Water War Wednesdays

In the summer, in order to help avoid the summer slumps when kids go on vacation and forget about church, the girls and boys ministries put on a summer competition.

For the past few years we have done Water War Wednesdays; a water themed points competition between the groups of kids/youth on Wednesday nights. We divide the students into groups, either by their normal club groupings or combining some in order to make the groupings equal (for example: Prims & Daisies). In years past, we have combined the RR & GM groups for the whole meeting time to complete the games and devotion. In recent years, our set up runs with the Girls Ministry and the Royal Rangers competing in the games together, then dismissing into their groups to do devotions and work on badges or merits.

Games aren't the only way the teams earn points. They also earn points by attending Wednesday nights, going to Sunday service, bringing their Bible, wearing club colors, and bringing friends. This gives incentive to keep doing the things we already encourage them to do, while adding the fun to keep them intrigued over the summer. The team concept also encourages them to hold each other accountable to come every week, especially after being on vacation or at camp.



Rules:
Here are the rules and guidelines we use:

Water War Wednesdays

Earning Marks

Each Team:

•   Each team member on original sheet present – 100 marks
•    Each team member wearing their team colors – 100 marks 
•  If entire team is present – 2,000 bonus marks 
•   Each team member/visitor who has a Bible with them – 100 marks
• Team with greatest offering – 1,000 bonus marks
• Every Team member present for Sunday 10:30am service – 500 marks

*Team members do not receive any points on Sunday if they are more than 15 minutes late to the service.

Team Visitors:

•  First Time visitor are worth 1,000 marks
• Second Time visitors are worth 2,000 marks 
•  Third Time visitors are worth 3,000 marks 
• Fourth Time visitors are worth 4,000 marks

*Visitors must have completed Kindergarten and do not have to come consecutively in order to receive marks.

Team Challenges:

•  Teams who participate receive 2,000 marks 
•  The Team that wins the challenge receives a total of 7,000 marks

Team Banners: RAINY DAY ALTERNATIVE ONLY

•   Banners are judged on five categories:

Creativity, Professionalism, Originality, Team Colors, and Team Name

•  Points will be distributed as follows:

§  First place receives 10,000 marks

§  Second place receives 6,000 marks

§  Third place receives 3,000 marks

Deduction of Points:

•   If a Team member is found to be participating in un-orderly conduct. (including but not limited to cursing or threats.) 
•   If a Team member is found to be disrespectful to any leader or property in the church.

* The amount of points to be deducted will be decided upon by the Rangers and Girls Ministry Leaders depending on the severity of the offense.  All offenses will be no lower than a 15,000 mark deduction from the Team involved.

Games:
All of the leaders take turns heading up the games. A quick Google or Pinterest search will score you some ideas for games. Here is a list of ideas that we have tried.

Water Balloon Toss
Water Balloon Hot Potato
Water Balloon Dodgeball
Bob for Water Toys
Put the Candles Out (with straws and water).

I'll try to post the games we use this year, and let you know how much fun we had!

Point Tracking:
We have one person in charge of tracking points. Each night the kids sign in at our sign in table, and the leader of that table fills in all of the information for us. If you don't have that luxury, each leader gets a folder with their team sheet in it and fills it out. In either case, the points tracker gets the sheets at the end of the night.
Here is an example of our sign in sheet:

Using this format, we have experienced growth and excitement over our summers.

The Two Part Salvation

I love using Max Lucado's study books for the start of my devotion time. The questions he poses, along with the excerpts from books to give perspective to the scripture, help me get in the mindset for my person Bible reading. I read the devotion, then take part of it and do my own scripture reading and reflecting. And, when I have a cup of coffee to go with it, it makes it even more enjoyable.

Romans 10:9 says:
"If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

In Max Lucado's study book on Romans, he brings up this required two part response from us, to be saved. Not only do I have to say it out of my own mouth, I have to believe it in my heart too.

Doing one or the other is actually pretty easy. I can keep my salvation to myself and not cause any ripples, not, offend anyone....  all simply by believing in Jesus Christ. It seems pretty easy, but, there is a problem. Satan knows that God raised Jesus from the dead. He isn't saved.

Ok, so what about the other one? That one is actually pretty easy too. I can say it, even if I don't believe it, just to be on the safe side and make it to heaven... if heaven is actually real. Plus, I can still do the things I want to, I've already said Jesus is Lord, I'm good.

Sorry, nope. Not how it works. BOTH are required of us. The combination of the two are what makes it a little harder for some to really make the commitment to Christ. Without belief and relationship with Christ, we certainly can't do the things HE has called us to do. We can't be "good enough" for him. Our good works come from the relationship with him, not the other way around. The second part, being vocal about your salvation, is required so that others can experience what we have. Spreading the message of Christ isn't reserved for those with a title, like pastor, evangelist, or even teacher. It is for all who know him.

It doesn't mean you need to stand on a box in the middle of the street and preach with a megaphone. In fact in Matthew, when Jesus did the Sermon on the Mount, it says Jesus saw the crowds, went up on the mountainside and began to teach his disciples. Did others hear it and start listening? Yeah. They weren't forced to by him yelling at them, telling them that they were sinners going to hell. They chose to listen to Him teach his disciples.

I think there are a couple of important things to notice here.

1. Before he could teach his disciples, he had to have disciples. People had to notice something very different about this man, and it had to be something they wanted.We need to be different too, and different in a way that makes people want what we have. Salvation.
2.  He taught his disciples. He didn't tell them to just do what he says (that would be no different than following the Levitical Law). He didn't preach at them, yelling and screaming. Most importantly his message was different from the pharisees (the Law once again). They were about being clean on the outside, something that was near impossible but they took pride in. His message was about looking at the heart and the hope of a savior. Something beyond the law.

So how does this play into Romans 10:9? The two parts of salvation. Belief and the personal relationship with Him brings change to our lives.That change will be noticeable, people will see it. The confession with our mouth is the public part. Its how people know WHY our lives are the way they are. Its how we share the good news. Like Jesus, our lives should bring people to want to know more and it is our job (not your pastor's) to, like Jesus, teach them.

Our Story, Day 7

Day seven of "our story"


Over the next year many things happened, most of that will be saved for another time. Moving out of my parents when I turned 18 and continuing to work on a bachelors in Elementary Education was a big thing. I felt like God wanted me where I was and that he would provide a way for me to attend. Paul wanted me to go to the community college since it would be cheaper. I ended up only having to pay $500 that first semester, no loans. God provides, we just have to be faithful. 

We were going to get married November 22nd, so our honeymoon could take place over fall break. Through a series of events that changed some things, we decided to elope.
I was questioned by the student life department at college on why we would elope and encouraged not to make that "mistake". I was told "You don't want to do that. You will miss out on your dream wedding. Didn't you dream about your wedding as a little girl?"

I guess I'm not good at following the advice of people when I know what God has already told me. So we eloped on October 17th. Getting married in the courthouse and not a church, in a $17 white dress and not my big wedding dress (that I already had), after taking a midterm and not after going to a salon to get my hair done and eating a Longhorn Steakhouse rather than having a reception.... And it was perfect. It was the day I married my best friend, the man God made just for me. You see for me, it was never about  a wedding. It was about a marriage. As a child I never daydreamed about my wedding, I did however daydream about being married to a man that loved me. I also wanted to be a mom to four kids. My day dreams were nothing in comparison to real life, I am blessed beyond measure.

People still ask me if I plan to renew my vows in church one day, since "I didn't get a church wedding". The answer is no. I have not missed out on anything by not having a wedding in a church. The wedding is an expensive party that lasts a few hours, marraige is where it really counts. Thats where I want to spend my time and money. And, really, if I am spending money like that, Paul and I are going on a trip, without ya'll. hehe

One last thing, on my wedding day I prayed for God to bless our marriage and for us to forever stay honeymooners. I didn't want to be one of those wives who didn't like being married, I had seen enough of them. At church no less. Anyway, I don't know why God answered that prayer, to give my marriage a life long honeymoon, but He did. At first people would say, you're just honeymooning, give it a few years. After a few years, people said, just wait till you have kids. After kids.... Well I think they just have given up and say "that's just Paul and Paige." Four kids later.... Obviously we are still honeymooning.