Starbucks or Church?
This video is funny but sadly it is all too real…
Entries Tagged as ''
Partner work
We need partners. We need a team. From government to corporations to small businesses to schools to churches — we work best with partners or teams. We may not always agree with the decisions of the team, but that is the benefit of teamwork. We can discuss, and even argue, the point to come to a decision.
Here is a list of partners in the Bible who worked and ministered together:
Moses and Aaron
Paul and Silas; Paul and Barnabas; Paul and Barnabas and Mark; Mark and Barnabas
Paul and Luke
Paul and Timothy
Aquila and Priscilla
Jonathan and David
Joshua and Caleb
Paul and Epaphraditus
Artemas and Tychicus
Daniel and Shaddrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Good, strong partnerships with communication and discussions following God’s ways and choices get the work done.
Kids ministering to kids
Children’s Ministry Magazine requested ideas on ways kids can minister to other kids. They asked for ways to minister where we live and in far away places. I submitted some of my ideas and they accepted 2 of them: 1) a toy drive during other times of the year rather than the usual Christmastime and 2) sharing new, unused stuffed animals with children in local hospitals.
Idea #1:
We had a lesson in children’s worship one week about doing things for others and providing things for other children who do not have toys or the money to purchase extra toys for themselves. Lessons like this sound familiar at Christmas time but this lesson came in the middle of the year not around any major holidays. We decided to involve the families of each child in children’s worship in this project as well.
Each child and his/her family purchased a new toy (something that they would like to have) and brought it back to children’s worship the following week. Some younger kids brought balls; some kids brought stuffed animals; some kids brought blankets rolled up like sleeping bags; some parents brought clothes. We filled my car with good toys and supplies for community children.
One day that next week on an extended lunch break from work, I took some kids (ages 4-10) and one mom with me to deliver the things to a neighborhood house that distributes needed supplies to families in the community.
The kids loved actually being able to see where their donations were going instead of taking it to church and having someone else deliver the things.
Idea #2:
One gentleman in our church praise band works at a local department store. He was able to get several bags of unused, new stuffed animals from the store. We gathered those animals and delivered them to a local hospital for children who are admitted for extended stays. I took a mom and her 5-year-old daughter with me to deliver those items. She loved seeing where those donations were going.
The crazy life
Why read the Bible? Why pray? Why attend church? Do any of these actions really matter? Do we ever really see results?
One author says, “Christians need to see the book (the Bible) as a way to attract interest in his core message: This Jesus thing ain’t easy — but it’s worthwhile. People might find even scripture is not so boring. It’s really ‘General Hospital meets Indiana Jones meets Lord of the Rings meets Monty Python.’ It’s filled with stories of action, adventure, fighting, sex, love, and humor. There are even fire-breathing dragons and a talking donkey.”
For the full story on this author’s reason for living the Christian life, read on here…
classroom challenges
I have had some strong-willed, challenging students in my class. There were days I felt I wasn’t going to make it. It was encouraging and helpful to have a director who understood days like that and, together, we looked for ways to help these students. We worked with one particular student, his parents, and school counselors to help him in his early childhood educational career before he enters kindergarten where there are more students per class and less one-on-one attention. We wanted to find out the source of his outbursts and behavior issues. As educational professionals, our job is to invest in the lives of children and families and help them like school, hopefully leading them to be successful in life.
Although we have had challenging moments in class and even had a summer camp Survivor theme week, we did not vote anyone off the “island” and out of the class. Read this article for more…
Ministry groups can do this
I posted this article yesterday about how churches, associations, ministry groups should be helping young people get it together and get back on their feet in healthy lifestyles.
This morning I read an article in the newspaper about a state program for teaching young parents about life, children, and how to care for and teach their children.
If the churches, associations, or ministry groups don’t work together to provide this kind of ministry, then state organizations will do it. Why can’t churches do this? Three or four churches could at least work together to do this.
Missional opportunities
Is your church missional? Does your church go on mission trips or do they do missions everyday at home?
While thinking about how to write a story about a young lady with a desperate need to have wholly healthy lifestyle, David beat me to the story.
Read the story and respond with churches, associations, organizations that provide a rehab house, a transitional house for individuals to get it together to succeed in life and living.
College colors day 9-4-09
Friday, September 4, 2009 is COLLEGE COLORS DAY. Wear your favorite college colors!
Go Gators!
Don’t tell ME what to do
One of the characteristics of the Millennial generation, the younger generation, is of them thinking of themselves. They do things their way on their terms and often don’t want someone telling them how and when to do things.
This characteristic is played out with mothers in a Florida restaurant. I understand that babies are hungry and want to eat when they are hungry. They’re fussy; however, everyone does not need to experience everything involved with feeding babies. Go ahead and feed the babies, but think of others make sure things are covered.
The younger generation needs to think of others more than they do and have consideration for others. It’s not all about ME.
A writer you should read
Here is a link to a new writing opportunity from a writer you should read. Go ahead and sign up for his articles. The first article is about a Delaware teacher/children’s minister.