Day 19 - A roller coaster that makes you laugh

Big Dipper, Geauga Lake
From a numbers standpoint, this ride is against everything I believe in. It is not tall, steep, or fast. The ride itself is especially short as well. This is not surprising for a roller coaster built in 1925; however, this ride packed a punch until it closed in 2007 with the rest of the park (sob). Every hill offered EXTREME airtime. It was a ride I rode just to check off the list, but it offered so much more than I expected. The only response one can have after this short and sweet classic is a laughter-filled "Let's go again!

Note: The Big Dipper was a wooden roller coaster (out and back type) located at the now defunct Geauga Lake Amusement Park in Bainbridge Lake, Ohio. It originally opened in 1925 as the Sky Rocket. In the 1940s it was renamed the Clipper, and in 1969, it claimed the moniker of Big Dipper. Though the park closed in 2007, the ride remains in the original location.

Psalm 126:2 NAS

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."

Once I was on the metro in Washington and a young lady succumbed to an uncontrollable fit of laughter. It was so contagious that soon her partner was laughing, and whoever wasn’t laughing in the car was certainly grinning. Laughter is an amazing thing. It is healing, and the Bible says it is good for the bones. This has been verified by health studies.

The best reason for laughter is because God is Good and has done great things for you. Laughter is attractive and irresistibly draws you closer to others. Laughter reduces stress, helps you deal with pain, and increases your ability to push through a rough situation.

Every day we need a good dose of laughter. My Grandparents did not laugh much. I suppose life was serious business for the generation of war and Depression. But my nuclear family loved to laugh, and we still share private and public merriment when we communicate with each other. If you have a relationship that needs some mending, find something to laugh about together. Humor builds trust and confidence. Every day, you have a choice.  Don’t let laughter leave your life as you get older.

Rollercoaster Challenge Day 18

 – A rollercoaster that no one would expect you to love

Spinning Dragons, Worlds of Fun

This is a spinning roller coaster, which means your car actually spins as you roll along the track, thus providing a different ride every single time. These are branded as junior/family roller coasters, but they are actually quite intense as you are continually plastered against your seat as a result of centripetal acceleration. Hang on as you rotate through five stories of hairpin turns and plummeting spirals. Six Flags has some nice Tony Hawk themed versions of this ride, but Spinning Dragons is the top of its class, along with its clone, which resides in the Mall of America.

Psalm 119: 141-144

Though I am lowly and despised. I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.

Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight.

Your statues are forever right; give me understanding that I may live.

Some rollercoaster aficionados would look down their noses as this slow-moving “family” coaster. I know I also have felt lowly and despised. I asked myself, “Why don’t they listen to me? Why doesn’t the boss think I am doing a good job?” Or one might lament, “Nothing I do is good enough, or I’m not employable.” Perhaps you’ve even been fired unfairly or been bullied or taken advantage of.

We all have fallen into the trap of judging ourselves by someone else’s standards and have come out with a low opinion of ourselves. I’ve been there and felt the hurt and anger and unfairness of it all.  It is then I must make a choice. Do I go on nursing these feelings of being lonely and despised, or do I trust in God’s everlasting truth? I dare not rehash the slights and ill treatments. Instead of harboring unforgiveness, I absolutely must follow God’s precepts. His law is true. He is the Everlasting One. Look in God’s Word and see that you are His beautiful creation. He loved you so much that He sent His own Son to free you from the guilt and penalty of your sin. You are a delight to God; and through His Word, you will gain light and understanding to live.

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 16

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 16—A rollercoaster that you know like the back of your hand:

Millennium Force at Cedar Point, Sandusky Ohio

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbXPhOFRxTc

I could have chosen any Cedar Park coaster or countless others really, but I'm playing my MF card here. I think my Maverick ride count finally caught this one last summer, but I'm not sure. I've recorded about 90-100 rides on this at this writing. It’s a fairly simple layout to memorize. Millennium Force is widely regarded as the world's best steel roller coaster.

On my top 30 ratings in 2012, I rated it #7. (85/100 points)

Why it deserves this slot: Millennium Force is arguably the world’s most iconic roller coaster. The 310 ft. lift-hill is still North America’s tallest even 11 years after this beast’s auspicious debut in 2000. The ride is famous for its first drop, speed, and smooth experience. Millennium Force is adored by enthusiasts and has finished 1st or 2nd every year in Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Award steel coaster rankings since 2000: the industry’s standard. It has won the last two titles.

Millennium Force’s first drop is the one by which all others are measured. Quite frankly, they all come up short. The lift-hill is steep and utilizes a cable lift system, which is much smoother and quieter than a chain lift. Trains FLY up this monstrous hill, and riders are left breathless as they find themselves 310 feet above the ground almost immediately after leaving the station.

Upon cresting the top of the first hill, the record-breaking descent begins. As the train rolls down the hill, the drop continues to get steeper and steeper until it is 80 degrees. Riders cannot see the bottom of the drop until they are about half-way down. At the bottom, the train has reaches a blistering 93 mph.

The second hill is a powerful 169 ft. overbank turn which glues riders to their seats. I begin to black out for a split-second here. The train then roars at ground level and through a tunnel at about 90 mph. Next is a 182 ft. airtime hill (which would be the tallest hill on most roller coasters) over the Midway. The back section of the ride is composed of two more overbank turns with two close encounters with the supports. The train then flies over another airtime hill back toward the station. Another turn through a tunnel leads to a nice quick airtime hill right next to the queue line. The track then sets up for the final overbank turn, which is my favorite of the four, and hits the brakes at 60 mph.

Why it’s not rated higher: Millennium Force’s main weakness is its lack of airtime. The three dedicated airtime hills are all mediocre at best. The intensity of the ride drops off severely after the first drop. This is understandable because there’s really not much that can match a 300 ft./ 80 degree drop.

Cedar Point had limited space when they built this and had to use space wherever they could find it. This lack of space for a ride of this magnitude pushed Millennium Force into utilizing only airtime hills and overbank turns. The result is a ride lacking variety and power. The first drop and incredible speed of Millennium Force are strong enough to land it in the top-ten though.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 100:3 Know that the Lord himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Sure, I can walk you through all of the peaks and twists of this Coaster because I have been intimately involved with this experience at least 100 times. When I spend time with someone, I should be getting to know him.

The Psalmist reminds us to be quiet and get to know God. If I don’t spend time with Him and listen to His Word, how can I learn about Him and what He has for me? Yes, life is busy, and I have many obligations to fulfill for my work and my family.  But really, what is important? What is of eternal value? Is it not knowing God, the exalted One on the earth?

The Lord wants us to have that privilege. Most religions have steps for man to placate or please their God.  Christianity is about a relationship with Him. He says that we are His people and His sheep. Relax in His love and provision. And get to know the Shepherd who made you.

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 15

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 15—Your first roller coaster ever.

Timberland Twister at Knott’s Berry Farm

Interesting thing. I know I rode this roller coaster as a small child, but I have no memory of it. There are photos of me on it though! I know I won’t be riding it again because of the height restrictions – 5’9”.

Timberline Twister is a steel roller coaster built in 1983 that was aimed at younger children and adults who did not want to tackle the Park’s wilder rides. After the lift hill, the ride turns and drops. You get some nice airtime on the first drop (for a kiddy coaster). Next is an airtime hill and a turnaround where you'll get some more kiddy airtime. After another turnaround, you go straight into the little bunny hops. Then you’re back at the station. For a kiddy coaster, this is a pretty fun (short) ride.

I have not been told I was fearful or anxious about this ride. My mom and brother were on it with me.  My dad is too tall, but I knew he wouldn’t let me go on anything dangerous.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

I wasn’t afraid on my first roller coaster, and I should not be anxious about my life. Being anxious displays a lack of trust. Children who trust their parents are not anxious. Believers who trust in Jesus are not anxious.

Maybe my life doesn’t seem particularly safe right now. I’ve had troubles and changes and enemies that I never saw coming. But, God is my stability. He knows the beginning from the end, and nothing that comes into my life surprises Him. In fact, If I am thinking I am safe following the desires of my own heart, this will lead to ruin.

As I cling to Him, I am not anxious about my future and it should be a pretty fun ride.

Top of Form

Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 14

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 14—A Roller Coaster that you’ve never been on but want to ride: The Voyage at Holiday World

The Voyage is a large and steep wooden roller coaster. It hastily careens around tight corners at breakneck speeds through the dense forests of Southern Indiana. It has eight tunnels and many unexpected turns. I have yet to meet anyone who has ridden this who prefers any other wooden roller coaster.

The Voyage was opened to the public in 2006 and is themed as the Voyage of the Mayflower to the New World. The Pilgrims experienced the Atlantic waves, seasickness, and darkness, but not the 2 minutes and 45 seconds of weightless that one encounters on this 1.2 mile ride.

I almost got to Holiday World this August (they have FREE soft drinks! A dream come true!), but they were closed when I was passing through. One day I will get you Voyage!

Psalm 84:5 “How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the Highways to Zion!”

Every vacation I can, I make a pilgrimage to an Amusement Park. But those trips are meaningless if I am not on the Highway to Heaven. Just as the Pilgrims longed for a place of freedom, the human spirit longs for freedom. We are created with the inward knowledge that we are not right with God, the Holy One, the Creator of the Universe. Everywhere worldwide people have a sense of right and wrong and realize that they have a bent to choose the wrong.

Getting on the right path is as easy as ABC.

A – Admit that you are not perfect. If you want to be with the God of Heaven, you cannot go there as an imperfect person. His presence is perfect and no sin lives in His presence.

B – Believe that Jesus died on the cross to cleanse you (and all mankind) from their sins. We could not possibly cleanse ourselves, but God loved us so much that He made the Way for us to be with Him (John 3:16).  We must be purified by the Blood of Jesus Christ.

C – Confess. After you believe in Christ tell others. If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).

This voyage won’t make you seasick, and it will change your life.