Steve                 

     Whew! Vacation Bible School is in progress, and what a week we are having. I wish all of you could see the looks on the children’s faces and hear their singing and sense their enthusiasm. It makes all our efforts worthwhile. Jesus was right – it is more blessed to give than to receive.
     VBS is a lot of work. Not just for one week… there are hours and hours of preparation. I hope you check out our “Hall of Fame” for all our helpers. Director Lyn Gettinger, teachers & helpers Connie Herndon, Nancy Orebaugh, Sydney Cole, Karen Ruth, Sandy Maupin, Fay Stowe, Sherry Franklin, Judy Alley, Devon Lane, Sue Jacobs, & Debbie Robinson, Judy Parks & Joyce Weber in the kitchen, Sue Stottlemyer & Karen Ballard in Crafts, Lois Riley in Nursery, Sandy Newman at Registration, David Newman on the projector; and special thanks to Cheryl & Brandon Hardacre and Skye Huff for their brilliant performance in the opening skits! I can’t begin to fill in the names of those who invited their neighbors and grandchildren, or those who have been faithfully praying, or the many who have contributed toward the supplies needed. It is a team effort, and let me say what a pleasure it has been working with this great team. Good job, one and all!
     The overriding theme this year is that we all have choices. We can choose to believe, to act, to forgive and be forgiven, to obey – we can choose Jesus… or not. Life does not simply “happen” to us. Our response, our choices, shape how our life develops. Especially our choices in regard to Jesus. Do we choose to live by faith? Jesus said that even a mustard seed worth of faith, if we choose to use it, is enough to move mountains.
     How do you react to the catastrophes of life – with faith, or panic? How do you respond to personal failure – with shame and depression, or confession and forgiveness? What about life’s injustices – bitterness and anger, or prayer and turn the other cheek? Yes we have a choice, even when our emotions tell us otherwise.
     The Church is God’s gift to us to help make the right choices. It is a community of encouragement, filled with examples of others who have faced similar situations and worse, yet have chosen to trust that God will see them through. They’ve chosen to smile even from a hospital bed. They’ve chosen to not complain even though it hurts. They keep choosing to put one foot in front of the other in following Jesus. If they can do it, perhaps we can too. Make sure you come to receive that encouragement… and to be the encourager for someone else.
     Keep praying for these children and their families. May they continue to grow in their knowledge of God. And pray that we as a church will continue to reach out with the love of Jesus.

See you Sunday!

Steve