Getting Clues

We just came in from watching the International Space Station fly overhead.  From about 8:12 to 8:16, it flew by so high above, a bright and slow moving star drifting overhead.  We walked out and looked into the night sky, picturing the the people inside that space station now, possibly looking down upon us in the night.  It will be daylight for them soon enough, although we have several hours to go until dawn.

Dawn this morning was fantastic.  Of course, we're not talking about the "Dawn" that acts for us on stage at KidPak.  You can see her below, portraying the character Irene Adler in our newest series, "Get a Clue."

After much fuss and hard work, we started it off this morning, and it was simply glorious.  Here's Mycroft Holmes and Dr. James Watson, a couple of chaps that just might look familiar.

Our set was one of the best London-based sets you can imagine.  The lighting and music were perfect, and of course, the costuming was wonderful as well - you can see that with the two in the photo above, and below as well.

Our drama was so good that it had kids clapping at the end, and begging for more.  Join us next week, we said, and there were groans!  You'll have to come back again, same bat time, same bat channel!  The videos were really good of course, as was the message today, one that follows the themes and ideas of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Our mystery started today outside of the service too - this was our social media campaign, where kids and parents send pictures of them doing things together (like getting ice cream), and in turn they begin to discover clues that reveal whodunnit!  Or, as the weeks go by, at least who didn't do it.  We'll submit our picture some time this week, as Madison is in the dark about who the culprit is.  We'll start that adventure soon enough!  Here's the first email that gets sent out, once parents send a picture of the family out to go and solve the mystery:

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The game’s afoot!  Your family looks ready to solve a big mystery!  

Our informant Eddie Von Bonkers has given us a big tip, and it involves ice cream!

Some time this week, he said you’ll find a big clue if you look at a place that serves ice cream.  Take a picture of you and your family there with an ice cream, and send it to kidpak@kidpak.org, or post it and tag us on Instagram (@kidpak_ga). 

Very soon afterwards, you’ll receive your first big clue!

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Daddy is the one responding to all the sleuths out there, and today the emails have been pouring in, with families out to solve the mystery.  Whodunnit?  Only time will tell.  Some time this week, Madison, Mommy and Daddy are going to go get ice cream.  We'll find out that next clue soon enough!

In the meantime, we had two really good services this morning.  Volunteers were coming up to us afterwards, complimenting us on the videos, the worship, the message, the ongoing dramas, and the race segment too - which I just love, by the way.  I'll share more about that later, but it features a race between Irene Adler, Devious Tim and a police officer named Whatshall Thisthen ("What's all this then?").

As within all things, there are messages to be found within the stories of Sherlock Holmes.  "The Hound of Baskervilles" and "The Man with the Twisted Lip" are two stories that we draw from, although we have plenty more.  Today we were talking about the power of observation - seeing God in our lives, and seeing how he is on the case.    Here is an excerpt from the message today:

“Ever since the world was created it has been possible to see the qualities of God that are not seen. I’m talking about His eternal power and about the fact that He is God. Those things can be seen in what He has made.” Romans 1:20 NIRV

     It’s a great mystery why some would question God or His plans for us. But perhaps those same people don’t have certain powers of observation: It’s elementary, of course! The most famous of detectives at one time could tell so much by a simple glance in your direction: “You’ve been at the school. You’ve eaten fish and chips for lunch. You haven’t done your homework yet.”

     How did he do that? Simple deduction: the books in your hands, the small stain of tartar sauce on your sleeve – and the fact that he spoke with your teacher just moments ago!

     Detective work is all about using your senses, and in a similar way, we use ours to realize the obvious: God is in our lives, working on the case!

     Look for the clues: see how carefully protected our tiny planet is as it hangs delicately balanced in a galaxy of extremes. Observe how we are protected from so much, and all by His grace. In the words of the famous detective himself, observe the flowers. Many other things in life are given to us because we need them: food, shelter, and the oxygen we breathe. Yet flowers are an embellishment – an extra thing for us to enjoy, provided to us by our Creator. Indeed, life is filled with embellishments! Look around: God wants us to enjoy life. All you have to do is use your eyes and see Him in every detail.

     Use your ears as well: A great detective will listen carefully to the sounds all around. What do you hear? If you’re at church, you’ll hear the sounds of worship – of those thankful and grateful for His love. You’ll also hear the sound of testimonies – the voices of those who have stories to tell of His guidance and deliverance. But outside of church, you can hear Him just as much: The earth is alive with sounds of praise!

     When you use your ears and eyes, you’ll discover for yourself the truth about our Creator: He is on the case!   

We had a lengthy volunteer meeting this afternoon, but after that, it was time to go home and rest.  We did a lot today.  There was a bath, studying for math and piano practice as well.  Then there was popcorn, and our yearly viewing of "Wallace and Gromit:  The Curse of the Were-Rabbit."  We've said it before, but this is one of the greatest animated movies ever made.  

Anyway, tonight was early to bed, given that last night was not so early.  We read two chapters of Nancy Drew's adventure, with Nancy trapped in a closet and a villainous couple in the same room, looking for valuable jewels.  This one is a page turner - but we stopped at two chapters, because we were wanting to make sure we got to bed early.  But still, it'd be easy to just keep on reading.  Madison is really into this mystery.  Lots of mysteries going on around here, aren't there?