12. FP Computer Missions Fair

Just as sure as water runs down hill the Flour Power kids, silver haired helpers and leaders started talking about having a computer missions fair; Flour Powered that is. Though Pastor Tony had never heard of one he gave his permission and the date was set for the next month.

The fair exhibits were to be exclusively kid made, flour powered cardboard construction. With that in mind the leaders made it clear to Pastor that this is to be a missions fair and not a computer fair. Its purpose is to teach children of all ages how they can and should be missionaries starting in their own back yard.

In the same way there are different Flour Powered computers that are better at certain things, God calls different children to honor Him with their talents and time.

It’s the job of adults and church leaders to cultivate those talents using love and God’s Word. Some children bond especially well with silver-hair smiles and lots of well-seasoned hugs.

While snacks were served in the activity room the fair exhibits were arranged in a large circle around the gymnasium. The whole Super Sixties Seniors group showed up and even with a couple visitors scratching their heads wondering when church became all this exciting and how they had fit right in so easily.

Just to show you how really out-of-this-world exciting the fair was, even Two-Thumbs Jackson was giving his complete attention to the variety of exhibits. You have to know that Two-Thumbs got his nickname from his fellow 4^th graders because he ALWAYS had both thumbs going on some video game every place you saw him at or walking to. But today was different. Today he was learning some things about God’s style of computing… with flour, cinnamon, and cardboard.

The flour kids even made their own Salvation tracts showing a computer and the ABCs of Salvation. Granny Simms was there and is she a character. She was a ‘Rosie-the-Riveter’ that helped build B-17 bombers for the Air Force during World War II. She could be real determined when she believed in her mission. Faster than a speeding bullet she stuck a Salvation tract in Two-Thumbs Jackson’s hand and ushered him down to the next table before he could decline or hardly know what happened.

No one knows exactly whose idea it was but Karen Tipton started taking a picture of each student and putting it next to their exhibit. It was well received and also helped the exhibitors to really be identified with their exhibit and testimony.

1. Four exhibits grouped together to make a Computer Grace Exhibit showing how important practicing Grace before touching the computer. It’s a lot like table grace.
   1. The first of the 4 computer grace Darla displays emphasized that we start by THANKING God for giving us computers, cardboard or otherwise. We must be careful to not think of them as evil. They are just God given tools that sometimes are used by evil people.
   2. The second item in Computer Grace is to ask God to GUIDE us in the amount of time we spend on it and to focus us on His work to be done.
   3. The third is to ask God to GUARD us against going to ugly places on the Internet and maybe even giving out our private information. Sometimes our feet can take us to dangerous places. Well at the keyboard and muse our fingers can also lead us to the quicksand of sin.
   4. The fourth item in Computer Grace is to ASK that He use our fruits of computing to His honor and the Salvation of souls.

2. Good Posture and Lighting
   1. One of the Darla Desktop displays showed a stick man sitting up straight in a chair in front of a computer. Above him was a bright light. A bit X was over the bright light.
3. Palmer Pocket PC’s
   1. One Palmer was suspended from a string that was shown to be coming down through the clouds. The young person would tell the onlookers that God gave us computers and we need to use them like they belong to Him.
4. Email
   1. One Darla had a picture of an envelope with a Cross on the front of it. Behind the envelope was a ball that tried to look like the earth. This exhibit reminds us to use our email efforts for honoring God and encouraging missionaries.
   2. Another Darla exhibit showed a large ship with one of those big containers that carry missionary supplies to where they are needed. Next to the picture of the ship and container is a database list that suggests it is an inventory of all the precious supplies.
   3. One more Darla exhibit had John 3:16 typed out and then under each word was some scribble letters that makes you think the user is probably using his/her computer to translate God’s precious promises into languages so hungry to hear the words of eternal hope.
   4. A Palmer showed two stick figures one larger than the other. Between them was a box that kind-of looked like a Bible. The little artist couldn’t spell discipleship or probably even pronounce it, but has undoubtedly already had a taste of the joyful process.
   5. Megan, that’s Tony’s secretary, touched him on the arm and asked if he would take a look at this particular Darla Desktop exhibit. He followed her. Megan described the exhibit as best as she could. It was a report, sort-of, of Pastor Tony’s sermons. The young person had cut over a dozen pieces out of past church bulletins. The pieces were the titles of Pastor’s sermons. Megan said, “Tony, do you see what’s on her heart? With her Darla pretend computer she’s typing your sermons. She’s not thinking of serving the Lord with her keyboard in some far away country. She’s set her heart on typing your sermons, maybe to take to folks that have no computer…or electricity for that matter. Tony, her mission is her own local church…doesn’t that just bless your heart?”

5. The honorable mention award
   1. If there were one, would have to go to the exhibitor that drew a picture of an Internet Web Browser. Whether on purpose or by accident, where the word “GOOGLE” is supposed to be, the word “GOSPEL” was clearly written. In its appropriate position just to the right of the large letters was the click button “Search”. Tony got a lump in his throat as his eyes saw the word “GOSPEL” and then the word “Search”. He wondered how many souls within a short distance of the church are searching for the very hope and peace that comes in simply saying yes to the GOSPEL.

The fun thing about Flour Powered Darla Desktop Computers, Cinnamon Flour Mice, Palmer Pocket PCs, and Larry Laptop Computers is that they can be used in all sorts of displays. But above all they are great at being built by children at no cost, and they are incredibly powerful missionary tools to be used in Africa, Australia, Austria, or your very own backyard.

The greatest messages of Flour Powered Church Computers is that God wants to use His tools for His front lines soldiers and students in the Great Commission. What a powerful way to bond the oldest and youngest generations under Heaven.

In Flour Power this silver-haired senior finds fulfillment of Psalm 71:18:

Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have
shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.