Unwrapping Christmas

Parents, love your family this holiday season. Here is some suggestions:

1. Be a Student of What They are Learning

Christmas is that feel-good time of year when the lights are up, the holiday music is flowing and the cheer is palpable in the air. It’s also the time of year when we go through the same Christmas routine as always and pass another holiday season without necessarily thinking through how the story of Christmas is meant to change us, not just be a backdrop to two weeks off from school. So, this Christmas we’re going to take a fresh look at the Christmas story with some new insights to help us understand how revolutionary Jesus’ arrival on Earth really was. When we think of the Christmas story this year, let’s be reminded that Jesus is more than we need during the holiday season, and for the rest of the year too. 

2. Be a Student of Your Student

What was it that used to make the holidays special when you were a kid? Was it the chill in the air signaling that Christmas break was right around the corner? Baking and decorating ginger bread cookies with a sibling or your mom or dad? Or, maybe it was that feeling you got on Christmas Eve as you waited for the morning when you could finally tear into those beautifully wrapped packages underneath your tree. Whatever may have made the holidays a special time for you, there is one thing that tends to define the Christmas season for most of us: family. When we are young, our families define what Christmas looks like from the traditions they keep to the way they express the story of Jesus to those around them. And, for those of us who are now raising families of our own, we are now defining Christmas for our families. It can feel a bit overwhelming establishing the values, traditions and attitudes that revolve around this idea of Jesus’ arrival on this Earth. 

While most students may be able to tell us the “real” meaning of the season, they aren’t necessarily connecting it to the value of the Christmas story. Developmentally, our students are in a place where it is difficult to think outside of their own world and their own lives. They may have head knowledge of the Christmas story, but in order to take that and bring it down to heart level, there has to be an experience that they can call their own. This is especially important for those of us with middle school and younger high school students who are still in the developmental stage of egocentric abstraction. During this stage, your student is the center of his or her own world and is not easily able to identify with ideas and concepts that are not personally connected to their own feelings. However, when they have the chance to experience the joy of reaching out to others in the midst of other’s true needs, they can personally identify with the value of the Christmas story. 

For those of us with older high school students, now is the time when they are beginning to widen their worldview and understand the world outside as more than the sum of their own feelings and experiences. For them, the experience of reaching out to others is a chance to put legs to the social and global concerns that are already stirring in their hearts. Once the meaning of the Christmas story is tangible through personal experience, it isn’t easily forgotten in the mind of your teen. Another thing to remember is that though developmentally your students are in a place where they may not fully “get” the meaning of the Christmas story, we as the adults in their lives are. It is necessary for us to set the example and show them the importance of the Christmas story. So, we may need to take some time on our own to reflect on the value of Jesus’ arrival on Earth before we can begin to define that for our students. 

3. Action Point

This Action Point is where we, as parents, can start to define what Christmas is truly about through the traditions we establish and the way we express the Christmas story—in our homes, in our schools, in our churches, in our neighborhoods and to the world at large. This is not just an exercise for the Christmas season, but rather a great time to start refocusing our family’s attention on putting Christ back into His rightful place. So, this Christmas as you and your family settle into the usual gate of the holiday season, take a moment to pray, reflect and search your heart for how you want to represent the Christmas story to your family. And then, do something together as a family that will allow those values to be expressed in a way that will forever shape the way they “do” Christmas. 

Here are some ideas for ways you and your family can connect to and define the Christmas story together:

• Adopt a family for Christmas through the Salvation Army: Salvationarmyusa.org.
• Volunteer at a local homeless shelter to serve a meal on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
• Give one less gift this year to each family member and instead buy gifts for children whose parents are in prison through Angel Tree: Angeltree.org/angeltreehome.
• If you have a musical family, visit a convalescent home or local children’s hospital and sing some of those Christmas favorites. 
• Help the local hospice or meals-on-wheels organization distribute Christmas dinners. You can help prepare the actual meals or donate your time and car to transport the meals to the elderly or sick.
• Look through Martha Stewart and other crafty magazines or old craft books for Christmas-inspired crafts and buy enough supplies to have a hospital ward of children or a retirement home ward make crafts or ornaments with you and your family.
• Ask your church if there is a family that attends that could use some extra help this holiday season. Invite them over for Christmas dinner or offer to buy and decorate a Christmas tree for them. 

This Christmas, as you celebrate the gift of Jesus and the story of God’s redemption in all of our lives, take the time to put that message into motion. Christmas is not just about giving things away so that we get that warm fuzzy feeling, or because we want to “share the wealth.” It’s about expressing God’s heart for justice, love and reconciliation. 

As well, here is an encouraging blog post entitled “10 Reasons to Escape Excessive Consumerism” by Joshua Becker. Check it out at: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/2011/08/03/escaping-excessive-consumerism/ 


It may be out of left field. It may not be the way you've ever thought. Consider it.
Jordan 
“He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26b

Very Good Grasshopper

This week we begin a new series called "Labrynth". The idea behind these 3 lessons are to help students learn to process the way the Lord speaks to us and to learn to hear His voice. 

Here is a synopsis of the first week: 

“Why do they have it all together?” “Why can’t I ‘get it’ like they do?” “How can I be as close to God as they seem to be?” Sometimes we have these kinds of questions when it comes to our faith. And, sometimes, we feel like everyone else has it all together when it comes to hearing God and knowing where their life is going. It can make us feel excluded from God’s plan and from knowing what that plan is for us. But the truth is God does have a plan for you and does want to speak to you and use you. So maybe, when we wonder why we can’t seem to connect with God, we need to stop wondering what is wrong with us, and ask ourselves instead, who do we believe God to be? 

Be a Student of What They are Learning

Not everyone has it together when it comes to knowing what God wants for their lives. But sometimes it certainly feels like everyone else does—and we don’t. And when your student feels that way, it can make them feel pretty left out and uncertain about their relationship with God and where their life is going. But what if hearing from God isn’t about exclusivity—who’s in and who’s out—but rather inclusivity, meaning that everyone gets to play in the game of God’s plan? When it comes to those not-so-easy life decisions, God has given us a very clear-cut grid based on His love for us, our love for Him and our love for others. So, knowing God’s will is less about signs and more about knowing the narrative of His great story and how we fit into it. God’s great love for your student is the most important factor in discovering His will for their life. So, when they wonder why they can’t seem to connect with God, we can encourage them that God does speak to them and wants them to be encouraged by His purpose for their lives. 

PARENTS, weave these questions into conversation this week with your students to help them process what they heard in sunday school. Out of all the information you have ever learned, what is the most important thing you feel that you have ever learned? What has God been trying to teach you lately? (Help them process trials they may be going through with friends or at school-do this carefully because the idea is for them to "process" on their own rather than regurgitate what they heard in sunday school or their parent's faith.

It may be out of left field. It may not be the way you've ever thought. Consider it.
Jordan
“He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26b

"I'm talking 'bout the man in the mirror"

Practice makes perfect. How many times have you heard that? How many times have you said it? Just like it takes practice to be a skilled musician or softball player, it takes practice to be content with the real you. This week we will share with your child just a little bit about what our heavenly Father thinks about him or her. We want to encourage your child to practice seeing who God sees when he or she looks in the mirror. Because when we learn to see ourselves as God sees us, we can be free to live without the mask and be who we truly are.

PARENTS! Bring up these questions in conversation this week with your child: How does God see me? Why do you think it is hard to believe God accepts me just as I am? How can we help each other see ourselves how God sees us?

It may be out of left field. It may not be the way you've ever thought. Consider it. 
Jordan 
“He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26b

Back In Action!

Ok So after a summer long hiatus from the toils of blogging... CROSSPOINTPARENTS IS BACK IN ACTION!


We had a great summer in the CBC Student & Children's Ministry and we are excited about the fall. So far we are off to a great start on our Wednesday Night Missions Bible Study and our Sunday Night Student Worship. Praise God for the growth we have seen over the past several months. God is doing some great things with relationships in our ministry.


The past two weeks we have been in a Sunday School study entitled "Loving Muslims". It has been a great couple weeks of learning how to love people who are not like ourselves. The love of God is so much bigger than loving people in our little group of friends, it is bigger than loving people who are different than us, it's even bigger than love people who hate us. The love of God encompasses all people in every situation... and Christ commands this type of love from us. The discussion has been wonderful as I have seen students work these ideas out and hopefully we will see some real change in the way we all love people. 


This week we will be back in our Orange curriculum and will begin a series called "Reflection". The first week we are going to set up the series by talking about the masks that we all wear. Most of us know we can’t be perfect at everything, but we do have certain areas where we want to appear like we are. We want to be desirable and valued. We want to feel we are worth something. But in order to get those things, we feel the need to cover up who we really are. This week we will encourage your child to begin to allow others to see him or her for who they really are. We want your child to be free from hiding behind masks.

To help prepare your child for SS, find a way to work this question into conversation this week(maybe in a car ride or during commercials): What are some masks you hide behind? Why do you hide? 

It may be out of left field. It may not be the way you've ever thought. Consider it. 
Jordan 
“He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26b

Session Two (May 8)

If you’ve been in church for a while, you’ve heard it all and seen it all. You know the stories. You know the songs. You know the words. Many of us even think we know all about God. We think we have Him figured out. We think we know everything about Him, and in our lives, He’s very small. But the reality is that we will never fully grasp how awesome and amazing He is. We can spend a lifetime in awe and wonder, and even an eternity, because He’s that big . . . and that good.

Parents: This second week, students were challenged to look at God in new ways. Many times we find that we are so familiar with “churchy” descriptions of God that we forget who He really is. And when we forget who God is, how awesome and surprising He can be, then we are tempted to turn our attention and affection to other things and our lives fall out of tune. In week two students were challenged to discover a God who is bigger than our attempts to define Him. Take a moment this week and discuss with your teen ways that God has surprised you and your family with how big He is.  


ps... For a fresh look at God and the different ways to find him in our everyday lives & past experiences check out this book! "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller

It may be out of left field. It may not be the way you've ever thought. Consider it.
Jordan
“He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26b

Session One: The Song (MAY 1)

In the beginning, God created a song, a rhythm. Humanity existed in harmony with God, with ourselves and with each other. But then humankind settled for another song--a lesser one--and the rhythm started falling apart. Yet even then, God didn’t walk away, and because of that, we have a way to restore the rhythm with Him, with ourselves and with others. 

HEY PARENTS! The first week of the Rhythm series was designed to help students understand that in the beginning, God established a rhythm. They unpacked the story of creation and the harmony that existed between Adam and God, Adam and nature, and Adam and Eve. They entertained the idea that from the start, everything worked together in perfect harmony like a beautiful song. But then Adam and Eve made a choice that destroyed the song and threw the rhythm off. They also looked at God’s response to Adam’s sin, and they saw that God continues to seek relationship with us even after things have fallen apart. Talk with your teen about how he or she sees the brokenness in the rhythm around them. Feel free to share your observations as well.  

It may be out of left field. It may not be the way you've ever thought. Consider it.
Jordan
“He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26b

WAAAANTEEEED... DEAD OR ALIVE!!!! (Richie Sambora style)

This week we begin a new series in Sunday School called "Wanted". Here is the first week's summary:

Every day, each one of us is driven by our desires. It’s the filter by which we process every choice. It’s how we decide what we will eat. It’s how we decide what we will watch. It’s how we decide how we will spend our time. Desire is a part of who we are. But doesn’t it seem like so much of Christianity is about ignoring our desires? Doesn’t it seem like if we follow Christ we have to consistently set aside our “wants”? Or could it be our desires are not something we have to ignore, but simply follow to the true fulfillment of what we want, the true longing of each of our hearts?

Parents, take a minute this week to talk with you student. Talk about your spiritual desires as a follower of Christ, but also personal desires as a parent, employee, spouse, and individual. Don't be afraid to let your selfishness show, but show it in a way that is kept in check so as to separate carnal "selfish" desires from ones that benefit others. Do not allow yourself to lie to your children by ignoring selfish desire. Be real with them. Let them see your humanity and your struggle. Take a moment to ask them questions and do some "self evaluation" together.

Start off the conversation by asking, "What are some things you really want?" "If you could have one gift right now, what would it be?" "What is your most prized possession and why?" Then both of you make a wish list of things you want. See if you can find any commonality on the lists. Also see if you can find anything on the list that shows what your heart really desires? For example, if there’s a lot of tech and gadgets on your list, maybe you have a great need for “wonder,” you want to be dazzled or in awe of something. 

Read this scripture to them, “If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink. . . . and streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:37-38 NIV). Talk with them about how being thirsty is wanting water and help them see that Jesus does not tell us not to thirst, but merely shows us what to thirst after. Himself.

It may be out of left field. It may not be the way you've ever thought. Consider it.
Jordan

 “He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26b

Babel wk 1

I just had to put this picture up! I'm so happy to have Eva Claire! She sure does love her mommy and daddy!

Session One: I <3 Technology (March 6)

Many of us are in a serious relationship—with technology. We love it. We need it. It’s a big part of our lives. But some of us could care less. We’re just not that into it. We don’t need to text someone every minute. Some of us don’t even have a Facebook page. (Gasp.) But whether we are totally committed to it, or could easily see our lives without it, we can’t escape the reality that technology exists in our lives. And that’s not always a bad thing. Because technology isn’t evil. But what we do with it, how we use it, says a lot about our relationship with it... and our relationship with Christ.

Parents, take some time this week to talk with your student about technology. Just for one conversation let go of your parental duties and curiously talk with them about cell phones, tv, computer, etc. solely for the purpose of finding out what their heart's connection with technology. Also, let them ask you questions too! So, once you put down the Blackberry, here is a starter question for your conversation. "What is my relationship with technology?" (You may want to answer this for each other.)

It may be out of left field. It may not be the way you've ever thought. Consider it.
Jordan
“He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26b

Here's an excerpt of a story by Tim Walker that many of you can identify with... not me of course:)

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"I’m not the most coordinated person in the world. I can trip over my own two feet just as easily as I can trip over an object in my path. There’s a good reason for it. I have “athletically challenged syndrome.” It’s a real disease. Okay, maybe not yet. But if we can get enough people to petition without injuring themselves with pencils, paper cuts, etc., we’ll get organized. 

So, needless to say, I know a thing or two about collision. I’m the guy who stood in right field, praying the ball wouldn’t collide with my head. I’m the guy who jumped off the bus at a band competition, thinking I could re-enact the 1980s “Oh What a Feeling”/Toyota commercial jump only to come crashing on the pavement, bloodying my knee and tearing my pants. I’m the guy who had a head-on collision with my brother on a motorcycle trail. We both swerved. I just swerved the wrong direction. It’s a gift, I know. And while I’m not so great at moving around (my wife has a strict “please don’t do that” regarding my dancing), I am very grateful for some of the collisions I’ve had in my life. Like the person who hit the bumper of my car when I was a newly licensed driver. Someone at a traffic light thought the light had changed and hit the gas, giving my car a bump. That moment taught me to allow space at the stoplight and to make sure I knew what was going on around me. But I’ve also had some collisions in my life that have had a great impact on me personally as well. Like my Sunday school teacher in high school, Phil Harley. He impacted my life in a huge way. He made a misfit, uncoordinated kid feel like he was a wanted part of the world. It’s why I looked forward to church and loved being around Phil and his family. 

Or the time when I began to see the themes in my Lit class play out in the Bible, and when I began to see that all of life was a mere reflection of the story that unfolds in the Bible. 

Or the time when I was driving on the Interstate, pouring my broken heart out to God and He brought both comfort and joy. 

Or the time I met someone from another denomination who really loved God and I realized that my particular church didn’t have a monopoly on Him. 

There are many other collision stories, moments when God’s truth collided with me, God’s people crashed into me, God Himself showed up in my life in ways that I never saw coming—much like a baseball soaring in the air or the tree that suddenly jumped into my path." 

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So, I (Jordan) have some questions/thoughts for you.

What about you? What are the moments when God crashed into you? What about the moments when His truth showed up somewhere you didn’t expect and He showed you something about who He is? Was it in the face of one of your children, your spouse or a total stranger? Was it in a sunset or in a book or a movie? 

Take some time today to think about the ways God has collided with you, and you with Him. And how not only you collided, but you were changed. Then do one more thing for me . . . tell your teen. Let your son or daughter hear about the collision from your own lips, let him or her into your story and get a glimpse of your collision stories. And when he or she hears your stories about a God who collides with us, changes us, maybe they’ll be intentional about colliding with God as well. 

It may be out of left field. It may not be the way you've ever thought. Consider it.
Jordan
 “He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26b

GodView Series

Sorry it's been a few weeks since I last posted an update for you parents. I took some time off over the Christmas holidays and then I have been playing catch up ever since. I hope you had lots of quality time with your families over Christmas. It was a special time for me because God has truly blessed me with a wonderful family. 

Over the break the thing I noticed and thought about several times was the way that I and the people I am surrounded by think about God. Our Godview if you will. My niece had a little toy Viewmaster she was looking through at my in-laws house over Christmas. I watched her frustratingly trying to put the pictures in the toy until a hero swooped in to help her. I thought to myself, she will look through that Viewmaster and see only what someone puts in there for her to see. Think about that for a second. Your children, the students in my ministry are looking through a Viewmaster at a picture of God that we have put in there for them to see. The tendency for each one of us is to think we have God all figured out. But this week is about one simple truth—we don’t. This week we want students to see that the more they come to know God, the more they will realize there is always more of God to know. He’s that big, that mysterious, that amazing. At the close of this series, we hope your student will walk away with the desire to pursue a relationship with God and to know God more every day. "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2: 2-3


How do you view Him? How do your children view Him? 


Take a moment this week to talk with your student about their Godview... here's some questions to get the conversation rolling. "What is mysterious to you about God? Is it comforting or frightening to know there are things about God we don’t have figured out? Why or why not?" 


It may be out of left field. It may not be the way you've ever thought. Consider it. 


Much love.
Jordan 
“He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26b