• Kidmin Boys Morning Out
Kidmin Boys Morning Out
The Kidologist called the Kidhelper to determine whether he was up for a morning out for Breakfast. Sure, why not, it’s not every morning that Karl Bastian is in town from Colorado. So I took him to a special place that my family always enjoyed…the Original House of Pancakes. The place was packed by 9 am, so I went a little early to reserve a spot. I was correct in anticipating that, so by time Karl arrived, i had already ordered his breakfast. Just to justify their giving me a table for four with only one person there. The place really is not all that big and there are always persons waiting. It is worth the wait. However,
• My Kidology Story
Karl Bastian’s parents were my classmates while we attended Moody Bible Institute from 1961-1964. I first met Karl at the age of ten, when his father invited me to be the guest speaker at their evening VBS at his church in Bellflower, CA. I learned many years later that Karl’s decision then was “to be like me when he grew up.”
At our 25th Class Reunion at Moody, I again found the Bastian’s, and there was Karl, now he was a Freshman there. The next year my oldest daughter Karina decided to attend Moody, so my wife and I escorted her to Chicago. There we found Karl again, only this time he was the Children’s Pastor at Moody Memorial Church. He invited me to speak to his Children’s Church kids, so off we went. In his introduction to the kids, I learned about his childhood decision. I decided then that if he wanted to be like me, I had better spend some time with him. So I included him in every visit to Chicago while I visited my daughter for the next four years. He was more than willing to join us for Pizza, if I was paying for it. Then he wanted to bring Sara. That is how I got acquainted with her. Later they married.
Our relationship grew with the frequent trips to Chicago, IL.
• Training Wheels Off?
When Do the Training Wheels Come OFF?
We all have experienced the joy of when the parent takes off the training wheels and we get to pedal the bike all on our own. So what happens when a person grows up depending on the training wheels and cannot let them go? We observe this in adults and think it is kind of funny (like the photo). It is like we have become dependent upon them in order to function.
I just love it when a student begin to master a new skills and try it on their own, i.e., what they have been learning, so that they enjoy some independence. It is true, just like the training wheels, when we needed the additional support, it was there for us. However, knowing when to work our ministry with the confidence and skills that we have learned is such a visual for our mastery and for our newly found expertise.
When do you know when to take the wheels off?
Here are a few of my thoughts…
• Leadership: Integrity #2
#2. Integrity
Any discussion of integrity has to deal with the consistency of actions and values in accordance with what you really believe. In ethics integrity is most commonly understood as honesty and truthfulness of one’s actions. It is the opposite of hypocrisy. In leadership, it is acting according to ones values, beliefs and principles, which that leader claims to hold.
Here are a my Top Ten observations that I have noticed about integrity.
• Absorbant-Resistant Variable
What is the Absorbent/Resistant Variable?
It is a way of understand just how new comers experience your infrastructure (or your programs). If you will notice in the attached diagram, the Resistant Pattern occurs when groups are almost impossible for the new comer to enter, too many keep out signs! They are not designed to welcome or assimilate the newcomers, they seem to attract, but cannot hold on to visitors. There is a big back door and they leave.
In every program in the Absorbent Variable has programs that are clearly designed for the entry of new comers. Every program absorbs the visitor and these programs grow. There is not really a back door, because the newcomers stay.
The Absorbent/Resistant Variable is a visual way to understand how the visitor might experience our programs. Oh, the dotted figures are proposed programs that do not yet exist, but are planned for the newcomers. Try to evaluate your ministry groups to determine just how receptive they are to guests. What can you do to help make your groups more receptive and open to meeting the needs of newcomers?
• Discipline of Walking
I went to a Coach’s Training Conference in Baltimore in late January. There I had various Coaching Experiences learning skills in the art of leadership coaching. One of my Coaching sessions, where I was being coached, resulted in my setting a goal for walking my neighborhood cul-de-sac streets five times a week.
Well, since I returned home, I have been doing pretty well. The hardest part is not being home to do the walk. However, while I am home, I am doing the discipline…walking the streets of my neighborhood five days out of seven. It takes about 30 minutes for me to complete the route. So I am feeling good about my effort so far. I am getting used to a certain stride, that I can easily maintain, which is not a race, but a steady effort. I am not trying to “over do it” either, just a comfortable brisk pace.
I am wanting to stay active, so I can maintain my endurance for my ministry opportunities to travel. It seems to be working for me. Maybe walking might work for you?
• Words of Affirmation
This is a list of words of Affirmation for Parents and Teachers. You might want to try some of these with your children.
Words of Affirmation for Parents and Teachers
• A powerful argument!
• An A-1 paper/job etc.
• Beautiful
• Clear, concise, and complete.
• Congratulations!
• You got _____ more correct today.
• Everyone’s working so hard.
• Exactly right!
• Excellent work!
• Fantastic!
• Good job. What neat work!
• Good reasoning.
• Good thinking.
• Great going!
• I appreciate your cooperation.
• I appreciate your help.
• I bet your (parents/teachers/grandparents etc.)
will be proud to see the job you did on this.
There are a lot more to follow, keep going for more…
• Just One More Candle
Another Candle on My Birthday Cake
February 10th was the big day when my age went that away! Not to worry, I am still celebrating. I figure I should extend it as long as possible. It will take most of next week for the family to finish the process. Actually, we started celebrating the week before last, and daily since, it has not stopped. I was very surprised with the avalanche of FB responses. It was just amazing to me. Of course, I just had to inform that my birthday was last year! So I got this reply: “We were celebrating the anniversary of your birthday last year!”
• Leadership: Investing #1
Leadership Qualities: this is a new series to discuss some basic qualities of leadership and how it might apply to those in children’s ministry.
Investing #1
Investing is a word that has many meanings. Maybe exploring a few alternative meanings that might help us understand more options with the use of the word. Here a few:
1. Expending money with the expectation of a profit as a result of putting money into some financial plan.
2. Devoting ones time, effort or energy to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result.
3. To buy something whose usefulness will repay or exceed the cost.
We could explore more, but what do we notice from these examples…something given with the hope of some coming back in return. Investing is not just about money.
• Tri-Clover Paper Tear
Tri-Clover Paper Tear
A new gospel illusion created by Rev. Barney Kinard to illustrate the mystery of the Trinity: How each member of the Godhead is both separate and unique, but also united and the same. The three are also one. This cut and restore effect is easy to perform.
There are two separate messages included. One message is timeless and can be used any time. The other message is custom made for St. Patrick’s Day. It tells the story of St. Patrick, a missionary to Ireland.
Ten Tri-Clover paper tears are included in a set. You can order your set now from www.Kidhelperresources.com for $11.95.
