Equally Flexed

So I was kept awake by the storms the other night and this thought popped into my head and I couldn't stop thinking about it.  

I was thinking about the message John Dickson (who is seriously an amazing speaker and you need to hear his story!) spoke at our church a few weeks ago about equally flexing the muscles of moral conviction and compassion.  That the best way to win people to Jesus is by being able to equally flex both.  If one muscle is flexed over the other you either get hard headed and hard hearted Christians who take out the 'love' component.  Or, you get a bunch of people that are so flippant that the message of sin and its redemption gets lost. 

That got me thinking.  What about in children's and youth programming?  After lots of processing, I came up with:  The goal of a children's/youth program should be able to equally flex the muscles of message and experience.  When these two work together in equal flex- it will be hitting the 'sweet spot' of reaching these little hearts for Christ, teaching them that God loves them, that they can trust Him.  If you look at churches not only in recent history but today as well, you will find that often a church is really awesome at one of these, but it is so easy to lack in the other.  That equal flexing is very hard to do.  What does it look like when these muscles are flexed and how can the two together make for a powerful ministry for children?

When a program or church focuses on the message the Word of God is evidently displayed.  There is no question that the story or activity comes from a biblical source.  There is no doubt of its origin.  It is clear and simple truth with clear and applicable lifelines.  However, when the message muscle is out-flexing itself, the experience can become stale, lifeless, and boring.  Even with good intentions, the heart and spirit of God's message gets lost in translation.  It can become redundant.  I can sometimes fail to connect with the energy and life of young people- the story and content is there, but the message can be quickly forgotten.  It is rote.  I've been here.  My childhood Sunday school memories are of environments like this.  I memorized verses and the books of the bible.  I stared at the flannel Jesus and learned about his miracles.  I learned the stories.  But, I was not excited to be there.  Nor did I discover the true emotion and excitement that are in these stories and learn how they can apply to my third grade self.

When a program or church focuses on the experience muscle- man is it an exciting place to be!  The music rocks.  The room is welcoming- no sterile cinder-block walls in this joint!  The activities bounce from one to another.  It draws out the fun, exciting races, projects, crafts and points to hit every child in a way that they learn best.  It knows that not all kids will learn and apply God's word simply by hearing it- but they have to experience it physically, emotionally, musically, creatively.  Kids want to be there!  Its memorable.  But, as memorable as it can be, when the experience muscle is over-flexed- students can walk away remembering more about what they did rather than the why they did it.  The message gets lost in the shuffle.  The races and projects are remembered- but the reasons for doing them gets interrupted by the fast paced, exciting lifestyle of the room.  Entertaining the minds rather than transforming the hearts becomes the end result.  I've experienced these rooms too.  And I have seen how something can be so awesome and so fun- but you walk away wondering 'what did i learn?, who is this Jesus guy anyways?'  Sure these flashy graphics and cool stage get ups are cool- but where is the story, where is the application?  What does this mean to me?

As I think about what I would want for my kids when I drop them off at their respective rooms- I hope that they have a blast.  I want them to be on fire in their experience with other Jesus followers that worship day.  But, I want them to get the point.  I want them to not be distracted by the lights and sounds and races and projects but for them to be able to be challenged with a point to take home.  I hope that as a storyteller and coach (my roles at church on Sunday Morning) that I can adequately flex both muscles.  I want to help bring an awesome experience for each and every kid on Sunday morning.  I want them to have fun and want to be there.  I want fire and heart.  But I also want to clearly communicate the message.  I prayed with my small group leaders before asking God to help us focus on the message, not the activities.  But this idea of flexing equal muscles for the entire mission, purpose, vision, and morning got me thinking.  How can we next year bring about this balance to the Kentwood campus?  Is our environment fun?  Is it inviting?  Are kids walking away with a great take home application?  My hope is yes.  My fear is that we will get too focused on attracting the minds but failing to engage the hearts.  Its a hard balance- but in order to provide the best possible environment with the greatest potential for reaching these kids for Christ- we must try to equally flex the muscles of MESSAGE and EXPERIENCE.

Jury Duty, God's Blessings, God's Lessons

Welcome to the most random post of the century.

So, I'm on jury duty this week. Or at least I'm on call. I have to call in each day after 5pm to see if I have to report for the next day.
So far, no problems. No duty today or tomorrow. We'll see what the rest of the week holds.

Paul and I are singing praises this week. God has been so faithful to us and has really prospered the business. I'm not saying life is a patch of roses, we have our moments, our shortfalls. But God has continued to provide for us- nearly to the dollar and day we needed it. This week God has shown his provision again. As Paul's car is in pretty desperate need of repair, God is providing 3 closings this week!!!! Praise Him!!!! Also, Paul had two purchase agreements signed over the weekend! Praise Him from whom all blessings flow!!!!! We are so thankful to be in a state of too much to do. I reminded Paul just this morning as he left stressed and overwhelmed on his day off that we need to be thankful to have these blessings. I share this not to flaunt success- but to Praise our Heavenly father for all that He is doing through us and for us.

Speaking of our Heavenly Father- I got a little lesson from the Big Daddy upstairs last week. I attend and enjoy my weekly ladies Bible study at church. I was a leader last year, but decided to serve in a different facet and just joined a group this year. Well, last week Tuesday, I realized I needed to do my lesson for Wednesday morning during naptime. Well, I really really really wanted to play Mario Kart instead. I've never been a video gamer- but I have had so much with our w.ii. Well, I half heartedly did my lesson- not really focusing or thinking about its meaning- doing just enough to fill in an answer for each question. Lo and behold my leader calls me at about 8pm tuesday night saying that her daughter was sick. She asked me to lead for her in the morning. Hahaha!!! Ok God. I get it. Focus on my priorities. So, instead of doing my lesson consideretly in the afternoon- I end up in a cram session that night. Don't you just love those lessons from our Father?

Generosity

A brief break from my trip reports....

I am a storyteller at my church for K-3. It is a blast. I love serving in an area where I am using God's gifts and leave so energized! Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of being in your zone of ministry.

Anyways, our church uses a curriculum that focuses on Biblical virtues. We study a new one each month. This month we have been studying Generosity. Well, one week as part of my story I pretended I was packing up all of my old stuff into boxes to make room for all of the new stuff I would be getting for christmas. I didn't want to give anything away, even though I didn't need it or use it anymore. Well, one of the things in my box of stuff was an old stuffed animal from my childhood. Later on in the lesson I realize I need to be generous becuase giving something away can make someone's day and that God calls us to be generous and willing to share!

Well, this past week I come into my classroom I'll admit a little bummed to be there. I was tired. It was cold and snowy. Really the only thing getting my rear through the door was knowing I was going to be presenting the gospel message- and I didn't want Satan to win the battle of my attitude!

Well, what would God bring into my evening but a beautiful girl and a purple gift bag. This little second grader came up to me with a present I thought for Christmas- but it was even better! I open it up to find this:

It was her "pokey little puppy" she got in Florida a few years back. She wanted me to have it. I got chills and nearly cried. This little second grader was getting it in ways I never expected. She had learned to be generous with her things. This little puppy is going to be sitting around my home near my curriculum. Whenever I feel frustrated that the kids were wild and not paying any attention, or I just can't seem to get motivated to learn my lines- I will look at this little puppy and remember that they are getting it! God's message is getting through!

Processing

I've home about 26 hours. We had a great, safe trip. While I'm not quite ready to list some of the highlights, I thought I would post a portion of a letter that I wrote someone on staff at my church. It is all part of the processing that happens after a trip like this, and I feel that this at least skims the surface.


...My husband and his family have long been the supporters of a christian children's home (school/orphanage) near Dhaka, Bangladesh. The past couple of weeks I had the opportunity of traveling with him and his parents to visit this home, the 366 children, the 50+ staff, and our two sponsored children. It was an adventure! In preparation for my trip I was asked this question a lot, "What are you going to do over there?" A VBS program, street evangelism, build a house, etc? This was not going to be one of those kind of trips and I had a hard time wording what we were going to do.

Well, on our second to last day at this oasis in the middle of a dark land where less than 2% of the population is Christian, I was hit in the head with a 2x4. This trip was not about doing it was about being. And the four E's vision of D.V. perfectly explained our reasoning for going. (edit: the four E vision is Embrace, Expect, Experience, Express. All are part in showing/teaching God loves them)

How? One example came from my sponsor daughter- 5 year old Moni. We have been her sponsor for a little over a year and I was just thrilled to meet her. But what was I going to do with her? There was a huge problem- a language barrier. Moni spoke literally maybe 10 words in English (they teach it at the school, but she is so young she is still in the playgroup). I spoke about 3 words in Bangla- "beautiful", "thank you", and "I love you". How was I going to do anything with Moni or any of the younger ones if I couldn't even speak with them? When we first arrived, Moni was very shy. I had a hard time even her letting me hug her. She didn't make much eye contact. As I played with the other girls, she often stood at a distance watching. But then it hit me. I can do anything to really show Moni how I love her or how God loves her. What was need was for me to just be. This trip was about being with the children. A state of being not of doing. That is when I also remembered the four E's. I could show God's love for Moni by embracing her. I showed God's love to all the children that I couldn't communicate that God loved them by simply hugging them, holding their hand, letting them sit in my lap, playing simple games, and just being with them. These kids are literal orphans or orphans by circumstance where their parent/family cannot afford them anymore. I had the opportunity for 5 days to be a temporary parent for them. By the end of our time there, Moni was smiling more. She would run our from the dorm to meet me in the play yard. And when we had to say goodbye- she wouldn't let go. I didn't do anything. I didn't build her anything. I was just being with her. I was embracing her. I truly believe Moni has a better understanding of God's love.

As I reflect now on the experience we had in Bangladesh, I realize a better way to answer the question of "what did you do?" is "I didn't do anything except be." I can also see how using the other three E's in Ada's vision were used in our time there. But not necessarily transferring from me to the children- but the children teaching ME! These children are prayer warriors. Every night they have chapel and every morning they have devotions. During each time, the take a lengthy time to pray. They pray for anything and everything. One thing that touched me was during the Sunday service the children who were having birthdays that week stood up. Then, they prayed for each of the birthday child's sponsor. They actively participated in communal prayers. I couldn't understand a word of what they were saying, but I could hear 366 voices all whispering to God. It was beautiful. They showed me that I can expect to trust God. I also felt as though I experienced God through every service and every testimony. God does some extreme things in this part of the world to show people that he is God and that He does love them. The stories of miracles gave me chills.

The Bengali people have a rich and deep culture. Dance and music are a part of everyday life and every worship. These children taught me something about expressing their love for God. Their expression came out of a deep love, a deep desire to serve him and thank him for everything He has done.

This children's home is a literal beacon on a hill. While the area around them floods every year during the monsoon- they are just high enough to be protected. They are ministering to the local community by offering healthcare, a micro credit program, vocational training, and even allowing the village children to come to their school. They are a light in a dark place. At 6 am every morning I would hear the muslim call to prayer, a somber tune and a reminder of the challenges these children face. But then at about 6:05 I suddenly hear joyous voices as the boys started their worship and devotions two floors below where I was sleeping. It would quickly drown out the muslim call.

I didn't do much on this trip. I taught a couple chapels and a couple songs. I didn't build anything. I didn't have a program or agenda to get through. I was out on the streets preaching God's name. But I embraced children to show them God's love when I couldn't speak to them. I tried to show children they could expect to trust God to meet their needs by simply being with them and buying the occasional sandal for those who needed them at just that moment. I wanted children to experience God's love by learning new songs and by simply being with them. They taught me that expressing their love for God was far deeper than mine ever could be.

What did I do in Bangladesh? It wasn't a matter of doing, it was a matter of being.

Me and my Bengali daughter Moni

Not just the good ones

I had a great night teaching at church last night (Our church does a Saturday night service instead of a Sunday night). The kids were great- a little wound up, but it has been raining since Friday nonstop. Volunteers showed up. The lesson went wonderfully- we learned about how knowing God's word can help us make the wise decision- telling the devil NO! when he tempts us.

What was so cool last night was a conversation I heard at the exit door from a boy and his father. This boy is not the most well behaved in the room. I'm often having to tell him to focus, show respect, etc. Well, I needed 5 kids on stage to help me and he just looked at me with the most eager eyes. Its like they were saying :"take a chance miss Jen, take a chance on me, please!" So I picked him. And he was so excited to be up there he didn't stop talking! Oh well, you go with the flow! Anyways, after all was said and done and he was on his way home, I overheard this bit of the conversation, 'Dad, I got to be on stage and hold this blue piece of paper with a temptation on it and everyone clapped the loudest for mine and it was so cool!' I don't know the full impact of the lesson on this boy. I don't know if he got the bottom line. I'm not sure where he is at spiritually. But, such a simple thing of asking for his help and asking him to come up on stage made his night! It reminded me not to always pick the perfect little kids who always sit quietly and never make waves. Take a chance on somebody you wouldn't normally, it may just make their day- and who knows where that may lead!

Joy

Last night I felt incredibly joyful. Its hard to explain really. It was our kickoff night at church for the new season of Discovery Village- the children's program. I'm a storyteller for K-3rd and host in the 2nd-3rd grade room. The whole church was just buzzing with excitement. They have really been promoting the Saturday night service, so we were curious as to how many kids would show up. We had a great turnout! I didn't get a final number because they just kept filing in and I got busy with other things. There had to been close to 80-100 kids there though. I'm just so thankful that I can be a part of something like this. Even if the story didn't go as well as I had hoped (like last night!) I still feel so joyful at the end of the night that we were able to tell that many kids about God and how they can know Him and grow in Him. I don't always know how to describe my feelings and joy at the end of each night in DV- but I think it would come close to this:

Potty Training Devotion

Here I am simply one week into potty training. It has gone pretty well, with its ups and downs. I finally came to this conclusion on Saturday night...

Isabelle knows what to do, but doesn't do it.

Everytime I put her on the potty she goes! She is pleased with herself. However, if I forget to take her to the potty, or she had to go again less than a half hour later, she wets herself. She knows what to do when I sit her on the potty. She knows what potty is. She understands the process. But, in her immaturity or in the midst of a distraction (something more interesting is happening) she doesn't realize her need for the potty and so she wets herself. She knows that she has gone potty and knows that she needed to sit on the toilet, but either chose not or she isn't aware of the urge to go. Well, since this whole process has suddenly consumed much of our time together and much of my thoughts, I began to think...uh oh....never good! Haha.

I thought about how many times in my own life or I've seen in the lives of others that we know exactly what to do, but just don't do it! I thought of a few things in particular:

Losing Weight- EVERYONE knows the key to weight loss is a healthy, controlled diet and exercise. I know what it takes to lose weight- but I don't do it. I don't always eat healthy and rarely "have time" to exercise.

Quiet Time- Most Christians know what a quality spiritual life looks like and knows that it involves personal quiet time with the Lord. I know that great elements of this personal study and development of my relationship with Christ involves getting into God's Word- the Bible, prayer, worship, etc. I know it takes devotion and time and setting it as a priority. I know how to have quiet time, but how often do I actually do it? Yikes thats a spanking if I've seen one. How embarassing as a Christian to know exactly what I need to do to further my relationship with Christ, but don't do it. Ok, with that thought I'm going to go huddle in the corner and cower!

Lo and Behold, these thoughts came to me Saturday night when I was up at my parent's house for the weekend. I went to my parent's church the next morning looking forward to hearing my dad preach. What do you know but my dad preached on a passage in James chapter 4- these verses in particular:

13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Well, I was immediately drawn to verse 17 "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." My dad used this verse to explain the sin of ommission. He talked about how we try to cut out God by deliberate action or concious inaction. Wow- Ok God, why do I get the feeling you may be trying to teach me something? How often do I pass by a person in the line at the grocery store and don't even say a word to them when I might be the only shining example of Christ they see that day? Why do I not obey those promptings of randomly giving someone in need something? To think that my lack of action could be a sin is a tremendous thought.

As I sat in the pew with an internal discipline session going on in my head, I was encouraged by this verse:

John 13:17

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

If I deliberately cut out God by my actions or inaction, I am sinning. But if I obey His promptings and DO the things I know I should, I will be blessed. Quite the extreme. Quite the motivation.

While my thoughts are still being fine tuned and this blog is certianly not the extend of all that has gone on in my little head the past couple of days, I feel as though I have learned a very important lesson. Thanks to my potty training devotion, I have become aware of my inaction and I am bound and determined to do something to fix it.

24 hours

Even though my husband is not 100% better and my daughter is less than her usual self, I'm off for 24 hours!!!

-24 Hours of ME time
-24 hours without a little person saying "I wa tat" or "more peeze"
-24 hours without having to read the same elmo and grover book
-24 hours of spiritual enrichment
-24 hours without having to trip over toys
-24 hours without a stressing over problems with hubby's work stuff

I'm off to go to the Women's Retreat with church. I am sooooo excited!!!!!!

I am in desparate need of a break, of time for myself, of time with the Lord. Though I will have...

-24 hours without wet slobbery kisses
-24 hours without cuddle time with books
-24 hours without someone wanting my undivided attention because they love me that much
-24 hours without a hug from my hubby

I think it will be worth it!