May 2009 Archives
I'll try to post updates on what's going on at the Foursquare Convention in Anaheim at my Twitter page.
I haven't been able to find any free wireless yet.
Help us plan our Sunday morning schedule by taking this short survey.
Open Sundays at 9 AM - starting May 24
Grace Chapel Student Center
Come to church a little early and enjoy coffee drinks, tea, juice, muffins, and other breakfast food.
Proceeds help support our youth ministry.
From the Desiring God Blog
The following is from notes on Paul Tripp's message last night at the Children Desiring God Conference. Audio will be available next week.
There are five things that you must know about the children you minister to. These must always be the backdrop to the ministry you provide as an ambassador of Jesus Christ.
1. They were created by God to be revelation receivers.
They were never wired to figure life out on their own. You'll never ever know the things you need to know by just using the process of human discovery. You have to have supernatural revelation.
2. They are by nature interpreters.
Human beings do not live life based on the facts of our experience. We live life based upon the interpretation of the facts. We're meaning makers.
3. They are worshipers.
Human experience is not the most essential thing about the human experience. Worship is. It's what we're born doing and what we continue to do all of our lives.
4. They are hard-wired to seek glory.
We're glory oriented. Glory is why we like chocolate mousse cake and great movies and the last quarter of basketball games. And glory is why we exalt ourselves over others around us: we want to get as much as we can for ourselves.
5. They are self-focused and self-obsessed.
Sin causes us to shrink our lives down to the claustrophobic confines of our lives, our wants and our needs. It makes us incapable of loving anyone else.
God Is Writing Our Story, Not Us
Because these 5 things are true of all of us, as God is writing the story of our lives, we're always inclined to try and take the pen from him so we can write it ourselves.
The Bible is one long story with God's notes. Ministry to children--or ministry to anyone else--means helping them forsake the urge to write their own story, and accept instead that God is the author. Then their story will be embedded in God's larger story of redemption, so that in every circumstance they recognize that their life is about and for God.
From the Desiring God Blog
1. Have an open Bible on your lap during story time. This reinforces where the story comes from--God's word.
2. Use short sentences and few words. Too many words overwhelm young minds.
3. Be animated in your facial expressions and tone of voice. This will help keep children engaged.
4. Incorporate movement into the story and singing. Children this age need to move their bodies. Movement helps them learn and remember what you're teaching them.
5. Create routines during the story/circle times by using songs, finger plays, etc.
6. Use repetition to cement biblical concepts in children's hearts and minds.
7. Keep it short and sweet. A story time of 5-10 minutes is the maximum children this age can attend to and sit for.
by Jim Burns
At some point, storms will come to every family. But when you proactively build a strong family identity on the rock of Christ, your family can withstand whatever winds and rains come your way. A strong family identity will give your kids a solid foundation to cling to during those difficult times.
Perhaps you're wondering, How can we build a strong family identity? Click here for three principles to get you started.
