If you’re a Journeyer you might be hearing a bit of this over the next few weeks.  We’re asking people to step up and become early birds on Sunday mornings.  Ugh, I know it’s tough, especially on Sundays, but we would love to make more room for visitors at the 11:00.  This Sunday we’ll be passing out a letter in Journey Kids sharing the exciting fact that the kids rooms are brimming with children learning about God and experiencing His love.  By coming to the 9:30 we’ll have more room for all of the kids that come.  Don’t miss the letter on Sunday!  See you then (at 9:15)  ;-)

What an awesome team of volunteers we have in the 4years-Kindergarten room!

Did you know?….

• that many of them serve for 4 weeks at a time?  They do this so they can connect better with the kids, give the kids consistently and because they love it!
• that Selena Radosa is the coach for that area and does an awesome job investing in and praying for the volunteers!
• that the kids learn one basic truth, one verse, and one song for the entire month through the different Bible stories that display these truths.  This helps the kids understand these things and keep them in their hearts.
• that some who can’t commit to one month on, two months off serve once a month as extra hands.  What’s extra hands?  They are in there to help with the activities and connect with the kids.  It’s a great choice for teens and busy parents.
• that they get to eat a snack?  Yep, sometimes there’s even cookies to decorate =)
• that the volunteers would love a “high five” or a thanks for loving and investing in your kids (of course they wouldn’t say it, but I’m sure they’d appreciate it!)
• that if you have a question about Journey Kids, you can stop anyone with a Journey Kids t-shirt and they’d be glad to help!

Did you know?…..that you can be a part of this team in Journey Kids? There are a few ways to get involved in this room, and the first step is checking it out for an hour!  Stop by the room on a Sunday morning and let us know you’d like to see what’s happening (or fill out that connect card on Sunday and write 4-K)

This is a great way to connect with your kids!  Even if it’s twice a year, see what your kids are doing and what’s important to them!

I bet you think I’m talking about a countdown to Christmas, but I’m not.

I’ll give you a few hints.  What I’m talking about will:

• Help Volunteers on Sunday Mornings
• Help Journeyers with kids
• Be a place to find out info on Journey Kids
• Be located at the Main Journey Kids Check-In Desk
• It’s A COUNTDOWN!

At The Journey we allow kids to be checked in early (we do computerized check-in that prints out labels for kids and parents).  Then it’s the parents job to get them to their rooms ~ BUT ~ we have so many awesome people that arrive early, sometimes the volunteers don’t have their coats off yet and the kids are wanting to come in the rooms.

SOLUTION: JOURNEY KIDS COUNTDOWN!

You’ll see in the next week or two a screen towering above the check-in with a countdown until you can drop your kids off in their rooms. After the countdown has finished we’ll have scrolling screens.  Now you’ll be able to know when it’s time (as well as let your kids know as long as they see the countdown, they have to wait!)

Check out this video from Matt Chandler.  He’s a pastor at a church (in Texas if I remember correctly).  Of course no one’s stories are ever the same, but wow, pretty close to what I just went through 10 weeks ago.  Please keep Matt and his family in your prayers.  He’s probably going through an intense recovery right now.  He has an awesome message for his church that is a great way to look at trials we face.

By the way, being 10 weeks past my surgery people ask how I’m feeling.  I’m feeling a lot different and I didn’t think I would.  Yeah, I know I had surgery because I have a sweet mullet to show for it, I’m having less headaches, am less anxious than I was and more than anything am excited that God is using me where I’m at.  I wouldn’t change a thing.

“Is it true that if someone who has committed a sin/crime so horrible and ask for forgiveness that they will in fact go to heaven?”

A sin is a sin….

Romans 3:23 says;

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We’ve all messed up.  If there were sins that were too bad to be forgiven, where would the cutoff be?  Those who only lied?  How would we know what was “too bad” to be forgiven?  We’ve all sinned and are separated from God.  He can’t stand sin.  As a matter of fact, because of our sin, we’re separated from God

Romans 6:23 says

²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

BUT the good thing amazing thing is that God sent Jesus to die for us – He sacrificed His life as a perfect offering so we could be forgiven and be with God.  Jesus died on the cross for all of us.  By accepting His ‘gift’ of dying for us and forgiveness, we are forgiven  & get to spend eternity with Him in heaven. God forgives all who truly repent (turn from their sins) and ask for forgiveness through Jesus.  No matter how big or small.  Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice – to say that His forgiveness doesn’t cover all sins, would take away from the power and truth of what happened on the cross.

Horrible crimes have consequences, but if someone truly turns to Jesus and asks for forgiveness, they are forgiven.

Last Sunday we wrapped up our Skeptic Series at The Journey.  There were a few questions left so we split some of them up at our staff meeting yesterday and will be answering them on our blogs this week.  For today we have two questions:

“Does God really know if (we) can handle our trials?  Why (do some) have to go through so many (trials)?”

I didn’t go to seminary or anything, so I’ll attempt to answer these:

In the Bible there is story after story of people going through lots of things (crap).  Through the Bible we see over and over that God wants us to rely on Him and not try to handle it on our own. We can trust in Him and move forward knowing that God is with us.  What does He promise us in the Bible?

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”^{[a] 6}So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?”^[b]

Job was a man in the Bible (as a matter of fact there’s a whole book in there with his story.)  who went through a ton!  He was a good, honest man that followed God.  He lost his family, $, health, pretty much we’d say he lost everything.  Job’s friends told him He must’ve done something really bad to have had all of these things happen to him & it wasn’t true…but Job continued to trust in God & God was with him.   (Is it just a consequence of sin?  Did we do something wrong and not expect consequences?  This is a question we can ask only ourselves.)

I just went through a brain tumor/surgery and I know that I kept hearing this statement – “God won’t give you more than you can handle” but I want to add onto that – without Him.  God doesn’t say that life will be easy, but I do know that whatever comes my way, that God loves me, God made me and I will spend eternity with Him in heaven because Jesus died on the cross for me.  Anything else that comes our way may not be easy, but aren’t those truths all we need?

This is found in 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (I added the bold/underline)….

⁸ Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the hard times we suffered in Asia Minor. We were having a lot of trouble. It was far more than we could stand. We even thought we were going to die. ⁹ In fact, in our hearts we felt as if we were under the sentence of death.

But that happened so that we would not depend on ourselves but on God. He raises the dead to life. ¹⁰ God has saved us from deadly dangers. And he will continue to do it. We have put our hope in him. He will continue to save us.

¹¹ You must help us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because of what will happen to us. They will thank God for his kindness to us in answer to the prayers of many.

I like this part too – that people will praise God for walking with them through their trials.  People will see God working in our lives and praise God!  That’s awesome!

So does God give us more than we can handle?  I’m not so sure He gives us things – but rather allows us to go through things so we can rely on Him.

Work backwards….

What’s the one thing that will matter at the end of your life?

For me, it’s relationship with Jesus.

Good, then that needs to be first.  Jesus asks me to live for Him.  To quote the Bible in Matthew 22:37-38;

36″Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

If I could only do this!  It sounds simple, but I don’t think I’ll ever get there on our own.  God will have to help me!

In January the kids will be talking about God’s love!  I just got to edit the lessons and I’m excited about it!

V: Favorite Past time?

Mike: Camping or Fishing

V: Finish the sentence; Nobody knows that I….

Mike: Well if I tell you than everyone will know.

V: Favorite Cartoon/Show when you were a kid?

Mike: Bugs Bunny and the Roadrunner

V: At The Journey the kids call me….

Mike: Mr. R

V: Why did you start volunteering in Journey Kids?

Mike: I was asked to help out, to just be in the room and help with the small group activity. I liked the program and had a lot of fun with the kids so I kept coming back to help out.

V: Do you have a favorite moment in Journey Kids?

Mike: Yes, when the kids take what you are teaching them and they change the message into their own words or they apply it to one of their own experiences. That’s when you know that they understand and get it.

V: What are you doing in JK?

Mike: Leading in 1^st thru 5^th at 11:00

V:  What is one thing you’d like to share with the volunteers & families?

Mike: Thank you for all of your help and if you haven’t spent one hour in the class room with us you don’t know what fun you are missing.

V: And one last thing.  On Sundays my breakfast usually consists of….

Mike: A Family that loves and cares for each other that and a side of bacon.

V: Favorite Past time?

Alice: It changes with the seasons.  Spring – working in my flower garden Summer – laying by the pool – Fall – walking color tours  – Winter – DREAMING ABOUT THE OTHER THREE SEASONS!!!

V: Finish the sentence; Nobody knows that I ….

Alice: miss my parents something fierce ( I just try not to let it show)

V: Favorite Cartoon/Show when you were a kid?

Alice: Bugs Bunny

V: At The Journey the kids call me….

Alice: Miss Alice

V: Why did you start volunteering in Journey Kids?

Alice: Because you  seemed extremely overwhelmed!

V: Do you have a favorite moment in Journey Kids?

Alice: Each Sunday, each service holds a ‘favorite moment’ of its own!

V: What are you doing in JK?

Alice: Coordinating the kids check in

V:  What is one thing you’d like to share with the volunteers & families?

Alice: I am extremely happy to be a part of such an awesome group of people!

V: And one last thing.  On Sundays my breakfast usually consists of….

Alice: A custard filled long john from the coffee bar – that holds me over until I have brunch with my family after I’m done at The Journey.

What an awesome group of people!  They’re the first face that families see.  First Impressions are so important – especially if it’s your first time in church in awhile.  This group of people are there early every Sunday to help welcome kids and families as well as page parents if needed during the service, run emergency room lists and so much more.  Did you know that they even know when it’s your child’s birthday and what they’re learning that morning?  They’re investing in your families and doing so much more than printing labels.  Thank them for what they do.  Leave a comment if you want to thank them here or tell them something you’ve noticed extraordinary about them volunteering!