Introducing . . .

Actually, this is not an introduction - just a clarifier . . .
Ryan AKA: Captain Jack, Alpha Dude or as I think of him, Ryanrox has now become an "intern" who works with me, Jason and a teacher at Lincoln. He has ENORMOUS skills that God is going to use in many ways to bless LOTS of people. He brings with him a spirit of fresh creativity that makes everything a lot more fun! ANd what a heart! Today when we were doing some defining of roles, I asked, "what do you see yourself doing here?" He answered: anything that can take some of your work away so that you can have less stuff on your plate. I'm going to like this season of life!

Double Blessings x 150 = JOY!

Last night at Tuesday school, our big kids (first graders - fifth graders) paired up with a preschooler to write notes of blessing for residents in the nursing home. When we pitched it to the big kids, we told them that they got to be part of a double blessing. They would get to help a three year old bless a senior citizen. I think the big kids actually enjoyed it more than the little ones! I can't wait to deliver them to the nursing home tomorrow - stay tuned for the rest of the story.

Offerings- Bunks and Balls

The kids brought in enough money to send 16 soccer balls off to Guatemala and over $300 to camp Onomia for renovations in the Retreat Center. How cool is that? I love when they can tangibly see and touch where their money is going, but I love even more when they just give because they want to give to God!

Chadder's in the House

We are always so excited when Chadder shows up! This year, Jake Novotny surprised us by taking a vacation day from work to make sure that this year's VBS kids got to get a little chipmunk lovin'. Thanks, Jake - and Chadder for taking time to be with the kids!

Day 4 - God's Word is life changing

The lesson for this day cam from when the blind man begged for money from Peter and John and they said, we don't have any gold, but what we do have is worth much more than that! And they healed him - and then told the whole crowd that gathered around this rejoicing man,how Jesus had died to give them a whole new life. What great news? Don't we all need to hear that? We talked with the kids about how God's word can help us make a small change in our attitude or our image, and like a big, huge ship, with a tiny little rudder change, will end up in a whole different continent. God wants us to end up fully in His Kingdom!

Day 3 - God's Word is Surprising!

We learned from the story in Acts where Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake - that God's word is full of surprises! We played under the parachute, toured the ship and signed and prayed over 16 soccer balls that will be distributed to a child in Guatemala very soon by Central's mission team leaving July 30.

Day 2 - God's Word is Comforting

After hearing about how God comforted Paul during the shipwreck the kids had ham roll-ups - to help us think about rolling up in a blanket - God's word is that comforting! Then we made pillows to comfort us. We wrote or drew our troubles on a piece of paper in rec and crumpled them up and threw them at other crews. We know that in this world we will have troubles - but God is bigger than all of our troubles.

Day One - God's Word is True!

What a great start to VBS! We have set sail for a GREAT ADVENTURE THROUGH GOD"S WORD! You'll see the kids making exploding KABLOOEY. They could count on the baking soda and vinegar exploding, just like we can count on God's amazing Word to be true. In the craft room they made some very cool frames to hold a photo of their group. And in snack they ate a snack that helped them remember the story of Peter miraculously getting out of prison when the angel came. Cheerios - the handcuffs that broke, grid pretzels - the prison gate, marshmallows - the angel that came to save Peter and many colors of Skittles to remind us of all the prayers that people were sending up for Peter to be saved! Prayers are a beautiful thing!!

Jericho through God's Eyes - and an Eight-Year-Old's Eyes

This picture was created by Jesper Leggatt (8), a boy from London, who drew this fantastic picture inspired by Jago's illustration in the Jesus Story Book Bible.
I love this picture. It reminds me that God sees totally different than we do - and often times so do 8 year olds.

Think about that long line of dots outside the huge, fortified heavily guarded wall of Jericho - they are the Israelites who have just crossed over from 40 years in the dessert to claim their promised land. From the outside, each one of those Israelites had no idea how God was going to give them that city. I'm sure some were petrified. I'm sure many doubted that they would ever get to see the inside of those walls. They were marching in that line out of obedience to God and for something bigger than their own lives - their children and their children. God saw things totally different. So did Jesper when he drew this. We would be wise to enter into spaces and paths that help us to look upon life as God and eight-year-olds do!