Letter of Appreciation

Dear SBCC Family,

It is with a heavy heart that I write this to you. I have wrestled with even writing this, but I felt moved to not just sneak away in the dark and tell you how serving you and alongside of you has been a real light in my life. I've been part of the church staff for 3 1/2 years and part of the church family for the better part of the last 17 years. These were some of the most formative years of my life both spiritually and physically. It has been a true honor and privilege to be with you and it is not by my own choice that I leave you. I believe God has set in motion another mission for me and for Shanna and we are both saddened by the departure but excited for what is arriving. Looking back at the journey, the Christmas musicals, Easter events, baptism celebrations, hearing your touching testimonies, basketball, softball, football, leading high school students and college students, all of the crazy videos, those have been some of the best moments of my life that I will cherish always. I wish I could celebrate the opening of the new building with you and I know you will be blessed by all of the hard work that has been done and is ongoing for it. I know 2013 will be an eventful year for SBCC and I pray that God will continue to show His favor for this amazing church. And just as 2013 will be a big year for you as a church, it will also be huge for me and Shanna as we will be married this September. We will continue to pray for you and I humbly ask for your prayers this year because there is no doubt we will need it. Nothing of worth will be done without our Lord. Now I know this isn't really a goodbye forever, we will see you around or here on the net. I want to leave you with some words of encouragement. Keep up the work of Jesus, to love the poor and powerless. Give grace where it is irrational to give grace. Be the voice of hope for a world that is broken. We are all broken people loved by a God who restores and makes masterpieces out of our scattered parts. Here are some lyrics to a song called "This is Amazing Grace" which I hope Joey will be able to lead you all in very soon.

This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross

You would lay down Your life
That I would be set free
Jesus I sing for
all that You've done for me

So be set free in 2013! We love you all to death!

Dale

Ten Fave Films of 2012 (3-1)

Hope everyone is having a happy new year's day! Our family is looking forward to 2013 and entering it with a sense of optimism and hope. I wish the same for you and yours. My 3 fave films of 2012 have a common theme, one of tenacity and resiliency. I hope we can all stay tenacious for 2013 and experience great things! Here are my 3 fave films of 2012:

3. Skyfall

This is the Bond film I've been waiting for since Casino Royale  so brilliantly introduced Daniel Craig's 007. Skyfall  has all the Bond elements we've come to know and love, the gadgets, cars, action sequences and exotic locales, but takes it all to another level with a tough as nails James Bond and an intriguing villain in Silva (Javier Bardem, think Anton Chigurh from No Country for Old Men). Bond must literally come back from the dead and prove that father time has not reaped the skills necessary to be a top field agent. Our hero is more than a pretty face in a tux and it is really showcased in a few visceral fight scenes. Whether it be up high in a skyscraper, down in a pit with a Komodo Dragon or even jumping onto a moving train, this gritty Bond does it with style. I love leaving a theater feeling like I can take on the world and this film definitely brought that out in me. And I haven't even mentioned Adele's superb theme song of the same title. Top notch production and some of the most bang for your buck action this year!

2. The Avengers

I had high expectations for this one and director Joss Whedon knocked this one out of the park. The witty banter Whedon is known for really shines in this super team movie. The orchestration of combining each character's strength and the choreography within the visually stunning action sequences are masterfully handled. And just like any good NBA coach, Whedon finds playing time fitting for each of our superheroes. And just like an NBA champion team, each of the stars accepts a role and excels at it. This movie was the most fun I had at the theater this year and ultimately, that's what going to the movies is all about. Looking forward, 2013 holds a new Iron Man film, a new Thor film and a new standard for Marvel superhero movies. I'm anticipating more fun to be had at the theater!

1. The Dark Knight Rises

As much fun as The Avengers  was, The Dark Knight Rises  was unrelenting in beating down the "World's Greatest Detective", beating down our ear drums with Hans Zimmer's score and beating down the audience with dark visuals and innovative action sequences. I may have had some residual affinity left over from director Christopher Nolan's first two Batman tales, especially The Dark Knight, but I admire his ambition in creating his vision of the graphic novels. Tom Hardy's Bane, while ridiculed for his Jimmy Stewart-esque voicing, does a marvelous job playing the menacing and calculating villain. Playing the entire movie with your mouth covered and to still be such a force on screen says a lot. One of the theories behind the pit location is that it represents the "Lazarus Pit" from the graphic novels and symbolizes resurrection. And that's what this Bruce Wayne needs, especially to come back and defeat a stronger foe. It also alludes to the resurrection of Gotham and its people and the ending leaves the city with a new guardian. I thought this was a fitting end and wrap up to Nolan's trilogy and I hope a future Justice League film would follow closely in the steps of the greatest superhero trilogy I've seen.

That's my list and I hope you had some fun reading this! In no way do I think this is the "correct" top ten, just my thoughts and I know everyone has a different ten fave films. I would love to hear from you about your faves so please share! Until next time!