6700...that's a big number!

If you're a parent, and bring your kids to Firewheel Church on Sundays and/or Wednesdays...I want you to take a long hard look at that number.

You might be asking, what is that number? I'm getting to that. :)


Week after week, there's a team of folks who willingly give their time, energy, and effort to assist you and partner with you in your task of raising your children in a way that honors God. That number (6700) represents a VERY conservative estimate of how many volunteer hours were spent by our children's ministry team (Birth-6th grade) during the 2011 year serving you and your family.

The crazy thing is that this number doesn't even include any preparation time or any of our special events for the year (like Winter Camp, Summer Camp, or VBS). That number is only the time they spend on campus with your children on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. I don't know about you, but I was floored at how big that number was when I started tallying it up.

I'm so thankful that I get to lead a team this generous, dedicated, and passionate about what they do!


So, here's a thought for you...Next time you see one of those volunteers, you might want to consider the sacrifice of time and investment of energy they are making on you and your family's behalf.

They don't do it for the praise...because if they did, there would never be enough to go around. They do it because they love Jesus and they want your kids to love Jesus, too.

Thanksgiving

Hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving!

May you use this day to not just be thankful FOR things...but may you be thankful to the GIVER of ALL good things!


"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:16-17)

The Cure for Entitlement...

One of the things parents now-a-days lament most often is a general sense of "entitlement" that creeps into our children. It's more than just the general selfishness/center of the world issues that plague most kids. As kids get older, this entitlement issue gets more and more dangerous. So, how do we combat a sense of "entitlement"

My definition of Entitlement - "I am, therefore, I deserve."

So, as I've been thinking about this idea of entitlement, I began to ponder on what the cure for entitlement in adults and children is. How do we battle that in our own hearts and in the hearts of our children?

Here's the thought that the Lord put in my head, and I'm still pondering it and asking the Lord to reveal to me whether or not it is really true. Not only whether or not it's true...but what the implications are from it.

The cure for entitlement is a proper understanding of grace.

What I mean by "grace," is a the idea that everything we have (including your next breath) is a gift of God that is undeserved. And that all we deserve from a holy God who we fail to obey, honor, and worship every day of our lives, is death (Romans 3:23).

What do you think? Does a proper understanding of grace, help cure entitlement? Thoughts?

The Cure for the Common ________

You may be thinking that I'm going to finish that sentence with "cold." I very well could, but I don't know if they've ever found a cure for the common cold.

Instead, I had a whole other epidemic in mind. As a minister to the next generation, one of the things I continually see in suburban kids is a sense of entitlement, which can often lead to "laziness." Personally, as I look around at kids nowadays, I see a lot of laziness. However, much of that laziness has been created by mom and dad under the guise of "love" or "I don't want them to fail" or many other justifications.

But is there a cure? Well, if there is a cure...it's going to start with individual parents. I read a fellow blogger the other day who seemed to be on to something about parents creating a cure for laziness in their homes. He proposed some decent ideas. Some you could adopt, and I'm sure there are others he hasn't listed.

Reverse the Laziness Curse

He's got some really good ideas in there...some personal favorites included:

• "Intentionally bore your kids"
• "Make your kids WORK"

What do you think? Is laziness pandemic in our community and in our children?

"Thankfulness" Activities

One of the dangers facing kids this day is the danger of "entitlement." I see it everywhere. Maybe you see it in your family...your kids...even yourself. One of the real blessings of Thanksgiving week, is that it's a chance to stop, pause, and give thanks for all that the Lord has blessed us with. I would encourage you to be very intentional about creating a spirit of thankfulness/gratitude throughout this week.

I found this link the other day, and it had 12 really cool ideas about how to make "thankfulness" something fun during the upcoming holidays. After you click on the link, the "Thankfulness" activities are scrolling across the top. Check it Out!

Thankful Kids - Thankful Families

Enjoy!