On replay...

So with my thinking about goals and other such things I have been listening to some music, especially music that keeps me focused on the future and in that mind set. Among the play list is...

which I haven't listened to since I was in the dorm back at Zion

If you're thinking about the future... esp if you're single... this might be a good song to add to the play list!

Setting Goals...

So in a little over a week I get to experience my mid year review. With that comes a whole new job description... Children's Pastor Playbook was left on my desk a little over a week ago. I flipped through the booklet but skipped over a few things... sort of by choice. There's a portion in it that says I have to "set goals" ummm really boss man???? I'm without a doubt not the best goal setter. Not because I lack motivation and vision but a fear that I won't be able to accomplish the goals and once they are spoken it's hard to take them back. I got a little freaked out by the idea of having to set goals not just personally but ministry wise as well. So I started to think how I might be able to set realistic goals for myself and the ministry I over see. I started writing down some really dumb things that really had no value at all and then I realized that I really needed to put more effort into it.... So I went back to my "Bible College roots" and I began to pray and fast about these goals and my future in general. I gave up something and focused my attention where it needed to be focused. I'm 4 days away from the fast being over and let me tell you.... I'm getting some answers. My goals may not be glamorous or even remotely interesting to anyone else but that's why they're my goals. The things that would excite me to see happen may have no affect on others, but they excite me none the less. There's something to be said about this whole goal setting thing, but even more so on making sure that your focus is in the right place! I'm EXCITED to see what the future holds and ready and willing to follow some goals and dreams, even though I may fail... not trying is an even worse failure!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.....

A few weeks ago we talked to the kids about REDEMPTION.... you know like recycling. Giving something that to others may seem like trash new purpose. Yup that's the business God is in... THANKFULLY! At THE POINT we teach our kids whatever the adults are learning and a catch phase at our church is "reaching your FULL REDEMPTIVE POTENTIAL." If not for redemption I know I would have been a lost cause, tossed to the side, forgotten about and NEVER given a second thought or chance, I am so thankful for REDEMPTION. Although I have not obtained my FULL REDEMPTIVE POTENTIAL and probably never will while I'm here on earth and without a doubt human I will continue to work toward that.... and continue to help others work toward that.

Part of helping other work toward that is setting an example others can follow. It's making sure I live with character and integrity. It's being sure those I look up to and follow live a life worth emulating. It's knowing when to ask for help. It's seeking God when I make big choices and even small ones. It's being willing to serve before I expect to be served. It's following HIS plan and not seeking mine. (And so much more)

I have an AMAZING job and I work for what I think is the BEST church in the universe. We don't always get it right and we are a bunch of imperfect people but the one thing we do have is a desire to see other peoples lives changed for the better. Over the last few months we have been renovating a building in Babylon and the 10 people who still faithfully attended this church have been such an asset to the Point Family. We've been painting, throwing things out, organizing, changing lighting, and just trying our best to get this building ready to be a light house for the community of BABYLON. The more time I spend in this building the more I see REDEMPTION and POTENTIAL.... it's so amazing what you can learn and feel as you do something so simple like throw out trash or slap paint onto a wall. Yesterday I spent time with 2 friends who I was honored to work hand in hand with. As we decluttered a space, broke desks with a softball bat, threw things out, scrubbed things down, and painted walls I could see and feel things I couldn't when we first walked into that building. (And no I don't just mean sore muscles, although that happened too.) As the three of us pounded stuff out (literally) and prepared an area for KIDS to be able to enjoy church I almost cried a few times. The potential for this building to reach KIDS, their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles is INCREDIBLE!!!! I cannot wait to see what kind of FULL REDEMPTIVE POTENTIAL this building, these people, and this town have.... and it all officially starts TOMORROW @ 6:30 pm!!!!!

(So if you're free and just a little curious as to what I am rambling about come check it out... 54 George St, Babylon NY--> across from the post office// not the post office cafe)

Character...

I'm not talkin the Easter Bunny or Elmo on this one, I'm talking straight up character. You know, who you are when no one is looking type of stuff... the integrity part of character. It's easy to be a character, you strap on a costume and for a few moments/ hours you get to be someone different, that actually seems like a great idea... escaping reality for a little (but thats a blog for another time). Do others need to question your motives? Do they have to try to figure out if you're being genuine? Is there something that you have said or done that may offend someone, if so how do you deal with that? Did you accuse someone of something that wasn't even close to true and then gossip to others about it? Or do you do your best to live a life that is respectable and ask for forgiveness when you mess up? Character is the willingness to say, I was wrong. It's the humility that say although I was hurt I should not have said or did what I ended up saying or doing. Its the ability to say, I'm sorry. Weak character throws other people's character and integrity into question. Rather than dealing with their own flaws those of weak character attack others to draw the attention away from themselves. Those of weak character don't want or ask others to challenge them to grow, they are comfortable in their ways and do not wantto have to change. So would it be easier to throw on a character costume than to actually work to build character, yeah obviously... but hey just so you know it gets pretty hot in those suit... and if you're hiding in a costume behind a mask no one will ever get a chance to know the real you. (just sayin)

A Sea of Purple...

So it's Wednesday and I am sitting at our Babylon campus in the basement. There is purple EVERYWHERE. Now I am not purple's biggest fan to begin with but this is like a purple overload... and it's 2 different shades of purple. Anyway.. after my instal annoyance at the color and a really really weird picture on the back wall I am seeing it for more then just the sea of purple that it is. Now that most of the garbage has been cleared out and we're planning and brainstorming it's a whole new sea.... not just a sea of purple... it's a sea of potential. I don't just see four walls that need some TLC or a room that's been just so let go and unloved. I see a room full of potential. I see kids learning motions to songs, opening up bibles, and learning and growing together. I see kids laughing and playing as they grow in their knowledge of who God is. I see teachers and parents with happy tears in their eyes as they watch kids change. I see 9 people who have watched this church slowly fall apart be ignited with passion because once more this will become a place where a community is impacted and loved. I see people coming in off the streets just because they want to know what is going on in this once almost abandoned looking building. I see a situation that looked so impossible being redeemed for an even greater purpose. I see this sea of purple being used to bring in a sea of FULL REDEMPTIVE POTENTIAL.

Looking forward to what God is going to do here!!!! It's gonna be AWESOME!!!!

SAY WHAT?!?!?

Over the last week or so I have heard or encountered some crazy, SAY WHAT?!?!? moments.

Last Friday on the way to grab some lunch with a few good friends one of them told me that when her daughter was asked where she would like to go to church, where she felt like she was being fed & challenged to grow, and was given a few choices she said... The Point. WOW... when a 10-11 year old says something like that it just FLOORS you.

That was the first of my SAY WHAT moments.

Then Sunday our AMAZING kids along with one of our amazing kids workers sang some worship songs they have been learning for the last few weeks. They have an amazing family who has been teaching them the songs and the motions but they were unable to be at Point Kids this week. The first moment of amazement happens while watching their teacher do the motions who only saw and heard the songs once. Then to watch the kids remember the motions and be excited about it was just as amazing.

Seeing our toddlers connecting with their teachers was pretty awesome too!

Hearing in our annual church business meeting that our Kids attendance has DOUBLE in the last year blew my mind... I mean I knew it had but hearing it was pretty AWESOME.

Sunday morning was filled with SAY WHAT?!?! moments. Another was.... Ryleigh... she's one of the younger kids at Point Kids. Ryleigh and her family have been coming to the point for a few months and Ryleigh has been a little slow to come into POINT KIDS. At first she would hang by the younger kids area. Then she started sitting toward the back of the older kids area with her mom. Then she started to move up little by little, but mom still needed to be close by. Then she would let mommy leave but still sat off to the side. This week.... Ryleigh walks into church and says to her dad.... I want to go to class.... and then I walked in to say hi to the kids and Ryleigh is sitting UP FRONT and dancing and singing with the kids... during the lesson Ryleigh sat with the rest of the kids. SAY WHAT?!?!?! WOW!!!! What an amazing moment!

But it doesn't stop there.... I got this wall post on Monday... So here is a post from a mom Her Daughter Emma goes to Point kids.

"My LOL ...Me: lets put on the scarf 2 cover ur chest, i dont want u 2 get sick/ Emma:OK mami n we dont want Jesus 2 get sick either, right Jesus?!! .....why? Her teacher told her Jesus lives in her heart!" Too Cute!

I love the SAY WHAT?!?!? moments in life... esp when they involve such AWESOME kids!!!

Loving what God is doing in our church and loving what I am learning as we grow!

Closets and Cobwebs...

So yesterday was one of those days where all you really wanted to do was stay home in bed or on the couch curled up with some coco and a good movie (or book) and just veg out. It was cold and yucky.... but I got ready and joined my pastor and our admin assistant at our new campus in Babylon. It was quiet the experience.

When you first walk down the outside steps to the basement door you are greeted by some not so attractive doors. Then you proceed through the doors into a hallway that looks a little dreary. Needless to say it wasn't the most visually stimulating of circumstances, I mean really when you're fighting off cobwebs it's not so much fun.

Anyway my pastor asked me to start organizing the things that were already at the church for the kids ministries. So with trash bags in hand I started sorting at first it was 2 piles TRASH and KEEP. Then I started thinking, maybe not TRASH everything that we won't use, so a third pile was introduced... GIVE AWAY. It took about 2 hours to clear off a 3 shelf shelving unit and a closet. There were some things that I discovered that sent me flashing back to the early 90s when I attended kids church and then there were some things that just made me sad. As I organized things and cleans some stuff up I at some points had to fight off tears as I became so sad that a church that was once active and clearly had some kids running through it became so quiet and almost forgotten. I discovered a picture of about 10 kids ranging from around 5 or so to about 11 years old and it was in that moment that I had to fight my hardest to not ball my eyes out. I realized that this church was once a place where kids were learning and growing.

There are homes in the area with families who have yet to see the amazing things God can and will do in and through them. I am so excited for our church to have been given this opportunity to become part of what is going to happen in that area. It's going to be awesome being a part of seeing a building and a church that was so broken and in disrepair raise up and help others reach and know their full redemptive potential.

All this happen while cleaning out some closets and attempting to avoid some cobwebs. Love when God speaks to my heart during an unexpected moment.