Smiling at Lightning

A boy walked to and from school daily. On one particular morning, the weather was questionable as clouds were forming and the sky was grey, but the boy made his daily trek to the elementary school anyway.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up and the thunder and lightning began to roll. The boy's mother was concerned that her son would be frightened as he walked home from school and feared that the electrical storm might harm her child.

Worried, the mother got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. Upon finding her son, she noticed her boy was walking along just fine, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. More lightning followed and with each one the boy would look at the streak of light and smile.

Puzzled, the mother pulled her car close, lowered the window and asked her son, "What are you doing?"

The child answered, "I am trying to look nice 'cause God keeps taking my picture."

It's Egg-citing!

This classic object lesson can be used to illustrate many lesson points. In this article, the application is about straddling the fence, or playing with temptation.


MATERIALS NEEDED:

You'll need a small sized hard boiled egg (peeled), a piece of newspaper that's about 3" x 4", matches or a lighter, and a wide-mouth glass bottle. The bottle in the picture is an old milk bottle. You'll want the mouth of your bottle to be wide enough to allow the egg to squeeze through when you're performing this object lesson.




Practice this object lesson more than once to make sure you've got it down. It won't help your presentation if you're stumbling over your words or if the object lesson itself goes wrong. Practice, practice, practice!

To present your hard-boiled object lesson, have all the items on hand and laid out, ready to go. Check in advance to be certain that the smoke from the burning paper will not set off a fire alarm. If you have a way to vent the smoke from the room quickly, this will help keep the kids' attention on your message point, instead of the smokey smell.

Here's what you're going to do: Show the materials to your audience, pick up the paper and form it into a small tube. It has to be small enough to slide easily into the bottle. With the matches or lighter, light the end of the paper.






Once the paper is burning well, drop it into the bottle.






Wait just a second or two, then pick up the egg and place it, narrow end down, on the mouth of the bottle.






Step back and smile as the egg is sucked whole through the neck and into the body of the bottle.






APPLICATION:

Girls and boys, we have all heard about people who give in to temptation. You probably know someone who does things that God's Word tells us is sin. The fact is that we are all tempted to disobey God. We are all tempted to put our own desires first. When we give in to temptation, we allow sin to control our lives. Look at King David. Was he a great leader? Was he a great man? We look up to him for many reasons, don't we? But when King David saw Bathsheba, he gave in to temptation and put his own desires first, forgetting to please God. King David saw Bathsheba and wanted her for his wife. He did not care that she was already married to another man. King David even had Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, killed, just so David could marry Bathsheba.

Just like King David, you and I face temptations every day. Sometimes the temptations seem so small, and it's easy to forget that those little temptations can lead to big consequences. What are some of the temptations in your life? (Encourage the children to respond with their own struggles.) We might be tempted to tell a lie, or to act in a cruel manner, or to steal something that belongs to another, or to gossip about someone. There are a lot of ways we can be tempted. The question is, will you give in when you are tempted?

The Bible, God's Word, tells us that "...the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires." (Proverb 11:6) Our Heavenly Father tells us that we should "flee youthful lusts, and follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22) The Bible also tells us, "Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) God wants us to love Him, and to demonstrate our love for Him. That means He wants us to resist the temptation to sin.

Let me show you what happens when we forget to do what the Bible says. (Pick up paper and roll it into a tube.) When we decide that it's okay to stick around in a situation where we are being tempted, we give that temptation more of a chance to work in our lives (light paper tube). We let things sort of "heat up" (drop lit paper into bottle). It becomes harder and harder to say "No." It becomes easier to forget that we want to put God first (put egg on bottle mouth, narrow end down). And, before we know it, we're sucked in by temptation and trapped by sin.

Psalm 103:5 tells us that God "satisfies our desires with good things." So, which is it that you want for your life? Do you want to be trapped by sin? Or do you want to enjoy God's love and blessing? Do you want to be chained up by the Devil? Or do you want to be free to worship God and show His love to others? By resisting temptation and putting God first in your life, you can continue to receive all the good things He has in store for you.

Sing to the Lord

When I am discouraged, frustrated or depressed, Psalm 96 reminds me of God's greatness, His awesome power, and His inspiring creation.

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.

Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it;

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;

They will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.

Psalm 96 (NIV)

Dear God...

Children are very literal-minded in their outlook on life. This perspective, combined with a refreshing innocence, is endearing.

Here are some (purported) letters written by those literal-minded children to God.

DEAR GOD:

Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. Amanda

Thank you for the baby brother but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up. Joyce

I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart. I had to have three stitches and a shot. Janet

I read the Bible. What does beget mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Alison

How did you know you were God? Who told you? Charlene

Is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his golf words in the house? Anita

OBJECT LESSON: JESUS IS BEST

Here's an easy-to-do object lesson that takes very little in the way of supplies or preparation. [Even though I said that, you will want to practice this first.] The effect is this: your audience helps you come up with nine things that influence our lives. You write them on a sheet of paper, then tear the paper into nine pieces. Drop the pieces of paper into a container and mix them up. Put the container behind your back. Reach behind your back and pull out only one piece of paper. The one piece of paper you pull out has 'JESUS' written on it. He is the focus of our lives. He is the King of Kings, and therefore, the greatest influence we could ever have. None of the other items mentioned can compare or even come close.

How is it done? Simple. Obtain a sheet of paper and a dark marker. Now, fold the paper length-wise into thirds. Next, fold the top third down, and the bottom third up. Crease well, then unfold your paper. You now have nine similar-sized blocks on your paper, marked by the creases.

Ask your audience for help. Tell them that you need them to call out several things, people, events, etc., that hold sway over their lives, or the lives of people in general. Use your dark marker and write one-word descriptions of these, one in each block on your paper. As you are writing the different influences on the paper, someone will most likely say, 'Jesus.' Write 'JESUS' in the center block of the paper. Make sure all nine blocks are filled in. Once your nine blocks are full, show the paper to your audience. You might want to read the nine words on the paper, calling attention to each one.

Now, tear the paper into nine blocks, using the fold lines as a guide. DO NOT USE SCISSORS TO CUT THE PAPER. Tear it, instead.

Call up a volunteer from the audience to hold the container for you as you drop in the nine paper pieces. Ask him or her to mix the pieces up well. Direct your volunteer to hold the container behind you, so you cannot possibly see into it, making your selection entirely random.

Tell your audience that, even though many of the things that are mentioned are important, there is only ONE that is best. Ask, "Do you want to settle for second place or third, or even last in your life?" and "Do you want the BEST in your life?" Reach into the container and pull out the piece of paper marked 'JESUS.' Hold it high, showing it to your delighted audience. Explain that Jesus is more than an influence. He is our Savior. He is our Master. He is our Lord. Nothing else is as important as accepting Jesus as Savior and obeying His Word. Choosing Jesus is the BEST choice.

Other than 'Jesus,' here are some influences you might want to be prepared with, in case your audience gets stuck. Finances/money, Education/knowledge, Other People/great leaders, Critics/gossip, Satan/sin, Peer pressure/friends, Ego/pride, Parents/family. It is likely that you might also hear 'Church,' 'The Bible,' or 'God' as suggestions. Use your discretion to either list them separately or lump them together under 'JESUS.' For example, if you want to make the point that a person cannot be saved just by going to church, then list 'CHURCH' in it's own box, separate from 'JESUS.' On the other hand, if you are at a Sidewalk Sunday School or Neighborhood Bible Club and want to promote church attendance to your audience, you would probably include 'Church' with 'JESUS.'

THE SECRET:
You will pick up several of the pieces of paper from the container, but will only show the 'JESUS' one to the audience. Since the container is behind your back, how will you choose the correct piece? You will have to feel the edges of each piece of paper until you find the correct one. All of the pieces of paper have at least ONE EDGE that is smooth, with the exception of the piece labeled 'JESUS.' That is because 'JESUS' was written on the center piece, the only piece that has all four sides torn. Just carefully feel for the piece that has no smooth edges at all (yes, you really CAN tell by feel)! While you are feeling the edges of each piece of paper, you can take the time to mention a couple of the influences listed, and tell why they are good things, but not as important to us as is Jesus. Then, when you're ready, show the 'JESUS' paper and tell about Him.

HINT:
As you are feeling the edges of the paper pieces, hold onto the ones you do not want until you find the correct one. This way, you won't run the risk of picking up the same piece of paper more than once. Just hold the incorrect pieces in one hand until you have the 'JESUS' piece, then drop all the others back in the container.

OTHER APPLICATION IDEAS:
If you are teaching on the Fruit of the Spirit, you could write them all on your paper, with the particular fruit that is the subject of the day written in the center block. Reach into your container and pull forth the correct piece of paper, showing what the day's lesson will be about.

For a lesson on Choices, have on hand a box locked with a padlock, and nine keys (put some sort of 'treasure' in the box to give away). Label the keys with different colors: white, red, black, yellow, green, orange, pink, purple, and blue. The object is to select the correct key to unlock the padlock and open the box. Display the keys and write the color of each key in one of the nine boxes on your paper. Be sure to write the color of the correct key in the center box. Proceed as per the instructions above, producing the center piece of paper with the correct color choice.

Use your imagination, and you'll have a very visual object lesson that is easy to do - one that will make a great impact on your audience!


If you like this object lesson and use it, I'd sure like to hear from you! Just send me a quick email using the Comment link. Tell me how you used this and how your audience reacted. Thanks!

Take Your Critics To Dinner

Ever notice how a growing, successful, thriving ministry attracts willing volunteers? It also brings it's share of criticism. Do you have a critic? Is there one person that finds fault with you, your ideas, your programs and your ministry, no matter how well thought-out and executed they are? Perhaps it is a parent, or a worker, a fellow staff member, or a board member. Whoever it is, it's easy to have a sour attitude towards that person and to dismiss everything that person has to say. But you shouldn't. While you may consider that person to be a thorn in your flesh, your critic is actually a gift to you and your ministry. Yes, a gift. You can have a more effective ministry by listening to and accepting what your critic has to say.

TEN TIPS TO 'WINNING OVER' YOUR CRITIC

1) Listen honestly and openly to your critic, without interrupting.

2) While listening to his or her complaint, avoid offering excuses or even reasons as a rebuttal.

3) Thank your critic for bringing the 'problem' to your attention.

4) Consider the area your critic feels is a problem. Is it? Even if the situation isn't completely as your critic sees it, would a small re-working of the project satisfy any of the critic's legitimate concerns while still accomplishing ministry objectives?

5) Ask the critic to help supply two or three (not just one) viable solutions to the issue at hand.

6) Pray for your critic. No, not that God will strike him or her with a bolt of lightning, but that He will bless them and give them a heart for your ministry, an understanding of your ministry, and a compassion for you.

7) Recruit your critic to do a specific short-term task in your department.

8) Take your critic to dinner or to some other social setting away from the area that causes stress between you. Don't talk 'business.' Talk about family, friends, hobbies, hopes and dreams, etc. Show interest in your critic and his or her life. Help your critic to see you as the caring, genuine person that you are. Conversely, look for and capitalize on the good qualities in your critic. It's hard for someone to criticize a person they like. Pursue the relational aspects with him or her.

9) Ask for the critic's input on an unrelated project. Be prepared to implement some of their ideas.

10) Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors. Love your critic.

It's true, some people simply like to complain. And some will not give up that condemning attitude, no matter how great your effort is to win them over. You may have to distance yourself from a critic that is so entrenched in their misery that your attempts can not reach them.

These tips will not always solve a situation overnight, but can bring about a "win-win" in the long term. Do everything under the banner of love, bathe yourself and your ministry in prayer, and sprinkle your conversation liberally with God's Word and praise for Him. Your 'critic' will soon be your strongest ally.

Church Humor

FUNERAL FAUX PAS

A newly appointed young preacher was contacted by the local funeral director to hold a graveside service at a small country cemetery. There was to be no funeral, just the committal, because the deceased had no family or friends left. The young pastor started early to the cemetery, but soon lost his way. After making several wrong turns, he finally arrived a half-hour late. The hearse was no where in sight, and the workman were relaxing under a nearby tree, eating their lunch. The pastor went to the open grave and found that the vault lid was already in place. He took out his book and read the service. As he returned to his car, he overheard one of the workman say, "Think we should tell him that's a septic tank?"

BLIND FAITH

There was a man called him Jim who lived near a river. Jim was a very religious man. One day, the river rose over the banks and flooded the town, and Jim was forced to climb onto his porch roof. While sitting there, a man in a boat comes along and tells Jim to get in the boat with him. Jim says "No, that's ok. God will take care of me." So, the man in the boat paddles off. The water rises, so Jim climbs onto his roof. At that time, another boat comes along and the person in that one tells Jim to get in. Jim replies, "No, that's ok. God will take care of me." The person in the boat then leaves. The water rises even more, and Jim climbs on his chimney. Then a helicopter comes and lowers a ladder. The woman in the helicopter yells down instructions for Jim to climb up the ladder and get in. Jim calls back to her, "That's ok." The woman says "Are you sure?" Jim says, "Yes. I'm sure God will take care of me." Finally, the water rises too high and Jim drowns. Jim gets up to Heaven and is face-to-face with God. Jim says to God "You told me you would take care of me! What happened?" God replied "Well, I sent you two boats and a helicopter. What more did you want?"

THE TATE FAMILY

Do you know how many members of the Tate family belong to your church? There is old man Dic-Tate who wants to run everything, while Uncle Ro-Tate tries to change everything. There's sister Agi-Tate who stirs up plenty of trouble, with help from her husband, Irri-Tate. Whenever new projects are suggested, Hesi-Tate and his wife, Vege-Tate, want to wait until next year. Then there is Aunt Imi-Tate, who wants our church to be like all the others, Devas-Tate provides the voice of doom, while Poten-Tate wants to be a big shot.

But not all members of the family are bad. Brother Facili-Tate is quite helpful in church matters. And a delightful, happy member of the family is Miss Felici-Tate. Cousins Cogi-Tate and Medi-Tate always think things over and lend helpful, steady hands. How about it - do you know anyone in the Tate family?

SINNER OR SAINT?

There were two evil brothers. They were rich and used their money to keep their ways from the public eye. They even attended the same church and looked to be perfect Christians. Then, their pastor retired and a new one was hired. Not only could he see right through the brothers' deception, but he also spoke well and true, and the church started to swell in numbers. A fund-raising campaign was started to build a new assembly. All of a sudden, one of the brothers died. The remaining brother sought out the new pastor the day before the funeral and handed him a check for the amount needed to finish paying for the new building. "I have only one condition," he said. "At his funeral, you must say my brother was a saint." The pastor gave his word and deposited the check. The next day at the funeral, the pastor did not hold back. "He was an evil man," he said. "He cheated on his wife and abused his family." After going on in this vein for a small time, he concluded with: "But, compared to his brother, he was a saint."

MARK 17

A minister wound up the services one morning by saying, "Next Sunday I am going to preach on the subject of liars. As a preparation for my discourse, I would like you all to read the seventeenth chapter of Mark."

On the following Sunday, the preacher rose to begin, and said, "Now, then, all of you who have done as I requested and read the seventeenth chapter of Mark, please raise your hands."

Many hands in the congregation went up.

Then said the preacher, "Since there is no seventeenth chapter of Mark, you must the people for whom this sermon is intended."

GIVING THANKS

There's this guy who had been lost and walking in the desert for about 2 weeks. One hot day, he sees the home of a missionary. Tired and weak, he crawls up to the house and collapses on the doorstep. The missionary finds him and nurses him back to health. Feeling better, the man asks the missionary for directions to the nearest town. On his way out the back door, he sees this horse. He goes back into the house and asks the missionary, "Could I borrow your horse and give it back when I reach the town?"

The missionary says, "Sure, but there is a special thing about this horse. You have to say 'Thank God' to make it go and 'Amen' to make it stop." Not paying much attention, the man says, "Sure, ok."

So, he gets on the horse and says, "Thank God," and the horse starts walking. Then he says, "Thank God, Thank God, " and the horse starts trotting. Feeling really brave, the man says, "Thank God, Thank God, Thank God, Thank God, Thank God!" and the horse really takes off.

Pretty soon he sees this cliff coming up and he's doing everything he can to make the horse stop. "Whoa, stop, hold on!!!!" Finally he remembers, "AMEN!!"

The horse stops 4 inches from the cliff. The man leans back in the saddle and says, "Thank God."

JESUS VS SATAN

Jesus and Satan were having an argument as to who was the better programmer. This went on for a few hours until they agreed to hold a contest, with God as the judge. They sat at their computers and began. They typed furiously for several hours, lines of code streaming up on the screen. Seconds before the end of the competition, a bolt of lightning struck, taking out the electricity. Moments later, the power was restored, and God announced that the contest was over. He asked Satan to show what he had come up with.

Satan was visibly upset, and cried, "I have nothing! I lost it all when the power went out."

"Very well, then," God said, "Let us see if Jesus did any better."

Jesus entered a command, and the screen came to life in vivid display, the voices of an angelic choir poured forth from the speakers.

Satan was astonished. He stuttered, "But how?! I lost everything, yet Jesus' program is intact! How did he do it?"

God smiled and said, "Jesus saves."

LENDING A HELPING HAND

A minister is walking down the street one day when he notices a very small boy trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street. However, the boy is very small and the doorbell is too high for him to reach. After watching the boy's efforts for some time, the minister moves closer to the boy's position. He steps smartly across the street, walks up behind the little fellow and, placing his hand kindly on the child's shoulder, leans over and gives the doorbell a sold ring. Crouching down to the child's level, the minister smiles benevolently and asks, "And now what, my little man?" To which the boy replies, "Now we run!"

A WHALE TALE

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though whales are very large mammals, their throats are very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. The teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah." The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?" The little girl replied, "Then you ask him."

Amazing Balloon Sculptures

Have you ever used ballooning in your ministry? There is something facinating about taking a skinny balloon and shaping it into something fun for your audience.

The balloon sculptures pictured here are astounding and I wanted to share them with you, but for the record, I did not make any of the creations in the pictures below. The artistic ability on display in these pictures are just a tiny bit beyond my ability to make a balloon doggie.

Many people who minister to children count balloon characters as one of the stock items in their grab-bag of skills. Remember when you first learned how to sculpt those long tubes into super shapes? The hardest part was learning how to blow up the balloons without passing out! And remember the instructions? Most of them start out with a sword or a swan, or that most basic animal shape: the dog. Once you've learned how to make that cute little doggie, you can make a horse or a giraffe or a reindeer. Why, the possibilities are almost limitless, or so the instructions say. After becoming the master of your own precious pumped-up puppy, you could quickly move on to pieces that were more complex: a rabbit, a lion, an elephant or a parrot.

I've watched as a balloon artist satisfied a child with a few quick twists to make a colorful hat. The same artist, with a few more balloons and a moment or two more, can make a porche or a spaceship or some other equally complex form. Until recently, I thought I had "seen it all" when it comes to the art of balloon twisting. If you've never tried balloon twisting, please keep in mind that the sculptures in these pictures are much more complex than the usual project that is handed over to a child after a few twists.

Just how tall IS this guy? Can you imagine something like this at the entryway to your Children's Church or Sunday School Class? The kids would love it!

Here's a guy who is protected from head to toe. He's even got a sword and a shield! Could you use something like this to teach about David trying on King Saul's armor before fighting Goliath, or maybe next time you are teaching on the armor of God? Just twist a few balloons and make your own armor parts. (Just don't let anyone near you with a thumbtack or a safety pin...)

Teaching a lesson that involves fish or fishing? How about this great visual to help with the lesson? Whether you're teaching about a fish getting caught in the fisherman's net, Jonah and the Whale, or Peter finding the coin in the mouth of a fish, this little guy would be a teriffic attention getter. I'd probably try telling the story from his point of view, adding as much humor as possible in order to keep the kids involved.

Balloon twisting is a great tool that can be applied in a ministry setting. If you haven't tried it before, rest assured that it's easy to do, and a real crowd-pleaser! Moving from the basics to something a little more advanced is not hard, and there are many resources available to help apply ballooning in a Christian setting. Randy Christiansen has several helps for the ministry-minded balloon artist. If you've been ballooning for a while, you might consider Eric Gagnon's book, "Shape-Shifting Gospel Balloon Creations." Instead of just making a balloon shape for your object lesson, this book takes the balloon twisting one step farther and "morphs" the balloon from the first shape into a second shape. The great thing is, both balloon shapes relate to the lesson, giving a great impact to your teaching points. You can find Eric's book at Children's Ministry Today's website. (I've provided a link to both Randy's website and to Children's Ministry Today's website in the sidebar.)

A quick internet search for ballooning instruction sites can bring up a listing of websites that offer free instructions on balloon twisting basics, as well as a library of different animals, characters, hats, and other shapes to try.

Ballooning is easy, portable, colorful, and a fun addition to any children's ministry. I've really enjoyed these pictures and hope that you have, as well!

God Has A Miracle For You

There are times when we find ourselves in desperate circumstances. When you have reached the end of your resources and hope has gone, God still has the power, ability and desire to meet your need.

What is your need?

What is the one area in which you need to hear from God?
What in your life is handing you over to desperation?
What one thing stands out as needing a divine solution?
Just like Naaman, you might need a physical healing (2 Kings 5).
Do you have a relationship that’s more hurtful than helpful?
Are you facing a financial brick wall?
Do you need a job? Or a better job?
Are you facing eviction? Losing your car? Drowning in debt?
Do you need direction for your life choices?

No matter what your circumstances, no matter what your trial, God has a miracle for you.

Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife. Then she said to her mistress, "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy."

And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, "Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel."

Then the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.

And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me."

So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel."

Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean."

But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.' "Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.

And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant."

But he said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing." And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

So Naaman said, "Then, if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD. "Yet in this thing may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon-when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD please pardon your servant in this thing."

Then he said to him, "Go in peace." 2 Kings 5:1-19 (NKJV)

Naaman had a need

Here’s a guy who has many of the things we want in life. He is successful in his profession. He is well regarded by those in authority above him. He has power, influence and wealth. So, what was Naaman’s need? The obvious, physical need is a cure for his leprosy. The greater need is for his salvation. The obvious need provided a way for the spiritual need to be met.

His need was a desperate one that threatened not just his position or his popularity or his life-style, but one that threatened his very life.
A need he could not solve on his own.
A need that was unanswerable by man.
A need that, unanswered, would eventually consume him.
A known and almost ‘common’ need of the day.

“And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” Luke 4:27 (NKJV)

All his accomplishments could not meet his need.
All his success had become bitterness because of his physical need.
All his wealth was useless against this need.
All his recognition only magnified his need.

If you were Naaman, what would you do? Would you consult with the doctors? Would you appeal to your god? Perhaps seek out ‘alternative’ cures? It’s very probable that Naaman did all of these things.


Naaman prepared himself for a miracle

He finally took 150 pounds of gold and 750 pounds of silver and ten sets of fine clothing to Samaria on the chance that the rumor of the servant girl was true. He was “clutching at straws.” Naaman expected to pay, and to pay lavishly for a miracle. He did not expect it to be “free.” According to recent gold and silver markets, and accounting for the difference in regular and Troy ounces, Naaman brought $1,006,250.00 as payment for the healing he sought. Was Naaman desperate? There is no doubt. He was desperate enough to prepare to pay the cost for the answer to his need.


Prepare yourself for a miracle.

Commit yourself to God’s Word and God’s way. Commit yourself completely. Naaman’s $1,000,000+ is what I would call ‘commitment.’ It was no half-measure. He didn’t try to hold something back, “just in case.” Naaman committed. Prepare yourself for a miracle – not with half-measures, but by fully committing to God’s Word and His way. Commit yourself to God’s hand and God’s plan, and expect to receive God’s miracle.


TO ILLUSTRATE:

“President Nixon once told me that while talking to Winston Churchill’s son, he told him how much he admired the prime minister’s great ability at giving “extemporaneous” speeches. Churchill’s son replied, “Oh, yes. I’ve watched my father work for hours preparing those extemporaneous speeches.”
How To Talk So People Will Listen, Steve Brown, Baker, 1993, p. 124

Naaman sought out God

By going to where God was moving.
By seeking out the Word of God.


Seek God

We like to talk about our problems.
Mostly, we like to talk to others about our problems.
Talk to God about your need, then listen for His answer.
There is a time for talking and a time for walking. Seek God. Seek His counsel, and seek it directly from Him and His Word. Hold fast in prayer until you have heard from God. If you are unsure if you’ve heard from God, then ask for a confirmation. Don’t worry about it – God will be happy to confirm His leading to you. Seek God.


God’s Response to Naaman

God’s plan was simple: "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean."

As simple and easy as this was, Naaman struggled with it. He didn’t want to do it. God’s plan went against Naaman’s pride. It was a very hard plan for Naaman to follow.


Naaman was obedient

His pride almost cost him God’s miracle.
His pre-conceived ideas got in the way.
His revulsion of the solution (muddy waters) warred with his desire to be cleansed.
Naaman had to come to the point where he would strike out into unfamiliar waters in order to obtain his healing.
Naaman had to master his ego and submit humbly to God’s authority in order to receive God’s miracle.


Be obedient, even if you don’t like it.

Your pride could cost you God’s miracle.
Your pre-conceived ideas could get in the way.
Your human spirit’s distaste for the process will war with your desire to see God’s miracle come to pass. Hold fast to God’s leading and be obedient to His Word.
You may have to strike out into "uncharted waters." Do not fear, because your Heavenly Father loves you and is holding fast to you. He will keep you safe.


Naaman received God’s miracle

His journey wasn’t an easy one
He received God’s miracle (healing)
He is convinced that God is God (salvation)
He returns back to his home base with a miracle he could not pay for from a God that could not be bought.


God has a miracle for you

Your journey from where you are to the place where you receive His divine work may not be an easy one. BUT it will be the answer you need.


Remember:

God is not worried about how to take care of you.
God is not afraid that He will run out of power to work on your behalf.
God is not concerned that He will “miss the mark” when working in your life.
God is not anxious that He won’t be able to do enough for you.
He is not forgetful, or too busy, or short on manpower, or over-committed.

As he did with Naaman, God will meet our needs, but not on our terms. God is not impressed with our pride nor intimidated by our demands.

What do you need today? What miracle are you waiting for?

Finances? Direction? Your living situation?

Physical healing? A restored relationship?

Begin now to seek God and to prepare yourself to receive His miracle.

Listen to His Word and His Spirit. Be obedient to His Word.

In doing this, you will be giving God the room He needs to work miraculously in your life.

Bulletin Blunders

Here are some well-intentioned (and very funny) announcements found in church bulletins across the nation:

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church.

Evening massage - 6 p.m.

The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.

The audience is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession.

Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 to 8:30 p.m. Please use the back door.

Ushers will eat latecomers.

The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

During the absence of our pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit.

Due to the Rector's illness, Wednesday's healing services will be discontinued until further notice.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.

A song fest was hell at the Methodist church Wednesday.

Today's Sermon: HOW MUCH CAN A MAN DRINK? with hymns from a full choir.

On a church bulletin during the minister's illness: GOD IS GOOD. Dr. Hargreaves is better.

Potluck supper: Prayer and medication to follow.

Don't let worry kill you off - let the church help.

Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be given to church secretary.

Tips On Mentoring, Part Four

SPEAK WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

What do you know of your student’s background? Economic considerations can carry much weight in the development of a life, but even more important are social and relational factors. What ideas, outlooks, relational parameters, etc., are espoused in your student’s home situation? In the home, what does he or she learn overtly and through unspoken messages? These have a great influence on your protégé’s self-image, perceived needs, goals, perspectives on life and attitudes towards situations and people. While some parents work to provide a strong, Bible-based home life and instill constructive principles in their children, others do not. Your voice of encouragement, of positive ideals, of “goodness,” may be the only sound of acceptance, unconditional love, affirmative values or spiritual integrity in this young life. Be sure to speak the words that will provide encouragement instead of discouragement, victory instead of defeat, and dreams instead of bitterness and helplessness.

There will be times when a strong word or two will be spoken in the mentoring relationship. Just remember the old saying, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” In the times that you are unable to easily sway your ward’s perspective on a topic, don’t berate or harangue. Let the subject go. Just give it a rest. Later on, there may be opportunity to address the issue again. If not, and if circumstances develop poorly because of your student’s stubbornness, be sure to not say, “I told you so.” After all, you are mentoring this young life to produce a better person, not to merely “prove” your wisdom. Speak words of support. By making certain that you are an encouraging, affirmative, uplifting, positive, forward-thinking influence in the young life that is following you, your few words of “criticism” will carry immense weight.

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

You do not have to be vapid, glossing over the bad and ignoring the worst. Just quietly affirm those things in your follower that are good and right. Remain grounded in reality, otherwise your advice will take on an unreal (and, therefore, non-valid) quality. It is okay to recognize the facts of a hard condition in your student’s life. What you suggest as a response to that fact or that circumstance should bring hope to your student – not a false hope, but a genuine optimism. When faced with a tough situation, be sure to speak words of support. Continue to promote your protégé to better things – to greater things. Remain steadfast in bringing hope to a young life. Always look to the positive for your words and actions. Be ready to speak forth affirmative alternatives. Be ready to fuel a dream.

Find the best in your young ward and praise him or her for it. Whether it is sports, art, grades, social ability, mechanical aptitude, or something else, once you discover your student’s strengths, encourage him or her in these areas. Be careful to offer praise and encouragement not just once or twice, but long and loud. Your student wants genuine support from you. Give him or her words that are positive, affirming and optimistic. Your student wants a show of support especially in areas where he or she has a greater interest. Your reinforcement in those areas of interest will give greater weight to your leadership in other areas – areas that you see need to be developed in your pupil’s life. Your role as a mentor is to find a way to encourage the best in this young person, and your words are a good place to start.

What would you use to fit glass into a mold? A hammer? Probably not. Heat that is carefully applied, on the other hand, can work wonders with glass, melting it until it will flow freely into the chosen mold. Your student will come to resent your use of force in trying to compel him or her to Christian standards. Just as properly applied heat causes glass to become pliable, your words of affirmation and love will nurture your protégé’s desire to conform to the image of Christ.

On the Funnier Side

Here are several humorous tales that have made the rounds on the internet over the past few years. I sure have enjoyed them, and hope that you do, too. The last two are real-life incidents from my family’s daily adventures.

*****

My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, "62." He was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"

*****

After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. At last she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was THAT?"

*****

A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

********

My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo while I asked, "No, how are we alike?" "You're both old," he replied.

*****

A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. "What's it about?" he asked. "I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."

*****

I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me, and always she was correct. But it was fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door, saying sagely, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself!"

*****

Sunday school class was studying the Ten Commandments. They were ready to discuss the last one. The teacher asked if anyone could tell her what it was. Susie raised her hand, stood tall, and quoted, "Thou shall not take the covers off thy neighbor's wife."

*****

Our five-year-old grandson couldn't wait to tell his grandfather about the movie we had watched on television, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." The scenes with the submarine and the giant octopus had kept him wide-eyed. In the middle of the telling, my husband interrupted Mark, "What caused the submarine to sink?" With a look of incredulity Mark replied, "Grandpa, it was the 20,000 leaks!!"

*****

When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

*****

When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandma," he advised. "Mine says I'm four to six."

*****

A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting," she said, "How do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'".

*****

Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked. "Sure," said the young boy confidently, "It means carrying a child."

*****

A nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one youngster. "No," said another, "he's just for good luck." A third child brought the argument to a close. "They use the dogs", she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrant."

*****

And now for a true tale that happened just this past week at my niece’s house. My brother-in-law was in the attic to run a cable to the tv. As he was feeding it down through the wall, he called down to his wife, asking, “Do you see it, yet?” “No, not yet,” she answered. My three-year-old niece overheard them and came to see what the noise was about. Hearing her father speaking from the attic, she said, “Daddy, are you in the wall? Don’t worry, Daddy! We’ll get you out soon!”

*****

My three-year-old niece was trying to sit still as her mother dried and combed her freshly washed hair for her. Occasionally, the comb would pull on a small tangle as Mother worked to make Daughter’s hair straight. Not liking the tugging on her hair, my niece cried out, “No, Mommy, no! I don’t have triangles!"

OBJECT LESSON ON SALVATION

Here’s a powerful object lesson on temptation, sin, and salvation. First, you’ll need the following three ingredients:

Starch (either liquid or ordinary spray starch will do)
Iodine (be careful, it’s toxic)
Sodium Thiosulfate crystals (sometimes referred to as Photographic Fixer)

The crystals are commonly used in photography in the development process and are often available at a photo supply store and in some hobby stores that cater to photography. You won’t need much for this object lesson, so a small supply will be sufficient.

In addition to the ingredients, you’ll need to gather the following items:

Large clear container
Water, warm or hot (to go in the clear container)
Ladle, stick, or some other implement with which to stir the water
Table or other sturdy surface on which items may be placed during presentation

No one wants to watch their teacher read the directions as they go, or fumble with the ingredients, or hear words like, “I’ve haven’t tried this yet and hope it works.” Worse yet would be the object lesson that doesn’t work, simply because it was never practiced first. Always practice an object lesson before presenting it. Be familiar with not only the handling of the materials, but also with your teaching points at each step in the process.

It’s best to consider the size of your audience and the room you will be presenting this in. For a Sunday school class of a dozen or so children, a large mason jar would be acceptable. For a children’s church group of sixty or more, a gallon container would be barely adequate. In a Sidewalk Sunday School situation, a large clear storage container might be appropriate. For best results, fit the size of your object lesson to your audience.

Now for a brief look at the process. Put the water (warm or hot is better) in the clear container. Add a few drops of iodine. There will be very little effect, maybe just a slight browning of the water. Now, add the starch. If using spray starch, simply spray it on the surface of the liquid for three or four seconds. The liquid will turn dark. Stir the liquid to mix it completely. To clear the dark liquid, sprinkle in a small amount of the sodium thiosulfate crystals (for a gallon-sized container, try using ½ teaspoon or less of the crystals). If you’ve used warm water and stirred it just before adding in the crystals, allow a moment for the chemical reaction to be complete on it’s own. If your water is cold, or if it is completely still, you might want to give the liquid a quick stir. If all goes well, your liquid should clear up quickly.

DO NOT DRINK THE LIQUID. IT STILL HAS CHEMICALS IN IT, EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS CLEAR.

After practicing, and before you present this object lesson, BE SURE to wash your container and implements completely with soap and water. Allow them to dry completely. Any residue of the photographic fixer that might be left on the container or implements will cause the liquid to become clear before you reach that point of your lesson.


NOW FOR THE SPIRITUAL APPLICATION:

The container of liquid represents your audience and their spiritual condition. Dropping in the iodine demonstrates how we might regard the effects of sin. Adding the starch demonstrates the true effects of sin in our lives. The crystals represent Jesus adding His salvation to our lives. The resulting clear liquid represents how God sees us, once we have accepted His salvation.

Here is a brief script you might use as a basis for your presentation. You’ll probably want to adjust it to fit the age group of your audience, and also expand on it to fit your own presentation needs and style.

When God first created man and woman, their lives were pure and unblemished by sin. That is how God meant for us to be. Look at this container of water. We’re going to use it today to represent our lives. Right now you can see straight through the water in this container. It is clean, clear and pure, just like the lives of Adam and Eve when they were first created.

Did you know there are temptations in life? If we love God, we will want to please Him and obey Him. But sometimes, we are tempted to follow our own path instead of doing things God’s way. We might think that it’s okay to lie or it’s okay to swear. Maybe not a lot. Maybe just a little bit (drop in the iodine at this point). Maybe there's something else you've been tempted to do, but it doesn't seem like a big deal at all. See? There’s hardly any effect. There’s almost no change at all going on here. What’s the big deal? We can give in to some of those small temptations and it just won’t hurt us, right? Well, giving in to small temptations leads to bigger problems than we might think. Before we know it, our lives are no longer clean, clear and pure before God.

Have you heard that God sees everything? He sees every sin. He sees every motive. He knows every thought we have. He really just wants us to love Him completely, and to love people completely. (Add the starch) When we give in to a temptation, either small or big, here is how God sees us. (Stir the liquid, as necessary, to completely mix the ingredients. This is not the clean, attractive-looking clear, pure water it once was, is it? Now, the water is full of all sorts of things that are bad for you, and it shows, doesn’t it? This is how our lives look to God, once we start giving in to temptation – dark and full of things that God doesn’t want to see in us, and things that God will not allow in those who enter His kingdom.

Knowing that we would need help in reaching Him, God sent His son, Jesus, to live among us. Jesus came to Earth and lived a life, just like you and I do. He was tempted, just like you and I are tempted. But Jesus never gave in to those temptations. He never sinned. Jesus always pleased His Father by being obedient to Him. Jesus was taken away and He was crucified on a cross. He was killed. But, this was part of God’s plan. Three days after Jesus died on the cross, He came back to life. Many people saw Him, and great miracles happened, too! After many days, Jesus ascended into Heaven. All of this was just as He had told His followers. He suffered and He died to provide a way for you and for me to come to know God. He rose again to show that He has power over death, Hell and the grave. Jesus offers forgiveness to you and to me for all our sins. Our lives don’t have to stay all dark, cloudy and nasty looking inside.

(Sprinkle crystals into liquid and stir as necessary) When we accept Jesus as our Lord, as our boss, He comes and cleans our souls. He places the Holy Spirit within us. He makes us pure and He makes us one of God’s children. Now, with a clean soul, we can serve Him and we can enjoy all the great things He has in store for us, including meeting Him in Heaven one day.

Do you want a clean soul? Would you like Jesus to clean your life up and make you pure? (At this point, you could go straight to your altar time.)

Amusing Anecdotes

A teacher was testing the children in her Sunday school class to see if they understood the concept of getting to Heaven. She asked them, “If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me in to Heaven?” “NO!” the children answered.

“If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me in to Heaven?” Again, the answer was, “NO!”

By now, the teacher was starting to smile. Hey, this was fun! “Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my husband, would that get me into Heaven?” she asked them again. Again, they all giggled and answered, “NO!”

She was just bursting with pride for them. “Well,” she continued, “then how can I get in to Heaven?” As a couple of hands went up, a five-year-old boy shouted out, “YOU GOTTA BE DEAD.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Sunday school teacher was carefully explaining the story of Elijah the Prophet and the false prophets of Baal. She explained how Elijah built the altar, put wood upon it, cut the steer in pieces, and laid it upon the altar. And then, Elijah commanded the people of God to fill up barrels with water and pour the water over the altar. He had them do this four times. “Now,” said the teacher, “can anyone in the class tell me why the Lord would have Elijah pour water over the steer on the altar?”

A little girl in the back of the room started waving her hand, “I know! I know!” she said with great excitement, “To make the gravy!”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Sunday school teacher was describing how Lot’s wife looked back and turned in to a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, “My mummy looked back once, when she was driving,” he announced triumphantly, “and she turned in to a telephone pole!”

Tips on Mentoring, Part Three

TAKE THE HIGH ROAD

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8, NIV

George Bernard Shaw is credited with saying, “Youth is wasted on the young.” While this saying is generally taken to mean that an older, and hopefully wiser, person would make better use of the energies and passions of youth, in this sense, it means a young person does not always have the best perception of life or even of the results of their actions or words. Thus, the need for a mentor with a solid core of wisdom and compassion.

The motive behind an action reveals much about a person and their perspective on an institution, life in general, people, spiritual matters, etc. Have your motives ever been misunderstood? Have you ever been judged with only a handful of the facts, or condemned because someone else jumped to the wrong conclusion? An experience of this nature can leave a person frustrated, angry, and withdrawn (and therefore not open to influence). An old saying reminds us, “Don’t assume malice for what stupidity can explain.” As humorous as this saying might be, it points to a very real outworking of everyday human nature. Sometimes people do bad things not because they are trying to hurt someone else, but because they just haven't thought things through. It’s easy to assume that your student had a malicious intent when he said or did whatever it is that he is guilty of. Perhaps he simply did not consider the outcome his words or actions would bring, or did not imagine the consequences would be so far-reaching. It is an effortless leap for you to make, getting to a wrong conclusion. It is harder to come to the precipice of judgment and refrain from jumping. When every hand seems turned against him, when there is no one else to give wise counsel, in a time of confusion and frustration, your reservation of judgment might be the only oasis of peace and encouragement available to a young life.

As a mentor, your attitude of response to the wrongdoing of your student is as instructive as any punitive consequence. Certainly, there needs to be recognition of the transgression. But deciding that there is always a positive resolution available, you can encourage your protégé towards that constructive course of action. By continuing to be an encourager, pointing out areas in which your student excels and the things he has done that are first-rate, you leave the door open for your influence to have a powerful effect on an individual that needs direction. Capitalize on the opportunity you have created in this young life and promote restoration, healing and positive resolution in even the toughest situations.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
Proverb 10:12, NIV

Tips on Mentoring, Part Two

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16, KJV

PRACTICE THE HUMAN TOUCH

Sometimes all it takes is simple human contact in order to reassure a child that things are okay. Your touch can convey warmth, acceptance, affection and approval. Jesus took the children in His arms and blessed them, and while your protégé may not say that is what he or she is longing for, but by placing your hand on his or her shoulder, you can communicate volumes. In a nutshell, ministry is about people. It is about leading and influencing those around us to come to Christ and to live Godly lives. The warmth you convey to your followers is a representation of God’s warmth to them. By reaching out and touching your student, you help them to understand that God desires to also touch his or her life. On a more human level, the relationship you have established with your protégé is deepened and strengthened.

It’s true, that touching someone is a powerful tool in communication. It is also true that a touch can be misunderstood. Be careful to keep your contact appropriate, and watch as your student flourishes under your influence.


MAKE YOUR SPEECH PLAIN

Tell your student the things he or she would like to hear, and say them in plain English. Do you remember when you were eight or ten or twelve? At that age, were you able to correctly decipher the nuances in an adult’s speech? Most likely, the answer is, "no." When I was a young teen, I went to have my hair cut. It’s true, I had allowed it to grow longer than I probably should have. The barber looked at my head of hair and pronounced, “Don’t worry. It’s only the top hair that’s long.” Being young, I completely missed the fact that he was being funny, and thought he was only going to cut the “top hairs.” While your inflections and nuances might be clear to other adults, be sure your communication is clearly understandable to your protege.

A student and I were sharing small talk over a meal when I offered the following counsel, “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater,” only to receive a blank look. It never occurred to me that this might be an unknown expression, one that would leave my meaning completely clouded and totally unclear. After this incident, I made a renewed effort to make clear what I wanted to communicate, often by using simpler language and more direct communication.

Your protege wants to hear a clear message from you. He or she wants to hear not only your acceptance of them as a person, or your encouragement for them to strive for a higher goal. Most of all, your follow wants to hear those three words that express the foundation for the relationship: “I love you.”

Tips on Mentoring, Part One

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9 & 10, NIV

We often hear that we shoud 'be a coach,' or 'mentor others.' The following three practical tips on mentoring the children in your ministry may seem simple, but can have an immense impact.

TIME

Take the time you normally eat, shop, or work on a project and spend it doing those things, only do them with your protege. Whether you are working on an Easter musical backdrop, picking up supplies for V.B.S., or cleaning out the ministry's storage cabinet, there is a child that needs your input into his or her life. Invite him or her to come and lend a hand. Make the time fun as well as productive. You'll find that things generally get done faster, there is less stress involved, and you have created the opportunity to influence someone for life. Simply put: spend time with your protege on a regular basis.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13, NIV

In church work, we sometimes feel pressed for time, overwhelmed by deadlines, and even frustrated by a mass-ministry approach. A creative use of time will allow you the opportunity to pour into the life of a young person in a significant way. When you plan your next project or event, try coming up with ways to include the mentoring approach. You and your protege will both be glad you did.

FOCUS

Once you have created the opportunity to spend time with a young life, the next step is to focus on the child. Ask questions about his or her life – his or her dreams, desires, concerns, loves, family members, pets, activities, etc. Show an interest in the person you are with. Only with your genuine outpouring of friendliness and concern will you be able to reap the benefits of the time you have together.

NON-CONDEMNING CONVERSATION

What do you like to hear from others? Maybe how much better they are than you? Or how poorly you performed in a situation? Maybe you'd like them to criticize your hair, clothes, family or friends. If you are like most people, you probably avoid spending a great deal of time with someone who likes to focus on the negative. People like to hear good things about themselves. As a mentor, be careful in your speech. Find reasons to often offer praise to the child in your care. Search for topics you can agree on, and capitalize on those. Let your words be encouraging. Just as a plant thrives when given the nutrients it needs, your young ward will flourish as you supply the positive attention he or she craves.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Proverb 16:24, NIV

Aaron's Answer: Press In and Press On

Are you being tempted to allow stress, frustration, weariness or apathy rule your outlook and reactions? We can look to Aaron as our example and respond by pressing in to the Almighty and then pressing on in the blessing of His strength.

The ministry can be challenging even in the best of times. The additional activities and stress brought on by the holidays and the New Year can take its toll, causing even seasoned ministers to suffer. But consider Numbers 16:41-50, and Aaron’s Answer to the stress of ministry.

But on the day after, all the children of Israel made an outcry against Moses and against Aaron, saying, You have put to death the Lord's people. Now when the people had come together against Moses and Aaron, looking in the direction of the Tent of meeting, they saw the cloud covering it, and the glory of the Lord came before their eyes. Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of meeting. And the Lord said to Moses, come out from among this people, so that I may send sudden destruction on them. And they [Moses and Aaron] went down on their faces. And Moses said to Aaron, Take your vessel and put in it fire from the altar, and sweet spices, and take it quickly into the meeting of the people, and make them free from sin: for wrath has gone out from the Lord, and the disease is starting.

And at the words of Moses, Aaron took his vessel, and went running among the people; and even then the disease had made a start among them; and he put spices in his vessel to take away the sin of the people. And he took his place between the dead and the living: and the disease was stopped. Now fourteen thousand, seven hundred deaths were caused by that disease, in addition to those who came to their end because of what Korah had done. Then Aaron went back to Moses to the door of the Tent of meeting: and the disease came to a stop. (Nu 16:41-50, Bible in Basic English)

When the people were grumbling and complaining, when they did not want to acknowledge Aaron’s rightful leadership, when they had accused him of killing the people of God, Aaron did not give in to his first impulse. Did Aaron, as human as the rest of us, respond to the people in anger or in hurt or with a vengeful glee at God’s judgment? No. Instead, he (and Moses) turned toward the tabernacle and stretched out face first before God. There he received direction from the Lord. He pressed in to God to receive Divine direction.

Once God’s plan was revealed, what did Aaron do? He did not hesitate. He did not move slowly, nor did he move at a normal pace. Carrying the equipment he needed and, at 80-plus-years-old, he ran to do God’s work. Aaron hurried through the crowd. He pressed on to do his part.

Was God’s plan complex or difficult? No, it was simple and easy. When we are overwhelmed by the demands of our schedule, frustrated by pressures from without and within, Aaron’s Answer is also our solution. Aaron’s Answer is two-fold. First, press in to God to receive His direction for the situation, the trial, or the problem. Second, press on and carry out His plan. And He will do His part. The results will be astounding, supernatural, and perfect.