Heartprints

Ed Gossien's picture

Two Weddings and a Funeral...

Submitted by Ed Gossien on Thu, 08/11/2011 - 00:00

 

If you’ve been in ministry very long, you know that job isn’t done when the last child is picked up, the toys put away, and the whiteboards wiped clean.  In fact, some of the most important ministry takes place after the lights are turned out.  This was one of those weeks for me.  In the last seven days I've attended two weddings and a funeral.  I've seen incredible happiness, and deep sadness.  In a couple of weeks, I’ll share the blessings of the weddings.  Today, I’d like to share the ministry lessons I learned during the sorrow of the memorial service.  Perhaps God will encourage you as He did me.

Jody Capehart's picture

Caring Communication

Submitted by Jody Capehart on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 00:00

Once on a field trip I heard a group of children discussing where they were born. “Jay was born in Miami,” Samantha announced. To which Jamie responded, “Come on, was Jay really born in ‘her ami’?”

Lisa Goodyear's picture

To Tell The Truth...Teaching Children to Seek The Truth

Submitted by Lisa Goodyear on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 00:00

Hello, my name is …???  Hello, my name is …???  Hello, my name is …???  Over 50 years ago a new game show written by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions was first aired on CBS. “To Tell the Truth” game show, hosted by Bud Collyer, was introduced to the public on December 18, 1956.   After its debut, the show took off and was watched for over a decade in homes across America.  Because of the popularity of this twenty five minute program, it remained on TV until 1968.

Nathan Gunter's picture

Playground Mansions of Ministry Death?

Submitted by Nathan Gunter on Mon, 08/01/2011 - 00:00

Mansions across America sit empty because of the economy gone southward. Arrayed and adorned with expensive beauty, mansions appeal to the eye, but when empty they are inevitably heartless. The family truly brings life to the mansion, such as laughs, noises, movement and maintenance. Take away the family then the mansion is dead. Bring in life then the mansion is blessed and joyful! Therefore, how can death be joyful? Do we want to pursue building or keeping empty mansions without people?

ChrisKemp's picture

Noble Plans

Submitted by ChrisKemp on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 00:00

 

“ But the noble man devises noble plans and by noble plans he stands.” Isaiah 32:8

 

Jerry Lawrence's picture

Castle Dreams

Submitted by Jerry Lawrence on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 00:00

“I want to live in a castle when I grow up!!”

That was my reaction after visiting several castles in Italy and England on a recent vacation. Prior to this trip I had never been to a real authentic castle. (I don’t think Disneyland’s castle counts. Sorry, Cinderella!)

Ed Gossien's picture

Is God Enough???

Submitted by Ed Gossien on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 00:00

 

For the tired, and the hurt, the weary among us.

If God is not enough, everything depends upon us.  If God is not enough, who knows how things will turn out?   If God is not enough, worry dominates our hearts.  If God is not enough, we must constantly strive to please.  If God is not enough, the shortcomings of our volunteers are glaringly apparent.  If God is not enough, the Bible is

Jody Capehart's picture

Confidence-Building Communication

Submitted by Jody Capehart on Tue, 07/26/2011 - 00:00

To develop positive self-esteem, children need to experience a sense of belonging. They need to feel connected to something bigger than themselves. Because many children come from broken, dysfunctional, or non-nurturing homes, being part of a class at church may be one of the few ways they satisfy this need. Many experts agree that the increase in gangs today is due to a growing number of kids who need to feel a part of something. Gangs may be the only avenue they see to fulfill their need to belong.

Nathan Gunter's picture

Leave the Fake Out, Give the Kid’s Real Jesus!

Submitted by Nathan Gunter on Mon, 07/18/2011 - 00:00

High voltage screams, wailing limbs, and snapping chains creates a ruckus among fearful neighbors as they watch the demonized man in the tombs flail (Mark 5:1-20). Parents are limited to protecting the kids from watching and left with the Americanized feeling of powerlessness. The kids witness a possessed man, a potential for their future, and ask questions like “what is wrong with the man?” American parents may respond with tucking the kids into the home, avoiding the situation, putting on a video for the little ones or marking it up to a psychological problem “over there”.

Ed Gossien's picture

Go ahead, be a wise guy.....

Submitted by Ed Gossien on Mon, 07/18/2011 - 00:00

 

In my post from March 4th, “What’s Your Target”, I introduced the idea of five master life threads from the life of Joseph that should guide us in ministry, and in parenting.  The five critical master life threads found in Larry Fowler’s book, Raising a Modern Day Joseph, are

Jody Capehart's picture

Elements of an Effective Hour Part 2

Submitted by Jody Capehart on Tue, 07/12/2011 - 00:00

Last time, I shared some ideas for how to have an effective hour in your Sunday school class. We discussed the first of our five E’s: Engage. Today we will discuss the remaining four: Explore, Expand and Express, and Evaluate.

2. Explore

Lisa Goodyear's picture

Refresh, Rejuvenate, and Rejoice – Ten Ways to Refuel When Ministry Empties Your Tank.

Submitted by Lisa Goodyear on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 00:00

MY TANK IS EMPTY…I NEED TO REFUEL!  How often has that ‘scream’ come flowing into your mind?  If you are like me, it is a continuous process to stay refueled and refreshed while serving in ministry…especially children’s ministry. 

Nathan Gunter's picture

God Produces Fruitful Faith for Faithful Hearers

Submitted by Nathan Gunter on Mon, 07/04/2011 - 00:00

What challenge, wisdom and advice would you give to men going into battle? Would you advise them that they will not die, never get hurt, comfortable, peaceful, short time frame and enemies love you? Or would you reveal to them that you are trustworthy and the advice given from you to them is just as trustworthy? Therefore, you know what to believe and do in order to enter the battle. The latter is logical, reasonable, helpful and real.

Ed Gossien's picture

Now is NOT the time to get busy!

Submitted by Ed Gossien on Fri, 07/01/2011 - 00:00

Earlier this week I attended the graduation ceremony at Faith Evangelical Seminary, in Tacoma, WA. Who would think to bring paper and pen to take notes at a commencement? Not me! Usually, commencement speakers have too little to say, and too much time to say it. Not this time.

Jerry Lawrence's picture

No More Goodbyes

Submitted by Jerry Lawrence on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 00:00

Suitcases packed. Airports. Hugs. Kisses. Tears. Hearts…tearing…a p a r t .

Days like today make me long for Heaven when there will be no more goodbyes.

Jody Capehart's picture

Elements of an Effective Hour

Submitted by Jody Capehart on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 00:00

The goal of our planning is to provide an effective learning experience – to teach a lesson our students will learn and remember and respond to by applying the message to their lives. Thom and Joani Schultz, authors of The Dirt on Learning, use the term “authentic learning” to describe this.

Lisa Goodyear's picture

Embrace Heartbreak - Encourage Parents With God’s Word

Submitted by Lisa Goodyear on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 00:00

Not too long ago, during our weekly women’s Bible study, I was talking with a woman who expressed concern and heartbreak regarding one of her grown children.  Her heart was broken because this adult child…who had been raised in a Christian home, confessed Jesus Christ as savior, and went to Church and Sunday school…had recently made some very bad choices.  As she was overcome with grief and concern, she expressed her discouragement and hurt, because the choices that her grown child was making were contrary to God’s Word and His principles...

Nathan Gunter's picture

Kid’s Ministry Bar Set to Gospel Height

Submitted by Nathan Gunter on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 00:00

Like a sneaky ninja, your heart’s expectations can easily karate chop joys and ministry relationships, which inevitably strains the vision of kid’s ministry. Spoken or not, expectations exist and reveal themselves at some point like the ninja. Do we expect people to volunteer, keep their word or possess skills to deliver? Do we expect our health to maintain it’s course, keep us faithful to each day and allow us to work continuously without rest? Do we expect God to bless our ministry because everything is in order? How did we first set the bar of expectations? Are expectations to low or to high? Are the expectations helpful or deterrents?

Ed Gossien's picture

Window Washing Expert...

Submitted by Ed Gossien on Fri, 06/17/2011 - 00:00

Window Washing Expert…

Mrs. Morgan drove a brand new 1976 Lincoln Continental. She had a charge account where I worked at Jim’s Chevron. It was my first job. Jim, the owner, gave clear instructions on Mrs. Morgan and what she expected. “Fill it up, premium unleaded. No receipt. Don’t spill gas on the car. Wash the front window, not the back. Be polite.” Washing her window was an adventure. She sat inside with her perfectly manicured fingernails, scratching

Jody Capehart's picture

Providing Engaged Learning Acvtivities for Growing Minds

Submitted by Jody Capehart on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 00:00

In her book Mind in the Making, respected author Ellen Galinsky writes about what she has discovered concerning children’s foundational needs. Galinsky lists seven skills children need not only for developing their minds but for all aspects of life, from relationships to growing as a person:

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