New Service Times and Schedule

On September 8 we are moving to three worship service hours! The schedule is as follows:

• 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (first service)
• 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM (second service)
• 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM (third service)

During each hour we will offer Adult Life Groups and Preschool Life Groups. We also offer several other ministry opportunities for families during the morning:

• Elementary Life Groups -- 1st - 4th Grade (9:00 AM and 10:15 AM)
• BOOM! Children's Worship -- K5 - 4th Grade (10:15 AM and 11:30 AM)
• FLYTE Preteen Ministry -- 5th - 6th Grade (10:15 AM and 11:30 AM)
• Students -- 7th - 12th Grade (10:15 AM)
• Special Needs (Younger Children at 9:00 AM and Older Children at 10:15 AM)
• En Espanol -- (Life Groups at 10:15 and Worship at 11:30 AM)

Kingdom Rock Photos

We had an awesome week of Kingdom Rock VBS with over 150 leaders and 460 children! Here are a few photos:

VBS Registration Has Begun!

Kingdom Rock VBS for elementary aged children is coming this summer and registration is now OPEN!

We're offering an evening session (6:30-8:30 PM) June 23-27 and a daytime session (9:00 AM-12:00 PM) June 24-28. On Friday evening, June 28 we will have a special Family VBS Night at 6:30 PM in the Worship Center.

Kingdom Rock is for elementary aged children, but we do offer a Preschool VBS for Volunteers only. We'd love to have you be a part of the week!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

Leadership Summit

Sunday, February 17 brings our first ever Leadership Summit! We will be meeting at 5:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall for dinner followed by a few remarks from Pastor John Mark.

Following Pastor John Mark we will be splitting up into breakout sessions based on your area of ministry. Here is a list of times and places:

The Leadership Summit is absolutely free! We just need you to RSVP to Amanda (if you haven't done so already) if you plan on attending, and also let us know if you'll be needing childcare.

It's going to be a wonderful night and we can't wait!

10 Reasons FX is Pure FX Fun

There are many great memories associated with FX for me. (It used to be known as the Harvest Festival back in the day when I worked in the fields and we would bring in our harvests. Then it became known as Fun Fest because it was incredibly fun. Now, it's known simply as FX because it's super cool and the name is shrouded in cool mystery.). In the early years we partied in the Youth Room (now known as the Refuge). That worked out alright, but eventually we moved to the C.C. Jones building for extra space. Then, when the Family Life Center was built, we started Festing it up in the Gym. Over the last decade that became too confining for all of the fertile imaginations at Apex Baptist and we now occupy the front parking lot, Fellowship Hall, several preschool rooms, the Gym, the Refuge, the Worship Center, and the rooms across from the Gym. I'm sure in the future we will probably expand to using the Sanctuary for Hay Rides through the pews and Bungee Jumping from the balcony. But I digress...back to the 20th century memories.

There was the time in high school when it poured down rain on October 31 and my friend and I realized we left something important at my parent's house right before FX was supposed to begin. We tore down the street in his car and in all of our powerfully astute high school wisdom decided to pull into the backyard right up to the back door (instead of taking the driveway to the front door). Everything was fine and dandy until we tried to pull out of the grass and were stuck in mud for two hours. We eventually escaped, but my parents' yard was demolished. It still bears the scars.

I also remember the pride with which I worked my booth, the Candy Dive, for three straight years. Our banner was a piece of art each FX. Oh, the time and effort we poured into that thing. We painted hills and valleys and a beautiful crystal mountain lake (that's where the diving part came in) complete with a gorgeous sunset. There were birds and other wild animals living in peace in our landscape and occasionally devouring each other to depict the harsh reality of the Circle of Life. We chose our colors carefully and took forever. I think Pastor Chuck had to turn the lights off on us. It was perfect.

Like I said, lots of good memories! And it's that time of year to make some more memories as our annual FX makes its appearance this Saturday! In FX's honor I've compiled a (random) Top 10 List of Reasons Why You Should Come to FX and Bring Your Neighbors Too.

1. Red (of Red Robin fame) will be there with his/her Freckled Lemonade. (I don't know about your kids, but when mine see those sugary strawberries they immediately start to drool)
2. If you didn't get enough fried food at the NC State Fair there will be fried food galore including an assortment of candy bars.
3. The Costumes: It's so entertaining to see all of the costumes and witness everyone's imaginations at work. True Story: I was in College, extremely foolish, and taking weight lifting for credit only. This all led to me making the worst FX costuming decision in history. I had a loincloth/caveman skin that I used for a Young Life skit. I decided I would re-purpose it to wear for FX and be John the Baptist. Let's just say that I'm glad no photos have survived to document the debacle that ensued. I won't go into the sordid details, but there were probably many in the church who recommended to Phil that I immediately come under Church Discipline for the offense of baring too much skin. There was a lot of Nathan leg showing that night.
4. Horse Riding. Every kid's dream come true.
5. There will be a Comedian/Entertainer sharing the Gospel. Mark Lippard is amazing. Let's face it, you can share the Gospel with your neighbors a thousand times, and sometimes what they need is to hear it in a new way; in a fresh way. This might just be that opportunity! He'll be doing one show at 7:00 PM in the Worship Center and you don't want to miss this opportunity!
6. The Maze: Made with Cardboard and crafted with precision, the Maze is an architectural feat that would make Howard Roark stop in his tracks in amazement. Parents, beware. If you enter the Maze you might not come out. Because you're stuck in one of the turns.
7. Raggedy Ann and Andy: They are literally a FX institution and have appeared every year for the past forty years at least. If you see them, take your picture with them, because one day it will be valuable. I am also not at liberty to reveal their true identities.
8. The Climbing Tower: Located in the Upper Parking Lot, the Climbing Tower stretches into the heavens and sways there, beckoning the brave and fearless. Last year, as I watched my three year old nephew effortlessly scale its walls, I kept reassuring myself as I dizzily watched: "Nathan, you have a family now and have too much to lose. It's okay if you're completely intimidated by the Climbing Tower."
9. The Cake Walk: I don't know about you, but I have literally never won anything. That's not just hyperbole. Even if I came to a meeting with three other people and there were two door prizes, I would not win. But one day, one day very soon, I will win a cake from the Cake Walk!
10. Community is a beautiful thing. If you want to see the Body of Christ come together and put together something special for our friends and neighbors, come to FX. It is amazing to see people come together to make this thing happen for the Glory of God!

Let's make some memories on Saturday!

Family Fun Day at the Lake

We are so excited about our Family Fun Day at Jordan Lake on Sunday, September 16! Immediately following the 10:45 Worship Service we'll head to the White Oak Recreation Area (off of HWY 64) at Jordan Lake for lunch beginning at 12:15. You can click right here to sign your family up today! (The cost for lunch is $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.) We'll provide the food, sides and drinks, and you bring some cookies or brownies to share!

As soon as we're done with lunch we'll head down to the lake at 2:00 for a special time of baptism! If you're interested in being baptized please contact us so we can set up an interview with you.

Following baptism you're welcome to hang out at the lake all afternoon. Enjoy the water, play some volleyball or soccer, plus we'll hold our first ever OMC for the kids at around 2:30. OMC stands for Organized Mass Chaos, and it looks like exactly how it sounds. There's really only one rule for the kids and that is: THEY CAN'T SAY NO! It's tons of fun and your kids don't want to miss it!

If you have any questions about the day please let us know! We look forward to seeing your family on the 16th! Spread the word!

AMPLIFY 2012 Begins Wednesday!

Our Fall Amplify begins this Wednesday evening! There are many opportunities for you to get plugged in and we hope that you and your family can join us on Wednesdays this Fall!

• We offer a delicious affordable dinner for your family beginning at 5:00! If you'd like to make a reservation please contact the Church Office at 362-6176 (ext. 221).
• AWANA for our children begins at 6:15 PM. AWANA provides a club atmosphere for your children to learn the truths of God's Word each week! (Did you know that in a recent national survery 93% of AWANA alumni continue to attend church regularly as adults, compared to only 36% of their peers in America?) You can read more here and register your child in their age category. 
• ONEighty happens each Wednesday evening from 6:30-7:30 down in the Refuge for all 7th-12th Graders. It's high-energy, high-impact, and high-fun! You're students don't want to miss it!
• We offer several exciting studies and tracks for our adults including men-specific studies and women-specific studies that run from 6:30-7:30 PM. We even have a Spanish track for you to attend! Make sure to take advantage of these great opportunities to study God's Word!

IT ALL STARTS ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29!

Click here to read more, see photos, and download a pdf with class and track specifics!

Ministering to the Minister's Children

Amy Carroll

Your dad’s up front every Sunday instead of in the pew with his strong arm around you. You feel the weight of the church’s expectations, but you’re just a kid. It sometimes seems like you have to share your parents with a whole steeple-topped building of people. If you’ve ever experienced any of these things, you might have been a preacher’s kid—affectionately known as a PK.

So often we focus on the people up front—the pastors, the praise team, the choir, etc—and those small people back in the nurseries and Sunday school halls get over-looked. Facts and Trends didn’t forget them! In addition to the tips for blessing your pastor and pastor’s wife, they’ve included a list on how to bless your pastors’ children. Pray with me about how you can implement some of these personally as you interact with Cade and our other pastors’ kids.

Ministering to the Minister’s Kids: 

1. Allow your minister to put his family first. Nurturing and building relationships with family takes effort, energy and time. Your minister needs to know that he has permission to be the husband and parent God has called him to be. Allow him to set the standard for the rest of your church. 
2. Treat their dad with love and respect. Most kids think their dad is the greatest! Their relationship with their dad is often the basis for their relationship with their heavenly Father. It's amazing how many ministers' kids become disillusioned with God because of the way the church treated their dad. 
3. Allow your minister's kids to be human. The minister's kids are just like any other kids. They have good days and bad days. They enjoy some things more than others. They want to be treated like the rest of the group. 
4. Offer a helping hand. Have you ever noticed that when your minister is at church he's pretty busy? Have you noticed that during worship your minister's kids might need some extra love? Offer to sit with your minister's family when he's not available. 
5. Offer to be adopted grandparents. Every kid needs to be spoiled rotten by their grandparents, yet many of our ministers' kids live a long way from their extended family and don't get that opportunity. Consider adopting your minister's kids a couple times a year for some VIP treatment. 
6. Give gifts that include your minister's kids. Ministers often receive gifts of appreciation during the year. Consider giving a family-inclusive gift like theme park passes, a zoo membership, gift cards to a local movie theater or tickets to special events in your community. 
7. Recognize the kids' sacrifice to the church. On special occasions, celebrations, milestones and anniversaries, acknowledge the entire family's service and sacrifice. Kids often share their dad during evenings and weekends because of church ministries and needs. Recognize and appreciate their part in their dad's ministry. 
8. Talk with the kids about themselves. Speak to the kids, not just the minister. Resist the urge to always bring up their dad and church stuff. Take the time to discover their interests and have conversations with them about them. Find ways to make them feel special. 
9. Take your minister and his family to lunch. The next time you take your minister and his family for a meal, ask his kids to pick the restaurant. 
10. Make your minister's kids feel valued. Look for opportunities to encourage, congratulate and dote over your minister's kids. Celebrate good grades, recitals, sports games and school achievements. 

Bill Emeott is LifeWay's kids ministry specialist. 
This article is re-printed with permission from Facts and Trends 2012 Summer Edition.

The Power of Generativity

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I recently came across a term that caused me to furrow my brows in consternation (if you've ever seen my eyebrows you know that's quite a bit of furrowing going on). You've probably had it happen to you as well--you're reading, sailing right along, and then all of a sudden you stumble across a word that doesn't register. It happens to me quite a bit. The term this time was "generativity" and while I recognize words like "generate" I had never heard of "generativity" before. It might be made up for all I know and maybe hasn't found approval from Webster, but now that I've run across it I believe it's an important word in the life of a Church.

It was defined in the book that I was reading as "the positive caring for the next generation by giving of self."

How does that apply to the Church?

We have so many opportunities for adults to pour themselves out and give to others in our local Church. There are opportunities for the application of spiritual gifts. There are opportunities for usefulness in the Kingdom of God. Each follower of Jesus is a gifted minister!

The concept of generativity is at the center of the teaching ministry in a local Church where adults are teaching preschoolers, children, youth and young adults the life-changing and worldview-forming truths of the Bible.

As adults, when we accept God's call to teach and lead others we are the ones who grow in Christ. I've experienced it personally in my life, and it's the testimony of many of the teachers in our Children's Ministry. Do you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus? Give yourself away for the sake of others who need you to pour yourself into their lives!

I believe God has called each of us as adults to a self-giving & self-sacrificing ministry, also known as generativity. So, the question remains: how are you giving yourself away and serving others in the local Church? If you're not, it's time, and I'd be more than glad to point you to a few possibilities! Feel free to call me or shoot me an email!

VBS Registration Open!

VBS Registration for Night Sky VBS is now open! The dates are June 18-22 and the times are 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. VBS is a high energy week for the kids that encourages them in their walk with Jesus Christ and introduces families to the Gospel for the very first time. You can click here to get registered today! Also, check out our first promo video below!

Upward Celebration Night

This past Tuesday we had our Upward Celebration night and it was a wonderful time. We wanted to share a few photos with you so you can experience some of the excitement from the night! We'll probably post a few video snippets as well later on. Here you go!

A Few Thoughts for Fathers

Nathan Stam
Communications/Children's Pastor

Recently I had the opportunity to listen to a CD series on Fatherhood by Chip Ingram. It was excellent and I wanted to quickly share with you his four main points. These four points are what Fathers are called to be in their Families:

1. A Leader: Fathers aren't passive. They fight for their families and they make things happen. They invest in their kids.
2. A Priest: Fathers make God known to their children. As Fathers, we have the privilege of revealing God to our kids and taking their needs to God. We are constantly asking ourselves: Do my kids know God? Does our home honor God? Do my kids have an accurate knowledge of God? Fathers also model authentic worship. This means that I am worshiping in front of my children 24/7 in whatever I do, including the way that I treat my wife.
3. A Teacher: As a Dad I'm responsible for imparting wisdom and building character in my children. A Father is not someone who incessantly lectures and wields absolute authority. In other words, don't be harsh, don't be passive, and don't always find fault with your kids. Be careful not to provoke your children to anger.
4. A Lover: A Father gives his children what they need most: provision (both spiritual and relational) and protection. There should be an intimate heart connection between the Father and the children and the children and the Father even during the difficult times.

Dads, I hope those are challenging and encouraging!

FX (Family Experience)

FX (Family Experience) is coming on Saturday, October 29 and we'll be using the blog to keep you updated on what is going on in the FX camp these next few weeks! Here's the first update!

FX Sign-ups Have Begun
We want everyone to “get in the game” and be a part of FX – that way we’ll maximize the blessings, minimize the burdens and have a lot of fun along the way! Sign-up sheets are available on tables near the sanctuary, at the welcome center and online at www.apexbaptist.org/fx. You can serve as life groups, families, or individuals. We’ll try to have a point person at each station to help schedule the team’s workers. In these weekly updates we’ll inform you of other areas to serve as they arise (BTW, we’ll need several ushers for the Faith Force programs).

NEW FOR 2011
* YES!! This year we’re glad to have FAITH FORCE (see below) with us for two programs
* YEEHAAH!! Fairview Grass, (Billy Powell & his blue grass buddies) will be “pickin’ & grinning” with us
* YIDDIE UP!! We’ll have horse rides in the rear lot
* Praise YAHWEH!! Bible Bee Students will dazzle & inspire us with their scripture memorization
* YIPPEE!! The Apex Police will have a 911 Simulation for the kiddies

FAITH FORCE
We’ve been friends with the FAITH FORCE power team since Metamorphosis 2003, and three team members will do two programs during FX. In addition to having incredibly strong physical bodies, they have wonderfully tender hearts. They just got back last week from a 10 day trip in Russia where they saw our Lord work sweetly & powerfully. These guys will do a great job of entertaining, inspiring and clearly communicating the Gospel. You don’t want to miss! The first program will be around 5:30 and the second (longer one) will be at 7. Yes, you’ll be able to view the program in the sanctuary or on the big screen in the fellowship hall. (We’ll aim to close all of the FX activities down just prior to 7).

Pray, Pursue, Persuade
Do all of your friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers and classmates know Jesus as Lord? Probably not. Today, begin to pray for these by name that God would stir in their hearts. Next, look for opportunities to “bring up” Jesus and pursue them with the truths of Christ in conversation. Ultimately, you want to persuade them to come to Christ. Persuading them to come to FX and to see the Faith Force Team can play a big part in them coming to Christ! Your guests may even get saved on Saturday night! What an FX experience that would be!
Pray…
* That our many wanted & needed workers will sign up promptly
* That our ABC Family would do a good job of praying, pursuing and persuading in these next 24 days
* That our workers will lovingly & genuinely engage all of our participants & guests
* That our Lord’s love, joy & grace will fall over our campus on that Saturday evening
* That many of our unchurched guests will join us for services on the following Sunday morning
* That souls would be saved on Saturday night and Sunday morning
* That the relationships within our church family will sprout, sweeten & be strengthened as we serve together through this ministry project.
Also
* Sign up to serve by October 16th, and we’ll get you a free FX t-shirt! You also may wear your Fun Fest t shirt from a previous year or dress up in some non- scary fashion.
* Supper (hot dogs & chili) for our workers will be at 3pm in the fellowship hall.
* Our final briefing & prayer will be at 3:30pm in the fellowship hall
* We want to be in position & ready to begin by 3:50
* We’ll have a FAMILY EXPERIENCE Flier attachment for you to forward to your friends & neighbors next week. We’ll have hard copies, too. Remind everyone that it’s all FREE!
* Remember that helping at our Fun Fest is a great way to meet a lot more folks in our ABC family.

The Most Important Unreached People Group

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

We hear about unreached people groups all the time in evangelical circles. And for good reason. According to the Joshua Project there are currently 6,913 unreached people groups. Around 2.83 billion people. Unreached means that less than 2% of each of these groups are evangelical (Christians with fairly clearly defined theologies). Bringing the Gospel to these peoples is truly a monumental and an important work for our generation. There is no doubt that our relationship with Christ compels us to GO.

But here's the other side of the coin. Recently, in a seminar, I heard a person make an argument that I had never quite heard in this particular form. He said, "The most important unreached people group today is the children of believers."

I had to let this sink in. And as it did, I realized the truth of this statement. Someone once said that it only takes one generation for a church to drift into heresy and folk Christianity. We can have the fastest growing church in the world, on fire for Jesus, but if we're not grounding our children in a Biblical worldview and teaching them a personal relationship with Christ, it can be all for naught. It really is a task of utmost urgency in the church.

With that being said, it is sad that we have to beg and plead for folks in the church to help in our children's ministry. It should be an honor! A privilege! A most sacred undertaking! Not done out of guilt or duty. These kids are our future--our hope that God will continue to use ABC in the future as a light in a dark place long after our time is gone. We should have to turn away workers because we already have too many! 

“Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children..."
Lamentations 2:19

Amplify (Coming August 31)

One of the most commonly asked questions around ABC is, "What do you have for...?" So, in addition to our Sunday Worship & Life Groups, we now offer "Amplify" on Wednesday evenings for the entire family!

Amplify means "to increase in effect". As believers we should grow or increase in effect to amplify Christ in our own lives so that we may amplify Him in the lives of others. To experience ABC is to discover a variety of opportunities for you to Amplify your personal relationship with Jesus as both Savior and Lord.

We'll begin August 31 at 5:15 with the Amplify Dinner and then the Amplify Studies begin at 6:30. Whether it is something for children or you are looking for a men's group, a women's Bible study, or lfor special life or family issues, there is a study for you!

Take a few moments and see where you are going to participate! 

Amplify Dinner (5:15pm - 6:30pm)

Chef Jill and her team work hard on Wednesdays so you don't have to. Don't worry what to feed your kids (or your husbands), we will take care of it for you. It's amazing food for an great price, and it makes life just a little bit easier. Contact the Church Office (362-6176 ext. 222) TODAY to sign up!

Cost:
$4.00 per adult (11 and up) - $2.00 per child (3 to 10) - Free under 3 

Amplify Studies (6:30pm - 7:30pm)

Amplify: Awana (Kids ages 3-6th grade)
Amplify: 180 (Youth 7th-12th grade)
Amplify: Life (Adults)
Amplify: Men/Women (Adults)
Amplify: Family (Adults) 

Click here to register for one of the Amplify Adult Studies today!

A Slugs and Bugs Christmas Concert

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

We are excited to announce a special Christmas concert for children of all ages and their families coming December 4. Slugs and Bugs is the brainchild of Nashville recording artists Randall Goodgame and Andrew Peterson, and they currently have two CDs released, the most recent being A Slugs and Bugs Christmas (although I do believe they're working on a new album this Fall).

It will be tons of fun--for you and your kids!--and it is absolutely free. No tickets. The concert will begin at 6:00 PM in the ABC Sanctuary so come early to get a good seat and mark your calendars! Please, feel free to invite your unchurched neighbors and friends to come join us--they will have a blast, and it is a great opportunity to plant some Gospel seeds in their lives.

Go to slugsandbugs.com for more info, or shoot me an email, and check out this short promo video, courtesy of Slugs and Bugs:

The First Bite

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

Phil challenged us this past Sunday to have heart surgery. He used the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch to challenge our church family to go and tell the good news of what Jesus has done. If we're not going and telling then something is not right with our hearts. I don't know how you felt hearing that, but it was like a punch in the gut for me. It's too easy for me to get complacent and exist in my comfortable circle of friends instead of intentionally looking for people who don't know God. To hear those words from Phil was both convicting and hard for me to swallow, if I'm honest, because he was right: there is something wrong with my heart.

How many times have I read God's Word, it's convicted me, and at first, that conviction has tasted bitter to my soul? It has, let me tell you. Most times I don't like what I'm reading (or hearing) at first. It's not until I stop and consider what the Spirit is saying to me that I can get out of defensive mode and transition into I-need-to-change mode.

The way I react initially to hearing truth that stings (or hurts) reminds me a little bit of Tobin, our one year old. He's at the age now where we're trying new foods and are attempting to expand his taste range from just dairy products (i.e. milk in a bottle!). He'll generally open his mouth for the first bite of anything, but his facial expressions after that first bite can be hilarious. We tried peas the other day, and he DID NOT LIKE them! It was evident that they were bitter to his taste buds. I wish I had a picture I could show you, but he starts to quiver and shake his head and screw up his little lips, and you better believe he's not going to open that mouth back up for any round green thing that we might try to stick in there! (You'll have to earn his trust back with some yogurt or maybe some cheese!)

God's Word, while its truths can be painful to swallow at times, searches out our hearts and leads us to life if we're willing to change. If we surrender ourselves to undergo some heart surgery from the Holy Spirit and get our priorities right. I love how Psalm 19:7-10 describes God's Word as faithful and delicious (not bitter!):

The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate 
down to the nth degree.

God's Word is better than a diamond,
better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You'll like it better than strawberries in spring,
better than red, ripe strawberries.

The Legend of the Four Year Old Indian

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

The first of a series of Thanksgiving Blogs over the next few weeks...

I know we all have a lot of warm Thanksgiving memories as we look back over the years. Well, here's one that's a bit chilly:

It's tough being a four year old. You want to be taken seriously. You're independent. You're processing vast amounts of information and are trying so terribly hard to remember the difference between an oval and a circle. Oh, and you can't sit still. Sitting still literally makes your brain feel like it's going to spontaneously combust. If you have an older sibling you want to do whatever they get to do. You want to be in elementary school. You're ready for the school bus and can't understand why you still have to take those awful afternoon naps. Life is tough.

I was four years old, once. Hard to believe, I know. I have several four year old memories that I still hang on to, and one in particular that I wanted to share as Thanksgiving approaches next week.

I didn't have an older brother or sister, but my best friend was five and he was already in Kindergarten at Baucom. I remember being extremely jealous that he got to go to school. But Thanksgiving rolled around back in 1981 and I was invited by his teacher and our two mothers to come take part in his class Thanksgiving play. Oh, if I could only convey the giddiness and the sense of accomplishment and pride that I felt when I was approached concerning my role. I was to play the part of an Indian coming to eat with the Pilgrims and had absolutely no lines. I quickly and readily agreed to the plan.

That is, until the day of the class play. Until I was dressed in my costume. My memory is a bit fuzzy on this point, but I think I had some soft-soled Moccasin slippers for my feet and a loin cloth. That was it. Nothing else. I remember my Mom applying some war paint while I shook my head and tried to get out of it all. I mean, I liked the slippers, but the loin cloth was a bit much. I felt cold.

Thinking back, I don't think it was because I had a highly advanced sense of modesty. At this same period of my life I would run around our yard in nothing but my Batman underwear chasing bad guys and untying trussed up babysitters (who still delight to remind me of those moments). Modesty wasn't it.

I think I just got cold feet. Too much pressure. There was too much riding on my performance. And so, to my everlasting shame, I refused to go into the classroom.

Anyway, that's one of my earliest Thanksgiving memories. How about you?
 

The Stationary Activity Center

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

Ahhhh...the Exersaucer. Six years ago I would have had no conception of such a thing. But now do I ever. It is one of the greatest inventions of all time. It's close on the heels of the boppy pillow, wheel and the iPod. I'm not sure of the etymology of the term, but it does resemble a saucer and I guess it does provide the baby with some sort of "exercise". Or maybe it's meant more in the lines of, "You can get some exercise while your baby plays happily in the little saucer contraption." I've also heard of it described as the "Stationary Activity Center". Well, that might be the technical description, but to Tobin, our seven month old, it is known as Freedom in all of its new-found glory.

Tobin is our third child and we're used to the pattern and progression by now. This is a time in the life of our baby that we cherish. These are the "stationary" days.  He is going through a period where he's content in the Exersaucer (for hours, even!) but pretty soon that's going to change. Very soon. Tobin is going to get bored with being "stationary" and he's going to need to be down on the floor where he can crawl and get into trouble. That means no more reading for Daddy on the couch watching the little fellow out of the corner of my eye to see if he threw up on himself. No more running into the next room to grab something that I forgot or to look something up on the computer. Those days will be gone. They better be, or the next thing I know he'll be trying to crawl up the chimney.


As I was thinking about the term, "Stationary Activity Center," it made me think about the local church. Is that an accurate description of what we're all about? Is the church just a building where folks can come and play with different toys and be entertained? That kind of stings a little bit just to think it might be the case, doesn't it? Are we just a big, grown-up exersaucer with a few bells and whistles? Some mirrors and soft chewable objects. Completely harmless and safe?

Or...are we the People of God, the Temple of God, the Body of Christ? As a church are we actively engaged in loving our community and those around us with the Gospel? It might be a little bit more dangerous. We might get into a little bit of trouble. We might crawl to where (according to some) we're not supposed to go. We might occasionally get hurt. But that's part of growing up and it sure sounds to me a lot more like what we're called to do as followers of Christ!

In a few weeks it's going to be time to take the exersaucer back up into the attic. Tobin is going to start roaming the floors and we're going to have to blockade the kitchen and the stairs. I'm going to have to start paying better attention. It won't be long after that when he'll take his first steps. And the next thing I know he'll be wanting to wrestle. Then he'll be wanting the keys to the 2000 Camry. It's all a part of growing up and as much as I'll miss the exersaucer days I can't wait to see what kind of man he grows up to be. So, as much as I'll miss you, goodbye, Stationary Activity Center. Better things are yet to come!

Forward Motion vs. Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

There he is, standing beside me. I'm sitting in the sand, watching quietly. His body is tensed and his little forehead is crinkled in concentration and determination. Directly in front of him lies the ocean. Millions of square miles of waves and rip tides and hurricanes and fish that just might find him delicious. Does he think about those things? Nope. He crouches down and points his body like a torpedo at the breakers. At this point, my little three year old is a perfect example of potential energy. He's like a rubber band that has been stretched out to the max.

And then, from deep within his throat, comes some sort of hybrid ancient barbarian roar mixed with a grizzly bear growl. He hurtles himself towards the surf. Now he is pure kinetic energy. I watch (and laugh) as he makes it a few glorious yards into the water and then is completely overcome and tossed aside like a little rag doll by a one-foot wave. He emerges, goggles askew, waterlogged, caked in wet sand and seaweed, bathing suit half off, choking on all the salt water he ingested, but still triumphant and cackling like a rejoicing warrior. He comes back to the sand to do it all over again. And again. And again.

In 1887 a song was written that I know you've heard. The chorus goes like this:

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms.
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

In one sense I think this song is spot on: Spiritually speaking, we are safe and secure in the arms of Christ. That's true. But in another sense I think the imagery of this song can be misleading. It makes us think of leaning backwards into God's arms where nothing can hurt us.

First, the perspective given in Scripture is that we're to be a people who are leaning forward. A people who are filled with a spiritual kinetic energy, if you will. We're not to be on the sidelines, uninvolved in the Kingdom. Second, if we are Christ followers, we are not going to be safe and secure from all alarms. We will be persecuted. We will suffer. It's a guarantee.

In my walk with Christ am I comfortably sitting up on the dunes watching the waves and currents from a safe place, leaning back and relaxing in the status quo? Or, am I leaning forward, racing towards the great big unknown, but confident in my Maker and Savior, that He will be glorified by my life?

Let's run to the waves. Let's give it everything we've got. Let's embrace the kinetic energy of forward motion.