"we can't help but proclaim the good news"

Yesterday during our all important Sunday afternoon nap I was shaken out of my slumbering bliss by the rude sound of our doorbell going off- and not just once, but three, four times. It was the trademark inquiry of my little nephew Steven who lives down the street.

I am thinking to myself as I rush toward the front door, "I'm gonna have to teach little Steven about the Sunday afternoon 'no doorbell' rule".

I throw the door open and sure enough there he is in his 7 year old glory, toe-headed and toothy grin flanked by a few of his best neighborhood buddies. They stand there staring at me, rip sticks in hand.

"Hello Boys", I say

"Hello Steven."

Before I can get my prepared speech out of my mouth, Steven says

"Hey Uncle Rick, I brought a few of my friends over so that you could tell them the story of how Jesus came into my life at VBS and how Jesus can come into their life too."

Funny how your perspective changes in a time like that. Sunday afternoon naps will come and go- but this is a moment for the ages.

Later in the day Teri asked me about the doorbell rings during the sacred Sunday afternoon "no fly zone". I told her, "Wait till you here the story..."

"Oh man!" She said- "That's definitely worthy of nap interruption!"

Steven and his entourage swept past me as the erstwhile neighborhood evangelist led them up the stairs to the family room like a mother goose shews her goslings to the grain seed. Once upstairs, he directs them to all sit on the couch -

"Guys- sit here- sit by me- Uncle Rick is going to tell you the story!".

So, there I was, fresh out of my nap, preaching my third sermon of the day- but this to an audience of 7 years old boys who had been redirected from their usual Sunday afternoon neighborhood romp by the missionary to Carlton Lakes.

It was a short sermon to be sure- a story really- a story of how Steven had taken his first precious steps toward Christ a few days earlier made possible by His grace because of the joy and excitement and the beauty of Christian community packed into an event filled week that we call Vacation Bible School.

I'm thanking God today for VBS- and for all those who worked so hard to make it happen.

I'm thanking God for the glorious opportunity to share in Steven's first missionary journey.

I'm thanking Him for interruptions.

And I'm saving that speech for another day.