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 How It's Made
I like to know stuff. I enjoy shows that tell me about stuff. Even if it is stuff that I will never use or need to know, I just like to know it. There is a TV series called "How It's Made" and it feeds my addiction. Just this evening, I have learned about concrete pipes, model boats, life jackets, putters, braille typewriters, hockey pucks, snack cakes and bronzed shoes. I know. It is a lot of information to process, but it is needless information that I need to know. The thing that I like about this show (it comes on the Science Channel) is that it shows me three or four things in a half hour show. That means that it takes me about 6 - 8 minutes to learn what I need to know and then we make it to a commercial. So not only do I want to know stuff, but I don't want it to take too long either. I mean, wouldn't it be great if we could download information to our brains like in "The Matrix"?
But I guess, I would have to ask the question "Would I fill my head with worthwhile stuff or junk?". If I could instantly fill my mind with knowledge, what would I choose to fill it with? What do I choose to fill it with right now? It makes me think of Solomon and when God downloaded wisdom to him. I mean, it is as close to "The Matrix" as we are going to get. Solomon asks for wisdom and the Bible says that "The Lord gave Solomon wisdom and great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sands on the seashore." (I Kings 4:29) Wouldn't that be cool?
So even though I am filling my head with cool Trivial Pursuit knowledge interrupted every 8 minutes to have my head filled with commercials, am I downloading knowledge? Am I gaining wisdom? Godly wisdom? Everyday we have the opportunity to gain wisdom and knowledge, but do we take advantage of the opportunities? Do we gain anything from lessons we should have learned? This month, I challenge you to look at everyday as an episode of "How It's Made" and look for wisdom learning lessons. You never know, you might learn something new...but without commercials.
God's blessings!
Eric
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PreK- Kindergarten
Lisa Keil - Director
What's your song?
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Do you know that God rejoices over you with singing? How mind-blowing that the God who created the heavens and the earth rejoices over YOU with singing!?!?! Believe it...it's true! What's your song? Do you know that your life is God's song? That you are His? Fearfully and wonderfully made! Psalm 139: 14 says it! "I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made!"
In my life one way God really speaks to me and encourages me is not only through scripture but through song. Do you ever hear a line in a song that just get's to you? After you hear it on the radio you have to immediately download it, and then you play over and over that one line that speaks to you? I have definitely done this before! I always here the right song at the most perfect time, and I know that is God's way of encouraging me in that moment with whatever I am going through. He has done this for me numerous times, and I love it!
My song right now is Bethany Dillion's "You're all I need." The line that get's to me every time I listen to this song is "You are all I need when I'm surrounded, You are all I need if I'm by myself, You fill me when I'm empty, There is nothing else, You're ALL I need!"
I am guilty of trying to fill my life with other things...things that I think will make me happy and things that I think that I need, when in reality, God is ALL I need. In our world today, we are surrounded with the THINGS of this world. 1 John 2:15 that says: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world..."
God, I pray that we will believe, trust and know that YOU are all we need! Thank you for the little ways you encourage us...even through song!
Your life is God's song...what's your song? |
Planet 56 - 5th & 6th grade
Sandra Huskey - Director
The word Confirmation is a noun. According to an internet dictionary, confirmation is the act of confirming. It is a Christian rite admitting a baptized person to full membership in a church.
On May 17 this church confirmed 184 6th graders. Two of those 184 were mine! My twins, both boys, have distinct personalities. One wore a suit, the other refused. One was excited, the other was nervous. One ripped open all of his cards and gifts before the family knew what happened, the other still has an unopened gift sitting on the kitchen counter. Even though my children approached the day and the occasion differently, the end result was the same. They stood side by side and publicly vowed before the congregation their commitment to accept God's grace.
Confirmation should be taken very seriously. Rev. Jessica LaGrone made that quite clear when she told the confirmands that anytime you stand in front of the church wearing dress clothes and you say the words "I do," you know it's an important day.
The 6th graders at this church embark on a year long process of learning what it means to be a Christian and what it means to be a United Methodist. Confirmation is not an end, but a beginning.
This year's Confirmation class is just beginning their own personal faith journeys while we in Planet 56 are already gearing up for next year's class. If you see any of the 184 recently confirmed, be sure to tell them congratulations. They've earned it. They have made a very grown-up decision about their personal faith. Tell them Jesus loves them so much that he died for them. Hopefully they'll confirm that by responding, "Yeah, I know all about it!"
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Elementary
Lisa Hammond - Director
Have you ever been disciplined or feel you are always sacrificing?
It is always so much easier for me to discipline my children than it is for me to be disciplined by God as His child. Many times I realize He is trying to softly speak to me and guide me, and when I fail to submit to Him, He then firmly disciplines me. Often times I catch myself thinking that as long as I'm serving Him I am "being good", listening and doing all things right. God definitely wants us to serve Him, but we must also maintain a balance in our families and lives while doing so. If our serving time exceeds our family time then the joy from serving is usually stolen from us and our families tend to become the background of our lives instead of center stage. I catch myself often thinking of the many sacrifices I have to make on a daily basis for my children and my mother-in-law who lives with me. I get so caught up with my sacrifices that I forget about the one who has made the ultimate sacrifice.....our Heavenly Father. Every single sacrifice I have made and will make could never come close to the ultimate sacrifice God made for me and you. This helps me accept when He "rearranges" things in my life that lead me to sacrifice. If He can give His only son for my sins to be washed away and so that I can have the golden opportunity to spend eternal life in heaven, my sacrifices of giving up "girl time", employment opportunities, "me time" and sleeping late just to name a few, are nothing! And so I will gladly be disciplined by God. When He says it is time to re-evaluate or sacrifice I will do so with a smile on my face and know that He loves me and is leading me to a great place!
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11
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The Loft - Kids Church
Jill Albert - Director
Two Sundays ago, one of my Big Top students had a birthday, so I went in search of a birthday bag full of goodies. The first one I picked, I thought "This is not a good one for her." So, I dug a little deeper into my bucket and found a bag that I thought she would like. I handed it to her, wished her happy birthday and gave her a big hug. I never thought of it again. That is of course until this last Sunday. My student's mom pulled me aside and started telling me about when they left church two Sundays ago. They went to the Astros game and as they parked the family saw a homeless man asleep on the side of the street. The young girl asked her mom, "What can we do for him?" The mom said back, "Well, all I have is a $1 and a $20." So they walked on a little and stopped and prayed for him. But, as they walked on, she (the Big Top student) was still really upset. They stopped unsure of what to do. The mom glanced down at the bracelet the girl was wearing (it came from the birthday bag), and it had a scripture on it talking about taking care of our poor. So, they walked back to the man and gave him the $20. As she told me this story, I got goose bumps. Isn't that awesome, how God used me picking out a birthday bag, then God used a young girl, and then an entire family to bless a man that none of us know? I am reminded that God will use me in ways that I am unaware of. We just have to have an open heart and a willing spirit, that when He calls; we answer Romans 8:28 says "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." We are called to His purpose, His love, and His actions. God can and will use YOU, if you let Him.
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Sunday School Registration
 Click Here to Register your child today for Sunday School 2009/2010! We have hundreds of children coming in and out of our doors every Sunday morning for the exciting and age-appropriate activities. To help speed our Sunday morning along and get to know your child, please register your child(ren) ahead of time for the appropriate age group.
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