Great night

I took over for Jessica tonight. I only had Nathan. So about 1/2 through the service, I took him for a walk around the church. We even went into "big church" for a few moments. I loved seeing him walk. He has this sort of a cross between a skip and a walk. I tried to do it too, but that's a bad idea with my age, weight, lack of coordination, etc.

New Friend

Terri bought a new friend to us tonight. She's 5 years old and the "regular" room had too much activity for her. Her name is Ella and she's cuter than a bug's ear.

I think I have a new sweetie.

Short night

I found out the hard way what one of our kids had for supper...or didn't have....
I won't go into detail, let's just say it made for a short night.

More Blessings From Blake

Last night I went to church for the first time in about 2 weeks. I've been out of town for Christmas.
I popped into the Won by One room just in case I was needed, though it was not my week. Blake came in and at first he appeared to have some sort of medical issue [we almost thought seiziures] so I stayed.

Blake was ok, they weren't seizures,though we're not sure what they were instead. But, Blake was our only friend their that night. Blake built a box of some sort out of some toy blocks. He then jumped over them.

He pulled Miss Jessica over and pointed. He wanted her to jump too. Then he pulled me over. Mr. Roger is just 2 - 3 weeks shy of 40, short, out of shape [well maybe round is a shape] and extreamly uncooridnated. I didn't jump inasmuch as I stepped over it. Blake took me back and made me do it again.

The cool thing was that Blake gave me and Jessica high fives for our attempts. He is still practicing [for want of a better term] selective mutisim. His mom is learning ASL and Blake has learned to sign yes and no. He signed those for us and I taught him how to sign the bible verse for the day which was Jn 3:16.

When Jessica pulled out her guitar and was trying to tune it up before making up a song to go with the bible verse, Blake walked over and started "helping" by strumming. Jessica just let him do so while she tuned and sang.

Not only is Blake a blessing but so is Jessica.She's a music therepist and she loves these kids. I love seeing her interact with them using music as a bridge to reach through the haze of autisim or whatever the condtion may be,

I missed Ernest Smith delivering his first message but I know it had to be awesome. But I sure did not miss any blessings being with my friends in Won by One.

The Nutcracker

This is NOT one of my Purple Plastic Piano People, but this was so cool, that I wish she was.

http://spotlight.news.yahoo.com/v/11076595

I just wish I knew how to post the video instead just the link

A Christmas Story

First, Merry Christmas to all of my fellow Christians
Second, Happy Hanukkah to any Jewish Readers
Lastly, GOOD LUCK TO ANY ATHIEST READERS.

That said, let me tell you a Christmas story.
A few years ago, Maggie and her then 8 year old daughter were running errands. They stopped somewhere and after getting her daughter out of the car, Maggie turned to get a few items. When she turned around her daughter had disappeared. Maggie's heart stopped. Where is her daughter? She was 8 years old AND she has Down Syndrome. This was not good.

Praise God. Maggie found her daughter within seconds. She had climbed over a fence and into a Nativity scene that was set up nearby. In fact, she was sitting by a ceramic lamb and eating her Mickey D's fries. Maggie's daughter is named Grace. I call her Amazing Gracie. She is now 10 years old and is in the Won by One class at Seacoast, where I have the honor of being her teacher. Maggie also works in that ministry.

I tell you this story to tell you this: Gracie stepped into a Nativity scene and sat by that ceramic lamb and ate her fries. Had it been a real lamb, I know that Gracie would have shared her fries.

2000 years ago, God the Father and Creator of all of us stepped across the span of time and space and he stepped into the very first Nativity scene. He gave us—His lamb--the gift of His Grace by giving us His best, his McDonald's Fries so to speak, by giving His Son.

Thank You Lord for the Gift of Your Son,
In Jesus Name, Amen.

David

I don't update the PPPP blog too often. I need to share this even though it's not related to the PPPP.

One of my oldest and dearest friends is named David. David works with kids at our church. David is sick right now.

I need to take time to tell anyone and everyone that may read this that David is just one of the best and purest people that I know.

He loves Jesus and he loves kids. That's all that matters to him. And that's really all that needs to matter. His capacity to love kids is so great that it's amazing. David has been told by some that men don't work with children. Davd knows his heart is different. He knows his heart is one that was created to love children.

David has cancer. When he was diagnosed and was in the hospital, he apologized to one of our kids leaders for not being there there weekend.

He has EVERY RIGHT to be just a little self centered here. He has every right to say "Hey! It's my turn to be taken care of!" But he still thinks of the kids first. What a man of God.

Jesus once told a bunch of kids to come over to him. The 12 tried to shoo the kids away. Jesus told them to mind their own business and to "Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children." Mark 10:14

When Daivd was told that men don't work with kids, his response was much like Jesus response. David knew he had to do it.

I wish we all knew what God wanted us to do. I wish we'd all do that task with David's sense of convition. If we could do that, we may just survive this place we call life.

Blessings of Blake

Last week it wasn't my turn to work with the kids, so I went to the regular church service.

On my in I heard someone call my name, but I was unable to see whom it was. Just as the service was getting started, I saw Pastor Scott come up to the balcony where I was sitting. He came right up to me and told me that Blake was back.

Blake is the reason I call this blog Purple Plastic Piano People. He's the one that played that piano that night.

Blake's been out for about 2 years now. He was sick. I've been told that he had strep throat and it spread into his brain. This caused some problems for about 2 years staight.

But now he is back. He's still a long way to go, but thank God for this bright light of God's love. I am so glad that Blake is back.

One more Saturday [I hope]

Last week there were no little ones in the class. As much as I love the kids, I was glad.

You see, I found out that I have the shingles. It started off when I was accidentally electrocuted a few days earlier. I knew I was in pain, until I went to the doctor I had no idea about the shingles.

It seems that the electrocution [which was mild, thanks for asking] pulled a Frankenstien's moster on a dormant virus.

Anyway, I have stayed at home ever since. I miss the kids, but I'd rather be at full health to be around the little tykes. They deserve that much from me.

I love those kids.

Ooops

I took one of the kids to his mom at church Saturday night. I started talking with someone and then we found out we'd lost the kid.

After alerting the ENTIRE children's ministry we found him in the hallway playing with the waterfountain.

Buddy Walk

I went on the Lowcountry DS Buddy Walk today. IT WAS AWSOME!!!!
I can't even begin to tell y'all about it. It was just so wonderful to see kids with DS and their supporters having a blast. I mostly love the friends of the DS kids.

During the actual walk, my group was just ahead of a group calling itself Josh's Army. They were chanting, cheering and just having a great time. One was even in a wheelchair due to a broken leg. He didn't let that stop him like I would have, he wanted to be there for Josh. I don't know Josh, but I hope to one day.

These are some awsome kids. You can learn a lot about Daddy God--our Creator--when you see how much how much love DS kids have.

In Awe

I served with the Won by One tonight. I am constantly amazed by these kids.

Michael is autistic. He is also very bright. I started to tell him tonight's Bible verse. "Nothing can separate us...." and he then said it all by himself "Nothing can separate us from God's love" I asked him if he knew where it came from and he answered in a questioning voice "Geniuses?" Well no, it's from Romans 8:39 but that's ok.

First, I love the way he calls Genesis "Genousis". After all it was an ingenious Creator that made this place.
Second, I love the growth in this kid. It used to be that when Nathan came into the room, that Michael would say "Oh no!" He's still very uncomfortable around Nathan, but now he at least says "Hi" before he cacoons himself in our play tent for most of the night. He's a really sweet kid.

Thrive

I gave an extended version of my Purple Plastic Piano speech at Thrive [over 40 singles] last Sunday in church

They said I did well, and I hope I did.

Wow

I've been given an opportunity to give a revised version of my PPPP speech at church. It'll be at our Thrive [over 40 singles] meeting on Sept. 21

Cool

Buddy Walk

I just signed up for the Lowcountry Buddy Walk on Oct. 5th
If anyone that reads this wants to join me, leave a comment.

Rog

200 Pomogranites and an Audience of One

Seacoast church has many pastors. One of those pastors is Shawn Wood.

Shawn is younger than I am. A better singer than I am. Has a beautiful famiy which I hope to have one day. [His daughter Isabel or as I call her Isabelly Button is just too cute]. He's also a better speaker than I am [but, I am pretty good myself]. And now he's an author. Shawn makes me want to be sick, but he's also a nice guy. Have you ever met anyone that you wanted to dislike, but couldn't? Well that's Shawn.

Just kidding Shawn. Shawn's book is called 200 Pomogranites and an Audience of One. I've not read but the first few pages, but I can tell that it's going to be awesome. His theme is that there are too many people saying that we can do anything we set our minds to. Have you ever tried that? Think about it. If I could do anything I set my mind to, I'd:

Be taller than 5'5"
Have a girlfriend
Have a good job
Be an author
Be a super hero [Move over Batman, here comes Super Rog]
Be the world champion of public speaking

Well maybe some of that's achievlble but I'm not looking to take over the Justice League anytime soon, and I think that maybe Reese Witherspoon is seeing someone.

However, though we can't do "anything we set our minds to" there's still plenty we can do. The Bible says that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" Ps 139:14

That means that God made each of us to fit into a unique place in His world.

I write this for two reasons:
1. At 39 I am just getting this into my thick skull. For years I wished I had other talents. Be they musicial, or acting or even sports [and I do not like sports]. I thought that my talents, whatever they may be, weren't good enough. Over the past few years, I've come to learn that they are. I have a talent for public speaking. I have a talent for working with special needs kids. I used to work customer service and now I know that I have a talent for putting up with jerks, and stupid people.

I have a place in the kingdom.

2. The other reason I write this is because of Sarah Palin. For those that have been living with your head in the sand lately, she is John McCain's running mate for president of the US. I am a Republican, and McCain has not been my favorite choice, but that's another issue. I like Ms. Palin. You see, from what I understand, a few months ago, some pompus arse doctor told then Alaska Gov. Palin to abort her unborn child. Why? Because the baby had Down's Syndrome. i.e. Why she should bring a less than perfect baby into this world. That child can't contribute etc.

Well kids, that's what another man thought too. His name was Hitler. Can you say Holocost?

Everyone has a place in God's kingdom. My friends, the Kinney's have three kids, with another on the way. Their youngest--for now anyway--is Princess Coleman. She has Down's. She is a wonderful little girl. She is about 1 and a half now, and she'd learning to walk and just now making some mama and dada type sounds. I love this kid. I love all their kids, but Coleman has my heart in a way that other kids--other than my niece--don't.

What can we learn from a DS kid? Well, for one thing, they love like no else seems to be able to. My friend Maggie has a 10 year old named Grace. Grace truely lives that word. She loves everyone she meets. And she loves them without terms. She wants to include other kids when she plays, even if they can't play.

I grew up often hearing the "N" word. I hate that word. But, I also hate the "R" word. Retard. For some reason, the mentally retarded, or DS kids, or autistic kids or other disabled kids and adults are still seen as fair target.

Please take the follwing things from this:

1. Love without condition.
2. Do NOT use the disabled as a target for your insulsts. There is NO difference between "retard" and the "N" word.
3. You have a place in God's world. Don't say that you can't sing, or preach or play ball or fill in the blank with whatever you want to. Look at yourself, God has created you, knitted you to do something special. It may be as simple as inviting someone out to dinner, and making sure that they are included. It may be as simple as making sure that you smile at someone, or just have a kind word.

You are an artist in something because you are a work of art yourself.

Another kids ministry

I have been working on some Sunday nights with 3 - 5 year olds at Seacoast. I love it. There're no special needs kids, but it's fantastic to have this opportunity.

However, there's been a problem. One of the songs we sing goes: "I'm going to take God's promieses and hide 'em in my heart, hide 'em in my heart, hide 'em in my heart. I'm going to take God's promieses and hide 'em in my heart, hide 'em in my heart, hide 'em in my heaaaarrrrt." And of course there are accompanying motions.

There are other lyrics but I can't remember them. Now I have that one line and the hand motions running on the hamster wheel of my mind. Fortunaetnly it seems to override the squeeky sound that I normally hear.

Burn out?

For about 4 - 6 weeks straight now, I've either been working w/ the kids on my regular weeks, taking over for someone that could not work, and one week I was out of town.

I'm getting a little burned out, but then I realize that every time I work with these wonderful kids, God is just so awesome.

I may need to take some time off soon, but I love these kids.

Worship

I do NOT update this blog often enough.

My church holds a special service on the first Wednesday of each month. This past Wednesday some cool things happened:

1. Our children's pastor, Scott, was ordained. Scott is a very special man. Our church has over 1000 members at our main campus, and I think that Scott has most of the kids names memorized. I don't even know my own name at times. Thank God for Scott's commitment to kids.
Another cool thing about Scott is that, as the name and pronouns imply, he's a man. Churches like the one I grew up in did not encourage men [nor did they outright discourage] to work with kids. It was almost always some little old ladies.

2. We had some new twists on the worship experience:
A. One of the children's departments came out and sang two songs with us. The lyrics to one of these songs goes: "I am free to run...I am free to dance...I am free to live for you...". Those kids ran, danced, jumped and wiggled around for God. Which brings me to...

B. We are to worship God WITH EVERYTHING. The Bible says that: "David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might..." Look up EPHOD here

C. What we did differently was that we were encouraged to worship God differently than our "normal method". In other words if you were a quiet worshiper, you were encouraged to be loud, if you're loud then you were encouraged to be quiet and reflective. If you raise your hands, fine, add some dancing to it. You get the picture.

I tried to add jumping to mine as an outward expression to God and my great joy at being one of His. However, when a 5'5", 180 lb, uncoordinated man jumps up and down it is NOT pretty. I kept running out of breath and almost ran into someone while I was jumping in place.

I am posting this here because I need to point out something. The Won by One ministry [or as I call them, The Purple Plastic Piano People] are special needs kids. They often have their own way of expressing love. Some are very open because they do not have those internal mechanisms that tell them it's not always appropriate to hug and kiss. Some are very open to music and not any other stimuli. Others do not like music because it's too loud etc. but, they can express love just by being sweet or by building something out of Legos or wood blocks.

Take whatever God has given you and use it to express your love for Him.

Twins

We had the twins this weekend. They've just turned 5, but they're on about a 3 year old level. I may be off on that a little.

They're cute boys. They love to sit in laps and give hugs.

That really makes this minisistry worth the effort.