Vacation Bible School

June 23, 2008

VBS- Does that mean anything to you? For many of you reading this it does. VBS stands for Vacation Bible School. It is a fun week for children where they learn Bible stories, make crafts, play games, sing, and enjoy snacks. Some of you can recall your childhood experiences of VBS. We just finished what I believe is one of the best VBS we have ever had! I say that for several reasons but mainly because of the enthusiasm I saw in the teachers and workers each day. They were amazing, energetic, concerned, faithful, dedicated, loving, kind- what else can I say? They were all of those and more. If you served in VBS-THANK YOU!

What really struck me this year more so than in past years is the narrow window of opportunity that we have with children to impact their lives. The tentacles of a sin cursed world so quickly wrap around the minds and souls of boys and girls. At the risk of sounding like an alarmist, I sense that those of us in the Christian community are looking over a large field where hundreds of children are playing innocently. On the horizon we can see a threatening and ominous looking black cloud approaching. The cloud formation is suited for a tornado. Soon, cell phones are ringing with frantic callers watching the weather reports of a tornado warning in our area. We are in the path of a serious storm. We have to act quickly to get these children to safety.

Children are innocently enjoying a stage of life in which they should be secure and protected. The impending storms on the horizon are world views and values that are in direct contradiction to the revealed truth of God’s Word. They are certain to cut a swath of destruction and leave countless numbers devastated. Yes, we have to act quickly.

Who is “we”? I am thinking of parents and the church. We have to live an exemplarily life, we have to know and teach the Bible, we have to give credible answers for why we believe what we believe, and we have to teach creatively and consistently. Does my life say that Christianity is life-changing? Do I know my Bible? (This is not a matter of just knowing where to find things as much as it is a matter of knowing the key doctrinal teachings and how they apply to life.) Do I know how to defend the truth? Can anybody say apologetics? (Check out 1 Peter 3:15. Can I do what that verse tells me to do?) Here are a few recommendations and resources-

A daily time with God’s Word is a must. Pick a book and stay with it until you finish. Pick a shorter book such as Colossians and work your way though it over a couple of days. Go back through it once and then move on to another book of the Bible. Consider a book such as The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel. I have not read this book in its entirety but have used it as a reference. It is very good. It is a book that seeks to answer some of the toughest objections to Christianity. Josh McDowell and Ravi Zacharias are both excellent resources. For Josh McDowell go to www.josh.org and for Ravi Zacharias go to www.rzim.org

The storm clouds are indeed gathering. Let us not be caught up in idle conversation and ignore the warnings. Children are too precious and the opportunity to reach them is too short.