FREE eBOOK from KidCheck!

Hey, just found out about this FREE new resource from my friends at KidCheck and wanted to make sure you knew about it! It’s a FREE eBook called Optimizing Child Safety in Your Organization. It’s jam-packed with checklists, tips, and proven safety strategies. You’ll learn the following: • Why focusing on child safety attracts new families. • How to predator-proof your environment. • Seven steps for choosing the best volunteers. • The benefits of a Child Protection Policy. • Tips for using children’s check-in for more than attendance tracking. With this eBook, you’ll be equipped to create a safe & secure environment both now and in the future. Regardless of what system you use for your secure check-in system, you will find this eBook loaded with some practical tips, reminders and ideas! AND if you are looking at implementing a secure check-in system or re-evaluating your present setup, you owe it to yourself to at least set up a consultation with the good folks at KidCheck to have a pressure-free conversation about how to make your ministry more safe an Here’s a link to preview DOWNLOAD THE FREE eBOOK!

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10 Things You Should Never Do

Just some friendly advice: Do not put off backing up your phone or computer. Do not wear white socks with black shoes. Do not send an angry e-mail or text. Do not buy underwear at a thrift store. Do not donate underwear to a thrift store. Do not post “following” on a Facebook thread. (Please) Just select to be notified. Do not drive slow in the fast lane. Do not drive fast in the slow lane. Do not cut your own hair.* Do not run a children’s ministry without a secure check-in system! Need help with that? Visit Kidology.org/KidCheck. KidCheck exists to help you ensure the children entrusted to you are safe and secure. Kidology Members get a discount for the entire first year. Got questions? They’ll be happy to set up a call to walk you through the process – no pressure! Add a comment with something YOU think you should never do! *I learned this the hard way.

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Karl’s Ancient Guitar Chord Books

This post won’t interest many, mostly posting for myself, but if it helps any guitar players out there, so be it! Not many know I play guitar – honestly, I’m not very good at at, it’s mostly a private hobby, a skill more than a talent, if you understand the difference. I picked it up in college because my roommate, Rich Stafford, was amazing, I and I wanted to learn, and he was a great (and patient) teacher. I LOVE leading kids worship and still enjoy it for personal (and private) worship when in my Man Cave. I own a variety of guitars, from classical to acoustic and this is my last addition that I’m really enjoying. Anyway, on to the point of this post… I have been using the same guitar chord books I created in the 90’s since, well, the 90’s! I made these when I used to lead worship with my guitar to collect all my favorite songs into two books – kids songs, and adult worship songs. On the rare occasions I still get to lead and play, I still use these, but I only had a few extant paper copies, so I decided to finally…

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Truth to Youth is Different Today

One of the most powerful workshops I ever attended was taught by my good friend Dick Crider several years ago. It was about the changing of the very words we use. When we talk to young people today, we THINK we are saying one thing, but the very words we use have been redefined to have completely different definitions. This is intentional, and it is devastating to the Church and to Truth. These are the pictures I took of some of this slides as he taught. Let them sink in and realize that when you talk or teach today, you have to be extremely intentional in how you communicate. We have to make extra effort to be clear about the Truth. Definitions may change but the Truth remains constant. How each person responds to the Truth hasn’t changed either. (Hebrews 9:27)“Tolerance” doesn’t mean the same thing to us, as Christians, as it means to the secular World. We are the most tolerate of all people… they would disagree. We also are very accepting. But the World has a different definition for accepting. You must not just accept the person, but endorse and even praise their actions. We separate the person…

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May I Come In?

May I Come In? By Doug Bastian God came in among his earthlings Cloaked, concealed in human frame, King to be, clothed first in swaddling, Given Joseph’s revealed name. He grew up a pure example For the work he was to do, Shocked the rabbis in the Temple With his wisdom which shone through.   Worked like all men to make ends meet, Helped his dad make things of wood, With rough hands and dusty, tough feet Fit right in where e’er he stood.   Blended with his people’s goings, Did not tell from whence he came, Saw their plight and their souls’ longings, Saw their leaders’ crafty game.   Then his cousin John came calling By the Sea of Galilee, Choosing hides to be his clothing— Locusts with his daily tea.   John called out for true repentance To the crowds that gathered there, So that they’d avoid the sentence Holy God will bring to bear.   Look! Watch your Messiah enter, Breaking on the earthly scene, Heaven’s dove shows John his Mentor, “This your Lamb may now be seen.”   We are glad he came to show us How to step into the Light, How to bear our…

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