The Water Balloon Massacre

Well VBS 2007 is over! The Journeys of Jesus have come to an end! The time to look back and reflect and learn for next year is here! Let's take a quick inventory of what was learned at this year's event. Marcey makes a really good Jewish woman in the Interactive Room! Caleb will work for Hawaiian Shaved Ice (a Jumbo is only $4)! Maybe 200 was a little high for the projections! Scripts are definitely needed in the Interactive Room! Only 1/3 of the kids wore the buckets from the "Woman at the Well" Night on their head! The sound Stephanie made while pretending to throw up on the last night was awesome! Sam probably looked the best in the Centurion costume! The batteries in the lights in the Interactive Room will run out if left on all night! Gary just doesn't like Samaritan Women! Those things along with Adam falling on his butt, me forgetting the words to "Jo-Jo-Jonah," the shark song, and little Camron trying to beat me up as the Centurion are all memorable (he actually had to be led away by Karl Wayne)!

However, the thing that will go done in infamy from this VBS is the Water Balloon Massacre that took place last night in the parking lot! Just exactly how many balloons were filled by Sam, Jamie, Jonathan, Adam, Marcey, Stephanie, Kyle, Caleb, and Crystal still eludes me. It seems like the blue cooler was an everlasting supply when child after child came coming up to me with a new balloon! I'm really thankful that most of them can't throw very well! The only times I remember it hurting were when Jake got me in the side, Katherine got me in the stomach, and Triston got me from behind (when I had no idea the balloon was coming)! The attack at the end wasn't nearly as bad (I think because Marcey didn't get to hit me in the crotch)! Overall, I'd say the massacre will go down in history as the best pummeling of a youth minister in our parking lot ever! I hope it will also go down as the last!

(Neal Mathis)

It's Been A While...

I apologize everybody! I know it has been a while since the last post. There have been many things going on and I have to admit that this site is what fell behind! Sorry about that. When VBS is over I know that this site will be updated on a much more regular basis. Until then I leave you with this short story of humor from our beloved "Baby Seal," Caleb:

When the boys (Caleb, Adam, Patrick, Hunter, and I) were moving the furniture and things from my apartment to my new home a funny thing happened - Caleb showed us his lack of moving experience! I hadn't quite gotten everything packed up before the U-Haul truck found its way to my front door. I asked Caleb to gather up all the hangers he could find and seperate the wire and plastic hangers. Within five short minutes, with a puzzled look on his face, Caleb approached me and asked, "Which ones are wire and which ones are plastic?"

I have to admit that at first I was floored. How could this young man of 14 years not know the difference between wire and plastic hangers? And then it hit me! Caleb has probably only ever been exposed to plastic hangers! There is no possible way he could have even known what a wire hanger was! It was my naivity that believed all of mankind must know the difference that was the real problem! So I send my sincerist apologies to Caleb! I hope that I am never again shortsighted in my assumptions that most people know the difference between wire and plastic hangers! I know I will be a better man for it and you would be too! Hang around for any future thoughts on this troubling condition and my growth through and out of this problem!

(Neal Mathis)