Katwe and Chess

With our "Game On" series coming up, Daddy wrote this message for the movie "Queen of Katwe."  Here's a brief description of the message, one where we'll show various movie clips to go along with it.  It's an inspiring message.

     “Queen of Katwe” may be on the surface a story about kids learning to play chess.  But what has made this true story so inspirational is the wonderful way that God placed a noble knight in just the right place, a missionary named Robert Katende. With just a few brilliant moves, this talented player found himself marching forward into the slums of Uganda, and inspiring children who live in poverty to become kings and queens.

     Throughout this remarkable story, these children learn, and these children win!  And no matter your background, the truth is that with God’s help, you can win too. So grab your chess pieces and your Bible.  Together, let’s learn some inspiring strategies to win from his most famous student, Phiona Mutesi, the Queen of Katwe.  

     Firstly, let’s start with where you are.  Remember that just like in a game of chess, the small one can become the big one. This is true of pawns, but it is even more certain with you.  Don’t let anyone look down upon you because you are young, or for any reason at all. Just as Coach Katende calls all his students, you are a pioneer!  Keep planning ahead, and keep blazing a trail.  Don’t limit your dreams!  You belong where you believe you belong.   Where is that for you?
     When his students become worried, Coach Katende tells them an animated story of a hungry dog chasing a cat that gets away.  The dog asks the cat, “How could this happen?”  The cat replies that the dog was merely running for a meal.  And the cat?  Why did the cat run faster?  Why, the answer is simple:  he was running for his life!  The point of this story is simple:  how hard you try is determined by how much you want something.  Do you want to win?  Really? How much do you want to see your dreams come true?  Don’t just sit back and let your chance to win slip away.  Instead, be a fighter, and do everything with all your might, as if unto the Lord.  Run to get the prize!

     Of course, setbacks can happen. We can make bad moves, and face unexpected losses.  But don’t give up.  Keep trying, and never surrender.  And never tip your king! Focus on how much you have now, and keep that focus on the future, eight moves ahead!  God has great plans for you, and all you have to do is keep marching forward.
      You can be a winner, a grand master, and a champion.  It doesn’t matter where you are now.   What matters is what you have now, and that is determination and God Himself.  That’s all you need!  Chase after that prize, because indeed you are kings and queens!

1.  The small one can become the ________ one.This is true of pawns in a game of chess, but it is even more certain with you.  Don’t let anyone look down upon you because you are young, or for any reason at all.  You are a pioneer!  Keep dreaming, and keep planning ahead.  You belong where you believe you belong.   Where is that for you?

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example for the believers in what you say and in how you live. Also set an example in how you love and in what you believe. Show the believers how to be pure.” 1 Timothy 4:12 NIRV

a.  big              b. lost              c. ancient

2.  Run for your _________. There’s a story of a hungry dog chasing a cat that gets away.  How could this happen, the dog asks the cat.  The cat replies that the dog was merely running for a meal. The cat?  Why he was running for his life!  The point of this story is simple:  how bad do you want to win?  How much do you want to see your dreams come true?  Don’t just sit back and let your chance to win slip away.  Instead, be a fighter, and do everything with all your might, as if unto the Lord.

“Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23 NIRV

a.  meal           b. life               c. bishop

3.  Never tip your ________.The great thing about chess and other board games is that if we lose, we can just reset all the game pieces and start again.  Setbacks can happen.  We can make bad moves, and face unexpected losses.  But don’t give up.  Never surrender.  Focus on how much you have now, and focus on what you will be:  a grandmaster. 

"Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 NIRV

a.  hat             b. balance      c. king

It was a full day today.  Madison was at school interviewing eighth graders for the yearbook, and studying Lebanon a bit more - while learning more about other countries in Southeastern Asia.  I don't know about you, but I'm ready to leave that part of the world.

Anyway, she had a good day today at school, as she does every day now.  She loves her friends, and is very happy to be there at school.  Unlike Daddy, who was very happy to not be at school.

We got more bad news for Ba-Ba, and it's a struggle to stay positive.  But we must.  We'll be down there soon, and we have to help him power through this.  With God's help, he can make this, and we can hopefully be there to help him through the journey.

Tonight we were praying for him.  We were reading as well, and just before that we watched the David S Pumpkins Halloween Special.  It was a nice night together as family.  We're treasuring these moments together even more so lately.