The child within.....

Around ten years ago, Sue insisted that we needed a character puppet to add to the programs we were doing with kids. She bought a worm puppet and "Larry Funzel" was born. At first I wasn't convinced that Larry would be a puppet people would warm to, but true to form, he wormed his way into thousands of hearts, mine included. You could say that we are the closest of c0-workers and I am needed to give him a helping hand. But somewhere between the script and the performance, a strange transformation takes place. Larry takes on his own personna - radical, conniving, confusing, frustrating, funny, warm, tricky, muddled, endearing.... he is a bundle of contradictions and kids young and old love him. School kids chant "Larr-ee, Larr-ee" until he appears, and at one camp teens long graduated from the kids program still turn up to give him candy. One young friend was heard fiercely defending him at a recent camp "Of course Larry's real. A puppet can't have his own email can he!" Yes, Larry does have his own email. For the curious it is larry.funzel@carpenters-cross.org He is soon to feature in podcasts from the ccm website and so the legend lives on. Larry has taught me many things, not the least being "Don't judge by the outward appearance" which reminds me of the Bible verse "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord sees the heart." I know there are many handsome puppets out there but I've seen Larry's heart (he tells me good earthworms have up to nine of them) and as far as I am concerned, Larry is here to stay.

GO MARINERS!

"GOTTA LOVE THESE GUYS" goes the slogan for the Seattle Mariners baseball team. Sue jokes that there are three conditions in my "contract", namely a visit to the Museum of Glass, a trip to the coast, and one Mariners' game. Two out of three is par for the course, but this year I made it to all three!

Sadly, the M's didn't win, but I love the atmosphere of the game. Family groups predominate, language and drinking are carefully watched, and the thrill of the big crowd, with the carefully placed music or sound affects to draw a supportive response all make for a great few hours. Behind us was a family which included a young boy, possibly 4 years old. He sat perched on his dad's lap and watched every innings intently. As the pitcher wound up I would hear the voice from behind "Strike him out Felix , strike him out!" Felix Herndandez did his best, but victory was not to be that day. Not for lack of support from the young man behind! I was amused at his dedication and the fact that he knew his players! "Hit it out of the park Ichiro!" "Make a home run Beltre!" Sue and I work with young (and not so young kids) most of the year. Just as this young man was absorbed in baseball, so our delight is in kids who realise that we play in the greater game - the game of life - and the Master Coach, Jesus, is there to help us all the way! "Make a home run......." you fill in your name!

A lesson on "Trust". During the VeBS (Very Exciting Bible School) held at New Hope International Church Sue used a great object lesson to talk about "trust". Darlene knew that the cup over her head held water - she had watched Sue pour it in - but could she trust that she would stay dry when Sue turned that cup upside down? Well, you'll be glad to know that she did stay dry (trade secret as to how) but it illustrated a good point. When things look bad or dark or simply impossible that's when all we CAN do is to trust. Not trust in people, or finances, or possessions, but trust in the One who made us and knows us best of all. I have been in many situations when there seemed to be no way out, but I have learned to trust the Lord to keep me in the hollow of His hand. And He does.

R U a BIG picture/small picture person?

This is one of my favorite parts of the Australian coastline in my home state of Victoria. When I stand on this beach my eyes head out to sea, to the horizon (and beyond in my mind). Can you imagine what it would be to stand here and focus on a single grain of sand near my feet or just one rock? I would miss so much more of God's creation, His beauty, His world. Yet this is what happens to us in life - we obsess on a single word, or attitude or event - and that obsession inhibits our ability to relate well to others, to experience the blessings of forgiving and the freedom in being forgiven. These deep thoughts come to mind following a great event held in Sue's home town to celebrate 20 years of itinerant ministry to kids worldwide. Sue remarked to me: "So many people from so many churches all coming together - some of them haven't fellowshipped with each other in years." Well, if we believe that is what will happen in heaven - why not work on it now? One of the Bible verses we have been using this summer with the kids is from Ephesians 4:32 "Forgive one another ....even as Christ forgave you."

Miracle Mountain

Miracle Mountain is always just that - a place where miracles do take place. Miracles of love in young hearts, of healing, of encouragement and of hope for a future. I love the emphasis on everybody having a part to play. Here some of the kids join in the praise time on their own instruments and they did a great job. After service is over, the music starts again and kids dance around the tent. The Lord really does touch hearts, both young and old. On the first night we had a number of kids and one adult invite Jesus to be a part of their lives. That is exciting...and a miracle! For Sue and I this camp is always a time where we find ourselves encouraged by kids and workers alike. We always take something away with us in a spiritual sense. People often ask "How do you get ministered to when you are always taking the kids' program?" As Sue says "The same way pastors are ministered to - they don't get many breaks away from the responsibility of bringing a message to their people. We spend time with the Lord ourselves, PLUS you would be amazed how many children minister to us...along with adults who take time to share what they feel the Lord is saying." That's what being a part of the 'body of Christ' is all about.

Look at me - I'm Happy!

This past week was spent at McCall, Idaho at the Boise Royal Family Kids' Camp. Forty-three kids - all in foster care - had an amazing week of camp. Games, music, activity centres, swimming, chapel, laughs and more. Kids from all backgrounds of neglect and abuse experienced caring people all showing unconditional love and acceptance. Kids were listened to, affirmed, praised, encouraged and challenged to participate in zipline, archery, ropes course and canoeing. Down at the dock I took a photo of one of the younger campers and when I showed her the photo in the camera screen she exclaimed "Look at me! I'm happy!"

That was the thing she noticed - 'I am happy". Happiness is surely every child's right, but sadly many children rarely experience this emotion. If you can get behind one of the 150+ RFKC camps this summer, please do so and allow more troubled and hurting kids experience some 'happy childhood memories"

Check out: http://www.rfkc.org/ and http://www.rfkcboise.org/ and http://www.sckc.org.au

The Ripple Effect of a Life of Influence

THE RIPPLE EFFECT - A Life of Influence

Last month Sue's cousin Jeanette Kruljac went home to be with the Lord. Jeanette had fought a good fight against Non-Hodgkins and over the years we had seen the Lord's hand in so many ways in her life. It was with disbelief that I received the call from Sue that she was now with Jesus. I first met Jeanette in 1978 when a friend and I toured western US for the first time. I have been her pen-pal since my pastor Richard Holland (Founding Pastor of CityLife Church in Melbourne) visited Jeanette's church and ministered to their youth group. Jeanette and I corresponded for some years before I got to visit. Her kids Greg and Lisa were about 8 and 2 at the time and we had a great week with them. It was during this visit that I first met Sue and her family and we too began to spasmodiacally correspond. The rest is history - my church brought Sue out to minister in 1990 and again in '91 and she and I began working together in '92. Through Jeanette - her encouragement, her prayers and continued support - we have touched the children of nations around the world. As I heard stories of Jeanette's life I realised that all with whom she came into contact were in some way impacted. Neighbours, work colleagues, church members - all were ministered to in some way. Jeanette's love of life and family, her spontaneous joy even when her body was under attack, her love and loyalty to Larry and her kids (all of them) and her honor and love for her parents Bud and Olive was inspirational. We will miss her laugh and sparkling eyes, her love of adventure (she wanted to visit Australia so much) and generous spirit. We mourn a loss.....but heaven rejoices as Jesus says "Well done".