Word to the wise, after removing your publicly used skates after 2 hot hours of skating do not, I repeat, DO NOT inhale, you could die.  Those skates smelled like hot corn chips smothered in pig fat.  Just some advice from one who experienced this exact incident.

Now on to KIDZPLAYCE and this awesome Wednesday.  We had our first McFlick today (a $1 movie and some Mickey D’s for lunch).  We went and saw The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything, pretty good flick if you ask me, then we made our way over to the McDonald’s for some snackage.  We had 19 Kids for our first McFlick, no one got lost and we got a couple compliments on how well behaved our group was.  Huge plus in my book.  I haven’t had so much fun at a McDonalds in a long time, all the kids got some Kung-Fu Panda action figures in their happy meals and there was like a Kung-Fu Royal Rumble going down, it was great.  These kids are the best, and our volunteers are even better.  I cannot wait until our next outing.  I am truly blessed to be in this position and share my life with these kids. 

I Love this Junk.

Outie 5

This my friends is the numero uno reason why this summer is going to be off the hook, I am going to have a kid (pictured above in the smaller of the two red circles), can you believe it?  I Charles Benjamin Van Hook III, the same man who paralyzed his own eyes with jalapeno juices, the same man who almost got murdered by the energizer Bambie, is about to be responsible for another human life.  I keep telling everyone I am “ready” and everytime I make that statement they all keep laughing at me, so I have decided to offically change my statement to “I am excited about learning how to become ready to have a kid.”  Whatever that means and whatever the statement is all I know is that I am stoked to see this little baby that God is so greatly blessing Rachel and I with, and Lord if you would like to allow her to come out with a head full of dreads that would be an amazing double bonus.

Moving on from baby…

We have got so much planned for this summer here at the Gathering, many churches sit back and cruise through the summer while everyone is at Disney World or the beach, but not us, these next two to three months are going to be jammed packed with all kinds of savory goodnesses.  The only cats I will let slip out of the bag right now are some of the summer plans for KIDZPLAYCE, you “big” church people will have to wait a couple weeks to hear about yall’s summer goodnesses.  As for now lets check out our KIDZPLAYCE summer agenda, shall we….

Sometime in May: A Baby?

June 11th: McFlick, which equals some Mickey D’s and a 1$ Movie at the extravagant Sevierville Picture Show (movie theater)

June 27th: Berry Blast, the kick-off for our summer series which ironically is entitled Berry Blast and will be a study of the Fruit of the Spirit.  Full of inflatables, games, food music and mucho mucho fun.

June 30th -July 3rd: Camp Kid Jam, KIDZPLAYCE’s very first camp experience for the Elementary aged kidos

July 16th: McFlick, Round two

July 22nd: Possible Zorb Day (Insurance questions & approval pending)

July 30th: McFlick, Round three

Sometime in August: Back to School

There is a quick peek at the KIDZPLAYCE summer in an Egg shell.  So, kids, parents random people that stumble across this blog the Kids and leaders of KIDZPLAYCE are bout to have the Bombest summer in Tennessee history, let the countdown begin. 

Before I leave you on this day, just remember that myself and this woman will be raising a kid in less than a month.  (there was no lead in the paint, so I was told)

It all began while we were presenting a series which focused on Moses and the Exodus of Egypt.  This particular week our Bible story centered around Moses and the parting of the Red Sea.  Throughout this adventure I will introduce you to two characters (elementary students), for the sake of numerous privacy acts and Internet regulations, let’s call character A, “Alfred” and character B, “Bernard”.

Moving forward, as we gathered into our small groups and began to discuss Moses and the tremendous faith required in parting the Red Sea, I began to see the wheels in these kids heads start spinning.  I just knew we were going to be in line for the 20 questions version of Small Group on this day, but surprisingly there was not a peep.  Then i realized the kids were all focused on the aluminum pan full of water setting on the table to my right.  Acknowledging this I decided we would jump directly into the hands on part of the lesson and get to the discussion part later.  Walking over to the table I grabbed this pan of water (which was of course filled to the brim) and attempted to lug it back over to the group.  Inching ever so slowly as if I were a Chinese Acrobat tip-toeing across a piece of dental floss, taking into account every detail in the wind direction and speed I successfully returned to my destination arriving without spilling one single drop of water on the carpet or any of the children.

I began with a few ground rules for our little activity, in order to try and part the water you could use one of two methods, your hands, or your breath.  The only other stipulation was that there cold be no water spilled outside the pan.

The action began with a Jim Carey like, Bruce Almighty, part the tomato soup hand gesture which was quickly up scaled by the red faced blood vessel bursting attempt to part the water with ones breath.  Both obviously did not work, so little “Alfred” raised his hand and politely asked for a turn.  With a determined face and quick action he placed both hands into the pan in the prayer position then gradually pulled his hands apart attempting to divide the water right down the middle.  Needless to say this attempt by little “Alfred” was not successful.  He sat back with a heartbreaking look of disappointment on his face.  Then out of the corner of my eye I witnessed something that blew me away.  Little “Alfred” had remembered the story of Moses and how much faith he had that God wold part the sea and save His people.  “Alfred” recalled our main point for the day which told him that anything is possible with God.  So, “Alfred” folded his hands, bowed his head and began to pray.  I was mesmerized at the faith little “Alfred” had showed.

Following a quick five to ten second prayer “Alfred” requested a second shot.  He reached into the pan with his hands folded and once again attempted to part the water, but once again it was not successful.  As “Alfred” sat back, I made an effort to address his faith and use it as a teachable moment for the kids.  I think I had pronounced one syllable when I heard someone shout, “I CAN DO IT!!!”  As fast as my super fast tiger-like reflexes are, there was no stopping our second Character, “Bernard” and his Jackie Chan like moves.  With one swift karate chop, “Bernard’s” forearm smashed into the aluminum pan folding it in half faster than a birthday card from Granma with no cash inside.  Water took off in all directions plastering us as if we all had just gotten off the Log Fume ride.  The entire room fell silent instantly, all eyes were on me, my face began to burn and transform into a fruit punch like red color, my hands began to shake and my heart pounded underneath my shoulder-padded western shirt.  “Bernard” sank back to his dry piece of carpet and uttered a soft muffled apology.  I gladly accepted it with a sarcastic grin and two thumbs up.

“Bernard” did not have the right answer and he did what many of us do, he simply acted, without taking the time to ask God, without sitting quietly and waiting on that still small voice.  I think we could use a few more “Alfred’s” in this world.  Of course he did not part the water during this activity, but he did have the faith that God could do it and he set back and listened for that voice.  Thank God we have a Pastor who is not afraid to sit quietly, listen and obey.

Let us Listen