Fun Arts Festival ... it's COMING UP!!!

Click here for more information ... for 4th-6th graders this year. Starla Salyers and students from CapCity Youth will be leading our students for Fun Arts and Fine Arts. If you are interested, please contact me for more info.

Relentless is the theme for this years event.

This is an event designed for kids to share, develop and use their gifts and talents for God. Fun Arts Festival is for kids Grades 3rd-6th or ages 8-12. Cost is $45.00 per student early bird (includes 4 categories, festival T-shirt, & Kids Rally). Online registration will be coming soon.

PStaci

5 Things Parents Do To Destroy Their Kids Faith!!

In the Book of Luke, we see children running to get in the presence of Jesus, but His disciples strongly warned them to keep their space and give Jesus some breathing room.

Check out what Jesus thought about this deal as it was going down…

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  Luke 18:15-17

I believe this can also be taken as a strong warning to parents!!  DON’T get in the way of your kiddos coming to Jesus!!

Here are 5 things that I believe parents do that keep their kids from coming to Jesus…

1. HYPOCRISY: This morning on the way to school, Team Sprad, had a really interesting conversation regarding hypocrisy.  This could also be named the “do as I say – not as I do” syndrome.  Do you struggle with this?  Do you erupt in anger and coach your kids to walk in patience?  Do you yell at your kids or spouse and get on to your kiddos for disrespect.  There are a million examples we could talk through, but I encourage you to try this ACTION POINT. Sit down with your kids, talk through hypocrisy and give your kids permission to point out mom and dad’s areas of hypocrisy.  Yeah, this is a bit dangerous but it’s one way to get out of your kid’s way to experiencing the person of Jesus.
2. WHAT YOU DO SCREAMS SO LOUD I CAN’T HEAR WHAT YOU SAY: You can continue to train, teach and preach to your kids…but do they see you up early in the Word of God, do they know that you have specific time set aside for prayer, during church worship do they see you distracted or engaging in intimate worship?  Here is the point…I think parents should continue to train, teach and preach when it makes sense.  However, I also believe that kids will emulate and follow their parents when they see their parents actually practicing what they preach.  Parents, you can’t LEAD what your not living out.
3. UNBELIEF: There was a time in my life when I was really wrestling with the concept of tithes and offerings, therefore I didn’t teach my kids to give to God what was His first.  I think you get the idea.  My question for you is… do you really believe?  Do you really believe God is the healer, that God is present in pain, that God can be trusted in your leaps of faith, that God’s promises can be stood upon?  Parents, if you struggle with unbelief you WILL be a hindrance in your kids coming to Jesus.
4. THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF OSMOSIS: Many of you have heard this from me before, but I believe that most parents try to deposit Jesus in their kids life by osmosis.  So many of us are so busy that we hope that our kids pick Jesus stuff up just by being around us.  I do believe that osmosis is a great way to communicate Jesus to our kids, but we must also spend strategic time teaching and training our kids about Jesus.  I received an email from someone this week that is reading Christian apologetics to their kids before school, doing a Beth Moore study with her daughter in the evening as well as memorizing scripture with her kids throughout the week.  Parents…set aside some time this week and create a calendar, write in specific days and times that you will teach and train your kids about Jesus.  I am sure you have heard the phrase… “fail to plan – plan to fail”.  I believe this is also true when passing Jesus on to our kids.
5. CHURCH: Seems simple, but I believe wholeheartedly in the power of and God’s mandate in the local church.  I have several great friends that have not made church a priority in their kids lives.  Now I don’t think kids should go to church for a check mark, but to experience the power of God and worship with their friends.  I strongly believe that parents that do not make the discipline of attending church a priority for their family…the chances are greater that their kids will walk away from their faith in the future.

I read this blog post today and thought it was worth repeating. It was taken from the blog site, EpicParent.tv. Chris Spradlin is a very honest parent who shares his wins and wounds of parenting along the journey of life. Enjoy ...
PStaci

Lunch with Jessica

I had lunch with Jessica on Friday. She ordered Wendy's, so we "had" to get Frosty's, too -- you cannot go to Wendy's without getting a Frosty! ;) I recently had lunch with Jessica and I asked her all of her favorite things, so today, I wanted to ask what her top 5 things to do in life were:
1.  She would like to have a solar powered house.
2.  She would like to own her own zoo.
3.  She would like to get a scholarship for college.
4.  She would like to visit her Fairbanks friends.
5.  She would like to have good friends in high school.

I loved hanging out with Jessica!

Love you, Jessica!

PStaci

Lunch with Danny

I had a wonderful lunch with Danny! He ordered McDonald's and I got to meet some of his friends, too ... and a couple of them he invited to movie night and they came! It was awesome to see them!

Here are a few things I learned about Danny:

Favorite baseball team: Clippers
Favorite Bible story: Joseph

Favorite book: Spiderwick

Favorite cake: chocolate

Favorite candy: lollipop
Favorite car: Bumblebee Yellow Mustang
Favorite cartoon character: Gregory from Wimpy Kid

Favorite church song: Back to the Manger

Favorite college football team: OSU

Favorite color: red

Favorite cookie: chocolate chip
Favorite dessert: ice cream

Favorite drink: coke
Favorite extra curricular activity: soccer

Favorite food: McDonald's

Favorite friend at church: Jelani

Favorite friend at school: Jordan

Favorite fruit: apple

Favorite game: Dance Praise (at church)
Favorite hockey team: Bluejackets

Favorite ice cream: chocolate

Favorite large animal: lion

Favorite movie: Harry Potter

Favorite number: 100
Favorite outside game: target practice
Favorite place you would like to go: Universal Studios
Favorite restaurant: Hunan Lion
Favorite sibling: Zack/MJ

Favorite small animal: puppy
Favorite sport: soccer
Favorite store: Walmart

Favorite subject in school: gym, OAA testing, Homework, Math and Reading (wow!!!)
Favorite summer activity: Boy Scouts/Day Camp
Favorite teacher: Mr. Dietry
Favorite TV show: Ninjago
Favorite vegetable: carrots
Favorite winter activity: snowball fights
Favorite word: incredible
What do you want to be when you grow up: 1.) Airforce Soldier, 2.) engineer, 3.) Run for Congress

Danny, I had a great lunch with you and I loved meeting your friends, too! For what you want to be when you grow up, I LOVE that you dream big ... I can actually see you running for Congress someday! Always put Jesus first in EVERYTHING you do!

Love you,
PStaci

Movie Night: January 20

Movie Night for CapCity Kidz (PreK-Elementary) will be THIS Friday, January 20 from 6:00-9:00 pm. Please bring $3, a snack to share and LOTS OF FRIENDS!!! First time guests will receive a special prize!

Click here for a page you can download to share with your friends ...

Also, to fill out the online permission slip, please click here.

Please RSVP to let me know who will be coming!

Lunch with Amelia

Amelia and PS

I had a great lunch with Amelia last Friday! She wanted McDonald's and we had such a great conversation, as always! I also got to meet a couple of her friends. One of them had come to movie night before, so it was good to see her and meet the other one!

Here are a few things I learned about Amelia:

Favorite baseball team: Cincinnati Reds
Favorite Bible story: Esther

Favorite book: Penderwicks

Favorite cake: chocolate

Favorite candy: chocolate
Favorite cartoon character: Phineas and Ferb

Favorite church song: Take It All

Favorite college football team: OSU

Favorite color: orange

Favorite cookie: chocolate chip
Favorite dessert: cookies

Favorite drink: Shirley Temple
Favorite extra curricular activity: dance

Favorite food: pasta

Favorite friends at church (in no particular order): Grace, Breanna, Taylor, Dylan, Bryce

Favorite friends at school (in no particular order): Alissa, Emma, Kayla, Anna, Allison, Elizabeth

Favorite fruit: strawberry

Favorite game: Clue

Favorite ice cream: cookies and cream

Favorite large animal: giraffe

Favorite movie: Muppets

Favorite number: 15
Favorite outside game: Foursquare
Favorite place you would like to go: Paris
Favorite restaurant: Chocolate Cafe
Favorite sibling: Sofia

Favorite small animal: Roxy (Maltese Yorkie)
Favorite sport: (to play) basketball/softball; (to watch) football/basketball
Favorite store: Claire's

Favorite subject in school: History/Science
Favorite summer activity: swimming
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Murry
Favorite TV show: Phineas and Ferb
Favorite vacation spot: beach
Favorite vegetable: carrots
Favorite video game: iPod touch
Favorite winter activity: sledding
Favorite word: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
What do you want to be when you grow up: actress

Meems, you are a sweetie! Thanks for being such a sweet young lady! I'm so thankful that you're in my life! God has big things in store for you! Can't wait to be a part of His plans!

Love you so,

PStaci

Lunch with Faith

PS & Faith

I had a great lunch with Faith! She chose Arby's for me to pick up and bring to her at school -- another favorite of mine! On the way out of the church in "just" enough time to go to Arby's and get to the school 5 minutes early, my tire was completely flat! :( Pastor Brent was outside with a friend and they came and pumped it up and plugged it where the nearly 2 in steel screw had been! UUUGH! I made it just 2 minutes late! Thanks, Faithy for being so patient and waiting for me! :) I had a great lunch time with you!

Here are a few things I learned about Faith:

Favorite baseball team: Columbus Clippers
Favorite Bible story: Esther

Favorite book: Cam Jansen mysteries

Favorite cake: chocolate

Favorite candy: chocolate

Favorite car: mini-vans

Favorite church song: Shout Your Fame

Favorite college football team: OSU

Favorite color: blue-green

Favorite cookie: cinnamon

Favorite drink: lemonade

Favorite food: hamburger pie

Favorite friend at church: Lydia

Favorite friend at school: Claire

Favorite fruit: bananas

Favorite game: dodge ball

Favorite ice cream: cookie dough

Favorite large animal: red pandas

Favorite movie: Larry Boy

Favorite number: 3
Favorite restaurant: Papa John's

Favorite small animal: chinchilla

Favorite subject in school: Reading
Favorite summer activity: swimming
Favorite teacher: Miss Copple
Favorite TV show: Phineas and Ferb
Favorite vacation spot: Myrtle Beach
Favorite vegetable: carrots
Favorite winter activity: catching snowflakes in my mouth
What do you want to be when you grow up: veterinarian

Faith, I loved getting to spend time with you! You are so special to God and to me! He has big plans for you and I'm so glad I get to be a part of your life!

Love you!
PStaci