Making a Jurassic Park sequel can’t be easy. Kelly and I went and saw the most recent Jurassic World movie over the weekend. I really enjoyed it, but the Jurassic Park sequels are basically the same movie over and over again. Here is my official list on how to make a Jurassic Park sequel. Please note that there may or may not be some highly predictable spoilers in my short list!
HOW TO MAKE A PLOT FOR A JURASSIC PARK SEQUEL
Someone thinks they can control and profit off of the dinosaurs
Someone tells them it’s a bad idea…and it is usually Jeff Goldblum (because life, uh, always, uh,…..finds a way….)
Several overconfident bad guys with awesome “Australian-outback-Crocodile Dundee” hats get eaten by dinosaurs
Someone reluctant and heroic lets everyone know that “I told you this was a bad idea!” and continues to battle and outwit the velociraptors and the bad guys at the same time
The main bad guy ultimately regrets his unethical decisions but ends up being eaten anyway
The good guys narrowly escape but not without having to outrun the Tyrannosaurus Rex one last time
That’s your basic Jurassic Park movie sequel! Overall I enjoyed the movie, but, once again, it is hard to follow up a good movie with an even better sequel!
Our visit last year to Illinois River Correctional Center is perhaps the best visit we have ever had. The inmates and the staff pulled out all of the stops to make the day that we visit was one of the most special days of the year inside the prison. You can read more about it here: (http://tomgibson.me/?p=486 )
Making a “sequel” to last year’s visit to Illinois River CC was a tough task.
On Saturday we arrived and were greeted by the staff that would be escorting us for the day. They were happy to see us and let us know that our visit last year was the talk of the prison for the past year. We got out to the field, and, like the previous year, the tents were set up. Since it had rained all week long, the maintenance staff at the prison worked hard on the field to get it game ready. Once the men were let out on the yard, they were excited to see us. One of the wardens spoke in front of the entire crowd and welcomed us back to the facility. I had the opportunity to pray before the first game with the teams and the crowd.
The prison has around 2000 inmates and several softball teams. They had a big tournament prior to our visit. The top 3 teams plus an all-star team would be the teams that we would play. We defeated the 3rd place team by scoring 30 runs and playing very good defense.
In between games, Kurt Hand shared his testimony. God used a very painful time in Kurt’s life to draw Kurt back to Him. Ben Morrow shared the Gospel and talked about the story of the prodigal son.
We went back to play the 2nd place team and beat them in another high scoring game. After that game we circled up with all of the men in the yard. We recognized the best two players from the first two games and gave them a New Testament produced by Fellowship of Christian Athletes. These New Testaments also include several stories of professional athletes and how they came to know Christ. I had a few moments to speak to the men afterwards. I shared that they were valuable. So valuable that God allowed His Son to die on a cross and take the blame and punishment for all of the sin that we have committed.
The dietary crew made a special meal of grilled brats and burgers for lunch. They also made a special apple cobbler dessert and had all of the special fixings to go with it! I had the privilege of eating lunch with one of the prison chaplains and one of the veteran correctional officers. Several of our players had time to talk with the men during lunch. Josh Frederick talked to a man who was struggling with whether or not God could keep forgiving him even when he struggles with sin. Josh had time to talk to the man and tell him about God’s grace and forgiveness.
We started the second game against the team that won the tournament. We went back and forth several times. We held a 10-6 lead in the 4th inning. With their team at bat, I saw the LTS (leisure time specialist) walk towards me. She apologized and said that they needed to close the yard in 20 minutes due to some staffing issues for the next shift. The first place team then strung together several clutch hits in a row and took the lead and won the now shortened game.
One of our players teased one of their players and told him that was the first time all year that we got beat. He fired back, “Oh yeah, we still haven’t got beat yet!” That one kind of stung but anytime the prison teams battle back and win a close game with a walk off hit, it is fun to watch.
Drew Aberle did a quick Gospel message and we handed out the MVP awards for the 3rd game.
Afterwards, some of the inmates presented us with two things: a canvas drawing of our logo and an actual working clock with our logo on it. This was really special and it is so flattering to think of all the work that went into these two items. We shook hands, hugged, and thanked them. It was pretty cool to think about the impact an afternoon of softball can have and what an opportunity it creates to talk about the Gospel.
Overall on the day, we handed out 152 Gospels and saw 13 men make decisions to follow Him. Please keep these men in prayer as they take up their cross and follow Him!
It would have been great to stay longer, play more softball, and have more time for Drew to talk, but, all in all, this was one of our best “sequel” visits ever. It was great to see how God worked throughout the day.
Next month we are heading back to Pittsfield Work Camp and Jacksonville Correctional Center.
I am really looking forward to going back to both of those facilities. Please continue to pray for us. Please pray that we would be bold about sharing the Gospel in all of our conversations as we visit.
