SPRING THEME NIGHT AT AWANA!

Remind your kids that tonight, just in time for the beautiful weather, is SPRING THEME NIGHT! Pastel spring colors, flowers and the like are the order of the night for extra points. The team that looks most refreshingly springy will earn 1000 points extra. 2nd place 750, 3rd 500, and last 250. So any spring fever you can drum up will help the team! See you tonight at 6:30pm and be sure to have your kids wear appropriate footwear for game time which will likely be outside tonight!

Help Kids Choose Solutions

This parenting tip comes from the book, Home Improvement, The Parenting Book You Can Read to Your Kids Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

When a child runs into a problem, often the most efficient solution at the time is for the parent to solve the problem. But that isn't always what's best for the child. When troubleshooting a problem with your son or daughter you may want to offer several alternatives by saying, "Let's think of ways other people might solve this problem."

Depending on your child's responsiveness at the moment, you may want to share the worst alternatives first. This gives the child the opportunity to reject some of the poorer suggestions before the good ones come. As you share each alternative, help your child anticipate the consequences. After sharing a possible solution ask, "What might happen if you do that?" or "I wonder if _____ might happen if you do that?" Anticipating consequences helps your child learn to think through each alternative carefully.

After you've given your suggestions, let your child solve the problem. After all, it is his or her problem. As much as possible, avoid solving problems for children that they can solve for themselves. When faced with available alternatives children may not want to make any choice. Life is hard. The possible solutions may all look bleak.

You may ask, "What are you going to do now?" or "Which one of these choices seems like the best one for you?" Then allow the child to think about the situation. Once your children realize that the solution is up to them, they are more apt to take responsibility for choosing a response.

Keep in mind that sometimes children don't want any of the available solutions and therefore resort to complaining. Complaining takes place in two ways along the process here. First, children bring us problems by complaining sometimes and then other times children complain because they don't like any of the available alternatives. Complaining is focusing on a problem without acknowledging or taking responsibility for the solution. Complaining is unacceptable.

Don't take responsibility for a child's problem when the child just wants to focus on the negative. Encourage your children toward solutions, but leave the responsibility in their hands.

DON'T FORGET TO COLLECT KID VID VETO PLEDGES!

The Kid Vid Veto is over! Now it's time to pull out those pledge forms, and return to all those wonderful people who pledged to support your kids' hard work and collect all that money for BGMC! We're counting on big numbers from this fundraiser to reach our goal of $3,200 this year so don't miss a single person! Every dollar helps! Remind your kids that all of their hard work and denying themselves the fun of Video games and TV are for nothing if they don't collect the money. I've had a few adults already tell me they don't remember who they pledged exactly and don't know how much to give or where to pay it. I've assured them that the kids will find them. So be sure to find those people!

And GREAT JOB, EVERYONE! Don't forget that there will be a BGMC goal party coming up in May to celebrate last year's reached goal! And if we do well this year, we'll have another one NEXT YEAR! This year, we're going to have at least ONE BOUNCE HOUSE! (That's why we're waiting for nicer weather.)

Last order of Grand Prix Car Kits to Arrive Just in Time for the 1st Workshop THIS Friday Night at 6PM!

The demand for Grand Prix Car kits is AMAZING! I had 16 more kits and they were all gone by the end of Saturday Night! We had to apologize to people on Sunday again. But not to fear, I've put in another order and we will have the remaining car kits hopefully by Wednesday night and if not, then definitely by Friday night's workshop. But that's it! The car selling is done! When these last 16 cars are gone, the race roster will be closed and most of these I've ordered are spoken for already! That's over 50 cars sold. There will be another $3 RACE FEE to participate in the races, but we have a potential for a LOT of racers! WOW!

REMINDER: THE FIRST WORKSHOP IS THIS FRIDAY AT 6PM! (If you don't know how to make a car or have the tools to do it, come and let the pros help you.)

Think your kids are too young for drug abuse?

Think again. More than 100,000 ten- and eleven-year-olds admitted getting drunk once a week. And underage drinking is usually the first step towards harder drugs. The Partnership for a Drug Free America has some tips on keeping your kids away from drugs and alcohol: Make sure your child knows the rules - and that you will enforce them; role play likely scenes where your kids will be offered drugs; base your talks on alcohol and drug facts (not fear) so your kids will learn the real-life consequences; and get to know your children's friends.

Here's a very visual illustration about the depth of the illegal drug problem. The Institute of Biomedical Research found that 9 out of 10 Euro banknotes in Germany had minute amounts of cocaine on them left by abusers who used the Euros to snort the drug. Similar results have been found with American dollars in some urban areas.

Drug use among teens has risen steadily since 1992. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, approximately 55 percent of high school seniors have used illegal drugs during the year 2000. Equally shocking is that the average onset of drug use for American children now occurs during the ripe-old-age of 12. The enormous pressures on children today, coupled with the increased availability of drugs have certainly increased the likelihood so determining if a child is using drugs can be very difficult.

Substance abuse can be subtle and develop over the course of several months or even years. Or it can come crashing in like a hurricane. Short of directly observing drug use in your teen there is no single factor for diagnosing a problem, there are however, common warning signs.



Common signs of substance abuse

· Violations of curfew and other family rules.

· Rigid negative attitude -- highly defensive.

· Abrupt changes in mood or attitude.

· Weight loss (or sometimes gain).

· Change in eating.

· Change in sleep patterns. Out late—sleep all day.

· Sudden decline in attendance or performance at school.

· Losing interest in school, sports or other activities that used to be important.

· Sudden resistance to discipline at home.

· Uncharacteristic withdrawal from family and positive friends.

· Heightened secrecy about actions or possessions.

· Missing money, jewelry and valuables from household.

· Associating with a new group of friends whom your child refuses to discuss.



What Next?

Don't assume that drug using is a normal part of adolescence and they will grow out of it. It is not -- and they won't. Moreover, don't make the mistake of waiting for your child to hit their bottom because the bottom they hit may be jail, serious injury or even death. Here are some practical steps you can take:

· Don't go it alone. Ask for emotional support. Let trusted friends, family or clergy in on the problem. Tell them you want their help.

· Have your child tested. If your child denies drug use, or tells you an unbelievable story contrary to the evidence, a simple urine drug test will detect commonly abused drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and most narcotics.

· Stop enabling the problem by making excuses or covering up for your child's behavior. Your time is best spent in the solution. When a substance abusing teen has to face the consequences of his or her actions, they are more interested in seeking help.

· Confront your child directly -- Stick to facts and feelings:

"I found this marijuana pipe in your room and it scares me to death."

· Never bluff. Be willing to follow through on any conditions or promises you make. Be sure to communicate your expectations clearly and calmly.

· Contact a behavioral health professional in your community for information about education and treatment programs.

· Attend Al-a-non or Nar-a-non. These are programs offer non-professional group support for those the family and friends of substance abusers.

Remember -- Substance abuse problems are highly treatable. With professional help and family involvement the chances for recovery are excellent.

Illegal drugs and their effects surround our kids today. It's in our music, our schools and even on our money. Talk to your kids soon about the dangers of using illegal drugs.

FINAL WEEKEND TO PURCHASE GRAND PRIX CAR KITS!

If you haven't purchased a car kit for the Awana Grand Prix on May 15th, this is the FINAL WEEKEND to do so. We've sold over 24 car kits with another dozen waiting on more kits to arrive. I've ordered 16 more, but we'll order more if we run out again. However, we close the market after Sunday and you may have to wait until Wed. to get them if you procrastinate until the last minute! So if you want to get in on the BIGGEST RACING EVENT OF PRAYER HOUSE HISTORY, get to the sign up table this weekend early! We're looking to have over 40 racers on race day at this rate!

CW Playhouse this Weekend: Lesson 3 - Filing the Flight Plan: What Does a Missionary Do?

Just as an airplane flight has a purpose for being and a destination point, there is a purpose for our lives and a place where we are going. God has designed a "flight plan" for each of us. Missionaries have a unique "flight plan." While we will be focusing on the Missionary calling, we will help the kids realize that one "flight plan" is not more important to God than others. What matters to God is our willingness to follow and obey whatever plan He gives and that we learn that through staying close to God every day in prayer and Bible study.


Unit Verse: "Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19,20


The Point: I will seek God's views and share the Good News!


Activities of Interest this week:

Mouse Mail Deliveries

Rowdy's Treehouse Treasures - Kids get a treat for bringing their "Family Roadmap" take-home sheets to the crazy coon's treehouse filled out by Parent/Guardians.


Young Explorers Skit 3: "The Pilot's Job" - Starring Hannah Robinson & Sammy Garcia


An Bible lesson about the 3 steps of a Missionary's Discipleship-making process.

Gifts and Goals game/activity

(All activities subject to time restraints, of course.)

See the new Young Explorers Skit Intro Video:

A good compromise on video games

With the Kid Vid nearing an end you may want to consider easing back into video game play with these ideas:

Reading a book is almost always superior to playing a video game, but most kids greatly prefer the latter, so here's a thoughtful compromise. If 13-year-old Evan Spencer wants to play a popular video war game for his Xbox, he first has to learn something about real war. That's because to earn permission from his father to play the game, the Ontario teen had to read the Geneva Conventions and promise to abide by their guidelines while strategizing on his virtual World War II battlefields. What a great idea. Video games, when monitored and controlled responsibly by parents, can help children learn.

Check out this Video Game Contract:

I _______________________________ promise to do my best to comply to the following conditions in regard to video game play.

• I will always do my gaming in the ___________ room.


• I will set a timer for ________ minutes a day and will stop playing immediately when the timer goes off.


• I will not play any game with a rating higher than ________ unless I first ask permission.


• I agree to let any member of my family play with me at any time.


• I agree to do any learning activities my parents ask me to do in conjunction with my gaming.

Child Signature: ________________________

Parent Signature:_________________________

Master Life Threads Connect Group begins at Pastor Kevin's house in April!

There is still room to sign up for our new Connect group starting Sunday night, April 11th (that's the Sunday after Resurrection Sunday.). Aimee and I are excited to open our home and offer the same great teaching that Dave Palmer just finished on Wednesday nights for parents who couldn't attend his class. If you are an Awana leader or nursery worker on Wednesdays and you were wishing you could take this class, this is your opportunity. We'd love to have you join us for 3 months of fellowship and family building instruction and growth.


This group will be specifically for parents and will be a 11 week study of the Master Life Threads and Raising a Modern Day Joseph books produced by Awana International. This study identifies a key age range when each spiritual characteristic, or “life thread,” is ideally instilled in a child and offers incredibly practical insights and ideas for how to build them into your children. The Life Threads include: Respect, Wisdom, Grace, Destiny, and Perspective and coincide with the Core Values of C.H.R.I.S.T. WORKS Kids ministries. Join us on Sunday nights and receive the tools to develop a family plan that will see your kids succeed in the things of life that really matter.

Space in our home is limited, so don't hesitate any longer to sign up. Sign up tonight or this weekend in the foyer at the sign up table. KIDS ARE WELCOME, OF COURSE!

Awana Grand Prix Car Kits Sold Out AGAIN!

It's not too late to pick up a Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Car kit! We will be out in the foyer one more weekend, but I've got to order more yet again! When Tom Odom told me how popular this would be, I guess I didn't take him seriously enough. We've given out 24 car kits and have at least another 6 or 8 kids waiting to get one. So I'll be ordering another 16 cars today. That's 40 cars if these last few go! WOW!

I DO HAVE TO CLARIFY ONE POINT OF ORDER! THE AWANA GRAND PRIX CARS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN REGULAR PINEWOOD DERBY CARS, HAVING DIFFERENT, BROADER WHEELS. THEREFORE, WE CAN'T ALLOW CARS FROM PREVIOUS RACES TO BE USED THIS YEAR. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T PURCHASED A NEW KIT AND STILL WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RACE, YOU'LL HAVE TO STOP BY AGAIN AND PICK ONE UP LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION.

One other note: Don't forget - There will be another $3.00 race fee per car to participate on race day that will be paid when your car is registered in May.

Less Surfing, More Sharing (Like TV, Internet must be monitored and limited.)

The Annenberg Center for the Digital Future reported that 28 percent of Americans interviewed last year said they are spending less time with members of their households because of the Internet. That's nearly triple the 11 percent who said that in 2006. Michael Gilbert, a senior fellow at the Center, said "Most people think of the Internet and our digital future as boundless, and I do, too. But ultimately it leads to less-cohesive and less-communicative families."

The antidote? Put time limits and guidelines on web surfing at home for everyone. And a great way to do that? Have your family read and sign this Family Internet contract put together by All Pro Dads.


The parents in our family will always:
• Keep the computer in a common area of the house such as the family room or kitchen.
• Use filters and other parental control software to protect our children.
• Monitor the amount of time our children spend on the Internet.
• Monitor conversations our children have on the Internet and get to know their friends.
• Take the time to train and encourage our children to use the Internet wisely.
• Maintain access to our children’s profiles on social networking sites by requiring them to “friend” us.
• Share an email account with our children until they are old enough to be trusted with their own.
• Know our children’s e-mail addresses and passwords.
The kids in our family will never:
• Share personal information such as their name, address, phone number, school, teams, age, etc. with anyone online.
• Engage in any form of cyber-bullying; we will treat others online as we would like to be treated.
• Send, forward, or respond to mean or threatening messages.
• Meet anyone in person that we met online without our parents’ permission.
• Buy anything online without our parents’ permission.
• Download games, movies, music, or programs without our parents’ permission.
• Give our passwords to anyone but our parents.
• Join social networks such as MySpace and Facebook without our parents’ permission.
• Post or send pictures or videos online without our parents’ permission.
• Enter chat rooms without our parents’ permission.
The kids in our family will always:
• Tell our parents if anyone says or does anything online that makes us uncomfortable or upsets us.
• Give our parents permission to see what we do on the Internet and give them the passwords to all our accounts.
• Keep our parents as “friends” on all social network sites of which we are members.
• Tell our parents if we see anything on a website that makes us uncomfortable or is inappropriate.
Children:
I understand that access to the Internet is a privilege that I must earn by being responsible and trustworthy. I will follow this contract
whether I am at home or on a computer somewhere else.
Signed ________________________________________ Signed_________________________________________
Signed ________________________________________ Signed_________________________________________
Parents:
I understand that it is my responsibility to protect my children from danger on the Internet and to train them to use the Internet
wisely.
Signed ________________________________________ Signed_________________________________________

This Weekend in the CW Playhouse: Young Explorers Lesson 2 - What is a Missionary?

Does crossing the ocean make one a missionary? This week's session will show that while God calls some people to full-time missionary service, He has called all Christians to share the good news.

Unit Verse: "Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19,20

The Point: I will seek God's views and share the Good News!

Activities of Interest this week:

Mouse Mail Deliveries

Rowdy's Treehouse Treasures - Kids get a treat for bringing their "Family Roadmap" take-home sheets to the crazy coon's treehouse filled out by Parent/Guardians.

Young Explorers Skit 2: "Missionary Heather" - Starring Hannah Frederick & Sammy Garcia

An Exciting Bible lesson about being Salt and Light including Salted/Unsalted Cracker Treats & Video illustrations

Missionary game/activity

(All activities subject to time restraints, of course.)

Don't take chances with prom dances

When our kids are headed to the prom, homecoming, or other big party dance, it can be challenging to think through everything you need to go over with them. The list below is an excellent start. If you allow your kids to go to a dance, copy it off and go over it with them. It should greatly increase communication and decrease conflict.

The Dance: Some things to think about?

The Dance

Date:
Time:
Dance Location:
Who are you going to go with?
Who is providing the transportation?

Expenses
Tickets:
Appropriate Attire:
Transportation:
Flowers:
Hair/Make-up:
Manicure/Pedicure:
Dinner/Meal:
Total:

The Details
Picture Time and Location:
Dinner Time and Location:
After Party Time and Location:
Time Returning Home:

Further Questions to ask:
When will we meet your date?
Is the date or group your going with of good character?
Do you understand what can happen to you if someone in the group you are going with does something illegal?

Awana Grand Prix Car Kits are available for purchase!

The Awana Grand Prix is coming up, Saturday morning, May 15th at 10am! Car kits are now available at the sign up table for only $3. There will be another $3 racing fee to participate in the race itself which can also be paid now or at the door. Tom Odom is the Race Commissioner who can answer most questions. There will be speed trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place given in 3 different categories: Sparkies (Grades K-2nd), T&T (Grades 3rd - 6th), and Open (for all ages). There will also be trophies given for the top three best designed cars overall. So join the fun, spend some extra quality time with your child(ren) designing and constructing a car, and teach your children how to be good competitors at the Awana Grand Prix! (Car kits available through the end of the month.)

There will also be two workshops here at the church for those of us who are amateurs where we can come and be helped by the pinewood professionals such as Mr. Odom in the actual construction of the cars with our kids. So if that's you, mark these dates and times on your calendar: Friday, April 2nd at 6pm and Saturday morning, May 1st at 9am.

Young Explorers Family Roadmaps - A Tool for Family Discussion

We kicked off our new series this past weekend in the CW Playhouse which ushered in a few changes. One of these is a new takehome paper that we hope will engender a bit more family discussion about the lessons the kids are learning in church. These are called Family Roadmaps and contain a summary of the lesson with some blanks to fill in and key scriptures, as well as a fun activity page. Beginning this Sunday, kids will get an automatic prize from Rowdy's Treehouse every Sunday that they return their Family Roadmap page to church and present it to our loveable Raccoon! This page is now created by Pastor Kevin so if there is information you'd like to see included on it, or if you have ideas to make it more useable for your family discussion, please let us know.

Unfortunately, we forgot to hand them out at the door as kids were leaving on Sunday, so if your child didn't get one this week, you may want to have them ask for one at the check in table tomorrow night for this coming weekend. (Sorry about that.)

Are you really connected to your kids... especially to your networking teens?

Here's a short test for you Mom or Dad: What's your child's favorite TV show? Their favorite movie, musician and magazine? What sites do they visit on the Internet? Name their three best friends. Name their favorite teacher - their least favorite teacher. Five of their Facebook friends. So, how are you doing? Could you answer all of those questions? Could you answer even half? The point is, to be connected to our kids we have to enter their world. We need to know what they like, who they like and what has their attention. So get involved. Start asking questions and get connected.

Facebook rules

For instance, are you savvy about social networking? Many teens are on - or want to be on - social networking sites like Facebook. As parents, it's up to us to set careful guidelines before our children venture into the rapidly changing world of social networking. First, sit down with your wife to discuss whether or not you will allow your teen to join Facebook. Then set some guidelines that would be appropriate, based on your teen's age and maturity level and trustworthiness. Here are examples of guidelines you may want to set:

1) Parents will know the password and have access to child's page.

2) Parents can customize their child's settings to make profile safer (privacy, visibility, etc).

3) Email of posts, friends, etc. come to family's home e-mail.

4) Parents will have an account on Facebook, and children must add and keep parents as "friends."

5) Children will not add strangers as friends, or use the Facebook "chat" application to talk to strangers.

6) Parents will set a limit on the time that children are allowed on Facebook.

7) The computer will be kept in a common area of the house, such as a living room or play room, where it will always be in easy view.

8) Children will not share personal information (address, phone number, pictures, etc.) with anyone on Facebook that they do not know well.

9) Children will immediately tell their parents if they see anything or talk to anyone on Facebook that makes them uncomfortable; and parents will take immediate action to block or report that material.

10) If the child breaks any of the set guidelines, his or her account will immediately be deleted and a probation period will begin until they re-earn their parents' trust.

A Weekend of New Beginnings and YOUNG EXPLORERS!

This is our big weekend for kicking off our new series in the CW Playhouse, both Saturday and Sunday! Don't let your kids miss out on the fun as we launch into a 3 month series on Missions and Evangelism. You now have two opportunities to bring them.

Saturday's evening service begins at 5:30pm with Pre-service prayer at 4:30. Kids will worship with Mom and Dad in the adult service to start with and then be dismissed during announcements.

Sunday mornings the Playhouse begins at 10am following pre-service prayer AND SUNDAY SCHOOL at 9am.

Nursery is provided at both services now as well so pick a service that works best for your family and join us for the EPIC grand kick off of The YOUNG EXPLORERS: AROUND THE WORLD IN 90 DAYS!

MTV "owns" your kids

Bob Pittman, founder and former president of MTV, made a startling admission in the Philadelphia Inquirer, "The strongest appeal you can make is emotionally. If you can get the kids' emotions going, make them forget their logic, you've got them. At MTV, we don't shoot for the 14-year olds, we own them."

We at All Pro Dad beg to differ. God, not MTV, owns our kids and as parents we are stewards of their young lives. And part of this stewardship means guarding what they watch. If you haven't seen what MTV, VH1, BET and other stations are showing lately, please be aware of it - especially if your children enjoy watching them. And even if the shows they enjoy watching are fairly innocent, there is always a better way for them to spend their time.

There's more to life than TV. Why not turn off the tube and spend more time interacting with your family?

The Importance of Family Week! (No Awana Clubs tonight.)

Family week continues and there is no Awana clubs tonight.

So what are you doing with your family this week, or maybe with another family this week, to make this week away from church effective and meaningful?

Don't have a clue? There are plenty of ideas in the various posts of this blog site. Go back through the Parenting Tips of the last week or so and gleen some ideas, but don't let this breather week fall by the wayside. Use this time to hang with your kids and your significant other. Build relationships with friends and church family. Prayer House is unique in our focus on families and inter-family relationships. It's part of that Jesus-Sensitive focus that we strive to maintain and that Pastor is constantly sharing through his books and conferences.

Isn't it awesome that Jesus created the family and cares about sustaining them? And isn't it refreshing to go to a church that leads by example and sets aside time every month to foster that kind of family/relationship environment! Let's take advantage of it while we can. Before you know it, those kids are looking at colleges and talking marriage talk. (Trust me, I'm experiencing it firsthand already as my oldest is going to College Days tomorrow down in Missouri and suddenly realizing how little time I have left with her already.)

A Blink of an Eye, my friends. A blink of an eye!

- PK

TURN OFF THE TV... Not just for Missions but for your child's health!

Too much TV can have a profoundly negative effect on your children's developing minds, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Their findings show that higher levels of television viewing correlate with lower levels of academic performance; that the nature of TV stimulus may predispose some children to attention problems; and that mindless television shows may slow the development of the areas of the brain responsible for self control, moral judgment and attention.

This means that too much TV can cause physical changes in your kid's brain! And this should worry any caring parent. So if your children are watching too much television, turn it off. Hand them a book, and by doing so, you will turn on their minds.

Research on the effects of television is persuasive. Americans average more than 4 hours of TV viewing per day, or two full months a year, and the tube is on in the average household for 7 hours and 40 minutes a day. Forty percent of Americans say they "always" or "often" watch TV while eating dinner, and many family members watch different programs in separate rooms. Meanwhile 73% of teens think their parents don't spend enough time with them.

American children spend more time in front of the TV each year than they do in school, and the negative impact is striking. Several studies have found that children who watch more TV score consistently lower on reading proficiency tests compared with children who watch very little. There are also clear connections between television viewing and violence, obesity and many other health risks that come with a sedentary lifestyle.

To Think About ...

Since television has a powerful influence on our values and behavior, it's always appropriate to ask ourselves questions about what we and our children are learning from it. If you've ever wished you could find more time to spend with your family--or to pursue any number of other healthy endeavors--this is a great place to start looking.

Maybe you've already taken steps to control the TV in your household, or maybe you need to take another look at your family's viewing habits. You might try a week with the TV off, or designate one day each week for no TV. Your kids might complain, so be ready with some other fun ideas for them--like games, music, reading, or hiking--and make sure you join them for some activities. Change is never easy, but this may be one difficult choice we need to make to protect what's most important to us.


ACTION POINTS for Committed Parents

1.Make clear goals and rules about TV viewing (e.g., no TVs in bedrooms; keeping the TV off during meals, on weeknights, before school; or setting time-based limits). Consider moving your TVs to less prominent locations.
2.Make sure your kids have access to lots of good, interesting books. Take them to the library often, and read with them often.
3.Consider canceling your cable subscription and discuss more constructive ways to spend the money (books, bikes, sports equipment, etc.).
4.When kids say they're bored, don't worry. Boredom passes and often leads to creativity.
5.Find out more about the effects of TV on your family--and some steps you can take--at www.tvturnoff.org.

New Series begins in the CW Playhouse!

UNIT KEY VERSE: Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20

Starting this Sunday, C.H.R.I.S.T. WORKS Kids ministries will come full circle as we revisit the first series of lessons ever taught by Pastor Kevin for a whole new generation: Around the World in 90 Days! Over the course of the next 90 days or so we will be traveling with the Young Explorers on a trip through the lives of Jesus and the apostle Paul. Through these travels we will focus our kids on others and their need for salvation. This is the Great Commission Jesus gave to Christians - to tell the lost the good news that Jesus died for their sins!

There is no mistaking the timing of this series as we kick off the Kid Vid Veto and another year of Missions giving. During the next 3 months we will also be celebrating the kids reaching last year's BGMC goal of $3,000 by having our GIANT BGMC GOAL PARTY. But more than missions giving and BGMC, this series will help our kids realize that the Great Commission applies to them and that they don't need to wait until they are grown to participate in God's plan for all Christians. Children can do much to advance the Kingdom of God!

Please pray with us that God will give our kids a vision for the lostness of people. It is our desire that the Holy Spirit will help us to instill that vision in the kids through this series. As the children learn what they can do for missions and missionaries now, perhaps God will call some of them as full-time missionaries.

Unit Goals: During this unit each child will -

• understand that people in every country of the world need to hear the Good News.
• learn ways they can do the work of God by helping everyone hear the Gospel.
  

Kids Mix Well With Sunshine and Fresh Air.

In his book, Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv explores research that links a lack of outdoor time to increasing rates of childhood obesity, attention disorders and depression. Children were ready-made to mix with sunshine and air. Make sure you get your kids outside as often as possible. They may complain at first, but they'll soon discover the joys of riding a bike, exploring or shooting hoops. Also plan for extended times outdoors such as a family picnic, stargazing or camping twice a year as the weather gets warmer.

With the Kid Vid Veto in full swing, now's the time to push your kids out the door. The weather's been warming up out there and yet there's still plenty of snow to play around in. Yes, they'll come in the house soaking wet and maybe a bit muddy, but it will enrich their lives to replace led light for sunlight! And since it's family week, try joining them outside for a snowball fight, Mom and Dads! Don't let your kids give into the constant thinking that the only thing in life to do is sit in front of those boob tubes! For MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH, SPIRITUAL HEALTH, SOCIAL HEALTH, AND FOR MISSIONS... KEEP GOING! ONLY 19 DAYS REMAINING!

Family Week - No Playhouse on SATURDAY or Sunday.

As you may have heard, beginning this month, there will be Playhouse Kids ministry offered on Saturday nights as well as Nursery during SNS. However, Family Weeks will still be observed. Therefore, since this is the first weekend of the month, there will be no Playhouse beginning this week. But next Saturday (and Sunday) we launch our new series on missions and evangelism! Saturday night services will be an abbreviated version of Sunday mornings, at least to begin with, because the kids will not be dismissed until after worship service with the adults. I've already been approached by a few families who have informed me that they intend to switch to Saturdays so we're excited to see where this new ministry will go. Come and check it out some time... but not until AFTER this weekend... The fun begins March 13th!

Understanding Why We Get Angry

One of the helpful steps in equipping children to control their anger is to recognize four causes of anger. After kids have settled down and you debrief with them about their anger, talk about what's causing it. You and your child may see patterns and then be able to head off the problem earlier next time.

1) Blocked Goals. This is the kind of thing that happens to you, as a parent, when you want to do a project in the playroom and find that Billy has left his Legos all over the floor and you keep stepping on them. Or, Billy may want to play with his train set only to find that his sister is using it first. These are blocked goals.

2) Violated Rights. That's when you, as a parent, are in the bathroom and your daughter keeps knocking on the door. You believe you have the right to go to the bathroom in peace. Your daughter may get angry because her brother came into her room and took her favorite CD. Those are violated rights.

3) Unmet Expectations. You had expected that when you got home you would be able to rest but instead you find a big mess. Or Jackie thought she would be going to McDonalds but instead you chose to go to Pizza Hut. Those are unmet expectations.

4) Experiencing Unfairness. When someone takes a toy from a younger child, you may feel angry as a parent because you see unfairness. Or, Tom may feel angry with his teacher because she picked someone else for a privilege he thought he deserved. Those unfair situations can provoke anger.

Whatever the situation, after a child has settled down, talk about the cause. Discuss the value of sacrificing rights, readjusting goals or expectations, and handling unfairness in a godly way. By examining the causes of anger, you can help children gain greater perspective and develop longer lasting strategies for managing their emotions.

For more ideas about helping children deal with anger, consider the CD set, Eight Secrets to Highly Effective Parenting, by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN. A plan is also sold separately in an individual CD entitled, Helping Children Deal with Anger.

Awana THEME NIGHT: Crazy Clothes Night!

Don't forget that tonight is Awana clubs! This is NOT FAMILY WEEK! I know it can be confusing but Family Week always follows the FIRST SUNDAY of the month so since the 1st fell on a Monday this month, Family will technically be next week. With all the kids who braved the blizzard last Wednesday, we ought to have REALLY good numbers tonight. And we'll be ready! See everyone no later than 6:30pm tonight.


And don't forget to come dressed crazy for our theme night! If you dress like the child of a court jester and a clown, you'll be right where you want to be: bright colors, mismatched, turned around and maybe even worn in the wrong places (but NOT inappropriate, of course.) Can't wait to see what shows up tonight!

Family Activities (to help your kids get through the month without TV/Video games)

Great Ideas for Family Fun


■Go to a local high school football, basketball or any other game.
■Take the kids on a mystery trip. Give them clues about your destination as you get closer. It can be something as simple as an ice cream shop or playground, or a trip to a museum or amusement park.
■Put on a family play.
■Let your children prepare a meal and serve it to you and your husband restaurant style.
■Plant flowers (indoors in a flower pot or outside).
■Get to know the family of one of your child's friends by having the family over for a cookout.
■Let your kids take photos, print them, and make a photo album — then have the kids think of captions.
■Have a fun, free scavenger hunt.
■Go to a park and take some pictures of landscapes. Develop the pictures, get out the paints and try to paint landscapes by looking at the pictures.
■Have an indoor picnic somewhere other than the kitchen.
■For girls: have a spa hour — paint each other's nails, do your hair, let them put makeup on you.
■Build an obstacle course and let each family member compete for the best time.
■Have a garage sale and let your kids decide how to spend the proceeds on a family day.
■Plan a secret surprise for someone in need. For example, cook a meal for someone or mow their lawn, without them knowing who did it.
■Build a fort together.
■Let the kids help you paint their room. Let them pick out the paint color. (It might get them to actually clean it first!)
■Play board games. (They don't have to be as long and complicated as Killer Bunnies: Journey to Jupiter - pictured above.)
■Do a craft (make up your own or a buy a craft kit). Bake cookies, bread or a cake — from scratch.
■Let your children design a family crest.
■Go ice skating or roller skating.
Read a good book together.

Teaching your kids a great work ethic

Struggling to get your kids to do their household jobs well? One of the keys to being successful in your career is asking yourself what excellence in your job looks like. It's the same with our kids and their chores. When they are asked to mow the lawn or rake the leaves, they should have an idea of what a great job at that looks like, and aim at doing it well.

In fact, they should strive to go above and beyond expectations. If they approach life with this philosophy, they can't help but to succeed. But how do we teach them that? Read an excellent article on the All Pro Dads website for some insight. http://www.allprodad.com/playbook/viewarticle.php?art=339

The Count Down Begins! 1 day down, 27 to go!

The Kid Vid Veto officially kicked off yesterday after we watched Facing the Giants in the Playhouse to encourage the kids to push through these next 28 days with all they have in them and give their best for God! So that was the last movie they should be watching until the 28th of March!

Moms and Dads, don't forget to spend more time with your kids over the next 4 weeks to help them get through this tough challenge! It seems we've got more kids every year struggling to make it through, which tells me that it's even more important than ever to keep doing this! Help your kids understand how important it is to take breaks from things that control them. The harder it is for them to do this, the more important it is for them to do it for themselves as well as missions. But regardless, we've got to remind them of how much they have and how little kids in other countries have, both monetarily and spiritually. This is great discipline for our kids and maybe even for some of us parents. Don't let them give up too easy! Be a coach and get involved. Play some games with them this month, play make-believe, read to them. The kids who succeed have involved parents... even when it's painful for us. (You may notice in the picture above that I'm not always fully willing to give my kids the attention they need either. Sometimes they have to take drastic measures to get my attention! And this is only one day in...!)

This is for building the Kingdom in more ways then one so "let us press on to take hold of the prize for which Christ has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus..." and encourage our kids to do the same!