September 24th marked my one year anniversary at my new job. The job I acquired also happened to involve switching churches.
This
past summer, as I was gearing up to attend one of my first all-church
ladies event, the women's ministry leader and a new friend of mine said,
"Are you coming? It is SO much fun. And I mean like real fun, not
church fun!" I immediately told her I was. Honestly, I had already
planned on going, but I wanted to make her think that it was that factor
alone that made my decision. To be honest, I had no idea what she
meant! Here are some of the questions that were running through my head
at that moment:
1. What IS church fun?
Honestly,
I grew up in the church. The only fun I think I knew how to have was
church fun. What kind of event is NOT church fun but real fun? Have I
even experienced real fun?
2. What does real fun entail?
Read: Are we going to be sinning?
3. Are we all going to be experiencing real fun?
I
knew some older ladies in the church who had already signed up. Did
they know this was going to happen? Are they going to be participating?
Have I completely missed something here?
4. Is the pastor's wife coming?
I
immediately had to look for her name on the sign-up sheet. If she was
coming, well, I just was at a complete loss of what to expect.
5. Can I still bring my fruit salsa?
As
you can see, I had many questions. I was curious. When the day came, I
was ready. I might have even woken up early (pry not.) I was ready to go
and have myself some real fun.
Turns out, real fun
wasn't too much different from all the other fun I have had in my life.
We took boat rides, sat in the sun, rode the jet ski, floated out on the
lake, played some fun games, had a few adventures, and ate a ton of
good food. Yep, pretty much what my weekends look like every summer, but
needless to say- the mystery was solved, and I was pretty glad I hadn't
been missing out all these years.
I was thankful for a
day in the sun, getting to know part of my church family better and on a
different level than Sunday morning small talk. I am thankful to be a
part of this new family and am looking forward to experiencing more
"real fun" with them all! :)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The Day of My Birth.
I'm not sure if it's because I'm getting older (I am 25, you know) or
if it's just the place I am at in life right now, but I have spent a
lot of time reflecting on things the past week or so.
25. It seems so rounded. It seems so much older.
It is so much different than I ever expected it to be.
Earlier this week, I came across a question while preparing for my Sunday school lesson on Sunday that I, for the life of me, could not remember the answer. It was so profound to me- a "simple" question in the eyes of most believers, I'm sure, but one I could not seem to answer on my own. Naturally, I googled it. And the answer was right there in front of me, in a verse in Matthew. October marks fifteen years that I have known Christ as my personal Savior, but I know there is so. much. more.
I look at my life right now, the things I value, how I spend my time, how I balance my priorities and place a greater importance on some things above others. And some days I have to wonder...am I doing it right? Am I living intentionally? Am I doing what I was created to do? God knows I fail miserably (and I mean, miserably) from time to time, but am I on the right track? Am I making progress?
I look back to where I was a year ago, and I am happy and sad all at the same time. In some areas, I feel as if I have grown leaps and bounds, while in others it seems as if I have lost progress.
I'm thankful for the way in which God created us with the ability to remember. (Most days.) How in Scripture we are told to remember- stones of remembrance that serve as a testimony to God's mighty power in our lives. How He acted on our behalf. To share with our families. To share with the world.
Fifteen years and He's still not finished with me yet...
25. It seems so rounded. It seems so much older.
It is so much different than I ever expected it to be.
Earlier this week, I came across a question while preparing for my Sunday school lesson on Sunday that I, for the life of me, could not remember the answer. It was so profound to me- a "simple" question in the eyes of most believers, I'm sure, but one I could not seem to answer on my own. Naturally, I googled it. And the answer was right there in front of me, in a verse in Matthew. October marks fifteen years that I have known Christ as my personal Savior, but I know there is so. much. more.
I look at my life right now, the things I value, how I spend my time, how I balance my priorities and place a greater importance on some things above others. And some days I have to wonder...am I doing it right? Am I living intentionally? Am I doing what I was created to do? God knows I fail miserably (and I mean, miserably) from time to time, but am I on the right track? Am I making progress?
I look back to where I was a year ago, and I am happy and sad all at the same time. In some areas, I feel as if I have grown leaps and bounds, while in others it seems as if I have lost progress.
I'm thankful for the way in which God created us with the ability to remember. (Most days.) How in Scripture we are told to remember- stones of remembrance that serve as a testimony to God's mighty power in our lives. How He acted on our behalf. To share with our families. To share with the world.
Fifteen years and He's still not finished with me yet...
Monday, September 27, 2010
Permissible vs. Beneficial
'Everything is permissible'- but not everything is beneficial.
'Everything is permissible'- but not everything is constructive.” I
Corinthians 10:23
Everyone rated video games. Imagination Movers. Cars. Disney princesses. Clifford The Big Red Dog. Is there anything inherently evil about any of these things? Probably not. Most parents would probably say, 'well, I don't let my daughter watch THAT show or play THAT video game or go see THAT movie.'
While there is nothing inherently evil about any of these things, I have to question the benefit of many of them. Before I get written off as a crazy person, I do believe there is a balance. Really, I do. I would describe my own childhood as a blend of both secular and sacred forms of learning. Yes, I watched “The Letter People” and “Lambchops Sing-A-Long”, but I also watched “The Red Nose Express” that taught me stealing is wrong and learned songs like “why do I do the things I do and who do I do them for?” I played normal games like Hi-Ho-Cherry-O and Hungry, Hungry Hippos, but I also played Bible trivia games and got cool little Bible quiz books that you colored the answer with a special marker and it would tell you if you got the answer right or wrong. (Man I MISS those!) I did watch Disney movies and had Disney princess books, but I also learned of women like Ruth, Deborah, and Rahab- women who God used to do great things for Him. Sure, I read Clifford The Big Red Dog and Ramona, Ramona, but I also read other books such as the Boxcar children that taught me strong moral lessons.
I believe part of my job, and part of what maybe God is preparing me for further down the road, is to wrestle with this question. Everything I add or don't add to a child's Sunday morning worship time is critiqued and thought of long before it actually happens. I view everything that will be showed, pray about it, and critique curriculum after curriculum. I, in a way, am my own worst critic.
A few months back, a friend of mine's daughter told me her memory verse: “Thank you for the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” She is 3. Another friend of mine's son, while I was getting him ready for bed, began doing the prayer postures he sees his Muslim mother do 5 times a day. He is 2. A little girl at VBS this summer quoted Romans 10:9 to me. Word perfect. She's 4.
Often times it is hard for me to believe- that a child who is 2 or 3 has the capacity to do any one of those things. They can learn an entire song, they can quote a scripture verse, they can do all of the prayer postures required. I have learned that a child's learning capacity starts long before many people, including parents, even realize it. My nephews often mimic me. They do what I do. They say what I say.
One thing I know and that I believe with my whole heart is it is not the job of the church to teach spiritual truths to my child. It is my God-given responsibility, and the church is there to partner with me and to offer support as I train my children in the way they should go.
If it is my responsibility, I want to be intentional about it. Sure everything is permissible- but is everything beneficial?
Interested in hearing your thoughts.
PS. I showed a Cars clip in children's church on Sunday. I have one scheduled to show for this entire video series. I wouldn't be showing it if I didn't believe the tie-in to the lesson is extremely valuable in making the connection with the kids. The kids sat there and quoted the entire clip word for word. I guess the point is, did they make the connection? Yes. At the end of the day, every single kid told me what I had said word for word after the clip. Was it beneficial? Yes.
Everyone rated video games. Imagination Movers. Cars. Disney princesses. Clifford The Big Red Dog. Is there anything inherently evil about any of these things? Probably not. Most parents would probably say, 'well, I don't let my daughter watch THAT show or play THAT video game or go see THAT movie.'
While there is nothing inherently evil about any of these things, I have to question the benefit of many of them. Before I get written off as a crazy person, I do believe there is a balance. Really, I do. I would describe my own childhood as a blend of both secular and sacred forms of learning. Yes, I watched “The Letter People” and “Lambchops Sing-A-Long”, but I also watched “The Red Nose Express” that taught me stealing is wrong and learned songs like “why do I do the things I do and who do I do them for?” I played normal games like Hi-Ho-Cherry-O and Hungry, Hungry Hippos, but I also played Bible trivia games and got cool little Bible quiz books that you colored the answer with a special marker and it would tell you if you got the answer right or wrong. (Man I MISS those!) I did watch Disney movies and had Disney princess books, but I also learned of women like Ruth, Deborah, and Rahab- women who God used to do great things for Him. Sure, I read Clifford The Big Red Dog and Ramona, Ramona, but I also read other books such as the Boxcar children that taught me strong moral lessons.
I believe part of my job, and part of what maybe God is preparing me for further down the road, is to wrestle with this question. Everything I add or don't add to a child's Sunday morning worship time is critiqued and thought of long before it actually happens. I view everything that will be showed, pray about it, and critique curriculum after curriculum. I, in a way, am my own worst critic.
A few months back, a friend of mine's daughter told me her memory verse: “Thank you for the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” She is 3. Another friend of mine's son, while I was getting him ready for bed, began doing the prayer postures he sees his Muslim mother do 5 times a day. He is 2. A little girl at VBS this summer quoted Romans 10:9 to me. Word perfect. She's 4.
Often times it is hard for me to believe- that a child who is 2 or 3 has the capacity to do any one of those things. They can learn an entire song, they can quote a scripture verse, they can do all of the prayer postures required. I have learned that a child's learning capacity starts long before many people, including parents, even realize it. My nephews often mimic me. They do what I do. They say what I say.
One thing I know and that I believe with my whole heart is it is not the job of the church to teach spiritual truths to my child. It is my God-given responsibility, and the church is there to partner with me and to offer support as I train my children in the way they should go.
If it is my responsibility, I want to be intentional about it. Sure everything is permissible- but is everything beneficial?
Interested in hearing your thoughts.
PS. I showed a Cars clip in children's church on Sunday. I have one scheduled to show for this entire video series. I wouldn't be showing it if I didn't believe the tie-in to the lesson is extremely valuable in making the connection with the kids. The kids sat there and quoted the entire clip word for word. I guess the point is, did they make the connection? Yes. At the end of the day, every single kid told me what I had said word for word after the clip. Was it beneficial? Yes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)