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Hello Great Family,

"It's going to be GREAT!" Have you ever thought this before an experience only to face disappointment? I remember an experience like this that happened over twenty years ago. It was the end of a week of V.B.S. (Vacation Bible School). I had made the children a deal. If they could invite and get over 100 children to attend the final day then I would jump a bike off a ramp and over the pond on the property (reminiscent of Evil Knievel). I told them, "It's going to be GREAT!" and they believed me.

The pond was a large, gross, moss-covered, stagnate, snake-infested cesspool. There was no way I was going to be able to jump over it. My plan was to take one for the kids and act like I was going to jump the pond while actually planning on flying right into it then immediately getting right out of it without getting bit by some creature lurking below.

The final day of V.B.S. came and we had well over 100 children excitedly expecting me to jump the pond. We built a ramp and placed it at the edge of the water. I acquired a small kids bike that was mostly pink with pink tassels hanging off each end of the handlebars. Now I was starting to regret the deal, but I could not disappoint the kids. I just kept reminding myself, "It's going to be GREAT!"

What I did not know was that the leaders had decided to make it even greater by secretly supplying all the children water balloons to pelt me with as I rode the bike towards the ramp. I'm sure they were thinking, "It's going to be GREAT!" I know the kids were thinking, "It's going to be GREAT!" What could be greater for children than to watch an over-sized idiot riding a small pink bike trying to jump a large gross pond while getting bombarded with a barrage of water balloons?

The moment came. The children formed a gauntlet from the ramp at the ponds edge. I mounted my ride imagining how awesome this spectacle would be for all the children. I started out of view on the other side of a building to build up suspense and momentum. I rounded the corner and could see the ramp and a tight corridor of tiny humans cheering loudly. It was going to be GREAT, but then something startling happened. I started to get hit by a bevy of H20 bombs. I took several to the body but then my head was getting pummeled and I could not see anymore. Now it was hard enough just pedaling this tiny bike but now it was nearly impossible. I ended up crashing face first over the pink tasseled handlebars right onto the ramp. I didn't even make it to the water. Now I'm laying there bruised on body and in ego when I heard the children start to yell, "BOOOO!" They would not be satisfied until I hit the water so I struggled to my feet and ran off the end of the dock and did my best belly flop. When I emerged from the watery sludge, the kids were elated! They cheered, laughed and gave high-fives all around. It was truly GREAT!

Now it didn't go like I expected. It came with a few surprises. I suffered some bumps and bruises along the way. However, decades later, I'm still talking about it and there might be some adults telling their kids this story on the way to drop them off at V.B.S. hoping they might experience something GREAT.

Life is like this. We often think, "It's going to be GREAT" only to experience a bumpy ride while getting hit with everything this world can throw at us. Don't give up. Don't stop moving forward. It might be different than you thought it would be but God is making something great out of your story. As a Christian, I'm not promised an easy road but I am promised that I won't be on my road alone. The Bible makes promises like, Isaiah 41:10 ("Fear not, for I am with you"), Matthew 28:20 ("I am with you always, to the very end of the age"), and Joshua 1:5 ("I will never leave you nor forsake you"). I have confidence knowing that when this life is over, I will meet God and say, "Well, that didn't go like I expected... but it was GREAT!"

I hope to see you this Sunday. It's Mother's Day. Moms, get your family to come with you and take a selfie (or get someone to take the picture) at our special, decorated photo area. We are going to have a time of prayer over our Malawi Team and hear what God has for us in Acts 17:16-34. What else can I say... "It's going to be GREAT!"

God Bless,
P.D. (Psalm 139)