Cathy Why are you surprised at the response to your class?As a parent, I too, would have been furious had my child come home from church wanting to know what a virgin is. I am surprised that you felt it necessary to have to mention that the King was looking for a virgin - especially in a multi-aged class! (You did not give the age range of your class). Wouldn't it have been enough to say he was looking for a wife/new queen? I feel it shows insensitivity to the younger and more 'innocent' members of your class when all the 'gory details' have to be dealt with, just because it is in the Bible. When it comes to dealing with questionable topics like this, why not allow for and take into consideration the needs of the younger members rather than assume that all are as 'sophisticated' as each other. I feel the less said , the better. I prefer to be the one who explains s -e-x to my children rather than the SS teacher. There are certain Bible stories that are not suitable for younger children as they could be frightened by them eg David and Goliath, Abraham sacrificing Isaac etc. and we need to be sensitive. Sharon
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2) Venting & Listening
I have been in your situation while working as a teacher in our church. It is hard to go to church and feel strained or uncomfortable and the last thing that should happen is that people feel compelled to get involved and take sides. We are each a unique creation of God and our raisings and enviroment shapes our outlook on life. It doesn't make either party wrong or right, just different. The most important thing is to remember that you are a leader of children, no matter what their ages, and all youth will look to you as a leader because of your position. I have found that while I sometimes cannot control the way I feel about a situation when confronted with someone who strongly feels opposite of me, I can control my reaction to it and what I say. I have said on more than one occasion to my kids, teens in their hormonal stage, when talking to them about their behavior toward a fellow christian, "You cannot control anyone else's mouth and temper, but you can control your own." At one point of weakness in my temper, the one of mine who has had that said to them the most got the opportunity to say it back to me. lol I had lost my temper completely with the one who was my stumbling block and did it with witnesses. I went home that night feeling terrible. My temper was the biggest thing for me to overcome once I became a christian and it is the one thing that I must guard against Satan using to make me stumble in my walk with God. I immediately sat down and sent an email to the one I had hurt and apologized sincerely for my behavior. I told her that while I still felt the same way, I could have chosen a different way to handle the situation. She immediately answered back that she had forgiven me before I had asked and apologized for hurting me. While we may not always see eye to eye with each other on matters concerning the youth or planning events, we respect each other as two who care very much about some of the same matters. Max Lucado's books have such wonderful life lessons in them sometimes. I can't recall which book I found one that has stuck with me, but I think it was "It's Not All About You." He tells the story of the preacher who was presented with three who made his life and assigned church position miserable for years. He called them his stumbling blocks and learned to praise them for keeping him on his toes and the relationship changed. Our pastor says that it is hard to argue and stay mad at someone who will only tell you they love you and looks at you with love in their eyes. lol My suggestion to you is to pray, pray, pray, not for God to change the other person to view things like you do, but for Him to change you. Ask Him daily to bless this person. I am not saying that you are the one in the wrong as I don't even know the situation. It is just what the Bible says to do. An inside change will eventually become an outside change. I am not saying that you will not ever again be presented with adversity as long as you are an active member of your church. It will happen and it happens in every church. It is how you choose to handle it that makes the difference, to you and to the ones that witness it. I thank you for your article and I pray that God blesses you in a major way and He moves in that church to cause a revival of spirit like never before. I bless you for working with youth. It is a challenging job sometimes, but you can't help but love them. God's blessings to you, Anita
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3) Survivor ideas?
I tried emailing Kathy concerning her Survivor ideas but it came back as unknown. Could you help with this?
Thanks Mary Ann Freeman Drjamafree@aol.com
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4) Country and western songs
amen to sandy......God is bringing forth artist in the country and western songs..to give him praise. Carrie Underwood s song is the number one hit....God will be glorified however he chooses....good point
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Easter Story Cards
Read how one of our teachers used the egg patterns during her lesson time:
Dearest Wanda, Did I read your letter right? Did you say you were praying for PATIENCE??? Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; I USED to pray for patience too! lol But seriously, sometimes I think that the Lord tests us... and we fail! Let me share something that just might help you! There is a woman that goes to our church that I just couldn't get along with! At one point, I truely thought I hated her! But as I failed God's little tests time and time again, the Lord revealed to me that it was my own stubborness that was keeping me from liking this woman. Don't get me wrong... she has certain ways about her that just GET ON MY NERVES!! lol But, I learned to LOVE her, and overlook her shortcomings. After all, we all have something about us that is irritating to others! Even me! lol And once I was able to do that (only with the Lord's help), I could see just how much she loves the church, too! And now we get along most of the time!! Don't give up your class! Just keep praying!! This just might be one of those little tests.....If you need someone to talk to, please email me!! Singer1966@aol.com Sandy from Indiana
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6) Kids Under Construction Song
The Rex Humbard family singers sang this song on an album titled "Kids Under Construction." Hope this helps!
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7) Kids Under Construction
It's in a book called, "All the Best Songs for Kids" With 230 songs. I found it in Sarah's bookstore by typing the title into the search box at:
Hello and thank you for any help you can give me. We are having our VBS this year on the theme: "Who built the Ark?" Do you have any useful, keepsake crafts or snack ideas with this theme? Our ages are from 4-12. Thank you for any help you can give. Kathy
We love that song too! Our kids love it! We found it on “16 great kids classics, Volume 1” CD from 2002 Daywind Records
Chorus: They’ll be no bandaids in heaven. No medical emergency care. They’ll be no skinned knees, no stings from the bees. They’ll be no bandaids up there....
I feel for you being involved in Sunday School and feeling like you are being shunned. There was a time in my life I was shunned in a different area. I am a Sunday School teacher now and I know how important it is to be involved in Sunday School and how important it is for your growth as well. First of all you probably should not have lost your temper with the other person in the congregation because it just makes matters worse as you can see. Things are never as bad as you believe and it sounds like you did go and apologize. You could always pray to God to help you and this other person get along. I did this once between someone that I had differences with and it worked they became more open with me, kind of a small step at first. God was really involved in it. You can ask God for help with people, don't be afraid to ask for help. Then things change. Whatever you do, don't quit, it sounds like teaching Sunday School is very important to you. As far as the other people working in Sunday School try and communicate with them, suggest that you get together sometimes and discuss projects, like over coffee. You may find they want to share things just as much as you. I hope things will resolve for you, but remember you can ask God to help you with your temper as well. I will pray for you.
Sunday School Teacher in Canada Betty
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