I am excited about the things that we have going on this week at church! Not only do we have our second week of Kids4Truth training tomorrow evening but we also have an all church retreat at Botna Bend State Park this weekend.
The "official" church retreat begins on Friday evening after dinner but several families from church will be going out Thursday afternoon or evening. I am looking forward to canoeing, cycling, cooking over the campfire, and reading. (I'm sorry I couldn't alliterate that last one) I'm not sure of the Friday evening schedule but I'm sure it will include singing and smores.
Saturday I have the opportunity to speak before lunch. Now a couple of weeks ago I told the church that I thought I needed to do a better job of teaching the proof of scriptural truth. I shared with those of you that read this blog that many children are leaving the church when they get out of the home because we have taught "Bible stories" at church but we have not taught the Bible as an accurate "historical account".
In other words, most children and adults alike are familiar with "Jonah and the whale". To most people it just sounds like a cute story for kids. Nineveh? Who ever heard of Nineveh in real life? Have you ever picked up the paper and read about current events in Nineveh? Shouldn't Nineveh still be around? Didn't God spare Nineveh because they repented? Okay, few people read about world news in the paper. Yet Nineveh isn't even talked about on T.V.
Why?
Is it even that important? Does it matter if Nineveh was a real place?
Well, if it doesn't matter to you today, I trust it will matter to you this coming Saturday. I hope to see you there!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Kids4Truth
Tonight we are going to be starting the training for the leaders and teachers who would like to serve in our Wednesday evening children's program. For many years we have used AWANA curriculum, however, this year we really have a desire to focus on the "instruct in Christ-like maturity" part of our purpose statement. The strength of the new program is in the area of discipleship and doctrine. If you haven't yet looked at the program that we will be offering, I encourage you to go to following website and check it out for yourself:
http://kids4truth.com/Home.aspx
Additionally, I ask that you pray for spiritual growth in each person involved in this new program. Not just for the children, but for everyone who will be involved. May the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified through each of us!
http://kids4truth.com/Home.aspx
Additionally, I ask that you pray for spiritual growth in each person involved in this new program. Not just for the children, but for everyone who will be involved. May the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified through each of us!
Already Home
Last week our family attended Family Camp at IRBC. We had a good time but the weather was hot! We were so thankful that this year we had taken a camper with air conditioning. Up until the week before we left we had planned on staying in one of their cabins without A/C. What a blessing it was that we changed our plans. With the high heat and humidity we had last week I doubt that I would have gotten much sleep if it weren't for the A/C. As always, the week flew by and we're already home.
In fact, due to the heat, I spent more time in the camper than I typically would have spent in a cabin. This allowed me to get more study and reading done than in previous years. I tell you this because one of the books that I read caused me to re-think some of my ideas about teaching and preaching in church. The book that I am referring to is called "Already Gone" by Ken Ham. The following is borrowed from the web address at the bottom of this page...
Statistics reveal a huge disconnect taking place between our children and their church experience
Nationwide polls and denominational reports are showing that the next generation is calling it quits on the traditional church. And it’s not just happening on the nominal fringe; it’s happening at the core of the faith.
In the first scientific study of its kind, the “Beemer Report” reveals startling facts discovered through 20,000 phone calls and detailed surveys of a thousand 20–29 year olds who used to attend evangelical churches on a regular basis, but have since left it behind.
The results are shocking:
■Those who faithfully attend Sunday School are more likely to leave the church than those who do not.
■Those who regularly attend Sunday School are more likely to believe that the Bible is less true.
■Those who regularly attend Sunday School are actually more likely to defend that abortion and gay marriage should be legal.
■Those who regularly attend Sunday School are actually more likely to defend premarital sex.
In this powerful book, popular author Ken Ham and consumer behavior research/analyst C. Britt Beemer combine to reveal trends that must be dealt with now . . . before we lose another generation!
The trends are frightening, but Already Gone shows how to win back our families, our churches, and our world!
I don't do this very often, however, if you are looking for something to read that will challenge you to reconsider how and what you are teaching, this book may give you pause.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Already-Gone-Book,6131,224.aspx
In fact, due to the heat, I spent more time in the camper than I typically would have spent in a cabin. This allowed me to get more study and reading done than in previous years. I tell you this because one of the books that I read caused me to re-think some of my ideas about teaching and preaching in church. The book that I am referring to is called "Already Gone" by Ken Ham. The following is borrowed from the web address at the bottom of this page...
Statistics reveal a huge disconnect taking place between our children and their church experience
Nationwide polls and denominational reports are showing that the next generation is calling it quits on the traditional church. And it’s not just happening on the nominal fringe; it’s happening at the core of the faith.
In the first scientific study of its kind, the “Beemer Report” reveals startling facts discovered through 20,000 phone calls and detailed surveys of a thousand 20–29 year olds who used to attend evangelical churches on a regular basis, but have since left it behind.
The results are shocking:
■Those who faithfully attend Sunday School are more likely to leave the church than those who do not.
■Those who regularly attend Sunday School are more likely to believe that the Bible is less true.
■Those who regularly attend Sunday School are actually more likely to defend that abortion and gay marriage should be legal.
■Those who regularly attend Sunday School are actually more likely to defend premarital sex.
In this powerful book, popular author Ken Ham and consumer behavior research/analyst C. Britt Beemer combine to reveal trends that must be dealt with now . . . before we lose another generation!
The trends are frightening, but Already Gone shows how to win back our families, our churches, and our world!
I don't do this very often, however, if you are looking for something to read that will challenge you to reconsider how and what you are teaching, this book may give you pause.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Already-Gone-Book,6131,224.aspx
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Cold Pork
Ha!
Tonight I think I'll share something that is just for fun.
At the fire station today we were dispatched on a call to cool some overheated pigs. That doesn't really sound like a job for the fire department does it?
As it turned out, a semi carrying a load of hogs had overturned on the interstate. The pigs were trapped inside and it was going to take several hours to offload the 175 pigs that were in the double decker trailer. The trailer was mangled and laying on it's side. The pigs couldn't be removed from the trailer until another trailer was hauled in to take them away safely. The interstate was shut down for over 5 hours.
This turned out to be a huge event. Not only were there a plethora of police officers on scene, but there were multiple veterinarians, tow truck drivers, animal control officers, firemen, and the Nebraska Humane Society. Everyone was concerned about keeping the pigs comfortable.
Our job was to keep them sprayed down with water so that they didn't overheat in their cramped quarters. After all, nobody likes dry pork chops...
Got pork?
Tonight I think I'll share something that is just for fun.
At the fire station today we were dispatched on a call to cool some overheated pigs. That doesn't really sound like a job for the fire department does it?
As it turned out, a semi carrying a load of hogs had overturned on the interstate. The pigs were trapped inside and it was going to take several hours to offload the 175 pigs that were in the double decker trailer. The trailer was mangled and laying on it's side. The pigs couldn't be removed from the trailer until another trailer was hauled in to take them away safely. The interstate was shut down for over 5 hours.
This turned out to be a huge event. Not only were there a plethora of police officers on scene, but there were multiple veterinarians, tow truck drivers, animal control officers, firemen, and the Nebraska Humane Society. Everyone was concerned about keeping the pigs comfortable.
Our job was to keep them sprayed down with water so that they didn't overheat in their cramped quarters. After all, nobody likes dry pork chops...
The above photo is Kurt keeping the pigs damp. Below are two pictures of the firemen on top (which is really the side) of the trailer spraying the pigs that are trapped in the trailer below them. These pictures were taken as I was looking north.
The pictue below shows some of the aforementioned helpful bystanders. This was an all agency emergency! This picture was taken looking south. As you can see, we were under an overpass. This provided a nice shaded staging area.
Oh, and here's a picture of my good friend (and Captain)...
Got pork?
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