GOOD DAYS

An excellent teaching. done

THE SON SHINES THROUGH THE RAIN AGAIN

I heard rain falling so I grabbed my son and enjoyed watching it fall and hearing it’s song on my back deck.  The rain was coming down and the sun was shinning bright at the same time.  I love it when that happens.  I thought “hum, again, twice in the same day”.

“Each One” has been going through my mind a lot.  Each one has a song, a story, a testimony, a prayer, each one.  There have been different people speaking at church lately and as I hear from each one I experience the body moving.  Praying together is “moving” to me also.

There was an invitation open to ask for prayer today at church and I accepted.  While I was sharing my thoughts about a relationship I mourn, it felt like rain as I was crying.  I was prayed for by the body and by the end of the service the sun shined through the rain for the first time on this day.  The Lord restored another relationship that was important to me.

So, I love it when it raining and the SON is shining at the same time.

CAN CHRISTIANS DRINK ALCOHOL?

This is the conclusion on a bible study on alcohol.

done

BRAD RICK ROLL’D

If there were a movie called the “The Nutty Pastor” it would be starring mine.  This is his response to people wondering if he would be leaving the church due to economic instability.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWQmsw6bIN4

WORSHIP EVOLUTION

Things are changing at the place I worship The Lord of My Life.  We have Liberty here.

done

MY GAS STATION MINISTRY

A little over 2 months ago,  I was out running errands and stopped at the same gas station that I always do to fill up.  As usual, I use this time of pumping for dumping my trash out of the vehicle and tidying it up.  I keep a bible in the vehicle always, usually in the inside door pocket.  On this day it was on the floor board of the back seat when I saw it.  I have several different copies of the Bible, this one had a dark blue leather cover on it.  I heard “Leave it out there on the cement shelf”.  There was a fine misty rain falling, barely making things wet.  I said “You want me to leave this pretty Bible outside, in the misty rain on the cement shelf at this gas station?”.  To which he replied “Yes”.  So I picked up the Bible and put it right where he said to, finished my transaction and went shopping.

I always get gas at this same station and I never stop thinking about who picked up that Bible.  I wonder how God used his word to change someone from the inside out.  At the time, I thought it was a strange request, but looking back, I would have to say that it was a brilliant one.  I have been leaving some tracts there now whenever I fill up, but what I really need is to leave a Bible there every time I fill up.  I will be in need of Bibles, if you know how to hook me up please e-mail me at amjcurran@comcast.net.  I also look forward to the conversation at the pump.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE NEW AGE MOVEMEMENT

THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT IS HINDUISM REPACKAGED FOR WESTERN CONSUMPTION

Author and Pastor Ed Young of The Winning Walk helps us make some sense out of THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT. NEW AGE is HERESY!!!  LISTEN TO THE TRUTH.   The Choice: The New Age Movement Part 1.  Double click on this link win20090609 to listen to Part 1

Here is the link to part 2 win20090610

I also recommend listening to The Choice: World Religions Part 1 and Part 2. 

IS THE ENTIRE WORLD EATING “STUPID FLAKES” FOR BREAKFAST?

We all laugh when we look at the WARNING label on our hair dryers that say “WARNING DO NOT USE IN THE BATHTUB OR SHOWER”.  Of course the first thing that comes to my mind is “Who would do such a thing?”  Well, I am guessing that someone must have done that or else the WARNING against doing so wouldn’t be on there.

I recently bought a simple Beach Ball at Target the other day for a 1.99.  I opened up the package, noticed it had black writing on it.  The black writing annoyed me.  Being an artist I am a very visually stimulated person and I didn’t like the black writing on my pretty new beach ball. 

Well, I blew it up, stopped up the plug and got a good look at the black writing.  I was pretty BLOWN AWAY at what was printed on the ball.  There was a WARNING on the ball that was printed in every single language spoken on earth! 

WARNING:  USE ONLY UNDER COMPETENT SUPERVISION.

I thought “You’ve got to be kidding me.  Who wouldn’t be competent enough to play with this ball?  Am I competent enough?  I sure hope so.  If I can’t should I call someone?  Who should I call?  Is there a test I should take before I bounce this thing around?   Could it explode?  Is it poisonous?  Is my kid going to get hurt by playing with this dangerous ball?  What did someone do with this ball to have this WARNING printed in every single language possible?  Do I really want to know?  WOW,  The entire world must be eating Stupid Flakes for breakfast for a label like that to go on a simple beach ball.  Have the citizens of the entire world lost the compentency to play with a beach ball?  If so, I am really scared.”

WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN?

First off I would like to say that the words and opinions expressed in this post DO NOT reflect the words and opinions expressed of the church that I attend.  BUT I SURE WISH THEY DID

On many Sunday’s I look around my congregation and I see small children trying to sit still during one of our theologically deep sermons of the word of God.  I ask myself why aren’t they with the other children?  And why must I endure this distraction?  I want to learn and I need to hear this message.

I believe that it is best for children between the ages of 3 months and 5th grade to be in the children’s ministries and not with the adults.  Adults need to participate in a service without any distractions.  Children need to learn about Jesus in an appropriate environment. 

The main service is designed for adults.  We talk about what the Bible has to say about sex, parenting, finances, drinking, pornography, homosexuality and most children between the ages listed above are not ready to discuss these topics in the manner in which they are discussed during sermons.  It does not do children any good to be forced to sit through a message on tithing or justification as they cannot understand what is being discussed.  In most circumstances, it actually does more harm than good.  You would not want a 5 th grader to sit through a college trigonometry class and then get upset with them for not sitting still.

I remember sitting in church as a young girl and being bored and confused, doodling on the bulletins and sticking gum under the pews, as is what I still observe today when I look around.  I bet there are people who hate church now because they were forced to “sit still” when they were children.  I remember my grandmother giving me “the eye” all the while I was thinking “God, when will this be over?”.  I also remember important lessons I learned in Sunday School, Vacation Bible Camp, Girls Club, and other kid-friendly environments.  I would hate to think that our children might get the idea that God is boring, church is irrelevant, or that Jesus is not for them.

Forcing them to endure something that was not designed for them is not going to help their spiritual development.  Parents arm themselves with sippy cups, Cheerios, Graham crackers and doodle pads in order to keep their children still in church.  In fact,  Dr James Dobson, Former Chairman of Focus on the Family, says that it’s not a reasonable expectation and may do more harm than good. 

As a parent, if your child is in the adult service you will have to devote a considerable amount of your attention  helping them behave appropriately and there goes your chance at what you needed to hear from God.  My church has worked hard to create a service that will relate to my life and communicate a deep Biblical principle.  People need to be able to focus on hearing from God.  Also people who are far from God need to be able to consider the message.

As your child’s parent, it may not bother you to have them fidget in their seats or cry, but I can guarantee you that is bothers those sitting around you.  Because God’s message is so important, everyone in the room needs to be able to focus on the message.  Most people think that children bother the pastor, I can tell you that my pastor can preach through a hurricane and it is not he that gets distracted at all, it is the rest of us.

We never want to think of children as distractions, and it’s not their fault if they act out in an environment that was not designed for them.  My church has an excellent environment for children and staff and volunteers who are capable of providing leadership and are passionate about leading children to Jesus.  Children will learn about Jesus through stories, songs, games, crafts and many other great ways.  Some of these things, they will remember for life.  At my church we have Godly, caring adults who invest in children every week and training is provided for everyone that works with children.  I believe that teaching them in ways that they can understand is keeping with the spirit of Jesus and the importance he placed on children.  As a parent you are welcome to serve as a volunteer, and once a month my church makes sure that parents are with their children in their environment learning together.

We have work to do in this city of Cartersville.  We need to reach the lost who desperately need Jesus and hear what he has to say.  I am asking you as a parent to lay down your personal preferences for one hour a week for the benefit of everyone in the room. 

 If your child is really mature then I say it is obvious that you’re doing a great job of parenting.  Perhaps your child has been gifted with unique perspective or spiritual maturity.  If that’s the case, then he or she needs to be in an environment where they can use those gifts to lead other children.  At my church we believe that children can be leaders.  Maybe they need to participate in the children’s ministry that is offered not for what they will simply get out of the lesson, but for what they can add to the discussion.

I understand that new environments can be difficult as I am a mother of a 1 year old, that’s why every parent is welcome to stay with their child until they do feel comfortable.  My Church takes great care in selecting leaders and teachers for our youth.  My church works hard and invests many resources in creating an environment where children can meet Jesus.  I believe that we are honoring the heart of God by leading children from where they are, to where God wants them to be.  I believe it actually does a disservice to children by expecting them to participate in something that was clearly designed for adults.  We need our guests to observe the service and listen to the message without the distractions of crying children or feeling a child kick the back of their seat.

Part of being a mature parent is learning to trust qualified, experienced people with your child and church is the perfect place to take that leap of faith.   Sincerely The Raging Genius.