Church Blog
Seeing Jesus in Others
A simple, “good job!” is such a powerful tool especially with toddlers. When they do something praiseworthy, or helpful and you say, “good job!” the child lights up and tries to do it again and again. Why? Because they got something they want which is attention and affirmation.
On some level, the lie that we tell ourselves is that we are no longer like that toddler, craving encouragement that can motivate us toward godliness. But adults are not as complex as we may think. A simple ‘good job’ can get a lot of people to persevere in their work. The sad part is that it seems like the older we get, the less affirmation we receive…
The Right Questions to Ask When
I didn’t have to take a test to find out my primary love language is words of affirmation. Words have always been my go-to when encouraging others—even as early as first grade. During the infamous 1978 Indiana blizzard, I was stuck in my first-grade classroom with my classmates. Because the snow came so fast, the buses couldn’t make it to the school in time to pick up the children and take them home. Most of the kids ended up staying overnight at the school.
Now this is the part I don’t remember. According to my first-grade teacher, Mrs. Weekly, I had given this word of encouragement to my classmates: “Mrs. Weekly’s a mom. She’ll know what to do.”
Clearly, in my young mind, I had a high view of motherhood. As I’ve since learned, being a mom for 25 years, moms don’t always know what to do. But there was something in me as a child that wanted to comfort. Inconsequently, and I’m sure not on purpose, I was also affirming my teacher as a mom. But then again, she could’ve been thinking, “I have no idea what to do!” Which is exactly why asking the right questions is so important…
How Affirmation Can Go Wrong
I recently bought a box of riddles to ask my girls. One of the riddles asked, “What is something we all need, often share, love to give, but rarely receive?” the answer—advice! In the Christian life, and when it comes to affirmation, it may sound more like: “What is something we all need and want but rarely give to others? The answer: Affirmation! This book is intended to help us solve this riddle. In the sense that it isn’t just about finding the correct answer but taking the right actions after knowing the answer…
Why Affirmation is so Important
When I was a kid, I remember thinking I never wanted to be exactly like my parents; I wanted to be my own person. Now that I am older, I recognize all the ways I did, in fact, become a lot like my parents, especially my mother. Particularly when it comes to losing my keys. Growing up, my mother was always losing her keys. I even recall a time when we were late for school and frantically searching for the car keys, and I ended up finding them in the refrigerator! This is why I laughed a little at Crabtree’s opening illustration of a key. He describes how this small tool is both simple and complex. Affirmation is simple in concept, but difficult in its application because relationships are complex, messy, and are affected by many factors…
How Affirmation Refreshes Relationships
I discovered the power of affirmation while enduring my first year as a public school teacher. I had the great pleasure of teaching rowdy, pubescent 7th and 8th graders in a low-income area of Southern California, and it was nearly impossible to get through to many of my students. I taught three periods of remedial writing, which really meant that I was tasked with keeping order in a classroom filled with students who scored very low on tests–mostly because they had unstable homes, no educational support, and/or spoke English as a second language. There are many students that come to mind from that time, but one young lady in particular faced serious difficulties. During the school year her older sister committed suicide and her parents divorced, so turmoil abounded in her life. She spent much of her class time trying to distract other students, and finding ways to avoid her assignments…
God Centered Affirmation for those who are not God
My wife, Emily, periodically recalls the story of our first Member's Meeting at Canby Christian Church. She remembers it so well because Pastor Aaron made her cry during it. It was the second time he had made her cry in the short time we had known him. The first was during one of my interviews before coming on staff at the church, when Aaron asked her, "How are you feeling?" That was all it took.
We were coming off of years and of stress-filled ministries where I either didn't have the skills required for the position, or I was simply underappreciated for what I was contributing—and sometimes both. She had seen me several times seriously question whether I should be doing ministry at all. I don't think I fully understood how difficult it was for her to see me like that….
5th Sunday Family Service
We are starting a new initiative this June, encouraging parents to bring their children into the adult gathering on those months with 5 Sunday’s. CCKids will not be closed, but we are encouraging our elementary-age children to check out the ‘big church service’ with their parents. Fifth Sundays only occur around four to five times a year, which is why we’ve thought they could be utilized to help further our goal as a ministry. Of course, our worship gathering is always open to people of all ages so some may already have their children with them, but for those families who generally have their children in CCKids, now we are creating this pathway toward a gradual integration. Why encourage your elementary-age child to join our main Sunday gathering? …
“Gospel Integrity”
“Are we there yet?” This is the question your kids ask when they are anxious to arrive at their destination. Well, I am happy to say, “We’ve arrived!” We are at the end of this helpful little book on what it means to be a Gospel People—thank you for reading and following along. This last chapter is called Gospel Integrity. Which is what the purpose of this book is all about, A Call for Evangelical Integrity…
“The Importance of Being Gospel People”
In my fifty-one years of attending church, I have seen many differences of opinion, some resulting in a mere exchange of words, some resulting in people leaving churches. Well-meaning Christians have disagreed over almost everything—from church décor or whether it’s wrong to celebrate Halloween to the more serious matters of how church should be governed or what roles the ordinances of baptism and communion play in the believer’s life.
We could all make a list of the many differences leading to disagreements we’ve seen in the church. And, if we’re honest, most of the items on that list would fit into one main category: nonessential…
“Regeneration through the Spirit”
In many ways this week’s chapter echoes some of the conversation we had on this week’s “ON SUNDAY” episode of the Canby Christian Church podcast. In that discussion, we ruminated on how our participation in the Great Commission demonstrates belief and faith. In chapter 4 of “Gospel People – Regeneration by the Spirit” Michael Reeves urges us to consider a third perspective of our salvation. The Father plans or salvation, the Son accomplishes our salvation, and finally, the Spirit applies our salvation by giving us life anew…
“Redemption by the Son”
At my last church, evangelism was at the heart of its culture. The pastors regularly preached that our encounters with non-Christians were an open door or a divine appointment. The church provided evangelism resources, hosted evangelism-focused conferences, offered apologetics classes, organized weekly street witnessing ministries, and even held large-scale events with the sole purpose of extending an altar call to a stadium full of lost people. Evangelism was the vibe, as the young kids might say…