If you have been hanging around the Sanctuary for any length of time you heard the term "steady goodness."  You know another word for steady goodness is "consistency."  The dictionary defines consistency as; the ability to maintain a particular standard or repeat a particular task with minimal variation.

Hmmm, minimal variation.  Stop and think about that.  How many things occur in your week that you do with minimal variation? I am sure I could come up with a list that would be entirely too long for this entry and so could you. 

Here is a thought and question for you to ponder this week.  Is attending church on Sunday part of the minimal variation to your week?  Are you consistent in attending our celebration services?  Is the standard in your home that you bring your children each Sunday?  Is your family characterized by weekly coming to church?

You would be amazed at how attendance fluxuates weekly in our Champs wing.  We can have 250 kids on any given Sunday and the next week have 180.  If you were me, you would be asking yourself; what happened to those 70 kids from last week?

If getting to church every Sunday is a challenge, please consider examining what has a higher priority or a higher "Yes."  We all know that coming to church each week is not a necessity to the free gift of salvation, however, community is necessary as well as accountability as part of our discipleship process.  And...for our children, being with the same children weekly, hearing bible stories and how to apply them to their daily lives, will help you as parents while you are laying the spiritual foundation in their lives. They will learn by you maintaining a standard of consistency for yourself and your family.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor Julie

I have been doing a fair amount of introspective thinking about raising boys into men of late.  Most of you may know that I am a proud mother of two children. A daughter who is married and now lives in Arizona, while her husband is attending Medical School! (Yup there will be a doctor in the family!)  And a son who is nearly 20 years old.  Even as I write that age, I am asking myself where did all the years go?  My son (really our son) still lives at home and attends college, working part time.

As I  have been observing our son navigating coming into manhood (some of you would argue that happens at 13!) I am at times reminded that all of the years leading up to age 20 are what I would call not only the formative years, but years that must be intentionally planned out and bathed in prayer and direction from the Holy Spirit. (perhaps I should have said that in reverse?!?)

Our boys, need fathers, brothers and other men to model what being a godly man is.  Like anything else it is a learned response. Remember that our actions speak louder than words!

Here are a few simple questions to ask yourself. 

Do you spend some time each day with your boy?

Do you affirm your son?

Do you have expectations for your son that are often repeated?

Do you hug your son?

Do you talk to your son about his faith ... his role in your church?

Do you monitor his TV habits and know who his friends are?

Do you say, whatever the age of your boy, "I love you"?

Boys need to know they matter and that things will not always be as they appear. They need to have a value-oriented existence with boundaries. Parenting must be intentional.

If you are asking yourself how will doing these things model being a godly man?, read through the gospels about the life of Jesus and His relationship with His Father.  Jesus didn't turn out too shabby as a son, did he?

This is a long post, read it when you have time to think about it.  I don't ususally write this much, but...my heart was full at the moment and I felt challenged as I hope you do too!

"I am motivated by my vision, I am guided by my passion, and I make decisions based on my purpose!"
Miles Monroe / Rae

I saw this quote recently at the end of an email that I received from someone in the church. I read it over and over again and thought to myself, Vision, Passion and Purpose.  Hmmm those are words we talk often about. (Or at least it seems like I hear them quite a bit!) Are they just "buzz" words that work for motivational speakers in the buisness world?  Did Jesus talk about them?  How do these words even make a difference in my day to day life, with kids, a husband, possibly an out of the house job, etc?

Well, I'm so glad you asked!  I want you to see how simple yet powerful these words can be in your life.  Hang in there with me.

The definition of Vision:  the ability to see; a mental picture,  an image or concept in the imagination.  Another word or words are: foresight, forethought, imagination, idea, image.  Habakkuk 2:2 reminds us to write things down that God has given us to "envision", make it plain and clear. God promises us that it WILL come to pass and won't be delayed in His timing.  How many of us have a vision that God has given us for our kids or our families, or for us personally?  Have we forgotten it?  Have we lost sight of it because it has not come to pass?  Are you still motivated by it? Don't let the enemy steal the vision for your kids, your husband or your family from you!  Stay focused and be motivated by the power of the Holy Spirit to pray daily about what vision God has given you, be faithful to take steps of action to see it through.

The definition of Passion: the object of somebody’s intense interest or enthusiasm; a keen interest in a particular subject or activity; intense or overpowering emotion such as love, joy, hatred, or anger.  Other words to describe passion are, zeal, ardor, enthusiasm, obsession and excitement.  What are you passionate about?  What do you find time for no matter what the day holds? What always finds it's way to the top of the "to do list" no matter what needs to be done?  If you answer these questions you will instantly know what your passion is.  It could be T.V., it could be reading, it could be shopping, or your kids, or your husband.  Whatever it is, you are guided by it.  There are many verses in the Old Testament (too many to mention) about God's zeal and fervor towards His people. (Fervor=great intensity of emotion or belief)  Take a moment to ask yourself if you are guided by the correct passions that are in alignment with what God says.

Last but not least Purpose: the reason for which something exists or for which it has been done or made, the goal or intended outcome of something, the desire or the resolve necessary to accomplish a goal.  What has God called you to, to accomplish?  Are your daily decisons based on what God has called you to?  Does the mundane of life get in the way of the pursposes? 1 Corinthians 9:26 says; "So I run with purpose in every step.  I am not just shadowboxing."  Paul is writing to the church of Corinth in this passage.  In reality Paul was not any different than us. He was a man who was transformed by the love of God,  who then could see how the world needed the same transformation and spent the rest of his days living with purpose to see that every where he went or whomever he spoke with, would know about this love.

I don't think it is coincidental that Pastor Marty spoke on the "The Greater Yes," recently. (I know I'm beating a dead horse by now) Reading this quote seems to fit into that message as well. 

Not just as parents, but as daughters and son's of the most high God, we need to stop and ask ourselves the hard questions, Am I motivated by my vision?, Am I guided (somebody who or something that strongly affects the decisions and behavior of another) by my passion? And am I running (making decisons) based on my purpose?

I am convinced that if we can get these 3 things in alignment with what God says about who we are and who He is in our lives, not only will our joy be full and our lives content, but we will model to our children truth that will transform their lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.  We will affect each person around us one at a time, so that they in turn will do the same.  Right before our very eyes we will see transformation.

Standing right along side you daily, with the same questions, challenges and prayers for all of you and myself.

Pastor Julie

Click on the link below (with your kids of course) to enjoy the trailer and information of the latest movie by Big Idea Production. 

But wait there's  more!  (Coming soon, the Wizard of Ha's, about the Prodigal Son, Hmmm, timing coincidental?, NOT!!!) 

http://www.veggiepirates.com

By the way,  this is just in time: International Talk Like a Pirate Day is Wednesday, September 19th!

Bet your day is now complete because you know that!  :)

It's the day after!  You may be saying the day after what? Well, its the day after the fall kick off of our 07-08 Discipleship program of Breakout and Kids Quest!  (The colors represent two of those programs for this year.)

Last night we had 133 children and at least one parents in the Father's House for the "back to school" night event.  It was so amazing!  It looked like a Sunday morning service! (who say's Pastor Marty has anything on our kids?!?!)

I want to encourage you parents who have your child or children enrolled in this years program.  I know that we can become weary in well doing!  Don't do that.  I know there is school homework and sports commitments and music lessons and practice time and this event and that event and you are thinking to yourself already what in the world did I do, by now giving myself and my children more to do?  STOP!!!

The bible says:

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it" (Prov. 22:6).  Three key words to doing what the proverb expresses: influence — attitude — example

You are using your influence by having them in the program. You can use your attitude by being positive and joyful in helping them with their homework and you can be an example by being in the word daily as part of your own discipleship process.  I am praying for each and every one of you!  Fruit in the lives of your children will be seen in the days, months and years to come!  AMEN!

Two Sundays ago, I met a family who were our guest during the third service.  They recently relocated to Southern California, from Indiana.  We had the honor of having their 3 sons in Champs that morning.  Their boys are 3 years old, a first grader and a fourth grader.  At the end of service I caught up with the boys,  Dad and Mom in the hallway and this is the converstation I had with the two older boys:

PS- "Did you have fun this morning?" 

Boys- "Yes, it was really fun?"

PS- "Did you get to play on the playground?"

Boys- "Yes, (older) I was going out, while my brother was coming back in."

The conversation then switched to the two older boys.

1st grader to 4th grader- "Did you see Dracula?"

4th grader to 1st grader- "Dracula?, no what are you talking about?"

1st grader -"Ya, Dracula, you know the guys with the black cape."

4th grader -"I didint' see Dracula, are you talking about the guy with the tie that you could pull on and it snapped back?"

1st grader - "Ya, that is the guy"

Just about that time I thought, I was going to crawl into a hole and hide.  You know, new family, wanting to make a good first impression?  What Children's Pastor would want kids meeting Dracula for a first impression?

I was trying to figure out what to say so the parents would not think this was a wierd place and we are safe, when suddenly the Dad jumped in and told his son; "That is the Senior Pastor and he is really nice, you would like him. "You can imagine my relief with that response! 

It reminded me to take a moment and step back and look and "see" things from the eyes of a child.  I've been "seeing" things for nearly 5 years on a week to week basis from the eyes of an adult and Pastor.  We all play a part in the week to week environment and what people and kids will "see." 

When I shared this story with Pastor Marty, his response of course was, "that is awesome!"  Where else in Santa Clarita, can our kids "see" Dracula when they go to church? 

Click on this link and be encouraged when you are working with your kids to get the word of God into their hearts and minds!

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9e7c4b40cf5a13cea6ca