Creativity

General Tso’s Chicken

Creativity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , One comment

I LOVE Chinese food.

I love everything about it.  It is wonderful for my belly in some of the best ways – taste and um…taste.  Delicious!

I find that there are usually two kinds of people when it comes to Chinese food:

  1. First are those like myself.  These kinds of people realize the delicious saucy goodness that it is.  They love the taste, the smell, the look, everything!  And just me mentioning it is driving those people crazy right now.  They want it!  They may even get some at some point today or tomorrow, just because it’s on their mind! (I’m sorry about that…no, I’m not.)
  2. Then there is the other type.  These people have preconceived perceptions of Chinese food.  It’s “different”. The smell is “odd”. The look is definitely not “right”. They’ll think things like – Who wants to eat all this rice?  Is it supposed to be gooey like that?  What is this meat that I’m actually eating?  These people ask too many questions!  Why does it matter if this place is “sanitary”?  The food is good!  And who really believes the rumor about “cats”?  Sure, those rumors started from probably true experiences… but how does that affect the deliciousness I’m about to eat right now?

Here are my key rules when eating Chinese food.  Follow these and you will be good to go!

  • Don’t ask questions!  Just enjoy.  I know this sounds like bad advice, but do you really want to know the answers to the questions you’re about to ask…
  • When at a Chinese restaurant, in almost all cases, don’t use the bathrooms!  Enough said.
  • Stick to the basics!  Don’t go off the beaten path.  If it sounds odd, it probably will be.  If you don’t expect that they have fresh seafood at this location, they definitely don’t – eat chicken or beef.  Stay with the meals that others order and that are guaranteed to be good.

Here is that most basic rule and #1 rule:  If you’ve never had Chinese food before, order General Tso’s Chicken.  And be ready for your life to be changed FOREVER!

This is easily the most popular Chinese food in America – General Tso’s Chicken.  It is so delicious and wonderful – for real!  The combination of crunchy and soft, sweet and spicy – perfection!

I like General Tso’s Chicken so much that the other day I watched a special on it.  I was curious – who is this wonderful general?  And why is his chicken so amazing?

You know what I found out?  Disappointment.  It’s not his chicken!  General Tso is apparently a popular general from Chinese history.  He was a general for his people.  Super loved.  But the thing he is most famous for (at least with me) – his chicken – is not even his.  It wasn’t invented in China.  It wasn’t around in his day.  Where he was from they didn’t even eat food that was sweet and spicy.  He never had chicken close to this!

MIND BLOWN!  We have been fed, literally fed, a lie!  All this time and it’s not even his chicken…

Okay, so I don’t really care.  The chicken is still delicious, and at least it doesn’t sound like General Tso was a bad guy!  But it raises the question – how long have I enjoyed something, partaken in something, and never really knew who or what it was about?  Many of us are Christians just like this.  We say we’re Christians, but we don’t truly know what that means, what we believe, let alone for why or for what reasons.  We like things about Christianity, but we don’t really know God or Jesus Christ for ourselves.

Because of this we often struggle to truly live the life we think we should as a Christian.  We often find purity, holiness, peace, joy, contentment, (the list goes on) out of reach, unattainable.  But how can we be or find those things in Christianity, when we don’t even know the God and Savior upon whom it was founded?

2 Peter 1:3 (NLT) says it simply:

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

What Peter says is very simple but so important and profound – you want to live a godly life?  Then know God.  It is that simple – KNOW GOD.

You want to grow, mature, further yourself, be useful, make a difference, find peace, live in joy and contentment, purify your heart, reach holiness – then get busy knowing God and Jesus Christ.  Get into God’s Word (the Bible) daily, find devotionals that connect you with God, pray often, listen to God in silence, fill your head with His praise and thanks.  Christianity is a relationship, with God and Jesus Christ.  Relationships take work.  Put in the work to know God.

As 2 Peter 1:3 tells us, God has given us everything we need, the opportunity and tools are in your hands.  Do you have a struggle, a decision, a stress, a pain?  The opportunity for help and guidance to handle this moment is within reach.  You can achieve it.  KNOW GOD.

Summer Pt.3 – Vacation Bible School

Creativity, Ministry, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Another summer comes to an end.  For most of my life summer has meant three things – Youth Camp, Family Camp, and Vacation Bible School.  Three things that have brought so much to my life.  Three ministries that many would say their ‘time’ or ‘value’ is fading.  As I finish another ‘summer’, I amazed at the impact and life-change these events have brought and I want to share a few thoughts as to the value I see.

Who really likes hosting Vacation Bible School?  I mean seriously – the noises, the whining, the germs, and the smells (don’t forget the smells – they can be potent).  Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a ton of work and at times it feels like glorified baby sitting.  What parent doesn’t want to have a week of having their children entertained most likely for free – that’s the best, but not if you’re the ones running it!  And then, as a leader you realize that your dreams of reaching to community kids is for the most part not happening – you’re just entertaining kids from your church and other churches in the community – for real!  So really – who likes hosting VBS?

Me!  I love Vacation Bible School and while some may refer to it as a ministry of the past, I say they’re just not doing it right! I work at a church that I believe is moving forward. We’re growing and trying to be as relevant to our community and time as possible. Even so, as the years have passed I have found VBS to be only getting more meaningful to us. Here are three awesome reasons why it works for us:

1. We make a statement! VBS is a great opportunity for your church and kid’s ministry to make a statement. First – that children and families are important to you.  Second – a statement about what your children’s ministry will focus on and prioritize.  Through this event we clearly communicate we are about being a fun and safe place where children will feel welcomed to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.  We don’t focus on what VBS has been historically – we focus on what we want to be for children and family.

We are creative in the way we communicate the gospel, but we are steadfast in communicating the love of God and His Word.  It costs money because big, ridiculously cool things do, and we want this to be big and ridiculously cool.  Children have a lot of fun opportunities over the summer, but if they’d rather come to our VBS than something else, we’re doing something very right.

2. We recruit new leaders!  Children’s ministries need dedicated volunteers and often this is something that is hard to find.  Vacation Bible School gives you a great opportunity to get new people involved in children’s ministry.  Think about the pros:

  1. They only have to commit for one week.
  2. There are lots of opportunities to serve in low pressure roles (snacks, games, hayrides, inflatables, check-in, etc.).
  3. They get to be a part of the big cool thing happening that week.

VBS can be very attractive to volunteers and it is a great way to find new leaders who will often decide they like it and want to give even more time.  Don’t be afraid to ask people to volunteer, this is an easy commitment.  Always get background checks on everyone (ALWAYS).  Allow people to see the joy in volunteering, they may catch the bug!

3. We build relationships!  The biggest impact in ministry comes through relationships.  But when you only see a child one to three times a week for just a few hours (if that), then building those relationships can be tough.  VBS presents a huge opportunity to grow closer in just a short span of time.

Believe it or not, I have found that people like to check something out a few times, maybe even quite a few times, before they really commit to it – go figure!  (Did you catch the sarcasm?)  I have noticed that for many families that have connected to our church, it took multiple special events for them to “check us out” before they really committed.  VBS is a great opportunity to build that connection and even speed up the process as it gives you a lot of time with a family.  Build relationships with these new children and make sure to connect with their parents every time they pick-up/drop-off their kids.

We’ve created a Vacation Bible School that works for us.  For us that means no crafts, but fantastic snacks (think cotton candy, nachos, Italian ice).  We retired flannel-graphs and instead our Bible stories are shared through the use of costumes, videos, and mega-illustrations.  We like hayrides, making a mess, and renting large inflatables.  It’s not perfect but it’s pretty awesome.  Yes it still smells, it is tiring, and it does cost money.  But the statement, the new faces, and the relationships are well worth it.

Food Coloring – Sharing the Gospel in a Fun, Simple Way

Creativity, , , , , Leave a comment

If you are regularly speaking to children, youth, or adults you know it is always nice to have an ‘ace’ up your sleeve.  That go to message you can pull out when needed and hit a home-run.  I’d like to share a children’s message that has been this to me.  Now don’t stress!  For those who know me, you know I like to be ridiculous (you also know I love using that word).  A normal children’s message for me means explosions, costumes, characters, game shows, large give-a-ways, candy, and more (the best is a servicepocalapse that includes all of those).  While I love those things – this is not that.  I wanted to share something that anyone can pull off with just a little preparation.

First, a few thoughts about speaking with children.  If you are going to share the message of Jesus Christ with children, you need to figure out your goals.  What are they going to take away?  What kind of impact do you plan to make?   Here is the point of this message:

  1. To clearly communicate the steps of salvation from our sins through the one way – Jesus Christ.
  2. To make that message easy to remember.  Let’s give children a foundation to begin to build upon in their relationship with Jesus Christ.  They will probably have many more ‘decision’ moments in their lives, so let’s keep the specifics easy to remember for the future.
  3. To give an opportunity for children to make a step in their walk with Jesus Christ.  Maybe this is the first time they’ve been given the chance to accept Jesus Christ into their life.  Maybe it’s the 43rd time.  Who knows what this moment will mean to them.  Always remember to encourage them to share any big decisions they have made with their parents and with leaders in your ministry.  Help to stimulate conversation and the lasting impact of a decision.

You may laugh when you learn the method I have used to share Jesus Christ.  Yes, it is based upon the ‘Wordless Book’ (or the colors that represent the steps of salvation).  You’re thinking, “Wasn’t this popular in the 80s (or the 60s and 70s – I don’t go back that far)?”  True!   True!  But I have used this message 10+ times and it never fails to draw kids in and even those that have witnessed it multiple times still find themselves enjoying and listening.

Here is the set-up. You’ll need five glass containers, food coloring, clear pitchers of water, and possibly a towel. For the five glass containers, tall serving glasses can work but I prefer something larger like a tall, 3-5 inch thick in diameter vase. You will set those containers up before time (in a line parallel to the audience) and put food coloring in the appropriate vases. From your right to left (left to right for the audience), place black coloring in the first container, red in the second, nothing in the third, yellow/gold in the fourth, and green in the last. Test the amounts of coloring needed ahead of time, you’ll want the colors to be vibrant. To keep the mystery of what is to come, you may want to place the glass containers on a colorful tablecloth or place a towel in front of them. Also feel free to cover the entire setup with a towel or tablecloth so kids can’t sneak a peek ahead of time.

Remember, you can use this as a stand alone message or (as I often do) as the conclusion of a message or service. Either way, when you are ready to begin, pick up your first pitcher and begin to fill the first container. Get ready to hear ‘ohhs’ and ‘ahhs’ as the water changes from clear to black. Then share the following:

  • The Black Glass – Each and everyone of us have made mistakes.  We have hurt others and have been disobedient to God.  These mistakes or wrongs we call sin, and it separates us from God.  We think of the color black because we think of sin making a dark mark on our hearts.  This stops us from having connection with God – here on earth and with Him in heaven.  People have tried for so long to try to remove this mark on their lives, with no success. Thankfully, God loves us so much that He sent Jesus, His only Son, into this world.  (Romans 3:23)
  • The Red Glass – Jesus lived a perfect life and then He made the ultimate sacrifice for us by dying on the cross for our sins.  We think of the color red because of the blood that Jesus shed for our sins.  (Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23)
  • The White/Clear Glass – Because of Jesus’ sacrifice we have an incredible opportunity.  To confess our sins and believe in our hearts that through God’s power we can be saved and forgiven of our sins.  Our lives are washed clean and clear and the marks of sin in our lives disappear.  (Romans 10:9-10)
  • The Yellow/Gold Glass – The first thing this does is allow us to spend forever with God in heaven!  We can live life secure in knowing that we have heaven to look forward to!  And we can celebrate knowing that God has conquered death!  (John 3:16, John 14:3)
  • The Green Glass – The second thing (and just as important) is that we get to live life here on earth with God influencing and guiding our lives.  He has an incredible plan for you!  You are special and unique and He wants you to dream big and accomplish great things with your life!  (John 10:10)

You can switch around the Yellow Glass and the Green Glass in order depending on how you are shaping your message.  End by giving everyone an opportunity to accept Jesus Christ into their lives by joining you in prayer.  I have delivered this message to combined child, teenager, and adult crowds – don’t seclude any group, they may very well respond to the clarity of this message.  Remember the importance of asking anyone who made a decision to share that decision with family, friends, and leaders.

The wordless book is definitely not a new approach and I don’t know where I got the idea to use food coloring to display it.  But it always amazes me that the children who approach me afterwards are not just flabbergasted at how the water changed colors but are filled with a clear understanding of what the message was about.  Get creative for your crowd!