Big Changes Coming to VBS 2012!

Hello folks,

Our first meeting is in the books and we have big changes to announce for this summer. The first big change is that we have decided to go with one big blowout day for VBS instead of the three day format.

Some of the reasons for the change are as follows; fall sports have encroached on the first week of August, difficulty in finding volunteers for three days and many of the kids have activities that keep them from being there every night as well. So we will try a one day event and see how it goes. I have prayed about this since last summer and I am trusting God to show us if this is a good fit for us or not.

The next big change is the VBS date. This year's VBS will be on Sunday July 8th. The reason for this is to attempt to reach more kids, let me explain. July 4th is on a Wednesday and we are planning to have a booth at the Grove to give away free stuff. Families come from all over to the College Corner Old Fashion 4th of July celebration who may not know anything about our Community VBS. We will hopefully get their attention so that they will join us for the first time. We will be doing advanced registration too but our main goal is to publicize the event. Then, with VBS on that following weekend, we hope it will be fresh in their memory and we will have a ton of kids.

The third and final change concerns the Unity Service. God has blessed us with wonderful services over our 10 year history and we want to keep it up. The change this year is that the service will be in the evening instead of the morning. The exact times are in the works but VBS will start around 2 or 3 PM and the Unity Service would be around 5 or 6 pm. To cap off the event we will serve some hot dogs, chips, juice pouches and bottled water to promote some fellowship

That is it for changes, now here is some fun stuff we have planned. Group Publishing has a has a new curriculum aimed at a weekend format that we will be using. Rocky Point Lighthouse is an ocean theme where kids let their light shine. To celebrate our 10th year anniversary and incorporate our VBS theme we will be giving away two $50 gift certificates to Red Lobster for a lucky boy and girl to enjoy with their family.

We also plan to give away ice pops, t-shirts and other fun stuff at the 4th of July. We have a big surprise for the kids that we will not be keeping secret until VBS day!

God has blessed Community VBS and we will look to bless others this year by sharing part of our Unity Service offering with the Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati. We want to show kindness to kids and families who are staying at Ronald's during a rough time and cannot be apart of fun stuff in the summer of 2012.

Most importantly the message of the VBS Rocky Point is Jesus died and rose again. Sharing that message is the heart and soul of VBS no matter how many days or nights we are at the Grove!

We will be giving more specifics on the times in the near future. Please pray for this summers VBS and please share with us your thoughts on this years format.

Ground Hog Meeting

Hello folks,

As crazy as the weather has been it is a good thing we have a reliable forecaster like the groundhog.That's right, Groundhog Day is fast approaching and we will find out how soon we will leave behind the erratic winter and move into a erratic spring!

As Groundhog Day marks the beginning of the end of winter it also marks the first VBS meeting for the year. Our first VBS meeting will be held at my home on Thursday February second at 6pm.

I would like for us to discuss the VBS curriculum for the summer and the format; 3 day or one day. Let's make this our main prayer focus for this meeting and chat about some publicity ideas to celebrate our ten year anniversary.

I look forward to seeing you on Groundhogs Day and if you cant make it please let me know so I can send you the VBS themes and formats we will be discussing.

10th Anniversary!

Break out the balloons, grab the streamers and let the confetti fly because Community VBS is 10 years old this year!

That’s right, ten years of kids, snacks, songs, heat and humidity. Just think if you knew a kid that was in kindergarten when we started they are probably driving now. If you knew a kid who was in 3rd grade back then they are a senior now or already graduated. If you were thirty when you started volunteering at VBS you are now ready for a midlife crisis.
How should we celebrate? I would love to hear your ideas. Please respond to this email or on the blog page with ideas to celebrate this ministry that God has blessed us with.

Let your creative juices flow in spite of the cold. We could have 10 best things about VBS list; we could have 10 worst things about VBS list; we could have a random drawing of 10 kids and give away something during this summer’s VBS; we could have 10 birthday cakes for snacks; we could have a birthday cake food fight (my personal favorite idea); we could give away $10,000 to some lucky volunteer (I guarantee we would have no trouble rounding up volunteers with this idea).

The ball is in your court now. Or, the birthday party is in your court may be a better way of looking at it. Thanks to all of you for being a part of this ministry and special thanks to God for allowing us all to know His son and to partnering with us for over 10 years!

VBS Offering 411

Hello folks,

I wanted to pass on to you the final numbers from the VBS pennies and Unity Service Offering. We had $90.00 collected in pennies and the donation has been sent a to world vision for mosquito nets for the entire amount. Each mosquito net costs $18 and protects a whole family. That means the VBS kids will help protect 5 families in Africa – well done!

The Unity Services offering totaled $347.35. We tithed $35 to the Junction's Back to School program that will be held on Friday August 12, 6:30-8pm and the Junction Community Center.

The remainder of the Unity offering will go to support VBS for 2012. Let us continue to pray that the kids in the community come to know the love, grace and person of Jesus Christ!

On behalf of the Community VBS commitee I want to say God bless you for your support and prayers and we will do it all again in the summer of 2012 - it will be here before you know it!

God bless,
David

Bare Necessities - Prayer

This is the fianl segment in the series "Bare Necessities" that examines what are the essentials of the Christian faith for kids at VBS.

God blessed us with cloudy skies for our annual Unity Service and temperatures were not too hot. It was a blessing to sing to the Lord with the kids and enjoy the local pastors spin on the kids Bible lessons.

After the snacks, the games, the Bible lessons, the lame jokes by the seal, and the Unity Serivce we are left with a vital bare necessity for VBS - prayer.

Prayer is the breath in the body of Christ's lungs. As involuntary as breathing is to our natural bodies let prayer be so to our spiritual bodies. Let us pray for the kids who attended VBS and live in our community. Let us pray that God would reveal himself to them and that they would give their hearts and lives to him. Let us pray that when they have a need this school year the Holy Spirit will bring to their minds the VBS Bible lessons. Let us pray that when things are going well for them they will remember to praise the Lord with the songs they sang at VBS.

Pray for the direction for Community VBS. The adult volunteer pool has shrank in our area, the last three years we have had a declining number of elementary kids in College Corner, and calendars are getting filled up into the first week of August (school orientations, soccer,etc). Together the result is we may need to think about a different month/week for VBS or a one day outreach on a Saturday. The important thing is to pray that God would show us how to reach kids in our neighborhood.

The kingdom of God is one that expands. kingdom people do not build walls and "hold the fort" but their mantra is "onward Christian soldier!" How we move forward to bring light to children in darkness requires that we pray for his strategy and battle formation for next year and the years ahead.

Finally, while praying for the kids, the people and plans for VBS offer up to God a prayer of thanksgiving for giving us another VBS and Unity Service!

Sun Setting on Sonsurf Beach

Hello folks,

The sun is setting on our 2011 VBS. We have the Unity Service ahead on Sunday as we celebrate VBS with the entire body of Christ. As I was looking back over the last three days I thought things went really well.

The registration team had sign-in and t-shirts down to a science.

Our youth helpers were well trained and did a great job.

I heard good reports of children sharing prayer request at snack time.

The report on games was that kids got wet and they were very happy with that!

The Bible stories were simple but powerful. Just as you would expect from an awesome book like the Bible!

The praise team rocked the Grove and the kids loved their stage time on Wednesday night.

I enjoyed watching a father share with his son how to do the sound ministry at VBS.

I heard a couple of reports from parents about their kids singing the VBS songs like crazy at home and kids on a mission to gather pennies.

I heard a leader say a little girl remembered her from last year's VBS. That is a pretty good memory for a small one who doesn't go to church and VBS is the closest they get all year!

I saw many new faces and lots of adults talking and laughing.

I saw kids dancing before the Lord of all creation as the trees blew in the evening breeze.

God blessed us with good weather and It seemed like each night the weather got nicer. I enjoyed just looking up through the trees to the blues skies.

What about you. What did you see or hear that encouraged you and let you know that God was blessing? I would encourage you to take some time and tell God thanks for all he blessed you with during VBS. Ask him to bless the kids and give us a great Unity Service.

Thanks to all of you for making VBS a blessing to the kids and to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ!

Bare Necessities - Scripture

This is the fourth segment in the series "Bare Necessities" that examines what are the essentials of the Christian faith for kids at VBS.

Howard Hughes was a film maker and an aviator. He made big budget movies and he set world air-speed records. Later he purchased and expanded Trans World Airlines. He became on of the richest men in the world with an estimated worth of over one billion dollars.

A man named Melvin Dummar claimed he crossed paths with Howard in 1967 near Las Vegas. He claimed that he found Howard lying beside the highway and gave him a ride to his hotel in Las Vegas. Howard Hughes passed away in 1976 and shortly afterward Dummar claims that a man left a letter for him that stated it was Howard Hughes will.

The Dummar will parceled out Howard's wealth to various organizations and people with Melvin himself receiving $156 million dollars. In trial that lasted seven months a Nevada state court determined that Dummar's will was a forgery. It took the authority of a state court to show what was true and false in regards to Howard Hughes will.

Over time there have been many who have claimed that God had spoken to them. Many have claimed God had revealed to them a way to heaven, and the date and time of the end of the world. There have been and are many who say that there is no God and that we live in a closed universe controlled by the whims of nature.

How does one go about determining the truth about God, about who we are and what is our ultimate destiny? One of the bare necessities children need for the Christian faith is scripture. Children need the truth about God and Christ. The Bible is the authority that points children to the truth about God.

Now most children do not read their Bible on a regular basis. But I doubt most people in the Melvin Dummar/Howard Hughes case spent a lot of time reading the Nevada law books concerning estates and wills either. But the law books was where they went to find an authoritative voice in the Hughes decision.

One of the most important things we can do at VBS is tell the children the truth about God and point them to the authority of the Bible so they can find His voice and guidance in their life decisions.

Please pray that God would give us his help in pointing kids to the source of truth, the Bible, and the person of truth, Jesus Christ!

Bare Necessities - Relationship

This is the third segment in the series "Bare Necessities" that examines what are the essentials of the Christian faith for kids at VBS.

How many of you like magic tricks? I have always enjoyed someone pulling off a slight-of-hand trick right under my nose. Some folks enjoy stage magic, the big stuff where elephants disappear, cars appear, people get cut in half and put back together right before your eyes. If you like the big Las Vegas style magic show no one does it better than Penn & Teller. They have been together for over 30 years and have an edgy show that mixes gore and magic. Penn, a vocal atheist, together with Teller (who never speaks on stage) also do TV and videos that expose all kinds of frauds and skeptically examine religious claims. They might not be family friendly but they do put on a good magic show (check out the show "Fool Us" on Youtube to get a taste of Penn & Teller).

One thing that caught my attention about these two is that they have been together for thirty years but are not close friends. in a Larry King interview Penn stated that they are complete opposites and the only time the spend together is when they are performing. In other words, they have an understanding that theirs is a "working relationship" and they are fine with that, and have been for three decades.

A bare necessity to being a Christian is to understand the relationship we have with God. Christianity is not a "working relationship" were we do good deeds to earn our salvation from God. It is a Father son/daughter relationship. Through faith in Christ we are born into the family of God. He is our heavenly father. We do not earn his love and forgiveness. He loves us and forgives us when we are adopted into his family through faith in Jesus the Christ!

In his family you are loved simply because you are you. When Jesus imparts his right standing status with God to us we become part of the family. The heavenly father cannot be separated from us because we are blood relatives through the sacrificial blood of his son! We do not need to earn anything from God because he has given us everything in Christ. We do good, serve others and love God out of gratitude; we love him because he first loved us!

Let us pray that kids that attend VBS hear and understand that faith in Christ brings them into God's family. He is a good Father that will not hurt them nor leave them. They need to know that they do not earn his love and acceptance by working for it. It is a free Gift given through faith in Christ. No matter how bad their family life is they need to hear the God has great family for them full of love, forgiveness and acceptance. They need to know that if they have a great family life it is just a little taste of how great it is to be in a family with a loving heavenly father!

Penn & Teller may have a great working relationship that lasts for decades, but God has an even greater family relationship with his kids that lasts for all eternity!

Bare Necessites - Faith

This is the second segment in the series "Bare Necessities" that examines what are the essentials of the Christian faith for kids at VBS.

Alexander Grover Cleveland was a fine pitcher but he had his struggles. Before he made it to the majors he was hit in the head while running the bases and it almost ended his career. The blow left him with double vision that took sometime before it cleared up, and it left him with epileptic seizures. To deal with such events in his life Alexander often took to drinking alcohol.

But finally he made it to the big leagues and began his pitching with the Philadelphia Phillie's in 1911. Over the next six years he lead the league in wins 5 times, shutouts five times, strikeouts six times and innings pitched six times. He is one of only three other players in baseball history to win the pitchers Triple Crown (wins, strikeouts and earned run average)three times.

Strapped for cash the Phillie's sold Alexander to the Cubs in 1918. He then was drafted and ended up in World War 1 and suffered hearing loss due to shell shock. The horrors he saw on the front lines drove him deeper in to the bottle.

The cubs ended up in last place in 1925 and sold Alexander to the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle of the 1926 season. The reason for the sale, said the Cub's manager, "The Cubs finished last last year and if they finish last again, I'd rather it be without him."

Manager Branch Rickey saw something in the old pitcher and had faith he still had big wins left in him.

That same year in 1926 the Cardinal's finished the season by winning the national league pennant and faced the Yankees as under dogs in the World Series. Alexander started and won games 2 and 6 with undoubtedly his best pitching performances of his career . After game six Alexander celebrated by getting drunk and staying out all night. He set in the dugout nursing a hangover during the decisive game 7.

The Cardinals were leading the Yankees 3-2 in game seven. But in the seventh inning the Yankees loaded the bases with two outs. Yankee slugger Tony Lazzeri was up to bat when they called in Alexander. Woozy and reeking of alcohol Alexander took his good sweet time walking to the mound from the dugout out in right field.

He struck out Lazzeri to end the inning and protect the lead. He kept the Yanks scoreless in the 7th, the 8th and the 9th.The Cardinals went on to an upset World Series win over the heavily favored New York Yankees.

What in the world did Branch Rickey see in a drunken old pitcher? Where in the world did he get the faith to believe an old has-been could produce a heroic save in the World Series on half a days rest? I have no idea. The only thing Rickey had was faith in Alexander.

It has taken me a long time to get to my point but I am "rounding third and heading for home." In order to please God you must have faith. Faith, according to the Message Bible,faith is: is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see (Heb. 11:1).

Let us pray that God gives the kids at VBS faith in Jesus and that we encourage it and help build it up. Is not the one we have faith in greater that the object of Branch Rickey's faith?

Alexander was a half deaf epileptic - Jesus was perfect in order to be our high priest.
Alexander struggled with alcohol - Jesus turned water to wine but was never controlled by the drink.
Alexander was a shell shocked veteran (of which we should all be thankful for as Americans) - Jesus was killed in battle but rose again on the third day (for whom we should give thanks and praise in every nation!)
Alexander saved the Cardinal's win in game seven of the 1926 World Series - Jesus saves all humanity from sin for all time!
Alexander was simply a man who was a pitcher - Jesus was a man who is God.

A bare necessity that children need is faith in Jesus Christ. May God give it, may we build it up and may the kids use it . May they have faith in Christ when they face a situation in life where circumstances have the bases loaded and it looks like a devastating loss is inevitable. May they call on Jesus in faith to come in for the save and lead them to victory!

Bare Necessities - A Savior

This is the first segment in the series "Bare Necessities" that examines what are the essentials of the Christian faith for kids.

In July of 2002, nine coal miners were trapped in the Quecreek mine in Somerset County Pennsylvania. The men were 240 feet underground waist deep in water. They had been forced into a small area to avoid being drowned when the shaft had been flooded. The was no way out. They needed someone above ground to rescue them. One man played a huge role in the rescue. Bob Long was an engineer who used GPS equipment to determine where the men were located and were the rescue shaft would be drilled. There was no room for error in locating the men. Missing their location meant that valuable time would be lost and so also the lives of the nine miners.

One hour and half later the drill broke through the tunnel where the trapped miners were located. The sweetest sound that Bob Long heard was that of the miners pounding on the drill bit signalling that they were still alive. Four days later the the miners were brought out alive one by one and not until all nine were out did the rescue team celebrate. Bob long and the rescue team became part of what is now called the Quecreek miracle.

That story reminds me of the most important bare necessity of Christianity - Christ!Jesus is the one who knew exactly where we were - dead in sin. He knew there was no way out for us. No matter how much we tried to be good, no matter the penance, no matter the amount of benevolence, no matter if we had perfect attendance at church, no matter how much we read the Bible or prayed it would not have been enough to rescue our souls from sin. We needed a savior to lift us out sin and death into forgiveness and life.a

This bare necessity is what we will share with the kids at VBS. We are all in sin and there is no way out. But the good news is Jesus knows exactly where we are and he came to earth to rescue us. Teaching kids to be good, obey their parents, to do good, get good grades, be kind to their neighbor, and attend church is all good but that will not save them from their sins. The bare necessity for salvation is Christ. Just as the miners were save by climbing into the rescue capsule at the Quecreek mine, the kids can be saved when they climb into the arms of Christ.

Bob Long and the rescue team were truly part of a miracle in saving nine men, but the salvation of millions and billions of people by Christ is such a greater miracle! Just think how sweet the sound of the kids singing praise at VBS will be when it reach Christ's ears. And what a celebration there will be when we are all welcomed one by one into heaven! Therefore, let us share the bare necessity of Christ with the kids this summer!

Bare Necessities

Hello VBS folks,

As the temperatures are warming up our thoughts turn to summer. It is getting time to start thinking about VBS, swimming, softball, the Reds and vacations. Unfortunately, the high gas prices are causing people to cut back on travel plans. Not only is the high oil prices effecting travel but family budgets. I have talked with people who are looking to save money by cutting things such as land lines, cable TV, and eating out. Tight economic times cause businesses and families to cut non-essentials.

That got me to thinking, what are the essentials of Christianity? What is the bare necessities that Christians need? Specifically, what are the Christian essentials that children need?

It has been tough economical times but it could get tougher. Our American culture is not real friendly to Christians. What if it gets even more hostile? What are the bare necessities needed for the church to survive? What do we want to pass on to kids who attend VBS and many of whom will be the church of tomorrow.

In the next weeks leading up to VBS we will see what the Bible says is the necessities of the Christian life. Let us look to the Word and be reminded of the essentials God wants us to focus on. May God also open our eyes to what the bare necessities are that we can share with the kids during our 3 day VBS this summer!

Heading to the Beach in 2011

Hello folks,

Our first meeting is over and we will be heading to the beach for this summer's VBS! This VBS theme fits well with our outdoor program and the fact that kids love to get wet. Gospel Light's Bible focus is completely on Jesus; Who is Jesus? Why can I trust Jesus? Why do I need Jesus? How can Jesus help me when I mess up? and What does Jesus want me to do? We will have a 3 day VBS so choosing from this line up will be tough!

Sonsurf Beach Blast looks to be Biblically solid and we plan to keep on using Group Publishing's music from their 2011 VBS program. Group does a great job of taking popular Contemporary Christian music and tweaking it for kids.

Due to every one's busy schedule I am going to try a phone conference for our next meeting and I will let everyone know the day, the time and phone number in advance so we'll all be ready.

In the mean time, please pray that God will draw our adult volunteers for this summer and that He would show us what 3 topics to choose out of the 5.

Most importantly, when you pray ask God to do a wonderful work in each child's heart that attends this summer's VBS.

First Meeting of 2011!

Hello everyone,

by August we will all forget how cold it is right now. Until then we can beat the cold by thinking warm thoughts about this year's VBS!

Our first meeting will be 6PM next Monday, March 29th at the Junction. We will catch up with one another and then make our decision on this summers VBS curriculum. Please keep this meeting in your prayers!

See ya there!

Spring is On the Way!

Hello folks,

I know it is hard to believe following an ice storm that spring is around the corner. But according to this years Groundhog Day we are in for an early spring because the little guy didn't see his shadow!You know what all this means don't you? That is right, it is time to start planning for VBS 2011!

This will be our ninth year - can you believe it! This year I am partial to Gospel Light's "SonSurf Beach Bash" theme. The Bible theme stays nice and tight in the gospel books as opposed to Group's "Pandamania" theme that seems to all over the scriptures. We will no doubt use Group's music if we choose not do their theme but I would like for you to give me your feedback by visiting these two VBS links:

http://gospellightvbs.com/sonsurf/

http://pandamania.group.com/

If you have seen other VBS curriculum's out there that you think might work well let me know. Please let me know what day of the week in February is best for our first once-a-month-VBS-meeting.

Remember, VBS will be here before you know it and accompanied by warm weather!

Eight Hope Builders for College Corner Kids: #8 - Education

VBS is over and a great time was had by all!The kids are back in school and I am continuing on with the last installment of an eight part series discussing what it takes to give hope to kids in CC.

Education

Kids have returned to CC Elementary and back to the books. One of the keys to breaking the cycle of poverty is an education. With today's economy the further one continues on in their education the greater the possibility to have a fulfilling career.

But if children struggle in school, specifically reading, the greater the chance of being stuck in a cycle of poverty. That is why we need your prayers for College Corner Whiz Kids. This ministry targets kids with reading problems and comes along side them to tutor and show the love of Christ.

This ministry saw on little girl come to Christ last year! This year we are in need of volunteers so that Whiz Kids is able to continue on. Please pray that the folks that heard about this ministry during the Junction Tour will get involved if God is calling them.

Let us pray that kids pursue an education so that they can use their God given abilities/gifting to become all that God created them to be. The goal is not an education in order to make a lot of money, but to be fruitful and use their vocation to bless others and glorify God!

This ends this series and I would ask you to pray that God would bring hope that lasts a lifetime in the lives of the children of College Corner!

Eight Hope Builders for College Corner Kids: #7 - Sharing Hope

VBS is over and a great time was had by all!The Unity Service attendance was over 215! As the kids get ready to head back to school.I am continuing on with the seventh installment of an eight part series discussing what it takes to give hope to kids in CC.

Sharing Hope

The VBS committee felt that God had laid on their hearts a message of hope for the kids in CC in 2010, and I believe we did a good job of delivering it. But hope doesn't stop now that VBS is over. Hope is a thing that God intends to be in constant motion because it lasts forever and never stops:

1 Corinthians 13:13
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love

It begins with the everlasting Father and flows from his throne to us here in CC. It flowed to the kids at VBS and it must continue to be shared. Hope is like a good (clean) joke - it makes us laugh and we enjoy making others laugh when we share it.

I am proud to say that the kids and those attending the Unity Service shared the hope of Christ by raising $620 for the Shriner's Children's Hospital in Cincinnati! God blessed Brandon Pierce through Shriner's and our community has responded with a great big thank you offering. Prayers were answered for Brandon's life and recovery and his story gives hope to others making their way back from a life changing accident. How sweet it is to know our kids and our community is sharing the healing hope of Christ to those in need! Hope is a verb, it is everlasting,and meant to be shared:

Acts 20:35
You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Eight Hope Builders for College Corner Kids: #6 - Your Story

Hello folks,
VBS is all most over! Sunday is the Unity Service and before you know it the kids will be back in school.I am continuing on with the sith installment of an eight part series discussing what it takes to give hope to kids in CC.

Your Story

Many of us involved in VBS this week probably saw many kids you knew from previous years and some new faces too. As we get to know kids it is good to share your story with them. Kids are interested in what it was like when you were a kid. They like to hear what you did for fun, what fears and worries bothered you growing up. When they hear your story you become approachable and relatable.

One of the most powerful things you can share with kids is your faith story. How you became a Christian and how God helps you everyday can have a powerful impact, especialy for kids in troubled homes. Your story can help kids build hope that they can make it if you made and are still making it with God's help.

Check out the power of these peoples faith stories in the New Testament:

Luke 8

So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. 38 The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, 39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.

John 4

The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.... 39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” 40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, 41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. 42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”

John 9

6 Then he (Jesus) spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!...
30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.”

2 Timothy 1

3 Timothy, .. 5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.

Just like these folks your story could have a huge impact one someone like a little kid, your neighbor,co-worker or family member. So, take time to share your story and I am sure God will use it to build hope in a child in College Corner!

Take a Break!

Hello folks,

Great job by everyone and thank God we got done before that storm hit last night! I know every one is hot and tired, so take a break - cool off - we will see you all Sunday morning at 11am!

Get Ready, Get Set...Go!

Hello folks,

It is here! It is VBS time - God has blessed us with beautiful weather and I look forward to seeing everyone at the Grove tonight. Remember, the first night is crazy but it will all come together by the end of the night.

Ask God to help you tonight and to bless the kids giving them hearts open to his love, grace and hope!

See ya soon!

Eight Hope Builders for College Corner Kids: #5 - Words

Hello folks,
We are getting closer to VBS time! In the mean time here is the fifth installment of an eight part series discussing what it takes to give hope to kids in CC.

Words

My job involves customer service so I get paid to talk nice and be patient with people. The other day at work a co-worker next to me overheard a phone conversation I had with one of my daughters. After I hung up he asked who I was talking to. I told him that it was my daughter to which he replied, "you talk a lot nicer to the people that come in here." Ouch! That hurt to hear but he was right! It is easy for parents to let their guard down and say things that hurt the very ones they love the most.

I have been in line at stores and fast food places and witnessed parents get really tense with their kids and talk very harsh to them because they are in a hurry. I have done the same thing and I want God to check me when I get snippy with my kids and wife. In our fast paced lives it is also easy to come home frazzled having very little patience for kids asking questions or trying to show you something they made that day.

One of the most devastating things we can do to kids is treat them with contempt. The rolling of the eyes or angry scowls communicate that they are an annoyance instead of a gift from God. When words are added that say to the child they are dumb, a pain, driving us nuts, etc., it leaves a child in a lurch because they want to know they are loved and they need affirming attention but the parent is perceived as unapproachable. Unfortunately, impatient contemptuous actions and words leave a child with a unfulfilled desire to be affirmed for just being themselves.

If this happens in Christian homes just imagine what it is like for non-
christian working single parents, blended families,and in homes where drugs and alcohol are abused. Words in emotionally stressed atmospheres can scar a child's soul very deeply.

This is where we come in! During VBS we have a chance to open our mouths and affirm children. For some it may be one of the few times in their short lives where they hear an encouraging word. It is a struggle when we volunteers are trying to deal with 5 or 6 rowdy kids at the Grove and it is hot and sticky too. Most volunteers have worked that day and are making a sacrifice to be there and that adds to the stress. Add in kids talking, running around and wrestling it is hard to say anything other than, "Sit down and be quite!"

But we are not alone as we minister to the kids. We have the Holy Spirit and we need to pray now for ourselves and other volunteers to be led of the Spirit:

Galatians 5

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants... 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: ...hostility, quarreling,...outbursts of anger,...
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Let us ask God to guide us and prepare us for VBS infused with His Spirit. Our words could be a catalyst that changes a child's life. I don't know the exact number, but I have heard it takes multiple times more kind/encouraging/affirming words to offset just one negative word. Let us prayerfully strive to have spirit filled words that give life and hope during VBS!:

Proverbs 16:24

24 Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.