And
finally, to whichever little guy left the Block Party without his size 6
Garanimals sandals, we found them and would be happy to return them to you.
Did you
know that our Vacation Bible School is coming July 21-25? That’s less than four
weeks away! Good thing they don’t give me much to do. Just show up, hang out,
smile and look pretty. I think I can get three out of those four things done
anyway.
Let me
encourage you to plan on bringing your K-6th grade children for a
terrific week of VBS. We might do it a little differently than when you were a
kid, but there’s still upbeat music, tasty snacks, fun crafts, crazy rec games
and solid Bible stories.
Here are
two things I can guarantee will happen.
One, we will show the love of
Christ to your children. We’ll show it by words and actions of kindness and
respect toward your children. We’ll reflect it in the way we enjoy the time getting
to know them. We’ll display it in our attitudes of servant leadership. We’ll do
it by providing a safe environment with proper behavioral boundaries. We’ll do
it by praying for your children and by sharing the good news of salvation with
them. We’ll model it in the 1 Corinthians 13 style of biblical, Christ-like
love.
No, we’re not perfect, and we won’t
love perfectly. Honestly, it’s not even in our human nature to love others like
Jesus. But we have been given a new nature in Christ, and in the power of His
Spirit abiding in our hearts we let Him live in us and do the loving through
us. So we can’t even take the credit if we get this right. If we love well,
then to God be the glory, and that’s our number one desire anyway!
Two, your children will come home
and drive you crazy with continual singing of the songs they’ll be learning.
Not that driving you crazy is our goal, you understand. Just saying you may
have to raise your own crazy bar higher to allow your children to sing at home,
in the car, at the grocery store, in the doctor’s office or wherever else they
may be when the urge to unloosen the tongue hits.
Remember, while such singing may
start pushing the needle on the crazy-meter into the yellow (I’m a parent, too,
and I have my limits, as well), these songs are rich with the truths of God’s
Word that you want them to hold in their hearts. Think about it. You may not
have a single verse in the Bible memorized, but you can probably sing “Jesus
Loves Me” and “Amazing Grace” and others word for word. Music drives the message
home and helps it stick. Praise God for what our children will be learning
through those songs that may drive you and me crazy!
So, if I haven’t deterred you from
bringing your children or grandchildren or nieces or nephews or stray
neighborhood kids you happen to find along the way, we’d love to invite you to
come to Vacation Bible School! The dates again are July 21-25, Sunday through
Thursday, from 6:00-9:00 each night. The last night will include a Family Night
opportunity for you to come and see what the kids have been doing all week. It
will be held at the First Baptist Church, 103 W. Sangamon Ave., just one block
west of the only stop light in town.
Speaking of VBS, many of our former
VBS children are now in our youth group and are continuing to learn and grow in
the faith and serve others for the sake of Christ. This Sunday, June 30, why
not come and hear from many of them about their recent mission trip? Some of
them will also be leading in music. We are blessed with leaders who invest in
our young people for the advancement of the kingdom of God, and youth who have
a heart to follow after Jesus. Join us in worship this Sunday at 10:45 a.m. for
a special time of encouragement in the Lord!
To everyone
who attended our Block Party last Friday night: Thank you for coming, and I
hope you enjoyed the event! We were delighted to welcome you. The Lord blessed
us with terrific weather, a great turn-out, an outstanding group of servant
volunteers and lots of donated cakes. If you left without getting a cake, I’m
sorry, but hope you were able to make up for it with some Sno-Cones or cotton
candy.
To the New
Jerusalem Singers: Thank you for doing an awesome job! You all played some
great old gospel songs, were flexible with the schedule and conveyed a joyful,
Christ-like spirit in your music. Thanks for letting me sing along on the last
one, too! When you make it to Nashville, don’t forget us little people.
To Bob
Swaar: Thank you for bringing your train ride over to Petersburg! You were a
hit! It looked like every ride was packed. The kids (and adults) loved it, and
it seemed to me that you were having the time of your life, as well.
To those
who filled out a prayer card: We are praying for you. Sometimes life gets
messy, and maybe it’s not turned out at all like you hoped it would. Let me
remind you that God is able to help you in your time of need. He is able
strengthen you in your weakness, comfort you in sorrow and surprise you with
peace and joy in the midst of life’s hardships. Keep calling upon His name, and
we’ll be on our knees with you.
To the
First Baptist Church: Thank you for investing your time and resources to make
this a wonderful community outreach event! Yes, it was a lot of work, but I
hope you saw the some of the fruit of your labor in the precious faces and
bright smiles of the children and their families. Our mission continues to mean
glorifying God by shining the light of Christ Jesus into our neighbor and
throughout the nations. The fields are still white unto harvest, the laborers
are few and the gospel is still the power of salvation to everyone who
believes. Let’s keep going in the power of the Holy Spirit!
To those
who may be looking for a church home: I hope you’ll join us in the journey.
We’re not a perfect church. We’re made up of people who have walked the same
path you’re on right now. We’ve got baggage, too. But we know that in Jesus we
have been washed clean from our sins, are being made holy in the image of
Christ and are looking forward to better things (heavenly things) yet to come.
We’ve found that God is our Refuge and Strength, an ever-present help in
trouble (Ps. 46:1). We know that He is our Good Shepherd, the One who is
Faithful and True, whose love is unfailing with mercies unending and grace
overflowing though we’re undeserving.
We’ve not “arrived” spiritually,
but we’re growing and learning to trust and obey our Savior more and more each
day. We’d love for you to experience what it means to have a saving relationship
with Jesus, what it means to be a part of the family of God, and what it means
to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Why not come and join us this coming Sunday
at 9:30 for Sunday School, 10:40 for worship? I think you’ll be glad you did.
And finally, to all the Dads doing
your best to raise your children right: Thanks for being there for your sons
and daughters. You have an incredible responsibility, yet an awesome privilege.
I know because when I look at my own two boys I am reminded of what a blessing this
is, but also what an overwhelming task lies before me. There’s only so much
time we have to shape and guide and train them in the way they should go, and I
don’t know about you, but I want to honor the Lord in the way I raise my boys. Let’s
set them a godly example by our own lives, men, and be intentional about
investing in them, praying always for them, and instilling the truth of God’s
Word and the way of righteousness into their hearts. It’s not always easy, but
by God’s grace we can do this.
If you
don’t already have plans for this Friday night (June 14), from 5-8, let me
invite you to our Block Party. Bring the whole family, because there really is
something for everyone. We’re at the corner of 7th and Sangamon (Petersburg, IL),
just one block west of the only stoplight in town.
For the
children there will be the big inflatable bounce house, which is really a great
opportunity to bounce as high as you can and crash land into the walls and
other small children while laughing and giggling all the way. With arms and
legs flying all over the place, there’s a good reason why they make you take
your shoes off before entering.
Another
inflatable is the Bungee Run. That’s the one where you’re hooked on to a large
bungee cord, you take off running and when you reach the end of the rope it
jerks you back, you go tumbling and everyone has a good laugh at your expense.
We’ll also
have other games and prizes that the young ones enjoy, as well as do some face
painting. Just don’t let your kids ask for a Cubs logo on their cheek because
we’d rather keep the atmosphere positive. Oh, and Sno-Cones, popcorn and cotton
candy.
Personally,
I’m not a big fan of cotton candy. What is cotton candy anyway? Sugar swirled
on a stick? My stomach can’t take too much of that, nor do I really want to end
up with sticky stuff all over my face and fingers. But if you don’t mind your
kids bouncing off the walls on a sugar high and getting everything they touch
sticky, then go for it. Mine will probably do the same.
Back this
year we’ve also invited Bob Swaar to come over with his train ride! Then
there’s the dunk tank, the ever-popular cake walk (I bet County Market loves it
when churches or other organizations have a cake walk), and free hot dogs and
hamburgers and chips for everyone.
And for your musical enjoyment, do
we have a variety of entertainment scheduled for you! From 5-6, Christian rap/hip
hop artist Zach Ayappa will be on stage. Zach was here last year and got the
crowd up on their feet when he broke it down and dropped the beat. If you want
to see Zach and get your shirt signed, or your back as at least one young man
did last year, then be there early and be ready to hip and hop.
The other end of that spectrum will
feature The New Jerusalem Singers, a Southern Gospel group complete with cowboy
hats, vests, bolo ties and at least one pink country guitar. If that’s a little
more your style, then make sure you find your way over to the stage area around
6, and, yes, feel free to tap your toes, clap, raise your hands or even dance if
you want to.
Did I
mention that everything’s free? No tickets, no armbands, no cover charge. The
First Baptist Church desires to glorify God by shining the light and love of
Jesus into our community, and this is one way we do that. As much as we want you
to enjoy the event and have fun, we also want you to see the joy of Christ in
us, and ultimately to be drawn to Him by God’s grace through faith. We’re not
in business to sell you anything. Our prayer is that you will receive “the free
gift of God [which] is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans
6:23).
This year
we are also making available a prayer station. If you have something going on
in your life you just want someone from the church to pray about with you, we’d
be glad to do so. We really do care about you, and this is another way to show
it.
So we hope
to see you along with the whole family this Friday night! Maybe we’ll even
provide a hand washing station for all those sticky fingers!
