Kids.

Everyone knows something about them. Whether they were one, are one, or have one. Sometimes they surprise you. Last night a few of them surprised me by offering to go out on the streets while some of us spent the 1 1/2 hours in prayer, and it was all with good results.

Last night my daughter informed me she was in a new job, that only allowed her a day every two weeks to spend with her. OK. I understand growing up and I also feel a reasonable amount of guilt for the time I did not spend with her when she was younger, because I was too busy. And it doesn't make it easier!

Yesterday, I took my son with me to get a Christmas tree, and at 15, you would think that it doesn't matter. Well, he had the tree picked out, across the street, and in the car before I had pulled my checkbook. My stepdaughter made the choice in August to go live with her dad, and the report card that came indicated it was not a great choice, not even a good choice. My two youngest I haven't seen in over a year.

Being a parent is probably as difficult as being a kid! So frequently the letters that come in are from parents who have found the Lord and wonder why the kids didn't latch on to it. Well, lets look at facts. There is sin in this world and just because we caught the light doesn't mean the children will. For people like me, it was my sin that caused the situations and scenarios I just described. BUT!!! I have a job to do and that is to be all that the Lord would have me to be. And carry the light to those who don't know. God has given me many(spelled L-O-T-S) children in the church who will come up and give me a hug. Some of these kids were monsters when I first met them. And now they will come running up to see me. It makes it easier to accept not seeing my own children.

A lot of us come out of broken marriages, parents who weren't skilled in the art of love (lets say it again-sinners sin!). My parents divorced after 20 years. Nearly every person in my church came out of a divorce circumstance. And many of you on this list do, too. When Christians divorce at a rate of 1 out of every two marriages, there are damaged people around.

What does this mean? It means that many of you are headed home to hurt peopl. People who need to know the love of the Lord. Not that you are fake or unreal, but that when you recognize that sinners sin, then you can minister the love of Jesus in such a way, that seeds stay planted.

And kids are part of it. In our church some of our parents aren't the least stressed out at this time of the year, so some of us have volunteered to take othe kids to do some things. Kind of trading kids around. We have some more mature(not me-I am a KID!) believers who are filling in some of the gaps. There are people who are going into some of the nursing homes and visiting, kids can do that.

So if you were a kid, have a kid or r a kid, u qualify. We know that many of you receive this on Saturday. But perhaps there is a situation in your area where a kid can go and visit an elderly person, adopt a gran'pa or gran'ma. Many times it will change a child's perspective of self to the place of unselfishness. Maybe some of the adults on this list can help parent a child for a single parent. Yep, walls have to come down. Those hurts needto be exposed to the light of Jesus Christ for healing to come. Maybe it is bring a gift tothe elderly-kid's homemade cards and your cookies work fine. There are college kids out there sitting in dorms without the love of a parent or often friends. Maybe you could invite one to dinner.

I recognize that many of you look for spiritual notes from me, but despite my wife's beliefs, I have a practical side. James said if there is a need and we do not meet it-hello?!? We need to begin to go beyond our comfort zones, our circles. So many non-Christian, no spirit churches, have learned the principle of charity and helping, and many times the Christians are so "spiritual", they are no earthly good. We miss the point.

Don't you miss the point.