more unsolicited sideline reporting
(eunuchs, unite!!!)

only nine more world cup matches to go. kind of sad, really. it's been such a grand two weeks, and the best match-ups are still to come. i have to believe that sarah and hannah are growing tired of soccer but come this time two weeks from now, serious soccer (not mls) will be put back into semi-hibernation (unless the next house we move into offers fox soccer channel...oh yeah!!!) for four years. my four year goal? to find a way to cheer on the us in person and travel with them to south africa. how awesome would that be? we'll see if it happens...

last week was the first time in eight years i had not helped out in some way with vacation bible school at humc. i didn't miss it, necessarily, but i did miss the kids. turning recreation into vacation "battle" school with dodgeball, freeze-tag, red light-green light, duck-duck-goose...those were good and fun times. what was most fun was seeing most of the kids having a blast and running around like crazy people, like kids should be during the summer. i was sad, but not surprised, when i heard that balls were taken out of the equation this year. there were excuses made. dhr was thrown under the bus. "some kids don't like the balls." "my son/daughther hated recreation." yes, i am sure your child was pining for more "reflection" time and painting t-shirts. i am certain the same child(ren) that didn't have enough "balls" to play with balls was immeasurably happy wearing home a wet pair of underwear from a busted water balloon. but what do i know?

i know this. i know children need balls. or "balls". even at vacation bible school. what's worse is having some adult or group of adults telling them that they don't need balls. or "balls". that they are better off without them. whoever executed this separation of church and balls should be ashamed. what's next? separation of church and halo? church and family guy? church and week-long mission/choir opportunites? separation of church and halloween? church and beach retreats just for the hell of it (for the fellowship of it all)? church and making eye contact with people you don't agree with? oh wait...

god bless all the people who volunteered or were drafted into vbs service. i hope to rejoin your number next year. with a better attitude and outlook on a church that once made and can still make a difference.

and god bless being able to take a ball in the face and come back for more. this should be the theme of every vacation bible school from now on.

it's soccer time.