sKool, Kids & Kamp
Posted by: Tim A. on: June 23, 2009
- In: Camp| Canoeing| Cooking| Youth
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Do you like the “K’s”? It is doubtful that is the first time anyone has done it. I know it’s not first with me. That is to see it done.
Anyway, the last day or our Public Skool; regular session for the year way May 22, 2009 on a Friday; the Monday following was Memorial Day as I am sure most of you recall, and my wife and I headed to Baptist Hill for our Associational Youth Kamp to serve those young people, their CGL’s three square meals per day.
On our way we had a flat on the spare which was already on the ground. We were on our way to get the regular tire repaired, but before we arrived at the highway no more spare. Thank our Lord for a son near by, whom we called; and he came and took us to town, got the tire repaired, then went on the Mount Vernon, MO and to Baptist Hill Kampgrounds. Our son was also going to Kamp to be a CGL.
We helped with getting the food items unloaded and into the kooler and freezer. We fed the kampgrounds keeper and staff for the evening meal and anyone else who was there. We kook good food, if I do say so myself; but really the menu, and its kooking is not up to me. I just help.
One of the good things about an early Youth Kamp is that this year it was kool, and not real hot. The Director for this Kamp asked me to drive the kamp bus to pick up the kids as they got out of the kanoes following their short float trip; and return them to the kampgrounds. I did for two afternoons. It was a pleasure.
It was fun and humorous watching some of those kampers handling a kanoe for the first time. It is such a joy to hear youth saying “Thank you for bringing us back”, or just a simple “Thank you for the ride” or just “Thank you”; and just about all of them did.
The Lord Jesus blessed the Kamp with serveral decisions for faith in Christ, preaching, missions, and rededications. He is so good.
My wife [Madge] and I arrived home on Friday May 30, ready for rest and get ready for Sunday. We will be going to the Associational Children’s Kamp July 6 through 9, and really look forward to it.
Kamp Kooking is great. The fellowship is wonderful. The Worship or our Lord is Magnificent.
-Tim A. Blankenship
Letters From Children
Posted by: Tim A. on: April 14, 2009
- In: Children| Family| Humor| Letters
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Letters to the Pastor
The following are actual questions written to pastors from children across the world.
Dear Pastor, I know God loves everybody but He never met my sister. Yours sincerely, Arnold. Age 8, Nashville.
Dear Pastor, Please say in your sermon that Peter Peterson has been a good boy all week. I am Peter Peterson. Sincerely, Pete. Age 9, Phoenix
Dear Pastor, My father should be a minister. Every day he gives us a sermon about something. Robert Anderson, age 11
Dear Pastor, I’m sorry I can’t leave more money in the plate, but my father didn’t give me a raise in my allowance. Could you have a sermon about a raise in my allowance? Love, Patty. Age 10, New Haven
Dear Pastor, My mother is very religious. She goes to play bingo at church every week even if she has a cold. Yours truly, Annette. Age 9, Albany
Dear Pastor, I would like to go to heaven someday because I know my brother won’t be there. Stephen. Age 8, Chicago
Dear Pastor, I think a lot more people would come to your church if you moved it to Disneyland. Loreen. Age 9. Tacoma
Dear Pastor, I liked your sermon where you said that good health is more important than money but I still want a raise in my allowance. Sincerely, Eleanor. Age 12, Sarasota
Dear Pastor, Please pray for all the airline pilots. I am flying to California tomorrow. Laurie. Age 10, New York City
Dear Pastor, I hope to go to heaven some day but later than sooner. Love, Ellen, age 9. Athens
Dear Pastor, Please say a prayer for our Little League team. We need God’s help or a new pitcher. Thank you. Alexander. Age 10, Raleigh
Dear Pastor, My father says I should learn the Ten Commandments. But I don’t think I want to because we have enough rules already in my house. Joshua. Age 10, South Pasadena
Dear Pastor, Who does God pray to? Is there a God for God? Sincerely, Christopher. Age 9, Titusville
Dear Pastor, Are there any devils on earth? I think there may be one in my class. Carla. Age 10, Salina
Dear Pastor, I liked your sermon on Sunday. Especially when it was finished. Ralph, Age 11, Akron
Dear Pastor, How does God know the good people from the bad people? Do you tell Him or does He read about it in the newspapers? Sincerely, Marie. Age 9, Lewiston
These are not any letters that I have received as a pastor; but you will notice a scattered remnant.
T.A.
Strike Up The Band
Posted by: Tim A. on: October 12, 2008
- In: Children| Family| Parenting| Youth
- 7 Comments
There are times I am utterly amazed at the self-control youth have, and their level of talents. We here things from Planned Parenthood that kids cannot control themselves in matters of lust and sex; why not? It is only because parents and others give them permission to me promiscuous, by giving girls birth control pills and boys condoms. That is like saying, “Sick ‘em” to a mean dog.
On to my point of the Band. I have watched High School Bands perform musically, and in formations on a football field. They control their bodies very well indeed. They can move with precision and grace, and all while they are playing a musical instrument. Is this different from what I mention in the previous paragraph? Only in the mind of the matter. It is what they are taught.
Yesterday, all day long, another bus driver and myself, along with many parents of youth were in Reeds Spring, MO for what they called the “Ozark Mountain Marching Band Festival” (First annual). There were at least 20 Bands from across Southwest Missouri there performing, and the ones I watched were great. To be honest with you I have never liked bands too much before. I like music, I even like orchestra music, but have never much cared for bands until now. These young people are great out on that football field, and they can control themselves. They just need taught to do so.
They make beautiful music when they are controlled by their teaching, and performing well. So can the music they make in life, when they learn to control themselves in the rest of life’s issues.
These are afterall GOD’S LITTLE IMAGES.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Honorable Ones
Posted by: Tim A. on: September 27, 2008
Sometimes we hear nothing good about young people and youth in particular, and a lot of times it comes from myself. I want to show some appreciation of one particular young lady that happened today; this afternoon, as a matter of fact.
Another bus driver and myself took the Cassville High School Band to Webb City, MO. for a Band Competition of about thirty schools. Cassville School placed second in the band competition, just to throw that in.
When it was drawing near for the time to leave which was near to 5:30 this p.m. I was looking in the back door of my bus and notices a bag of Cheetos on the floor, and most of the youth were stepping over and for that I am grateful. They would most normally just trample them, crushing them and scattering them all over the bus floor. I went to the front and told them that the Cheetos needed picked up off the floor, saying, “I don’t know whose those are, but they do need up off the floor.” Some said, “It’s not mine” and nobody was moving, until Jessica said, “Well, they aren’t mine, but they do need picked up”, and she proceeded to picking them up.
I thought that was good, noble and honorable of her. I told her band instructor about it, and when we were preparing to leave I heard him commend her for her actions which I was hoping he would. I had already thanked her for doing that noble and honorable thing.
We sometimes do not realize how far a “Thank you” will go in making someone feel better about things and themselves. We all need to be thanked at times for a job well done, for a noble deed, for anything honorable which we do.
So the next time you see someone doing something good, kind, noble and/or honorable, be sure to thank them. Even if, and especially if they are our youth. We are all, after all, GOD’S LITTLE IMAGES.
-Tim A. Blankenship
A Boy and His Trouble
Posted by: Tim A. on: May 13, 2008
- In: Boys| Family
- 3 Comments
Last Thursday as I was driving my evening School bus run, taking the boys and girls back home one of the boys whom I have had continued trouble with, even after setting him on the front seat, threw a paper wad at me. This is a boy who is in the second grade, and he does know better.
The next day, when I took the write up in the Principal was not in, she was out sick, and I was told by the assistant that they would hold off on the discipline until the Principal returned. On Friday evening this boy became angry at a little girl and used the infamous “F” word cursing her. Now remember these are all God’s Little Images, and I must remind myself of that sometimes. I got after him pretty hard and warned him of his mouth and language.
This past Saturday evening between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m. there was a devastating storm from that moved through a portion of the county in which I live. Tornadoes seemed to be appearing everywhere. The clouds rolled, and twisted near and above our home, as I stood outside and watched the power of God displayed in the movements of the clouds. In this storm there were about twenty lives lost, and 16 of those were from Southwest Missouri. That is the tragic thing about these storms. It is sad to say, but it is the tragic thing that happens in our lives. It also happened in this second grade boys life.
When I arrived at the Bus Garage today to prepare to go and pick up the kids to take them home, the supervising mechanic called me over. He told me that he had received a phone call from this boy’s Principal’s office telling him and explaining that no action was going to be taken with this boy. On Saturday evening he was out with his grandparents when the storm hit, riding in their van. He witnessed his grandmother being thrown through the windshield. They did not feel that it would be appropriate to discipline him now. I thoroughly agreed.
The School administrator said that he was hurting pretty badly over his grandmother. I am sure he is. I know that I would be, and even thinking about this young man seeing this happen I really hurt with him, and pray that he will become a better man for his grandmother and his family.
I had been wondering what had happened to them (he had a little sister in kindergarten who rides too), since I went by both on Monday morning to pick them up and no one came out. Then, again this morning (Tuesday), but this morning I something in the driveway I did not see the day before. The van I had seen there before, but with the top crushed down, and the windshield broken out. When I saw that I wondered if they had been in the storm.
My how his little heart must be hurting. O, how he needs to draw nearer to his Creator, and Savior. The One who died on the cross for hurting and dying people who will call on His name. How he needs the comfort of Jesus. How he needs the comfort of family and friends. Right now I am going to be his friend. Now I pray for him, and ask you to join me.
-Tim A. Blankenship
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