What does community with believers look like?  How do or should our families live life with other families? We were discussing this topic at our Colonial Woods Community Group last week using Acts 2:42-46 and 4:32-35 as jumping off points.  There are four main purposes that the apostles and the early church had for themselves:  teaching, fellowship, eating & prayer.  And what was the result of all this:  "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (2:46).

A couple of notes that I find interesting:

• They met daily, not just once a week.
• To meet with that many people likely meant they would have been outside - thus drawing a lot of attention to themselves and causing an almost infectious presence of the Kingdom.
• The Lord is the one who was adding people to their number, it wasn't based on the works of the people.
• They had "Great Power" in their sharing about the resurrection of Jesus and in the provision of their needs.

I'm struck how 'unlike' the American Church is to this model.  While teaching is central to the church - eating, fellowship and even prayer are seemingly given cursory glances.  It's certainly not out of lack of trying!  Pastors today run themselves into the ground trying to make fellowship and prayer a priority of the Church.  The issue is not lack of effort or lack of knowledge, but of vision...

I think we often think, "Hey, I'm a good person: I go to church, give my money, send my kids to children's church, pray as a family a little bit.  What else does God want?"  Well, that particular question would take quite some time to answer - which I may throw some insights towards that in the future - but God asks, demands, and deserves everything.  Check this passage out:

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

For the folks listening to this passage back then, the cross was a device of torture and death - not one of glory and hope like we think of it today.  Jesus was basically saying, "If you want to be my disciple, you have to deny any rights you have - even your right to life - and do everything I ask." [I love the rest of that passage also, but don't have time to discuss it here.] That doesn't sit to well with my "American Cultur-ed" ears!!  What may God be telling us we need to give up in order to follow Him?

Church, It's Time to Get Radical

I was prompted to read through the book of Malachi this morning - and boy did I ever need it.  This short little minor prophet packs quite the wallop - calling out the people of Israel for their half-hearted, short-sighted, short-handed and lukewarm sacrifices.  Just read these passages:

"When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty. (1:8)

"Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. (1:10)

He even is talking about the priests:

Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it. (3:3)

"But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the LORD Almighty.  (2:8)

He even takes on the topic of money:

"In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (3:8-10)

I was blown away how I have been bringing incomplete sacrifices to Him!  I have been offering him only partial offerings.  He demands - he deserves - our ALL!  I especially like that last verse: "Test me in this,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it'."  You see, when we serve God - we are not the ones giving!  We are receiving!!  Here's an illustration:  What if your pastor asked you to serve by coming to wash his car twice a week?  You may say, "Well, OK: you're the pastor."  But then he says, "Oh yeah, I'll pay you $1000 a week to do it!"  Would you do it?  You bet your sweet little hiney you would!!

You see, God is the giver!  We are not the giver!  God gives us blessings and rewards.  I don't know about you, but I want that!!  You can take all of these things I posses and simply give me Jesus - they belong to Him anyway.  Church - it's time to get radical!  Are you willing to give Him everything and see what he will do?

Is Serving Optional?

If you've followed this blog or the Anchor Children's Ministry Facebook page for very long, then you know how often I put messages out there about needed volunteer and service opportunities.  In fact, you may say to yourself, "Man, he sure is needy!"  LOL.  But, on top of trying to fill open service positions within Children's Ministry, there is a much bigger picture at stake here:  Our on-going relationship with Christ!

As Christians we are called to model our lives after Jesus - He is to be our Ultimate Example (among other things) in life!  He is the one we are supposed to pattern our lives after!  So, the question becomes "Why did Jesus come to earth in the first place?"  (You know where I'm going with this.....)

You remember the argument that James and John - and their mother - had with Jesus about who was going to sit  at the right and left hands of God???  The Sons of Zebedee wanted to know how to be great!  Jesus' answer would I'm sure have been rather shocking:  If you want to be great, you must become a slave / servant to each other!

"Huh!?!?!?  Jesus came to serve?  But, he's the Son of God - the One who created the world.  He shouldn't be serving anyone, but should be served by us!"  As followers of Christ, if we truly desire to be committed to Him, WE MUST SERVE!!!!!  There is no way around it.  In fact, the Bible is riddled with verses and themes about serving others.

Fellow Believers - Serving is NOT optional!  If you simply come to church every week, maybe give a little money, then go home - you are NOT following Christ.  You may be a Christian - but you are not a Christ Follower!  We are CALLED to serve!

Are you willing to step up to the plate?  Do you want to make a difference in the lives of your kids?  Service opportunities abound - will you answer the call?!?

New Resource: Faith Begins @ Home Dad

I will be reviewing a series of books by Mark and Maria Holmen from the Faith Begins @ Home Movement.  Here's the first one!

OK Men, it's time for a little 'man-to-man' talk!  Let me ask you a couple of questions:

• What is the most important thing you want to pass on to your children?
• What do you think when you hear that your child's faith will be a mirror image of your faith?
• What are you willing to do so that your, your children and grandchildren will one day enter eternal life in Heaven?

These are just some of the hard hitting questions Mark Holmen address in this new resource:  Faith Begins @ Home Dad.   This book will convict and inspire you to truly change the way you live your life and the priorities you have set up.  I found myself saying, "OUCH!" several times as I read through the first few chapters.  A short read, one that packs a powerful punch, you can finish it likely in just a few hours.  Even for people like me who fall asleep when they read!!!  

Challenge to Our Priorities

Mark lays out a clear challenge to the things dad often prioritize for our kids.  We all want various things for our children, not the least of which is a strong faith in Jesus; but do we act like faith matters?  "Here's the deal, dad:  You can raise your children to be a Cubs fan, a soccer star, an avid hunter, a straight A student or a successful business leader, but if they end up spending eternity in hell, will you be proud of what you did?"  Yup, that one hurt!

Challenge to Obey

Instead of asking WWJD - What would Jesus Do - the real question is WWJHYD - What would Jesus have YOU do?  When someone "gives you the bird" on the expressway, WWJHYD?  When you're on a trip alone in a hotel room, and pornography abounds, WWJHYD?  When you haven't read the Bible in a week but it's opening day of Tiger baseball, WWJHYD?  Men, are we living in obedience to God's Word?  

Challenge to Choose then Commit

"At the end of the day it comes down to a choice.  You have to choose whom you are going to serve. It is an unavoidable choice."  Left alone, children will NOT follow God - it is part of our fallen nature.  As parents, we have to intentionally show our children how to live for God.  No choice is STILL a choice - it's a choice to NOT follow Him.  

We must commit to spending time with Jesus and then passing that story down to our children.  Can we be as committed to our raising Godly children as much as we are committed to our favorite sports team?  Can we be committed to following Jesus even when "times are tough."  

Your Influence

Now the good news!  You still have the chance to turn things around!!!  Men, you have the 2nd most influential position in your child's spiritual development - 2nd only to your wife!  You exert more influence than pastors, sport figures, youth group, youth sponsors, and (believe it or not) well above their friends!  Are you ready to stand and fight for your kids to escape an eternity of fire and pain?  Are you ready to fight for your kids against the powers and schemes of Darkness?  It's time to take a STAND!!!

His, Dean Butterfield

Superman vs. Jesus

During my devotional time today - which is all too few and far between - I was reading about how Jesus was FULLY human.  It directed me to read Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 - likely one of the most famous Messianic passages from the Old Testament.  There are some interesting thoughts around this question:  What was life like for Jesus as he was growing up?

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

There are times when I may not have been popular, and certainly experienced suffering in my lifetime; but I don't think I can ever say I've been "despised!"  But our Savior was!

"Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards."

I have certainly been mocked before - both in my childhood and adult life - but I can't say I've ever been a "song of the drunkard!?"   But our Savior was!

I then got to thinking, what life would have been like for Jesus growing up?  Did these things take place as a kid, teenager, adult????  Here's an analogy...

Remember the original Superman Movie???  You know, the one with Christopher Reeves????  [Yes, I'm THAT old!]  As Clark Kent, Superman was just an ordinary kid who was made fun of and put down.  He didn't play any sports or show himself to have any special talent.  But underneath that, he was The Man of Steel!  He could do just about anything - including FLY!!!!!!

I wonder if Jesus was picked on and made fun of as a teen???  Did he keep his Lordship under raps??? Underneath the exterior of the Son of Man, was the King of Kings!  One who would save the world!!!

I guess what I'm getting at is that no matter what you've been through, God has been through worse!  No matter what you've done, God has been there!  Remember that as you go through your day!

They're.....just.....kids!

I hear these 3 little words more than I want to admit!  And, like Mike Johnson from Fellowship Church, it IRKS me!  Kids deserve our best!  They deserve to be trained properly before sending them on the front lines of the battle field!  Watch this powerful video for a great illustration of what it means when we DON'T train our kids to follow Christ:



What I love about the volunteers of Anchor CM and Family Journey in Faith is that they care about giving kids the suit of armor they need to stand against the schemes and battles they will face.  WAY TO GO TEAM!!!!

Dean

Randam Thoughts....by Dean Butterfield

For those of us over the age of 30, you may remember a sketch on Saturday Night Live called "Deep Thoughts.....by Jack Handey."  They were quotes to either show the absurdity of a situation or intentionally be stupid.  Here is one of this quotes:

“If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let'em go, because, man, they're gone.” --Jack Handey

Or you can watch some by heading over to this site.

Well, this is:

Random Thoughts....by Dean Butterfield

• Why is it that when I start looking for volunteers, I think I hear crickets chirping in the background?
• How one spends their time and money communicates values to our kids.  What values are we communicating?
• As a Christian, I believe the Bible is the ultimate authority for all of life.  But do I really live and think that way?
• How do you communicate grace and truth in one sentence, with using the word "...but..."?
• Have you ever seen horse fly, a horse fly, a horse fly?
• I am amazed nearly everyday how God has gifted His people for the work of the Kingdom.  Now, only to use those gifts by answering the call......

Thanks for listening.

Hungry For You, Jesus

In our staff Chapel time today, we sang this song.  This really struck me today and made my cry and long for my Father.  May it encourage you today, as He is waiting for you too!

How do you view children?

I ran across this sign today and wanted to share it with you:

Clearly in God's word children are called a blessing, yet in our culture they are often treated as a nuisance, a distraction and a hindrance to our success.  Just last week as my family and I (Remember, 5 kids and 2 adults) were entering a restaurant, my wife noticed a rather judgmental glance from one of the other patrons.  After sitting down and ordering our drinks, that same lady walked over on her way out and said, "When I first saw you guys coming, I thought 'Oh, No?!?;' but you have a wonderful family."

[Caveat - we have our moments!]

If we truly think children are a blessing, we will praise the families that choose to accept as many as God blesses them with.  I'm not saying everyone needs to have 4, 5, 6 or more children - I am simply stating that in our culture - WE HAVE IT BACKWARDS!  We easily take on things that the Bible calls a curse, and just as quickly reject what the Bible calls a blessing.

In Him, Dean

Google Search: Why Did I Get Married

If you've come to this site from Google, read below!!!!!!!!! Oh year, everyone else too.

OK, so you see that little Site Meter Stats box down a little bit on the right? That is a little way I can track how many people have visited Anchor CM's blog. It also tells me:

• Where they live - Port Huron, Toledo, etc.
• What Internet service provider they are using - Comcast, Verizon, etc.
• What pages or blog entries they visited
• what web browser - Internet Explorer, FireFox, etc., and
• How they came across my website - Linked from another blog, etc.

So get this: the overwhelming reason people visit my site has NOTHING to do with Children's Ministry or Colonial Woods (the church I work in)!!! I get at least 5 visits per day people referred from the Google search: why did I get married. A while back I had a couple of posts talking about those popular films by Tyler Perry using them as a springboard to encourage us to be more vulnerable with our spouse.

Now, I find that interesting because I wonder why people are searching for the answer to that question. Is it because they are looking for information on the movie? Or are they searching for answers to that question for THEMSELVES??? Given our current culture and the rate of divorce in our nation, it wouldn't surprise me that people might just be turning to the Internet to give me a 1 good reason why they should stay married.

Perhaps I am reading more into this that what is necessary, but what if people do happen to stop by this site on their search for answers? What should we tell them? What would you tell them? If I had to give the one answer as to why they should stay married, it is for the reason that you got married to begin with!!!!!!!!!!

You're asking the right question - why did U get married - because the reason you got married should be the SAME reason you STAY married. What is that reason? Depends.....

• Because I couldn't imagine spending my life without her.
• Because I came alive when I met her (had to borrow that one, but it's TRUE).
• Because there is no one on earth like her.
• Because my Love for her is only bettered by God's Love for me.

What would you say to that person if you knew someone was reading this blog and asking "Why am I married?"

Dean

You & Your Child Making a Difference

A Facebook friend of mine is the Founder of Kids for Christ USA that helps parents HELP THEIR KIDS establish Bible clubs IN SCHOOLS. As the school year kicks off, and since we are called to be salt and light into a dark and broken world, perhaps this will be of interest to you.

First, your child MUST be attending the school in order for you to get one started there. The way it works is that your child is the "sponsor" of the weekly group and you act as a "host." Bob's vision for KFC-USA is simple:

• Reach children in the public schools with the good news of Jesus Christ.
• Encourage young believers in their faith; enabling them to live consistently in Christ.
• Train and equip young believers with what they need to win others to Christ.

If you are interested, and I know some of our own Colonial Woods kids would ROCK at this, get in contact with them HERE.

School's Back in Session-Post #1

...or will be soon enough (shout out to all those who don't start school until after Labor Day)!! I hear conversations all over the place about what kids and parents are excited about this upcoming school year. I hear conversations about the different between public school, christian/private school and home school. I hear about parent meetings and student orientations taking place. I even hear and see comments from parents (usually *moms*) about sending their young kids to school for the first time.

I went to public school nearly my entire life (1/2 semester in private, Catholic school that I cannot even remember), and I remember thinking often about why I need to learn to read, write, do math, understand science, etc. As an adult, being WAY more sophisticated (*cough, cough*), that question has morphed into "What exactly is the purpose of education?"

Just doing a Google search on that question brings about 161,000,000 hits!!! Here is how a few of them answer that question:

• "The purpose of education is to make the world a better place!"
• "The purpose of education is mental, moral, and aesthetic development, the unfolding of each person's personal best."
• “The only purpose of education is to teach a student how to live his life-by developing his mind and equipping him to deal with reality."
• “The central task of education is to implant a will and facility for learning; it should produce not learned but learning people. "
• "The true purpose of education is to bring about profoundness to one's emotions, to broaden one's perspectives and to lead to a healthier approach of looking at life."

Such a myriad of answers to a seemingly simple question!!! It appears that these definitions and others seem to have 2 things in common: 1) Education is something we receive or do, so that 2) we can give it away or go out and make a difference. Sound familiar???

As believers, we are to RECEIVE the Grace and Love of God through acceptance (the doing) of His Gift, then GO and make a differnece in the world. Education is about Knowing and Growing in Christ to then share that love with others. The goal of education for our children is for them to know God personally and then share it to others.

I'm gonna post some more on this topic over the coming week or so, but feel free to leave some thoughts and comments on this train of thought so far.

Repost: Why we homeschool?

It is a fact that, in America anyway, we live in a money driven society that requires people to work to make money in order to survive. A long way off are the days of Star Trek in which things can be replicated by a computer and consumed (a little shout out to my fellow Trekies). So how do families balance it all?

Should both husband and wife work? Can we make it on one salary? What if the two of you are at odds about this issue? It is an ever brewing and controversial topic in society and even more so in the church. As you may have guessed, or just know about us, my wife is a stay at home mom (SAHM).

Before our 1st child was born, we made the decision for her to stay at home, which has now turned into homeschooling (or will as my other three kids get older). We had to make tough financial choices along the way, some of which are not popular either; but we feel that this is God's design for our family (Deut. 6:4-9, 1 Timothy 5:14, Titus 2:4-5, Acts 20:28-29, Proverbs 27:23).

For us, the bigger issue is about Discipleship - something as believer's in Christ we are ALL called to be part of (Matt. 28:16-20). The more time I have with them, especially when they are young, the more likely it is that my faith will become their faith and will stick as they get older. (Of couse, it will change, but the roots of the faith start with our parents and childhood experiences.)

What are some of your thoughts?

Dean

Is Bigger Really Better?

I posted this orginally on a blog that I do some guest work on for The Cory Center for Children and Families, but thought I would repost it here too.

I have often wondered about the phrase “Bigger and Better,” and whether or not there is any truth in that statement, especially as it relates to Children’s Ministry?

I mean, it appears that the best Children’s ministries are the ones at churches larger than 2000 and have large budgets. It also seems that the CM directors that are most talked about and well known in the blogging world are the ones @ these larger churches as well. But what about the little guys? (Of which I still fancy myself one.)

For instance, I know some great CM directors from seminary that are in small to medium churches doing great things in bringing about the spiritual formation of children. I look at Ryan Frank, Children’s Pastor at little known Liberty Baptist Church in Sweetser, IN, a church of less than 900; but his ministry at Kidz Matter provides CM resources all over the country. Is Bigger REALLY better?

Certainly having a treasure of resources and access to a bigger pool of volunteers (though I am sure we all struggle with finding qualified CM volunteers) does have its advantages and allows for greater flexibility. But being smaller comes with some great opportunities as well: necessity for creativity, ability and time to develop more 1:1 relationships, flexibility if one happens to make mistakes, etc...

So, if you are reading this and struggle with being at a “small church/ministry,” take heart!!! God can and will use you to make a difference in the lives of kids & families. Remember, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ (Col 3:23-24).

In Him, Dean

Are we Making a Difference?

We are in the process of making some decisions about bussing at our church and whether or not to continue carrying out that ministry. You may or may not have been part of that ministry or even known it to have existed. It's a hard decsion to make given how much of a struggle it is to keep it going and the fact that very few people seem to care to keep it going - myself included!!!

But let me provide a different perspective on it....this blog entry came from a fellow Children's Minister this morning. It is POWERFUL and helps shed some new thoughts on this debate. Perhaps it will strike you like it struck me........

I used to do a lot of Bus Ministry. Things have changed in the last few years where running busses is not feasible right now… but I still have a little place in my heart ready to pounce when the time is right again.

Bus Ministry is a great place to learn a lot… hard and fast. You make a lot of mistakes… and you ask a lot of internal questions… and it challenges the living crizzle out of your beliefs and makes you wonder if it’s worth it at all.

Once I remember questioning whether pulling a kid out of their situation for only a couple of hours a week was actually doing any good for them at all. I was explaining to God how they’re bombarded with family issues, inner-city pressures, peer-pressure like you’ve never seen… how was my little song-n-dance once a week going to provide any help… especially for those who didn’t half listen?

God told me—I must stop here for a moment and make sure you understand that when I say “God Told Me”, that it works like this: I get a really excellent idea in my mind that I know in a million years would never come from my own jacked up, over functioning brain—flatly”:

“When you’re in a fire… any moment you’re not burning is a great moment.”

I knew exactly what He was telling me. These kids were in the worst of situations… and though I was questioning our effectiveness, God was making it clear that every moment they were free from that situation was a precious, precious time for them. It helped me so much. Suddenly I saw their hyperactivity in a new light. They were excited to just be kids for once. They were getting a chance to play, a chance to connect with adults who truly cared about them as people. I wasn’t allowed to downplay any of the time we spent with them after that.

This concept doesn’t only apply to Bus Ministry… but to any ministry to children. Sure, we only get them a few hours a week… assuming they come every time the doors are open… but that time is precious. Especially from God’s point of view. Even if all we did was play with our kids rather than teach, for some of them it would be the most spiritually refreshing moments in their week. Experiencing God’s unconditional love in a safe, accepting environment should be the foundation of every children’s ministry experience.

Connect the Dots - Part 4

We’ve been on a journey looking at how to connect the dots from Sunday to Sunday to bring about spiritual formation and the discipleship of children. We have discussed the issue IF we should try and connect with kids throughout the week and listed some ideas on how to make that happen.

Let’s be honest, Children’s Directors are NEVER short of work to be done! What we need to then focus on is how we maximize our resources and efforts to bring accomplish discipleship of children. What is the most and/or least effective?

One of the strongest messages of God’s Word is that parents are responsible for the spiritual formation of children. But if we believe that, why do we continue to set-up programs that do not include them? We should be focusing on events that bring kids and parents together. The weekend Christian Education programming will always be there, but what about special events and family ministry ideas?

I think we should also be striving to do everything we can to encourage and equip parents with the tools necessary to help them raise Godly disciples in their children. Parents are berated all day long (often from themselves) how they don’t measure up; we should take every chance we get to encourage and empower them with this clear message:

God chose THEM to raise their children! There is no one else He would rather do it. There is no one else that can do it and He will give them the ability to make it happen.

Those are key areas we should focus on as we seek to partner with parents to keep kids connected to the Vine.

Dean Butterfield

The "Real" place of Volunteers

As I am writing up an article today for our monthly Volunteer Legacy Award, I was once again struck with some thoughts...

Volunteers, do you guys know how much we appreciate you?  Any given week, I work with over 70 of you - and I am wondering if you guys FEEL appreciated?  Am I doing enough to let you know of the awesome job I think you guys are doing?

Our legacy award is something we've done for well over a year now, but how many of you can actually name 1 volunteer who has received (not counting yourself or relatives)?  Do you truely feel valued?

I hear and read countless times a month how churches today struggle with finding volunteers, typically in children's ministry since that ministry takes the most people to make it happen.  Our church is no exception, though it seems to be getting better...

I wonder if we elevated the role and impact of volunteers more, if we would actually get more?  If we celebrated them once or twice a year with gifts?  If we sent them a thank you note every once in a while?  If we sent them a gift certificate on their birthday?  If we made these Legacy Awards A BIG DEAL rather than regulate it to a service in which, if we are lukcy, only 40 people show up to, out of 1400!!!

So...if I've never told you before (which I hope I have)....and if I never do it again (which I know I will)......

THANK YOU!!!!

In Him, Dean

The Complete Picture

As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I've been working on this concept of making FULLY, committed disciples of Christ and how that intersects with the different aspects of our being - physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.  If you have not read my previous thoughts on that, do that first HERE.  

Kids and all humans are wired to want to grow!  As soon as kids start to grow physically we start calling them big boys or big girls.  We want kids to grow in their emotional health as well; for instance we buy a pet that some day we know will die so we can help kids know how to deal with death.  Intellectually we are especially wired to grow.  Infants start to crawl and 'rock' in order to reach (and eat) their favorite toy.  We are also wired to grow spiritually, but God's Word teaches us that we are wired to grow in a negative direction - Sin!

Where is this coming from?  I was recently reading a book by Dr. Tim Kimmel by Grace-Based Parenting.  In one chapter he mentions the need to develop our children in a complete capacity:  physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.  However, he spends just as much time on the P, E, and I aspect that he does the Spiritual, if not more!

If we want our kids to make Christ the center of our lives, we need to spend far more time on the Spiritual aspect of who they are than on any other.  It should take precedence over everything else!  This can be stated another way:  If you put God first, everything else seems to fall into place.   While that phrase is a little crude, there is a great deal of truth in it.

So, while there is more to come on this topic, what do you think?  Am I off base on this?

More to come,

Dean

How to Connect the Dots....Part 1

I recently heard Phil Vischer, creator of Veggie Tales, speak at a Children’s Pastor’s Conference where he talked about connecting the dots from Sunday to Sunday.  The question he posed to the children’s ministers listening was “How do we connect the kids, and connect WITH the kids, from Sunday to Sunday?”

He mentioned that kids on average watch 2-3 hours of television and spend an additional 2-3 hours on the internet EACH DAY.  It is no wonder why kids know more about Hannah Montana than they do about the teachings of Paul.  It’s also no wonder why kids are more emotionally engaged to American Idol than they are the Gospel of Christ.

As a Children’s Leader, this makes me ask at least one BIG question:  What can I do to connect the dots from Sunday to Sunday with the kids in our ministry?  Over the next few weeks, we will begin to look at that question and discuss:

 What works and what doesn’t work?

• What is most effective and least effective?
• Do we attempt a Family ministry program or not?

 Come back and check it out.  Also feel free to comment.

 Dean

A little different take

I'm preaching next month on Sunday evening, May 17th and I have been debating on what to talk about.  Being a children's pastor and passionate about making my kids into fully committed disciples of Christ, I want to preach on a passage like Deuteronomy 6:4-9 - but that is what I preached on last time (not that people will remember that).

At the same time, I had a bit of a windfall from God while talking during our last Family Journey In Faith event for parents of 1 year olds.  We were talking about how we as parents see and sense tendencies in our children from an early age.  We then tend to follow these tendencies and get them involved in activities to enhance those.  For instance, if our children show athletic ability we get them involved in sports activities.  Or if our children show early signs of intelligence, we tend to see if there are advanced education programs we can get them involved in.  Those are all good things, not wrong in any way...

But here's the deal:  those tendencies only show one side of the picture.  God made us with multiple sides to our personalities and make-up:  physical, emotional, intellecual and spiritual.  Moreover, we are called to Love God with "all our heart and with all your mind and with all our soul and with all your strength."  But in our culture today, even with Christian families, we tend to focus on the 'strength' and 'mind' part of that verse.  We elevate athletic ability, music ability and intelligence over the heart and soul aspects, something I think we have backwards.

There is a lot more I can and hope to say on this topic, but I should reserve it for more blog posts later.  Keep coming back and see what develops.

Dean