Yep, that’s what I was asking at the Steak n Shake on South Blvd on Friday night. We took a group of teens to the Pineville Ice House and we stopped by the Steak n Shake for a quick milkshake. I took a bunch of pictures of the teens eating and put my camera back in my camera bag. This bag contains three cameras, several rechargable batteries for the video camera and some memory cards.

So at the end of dinner we all went up front. I set my camera bag on the counter right beside the register and helped get all the teens checked out. I paid the remainder of the bill and we left for the Ice House. OH NO! When we got to the ice house (5 minutes away), I realized I left the camera bag at the Steak n Shake on the counter beside the manager. One of the adults hopped into the van and took off.

Too late, evidently. 15 minutes since i walked out the door, the camera bag had been stolen. I even went back, walked all around the outside, in the trash cans, talked to the manager, and employees and even asked several of the people eating. The best I could get from the manager was a group came up and paid right after we left and they could have taken it. They were the only group to have paid and left since we were there.

At first I was angry, thinking, whoever took this KNEW that we were a church group. They saw me take the pictures of the youth, and they probably saw me put the bag down and leave it. Then I felt guilty because it was honestly my fault for leaving the bag. Had I been more responsible, I would have remembered and taken the bag. Then I felt anxious. That bag held about $350.00 worth of camera equipment in it and now it’s GONE, G – O – N – E, GONE!

As I gave my devotion, it was on Jesus having expensive perfume rubbed on his feet and the “price” that it was worth. The disciples argued that it was a complete waste. As I started to explain to the youth that our relationships are so very valuable, especially our relationship with Christ, it started to dawn on me that maybe there is a message in there for this situation.

Am I bummed that our cameras are gone? YES Did I learn to hold on to things better? YES Do I regret going on this event and taking the teens? NO Although it cost more than I had expected, and it seems like we lost out in the long run, friendships were forged, relationships were built, and the Word of God was heard by over 20 teens. If I had to lose my cameras for that to happen again, would I do it? YES, In a heartbeat.

Gary

Hello Parents!

     You will be happy to know that we are adding new security policies and procedures to our children’s areas on Sunday morning.  Your child’s safety is one of our top priorities and as we get ready to move into a new facility we want all families to feel safe and comfortable leaving their children with us. 

     Starting February 7th, each worker in children’s ministry will wear a name badge lanyard indicating who they are and which area they work in.  This should help you to identify who to ask for assistance and to help know who is investing in your child’s spiritual growth.

     In addition to the name badges, we are also starting a new check in policy.  In each of the three areas, there will be a new nametag sticker.  This sticker allows you to put your name, your child’s name, allergies, or any other important information that we need to know.  The sticker goes on the back of your child and the rest stays with you.  Your stub will match a number on the sticker.  You must present your stub in order to get your child.

     We really appreciate your help as we continually stive to improve your child’s safety and the overall experience.  if you have any questiones, please do not hesitate to ask!

Gary

Well, today was an awesome day.  I got to hang out with both kids and youth during out annual Drop-n-Shop.  The families of CCCM had the opportunity to bring their kids in and have the youth provide childcare.

What an incredible time that the youth could invest in the younger kids lives and it’s safe to say that eveyrone had a great time.  Thanks to all the teen volunteers that gave their Saturday to help out!

Gary

PS, Pictures have been posted under the “Kids Photo Album” at the top.

Hello from OZ!

This month, our youth group is taking a look at characteristics from characters in the Bible and using one of my favorite and oldest memories from my childhood, the movie “The Wizard of Oz”.  When I was growing up, we didn’t have VCRs, or TiVo, or DVDs, we watched what was on TV that night and that was it.  Once a year, one of the TV stations would play “The Wizard of Oz” and it was a really big deal for the whole family.

This series takes us on a journey to follow the yellow brick road much like Dorothy did.  She was in a place she didn’t know, and she thought she was all alone.  Doesn’t that sound like us sometimes?  I mean, we have this journey which is our lives, and God has laid out a path for us (the yellow brick road).  But just like Dorothy, we run into intersections, and bumps, and struggles.

This series is teaching us that as we walk, the Holy Spirit is in us, guiding us.  When we reach those intersections, He helps us choose which is the right path.  Unfortunately for some of us, we don’t listen until we’ve taken the wrong path and the Holy Spirit lets us know by convicting our hearts.  God laid down the path, Jesus showed us how to walk it, and the Holy Spirit makes sure that the way we walk lines up with Jesus and the Father.

The fun part of this is that we get to take a look at a few really neat characters in the bible along with the Holy Spirit.  Last week we talked about Moses and having wisdom much like the scarecrow wanted to have brains.  This week we will be looking at the Tin Man, and a bible character that really shows Heart.  Lastly is courage and the Lion and we’ll be looking at a character named Daniel and the courage he showed.

I’m looking forward to see how God speaks to us individually through this series and how we can learn to walk the yellow brick road together!

Gary

Have you ever heard of an idea so incredible, so amazing that you thought it was impossible to accomplish.  Something so simple, yet requires an amazing amount of faith?  This month our youth series used the movie “Pay it Forward” in which a 7^th grade boy is challenged with an idea.  He was to find a way to change the world and put it into action.

In the movie, the boy comes up with this idea that becomes a movement that inspires and spreads.  His idea is to simply do something for three people.  It has to be something big, something they can’t do for themselves.  Then those three people do something for three people, so on and so forth. 

An idea like this is so simple, but has the potential to change the world.  It requires, however, a great deal of faith.  The incredible thing about this idea is that it’s nothing new.  Jesus Christ lived His entire earthly ministry with the pay it forward mentality.  He taught His disciples the same thing and then told them to go forth and make disciples of the nations.  He teaches his disciples to pay it forward, and they, in turn, should teach others to pay it forward.  You know where that leaves us, paying it forward!

Much like the movie, this idea requires a great deal of faith, both in our Lord Jesus Christ and in each other.  Jesus fed thousands, healed the sick, and even raised the dead.  He continually associated with the poorest and the most needy.  Jesus never expected payment for his services, but instead, explained that we should go out of our way to help those in need. 

When an official came to Him and asked about eternal life, Jesus explained the pay it forward idea.  He explained that when someone is in need we should not just pass them by on the road like the priest and Levite.  We should, instead, be like the good Samaritan and help.  We are called to not only bandage them, but to ensure they are taken care of.  When the official told Jesus that we should love God with everything we have and love our neighbor as our self, Jesus replies by saying “Go, and do likewise” in other words, Jesus says, “Pay It Forward!”

Gary

So our original date was rained out, and this Friday it rained as well.  So what were we to do?  Have a CAMPIN of course!  Our new church location provided an excellent opportunity for us.  Since the worship center was cleaned out and empty, we were able to set up 10 HUGE tents inside the building (with two small tents outside for a few brave youth).

We did have a campfire outside and it was a great night of games, and fellowship.  34 teens showed up for what was probably the best camping trip we’ve ever had.  One of the things that made it so awesome was something that happened just after dark.

There is a family that lives next door to our new church property and they have two teenage boys, Garret and Wade.  While our youth were playing flashlight tag, they saw one of the boys hanging out in the yard next door and they crossed over the field to meet him.  It was the most amazing sight to see a group of our teens reach out to the neighbors and they invited them to come back to hang with us and they did.  It was really great to meet them and they spent several hours with us.

Of course, we had to play little sally walker, mafia, and a few other choice games.  I’ve posted the pics on the youth photo page for everyone to see.  I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did at the event.

Oh, and if you ever get the chance, you DEFINATELY want to try Donna Waldo’s Pancakes.  They were AWESOME!

Gary

The youth camping trip that was scheduled tonight, 9/18 has been postponed until next Friday night due to the soggy ground the the continual rain coming our way.  The camping trip will now be on the 25th instead.  Everything is goingt to be exactly as it was tonight, only a week later.

If you have any questions, let me know. 
Gary

Wow, ok, I just added over 300 pics from the children’s minsitry events over the past year.  I should be adding the pictures from the county fair either tomorrow or Monday.  Check back and check out the photos.  For Kids Photos, click the link at the top of the page.  Same for youth photos.

Ok, so I really love websites and I love to write stuff down, but i’ve done a terrible job running two different websites, one for children’s ministry and one for youth ministry. 

So, to make things easier to get updated and to have a one stop shop for parents, I’ve now combined the cccmkids.com and cccmyouth.com into cccmfamily.com.  Our new site will have photos from both ministries and family events, it will also have information on upcomings events for both youth and children.  I will have permission forms, medical releases, etc for download, and it will have a great place for me to blog about the youth sermons I give.

As we move forward with this site, look for more information about Kings Landing, The Depot, and Victory lane as well as all of the youth meetings like the Drive-In, the Drive-Thru and The Garage.

I hope that you find this site useful and know that it will continue to grow and change into a true family ministry site.  Thanks for finding us and reading along.

Gary,
Family Minister

Hello everyone!

We started our new youth series tonight and it’s a little different than our normal series.  We are using a book to help look at a timeless truth from Philipians 4:8.  Tommy Newberry wrote an incredible book called The 4:8 Principle that helps us to shift the way we think to focus on positive things and not on negative things.

It’s amazing how much our thoughts control who we are and Paul really knew this.  When he wrote to the Philipians, he told them to think on the things that are good, true and praiseworthy.  Through this, we truly find the joy that God wants for us.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is that “Joy is not some distant destination that we want to get to, instead it’s a path that we choose to take every day.”   If we can focus on the positive things in our lives and “count our blessings” we will know an incredible joy that lasts.

If you want to see more of what we cover in this series, take a look on the right side in the youth sermons box and click on forrest gump, the 4:8 principle.  I will blog each week that we have a lesson and let you know what we covered.  It’s going to be an amazing series!

In HIM,
Gary