Pictures are Worth a Thousand Words…really?
Kids love to draw pictures. Rainbows, animals, trees, flowers, and the people they love- just to name a few. Our refrigerator doors, bulletin boards, or the walls of our garage all become museums for those priceless drawings that little chubby hands create. The most precious of those are the ones handed over with the words, “I made this for you.” Oh, how I miss those beautiful scribblings once made by my two boys. Taking a close look at whatever is conjured up in their little minds is a window into what our kids see as important and worth thinking about.
If their creations let us in on what they think is important, then what do we gain by asking them to draw what we think is important? When we take the opportunity to request a drawing, we get to see how they view something. Simply think about the times you’ve asked your child to draw your family. We’ve all seen those drawings with arms coming out of heads, a mom’s smiling face, or a dad who is significantly taller than everyone else in the picture. Their little hearts and minds put on paper how they view any given topic.
This very idea is why I asked kids to draw their perception of God. I emphasized that there was no right or wrong answer…this was to be their view of Him. What does He look like? What is around Him? Is He sitting or standing? After they had time to draw this, I asked them to then put themselves in the picture. Where are they in relation to God in that drawing? Again…no right or wrong answers.
The pictures were as varied as the children who drew them. Some put God in the sky on a cloud with themselves on the ground. Others made God so big with light all around Him that they couldn’t fit in the picture at all. Still others drew a very human appearing God, so personal that His arms were stretched out toward the drawing of themselves.
We serve a God Who is all of these things and more. He is above us, in front of us, behind us, and through the Holy Spirit- in us. He sees all things, He knows all things, He holds all things together. The earth is like His footstool. He knows and numbers the stars and at the very same time, knows and numbers the very hairs of our heads. Two words describe this kind of God. Sovereign and Intimate.
The Psalmist David “put on paper” for us many reminders of the God we serve. I found none that described both God’s sovereignty and His intimacy with us more vividly that Psalm 139:1-18. This was David’s drawing of God and where he was in the picture.
We all draw things as we view them. Those sweet creations our kids paper our homes with- the ones with dad bigger and mommy smiling- let us know that our child sees his/her world as wonderful. Do we know how our kids view God…really? Ask them to draw Him, and see for yourself. Maybe a picture really is worth a thousand words, and then some.
This Week’s Announcements:
What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
Want to say ‘thanks’ to those who serve your children? Want to give back in some way? It won’t cost you a thing…except a little time.
Sunday, November 30th is not only the Sunday after Thanksgiving, it is one of those rare (okay…four times a year is not that rare)- 5th Sundays. Since our volunteers are scheduled on a four Sundays a month schedule, this leaves us with some spots to be filled. If you are in town and willing to say “thanks for serving” by serving yourself, please contact Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org to see how you can serve on November 30th. *We will need help in all ages, so claim the spot and age group you want!
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view our lessons from 11/2.
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
One mom reported that during BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) they had been learning about how God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness. At the end of one morning’s study, the mom asked her 3 year old what God gave the Israelites to eat. Finding the right answer in her memory was a quick process. She proudly said "mayonnaise!" (Yuck…I would’ve starved!)
Monday, November 3, 2014
Monday, October 27, 2014
What Happened to all the See-Saws?
What Happened to All the See-Saws?
If you are of a certain age you most likely remember a playground or park with see-saws. Several years ago in an effort to make playgrounds safer, see-saws were taken away. (Some playgrounds don’t even have swings anymore…don’t get me started on that trend!)
Anyway…because of the no see-saw rule, many children have not experienced the power rush of jumping from the top, sending your see-saw mate crashing to the ground. Neither have they encountered the awesome experience of being that friend who, while falling to the ground, has to decide in a split second whether to be okay hitting the ground or risk trying to get his feet down fast enough to catch himself. (Side note: I was the kid who BEGGED my friends not to make me fall before I would even agree to get on the see-saw) Yep, gone are the days of risking life and limb in the pursuit of fun.
As I ‘wax nostalgic’ for a bit, I did wonder what our kids are losing - all in an attempt to keep them safer. This reality became apparent to me two Sundays ago as I was reviewing the topics we’ve covered in the “It’s a Mystery” series.
Introducing kids to the idea of how God keeps all things in balance, specifically being both a God of answers and mystery seemed like a large topic to tackle. Since I’m very visual myself, I’ve tried to help children connect a visual with this concept. A simple balance scale seemed like my best bet. For kids who have seen these in school, it was a great option. For others, who have never seen one, I had to teach them what it was, how it was used, and what it meant to be balanced before I could use it to demonstrate my point.
I couldn’t relate the mechanical genius of a balance scale to the see-saw because no one knew what I was talking about. Literally…I don’t remember a single child who knew what I was describing when I referenced the see-saw. Big deal- right?
Probably not a big deal, but then again I think the see-saw is the perfect picture of another layer of God’s balance- and the balance He wants us to keep in our minds and hearts. Picture this…
If a person doesn’t fully understand that God has the answers; if he/she thinks they do, they are out of balance. Any person who thinks they have all the answers themselves will also think they don’t need God. They are what we as Christians would call- “lost.” On the other side of that is a person who thinks that life is one big mystery- there is no purpose to it at all; we’re all just spinning in space until we die. These people are also lost.
If we’re doing it right, we’re staying right in the middle of both- we’re in balance. We know that God is a God of answers, that He wants us to know and understand Him and His world. At the same time, we understand that God is a God of mystery- His thoughts are not our thoughts.
What does this have to do with see-saws? I think- if we’re really honest, our minds and hearts do an up and down with this balance thing. Depending on what is going on in our lives, we’re either trusting God fully for the answers, or we’re questioning His mysteries. Leaning too far to one side or the other is a dangerous thing- much like jumping off the top or plummeting to the bottom. Wherever we are, we need to ask God to keep us in balance. We want to ride but we want to be safe…better yet, secure.
If you think about it, and actually have memories of riding a see-saw, wasn’t it great fun to sit in the middle and just enjoy the up and down with no fear of falling off?
This Week’s Announcements:
Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view our lessons from 10/19 and 10/26.
*Note that no lessons are included for 4k-5th grade for 10/26. This is because small groups did not meet; children were engaged in outreach projects instead.
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
While leading the outreach project with the 4k/K children this past Sunday, the leader was telling the story of the 10 Lepers who Jesus healed. (If you don’t remember the story, look it up in Luke 17) As she told the story, one child yelled out, “I know about lepers! They have spots so they can hide in the jungle.” Hmm…I think that’s leopards- just a little different.
If you are of a certain age you most likely remember a playground or park with see-saws. Several years ago in an effort to make playgrounds safer, see-saws were taken away. (Some playgrounds don’t even have swings anymore…don’t get me started on that trend!)
Anyway…because of the no see-saw rule, many children have not experienced the power rush of jumping from the top, sending your see-saw mate crashing to the ground. Neither have they encountered the awesome experience of being that friend who, while falling to the ground, has to decide in a split second whether to be okay hitting the ground or risk trying to get his feet down fast enough to catch himself. (Side note: I was the kid who BEGGED my friends not to make me fall before I would even agree to get on the see-saw) Yep, gone are the days of risking life and limb in the pursuit of fun.
As I ‘wax nostalgic’ for a bit, I did wonder what our kids are losing - all in an attempt to keep them safer. This reality became apparent to me two Sundays ago as I was reviewing the topics we’ve covered in the “It’s a Mystery” series.
Introducing kids to the idea of how God keeps all things in balance, specifically being both a God of answers and mystery seemed like a large topic to tackle. Since I’m very visual myself, I’ve tried to help children connect a visual with this concept. A simple balance scale seemed like my best bet. For kids who have seen these in school, it was a great option. For others, who have never seen one, I had to teach them what it was, how it was used, and what it meant to be balanced before I could use it to demonstrate my point.
I couldn’t relate the mechanical genius of a balance scale to the see-saw because no one knew what I was talking about. Literally…I don’t remember a single child who knew what I was describing when I referenced the see-saw. Big deal- right?
Probably not a big deal, but then again I think the see-saw is the perfect picture of another layer of God’s balance- and the balance He wants us to keep in our minds and hearts. Picture this…
If a person doesn’t fully understand that God has the answers; if he/she thinks they do, they are out of balance. Any person who thinks they have all the answers themselves will also think they don’t need God. They are what we as Christians would call- “lost.” On the other side of that is a person who thinks that life is one big mystery- there is no purpose to it at all; we’re all just spinning in space until we die. These people are also lost.
If we’re doing it right, we’re staying right in the middle of both- we’re in balance. We know that God is a God of answers, that He wants us to know and understand Him and His world. At the same time, we understand that God is a God of mystery- His thoughts are not our thoughts.
What does this have to do with see-saws? I think- if we’re really honest, our minds and hearts do an up and down with this balance thing. Depending on what is going on in our lives, we’re either trusting God fully for the answers, or we’re questioning His mysteries. Leaning too far to one side or the other is a dangerous thing- much like jumping off the top or plummeting to the bottom. Wherever we are, we need to ask God to keep us in balance. We want to ride but we want to be safe…better yet, secure.
If you think about it, and actually have memories of riding a see-saw, wasn’t it great fun to sit in the middle and just enjoy the up and down with no fear of falling off?
This Week’s Announcements:
Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view our lessons from 10/19 and 10/26.
*Note that no lessons are included for 4k-5th grade for 10/26. This is because small groups did not meet; children were engaged in outreach projects instead.
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
While leading the outreach project with the 4k/K children this past Sunday, the leader was telling the story of the 10 Lepers who Jesus healed. (If you don’t remember the story, look it up in Luke 17) As she told the story, one child yelled out, “I know about lepers! They have spots so they can hide in the jungle.” Hmm…I think that’s leopards- just a little different.
Monday, October 13, 2014
A Game of Uncle
A Game of “Uncle”…or better named- “Mercy”
If you are of a certain age, you’ve undoubtedly played a game of “uncle” at some point in your life. That same game of torture is known now as “mercy.” In case you’ve forgotten, you grab hands with another person (most commonly played with a vicious sibling) and then try pushing their hand back until they yell, “mercy!” This is a game that many of us- myself included- tried to avoid at all costs since you were never quite sure if you’d be the victor or the victim.
When we consider God’s mercy, we certainly don’t think of a game of torture; however, it is interesting that the very definition of godly mercy is “compassion when you have the power and/or right to punish.” I guess calling ‘mercy’ in the game is calling for such compassion.
This past Sunday we explored the next “both-em” of God- mercy and justice. God holds both of these in perfect balance. They are not opposites; they aren’t even at odds with each other. In reality God’s justice is really His mercy.
Since justice is best understood in a child’s mind as discipline/consequences, let’s think of it that way too for a moment. Think of how you mead out justice in your household. You direct and guide your children. When they make a decision to stray from your direction with disobedience in some form, you discipline them. Is this because you want to be mean? Is this because you’ve stopped loving them? On both counts- of course not! You correct because you love them.
The same is true of God’s justice in our lives. His correction is always because He loves us. Sometimes that correction is gentle, and sometimes it feels more heavy-handed. Either way, it’s always mixed with a heavy dose of His mercy.
We live lives that cry out for God’s justice. We can also cry out for His mercy. When we cry out for one, we receive both. And…if we’re smart, we won’t wait until our hands are being twisted in pain to cry out for either.
This Week’s Announcements:Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view our lessons from 10/12.
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
On any Sunday in the fall, you can find at least one child who wants to discuss a college football game from the day before. (It’s not just the boys!) This week one guy was talking about his beloved Clemson Tigers. Another child, overhearing only a portion of the conversation, interjected, “I like tigers, but I like rhinos more!” Confused…I asked, “What team is that… with a rhino as their mascot?” Puzzled look, and then, “Oh, I thought y’all were just talking about your favorite animals.”
If you are of a certain age, you’ve undoubtedly played a game of “uncle” at some point in your life. That same game of torture is known now as “mercy.” In case you’ve forgotten, you grab hands with another person (most commonly played with a vicious sibling) and then try pushing their hand back until they yell, “mercy!” This is a game that many of us- myself included- tried to avoid at all costs since you were never quite sure if you’d be the victor or the victim.
When we consider God’s mercy, we certainly don’t think of a game of torture; however, it is interesting that the very definition of godly mercy is “compassion when you have the power and/or right to punish.” I guess calling ‘mercy’ in the game is calling for such compassion.
This past Sunday we explored the next “both-em” of God- mercy and justice. God holds both of these in perfect balance. They are not opposites; they aren’t even at odds with each other. In reality God’s justice is really His mercy.
Since justice is best understood in a child’s mind as discipline/consequences, let’s think of it that way too for a moment. Think of how you mead out justice in your household. You direct and guide your children. When they make a decision to stray from your direction with disobedience in some form, you discipline them. Is this because you want to be mean? Is this because you’ve stopped loving them? On both counts- of course not! You correct because you love them.
The same is true of God’s justice in our lives. His correction is always because He loves us. Sometimes that correction is gentle, and sometimes it feels more heavy-handed. Either way, it’s always mixed with a heavy dose of His mercy.
We live lives that cry out for God’s justice. We can also cry out for His mercy. When we cry out for one, we receive both. And…if we’re smart, we won’t wait until our hands are being twisted in pain to cry out for either.
This Week’s Announcements:Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view our lessons from 10/12.
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
On any Sunday in the fall, you can find at least one child who wants to discuss a college football game from the day before. (It’s not just the boys!) This week one guy was talking about his beloved Clemson Tigers. Another child, overhearing only a portion of the conversation, interjected, “I like tigers, but I like rhinos more!” Confused…I asked, “What team is that… with a rhino as their mascot?” Puzzled look, and then, “Oh, I thought y’all were just talking about your favorite animals.”
The Ugly Truth about Wrath
The Ugly Truth about Wrath
From A to Z, there are words in the Bible that many of us can’t pronounce. Need some examples? Here you go: Artaxerxes and Zerubbabel. That’s just one A and one Z… think of all the others in between! In addition to the brain-boggling task of deciphering some terms in God’s Word, there are also those words that we just don’t understand.
These words are easily pronounced for most anyone. We can read a definition in the dictionary or a Bible commentary. We may even have some way of defining it in our own words, but do we really understand them? You know the words…wrath, justice, judgment…just to name a few. Do we really understand God’s wrath, tempered with grace?
Wrath was the topic of last Sunday’s lessons for our elementary kids. Kids understand anger. Just imagine the sea of hands raised when I asked if anyone had ever been mad at a brother or sister. And…I won’t tell you how many kids (unsolicited) wanted to tell how mom or dad showed wrath!
Wrath is a word that is not talked about a lot in children’s ministry. God is loving. God is kind. God is powerful. Kids “get” a God that is loving, kind, and powerful, but looking at a God Who is also capable of great anger is a little harder.
The ugly truth about wrath is that…well, it’s Truth. The Bible is chockfull of times when God’s wrath was “poured out.” This makes us uncomfortable so we skip over those stories. The reality is that we shouldn’t skip over anything that gives us a better understanding of God’s character, including the parts that make us scratch our heads or shift in our seats.
Look at those stories where God’s wrath was poured out. What is He mad about? Sin. God is holy so therefore He cannot tolerate anything that is unholy.
It was explained this way to children…
Imagine that you created something perfect and wonderful. You loved your creation so much that you wanted to hang it on the refrigerator so you could enjoy its beauty every day. Now imagine that a big, hairy, nasty, slobbering (they loved that part) monster rips it off the fridge, tears it up, stomps on it, and then takes it outside to roll it in the mud. How would you feel? Mad!
Now, think about what happened to God’s world…
He created a perfect world and put His most prized creations right in the middle of it. He said, “This is very good.” He wanted to spend time with His creations, and enjoy the beauty of what He’d created. Enter the big, hairy, nasty, slobbering monster- sin. The enemy and sin are all about destroying God’s creation. How does God feel? Mad! That is what God’s wrath is about. He is mad at sin, BUT He is kind (in the form of grace) to us.
Wrath is ugly, but it’s Truth worth exploring. When we better understand what God’s wrath is about, we also understand more about those “comfortable” things too- His love, kindness, and power in our lives.
This Week’s Announcements:
Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view our lessons from 9/28 and 10/05.
This link is no longer available
From A to Z, there are words in the Bible that many of us can’t pronounce. Need some examples? Here you go: Artaxerxes and Zerubbabel. That’s just one A and one Z… think of all the others in between! In addition to the brain-boggling task of deciphering some terms in God’s Word, there are also those words that we just don’t understand.
These words are easily pronounced for most anyone. We can read a definition in the dictionary or a Bible commentary. We may even have some way of defining it in our own words, but do we really understand them? You know the words…wrath, justice, judgment…just to name a few. Do we really understand God’s wrath, tempered with grace?
Wrath was the topic of last Sunday’s lessons for our elementary kids. Kids understand anger. Just imagine the sea of hands raised when I asked if anyone had ever been mad at a brother or sister. And…I won’t tell you how many kids (unsolicited) wanted to tell how mom or dad showed wrath!
Wrath is a word that is not talked about a lot in children’s ministry. God is loving. God is kind. God is powerful. Kids “get” a God that is loving, kind, and powerful, but looking at a God Who is also capable of great anger is a little harder.
The ugly truth about wrath is that…well, it’s Truth. The Bible is chockfull of times when God’s wrath was “poured out.” This makes us uncomfortable so we skip over those stories. The reality is that we shouldn’t skip over anything that gives us a better understanding of God’s character, including the parts that make us scratch our heads or shift in our seats.
Look at those stories where God’s wrath was poured out. What is He mad about? Sin. God is holy so therefore He cannot tolerate anything that is unholy.
It was explained this way to children…
Imagine that you created something perfect and wonderful. You loved your creation so much that you wanted to hang it on the refrigerator so you could enjoy its beauty every day. Now imagine that a big, hairy, nasty, slobbering (they loved that part) monster rips it off the fridge, tears it up, stomps on it, and then takes it outside to roll it in the mud. How would you feel? Mad!
Now, think about what happened to God’s world…
He created a perfect world and put His most prized creations right in the middle of it. He said, “This is very good.” He wanted to spend time with His creations, and enjoy the beauty of what He’d created. Enter the big, hairy, nasty, slobbering monster- sin. The enemy and sin are all about destroying God’s creation. How does God feel? Mad! That is what God’s wrath is about. He is mad at sin, BUT He is kind (in the form of grace) to us.
Wrath is ugly, but it’s Truth worth exploring. When we better understand what God’s wrath is about, we also understand more about those “comfortable” things too- His love, kindness, and power in our lives.
This Week’s Announcements:
Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view our lessons from 9/28 and 10/05.
This link is no longer available
Monday, September 22, 2014
Scooby-Doo and Other Mystery Hunters
Scooby-Doo and Other Mystery Hunters
Children have this natural curiosity and love of mystery that is lost on most adults. Adults want answers…all the time. I’m not sure who started Wikipedia (I’m sure google could tell me), but my guess is it was someone who not only wanted answers, but thought they knew them as well.
In a world where there are so many questions…
“Why should I blend up my spinach and drink it when I can simply eat a salad?” (Just to name one!)
…we are always looking for answers.
What if we didn’t look for answers as much as we searched our hearts and minds for questions. This is the thought around “It’s a Mystery” - our fall series in PathFinders. This fall we will explore what it means to ask questions of God, about God, and about His Word. We will embrace the fact that God is a God of answers, but also a God of mystery.
This past Sunday we learned that God holds both sides of that- answer and mystery- in perfect balance. There is tension and therefore power in having faith in a God that can be both. If we had all the answers, we’d assume that we are just like God ourselves, but on the other hand, if we had only questions, we’d stay confused. This is God’s perfect balance. He gives us answers through His Word, through our time with Him in prayer, and through the Holy Spirit, while also remaining a great mystery. After all, His ways are not our ways; His thoughts are not our thoughts.
So what does it mean to be a mystery hunter in the Spiritual sense? Scooby- Doo…Where are you?!
For those true Scooby-Doo fans (the original “Scooby Doo- Where are you?” is the only one that counts) there is no doubt that you understand the concept of a hidden in plain sight answer to a mystery. Who doesn’t remember Miner Forty-Niner scaring off employees and guests at the Gold City Guest Ranch? [Cue the chase scene music in your head] Even the bumbling mystery gang was able to catch the real culprit...old Hank in costume.
Many of the things we find mysterious about God may actually be hidden in plain sight. We may simply be asking the wrong questions… or asking no questions at all. There is no easy google answer to how, why, and when God works. There is no Wikipedia contributor, co-contributor, or fact checker (does Wikipedia have those?!) that has all the answers.
There are questions, and there is One who answers. There are answers, and there is also mystery. Just like Scooby-Doo, we may discover by chance (or more likely through a Holy-download) the answer to one mystery, only to learn that there is a new one to investigate.
Ask the questions, look and listen for the answers, and then…embrace the mystery.
This Week’s Announcements:
PathFinders Camping Day- Saturday, October 18th
If you have a child in 1st-5th grade, this day is for them! Sign up by clicking on the link in this week’s email update. Registration is required and will close out (no exceptions) on the registration dead-line. Payment of $15 per child is due at time of registration. **If you are interested in being one of the adult drivers and/or chaperones for this event, contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view our lessons from 9/21/2014.
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
While doing a school project on Egypt, one little guy was so fascinated by the culture, he decided that he must have actually lived during that time. He believed he may have been born then. When his parents questioned him further, saying- “you were not reincarnated and you couldn’t have been born then and still live now…so, huh?!” After some thought, he acquiesced by saying… “I meant my ansisters lived then!” {That’s not a typo- ansisters to a five year old is ancestors to us}
Children have this natural curiosity and love of mystery that is lost on most adults. Adults want answers…all the time. I’m not sure who started Wikipedia (I’m sure google could tell me), but my guess is it was someone who not only wanted answers, but thought they knew them as well.
In a world where there are so many questions…
“Why should I blend up my spinach and drink it when I can simply eat a salad?” (Just to name one!)
…we are always looking for answers.
What if we didn’t look for answers as much as we searched our hearts and minds for questions. This is the thought around “It’s a Mystery” - our fall series in PathFinders. This fall we will explore what it means to ask questions of God, about God, and about His Word. We will embrace the fact that God is a God of answers, but also a God of mystery.
This past Sunday we learned that God holds both sides of that- answer and mystery- in perfect balance. There is tension and therefore power in having faith in a God that can be both. If we had all the answers, we’d assume that we are just like God ourselves, but on the other hand, if we had only questions, we’d stay confused. This is God’s perfect balance. He gives us answers through His Word, through our time with Him in prayer, and through the Holy Spirit, while also remaining a great mystery. After all, His ways are not our ways; His thoughts are not our thoughts.
So what does it mean to be a mystery hunter in the Spiritual sense? Scooby- Doo…Where are you?!
For those true Scooby-Doo fans (the original “Scooby Doo- Where are you?” is the only one that counts) there is no doubt that you understand the concept of a hidden in plain sight answer to a mystery. Who doesn’t remember Miner Forty-Niner scaring off employees and guests at the Gold City Guest Ranch? [Cue the chase scene music in your head] Even the bumbling mystery gang was able to catch the real culprit...old Hank in costume.
Many of the things we find mysterious about God may actually be hidden in plain sight. We may simply be asking the wrong questions… or asking no questions at all. There is no easy google answer to how, why, and when God works. There is no Wikipedia contributor, co-contributor, or fact checker (does Wikipedia have those?!) that has all the answers.
There are questions, and there is One who answers. There are answers, and there is also mystery. Just like Scooby-Doo, we may discover by chance (or more likely through a Holy-download) the answer to one mystery, only to learn that there is a new one to investigate.
Ask the questions, look and listen for the answers, and then…embrace the mystery.
This Week’s Announcements:
PathFinders Camping Day- Saturday, October 18th
If you have a child in 1st-5th grade, this day is for them! Sign up by clicking on the link in this week’s email update. Registration is required and will close out (no exceptions) on the registration dead-line. Payment of $15 per child is due at time of registration. **If you are interested in being one of the adult drivers and/or chaperones for this event, contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view our lessons from 9/21/2014.
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
While doing a school project on Egypt, one little guy was so fascinated by the culture, he decided that he must have actually lived during that time. He believed he may have been born then. When his parents questioned him further, saying- “you were not reincarnated and you couldn’t have been born then and still live now…so, huh?!” After some thought, he acquiesced by saying… “I meant my ansisters lived then!” {That’s not a typo- ansisters to a five year old is ancestors to us}
Monday, September 15, 2014
When "Because I said So!" Doesn't Work
When “Because I said So!” Doesn’t Work
A child asks “why?” and we give the parental answer that has stood the test of time. Our parents said it, our grandparents said it, and (at least in my case) our great grandparents said it. We’ve all heard it, and most likely we’ve all said it -at least once. You know it well…“Because I said so!” After saying it, our assumption is that one thing is clearly understood- no more questions! And here, my fellow parents, in lies the problem.
(Pause for thought) Now, you may be thinking…wait a cotton-pickin’ minute…I want my kids to obey with no questions. Sometimes they don’t get to ask why I tell them something- they just have to trust me and do it. Isn’t that what first time obedience is all about?
I get it. We all want obedient and polite children. So, let me make one thing clear- I’m not talking about when you yell “STOP” as they start to cross the street without looking. There is no time for them to ask why nor for you to explain. This is something altogether different…hang with me.
“When ‘because I said so’ doesn’t work” is not about obedience, it’s about questions, and more importantly finding the answers to those questions.
Simple example- when my kids were little I taught them to take their shoes off as soon as we walked in the door. They were taught early on that once they removed those shoes, they went in a basket near the door that we entered and exited through every time we came and left our home. One day my three year old asked why we had to do that. In my haste to avoid another string of “whys” – I said it- “because I said so.” I could just as easily taken the time to explain my reasoning- that it helped us find our shoes quickly, while also helping mom keep the floors a little cleaner. So…one day, when I left our house with no shoes myself, he reminded me of the shoe basket and why (he thought) we used it. “Mom- your shoes got lost ‘cuz they weren’t in the basket!” (The master had become the student)
Now this seems like a silly example, but realistically he answered his own question through ‘study’ and experience. Isn’t this the best way to learn anything? As babies, we let our children (where safe) put things in their mouths, and we want them to touch and feel everything possible. As they get older, we know better than to do our kids’ homework for them. We’re tempted sometimes, but we know if we did it, they would never learn it for themselves. We welcome our children’s use of imagination and experiments to learn about the world around them. Seriously, if your child said, “Why does 2+2=4?”- you would not answer with “because I said so!” Most likely, you’d show them, and then encourage them to test it for themselves.
Okay…you get it, ‘because I said so’ doesn’t work in all situations. Here is my challenge…why do we think it works in the area of Spiritual growth? We are great at giving our children information about the Lord and the Truth of His Word. We read to them, we talk to them, we pray with them. For any child of a parent who is following the Lord and wants their kids to do the same, there is no lack of information. But what about the questions?
As adults we don’t know all there is to know about God; we have questions, we have doubts, there are things we don’t understand. If we feel this way, can you just imagine how our children feel? Our children can’t come to know the Lord “because we said so”- they have to know Him for themselves.
We have to leave room for them to study and experience God and His Word for themselves. We have to leave room for them to ask questions, and even to doubt. Then…here’s the really tough part- we have to be willing to say that we don’t have all the answers, but we know the One who does.
We may be tempted to say “because I said so” this week…or even today. Okay...but make it about shoe baskets, eating green peas, or not hitting your sister, but not about Who God is. Sometimes “because I said so” is not only a really bad answer- it’s a dangerous one.
This Week’s Announcements:
Baby Dedication Orientation – Tuesday, September 16th; 6:30-7:30pm
If you have (or will have) a child aged 3months-2 years old between now and March, 2015, and would like to publically dedicate him/her to the Lord, this orientation is for you. Parents wishing to participate in a baby dedication for their child at StoneBridge should attend one of our Baby Dedication Orientation sessions. These sessions will be held twice a year. September’s orientation is open to parents who wish to dedicate their baby before our next session in March. Please sign up by emailing me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org Childcare during the orientation will be provided with reservations.
Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view our lessons from 9/14/2014.
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
Few things are funnier or cuter than when a child calls something by the wrong name. What’s even cuter is when what they call it actually makes sense when we see it from their perspective. A few I’ve heard lately: Lego instruction books being called “the constructions” and binoculars being called “my close up glasses.” My favorite has to be when a child was describing something crazy. She spun her pointed index finger at the side of her head (making the universal sign for crazy), but then said, “That is roundy!”
A child asks “why?” and we give the parental answer that has stood the test of time. Our parents said it, our grandparents said it, and (at least in my case) our great grandparents said it. We’ve all heard it, and most likely we’ve all said it -at least once. You know it well…“Because I said so!” After saying it, our assumption is that one thing is clearly understood- no more questions! And here, my fellow parents, in lies the problem.
(Pause for thought) Now, you may be thinking…wait a cotton-pickin’ minute…I want my kids to obey with no questions. Sometimes they don’t get to ask why I tell them something- they just have to trust me and do it. Isn’t that what first time obedience is all about?
I get it. We all want obedient and polite children. So, let me make one thing clear- I’m not talking about when you yell “STOP” as they start to cross the street without looking. There is no time for them to ask why nor for you to explain. This is something altogether different…hang with me.
“When ‘because I said so’ doesn’t work” is not about obedience, it’s about questions, and more importantly finding the answers to those questions.
Simple example- when my kids were little I taught them to take their shoes off as soon as we walked in the door. They were taught early on that once they removed those shoes, they went in a basket near the door that we entered and exited through every time we came and left our home. One day my three year old asked why we had to do that. In my haste to avoid another string of “whys” – I said it- “because I said so.” I could just as easily taken the time to explain my reasoning- that it helped us find our shoes quickly, while also helping mom keep the floors a little cleaner. So…one day, when I left our house with no shoes myself, he reminded me of the shoe basket and why (he thought) we used it. “Mom- your shoes got lost ‘cuz they weren’t in the basket!” (The master had become the student)
Now this seems like a silly example, but realistically he answered his own question through ‘study’ and experience. Isn’t this the best way to learn anything? As babies, we let our children (where safe) put things in their mouths, and we want them to touch and feel everything possible. As they get older, we know better than to do our kids’ homework for them. We’re tempted sometimes, but we know if we did it, they would never learn it for themselves. We welcome our children’s use of imagination and experiments to learn about the world around them. Seriously, if your child said, “Why does 2+2=4?”- you would not answer with “because I said so!” Most likely, you’d show them, and then encourage them to test it for themselves.
Okay…you get it, ‘because I said so’ doesn’t work in all situations. Here is my challenge…why do we think it works in the area of Spiritual growth? We are great at giving our children information about the Lord and the Truth of His Word. We read to them, we talk to them, we pray with them. For any child of a parent who is following the Lord and wants their kids to do the same, there is no lack of information. But what about the questions?
As adults we don’t know all there is to know about God; we have questions, we have doubts, there are things we don’t understand. If we feel this way, can you just imagine how our children feel? Our children can’t come to know the Lord “because we said so”- they have to know Him for themselves.
We have to leave room for them to study and experience God and His Word for themselves. We have to leave room for them to ask questions, and even to doubt. Then…here’s the really tough part- we have to be willing to say that we don’t have all the answers, but we know the One who does.
We may be tempted to say “because I said so” this week…or even today. Okay...but make it about shoe baskets, eating green peas, or not hitting your sister, but not about Who God is. Sometimes “because I said so” is not only a really bad answer- it’s a dangerous one.
This Week’s Announcements:
Baby Dedication Orientation – Tuesday, September 16th; 6:30-7:30pm
If you have (or will have) a child aged 3months-2 years old between now and March, 2015, and would like to publically dedicate him/her to the Lord, this orientation is for you. Parents wishing to participate in a baby dedication for their child at StoneBridge should attend one of our Baby Dedication Orientation sessions. These sessions will be held twice a year. September’s orientation is open to parents who wish to dedicate their baby before our next session in March. Please sign up by emailing me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org Childcare during the orientation will be provided with reservations.
Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the links below to view our lessons from 9/14/2014.
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
Few things are funnier or cuter than when a child calls something by the wrong name. What’s even cuter is when what they call it actually makes sense when we see it from their perspective. A few I’ve heard lately: Lego instruction books being called “the constructions” and binoculars being called “my close up glasses.” My favorite has to be when a child was describing something crazy. She spun her pointed index finger at the side of her head (making the universal sign for crazy), but then said, “That is roundy!”
Monday, September 8, 2014
Welcome Back!
Welcome back to our blog!
Welcome back? You may be thinking… “But, I didn’t go anywhere!”
True, you may have been right where you are now- looking at your computer and wondering- where are the updates? OR- You may never have realized it wasn’t updated because you never checked it.
No matter…clean slate…new year…welcome back! (Or welcome for the first time!)
This one will start simply by reminding you of why I do a blog for PathFinders. It’s simple- I want to keep you informed about what is going on in our Children’s Ministry here at StoneBridge.
I think it’s safe to say that you are involved, well-informed parents already. I know your smart, alert, curious, and wonderful children; they didn’t get that way because no one was paying attention. You pay attention to what they eat, what they watch, who they spend time with, and what they are learning in school. (And that’s just the beginning of a very long list!) So, why not pay attention to what they are being taught and who is teaching them in your church home?
Nothing…nothing…nothing is more important that making sure your child is receiving biblically sound guidance. I encourage you to stay informed. Keep me accountable, and I will do the same for you. My job as your child’s pastor is to partner with you. You are the first (and last) ones responsible for your child’s Spiritual growth. The Lord entrusted them to you; however, He didn’t say you had to do it alone.
So…welcome – or welcome back. Let’s get started.
This Week’s Announcements:
Baby Dedication Orientation – Tuesday, September 16th; 6:30-7:30pm
If you have (or will have) a child aged 3months-2 years old between now and March, 2015, and would like to publically dedicate him/her to the Lord, this orientation is for you. Parents wishing to participate in a baby dedication for their child at StoneBridge should attend one of our Baby Dedication Orientation sessions. These sessions will be held twice a year. September’s orientation is open to parents who wish to dedicate their baby before our next session in March. Please sign up by emailing me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org Childcare during the orientation will be provided with reservations.
Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the link below to view our lessons from 9/07/2014.
*Note that lessons for 4k/K and 1st-5th were “get to know you” lessons to help small groups build community*
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
While playing a game of banana grams with a small group of elementary kids, one child received the dreaded “x” tile. (It’s better only to the “Q” tile) He very seriously looked at his tiles, then at me, then back at his tiles. Then, in all prudent seriousness asked, “Can I please trade in my “e”…I only have two other letters left- this x and an s. I don’t think there is a word I can make with this e, but if I’m lucky and get an “i” – then I can spell six.” Bless him! (And, yes…it really happened- you can’t make this stuff up!)
Welcome back? You may be thinking… “But, I didn’t go anywhere!”
True, you may have been right where you are now- looking at your computer and wondering- where are the updates? OR- You may never have realized it wasn’t updated because you never checked it.
No matter…clean slate…new year…welcome back! (Or welcome for the first time!)
This one will start simply by reminding you of why I do a blog for PathFinders. It’s simple- I want to keep you informed about what is going on in our Children’s Ministry here at StoneBridge.
I think it’s safe to say that you are involved, well-informed parents already. I know your smart, alert, curious, and wonderful children; they didn’t get that way because no one was paying attention. You pay attention to what they eat, what they watch, who they spend time with, and what they are learning in school. (And that’s just the beginning of a very long list!) So, why not pay attention to what they are being taught and who is teaching them in your church home?
Nothing…nothing…nothing is more important that making sure your child is receiving biblically sound guidance. I encourage you to stay informed. Keep me accountable, and I will do the same for you. My job as your child’s pastor is to partner with you. You are the first (and last) ones responsible for your child’s Spiritual growth. The Lord entrusted them to you; however, He didn’t say you had to do it alone.
So…welcome – or welcome back. Let’s get started.
This Week’s Announcements:
Baby Dedication Orientation – Tuesday, September 16th; 6:30-7:30pm
If you have (or will have) a child aged 3months-2 years old between now and March, 2015, and would like to publically dedicate him/her to the Lord, this orientation is for you. Parents wishing to participate in a baby dedication for their child at StoneBridge should attend one of our Baby Dedication Orientation sessions. These sessions will be held twice a year. September’s orientation is open to parents who wish to dedicate their baby before our next session in March. Please sign up by emailing me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org Childcare during the orientation will be provided with reservations.
Help still needed!
We are so blessed to have more than 80(!) volunteers who said YES to serving your children.
Even with that incredible number, we are still in need of help in certain rooms/areas.
Our specific needs are:
An adult male to lead 3rd-5th grade boys as a small group leader at 9am
Nursery help at 9am and 11am
What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons. Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children. Click on the link below to view our lessons from 9/07/2014.
*Note that lessons for 4k/K and 1st-5th were “get to know you” lessons to help small groups build community*
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
While playing a game of banana grams with a small group of elementary kids, one child received the dreaded “x” tile. (It’s better only to the “Q” tile) He very seriously looked at his tiles, then at me, then back at his tiles. Then, in all prudent seriousness asked, “Can I please trade in my “e”…I only have two other letters left- this x and an s. I don’t think there is a word I can make with this e, but if I’m lucky and get an “i” – then I can spell six.” Bless him! (And, yes…it really happened- you can’t make this stuff up!)
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