Visit Russia and Meet an Orphan
This March, visit Russia and spend time with a Russian orphan! Travelers will choose a child, fly to Russia as a group, meet and spend time with the child in Moscow, sightsee together, and decide whether to pursue the child’s adoption. Travelers not interested in adoption areBad News for Perfect Parents
The January issue of Christianity Today has an insightful article on the myth of the perfect parent. Here are some quotes to whet your appetite and encourage you to read the whole article.
- "If our supposition--that we can measure the success of our parenting by the outcome of our children--is scripturally based, we should be able to apply the test to God himself."
- "The root of much of our pain in parenting...is the belief that we should have control over our children when it is hard enough to have control over ourselves."
- "The record does not tell us if anyone repented as a result of his words, but Ezekiel was never accountable for the repentance of others. He was accountable only for his steadfast obedience."
- "But we must be clear about our own limits. We are not capable of producing perfect followers of Christ, as if we were perfect ourselves. Our work cannot purchase anyone else's salvation or sanctification."
I love the last line. Read the rest here.
Abundant Life
Here's a great blog entry from my wife (TexasPeaks.com) for Sanctity of Life month.
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have life more abundantly". (John 10:10)
January is Sanctity of Life month. In memory of the Roe vs Wade supreme court decision that happened in January 1973, we've tried to reclaim the anniversary as a time to honor all life.
Six years ago in January, I heard Steven Curtis Chapman's testimony on the radio about their decision to adopt. They had adopted a baby girl from China. We had buried our stillborn son a year and a half before and we were childless and empty. The testimony was very moving to me, I had wanted to adopt, but couldn't convince Brent to look into it. The very next day, my friend Lavonne invited me to lunch. She and her husband had also experienced infertility and loss and she wanted to tell me over lunch that they had decided to adopt a baby from China and wanted us to go with them and adopt as well.
Six years ago in January, Sanctity of Life Month, God laid on our hearts the call to adopt. A decision that changed our lives and our calling forever. It is amazing thing to allow God to use you in a big thing. It takes a long time just to be willing sometimes, but when you are willing, you will never be the same.
I confess, it would have been easier remain as we were, there's a lot of mess with paperwork, money and children with all their baggage. But I truly shudder to think what I would be missing out on if we had not opened our hearts on Sanctity of Life month to BE the difference of life or death to a child. You touch the heart of God when you care for orphans. We have now taken 2 little girls as our own. Given them names, love and a family forever. What a privilege to be a mirror in a small way of what God has done for all of us.
Since our first adoption, we began to get involved in finding homes for children, helping others adopt and even helping care for orphans who are not adopted. This is an abundant life, and we look forward to living more abundantly.
Great Insight for Children’s Pastors
Roger Fields has a great list at KidBlitz.com of the ten things he will never do as a children's pastor. Here are my favorites.
- Never beg for workers.
- Never pacify a chronically malcontented worker.
- Never do anything just because it's the way it's always been done.
- Never teach without involving kids.
I've spent a lot of time trying to do each of these, and I can promise you that they don't accomplish what you hope they will.
We’re moving to Phoenix!
This week, I accepted an offer from Paradise Valley Community Church in Phoenix to be their new Children & Families Pastor. I'm SUPER excited about the opportunity to jump back into full-time ministry with such a great group of people! We hope to be there in early January--probably right before a major ice storm hits Tulsa while we're enjoying the sunshine in Phoenix!
My Resume
I am currently looking for a Children's Pastor position at a theologically conservative, community-focused church that embraces the family ministry philosophy of the Rethink Group.
Join Steven Curtis Chapman in Changing the World of an Orphan [video]
Become a Sponsor Today! from Show Hope on Vimeo.
Get Your Game Face On! [video]
Here are some of the game faces we saw this week at Freedom Sports Camp 2009!
99 Balloons [video]
Because of my own family's loss, this was very hard for me to watch. Please don't ignore the family you know that's going through loss. Don't say anything; just listen and be available.