New Hope International VeBS

Yes, you read it correctly, V=for very, e=for exciting, and BS= for Bible School! Cute! They had snacks each day that were also very creative such as (since we had a nautical theme): fish bones (pretzels), eye balls (grapes), mush mush (bananas),
fish tongues (watermelon wedges), sea urchin balls (apples). Brenda Supasatit was the coordinator and one of the creative minds of this cool menu.

The next Sunday, Carolyn and I spoke at the Church. I shared about the experience we had white water rafting on my birthday.

We went rafting on the North Fork of the Payette River in Idaho. After signing up, one of the staff gave us the option of a rubberised water jacket to wear with Velcro cuffs, waist and collar. I thought since they offered, it was probably a good idea, though the weather was predicted to be hot. So we all got jackets, helmets, lifejackets and headed out.

It was getting hot. The Guide sat in the back of the raft using his oar as a rudder and calling out rowing orders to us to avoid the rocks ahead. An assistant guide was also present, but not wearing a rubberised jacket. We hit the first series of rapids getting drenched with freezing water from snowmelt. The temperature was climbing toward 90 F and in the rubbery jackets the cold water felt good. Our assistant guide however was not fairing so well.

Coming out into some calm water, the senior guide noticed the shivering assistant and said, “I told you before, dress for the water, not the weather.”

Coming back home Carolyn asked me for the most memorable part of the ride and I said the statement of the head guide, “dress for the water, not the weather.” The weather represents to me the normal events of living within our culture, what do I want to do, what do I want to own, where do I want to go?

When 9/11 happened, it was like a blast of ice water to our souls - emotional rapids – flooding our nation with shock and devastation. But the amazing thing was the way Christians who had dressed their lives spiritually for the water (the icy blasts that hit every life) were suddenly the refuge for a shivering nation. Media broadcasts that used to hide behind platitudes like, “They’re in our thoughts” were now openly talking about prayer and God. To me I could see all the things Christ calls us to do were His way of preparing us for the water not the weather.

When someone asks you why you need church, fellowship with other Christians, tithing, reading the Bible, just tell them you are dressing for the water – not the weather!