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Category: Just Thinking

Living on Mission – Discovering my Ministry Manifesto

Why Did God Make YOU? By Pastor Karl Bastian, aka the Kidologist I received my call to ministry when I was ten years old. A children’s evangelist came to our church. I was completely captivated. He used magic tricks, puppets, and storytelling to teach the Bible in a way that made kids laugh, think, and listen. I remember sitting there thinking, That is the greatest job in the world. After the service I told my mom, “That’s what I want to do when I grow up.” Her response surprised me. “You start next Wednesday.” I protested. “Mom, I said when I grow up!” She calmly replied, “If God has called you to children’s ministry, what does growing up have to do with anything?” Then she did something that changed the trajectory of my life. She started telling me about the many young people God used in the Bible—David facing Goliath, Samuel hearing God’s voice as a child, the boy who gave his lunch to Jesus, and others who were young but willing. My mom didn’t just encourage me—she equipped me. She helped me get my first puppet. She coached me on learning simple magic tricks. She gave me opportunities to…

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Gratitude Changes Everything

Gratitude Changes Everything By Pastor Karl Bastian The celebration of Thanksgiving every November is wonderful. Families gather. Tables are full. Traditions are honored. Gratitude gets a full day on the calendar. But the downside is that it can subtly relegate gratitude to something we focus on once in a while—sadly, perhaps annually. We pull out thankfulness like fine china, use it for a day, and then pack it back into storage with the pumpkin decorations. The reality is that an attitude of gratitude is the secret to contentment and happiness every single day of our lives. By our human (sinful) nature, we tend to focus on what we want, need, or are striving for. We fix our eyes on the next goal, the next opportunity, the next improvement. In doing so, we often neglect to realize we are living what we once hoped for. The job we prayed for. The ministry we dreamed about. The family we longed to build. The friendships we once asked God to provide. How quickly we stop appreciating where we are, what we have, and WHO we have. Blessings that once brought us to tears of joy can slowly become background noise. They are taken…

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Ministry Needs More Hawaiian Hippos

Stand Out for Jesus!   Let’s face it—ministry can sometimes start to feel like a slow-moving hippo, just plodding along week after week. Same lessons. Same snacks. Same games. You love the kids, but deep down you wonder: Is this really making an impact? Now picture that hippo again… but this time, he’s rocking a loud, colorful Hawaiian shirt. Suddenly, he’s not just blending in—he’s standing out. He’s turning heads. He’s getting noticed. And not for vanity’s sake, but because he’s embracing something different. That’s what we need in children’s ministry. It’s easy to look at what other churches are doing and feel pressure to follow the crowd. But God didn’t call you to be a copy of someone else’s ministry—He called you to be creative, courageous, and bold right where you are. “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” — Romans 12:11 (NIV) Zeal doesn’t come from playing it safe. It comes from trusting God enough to try something new—even if it’s a little crazy. Host a cereal buffet. Turn your sanctuary into a jungle. Dress up like a time-traveling Bible character. Yes, some ideas may flop—but they’ll still create energy. And energy…

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From Lego to Loyalty: A Heart Full of Thanks!

From Lego to Loyalty: A Heart Full of Thanks Today, I pause with a thankful grin, For all the joys that life lets in. From Lego bricks, since I was three, To Star Wars tales of destiny. The works of Tolkien ignite my mind, With realms of courage, richly defined. A yo-yo’s spin, a Rubik’s twist, Simple joys I can’t resist. Great action movies or classics that amuse, Laughter and thrills, I gladly choose. Gus, my sidekick puppet since college days, Helping kids learn in engaging ways. To hiking trails and drones that fly, Through nature’s splendor and the open sky. Photography capturing God’s great art, And Apple tech that’s sleek and smart. Yet none of these, no earthly cheer, Compares to family, friends so dear. Their loyalty through highs and lows, Their love a constant that always shows. Through Kidology.org, my calling clear, Equipping others, year by year. To reach the kids, to teach His name, To share His love, to spread His fame. For Jesus Christ, my Savior and King, The source of every song I sing. Despite my flaws, His love remains, He guides my steps, He heals my pains. So on this day, my thanks I…

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Write It… And Toss It

Saw this Calvin and Hobbes and it reminded me of some GREAT advice my dad once gave me… but first, enjoy the cartoon: Ever gotten so upset about something you sat down and HACKED OUT A LETTER? I have! There were many a letter I wrote that after showing to my dad for his input, he quietly read and then said, “It’s a great letter! Well written! Excellent points! Well organized and presented! Perfect arguments. Now throw it out.” Throw it out?! How could he compliment it so highly, and then tell me to throw my masterpiece out? He was helping me not make a bad situation worse since my letter would only pour gasoline on the fire. So was my letter a waste of time? No! My dad explained that “hot letters” are still good to write because they help you organize your thoughts… process your emotions and sort out the details of what happened. Then, after you toss your flaming masterpiece,  you’ll be better prepared to write the more diplomatic letter that will get results. OR, better yet, pick up the phone if you can’t meet in person. E-mail and text messages have kinda ruined the pace of…

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