Of Fun and Games

I'm not good at fun. At Camp Good News, I have to subcontract that out to qualified indifiduals. That's why Kristi, new to the committee, is in charge of that aspect.

Just tonight we visited about get-acquainted games for Sunday night. She started talking about something they would do with their shoes, throwing one in a corner pile and then trying to get it all straightened out. "Way over my head," I said. She also mentioned something about a nice magazine, from Disney I think, that's just full of good ideas, a magazine she takes and supposed with which I might be familiar.

I told her I had just bought a copy of Calvin's "Institutes."

I have. That part is true. It, too, for this and perhaps all moments, is a long, long reach beyond my capabilities, but somehow allies more my aptitude. I do best in Child Evangelism Fellowship when I stick to their script. I do find myself taking like an Arminian at times, only because I know children and so many adults can go no farther.

Or can they? It is clear most of those who respond to an invitation come from good, Christian homes -- or evangelical churches at least. This week in club ministry I can't help but notice how little interest the others apply to the message. The fun and games, they love, but children with no apparent spiritual bent seem just as impervious to the Gospel message as any godless adult.

Camps that put much emphasis on fun and games do attract a lot more kids. Long rolls are one sure way of measuring success. And the Gospel is preached. And those that will respond will respond. That much we know. While a jet-ski doesn't aid this, I suppose it doesn't no harm either -- any more than our games of tag.

Someone might suggest the jet-ski improves the odds of winning a soul, since it attracts more souls to camp. This seems an attractive notion, until you follow it to the logical conclusion that, in such case, we would win far more souls by paying children to come to camp, rather than charging a fee, in effect, buying salvations from the children!

Odds. Funny to speak of odds in the soul-winning business. What has God ever left to chance -- if there were such thing! Chance that is, not God. Just so we're clear on that.