Once there were two brothers who were very naughty. Always they were up to some mischief.

One day, their mother asked a Pastor to talk to her sons and put the fear of god in them so that they would mend their ways. The Pastor asked her to send her sons to him one by one.

Firstly, the younger brother went to the Pastor and sat by his side. The Pastor asked him in a commanding voice, "Where is God?"

The boy didn't react. When the Pastor asked again, the boy ran to his elder brother and said, "Do you know God is missing and everybody thinks that we are responsible for this."

Hello there, Mark, the illustrious AWANA commander back for another try at, “guess my ailment”. Clue number one, I get like this whenever anyone from the government shows up and say,” we are here to help”.  Clue number two, every time a look at pictures of me when I was in Navy boot camp I do this. Clue number three, every time I pick up a story written by Mark Twain and read it I definitely do this. A final clue is any time someone touches the bottom of my feet I can't help but pick up this ailment. Have you guessed it? Do you know what it is? All right, all right one more hint. Every time there's an AWANA meeting or an AWANA event I'm overcome by the insatiable need to do this. Okay, you must be able to guess what my ailment is. This element is very infectious and when hit with this element it will knock you off your chair. Have you guessed it? Okay, one final clue but this is the last one, okay here it is. Whenever my wife looks at me she breaks out in this ailment so much that she falls on the floor with convulsions. All right that's it you had a whole paragraph to figure out what this element is. I'm just going to have tell you. My secret ailment, the element that is infectious and that everyone should be getting on a daily basis is the disease of laughter.

As the AWANA commander and teacher and all around malcontent of the Santee Christian Church AWANA program I'm constantly berrated with the sudden surge of laughter every time there is an AWANA get together. Our AWANA clubbers make it fun; our AWANA clubbers make it adventurous and interesting. Yes, our clubbers are learning the Bible and the words that are in the Bible. Our clubbers are learning to get along with the people around them and are learning to accept authority (I never did). But our clubbers are also learning how to laugh and enjoy themselves. Me, as I watch the clubbers enjoying themselves and having fun it just makes me want to laugh, and then I realize that laughter is the best reward that I get out of being part of the AWANA program. There are a lot of people that need to laugh, that need to enjoy themselves. If you are one of those people we have an opening for you. You can come and listen to a clubber read the Bible to you and recite there verses. You can come and help out with the games or the food. If you do come, and there's nothing for you to do at that moment sit down and have an impromptu Bible study. When you come I can guarantee you this, you will have fun, you will laugh, and you will walk away with a better understanding of how a child learns Jesus and the Bible.

We have some events coming up one being the third annual AWANA Derby. We will be racing wooden car that the clubbers have made with their own two hands. The date of the race is March 3, 2012. I think the start time is 11:00 am-4:00 pm, I think, they never tell me anything, I am sooo kept in the dark. Adults can participate too. They can make their own cars and race them. Of course I don’t know why you would want to, you know who’s going to win, ME.Ok, if you think you can beat me go right ahead, but I’m just saying. Just to let you know, the spring fling is just around the corner.

Well that's all I have to say today, however; before I go I would like to leave a little thought.

The wise man can pick up a grain of sand and envision a whole universe. But the stupid man will just lay down in some seaweed roll around until he's completely draped in it, then he'll stand up and say, “ I'm vine man”.

Until next time, oh one more thing “GO GIANTS”, Ok, now I’m done.

T.T.F.N.        

Commander Mark Imhoff