It really goes without saying that working with children in any way, shape or form poses many different challenges. You want adventure? Don’t bother joining the Army. They’ll ship you overseas, make you wear green and make you eat awful food. (No offense to our military intended! It’s a noble and necessary calling, really!) But if you want adventure right here in your own back yard, help a kid. It is indeed a challenge and an adventure, but it’s worth every minute. Parents know this; parents who care, that is. Teachers know this; teachers worth their weight in post-it notes, that is. Daycare workers know this; daycare workers who have a passion for helping kids and seeing to their well-being, that is.
Approached in the correct way, with the proper attitude, these challenges can really result in some very rewarding experiences, most importantly for the child, but also for the parent, teacher and daycare worker. Seeing a kid’s face light up when you tell them they have the potential for great things is just one of those rewards. Watching a kid beam with joy when you tell them you’re going to call their parent, not because they’re in trouble but because you just want to brag on them is another. Having a kid smile to themselves when they know they’ve answered a question correctly just adds to the long list of rewards you get when you work with kids.
Perhaps the biggest reward in working with kids comes when you realize that you are doing what the words to a popular song say: “Touching heaven, changing earth.” Jesus told his disciples to “suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for such is the kingdom of heaven.” He also told his followers that unless they became as little children they could not enter the kingdom of heaven. Kids of any age, even the ones who are indeed impossible to deal with or seemingly even reach are pieces of heaven. When you make a difference in the life of a child we touch heaven and change earth, even if it’s just for them, because then that child, hopefully and prayerfully, goes out and changes his earth.
Go touch heaven today. The piece of earth changed just may be yours!
-Ben Hanneman
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The Jesus Storybook Bible
Have you been looking for a great children’s Bible for that special kid in your life? It would make the perfect Easter gift to keep the focus on Jesus. I know what you’re thinking: “She must be working on commission.” No, I’m not. I just happen to love reading this Bible myself (my kids love it too) and want to share it with you. This wonderful Bible is "The Jesus Storybook Bible" written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Jago. It contains 21 stories from the Old Testament and 23 stories from the New Testament. These stories are not written with verses, but every story points us to Jesus. In a gentle, yet passionate way, Sally Lloyd-Jones tells how mankind could never be good enough or wise enough or work hard enough to save itself. Each story shows the condition of the heart, the need for a savior, and God’s promise to rescue us through Jesus. Here is an excerpt from the first story in this exciting Bible.
“No, the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne - everything - to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!” (page 17)
Jago uses brilliant illustrations to help tell these incredible stories. I appreciate his use color, texture, and emotion. I also like his representation of various cultures and ethnicities. If I could draw, I’d try to give you a taste of the beautiful illustrations by Jago. But, I cannot. You will have to pick up a copy for yourself to see his amazing artwork.
Check it out here: www.jesusstorybookbible.com
- Anna Spraker
“No, the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne - everything - to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!” (page 17)
Jago uses brilliant illustrations to help tell these incredible stories. I appreciate his use color, texture, and emotion. I also like his representation of various cultures and ethnicities. If I could draw, I’d try to give you a taste of the beautiful illustrations by Jago. But, I cannot. You will have to pick up a copy for yourself to see his amazing artwork.
Check it out here: www.jesusstorybookbible.com
- Anna Spraker
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Heart, soul, body
I would like to share an illustration I once heard, and use myself sometimes when I preach.
Here is a story of a boy and a girl. The boy had a bag of marbles, the little girl a bag of candy.
In the course of a conversation it was decided that the boy would trade all the marbles for the girl’s entire bag of candy. The two made an agreement that they would each bring their respective objects of trade the following day. The boy went home thinking of all the wonderful candy he would be eating, of all the blessings and goodness, if you will (sugar is not substance, I know, but work with me, it is perhaps what we really receive when the intent of our heart is as this young boy’s and we deceive ourselves). At one point in the evening he went to look at his bag of marbles, remembering where he had gotten each one. He picked out the biggest, prettiest marble, keeping it for himself. The following morning he gave the bag of marbles in trade for the bag of candy as agreed upon (minus his favorite marble). That night he lay in bed thinking about the little girl, and a single thought crossed his mind. This thought began to bother him as he lay there, keeping him up, tormenting him, really. Had the little girl really given him all the candy?
It is this way with some of us. I think we sometimes go to bed at night wondering if God has really given us His all. It should cause us to examine. Am I expecting God’s best without a thought as to whether I have indeed given Him my best? He deserves my best. I deserved death. Have I truly given myself heart, body, and soul to Him and His plan for my life? Is that apparent in my daily life?
He is worthy of a life of worship.
- Chris Farmer
Here is a story of a boy and a girl. The boy had a bag of marbles, the little girl a bag of candy.
In the course of a conversation it was decided that the boy would trade all the marbles for the girl’s entire bag of candy. The two made an agreement that they would each bring their respective objects of trade the following day. The boy went home thinking of all the wonderful candy he would be eating, of all the blessings and goodness, if you will (sugar is not substance, I know, but work with me, it is perhaps what we really receive when the intent of our heart is as this young boy’s and we deceive ourselves). At one point in the evening he went to look at his bag of marbles, remembering where he had gotten each one. He picked out the biggest, prettiest marble, keeping it for himself. The following morning he gave the bag of marbles in trade for the bag of candy as agreed upon (minus his favorite marble). That night he lay in bed thinking about the little girl, and a single thought crossed his mind. This thought began to bother him as he lay there, keeping him up, tormenting him, really. Had the little girl really given him all the candy?
It is this way with some of us. I think we sometimes go to bed at night wondering if God has really given us His all. It should cause us to examine. Am I expecting God’s best without a thought as to whether I have indeed given Him my best? He deserves my best. I deserved death. Have I truly given myself heart, body, and soul to Him and His plan for my life? Is that apparent in my daily life?
He is worthy of a life of worship.
- Chris Farmer
Monday, March 8, 2010
ANSWERING HIS PRAYER
As Easter draws nearer, I start thinking about Jesus as the Suffering Servant: what He went through and why. When I examine my life I can’t help but ask myself, “is Jesus getting what He deserves? Am I really the answer to His prayer?”
John 17:22-23 "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”
When Jesus is praying these words He is hours away from being betrayed by Judas, arrested, mocked, beaten, and killed for a crime He didn’t commit. He knows all of this is coming and in the hours before it begins He is praying for … us, you, me. His thoughts are focused on making sure we will live for what He is about to die for.
The question is are we? We have been entrusted with the glorious Gospel of salvation. Is the reality of what Christ has done for us shining through our lives? Does the presence of the Lord rest upon us in such a way that others are drawn to Him? This is the prayer of my life. I want Jesus to receive everything He asks His Father for when I lay my life at His feet on the last
-John Spraker
John 17:22-23 "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”
When Jesus is praying these words He is hours away from being betrayed by Judas, arrested, mocked, beaten, and killed for a crime He didn’t commit. He knows all of this is coming and in the hours before it begins He is praying for … us, you, me. His thoughts are focused on making sure we will live for what He is about to die for.
The question is are we? We have been entrusted with the glorious Gospel of salvation. Is the reality of what Christ has done for us shining through our lives? Does the presence of the Lord rest upon us in such a way that others are drawn to Him? This is the prayer of my life. I want Jesus to receive everything He asks His Father for when I lay my life at His feet on the last
-John Spraker
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
What Would You Ask For?
Last Sunday in Children’s Church, I asked our kids a question. “If God were to come to you right now and say that he would give you any one thing your heart desired, what would it be?” Of course, there were the safe answers such as God’s heart, eternal life and to go right on to heaven now. Some of the adults in the room stated they would like to have all the money in the world or to have all the financial debts removed. There were some other, more selfish answers such as a Lamborghini car, all the puppies in the world, a horse and the ability to have superpowers. After making a list of all the answers, I spent some time talking about the condition of our heart. You see, we can tell the condition of our heart when we find out what we are most focused on in life. The Bible clearly states that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. When given a quick opportunity to answer the question, the kids and adults in the room blurted out those things that were the most pressing in their hearts. It is not that any of these items are bad things to ask for, but we must ask ourselves . . . would God be pleased with our choice.
In I Kings, there is the story of Solomon. God appeared in a dream to Solomon one night and told him He would grant Solomon any one thing his heart desired. After giving it some thought, Solomon asked for wisdom. I Kings 3:4-15 is where the story begins. In verse 6 Solomon responded “You’ve shown great love to my father David, who was your servant. He lived in your presence with truth, righteousness, and commitment. And you continued to show him your great love by giving him a son to sit on his throne today. Lord, my God, although I’m young and inexperienced, you’ve made me king in place of my father David. I’m among your people whom you have chosen. They are too numerous to count or record. Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
Verse 10 says all we need to know about Solomon’s choice . . . “The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for this. God replied “You’ve asked for this and not for a long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies. Instead, you have asked for understanding so that you can do what is right.” We can see from later scripture that Solomon was blessed indeed with wisdom. So much so that men came from all over the world to learn from him. On top of that, the Lord blessed him with a long life and with riches beyond compare.
Interesting thought though . . . where are all of those riches now? There is no mention in any museum of the great throne made of pure gold that Solomon had (which no doubt would be worth in the millions or possibly billions). There was so much silver in Solomon’s kingdom that it literally had no value. All of his household items were made of gold. Anyone know where those things are now? No doubt, these things have been lost in time and may never be recovered.
So, what can we learn from this story? Maybe we should each examine our heart a little more closely and ask ourselves what is it that our heart desires? Are we asking God for material goods that would possibly make our lives better in our own eyes (say, a new car, a new house, a better job) or are we really asking God for those things that would make us better servants to others in His kingdom? Material goods will not last. The Bible says we should store up our treasures in heaven and not on this earth. Stop worrying about what you have or what you would like to have. Instead, let’s ask God to give us what we really need to be effective servants in His kingdom.
-Pastor Chris Blackburn
In I Kings, there is the story of Solomon. God appeared in a dream to Solomon one night and told him He would grant Solomon any one thing his heart desired. After giving it some thought, Solomon asked for wisdom. I Kings 3:4-15 is where the story begins. In verse 6 Solomon responded “You’ve shown great love to my father David, who was your servant. He lived in your presence with truth, righteousness, and commitment. And you continued to show him your great love by giving him a son to sit on his throne today. Lord, my God, although I’m young and inexperienced, you’ve made me king in place of my father David. I’m among your people whom you have chosen. They are too numerous to count or record. Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
Verse 10 says all we need to know about Solomon’s choice . . . “The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for this. God replied “You’ve asked for this and not for a long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies. Instead, you have asked for understanding so that you can do what is right.” We can see from later scripture that Solomon was blessed indeed with wisdom. So much so that men came from all over the world to learn from him. On top of that, the Lord blessed him with a long life and with riches beyond compare.
Interesting thought though . . . where are all of those riches now? There is no mention in any museum of the great throne made of pure gold that Solomon had (which no doubt would be worth in the millions or possibly billions). There was so much silver in Solomon’s kingdom that it literally had no value. All of his household items were made of gold. Anyone know where those things are now? No doubt, these things have been lost in time and may never be recovered.
So, what can we learn from this story? Maybe we should each examine our heart a little more closely and ask ourselves what is it that our heart desires? Are we asking God for material goods that would possibly make our lives better in our own eyes (say, a new car, a new house, a better job) or are we really asking God for those things that would make us better servants to others in His kingdom? Material goods will not last. The Bible says we should store up our treasures in heaven and not on this earth. Stop worrying about what you have or what you would like to have. Instead, let’s ask God to give us what we really need to be effective servants in His kingdom.
-Pastor Chris Blackburn
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