Facing the Giants + Tailgate Fellowship

What an unbelievable great time we had on Saturday night as CTBC showed the movie Facing The Giants and followed it up with a Tailgate Fellowship. Being a good Baptist I will start with the Tailgate...there were hot dogs, chips, nachos, popcorn, ice cream, drinks, laughter, silliness and fun! The only thing missing was a guy with his chest paint with Go Team! on it. We tried to get someone to do it, but had on takers. The closest we came was Ed B. wearing his print yellow WVU sweatshirt. (see if you can spot him below)

The movie is absolutely a phenomenal movie. It is well written, acted, and filled with humor and drama. It is a great story of faith and football.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805526/

In six years of coaching, Grant Taylor has never led his Shiloh Eagles to a winning season. After learning that he and his wife Brooke face infertility, Grant discovers that a group of fathers are secretly organizing to have him dismissed as head coach. Devastated by his circumstances, he cries out to God in desperation. When Grant receives a message from an unexpected visitor, he searches for a stronger purpose for his football team. He dares to challenge his players to believe God for the impossible on and off the field. When faced with unbelievable odds, the Eagles must step up to their greatest test of strength and courage. What transpires is a dynamic story of the fight between faith and fear. Facing the Giants is a powerful experience for the whole family inspiring viewers to live with faith, hope, and love (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805526/plotsummary)

One of the pivotal moments in the movie has Grant calling out the LORD in his time of need with these words of the Psalmist.

Psalm 121
A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

The second powerful moment comes in the movie when Grant is alone in the locker room before the state championship game. There is a knock on the door and Mark Richt the head football coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs. Grant was an ex-player for Richt (in the movie) and Richt came to offer support. They spoke of the game and what it would be like to be state champions. Grant stated that he so much wanted to be a winner. Richt respond, "Grant, you became a winner the day you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior." What truth! In our world we all long to be winners, but for many of us we already have become winners...we know Christ as our Savior.

Be sure to Check our Mark Richts bio:

http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=307706

More importantly check out Richts testimony here: http://www.uga.edu/teamunited/testimonies/mark_richt.htm

There were tears and cheers in the CTBC sanctuary as I believe that everyone's heart was touched by the movie and their faith strengthened by its message. And what a great thing at the end of the movie to have our Children's Choir consisting of children from our summer Music and Drama Day Camp to sing for us. their song challenged us to go out and tell others about Jesus and to accept Him as our Savior.

And now our parting shots:

Check out the official Facing the Giants website: http://www.facingthegiants.com/