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Occasionally, when flipping through channels, we as a family like to watch Don't Forget the Lyrics.  If you have never seen the show, contestants have to fill in missing lyrics once the music stops.  It brings to mind the argument about lyrics.  Just last week, Mitchell was asking if he could listen to other stations than 99.1 and 90.7.  We had the discussion about being discerning about music choices because words can get stuck in our heads.  I don't buy the "I just like the beat argument".  Lyrics stay with us. Here is an example.  Yesterday, after a busy morning at church, I had gone downstairs to watch some TV and maybe take a nap.  The nap won.  I turned off the TV and was drifting off to sleep.  Then I heard Molly playing with dolls in the corner.  She was singing, "Our God will not be moved.  Our God will never be shaken."  Great lyrics to be singing!  But here is the point.  We had just sang this song a...

Have you ever wondered how to help your children engage in worship more? Do they sit there not knowing the words to the hymns or new worship songs? Have you ever stopped to think if they understand what they are singing anyway? The family devotions that I just completed are trying to help parents answer these questions. What did I do? I took the songs we most often sing in worship at Hesston MB and picked one for every week. I printed the lyrics for parents and then asked them to sing, listen, or read the lyrics to the songs. Then I posed the following questions for them to discuss: Are there any words or phrases you do not understand? What does this song teach about God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Grace, Bible, Salvation, Faith & Heaven? What Scripture comes to mind as you listen to this song? Underline or highlight 5 of the most important words or phrases. Have each family member pick one and share why it is important to them. My hope is that through discussing these ...

After the MB Pastor's Get Together concluded, we then began the Southern District Convention. Our speaker for the convention was Steve Macchia from Leadership Transformations. Here is his website: http://leadershiptransformations.org His first message was titled, "The Heart of the Church." He started by asking the following question: What is God's desire for our church? He then looked at Hebrews 11 and asked what was similar in those listed in the hall of faith. His answer: people who were willing to listen to God and obey. This is a list of ordinary people made extraordinary by God. Are you willing to be made extraordinary by God? He shared about 3 concentric circles which are a life of worship, life of love, and life of service. Each of these are important, but the heart of the church is where they overlap. Churches can focus on one of these and neglect the rest. The heart of the church is at the center-a place of spiritual discernment. Look at A...

Looking for ideas how to help your kids get more out of the worship service. See these ideas from Awana. TEN THINGS TO DO WHILE THE PREACHER’S PREACHING

I wanted to share a quote from "Parenting in the Pew" by Robbie Castleman . She is actually quoting from Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon from Resident Aliens. This gives all of us in the church something to think about this week and in the future. In many of our modern, sophisticated congregations, children are often viewed as distractions . We tolerate children only to the extent they promise to become "adults" like us. Adult members sometimes complain that they cannot pay attention to the sermon, they cannot listen to the beautiful music, when fidgety children are beside them in the pews. "Send them away," many adults say. Create "Children's Church" so these distracting children can be removed in order that we adults can pay attention. Interestingly, Jesus put a child in the center of his disciples, "in the midst of them," in order to help them pay attention. . . . The child was a last-ditch effort by God to help th...