I love college football, seriously I'm not kidding. Right now I am watching the SEC football rewind game from Nov 07 Tennessee v Kentucky. The announcers just said what an amazing comeback.
I can't think of a better comeback than the day Jesus returns, and I can't think of anything better to do until that day than teach children all about our amazing God.
Whew, I just said "Amen" out loud without anyone around!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Ephesians 3:20
This past weekend during service, the band played "Today is the Day" by Lincoln Brewster. It's an awesome song that has hints of "This is the day." The entire service was amazing and reminded me of how great our God is. He can and will do more than we could ever ask or imagine! God is in control, He is good! I feel so blessed and so free right now to do whatever He asks of me!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Camp KidJam
What an amazing week at Camp KidJam!
The kids had a blast! The teaching was amazing, games were right on their level, the energy during the jam sessions was off the charts and the small group activities totally hit the mark. Not only do your kids have an amazing time, all leaders have the opportunity to attend leader training where the Orange philosophy is explained and leaders are encouraged.
I would highly recommend this camp experience to anyone considering camp next year.
The kids had a blast! The teaching was amazing, games were right on their level, the energy during the jam sessions was off the charts and the small group activities totally hit the mark. Not only do your kids have an amazing time, all leaders have the opportunity to attend leader training where the Orange philosophy is explained and leaders are encouraged.
I would highly recommend this camp experience to anyone considering camp next year.
Friday, July 25, 2008
a snake and a hurricane
It's been a crazy week down here in Corpus Christi, Texas. First, let's unpack what happened this past Sunday morning.......
Let me start with the fact that we are currently using Empowering Kids "Fear Knot" curriculum for children birth through fifth grade and lesson one talked about how we can untie the fear knot of snakes by first calming down. The Lord said to Gideon calm down, do not be afraid. We can be calm in the face of fear because God says we can. I learned that first hand Sunday morning at 7am. I pushed the garage door button and as I watched the door rise I saw my first Texas snake! No joke! I shut the door and said to my husband; “Joey, there’s a snake outside.” The one thing my husband is not fond of more than anything else is snakes. But the fear did not paralyze him, he took a shovel and took care of the snake…………….make sure no children are reading this……………he killed it and threw it into the neighbors yard, well technically it’s going to be a neighbors yard in the future, right now it’s just an empty lot. I did think about how amazing God’s timing is though, come on, I have lived here almost a year and I have not seen one snake, and the weekend we are teaching about not being afraid of snakes one shows up at my door?? Amazing!
Then, I heard about Dolly! My first thought was; “Is lesson two fear of drowning?” So I called Craig Jutila and told him I wasn’t so sure we could finish this Fear Knot series, I just don’t know if I can make it though all eight fears if I have to try them out each weekend! We are covering fear of the dark, heights, spiders, bullies, scary movies, strangers and drowning. Anyone want to trade places?? Just kidding, I’m not afraid because I can do all things through the almighty God who gives me strength!!
Did I mention DOLLY?? Hurricane Dolly decided to say hello, (okay I couldn't resist! I know you are now singing; "Hello Dolly, well hello Dolly.") It wasn't so nice to have her around though. It was my first hurricane as well. I spoke to a good friend from "up north" and told her I wish there was a t-shirt or something I could buy that said "Baby's First Hurricane" but, no luck! It wasn't so bad here in Corpus Christi, lots of rain and wind, we were fortunate though because the eye did not pass over us.
So, how was your week??
Let me start with the fact that we are currently using Empowering Kids "Fear Knot" curriculum for children birth through fifth grade and lesson one talked about how we can untie the fear knot of snakes by first calming down. The Lord said to Gideon calm down, do not be afraid. We can be calm in the face of fear because God says we can. I learned that first hand Sunday morning at 7am. I pushed the garage door button and as I watched the door rise I saw my first Texas snake! No joke! I shut the door and said to my husband; “Joey, there’s a snake outside.” The one thing my husband is not fond of more than anything else is snakes. But the fear did not paralyze him, he took a shovel and took care of the snake…………….make sure no children are reading this……………he killed it and threw it into the neighbors yard, well technically it’s going to be a neighbors yard in the future, right now it’s just an empty lot. I did think about how amazing God’s timing is though, come on, I have lived here almost a year and I have not seen one snake, and the weekend we are teaching about not being afraid of snakes one shows up at my door?? Amazing!
Then, I heard about Dolly! My first thought was; “Is lesson two fear of drowning?” So I called Craig Jutila and told him I wasn’t so sure we could finish this Fear Knot series, I just don’t know if I can make it though all eight fears if I have to try them out each weekend! We are covering fear of the dark, heights, spiders, bullies, scary movies, strangers and drowning. Anyone want to trade places?? Just kidding, I’m not afraid because I can do all things through the almighty God who gives me strength!!
Did I mention DOLLY?? Hurricane Dolly decided to say hello, (okay I couldn't resist! I know you are now singing; "Hello Dolly, well hello Dolly.") It wasn't so nice to have her around though. It was my first hurricane as well. I spoke to a good friend from "up north" and told her I wish there was a t-shirt or something I could buy that said "Baby's First Hurricane" but, no luck! It wasn't so bad here in Corpus Christi, lots of rain and wind, we were fortunate though because the eye did not pass over us.
So, how was your week??
Monday, July 14, 2008
Phil Vischer's new deal
I just took at peek at an amazing new venture from Phil Vischer. Think Nickelodeon, Disney, Empowering Kids, Webkins, PBS, and the Bible all together in one place. What does that look like? There is a 28 min promo at www.jellytelly.tv. Check it out...
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Location, location, location rolls off the tongue so nicely. People know what it means and it's repeated several times so it must be important. This isn't something new, Jesus did it, "Do you love me?...feed my sheep. Do you love me?....feed my sheep" Jesus would not have repeated it if it wasn't important!
I can honestly say in my experience the most important thing in a healthy team approach to ministry is communication. For whatever reason, the church is full of people who are just plain passive aggressive. Being direct is not as common as you would think. We are supposed to speak the truth in love, not love the truth but don't say anything.
Too often harmony comes into play. People are often paralyzed with worry about hurting someones feelings. Therein lies the problem. Speaking the truth in love may end up with hurt feelings during the initial conversation, but that is never the intention. Before any opportunity to practice my "speaking the truth in love" skills I make sure I am prayed up and all emotions are taken out of the conversation.
About 15 years ago, a friend told me I call a spade a spade. I didn't quite know how to take that, was it good in "church world" to be frank or was it bad? I must say I was taken aback by that comment, but not for very long. I personally like to know where I stand without any game playing. I have seen too many leaders in the church act one way when in public and another in private. I pray I never fall into that trap. I also pray I don't go so far in my frankness that I become callus. I guess like anything else, it's a balancing act. Maybe as church leaders we should adopt the following mantra; "Communicate Communicate Communicate." It's repeated three times, Jesus style if you will, so it must be important. I think communication makes a staff stronger by eliminating assumptions, defensiveness, and hidden agendas, and by allowing the team to speak the same language. I can just see it now....mugs, t-shirts, lanyards....maybe not, but if we all start communicating better, unity isn't so far out of reach.
I can honestly say in my experience the most important thing in a healthy team approach to ministry is communication. For whatever reason, the church is full of people who are just plain passive aggressive. Being direct is not as common as you would think. We are supposed to speak the truth in love, not love the truth but don't say anything.
Too often harmony comes into play. People are often paralyzed with worry about hurting someones feelings. Therein lies the problem. Speaking the truth in love may end up with hurt feelings during the initial conversation, but that is never the intention. Before any opportunity to practice my "speaking the truth in love" skills I make sure I am prayed up and all emotions are taken out of the conversation.
About 15 years ago, a friend told me I call a spade a spade. I didn't quite know how to take that, was it good in "church world" to be frank or was it bad? I must say I was taken aback by that comment, but not for very long. I personally like to know where I stand without any game playing. I have seen too many leaders in the church act one way when in public and another in private. I pray I never fall into that trap. I also pray I don't go so far in my frankness that I become callus. I guess like anything else, it's a balancing act. Maybe as church leaders we should adopt the following mantra; "Communicate Communicate Communicate." It's repeated three times, Jesus style if you will, so it must be important. I think communication makes a staff stronger by eliminating assumptions, defensiveness, and hidden agendas, and by allowing the team to speak the same language. I can just see it now....mugs, t-shirts, lanyards....maybe not, but if we all start communicating better, unity isn't so far out of reach.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Day 6
It would have been nice if I decided to start with day 1, but oh well, you can check out days 1-5 at www.fromorphanstoesthers.blogspot.com.
As I sit here and reflect on what God has done over the past week I am thankful, humbled, and I feel extremely blessed. I have listened to stories of these little ones who are not adoptable because their parents haven't signed off so to say, or because they have 4 other siblings (unless of course you want to add all 5 to your family), and I feel so sad. The living conditions in the orphanages are not horrible, in fact they are pretty decent. They are clean, that's for sure, but they are just so old; lots of metal and concrete. What makes me sad though is the thought of them not being able to have a family. I am sure the children at the orphanage and their caretakers try their absolute best to provide a similar experience, I just don't think it comes close.
I have been texting my family each day (several times a day) and the bond and love I have for them can not be manufactured in an orphanage. I received a text that just said, "hi mommy, i miss you" from my 15 year old daughter, I can't imagine how much those children miss their moms and dads, or for those who have never had a mom and dad, how much they long for the day someone shows up at the orphanage to take them home. Some of these sweet children have never known that kind of love, I pray that someday they will, maybe someday my husband and I can be the ones who show up, maybe.
As I sit here and reflect on what God has done over the past week I am thankful, humbled, and I feel extremely blessed. I have listened to stories of these little ones who are not adoptable because their parents haven't signed off so to say, or because they have 4 other siblings (unless of course you want to add all 5 to your family), and I feel so sad. The living conditions in the orphanages are not horrible, in fact they are pretty decent. They are clean, that's for sure, but they are just so old; lots of metal and concrete. What makes me sad though is the thought of them not being able to have a family. I am sure the children at the orphanage and their caretakers try their absolute best to provide a similar experience, I just don't think it comes close.
I have been texting my family each day (several times a day) and the bond and love I have for them can not be manufactured in an orphanage. I received a text that just said, "hi mommy, i miss you" from my 15 year old daughter, I can't imagine how much those children miss their moms and dads, or for those who have never had a mom and dad, how much they long for the day someone shows up at the orphanage to take them home. Some of these sweet children have never known that kind of love, I pray that someday they will, maybe someday my husband and I can be the ones who show up, maybe.
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