VBS: The Final Conflict

Good morning Americans. It's Friday.

Today is the last day of Vacation Bible School and I am "sglad" (that's a combination of sad and glad) to see the week come to an end.

Sad, because the kids have had a great time and seem to be learning so much about Bible characters like Gideon, Esther and Jesus. Glad, because I never completely learned all the motions to the songs and it's embarrassing to be "shown up" by a six year old.

My part (leading three or four songs .. with partial-motions) has been minor compared to most and I'm sure our teachers and workers are "wore slap out" (Bemis .. my hometown .. language for very tired).

Trying to get everyone up during the summer before noon can be a chore (it was around my house when Drew and Megan were here) and I can't even imagine the kind of battles that have been fought all week long. Every day must have seemed like a Sunday morning (You're going to church .. But I don't want to .. I don't care if you want to or not, you're going .. I hate it down there .. I don't want to hear another word .. Please just let me stay home this one time .. No more discussion. Get out of that bed this instant, Kevin Hamilton).

Tonight is our Bible School rally .. a word that means "Let's celebrate. It's over!" in the original Greek .. from 6 until 8 PM. There will be food, fun and fellowship (the second trinity of any Baptist church) and everyone is invited to join the festivities. A fitting ending to a wonderful week.

A special thanks goes to Jaclyn Scott and her "not 2 alive crew."

You done good.

"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD." - Psalm 34:11

Catfish .. Yum, Yum

The second Thursday of every month is set aside for our senior adult group, the Youth of Yesterday (YYs) and we meet in the fellowship hall of FBC Humboldt .. normally.

Not tonight (if I had a dollar for every time I heard that .. ).

Vacation Bible School is still going on during the day and it would require way too much work (nuff said .. I avoid that sort of thing like the plague) to change the room from "kid friendly" to "not even close to a kid friendly."

So ... we are loading up two buses and going out to eat, a favorite pastime for any senior citizen .. along with: going to the funeral home (knowing the deceased is optional), attending revival services (a minimum of two nights at any church within a thirty mile radius), and picking up sticks in the yard (5,6 .. pick up sticks .. it's a nursery rhyme .. not a commandment, for crying out loud!) on a daily basis.

We have over fifty (most, well over fifty) going to the Catfish Cabin and throwing caution .. and their cholesterol medicine .. to the wind (fried food .. how can it be so wrong when it feels so right?).

My mouth is already watering just thinking about that delicious catfish served with baked potato, slaw and "all you can eat" hushpuppies (for the record, 'all I can eat' is far more than 'all I should eat' .. there's nothing quite like freely consuming big chunks of dough deep-fried in grease).

Get thee behind me, satan .. and push.

"Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." - Genesis 3:3b

Kev's Klip of the Week

Since we are in the middle of Vacation Bible School, I thought I would post something "child-related" (as opposed to a normal 'childish' entry).

This has been around a while, but it's still pretty darn cute!

"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:4

Pray Hard .. VBS Starts Today

I have been praying for many weeks about Vacation Bible School at FBC Humboldt. However, it appears those prayers have NOT been answered because .. it is still starting today.

Actually, I have always loved VBS.

You don't have to do regular "church stuff" all week, you get to wear tee shirt and jeans (every week is like VBS for Russ, the youth guy .. plus he has a cap) and someone else is in charge (Jaclyn .. you go girl!!).

We used to plan Bible School for later in the summer, but quickly realized all the teachers .. I think their exact words were .. "just wanted to get it over with" (what have I to dread, what have I to fear ..). So, Jaclyn made a concerted effort to move it up as early as possible (the church voted down our original proposal .. the first week in April .. something about school still being in session and how no children would attend .. picky, picky).

Of course, I am kidding (this is sort of like a 'disclaimer' statement .. in case a parent is reading). This is one of the most important weeks in the life of our church.

We have the opportunity to teach and show the love of Christ to many boys and girls. For some, this might be the only time all year they will ever "set foot" in the doors of a church.

Teachers and workers, I applaud and appreciate all you will do to make a difference in the lives of these children this week.

Just remember to put on the armor of God .. a real sword might come in handy, too.

"And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children .."

- Judges 11:6

The O.K. Chorale

Today around lunch time I'll be leaving for Nashville to practice and prepare for a worship concert by seven state convention men's chorales. This mess (make that mass) choir will take place tonight at First Baptist Church in our capital city as part of the BCMC.

BCMC stands for the Baptist Church Music Conference.

I wanted to clarify because there are other organizations by that acronym, as well:

• Building Component Manufacturers Conference
• British Cable Makers Confederation
• Battle Creek Motorcycle Club
• Brass Craft Manufacturing Company
• Brew Crew Moving Company (no way I'd let these guys touch my furniture)

And of course ...

• Bay County Mosquito Control

This will be the third time I have been on the program at a meeting of the BCMC (formerly the SBCMC .. the S standing for Southern .. SBCMC also stands for .. ahhh, forget it), but it is the first time in a musical capacity.

Several years ago I was called upon to honor (translation: roast) Dr. Harry Eskew, one of my former seminary professors from NOBTS (New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary .. NOBTS could also be .. I'm not taking that path again .. promise) when the conference was in Memphis.

In 2007 I was the featured speaker at the banquet in Orlando (my performance is still remembered and referred to by many as 'the day the music died').

This time around I get to actually use my musical talents??? as a part of this music conference (what a crazy idea).

Instead of a rubber chicken and whoopee cushion, I am coming with a folder full of music and tuxedo.

Okay, I'm packing the whoopee cushion .. just to be on the safe side.

"I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High." - Psalm 9:2

No Sunday Edition

Extra! Extra! Read all about it .. tomorrow.

"But the LORD said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver ...' " - Joshua 11:6a

I Told You So

Yesterday, I mentioned Murphy's Law and this morning it has reared its ugly head (I suppose that's better than if it headed its ugly rear .. I have no idea what that even means).

I got up early (per usual .. most days) to post the Saturday edition of RevKev's blog and found I had no internet access here at the Hamilton house.

I determined there wasn't a problem on my end (here we go with that ugly rear 'crack' again .. bun, I mean pun intended). There had to be an issue with my internet service provider and I assumed (we all know what happens when we assume .. sounds like I'm back to that ugly rear thing again) it was a problem here at my house (this has happened before).

Since I knew so many of you (well perhaps a few close family members .. okay .. my mom) were counting on me for your morning amusement, I decided to take the MacBook Pro to the church and post from there (can you believe my level of commitment? .. I love you guys).

When I got to the church .. guess what? That's right .. no internet.

Fortunately, no one was in the office when I let out the bloodcurdling scream, "WWHHHHYYYY????" (I can be slightly dramatic at times). I could have said another word .. or two .. that might be frowned upon by most of our church members, but I'm not sure. I can't quite account for three or four of those minutes .. it's all just a little fuzzy.

Murphy, how did you ever get your law passed?

"Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously" - Psalm 119:29