Hell

Hello friends

Would you pray for me?

Each Sunday we use what is called the "Big Idea"

This is when we teach one main idea to the adults and to the kids on Sunday so that the whole family can talk about one Biblical truth that week.

This Sunday we are talking about Hell.

In some ways I am very excited because we never really talk about it to kids. Kids curriculums never teach about it because it is too sensitive. Just think- When was the last time you ever taught kids a lesson about Hell? Kids need to know it is real and that with Gods power they have victory over it!

It is part of a balanced theology.

But on the other hand it can be a hard topic to teach on.

So will you pray for me this week? I am seeking God's direction on this message because it could be a while before the kids hear another message this focused on Hell. I desire to share the truth but want to do it in a way that is not too scary.

CREATIVE TEAM IDEAS

The series for January 2010 is on vision.

The idea is to play off the Wii game system and give the whole thing a contemporary - look and feel. The Wii is a game system that creates community, is interactive, and connects people locally and all around the world. That is similar to what we are trying to do in the church.

The first week will encourage adults and kids to not be followers but to participate (gather)

The second week will encourage spiritual growth (grow)

The third week will encourage people to be missionaries in their community (go)

Please post your ideas of how we can teach this idea to the kids:

Drama ideas?

Video?

Stories?

Object lessons?

Special speakers?

Etc.

Small group ideas - Large group ideas -

Okay - Fire away!!!! Lets get lots of ideas!!

Click on the word COMMENT below to post your ideas

Vacation

Vacation is great. It is hard to rest.

I enjoy the accomplishment of tasks and moving things forward so it is hard to just sit around.

We have taken vacation trips away and vacation trips close by but this is the first time I have ever tried the say at home vacation.

The first day of vacation I took my son Mark out on Silver Lake. It is a Class A muskie lake in Wisconsin. Mark caught 2 bluegill and I caught 2 northern pike. The sunset was beautiful and it was great just being out there with my fishing buddy.

Today Wendy and I spent the day picking out plants to go in the front yard. We found a few that we like and plan to put them in on Monday. It is Labor day so we figure that working hard on labor day is a good thing.

Mark

My son Mark loves to spend time with me. He asks me every day if he can go to the office with me. Every day!

I often break down and say sure and let him come with. Yesterday was one of those days. He was so happy to come with. He gelled his hair like me. Brushed his teeth like me, and asked lots of question in the car as we traveled to the office. I got a cup of coffee and he got a cup of water. Then we went to the kids in the house auditorium to work. I plugged away on my laptop while he played with some of the games. Every once and awhile he would come over and talk for a few moments. It was really fun taking him with me to the office. I feel blessed to have a place where I can do that every so often with him. They are growing up so fast and I know I will miss these years. These are the golden years of our family as we are all healthy, happy, and enjoying life. Praise the Lord for his goodness.

Children

Lindsay told me that today was the third best day of her life!

I asked her what the second best day was? She said the day she went to the state fair.

So then I asked her what the best day of her life was?

She said the day she asked Jesus into her life!

I will never forget that one.

Finished

It feels good to finish.

Five years ago I felt God calling me to earn a Masters Degree in Leadership Studies. So I began researching schools and comparing programs.

Then two years later, an opportunity to begin the program opened up at Vanguard University in Southern California.

This week I have completed my final paper and it feels great to have finished all my reading (4500 pages) for this paper.

The topic I wrote on was strategic Planning for Ministry in the local church.

It was very interesting and very helpful research.

I must admit that it feels strange to finish because you simply get used to thinking about readings and papers all the time.

I will keep reading for sure but maybe blogging will take the place of my papers.

Loving Summer!

Summer is here! Yesterday my family drove up to the lakefront of Milwaukee and enjoyed time together exploring new parts of the city there. It was very nice. A great day of about 71 degrees and sunny. Just like San Diego.
We started the day with homemade pancakes and eggs. It was a feast fit for a king!
Courtney is our Summer intern and spent the day with us too. She is very nice and lots of fun to be around. We all talked, laughed, and ate some good food. It was great.
I also recently had a chance to enjoy a baseball game at Miller Park. That was great. I really like Baseball and it was my Favorite team the Chicago White Sox.
I must say I am starting to like the Brewers now as they can easily become my National League team.