Empowered Church Conference: Part 1:

I am so thankful and grateful that we were able to attend the Empowered Church Conference again. I did not think it was possible, but it was even better this year. I love this conference and we hope to go every year. God is so good for giving us this opportunity to learn so much through Hickory Grove Baptist Church. Last year Charlie’s Preschool Ministry consisted of five children (at a different church), now it is 105 so we were very interested in their Preschool Ministry. They had completely different breakout sessions than they did last year, and we learned so much through their Preschool ministry which consists of 450 on Sunday morning. They have a resource room coordinator, a baby coordinator, 1’s coordinator, 2’s coordinator, etc. Wow!

I am so grateful for my loving parents for keeping my very sweet loving active toddler!

The theme of this conference was “Return,” Based on Zechariah 1:3, “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you” (Zechariah 1:3).

The military has a term known “mission creep.” It’s what happens when an operation has been going on for a long time. Soldiers and officers have a tendency to let the mission creep off target. They begin focusing on things that aren’t truly part of what they’re supposed to be doing.

As the church leaders, our mission is clear --- to know Christ and to make Him known. Just as a solider can lose sight of his mission, we have a natural tendency to get away from where God wants us to go in our ministry.

Returning- that’s what this year’s Empowered Church is all about. It is about getting back to where God wants us to be. Over the years, we’ve watched church growth fads come and go, and many of them seem to take a very humanistic approach to reach the desired goal. It’s time to return to the Bible. Time to return to our knees. Time to return to soul-winning. Time to return to holiness. Time to return to real worship. Time to return to Jesus.

Praise God, when we return to Him, God promises He will return to us!

Wow, and this is just the introduction! I cannot wait to post more throughout the week. Go here to see more info: http://www.empowerthechurch.org/

“Raising Godly Children” by Hope Felts, Dr. Brown’s daughter

She started off by telling a great story about how we are going to fall but we should just try to fall forward. She was one of the most gifted speakers I have ever heard - she is definitely at Beth Moore’s level. She has received her father’s gift of proclaiming clearly and passionately the Word of God. She also quoted from a book called Snickers from the Pew, which was quite hilarious. However, she did report that sadly, one recent survey stated that 80% of preacher’s kids (PKs) struggle with depression. This survey did find that many preachers’ kids hear their parents say things like, “When you mess up you ruin daddy’s ministry and then we will not have a job or food.” Lord, please help us never to even hint at that to our children! Also, many preachers’ kids hear their father say things one week in the pulpit and then they do not live that way at home. Ouch! Is God really transforming our pastors today? Or are we just putting on a show and living a hypocritical life? Why would they want to follow a God who has not transformed his own father’s life?

She then quoted from a book called Know Your Child. She concluded that babies are born with a certain temperament, which I agree with. She asked us to consider Cain and Abel, the first children. They certainly had different temperaments. Three basic types of babies exist:

1. Easy Child, predictable

2. Slow to warm up Child (shy)

3. Difficult child, strong willed child

People used to think that people were born with a blank slate and that our environment was everything, but now there is strong evidence and studies against this theory. Paul names three “spiritual children” throughout the Bible (he calls them by name his sons):

1. Timothy, the easy child

2. Onesimus, the slow to warm up son

3. Titus, the bulldog, the problem solver but the difficult child Titus did not have to be encouraged like Timothy. Titus was a problem solver.

I had never really thought about these three men in this light, but I can see where she is coming from. Now, after having Jackson and seeing many babies his age, I really do believe that some babies are just born fighting and we like to label them “difficult.” I think God can use all men and women with different temperaments. I do believe it is important to know our children and how to encourage them. They might be shy and we can encourage them to step out in faith for the glory of God. Or they might be easy and need a lot of encouragement. Maybe they are difficult and we need to speak the truth in love to them daily. Paul certainly knew the differences between his spiritual children. I do not know if these categories are as cut and dry as these. Generally, Jackson is the easy child; however, boy does he have a temper! Right now for the last time we put him down at night it is war. The other night he really hyper-ventilated at 9:15 pm More on that latter…

She urged us to:

1. “Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8

Taste the Lord, love God in front of them! Don’t be secretive with them about your relationship with God.

2. Love God’s house, have a positive attitude about it, do not look at it as work. Long to be in his house with all the imperfect people. Psalm 27:4:

“One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.”

3. Pray with them every day before they go off to school. I am starting this now every morning with Jackson and it is such a blessing

4. Know your child!

"If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again"

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I'd finger-paint more, and point the fingers less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

.

I would care to know less and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd teach less about the love of power, And more about the power of love.

.

By Diane Loomans

I am certain that concept of building up one's self-esteem is anti-Biblical, but besides that, I think this is a good poem for current moms to see. If we keep on telling our children how great they are at everything, why will they need a Savior to rescue them from their sins?

Ps-The picture is of Jackson in his high chair that we finally got up. Thank you so much Aunt Sandi for the high chair!

We Left Jackson for 2 nights for the first time!

Wow, we have been so busy. Today, is Charlie's 28th Birthday and the first two pictures are of Mrs. Tedder and her cake that she made Charlie for his birthday. We have the most caring church members! The next picture is my wonderful father, who along with my unbelievable mom, did a great job taking care of Jackson for 2 whole nights while we went to the "Empowered Church Conference" at Hickory Grove Baptist Church (Charlotte, NC). It was a wonderful conference and we learned so much. The first night the music was Brooklyn Tabernacle songs, and it was the best Christian music I have ever heard. They had a complete symphony and it was like we just stepped into the gates of heaven. We really had a wonderful time, and I hope to blog about some of the breakout sessions. It was good to get away for two night and have no bottles! But, when I heard him talking in the background on the second day, tears did come to my eyes. He started saying "daddy" to objects while we were gone. Jackson did great with my parents, but he definitely gave me lots of hugs and kisses when we got back. I also hope to blog about how he is doing soon and what are some issues we are struggling with. Charlie preached last night in our first of hopefully many contemporary services on Sunday night, and the service went great! Charlie's parents came and it was so good that they got to see Jackson--I think it had been a month since they had seen him!

“But those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Luke 1:46-55

Mary's Song

And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
or he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."

As Christmas aprroaches I can not help but to think of our Savior's Birth. Now, after giving birth to a son I cannot imagine what Mary went through knowing that her son was the promised Savior. Dr. Rummage, one of the best preachers I have ever heard, preached a sermon on these verses. His three points taken from the text are:

"My Soul Magnifies the Lord"
1) Through Jesus Christ God has given us a underserved blessing (vs. 47-50)
2) Through Jesus Christ God has given us a unmatched strength (vs. 51-53)
3) Through Jesus Christ God has given us a unshakable promise (vs. 54-55)

We really are either magnifying the Lord with or life or we are failing to see him. Are we knowing him and making him known?

Go to hear some great sermons by Dr. Rummage at http://www.hgbc.org/media/index.php?a=l&id=350&modtype=m&type=wmp