Note for Parents of Wildside Students (grades 6-7) from Mr. Kevin

Hello everyone I hope everyone is doing well. Just a quick reminder that we will be continuing our study on “REFLECTIONS.” Who we see when we look into the mirror. We all try to cover up our imperfections by presenting what we think to be a better, more likable person. We just long to be accepted by people and that is the problem. It is important to remember that we have a God who sent His only son to die for us because we are accepted. We love Him because He first loved us!!! He loves us just the way we are because He made us just the way we are. Trying to be someone different to please others is saying to God that we aren’t happy with how He made us, we have a better idea of what we should be like. Please encourage your students to come this week as we continue talking about being who God made us to be. Taking off mask and not trying to impress the world around us by being someone we are not.

Thank you

Kevin Criddle

Reasons

Since the sin and fall of man in Eden, people have walked by faith with an unseen God. He spoke, acted, and moved among them, usually without being visible. When God decided to step out of heaven, He came as a man, born a child in Bethlehem. Why did He decide to come among His creation? There are definite reasons why Jesus came to earth to live and die. In this new series that begins Sunday we discuss several of those reasons.

What is this with the candy?

Halloween is on a Sunday this year and for about 8 months I have pondered about what to do as a children’s pastor. Do you have something at the church? or Do you let your church members be the salt and Light in our world? I opted for salt and light. Every year my light is off in my neighborhood because we are off doing the Lord’s work. This year I want to turn on my light! and be a part of the Light in my neighborhood. I don’t know if you noticed the boxes in the foyer areas of the church building. They are there because Unity Church, our sister church that meets on Saturday nights, is having a block party in a trailer park subdivision on Hwy. 51 in Nesbit. This is going to be next Saturday, October 9th. They are choosing to be salt and Light in this neighborhood. So it is time to candy up! I’m always looking for an excuse to buy Snickers! LOL Elaine, at the HeartMarket has purchased some stretchy bands that are designed to be given out with or without candy for Halloween. They come individually wrapped and with scripture on them. Real cute and a real witness. Tonight is Wednesday at HeartLand and time for KidJam Lite. I look forward to it every week. The kids are excited to be there to learn and worship. They are great kids. Our Wall of Champions will start to fill up tonight with a picture of each child that memorizes scripture. I can’t wait!

Summer in the Scripture and Orange Cue Box

I’m finding new ways to incorporate my Summer in the Scripture assignment.  I listened to my Summer in the Scripture while I cleaned out my closet.  A job I do not like but am convicted that I need to do.  I keep lots of stuff I shouldn’t and there are people who need my stuff.   Listening to Corinthians made me realize that the same problems (sin) we have in the church today were there in Corinth also.  So I listened with a caring heart in stead of a judgmental one. Before,  like 2 months ago,  I listened and read with a critical ear. So I guess  you could say Summer in the Scripture is changing me.

Today I got in the new Orange Cue Box for September which has replaced the Family times.  It is extraordinary.  Everyone gathered  round the computer and laughed out loud at the video.  It is a video format now and really great.  The lead character is Sydney, a high school student who works to publish the Cue Box. The quality is so awesome you think you are watching something on the Disney Channel.   I can’t wait for everyone to see it.  I will have it on my computer beside the Elementary Desk this Sunday.  This format will really appeal to your Tweens but Karen Means said her Kindergartener will enjoy it too.  Adults will enjoy it too.

The cost is the same as the Family Times.  You can purchase yours at the HeartMarket.

Until Next Week Respectfully Yours,

Suzie

Summer in the Scripture

I sat last Wednesday night and listened to a friend that I have not seen in a while talk.  I enjoyed her speech patterns and the way she described things.  I realized I missed her more than either of us knew. I have been listening to my scripture on CD and really enjoyed Romans because there are so many scriptures that are so meaningful to me personally.  It is like listening to that old (not in the age sense) friend.  These scriptures are precious to me they bring me back to a time in my life or crisis that I thought no one could resolve.  My God did resolve these problems but until He did, He gave me these scripture promises to hold on to.

Are you facing insurmountable problems?  Do you turn to your Father?  He is the one who knows everything.  He knows your body and what sickness you might have, He knows your spouse’s personality and can help you resolve conflict, He knows your child’s heart and fears and can give you wisdom in any parenting situation.  He knows.  Since He knows ask Him and seek His face.

Kidz Stuf is this Sunday at 10:10 am in the Youth Warehouse.  Bring Grandparents as well as your children.  The virtue is Peace – Proving that you care more about others than winning an argument.

See you Sunday, remember He knows!

Suzie

Write.Rewrite. – Bigger Story

Each week I will be posting a series overview and some questions to help parents better communicate what the students are hearing during Fusion. These questions are meant to start conversation between you and your student. I want to make it easier to create a spiritual conversation between you. I will post weekly. If you have any questions or comments you can email me at justin@heartlandchurch.cc.

write.rewrite.

Series Overview

We are all drawn to great stories—whether that’s on the big screen, small screen, in a book or elsewhere. But we may be completely unaware of one simple truth—that our lives are a story as well. The decisions we make every day are shaping the plot. The things we do, believe and trust determine what is being written. And for many of us, the story we are scripting could be so much more if we let God write, or even rewrite, our story. It’s the story we long for, the one our hearts truly desire.

Session One: A Bigger Story (08/08/10)

Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or someone who minimizes risks, we all long for a great story. A great romance. A great adventure. A great mystery. And it could be that the reason we yearn for something so big is because God made us that way. Believe it or not, a big story is unfolding around us, a story God is telling that started long before us and will continue to unfold long after we are gone. The things that draw us, that captivate us, that pull us in are the things that make God’s story great. The question is, are we a part of that story? Are we telling His story? In other words, are our lives reflecting something bigger?

Session One Parent Cue:

• What are some of your favorite stories (in movies, books, etc.)? What specifically about those stories do you love?

• Read Ecclesiastes 3:11. Do you ever wish your life was “more” than what it is now? If yes, why?

Summer in the Scripture – Week 8

I was stuck in traffic yesterday going to work.  I noticed, after I called Steve to tell him to take an alternate route, that I was not frustrated or antsy.  Everyone around me was driving on the left shoulder just to crossover onto the southbound lane and head another way.  I was in my air-conditioned car and calm.  When I got  to the HeartMart (church), I realized what the difference was.  I was listening to my Summer in the Scripture.  The readers voice was calm and he was reading the Bible to me.  I thought, “now this is an advantage I never thought of.”  Enjoy your Summer in the Scripture, you don’t have to conquer it.  Listen to what God has to say to you.  School starts tomorrow, what a way to calm the fears of first day by having scripture read to you on the way to school.

Until next week,

Suzie

Summer in Scripture Week 8

Listening to God’s word throughout my day challenges me to think and pray through the things I hear. I have never known or studied much about the Holy Spirit and His works, but as I listen and read through Acts I have to agree with Preacher that this book is “the acts of the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit does so much through the apostles in this book. It is important for us to realize that it wasn’t simply men who were doing these great works. The bible makes it very clear that the Spirit of God came upon these men.

As I look around me today I don’t see or even hear many people talking about the Spirit working like He did here. It makes me ask myself if we are missing something? Do we believe those events could happen still today? Have the generations lost faith along the way?

God is a trinitarian God. If we believe in God the Father and Jesus Christ, we must also believe in the Holy Spirit and His works.

What does that mean in your life?

Summer in the Scripture – Week 8

I am sorry I have not blogged these past two weeks, but I am back home (almost) and in the swing of things. We have passed the first part of Acts dealing with the early church and headed on for the adventure. I am anxious to hear what your children think of Paul being ferried over the wall in a basket. How big was the basket? Was he scared? One thing that stands out to me is the many miracles the apostles did. They were awesome miracles and just like the miracles Jesus did. Steve told me one time that God did those miracles to prove to the Gentiles that Jesus was God and it preceded every major work in Acts. Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the utter most parts of the world.
Then came the persecution. I have been constantly ruminating on the fact that if I were being persecuted like the apostles were how much would I whine, complain and let everyone know. The apostles just kept on trucking. They had a promise and a mission.
One phrase that stood out to me was “meanwhile the Word of God continued to be spread, and there were many new believers.” God doesn’t wait for everything to be “perfect” to do His work, but He does use “imperfect” people like you and me. Sooo what are you waiting on? Move on!

Until next week,
Suzie

Summer in Scripture Week 7

The past week and a half I have been busy with BigStuf and the Passion Play trips. I was able to listen to all of this weeks scriptures on the way home from our Wildside trip to Eureka Springs, AR. It was such a great way to “cool down” and relax from the craziness I had been surrounded by. Although it was busy and hectic I know that God was still there guiding and teaching me. Jesus promised us that He would send us the Helper in John 14-16.  He is here to do many things in our lives. I’m not sure that we allow the Spirit to work in our lives like the church of the New Testament did. I really don’t even know if people today believe that the Spirit will still do the things that was promised to us in the bible. What if God is waiting on us to have faith and believe what He has promised? Can you tell the Spirit is alive in your life?

John 16:13-15 “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.14 He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you.15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that He will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

All that the Spirit teaches us and has for us is from the Father.  We need Him more than any other thing we have. Sometimes it is so hard to think about the invisible things in life. But we love love and we go through phases of life where thats all we can think about. Why is it so hard for us to think and meditate on the Spirit? Why can’t we see how real He really is? More importantly, why can’t we live a life where the Spirit guides us?