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[Driving in the car and eating a donut.]

Me: Sophia, do you remember the story we read last night?

Sophia: What?

Me: The story about the fiery furnace. Do you remember that?

Sophia. Yeah! But, daddy, are you taking care of me?

Me: Of course! And, better yet, God is taking care of you just like he took care of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.

Sophia: Is God gonna take care of me in the fiery furnace?

Me: Yup! And, he’s also going to take care of you when bad things happen or you have to do something really hard.

Sophia: Daddy, when I have to do a really hard puzzle, God is taking care of me.

Look what Sophia made at VBS. She’s got some craft skills! They were learning about Jesus and his disciples in the boat.

VBS is good. Not just because it’s fun for the kids and a break for parents.

VBS is good food for little minds that are literally soaking up everything to which they are exposed.

I heard a guy tell the story of when he was six-years-old and he watched a horror movie with his uncle. The kid couldn’t sleep after that. The movie literally haunted him. As each day wore on, he would get a sense of dread knowing that it would be dark soon and he would have to go to bed. Sadly, this did not last a few days or even a week. He was scared for years.

One movie. An hour and 30 minutes. It completely transformed the way he saw the world. It became a very real part of who he was and is.

VBS is other side. Kids learn about the love and power and grace of Jesus. They color pictures, sing songs, and listen to stories.

Here’s the important part: It changes them.

No kidding. It’s true. What kids (and adults for that matter) experience molds them.

Little Rock to Memphis.

Just long enough to be . . . well . . . long.

For entertainment, Sophia chews on her big toe.

For entertainment, Samuel watches Sophia chew on her big toe.

For entertainment, I take pictures of Sophia chewing on her big toe.

We had two gloriously warm days in January. They couldn’t have come at a better time.

Kazoobie Kazoo did a show at River Fest. It was pretty sweet. Everyone got a Kazoo. He knew I could rock out on the Kazoo so Kazoobie called me on stage to have a Kazoo-off. I won. Just barely, but I got him on Fur Elise.

That’s him on the left. He’s trying to Kazaam me. But, I lay the smack down with a crazy E minor blues riff.

Click on the picture below. This is good stuff. I just wish we were going!

I love this organization. I’m sold on it. Read more about my experience with Compassion International here and here.

I’m a dad now.  And questions about sheltering and protecting and maturity are things with which we now struggle.  Should Sophia play with Barbies (no)?  Can she watch The Simpsons (no)?  Should she be able to listen to Johnny Cash (depends)?

Anyway, the Krusty Sage, over at “Letters from Kamp Krusty” pretty much nailed it. Here’s a sample. Follow the link to read the post in its entirety.

It’s your job to shelter, pops.  And if you think the mindless entertainment/consumption lifestyle is somehow “the real world”, the Krusty Sage is going to get out of his big, awesome, wooden chair and hit you with it.

Interested? Read it here.