Tolerance

My Life Group got into a great discussion about tolerance a few weeks ago during our time together.  Tolerance is preached in our world today ... but what's the Bible's take on tolerance?

Here's a great article on Biblical Tolerance.

The Evolution of Soccer

I played soccer growing up ... and for many years played select soccer.  I played for a team about 30 minutes from where I grew up - I knew no one else on the team at first, but soon developed friendships.  We practiced a lot and practiced hard.  Basically, select soccer meant that you were just more devoted and you probably had a better chance of making the high school team.  For me, I never made the high school team in soccer - a knee injury just before high school ended that, but the time I had spent playing select soccer taught me a lot and was a great experience.  I moved on to softball - playing in high school - and really haven't been around the game of soccer in about ten years.

I just got back from a soccer tournament - and I really can't believe how much things have changed!  The game is still played with a round ball and you must use your feet, but the differences seem to be in the preparation for the games.  Teams now have paid coaches ... even at 8 and 9 years old - no longer does the parent who knows a little more than the rest coach the team and some kids even attend private instruction.  Teams have coaches and trainers, some even have academies that the players attend together like a school.

I'm really still processing the changes in the sport ... and kind of wondering if the fun of it has been lost in the attempt to be the best.  As you ponder that ... enjoy the pictures from this past weekend!

Just Average?

I often find myself having just average days.  Nothing bad happens ... nothing overly exciting happens.  I just go about my business, completing my tasks, worrying about myself.  BUT ... in Crazy Love, by Francis Chan he says this at the beginning of the second chapter...

"...it's easy to think about today as just another day.  An average day where you go about life concerned with your to-do list, preoccupied by appointments, focused on family, thinking about your desires and needs.

On the average day, we live caught up in ourselves.  On the average day, we don't consider God very much.  On the average day, we forget that our life truly is a vapor.

But there is nothing normal about today.  Just think about everything that must function properly just for you to survive."

That last sentence ... have you ever stopped and really thought about everything that must occur just for you to take a breath?  For your heart to beat?  For blood to go to your toes, then return for fresh oxygen?

Just to begin thinking about it can be overwhelming and yet - God created every single process that makes us function!  

In college I was required to attend chapel everyday ... and most days the speakers were wonderful.  After a few years though only a few of the many hundreds stands out.  One that stands out was a missionary from South Africa.  He stood up on stage with a spray bottle ... spraying it and saying the word vapor over and over throughout his message.

In the course of time our lives truly are only a vapor ... a short burst of mist ... how are you going to use your vapor?  What can you do to live differently knowing that each day is not just average ... but extraordinary?

Remember

We reached the 18-month mark this past weekend for our building campaign.  The message was a celebration of the mid-point and all the things that we've seen God do.

This stood out to me...

"Remember all the Lord has done for you ... and never lose sight of God's grace"

This seems to fit right in with what God has been teaching me lately - to never forget your experiences and God's work in your life.

Thursday's Tip

FellowshipOne is a great check-in and database program.  It has a secure check-in system, changing the parent pick-up number every 24 hours.  They provide awesome support 7 days a week and are constantly advancing and listening to the needs of churches around the country.  Learn more by visiting fellowshiptech.com

Wordless Wednesday

IMA - A Local Treasure

Personally, I'm not a HUGE fan of art or art museums, but there's just something about the IMA that keeps me coming back.  First of all - it's free ... and it's beautiful.  There are acres and acres of gardens and walking trails to explore on a wonderful day.  And during those times when the weather isn't so wonderful - there's tons of stuff to explore on the inside too.  IMA provides not only a look into some fine art pieces, but more intriguing to me is its look at culture around the world.  My favorite gallery is the African Gallery - filled with ceremonial dresses, wood carvings, jewelry, and tools from all over Africa, it is a beautiful picture of the tribal way of life there.  Another plus for IMA is that they let you take your camera in and photograph anything, except for the 3rd floor ... but don't try to take your camera bag in - as I found out they really frown on that!

Here are some pictures I took on a recent visit to IMA ... hope you get a chance to check it out!

Paint, Paint, Paint

After 2 years I finally painted my office.  I decided I couldn't take the gold, pink, brown, maroon combo any longer ... so today I painted everything that wasn't brown - including quite a bit on myself!  It is now an awesome looking brown and blue combo!  The next task is to find some pics to hang above my board!

Before

After

Homemade Play-doh

Play-doh is simple and easy to make!

Here's the recipe (I usually double it)...

1 cup flour

1 cup warm water

1/4 cup salt

2 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp vegetable oil

Food Coloring

Place all of the ingredients into a pot and cook on low heat ... stir often ... you will notice the dough beginning to form. 

Once the dough has formed (there may be a small amount of the original liquid left), remove the dough from the pot and knead on a floured surface - this will finish the dough and create a great consistency!  While kneading you can add the food coloring for color if you want.

This dough does not crumble and is safe if kids eat it :-)

Challenges and Growth

I met with the team that will be going to South Dakota for the first time this morning.  I am excited for the trip and it looks like its going to be an awesome team!  Throughout the morning I was challenged in many areas, but one really aligned with what God has been teaching me lately.

I've been here now for 2 years ... its been a fast and busy 2 years, but its been really great.  Lately, I've been reflecting on my past and how I've changed in the last couple years.  God has been teaching me that its ok to be who He created me to be and not who others want me to be.  He's been showing me my past experiences and how through those experiences He has molded me into the person I am today. Ultimately, He has been teaching me that my past is my past - and it can be used to help others ... its not something to hide!

This will be my fourth trip to a Native American Reservation.  I sat down last night and began thinking about this trip ... and asked myself ... why?  Why Native Americans?  Why the United States? Why?  Through my thoughts and conversations with God I realized that I have a lot in common with those I am going to minister to.  My background is much the same as those I will minister to - we come from different places, yet there is a commonality between us.

We all have a culture ... it's where we're from.  What's your culture?

Hard To Love

You know who they are ... the kids and adults you come across each day who are hard to love. Maybe they're a little bit more active than the rest, or maybe they need a little more attention, maybe you find yourself constantly having to discipline them, or maybe its the child who sits off in the corner refusing to participate in ANY activity you come up with ... even the ones you spend hours preparing for! They come from all walks of life and all types of backgrounds, but in the end they are created by God and loved VERY much by Him.

Make a list...

Who do you struggle to love?
Why is it a struggle for you to love them?

Now, think about this...

God has created each of us and loves each of us the same. There is nothing that we can do to lose his love and doing good things won't even earn it for us - it is simply ... UNCONDITIONAL - He loves us for being just who we are. Now, yes - He wants us to become more like Himself every day, but His love is still unconditional. God loves these people on your list just as much as He loves you and me ... so would you make a commitment with me this week?

Would you commit to pray for these people?
To ask God to help you see them just as He sees them?

See how God works in your life and in the life of these people this week!

Thursday's Tip

Use pictures instead of words!  Most preschoolers aren't reading yet, but they are capable of understanding where to place things, what to put in a certain bin, etc.  Through the use of pictures children can better understand what's expected of them and what they need to do.

Here are some examples of things you can use pictures for in the Preschool setting...

-Schedules

-Routines

-Toy bins

Boardmaker is a wonderful program that is often found in the Special Needs setting - but its perfect for Preschoolers.  Find a Special Needs Teacher in your ministry and ask if they would help you prepare pictures using the software.  They can "print" the pictures (often called boards) into a PDF document and email it to you - you can then print, laminate, etc!

Wordless Wednesday

Poop and Pride

As a PreK Director I’ve come to find that there’s something that should automatically be included in every PreK Director’s job description … and that is Bodily Fluid Cleanup.  In the last two years there have been times when I have cleaned up every bodily fluid known to man … in one service … sometimes even multiple times in one service.  It’s something that just comes with the territory!

This past weekend I found myself in one of those situations.  During one of the Weekend Services I was greeted by a panicked volunteer who had come to tell me that one of the kids had had an accident and there was “poop everywhere”.  I went to the room to inspect and see if poop really was everywhere.  Sure enough – there was poop everywhere!

One of the 3 yr olds had gone potty and then begun the cleanup process – which led to poop being smeared everywhere as he struggled to wipe himself.  It was on him, on the toilet, on the floor, on the sink, the toilet paper dispenser, even on the bag of wipes he had found in his efforts to clean up himself, the toilet, the floor, the sink, and so on.  As I ran to begin the process of calling mom and the cleaning crew our Children’s Pastor, Joe, helped me out by taking additional wipes and helping with the cleanup process in the bathroom.  In the midst of all the chaos the little boy couldn’t help but tell everyone that his mommy “was going to be so proud” – he had gone on the potty!

You see, all the little boy saw was that he had gone potty on the toilet … a HUGE accomplishment for any 3yr old – and especially when not at home.  But, we saw the mess that he had made in the process of his attempt to go potty. 

This week I’ve spent a lot of time preparing for an upcoming short term mission trip. I can’t help but think of this situation in light of that trip.  Often, in our efforts to “make God proud” we can only see the things we want to do during our one week trip … we want to fix everything and help everyone, but sometimes we have a tendency to make a bigger mess.

 Take a look at Isaiah 64:6a “We are all infected and impure with sin.  When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.”  At some point you’ll be excited about something you “did” for God – yet, in this verse, He compares it to a filthy rag because we are so messed up by sin.  It is God’s grace that allows us to do our very best … fall short every time … and yet still receive God’s never ending and everlasting love.  And its this same grace and love that covers those you encounter each day throughout your journey in life.

 

Who can you love today and show God’s grace and never-ending love to?

So, what's a monster suit?

Monster Suits and Ministry to PreK's ... they go hand in hand - just keep reading, you'll see.  

But, what's a monster suit?  

For me, its a reminder about the faith of a child.  The faith that each of us are called to have as followers of Christ.  

Several weeks ago I found myself sitting with a 3yr old - who was refusing to put his pajamas on. The only reason ... he was scared of monsters.  His pajamas quickly became his Monster Suit ... and with childlike faith he believed that these PJ's would protect him from monsters all night long.  

We're called to follow Christ with faith like a child - just like 3 yr olds wear their monster suits to bed each night ... fully believing that they'll be protected from monsters.

In my blog you'll find many examples and stories of faith like children - through the eyes of children ... I'll tag these posts as Monster Suits ... always reminding us to follow Christ with childlike faith.

New Look

Working on a new look :-)

The new look is mostly finished - I'll probably make a few tweaks here and there, but for the most part its done!  Unfortunately, I lost the pictures that were in the old format.

Preschool

Welcome to the SOWO Volunteers who will be joining us for our Easter Services this year!

Here's what to expect in the Preschool Ministry...

1. Arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your service time

2. Each classroom will have a "Room Point" (a regular PreK Volunteer) - this person will be able to answer any questions you may have!

3. Basic Schedule...

Sea/Woods (830a Service Example ... Schedules for each service will be in your classroom)

815-835 - Checkin/FreePlay/Cleanup

835 - Large Group (in the Sea - or Zone if #'s are small)

850 - Activity Center Rotation #1

900 - Activity Center Rotation #2

910 - Activity Center Rotation #3

920 - Activity Center Rotation #4

930 - Snack/Checkout

Zone (830a Service Example ... Use Sea/Woods if #'s are small)

815-835 - Checkin/FreePlay/Cleanup

835 - Activity Center Rotation #1

845 - Activity Center Rotation #2

855 - Activity Center Rotation #3

905 - Activity Center Rotation #4

915 - Large Group (in the Zone)

930 - Snack/Checkout

4. Activity Centers

-Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow

-You'll notice the four colored mats in each classroom - this is to help the children know which center to go to. When a child arrives in the classroom they receive a label with a color square, this is their starting Activity Center color.

-Each volunteer in the classroom will be assigned to one of the colors. You will remain at this color during the four activity center rotations. The Room Point will let you know when to rotate. Generally, the center rotations are 10 minutes each.

-All the curriculum and supplies that you need will be inside the Activity Center Bin.

-Any takehome items can be placed in the child's numbered bin (also located on their label)

5. Large Group

-During Large Group time the Large Group Leader will teach the story and lead worship, volunteers will help watch the children during this time.

It's December

Well ... I've been TERRIBLE about blogging lately ... Thanksgiving is finished already and its time to send out the Christmas Cards!  The first snow has already come and gone ... even though it wasn't much it made everything a beautiful white color - and of course came on a Sunday morning which made the roads treacherous on the way to church in the morning!  We might even get a little more snow tonight ... its certainly cold enough to snow!  

Christmas is obviously just a few weeks away ... take some time to slow down and enjoy this season!

Here's a few things going on...

Mitten Tree

It's up and ready ... bring your gloves, scarves, hats, etc and place them on the tree in the Preschool Area - all items collected will be given to Brookside Community Church

The Blind Writer

If you haven't heard ... Matt Bays wrote a book!  And you can get your copy in Capstone this weekend!  Or order it here.

IJM

Learn more about what this incredible ministry is doing in the world here.  Injustice in our world is all around us and lately we've been talking about it with my group of seventh graders - for many of them its brought up questions and an awareness of a world that's bigger than here in Hamilton County.  Tonight Heather and Steve had an amazing Christmas Concert to raise support for IJM and their work around the world ... I hope that you'll check out the website and allow God to move you to action as you learn more about the world we live in.

A New Favorite

Mexican Eggrolls!

I know, I know ... I too was skeptical at first, but not anymore! They're basically a taco inside an eggroll! They're quick and easy and don't make a mess when you eat them!

Here's how to make them...

1lb Hamburger Meat
1 Pkg Taco Seasoning
Chopped Onion (however much you want in the eggrolls)
Shredded Cheese (however much you want in the eggrolls)
Shredded Lettuce
Sour Cream
Salsa or Taco Sauce
2 pkgs of Egg Roll Wrappers (usually in the organic/health food section or at health food stores)
1 egg to seal the egg roll wrappers
Oil for frying

Brown the hamburger and mix with the Taco Seasoning (follow directions on package)
Mix in the cheese and onion (or any other taco toppings that you like - green chilis, peppers, etc)

Take an egg roll wrapper and place approx 1 tbsp of taco meat/mix in the wrapper
Follow egg roll wrapper directions to fold
Then take a second wrapper and wrap it around the first, seal with egg (this will ensure that it doesn't make a mess!)
Fry the egg roll in the oil until both sides are brown/somewhat crispy

To serve: Place on a bed of lettuce and top with sour cream and salsa/taco sauce - or dip in sour cream and salsa/taco sauce

Typically 1-1.5lb of meat will make 15-18 egg rolls depending on how much meat is placed in each egg roll.

November

November has arrived! The clocks change tonight, which means it will be getting dark much earlier than during the summer months.

We're back to My First Look Curriculum beginning this weekend. During this month we'll be learning about Creation and all that God has made!



How have you shown love this week?

If you have a story you'd like to share, please leave a comment!