A typical Sunday in Kidmo…

Some of you may not know this about me but several times a year I take a turn at leading in Kidmo. Kidmo is our Sunday morning environment for boys and girls in grades 2-5, pretty much my peer group 🙂 We have activities, games, teaching and small group prayer time. Last Sunday’s teaching was the story of the prodigal son from Luke chapter 15. No prodigal son story is complete without talking about the the young man being so desperate he is willing to eat the food intended for the pigs. Would any of our kids be willing to eat pig food? A mixture of oatmeal and canned corn was concocted to see just what the kids would be willing to do. Let’s just say that the smell of the simulated slop was enough to bring out my gag reflex. Much to the kids’ credit most were reluctant to take a cup from me when they saw the bowl of slop on stage. Of course there’s always one in the group who’ll do anything. He proceeded to not only try the contents of the cup but even said he liked it. So much for my illustration.

Let’s move on to the teaching. I’m amazed out how God regularly uses a lesson intended for children and applies it to the lives of we adult leaders. This particular week was no exception. The theme for this month is forgiveness and how it relates to Gods overall character. The monthly memory verse is:

“Forgive the things you are holding against one another. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13, NIrV

The story of the prodigal son teaches how a father forgave an undeserving son. The Kidmo lesson defined forgiveness as deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay.

So far so good. I’m a pretty forgiving guy and don’t hold grudges; this is going to be easy. Just when I think I’m going to get by without having to evaluate my own life God blind sides me with the truth in a children’s video.

This weeks video illustration deals with the snarky (short tempered, irratable, sharply critical) guy manning a computer support helpline. Really God? After probably the worst week of my life as director of our company’s information technology dept God decides to hit me right where I live. I have been on both sides of this coin in recent days. I have been the guy having to answer the multiple phone calls asking “did you know the computers are down?” as well as being the guy having to call the local cable company for technical support and having to endure the “are you sure you turned the power on?” questions. It seems that God had a message for me. I need to be more patient and forgiving of those who have questions for me as well as those who lack the answers I need. Wow, not only does God teach me a lesson, He teaches me from two different angles using a video designed for elementary school children.

I wonder what God has in mind for this Sunday? I don’t know but I’m sure I’ll learn something unexpected and have a blast sharing it with my young friends.

Scott Pollard
Associate Pastor