Something that’s helpful

So I just noticed this come across a friends blog who is a fellow brother in Christ, Jeremy Mavis.

We live in a world that is full of technology! So what is there for you as parents and us as student and children’s ministry pastors have to guide is along the journey for and with you?

We have technology as well. We have our pcs and macs and our apple or samsung products.

So as long waiting in this post http://parenttechguide.com you may find this helpful As many of the other parents out there. Even as a student I find it helpful as well.

Have a blessed day!

No Ordinary Man – a verision I would have never thought of.

Teaching this morning was about how Jesus used parables to tell the crowds about how they can become part of the kingdom.

Parables and miracles taught about today:

• Jesus Walks on Water
• Jesus Feeds the Five Thousands
• Sermon on the Mount (showed video of Sermon on the Mt.: Beatitudes)
• The Lost Sheep
• The Good Samaritain
• Teach us to Pray
• Miracle of the Fish

So I did some YouTube videos searches for segments of the follow videos and was impressed with some of them I found. I was really curious of the ones I saw for the two in italics. Right before the movie stops at the end of scenes we see there is a woman walking with the disciples. I had not noticed it before when i viewed it. My kids asked me who the lady was in the film, and I answered honestly, that I didn’t know who she was. 

The other big thing out i noticed when viewing the YouTube search is LEGOS! Oh my goodness!

I’ll share it with you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL9ZnRfFLuk

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

So how is Jesus and ordinary man:

As one of the kids i posed to my church kids:

“What did the crowds think of Jesus’ teaching”

The answer was such as this:

Jesus was no ordinary man. The people who listened to him teach were amazed at what he had to say, and they said, “we believe and know that you are the Holy One from God.”

So i pose to you:
HOW WAS JESUS an ORDINARY MAN?

 

 

As we Grow…

(image from Dr. Keith Springer, Professor of Religion, Indiana Wesleyan University)

 

As we grow in the church, some churches are given certain labels of how or why we grow in different ways.

For instance, take number eleven.

Take College Wesleyan Church in Marion, Indiana, they are right next door to Indiana Wesleyan University. Which is a big religious institution.

 

I would like to issue a challenge to you. See if you can find churches in the US or across the world that may fall into these categories. Don’t just think about growth, think about how an adult ministry will work in that sense.

How can we use the Great commission to build these churches that are growing and how to start an adult ministry if they don’t have one.

 

 

Family Life

In my Local Church Education Class today, we talked about statistics about family life and what families are like today. How as a church can we fix some of these problems. Below is the notes we talked about.

• Single Parent; No Father

• Distractions

• Christ not the center

• Parents are either over-involved or not involved at all

• No parent in the home

• no guidlines or authority

• Divorce

• Alcohol/ Drug Abuse

• Not caring – sibling fights

• FInancial problems

 

Family LIfe in America

1. Over 1 million divorces/year

2. Most children of divorce live with their mother – most live in a fatherless home for approx. 5 years

3. ½ of all children in U.S live with a single parent sometime before age 16

4. 19% of all households with children under 18 are headed by a woman without a husband present

5. 80% of divorced people remarry within 3 years

6. There are 18 million stepchildren who belong to blended families

7. 59% of moms are employed outside the home.

8. The one-worker husband-wife household has declined from 43% in 1960 to 19% today.

9. In 1980, wives contributed 25% of the family income. Today it is approx. 40%

10. 18 million adult children are now living with parents

    1. cost

    2. divorce

    3. sexual revolution

11. OVer 70 million single adults

    1. 31% never married

    2. 40% widowed

    3. 20% divorced

12. Today, 56% of women aged 20-24 are never married. In 1970 it was 36% (career goals, living together, etc. ) (marriage age is higher)

13. Population has risen 41% since 1960, crime has increased 300% (violent crime has increased by 500%

14. Juvenile violent arrests increased by 200% from 1965 to the present (% of the population)

15. Children relying on ADC increased by 400% from 1960 to present (% of population)

16. Teen Pregnancy rates have doubled since 1972) ( abortion rate has tripled)

17. Births to unmarried women increased from 5% in 1960 to 28% today

18. Child abuse case reported

    1. 300% increased from 1976 to present

19. Teen suicide rate

    1. 300% increase since 1960

20. SIngle parent families

    1. 200% increase since 1960

    2. Reason behind

       1. economy

       2. Social media w/o relationship

       3. parents not to keep

       4. parents not responsibility

       5. Parents not in touch with kids

       6. TV/ internet/ movie

       7. Seek sensitive – religion and secular cultures

       8. Money and pleasure

21. How can the church fix it:

    1. Encourage service,

    2. Address problems

       1. Be bold addressing the issue

       2. Prayer and Holy Spirit

    3. Counsel

    4. Group vs. Individuals

       1. Touchy-feely” vs. Bible

       2. Bible basic for children

    5. opportunities for single families

       1. Job opportunities

    6. give responsibility to parents

       1. have something to back it for the parents who don’t care about their spirituality

    7. connection between families

       1. structured activities.

    What are your thoughts?

Also i have a great friend who blogs about problems in the family and his ministry at his church. Check out his blog on this recent topic as well.

http://jeremymavis.com/2014/03/04/is-porn-harmless-or-is-it-damaging-lives/

Ash Wednesday

Today we celebrate Ash Wednesday which is the start of lent, 40 days before Easter.

We give up certain items or things for this season.

What are your plans for this evening are you praying for the next 40 days.

The Birth of a King

Just because its the first of March, doesn’t mean we still can’t review stories that are the big picture of the bible.

We are working through the Curriculum “THE STORY” and we are to the lesson about “The Birth of the King.” I can’t help to think how privileged i am to be teaching this lesson, because with all the hussle and bussle of the Christmas Season we sometimes often forget the true meaning of CHRISTmas!

This lesson is coming at the perfect time, because today is Lent (Wednesday, March 5)

~~What is lent you ask:

the period preceding Easter that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness. In the Western Church it runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday and so includes forty weekdays.

Runs from March 5 – April 17~~

We often forget the important things in our daily walk as Christians, because of all the national holidays that we have like Christmas, Easter, and so many other, we forget our Traditions that have been passed down.

 

I am often reminded daily about my walk and how important it is to keep Christ in the Center of my life.

I would like to share a song with you that may help you remember that Christ is key in this life, not anything else.

Christmas with a Capital “C”

Christmas with a Capital “C” Movie – Preview

 

I hope you remember to keep Christ the center even with all the hussle and bussle of our daily life, because he is STILL KING!

Your Life Calling!

So by know most of you know what your calling is going to be right… well who told you it was going to be what your doing. Did God, or did you just decide on your own what you think God has in store for you.

I wanna tell you a story that I was told last night at Waterline Church. This story is from the bible, it is when Peter walks on water.

The story is found in Matthew 14:22-33. It says:

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Pastor John described this story by drawing bubble charts. One Chart had US in the middle, and he had us describe what we were, like this:

• Father
• Son
• Husband
• Student
• Friend
• Bible addict
• Work – can’t stop
• Pastor

Eventually while speaking he put God and Jesus, and he said we put these on our chart but they are just like everything else, just a piece of the pie.

He then did another one and put Jesus in the center and started listing the same things, but with Jesus in the center.

Are we going to be boat jumpers or just stay in the boat our whole life.

*************************************************************************************************************

Have I discovered my life calling?

No, but I do know where God is calling me to. I want to help children learn. Not school, but about the Lord. He has lead me to believe that I need to be a children’s pastor, I don’t know where that is going to be, but I feel he is calling me there.

To explain this, God has opened me so many doors in this past month that I wouldn’t have even imagined. He open the door for me to take the Awana Commanders position at Fairmount Wesleyan Church, which I did. Just this past week, I got told that I was needed in Alburn, with my youth pastor from FWC. He is planting a church there. God wants me with children, I have a gift for them and love everyone of the kids I see.

Jesus is the reason for my being. I don’t exactly know where he is going to tell me to go, but I know it will be some place wonderful!!

Blessings and happy calling!

Stewards of God’s Grace

This morning I thought I would share a sermon I heard this morning at Fairmount Wesleyan Church given by Pastor Seitz. This sermon made me think. So I wanna share it you and the word.

Title: “Stewards of God’s Grace!”

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Peter 4:7-11

Texts: 1 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Peter 4:7-11

Direction:

God has chosen us to be stewards. We are to be clear-minded and serious, self -controlled and watchful, given to prayer, and have intense love for one another, so that we might no only faithfully represent Him, but also be channels through which He can dispense His wondrous grace to others!

Introduction: (Matthew 25:14-30)

A. WHAT DOES THE PARABLE TEACH US ABOUT STEWARDS?

1. A Steward does not own

2. A Steward manages for another

3. For a Steward, faithfulness is required (1 Cor. 4:2)

4. For a Steward, accountability is required.

5. For a Steward, opportunity is given

 

B. HOW DOES THE PARABLE APPLY TO US?

1. Jesus Christ is the owner.

2. You and I are the stewards

3. The King will return

4. The King will require an accounting

5. What are the Steward’s responsibilities?

 

 

Outline:

1 Peter 4:7-11

This passage tells us that we are Stewards of the GRACE

“Grace” = the unmerited favor of God”

“Unmerited” = we can’t buy it or earn it

(Ephesians 2:8-9) We are Stewards of His Grace to other people

 

I. THERE IS URGENCY (v. 7)

II. THERE IS EXHORTATION (v. 7)

A. BE clear-minded and serious

B. BE self-controlled and watchful

       C. BE given to prayer

III. THERE IS TO BE LOVE AMONG OURSELVES (v. 8)

IV. THRE IS REPRESENTATION. (v. 9)

“Practice hospitality to one another… and in each instance, do it ungrudging, cordially, and graciously, with out complaining but AS REPRESENTING HIM.”

WE are Stewards of God’s Grace

WE are His only plan!!!!

 

I hope you enjoy this sermon as much as I did. Read the verse, learn them you will appreciate all things that come through Christ Jesus. Bless you and the reading of HIS word.

When God closes ONE door, will He open another, or even a window?

I really haven’t put a lot of thought into today’s post, but after a great night at Waterline Church, and having some time great time to think on the way home. It really hit me a thought that i never really thought about before. That is when God closes one door, will he open another?

Tonight… God slammed a door in my face to the fact of having a great girlfriend, who I have learned to love and really take pride in her. She has been a great friend, and has supported me  While out at dinner with the church, I saw the door slam and just walked away.

Do I believe He will open another door for me, I just don’t know. This is maybe a sign that with my ministry He wants me to be single for awhile. I haven’t ever been a person that trys to stray away from God wants me to do, but this one I am not really sure about what to do.

A key moment on trust:

I trust the people around me and I love each and ever one of them. Most of them are support me for who I am, some just are there.

Some verses, that I believe will help anyone dealing with a situation like my…

I know the plans I have for you, [Terri]. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future”(Jeremiah 29:11).

“For your Maker is your husband–the Lord Almighty is his name–the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth” (Isaiah 54:5).

I don’t know about you, but When God closes ONE door, He could open another or even a window for our sake.

Let the Journey Begin

As i blog through this year, you will see life changing moments of what is happening. I will post verses that impact me though the day, I will post what happens to me in Chapel, as a go through classes and even reading the word.

Will you follow me on my journey?

Please give feedback on what you think in the comment section of my blog.