Many people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win -- Bobby Knight

Fantassimo came back and he brought pictures this time. In order to get the students to understand the idea of focus and determination, I had to go to the only realm that I feel comfortable: Sports. Fantassimo returned bringing pictures of various things that he did as a young child in order to become the "Latino Heavyweight Champion of the World."

Fantassimo was born a regular child. Throwing up on nurses, filling his diaper, and regularly drooling; however, as a baby, he did don the mask that would later become his trademark. No one knows how he actually got it (legend has it, he knitted it himself from dental floss but we are not sure). One thing is sure; he bawled without it. Later, at the age of 4, he saved his father's life. Its hard to believe, but his father was actually trapped under this car (see below). Fantassimo rescued him. Upon realizing that Fantassimo had this kind of strength, this workout became a common place in his routine.

Later on in his life, Fantassimo took up ballet dancing for two reasons: (1) the amount of muscle that he had packed onto his frame was to great for him to even brush his teeth, so he needed to increase flexibility; (2) He wanted to get used to spandex. Fantassimo loved to dance in his tutu. He loved the way the soft beats from Chopin and Tchaikovsky would flutter in his head as he did countless amounts of pirouettes. He never did loose that quest for victory, that thirst for domination, or his allergy to polyester.

Fantassimo's life has been devoted to becoming the champion. From his birth, to his workouts, to his dancing, all of it has been devoted to his goal. Our goal is to glorify God which we do through worship. Simple enough. In Romans 12.1, Paul talks about worship: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." All aspects of our lives are to be worshipful to him. Everything that we do, we should do it as worship (1 Cor. 10.31). In verse 2, Paul talks about being transformed by the renewing of your mind. How does this change takes place? Through worship.

I told the students this: WE WORSHIP IN HERE (in Church and in Youth Group) IN ORDER THAT WE MAY LEARN TO WORSHIP OUT THERE (in the world). That is how we are able to truly offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Getting together in Church and in Youth Group is how we are able to learn and grow so that we can apply it out there (when they read their bibles throughout the week, maybe they remember part of Tim's sermon; or during a prayer they remember a song they sung here). Before the lesson, they were each asked to share again what they do during the week that they feel God's presence in (what they do to worhsip him). It is my goal to help them, through youth group, make those experiences more worhsipful, and more numerous.

Church is not life...it is a time out of life. A chance to drop the act that we perfect outside; so that we can better worship outside. When I think back to Jr. High and High School, I think back to the charades that I played. Every thing was about impressing certain people: coaches, friends, parents, teachers, colleges. That can all get dropped at youth group where we like you no matter what. It is my hope that after lessons they are better prepared to live throughout the week in a worshipful manner. That is what Paul is talking about in 12.1. Living life continually worshiping.

Then we threw dodge balls at each others heads and ate brownies. Seems kind of hypocritical really.