Teenage Challenge

[Music] [Music] [Applause] when you're right up over here come don't forget how to spell sigil mine no worries the Obion at this time oh that's fun even my name out lately nobody even though I was on a thing that's for sure the way you've been playing it to one of the coach doesn't kicked you out well today we're dropping those two runs in a 4th he'll get credit for a basehead those two runs men on a from the shortstop Georgie back [Applause] wraps it up okay you finally won the one yeah we gonna celebrate this one somebody gonna be their ancient Donna Higgins plate where else oh we can't make it you left man everybody's gonna be there sorry but you got other plans [Music] all right Stan ready game huh they don't come much better at long last our pals biggie sure bagged his way around yeah and he reminded me of it every inning to exceptionally good copy Stanley so you miss a good one and Dave your column is just excellent sorry your social notes Betty thank you you could all take boughs oh damn I wanted to thank you for the coverage you gave to the announcement of our essay contest we try to do our best I hope you're all going to enter well I am I think you picked a very good theme teenager's greatest challenge I know my greatest challenge is let's get a date there with Betty over my dead body no just a minute you two I'm not wearing anybody brand yet that's the strategy Betty keep them wondering I guess that's my greatest challenge well I'll see you on Monday have a nice weekend bye come on buddy let's get out of here Oh Dave dan was asking why we don't go down to Higgins lake on Sunday night sure come on and join the gang it'll be a real blast Betty we can't why not we could miss you fellowship just once sure it won't tarnish your halos yeah but our new youth advisor is leading the meeting we promised we'd be there oh I forgot all about that I'm sorry well someday I hope you'll wise up well let's put it this way no one has a bad answer for every problem that comes up I know when you're out with other kids it's kind of hard sometimes to even admit you're Christian and even more difficult to live up to what you believe you can say that again well it seems to me if we're Christians we shouldn't be ashamed of short it's not a question of being ashamed but a person doesn't have to go around talking about it all the time I agree I think we've got to be reasonable on it what do you mean by reasonable Betty well I mean if we go around talking about it too much you know what most of the kids say but just causes trouble sometimes we take a beating by just coming to church that's for sure that raises a good question is it possible to be a Christian and still be popular naturally some of the kids are gonna think we're way out of orbit maybe it's just the other way around maybe the other kids are too square sometimes I think it's a question of whom do we want to please first the rest of the gang or god that's well put Mike and I'd like to point out something else something I've learned from personal experience with many teenagers you can't be popular and compromise on your principles people are quick to recognize a phony but when a person sticks up for what he or she honestly believes then he or she will ultimately earn the respect of the crowd and out of that kind of respect can come some real popularity certainly a Christian doesn't have to be a social outcast in fact if we truly live with Christ in our hearts and see God's will for our lives we can't help but never ever we are well i-i think each of us would like to do God's will the only thing is sometimes it's pretty difficult to know just what it is God wants us to do we can pray about it I would say it was vital to study his word and pray for guidance yeah but even when you do that it's difficult well frankly I sure don't know what God's answer is we don't always discover God's will for us overnight it takes patience persistence courage and faith but God does have a plan for each of us and if we live each day as it comes doing what we feel to be God's will for us each moment toward his ultimate goal have know that well we may get discouraged sometimes waiting for his answer going may get rough god never promised everything easy but he does have a plan for each of us and he will show us the way and another thing teenagers have always been vital and God's plans look back through history at the way God has used teenagers to further his kingdom it's just as true today what you do now and his name can help determine the future of the world believe me there's no more thrilling adventure in life than seeking out God's will and in living every moment for Christ [Music] quite a meeting yeah what do you think of the new advisor they certainly has a way of putting things sure makes a guy think so did what you said tonight - you mean I got through to you well one thing you said dead about whom do we want to please first the gang or god I never really looked at it like that before well I didn't think it up I read it somewhere yeah but it figures it really leaves it up to us doesn't it sure does when you start thinking like that then how it is with all the kids at school and everything [Music] hey please don't misunderstand me I think mr. Road said some wonderful things - yes but everything he said isn't where the hoot unless we do something about it we've been going to church and youth fellowship all this time thinking we were pretty good but actually I mean in our everyday lives it gives us any reason to call ourselves Christians now all of a sudden it's so clear either a person lives for Christ or he doesn't but I still say you don't have to act like a missionary or something I am NOT going to go around preaching at the guys I feel kind of chicken no I'm going along taking all their guff tried to laugh it off what's to laugh off this is serious business I agree if you try and talk to them like that and you'd be the laughingstock of the school [Music] oh man you missed a room blast last night hey Bella Ziggy in the lake thank you when he does we either took six time to do it well hop into a more deserving character you should have better Dave oh we had a good time too we burn out of baring singing hymns you call that a good time no kidding when you and Betty gonna get out of this church rut and live like the rest of the human beings well perhaps you should take a look on our side of the tracks to see how we live well from what I've seen laughing boy seems to me like it's against the law to have any fun that's where you're way off base Iggy well what do you do for fun stick your feet in cement it depends upon what you consider fun in life it's it's like baseball no one ever got out of the miners by bucking the rules I mean if I if a guy wants to make the most of living shouldn't he try to find the best way of doing it man this characters all steamed up today yeah the devil better run for cover hallelujah all right you clowns listen you've only got one life did you ever stop to figure what that means yeah means I better go go go before I wake up with a long white beard how's that you're kidding Ziggy we won't be around here long enough to raise a white beard all right if things are gettin all fouled up what's the percentage in not trying to find out what God wants us to do about it hey we're raising us a real preacher here we don't mean Kinya day but we're just in our own way that's all hmm Saved by the Bell never so happy to hear it well so long partner I can't talk now he'll be late for my class I don't that story I did oh I'm so sorry astrologer oh yes of course next time I'll see to it that I get it right an H and not okay oh not at all goodbye oh I just spelled the name wrong Betty Betty what's the trouble I've just told you no no I mean between you and me well you walked off this morning like you're a man or something I wasn't mad just embarrassed you made a perfect fool of yourself with Ziggy and Stan Wow I didn't do anything I'm ashamed Oh Dave honestly look back like I said last night either I'm for Christ or I'm not and of Ziggy and Stan or anybody else for that matter wants to make perfect fools of themselves and you've got to go at it gradually I was selling tickets to the homecoming game I wouldn't sneak around half ashamed begging people to buy would I and why should I apologize because I think trying to live up to what I believe is important Dave I just don't think that we should hit people over the head and if you're going to make like a missionary please don't expect me to go along with you [Music] find what you wanted said oh yes thank you Dad I'm awfully glad you got the set of encyclopedias saves a lot of trips to the library and I just finished reading your column you seem to have a real knack with words thank you I like to write by the way I've been reading in here about the essay contest you're going to enter it aren't you oh yeah sure pick your subject yes well not exactly there's so many things that come under the heading of a teenager's challenge won't be easy to pick the greatest after all your generation is going to have a lot of challenges and if your generation doesn't solve some of these problems Dave I I'm not sure that I'd like to be in your shoes you kids are really facing a colossal challenge [Music] hi Dave what are you writing oh it's for the contest you're not going to interview why not you think of any greater challenge facing a teenager Oh baby that would be great for a church contest but you try and enter that's here on your greatest challenge is going to be to try live it down better you're building this all out of proportion I am NOT what's the hassle kids a teenager's greatest challenge finding God's will for my life wow you are biting off a mouthful Dave maybe it's very commendable pal but you better get ready for a few laps but it is our greatest challenge if we lived our lives according to God's will for us wouldn't it solve most of the major problems it might if you get everyone to do it and if each one was able to figure out what God wanted him to do but so far mankind just hasn't done it but that's not God's fault how many more chances do you think he's gonna give the human race to wake up [Music] come in you want to see me mrs. Dave as chairman of the SA committee I have some good news for you your entry was one of the best really yes well the only thing is your choice of subject is put the committee in a rather awkward position what do you mean well it's always been traditional in our public school system to keep a school and the church separate now the committee has to take this into consideration therefore because of your essays content the majority of the committee feels that we shouldn't invite possible repercussions by having it presented in General Assembly you mean that's throwing my essay out no not exactly it Dave I liked your essay very much I think you you've stated your ideas extremely well but if I can't deliver it an assembly what's the good of it I know how you feel it the committee would like for you to write another essay on a less controversial subject and they'll accept it instead of this way [Music] that's very funny I thought I'd get a rise out of some of the kids but but I never dreamed I'd have a tick back at me from the faculty well I'm sorry believe me they some of us on the committee felt that you chosen a very worthwhile subject and treated it very well we wish everybody in school could hear it but it would open the door to criticism if some feel that in effect it would be making a church out of our school assembly I hope you understand Dave please think over what I've said I mean about writing on another topic you're a fine fine writer and you owe it to yourself to stay in this contest I'll consider it goodbye mrs. Goodwin goodbye Dave [Music] [Music] what happened to you he look like he just missed the last rocket back to earth you were right I shouldn't have tried it try what what do you mean the connection is a out still religious for around here well maybe it was all for the best you know a lot of people might have taken it wrong but I am sorry I know how much this contest meant to you mrs. Goodwin says if I uh write another entry they'll accept it why don't you try it is there any other honest answer to the question of our greatest challenge but you can't expect to change everything overnight I wasn't trying to change anything I was just trying to do what I thought was God's will for me right now that's your fa may I read it all I ever saw it was just the opening paragraph sure why not might give you a laugh please don't say that I'm I'm sorry it's just that I felt that you were going a little overboard and I didn't want to see you get hurt you're right I guess I have been getting too touchy I'm sorry too well I guess I'd better be getting back to the office and type those notes Oh may I keep this overnight when you're finished with it no wastebasket Dave don't okay bye-bye it's just a matter of putting first things first if God is in charge of the universe then doesn't it logically follow that we are responsible to him and therefore isn't it up to us to seek His will for our lives to find out why we are really here on this earth to discover how God wants us to use our talents our abilities and our entries with all of the challenges facing us isn't this the first and the greatest to find ourselves and our destinies in God's plan [Music] how's your cold oh I feel a lot better sit down going back to school tomorrow I had to buy here to make some deliveries after school so I thought I'd come in say how are you doing I've had an opportunity to catch up on some of these assignments the last couple of days did you write a new essay I had but I just couldn't seem to put anything into it as long as you don't let it get I don't feel very good about it I suppose it's like mr. Rhodes said that night at youth fellowship trying to live like a Christian is not easy there's no reason why we can't keep punching well maybe there's such a thing as trying too hard well then I can't buy pal I heard the pastor say what's that when we team up with Christ but there's nothing that can stop us from carrying out God's will for us sometimes we may feel like we fall flat on our faces but maybe it's because we don't give things a chance to work themselves out like God wants them well it'll help if I knew for sure well there's one thing we do know for sure that over cebause trust in the Lord with all your heart and don't depend on your own understanding and he'll direct your path [Music] i apprec here you've been laid up yes sort of I bet I know why to that essay you wrote better make anybody feel lousy oh do you know why I read your masterpiece you're a real fire-breathing heathen Heaton preacher boy where'd you see it oh it's making rounds who showed it to you well don't flip man look I'm not sore I'm just wondering how you happened to see it well it's no secret laughing boy your stuffs making the rounds I got it from Stan you got it from your girlfriend I'm Betty yeah I guess you want to give everybody the last well so long parson keep your halo on straight [Music] how are you feeling okay I heard about you and Ziggy this morning I want to explain what yeah Ziggy told me will you please let me tell you what's to tell well I read your paper the other afternoon and honest I thought it was great I even took it home and showed it to my parent and they agreed that it will wait a minute hold it just a second there's something I don't understand if you did all this what about Ziggy that's what I'm trying to explain you see I brought it back to you the next morning to give it to you but you didn't show up and I had it there on my desk and Stan came in and he wanted to read it so I met him and I thought it was the best piece of coffee you've ever written I must be dreaming now you're awake pal and thanks to you I'm opening my eyes to your ideas made quite a dent Dave while Stan and I were talking about your essay Vigi came in and he wanted to read it so we let him well we didn't let him take it he lifted it when we weren't looking I've looked for it Ziggy claims you don't know who has it now it's making the rounds I'm terribly sorry Dave it's a lousy thing for Ziggy to pull and I told himself I'm not so sure it is a lousy thing I wrote these for people to read and thanks to Ziggy that's exactly what they're doing hey I hadn't thought of it like that yeah you're right poor Ziggy he's actually being a mission what I'd like to see Ziggy's face when you tell him that me too oh wait a minute there's no rush let's not spoil the good work seriously I I appreciate what you've said about my essay and well I feel pretty small the way I've almost gotten sore I've gotta hand it to you Dave for sticking up for what you believe in it's a lot more than I can say for some of us I'd like to say I'm sorry forget it guess there's a lot I don't dig yet but if you don't mind my asking questions there's a lot I don't understand - I'm not sure what God's will is for me yet but I've got a lot to learn we all have but thanks to you Dave we're making a start I wonder what would happen if we ran your essay next week as an editorial I dare you you know something maybe that's my greatest challenge [Music]