Last week, the pipes in the church backed up and we had a great flood from the sewer lines up through the vents of the older section of our building. There is detail I will spare you, however, the bottom line is...some rooms are closed due to biological hazardous material, some rooms were cleaned/disinfected, and some rooms were spared. We can't run the air conditioning because it's a "water-run" system and we can't run the water through the pipes until everything is cleaned out. And, according to the contractors/insurance adjuster/restoration people, that won't happen for a couple of weeks.

So...did I mention, this is V.B.S. "prep" week, and Vacation Bible School starts next Monday? The auditorium is being converted into a military camp. There is an aircraft carrier forming over about 20 pews...which will incorporate the sound booth area. (very large area) The stage area is a mountain range with rocks, tents, fox-holes, and look out towers. (The praise team will stand in the middle of it to lead worship this week.) The building is hopping with workers, builders, painters, and idea people.

The auditorium, after having no air, and many workers sweating and creating in there all afternoon and into the late night, smells like a locker room. (remember, no air conditioning).

Nothing has been easy...after things are built, they don't look quite like they had hoped, or, they actually fall apart and crumble causing the people to have to start from square one.

There have been personality conflicts, misunderstandings, and some health scares among a few of our congregation, including one of our precious pre-school children which we are, at this minute, waiting for a call from a Dr. to tell us things are or are not o.k.

Here is what I've decided...there must be something amazing that God has up his sleeve for this week...because Satan is trying with everything he has to distract us, discourage us, derail us.

The kids that come to this place next week will find a church full of adults wanting to act silly, play hard, tell stories, teach Jesus...all for them. What better thing do we have to do in the evening than that? For four evenings, we will work, sweat, laugh, sing, pray, & shepherd our children...because we love them... because He loves them.

I looked in on the workers a few minutes ago and the auditorium looks amazing. There are actual runway lights blinking down the aircraft carrier and water is being "built/added" to make it look just like it's in the middle of the ocean. Absolutely amazing. The stage is unrecognizable. The kids will be overwhelmed at the work that has gone into this. I know I am.

Pray for the children. Pray that their hearts will be touched in a positive, permanent way...

By the way...while writing that last line, the Daddy of our little health scare came in and said the Dr called...the mass they removed from his son's neck was benign. He is fine.

God...You are so good.