Cole, Pastor Bill, and buddy Noah. This will be Cole and Noah's last SummerSalt. On to middle school they must go. Thanks, Bill, for being such an awesome, influential, and godly children's pastor!
No, I’m not talking about the classic Broadway song.
Kids’ birthday parties….keep them entertained.
The sports industry…keeps us entertained.
Movies, television shows, concerts, magazines, etc….keep us entertained.
Some churches today have a plethora of avenues to keep folks of all ages “entertained”: children’s church, big screens in the sanctuary, special guests, VBS, camps, mission trips, Easter and Christmas cantatas, senior citizen outings, and so much more.
I was a bit perplexed when this morning when I read 2 Chronicles 9:21b, “Every three years the ships would come back with a new load of gold, silver, ivory, and apes and baboons.” Okay, I understood the gold, silver, and ivory, but the apes and baboons?
I found where apes and baboons were mentioned one other time in the bible, 1 Kings 10:22, but it was referring to the same scene as 2 Chronicles.
So I spoke with one of my pastors, Dr. Steve Morris, and questioned him about “Why apes and baboons?” First he replied, “Everybody loves a circus back then just like today.” (Sorry, Ringling Bros., you are not the only circus in town.)
My response was, “Seriously??? Circus? Zoo?”
Dr. Steve said, “Seriously. The king could have anything he wanted. Nobody else in Israel had apes and baboons. The rich and powerful often like to show off their wealth. Most people would have been impressed because they have never seen anything like that. Another example would be…Nero staging huge events in The Colosseum with tigers, elephants, bears, etc. ‘Keep the people fed and entertained, and they will support you.’”
I pondered on this for a bit, and then read 1 Kings 10:24, “People everywhere wanted to see King Solomon and listen to the great wisdom that God had given him.”
Ah-ha! Reel them in, and then share the great wisdom from God.
So allow me to go back to when I previously mentioned a list of activities one may find at a church. My church does all the activities mentioned above, and so much more. One of the “entertaining” events that draws hundreds of church-goers and non-church-goers is our Egg-stravaganza. Thousands of candy filled plastic eggs descend from a helicopter. Children of all ages don’t only get “filled with candy” but “filled with wisdom”, God’s wisdom. God’s love is shared. Some people end up visiting our church, and the wisdom of God’s Holy Word is taught.
Just today I delivered my youngest to his last year of attending a week long, 8:00am –noon, church “camp”, called SummerSalt. Sports, crafts, cooking, cheerleading, and so many more activities are being offered. Cole signed up for archery, dodge ball, and basketball. Our phenomenal children’s minister and his team throw in “entertaining” activities, snacks, lots of water, and some Jesus for these children. Again…reel them in, and then share the great wisdom from God.
Entertainment is a part of our lives. Please just make sure that what you are being entertained by will bring you closer to God.
Blessings to all!
July 29
2 Chronicles 9:1-10:19 Acts 23:23-24:9 Psalm 89:19-29 Proverbs 19:1-3
Yes, my child would be the one climbing the column.
About 180 kids on the first day of SummerSalt.