I am getting this option on my next car...
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Brian "Head" Welch Formerly of Korn
A great story from the former heavy metal rocker Brian "Head" Welch. Sure helps to eliminate that God only wants people who have it all together and look "pretty"
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Friends, Musilms, Reminders, and Lebron
As some of you are aware I serve as a 4th grade Children's Ministry teacher at my church, and as we are getting set to wind down the current 4th grade year, we will have the month of August off and then will start again with the incoming fourth grade class. I have had the privilege to have a Children's Ministry mentor in the person of Mr. K who I assisted the last two years. Mr. K after seven years is considering taking a break for Children's Ministry (a well deserved break!) and today as we celebrated his birthday at the end of class, I reflected back on my first day we met Mr. and Mrs. K.
From day one, they made me and my wife feel at home and it became apparent very quickly, God had placed us with Children's Ministry teachers who had it right - the Bible came first and our duty was to teach the children to the best of our abilities and assist them growing in Christ. After sitting back and watching Mr. K teach the first 3 lessons of the year, my admiration for him grew and I desired to learn everything I could from him to be an effective teacher. My teaching experience and dealing with 4th grade children coming into my first year amounted to zero and I did not quite know what to expect. Over the next two and a half years, Mr. K became a mentor, a brother in Christ, and someone I am proud to call a friend. Mr. K introduced me to the Christmas and Easter choirs (even though I cannot sing!) and got me involved in many things which I will be forever grateful for.
While our teaching styles are different, combined we formed a very effective team. While I am sure there were some days Mr. K left and told his wife "you will never believe what he did with the kids today" or on many occassions wondered "where is this going" I know he came to realize that the Bible and the children are very important to me, and I understand the importance of keeping "the plain thing the main thing and the main thing the plain thing". While our styles may be different, the lesson Mr. K taught me always remained the same. God's Word comes first and in everything we do it must be Christ centered.
For the first time, it really hit me today that Mr. K may indeed take the much deserving break he has earned. If that indeed happens, I am sure I cannot fill his shoes and it will never be "my class" - I will just be trying to continue on Mr. K's class and the standard he set. I truly understand after seven years the need for a break and support Mr. K one hundred percent. But in the years ahead, the door will always be open to come back and lead his class whenever he desires. I know from being on Mr K's team, that while the children he has taught over the years may not have knew it then, I am sure they each will one day reflect back and when asked "who was the Sunday School teacher that had the greatest impact on you" will think of Mr. K and answer with stories of how much they learned and of course they will never forget the end of the year pie in the face event that became a trademark for Mr. K's class.
It is with mixed emotions today I realize I may have only one more class to learn from my mentor. I want to see him go, but I do not want to see him go. I guessed I am blessed that I know if I need him at anytime he will be there and I can always seek his advice.
Mr. K - thank you for everything you have done for my family, for sticking with me and allowing me to grow as a teacher and for the encouragement you have always provided. Children's Ministry will not be the same without you if you decide to take a break, but I hope you know I will be carrying on everything you taught me and everything that you led by example and can only hope to become half the teacher you are.
Missionary Meeting:
After church today we had the pleasant surprise of being invited to a birthday party for a very special boy that my daughter helps with at the church. While celebrating his birthday, we had the pleasure of meeting two missionaries from Indonesia who are here with the Ambassadors of Soccer. It was very interesting learning that their country was primarily Musilm and that they had to come up with a different name other then the Ambassadors of Soccer to be able to function in their own country spreading the Good News. While they have places to worship the majority of the cities and villages are still Muslim. I left amazed at how we take our freedom to worship for granted, and in awe at their desire to travel the world sharing Jesus Christ. Just awesome.....
Reminders:
At the same birthday party for this very special boy, the mother got up and thanked God for him, and then thanked everyone who helped with him and for glorifying God. She wanted to remind us that every act of kindness we do is glorying God and that is why we are here - to glorify God. Next time you hear someone say "what is the point of life" use that opportunity to introduce them to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and let them know we are created and are here to glory God...
Lebron:
I think everyone in the world knows Lebron James chose to leave his hometown Cleveland Cavs and went to Miami. I have never met Lebron James and cannot state anything of fact about him. It seems however, he is chasing man made idols and I really do not have a problem with him changing teams - but I did not like how he did it. I believe this plan of Wade, Bosh, and James has been in place for the last three years which is fine, but I do not think LeBron needed to go on live TV and announce he was leaving the city that had embraced him, paid him millions and catered to his every desire. I cannot believe he did not contact the owner of the Cavs to tell him his decision and his "King James" attitude I am sure was not developed at the Cathoilc High School he played at. Lebron has seemed to have forgotten we do not worship false idols and our treasures are not here on earth, but stored in heaven. I pray that Lebron glorifies "the man up above" (his words from his TV special) and uses his talents to further the kingdom rather then forget no matter how much money he has or how many rings he wins, in the end he will stand before God and those things are not going to matter. One last thing that struck me, Lebron said on his TV special that "he wanted to be a good father". HEY LEBRON try being a good husband...oh wait, I forgot YOUR NOT MARRIED!
From day one, they made me and my wife feel at home and it became apparent very quickly, God had placed us with Children's Ministry teachers who had it right - the Bible came first and our duty was to teach the children to the best of our abilities and assist them growing in Christ. After sitting back and watching Mr. K teach the first 3 lessons of the year, my admiration for him grew and I desired to learn everything I could from him to be an effective teacher. My teaching experience and dealing with 4th grade children coming into my first year amounted to zero and I did not quite know what to expect. Over the next two and a half years, Mr. K became a mentor, a brother in Christ, and someone I am proud to call a friend. Mr. K introduced me to the Christmas and Easter choirs (even though I cannot sing!) and got me involved in many things which I will be forever grateful for.
While our teaching styles are different, combined we formed a very effective team. While I am sure there were some days Mr. K left and told his wife "you will never believe what he did with the kids today" or on many occassions wondered "where is this going" I know he came to realize that the Bible and the children are very important to me, and I understand the importance of keeping "the plain thing the main thing and the main thing the plain thing". While our styles may be different, the lesson Mr. K taught me always remained the same. God's Word comes first and in everything we do it must be Christ centered.
For the first time, it really hit me today that Mr. K may indeed take the much deserving break he has earned. If that indeed happens, I am sure I cannot fill his shoes and it will never be "my class" - I will just be trying to continue on Mr. K's class and the standard he set. I truly understand after seven years the need for a break and support Mr. K one hundred percent. But in the years ahead, the door will always be open to come back and lead his class whenever he desires. I know from being on Mr K's team, that while the children he has taught over the years may not have knew it then, I am sure they each will one day reflect back and when asked "who was the Sunday School teacher that had the greatest impact on you" will think of Mr. K and answer with stories of how much they learned and of course they will never forget the end of the year pie in the face event that became a trademark for Mr. K's class.
It is with mixed emotions today I realize I may have only one more class to learn from my mentor. I want to see him go, but I do not want to see him go. I guessed I am blessed that I know if I need him at anytime he will be there and I can always seek his advice.
Mr. K - thank you for everything you have done for my family, for sticking with me and allowing me to grow as a teacher and for the encouragement you have always provided. Children's Ministry will not be the same without you if you decide to take a break, but I hope you know I will be carrying on everything you taught me and everything that you led by example and can only hope to become half the teacher you are.
Missionary Meeting:
After church today we had the pleasant surprise of being invited to a birthday party for a very special boy that my daughter helps with at the church. While celebrating his birthday, we had the pleasure of meeting two missionaries from Indonesia who are here with the Ambassadors of Soccer. It was very interesting learning that their country was primarily Musilm and that they had to come up with a different name other then the Ambassadors of Soccer to be able to function in their own country spreading the Good News. While they have places to worship the majority of the cities and villages are still Muslim. I left amazed at how we take our freedom to worship for granted, and in awe at their desire to travel the world sharing Jesus Christ. Just awesome.....
Reminders:
At the same birthday party for this very special boy, the mother got up and thanked God for him, and then thanked everyone who helped with him and for glorifying God. She wanted to remind us that every act of kindness we do is glorying God and that is why we are here - to glorify God. Next time you hear someone say "what is the point of life" use that opportunity to introduce them to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and let them know we are created and are here to glory God...
Lebron:
I think everyone in the world knows Lebron James chose to leave his hometown Cleveland Cavs and went to Miami. I have never met Lebron James and cannot state anything of fact about him. It seems however, he is chasing man made idols and I really do not have a problem with him changing teams - but I did not like how he did it. I believe this plan of Wade, Bosh, and James has been in place for the last three years which is fine, but I do not think LeBron needed to go on live TV and announce he was leaving the city that had embraced him, paid him millions and catered to his every desire. I cannot believe he did not contact the owner of the Cavs to tell him his decision and his "King James" attitude I am sure was not developed at the Cathoilc High School he played at. Lebron has seemed to have forgotten we do not worship false idols and our treasures are not here on earth, but stored in heaven. I pray that Lebron glorifies "the man up above" (his words from his TV special) and uses his talents to further the kingdom rather then forget no matter how much money he has or how many rings he wins, in the end he will stand before God and those things are not going to matter. One last thing that struck me, Lebron said on his TV special that "he wanted to be a good father". HEY LEBRON try being a good husband...oh wait, I forgot YOUR NOT MARRIED!
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