One beautiful fall day, Johnny came home from school.  Everyday whether Johnny had school or not, he had newspapers to deliver in his neighborhood, so this day was no different.  Johnny enjoyed his newspaper route and talking with his customers and the spending money he earned with it.
    
      This particular fall day Johnny was finishing up delivering the newspapers, when he saw a sign in the window of the home of one of his customers, Mrs. Crawford.  The sign in the window said, "Good News Club Today."  The sign was yellow and had a smiley face on it.  Johnny thought to himself, "What is a Good News Club?"  Instead of throwing his last newspaper to deliver for the day on Mrs. Crawford's front stoop, he rode his bike up to the grass near the front door and laid his bike down.
  
      Johnny, still having his newspaper bag swung over his neck with the pouch on his right side and the strap across his chest up to his left shoulder, walked up to the front door and knocked.  A lady who was a friend of Mrs. Crawford, named Mrs. Wingert came to the door to answer Johnny's knocking.
      
      "What is a Good News Club?" Johnny asked.  Mrs. Wingert said, "You may come in and find out if you would like, but we have already started Club though so you must be quiet."
      
      Johnny followed Mrs. Wingert down the stairs to the family room, and the children that were already there were finishing up singing one of the songs for Club.  As Johnny came into the room, he heard the children sing the words, "...that's wonderful EXTRA! Good News!"  Mrs. Crawford was holding up a cardboard songbook with the picture of a newspaper boy yelling, "EXTRA, EXTRA!!"
   
      Mrs. Crawford taught the Bible lesson that week.  She explained that each person in the world had done things that are wrong, which are called "sins."  She said that because of sin people cannot go to heaven to be with God.  But she also explained that Jesus, God's only and sinless Son, came to the earth and died on the cross for people's sin.  Then three days later, He came back to life again.  At the end of the Bible lesson, Mrs. Crawford gave an invitation for the children to receive Jesus as their Saviour so they could have their sins forgiven.  Johnny didn't raise his hand to accept Jesus that week, but he did leave Club that day with a lot of things to think about.
 

Johnny, The Paper Route & Jesus (part2)

     After several weeks of going to Good News Club, Johnny accepted an invitation from Mrs. Crawford to go to a Christmas Concert at the church her and her family attended. Johnny went to the Christmas Concert with the Crawfords and when he arrived at the church there was a surprise there for him.
    
     The Christmas Concert theme was how would aliens from space view the 1st Christmas, the birth of Jesus. There was a part where the lights in the auditorium or sanctuary were turned down and a toy spaceship with blinking lights and sound effects "flew" across overhead to have the aliens arrive for the events that would take place. The 2 aliens were back in time to see everything happening, but they weren't able to be seen by those in the Christmas story or talk to them, only to each other. The aliens were shocked that the Son of God would be born in such a poor place, a barn or stable instead of a house or palace. When Jesus was born, his mother Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.
     
      A great host of angels showed up and told a group of humble shepherds about Jesus birth. Sometime later Magi or Wise Men came to the place where Jesus was.    
 
     Johnny sat in amazement as he heard the Christmas story, told through the eyes of the aliens. He knew that aliens didn't exist, but it helped him to pay attention to the important part of the story, which was Jesus being born.
     
      After the play was over the pastor spoke for a few minutes. He shared that Jesus had to be born because of sin. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Yes, he did great miracles and taught many marvelous things, but ultimately or the most important thing was for Jesus to take your punishment and my punishment for our sins on the cross. The pastor went on to say that Jesus came to the earth so that He could die for us. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." The next part of that verse says, "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," or be able to be with God forever.
       
  That night the pastor asked if there was anyone who wanted to believe in the Lord Jesus and receive Him as their Saviour. Johnny didn't respond this time yet either. What about you, boys and girls? Have you ever received the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. Have you ever admitted your sin to Him and asked Him to be your Saviour? You can do that right now. You can pray a pray like this one.
   
     
  "Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned. I have done a bunch of bad things. But I thank You for dying on the Cross for my sins and coming alive again. I know there is no other way for me to be saved from my sins than through You. Please come into my heart, forgive my sins, and be my Savior. I really want to live for You. In Jesus Name. Amen"