“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16
Jared Guyes had an idea. Jared loved nerf guns and nerf wars…and he felt like EVERY time you played nerf wars, you came away HAPPIER! (Granted, you might come away sore and bruised…but HAPPY!) So, he wanted to do something for children in the Dallas Metroplex area to bring joy. His thought was to rent some BIG place where everyone could come together, shoot nerf guns and play and laugh! He wouldn’t need to MAKE money on this…just charge enough money to pay for the facilities and basic needs…and the rest is just for FUN! So in 2011…he did it. And people loved it…and it grew. So he did again in 2012. And it caught on, and got bigger. And 2013 came…and more people came! So many nerf guns and people came, that the warehouse wasn’t big enough anymore. “I just WISH there was a HUGE building in Dallas where everyone could come together to play a game.” Hmmm…big place in Dallas?
Yes…you guessed it. AT&T Stadium. Jerry World. The Space Ship. The Holy Mecca of Football…yes… THE Dallas Cowboys Stadium! Jared RENTED OUT COWBOYS STADIUM…and it was a monster hit! In fact, in 2016, he entered the Guiness Book of World Records for “Largest Nerf Battle in the World!” (There were 2289 armed with 4394 Nerf Blasters running around on that stadium ground blasting each other!) They played, they ran, they screamed…they BLASTED! They come in costume! (A whole bunch of Avengers & Super-Hero costumes are everywhere!) They bring “Collector Weapons”! There are even rumors that several Dallas Cowboys linemen came in disguise last time they had it! Members of “Dude Perfect” and Famous E-Sports teams have shown, have paid $50 each…all for the pleasure of blasting and BEING blasted on that famous football turf! This year-after a 2 year hiatus due to covid, the Epic Battle returns to JerryWorld on Saturday, June 25!
Great Don…what does that have to do with anything?? Well for one…did you hear WHY Jared launched this crazy combat campaign?? (Nice Alliteration, huh!?) He wanted kids to have FUN! Just running and laughing and playing and having FUN! He didn’t SET OUT to get in the Guiness Book of World Records…even though he did. I doubt when he had this idea, he had any inkling that Jerry Jones would want in on this! (Jerry has supported this and is planning to launch similar battles in Atlanta at Mercedes Benz Stadium and Los Angeles at SOFI Stadium!)
Here’s a simple question: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE RECENTLY TO BRING JOY TO SOMEONE ELSE? I’m not talking about being nice and holding the door or returning your cart in the WalMart parking lot…when is the last time that YOU set out to do something to bring someone JOY!? It doesn’t have to be anything as exciting as renting a stadium and grabbing a blaster! Maybe it’s baking something for a new family in your neighborhood. Maybe it’s sending an encouraging note to someone on our prayer list. Maybe it’s coming early to church to help welcome people or make sure they have all they need down in KidZone. It’s EFFORT…to bring light into someone’s life!
Your joy WILL GROW…when you bring joy to others!But that’s going to happen when we are INTENTIONAL about loving people! When we take the time and initiative to pour into others hearts, our hearts will get the benefit…and GOD will get the glory! So GO BRING JOY to someone! Go light up your neighborhood! Go grow your JOY! If you need me, I’ll be in the toy section at Target, picking out my blaster for this year’s battle!
Shalom and Peace Unto You All!
Don
