in Genesis with his Bible studies!) this man finally came to know the Lord. This is one of many stories. This ministry is reaching poor neighborhoods, and side-by-side are some extremely smart, talented, heavy thinking Harvard students.

It is the exposure to the wonders of ministry I was hoping for. I pray the Lord would take this ministry and encourage our teens to be all about reaching the world. Doc needs more team members to work here in Boston, and to reach out.

These teens are equipped to be eternity impactors! (is that a word?) As they see it happening before their eyes, may God call them to be ready to do whatever He wants, because there is no place more exciting than to be where God is working!!!

We are thinking about staying longer!! - But we will follow the Lord.

OH YEAH! Here are the pics for those of you who are scrolling down!


SATURDAY, July 4th


Pastor Dave

Friday PM

Well we finished off the week with a huge night. After supper was the Who-Knows Annual Camper/Counselor softball game. Campers won. 15-2. Keystone Capers in the field, and I mean when the COUNSELORS were in the field! The video tells the story best, but I must say, it was some of the worst softball played, possibly ever!

Next came special music. The campers were allowed to sing special numbers. It was a very sweet time, with a lot of focus on songs about heaven and God's love. My mind went to the calling of eternity a BLESSED HOPE, and it surely is. Jen and Mike and Patty and I discussed what a blessing it thrill it is going to be to see these fellow believers in heaven with sound bodies and minds. (we will be way better off, too!)

Our team kept our part short in the interest of time. But we did review the 5(!) verses the campers had memorized. Gen 1:1; Ps 45:6; Matt 19:26; Col 1:16; Acts 16:31. Ethan the puppet (every one's favorite puppet) made his final appearance and let us know that he had won the Okomonji High Science Fair, then we sang our favorite two songs. If I Were a Butterfly and My God is So Big.

After this came the candles (too wet for campfire) and testimony time. Each camper that wanted to told us their name, cabin number, and when they were saved. I believe the count is up to four this week. One guy Roy, proudly proclaimed, "My name is Roy, from the Missionary Hut, and I got saved by Jesus Christ this week, WHOOO!" And we ALL cheered at the top of our lungs! Roy (who Mike Griswold helped lead to the Lord) definitely made an eternity changing decision! Smiles were everywhere.

This time continued with many declarations of salvation from YEARS ago. This ministry at the camp (we had found out) had been started by a church years ago who started a "Precious Jewel" ministry that got as big as 90, and they took a day at camp, then just had the crazy idea to do it for a whole week.

After the testimony time, it was the standard end of the night. Unmedicated campers out, then the medication lines. (The nurse had QUITE A WEEK)

Then your tired, but energized team packed up and loaded everything up they could from the tabernacle. Puppet stage, props, etc. Instructions wer given concerning the morning (Boston team would pull out @ 6:30am) and then an FBC Missions Trip tradition: Our First weekers lined up, and the Second weekers gave them hugs and said their goodbyes. We made Reilly cry, along with some unnamed others.

More pics from the night have been entered into the Tue-Fri picture album, so, here they are again!!



WHOOO! Now for the Saturday post!!!

Thursday and Friday

Hello FBC Youth Missions Trip Followers.

Photo collection has been not really happening with such little "off" time for the teens. I hope to get some more up after lunch.

Yesterday was a pretty crazy day. It was cold, and then it cleared up a bit,and then it POURED! DELUGE style. We all went to the closest cover and then got everybody to the new dining hall for inside games. About an hour later, clear skies, and the pool even got reopened.

Our days (not including the rain) have been pretty consistent. Keeping to a tight schedule helps the campers. SO...here...is a run down of a non-rain changed schedule.

6:30 - staff devos (that's right! the team has been up and ready by 6:30)
7:00-7:30 - cabin devos - but actually it has been finish getting ready time.
7:30 - flag raising and morning exercises and prayers
Breakfast (and each meal) - the staff leaves to prepare the food. Including cutting into small pieces and making sure dietary requirements are being met. While this is going on, our team takes all the campers to wash their hands and make sure they have used the facilities. Then we take the campers to the dining hall. We eat on our own side of the dining hall, while the staff sits and assists the campers in eating. After that, the staff stays to eat while we take the campers to whatever is next - breakfast - cabin clean up, lunch - rest time, supper - an activity.

After breakfast
Cabin CleanUp - puppet and Bible time prep for some of us
Bible/Missions Time - We have 50 minutes with the girls and then the guys. This is when we do our puppet time. Ethan and the Science Fair (our new puppet productions recorded by you very own teens). We also teach a Verse (5 this week!) Dana does her creation story (in parts, if I remember!), we sing songs (If I were a Butterfly, My God is So Big, Lord's Army, God Bless America, etc.) and a Bible Story TIme with Pastor Dave.

Wrapped Around lunch and rest time (which is not necessarily restful)are different stations that the campers are divided up to do:

Lake Front - Speed Boat and Paddle Boats (they LOVE the speed boat)
Pool - We either swim or stay close
God's Helpers - Doing different work activities around the camp
Crafts - Building a lot of stuff
Snack Shack - Lots of goodies

Within these times many campers choose to just sit around and relax/color/play, which is allowed and encouraged. The teens stay with their campers where ever they go, and just interact all day.

Finally, there is supper, then an evening activity, and we do a final quick review chapel.

Campers to bed, Our team together for devos, then a snack and time with the camp staff, then to bed by about 10/10:30.

Now I am tired just typing this. Rain is starting up again!!

Off to lunch.




Pastor Dave

Boston Bound tomorrow!

Wednesday continued...

Ahhhh. I am relaxing in front of the camp office, where I get the best web access. I can hear campers and teens singing songs (Amazing Grace and I Have Decided plus the ever present I've Got a Mansion - camper favorite)

Today started COLD and dreary. It was looking to be a tough day, but the clouds have parted, no rain was to be seen, and it is quite nice. campers are swimming and doing crafts and relaxing.

Our team has been getting quite the compliments from the staff. I have had multiple BaYouCa staff members say how patient and great our teens are. They think we are doing GREAT!

The campers are starting to ask of all if we will come back next year. They are even praying for it! This is quite a compliment, as this is one of the highlights of their year, and they would love for us to continue to be a part of it.

I am not sure how I can best explain how proud I am of these teens. They are spending almost 22 hours out of the day in the presence of the campers. They sleep in the same cabins, help them get from place to place, assist in bathroom breaks, showers, seizures, changing for swimming and pool time, Bible time, etc.
This creates a very exhausting atmosphere. Physically, mentally, and spiritually this team being pushed. Yet, they are really shining.

The only breaks are for meal time and for team devotions at the end of the night. This devotional time we review our devos (which everybody is doing very well at) and then talk about our best moments from the day. Each team member shares something that was very special to them. It is a time that we all have enjoyed very much. With lots of smiles and almost some tears. They all will have quite a few stories to tell after this week!

Tonight will be quite a night. We have the BaYouCa county fair, which involves a bunch of booths that the campers will go to. Your teens will be doing all sorts of things including being in a dunk tank, dressing up as clowns (I am looking forward to photographing that) and running different fun events.

Next up will be the WORLD FAMOUS BaYouCa Chicken BBQ! I already had a little taste, and it lives up to the billing. They have been basting and BBQing the chicken for almost 2 1/2 hours! The whole camp smells WONDERFUL!

AND, after that we get to watch the BaYouCa Precious Jewels Talent Show! It is sure to be a bunch of skits that will have us in total laughter.

One teen commented that he doesn't think he has frowned in a few days, there is just so much to smile about, and so many people are hugging and having fun.

I am trying to compile all the photos from the teens, but it is already reaching up around 400, so I will be getting the memory cards tonight and trying to sort through the best of the best.

Those will be online soon...

Thanks again for all the prayers. Thank you to those who are caring for our kids! And thank you for the encouragement by comments and by email!


We love you guys!

Tuesday

The first FULL day of camp is complete. We are getting into the swing of things for Wednesday.

Yesterday had plenty of rain, and a little sun. Tuesday included men's and women's chapel time. We had puppets, Bible story time (Lazarus and the Rich man.

OOps, there was the bell for TODAY'S puppet and Bible time.

More Later... (hopefully)

Sunday - Monday AM

Well, we have arrived! The teens are already interacting and playing with the campers as they arrive. They are all doing a great job.
Yesterday we travelled well through the rain. We switched up seating and who was in the van or bus at least three times; so everybody got to interact with each other.
Lunch was Cici's pizza, and supper was Burger King. We arrived @ 9:30pm and were greeted with pepperoni bread from BaYouCa.

After unloading, we had an orientation from the Camp Director, Russ Warner. He gave a very detailed set of instructions and things to be prepared for, including a slide show. After that, we had a little time of prayer and handed out our team devos for the week. Lights out was @11:30, we made it by 12!

I was very encouraged to see the team members in their Bibles and devo books this morning. Puppet stage and other props are set, cabin assignments are out, and the campers are here!

It is looking to be a great week. I will attempt to post pics and video tonight.

Thank you all for your prayers!!!

Sunday:



Monday:



ENJOY! more to come...

AHHHH!

All right Youth Group!

A couple of things.

FIRST – You MUST forward/tweet/facebook/myspace/glob… your three best friends in the youth group this message and anyone else you think needs to get it.

Here is what is up…

#1

YOUTH CHOIR!!! We now meet at 11:30am!!!!!! (not 1pm, because we sing at 1pm)

Be dressed and ready to go.

#2

Those going to swings and things, we leave after we change from TFC (2:30ish). Taking the bus, will return about 9:15p.

You can still come to this very cool event, it runs from 3-9pm. Supper, all-access to S&T, great speaker and worship. COST: $25 (bring it along)

SPREAD THE WORD!!!

-Pastor Dave

STEM '09 info

This post is mainly for the STEM '09 team and parents.

A bigger version of this with phone numbers will be available on Sunday, along with medical release forms/permission slips.

A couple of extras including a to bring list, dress code, and sleeping arrangements are at the end of this post.

Itinerary:
Sunday, June 21:
9a FBC of Elyria Children’s Church set up
10a Children’s Church see/use program Day 1
Monday, June 22:
4.30-6.30p FBC of Elyria Community Outreach cookie handouts
Sunday, June 28:
8a FBC of Elyria van/bus load up
9a Sunday School
10:15a AM Worship service
11:30 change into travel clothes
Noon Leave for BaYouCa
En route lunch/supper
9p (ish) Camp BaYouCa arrive/settle
orientation
??p team devos/Lights Out
Monday, June 29:
Camp BaYouCa Up and Ready
morning personal devos
Breakfast
Lunch
Assist w/campers
Supper
5p (?) Evening Chapel
Intros Pastor Dave & team
Songs Reilly leads
Verse Jen leads

Team devos
Lights Out
Tuesday-Friday Camp BaYouCa
Up and Ready
morning personal devos

AM Chapel
Intro Pastor Dave
Songs Reilly leads
Verse Daily verses team
Creation Days Dana K.
Puppets puppet team
Bible Story Pastor Dave

Lunch
Serve throughout afternoon
1 hour ‘next day’ chapel practice

Supper
Evening Chapels (guys/girls)
PM team devos
Lights Out
Friday night pre load

Saturday, July 4
6:30am Team 2 leaves
8a Team 1 clean up and leave
Personal devos in vehicles

3p Team 2 arrives in Boston
5p Team 1 arrives at FBC of Elyria
Late team devos/Lights Out

Team 2 schedule
Sunday, July 5 personal AM devos
AM ministry
Choir, testimonies (?)
Team devos/Lights Out

Mon-Wed am personal devos
Community Outreach Ministries
w/Bill Edmondson

Thu, July 9 Travel Home
9p Arrive home

SUNDAY NIGHT - STEM report - 6pm-7pm


Chapel Itinerary
Daily days of creation Dana Kincaid
Puppets Ethan -Ethan
Bryan -Emily
Stuart -Ashley
Parker -Reilly
Newman -Mel
Teacher, props -Katelyn B, Amanda, Wes
Prop Builders Aaron Goodrich, Phil Curless
Verse Teams Day 1 Aaron, Becky, Steph, Bryan
Day 2 Carissa, Jesse, Derek,
Day 3 Phil, Kellee, Katelyn Q
Day 4 Jared, Liz, Kellee, Stuart
Story Pastor Dave, w/called up leaders for acting purposes
Prayer Time Thank God for being
PM Chapel song, both verses, PM puppet review, story review, prayer time


TO bring:

Bible, Pen, bedding (including bag or blankets, pillow, air mattress), toiletries, towel or two, swim suit (ladies - modest one piece - tank-inis are allowed if thet adequately cover), Team 2 (Boston) will need Sunday clothing, Team 1 (BaYouCa only) will not need dress clothes, grubby clothing (this is camp) including grubby shoes, regular shoes (tennis shoes or sandals), church camp stuff (bug spray, flashlight, etc, you know the drill), permissions slip/medical release form,

dress code - modest shorts (finger length at least, t-shirts (no tanktops outside sleeping quarters)

Sleeping arrangements:
First Sunday - girls guy separate
Mon-Thu - teens will be assigned cabins to help put campers down, then meet together in Burman's cabin for team devos, then return to their assigned cabins to sleep.
Friday - Girls/guys separate after pre load for Saturday
Sat-Thu - Guys at a church, girls at missionsry home

WHEW!!

Don't forget. Sunday we have children's church, prep is @ 9a, CChurch is @ 10:15a
Monday - Church Community outreach - 4.30p-6.30p

You must let me know if and why you will not be at either of these events.

Questions, comments??

dburmanjr@firstbaptistelyria.org

HEBRON combined Annual Service (and some musings)

Our church hosted the HEBRON 2nd annual combined serveice/meeting on May3.  It was a fantastic service! GREAT music with a 200+ combined choir, orchestration, congregational singing, giving away camp scholarships and ministry scholarships, great message from Dr. Mike Peck, and a few organizational details. Child care was provided by Skyview (thanks guys!)

We are so blessed to be in a church that is in a fellowship that is sound in spirit and in truth!

I will be adding some vids here: Be patient!

Canticle of Hope

The Point of Grace

And, for those of you wondering about the whole GARBC/OARBC/HEBRON thing....I have some comments I will reserve for my personal blog.

Our participation within these three fellowships (GARBC/OARBC/HEBRON) has been great for our church. We are independent and autonomous. We make our own decisions who we as a church associate with, andf we gladly choose to associate with these fellowships and the churches and people that make them up.

What a fellowship! 

PDave

Twilight

My first review!!!
 

After reading a number of reviews and doing some research, one can get a lot of information on a movie/book series. Normally, I refrain from actually seeing the movie or reading the book. With the promoted 'cleanness' of the movie, I had been considering renting it.

 

With the rise in popularity and the increase in interest by young people (mainly girls), I wanted to have my own take on this, not just Focus in the Families, or other sites/authors.  This happened because I was given the opportunity to view the movie by a friend who had purchased the movie to review it themselves.

 

Usually at this point, like other reviews, I would start with positives, then negatives, than a final analysis with suggestions for parents and teens. The hard part is that even the positives are really wrapped up in lies.

 

For example. Bella, while struggling with being in a new environment, is smart and respectful. The problem that I picked up on was the (at least in this point) almost perfection of Bella. She is made out to be what every girl wants to be true in their own life. She always knows best, every piece of advice she gives works for other people/couples. All the guys like her and are willing to sacrifice their own relationships to be with her. The girls also seem to like and follow the advice from Bella. She is kind to her parents and is willing to lie to protect them. She even seems to have every answer to her parents' problems. 

This is what every teen girl wants to think. They know all the answers and they are in control. (I guess we all would like to think that!) She even knows how to handle Edward, and actually seems to control him in many ways. Positives, but wrapped up in the fantasy of Bella being always right and almost always in control of herself, her relationship, the dangerous situations she willingly places herself in, and even in control of the relationships around her, which would have all the boys flocking to her if she would let them. The positives are wrapped in lies. Lies about how life really is.

Here's another, Bella and Edward do not have sex. Positive, right? Well, the whole relationship is about the total thrill of forbidden fruit. Bella is (again in a very "every girls dream" fantasy sense) absolutely intoxicating to Edward. He actually calls her like heroin. I found this funny, because a while back, I was speaking with our teens about purity, and warned them that once they start marching down the road of physical/sexual intimacy, it acts like a drug. It is hard to get enough of it. In fact, in terms of physiological reactions and addictions, sex/porn/physical stimulation and satisfaction is the biggest drug this world seeks. 

The physical and sexual tension in this story is INTENSE. Bella allows Edward to be in her bed through the night, while she is just in her undergarments. They periodically test their ability to kiss and touch without driving Edward too crazy, otherwise he would kill her/consume her. There is, physically speaking, a continual pushing the limits as far as possible. It is, in a sense, a story completely about playing with fire, and not caring about the potential consequences. Why? Because Bella loves Edward and would sacrifice her soul and eternity and family and anything else to be with him. Which she figures out after just a few times being around him. 

As a youth pastor, I know that the young ladies that are not informed about, warned about, and kept from giving into these types of feelings oriented-life changing decisions have a potential to fall, and fall hard. These falls usually are into life changing decisions and relationships that will taint their relationship with God and all others for the rest of their lives. Many, after being willing to give everything away including family, friends, and their whole self, will have nothing but loneliness, regret and lifelong consequences. 

I guess what is fascinating about this story is how accurate it is about what teens want. It is a story about what a teen girl wants. He is a hunky, protective, addicted (to her), strong, mysterious, committed guy, who is only and all about her. He doesn't even sleep, he just watches her sleep.

And the guy is accurately portrayed as always on the edge of totally giving in to his passions (which every teen guy is in hormonal terms) but in this fantasy world, he doesn't, because of his love for Bella. Not very realistic.

 

My wife made a great point about what this movie does. It awakens physical and relational passion in young girls even more so then guys. I, as a guy, was not really tuned into that, I found it interesting and even enjoyed a bit of the sci-fi/action/fantasy side of it (and laughed a couple of times at the different stereotypes thrown around in the high schoolers) My wife, however said it reminded her of some of her thoughts and struggles as a teen. I would not want my daughter thinking or feeling the thoughts and feelings this story wants to awaken in young women. The Word of God warns young women to keep from stirring up this love too early. (Song of Solomon 2:7; 3:5)

 

This movie sells and resonates because it is VERY passionate and erotic; mainly in very female terms. Almost in the same way that immodestly dressed women and skin can trip up a guy. The passionate, forbidden, thrill of this is designed to stir up feelings that are to be reserved for couples getting closer to marriage (in the commitment phase) and in physical terms, not until they are married.

 

Coming from a Mormon author, it was not surprising to me that the eternal man-woman relationship is over emphasized. It is part of one of the lies that the Mormon church plays on. The eternality of earthly relationships. Many turn to Mormonism because they want to have a family and marriage for life. THEIR relationship is what is of eternal importance, even to the point that their relationship will make them GODS for eternity. The HEIGHT of pride is making oneself their own God. Bella does it, the vampires do it, and the Mormons do it. Again, it is all fantasy and lies. Marriage, the male-female relationship, and the family (as well as the church family) is what God uses today to bring him glory and impact the world. In eternity, we will be married to Christ. Our relationship will not need the bond of physical intimacy; it will be far beyond anything we can imagine.

 

Also there is the whole vampire, undead, wear-wolf, murder, blood drinking, (with more to come in greater amounts later in the series). It is, in terms of today's media, not too over the top. Vampires/fantasy/sci-fi is good when there is a good story line, and the story line wrapped around the relationship of Bella and Edward is intriguing and fresh. The word of God is clear that Christians are to have no part in dealing or thinking about witchcraft and divination. This is why I had problems with Harry Potter and much of the Wicca/witchcraft promoting thing being forced through the media pipelines in to our heads. I am softer on sorcery/magic in a fictional/mystical sense. Like worlds that our not our own. See Sci-fi/Lord of the Rings/Narnia/Shannara. The question here is tough, and I am still thinking/praying through it. Do vampires, which are fictional characters, fall into this realm?

 

I am always a little worried when the portrayal is in a modern world context. This can be a stumbling block to those who lose sight of the line between fantasy and reality. At first I was neutral, but as I thought about things like – cannibalism, sacrifice of animals, and pagan practices, I am leaning that vampire stories do not fall into my "ok to read it/watch it as entertainment" category. (Which means I should include, Angel, Buffy, etc. as no-nos)The relationship/lust/forbidden fruit story line is of more concern to me. (Which of course means I should be putting down pretty much every teen angst/teen relationship show that is out there – you know- the 90210 repeats – men lifting trees- the Uh-O C, etc. etc. , AND almost everything on Lifetime and the WB)

OK, I have decided, stay away from vampires. I mean, vampire stories, not actual vampires.

One book on today's appeal of the underworld and witch craft makes an interesting statement about the correlation to who we are as spiritual beings. We are interested in things like eternity, living eternally, perfect love, sacrificial love, fallen beings stuck in difficulty searching for an answer.

 

It seems to me that when the world answers these longings, the results are corruption, deceit, consequences, and a twisted sense of satisfaction that never really satisfies. The world has twisted the gift of sexual intimacy. A gift designed to glue/cement a man and a woman together in the marriage relationship. Unfortunately, that bonding agent always creates pain and strife when use outside of marriage.

 

Twilight is all about playing with fire and forbidden fruit. I will not be one to allow, or even worse promote this type of temptation to my children or my teens. I would urge godly parents and leaders to consider making the same commitment. 

Pastor Dave Burman, Jr.

Winter Retreat 09

Here are some of the coveted videos!

More to come, slowly but surely