The kids ate dinner and just enjoyed each others company before the pizza got too cold. Before the group showed up, masking tape was placed on the floor to draw out a soccer field and two tables were placed on their side on the floor to be goals. After the teams were split up and a captain was chosen for each team each member was expecting a soccer ball to be thrown out and the were going to get to kick it back and forth. Imagine their surprise when they were each handed a toilet brush and a baseball sized whiffle ball was thrown on the "field".  The kids had a blast playing this game! Just after the kids were starting to get comfortable with playing a reporter from the Buffalo Bulletin showed up and wanted to take pictures of the festivities. It didn't take long for the kids to forget that he was there and just have uninhibited fun.

After about a hour and a half of play the game ended with the Orange Team being the victor over the Shirt Team by a score of 65 to 70. The score really didn't matter though as the teams swapped players several times during the game. Then it was time for Root Beer Floats. While the kids were working on those we had a short "business" meeting so that ideas could be kicked around regarding the direction that this group wanted to work towards. The basic guidelines were that we were going to have fun, there would be teaching and there would be times of service to those around us as Jesus would do. Everyone came up with ideas that were helpful and the group liked the majority of them.

We retired to the youth room downstairs in the main building for a time of movies and snacks. We watched the bulk of a Tim Hawkins video then we took a break of about a half an hour to just horse around before starting watching "To Save a Life". This movie deals with teen suicide, loneliness, teen pregnancy, cutting and simply being a friend to those around you and giving value to each other rather than striving to just be popular and part of the end crowd. In this movie they witnessed the transformation of Jake from popular, captain of the basketball team and dating the prettiest girl in school to becoming a Christian and making the hard choices that while not popular were the right things to do. Jake had to evaluate what was more important his popularity or following Christ and doing the right thing. In speaking of church youth group, living for Jesus and being in God's Word the Bible, Jake said.... "What is the point of all this if you are not going to let it change you?" That is a good question for each of us to answer.

The movie got over about 11:30 pm and the kids were restless.... some trying to stay awake others just wanting to blow off the energy from the pop, caffeine and root beer floats. A game of underground church was started. Underground church is a game that is played in a building without any lights on. the group is split up into a "pastor", two "spies" or "secret police" and the rest of the group are Christians. The point of the game is for the spies to gather all the Christians into a room called the jail and for the Pastor to gather the majority of the Christians into a dark room called the church. If the pastor collects a group of 5 or more the come out singing and they win. If the spies gather all the Christians into jail, they win. This game went on till 3:00 am when it was determined that it was bed time if anyone was going to be awake for services at 10:00 am.

Breakfast was served about 7:30 consisting of scrambled eggs and scalloped potatoes juice and coffee for those who wanted it. 

I am so thankful for the opportunity to do this Lock-in with each and everyone of you and my thanks goes out to your parents for their willingness to allow each of you to come.