I was sick last week...so I sat my butt down on the couch and watched bad NFL playoff games, the Tennessee/Kansas game, and Gladiator. I love the "previous" button on the remote!
We are putting my boys down for bed and they looked at me and said, "We missed Throwdown!" Even though I made them do it two weeks ago when they were sick, I was a loser and wimped out. Even though I felt bad, I was really excited that they missed doing it. Maybe we are doing something right?
We have had two throwdowns since my last post. We have covered the parable of the mustard seed, being the smallest seed, but growing to be one of the biggest plants in the garden...and the birds of the fields come and build their nests in it. Steph asked them what are some small things they can do at school,home,church to advance the Kingdom of God? My boys came up with great answers. Everything from talking to people at school about Jesus, going on mission trips,obeying Mom and Dad, to going around the neighborhood and asking people about Jesus...that one got me scared. Then Sam spoke up and said mockingly, "Watch the God Channel!" We all started laughing. He gets that from his mother! Again, I incorporate wrestling moves or "fighting moves" into these times to help them remember the parables. This certain Throwdown was the Darth Vader pinch. All he would do is squeeze his fingers together and people would choke. Something so small...yet effective. I know, maybe not the best reference, but hey...they remember!!!
Yesterday we spoke about the houses being built on a shaky foundation or the Rock. It is so much fun watching them get excited. They get in competition on giving me answers...high fives for corrct answers! They love it. This wrestling move was the "noogy"! The deeper it goes, the more it works. So we spoke about going deep with Christ. They actually convict me with some of the answers they come up with. I am starting to see that the more we as families pray and study together...the strength of the Lord comes in! Isn't it funny that God told Abraham, the father of many nations, that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him...
Monday, January 18, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Throwdown Time!
We had our first Throwdown last week. We fought through...how fitting! Lake was sick with a 103 degree fever. Sam was sick also. But I thought we could do this another time or...if kids can play video games and be sick, surely we can have a bible study!
Since we are going through the Parables of Christ, we had to start with the parable that is the foundation of all others. The "wrestling ring", if you will is the Parable of the Sower. So our family spoke about the state of our hearts...what kind of soil does God find? The boys did pretty good, but I think we need to work on our listening skills...which brings us to the next phase of the Throwdown!
In every Throwdown we learn a "Wrestling Move". This week we learned the "ear-grab". Jesus said, "For them who have ears to hear..." If your mama ever grabbed your ear...she could make you do anything! If Jesus had our ears...He could make us do anything! The boys liked this...I'm just waiting for one to actually perform this move on their fellow siblings-cousins!
I think it is interesting how we go to church and come away saying..."Wow, that speaker was/wasn't annointed!" It is amazing how Jesus put the responsibility on the hearer...not the preacher! Yes, we need annointing...but for them who have ears to hear, let them hear!
Anyways...our next throwdown is this weekend. I have to prepare the next "move". But if my boys, or me for that matter, can master the "ear-grab"...we will be changing the world!
Since we are going through the Parables of Christ, we had to start with the parable that is the foundation of all others. The "wrestling ring", if you will is the Parable of the Sower. So our family spoke about the state of our hearts...what kind of soil does God find? The boys did pretty good, but I think we need to work on our listening skills...which brings us to the next phase of the Throwdown!
In every Throwdown we learn a "Wrestling Move". This week we learned the "ear-grab". Jesus said, "For them who have ears to hear..." If your mama ever grabbed your ear...she could make you do anything! If Jesus had our ears...He could make us do anything! The boys liked this...I'm just waiting for one to actually perform this move on their fellow siblings-cousins!
I think it is interesting how we go to church and come away saying..."Wow, that speaker was/wasn't annointed!" It is amazing how Jesus put the responsibility on the hearer...not the preacher! Yes, we need annointing...but for them who have ears to hear, let them hear!
Anyways...our next throwdown is this weekend. I have to prepare the next "move". But if my boys, or me for that matter, can master the "ear-grab"...we will be changing the world!
Monday, December 7, 2009
ADVENTure!!!
Before out first Throwdown, our famly is participating in Advent. I did this growing up, especially being from the Episcopal church, we did this every Christmas. Since going non-denominational, I have not done it since I was little. So I brought it back with some fun this year!
My kids love it! It hasn't been as enlightning as I want it to be, but so far it hasn't been too bad. 3 boys and candles and get tricky but it has been fine so far. Last night my boys read the scripture in Phillipians 2 about Christ coming down in the form of a slave...this was probably the first Hymn the early church sang. It also deals with the incarnation. This time of year, as we all know, is about ME!!! Christmas presents and the whole thing! Paul says, "Have the same attitude as Christ did..." He emptied himself. I wanted to approach this Christmas, as best I could, from the same foundation as Christ laid...not me first!
So after the lesson, we prayed and then played! I made up a game called ADVENTure! I hide clues about advent all around the house and the boys find them, then find me for a little treat. THEY LOVE IT...probably more than Advent. Sam HAD to be the FIRST person to read the FIRST clue. I said, "Is this the same attitude Christ had?" I know...I'm cheezy. But he relented, and gave the first clue to Lake...joyfully. Little victory in Advent!
Hopefully your advent is a full of "ure"!!!
My kids love it! It hasn't been as enlightning as I want it to be, but so far it hasn't been too bad. 3 boys and candles and get tricky but it has been fine so far. Last night my boys read the scripture in Phillipians 2 about Christ coming down in the form of a slave...this was probably the first Hymn the early church sang. It also deals with the incarnation. This time of year, as we all know, is about ME!!! Christmas presents and the whole thing! Paul says, "Have the same attitude as Christ did..." He emptied himself. I wanted to approach this Christmas, as best I could, from the same foundation as Christ laid...not me first!
So after the lesson, we prayed and then played! I made up a game called ADVENTure! I hide clues about advent all around the house and the boys find them, then find me for a little treat. THEY LOVE IT...probably more than Advent. Sam HAD to be the FIRST person to read the FIRST clue. I said, "Is this the same attitude Christ had?" I know...I'm cheezy. But he relented, and gave the first clue to Lake...joyfully. Little victory in Advent!
Hopefully your advent is a full of "ure"!!!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Are you ready for a throwdown?
No, this has nothing to do with Bobby Flay, but it may be just as savory as some ribs he cooks up...
After reading Michael Card's book, "A Better Freedom", I got an idea to start what we call "Family Throwdown". The word "Parable" comes from the greek word, parabole, which means to "throw beside". In essence, parables were stories that were thrown down for us to wrestle with, be convicted by, all with the aim to unlock the mysteries of God's kingdom. A "Family Throwdown" is a time that my family has once a week to unlock the mysteries of God's Kingdom...I hope!
I have been struggling with "family bible time", or worship. I don't think church and Sunday school need to be our "be all end all"...yet for most of us this is the case. At the same time, I was a little overwhelmed with teaching my kids the bible. Where to start...Where to go...Where to end? Well if Jesus used parables to show the kingdom...If it was good for Him, it's good enough for me.
As I gathered my boys, three to be exact, to tell them that we are going to start having Family Throwdowns...they got excited. It sounded like a Saturday Night Main Event...so they responded well to that thought. In fact, right before I told them, Wesley my oldest son says, "Dad, I am reading my bible and these parables Jesus shares are hard to understand!" I was shocked. He had no idea what I was about to say...I told him God was showing him something for our whole family...needless to say, he was excited that God was speaking to him.
Isn't that what is is all about; Jesus speaking to us and us doing it!
We have not actually had one yet because we are doing Advent this year. This will lead us right into our first "Throwdown" in January. I am excited to have these times together.
So in turn, I wanted to start a blog to share our Family Throwdowns with you. Maybe you have a throwndown of your own to share. I called this blog, "Pair of Bowls", a little play on words to show that this blog will hopefully be more like a meal than words on a page. So get your bowl out of the cupboard...and bring it to the table. I will share what God is cooking for us...just be sure to share what God is cooking for you and your family.
After reading Michael Card's book, "A Better Freedom", I got an idea to start what we call "Family Throwdown". The word "Parable" comes from the greek word, parabole, which means to "throw beside". In essence, parables were stories that were thrown down for us to wrestle with, be convicted by, all with the aim to unlock the mysteries of God's kingdom. A "Family Throwdown" is a time that my family has once a week to unlock the mysteries of God's Kingdom...I hope!
I have been struggling with "family bible time", or worship. I don't think church and Sunday school need to be our "be all end all"...yet for most of us this is the case. At the same time, I was a little overwhelmed with teaching my kids the bible. Where to start...Where to go...Where to end? Well if Jesus used parables to show the kingdom...If it was good for Him, it's good enough for me.
As I gathered my boys, three to be exact, to tell them that we are going to start having Family Throwdowns...they got excited. It sounded like a Saturday Night Main Event...so they responded well to that thought. In fact, right before I told them, Wesley my oldest son says, "Dad, I am reading my bible and these parables Jesus shares are hard to understand!" I was shocked. He had no idea what I was about to say...I told him God was showing him something for our whole family...needless to say, he was excited that God was speaking to him.
Isn't that what is is all about; Jesus speaking to us and us doing it!
We have not actually had one yet because we are doing Advent this year. This will lead us right into our first "Throwdown" in January. I am excited to have these times together.
So in turn, I wanted to start a blog to share our Family Throwdowns with you. Maybe you have a throwndown of your own to share. I called this blog, "Pair of Bowls", a little play on words to show that this blog will hopefully be more like a meal than words on a page. So get your bowl out of the cupboard...and bring it to the table. I will share what God is cooking for us...just be sure to share what God is cooking for you and your family.
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