Do you have to keep repeating yourself?

WHET & REPEAT Parenting

an article by Craig:

 

A Whestone For Sharpening

Do you ever feel like a broken record...wait...a broken CD? Never mind, that illustration can be lost on a generation or two. Let me put it this way, have you ever felt like you have to keep repeating yourself to your children to either get them to listen or get them to do something? Well, as it turns out, it’s our job. Here’s an example all parents may be able to relate to. “Hey everyone, we’re leaving now. Please turn off all the lights. Thank you.” Then, when you return home the lights that were “turned off” miraculously resurrected to “on” again. So, as parents we find ourselves saying, “Can you please turn off the lights, turn off the lights, turn off the lights, turn off the lights...

The reminders may be different in your home. But they are reminders none the less. It could be “take out the trash, take out the trash, take out the trash or turn off the video game, turn off the video game, turn off the video game.” Whatever it may be we have all had these conversations...repeatedly. As it turns out, it’s our parental responsibility and it goes way beyond the illustrations I just gave you. We find this responsibility in the verses we have all come to know in Deuteronomy chapter 6:5-7.

And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 NLT

Depending on your translation the word “repeat” can also be “teach” or “impress” but most translate it “repeat.” Now the word repeat, uhhh, means continual, frequent, again and again. To belabor the point, hammer home, beat a dead horse into the ground. You get the idea. What you may not know is that word repeat means to “whet.”

No, not “Wet” but “Whet.” To whet means to sharpen any instrument, usually a knife, which is done by repeated friction or grinding. Does that sound parentally familiar? Our kids don’t learn or make healthy change or choices by saying or modeling something to them once. How nice would that be? It’s a constant reminder. One pass of a knife’s blade over the sharpening stone doesn't make it sharp. You must repeatedly run the blade with consistent even pressure across the sharpening stone. The repeated passing of the blade over the stone makes the knife or tool sharp. So as you sharpen this week here are a few reminders from, of all places, a book on how to sharpen a knife. As it turns out they’re pretty good principles for sharpening our kids as well.

1. Completely Follow Through (Don’t Stop Half Way)
2. Continue The Process (Not Just One Pass Over The Sharpening Stone)
3. Consistent and Even Pressure (Avoid Extremes While Sharpening)

YOU'RE INVITED! Come see what we're all about!

 

 

Many adults think that they can’t pour into kids lives because of their past, they have kids, work with kids during the week, or that they don’t know the Bible enough. Whatever it is… these kids need YOU! They need someone to be there for them, to want to hang out with them on Sunday mornings, to come to place where they aren’t judged but they are accepted as they are.

Babies need someone to hold them, care for them, to play with them in a safe place. Preschoolers through 4^th graders need someone to hang out with them before service, to have fun with them, to enjoy worship with them, to sit with them during the message, to get to know them through activities. These kids don’t need people who are scholars, who know all the details, or who are perfect. They need leaders who can love on them, help them apply what they learn in their everyday lives, and they need someone to look up to. THAT’S YOU!

We have all kinds of different ways for you to be involved in the Greenhouse. Whether you want to hold babies, sing songs, do crafts, read a story, play games, send cards to kids throughout the week, greet kids and get them checked in or out, provide refreshments to the volunteers, help where needed, or play with kids, there’s a place for you.. a place for you to use what you’re good at, what you enjoy doing, to serve the Lord. The Greenhouse is a place to grow! Come grow with us!

Requirements to join the GREENHOUSE team: Observe in different areas that interest you to figure out where you fit in that brings you most joy then have a follow up meeting with Pastor Tiffany, an application with background check, and a passion to serve in the most fun, most rewarding, and most energetic place on earth to help kids discover who God is!

Pastor Tiffany Koehler tiffany@freedom-church.org

Baptism 9.23.12

One of the most meaningful steps we can take as believers is to obey the Lord in baptism. For most people, this becomes a milestone in their walk with Jesus and demonstrates in a visible manner a person’s internal decision to follow Christ.

We consider it would be an honor for us to walk alongside you as you take this step in your spiritual journey.

If you have kids and they are interested in being Baptized, please join us for a 15 minute class immediately after 2nd service on Sunday, September 16th. You and your kiddo's can learn more about what baptism is and if they are ready.

Our next baptism is Sunday September 23rd during both the 9am & 11am services.

If you would like to follow your commitment to Jesus with baptism, please fill out this form here:
 http://www.freedom-church.org/?p=2514

New Check In Process Starting 9.9.12



We are pumped to announce that we are continuing to make the check in and check out process safer, easier, and quicker!

Starting on September 9th, connect in our new family lobby with chocolate milk, donutes and kid-sized tables and then go to the Greenhouse entrance.

There you will be greeted by our Greenhouse volunteers who will walk you through this process.

Because it's your first time using this new system, it may take a few minutes, so your patience is welcomed :) We want to make sure we have your families updated and complete information. Be assured, after we make sure we have all we need entered, this will hopefully be the last time you'll need to give us this information!

After your information is entered, you'll be able to sign your kiddos in yourself!

You'll come up to a computer to a very easy sign on screen, type in your child's name, push enter, and then the attached printer will immediately print out a sticker label for you and your child. You'll put your child's information sticker on the front, left side of their shirt. You will also have your label, which you can choose to wear or just hold onto, but this will need to be present for your child to be checked out. (We're asking that only the parent with the label go to pick up their kiddos.)

A number will be randomly assigned to you each Sunday and this is the number that will pop up on the screen in the adult worship service if for any reason we need to contact you about your child.

We are very excited for this change! In the Greenhouse we embrace change because change means we are always trying to get better at what we do!