Vacation Bible School 2017

As I write this, we are half way through our Vacation Bible School for this year. And it is another great year.   A visitor approached me last night and said, “Some of my friends ask me, ‘Why do you drive all the way to Birmingham for a Vacation Bible School?’” She continued, “I am […]

As I write this, we are half way through our Vacation Bible School for this year. And it is another great year.

 

A visitor approached me last night and said, “Some of my friends ask me, ‘Why do you drive all the way to Birmingham for a Vacation Bible School?’” She continued, “I am happy to drive over an hour to come to your VBS. There is so much hard work that is put into all the things you do and to see all the decorations that have been put into place.”

 

But her favorite part were the lessons. She loves the way the Bible lessons are presented and the way each lesson flowed through all of the skits and activities.

 

As I was telling Jane about this conversation, she commented that it seems to her that VBS is one event that really pulls us all together. Just look around at any given night at all the people involved and working together.  Everyone working together as a team.

 

In the months of preparation and now each afternoon and continuing late into the night, so many different people of all ages working to make our VBS as good as it can be.

 

Thanks so much to Jina O’Clair and Karen & Jason Smith for all of their planning, work and leadership.

 

Thanks, also, to Dee Sandlin and Janie Slaughter for their excellent work in writing and directing all of the skits, those that kick off each night and the ones used during the class periods.

 

I’m writing this at 9:00 in the morning and VBS workers are already arriving at the building.

 

 

Heart of the Gospel

The heart of the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Paul expresses it in this manner: 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that...

Eclipse

An eclipse is an exciting thing. It was evident Monday at about 2:00 p.m. when I was driving back to the office from making some visits. The traffic was minimal. I even saw several vehicles pulling off the road to catch a glimpse of the moon covering the sun. I even...

The Same Story

Frank Wampol did an outstanding job on Sunday morning directing our hearts toward a better understanding of the emotional and physical agony that Jesus experienced during his crucifixion and the time leading up to it. Before Sunday, I knew that Frank was going to...

You’re Kidding

We were in Pigeon Forge with some of Jane’s family. While there, we visited the replica museum for the Titanic. A very interesting exhibit. We were at the bottom of the replica of the grand staircase listening to the guide explain the rich details of this beautiful...

Theme Verse

You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established. (Exodus 15:17 ESV) This is the theme verse for this year’s Leadership Training For Christ...

Changing Seasons

I need spring to come and winter to end. Honestly, this has been a constant thought in my mind since mid-January following a series of unfortunate events: a trip to the ER, an ablation scheduled, missing a conference due to heart issues, waiting for the ablation,...

Jacob and Esau

I’m sure you remember the story of Jacob and Esau. But if the following brief summary is not familiar to you, read the whole story beginning in Genesis 25:19. 24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out...

I Voted

I voted today. I took advantage of the right given to me as a citizen of this country to cast my vote for those who will lead our nation, state and county. I was even given a sticker to declare to others that I had voted.   It was only one vote, but it was my...

My Thoughts

My thoughts are mine! Aren’t they? One of Jane’s favorite expressions is, “I knew you were going to say that.” She loves to make me think she knows everything I’m thinking or that I’m going to say. I have to admit, she gets pretty close. But she’s not always right....

Our Comforter

Kimberly and I adopted our first dog together in 2013. She was a husky/German shepherd mix named Chloe. She was a big dog with a very loud bark. When I served in youth ministry, I often traveled out of town overnight. Kimberly traveled with me on occasion, but when...