All week I have been filling my mind with amazing mathematical concepts at a math teacher's institute. The CSU Fresno professors have been really pushing us to think "outside the box." As I was listening to people speak about rational and irrational numbers I saw the fingerprints of God and His creation.
Just in case you are unaware of what rational and irrational numbers are, let me refresh your memory:
Rational numbers are any number that can be written as a fraction or whole number. Any decimal that terminates(ends) or a decimal that has a repeating infinite pattern can be written as a fraction, so they too are Rational. I like to refer to rational numbers as the "ones we use to define real world things" (the ones we actually use)
Irrational numbers are the rest of the numbers that are "not rational." They are infinite decimals that never repeat and never end. Or as I like to say the "ones we don't use very much"
If you were to graph on a number line every rational number, in between every 2 rational numbers, there are infinite irrational numbers. Let's put that into perspective, on a number line, if you were to make the irrational numbers' location red and the rational numbers' location blue and zoom out from the number line 20X, all you would see is red. Weird that there are so many numbers THAT WE NEVER USE!!!! The professor asked "Why do you think that we spend so much time talking about the rational numbers and not as much time with irrational?" The answer was that the rational numbers matter to us as humans; they have meaning.
I began to relate this discussion to God why would God create an infinate space and an infinate amount of different matter, but send his son to die for me. If you zoom out and viewed the entire universe I am sure our galaxy wouldn't be noticable. So why? Why? Why did God send his son to die for me. Just like the we relate to the rational numbers who get lost in the number line is the reason why. We matter to God, we have meaning to God.
Infinity exists for God and we will never fully understand components of infinity because we are finite. What we truly need to focus on is that the infinity came down and made the finite matter and have meaning. As we look at the red on the number line that is God! We are the little blue dots that are drowned out by God and his power and love. Hopefully, when people see a Christian this is true about their life. Less of me and more of you God!! I just pray that I may be drowned out by the red dots!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Uniting Husbands and Wives
In my earlier post titled Effective Children/Family Ministry I outlined how a successful Children's ministry might look . . . Here is a deeper look into my thoughts on Point A "Uniting Husbands and Wives." Please note that I nor my wife are by any means experts, we just know that there are specific things that we need to keep our marriage going and these are our experiences and thoughts.
Recently, Rose, myself and some of our friends have been working through some scripture in Ephesians chapter 5. We always joke about that scary term "SUBMIT." I always joke that the conversation heart people should keep the usual "hug me," "kiss me," "text me," "love," but add a new heart that states "wives submit." PLEASE NOTE I SAID JOKE!! The reason I emphasize this joke is because my wife always reminds me that I should love her as Christ loved, the church with includes my tithe (10% of income in HER pocket). . .again a joke. We laugh about this all the time, but when we started this study our eyes, minds, and hearts really became focused on Eph. ch. 5 v. 21 "be subject to one another in the fear of Christ." (NASB) the NIV states "SUBMIT to to one another out of reverence for Christ." WOW the S word again!!
J. Mac talks about the power struggle that husbands and wives have and dates all the way back to the Garden. This very "curse" as J. Mac calls it, causes us to think all out of order. What I have realized is that I need to be submissive to my wife and she to me. At the alter we gave our relationship up to God and now we need to give ourselves up to one another as well. As much as I want to do what I want to, I have to remember that my God and my wife come first. This is why Grace is so amazing. Because if you know me, even just a little bit, I am no way perfect, nor is my wife (SHOCKING ISN'T IT!!) Grace from God is the dearest of all things; but grace from my wife is pretty amazing too.
God calls us as husbands and wives to seek Him and serve each other. The only way we can get better at this is by (Point A1 in Post #1) :
1. Daily Prayer/Reflection/Study together (even for just 10 min)
Again, by no means are Rose and I perfect in this but when we sit down together and just discuss and study what the Bible says, we get on the same page. Husbands and wives must be on the same page to lead a family. Of course, leading a family cannot be accomplished without prayer and the power of God! Lastly, we must reflect upon our own actions to see if they are sticking to what God called us to do and seek that grace from God and our spouse if we wronged them. NOTE TO HUSBANDS: Discuss with your wife, do not preach, even if you are a pastor. This will cause WWIII.
We also need to have some fun and laugh, though. So that brings us to point A2 in Post #1:
2. Weekly or Bi-Weekly Date nights (fun times one-on-one) With kids this often is trouble some but if you don't do it your relationship is going to be "all work and no play!!" We all know that makes Jack a very dull boy! Finding other couples craving this time works out perfectly because you can watch their kids one week and they watch yours the next. Every 2 weeks you will be able to connect with your spouse and serve another family. WIN-WIN, DING-DING!!
Finally I would like to dissect this topic by focusing on point A3 on Post #1
3. Communication and Understanding of your Spouse . . . I will be honest here, I don't always understand why my wife does things (Again SHOCK!!). In turn, she doesn't understand why I do things (DOUBLE SHOCK!). . . That is why we need to learn to communicate. I do have to admit it is a learned behavior we need to speak to other couples about how they work things out and be taught by those who have made it a long time in their marriage. Our small group and trinity class at the Bridge have brought us to others seeking successful marriages and we have been taught and reminded by a neutral party what we are supposed to do. No marriage will succeed unless we have these communities of Biblical teaching support, fellowship, and prayer. WE ALL NEED IT!
Why is this important to Children's Ministry, you say. Well, that is simple . . . parents are the greatest role model they will ever have. They see the good the bad and the ugly, and how you handle it. "Be careful little eyes what you see and hear." We need our Children to see God's Commands, God's Love, and God's Grace. Not a word needs to be lectured to the child . . . we show these things by what we do.
Recently, Rose, myself and some of our friends have been working through some scripture in Ephesians chapter 5. We always joke about that scary term "SUBMIT." I always joke that the conversation heart people should keep the usual "hug me," "kiss me," "text me," "love," but add a new heart that states "wives submit." PLEASE NOTE I SAID JOKE!! The reason I emphasize this joke is because my wife always reminds me that I should love her as Christ loved, the church with includes my tithe (10% of income in HER pocket). . .again a joke. We laugh about this all the time, but when we started this study our eyes, minds, and hearts really became focused on Eph. ch. 5 v. 21 "be subject to one another in the fear of Christ." (NASB) the NIV states "SUBMIT to to one another out of reverence for Christ." WOW the S word again!!
J. Mac talks about the power struggle that husbands and wives have and dates all the way back to the Garden. This very "curse" as J. Mac calls it, causes us to think all out of order. What I have realized is that I need to be submissive to my wife and she to me. At the alter we gave our relationship up to God and now we need to give ourselves up to one another as well. As much as I want to do what I want to, I have to remember that my God and my wife come first. This is why Grace is so amazing. Because if you know me, even just a little bit, I am no way perfect, nor is my wife (SHOCKING ISN'T IT!!) Grace from God is the dearest of all things; but grace from my wife is pretty amazing too.
God calls us as husbands and wives to seek Him and serve each other. The only way we can get better at this is by (Point A1 in Post #1) :
1. Daily Prayer/Reflection/Study together (even for just 10 min)
Again, by no means are Rose and I perfect in this but when we sit down together and just discuss and study what the Bible says, we get on the same page. Husbands and wives must be on the same page to lead a family. Of course, leading a family cannot be accomplished without prayer and the power of God! Lastly, we must reflect upon our own actions to see if they are sticking to what God called us to do and seek that grace from God and our spouse if we wronged them. NOTE TO HUSBANDS: Discuss with your wife, do not preach, even if you are a pastor. This will cause WWIII.
We also need to have some fun and laugh, though. So that brings us to point A2 in Post #1:
2. Weekly or Bi-Weekly Date nights (fun times one-on-one) With kids this often is trouble some but if you don't do it your relationship is going to be "all work and no play!!" We all know that makes Jack a very dull boy! Finding other couples craving this time works out perfectly because you can watch their kids one week and they watch yours the next. Every 2 weeks you will be able to connect with your spouse and serve another family. WIN-WIN, DING-DING!!
Finally I would like to dissect this topic by focusing on point A3 on Post #1
3. Communication and Understanding of your Spouse . . . I will be honest here, I don't always understand why my wife does things (Again SHOCK!!). In turn, she doesn't understand why I do things (DOUBLE SHOCK!). . . That is why we need to learn to communicate. I do have to admit it is a learned behavior we need to speak to other couples about how they work things out and be taught by those who have made it a long time in their marriage. Our small group and trinity class at the Bridge have brought us to others seeking successful marriages and we have been taught and reminded by a neutral party what we are supposed to do. No marriage will succeed unless we have these communities of Biblical teaching support, fellowship, and prayer. WE ALL NEED IT!
Why is this important to Children's Ministry, you say. Well, that is simple . . . parents are the greatest role model they will ever have. They see the good the bad and the ugly, and how you handle it. "Be careful little eyes what you see and hear." We need our Children to see God's Commands, God's Love, and God's Grace. Not a word needs to be lectured to the child . . . we show these things by what we do.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Psalm 6: Craving a Savior
Psalm 6 says the following:
1O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your wrath.
2Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am B)">pining away;
C)">Heal me, O LORD, for D)">my bones are dismayed.
3And my soul is greatly dismayed;
But You, O LORD--how long?
4Return, O LORD, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Your lovingkindness.
5For there is no mention of You in death;
In Sheol who will give You thanks?
6I am weary with my sighing;
Every night I make my bed swim,
I dissolve my couch with my tears.
7My eye has wasted away with grief;
It has become old because of all my adversaries.
David so eloquently lays his heart out before the Lord and gives a poetic, clear description of all mankind's stature before receiving Christ! David knows he is "pining away" and he asks to be saved by God "because of your (God's) lovingkindness." I truly connected with this Psalm today, in that, I feel I should daily have the same desperation for my savior. I need to realize daily where I was before, and what Christ did for me!
We can't ever reach perfection, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Some faiths will state that we must earn our grace by service and obidience. Some will say that if we are a good person they will be accepted into Heaven. But God so clearly shows us the heart of man, not perfect, possibly under wrath, destined for death but craving powerful God who can save us. We all still have daily struggles with worldly fears and ambitions or, maybe, a past that we just can't forget.
This scripture also shows us David's heart as hungry, fearful, and submissive to God's authority. This state of David's heart reveals how small we are compared to God. . . and looking forward to Christ, how he can free us from the world and lead us to salvation! We must yearn for Him, crave him, and seek him; because we NEED Him. Death was our destination, we needed a savior. Only God can save us, we can't save ourselves.
Romans 3:24 "being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus."
We have been given an amazing gift. Christ has saved us of all transgressions; past, present, and future. I love our God and Savior. We are truly blessed. I just have been reminded how I must see my NEED for Christ. He is our breath of life and we would be dead in our transgressions without Him!
1O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your wrath.
2Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am B)">pining away;
C)">Heal me, O LORD, for D)">my bones are dismayed.
3And my soul is greatly dismayed;
But You, O LORD--how long?
4Return, O LORD, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Your lovingkindness.
5For there is no mention of You in death;
In Sheol who will give You thanks?
6I am weary with my sighing;
Every night I make my bed swim,
I dissolve my couch with my tears.
7My eye has wasted away with grief;
It has become old because of all my adversaries.
David so eloquently lays his heart out before the Lord and gives a poetic, clear description of all mankind's stature before receiving Christ! David knows he is "pining away" and he asks to be saved by God "because of your (God's) lovingkindness." I truly connected with this Psalm today, in that, I feel I should daily have the same desperation for my savior. I need to realize daily where I was before, and what Christ did for me!
We can't ever reach perfection, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Some faiths will state that we must earn our grace by service and obidience. Some will say that if we are a good person they will be accepted into Heaven. But God so clearly shows us the heart of man, not perfect, possibly under wrath, destined for death but craving powerful God who can save us. We all still have daily struggles with worldly fears and ambitions or, maybe, a past that we just can't forget.
This scripture also shows us David's heart as hungry, fearful, and submissive to God's authority. This state of David's heart reveals how small we are compared to God. . . and looking forward to Christ, how he can free us from the world and lead us to salvation! We must yearn for Him, crave him, and seek him; because we NEED Him. Death was our destination, we needed a savior. Only God can save us, we can't save ourselves.
Romans 3:24 "being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus."
We have been given an amazing gift. Christ has saved us of all transgressions; past, present, and future. I love our God and Savior. We are truly blessed. I just have been reminded how I must see my NEED for Christ. He is our breath of life and we would be dead in our transgressions without Him!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Effective Children/Family Ministry
I couldn't sleep tonight because I was thinking about how Christian families are falling to divorce and disaster as quick as wild fire. With the opportunity to lead a Children and Family ministry at a church plant in Utah, my mind has been racing on how we should set up this ministry and how it should function. I made up the following outline listing 4 key components. Uniting the family unit NEEDS to be the main focus of anything we do.
I believe that it is not the church's duty to raise kids spiritually. A child only spends maybe 3-4 hours a week at church. Mom and Dad are the MOST important role models in a child's life and it is the church's job to resource the parents and support what they are doing at home and encourage parents in their marriage. Keep in mind some children don't have parents who are believers, so, in that case it is the church's job to reach out to that child's family and also provide Godly role models and resources for the child.
Anyway, this is a brainstorm of my thoughts, I think I can go to sleep now that I put all these thoughts on paper. . . Feel free to post any comments if you have any. This is just a brief overview, I will post at a later time more specifics in each category.
4 Components to a CHILDREN/FAMILY MINISTRY
A. Uniting Husbands and Wives
1. Daily Prayer/Reflection/Study together (even for just 10 min)
2. Weekly or Bi-Weekly Date nights (fun times one-on-one)
B. Educating Parents
1. Provide Resources on Childhood Stages and Godly Parenting Tips
3. Stage Based Sunday School Classes
C. Uniting the Family as a Unit
1. Daily Devotions (Resource) Given to Families
2. Weekly Family Fun Night (Just Parents and Kids)
D. Educating Children
1. Newborns
**For work with Parents, Husbands and wives there will need to be accountability
**For work with kids there will need to be motivation, fun teaching/activities, exciting worship, and rewards.
I believe that it is not the church's duty to raise kids spiritually. A child only spends maybe 3-4 hours a week at church. Mom and Dad are the MOST important role models in a child's life and it is the church's job to resource the parents and support what they are doing at home and encourage parents in their marriage. Keep in mind some children don't have parents who are believers, so, in that case it is the church's job to reach out to that child's family and also provide Godly role models and resources for the child.
Anyway, this is a brainstorm of my thoughts, I think I can go to sleep now that I put all these thoughts on paper. . . Feel free to post any comments if you have any. This is just a brief overview, I will post at a later time more specifics in each category.
4 Components to a CHILDREN/FAMILY MINISTRY
A. Uniting Husbands and Wives
1. Daily Prayer/Reflection/Study together (even for just 10 min)
2. Weekly or Bi-Weekly Date nights (fun times one-on-one)
- Switch off weeks with other couples and baby-sit for each other
- Sunday School Classes
- Mid-week Bible study with other couples
- Resources, Resources, Resources, Books, Sermons, DVD, whatever it takes
B. Educating Parents
1. Provide Resources on Childhood Stages and Godly Parenting Tips
- i.e. Bringing baby home, Newborns, Toddlers, Preschool, Kinder, Early Elem., etc.
3. Stage Based Sunday School Classes
C. Uniting the Family as a Unit
1. Daily Devotions (Resource) Given to Families
2. Weekly Family Fun Night (Just Parents and Kids)
- Pizza Night
- Movie Night
- Mini Golf
- etc.
- Bowling
- Picnics
- Holiday Parties, etc.
D. Educating Children
1. Newborns
- safety, care, experience Godly love
- leaders praying over children
- Learn who God is and his presence in our life
- again, prayer for these young children
- Learn moral behavior and basic Bible History
- basics of saying prayers
- learn rules of the Bible History and basics on what sin is
- How to pray as Jesus did
- Truths of the Bible about God's Law transitioned to understanding grace in the Bible
- How to worship and preparing our hearts for worship
- Learning the truth and evidence of Christ
- Concepts of Salvation
- Basics on how to share and defend your faith
**For work with Parents, Husbands and wives there will need to be accountability
**For work with kids there will need to be motivation, fun teaching/activities, exciting worship, and rewards.
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