As promised, here are some pictures of last weekends "Superhero Sunday".
I gotta say that the gladiator costume is not the most comfortable in the world. But I suffered for Jesus — because it’s all about the kids!
Some of our Sunday morning 11:30am service team:
A few nutters from 7:30pm service:
Early Childhood team members:
3 Spidermen, 3 Batmen, a Storm Trooper and a Fairy Princess?
It was a brilliant success! We will be having some more of these soon.
Well, haven’t I been slack.
Just a quick post… We are teaching this month on Heroes of the Bible. And
all our kids and leaders are dressing up today in their favourite hero… I
went as a Gladiator.
Russell Crowe…
Although was mistaken as a couple of different people… roman soldier (you
know the ones that crucified Jesus), and the Centurion that came to Jesus with
the sick servant (a lot better than the soldier).
Anyhoo… I will post up a picture ASAP.
God Bless.
Here are some simple but powerful ways to keep people around and loving what they do.
Figure what the always is. Then do something else.
Toothpaste always comes in a squeezable tube.
Business travelers always use a travel agent.
Politicians always have their staff screen their calls.
Children’s ministries always have a bus ministry.
Figure out what the always is, then do exactly the opposite. Do the never.
Thanks to this from Seth
Godin
CHILD abuse has reached tragic new levels with Australian children suffering abuse on average every couple of minutes.
A study has found almost a quarter of a million reports of suspected child abuse and neglect were made to state authorities in 2003.
Child advocates described the problem as an Australian pandemic and said the real figures would be much higher if non-reported cases were able to be measured.
While children of all ages are affected, one of the most chilling findings is that babies and young children – the most vulnerable and defenceless members of society – are among the most abused.
The report, Childhood Abused, commissioned by the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, uncovered 219,000 reports of neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse in 2003.
That is more than 21,000 more reports than the previous year, and it means there was one report of abuse for every 25 children in the country.
Report in:
News.com.au
Ninemsn
I just don’t know what to write in response to these statistics – In the coming years, that as these children enter teenage lives and adulthood we will be faced with more and more need for services and treatment for people who are growing up with a distorted and altered picture of sexuality.
Thank God for pastors like Alan
Meyer who have developed resource and teaching to help every person understand and main a healthy sexuality. It will be much needed in the years to come.
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I though I might post a quick confession I use to keep passionate about my calling
and leadership. Five quick things, that if combined with faith will cause YOU
to stay committed to what you are doing. Also includes a BRILLIANT quote
at the end. I honestly LOVE this quote… and it is from a Orchestra
conductor… HOW MUCH MORE should we, as believers and leaders of children
believe and live out the quote. Check it out below!
1.
Passion demands enthusiasm! :: I am a Dispenser of Enthusiasm
a.
Ps 69:9 �zeal for your house consumes me.
b.
Rom 12:10,11 Be devoted to one another
in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
2.
Passion Demands Truth :: I am a transparent leader.
a.
Jn 17:15-19 My prayer is not that
you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth;
your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the
world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
b.
Ex
from all the people–men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain�
3.
Passion demands People :: People stuff is my ONLY
stuff
a.
GAL 5:13,14 You, my brothers, were
called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature;
rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single
command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
b.
1 Pe 4:10 Each one should use whatever
gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace
in its various forms.
4.
Passion demands Fixation:: Everything I do is with all my being.
a.
goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in
b.
LK
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your strength and with all your mind�; and, `Love
your neighbor as yourself.’ "
5.
Passion demands Obsession :: I keep my eye on what is important.
a.
Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter
of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
b.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is being sure
of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
I set as
the goal the maximum capacity that people have � I settle for no less. I make
myself a relentless architect of the possibilities of human beings. �
Well
I though it might be time for some puppet related posting…
Now, if I was a little more obsessive I would probably border on the edge that a lot of Star Wars/Star Trek fans inhabit. That fine line between enthusiast and insane fixated shadow of a human. I don’t have the complete DVD collection of Muppet Shows, neither do I attend muppet conventions around the world. But I own one playset of Muppets in Space including a Miss Piggy figure, and laugh uncontrollably at muppet bloopers, which aside from the credits of Pixar animated films are the funniest few moments of comedy that mankind has ever watched.
So… if you share my enthusiasm for the puppet genre, then here are a few blogs and links you may be interested in:
Danny Horns muppet blog at:
http://toughpigs.com/
Andrew’s Blog at:
http://puppetvision.blogspot.com
Steve Axtells puppet design studios (I really want the shark!):
http://axtell.com/
Puppet Produtions store:
http://www.puppetproductions.com/
Sonshine Puppets – Australian puppets:
http://www.sonshinepuppets.com/
Muppet Central:
http://muppetcentral.com/
I will add links in the comments as I find sites… but feel free to add them yourself. Just click on the comments link below!
(AgapePress) – What if we could find something that would make teenagers less likely to become involved in crime, drug and alcohol abuse, and premarital sex? And at the same time, what if this little miracle “something” would turn adolescents into safer drivers, make them more likely to participate in extracurricular activities like sports or student government, and give them a higher sense of self-esteem?
Read on here at Agape Press
It seems that religion is the key — the conclusion of a new scientific study from the Commission on Children at Risk is that religous communities seem to transmit the beliefs, values and morals that help give young people a sense of the transcendent, an ordered universe and their own place in it.
Interesting reading… and a definite challenge at the end for you and your church.
A couple of weeks ago I spoke to our key leaders and talked about transitions
we needed to make as a team to move forward this year. Here is an outline of the
five areas that I spoke about:
Five Transitions we need to make to get to where we need to go
1. From problems to opportunities - The future is bright, and to be as truly effective then we must see solutions not problems. Don’t ever bring up a ‘problem or issue’ unless you have one or two solutions to fix the problem.
2. From ‘week to week’ to ‘year to year’ – A big picture perspective keeps momentum and motivation high. Just look back at where we were a year ago, there has been huge growth and change. Don’t just lead from a ‘week to week’ perspective but step back… regularly, and make sure your team can see what you can see… change!
3. From connect group leader to mentor [Our small groups for kids - Ed.] – Our leaders aren’t just filling a spot but creating an environment for kids to grow, learn and get questions answered.
4. From pyramid to net - Leadership structure is not about putting people under you in order to build yourself up. As our influence grows it may appear that way, but as more people get involved in your world your responsibility grows. Flatten the pyramid… it’s about spreading your net keep the net tight and less things will drop.
5. From status quo to innovation - I am not interested in anything we have done in the past. Innovation is about doing things we have not done before – if it ain’t broke… break it! Incrementalism is the enemy of innovation…
don’t just add a little bit of improvement upon little bit of improvement. If change is going to happen, make it big!
A
Jesus doll that quotes the Bible at the push of a button is the star of a Messengers of Faith collection set to be released in June.
Now of course there have been many Jesus action figures, why since the beginning of action figures I would suggest. But do they recite scripture?
‘The 12-inch poseable figures, meant for children 4 to 10, also are collectors items and will sell for $24.99. Each doll is numbered. A child can push a button in the doll’s back, and the doll will recite Scripture, Socha said.’
Well you saw it coming… a children’s
book about Leonardo Da Vinci is set to capitalise on the success of Dan Brown’s best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code. Now this is said to be "more historical" than Browns book, and may be a very interesting read.
The book, which is released in the UK in May, supplies young readers with their own code-cracking scroll, a foil mirror and set of riddles to explore the life of the Renaissance master.
Their objective is to uncover the secret with which they can save a Museum of Adventures from where they are transported back in time.
For the first time in two decades, PG-rated films outperformed R-rated films in theaters!
Companies respond to demand and trends… we can only hope that this sends a message to the film makers and shakers in Hollywood that there is ‘money in them thar hills!’ Even though the amount of R-rated films outnumbered G by at least 2-1.
The more films they make with children in mind, the easier my job is picking a movie for an event at church!
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