Dad in the Middle

TOGETHERVILLE.COM (A Dad in the Middle Review)

Wayne — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:00:52 +0000

This site has been known as Dad in the Middle for quite some time now. It is a name which causes some confusion, but it is based on my position as a father, and a more specifically a Christian father, who is stuck in the middle of what I used to be before Christ and what God is turning me into. As the father of four in a technological age, one of my constant struggles is to keep track of what my kids are doing online. As a Christian Dad in particular, I face the added struggle of explaining to my kids why they are not allowed to do “what everyone else is doing.” As a Dad in the Middle of it all, I appreciate resources that help me in that endeavor, and today I am going to review one such resource. Togetherville.com provides kids under the age of 13 a fun and engaging alternative to Facebook.

The Problem / The Need

Every good product serves a need or solves a problem. Here is the problem we are going to talk about today – Facebook has become a bit of an institution in our society. More and more people join every day, and that means more and more kids are exposed to Facebook every day. And let’s face it, Facebook is fun! It’s fun to connect with people, there are plenty of cool games to play, and keeping up on trendy things is just generally fun. That means kids will also want to be involved, and the problem for them is that Facebook does not allow pre-teens to be members. In reality, I do not actually view the fact that pre-teens are not allowed on Facebook as a “problem” because I don’t think most kids under 13 should be on Facebook to begin with, but it does present a problem from the kids’ standpoint as they increasingly desire to enjoy the same internet driven social networking that their parents and friends are using. For parents who have signed their kids up for Facebook when they are not yet 13, there was an interesting discussion on CMConnect.org about the implications of allowing kids to lie about their age in order to obtain access to the site. That alone should give us pause for concern as Christian parents.

The Solution

Fortunately, there is a great new Facebook alternative called Togetherville.com which was designed specifically for kids. It allows kids to experience all the benefits of Facebook (games, videos, social networking) in a safe environment which is totally controlled by their parents. I’ve signed my kids up, and they love it. Togetherville is a social networking site designed specifically for kids. Here is what Togetherville has to say about it’s product:

In Togetherville, children learn much more than computer skills. They learn how to use technology to connect with the important people in their lives – safely. And those important people show them how to act responsibly online. Whether a parent, aunt, grandparent or family friend, take this role seriously and participate in the online neighborhoods of kids in your life.

How Does it Work? How Do I Get Started?

Parents sign in to Togetherville using their Facebook account. Once signed in, a parent can create an account for each of their children. While parents use their Facebook username and password to sign in, children never actually interact with Facebook when using Togetherville. Each child is given a unique username and a password that allows them to sign in to Togetherville. Both the username and password are determined by the parent. Parents set up and maintain total control of their kids’ online profiles and friends.

An Explanation of Togetherville Friends

The idea of friends in Togetherville works very similarly to Facebook. Kids can see what their friends are doing, what they’ve posted and interact with them online. There are two dsitinct differences from Facebook though. First, friends are limited to those people specifically approved by parents. As far as I can tell, the only people your kids can choose to have as friends are your friends from Facebook, and their kids to the extent that they have registered them for Togetherville. In other words, if someone is your friend on Facebook (and has joined Togetherville), you can add that person as your child’s friend. If those Facebook friends of yours have added their own children to Togetherville, you can also add those kids as your children’s friends (and your own friends as well). So, my children and I are all friends with a number of my nieces and nephews because I am friends with their parents. If I haven’t muddled that explanation too much, the other major difference between friends in Togetherville and on Facebook is that your interactions (comments, statuses, gifts, etc.) are limited to a set of messages pre-approved by Togetherville. Unlike Facebook, you do not have unlimited options when it comes to setting your status or leaving comments. That way, you don’t have to worry about your child reading anything inappropriate on Togetherville.

What can you do on Togetherville?

In addition to just having friends, there are a number of additional things you can do on Togetherville. Rather than re-create the wheel, here is what the Togetherville site has to say about its other activities (I borrowed their graphics as well – I assume they won’t mind).

Play Games – Super fun or super educational, Togetherville games are kid-size and ad free. Kids can save their favorites, earn points by playing, and see how they rank against their friends!

Create Artwork – Self-expression is an important part of being a child. In Togetherville, kids can design logos, cards and collages to display on their profile or share with friends and family.

Watch Videos – Kids have fun (and maybe even learn a thing or two!) checking out videos from The Electric Company to stop-motion animation! All video content is pre-screened to be safe and age-appropriate!

Say “Hi!” – Drop-down text messages, called “quips”, express thoughts and feelings and allow kids to safely comment on each others’ game scores and creative work and send messages to grownups. Kids can even suggest their own for future use.

Here is what I can tell you about each of these activities based upon my own experience and that of my kids. The games are a hit – plain and simple! My kids were mostly interested in Facebook in the first place for the games, and they have found Togetherville to be suitable replacement. I haven’t had a chance to play any of them myself, but they look fun from peering over my kids’ shoulders. My daughter loves crafts. She always has, and she loves the artwork feature of Togetherville. Kids get to create their own masterpieces and send them to their friends. I can always tell when my daughter has been on Togetherville because I get a copy of her latest artwork. As a parent, I have the option of showing off those works of art on my own Facebook wall. The videos on Togetherville are a nice alternative to sites like YouTube because they have been filtered, and you can rest assured that they are age appropriate.

How much does Togetherville cost?

Oh, that’s the great part. It’s free! I did notice that there is now an allowance feature where you can buy “T-Bills” to give to your kids as an allowance. Although I’ve not had an opportunity to explore these new “T-Bills” (the feature wasn’t active when I did my research for this review), it appears that these T-Bills may unlock additional features for the site. While I wish the entire site were free, I understand the need to make some money off of this endeavor, and I actually appreciate that they went this route rather than include a bunch of advertising on the site geared towards kids.

Would I Recommend It?

I would, and have, recommend it to parents and pre-teen kids. Thus far, a number of my nieces and nephews have joined the site which only adds to the fun for my kids. Rather than viewing social networking as evil, I think we, as parents, must embrace it as part of our kids’ future. Togetherville is a fun, and safe, way of allowing our kids to explore that world while still under our protection. And, it seems to me, that is exactly what our job as parents is. As a parents, I also appreciate that the people at Togetherville have not created a site intended solely for kids to retreat from their family life. Instead, Togetherville encourages parents and kids to interact in a way which does not replace traditional interaction but supplements it. Togetherville is still a relatively new entity, and I do not know what the future holds, I hope that it takes off like Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. For now though, I wholeheartedly and unashamedly recommend it.

Crazy For Jesus

Wayne — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Early last week, the mother of one of my wife’s friends passed away. My wife spent a chunk of this past Saturday morning and afternoon at the funeral and the gathering afterward. She did get home in time on Saturday to head off to Saturday night service at our church. This was a particularly exciting Saturday, as my seven year old daughter was getting baptized. As we were driving to the church, my nine year old son, Jacob, mentioned that he felt bad for my wife’s friend because she no longer had a mother. We started to talk about how she did still have a mother, her mother was just in heaven now.

Well, Jacob wanted to make sure that he did a little fact checking to put his mind at ease. So, first he asked if my wife’s friend was a Christian. My wife explained that she was. Then Jacob asked if her mom had been a Christian, and my wife again explained that she was. That was sufficient for Jacob to conclude that they would be reunited in heaven, but then he proceeded to ask the most peculiar question:

What kind of Christian is she?

Well, usually I can guess where Jacob is heading when he asks these types of questions, but I have to admit that even I was a little bit befuddled by this one. “What do you mean,” I asked.

“Well,” he replied, “is she a Christian like us or like Nan (my wife’s mother)?”

It started to get a little more clear. My mother-in-law is a devout Christian, but there are some doctrines that she adheres to that I disagree with. I don’t think any of them are “deal breaker” type issues, but occasionally they do come up, and I have talked to my son about them before as he tends to ask a lot of questions. I have tried to handle the issues with as much grace as possible, and I thought he may be referring to these. So, I asked the obvious question, “What do you mean?” His reply startled me a little bit.

You know, is she just a normal Christian like us, or is she crazy for Jesus?

It wasn’t the first time my son has said something that felt to me as if God himself was slapping me upside the head. I knew exactly what Jacob meant. We talk about Jesus a lot in my house, we pray, we read our Bible, and I try to stress how important Jesus is, but Jacob is right. Compared to us though, my Mother-in-Law is “crazy for Jesus.” Her love and passion for Jesus are obvious to everyone and at all times, and it so obvious that my young kids pick up on it and see the difference as well.

That is the type of relationship I want to have with Jesus. I want people to look at me and how I lead my life and think, “He’s crazy for Jesus.” I am glad that my kids, and I, have my Mother-in-Law, in our lives to model that for us. My natural bent is to not outwardly display that type of emotion and devotion. I tend to be much more reserved. I keep things inside. I am methodical and analytical. I like to think things through and analyze them. It was all of these things that led me to the deep faith which I now have in my Lord and Savior, and this is the way God made me. However, it is also these things that I have to battle against in terms of keeping my faith to myself. God rocked my world again in three little words spoken through the mouth of my nine-year-old – “crazy for Jesus.” I want to live my life in such a manner that there is no doubt that I am crazy for Jesus. We are called to be the light of Jesus. We are called to be different. I started to ask myself some questions. What am I doing that will make people think “he’s crazy for Jesus?” How am I modeling a life sold out to Christ for my kids? When God calls me home (and we will all eventually die barring the return of Christ), I don’t want people to remember me for things I’ve done or accomplishments I have made. At my funeral, I want them to remember me for my relationships. I want them to say, “He was a devoted husband and loving father.” I want them to recall that, “He really cared about his friends.” And, above all else, I want them to think, “He was crazy for Jesus!”

So, here is my question to you (and a questions I have been asking myself a lot over the last several days), what are you doing that shows that you are “Crazy for Jesus?” Are there people who think you are crazy about Jesus?

Monday Morning Prophecy #36 – The Messiah Would be Revealed to People Not Seeking Him

Wayne — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:00:57 +0000

Introduction

The Jews waited hundreds and thousands of years for their promised Messiah, but the Old Testament prophecies indicate that the Messiah would be revealed to a people not even seeking him.

Old Testament Prophecy

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
I was found by those who did not seek me.
To a nation that did not call on my name,
I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’ [Isaiah 65:1 NIV]

New Testament Fulfillment

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demonpossession.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. [Matthew 15:22-28 NIV]

But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” [Romans 10:18-20 NIV]

Return to the Monday Morning Prophecy index page.

Image courtesy of Abby Reed

Wayne’s Weekly Twitter Digest – 2010-07-18 to 2010-07-24

Wayne — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:05:00 +0000

@Barbaragraves Thanks. That's good. It must be something on my end then. I always worry when I get that msg. in reply to Barbaragraves 22:17:11, 2010-07-24
Not sure what's up with Kidmin1124.com, is anyone else getting a page not found message? #kidmin 22:11:43, 2010-07-24
Wondering why @jonathancliff and @kennyconley are checking out each others' toes. Hmmmm. 22:09:05, 2010-07-24
@TonyKummer Wow! I think oftentimes it's actually easier for kids to have a relationship w/ Jesus than adults. Not nearly as much luggage. in reply to TonyKummer 22:04:59, 2010-07-24

New blog post: The Ten Commandment Boogie http://bit.ly/9Jf85u #kidmin 10:01:06, 2010-07-24
Just finished writing Monday's post for Kidmin1124.com & reading a post from another contributor. It's going to be a good week! #kidmin 00:58:22, 2010-07-24
Enjoy. I am off to read to a 3 year old. 23:07:59, 2010-07-23
@KidsWantAnswers Thanks for RT and the kind words! in reply to KidsWantAnswers 22:37:52, 2010-07-23
@NathMcLean I don't know. I jumped out of a cake and that counted, I think a text would do it. Oh, well. in reply to NathMcLean 22:04:50, 2010-07-23
Really excited about some of the people poised to join our team at Kidmin1124.com in the coming weeks! #kidmin #cmconnect #kidology 22:03:44, 2010-07-23
@gina_mcclain Yeah, I was already hooked by then. Plus any girl who would let me get by w/ mall and dinner for a 3rd date is OK in my book. in reply to gina_mcclain 21:55:01, 2010-07-23
@gina_mcclain My wife fell asleep in the car on our 3rd date while we were driving from the mall to dinner. Nothing's changed since then. in reply to gina_mcclain 21:18:05, 2010-07-23
@samluce i find busy signals refreshing. Now I just need to find the sound of a modem dropping your connection to use as a ringtone. #retro in reply to samluce 16:10:04, 2010-07-23
RT @jimwideman: The best designed off days also include a to do list // To Do List for an off day? I knew there was a reason I liked you! 15:51:02, 2010-07-23
@kidologist Thanks for the tweet Karl. We're still building Kidmin1124.com, but I hope it will be useful to the whole #kidmin community. in reply to kidologist 15:48:17, 2010-07-23
@jonathancliff You do a little bit, but it's not that hard. I'm no programmer, but I figured it out. If you need any help, e-mail me. in reply to jonathancliff 15:46:44, 2010-07-23
@pastorjaredm You won't be disappointed. #KMag rocks! 15:46:02, 2010-07-23
@samluce I wish. My mind is about as blank as the walls in an insane asylum right now. I was hoping someone else would have an idea. in reply to samluce 11:27:34, 2010-07-23
You can't save. You can't solve. You can only serve. (via @PastorMark ) #kidmin 10:41:49, 2010-07-23
RT @kidmin1124 True Beauty? Who's watching you? – http://bit.ly/aOyKh8 // great article from @JohnFoleyIII 10:39:53, 2010-07-23
@sarah_lack Thanks for the Kidmin1124.com retweet. #kidmin #cmconnect in reply to sarah_lack 10:34:42, 2010-07-23
New blog post: When the Angels Rejoice http://bit.ly/b9rz54 #kidmin 09:00:36, 2010-07-23
@johnincolorado Take two hours of the show Wipeout and call me in the morning. in reply to johnincolorado 00:58:11, 2010-07-23
Seems like it's time for another @kidminchallenge doesn't it? #kidmin #cmconnect 00:39:06, 2010-07-23
Are you a #kidmin volunteer or bi-vocational #kidmin pastor? Do you lead #kidmin volunteers. Check out a blog just for you Kidmin1124.com! 00:31:38, 2010-07-23
@johnincolorado A little tired and juvenile, but other than that, spot on! in reply to johnincolorado 00:17:04, 2010-07-23
@johnincolorado I'll trade you for a spleen. in reply to johnincolorado 00:13:43, 2010-07-23
Really enjoying the discussion on @tonykummer's post on over-churched kids: http://bit.ly/biYJR6 #kidmin 00:13:06, 2010-07-23
@kidologist @LarryShallenberger Checking my Bible now…let's see rainbow=no flood. Can't find anything about human head sized burritos. in reply to kidologist 22:24:15, 2010-07-22
@kidologist I admire your endurance. I don't find those wooden chairs to be the most comfortable after a couple of hours! in reply to kidologist 22:02:29, 2010-07-22
New blog post: Wayne's Twitter Updates for the Week – 2010-06-20 http://bit.ly/deYfwa #kidmin 16:36:34, 2010-07-22
Finally got Kidmin1124.com updated to more easily identify post authors. Excited about a new wave of writers joining the project! #kidmin 16:30:54, 2010-07-22
@samluce We got kids' sized glasses when we went to see Toy Story, so maybe that's changing. That said, my 3 yr old still won't keep them on in reply to samluce 12:21:11, 2010-07-22
RT @samluce: December 10th can not come soon enough. #kidmin http://yfrog.com/75fcoej // Looking forward to it. I'll have to find the 2D one 11:43:15, 2010-07-22
Have you got a #kidmin related question? Check out the Ministry-to-Children forums. There is even a prize! – http://bit.ly/9ZJO58 11:23:29, 2010-07-22
RT @kidmin1124 Fun & Games http://bit.ly/cYDyBm // Don't miss these great resources on #kidmin games from @SavedSister7 #cmconnect 09:09:12, 2010-07-22
New blog post: What Matters Now in Children's Ministry – Memories by Sarah Killelea http://bit.ly/bK8yto #kidmin #wmnkidmin 09:00:59, 2010-07-22
New blog post: Psalm 55:22 (Seeds Family Worship) http://bit.ly/9ugHqe #kidmin 21:10:06, 2010-07-21
New blog post: Phillipians 4:6-7 (Seeds Family Worship) http://bit.ly/dgr1N5 #kidmin 21:01:07, 2010-07-21
@funnymandan Happy 17th birthday! Have a great one! 18:58:32, 2010-07-21
Sitting at Bob Evans working on my computer and waiting for my family. I love Wi-fi! 18:57:41, 2010-07-21
@jonathancliff I started using Standard Theme for waynestocks.com and Kidmin1124.com last month. I like it. It was worth the money. in reply to jonathancliff 17:09:34, 2010-07-21
@jonathancliff I kinda like it the way it is actually. What are you looking for in a new design? in reply to jonathancliff 16:54:49, 2010-07-21
@ChristineYJones Would love to hear more about that. You should write a blog entry. in reply to ChristineYJones 15:14:37, 2010-07-21
New blog post: Ads or No Ads – What I Decided http://bit.ly/c7Tkbd #kidmin 09:00:49, 2010-07-21
@jimwideman I think it's because they haven't broken the process down into steps and recorded each step in their calendar. in reply to jimwideman 23:26:46, 2010-07-20
RT @r_frank: Sitting on the couch next to a 10-week-old gift from God! Daughters are the best! // I miss those days. Enjoy them! 21:49:11, 2010-07-20
RT @SavedSister7: Praising God for answered prayers! My mom is getting baptized @cbglades! God is so AWESOME! // So cool! 15:20:58, 2010-07-20
RT @TonyKummer: should I expect an DM from the FDA? // Maybe from Willy Wonka! 13:21:53, 2010-07-20
RT @stocksohio: @samluce Who new…. // I wish Twitter would scream at me everytime I had a typo. Perhaps I coined a new spelling of knew? 13:03:41, 2010-07-20
@samluce Who new there was such a sordid #kidmin underbelly that I wasn't even aware of. in reply to samluce 13:01:30, 2010-07-20
@donaldmartin @samluce: @kennyconley I'm pretty sure that if Fun Dip = cocaine then Pixie Sticks = crack in reply to donaldmartin 12:53:03, 2010-07-20
RT @TonyKummer: @stocksohio my new twitter strategy is to just retweet everything you say // Sry. Had to Retweet this. Couldn't help it. 12:01:34, 2010-07-20
RT @jonathancliff: I believe @samluce is the Warren Buffet of Bible Bucks! // So long as he isn't the Bernie Madoff… 11:51:55, 2010-07-20
Check out the Ministry-to-Children forums for a chance to win $100 in free books – http://bit.ly/9ZJO58 #cmconnect #kidmin 11:50:57, 2010-07-20
@TonyKummer is trying to stir the pot with a post about "OVER CHURCHED kid." Love it! http://bit.ly/a3QDU3 -Great article & comments #kidmin in reply to TonyKummer 10:49:44, 2010-07-20
RT @kidmin1124 A Working Vacation by @CommanderBill http://bit.ly/aWGeHo #kidmin #cmconnect #cmx 09:26:25, 2010-07-20
New blog post: The Best Part of My Visit to the CM Expo (Part 2) http://bit.ly/9athCs #kidmin #cmconnect #kidology #cmx 09:00:16, 2010-07-20
@funnymandan Happy Birthweek! Does that mean I've gotten it out of the way now? in reply to funnymandan 22:14:21, 2010-07-19
@michaelchanley Kind of figured…but couldn't resist. in reply to michaelchanley 17:48:03, 2010-07-19
@pastorjaredm I'm sure there are people who know a lot more than me, but I can try to help. What's the issue? in reply to pastorjaredm 15:24:24, 2010-07-19
@Danielbwhite And here I expected a sketch of a systematic theology of the whole Bible, but maybe that was on the other side of the table in reply to Danielbwhite 15:14:54, 2010-07-19
@michaelchanley Does that mean you need to go picket something? in reply to michaelchanley 14:21:14, 2010-07-19
RT @Kidmin1124: Kidmin1124: A Working Vacation http://mpqak.th8.us #kidmin #kidmin1124 // Oops, this one will be published tomorrow morning! 12:22:34, 2010-07-19
Kidmin1124.com is honored to welcome Kenny Acock to our team of regular contributors. http://bit.ly/99y9s9 #kidmin #cmconnect #kidology 11:20:48, 2010-07-19
RT @Kidmin1124: Who is Theresa Haskins? http://w2fs9.th8.us #kidmin #cmconnect // Don't miss the newest writer on Kidmin1124.com! 10:33:25, 2010-07-19
New blog post: The Best Part of My Visit to the CM Expo (Part 1) http://bit.ly/9A2vgc #kidmin #CMX #CMConnect 09:00:49, 2010-07-19
Seems like we just got home, not we're off again for dinner with the family. Maybe I'll have my wife drive so I can write. We'll see. 15:45:45, 2010-07-18
@brennap I don't know of any. That sounds like an AWESOME next project! in reply to brennap 15:10:02, 2010-07-18
New blog post: Wayne's Weekly Twitter Digest – 2010-07-11 to 2010-07-17 http://bit.ly/a0fXwX #kidmin 00:12:17, 2010-07-18

The Ten Commandment Boogie

Wayne — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:00:12 +0000

I have quickly become a fan of the group Go Fish. There songs are meant for children but are enjoyable for adults as well. That makes it perfect music to listen to on long road trips. In this particular video, they put the ten commandments to a catchy toon.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kp8yXDpNaQ

When the Angels Rejoice

Wayne — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

I have always enjoyed the Parable of the Lost Coin from the book of Luke:

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” [Luke 15: 8-10]

I have always enjoyed the images of Angels celebrating every time someone enters the kingdom of heaven. Every time I hear a story of salvation or a baptism testimony, I get a mental picture of angels in heaven celebrating. The verse doesn’t say so, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit right there along with them celebrating right along with them. This Saturday night, that idea of celebration takes on a whole new meaning for me. This Saturday, at around 7:00 PM or so, my seven year old daughter will be baptized, and I can’t wait to celebrate along with the angels. Now, mind you, they’ve already had their big celebration, as did I on a Sunday afternoon in April. Here’s what I wrote about that day (April 18, 2010) previously:

On the way to church yesterday my 8 year old son (nine today – Happy Birthday Jacob), my seven year old daughter (Lyndsey) and I were talking about the gospel and being saved. My son (who is saved and has been baptized) asked how you know for sure that you’ve been saved (this was after a lesson last week on Thomas and how doubts are normal in the Christian life). So, we talked about the prayer of salvation and then we talked about how being saved is much more than just that prayer. We talked about the outward and inward signs of being saved like changes in attitudes, regretting when you do bad things not just because of the thing itself but because it is something God wouldn’t want you to do, etc., and we talked about how God changes us from the inside out. When we got in the truck to come home from church Lyndsey was kind of quiet then she told me, “I don’t think I’ve ever said that prayer.” I asked her if she wanted to, and she said she did but not until we got home and her brother wasn’t in the truck.

Anyhow, when we got home we talked about how salvation was more than just a prayer, or words that you say, or an easy way to get to heaven, but rather a choice to make Jesus Lord of your life. She said that she understood and she still wanted to say the prayer so we did! Needless to say, it was an awesome moment – another glimpse for me into how God must feel when one of his kids comes home. I stand amazed as the awesomeness and goodness of God. When my kids were born, I never thought anything would top those moments. I was wrong! Yesterday, and the same event with Jacob have exceeded those moments.

Now, Lyndsey can’t wait to be baptized. That will be another moment to add to my list. Sometimes, in children’s ministry, it is easy to get caught up in other people’s kids. And, so much of what we do is the meticulous investment that yield future (but not immediate results). Yesterday, God graced me with a moment that reminded me what is truly important and put everything back into perspective for me in a moment, and I find myself repeating a refrain that permeates my life and my prayers, “Thanks you God!”

She couldn’t be at the baptism last time our church did them in June, but she (and I) are excited about this coming Saturday. When I finally submitted to God’s will and got baptized myself, it was a moment I will never forget. But to see my son, and now my daughter, follow me in that act of obedience has truly been a gift of God.

What Matters Now in Children’s Ministry – Memories by Sarah Killelea

Wayne — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

In the book What Matters Now in Children’s Ministry, Sarah Killelea chose the word “Memories” as what matters most. She explains that so much of her early impression of church is based on memories. She writes:

When I reflect on my early images of God, my feelings toward the church, and my childhood prayers, it’s the memories I held that shaped each of those.

Did I like going to church? Were they nice to me? What was the funny skit about? Did I feel included?

While the Bible tells us that the heart is deceitful, the truth of the matter is, kids won’t be interested in coming back if their time with you is not memorable. In Sarah’s words, “Memories Matter.” She notes that we are competing with an unlimited number of activities for the attention of children, and,

As we seek to build relationships, care for parents, educate in Christian knowledge, and ultimately raise children in Christ’s love, our lens ought to be, “Is this worth remembering?”

If kids can’t remember what you did in kids’ church, then it will not have an impact. What counts is what they walk away with.

Questions for further discussion

The stated purpose of this book is to spark further conversation. I have included some of my thought above, but like other chapters I have included a listing of additional questions to spark further conversation. Here are the questions I came up with:

What are you doing to make sure that your kids’ services are memorable?
Do you agree that if what you do isn’t memorable it doesn’t matter?
What practical things can you do to help build memories for children in your church?
Do you believe that most memories are based on relationship? If so, how are you building relationships that will lead to lasting memories?
How do you compete in today’s day and age with all the other activities which kids are involved in?

By the way, I borrowed the images for this post from the actual e-book which you can download here for free! The stunning artwork was developed by Imago.

Ads or No Ads – What I Decided

Wayne — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Dad in the Middle has become a bit of a labor of love for me. Sometimes I think I should give it all up, and I wonder whether it is all really worth the time. What I started as an outlet for me has become something that other people read. Every time I think about that, I am extremely humbled and somewhat astounded. That coupled with some very encouraging words from people I have met online and several that I spoke with last week at the CM Expo really encouraged me to persevere. I write what I write and publish what I publish not because I feel like I have anything special to offer but because people have expressed to me that it has been edifying to them.

With that introduction, the purposes of this post is to explain why I have decided to offer advertising space on this blog. I feel like this site has a loyal group of readers, and I felt like I owed you some explanation for the change. That said, I have some idea who those readers are, and I don’t think the advertising is going to be a put-off to them, but an explanation still seem warranted. When I started this blog, the thought of including advertising was the furthest thing from my mind. I never imagined that enough people would read it that anyone would even want to advertise (maybe they still won’t). Don’t get me wrong, the site doesn’t get massive numbers these days, but it does get enough that some people may want to advertise their products on the site.

As the site has grown, I’ve spent more and more time and more and more money on it, and if some of that money can be recouped from advertising, it seems like a win-win situation. Secondly, and more importantly, one of the purposes I have for this site is to be a source of information for people in children’s ministry. My hope is that the ads on the sight may expose you to products and services which you are not aware of but which would be beneficial to your ministry.

I have this tendency to over think things, and perhaps I have done that in terms of advertising, but I did actually wrestle with the issue of whether or not it was a good thing. I came to the decision that so long as could control three things, advertising on the site would be acceptable:

Advertisers cannot, and will not, impact what I decide to write about. My articles are guided (I hope) by biblical principals and my relationship with Jesus Christ. I can’t, in good conscience, alter my opinions, review, subjects or anything else because someone has chosen to advertise on this site. I do not set out to offend in anything that I write, but if an advertiser decides they don’t like something I’ve written and wants to remove their ad, that’s fine with me. I’m really only doing this to recover some costs – not to make money. I am beholden only to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, not someone’s advertising dollar.
I will not advertise things which I find offensive or otherwise contrary to the goals of this website. I have total control over some of the advertising on this site, and will exercise that control to choose to advertise products which I think will be of benefit to the users of this site and consistent with my beliefs. For those avenues where I do not exercise total control (like Google Ads), I do monitor them as much as possible to make sure nothing offensive is included. If you see something I miss, please let me know about it.
My goal is that the advertisements would be a resource and not a detraction from the site. Personally, I don’t like sites where the advertising is more prominent than the content, and I don’t want Dad in the Middle to become that type of site. I will do everything I can to make sure that advertising is an addition to the site but not the main content.

There you have it. I may be the only one who ever reads this posts, but I feel better putting my criteria out there. If you are an advertisers and you feel like your product would be a good fit for Dad in the Middle, please feel free to click on one of the boxes to the right!

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

The Best Part of My Visit to the CM Expo (Part 2)

Wayne — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, I started my list of people I met at this year’s CM Expo in Lexington, KY last Thursday and Friday. The people I met, and conversations I had, really were the highlight of my trip, but I just ran out of time to write before I could talk about everyone. With that in mind, I will try to keep my descriptions a little bit shorter today! So, here we go with the remainder (and/or next part) of my list.

5. Matt McKee (@MattMcKee). Matt recently moved from the Cincinnati area to Atlanta to help out the ReThink Group and work on his new undertaking – R04R. R04R is a technology company formed to design applications for the IPhone and Android phones for churches and other organizations. Frankly, I think the work sounds fascinating, and I enjoyed having a chance to talk (even if only very briefly) with Matt about his new company and about his work with ReThink. Matt is a nice a guy and clearly passionate about what he is doing these days. On the down side, he did come and sit at the table with us during the Yancy show with the best smelling Arby’s sandwich ever even though we hadn’t had lunch yet, but I can probably forgive him for that. I can’t wait to find out what Matt is doing next. I only regret that we didn’t have more time to talk about church signs.

6. Bob Singleton is the founder and president (and everything else) of God’s Kids Worship. I recently had the opportunity to correspond with Bob related to my review and giveaway of some CD’s on Dad in the Middle. I had an idea from that correspondence what type of person Bob would be, and I wasn’t disappointed after I met him. Bob has a passion for reaching kids through music, and he is really good at it. My wife and I spoke to Bob and his wife (a fellow numbers person) for quite a while on Thursday night. I enjoyed learning more about his time working on Barney, how he works with kids, and the research he’s done in the area. The products, which Bob almost singlehandedly puts together, are top notch, and it was a blast just having some time to chat with Bob and his wife.

7. Yancy (@yancynotnancy). I didn’t actually get a chance to spend any time chatting with Yancy, but I did finally have an opportunity to see her perform. I was going to take the family last December to a Christmas concert she was doing here in December. I don’t remember exactly why, but for some reason we weren’t able to make it. I’ve used her music at church, and after seeing her perform at the Expo, I understand why so many people are drawn to her. She has a very warm personality and beautiful voice. Most importantly though, it is clear that she is singing to kids because she has a heart for kids. Whether it was a two year old tugging at her leg or a nine year old running up out of nowhere to give her a hug, she was always warm and and engaging. I can’t wait until her new album comes out later this summer, and neither can my seven year old daughter.

8. Tamera Kraft (@TameraKraft). I had a chance to stop by the Revival Fire for Kids booth briefly and talk to Tamera Kraft and her mother. We didn’t get to talk for long, but it was nice to have a chance to say hello and to talk to someone else from Ohio.

9. Tina Houser is the editor of K! Magazine. She was swarmed with people throughout most of the Expo, so while I did get a chance to say hello, I didn’t really get the opportunity to speak with her. I did however get to speak with her husband who was a full-time pastor until just recently. Unfortunately, his name escapes me at the moment, but I really enjoyed talking to him about children’s ministry and getting his input on the importance of that ministry from the stand point of a senior pastor.

10. Commander Bill Gunter (@CommanderBill). Commander Bill is one of the writers for Kidmin1124.com (one of the original four), and he was high on my list of people to meet and talk to. I got meet Commander Bill and his lovely wife early during the Expo, and we ran into him several times thereafter. Above all else, I was amazed by Bill’s tremendous amount of knowledge about Awana in general. I am convinced that you could ask Bill anything about Awana for the past 25 years, and he would be able to answer. On top of that, Bill is a great guy, and I enjoyed the chance to get to know him in person.

11. Marty Martin (@KidologyToGo). I have been reading about Marty’s plans to quit his full time kidmin position and take his family on a two-and-a-half year RV trip around the country for the last several months. When the announcement came out last Wednesday that he would be doing it for KidologyToGo and presenting seminars along the way, it suddenly all made a lot more sense. I admire his passion and his willingness to follow God’s call, and it was a pleasure to spend 10 minutes chatting at the Expo.

12. Jason Martin (@TheJayMart). Jason Martin is the children’s pastor at Lifechurch in Swansea, IL. Unfortunately, prior to the Expo, I only new him as the short haired @TheJayMart on Twitter who I have interacted with from time to time. So, when I was sitting on the couch with a Jim Wideman and a gentleman with long hair from IL, I never made the connection. In fact, it wasn’t until @TheJayMart sent me a message telling me it was nice to chat on the couch that I finally put two and two together (with the help of my wife who is lot better with faces than me). Jason is a great guy, and I enjoyed chatting briefly with him. He also has a great family. He was there with his wife and three daughters who cracked both my wife and I up as they took over Yancy’s performance at the Expo. I’m looking forward to getting to know Jason better both online and hopefully at future conferences.

There were a few people I didn’t get to see. Somehow or another, I managed to miss Michael Chanley (@MichaelChanley) who was there on Thursday which was a little bit disappointing. I’m not sure whether or not Michael was there on Friday. If so, I didn’t see him. I saw Roger Fields (@RogerFields) several times but he was so busy hosting that I actually felt bad about the prospect of interrupting him. I’m sure he wouldn’t have minded, but it’s one of my quirks about not being a bother to people. I got to meet Terra Harrison (@blitzchicky) very briefly with Tony Kummer after the Expo was actually over. Roger and Terra did an awesome job (along with some other great people) of putting this whole thing together. I will make a point to meet them both next year! Which brings me to my next bit a good news – the days for the 2011 CM Expo have been set – July 7 & 8, 2011. Mark your calendar today. The first one was great, and think the second one can only get better!

Thanks to a great group of great people who helped to make my CM Expo experience a wonderful one.

The Best Part of My Visit to the CM Expo (Part 1)

Wayne — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Last Thursday and Friday was the inaugural CM Expo in Lexington, KY. I don’t often get to attend conferences because of my other obligations (namely my other job), but this one was close enough (3 1/2 hours) and cheap enough ($25) to make it worth it to make the trip. Plus, my wife came along, and we were able to turn it into a long weekend. It was interesting to see all of the different exhibitors. There were some common peddlers, but the clear majority of the stuff was from people who clearly have a heart for kids. Whether that was the guys from Kidz Matter, Seeds Family Worship or Kidz Blitz, it was fun to walk around and see it all displayed in one room. There were also Scoops and Sit Ins to learn from, though frankly I didn’t make it to very many of those in the end. All that to say, the single thing which I enjoyed most was the chance to meet so many people in person who I knew from online. I will forget some, no doubt, but here are some of the people who left a lasting impression on me. I enjoyed talking to, and learning from, them so much, that I thought I would take a day just to tell you all a little more about them:

1. Tony Kummer (@TonyKummer). Of all the people I was planning on meeting at meeting at the CM Expo last week, Tony is the only one I have actually spoken to before. We have had a number of telephone conversations (during many of which Tony has talked long enough to totally deplete the battery on my cell phone). I have always admired Tony’s website – Ministry-to-Children.com. For the last six months or so, I have been working with Tony to try to promote interest and activities in the forums on his site. About three months ago, I started to write article for Tony’s site as well. I’ve enjoyed our phone conversations and talking blogging with Tony, and I was looking forward to meeting him in person. I was not disappointed. Tony is a great guy. It didn’t hurt that he has a similar sense of humor to me and enjoys causing a little bit a good natured trouble here and there. Despite all of the success with the website, he is humble and quick to remind you that he is “just” a new children’s pastor at a reasonably sized church who happens to have a blog. In addition to his dedication to children’s ministry, Tony is also clearly a devoted father. Although younger than yours truly, he’s got one more kid than me, and I found it just as interesting to share stories about being Dad with him as talking about children’s ministry. One thing I didn’t know about Tony that I learned at the Expo is his outgoing nature. I tagged along a bit as Tony made his rounds of the Expo and was amazed at his ability to carry on a conversation with just about anyone. I also noted that, because of Ministry-to-Children.com, people were chomping at the bit to throw free stuff at Tony to review on his site. I appreciate his willingness to pass some of that along to us minions to review. My conversations with Tony, and others, sparked a number of ideas for blog posts which you will see here on Dad in the Middle, or on Ministry-to-Children.com or Kidmin1124.com, in the near future. I’m looking forward to continuing to collaborate with Tony as time goes on.

2. Jim Wideman (@JimWideman). It won’t be any surprise to anyone who reads this blog that I have a great deal of respect for Jim Wideman. After meeting him this past week at CM Expo, that respect has only grown. Jim had what had to be the best idea for a booth at CM Expo. Some people has full scale architectural masterpieces. Jim had a couple of chairs, a couch and some odds and ends from the garage for ambiance. His booth was designed for people to just sit and chat with him, and it worked well. In fact, Jim was so busy with people on the first night of the Expo that I didn’t actually get a chance to say hi. I did have some time to hang out with him on Friday. As well known and respected as he is in the world of children’s ministry, what struck me the most about Brother Jim was his friendliness and humility. I didn’t actually get a chance to talk children’s ministry with him, which I regret, but we did get to “shoot the breeze” and talk a little bit about parenting. One of the things I have always appreciated about Jim is that every time I have ever heard him speak, and in everything I have ever read from him, his family is prominently featured. It is clear from everything he does that next to God his family is his highest priority, and I feel like I can learn just as much from him about being a husband and father as I can about children’s ministry. It was also interesting for me to listen to Jim talk about his tendency to take a perfectly good hobby and turn it into a job/chore. I had to laugh as I was sitting there with my wife who has told me the same thing a number of times. If you are in full-time ministry, I would definitely encourage you to check out Brother Jim’s Infuse group and/or his one-day seminars coming up this fall. You can find out about both on his website. After meeting Brother Jim and talking to him for just a very short period of time, I understand why people line up to learn from him. If you ever have that opportunity, I encourage you to jump at it.

3. Amy Fenton Lee (@AmyFentonLee). I had corresponded with Amy prior to the Expo and was really looking forward to meeting her. I have enjoyed reading her articles in various publications and on The Inclusive Church blog, and we had corresponded prior to the Expo to make plans to get together to chat. I had the chance to sit down with Amy for about an hour while she waited for her flight. Her flight delay turned out to be my gain. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation about children’s ministry, her blog, Kidmin1124, blogging in general, children’s pastors, and challenges facing those in children’s ministry (I’m sure we talked about a lot more, but I can’t recall it all right now ). I learned quite a bit about special needs ministry from Amy who is clearly an expert in the field. It was interesting to talk to her about writing as well. She clearly takes her writing very seriously, and she is really good at it. In addition to the encouragement that I got from her, I think the thing that struck with me most about our conversation is how much it sparked the rusty gears in my brain to get cranking. Our conversation challenged me to think through issues and positions which I have held for quite a while but have not really taken the time to articulate. I enjoy listening to and learning from people. It’s one of the reasons that I read as much as I do. That said, I really enjoy and article or conversation that not only teaches me but also forces me to think. My conversation with Amy fell into that category, and I look forward to talking to and corresponding with her much more. Sometimes you just click with people, and I know that Amy is one of those people that I will continue to learn from and be challenged by when it comes both to children’s ministry in general and writing in particular.

4. Gina McClain (@Gina_McClain). Like almost everyone else on this list, I had not met Gina prior to the CM Expo. I did participate in a think tank that she put together several months ago which was very thought provoking and edifying, but we hadn’t yet met. I didn’t get as much time as I would have liked to talk to Gina, but the conversations that we did have were very enjoyable. She clearly takes the prize for the best story I heard at the Expo which I wish I could share with you here, but it just doesn’t seem appropriate. How is that for a build up and let down? In all seriousness though, in my short interactions with Gina, I noted four things about her. First, her Iphone is less like an accessory and more like an attachment. I think her ability to talk and tweet on her Iphone at the same time is second to none. Secondly, she has a passion for children’s ministry which is undeniable. Third, I understand why she is in demand as an author and speaker. When you’re talking to Gina, you just feel like she knows what she is talking about. She exudes expert. And, finally, she’s just a nice person. I look forward to continuing to converse with her on all things children’s ministry.

I have at least six or seven more people on my list to write about, but it’s been a long weekend, so I think I will save those for tomorrow or Wednesday. Needless to say, I had a great time, and met a lot of great people. Don’t miss Tony Kummer’s recap of the Expo and especially his video which features the four people above, and many more. You can find that article here.

Wayne’s Weekly Twitter Digest – 2010-07-11 to 2010-07-17

Wayne — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 04:05:00 +0000

@thejaymart Funny. Luckily, my wife is good w/ faces. Enjoyed mtg you & your girls. Wife & I got a kick out of them at @yancynotnancy show. in reply to thejaymart 23:09:31, 2010-07-17
Opened my favorite website tonight and found this! Classic. #kidmin @gina_mcclain, @amyleefenton, @CommanderBill http://twitpic.com/26c12k 23:06:09, 2010-07-17
Finally back from #CMX – took the long route. Well the route wasn't actually longer, it just went threw an outlet mall & my mother-in-law's. 22:55:59, 2010-07-17
@SavedSister7 Praying for you and your family. in reply to SavedSister7 22:51:31, 2010-07-17

Packing up and getting ready to head on out of Lexington. Great time at #cmx. Looking forward to the next one. #kidmin 11:17:57, 2010-07-17
New blog post: Bible Cheat Codes http://bit.ly/bT9dvz #kidmin 10:02:18, 2010-07-17
@thejaymart See, that's how dense I am, when I met you I didn't realize you were THE jaymart. Great to meet you too! in reply to thejaymart 20:23:57, 2010-07-16
Now, I just need to figure out what to do about dinner. Anyone know of a good place in Lexington, KY? 19:55:40, 2010-07-16
Had a blast meeting and talking to people at #CMX today – @jimwideman, @TonyKummer, @amyfentonlee, @gina_mcclain, @mattmckee and many more! 19:51:51, 2010-07-16
@yancynotnancy Have a great birthday! 09:37:02, 2010-07-16
New blog post: Does Quality Time Always Have to Be Spiritual Time? http://bit.ly/dcCQyX #kidmin #cmconnect 09:00:08, 2010-07-16
I was planning on just "running into" everyone at #CMX, but that doesn't seem to be working? How about a mini tweet-up @ main stage @ 12ish? 23:44:58, 2010-07-15
@samluce I didn't see them there today. in reply to samluce 23:35:22, 2010-07-15
@KidologyToGo You looked busy today! I will definitely stop by tomorrow and say hello. #cmx in reply to KidologyToGo 23:33:00, 2010-07-15
@amyfentonlee I couldn't find you today at #cmx. Don't know how I missed you. Where is The Inclusive Church booth? 23:14:59, 2010-07-15
@gina_mcclain Absolutely. I'm surprised I didn't run into you today. See you tomorrow. in reply to gina_mcclain 23:13:54, 2010-07-15
@jimwideman Don't think I'm going to make it tonight, but I will definitely find you tomorrow. in reply to jimwideman 22:08:17, 2010-07-15
I met so many amazing people at #cmx today that I didn't even get to go say hi to several on my list. Looking forward to tomorrow! #kidmin 20:42:09, 2010-07-15
About 15 minutes from Lexington having lunch w/ my wife at Cracker Barrel. Excited about meeting people at the #cmx. Where should I go 1st? 14:25:05, 2010-07-15
@SavedSister7 Thanks. I'll make sure to let you in on all the details. in reply to SavedSister7 09:58:05, 2010-07-15
New blog post: Why Life Isn't Supposed to Be Fair http://bit.ly/d5x51O #kidmin #cmconnect #MTC 09:00:56, 2010-07-15
@KidologyToGo Likewise! See you tomorrow. in reply to KidologyToGo 00:22:07, 2010-07-15
@Barbaragraves Generally, but not this time. I'm having too much fun! in reply to Barbaragraves 00:08:29, 2010-07-15
@Barbaragraves Will do. First I have to get an article ready for the debut of a new writer on Kidmin1124.com tomorrow. in reply to Barbaragraves 23:00:08, 2010-07-14
Printing my tickets for the CM Expo as we speak! I suppose I ought to pack. #kidmin #cmx #cmconnect 22:52:07, 2010-07-14
@brian_haynes Praying for you guys! in reply to brian_haynes 10:51:03, 2010-07-14
Can't wait to head off to CMX in the morning. Looking forward to meeting a lot of great people! 10:39:52, 2010-07-14
RT @samluce: Great post on helping kids survive divorce. http://bit.ly/atmkcS #kidmin // If you work with kids, you should read this. 10:38:25, 2010-07-14
New blog post: A Fun Idea for Kids' Offering Time http://bit.ly/bRt9ZP #kidmin #cmconnect 09:01:40, 2010-07-14
@mattmckee I broke down and bought the Wii game last week. The "kids" love it. in reply to mattmckee 22:34:57, 2010-07-13
We added another new author on Kidmin1124.com today. More coming soon! – http://bit.ly/99y9s9 #kidmin #cmconnect 20:39:52, 2010-07-13
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Ps 3:3 – I love that picture-a baby's head in a father's hands. 15:06:28, 2010-07-13
@TonyKummer Don't forget the laser light show and the indoor fireworks. in reply to TonyKummer 15:01:37, 2010-07-13
Backing up waynestocks.com and Kidmin1124.com today. When I signed on this morning and it said "site not found," that was motivation enough. 15:01:00, 2010-07-13
@kidologist I'm with you on that one. Once Verizon has the IPhone, then I will seriously consider it. in reply to kidologist 14:59:27, 2010-07-13
RT @Barbaragraves: How do you teach initiative? Can you? // Not sure you can "teach it" per se, but you can definitely model it! 12:45:07, 2010-07-13
RT @kidmin1124 No Excuses | Kidmin1124 http://bit.ly/ae3BeJ #kidmin #cmconnect // What excuses are you making for not getting things done? 12:35:44, 2010-07-13
@mattmckee Might be a good opportunity for the new company. If you do go, maybe I'll see you there. in reply to mattmckee 10:24:57, 2010-07-13
New blog post: I Guess It Was Time http://bit.ly/cg3Pwi #kidmin 09:00:02, 2010-07-13
RT @Kidmin1124: Kidmin1124: No Excuses http://xq3az.th8.us #kidmin // Check out the very first post from @pastorjaredm 08:55:09, 2010-07-13
@kennyconley I don't know, but with all the hoopla over the Lost TV Show, maybe there is a future for Sir Topam Hatt and the gang. in reply to kennyconley 22:46:17, 2010-07-12
@henryjz Praying for you guys. in reply to henryjz 18:25:59, 2010-07-12
The things we do for our kids…my wife is on her way now to pick up a dog from the pound for my nine year old. Thus ends 7 yrs of begging. 15:47:27, 2010-07-12
@rogerfields Are you sure they were guessing Jim Wideman and not just suggesting that he would logically be part of the celebration? in reply to rogerfields 15:26:36, 2010-07-12
@SpencerClick Who knew way back when we started letting our fingers do the walking that they would eventually start doing the winking too? in reply to SpencerClick 12:21:52, 2010-07-12
Really excited about some of the new writers coming on board at Kidmin1124.com, along with the great ones we already have, I'm elated! 11:46:49, 2010-07-12
@rogerfields I assume there is going to be a big celebration complete with a Tie-Dyed cake & streamers & maybe some Lynryd Skynyrd, right? in reply to rogerfields 11:44:37, 2010-07-12
New blog post: Monday Morning Prophecy #35 – The Messiah Would be Rejected by The Jews http://bit.ly/duF0IG #kidmin 09:01:58, 2010-07-12
@danscott77 Early to bed.. early to paint…no wait a minute, that's not it! in reply to danscott77 23:14:06, 2010-07-11
@prodigaljohn …don't look back. You can never look back. – Love that song! in reply to prodigaljohn 19:44:57, 2010-07-11
Going to go now and try to impact some kids for Christ. Praying that God would work in me and through me this morning. #kidmin 09:37:15, 2010-07-11
@SpencerClick Yeah. That's no way to get it started. So much better to build momentum with the good stuff before the problems role in. in reply to SpencerClick 09:36:01, 2010-07-11
@SpencerClick I didn't know there was another way to start a day. I'm am "forced" morning person at best and a whiny one at worst. in reply to SpencerClick 09:33:25, 2010-07-11
New blog post: Wayne's Weekly Twitter Digest – 2010-07-04 to 2010-07-10 http://bit.ly/amXY67 #kidmin 00:12:26, 2010-07-11

Bible Cheat Codes

Wayne — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:00:34 +0000

What if? What if your kids would get there heads out of a video game a discover the excitement that is the Word of God. This great video frmo Bible Society Youth takes a look at that world. My favorite moment is in the story of David and Goliath where the narrator says, “It’s like he had some sort of cheat code.”

more about “Bible Cheat Codes – posted by Mark, K…“, posted with vodpod

Does Quality Time Always Have to Be Spiritual Time?

Wayne — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

The first day of the CM Expo was great! While I am having a blast networking and checking out all the latest and greatest that kidmin has to offer at the CM Expo this week, here is another article I wrote several weeks ago which was published on Ministry-to-Children.com. The article titled Does Quality Time Always Have to Be Spiritual Time? was published on June 7, 2010.

Brief Synopsis: We don’t always have to share the gospel with kids in order to show them the love of Jesus. In this article, I share about a time I spent just chatting with a kid about his life which was as spiritual as anything I’ve ever done.

Click here to read the entire article!

You can find all the articles I’ve published on Ministry-to-Children.com at this page.

Why Life Isn’t Supposed to Be Fair

Wayne — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

While I am having a blast networking and checking out all the latest and greatest that kidmin has to offer at the CM Expo this week, here is another article I wrote several weeks ago which was published on Ministry-to-Children.com. The article titled Life Is Not Fair (and Neither Is God) was published on June 4, 2010.

Brief Synopsis: This article tackles the common misperception in our culture that life is supposed to be fair and explains that God never intended for life to be fair.

Click here to read the entire article!

You can find all the articles I’ve published on Ministry-to-Children.com at this page.

A Fun Idea for Kids’ Offering Time

Wayne — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

I’m heading off to the CM Expo this week, so it seemed like a good time to get caught up on telling you about some articles I’ve written over the last several weeks which were published on Ministry-to-Children.com. The article titled Why Not Have Fun with Your Kids Church Offering? was published on May 25, 2010.

Brief Synopsis: In this article, I share a tool which we’ve started using in our children’s ministry to make offering a little more fun. It’s been a couple of months since I wrote the original article, and I am glad to say the kids are having as much fun as ever with their offering time at church!

Click here to read the entire article!

You can find all the articles I’ve published on Ministry-to-Children.com at this page.

I Guess It Was Time

Wayne — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Nine years ago this past April, my son Jacob was born. It’s hard to believe that it’s actually been that long. As a young boy (somewhere around 2 or 3), Jacob developed a strong affinity for two things: horses and dogs. Along with that, Jacob is a talker. I don’t mean that in any sort of bad way, Jacob has just always been talkative. Whether it was yelling at people who wouldn’t talk to him in the grocery store when he was 8 months old, or making new friends with the people in the booth next to us at a restaurant when he was 18 months, or inviting our waitress at Bob Evans to come to our house for Christmas morning when he was four, Jacob has always liked to talk. My reply when people tell me that Jacob talks a lot is always that he started talking when he was eight months old, and he hasn’t stopped yet. As a proud Dad, most of the time I like hearing him talk (most of the time:)). One of my great joys in life is listening to him to talk to other people about God.

So, what you might ask does talking have to do with horses and dogs? Well, for roughly seven years now, I have listened to Jacob talk about how much he loves them both. His obsession with horses was pretty easy to take care of. Our house has a couple of acres of land, but we don’t have the facilities to have a horse, and Jacob accepted that pretty early in life. So, every summer, he heads off to horse camp to renew his love for horses and riding and to get his “horse fix.” Even when all his little friends decided that riding horses was for girls, he still held out and explained to them all about the cowboys and how he plans to move to Texas when he gets older and be a cowboy himself. Like I said, horses were easy.

But, dogs, those infernal dogs kept coming up. Every Christmas – every birthday – every time someone walked by outside with a furry canine, I heard about dogs. I don’t dislike dogs. I actually quite like them. I tell people that, “I like dogs – other people’s dogs – a lot!” But, I also enjoyed the fact that, at the moment, we were blissfully pet free. No messes to clean up, no food to buy, no odd noises in the middle night – well at least none of the four legged variety. I have a wife, four kids, a ministry, a job and a pretty busy life. I struggle to find quiet time as it is, and the last thing I need to throw into that mix is a dog. I’ve never actually owned a dog either, and I wasn’t entirely sure that I ever wanted to. We grew up with cats, and I had a number of cats as an adult. Cats are easy. Give them a bowl of food, and let them think they own the place, and you’re pretty well set. Other than changing the litter box once a week and feeding them, cats are pretty much self-sufficient. Dogs on the other hand, oy-vey!

So, I’m certain you know where this is going! There is something about looking into your child’s eyes for years and seeing disappointment and hurt that eventually trumps your own desires not to do something. With some godly prompting from my wife, who is not a dog person herself, I finally realized that it was time to give in and start the process of looking for a dog. Now, I waxed eloquently about how this was going to be a process, and how we were going to take our time and make sure we found the right dog, and how we were going to have everything prepared for a dog before we ever brought it home. It was quite a speech if I do say so myself. That was on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, I somewhat reluctantly agreed to go the animal shelter “just to look around.” By the time we left, we had a 24 hour hold on the dog, and Monday afternoon, my wife went and picked him up. That’s him in the picture at the beginning of this post. His shelter name was Elvis, which lasted only long enough for me to announce that we should proclaim that:

Elvis has left the building!

as we picked him up at the shelter. His name was quickly changed to Chance because, as my son explained, he never thought there was any chance he would actually get a dog. I think it may have something to do with a movie he saw as well, but that isn’t nearly as interesting as stories go.

He’s a cute little guy. He’s not mine! Technically he belongs to Jacob which means Jacob gets to walk him, and clean up various messes, and shovel doggie by-products out of the back yard. I just get to feed him and pay for a whole bunch of stuff. Already, though, in the short time that he’s been home, he has brought me tremendous joy – not because I wanted a dog, but because I get to see the unmitigated joy and love in my son’s eyes when he runs and plays with that mutt. And, I get to watch as Jacob (and his siblings) grow attached to Chance. As I sat there watching tonight (last night as you read this), I began to think that this must be something like how God must feel when we finally get what we need most. We don’t beg for it like Jacob did for this dog. In fact, we tend to resist it as much as possible. But, when we finally get what we need most – a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – and our eyes are opened to true love, I think God must experience a joy far greater than the one I did last night just sitting back and watching my kids play with their new dog.

Monday Morning Prophecy #35 – The Messiah Would be Rejected by The Jews

Wayne — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:00:25 +0000

Introduction

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve looked at a number of people who rejected Jesus. The Old Testament also clearly prophesies that the Jewish people would reject their Messiah.

Old Testament Prophecy

But I said, “I have labored to no purpose;
I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.
Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand,
and my reward is with my God.” [Isaiah 49:4 NIV]

All day long I have held out my hands
to an obstinate people,
who walk in ways not good,
pursuing their own imaginations- [Isaiah 65:2 NIV]

New Testament Fulfillment

When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? they asked. Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things? And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor. And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. [Matthew 13:53-58 NIV]

Haven’t you read this scripture: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; [Mark 12:10 NIV]

Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews? Pilate asked them. Crucify him! they shouted. Why? What crime has he committed? asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, Crucify him! Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. [Mark 15:9-15 NIV]

All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. [Luke 4:28-29 NIV]

But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. [Luke 17:25 NIV]

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. [John 1:11 NIV]

So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. [John 5:16 NIV]

Return to the Monday Morning Prophecy index page.

Image courtesy of Abby Reed

Wayne’s Weekly Twitter Digest – 2010-07-04 to 2010-07-10

Wayne — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 04:05:00 +0000

@kidologist Anytime brother. Anytime! in reply to kidologist 21:02:21, 2010-07-10
@kidologist You let me know when you're coming & I'll clean out the various toys & wrappers my kids have accumulated under the cushions. in reply to kidologist 15:21:25, 2010-07-10
New blog post: Tithe Rap http://bit.ly/933CS0 #kidmin 10:01:35, 2010-07-10
@henryjz I like it. Go figure! You may want to "clean up" the side bar a bit, but it's looking good. in reply to henryjz 01:35:33, 2010-07-10

@samluce #apple bumper sounds like one of those safety devices we had around the house when the kids were younger! in reply to samluce 00:11:08, 2010-07-10
Your odds are good right now of winning a free copy of @LShallenberger book "Lead the Way God Made You:" http://bit.ly/bOTwLz. 23:31:14, 2010-07-09
Alrighty. It's time to put the final touches on the lesson for Sunday – I love the story of the good Samaritan. #kidmin 19:14:30, 2010-07-09
RT @evdoyle: I'm very sure God gave accountants an extra dose of patience. #numbersmakemyheadhurt // My kids might disagree sometimes. 19:09:59, 2010-07-09
Is @kidologist going to come sleep on each of our couches and teach us in our living rooms? I wish! #kidmin #kidology #cmconnect 19:09:28, 2010-07-09
@SavedSister7 2 out of three ain't bad. Is the movie anything good? in reply to SavedSister7 19:06:54, 2010-07-09
RT @johnincolorado: should i get another twitter account & RT myself often? I'll get rich & famous (& annoying)//Thought I'd get you started 12:20:56, 2010-07-09
RT @mattmckee: I just ousted @ouiser as the mayor of ReThink Offices on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/8ZYjf8// Uh oh! New guy takes over fast! 10:24:53, 2010-07-09
New blog post: Them People Ain't So Smart! (Children's Ministry Moment #10) http://bit.ly/9vvQLZ #kidmin 09:00:29, 2010-07-09
@KidsWantAnswers Would you please follow me so I can send you a direct message. I'd like to ask you about something. Thanks. 00:57:03, 2010-07-09
Just sent my wife a long e-mail about my plans for the CM Expo. Glad she's coming along, and no all of our comm. is not by email. #kidmin 00:53:47, 2010-07-09
@johnincolorado I even have trouble with the college game anymore. I can almost stomach March Madness, but that's about it. in reply to johnincolorado 00:50:55, 2010-07-09
@johnincolorado My 17 yr. old son loves the game. I have a good time giving him grief about it. He probably is distraught about it. in reply to johnincolorado 00:35:03, 2010-07-09
@johnincolorado orange ball + small basket + oversized men + slapping at ball up and down court = incredibly boring game. I'm not distraught in reply to johnincolorado 00:31:07, 2010-07-09
@jimwideman Seems like the last thing on that list has to be, "turn off computer." in reply to jimwideman 00:27:11, 2010-07-09
Spent 2 hrs tonight playing Wipeout on the Wii w/ my 7 yr old daughter. It was a blast! Not sure which was more fun – the game or her laugh. 23:57:15, 2010-07-08
Reading the book of Job and pondering how guilty I may be of multiplying words without wisdom. 18:28:29, 2010-07-08
@SavedSister7 Thxs to you @CommanderBill, @pastorjaredm, @JohnFoleyIII and @Barbaragraves for being part. Hopefully more will join us soon! in reply to SavedSister7 16:33:54, 2010-07-08
@jcisonline Congrats on the new position. Of course, by 5th and 6th grade, they're almost your age, but I'm sure you'll make do. in reply to jcisonline 16:31:42, 2010-07-08
RT @EffectiveCM: What is "fun"? #kidmin http://bit.ly/dff9bB // This is a great read! Thanks @linpearson 16:28:24, 2010-07-08
Post from a brand new author on Kidmin1124.com tomorrow. You could be next! http://bit.ly/dnhu6l #kidmin #cmconnect 15:41:54, 2010-07-08
@OrangeLeaders I check them a couple of times a day. Otherwise, I get too far behind. I've gotten fairly adept at locating the good stuff. in reply to OrangeLeaders 14:36:29, 2010-07-08
Who wants to join me in the Go Dark Challenge this year? Check here for details: http://bit.ly/b20Vo7 #kidmin #godark 13:29:47, 2010-07-08
New blog post: What Matters Now in Children's Ministry – Redemption by @SamLuce http://bit.ly/cbXZbo #kidmin #wmnkidmin 09:01:02, 2010-07-08
@funnymandan That's a relief. I was worried about the whole order of the universe. I'll sleep better knowing that you're still the funny one in reply to funnymandan 08:01:03, 2010-07-08
I want to publicly thank the Kidmin1124.com team. It's a great group of people, and I am blessed to know them! #kidmin #cmconnect 23:32:13, 2010-07-07
@funnymandan Shall we start sending tweets to @notsofunnymandan? in reply to funnymandan 21:50:24, 2010-07-07
@adolan That sounds fascinating. I would love to hear more about it. Perhaps a blog post? in reply to adolan 21:49:39, 2010-07-07
@jimwideman I hope when my daughter is a young woman that she still wants to go on Daddy/Daughter dates. I think that's awesome! in reply to jimwideman 19:14:56, 2010-07-07
RT @jimwideman: @stocksohio wayne bring em all over to the couch @ #jimwideman // You bet! I'm looking forward to it. 17:38:39, 2010-07-07
I think it must be time to go home! 16:53:15, 2010-07-07
@CommanderBill …also have @yancynotnancy, @SavedSister7, @amyfentonlee, and @TameraKraft. Looking forward to seeing you guy. in reply to CommanderBill 15:21:58, 2010-07-07
@CommanderBill I've already got you on the list plus @jimwideman, @rogerfields, @gina_mcclain, @michaelchanley, @TonyKummer, @r_frank &…. in reply to CommanderBill 15:21:04, 2010-07-07
Writing an article for Kidmin1124.com for tomorrow on the #CMExpo. Who's going to be there? I would love to add you to the list. #kidmin 14:58:24, 2010-07-07
We got our first response re: writing for Kidmin1124.com today – Are you interested? Check it out: http://bit.ly/dnhu6l #kidmin #cmconnect 13:43:50, 2010-07-07
Just realized a comment I left on @Kidmin1124 is actually longer than the article. oops. – http://bit.ly/aKtGFv #kidmin #kidmin1124 12:27:43, 2010-07-07
@gina_mcclain I guess I can throw away this credit card app then. in reply to gina_mcclain 09:44:59, 2010-07-07
Thanks to @danscott77 for this reminder to parents about where our focus should be: http://j.mp/cnFSYm #kidmin #parenting 09:42:27, 2010-07-07
All parents need to read the last 2 posts from @samluce on internet safety: http://bit.ly/c0dKAy & http://bit.ly/buFwMG #kidmin #parenting 09:40:29, 2010-07-07
New blog post: LEAD THE WAY GOD MADE YOU by LARRY SHALLENBERGER (a Dad in the Middle Review) http://bit.ly/9qub3I #kidmin 08:25:29, 2010-07-07
Good stuff guys. I did note the utter lack of silly string though. #backstagefun 22:48:11, 2010-07-06
@gina_mcclain It's always special when a family experiences a new arrival. We'll expect pictures. in reply to gina_mcclain 21:27:03, 2010-07-06
About to watch Wipeout on TiVo with the kids. It's one of our favorite times of the week! 20:56:20, 2010-07-06
RT @kidmin1124 Calling All Kidmin – Here is your chance to be part of Kidmin1124 – http://bit.ly/b1gjmu #kidmin #kidmin1124 17:07:32, 2010-07-06
@samluce @brennap Thanks for the retweets re: The Children’s Ministry Blog Patrol (June 2010) http://bit.ly/9xCllt #kidmin #cmconnect in reply to samluce 14:31:55, 2010-07-06
RT @pastorjaredm: I'm giving away 3 free CDs…: http://wp.me/pOOoN-36 #kidmin // Check out the rest of Jared's blog while you're there. 13:40:56, 2010-07-06
@LShallenberger My review will be sched. for 8:00 tomorrow morning on http://waynestocks.com unless I hear otherwise. Thx 4 the opportunity. 12:44:33, 2010-07-06
Vanessa registered just under the gun & won the God's Kids Worship CDs from Dad in the Middle. Look for another giveaway tomorrow! #kidmin 12:42:19, 2010-07-06
New blog post: The Children’s Ministry Blog Patrol (June 2010) http://bit.ly/9xCllt #kidmin #cmconnect #blogpatrol 09:01:19, 2010-07-06
@SavedSister7 I'm catching up on TiVo now. Looks like it's going to be a good one! in reply to SavedSister7 22:51:04, 2010-07-05
@toddmckee Here I was afraid it was going to be something like this: http://yfrog.com/5zjziuj http://yfrog.com/mcv0bj in reply to toddmckee 20:05:51, 2010-07-05
Only 13 more hours to win 3 free Kids Worship CDs. Find out how you can win: http://wp.me/pN5Ju-10v #kidmin #cmconnect #freestuff 19:57:28, 2010-07-05
@mattmckee That's the way 2 eat. Went 2 Bob Evans last night & watched my son (9) dip everything on his plate in syrup & honey b4 eating it. in reply to mattmckee 17:38:05, 2010-07-05
New blog post: Monday Morning Prophecy #34 – The Messiah Would Be Rejected by His Own http://bit.ly/9KTNz0 #kidmin 09:01:39, 2010-07-05
@Barbaragraves And, for the record, my 17 yr. old was as excited, if not more, than any of them to see Toy Story 3. Great family moment. in reply to Barbaragraves 00:24:36, 2010-07-05
@Barbaragraves I think that's what got me. My oldest (17) had a room full of the stuff. So did my 9, 7 & now 3 yr. old. They all love it. in reply to Barbaragraves 00:23:47, 2010-07-05
I'm really excited about the next six weeks in #kidmin – CMX, VBS, cont. of Kidmin1124.com, and August looks like it will fun! 23:45:30, 2010-07-04
@Barbaragraves OK. I admit it. It got me 2. The 1 thing that gets me in movies is when they get me thinking about my own kids growing up. in reply to Barbaragraves 23:41:20, 2010-07-04
@kidologist Ouch! Hope you feel better soon. Not the kind of fireworks you want on the 4th, is it? in reply to kidologist 18:29:09, 2010-07-04
@funnymandan Good Luck! in reply to funnymandan 18:27:40, 2010-07-04
Spending my 4th of July afternoon working on #kidmin lessons for the next couple of months and having a great time! 15:58:16, 2010-07-04
I love Sundays! 09:40:25, 2010-07-04
Still time to win 3 free kids worship Cds from God's Kids Worship: You have until Tues morning to enter: http://bit.ly/a3ZkZ4 #kidmin 00:55:20, 2010-07-04
Teaching kids tomorrow about Jesus' command to go the extra mile! Praying that God will help me to do the same! #kidmin 00:46:45, 2010-07-04
@adolan I still owe you an e-mail. I haven't forgotten. Just procrastinated. in reply to adolan 00:34:37, 2010-07-04
New blog post: Wayne's Weekly Twitter Digest – 2010-06-27 to 2010-07-03 http://bit.ly/axr1GH #kidmin 00:11:56, 2010-07-04

Tithe Rap

Wayne — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:00:47 +0000

What do you get when you cross a group of accountants with a church and The Sugar Hill Gang?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwfMMN71xUw

No related posts.

Them People Ain’t So Smart! (Children’s Ministry Moment #10)

Wayne — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

I haven’t posted a Children’s Ministry Moment in a while so I thought I would share one of my favorite stories from my own son and his Children’s Ministry Lesson. Several years ago, when Jacob was five or six, I picked him up after church as usual. I asked what they had talked about that day, and he told me they learned about when Saul met Jesus and Jesus renamed him Paul. He explained that Saul was traveling on a road to go somewhere when he met Jesus. He couldn’t quite come up with the name of the place Saul was traveling to. I offered up the Saul was traveling to Damascus.

“That’s right,” he said, “Saul was going to Damascus. They call it that because the people there were stupider than anybody else.”

There you have it – Biblical geography through the eyes of a child!

Return to the Children’s Ministry Moments index page.