Have to disagree with you there, friend. Every book of the Bible is in fact replete with Gospel messages if a person knows where to look; the problem is that most VBS material is either the David-Goliath/Noah/Jonah variety, or it’s “spiritual goosebumps”, “dive in to God’s presence” pseudo-charismatic nonsense. I have never been to a VBS program where the Gospel was presented without there having been serious violence done to the theme of the VBS and its materials.

I try to be a man of integrity. Sometimes I really do well at this, other times I kind of suck. But I have found that the more I desire to be a man of integrity, if I’m not careful, I can tiptoe into the realms of judgmentalism… where we are desiring so strongly to be people of integrity that we being pointing our fingers and finding tons of fault with “stuff” out there. Some of our findings are, of course, valid. But as I said in an earlier post - there are many strong, passionate, God-driven believers out there trying to do their best to create products that help others nurture or strengthen their walk with the Lord. And, as I also said, until WE actually sit in the pilot seat and DEVELOP products that are “better” then I am not sure we have the right to be dismantling what others are creating UNLESS (and this is a huge key for me) the products in question are TOTALLY misrepresenting God or things of the Kingdom.

Bottom line - I believe, having read so many posts on this blog, that DAN the HOST is a man of integrity who is motivated to ensure that our Lord is represented and taught about in as close to 100% accuracy as is possible. At the same time, I also think this recent criticism of VBS and SS materials was a tad over the line…

And - EVERYONE has, and is entitled to, their opinions…

Well, after many months of reading many of your posts that I agree with, you finally wrote one that I think you’re really off base on. While I do share some of the concerns you have (watered down Gospel message ect.) I think your way off base in criticizing the one you specifically linked to.

This past week my home church held their VBS program, and used the very curriculum you link to and criticized in your post. I have 4 kids, 3 of whom would be eligible to attended the program (ages 4 to 6th grade). So I volunteered to help out and got assigned a group of age 4 preschoolers… 8 kids in all. I was a crew leader that helped get all 8 kids area to area. First stop was the craft area ( to make some throw away junk I suppose), next stop was Bible story time, where yes, the teacher opened a Bible at the beginning of every Bible story, and explained the story in an age appropriate manner to my group of 4 year olds, just like the curriculum suggests the teacher should do.

Our church had over 300 kids come out to VBS this week and I eagerly anticipate our pastor’s recap of this week and I hope and pray that it will include a report on the fruit it bore, a young child’s first exposure to Jesus and the Gospel message, and decisions for Jesus.

Offerings were collected and will be given to help the kids at the Christian school of deaf in Eden, Jamaica and left over materials from the VBS program are being collected and given to a local church that does not have our budget, so they also can have a quality VBS program.

Maybe you should go get involved in a program this summer, try to set aside your criticism of the program, and see what you can do to make it better. I am sure your son would love to see you involved in a program he is attending, maybe get assigned to the craft area, so you can see there is much more involved than creating a piece of throw away junk.

{{{Candleman}}}

There are those who “complain” about contemporary praise and worship music, trying to build a case that it does not belong in church nor honor God. They come up with all sorts of lofty sounding reasons and arguments to prove their point.

The only problem is - they don’t HAVE a point.

There is not one shred of teaching or support from the BIBLE (which is our source of truth, correct?) that anyone can turn to in order to PROVE that contemporary praise and worship music does NOT glorify, honor, or bring joy to the Lord. What it comes down to is an OPINION. Certainly, we can all maintain and offer our opinions on products and resources that are designed to enhance our Christian walk. But that is all they are - opinions. UNLESS (and this is the key) those products in question can be PROVEN to honestly and actually go AGAINST what the Bible teaches. And when that is true, YES, get rid of the junk!

I have an opinion that some contemporary praise music is a bit weak. But that does not mean it cannot be used to glorify God. It only means that, IN MY OPINION, there is a BETTER CHOICE. But the music in question is not UNGodly, or UNholy.

I admire the call to clarity and responsibility. But, again, as I have stated now three times - until ANYONE on this list comes up with BETTER curriculum, I proclaim that all we are doing, in reality, is helping to divide the Kingdom - not build it up.

Again, I want to make sure I am CLEAR… if a product or resource is NOT IN LINE with Scripture, we need to lose it. A few years back, there was a video series for kids called “Noah’s Park.” The concept was cute - Noah, after ending up on dry land, creates a PARK where all the animals live and play. It was fun. It was clever. It was creative. AND - it had NOTHING to do with scripture. I would never have allowed that in my church because I did not want kids thinking that this REALLY happened. But this sort of twisting of God’s Word is RARE if you really stop and STUDY the VBS or SS Curric that is available for use in our churches.

This is probably one of those “my side, your side” things. I know I’m not changing my mind on it (LOL) and I have a feeling a few on this thread ain’t changing their minds… but, isn’t it great to know that God, who is ALWAYS in control of EVERYTHING - - can STILL get His message to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see? Hallelujah!