Home 2010 (Page 13)

Year: 2010

Are We Too Cool to Care?

I’d like to ask a question for some honest reflection – and ask readers to be reflective, not defensive, because this is an issue that I have seen all over the country and was brought to my attention via an e-mail via facebook today. I have removed all personal information and name of church and some other details to protect both the person who sent it and the church they are talking about: Karl, Overall we really like the children’s ministry at our church. One area of concern, though, is the music played before, during, and after the children’s large group time. Basically, it’s often rock or heavy dance music and it’s played REALLY loud. I’ve talked to the children’s staff a few times and they seem to think it’s fine. This past Sunday I was helping out and a kid in my group was autistic – the music was really overpowering to him and later when I mentioned that to one of the kids’ staff, they said that special needs kids could wait in the hallway during singing if the music bothered them. What?? I was shocked. Why not just turn it down? Anyway, I wondered if you have…

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Hope

Loved this story from the sermon this morning, so had to post it: A man arrives at a little league game late and asks a boy in the dug out what the score is and he says, “Them 18, us zero.” The man says, “You must be discouraged?” The boy answers, “Why would I be discouraged? We ain’t even been up to bat yet.” That’s HOPE! Friends, no matter what you are going through, Jesus ain’t even been up to bat yet!

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Come to Canada! Be a KidBuilder!

I’m excited to be heading to Canada in May for the Kid Builders children’s ministry conference in Ontario. It is looking to be a wonderful gathering of practical trainers bringing a wide variety hands-on skills for leaders and volunteers who are in the trends of ministry to children. If you are one of the many who have e-mailed us asking when the next Kid U is, this will have the feel of a Kidology University in the quality of speakers and desire to provide real help to children’s workers. I’m honored to be a part of this event. (Download Fullsized Poster Here with COMPLETE DETAILS 3mb) Here is how I will be serving: Friday Evening, May 7th – Family event, open to the public! Come experience the humor, comedy and story telling of Karl Bastian live! Lions and Bears and Fire, OH MY! (The Power of Story why TODAY is the Best Day of Your Life!) Saturday Morning, May 8th, General Session – Kidology 101 – Shooting Straws and Other HIgh Tech Ministry Techniques! Saturday Afternoon, General Session – YOU! The Missing Piece in a Children’s Spiritual Puzzle Saturday Eventing (Leaders Only) – Putting the “Pastor” Back into your Job…

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Why I am returning to Yosemite – by Pat

Guest Blogger, Patrick McWhorter Why go back to Yosemite? I prayed about the opportunity and tossed it around for a while. Would this year match the experience I had last year? Would it be better? Would it not be as good? There were so many reasons to go back and really no reason to not go. The number one reason to go back – I know that I need the time away. I love what I do, don’t get me wrong. But throughout the year, the emotional stress can wear you out. The “normal” people issues that come up can wear on your soul, especially when the people are not just bodies in the congregation but are your friends, your family, your brothers and sisters in Christ. I know that I need the time away to leave the work of ministry behind, to leave the daily tasks behind, and to focus on ultimately what is most important, my own personal relationship with Christ. Words cannot describe the feeling you have when you are 8,000+ feet up, looking over God’s awesome creation and it is just you, Him and His Word. God revealed things to me during the week at Yosemite…

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Hiking the Devil’s Backbone

What are a bunch of Christian’s doing hangin’ around the Devil’s backbone? As I mentioned awhile ago, I have started a guys hiking group here in Colorado, and a few weeks ago, we finally enjoyed our first hike. We explored the Devil’s Backbone up in Loveland, Colorado. Here are some pictures from the day. (As always, you can click on any picture for a larger view) Here I am at the entrance, it was a beautiful day! Here is the Fellowship of the King on one of our stops! The guys got along pretty well for the most part. (note the sign!) “Devil’s Backbone” is the name of the rock formation that sticks up and runs through the center of this open space. At one point, I climbed to the top and got a picture of my shadow… And a picture through one of the holes in the formation. Cool, huh? We hiked for about seven hours and nearly nine miles, but it was worth it. At times the lighting was spectacular, even as clouds began to roll in… I especially love when there are shadows of clouds on the hills… Some lonely trees on a distant hill were neat…

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