Lunch With Your Kids?

My wife brought to my attention recently an alarming reality. Youth pastors around here go to schools to have lunch with students, but the majority of parents do not. Certainly, it is not wrong for pastors to go see students at school and spend time with them (even this is becoming scarce in our country for various reasons), but why is it that more parents do not take advantage of this? When I was in school, I for some reason did not think parents were ALLOWED to come except on special days or for extreme reasons. But they are YOUR kids! Of course you have the right to go eat lunch with them. So why don't you? My wife says that the brightest student to come through her school system was a kid whose mother would come eat lunch with him all the time. Don't you have a lunch break? Then maybe you should go eat with your child. It could be a powerful ministry in our church if it became common practice for our parents to go once a week to eat with their children at school. It might be a little weird for some of you at first, but maybe after a while it will become something that you and your student look forward to each week. Maybe years down the road they will remember (as my wife does) how mom or dad cared enough about them to come see them at school. As for me, I'm heading to school now to eat lunch with some students. Maybe I'll see you there?

Mission Team Sees Gospel Lived Out

I am one of those people who enjoys traveling and seeing new places. However, I enjoy the ride just as much as seeing new places. Luckily for me, our trip to Albuquerque was a two day road trip with Rita Jones, Susan Barnes, and Doris Wambui. I knew each in passing, but I am now glad to call them friends. We have many memories but one piece of advice; always check the gas level before Mrs. Rita starts driving.
Two people stood out to me while in Rio Rancho. The first person was Brother Anthony Pennington. When we arrived in Rio Rancho, we learned that Brother Pennington, Pastor of All Nations Indian Baptist Church (ANIBC), had been hospitalized for a spider bite. I think he too was reading "Don't waste your life" by John Piper. Brother Pennington takes every opportunity to share Christ's love with each person he meets. The hospital was no exception. Brother Pennington shared his story with a recovering drug addict in the next bed. Although no profession was made, seeds were planted, and we can continue to pray for this young man's salvation.
The second person was Brother Ray Perry. He is the living example for Piper's book. Brother Ray took early retirement some twenty-five years ago and surrendered to full time ministry. Brother Ray has a weekly bible study at the Navaho Reservation; about a four hour drive ONE WAY in Window Rock, Arizona! Brother Ray is also actively involved in the church, has a television ministry, and probably a few other ministries I am forgetting. When God closes one door for Brother Ray, two more are opened.
Our purpose was to minister to ANIBC through Vacation Bible School. I believe the church ministered more to us. Please continue to pray for AINBC as they minister to their community. Please pray for Brother Ray as he travels and his ministry on the reservation. Please pray for the reservation, drug abuse and alcoholism are major issues facing the people. Please pray about your involvement with ANIBC.

This Week's Sermon

Previously, Peter has made clear the call for Christians to suffer.  Now, in chapter four, he continues this theme by describing the manner in which we should suffer.  In I Peter 4:1-11, we will study what a lifestyle of Christian suffering looks like.

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