A 10-second "mile"

My kids are I were playing tennis the other evening (well that's what we call it anyway)! My daughter was learning how to properly hold her raquet, hit the ball accurately, and develop a tennis swing.  She just came off softball season and had won the Biggest hitter award so she was still swinging for the fences. I kept telling her to hit the tennis ball "softly." Nonetheless, many of our tennis balls ended up out in the grass.

After she hit another one over the fence, I suddenly see someone jogging over to the ball, pick it up, and quietly toss it back inside the fence. She quickly turns around and I'm surprised when I see her get back into a burgundy Chevy Blazer. At first I thought she was a runner jogging around the KART trail - the paved path that passes by the tennis courts. But after a little more inspection it was apparent that she was on her way home after a softball game. She must have asked the driver, her sister, to stop for a second.

I was moved by this simple, yet powerful act of kindness. Here's why:

1. The young lady went the "extra mile" (Matthew 5:41). I told my kids I thought this was an example of someone going the "extra mile" as we had learned about at KCC Kidstuf the week before. Occasionally, someone running the KART trail would pick up a tennis ball and toss it back in, but I had never seen some driving by make the effort to do that.
2. She did it anonymously. The Bible says when you do your good deeds "don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Matthew 6:3).
3. It was so simple. The impact of her act will remain with me and my kids for years. Yet the actual deed probably took all of 10 seconds! How often do we have opportunity to make a positive difference in someones life with just a simple act of kindness? Even a "drink of water" given in Jesus' name will not go unnoticed (Mark 9:41).

So, I did some research on my suspicions of who the mystery young lady might be and think I've figured it out. This young lady is a follower of Jesus. She leads a Small Bible Group at the High School. Plus, today happens to be her 16th birthday!! Wish Jaycee Helsel happy birthday today in person if you see her or write on her Facebook wall. 

May Jaycee inspire us all to simply, and quietly, go the extra mile for those around us. 

The Kingdom of God Belongs to These

"But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:16

Kingdom Rock VBS Crew

We just wrapped up another stellar year of Vacation Bible School at the Kalkaska Church of Christ. Over 5 straight days, an average of 130 children walked through our church building doors. A week later they are still singing songs about Jesus they heard from Kingdom Rock.

Kingdom Rock VBS raised over $912.31 for the Kid-to-Kid mission of the week. This mission offering is going locally to the Birch Street Elementary School for the purpose of helping needy families during the year with things like health care, warm clothing, and other personal needs.

Generous people in our church body donated $3,200 specifically to VBS. After the costs of student resources, director resources, decorations, and craft materials, we expect to have over $1000 remaining! The Director's of VBS have decided to give that money back into the General Fund of KCC.

Bob Lenz, who spoke recently at The Big Ticket Festival, recited some stats from Christian pollster, George Barna. He said that 2 out of every 3 people who call themselves Christians come to Christ before the age of 18. And 75% of those come to Christ before the age of 14!

These numbers indicate the need to focus on our children's and youth programs and make them a priority! Young people are at the time in their lives when they are going to be making a decision regarding God, Jesus, and the church. It is vitally important that we are reaching out to them in various ways and sharing the Good News of Jesus.Our window of opportunity is wide-open with this young generation, but it will close fast.

VBS almost didn't happen this year. Budget cuts hampered many areas of KCC including VBS. Yet a core group of moms put their faith together and inspired us that with God's help we could pull of VBS with no money budgeted at all. They would give of our own monies & resources, ask for donations, recycle, find free advertising, and have faith in the God we serve! Their "mustard seed" of faith was the catalyst to reaching out to our children, our community, and our world!

Thanks to over 100 volunteers and generous contributors, for reminding all of us that, "the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these!