MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Merry Christmas from the Robinson Family!

There is no C.W. Playhouse service this Sunday in favor of a special Christmas Family Service!

A few of our families, including kids, are performing some special songs.

Kids Church will resume on Dec. 30^th with the beginning of a new 4 week series through January!

This series will be gearing us up for a focus on the Kings of Israel & Judah this spring and a new Medieval theme which will carry us all the way through our summer VBS!

Last Call for Pop-Out Money!! Get it in by the end of the Year to count!!

If you have not yet turned in your child’s Pop-Out money, we need it this week or it will not get counted for this year’s total!   

WE HAVE REACHED OUT 2012 GOAL OF $2,500!!

That means a BGMC party next year 

WITH Dunk Tank!

Christmas, a Time to Teach Generosity

Christmas is a highlight in the life of most children, but much of the benefit is focused on what they get. Of course one of the blessings of Christmas is giving, so look for ways to teach children generosity this year.

Here are some ideas:

Involves kids in your gift-giving strategy or help them develop their own. Planning, shopping, and wrapping can each provide ways for children to think about blessing others.

Anticipate with your children the delight others will experience when the gifts are opened. Help your child enjoy the fun others will have when receiving gifts.

Ask children the question: "What are you doing this year to make Christmas special for someone else?"

This question alone can help young children as well as teens think of others instead of just themselves. A short discussion can help move kids from selfish tendencies to generosity. The joy of giving is usually discovered only through the practice of giving, so make thinking of others a requirement.

And most importantly, remind children of the generosity of God by sending us the most special gift: his Son.

Generosity is a heart quality. To learn more about developing heart qualities in your children, take a look at chapter 8 in the book, Home Improvement, the Parenting Book You Can Read to Your Kids, by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

THANKSGIVING THEME NIGHT

Tomorrow Night at Awana Clubs, clubbers get extra points for dressing up as pilgrims, native Americans, turkeys etc. so get creative and have fun with it!  Grab a belt and wrap it around a brimmed hat, roll your pant legs with long socks and dress shoes.  Stick some feathers in your hair and put some face paint on.  You get the idea!

Let’s celebrate Thanksgiving and the end of the Pop-Out!

The Gratefulness Principle

Gratitude increases closeness in relationships. As you parent your children, look for opportunities to take advantage of gratefulness to draw closer to your kids. Give your children small gifts of love day after day. Be careful, though, that you don’t confuse the gratefulness principle with the overindulgence trap.

Some parents, wanting their children to like them, recognize giving gifts opens the heart, so they overdo it by giving them too many things. Giving to your kids must be tied into relationship, or the gifts feed selfishness instead of gratefulness.
Overindulgence is giving your children more than their character can handle. When children lack gratitude, then the more you give them, the less they appreciate. Parents must restrain themselves or they’ll exceed their children’s ability to manage the blessings.

Overindulged children rarely become grateful when you give them more things. They grow to be more demanding and selfish. Parents then feel unappreciated and become resentful. The hearts of both parents and children harden toward each other, and closeness becomes a thing of the past.

If your children become overindulged rather than grateful, then pull back on the area where you’re giving too much. Look for creative ways to give differently to your child. Teaching the heart gratefulness can be a challenge. Having a child say thank you is just behavior. Gratefulness comes from the heart.

Monitor your child’s response to gifts of love to determine if you’re growing gratitude or overindulgence. As gratefulness increases, you can slowly give blessings in a way that will produce more gratefulness. You’ll know if you’re moving too quickly by your child’s response.

This parenting tip comes from the book Parenting is Heart Work by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

Twin/Triplet Theme Night at Awana Clubs TONIGHT!

It's TWIN/TRIPLET NIGHT at Awana Clubs!

Get together with one or two of your friends and dress the same for extra points tonight.

Matching a friend will count as a uniform tonight so uniforms are optional.

Uniforms do not count as matching clothes, however.  (It's NOT clone night.)

:-D

POP-OUT FOR BGMC CONTINUES!

2 WEEKS DOWN!  ONLY 1 MORE TO GO 

BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND YOUR SODA REWARD!!  

HANG IN THERE, KIDS!  

YOU'RE DOING GREAT!

Teach Children to Take a Break

When you begin to see a bad attitude or hear that manipulative whining voice, have your child take a Break. With young children, as young as two or three years old, have them sit in a particular place, a chair, a carpet square, the hallway, or a bottom step. For older children, you might send them to the parent's room or to another quiet place.

We believe that the Break is much more helpful than Time Out. The instructions given are simple and clear. "You need to go take a Break. Come back and see me when you've calmed down and are ready to talk about this nicely." Two differences are important. The child knows that the objective in taking a Break is a changed heart and also the child helps determine the length of time spent in the break place, coming back only when ready for a debriefing.

These two differences between Time Out and the Break change the posture of the parent. With Time Out, the parent is the policeman, keeping the child in the chair until the sentence for misbehavior has been served. With the Break, the parent is eagerly waiting for the child to return so that they can debrief and more forward.

The Break helps parents address heart issues with children and can become a primary discipline technique. It actually comes from the Bible in the teaching about discipline in God's family, the Church (Matthew 18, 1 Corinthians 5, and 2 Corinthians 2). The idea is basically this: If you can't abide by the principles that make this family work, then you can't enjoy the benefits of family life. The two go hand in hand.

For more information about how to implement the Break in your family, see the chapter about four steps of correction in the book, Good and Angry, Exchanging Frustration for Character in You and Your Kids, by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

Pop-Out Fundraiser Begins!

Tomorrow night we will also make available to clubbers the Pop-Out sponsor forms and a can of soda with their name on it if they choose to participate in this next BGMC fundraiser!  This fundraiser consists of kids getting people to pledge them money for every day they go without soda between Halloween and Thanksgiving.  (If they aren't soda drinkers, they can choose something else to go without like candy.)  On the night before Thanksgiving at Awana, we will give a each child who participate their can of soda that they earned with their sacrifice.  We recommend that each child figure out an estimate of how much money they spend on soda each day and ask people to sponsor them that amount.  The idea is to take the money they would normally spend on treats and give it to missions and then have people match it.  But by no means does anyone have to be bound to that.

Bring a Friend Night!

Tomorrow night is Bring a Friend to Club Night at Awana!  Remind your kids to invite their friends for a fun filled night at Awana clubs!  Every visitor will be worth 1000 points even if it isn't their first visit and if your child shares their personal testimony in front of their friend during the club night they will get Double the points per visitor.  Testimonies could be shared during hand book time with the help of a handbook leader, or if the club director allows, maybe during Bible time as part of the lesson.  And if neither of those work, PK will definitely let them share during game time or maybe even at the end of the night during awards ceremonies.  So encourage your kids to be bold this week and let's see a record number of kids at clubs tomorrow!

Other Leaders and Authorities

During the early elementary years, children usually begin to develop interests and attend activities outside the home. The circle of leadership in your child’s life will broaden as you enroll your child in sports, music, and other programs. In these situations your child will learn to respond to different cues, limits, and forms of correction from other leaders and authorities.

Most children need help knowing how to respond to various adults because every adult gives instructions differently or corrects in a way that the child may not completely understand or be comfortable with. For example, when the coach says, “I could use some help gathering the balls,” it may sound like an idea or suggestion to your child. When the coach then gets angry because of a lack of response, a child may be surprised, not recognizing that the comment was the coach’s way of saying, “I want you to go get the balls and bring them over here.”

One mom said, “We have a very nice babysitter, but when she tells my daughter to go to bed she asks a question. She asks, ‘Are you ready to go to bed now?’ My daughter, hearing the question, continues to say, ‘No.’ I had to teach her that when the babysitter asks that question, then she needs to hear it as if it were me saying ‘It’s time to go to bed now.’ ” The cues are different but the expectation to go to bed is the same.

Other leaders and authorities in a child’s life provide a great opportunity for a child to grow, and you can often help your child receive the messages and learn new relational patterns effectively as you teach your child to be sensitive to the cues given by others.

This parenting tip comes from the book Elementary Foundations by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN with Shannon Kulp. This is the newest book in our series about developmental stages called Parenting Shifts.

Family Week!! (Pastor Kevin on Vacation)

Next Week is Family Week which means, as always, there is no Kids Church this Sunday and no Awana next Wednesday.  Pastor Kevin and Aimee will be gone all next week as well (in fact they leave tomorrow morning for Florida after completing tonight's Awana clubs).  They will return Monday, Oct. 15th, which means that they will miss the following Sunday as well.  So Eddie Villareal will be covering in kids church again on the 14th.  It'll be an exciting Sunday complete with the usual monthly birthday celebration!  So if your child has a birthday this month, they definitely won't want to miss that Sunday!  Everyone have a blessed Family Week, spend time together as you should, and we'll see you in a couple of weeks (just in time for the next Awana club night)!

Color Team Night in Awana Clubs!

Tonight at Awana Clubs, your child will want to come dressed in their team colors for extra points!  So before you leave the house, ask them what color team they are on: Red, Blue, Green or Yellow!  We'll see you at 6:15pm!

Daily Parental Check List

1. How much time did I spend one-on-one with my child today?

2. Was I really engaged or distracted with calls, texts, and emails when I was with my child?

3. Did I hug my child and say “I love you”?

4. Was I calm when I disciplined my child?

5. Did I have a meal with my child?

6. Did I help my child with their schoolwork?

7.  Did I monitor my child’s television and computer time?

8. Did I pray with and for my child?

From All Pro Dads

This Sunday: A New King is Anointed!

Saul has had his days of victory against the Philistines, but his days as king of Israel are coming to an end as he begins to disobey God and another is chosen by God!  This week your kids will learn of David's selection by God and his anointing by Samuel to be the next king even though just a boy.  Chosen over his many older brothers because of his heart for God, this young shepherd will become the greatest King in Israel's history!  It begins this Sunday in the C.W. Playhouse!  Don't let your kids miss out on all the fun, games, characters and more!

Be Careful of Reverse Psychology

Parents continue to look for ways to get their young children to cooperate. One of the methods some parents use is called "reverse psychology." It often works, but can have dangerous side effects.

When the two-year-old doesn't want to eat his sandwich, Mom may say in a playful voice, "Don't take a bite of your sandwich while I'm gone." When she returns and finds that her son is chewing a bite and smiling." Mom reacts in mock surprise and then says it again. The good news is that Mom just achieved a goal of getting her son to eat his sandwich.

But what is Mom teaching her son? Reverse psychology uses playfulness to teach children to disobey. Teasing can be fun in family life, but sometimes the teasing has underlying principles that we need to be careful about.

Reverse psychology is rarely helpful in the long run. Although little Billy may get into the bathtub when Dad says playfully, "Don't put your foot in that bathtub," he's inadvertently encouraging Billy to go against Dad's better judgment.

Playfulness is good with children. You might play a game with bath time or eating a sandwich, but be careful that you don't make jokes about things like disobedience.

This parenting tip comes from the book Preschool Explorers by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN with Diane Snyder. Just one of the developmental books in the Parenting Shifts series.

New Awana Year Kicks-Off TOMORROW NIGHT at 6:15pm!!

Are you ready for an new club year?  We are!  We're rearing and ready to go tomorrow night at 6:15pm!  We hope you're joining us this year!  Every year gets better and better, so don't miss the fun!  Stop by tomorrow at Prayer House and get your kids signed up for the year, if you haven't yet, so we can get their uniforms and books ordered!  Looking forward to seeing you then!

What Cues Do You Give Your Children?

An Action Point is the point when you stop talking and start acting or the point when children know you mean business. How do they know? You give them cues and your children know what those cues are. If you’re saying the same thing over and over again, how does your child know when the Action Point is near?

Think back on your own childhood. How did you know when your dad or mom meant business? Maybe they used your middle name or started moving toward the kitchen where that special utensil was kept. They might have gotten out of the chair or started moving toward you or given you that look.

For many parents, angry words or a harsh tone of voice become the cue children look for. Unfortunately, this harshness creates distance in the relationship. Look for ways to tighten your Action Point without anger.

Harshness isn't necessary but firmness is. Firmness with children is an important part of the teaching process. Some parents associate firmness with an authoritarian style of parenting. And it certainly can be. We're not suggesting that you become a sergeant with your kids. Even a relational parenting style often requires a point in which that child knows that the discussion is over and it's time for action.

You might say, "Katie, please turn off the TV now." The child's name and the word "now" can become the cues that your Action Point is coming. Or you might preface what you're going to say with the words, "Katie, look at me. This is an instruction."

Be careful of multiple warnings as they can weaken the instruction process. One warning may be helpful to make sure the child has understood the instruction but then the next step should be a firm follow through. If you tighten your Action Point and are ready with the follow through, you’ll get angry less often and your children will respond more quickly. Start by clarifying the cues and following through sooner.

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

THIS SUNDAY: Eddie's in the [Play] House!!!

Our Amazing Journey continues this Sunday with lessons from the life of King Saul, but Pastor Kevin won't be teaching this Sunday... at least not in the C.W. Playhouse.  PK will be preaching to the big folks.  But don't worry, the kids will be in good hands!  This Sunday morning Eddie and Lizzie Villareal will be joining the Playhouse team to teach the exciting lesson about Jonathan leading his armor bearer to defeat the Philistines!  Hannah will be there as usual and Neenah and Pepere will be celebrating September birthdays too!  So don't miss out.  There'll be plenty of fun going on while PK is away including the next exciting episode of the Pilgrim's Progress!  Be sure to arrive 10 minutes or so before service to see it!

The 5 Toughest Things for Children to Talk about with Their Parents

One of the hardest things about being a parent can be effectively communicating with your kids on important topics. As awkward as some conversations may be, it is necessary that your children feel they can come to you. Unfortunately, sometimes we can approach subjects in a way that causes our child to shut down or makes them feel uncomfortable. To really engage in a dialogue with your son or daughter, take note of the topics that are toughest for him or her to bring to you.

1.    Romantic RelationshipsThis topic is one of the hardest things for a child to talk about with parents. It is especially tough when an adolescent first enters the dating world. While you as a parent might have some useful advice for your son or daughter, he or she might protest hearing your words of wisdom. To talk to your child about relationships, try engaging in an informal conversation when you’re alone. Avoid deep questions first; start out with asking, “What do you like about (insert name)?” or “What are some activities he/she is involved in?” As your child gets more comfortable, you can begin to share your thoughts and experiences. 

2.    SexThis one might be obvious, but no child eagerly awaits the day when his parents give him “the birds and the bees” talk. This talk is awkward and uncomfortable at best. As your kids mature into teenagers, talking about sex will be increasingly hard as they begin to date and have real questions about sex. As a parent, approach this topic with the knowledge that your child might be very unwilling to communicate, so try not to force him into opening up. As kids have questions, which they undoubtedly will, they will seek you out in their own time.  But be sure you lay the groundwork for your expectations early and often, and then look for those priceless “teachable moments.”  

3.    Bad Influence FriendsSometimes, it is difficult for kids to talk to their parents about good friends who are making bad choices.  For example, if the friend all of a sudden becomes involved with drugs, a child may not bring this unwanted information to her parents automatically. Try having consistent conversations with your children about their friends, and if you sense they may be holding something back, gently ask if their friend has made any recent changes in her lifestyle.

4.    Spiritual QuestionsIf you are raising your children with a knowledge of God, it is natural that, as they grow up, they may begin to question some of the things you have taught them. Many kids struggle with asking their parents tough religious questions because they are afraid you will get mad or take offense. Answer your children patiently and honestly without assuming a defensive tone.  And remember, your children are God’s first, and He has promised to reveal Himself to them in due time.

5.    DivorceIf you and your former wife have gone through a messy divorce, do not underestimate how difficult this time is for your children. They have so many questions but may feel awkward about approaching a sensitive topic. If you have young children, they might be confused as to why you and your ex were fighting and shouting all the time. With older kids, it may cause them to assume all relationships will end badly or cause them to lose their faith in marriage. If your family has experienced divorce, take the time to sit down with your children and explain the situation. When you seem open to talking about it, they will feel more comfortable talking about their feelings, too.

© 2012 All Pro Dad. 

Last Chance for Early-Bird Discounts!!!

Tomorrow Night will be the last night of early-bird registrations so if you wan't the best discount you can get, be sure to contact us or stop by the registration table by tomorrow night!!!  Especially if you need financial assistance!  We want to make Awana affordable for everyone and one of the best ways to do that is to do it EARLY!!!

Epic Sports Tomorrow Night!

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!!  BRING YOUR KIDS TO JOIN US FOR SOME EPIC (AND UNUSUAL) TEAM GAMES TOMORROW!  WE MAY KEEP SCORE BUT WE WON'T EMPHASIZE IT.  ALL GAMES WILL BE FOR FUN!

7 Things a Daughter Needs from Her Father

As a girl grows up, men will come in and out of her life, but the one man who will always be there is her father. A father plays a vital role in his daughter’s journey to adulthood, and below are seven things that can help a father give her his best.

1.    She needs you to be involved.
A daughter needs her father to be actively interested in her life. “Actively interested” does not refer to the second-long conversation that sometimes happens between a father and daughter when he asks how her day went and she replies with one word. A father should participate in his daughter’s hobbies and activities by displaying interest. For example, if she is interested in collecting coins, take her to coin shows. Use the Internet to learn about rare coins and talk about them.  Is your daughter talented in the any sports, such as volleyball?  Whether she wants to play or just enjoys watching the games, become an enthusiastic fan and supporter!  Show your daughter that you are interested in her life by learning more about it and trying to become a part of it. 

Move heaven and earth to keep this from becoming reality.

2.    She needs you to demonstrate a healthy marriage.
The first relationship a daughter experiences is the one between her mother and father. If her father disrespects his wife with physical or emotional abuse, a daughter might come to believe that is the expected relationship with a husband. However, a father that displays physical affection, respect, and a true partnership with his wife provides an incredible example that his daughter will want to mirror in her own life. 

3.    She needs you to support her.
 Even though a father may not always agree with his daughter, she needs to know you will support her. When a father fully and wholeheartedly supports his daughter, she will develop strong self-esteem and a positive self-image. This doesn’t mean that you always have to agree with her, but show her that while you might not agree with a choice she is making, you will always believe in her as a person and have confidence in her abilities. 

4.    She needs to trust you as a confidante.
When your daughter does come to you and discusses personal issues and problems, she needs to know that you will treat them with respect and confidence.  They shouldn’t become dinner-table conversation with the rest of the family.

5.    She needs your unconditional love.
Just as our Father in Heaven demonstrates unconditional love, fathers on earth need to display this as well. Unconditional love requires that a daughter knows no matter how badly she messes up, her father will be there, not to ridicule and demean but to forgive.

6.    She needs a strong spiritual leader.
A father should be the spiritual head of a household and should take charge of his children’s religious education.  Pray with your daughter!  Don’t be shy about bringing the Lord into your conversations with her.

7.    She needs a positive role model.
Many daughters today lack a positive male role model in their life. A father is the first man in a girl’s life that she will intimately know. Her father sets the standard for all other men in her life, and a positive role model will help her choose a good husband in the future.   Take a moment for some self-reflection.  Are there any habits you need to break?  Are there some areas of your own life that could use a “spiritual overhaul” and prayer?  When your daughter sees that you are willing to examine your own life and make changes when necessary, you provide the best example she could ever have of accepting responsibility for her actions.  

- All Pro Dads

EPIC TOONS Tomorrow Night!!

We're changing things around a bit on our Epic Summer schedule.  This Wednesday we will be doing EPIC TOONS with a focus on the Torchlighters series.  This is a Christian series of cartoons depicting incredible biographies of church heroes and martyrs.  Your kids will be challenged by these 30 minute stories!  Join us tomorrow in the C.W. Playhouse for summer cartoons!  We'll probably even have POPCORN!!

Communication is Key

Communication is at the center of all relationships. Closeness is communicated in many ways, and people give and receive love differently. Five levels of communication provide opportunities for increased closeness in family life. Each level serves an important role for growing deeper. If tension and stress dominate your relationship with your child, start working through these communication levels and you’ll begin to see significant change take place.

1. Greetings are the oil that keep relationships cordial. Hugging your children as part of a greeting or welcoming them to breakfast in the morning makes an important statement about the value of your relationship.
2. Exchanging information about our lives helps people know what’s going on and contributes to a sense of connectedness. As you go through your day, think of a couple of interesting things you could share with your child.
3. Sharing opinions and judgments is the next level. Some people are hesitant to share their opinions because they feel like they’ll have to back them up or face an argument. Look for ways to affirm your children. “That makes sense” can be an encouraging statement even if you disagree. “Thank you for sharing your opinion with me,” can be a statement that encourages openness.
4. Communicating emotions takes us another level deeper. Facts and opinions often have emotions hidden behind them. “I bet that hurt” or “I can tell you’re excited about that,” acknowledges feelings your child might be experiencing.
5. Sharing spiritually brings an amazing amount of closeness into a relationship. Praying together, sharing what God is teaching you, enjoying worship together, and having a sense of spiritual fellowship are all ways to enjoy the deepest level of communication. As you strengthen your spiritual lives together, you’ll see more and more opportunities to discuss heart issues.

All five levels of communication are important. Don't think you can skip the first few and still experience closeness. Look for opportunities to enjoy all the levels with your kids.

This parenting tip comes from the book series, Parenting is Heart Work by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller.

FAMILY WEEK & KIDS CAMP!

FAMILY WEEK!

NO MID-WEEK EPIC ADVENTURE 

THIS WEEK!

PK WILL BE AT KIDS CAMP!

New Series Begins in the C.W. Playhouse!

NEXT SUNDAY:  The Amazing Journey: Life's Up and Downs

Lessons on Saul & David

The Time of the Judges has come to an end with Samuel, the final Judge, Priest, and Prophet.  In August we begin the era of the Kings in Israel starting with Saul and moving into the life of the Shepherd boy turned King-after-Gods-own-heart!  Our theme this series is a woodland journey that follows loosely, the Pilgrim's Progress!  We'll have all the usual fun: puppets, crazy characters and games.  And through it all, we'll be teaching the kids to turn to God for strength in darkness and trial, pain and fear.  

Was it Worth It?

Today’s blog post is from Chance Scoggins, a singer, song-writer, music producer, and blogger. 

Like many of you, my wife and I are the parents of young children.  We wouldn’t trade these days for anything in the world, but it’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s 24/7.  We’re also self employed, and as our business and responsibilities grow, we’re feeling the pressures that come with filling every role from receptionist to CEO – while also raising a family, maintaining our marriage and serving our community.  I imagine many of you feel a similar pressure, so I thought I’d share this story.

The other night, after a string of tough days, we fell into bed, both of us almost asleep before our heads hit the pillows.  But in the stillness, as I tried to quiet my mind, all I could think about was how hard Jennifer’s day must have been with all she had on her plate.  I realized I’d spent my whole day taking great care of my to do list, but not taking great care of her.

Sigh.

I reached over, took her hand, and gave her a little squeeze.  “How are you holding up?”

Tears welled in her eyes, and she said, “I’m okay… It’s just a lot, you know?”  I gently squeezed her hand again.  Then the tears came.  “Sometimes I just wish we could move to the middle of nowhere and get a cow.”  This is absolutely hilarious if you know Jennifer.

“We can, babe.  We can do that.  We can move to Montana and get a cow!”

She laughed out loud and asked me if I was gonna milk it.  The thought of me trying to milk our cow dried her tears and had her laughing just a little too hard, if you ask me.

“We don’t have to stay on this road, Jen.  Maybe it’s too much.”

She thought about it for a while, and said, “No… this is our road.  I know it’s where we belong…  I just hope it’s all worth it someday.”  I knew what she meant.

We laid there in the stillness, partners – no blame or hurt passing between us – but feeling the weight of what this short season of life is requiring us to carry.

And then the question came…

I looked her in the eyes and said, “How would you know it was worth it?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, what would life need to look like someday for you to be able to look back on this season and say it was worth it?  What would life be like?  How would you know it was worth it?”

You guys, it’s a simple question, but I’ll be honest and say I’m not sure I’d ever asked it about my personal life – at least not like this.  I cling to benchmarks in my work.  And when I reach my goals, I’m not surprised because I’ve pictured the end product from the very beginning.  So why am I not projecting my personal life with that same kind of attention and detail?

If we’re honest, most of us would admit our personal goals are more like wishes than a forecast of what’s actually to come.  A hope, more than a plan.  So we keep running and running, doing and doing – trusting and hoping we’re on the right road.  We stay busy – life makes sure of that.  But are we effective?  Would we notice if we got off course, or are we so busy that we’re unaware?

Jen and I sat up, and for the next half hour, we talked about what life would need to look like someday for us to know that this present sacrifice and investment was worth it.  We talked about things like financial freedom, but that obvious stuff paled in comparison to the intangible things we stumbled on.  Who would we be?  What would we know?  How would we help?  What would we leave behind?

Since then, I see everything through a new lens.  Does this get me where I’m going or does it steer me away?  If it’s hard, but it gets me there, I’m in.  If it doesn’t, in this season when I have so little “extra” time and energy to spare, I might need to let it go.

If you could look into your present life from somewhere further up ahead on your road, would you sign off on how you’re spending your time and using your life – or would you recommend some changes?

How would you know it was worth it?

Thirty minutes answering a simple question brought us clarity and peace we really needed – and quite possibly saved me from a future milking a cow in Montana.

Originally published at http://www.chancescoggins.com/how-would-you-know-it-was-worth-it.

EPIC TREASURE HUNT TONIGHT!

TONIGHT: THE EPIC TREASURE HUNT!

Have your kids bring their thinking caps tonight because to find the great treasure they will have to decipher clues as they move all over the church and church property!  Through the epic hunt, they will learn what the greatest treasure in life is and compare it to counterfeit treasures and fool's gold.  The fun starts at 6:30pm!

A Peacemaker or a Troublemaker?

A good way to help children overcome the problem of anger is to teach them how to be peacemakers instead of troublemakers. Anyone can get angry and most people do. Few are mature enough to be peacemakers.
Being a peacemaker helps to break down anger in one's self and in others. Peacemakers seek to bring people together in agreement and look for solutions where everyone wins. They think of the needs of others and try to make everyone feel good. A peacemaker honors others and promotes harmony, bringing joy into the family.

So, how can you help children become peacemakers? Here are a few practical ideas. Target your parenting so that children can learn to be peacemakers. Teach children to:

Look for things in common, not differences.

Try to agree, not disagree.

Work toward common solutions where everyone wins, not where one person wins and others lose.

Use love as a motivation, not anger or meanness.

Work to give your angry child a vision for being a peacemaker. It will open up new ways of thinking about offenses and provide opportunities to deal with anger in others as well. That's why Jesus said, "Blessed (or happy) are the peacemakers," Matthew 5:9.
Anger is one of the roadblocks to sibling harmony. Being a peacemaker is a demonstration of honor. To learn more about how honor can teach kids to get along, consider the book, Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes In You and Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

C.W. PLAYHOUSE THIS SUNDAY: BGMC SUNDAY AND SAMUEL

This Sunday in the C.W. Playhouse we begin the wrap up of our series on the Judges as we begin the book of 1 Samuel and focus on the final Judge of Israel, Samuel.  This week's lesson actually focuses on Samuel's mother and his birth as a result of her prayers.  The kids will learn that God always answers prayer with either Yes, No, or Wait.  Of course, we'll have the typical fun, but we'll wrap up this week with a time of prayer believing that God will meet us at the altar.  Join us at 10:30am, Sunday morning.

THIS SUNDAY IS BGMC SUNDAY!  BRING THOSE BUDDY BARRELS!  

Remember, we're shooting for the higher goal of $3000 this year!

EPIC WATER NIGHT: Noah's Ark and the Water War!

Check out the pictures of our Epic Water Night!

PK taught about the World Wide Flood and the judgment that is coming in a salvation message...

...then took them outside and bravely took them all on at once!

30 minutes of 20+ water gun streams focused on one head!  What PK doesn't do for his kids...

(Special thanks to Maggie Graff, the only other adult who was brave enough to stand at PK's side through most of it... until the end when she wisely gave up and took pictures instead.  :-D)

10 Ways to Teach Your Children Humility from AllProDad.com

Humility, dictionary definitions say, is marked by modesty, meekness, diffidence and an unassuming attitude. Dictionaries also contrast humility with arrogance and pride.  Yet we live in a culture where pride is celebrated, arrogance is almost a perquisite to be taken seriously in business, politics and sports.  Ideas such as “nice guys finish last” are touted as "No-duh!" truth.
Well, listen up! If we think humility is only for wimps and losers, then we really don’t know what the word means. Humility can only come from those who actually have something about which to be humble. The humble are those whocould crow, but chose to keep their beaks shut.
Humility is also a close associate of gratitude, and it’s an attribute that simply oozes class. Here are 10 ways to teach humility to your kids, and (maybe) ramp it up a bit in your own life:
1. Modeling:
   Never underestimate the power of teaching through example. Humility must be consistently modeled as a life-style, not an on-again, off-again example.
2. Build them up:
   This may sound contra-indicative—but it’s important to understand that humility always comes from a position of belief, strength and self-assurance.
3. Encourage and help them to be the very best they can be—no matter what they do:
   Humility works best when your child has actually achieved something! Help your child achieve with confidence.
4. Make sure they understand where their real value comes from:
   It’s easier to side-step pride or arrogance when children understand that they are valued simply because they are your child, not because they make others look bad, or win the race, or that they have a prettier mom (and a smarter dad!), or earn a higher income, or score the most runs.
5. Never humiliate your kids:
   Humility cannot be imposed. It’s important not to confuse humiliation, bullying, and beating down with an education in humility.
6. Expose your child to the great teachers and their stories:
   Jesus, Mother Teresa, Eric Liddell…
7. Teach them to serve:
   - Serve the homeless
   - Serve the poor
   - Serve their family
   - Serve one another
8. Coach them how to respond:
   Kids need to be taught to say “Please?” and “Thank you.”  as much as they need to be taught to brush their teeth and to stay out of traffic. So why expect them to know humility without guidance?  Here’s an example:  “Look, Jr., that’s a great job you did on that science-fair project. You deserved to win the prize. Now, this is how you handle it in class tomorrow… let’s practice saying,
   ‘Thanks!’
   ‘I like the way my friend, Matt, did his project, too.’
   ‘I don’t think I could have won without the help of my teacher.' ”
   You get the idea. 
9. Teach them how to apologize:
   The well-timed and sincere apology is a key component of humility. Sometimes they’re wrong—they need to acknowledge that. Sometimes they over-reach and it’s time to back up. Sometimes, they get unintentional consequences they need to smooth over.
10. Teach them to give thanks:
    A genuinely grateful heart is a key building block for humility. Gratitude, practiced and eventually owned, enhances humility at every turn. The person saying “Thank you.” affects a posture that is unassuming and modest. Try this: every time someone offers a compliment, simply say, “Thank you.” It’s the kind of response that eventually soaks in, grows roots, and blooms humility.