Scary Monsters

I ended up the weekend pretty tired. Sunday morning was really good... sort of left me spiritually energized as our worship assemblies often do... but Sunday afternoon I felt the fatigue of the weekend slip back into my body. So, why was I so tired? YOUTH RALLY!!

This weekend was the 10th annual Scary Monsters Youth Rally in Martinez. Last year we attended only the Won By One concert, so this year was our first real Scary Monsters experience... and the first youth rally we've been part of in years.
And because it was the 10th anniversary, we got to hear all the origins and history, including the themes for the first 9 years. It's really pretty cool... the premise is that Satan is the only really "scary monster" around, and he uses all the tools of his trade to trick us and bring us down and draw us away from God. All-in-all... it's probably one of the most continuously creative youth rally themes I've seen in all my many years of doing that kind of thing.

Of course there was LOTS of singing, and the presenters this year were guys who had taught at Scary Monsters in the past... sort of a reunion. Visions (drama ministry troupe from Cascade) and Won By One (singing group from Pepperdine) were there again... both doing their usual great job.

Here are some pics...

Giant biblical script

There are really two really cool unique aspects to this youth rally worth mentioning. One is that they actually cook really good meals and feed everyone. None of this load-up-your-group-and-hit-restaurant-row for this youth rally. Nope, Saturday and Sunday mornings it was pancakes, sausage, bacon and fruit. Saturday lunch we had grilled burgers and hotdogs. Saturday night it was grilled tri-tip and teriaki chicken. Sunday lunch was Mexican food prepared by the Hispanic congregation. And... dessert Friday and Saturday nights. Actually it's pretty amazing they can pull off feeding 400+ so efficiently... lots of hard working volunteers and Ray Lawson's creative leadership are what make it happen.

The other unique thing is the afternoon carnival... games, crafts, rock wall, and almost everything except the ferris wheel and the roller coaster.... well, a couple of pictures are worth more than words.














Anyway, adding it all together (the rally, staying up late visiting with WBO, who stayed with us, etc.), I ended up the weekend tired... and feeling really blessed.