June 8
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Coaching leaders to realize and fulfill their shape and potential
Hebrews 10:24
Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds.
Quote:
“A good leader takes people where they want to go and ought to be, but a great leader takes people where they don't want to go but ought to be.” unknown
How is your serving experience? Are you excited about the opportunities God will give you each week? Do you anticipate coming in on Sundays (or whatever the day of the week is that you serve)? Are you energized at the end of it?
As a Kid Crossing volunteer we want you to fulfill your shape and potential. When we say shape, we're basically talking about the way God wired you. Your Spiritual gifts, your heart, your abilities, your past experiences, and your experience. We believe that when you put all of those things together in your serving role, you'll be energized and empowered. And you'll be serving just where God wants you!
I once had a volunteer who wasn't sure that they would do very good working with kids. This individual wasn't sure what they could do to make a difference. So we talked and tried out a couple of things. We pushed the boundaries of her comfort zone a little bit. And you know what? This individual became a great Kid Crossing volunteer. She impacted many kids lives. Once we found the serving opportunity that fit her shape there was no stopping her.
My question for you this week, and as we go into this summer is are you using your full shape and potential? Are you excited and energized? If so, you are in a great spot! Keep serving God and changing lives! If not, talk with me or another KC Director. Let us help you find just the right spot to serve. When you are serving God by using your shape and fulfilling your potential, the eternal impact you will make will no no bounds!
Question for this week:
Am I using my shape and potential to change lives at Crossroads?
If I am, who can I lead to join me in changing kids lives? If not, who can I talk to so that I can use my shape and potential to change kids lives?
Showing posts with label VIP time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label VIP time. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Friday, June 06, 2008
Practice #6
June 1
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Investing in others through open and honest relationships
Pilippians 2:4
Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.
Quote:
“One thing for sure, if you see a turtle on top of a fence post you know he had help getting there.” unknown
One of our values in Kid Crossing is building relationships. We can't go through life on our own. Crossroads is not a small church where everyone knows everything about everyone else. Relationships very rarely just happen on their own. We have to intentionally build relationships for both kids and adults. We have to invest time and effort into building relationships.
One way to get connected and invest in others is through your serving team and in your small group. Do you know the other people you serve with? Do they know you? We always have places to be and things to do, but take a few minutes each week to chat with those you serve. Get to know them. It will make a difference in your serving experience and maybe even in your life. If you are not in a small group, find one or start one. Maybe you'll even want to start one with the people you serve with. Being part of a serving team or a small group means you'll have people around you to help you celebrate the good times and get through the tough times. If you'd like help getting hooked up in a small group talk to Melonie, Shari, or Lee and we'd be happy to help you find a place to plug in.
Investing in kids is one of the main reasons you are here! Investing through relationships means a lot more than just hanging out with them on Sunday morning. Connect with them through the week. Find out what's going on in their lives. Pray for them. Share celebrations and disappointments with them. We actually have plans to help you begin to intentionally build relationships with your kids, beginning with our K-5 small group shepherds. We're really excited about this, and you'll be hearing more about it in the upcoming weeks. We think it will make a huge difference for some of you, and the ability you will have to connect with your kids!
For some of you investing in others comes naturally, for others it will mean extra effort. But in the end, it will be more than worth it!
Question for this week:
Who am I investing in and building open, honest relationships with?
How can I invest in the lives of the kids I serve this summer, other than during small group time on Sunday Mornings?
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Investing in others through open and honest relationships
Pilippians 2:4
Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.
Quote:
“One thing for sure, if you see a turtle on top of a fence post you know he had help getting there.” unknown
One of our values in Kid Crossing is building relationships. We can't go through life on our own. Crossroads is not a small church where everyone knows everything about everyone else. Relationships very rarely just happen on their own. We have to intentionally build relationships for both kids and adults. We have to invest time and effort into building relationships.
One way to get connected and invest in others is through your serving team and in your small group. Do you know the other people you serve with? Do they know you? We always have places to be and things to do, but take a few minutes each week to chat with those you serve. Get to know them. It will make a difference in your serving experience and maybe even in your life. If you are not in a small group, find one or start one. Maybe you'll even want to start one with the people you serve with. Being part of a serving team or a small group means you'll have people around you to help you celebrate the good times and get through the tough times. If you'd like help getting hooked up in a small group talk to Melonie, Shari, or Lee and we'd be happy to help you find a place to plug in.
Investing in kids is one of the main reasons you are here! Investing through relationships means a lot more than just hanging out with them on Sunday morning. Connect with them through the week. Find out what's going on in their lives. Pray for them. Share celebrations and disappointments with them. We actually have plans to help you begin to intentionally build relationships with your kids, beginning with our K-5 small group shepherds. We're really excited about this, and you'll be hearing more about it in the upcoming weeks. We think it will make a huge difference for some of you, and the ability you will have to connect with your kids!
For some of you investing in others comes naturally, for others it will mean extra effort. But in the end, it will be more than worth it!
Question for this week:
Who am I investing in and building open, honest relationships with?
How can I invest in the lives of the kids I serve this summer, other than during small group time on Sunday Mornings?
Practice #5
May 25
Note: Going to Reston and then getting ready to leave for Vacation, really messed up my brain. Trying to catch up again!
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Trusting God for the impossible, the unknown, and the unseen
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don't depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success.
Quote:
“Act as though it were impossible to fail.” Winston Churchill
I'm reading a book called “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snow Day” by Mark Batterson. It's based on the acts of a dude named Benaiah, in 2 Samuel 23:20-21. Basically he kileed to of Moabs mightiest warriors, fought and killed a lion in a pit, on a snowy day, and killed an Egyptian warrior when the warrior had a spear and Benaiah only had a club. Benaiah goes on to become the captain of David's army. A pretty impressive story. But the point the author is making is that we have to trust God enough to face the impossible, the unknown, and the unseen. Because those experiences just might prepare us for something bigger and better that God has in mind. Benaiah acted like it was impossible to fail and he succeeded
Thankfully I don't think any of us are going to run into angry warriors, or lions in a pit, on a snow day. But we do face challenges. You face challenges at home, at work, and in serving at Crossroads. The question is will you run away from the challenges, or will you trust God completely, for the impossible, the unknown, and the unseen?
Proverbs 3:5-6 has been my favorite Bible verse for many years. It's so easy to start relying on ourselves, on what we know, and what we can control. But it also then becomes so easy to avoid our challenges and opportunities. The only way we can truly act as though it's impossible to fail is by completely trusting God. The only way we'll win our battles with lions, in pits, on snow days, is by letting God lead and guide us. Because if I went on my own understanding, I wouldn't be getting anywhere near that pit or the lion!
Question for this week:
Am I trusting God and letting Him lead my life?
What are my lions that I need to conquer and with God's help act as though it's impossible to fail?
Note: Going to Reston and then getting ready to leave for Vacation, really messed up my brain. Trying to catch up again!
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Trusting God for the impossible, the unknown, and the unseen
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don't depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success.
Quote:
“Act as though it were impossible to fail.” Winston Churchill
I'm reading a book called “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snow Day” by Mark Batterson. It's based on the acts of a dude named Benaiah, in 2 Samuel 23:20-21. Basically he kileed to of Moabs mightiest warriors, fought and killed a lion in a pit, on a snowy day, and killed an Egyptian warrior when the warrior had a spear and Benaiah only had a club. Benaiah goes on to become the captain of David's army. A pretty impressive story. But the point the author is making is that we have to trust God enough to face the impossible, the unknown, and the unseen. Because those experiences just might prepare us for something bigger and better that God has in mind. Benaiah acted like it was impossible to fail and he succeeded
Thankfully I don't think any of us are going to run into angry warriors, or lions in a pit, on a snow day. But we do face challenges. You face challenges at home, at work, and in serving at Crossroads. The question is will you run away from the challenges, or will you trust God completely, for the impossible, the unknown, and the unseen?
Proverbs 3:5-6 has been my favorite Bible verse for many years. It's so easy to start relying on ourselves, on what we know, and what we can control. But it also then becomes so easy to avoid our challenges and opportunities. The only way we can truly act as though it's impossible to fail is by completely trusting God. The only way we'll win our battles with lions, in pits, on snow days, is by letting God lead and guide us. Because if I went on my own understanding, I wouldn't be getting anywhere near that pit or the lion!
Question for this week:
Am I trusting God and letting Him lead my life?
What are my lions that I need to conquer and with God's help act as though it's impossible to fail?
Friday, May 16, 2008
Practice #4 - May 18
May 18, 2008
V.I.P.
(Vision. Information. Prayer.)
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Creating an exciting, fun learning environment with excellence
Mark 2:22
No one ever pours new wine into old leather bags. Otherwise, the new wine will break the bags, and the win will be ruined along with the bags. But new wine should be put into new leather bags.
Quote:
“If you want to succeed, you should strike out on new paths rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.” John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Create an exciting, fun learning environment:
Kids want fun and excitement, but you know what? So do adults! We're really the same. Have you ever sat through a boring meeting, lecture, or presentation? How much did you learn? If you're like me you zoned out, planned the rest of your day, or thought about something that was much more interesting. Now think about something you did that was fun and exciting? Where was your attention? In your planner or email? Or was it focused on what was happening?
We have got to create exciting and fun learning environments for our kids. What we have to teach these kids is so incredibly important that we don't want to make it dull and boring. We are impacting their futures and their eternities! If you are having fun and feeling excited about your serving experience, than keep up the great work. If you're not, talk to us, let's work together to better create a fun and exciting environment OR help you find a different place that is fun and exciting for you. Because it begins with you. If you are having fun, the kids will too!
With Excellence:
My greatest desire for each of you in your volunteer roles is that you fulfill your role with excellence. Excellence means doing the best you can do. It does not mean perfection. None of us are perfect, so that's out of the question. But God deserves our best. Our kids deserve our best. Let's give them our best! Whether you're setting up, presenting the lesson, working with a small group, or doing potty breaks, do it with Excellence and watch how lives are changed!
Question for this week:
Are you creating an exciting, fun learning environment with EXCELLENCE? If not, what do we need to change?
V.I.P.
(Vision. Information. Prayer.)
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Creating an exciting, fun learning environment with excellence
Mark 2:22
No one ever pours new wine into old leather bags. Otherwise, the new wine will break the bags, and the win will be ruined along with the bags. But new wine should be put into new leather bags.
Quote:
“If you want to succeed, you should strike out on new paths rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.” John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Create an exciting, fun learning environment:
Kids want fun and excitement, but you know what? So do adults! We're really the same. Have you ever sat through a boring meeting, lecture, or presentation? How much did you learn? If you're like me you zoned out, planned the rest of your day, or thought about something that was much more interesting. Now think about something you did that was fun and exciting? Where was your attention? In your planner or email? Or was it focused on what was happening?
We have got to create exciting and fun learning environments for our kids. What we have to teach these kids is so incredibly important that we don't want to make it dull and boring. We are impacting their futures and their eternities! If you are having fun and feeling excited about your serving experience, than keep up the great work. If you're not, talk to us, let's work together to better create a fun and exciting environment OR help you find a different place that is fun and exciting for you. Because it begins with you. If you are having fun, the kids will too!
With Excellence:
My greatest desire for each of you in your volunteer roles is that you fulfill your role with excellence. Excellence means doing the best you can do. It does not mean perfection. None of us are perfect, so that's out of the question. But God deserves our best. Our kids deserve our best. Let's give them our best! Whether you're setting up, presenting the lesson, working with a small group, or doing potty breaks, do it with Excellence and watch how lives are changed!
Question for this week:
Are you creating an exciting, fun learning environment with EXCELLENCE? If not, what do we need to change?
Practice #3 - May 11
May 11, 2008
V.I.P.
(Vision. Information. Prayer.)
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Affirming, honoring, and valuing others through authentic leadership.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing
I bet it was amazing to be one of the twelve disciples. Talk about authentic leadership! Jesus was the BEST at affirming, honoring and valuing His team. He praised them and He coached them. He even had to reprimand them on occasion. The disciples respected Him and loved Him because of the leader he was.
My mom also makes me think of authentic leadership. I don't think there has ever been anyone as affirming, honoring, and valuing to me as my mom. Mom's are like that. Mom's are great leaders.
In Kid Crossing, the Director Team and I value our volunteers more than we can ever express. There is no way we could begin to change and impact kids' and families' lives without you guys. It is our goal to affirm and value you. We will do our best to provide you with authentic leadership; to let you know when you're doing something well, and to coach you in ways you can do your job even better.
You are also leaders. Many of you directly lead groups of kids. Just like the Bible verse today says, you need to encourage and build up the kids you influence. Let them know you value them. Affirm them on Sundays, but also throughout the week. Maybe it's a phone call, an email, or a note in the mail. Kids love to get stuff like that.
Make it your goal this week to affirm, value, and honor each person you come in contact with this week. Whether it's your child, or the cashier at Meijer, show them authentic leadership. You will be leading, even if it's only to get the cashier to smile !
Question for this week:
How will you affirm, value and honor the kids you interact with, or the people who look to you as a leader?
Quote:
“Definition of an arch: Two weaknesses leaning against each other to make a strength” - Leonardo Divinci
V.I.P.
(Vision. Information. Prayer.)
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Affirming, honoring, and valuing others through authentic leadership.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing
I bet it was amazing to be one of the twelve disciples. Talk about authentic leadership! Jesus was the BEST at affirming, honoring and valuing His team. He praised them and He coached them. He even had to reprimand them on occasion. The disciples respected Him and loved Him because of the leader he was.
My mom also makes me think of authentic leadership. I don't think there has ever been anyone as affirming, honoring, and valuing to me as my mom. Mom's are like that. Mom's are great leaders.
In Kid Crossing, the Director Team and I value our volunteers more than we can ever express. There is no way we could begin to change and impact kids' and families' lives without you guys. It is our goal to affirm and value you. We will do our best to provide you with authentic leadership; to let you know when you're doing something well, and to coach you in ways you can do your job even better.
You are also leaders. Many of you directly lead groups of kids. Just like the Bible verse today says, you need to encourage and build up the kids you influence. Let them know you value them. Affirm them on Sundays, but also throughout the week. Maybe it's a phone call, an email, or a note in the mail. Kids love to get stuff like that.
Make it your goal this week to affirm, value, and honor each person you come in contact with this week. Whether it's your child, or the cashier at Meijer, show them authentic leadership. You will be leading, even if it's only to get the cashier to smile !
Question for this week:
How will you affirm, value and honor the kids you interact with, or the people who look to you as a leader?
Quote:
“Definition of an arch: Two weaknesses leaning against each other to make a strength” - Leonardo Divinci
Practice #2 - May 4
May 4, 2008
V.I.P.
(Vision. Information. Prayer.)
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Risking failure through innovation and reinvention of programs.
Joshua 1:9
I have commanded you, 'Be strong and courageous! Don't tremble or be terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.'
Thomas Edison, great inventor, set out to create an electric light. The first one he made didn't work. Neither did the second or the tenth, or the 100th or even the 1000th. But Edison didn't give up. He was willing to risk failure because he knew that eventually he would find the right combination of materials that would succeed, and that when he did succeed it would be a HUGE success. Each time his light bulb didn't work, he didn't look at it as a failure, he looked as it as a learning process. He now knew what wouldn't work! Each time he was one step closer to success. Finally, somewhere around the 10,000th time, he succeeded. And can you imagine how much greater his victory and his excitement then, than if it had worked the 2nd or 3rd time?
Edison wasn't afraid to risk failure and to reinvent and rework what he was doing until he got it right! He was just making light. How much more should we be willing to risk failure and keep working and reinventing when what we're working on, kids and families lives, their eternities are at stake?
The way we do things at Kid Crossing and at Crossroads rarely stays the same for very long. The reason is that we want to find the very best way to change lives for eternity. As we bring this school year to a close, and look towards the summer and next school year, we will be reinventing some aspects of what we do. Every time we do that we risk failure, but every time we fail, we can look at it as one step closer to achieving the ultimate success! Risking failure isn't easy. I HATE to fail! But the victory of success when we finally succeed makes taking that risk totally worth it!
Question for this week:
What are you willing to Risk failing at in order to make what you're doing better:
At church?
At home?
At work?
Quote:
“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in that gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt
V.I.P.
(Vision. Information. Prayer.)
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Risking failure through innovation and reinvention of programs.
Joshua 1:9
I have commanded you, 'Be strong and courageous! Don't tremble or be terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.'
Thomas Edison, great inventor, set out to create an electric light. The first one he made didn't work. Neither did the second or the tenth, or the 100th or even the 1000th. But Edison didn't give up. He was willing to risk failure because he knew that eventually he would find the right combination of materials that would succeed, and that when he did succeed it would be a HUGE success. Each time his light bulb didn't work, he didn't look at it as a failure, he looked as it as a learning process. He now knew what wouldn't work! Each time he was one step closer to success. Finally, somewhere around the 10,000th time, he succeeded. And can you imagine how much greater his victory and his excitement then, than if it had worked the 2nd or 3rd time?
Edison wasn't afraid to risk failure and to reinvent and rework what he was doing until he got it right! He was just making light. How much more should we be willing to risk failure and keep working and reinventing when what we're working on, kids and families lives, their eternities are at stake?
The way we do things at Kid Crossing and at Crossroads rarely stays the same for very long. The reason is that we want to find the very best way to change lives for eternity. As we bring this school year to a close, and look towards the summer and next school year, we will be reinventing some aspects of what we do. Every time we do that we risk failure, but every time we fail, we can look at it as one step closer to achieving the ultimate success! Risking failure isn't easy. I HATE to fail! But the victory of success when we finally succeed makes taking that risk totally worth it!
Question for this week:
What are you willing to Risk failing at in order to make what you're doing better:
At church?
At home?
At work?
Quote:
“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in that gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt
Practice #1 - April 27
April 27, 2008
V.I.P.
(Vision. Information. Prayer.)
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Protecting children with an uncompromising safety process.
Matthew 18:6
If one of these little children believes in me and someone causes that child to sin, then it will be very bad for that person. It would be better for him to have a large stone tied around his neck and be drowned in the sea.
In Kid Crossing we want kids to learn about Jesus, we want them to become Forever Friends with Him, and we want them to grow in their relationship with Him. But we want this all to happen while they are safe. Safety is a key concern for families. Safety covers a huge area in Kid Crossing. From check out, to bathrooms, to who's in your area, our policies are mainly developed around keeping both you and our kids safe.
I recently met with a children's ministry director from another church. One Sunday, not too long ago, she had one girl who passed out cold in the hallway. While people were around trying to help this girl, someone else came up and told this Director that a 2 year old had just had a seizure. After a lot of running, parents were called, 911 was called, and everything turned out OK in the end. But that conversation put things like two bathroom “accidents” in one area, into perspective for me. And helped to remind me that we've got some great systems in place to keep our kids safe and to help us when we have emergencies. We have a safety team and we have radios.
But that's just one way we keep our kids safe. We do it through background checks on volunteers, by checking out every child, no matter who they belong to, by asking strangers in our areas if we can help them, and by not giving out any information about a child to anyone. Obviously, God wants us to keep our kids safe. As we look at the Bible verse today, we see Jesus uses some pretty strong language about those who don't keep kids safe. Our systems and our kids safety is only as good as what we make it and how we work together to follow our policies. Thanks for the great job you doing caring for our kids and keeping them safe! Keep it up!
Question for this week:
Am I doing all I can in my volunteer role to Protect kids with uncompromising safety?
Quote:
“In God we trust, all others must be screened.”
V.I.P.
(Vision. Information. Prayer.)
P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. Definition: A custom or habit of doing something.
Protecting children with an uncompromising safety process.
Matthew 18:6
If one of these little children believes in me and someone causes that child to sin, then it will be very bad for that person. It would be better for him to have a large stone tied around his neck and be drowned in the sea.
In Kid Crossing we want kids to learn about Jesus, we want them to become Forever Friends with Him, and we want them to grow in their relationship with Him. But we want this all to happen while they are safe. Safety is a key concern for families. Safety covers a huge area in Kid Crossing. From check out, to bathrooms, to who's in your area, our policies are mainly developed around keeping both you and our kids safe.
I recently met with a children's ministry director from another church. One Sunday, not too long ago, she had one girl who passed out cold in the hallway. While people were around trying to help this girl, someone else came up and told this Director that a 2 year old had just had a seizure. After a lot of running, parents were called, 911 was called, and everything turned out OK in the end. But that conversation put things like two bathroom “accidents” in one area, into perspective for me. And helped to remind me that we've got some great systems in place to keep our kids safe and to help us when we have emergencies. We have a safety team and we have radios.
But that's just one way we keep our kids safe. We do it through background checks on volunteers, by checking out every child, no matter who they belong to, by asking strangers in our areas if we can help them, and by not giving out any information about a child to anyone. Obviously, God wants us to keep our kids safe. As we look at the Bible verse today, we see Jesus uses some pretty strong language about those who don't keep kids safe. Our systems and our kids safety is only as good as what we make it and how we work together to follow our policies. Thanks for the great job you doing caring for our kids and keeping them safe! Keep it up!
Question for this week:
Am I doing all I can in my volunteer role to Protect kids with uncompromising safety?
Quote:
“In God we trust, all others must be screened.”
V.I.P. time
We, the Kid Crossing directors, finally decided on a name for our Sunday morning gathering time. Actually we're using a name I learned from Promiseland at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. We're calling it V.I.P. time. One, because our volunteers ARE very important people. And two, because we giving Vision (V), Information (I), and Prayer (P) during that time.
Three weeks ago we started looking at volunteer P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E.s. These are included in the Kid Crossing volunteer handbook. I got these from Craig Jutila, and Saddelback's Children's Ministry. I will post them here as we add to them each week. The actual practice, Bible verse, and quote come from material from Saddleback. The random thoughts on each section are mine.
Three weeks ago we started looking at volunteer P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E.s. These are included in the Kid Crossing volunteer handbook. I got these from Craig Jutila, and Saddelback's Children's Ministry. I will post them here as we add to them each week. The actual practice, Bible verse, and quote come from material from Saddleback. The random thoughts on each section are mine.
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