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I love this music! The idea behind it is: 1) make music the whole family can use together & enjoy & 2) create songs entirely from Scripture. There are five albums out currently. Oh, and when you buy their CDs, they give you two; one for you & one to give to a friend. (Note, learned the hard way that there are two different covers. If you want to have the two CDs, get the edition with the stick guy on it!) Fun! Here’s their site, & here’s a sample for you. Enjoy.
If I had a magic wand that would work out all the minor details for me (like provide the $500 plus bucks it would take, set up the frequent flier ticket, watch my children for me, etc.), I would LOVE to be at the Orange Conference in Atlanta next week. First hearing about this 252Basics thing from a blogger friend of mine a few years back, I have been intrigued by reThink ever since. It’s expensive, but I enjoy tooling around their site & “picking their brain” for ideas. I think this is their second year of conferencing & some of the breakout sessions sound awesome.
Here’s a sample of one of the sessions synopsis:
“How to Awaken Spiritual Parenting in Today’s Families – Parents are being awakened to their God-Given roles to be the spiritual nurturers of their children. But most parents feel inferior and ill-equipped for such a role. How does the church effectively come alongside their parents and both inspire and equip them to spiritually guide and grow their children, instead of merely taking on this role directly.”
It’s neat to see a curriculum produce some of the things we are trying to do in our family & what we feel very strongly about: family worship, sharing your faith in a real way, strengthening families to raise godly children, trying to help them see that as their role & not the church’s, etc. The church is here to encourage, support, equip, not take over the spiritual responsibility of church-goers’ kids. Here are a few quotes that especially excite me…
“…equipping parents with kids at every age level to become the primary spiritual leader for their kids – to partner with them so that the one hour the church has with kids each week is multiplied at home.”
“…creating opportunities for families to invite their neighbors to a relevant and engaging environment at your church – to see what happens to their own faith when they begin investing in those around them.”
WHAT IS ORANGE-OLOGY?
Orange-ology: Is the belief that two combined influences will make a greater impact than just two influences.
RED = Church YELLOW= Parents
RED + YELLOW > RED or YELLOW
RED + YELLOW = Orange-ology!
Orange is a color that symbolizes INTEGRATION and CHANGE. When you take the two traditional colors of red & yellow, blend them together & you have a whole new color, symbolizing what happens when you merge the church & family. It kicks it up to a whole new level when those two work together. *YES!!* “Every innovative idea and creative program will ultimately grow old. Styles and methods need to change more frequently than we are willing to allow. That’s because the idea of change makes comfortable Christian leaders nervous, and it keeps the Church lagging behind culture. As a result, we give a generation the perception that the Church and maybe even God are irrelevant.” Another *YES!*
Anyone have a magic wand I could borrow next week? Can’t seem to find mine. I wonder if they put their stuff on youtube or something for those who can’t attend the conference? I’ll look into that one of these days coming up & let you know if I find it.
Sorry, I’m gonna go on a short linkey binge here…
Two things that got me thinking/excited today. One is Del Tackett’s newest project, a Truth Project version specifically aimed at the college-bound teen! The other is off of Piper’s blog. Jon poses the question, “Why Jethro?” Good question. Great answer.
Speaking of Jethro & Moses, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I feel pretty useless slash lazy slash spinning my wheels for some reason. Don’t worry, it’s a phase & I’m not particularly “down”, just wondering if I’m doing all that I should be doing, where do I need to make changes, how can I be more productive, etc. I’m probably not making much sense, but it’s hard to put into words. The biggest example I can give is in the area of housework. Look around & it looks like I do nothing all day. This is my job! I do the same things over & over. I have more time this year. It still looks like this. Yikes. The Lord brought this thought to mind & I’ve decided to blog it for myself & the children (nugget of wisdom you might say)…
Every life has seasons. Even the great men and women of God, our huge heroes, those who followed the Lord closely all their lives, had faster & slower times. Moses spent decades in the wilderness “doing nothing” before God gave him his big task. Joseph spent years both in prison and doing servant work before he was given his big life task. Go down the list. David spent years in the fields watching sheep & still more time in caves being chased by King Saul. Peter spent years out on a boat sitting around catching fish before Jesus called him. Jesus Himself spent 30 years learning carpentry before his big three years. So, if you find yourself (or feel like you’re in) a year or two where you “aren’t really doing anything”, take heart. Enjoy the slow down. Take extra time to listen for that still small voice. Feed your soul & don’t feel selfish. Keep an eye out for daily “inconveniences” that God brings along your day – that unexpected phone call from a friend, the person God brings to mind that needs a note from you, that extra hour spent snuggling with a sick child, take more time on your prayer list each day. Those are the very things He wants to use in your life & through you today. Relax & just spend time falling in love with your Lord & all He’s given you.
Speaking of a passion for the lost, eyes on Heaven, etc. I met this young lady yesterday via the internet. She inspires me.
Thanks, Alex & Brett, for passing this on.
After you watch her six part story, I’d like to discuss some things with you. (Double click on the video to find the other five parts.)…
For one thing, don’t you find it interesting that the whole premise of the filmers was that this poor little Christian girl was growing up so deprived of “normal”: partying, drinking, sex, filling her mind with pop culture, etc.? What snippets I see of the other side, as I’m sure goes through Deborah’s mind as she encounters “the outside world”, it all just looks so pathetically sad & lonely! When you’ve grown up with all your emotional, spiritual, & physical needs met by a loving family & wonderful God, you see the emptiness of those other poor girls half dressed & drunk & just feel sad for them. They obviously don’t know real love, joy, peace, etc. & how could they? Those things come from the Holy Spirit. If you don’t have Him in your live, you’re left to wallow in filth trying to imitate those things & it ends up trashing your life. (The Liar comes to kill & steal & destroy.) Some commenters (on you tube) sounded like they would love to see Deborah in a few years when she heads out to college & gets drunk, shacks up, etc. First of all, nice attitude! They are wishing a beautiful girl to trash her life just because everyone they know does. Nice. But secondly, I would be willing to bet she won’t do those things. She’s a sinner, & we all make mistakes. But she’s pretty confident in who she is & what she believes; if you’ll notice, more so than any of the other people around her! Teens do not have to go through a rebellious stage! They don’t! My prayer for our children is that they too, would have this confident assurance of their Father’s love, not only accepting themselves, but seeing themselves as a wonderfully loved special creation of a loving God Who has a purpose for their lives. I pray they get to know themselves, their gifts, talents, weaknesses, early so that they can head that direction God has for their lives as soon as possible & find that joy & fulfillment in doing what God has created them to do without wasted years of stupid living to look back & be embarrassed about. I would be grieved to see them wallow in sin for years, wasting their youthful passion & zeal. It would grieve me about as much as anything would, honestly.
Two ironic things: Didn’t you think it funny they started out asking Deborah how she copes with things being “so noisy” at home, yet they thought she’d be better off experiencing the party world where the noise is so intense you can’t think? I don’t think the film makers caught the funny there, but I sure did. Also, isn’t it funny how that one lady coming out of the puppet show thought it was so terrible the family was so “in your face” about creation? Now, I would venture to bet that ironically, if the show had been in your face about saving the environment, she wouldn’t have been offended. She just didn’t want to be told she was created & there’s a God out there Who loves her but not her sin. She doesn’t want her or her child to be exposed to being told any rules (aka ten commandments) even if that keeps her out of danger!
I read through some of the comments on youtube & many of them alluded to Deborah being a “sad child”. I think they saw her sad because the film showed her so often in those sad places. Her heart breaks when she sees people throwing away their lives & floundering. I understand. She challenges me & inspires me afresh there. I used to have more of a heart like that, but over the years I’ve become calloused. It is easy for me to get hard-hearted toward people in my own culture who have been in such a time and place as America & still haven’t availed themselves of all there is out there at their fingertips! Flip through the TV channels, people! Or the radio dial, or the local library for some great books, or walk in any number of the churches around you, or surf the net for crying out loud. Between Focus on the Family, films like Fireproof & the Passion, etc. you’d think everyone would’ve stumbled across the Gospel by now, wouldn’t you? But that’s not the right attitude to have. I need more compassion for the lost. So many hurting people, that’s how Jesus saw them. And that’s how I feel when I have gotten to know their stories. I was watching Jail last night. First time I’ve watched TV in a long, long time & I now remember why. The whole show was about police locking down these drugged out drunks. Pathetic. But each of those poor souls is so obviously trapped in sin. They desperately need the Lord! They are ruining their lives & it is just really, really sad. It shouldn’t have to be that obvious, though, for me to be broken hearted – have Christ’s compassion for them.
God bless the Drapper family! It was refreshing to see a real Christian family & real teen girl who loves her Lord on TV. She also started a blog here. If you want to contact her for encouragement or discussion, I’m sure she would appreciate the encouraging words from brothers & sisters around the world.
Over Christmas, we got to visit with our pastor from Korea for the afternoon. Good times! We also got to hear him preach again. The week we were there, he had quite the catchy title & I had to share. It’s a keeper…
5 Things in Hell That Should Be In the Church
(Luke 16:19-31)
Now, stop right there. Can you think of any that could be on the list? Take a minute or two & think about where you think this sermon will go. Now read on.
First off, the fact that Lazarus was named & the rich guy not is noteworthy. Names were very significant for Jews, so this shows where Jesus was placing the importance.
1) Absence of Materialism. (vs.22) – The rich man died & was buried, in other words, he lost it all! How much of our time, conversation, etc. are gathered around luxury? The rich man’s family had the same problem; he had five brothers with he exact same problem. (Rev. 18:11-17) Application for us: Try going on a “thing diet”. Eat leftovers, only use used things, etc. Try some purposeful downsizing, repeatedly. The things Christians spend money on effects businesses. Perhaps we should use it to make statements more often. Choose to spend money more wisely & then use our wealth to help those out of work or struggling.
2) Passion for Being Poor. (Matthew 5:3) – “Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God.” Application for us: Where have you grown the most spiritually? During “fat times” or “lean times”? (Luke 16:23 & Hebrews 12:1-3)
3) Eyes Fixed on Heaven. Are our eyes fixed on Jesus? “He looked up & saw Abraham…”.
4) A Passion for the Lost. (Luke 16:23 & 27-28, Matthew 9:37)
5) An Awareness That the Choices We Make Are Permanent. – Note, the rich man never asked the obvious questions like “Can I get out of here? Don’t you remember when I gave at the temple? etc.” He was searingly aware that his choices were permanent! Application: We need a new sense of marriage permanence, spiritual commitments kept. etc. (John 3:17-18) We can’t earn our way into Heaven. And the decision is already made once we die.
Which of these five things do YOU need more of this new year? (This message was given the Sunday before New Year.)
The Veggie Tale guys have created another fun way to get the Bible to your children. Have you seen JellyTelly yet? Go here to find out more about it. Looks like a lot of fun & a “great idea”. My favorite characters so far is Alfred Wilberwale and Johnny Rogers. They’ve even gotten Rhett & Link involved. Way to go, guys! Check them out as they sing through the books of the Bible here. I previewed 2 Chronicles & just know it’s gonna be a hit with my crew. I can hear them listing the 20 kings of Judah now. Awesome!
Dallas Theological Seminary is working with Joni Erickson Tada to offering a new class in March on the Theology of Suffering. She spoke recently at DTS Chapel about suffering. If you have 30 minutes, it is an excellent message! Go here to see it.
“The greater one’s need, the greater our capacity. The greater our capacity, the greater will be our experience of our Savior.”
1 Corinthians 12:22 – “In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.”
1 Peter 2:21 – “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.”
Special thanks to Abraham Piper for passing this on.
I’ve talked about Randy Alcorn before. He’s the guy who wrote Heaven. (If you haven’t read that one yet, find a copy & get started! It’s that good.) He did a post on his blog the other day about Christian leaders that is just chocked full of wisdom & food for thought. Check it out here. Excellent reading.
I’m so excited! First of all, I never thought I’d be able to have another year like this last one in Club. The science stuff is turning out to be a real blast & the kids are learning so much about the Fruit of the Spirit & living under His control.
For next year, I’ve been mulling a few ideas around in my head, but there are several really good things out there I want to teach – how to decide & pull it all together? Came up with something I think will be perfect this morning!! I’m going to put this, this & this together to do a year on Building a Strong Foundation. We have two guys in our church who are working on an evangelistic wood workshop at their home. Already talked to one about coming in to do a couple nice wood projects with the kids. If we used the craft time once a month that we have now & ended up with two really nice wooden projects the kids did for the year, that’d be great (sand one session, hammer another, paint another). Like a birdhouse with “If God cares for them, how much more…” or something like that painted on the roof? Not that, but you get the idea. Any ideas out there? I’ll be thinking.
Here’s the basic layout for the year…
September – Truth – Talk about the 4 C’s (Consider the choice, Compare it to God, Commit to God’s way, & Count on His protection & provision), a Biblical worldview & what truth is. How do we know what is true?
Truth Chronicles = Here Am I & Truth Be Told.
Musical Songs = Do Right & Moment of Truth.
Hymn = My Hope Is Built…Solid Rock
October – Design – (self-acceptance) We were made, not by chance. We are designed to be a temple of the living God! Awesome!
TC = Science Club.
MS = You Are a Temple
H =
November – Authority – (inward peace) God set up a natural order to things. Everything works best when we get under that God-given authority. Talk about the Trinity, family structure, etc. God placed.
TC = 3 in 1.
MS = God Rules
H = Trust & Obey, Doxology
December – Responsibility – (clear-conscience) We’re accountable to God for what we do. Government only works when citizens take personal responsibility. There are consequences otherwise. We need to be “self-governing”/have self-control.
TC = Kidsboro 1-3.
MS = Fair Play & Responsibili-bili-bility
H =
January – Suffering – (joy) We are to forgive “seventy times seven”. True joy comes when we learn how to forgive as we have been forgiven.
TC = the rest of Kidsboro.
MS = 70×7
H = What a Friend We Have In Jesus
February – Ownership – (security) Nothing we have is really our own. Everything we have & are is God’s. Talk about giving up “our rights”.
TC = In My Image.
MS = Trust & Obey
H = I Surrender All
March – Freedom – (purity) When we forget that we are not our own, and start following our own desires, there are consequences. So many times God’s ways are opposite of the way we think. True freedom comes in enjoying the desire and power to do what is right, rather than claiming the privilege to do what I want.
TC = Stepping Stones, 1 & 2.
MS = You Are a Temple
H =
April – Success – (purpose) Each of us were made for something special. We must let God shape us into people of character to be usable.
TC = Final Call.
MS = All Comes Down to Love
H = Stand Up, Stan Up For Jesus
May – Wisdom – Wrap it up. It’s one thing to have knowledge, but wisdom puts it all together & into action. Do the musical Truth Works!
I am especially excited about this family devotional that goes along with everything we’ll be talking about. It’s about knowing right from wrong. I’m hoping to get a CD with the Truth Works! musical & a copy of this devotional to every family this year.
Anyway, this is just an overview to get my thoughts down. Now I can start dreaming about the details! Hymns to teach with it, theme song (Donut Man’s “Master Builder” is perfect along with the “The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock…”), wood shop projects, etc. etc. Love it!
If you think about it, please be in prayer for me Saturday (tomorrow) from noon to four-ish. A teen girl, I’ll call her Tricia, is coming over to learn how to care for a baby. She’s three months along & thinks she wants to keep her baby, but has begun to consider adoption. Thankfully, abortion doesn’t seem to be a consideration! Tricia has no family or home. The family she’s been staying with (who go to our church) are praying we get to share Keith’s adoption story with her. Tricia needs to hear some good adoption stories – she was adopted by her grandparents with the same family baggage & thus she thinks adoption is a bad thing to do to your child. Her boyfriend is out of the picture, her parents have not only not parented her but kicked her out, etc. Tricia desperately needs to hear that God can take a broken mess & make something incredibly beautiful out of it.
She has heard the Gospel, but she doesn’t have a relationship with Jesus. Please pray with me that Tricia would first of all find real peace, love, & joy in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Then please pray that this teaching/practice session goes “well” – that could include Jack having the biggest blowout diaper of his life, or an hour and a half of fussiness, I don’t even know what I’m asking for there! Part of me thinks spending time with my little Jackie Pooh Pooh would cause ANY heart to want one of their own 24/7 so thinks this might not be such a great idea. But another part of me knows she will “keep the baby” even if she doesn’t spend some time here. So, if she ends up keeping it, she needs to know how to hold, bathe, feed, etc. a youngster. AND, by her spending time with us, we have the added bonus of hopefully being able to share with her Keith’s story, and the beautiful picture adoption is of what God did for us. If I can, I’d like to plug Liberty Godparent Home, too. We’ll see how things go. She’ll need to have a few visits to realistically get a feel for what it is to tend a baby, so hopefully we’ll have several sessions in the upcoming months. Pray God gives me wisdom to know what & when to share.
I wrote Keith’s story out today – it’s one of those memorial stone posts, so takes a lot of thought, but one I’ve really wanted to tell. Read the story in the post below.
