Sorry...been busy man!

Hey friends/parents/kids
Sorry I have not posted since Easter...have heard and obeyed alright? What an awesome time we had in the Zone last week...I am so thankful for the entire group of peeps/mentors/leaders/helpers/zombies and Jesus freaks I work with each week and this week was no exception! We tackled the topic of leadership in the time with the kids this week and had a chance to encourage them and for some of the older groups I know really challenge them with the fact we all are called to be leaders in our worlds for God!
It was a pleasure to be in worship with both services this last week and hear the observations that both Cole and Doug made on the subject. Doug had an interview (video) of this man who is inspiring thousands of dad's with his commitment to his son and his disabilities. Maybe you know of him? This guys has run many marathons/iron man triathlons (not sure if it is harder to say or spell that word)? Anyway with his son in tow the whole way, just awesome for sure and really inspired me to be a better leader/dad for sure!
This week the topic will be a rip roaring good time! Whoo! Sorrow is what we are going to talk about Ezra and his sorrow he had over God's people who had traded in a relationship with the one true God for a relationship of comfort and complacency with the world...I wonder how many of us really truly feel sorrow for the sin in this world...it hurts Christ for sure, it pains him terribly I believe so how is it we, as having Christ in us, do not even feel a twinge of pain at the things going on in this world? To say that "well there is just so much one could do nothing but feel sorrow and God wants us to be happy" really? I mean yes I believe all in the joy of the Lord and His presence in my life brings with it unlimited possibilities...after all "nothing impossible with God" etc. So I'm with ya there but how do we handle what 2nd Corinthians chapter 7 teaches us? Seriously read the chapter and in verses like verse 10 "For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation...." how or what do we do with sorrow or grief? Feel free to comment please I would love your thoughts!
And this week we will be taking the first 15 minutes or so to take the kids into adult worship to witness some very special baptisms from our kids and adults as well! Now that (baptism) always has a joy with it that just makes you smile!
Hey you have a life and I have alot to do for Sunday so I am out!
Love you guys
Pastor Darren

Eggxplosion!

So who seriously knew an egg could explode like that? Anyway, so Easter yesterday, wonderful, great, awesome...love our kids, love our mentors and extra help was so great and helpful yesterday! Pastor Aaron did such a great job with the message and choir great..just a wonderful Easter, so the "egg"plosion...I am teaching second hour to large group and wanted some way to illustrate what a "mess" they made of Christ when the crucified him and also how when He rose He came back healthy, whole, still had his scars but was risen and not a "mess" at all! So to do this I was going to crush a few eggs in my hand into a bowl and make a real mess, and to do this right I needed to slightly crack the eggs so they crushed all nice and neat in my hand. Well I make my first point and then go to crush this egg and realize in my head "oh man I forgot to crack the egg...oh well I am a strong guy I will just squeeze and it will........BOOM!" Egg went everywhere...it blew up like a hand grenade man! I had yolk everywhere, all over the first few rows of kids and egg shrapnel flying as far back as the back of the room, one kid even yelled out "ow..I'm hit!" Now don't worry he was alright, just a bit shocked, as I and every other adult/kid in the room was! It was all good, we all had a good laugh and boy when I pulled out another egg they really perked up and paid attention! And to make the point about our Savior I emptied out a few eggs and when I crushed them...no mess...no yolk cause...nobody in the grave, He was not there and was not a mess any longer! It was alot of fun, I love the "energy" and "excitement" on Easter all the visitors and just the celebration of the day....it was good!

But looking forward to getting back to things this next week as we continue to dive into the person of Ezra and God's Wall of Protection for us all! Thanks to those who lent a hand yesterday to make things so fun and I hope we all keep in our hearts and minds all year long the message of Easter and how free we are because of what Jesus did for us! See ya friends and careful with those morning eggs...they can go off in your hand and make quite a mess!

Darren

Easter is a comin!

How exciting, how awesome, I cannot wait for this weekend and Easter! I mean seriously is there any better day for a Christian than Easter? It seems to me it should be the biggest day on our calendars (yes bigger than the big C) the day we celebrate our Savior and His resurrection!
I love all the kids, all the x-tra people whom have given of their time to come and hang with the kids, it is going to be great! I will blog next week about how awesome it was but first want to thank all my peeps for this last week and stepping up to fill in and make sure things ran smooth up in the Zone! Ya see I was out last week...sick, maybe a hangover from Superstart two weeks ago? Not sure, but I was so out and I just love our people who work week in and week out so selflessly up with the elem kids they are great! I was so pleased to hear how people stepped up with ideas and helped out my man Doug with leading both services and our wonderful K-dog for taking care of so much behind the scenes. And someone please tell me you got a pic of Dean Bennett doing his best "Ezra" impersonation....that I have to see! Parents your kids are in the best of care with the people in the Zone, they so love your kids, you and most of all God...and it shows, each and EVERY week their love and devotion shows! Got lots to do so will get back to it, see you on Easter!