Orphan Sunday - Videos

Anna - "I want you to know someone's searching for a way to get you here."

These two videos (via ABBA Fund blog) are to help gear you for orphan sunday this week. As you know God has given Allison and I the desire to adopt and both of these songs strongly pulled at my heart.

This first video is from Aaron Ivey. He has been in the process of adopting two children from Haiti for the past two years. The video is a song he wrote telling the story of the parents to the child.



This second video takes the view from a child who has been adopted. This takes the music of Cat's in the Cradle and rewords it to tell his story. The artists involved are Darryl McDaniels aka DMC from Run DMC fames and Sarah McLachlan - both of them had been adopted. And yes, this song also made me tear up. You can call me sweet or weak. Whatever, I love the girls God has given and is giving me.

He Loves Us by Kim Walker

Here is another resource to the last two posts. We have sung this song at Reynolda, but it has been awhile. Allow it to sink in. Enjoy.

What Does God What From Us?

This newsletter came this morning, and I thought it went along nicely to the last post. God is not looking for sacrifice or service; He is after our hearts because He loves us. Enjoy.

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What Does God What From Us?

11/04/2009

The gospel says that we, who are God’s beloved, created a cosmic crisis. It says we, too, were stolen from our True Love and that he launched the greatest campaign in the history of the world to get us back. God created us for intimacy with him. When we turned our back on him he promised to come for us. He sent personal messengers; he used beauty and affliction to recapture our hearts. After all else failed, he conceived the most daring of plans. Under the cover of night he stole into the enemy’s camp incognito, the Ancient of Days disguised as a newborn. The Incarnation, as Phil Yancey reminds us, was a daring raid into enemy territory. The whole world lay under the power of the evil one and we were held in the dungeons of darkness. God risked it all to rescue us. Why? What is it that he sees in us that causes him to act the jealous lover, to lay siege both on the kingdom of darkness and on our own idolatries as if on Troy—not to annihilate, but to win us once again for himself? This fierce intention, this reckless ambition that shoves all conventions aside, willing literally to move heaven and earth—We’ve been offered many explanations.

From one religious camp we’re told that what God wants is obedience, or sacrifice, or adherence to the right doctrines, or morality. Those are the answers offered by conservative churches. The more therapeutic churches suggest that no, God is after our contentment, or happiness, or self-actualization, or something else along those lines. He is concerned about all these things, of course, but they are not his primary concern. What he is after is us—our laughter, our tears, our dreams, our fears, our heart of hearts. Remember his lament in Isaiah, that though his people were performing all their duties, “their hearts are far from me” (29:13 italics added). How few of us truly believe this. We’ve never been wanted for our heart, our truest self, not really, not for long. The thought that God wants our heart seems too good to be true.

(Sacred Romanace , 90-91)

We Are Intended for Pleasure

This John Eldredge daily reading came out today. We hit on this topic in class when we discussed that God's ultimate desire for us is to be holy not happy. Eldredge describes this well by emphasizing that pleasure is still a large concern of the Father for us. I would love to hear your comments on what he has written.

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Intended for Pleasure

09/22/2009

But doesn’t Christianity condemn desire – the Puritans and all that? Not at all. Quite the contrary. Christianity takes desire seriously – far more seriously than the stoic or the mere hedonist. Christianity refuses to budge from the fact that man was made for pleasure, that his beginning and his end is a paradise, and that the goal of living is to find Life. Jesus knows the dilemma of desire and he speaks to it in nearly everything he says. When it comes to the moral question, it is neither simply yes or no to desire, but always what we do with our desire. Christianity recognizes that we have desire gone mad within us. But it does not seek to rectify the problem by killing desire; rather, it seeks the healing of desire, just as it seeks the healing of every other part of our human being.

“Two things contribute to our sanctification,” wrote Pascal. “Pains and pleasures.” And while we know that our journey is strewn with danger and difficulty, “the difficulties they meet with are not without pleasure, and cannot be overcome without pleasure.” Where do you find Jesus saying, “The problem with you people is, you want too much. If you’d just learn to be happy with less, we’d all get along just fine.” “My commands are for your good,” he says, “always.” Something has gone wrong in us, very wrong indeed. So wrong that we have to be told that joy is not found in having another man’s wife, but in having our own. But the point is not the law, the point is the joy. Need I say more than this: Modern Christianity has brought an entire group of people to the point where they have to be told that sex is, in the words of one book, “intended for pleasure.”

God is realistic. He knows that ecstasy is not an option; we are made for bliss and we must have it, one way or another. He also knows that happiness is fragile and rests upon a foundation greater than happiness. All the Christian disciplines were formulated at one time or another in an attempt to heal desire’s waywardness, and so by means of obedience, bring us home to bliss. Walter Brueggemann suggests that faith on its way to maturity moves from “duty to delight.” If it is not moving, then it has become stagnant. If it has changed the goal from delight to duty, it has gone backwards; it is regressing. This is the great lost truth of the Christian faith, that correction of Judaism made by Jesus and passed on to us: The goal of morality is not morality – it is ecstasy. You are intended for pleasure!

(Desire, 46-47)

Our Kids Need Us

This video does not relate to our study, but I thought you would like it. Enjoy!

Helpful Advice for Husbands

Gentelmen, do you want to build a marriage that is sturdy, like an oak? Here is some helpful advice from the guys at IgniterMedia.com. Enjoy!

Butterfly Farm

This is a repeat for all of you who read your mail from Reynolda's Childrens Ministry, but there will be a trip to the Butterfly Farm for all young kids on September 30th. This is not done through the POPs class, but it is a perfect fit for us. Christal Giese is putting together a trip to All-A-Flutter Butterfly Farm. Directions to the farm are on their site. Please contact Christal at 659-6581 if you want to attend, so she can let you know any additional details.

September 30th at 10:30

• $6 for adults
• $5 for children 2 and older

Image courtesy of Bruce Jennings

Praying with Your Child

I have recently started a new job writing for a Prayer Blog called, Prayer Coach. I uploaded this video of myself and Rachel to illustrate something regarding prayer. You can go here to see the blog post I wrote about Praying With Children.

I wanted to repost it here just to reiterate the importance of praying with our kids. After posting this video above, I realized that Elizabeth is now the age of Rachel in the video, so she is now in the Bible story and prayer phase. Rachel has requested to join us, but I am having to remind her that this is Elizabeth's time. She is welcome to join, but she needs to let Elizabeth be the focus.

I must admit, these times with the kids increases my time in prayer. But what Allison and I wanting is to create a lifestyle for our kids that focuses them on Jesus. This may look different for you, but prayer together has been foundational for Allison and I in our marriage, and I believe we are already seeing benefits of this time with Rachel. It takes longer to put them down, but we keep remembering it is worth it.

• One last note, record a video of what you do with your kids. It was great to look back at this video with Rachel and see what we did.
• If you do, post it for us to get ideas of what others are doing and be encouraged by each other.

Vacation Bible School - Reynolda

Last week Reynolda had their Vacation Bible School. I think I saw everyone from the class there at some point. I hope that your kids enjoyed it as much as Rachel.

As promised, Pastor Chris Lawson posted the closing video from the week. I think it was hard to find on the Reynolda site, so I have re-posted here for everyone to see again. Or, for the first time, if you are like Allison and could not make it.

...Video was removed... Vacation Bible School from Reynolda Church on Vimeo.

Upcoming Parenting Class

First of all, thank you Joyners for letting us all come to your home on Sunday. It was amazing how you kept the rain at bay for us to enjoy your backyard. We had a great time.

As for the announcement, Gwladys Keating will be teaching a class during the Vacation Bible School next week. Gwladys is a well-respected lady of the church and full of wisdom. She will be giving five lessons:

1. Building Self Esteem in Your Child I
2. Building Self Esteem in Your Child II
3. Discipline
4. Celebration in the Family
5. Encouraging Spiritual Growth

Allison and I are planning on making as many as we can. This is great opportunity for each of us. There will be CD's available if you are helping out with the VBS. Hope to see you there.

August 9 - 14

6:00 in the Chapel

What Is God Pleased With?

I was going to leave this as a comment on a friend's blog, but decided instead to blog it because it became too long. Campus Crusade for Christ had their semi-annual staff conference this past week and they brought in Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York. Many of you know him as the one who inspired the great little children's Bible Reynolda give out at the infant baptism.

Anyway, my friend is on staff with Crusade and he posted two of the talks that Tim Keller gave to them at CSU. I enjoyed listening to them on the road this week back and forth to Charlotte. I think the really challenging thing he said in both talks is that many Christians perform good works or ministry to earn favor with God. I believe the Spurgeon he quoted was that we should not preach the Gospel to prove it to ourselves. The fruit of our ministry is not the stamp of approval on our lives. Our stamp of approval is already on us when we accepted Jesus.

He went more in depth in the first talk about what the Gospel really is. He said that many people view it as a pardon. Yes, you are no longer in jail, but who would hire you? They think that now you have been saved, you need to prove yourself as worthy

Here is the kicker... apart from Christ you will never be worthy. You are only worthy because God said you are worthy. He has bestowed worthiness on you. You are created to be worthy. When you live out who God has created you to be instead of trying to be someone you think will be worthy, then you will experience the pleasure of God. Sure, God delights in blessing His children, but that is not a sign of His favor

His favor was shown in His removal of the barrier between you and Him. His favor is still shown in His constant calling for you to come to Him... spend time with Him... share His heart. You were create to minister, but the ministry we do is not toward others; it is not toward ourselves; it is toward God out of love for Him. We were created to minister to a place in God's heart that only we can minister to

God's heart aches without you. When you run from Him to try to prove your worthiness to Him, He painfully waits to catch your eye. The good news is not advice how to please God. The good news is that God came to tell us He loves us. Jesus is not only the truth of the Gospel; Jesus is not only the way to God; Jesus is also the source of life that we may be free from the life of trying earn God's favor.

Tim Keller speaking to the Crusade staff.
photo courtesy of David Hand

Shallowford Popcorn Farms Field Trip

Summer is well on the way and many of you are looking for something to do with your kids. Allison had the great idea of going to visit a popcorn farm. Most of you have let her know if you are planning on coming. But, if you haven't the trip will take place this Tuesday, June 30 at Shallowford Popcorn Farms, which is 15 miles west of Winston. Click on the link to find directions to the popcorn farm. The end of the tour ends with a fresh bag of popcorn!

Image Courtesy of CafePress.

Reynolda Church Wallpapers

I sent an email out for the first month I did, but here is another wallpaper for the church I put together. Here are both together. I hope you enjoy it.

Reynolda Church Wallpapers

What We Assume Jesus Would Say

This is funny video that shows how so many of us think Jesus speaks to them. You might have to listen closely to some of it because of the sound quality. I found it hilarious because it took people's misconceptions and carried them out to an extreme. Enjoy!

This video was created by Vintage 21, a church in Raleigh.

How to Tell Your Kids About How Babies are Made

On Sunday we discussed about when to tell our children certain things. How babies are made is definitely one of those uncomfortable subjects. Here is a quick video that could help the discussion.

Difference With Girls

The other day Allison decided to try and let Rachel watch an adult movie just to get a break from cartoons. She looked for something that they both could watch and landed on Facing the Giants.

Obviously not the typical choice for young girls, but they sat down with some popcorn and watch the movie. Rachel as expected sat quietly to watch. What was interesting was her engrossment into the story line. Here are the things that Rachel loved about the movie:

1. They are winning because they are playing how Jesus wants them too.
2. She is going to have a baby. (She wanted to skip the football to see if she was pregnant or not.)
3. I liked the cheerleaders.

I could not even told you there were cheerleaders in the movie. Sure it makes sense, but they could not have had much screen time.

What are some funny things your kids have done that was so boy or so girl?

Super Bowl Ad Censored by NBC

The Catholics were no holds barred on this ad especially with his stance on the issue.

The Plight of the Scapegoat

The plight of the Scapegoat was a great illustration from chapter 7. Although I did not feel led to discuss it much in class on Sunday, I do think it is extremely important. Why do we need to have someone to blame when things don't go the way we want? Our marriage suffers... because we had kids too soon. I'm always tired... because I have a strong-willed kid. As parents it is very dangerous to make our children the scapegoats. They will receive every bit of shame from those thoughts and sayings.

Shamed people shame. We cannot bear the shame on our own, so we look for others to bear it for us. Our children do not know how to deflect these attempts, and so become natural targets. Instead of feeling a since of purpose and blessing, the scapegoats either wander off closed to the world or work hard to remove those feelings of unworthiness.

This coming Sunday we will refocus on some of these topics as we discuss chapter 8. Success does not overcome our shame. It draws attention to you and now you have to work harder to hid the shame you feel. If we are not put our shame on others and success does not get rid of it, how do we overcome it? The Sunday School answer is Jesus, but what does that look like?

I Wouldn't Change a Thing - Bill Bright Tribute

The last video made go search for this one. Dr. Birght has been a great influence on our lives, and I love him for the example he left. He loved God, and he wanted others to know that love. He taught me about faith (having it and sharing it), basic principles of the Christian life, the importance of passing this on to others, and the benefits of fasting. These are just a quick overview of his impact on me. I cannot watch this video without being inspired and grateful at the same time. Enjoy.

Give Me Jesus - Ruth Graham Tribute

I really just want to share this because it is beautiful, but I can stretch it to relate as I am sure we all would like to be honored by our children this way in the end. Love begets love. Knowing that we are loved fills us to fill others with love.