Saddleback Summer Event – Sector 5: The Back-story

August 20, 2012 by 2 Comments
Sector 5 - Saddleback Church

Our Summer event this year was called Sector 5. The teaching is based from John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (NIV) There are dimensions that God provided for our kids lives that the enemy is trying to steal. Dimensions like...Security, Faith, Self Worth, Hope and Purpose. So we addressed each of these dimensions and communicated to the kids that God intends for them to have these functioning in their … [Read more...]

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Saddleback Kids Summer Event – “Sector 5”

August 17, 2012 by 2 Comments
Sector 5 - Saddleback Church

At this point in the summer, most of us are done with the big week-long summer event. You know, that event that can’t seem to shake the title…VBS. I’m not a fan of that term VBS, but no matter what I call our event it always seems to go back to…"it's kind of our version of a VBS." Three years ago we transitioned away from the Monday through Friday format to a series of evening events throughout the months of July and August. This year we went back to the Monday through Friday format to create … [Read more...]

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Strategies for Easter—Part 4

March 29, 2012 by 3 Comments

Here we go with more thoughts on Easter. As you read these thoughts, keep in mind these are just my thoughts. They are not based on scripture and they are totally debatable. I just want to share with you some ideas that have been forged in the fire of experience. So here we go with thought number 4.   Your Weekend Service at Easter Should, In Some Way, Reflect a Typical Weekend Service The big idea here is not to make your services or weekend experience SO special and different … [Read more...]

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GUEST POST – Panic or Paddle

March 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I’ve been thinking lately about how God has ordered the steps of my life to follow this path of children’s ministry.  I am thankful for what He has called me to do and where He has placed me. I’m so grateful that I get paid to do what I enjoy so much. In the early days of my career, I was thrown into a situation where it was literally sink or swim.  Just prior to graduation from college, God radically called me to children’s ministry.  It was such a shock and surprise to me. I hadn’t put much … [Read more...]

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How to Deal with Encouragement

March 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Sounds strange doesn’t it. We talk about dealing with discouragement but not too often do we talk about dealing with encouragement. I don’t think there has ever been a time when I have thought to myself…"Wow, I hope no one else encourages me today. I don’t think I can take one more kind word." There have been those days when I have thought the opposite...”Wow, I don’t think I can take one more complaint, negative criticism, argument or a well intending soul letting me know what we should … [Read more...]

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I’m a human rubber band

March 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Do you remember a super hero team called “The Fantastic 4”?  These guys gained superpowers after exposure to cosmic rays during scientific mission to outer space (Nerd alert). There was The Invisible Woman, The Human Torch, The Thing and lastly Mr. Fantastic. Mr. Fantastic, the scientific genius and the leader of the group, could stretch his body into incredible lengths and shapes. He was a human rubber band. Sometimes I feel like a human rubber band. No one has ever called me “Mr. Fantastic” … [Read more...]

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“Pointing is not always bad”

March 5, 2012 by 2 Comments

My wife Stephanie volunteers in the 4 year old class at our church. She loves teaching these guys and every week has a funny story to tell. This weekend was no exception. She was teaching her class the story of Jonah. As you are well aware, God gave Jonah a specific command to go to the city of Nineveh. Steph was trying to help her class of 4 year olds understand that Jonah disobeyed God. So she told them this, ”God told Jonah to go to Nineveh (she points to the left), but Jonah disobeyed and … [Read more...]

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GUEST POST – Where We Lead

March 2, 2012 by 2 Comments

About three years ago, I had one of our pastors come and ask me if I would write a baptism class for kids.  My initial answer was “no,” but I didn’t know why I was saying that.  I knew baptism was an important part of a child’s faith, but if anything, that importance led me to say that it shouldn’t just be taught in a class!  Over the next several months I became very self-reflective of our ministry and began to ask myself the question, “why do we do what we do?” When I assessed the 5th grade … [Read more...]

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Was your church fun today?

February 21, 2012 by 7 Comments

It's interesting to me how a child can say the most simple thing, yet, it has such a profound impact. Between services at church last week, I passed by a little 3 or 4-year girl holding hands with her grandpa. As I walked by, the little girl looked up at her grandpa and said “Grandpa, did you have fun in your church today?”  What a scene. An adorable little girl, talking so sweetly to her grandpa and visibly excited about her time at church. But the thing that stood out to me was this….that … [Read more...]

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