Pastor or Farmer... maybe both!
Thought for the week
Proverbs 11:18
“The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.”
The words of Solomon were greatly regarded in their time. The words we treat so casually, breezing quickly through as we finish our morning coffee people in his day would pay ½ a years wages to come and hear. The reason they chose to come is that his words would greatly enrich their lives. People came to hear Solomon because they were eager for the best life possible. The question certainly remains… Were they looking for the best life possible here and now, or truly the best life possible now and forever-more?
“The wicked earns deceptive wages” When I think of a wage I think of something I both earn but also something that is given to me instantly. On Thursday the bank account says $0 (or close to it J ) and on Friday BOOM there’s money there. When we look at the way of the wicked, the gratification is often instant.
As Solomon is speaking of righteous he is making the claim that righteous is more similar to the one who sows. Farmers plant their crops and wait weeks, months for their reward. Righteous takes and requires patience as it grows. The reward, although greater than that of the wicked, takes time, takes initial investment…
As I lead children, both from unsaved and saved homes, as I lead volunteers, guiding them, releasing them into fruitful ministry and stand as a model, in my church and community I constantly require my heart to be searched. Am I focusing on the entertainment of programs that offer hype and the quick reward of quantity? Although not wicked in itself, I know it can certainly breed thoughts of pride in my mind.
Or am I choosing the narrow path, the one where righteous is sure to grow slowly in the hearts of those around me as I teach from His word, as I focus on the foundations, the building blocks of faith. It certainly does take time to invest into a life but its reward is far greater down the road.
Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”
As we work this week lets keep that image in our hearts. The sun is rising on those lives you touched yesterday at Church, maybe today in your after school club or later this week at your mid week club. Let’s all be FARMERS this week for Jesus J
What’s Going On…
WO District Conference - May 1-3 – Please let me know ahead of time if you are coming. We will be planning a get together over the course of the conference.
Over Flow – Youth Convention – May 18th – 20th - There are well over 1400 youth registered with their group to come. It’s an exciting (and loud) weekend. I’ll be there at the overflow table, come by and say ‘Hi’
Children’s Leadership Summit – May 16th to 18th in Las Vagas
From Natalie Rogge – National Office Children’s Director “Our friends south of the border (the Children’s Ministries Agency of the Assemblies of God – our sister organization) are inviting us to be part of their national 2007 Children’s Leadership Summit. There is one this Spring and another one in the Fall in Tennessee. I’ve been invited to be part of their Spring Summit and would be thrilled to have you there…to hang out together, learn together, laugh together and plan together concerning children’s ministries in North America. This Summit is geared to a lot of round-table discussion sessions which can be great learning and gleaning times with fellow children’s pastors and leaders. At this Summit, they are also launching “KidMax Live” which is a brand new outreach resource. I was with the Assemblies of God Children’s Team in Mongolia when they were launching KidsQuest a number of years ago. It was a powerful outreach tool as well, so I can’t wait to see what KidMax Live will be like! These times of interaction with our Assemblies of God/Gospel Publishing House family south of the border is always beneficial, and we Canadians can have great influence at these tables in terms of curriculum and resource creation, etc. For more info on this Summit, you can check it out at www.cmasummits.com “
KidZvillage Lead Team Mtg – May 14th and 15th An amazing group of leaders in each section have been compiled to form our lead team. A team with both vision and focus for the future of kidzvillage in our district. They will be introduced to you in the next edition of kidZvillage News coming to a mail box near you September 1, 2007
NOTE – I’m having a bit of trouble getting registration forms on line, and updating our kidzvillage web page www.kidzvillage.ca as there is hosting server issues with my computer… all that to say I hope to have the technical issues worked out by the end of the week and have camp information there soon.
Thanks for understanding… Pam
Silver Birches Kidz Camp – We need counselors from our northern churches at camp this year. Please make yourself available from July 2nd to the 6th this year to come and truly impact a life for Christ. Many of our campers come from un-saved homes and your impact on their lives can truly change the course of their future. Please prayerfully consider this amazing opportunity to be a part of Silver Birches Camp this year!
Camp Inner Change – If you or your church would like to sponsor a child to come to camp this year please contact myself at district office or Ray Edward at the camp. The cost is $125 per child and every penny will go toward providing both spiritual and life skill advancement for an unfortunate child. Please prayerfully consider how your church can help out with this missional opportunity.
Braeside Kids Camp – Kids camp runs from July 30th to August 3rd. Many of our campers come from un-saved homes and we need your help in planting the seeds that God calls us to plant. Please come this year as a counselor to kids who really need you. I guarantee that by the end of the week you will soon discover that you needed them too! Be apart of Camp 2007!
Meet me on the Phone – Tuesday September 4th – Conference Call at 9am – 10:30am lets be in prayer for our children as they enter a new year of school. That God would raise up boys and girls who are not afraid or ashamed of the Gospel.
October & November 2007 – LIFT Volunteer Conferences planned at 8 locations around the district. Training will be both encouraging and practical in nature as we focus on the needs of your volunteers. Dates, location, and cost to follow shortly however plan ahead to support with your volunteers one of these events closest to you. I promised you will be happy you did. Training will include Plan to Protect Training (yearly required training for volunteers) discipline in classrooms, ministry how to’s children 0 – 12, building a strong foundation, using object lessons and story telling to engage kids…. And so much more J Plan to be involved and support these exciting opportunity to build your volunteers up as they reach out to the saved and unsaved children who walk through the doors of your church!