Northwood Parents

8 Ft. Banana Split

David Pearson — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:32:35 +0000

Yesterday afternoon, I unveiled our brand new Value Meal program and we made an 8 ft banana split. Thought you might like to see some pictures! Enjoy!

Have a Value Meal … Or Several!

David Pearson — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:19:01 +0000

As a kid, I remember eating meals together as a family every day of the week. Those meals were vital to making me who I am today. Why? Because at those meals, we talked about life, we talked about God, we talked about family … and it made a difference. Several months ago, I began to realize how much the “dinner table” was declining. I watched families who have no real, meaningful interaction with each other. I saw families who want to talk to their kids about life and spiritual things but have no idea how to even begin. That lead me to develop “Value Meals.” “Value Meals” accomplish two purposes. One, they encourage families to eat, as a family, at least twice a week. They also reinforce what we talk about at church. They give you, as a parent, an opportunity to bring what we teach into your family.

This Sunday, I’ll unveil “Value Meals” to our parents, but wanted to give a little preview today.

Here’s how it works:

1. Make it a priority to sit down to have at least two meals together, as a family, each week.

2. Use “Talk About You, Life, and Family” questions on your Value Meal card to begin conversation at both of your Value Meals each week.

3. Use the discussion questions on the other side of your Value Meal card to connect what we talk about at church to your family.

4. Sign the Value Meal Card if you have had at least two Value Meals together and discussed the Value Meal questions together. Have your child bring the card to church and place it in the “Value Meal” baskets at the Check-In Kiosks.

5. At the end of the month, each child who returns all cards for the month, will receive a coupon for a FREE Chick-fil-A Value Meal.

I so believe that, when families set aside specific time to talk about their child’s life, their problems, their frustrations, their joys, and their faith …. it makes a difference in everyone’s life. Can’t wait to get it started this Sunday! On another note, if you’re a Kid’s Minister and would like more information or Value Meal Card templates, shoot me an email here.

Drop It All!

David Pearson — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:06:17 +0000

In Matthew 4, Jesus calls His disciples to come and follow Him! These men will be about making disciples, they will be about teaching, they will be about making Him known. Yesterday, as I read through Matthew 4, I noticed especially verse 22. It says that, when Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John, they were going about their daily work. They were fishing. It was just an ordinary day, nothing special. But Scripture says, immediately after Jesus called, they dropped everything and followed Him. They didn’t hesitate. They didn’t find excuses. They followed Jesus completely. They weren’t too busy, too tired, or too frustrated … they just left it all and followed Him.

I wonder what I would do. I wonder what you would do. I wonder what this church would do. If Jesus said, come and follow me. I imagine it wouldn’t be our turn to follow, we wouldn’t have time to follow, our schedule wouldn’t allow us to follow, or the football game was too important for us to miss just to follow! We would find some excuse if Jesus asked us to leave everything and follow Him …. BUT WAIT!

He did! If we are His disciples, His followers, that is exactly what we’re called to do. Leave everything and follow Him. There is nothing more important than following Jesus. Nothing you can invest your time in that makes a bigger difference. Give up! Quit making excuses! Decide today that you are going to do it! Drop everything … and follow Him!

A Don’t Miss Video

David Pearson — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:03:31 +0000

Here lately, I’ve been sensing an incredible urgency about what we as Christians spend our time doing. We spend so much time on things that really don’t matter and avoid what really does … helping people find life in Christ. A buddy of mine recently sent me this video and I wanted to share it with you today! It’s incredibly true and incredibly troubling at the same time. Hope it makes you think!

Today, I’m Living Like It!

David Pearson — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:26:56 +0000

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^?

^{~ Matthew 6:25-27}

Do not worry! Man — that’s just too hard for me! Is it for you? Probably so … when you consider your circumstances. And here’s the kicker … not worrying is not a suggestion, it is a command! We are instructed not to worry!

I know these verses like the back of my hand but sometimes I still worry! I worry about my family. I worry about my life. I worry about where I’m going. Sometimes I even worry about what I’m worrying about. My guess is that you do to. Here’s my challenge for me and you today …

Don’t worry! There is a God who loves us so much more than we deserve! So much more than we can imagine! So much more than we can even get our minds around! You see … I am valuable! I am important! It doesn’t matter what I feel, what people say, or what my circumstances lead me to believe! I am loved by my Creator! He will take care of me! I have no idea what the next day holds, what the next hour holds, or even what the next minute holds but I know who does know! My God! He is in control! I’m not worried. He will take care of me. I am free! And … today … I’m living like it!

It’s Too Important!

David Pearson — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:02:38 +0000

Today, there are 65,000 children in Greenville County of South Carolina. Of course, only a few of them go to church anywhere. Our task is huge! There are so many kids to reach … so many kids who need to know Jesus and His plan for their lives. Why are so many of them aimless? Why are so many kids, just in our county, without hope? There are churches literally on every corner in Greenville County and yet 61% of our families are not in church.

How can this be? I think the problem is that most churches are full of people who are interested in themselves. We are more concerned with our programs, our ministries, our people than we are with the people who have yet to know Jesus! Church is a hospital! It is not a club! Our goal is simple … rescue those who are drowning! This Sunday, according to the stats I mentioned, 39, 650 kids will not go to church and do not know Jesus!

Let’s quit making church about us! It’s too important! Time is running out! If we don’t get it right … who will? There are too many kids … too many families who desperately need us to get it right!

Forget the Rest!

David Pearson — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:17:24 +0000

I talk to kids every week who are confused! They have been in church since they were in the womb and still have no idea who Jesus is! They go to Christian school, listen to Christian radio, and go to church every time the doors are open! Yet … there’s something missing! They know about Jesus but they don’t really know Him! They have been programmed with church lingo and use words like “sin” and “saved” but really have no idea what that’s all about.

How can that be? I think it’s because kids have learned, from the church, from home, and even from society that Jesus is a ticket out of hell and little else! I so want kids to understand that Jesus loves them! He has a plan for their lives! They are rebellious sinners deserving of punishment but have been given eternal life, love, and acceptance through Jesus Christ! I would love to somehow deprogram them with church lingo and, instead, help them fall in love with Jesus! Why do so many kids leave the church after they graduate high school? I think it’s because they have yet to experience Jesus for who He is! I think many of them only know Jesus through what they’ve been taught and it’s my responsibility to help them fall in love with knowing Him … for themselves!

My goal is simple … I want kids to believe that Jesus can change their lives! I want them to live changed lives! I want them to share those changed lives with everyone! Forget religion …. forget denomination …. forget everything else – everything except Jesus, knowing Him and making Him known!

A Beagle’s Sermon

David Pearson — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:40:30 +0000

My brother and his wife recently moved into an apartment and asked us to take care of their Beagle Bernard! Bernard and I have become quite the pals! Last night, I took him for a walk around our country neighborhood! We roamed up the street, through the pasture, down by a creek, and onto the street that runs adjacent to our street. We went places Bernard has never been! He saw things he had never seen before! He experienced things he’s never experienced. Midway through our walk, I stopped by a creek to listen to some music and spend some time reading. Bernard sat patiently with me, then played in the creek for a few minutes while I read. Bernard saw cows (he had never seen these BIG DOGS before). He was totally intrigued!

Bernard trusted me every second! He never once lost his trust!. No matter where we went, he was right beside me. Remember…he had never been there before! He didn’t know what was ahead! He had no idea where we were going! There was really only one thing he knew … his master knew the way. He knew that his master would not leave him. He knew that, where he was going, his master had already been! Because Bernard trusted me, he saw things he would have never otherwise seen. He played in a creek he would have never been in! He saw the BIG DOGS that moo! He enjoyed life!

Sometimes I am scared to death of where I’m going! I don’t know how I’m going get there or even why God has called to go there. Unlike Bernard, I lack trust of my Master! Bernard reminded me last night that, as long as I completely trust the Master, blessings are ahead! He knows the way! He’s been there ahead of me! My part is simple … trust Him!

Scripture Talk

David Pearson — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:03:50 +0000

Last week, I took some time off from my ministry here at Northwood and spent some time reflecting and relaxing. On my first day off, I ran across this Scripture. It was perfect! I have read it every morning since. I’ll let it do the talking and I pray it speaks to you as much as it has spoken to me in recent days.

2 Corinthians 4:8-12, 16-18

⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Thank you God!

Do I Still Believe?

David Pearson — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:33:14 +0000

I came into this thing called ministry as a 20 year old kid! A Pastor believed that a single, 20 year old could make a difference and a church backed that belief! I am so grateful for this Pastor and a church that gave me a chance! The closer I get to 30 (still a kid to some), the more I think about my life and what I believe about ministry through the church! Last night, I took some time to write down some things that I still believe about the church…things I believe about my Savior…things that people and circumstances cannot change. Here’s some of that list!

I still believe the church can be a place where people really love each other…not with a smile and a handshake, but with real love that walks through life together … where backbiting, selfishness, and laziness don’t exist!

I still believe the church can be a place where people sacrifice whatever necessary to make a difference in the lives of other people…a place where it doesn’t matter how much time or money or resources are needed, the people are so in love with bringing others to Jesus that they do whatever it takes and spend whatever they have.

I still believe there are people who understand that church isn’t about us! It’s about those who don’t know Jesus! Those people motivate what we do!

I still believe if people could only taste this freedom and forgiveness that a wretch like me can receive, they would want it!

I still believe church can be a place where truth is taught and applied!

I still believe church is a place that is better than Disney, better than football practice, and better than sleepovers!

I still believe I am accountable for the ministry I lead and will one day hear “Well Done” if I remain faithful!

I still believe that I will go wherever, whenever, and however God directs.

I still believe I have the greatest job in the world … leading kids to know a Savior who loves them more than anyone else.

I still believe if people lived it, churches everywhere would be packed out! Undoubtedly!

Lots of things have changed in my life since my calling as a 20 year old … but some things remain! I still believe!