The Parable of The Lost Owl

Today's story is a double feature. The first part is amazing and absolutly filled with joy. Part two is full of anxiety and doubt. But stick around for the epilog. It's worth the wait.

PART 1 - The Gift

About a month ago I was approached by a young girl and her mom at church. This wonderfully caring kid stretched out her arm to me, giving me her toy stuffed owl, Austin. (Previously, my teaching partner and I had asked the congregation for a stuffed toy owl as a prop for one of our lessons.) So, I accepted the gift and took it home for safe keeping.

The more I thought about it, the more I wondered "Why me?" Did I make an impression on her during a previous VBS? I didn't even know her name (It's Kayley). Whatever the case, I was bound and determined to keep Austin the Owl safe until I could return him to little Kayley. 

PART 2 - The Loss

VBS week is very hectic. We had 49 kids and 25+ volunteers. People were everywhere, all over the church. Still, Austin the Owl was there, waiting. Thursday's teaching was his moment and he did a great job, for a stuffed owl.

Friday afternoon was cleanup day and we began disassembling VBS. That's when I discovered Austin was missing. What?! Oh, no!

"They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. ⁵As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my Lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!” - 2 Kings 6:4-5

I searched the church, my car, our house. He was nowhere. Saturday morning, I went back into church for another look. Nothing.

I began searching on Amazon for "Stuffed Toy Owls" and found one but it wouldn't be the same. I felt just awful. In despiration I sent a group text to all of the VBS teachers Sunday morning. Maybe they had seen something. Not likely. Then my phone lit up. A text from one of the teachers . . ..

"He is back with Kayley. No worries."

EPILOGUE

The first words out of my mouth were, "Thank you, Lord!!" Sunday morning, sitting in church, I was eagerly waiting for Kayley to show up. I had a Dairy Queen gift certificate for a free cone waiting for her. Then there she was. I walked up front and dropped to a knee.

"Kayley?" (she turned) "I want to thank you for trusting me with Austin. I'm glad he's back home where he belongs." She smiled and the story's over. Except for this:

The way this becomes a parable is that, when we give our hearts to Jesus, we are no longer lost. We become found. Saved.

"Did you not know that I would be in my Father's house?" - Luke 2:49

Did I pray for Austin's safe return? You bet I did! God is SO good! Even in the small things. One final thought.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:22-23

If you are lost, if you don't have Jesus as your Shepherd, your Savior, pray to Him today and make that change. All it takes is repentance for your sins, believing in Jesus and making Him Lord of your life, and then you will forever receive His blessings. It is SO worth it! Your entire life will change.

There Will Be Signs

When Monday morning arrived, I knew it was going to be a good opening day of Vacation Bible School (VBS). How did I know that? Oh, there were signs. 🤟

Sign #1 - It was raining when I left the house. When I got to church, it was not. There were a few drops here and there, and then the sun came out. 😎

Sign #2 - The ASL hand sign for Jesus. Answers In Genesis uses hand motions in their videos for kids. Whenever "Jesus" is mentioned, they use the actual sign language for His name, alternately touching the palm of the hand with the middle finger of the opposing hand. A literal sign! That happened on Monday. Twice.

Sign #3 - My man Felix! Somehow, I was able to pick him up and give him a hug. He's getting big!

But Sign #4 was my highlight for Day #1 - Vicki, our pastor's wife. My teaching partner Chuck and I had a few minutes left over at the end of our lesson, so we went over the Gospel again. Chuck was speaking to the kids, on my right. That's when I noticed Vicki coming our way. She was clearly on some mission for someone. I glanced at the kids and then back at Chuck again. That's when I noticed Vicki had stopped and was just standing there, praying, just around the corner. I think I might have been the only one to have seen it. What a blessing! Vicki had stopped "doing" and was standing there, "praying," as Chuck delivered the Gospel. We leaders "do things," and sometimes, too many things. But God does the BIG things, and he let me see someone interceding on behalf of these children. What a blessing to behold!

"Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died, more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." - Romans 8:

There are many more wonderful "signs" yet to come. I'm sure! God is SO good!

[As I publish this story, Day 3 of 5 will soon be underway. Stay tuned!]

Training Up A Child

“He said ‘Love… as I have loved you.’ We cannot love too much.” - Amy Carmichael

That was a quote from one of my morning news emails - The Pour Over. This past week at VBS I ended one of our teaching sessions with this question:

Why do you think they have two "old guys" teaching this class?

There were several answers.

"Experience."

"Because you're old."

"They couldn't get anyone else."

Funny. I then asked this: "What is the first and greatest commandment?"

No one had the answer. Slightly disappointing. So, I told them what it was.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22:37

I continued . . .

"We're teaching you about Jesus because we love you. It's as simple as that. We know what awaits those who don't know Jesus. It is because of that knowledge, and our love for you, that we teach. We know what will happen to you if you don't repent of your sins, and refuse to humbly turn to Jesus. It isn't good. We would love to see you placing your faith in Him and begin following Him in your life."

The kids just sat there, staring. "They're not getting it," I thought. But just when I was about to lose hope for this youngest generation, something happened.

Each day we have a contest for the kids. A student from each age group gets randimly picked to receive a prize. In the oldest group a dude named Silas won. He got a big bag of treats. Yes!! He ran up on the stage and grabbed his prize. Just as quickly he returned to his classmates.

But instead of gloating about his treasure, he dumped the bag on the floor and shared it with his friends! He gets it!

Silas chose Jesus last summer and was baptized at our church picnic. Hope is a wonderful thing. But sadly, my buddy Silas and his faith are an endangered species. Their numbers are dwindling.

Thankfully, his parents are both believers and are "train(ing) up their children in the way they should go." - Proverbs 22:6

Decision Time

Although Vacation Bible School ended just a few months ago it is almost time to signup again for us volunteers. At first I thought that I would retire from active duty. Now I'm not so sure. 

My teaching partner and I are both in our 70's and this past summer's VBS was pretty tiring. My eyes are failing. So is my body. It's hard to keep up with a group of 18 pre-teens. But then, I read my Bible.

"Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord." - Acts 9:36-42

Tabitha was one of those rare Christians who just loved serving others. Acts of service, making clothing, everyone loved her. It begs the question, "Are we like her?"

This past Sunday I was sitting in church before the service began, still wondering about volunteering for VBS. Two of this past summer's VBS kids came running up to me with smiles on their faces. The oldest, a girl, gave me a hug. And then her younger brother did the same. Seeing their smiles and their unconditional love reminded me of when Jesus said this about children: 

"The kingdom belongs to such as these." - Matthew 19:14

I began thinking about the love these kids showed for me and just what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Who am I to decide whether or not to serve? I should be willing to serve these kids in whatever way God chooses. Let the Lord decide.

Then there's this encouragement from Job. He was besieged with sufferings and pain yet . . .

"Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him." - Job 13:15

One final thing. The first kid who gave me the hug last Sunday . . .

Her name was Tabitha.

When the Lord called people in the Old Testament the reply most given was, "Here I am" or "Here I am. Send me." That will be my response also to VBS 2025. Let the Lord be forever praised. Amen!! 

Such As These

Each year of VBS is different. The kids change, each one growing into who God wants them to be. We teachers grow and change as well. We are often taught things by the very kids we are supposed to be teaching! It's crazy.

For me, this year I was taught some amazing things by a young little dude named Felix. He'd slap my hand with a smile (high five) and then give me a hug.

"Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” - Matthew 19:14

Jesus was totally correct. Their innocence, their willingness to smile and love. They trust others easily. They have not yet become tainted by the world. It's very refreshing.

I looked in on my little buddy's class when they were singing one of the VBS songs. His mom was holding him in her arms. Everyone was facing away from me. Everyone except Felix that is.

He looked kind of bored and tired. But then he saw me and gently waved. I waved back and smiled. And then HE smiled.

The lesson I learned from Felix this week is this. Love freely and without condition.  Never be afraid to express that love. Someone may really need it. But do so gently and with the innocent intent of a child.

A child's love is pure. There are no ulterior motives. Remember what Jesus said . . .

"The kingdom belongs to such as these."

We must love God like a little child would - freely, unconditionally, trusting, without motive. And then, when we enter in to God's Kingdom, we will be greeted with open arms.

Do we love like that? Is that how we love others? Is that how we love God?

The Duct Tape Parable

During the third week of July our church gets transformed. It's not a spiritual transformation per se. Instead, it is a physical metamorphosis into whatever Vacation Bible School theme that Answers In Genesis comes up with that year.

Last year we explored God's creation with an Australian makeover. This year's theme was mideival in nature as we learned about the full armor of God, as listed in Ephesians 6.

"Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:14-17

My friend Chuck and I thought we were all done preparing our lessons for the upcoming week until one of the other teachers came up with an idea - a 7' x 8' working mideival gate .... made out of duct tape. 

Have you ever tried sticking two pieces of duct tape together, face-to-face, perfectly? I am here to say it cannot be done. But we did our best, and it worked! As a bonus, Chuck and I are still friends today! Lol!

Another thing about duct tape is that it has so many uses. We needed to secure a poster to it's support. Duct tape! A makeshift styrofoam "television" to a table. Duct tape! A wild 10-year old to his chair. Well, we just thought about it. Maybe.

My point is this: duct tape can be used to fix just about anything. Except us humans.

We need Jesus to do that. None of us is perfect, but He is. When God looks at us on judgement day, all He is going to see is His Son, Jesus. That's because we have been made righteous by our faith in Him.

Duct tape is good for many things here on earth but it's going to take something,  someone, REALLY special to fix our sin problem. The King of Kings. 

The Free Gift

Our church just got done with a week of Vacation Bible School. I had the honor of being one of the group guides as we learned about Australia, and Jesus, at the same time.

Each day the kids had a cool contest to complete, usually involving some Bible verses. Most of the kids completed the required task for the day and got their names put in a jar for a drawing at the end of the day.

I put my assistant in charge of logging in the homework and handing out entry tickets with the kid's names on them. I was busy checking the kid's Bible verse memorization at the same time.

Then assembly time began and we had to stop what we were doing. My asistant handed me three tickets with kid's names on them.

I assumed they were from kids who had completed their homework so I ran out and quickly put their names in the jar. However, I assumed incorrectly. The three names had NOT completed their work.

At the end of the day, names were drawn for a prize and, wouldn't you know it, one of the kids (who did NOT complete their homework) had her name selected.

She went up on the stage but rather than accept the prize, she confessed that she had not done the work and refused to take it.

Think about that for a minute. We have an incredibly honest kid here, something that is becoming increasingly rare these days. That in itself should be rewarded. But we also have the potential to exhibit some of God's grace.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." - Ephesians 2:8

In the end, another name was drawn and a prize was given out to someone else. But I wonder if we missed an opportunity to tell the kids about God's grace and how NONE of us deserves His prize of eternal life through our works.

I had made another wrong assumption - that God was done teaching us that day.

At the very end of the closing assembly that day ANOTHER drawing was held. This time from a jar that had ALL of the kid's names in it, regardless of anything they did or didn't do. And wouldn't you know it. Our honest little girl from today's example was one of the selected winners.

A reward from God for being honest? Who knows?

God does. He, and His amazing grace.

VBS

As of this writing, I am still alive. I have not ventured into the world of 5-12 year-olds yet but in just a few hours I will be wading through 48 of them.😳

My assistant and I are in charge of 18 of the 8-10 year-olds. Picture two Little League teams, all running the bases at the same time....in opposite directions.

This actually is going to be a blast. The pastor's wife has already made it super easy. She has done such a good job! I feel I must do the same, just trying to keep up. Lol!

Our memory verse for today is from the Book of Genesis. It's a good one, especially considering the world we live in today.

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." - Genesis 1:27

If you don't believe that, go get your DNA tested and see what "trust the science" REALLY means.

We will be teaching our children "the FULL council of God" (Acts 2:27). Not every denomination does that.

We will teach these precious kids that they were "fearfully and wonderfully made"(Psalm 139:13), The Golden Rule (Luke 6:31), The Gospel (John 11:25) and just why God created each of us in the first place (Ephesians 2:10).

To live a life, based on THE TRUTH of God's word, is something we ALL need.

I am grateful that God has provided me with this opportunity to DO something to help fight the enemy we are currently at war with.

The phrase "boots on the ground" comes to mind. This IS a war my friends! A war for our children's souls! Time to get busy.

Here is a list of the equipment we will need to survive the battle.

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted (our boots) with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:14-17