You may remember that I talked about a story of me being bullied in JH as an illustration on Easter Sunday. It was a fearful, troubling, and ongoing experience for me. The good side of it was that I learned to trust God more and to appreciate my church youth group more!
Many of you can remember similarly difficult experiences from your JH and HS years. Kids can be cruel and utterly insensitive. For anyone who is different than most of the other kids... a quirky personality, a physical deformity, a different skin color, an accent, a strong faith in God, an alternative lifestyle, or simply not dressing right, a seeming growing number of kids are being picked on.
The Bible addresses this topic in different ways. One way Scripture talks about this is when it talks about power. I've been studying the Book of Ruth recently in my personal quiet times. In this book we read about a man named Boaz who "had the power." He was a wealthyland owner who chose to let Ruth "glean" from his field exactly as the Bible instructed him. Yet during that same time many of the landowners were ignoring this command that was meant as a social entitlement for the working poor.
Another Godly response of Boaz was when he ordered his workers to allow Ruth to glean near them as they were working and to be sure that no one abused her in any way as she went about her honest labor. To top it all off Boaz told his servants to help provide food and water for Ruth during the rest periods of the day. You see, there was nothing during that time in Jewish history that could have kept Boaz from exercising his power to abuse or to simply ignore Ruth, yet he chose to use his power to protect and provide for her (eventually he married her...now there's a script for Hollywood!)
Christians, you have some level of power and ability in this world and we're to do the same as Boaz! Because of my personal experience of being bullied and the power I have as a Pastor and community leader I'm working to see what I and my church can do to help provide for and protect kids from being bullied.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Training Kids
The most famous verse used on this topic is Proverbs 22:6. Some translations say "train up a child" while the newest NIV says, "start children off." The Hebrew verb in question here when used in other OT passages is always translated "dedicate" and carries the idea of "starting off" something right!
Following this there is a Hebrew idiom literally translated "upon the mouth of." Of course our translations help us with what that actually means to us today..."according to." So, we start off our kids according to "the way." Throughout scripture, "way" always has the idea of the proper path we should be on.
So, it is our job as parents to start our kids on the proper path. Let me give you a simple plan for doing just that...
1. Love - unconditionally love your kids so that your relationship with them will endure through the hard times and so that they'll more readily accept your discipline.
2. Expectations - clarify your expectations with your kids. Let them know the rules and be sure not to have so many that not even you can remember them all.
3. Affirmation - children need to be affirmed more than they need negative consequences. They will learn the values and behaviors that you want for them, more quickly if you catch them doing good!
4. Discipline - the Bible doesn't equivocate on this. We must bring appropriate pain to bear on our children when they get off the path. We can't abuse or be angry in our discipline, but we also can't refuse to offer consistent correction to our children. To do so is showing them hatred (Prov 13:24.)
Bear in mind that this is wisdom literature meaning that your efforts to train your kids to know, love, and serve God will usually result in them living what they've learned. However, there are no promises or guarantees from God given here, so exceptions will happen.
Following this there is a Hebrew idiom literally translated "upon the mouth of." Of course our translations help us with what that actually means to us today..."according to." So, we start off our kids according to "the way." Throughout scripture, "way" always has the idea of the proper path we should be on.
So, it is our job as parents to start our kids on the proper path. Let me give you a simple plan for doing just that...
1. Love - unconditionally love your kids so that your relationship with them will endure through the hard times and so that they'll more readily accept your discipline.
2. Expectations - clarify your expectations with your kids. Let them know the rules and be sure not to have so many that not even you can remember them all.
3. Affirmation - children need to be affirmed more than they need negative consequences. They will learn the values and behaviors that you want for them, more quickly if you catch them doing good!
4. Discipline - the Bible doesn't equivocate on this. We must bring appropriate pain to bear on our children when they get off the path. We can't abuse or be angry in our discipline, but we also can't refuse to offer consistent correction to our children. To do so is showing them hatred (Prov 13:24.)
Bear in mind that this is wisdom literature meaning that your efforts to train your kids to know, love, and serve God will usually result in them living what they've learned. However, there are no promises or guarantees from God given here, so exceptions will happen.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Some results of your giving
I'm thrilled with the heart of generosity I'm seeing in our church as the 1Q of 2012 wraps up. Our offerings have been trending in the positive direction and there have been some generous donations to our missions and outreach goals. For the first time in some time we're not drawing on our reserves.
Recently, we've had some needs that if they had arisen just a few months ago we wouldn't have been able to do them.
1. Stacy wants to begin creating some fun backdrops for the children's ministry but we already are in a storage space crunch...so, we're able to get a second mobile mini and I was able to say Yes create away!
2. Our worship service computer crashed a couple Sundays ago and Michelle wanted to upgrade it. When she asked me a few months ago I had to say no...this time I could say Yes!
3. Tammy wants to do her usual classy set up for Easter Sunday (brunch, decor, updated signage)...I said yes!
4. Jon & I have been talking about re-doing our MVCC orientation for some time (Newcomer BBQ's became a "GPS Party.") Sunday we were able to pull it off with quality...catered lunch for adults & pizza & bounce houses for the kids.
5. I met wit Brian yesterday to dream a little about developing youth leadership and I didn't have to say...figure out how to do it with the 5 dollars in your pocket!
6. When McKenzie came back from Haiti and talked to me about if we can begin to plan to adopt an orphanage, 3 months ago I would have said we have to get our own financial house in order before we can dream that dream...instead I said let's start praying!!
I could go on with other examples, but you see the impact of what happens when you make tithing a conviction in your life. It's a win for you because you're learning to trust God and you're demonstrating Godly priorities in your life...and as a church we win because we begin to dream big!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Reaching out to broken people
Recently, I received an email from someone who had only attended our church a few times, but who appreciated the encouragement he had received from many at MVCC. He also mentioned a comment that I had made that had really encouraged him. That was yet again a reminder to me that we regularly have people coming to our church who are broken and needing God's grace. I'm glad that I took the time to speak up since I don't always. We all need to take every opportunity to share words of encouragement even with people we don't know...yet.
Last Sunday we held an important meeting to help people who want to be core players at our church to know who we are and where we're going. It's my desire and vision that we continue to be a church that is reaching out to the broken and to the vulnerable around us. Sometimes we meet people who are one or the other and sometimes people are both broken and vulnerable. Sometimes these people are obvious to us, but sometimes they're quiet about their needs. Sometimes these people are the obvious "down and outters." However, sometimes they're even "up and inners." So speak words of encouragement and pray for each other!
Last Sunday we held an important meeting to help people who want to be core players at our church to know who we are and where we're going. It's my desire and vision that we continue to be a church that is reaching out to the broken and to the vulnerable around us. Sometimes we meet people who are one or the other and sometimes people are both broken and vulnerable. Sometimes these people are obvious to us, but sometimes they're quiet about their needs. Sometimes these people are the obvious "down and outters." However, sometimes they're even "up and inners." So speak words of encouragement and pray for each other!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Learning from Tim Tebow
Every chance you get, watch and listen to Tim Tebow. I don't advise you listen to what everyone else says about him...just listen to him. There are a lot of people who want to give him too much credit and others who don't want him to get any credit for his NFL accomplishments. However, when the camera is on him here's what you usually hear.
1) Genuine optimism
2) Positive comments about his organization & team mates (both past and present)
3) Giving credit to others
4) Confidence without arrogance
5) Appreciation for the opportunities he's been given
6) Lack of entitlement attitude - desires to earn respect
7) Is quick to share about his faith in Christ but usually waits to be asked
1) Genuine optimism
2) Positive comments about his organization & team mates (both past and present)
3) Giving credit to others
4) Confidence without arrogance
5) Appreciation for the opportunities he's been given
6) Lack of entitlement attitude - desires to earn respect
7) Is quick to share about his faith in Christ but usually waits to be asked
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Reading Ruth
I'm in the process of reading through the book of Ruth multiple times and then I'm going to go back and study it slowly. If you are needing a Bible reading plan I invite you to study Ruth along with me. Make it your goal to read it through at least once this next week.
Anyone who is interested in learning and talking about the mission of the church I encourage to read and study Acts in the New Testament and Ruth in the Old Testament. I'm moved every time I read in the Bible examples of loving redemption or when I hear similar stories happening in our world today.
As you're reading Ruth, think about who has the power and who doesn't. How is that power wielded?
Anyone who is interested in learning and talking about the mission of the church I encourage to read and study Acts in the New Testament and Ruth in the Old Testament. I'm moved every time I read in the Bible examples of loving redemption or when I hear similar stories happening in our world today.
As you're reading Ruth, think about who has the power and who doesn't. How is that power wielded?
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Negative church people
I recently received a rude email from a person who had attended our church a handful of times and doesn't understand why we would care about orphans in Haiti or about doing anything outside of our immediate community for that matter. The tone of her email was very negative and she took the opportunity to throw in a couple backhanded slams at one of our church leaders who in my opinion is the epitome of the type of person I'm trying to develop at Mountain Vista...loves God, loves his family, serves his community and serves the church family.
Normally I let these types of emails simply disappear without the dignity of even a response and I pray that the sender will find the peace they obviously are missing in their life. Then, I move on with the job God has called me to do. In this case, because of the comment about one of our Spiritual Leaders I responded. I don't apologize or back down in the face of misguided criticism that is directed at one of our leaders. I'm OK if people have an honest difference of opinion or different priorities, but I'm not OK when they say things that disparage the people I respect and care about.
The reality is that people choose to join with our church or to leave as a regular occurrence due to whether they do or don't feel connected to our mission and vision. That's a good thing...we don't want people hanging around who are fundamentally opposed to what God has called us to accomplish as a church. We do want a growing number who are getting on board the bus and joining us in this amazing journey to know God and serve him in ways that matter!
Normally I let these types of emails simply disappear without the dignity of even a response and I pray that the sender will find the peace they obviously are missing in their life. Then, I move on with the job God has called me to do. In this case, because of the comment about one of our Spiritual Leaders I responded. I don't apologize or back down in the face of misguided criticism that is directed at one of our leaders. I'm OK if people have an honest difference of opinion or different priorities, but I'm not OK when they say things that disparage the people I respect and care about.
The reality is that people choose to join with our church or to leave as a regular occurrence due to whether they do or don't feel connected to our mission and vision. That's a good thing...we don't want people hanging around who are fundamentally opposed to what God has called us to accomplish as a church. We do want a growing number who are getting on board the bus and joining us in this amazing journey to know God and serve him in ways that matter!
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