When I was a kid, it took me a while to understand what it meant when people said, "Jesus died on the cross for me." I heard that phrase from a very young age and could see that this was important to my family and church. But the fact that Jesus died on the cross for me didn't help me until I knew who Jesus was and why He would die for me.

Maybe you've heard about God and how He loved the world so much that He gave up His Son Jesus to come to the earth. Maybe you've heard about Jesus and been told stories about His life. That Jesus was born in Bethlehem, lived a PERFECT life, performed all kinds of miracles, and died on a cross for our sins. Jesus was a man, but not only was He a man; He was also God.

When we understand who Jesus is, we start to understand the gospel. The word "gospel" simply means "good news." Jesus was good news for the whole world; but why was He good news and why did He have to die on a cross? Well, there was a problem. When God created Adam and Eve, He wanted to have a close relationship with them, but they disobeyed Him. Their disobedience got in the way of a close relationship with God, and ever since then all people have been disobeying God and not living good lives. This is the problem. When people don't obey God the Bible calls it sin, and God hates sin. In fact, all sin must be punished. God decided to do something about our sin problem: He sent Jesus.

Jesus came to make things right. Jesus came to seek and save all of us who were lost and wandering away from God. Jesus came to live a perfect life and then pay the penalty we deserve for not following God. The Bible teaches us that everyone who does not listen to God perfectly deserves to be punished. I make bad choices and so do you. We all deserve to be punished, but Jesus took that punishment for us. He died on the cross in our place.

Can you believe that someone else loved you so much that He would be punished for you? That's exactly what Jesus did! He took the most extreme punishment of all: death. And that's not the end of the story...Jesus came back to life three days later! He is so powerful that not even death could stop Him. He is alive right now and in heaven preparing a place for his children.

Are you one of His children? John 1:12 reminds us that all who receive Jesus and believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. That is the gospel! Isn't that good news that we have the right to become children of God when we surrender our lives to Jesus and trust in Him as our Savior?

When I was 5 years old, I trusted in Jesus as my Savior. It is the best decision I have ever made! I am not perfect, but I want to live for Jesus.

If you have never made a choice to make Jesus the master of your life, today is the day. Turn away from your sin and start living for Him. We all deserve to be punished because we don't do exactly what God says, but Jesus already took that punishment for you and me. Give your life to Jesus and you will be changed forever.

If you have decided to give your life to Jesus, that is the best decision you can ever make! Talk to God about how you need Jesus and how you know you have disobeyed Him. Ask Him to be the master of your life and to help you change your ways. Romans 10:9 says, "That if you confess with your mouth that 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

It is easy to forget how blessed we really are sometimes. We often have everything we need plus a whole lot more. There is a young boy in Africa named Asaba Richard who doesn't have everything we have. His father died in 2000 and he now lives with his aunt.

Asaba was born in 1994 and attends Christ School in Bundibugyo, Uganda. His favorite hobbies are soccer and biking, and his favorite subjects are physics and biology. He attends school in order to one day reach his goal of becoming a doctor.

Now is your chance to help a young boy in Africa who could use our support. Our missionaries, David and Annelise Pierce, have a major role in the school. This summer I will travel to Africa to visit the Pierce Family and would also like to bring Asaba money to support him as he goes to school. Through the work of the Pierce's, a little money from us, and God's help we can help Asaba become a doctor one day!

Any money that is brought to church in the children's area for the next few weeks will go to support Asaba! Bring in some change or a couple dollars and be a giving person like Jesus. Sometimes we should give away part of our money to people who need it more than us. Thank you for supporting Asaba!

Last Sunday in our K-5th classes we asked you to write out some of your questions about heaven. These questions are great. Thanks for your thoughts. Take a look at what kind of questions were asked. Some are funny and some serious, and I like them all.

What does heaven look like? (Most popular question)

What do we do in heaven? (2nd most popular question)

Is there a McDonalds

how many animals are there

Do you serve ice cold lemond in Heaven?

Is there organized basketball.

If an alligator dies, and then you die, can you take that alligator in as your pet, and trust that it won't eat you?

How big is it

Are there trees in heaven?

Wat coller is heavion

Where is God in heaven

What does God look like in heaven.

do you have a birthday in heaven?

Do you live in a neighborhood when you get to Heaven?

Waere is heaven

If your best friend died, then you did, do you get to see them again?

In Heaven, do you have your own house?

Are there mountins in heaven?

Am I going to travel around or stay in one place?

Is there organize football and Lax

Is heaven all white or will it look like Earth

Will we have to eat food and drink liquids

Will we really have wings in heaven.

What happens when you don't go to heaven?

Where do we live?

Can we have pets?

Are there nicer toys in heaven than on earth?

Will we live with god in the same house if there is houses.

Is heaven made of gold

how big is heaven

is it nice

What kind of stuff do they have

Can we have any pet or no pet.

Will we die in heaven too.

What will god look like

If gold is = dirt than what is dirt = to?

How will I enter when I get to heaven. Will I have to go thru gates, fall, fly.