Family Quintain Poems for 2010

Joel – husband, father – farming, elevator – teaching Colton’s SS class – likes to read from Answers in Genesis

Carolyn - wife and mother – church children’s ministry – reading, scrapbooking, driving kids – sharingmyheart.wordpress.com blog

Colton - 5th grade, DC – basketball, LeBron James – Vikings, Favre, Pederson, Greenway – 5th & 6th boys basketball team, 5th band

Staci - grade 2, DC – Barbie house under bed – piano lessons, reads, spells, draws – GEMS, Voyagers, sewing, cooking, kitties

Wolbrinks - 2010 – Kennedy Space Center – Valleyfair, MilleLacs Lake, Black Hills – swimming lessons, Bible Bee, God’s Word is truth

2nd Notes from “The Core Issue” by Christine Caine

3.  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  God created me; He loved me; therefore, I was to love me.  We must learn to love ourselves today, not sometime in the future when we get it all together.  We cannot give away what we don’t already have.  Believe and receive God’s amazing love for you.  And then as freely as Jesus gave His love for you, freely give that love to someone else.

4.  Go therefore.  As the builders of a magnificent house for God faithfully laid each stone, their purpose was never about the bricks and mortar, but about the people who would be impacted and changed once the cement had set.  These men wanted to inspire people by using this building as a reflection, a glimpse of the excellence and majesty of God.  The purpose of the ornate building was to attract people to God, not to the building.  Today though, while 100′s of people were taking pictures of this church, we could no longer see evidence of the power and life of God’s Spirit working in His people.  Why were people no longer worshiping God in this place?  A church loses its life and effectiveness at the point it stops being the church that God created her to be, and instead starts going through the motions of doing church.  As long as a local church is actively involved in its community and in the lives of people, it remains alive, dynamic, vibrant, and healthy. 

You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.  Salt does 3 things:  adds flavor, preserves and heals.  This is why it is so important that we ourselves be personally transformed from the inside out.  If we have not been changed, we cannot bring out the “God-flavors” of this earth.  The church, as God’s hands and feet on the earth, is called to operate in the realm for which she was created, namely, a lost and broken world.  We move from being the Church to doing church when we stop salting and seasoning the world.  Every aspect of our church experience should actually empower us to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).  We must be the church 7 days a week.  He has placed us in our environments to help people who are lost reroute their lives.  Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, and we as His Body are to continue this mission.  We get to influence the people around us who have not yet chosen to believe in Jesus. 

People do not get lost on purpose.  Often they simply get caught up in the turmoil of day-to-day life, just trying to survive, pay the bills, and raise their kids.  We need to be like the shepherd, willing to do whatever it takes to find the 1 sheep.  Like the woman looking for the lost coin, we as the Church must be prepared to light the lamp and leave no corner uncovered until we recover that which is lost.  When a lost person comes home to be reconciled with Jesus, we the Church must always have a Welcome Home sign ready, the doors wide open, and the table prepared with the finest feast.

*My own thoughts:  Take VBS, etc…. to where the kids are?  parks?  schools? etc…Worship where the people are?  campgrounds?  games?  motels?  etc……

1st Notes from “The Core Issue” by Christine Caine

1.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart.  Christians often leave their first love – Jesus – because they have allowed their faith to become a boring ritual rather than a breathtakingly intimate relationship with Him.  When our Christianity has no life or passion, it becomes dull, tedious, legalistic, and mundane.  We must commit to continually stretching our heart muscles so that we may know Him more intimately.  We do this by seeking our Lord in His Word.  To keep our hearts alive & vibrant, we need to maintain an attitude of gratitude & thanksgiving.  In order to remain strong & healthy, God Himself must always be the object of our affection.  When our hearts are full of zeal for the Lord, even the most mundane, good works are deeply fulfilling.  Every single day, we take steps toward fulfilling our spiritual destinies simply by choosing to hear and obey the voice of God and His Word.  It is when we have a heart that is strong, unobstructed, and passion-filled that we will be able to love the Lord our God with all our heart, regardless of the challenges, adversity, and circumstances we encounter.

2.  Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind.  When the gifts of the Spirit on a person’s life are greater than the fruit of the Spirit in a person’s life, that life will begin to crumble.  As we choose to allow God to enlarge, stretch, and strengthen our soul muscle, we will be able to fulfill the 2nd facet of the Great Commandment:  loving God with ALL of our soul.  And as our core begins to change, the spiritual fruits will become the marks that define us as followers of Christ.  That’s the beauty of a soul restored, renewed, and ultimately reborn.  When our inner & outer worlds flow from the grace of Christ, we won’t have to strive to act like a Christian; we will simply be one.  Our mind is vital in making our internal transformation an external reality.  A strong heart & soul muscle reveals our potential, but it is the mind muscle that unleashes it.  The quality of our mind muscle depends on how much of God’s truth (as found in His Word) we believe & apply to our everyday lives.  Our thoughts have to be supplanted by the truth of the Word of God.  “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good & acceptable & perfect will of God.”  (Rom. 12:2)  We are exhorted to “set our mind on things above & not on earthly things” (Col. 3:2). 

*How can we continually set our minds on things above?

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue & if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.”  (Phil 4:8)  It’s so important to read & meditate on the Word of God.  If we don’t know what thoughts are contrary to His, how will we know what trains to avoid?

Esther Beth Moore Bible Study Notes – Part 2

7.  It’s tough being a woman who feels responsible for the “how”; BUT TRUST reverses the details of adversity into highways of destiny.  *Esther stepped through.  Haman stepped off.  Xerxes stepped in.  Mordecai stepped up. *2 Peter 2:9 “the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.” 

6.  It’s tough being a woman who can balance passion with patience; BUT GOD’S PATIENCE always involves His passion.   *At-Home premieres – How Lord?  *Isaiah 30:18 “the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for him!”

5.  It’s tough being a woman in the tight fist of fear; BUT REMEMBER, God delivers & empowers you to the finish!  *Sing through the Bible project – how Lord?   *Deuteronomy 33:29 “Blessed are you, O Israel!  Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord?  He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword.  Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places.”  Nehemiah 4:14 “Don’t be afraid of them.  Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”  Esther 9:2 “The Jews assembled in their cities…to attack those seeking their destruction.  No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them.” 

4.  It’s tough being a woman thrown a giant-size weight; BUT REMEMBER, God always has the upper hand.  *1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”  Deuteronomy 23:5 “the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you.” 

3.  It’s tough being a woman in a mean world; BUT REMEMBER to fight the good fight, holding on to faith & a good conscience.  (1 Tim. 1:19) Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 

2.  It’s tough being a woman in a world where beauty is a treatment; BUT He makes all things beautiful in His time.  (Ecclesiastes 3:11) *Beauty in God’s realm is NOT a treatment.  It’s a destiny. 

1.  It’s tough being a woman in another woman’s shadow; BUT He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  (Psalm 91:1)

Esther Notes from Beth Moore Bible Study – Part 1

1.  It’s tough being a woman in another woman’s shadow.  *Faith is putting God in every fill in the blank.  *God’s NOT going to fulfill your destiny without you!

2.  It’s tough being a woman in a world where beauty is a treatment.  *You cannot amputate your history from destiny.  God wants to use your past to help you become what He has created you to become!

3.  It’s tough being a woman in a mean world.  *Identify the threat when meanness comes up from inside you.  *Insecurity is at the heart of every rivalvry.

4.  It’s tough being a woman thrown a giant-sized weight.  *My call to faith – help others hide God’s Word in their hearts?  How Lord? 

5.  It’s tough being a woman in the tight fist of fear.  *I get to decide how good my story gets to be!

6.  It’s tough being a woman who can balance passion with patience.  *Sometimes God forces the issue of time.  Amazingly, other times He seems to entrust it.

7.  It’s tough being a woman who feels responsible for the “how”.  *A peripeteia swiftly turns a routine sequence of events into a story worth telling.

“Lead Where You Are” Willow Creek Summit 2010 Notes

1.  Bill Hybels

*Leaders move people from here to there – vision casting.  How do you inspire people to stay on the journey?  Refill their vision bucket.  Celebrate every mile marker on the journey. 

2.  Jim Collins “Never, Ever, Give Up”

*Double your reach to young people by changing your practices w/o changing your core values. 

3.  Christine Caine “Leading on the Edge of Hope”

*Take the LIGHT that’s in you from Jesus our Savior & go shine it in the dark places of this world! 

4.  Tony Dungy “The Mentor Leader” www.allprodad.com/dungy

5.  Adam Hamilton “When Leaders Fall”

*Don’t let the Devil ride; because, he’s gonna want to drive.  5 R’s to resisting temptation:  Remember who you are – a child of God belonging to Him; Recognize the consequences of your actions; Rededicate yourself to God – stop, drop & pray; Reveal your struggle to a trusted friend; Remove yourself from the situation.  Our aim as a Christian is sanctification.  1 Thess. 4:3-5 & 7

6.  Dr. Peter Zhao Xiao “Beyond Economy:  China’s Transformation w/the Cross”

*The most important part of China’s necessary reform is spiritual.  Our mission is to empower servant leaders to become salt & light in china, through commerce, culture, & education.  We seek to renew China and to help her bless the world.

7.  Andy Stanley “The Upside of Tension”

*Every organization has problems that shouldn’t be solved & tensions that shouldn’t be resolved.  If you resolve any of those tensions, you will create new tension & a barrier to progress.  Progress depends not on the resolution of those tensions but on the successful management of those tensions. 

*To distinguish between problems to solve & tensions to manage, ask the following:  Does this problem or tension keep resurfacing?  Are mature advocates for both sides?  Are the 2 sides really interdependent? 

*The role of leadership is to leverege the tension to the benefit of the organization.  Identify the tensions to be managed in your organization.  Create terminology.  Inform your core-key players.  Continually give value to both sides.  Don’t weigh in too heavily based on your personal biases.  Don’t allow strong personalities to win the day.  Don’t think in terms of balance.  Think rhythm. 

8.  Jeff Manion “The Land Between”

*The land between is fertile ground for God’s provision, discipline & transformational growth.  God is teaching us to trust Him! 

9.  Terri Kelly “When Leaders Emerge: The Story of WL Gore & Associates”

*Leaders DO through influence!  Each associate has a sponsor that helps them grow and develop in their career. 

10.  Daniel H. Pink “What Motivates Us:  Not What You Think” (1995-1997 White House Speech Writer)

*Our human nature is to be active & engaged!  If … then… rewards works for small jobs NOT complicated more intense & creative jobs.  Allow self-direction & fed ex days (deliver an idea overnight).  Continually give feedback and allow associates to set perfomance goals once a month. 

11.  Blake Mycoskie “Making Conscious Capitalism Work:  The Tom Shoes Story” www.toms.com

12.  Jack Welch “Leader to Leader:  Bill & Jack”

*Energize the people around you & bring them on board.  Get them to feel the vision.  Empower people smarter than you! 

*Top 20% love to see people excel, grow & be promoted!  Vital 70% are hardworkers that you share their strengths & give areas where you’d like to see them improve.  Bottom 10% are not team-players.  They are negative disrupters & hallway whisperers.  Do everything you as a leader can to stop the meeting after the meeting!

13.  T.D. Jakes “Combustible Passion”

*Get around leaders that are better than you!  Read, read, read…..  You cannot empassion others if you are not passioned yourself.  Grow from a divine place to develop your passion.  People follow people who move & take risks. 

*Good teams complete you & don’t compete w/you! 

*Lord, give me passion & fire; so, I can give to others & pass it on!  Amen.

Local Bible Bee 2010

On August 25, DCS hosted the 2nd annual local Bible Bee.  Congratulations to ALL 7 participants!  We as parents are so proud of you. 

“Following Truth, Rejecting Lies”

Highlights from ch 11 in “The Praying Parent” by Stormie Omartian

1.  If we don’t teach our children what God says about lying, they won’t know why it’s wrong.  When you consider the source, there is no way you can sit by & allow the seed of a lie take root in your child’s heart. 

2.  Pray now that any lying spirit will be uprooted – in ourselves as well as our children.  We need to reject the way of lying & follow the truth.  We need to be an example to our children. 

*Lord, give my children a heart that loves truth & follows after it, rejecting all lies as a manifestation of the enemy.  I pray that they may not be blinded or deceived, but always be able to clearly understand Your Truth.  I pray that Your Spirit will guide them into all truth.  Amen!

“Being the Person God Created”

What I learned from Ch 10 in “The Praying Parent” by Stormie Omartian.

1.  We become the person God created us to be when we ask God for guidance and then do what He tells us to do.  Pray for God to reveal to us what our children’s gifts & talents are.  Then, ask for wisdom to encourage, nurture, develop & train them to be all that God made them to be!  They will never fully understand who they are until they understand who God is!

*May it be for my children according to Your Word that they may never stray from what you have called them to be or try to be something they are not.  May they not be a follower of anyone but you; and, may they be a leader of people into Your Kingdom.  May they find their identity in You, view themselves as Your instrument, and know that they are complete in You.  Give them a vision for their life when setting goals for the future and a sense of purpose for what You’ve called them to do.  Amen!

Highlights from ch 7, 8 & 9 (“The Praying Parent” by Stormie Omartian)

1.  When you cover your family relationships in prayer, there will be far fewer instances of strained or severed relationships. 

2.  Closest friends, the ones to whom we have strong ties, should be believers.  Pray for our children’s unbelieving friends to receive the Lord and for strong believing friends to come into their lives.  We have the power of God and the truth of His Word behind us.  Don’t stand for someone leading your child astray.  One of the greatest influences in our children’s lives will be their friends and role models.  How can we not pray about them? 

3.  Fearing God means having a deeply committed respect, love, and reverence for God’s authority and power.  It means hungering for all that God is and all that He has for us. 

4.  When we do our part to teach, instruct, discipline, & train our children in the ways of God, read them stories from God’s Word, teach them how to pray & have faith in God, help them get plugged in w/godly friends, show them that walking w/God brings joy & fulfillment, pray w/& for them about everything, then our children will develop a hunger for the things of God.  They will know that the things of God are top priority.

* Father, as my children learn to read your Word, write Your law in their minds & on their hearts so that they always walk w/a confident assurance of the righeousness of Your commands.  May their always be a Holy Spirit fire in their hearts and an unwavering desire for the things of God.  Amen!