Newsletter 12-15-16

Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. Psalm 98:1 NIV
*Good Morning: I know you are as busy I am, but I am trying to slow down and “remember” the REASON for the Season! CHRISTMAS
Origin of the word:
The word we know as ‘Christmas’ simply cannot be found anywhere in scripture! It is a compound word created by the Catholic church to designate the celebrating of the birth of CHRIST with a MASS on the evening of December 24th. The idea of even celebrating Jesus’ birth is a concept totally foreign to the Gospel writers of the New Testament. Their accounts of his birth are relatively brief, especially when compared to each Gospel narrative dedicating about one third of its length to the last week of Christ’s life. From a Biblical perspective, his birth is far less important to the salvation of the world than his death.
*Below are some ideas that I came across since my last note to you. Just sharing with you things that come to my attention.
Parenting Insight You Can Use Now:
One way to avoid emotional outbursts with our children is to understand the difference between tasks, problems, and conflict. Tasks are the normal things parents do each day. You get kids out of bed, make sure they’re dressed, provide breakfast, check that they have all the things they’ll need for the day, and get out the door. Then you’ll stop by the pharmacy to pick up the prescription and drop by the library to return the books on your way home. Tasks are the to-do list of a parent. They’re work but they’re expected. It’s part of the job.
Problems are different. Problems are obstacles that get in the way of your goals. Your son is playing with his video game when he should be getting dressed. You can’t find the prescription you need and you’re missing a library book. Your daughter’s homework isn’t in her backpack again and she can’t find her other shoe. It’s not usually the tasks that create the tension in family life. It’s the problems that get in the way.
Conflict happens when we allow problems to escalate, typically through emotional intensity. Problems plus emotions can quickly lead to conflict.
Here’s an important rule: Don’t allow problems to turn into conflict. Instead look for ways to see problems as just more tasks by developing a plan to solve them.
Training children is a task, not a problem. The difference has to do with your expectations. If you’re surprised by your son’s resistance to instructions, then you’re liable to view it as a personal attack and escalate to conflict. But the reality is that your son’s resistance is an indication of a character weakness. It’s a problem. Part of your job as a parent is to train your child. Allow the problem of resistance to become a task of training. Develop a plan to challenge the poor character in your son and you now can approach the task of raising him using a calm, but firm manner. It’s just another one of the tasks of your job as a parent. This parenting tip comes from the book, The Christian Parenting Handbook, 50 Heart-Based Strategies for all the Stages of Your Child’s Life by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
Team Building Ideas for Leaders/Students:
Picture Me:
As the adults arrive, have each write their name on a slip of paper and place the slips in a bowl, basket or bag. When you are ready to break the ice, have everyone draw a name. They are to keep the name they drew secret and if they choose their own name, they must put it back and choose another. Pass out plain white paper and a pencil to each person. They are to draw a picture of the person whose name they drew. When everyone is finished drawing, the leader shares the pictures with the group and they guess whose picture it is. You may need to have everyone introduce themselves before drawing begins if you group does not know each other well.
Paperclip Links:
A fun icebreaker that starts as the teens first enter the room for the evening, this game is guaranteed to get the group warmed up and mingling. You will need a great number of paperclips for this icebreaker game, so be ready. Give each teen ten (or more!) paperclips when they arrive. Tell the first three they are the team leaders and cannot connect with each other. The goal is to get the teens to join their group and create the largest chain of paperclips. The team with longest chain of paperclips wins.
Bible Basketball:
This is an excellent icebreaker for Bible review.
Have all the teens put their chairs into a square with the same number of chairs on each side. Put a large plastic trashcan or wastepaper basket in the middle of the square.
The leader can either think of a Bible related question or have some available on a sheet of paper prepared in advance.
As you ask a question, the first teen to raise their hand gets to answer it.
If they are correct, they get to shoot a basketball into the “basket.” If they miss, the person the ball rolls closest to gets to answer the next questions.
No one can get up to retrieve the ball until it stops rolling.
You can play this as a team game with each side as a team and the winning team being the one with the most points.
Workshop Opportunity: (Sponsored by Group Publishing)
Embracing Change Workshop, March 16, 2017 at:
Indian Rocks Church
12685 Ulmerton Road
Largo, FL 33774
Single Ministry Calendar Update:
Good morning, all……just a reminder (although I can’t imagine you’d forget), this Sabbath is Charlie’s Annual Christmas party. Sooooo, don your favorite Christmas attire and grab a yummy dish to share and head on over to Charlie’s place. The party starts at 7:00pm and ends when it ends. For more info or directions, give Charlie a call at 352-383-3976. See you there!!!
A Christmas Prayer Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake.
Amen
I will be giving you a break from this newsletter until after the New Year begins. Know that I will be praying for you and your family (home and church) during this next couple of weeks.
Make Memories and Enjoy the Holidays.
Lots of Love coming your way!