Check out this blog post by our Preschool Coordinator, Carlee Anderson!

The ONLY Way to Parent

The title seems daunting and intriguing at the same time. This lady is claiming to have the answers to all of the questions of parenting. This should be interesting. Ok, well I do and don’t. Let me explain…

In this age we live in there are so many options and choices starting from when our babies are first born. Bottle or breastfeed, disposable diapers or cloth, co-sleeping or letting them cry it out, and the list goes on. And on. And on. And it only gets more complicated once they get older. Spanking or time out, organic food or processed, a little TV or none. And I haven’t even touched on schooling options. Don’t get me started.

It seems that everyone has the right answer, and it usually aligns with whatever they’re doing or have done. And maybe they do have the right answer, because it’s the right answer for them. But when we take a step back, do any of these issues make one parent, or child for that matter, better than another? Because I chose not to put my son in preschool, does that really make me a worse, or better, parent? And my answer is emphatically NO!

We do the best we can. We make decisions based on where God leads us, and our circumstances, and on the needs of our kids. When society argues about whether or not to use Pull-ups when potty training, I think it distracts us from the heart of Christians parenting- raising them to know and love Jesus. That is the only way to parent.

Yes, I believe God cares about the details. And yes, I believe He will point you to what is best for you as a parent if you will ask. But I don’t think He wants us to worry about what our neighbor is doing, and whether her choice of a car seat is the best. What may be right for one family doesn’t make it right for everyone, and what may be wrong for one parent doesn’t make it wrong for all parents. If our children are being loved, with all of their basic needs met, and are being raised up to follow Christ and be a responsible member of society, then I think we are doing it right. We should encourage each other as parents, offer advice when solicited, and ultimately know that we are all serving the same Lord, even if we do it differently.

“Teach (these words of mine) to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 11:19 (NIV)

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

As a kid I remember my cousin saying he’d do anything for God except become a missionary.
Now sure enough at one point God did call him to go out on the Foreign Mission Field and he didn’t follow that.

Now I’ve been in ministry since I was 18years old. A Children’s Pastor since before I was married and I’ve always said that we’d go wherever the Lord asked us to go. But would I go on the Mission Field?

Then a few years ago it occurred to me that I’m already on the Mission Field. Right now the Lord has me in the Mission Field of Raleigh, North Carolina. This has been a week at Crossroads that we’ve focused on Missions, our foreign missionaries have been here visiting, we’re preparing to send groups to Haiti and the Bahamas this summer for Missions trips, it’s been a great week of teaching kids more about missions. We’ve gotten a chance to share about the Mission Field all over the world but haven’t forgotten that there are SO MANY people right outside our front doors that also need to hear about Jesus.

One time I heard a statement about serving “Every Christian is a minister and Every Minister has a Ministry” – pointing out the fact that we are ALL called to serve. I also think it’s true that “Every Christian is a Missionary and Every Missionary has a Mission Field”. Who is your mission field? The folks at work? Your Neighborhood? The other families on your child’s soccer team? My friends, family, everyone in my life is my mission field – and also the kids at Brentwood School that we help through Adopt-a-School, each person that comes to Camp Adventure this summer, and so many more.

This week – I challenge you as well as myself to change how I view my day-to-day world. Who are those around me that need to hear the Good News of Jesus??

Here’s a great post from a blog I read – check it out!

http://www.orangeparents.org/bankrupt-parents/

As a church, Crossroads was challenged this week to live out the Word that is faithfully preached each weekend.  Not just as a staff member, but as a member of the church I was in awe of the way that the body put feet to their faith in response to James D going missing and the search for him.  Within moments of the news going out hundreds of people were sharing on facebook, texting and getting the word out to pray.  Facebook pages for prayer were being started, people were showing up to search, and groups were gathering to be with the family.  The next morning hundreds of people showed up to search, and there were now hundreds more people praying all over the world who didn’t even know James or his family by the use of social media.  It was absolutely one of the coolest things I’ve ever witnessed by the church.  We rejoice that James was found, and he’s home with family safe and sound.  And there’s no doubt in my mind that there will be people that ultimately come to know Jesus as their Savior because the saw Christ’s church living out the word and acting like one family.

Faith Foundations is a 4-week elective class starting April 29th. The purpose is to lead children to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior using the Gospel Bead Bracelet as it’s foundation.

Through the 4-week class kids will explore questions like:  “Who is God?”   “Why did He create us?”   “What is inside the Bible?”   “Why do I need a Savior?”    “What is prayer?”  and so much more.

We will offer this class at 9:15am for K/1st graders, and at 11:00am for 2-4th grade.  Space is limited to 20 students per service — so register today!

K/1st Grade – Register Here

2-4th Grade – Register Here

If you would like more information please contact:  Elementary Coordinator, Jeanine Condon at jcondon@crossroads.org

Tonight – Open up the Bible!

Supplies Required:  The Bible.  Read through Matthew 26-28 and let your kids ask Questions.

If you plan on going to a Good Friday Service, like the one we will have here at Crossroads Fellowship (Friday at 7pm – Millbrook & WF-R Campus) this will be a good opportunity share with them the Resurrection Story straight from scripture.  Focus in on The Lord’s Supper in Matthew 26 as well.  There will be a time of communion in the Good Friday service, so talk about what that is before you get here so your kids know what to expect.  If you aren’t sure how to explain it, email me at cathy.heitzenrater@crossroads.org and I’ll be happy to send you a tool to talk about communion with your kids.

Please comment back on this post and share some of the questions that your kids asked you!  We’d love to hear them!

Resurrection Cookies
Best for Ages 6 and up
Families can use this classic, interactive recipe at home before Easter.  You can adjust the recipe based on allergy concerns for your family.

Get Ready: You’ll need one cup whole pecans, a baggie, a wooden spoon, one teaspoon of vinegar, three egg whites, a pinch of salt, one cup sugar, a mixer, a greased cookie sheet, tape, and a Bible. Heat the oven to 300 degrees.

Get Set: Place the pecans in the baggie. Let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces. Say, “After Jesus was arrested, soldiers beat him” (John 19:1-3). Next, let children smell and taste the vinegar. Put one teaspoon in a mixing bowl. Say, “When Jesus was thirsty on the cross, soldiers gave him vinegar to drink” (John 19:28-30). Add the egg whites. Say, “An egg can sometimes have a new life in it, such as a bird. Jesus died so we can live with him forever” (John 10:10-11).

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let kids brush it into the bowl and then taste what’s left. Say: “Salt represents the tears of Jesus’ friends” (Luke 23:27). Add the sugar. Say: “The sweetest part of Easter is that Jesus died because he loves us-and then he came back to life” (Psalm 34:8and John 3:16).

Beat ingredients with a mixer on high for 12 to 15 minutes, until stiff peaks form. Say: “The color white represents how we become pure because Jesus washes away our sins” (Isaiah 1:18). Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Say: “Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid to rest” (Matthew 27:57-60).

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and turn off the oven. Give each child some tape to seal the door. Say: “When Jesus was sealed in the tomb, the world was dark” (Matthew 27:65-66). Tell children it’s time to go to bed and ask how they feel about leaving the cookies in the oven overnight. Say: “Jesus’ friends were sad to leave him in the tomb, too” (John 16:20).

Faith Talk: On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! Say: “On the first Easter morning, Jesus’ followers were amazed, too. The tomb was empty because Jesus came back to life” (Matthew 28:1-9)!

Faith Foundations is going to be a 4-week elective class offered a few times a year.  The purpose to to lead children to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior using the Gospel Bead Bracelet as it’s foundation.  Through the 4-week class kids will explore questions like “Who is God?”, “Why did He create us?, “What is inside the Bible?”, “Why do I need a Savior?”, “What is prayer?”, and so much more.   We will offer this class at 9:15am for K/1st graders, and at 11am for 2-4th graders.  Space is limited to 20 students per service – so register today!

Faith Foundation will run April 29th – May 20th.

K/1 Register Here

2-4th Register Here

If you would like more information, please email cathy.heitzenater@crossroads.org