tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-341863532012-02-16T18:22:25.218-08:00Reflections as a parent, teacher, and curriculum writer; and what the children, in turn, have taught me.Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.comBlogger2181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-56064239216053364532011-11-22T18:56:00.000-08:002011-11-22T18:57:48.571-08:00

Sometimes - many times - it's the little things that matter.Ten days ago, my husband went in for outpatient surgery. Today, he is still in the hospital. He came home twice, only to return due to multiple complications. We've felt like we have been in a whirlpool of quicksand that has threatned to suck us under. As a minister, he has been so frustrated because he feels he has left his congregation

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-44935111667161919912011-11-07T02:45:00.000-08:002011-11-07T02:48:05.294-08:00

Several posts back, I reviewed the children's book, "The Creation," by Janice Green. In my review, I spoke about the need for more quality children's books.In case you missed the comment section, here's one reader's reaction:"My best introduction to children's books was at the university when I took a class on children's literature. It gave me an overview of what was out there and which authors

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-76440053457757092532011-11-02T13:01:00.000-07:002011-11-02T13:08:43.297-07:00

By now, many of you have already celebrated Halloween or a Halloween alternative in your children's ministry, or you have taken your child trick or treating. Our church hosted over fifty children at a “Neewollah” (Halloween spelled backwards) celebration, a fall festival with a “Trunk and Treat,” a bounce house, a putt putt golf course, face painting and lots of food and oh, yes, candy. As you

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-71535523478000266802011-10-25T05:29:00.000-07:002011-10-25T05:36:11.996-07:00

In my last post, I shared how God fulfilled my dream of serving on the foreign mission field by leading me to write children's ministry curriculum. God has not been absent in using me to promote the gospel on the foreign mission field. As I quoted in my earlier post, His ways are not our ways. He sculpts His call to us in the way that will best use our gifts - and weaknesses - that will benefit

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-14125844674869221082011-10-17T09:02:00.000-07:002011-10-17T09:06:55.575-07:00

Over this past weekend, God gave me another glimpse into understanding His character. He has a way of crumbling my preconceived ideas about Him that reminds me all too well of the verse from Isaiah 55:8: "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord." The next verse reminds me that His ways are higher, better and more magnificent than mine. If He

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-85194492775852054322011-10-11T10:00:00.000-07:002011-10-11T10:03:41.109-07:00

As I've worked Inside The Classroom in children's ministry, there have been certain children who have tried my patience to the point of wanting to quit. Rebellious, uncooperative, inattentive, disruptive, violent, insecure, underachieving. I admit, I've wanted to take them by the shoulders and shake the bad behavior out of them, saying, "What's wrong with you? Snap out of it!"Then I hear tales of

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-36968792634909616272011-10-06T10:02:00.000-07:002011-10-06T10:04:43.045-07:00

When my two daughters were anticipating their first year of public school, Reader's Digest asked Barbara Bush, a supporter of national literacy, how parents could best help their children learn to read and to love reading. Mrs.' Bush's answer? "Read, read, read."It was great advice. Yet, as a parent, I found it a struggle to find new books that presented the values I wanted my children to possess

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-81447867979168159242011-10-06T09:02:00.000-07:002011-10-06T09:03:30.162-07:00

The two most difficult topics for parents and teachers to discuss with children are sex and death. For some odd reason, the church often steers away from these two crucial life topics. letting parents or schools handle the tough questions. As Craig Groeschell notes about sex in his book Weird: When Normal Isn't Working, we turn the topic of death over to complete strangers where children will

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-73155652871655248722011-09-28T14:40:00.000-07:002011-09-28T15:08:07.305-07:00

Today is "See You At the Pole" Day, a student oriented movement to motivate students, teachers, parents and community members to pray for our public and private schools and the children who attend them.We need to pray for our kids. If you missed a "See You At The Pole" event this morning, or want to continue praying for the schools and children within your sphere of influence or concern, here are

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-50232440120566620342011-09-19T17:25:00.000-07:002011-09-19T17:43:02.377-07:00

Thanks to the Ministry To Children website, I found a resource that will help me this week in dealing with a family who have lost a beloved grandma. I hope it is a help to you as well.How to Comfort a Bereaved ChildNext week, I'll share some more ideas on how you can help a child deal with death and funerals before they occur.

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-83206698032290820912011-09-19T14:56:00.000-07:002011-09-19T15:00:49.397-07:00

As I grow older and less connected with children, I fervently hope I can stay sweet, kind and approachable to the kids I encounter. I want to show interest in them. I want them to know I value them, I'm interested in them, that they aren't an annoyance to me. I get so mad when I catch myself becoming grouchy at their noisy presence at restaurants.Deep down, I understand how tough it is to be a

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-57383264577849526892011-09-12T09:49:00.000-07:002011-09-12T09:58:35.336-07:00

The goal of every children's ministry worker is to see the children they teach come to an acceptance of Christ as their Savior. Yet, when the moment comes, I've seen many teachers balk, afraid they don't know enough or they might miss something. They call their pastor, letting him "finish the job."The goal of every pastor and church leader is to equip church members to be able to do this

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-91865968159563367912010-12-14T03:10:00.000-08:002010-12-14T06:02:07.637-08:00

“'If you never ask, the answer is always no.'”So starts an excellent article written by Steve May in his Monday Memo blog from his website, About Sunday. Steve continues:"The person who made this statement recently was talking to marketers about closing the sale. It got my attention because it also applies to our prayer life."James said, 'You do not have because you do not ask God.'” (James 4:2)"

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-33913875627902597552010-12-03T14:00:00.000-08:002010-12-03T14:03:08.127-08:00

One kindergarten student. One first grader who comes only occasionally. Then there is one fourth grader. Two fifth graders. One sixth grader and two eighth graders.You look at your fingers on which you've been tallying the roster of children attending your Sunday School, then glance in despair at the curriculum catalogue in front of you. How can you follow the guidelines of the curriculum with

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-75517618787171712132010-11-22T07:03:00.000-08:002010-11-22T08:13:13.572-08:00

Several times over the course of our ministry, my husband and I have witnessed church members argue or gossip about church issues in front of an open classroom door. Those times have left marks on our hearts like unwanted tattoos, for we know how such talk can leave even greater destruction in the spiritual future of the children who overhear the harsh, ugly talk.Church conflict is never pleasant

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-32215343281463582232010-11-09T16:00:00.000-08:002010-11-09T16:08:46.338-08:00

"Tell me another story!" The four-year-old boy before me bounced on the balls of his feet.I lay my stuffed dog I had dubbed as Ulfilas in my lap. My goodness, I didn't think my Early Church historical story about Ulfilas the Goth who brought Christianity to the Germanic tribes in the fourth century A.D. was that exciting. I love the early stories of how passionate Christians through the power of

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-30781506633023190262010-11-05T07:49:00.000-07:002010-11-05T07:52:12.125-07:00

Recently my minister-husband and another local minister confessed to each other that the children's ministry in both their churches is "drying up." We continue to hear that our little church is not alone, that children's programs are receding both locally and nationally. Bob Russell, in a compelling article in the Florida Christian College's "Son Life" newsletter, blamed the declining numbers of

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-33422710297111405902010-10-26T18:46:00.000-07:002010-10-26T18:47:44.306-07:00

It's seven o'clock Sunday morning. As I check my stack of supplies for my Children's Ministry class, I succumb to my well worn temptation to second guess myself. Have I prepared adequately? Have I selected age-appropriate activities? Who will attend my class today? Will it be mostly younger children who need extra time to cut and glue? Will it be the group of older boys who need energy siphoning

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-63523618128709469442010-10-21T10:02:00.000-07:002010-11-04T18:25:39.064-07:00

I, along with 1.2 billion people sat transfixed. Each time the small capsule rose out of the narrow hole drilled through hundreds of rocky feet to the dark cavern entrapping thirty-three Chilean miners for 69 days, tears filled my eyes and a smile lined my face. The world watched thirty three miracles rise from what should have been certain, slow, agonizing death. Even after all the kudos for the

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-25533466084208573562010-10-15T17:56:00.000-07:002010-10-15T18:00:53.471-07:00

I find it interesting that in spite of several decades of schools' and colleges' emphasis on tolerance and diversity that the problem of bullying is compounding. Why does bullying continue in spite of supposed zero tolerance policies?Parents, teachers and children’s ministry workers have the power to stop bullying by not only teaching children that bullying is wrong, but by showing children

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-77557435932337859612010-10-11T17:12:00.000-07:002010-10-11T17:15:48.100-07:00

Recently Fox News printed an article about anti-gay bullying and national public school efforts to confront this increasing phenomenon. “Gay rights supports insist that any effective anti-bullying program must include specific componants addressing harassment of gay youth,” the article says.This concerns me on three fronts.First, anyone who dares to voice their personal opinion against

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-37058907087672293482010-10-08T09:00:00.000-07:002010-10-08T09:02:38.736-07:00

Did you know that . . . .A duck's quack doesn't echo?Butterflies taste with their feet?In ten minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all the world's nuclear weapons combined?On average, 100 people choke to death on ball-point pens every year?On average, people fear spiders more than they do death?Ninety percent of all New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants?Elephants are the

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-8476920150746463382010-08-23T18:16:00.000-07:002010-08-23T18:17:24.626-07:00

A professor in seminary once described the book of John as a book a child could wade in the shallow end of its simplicity yet a book that theologians could spend a lifetime exploring its depths. As I teach the children that enter my classroom, I discover that so much of biblical truth is just that - simple enough that I can explain its truths to my class yet deep enough that I will mull over the

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-17039633704329654222010-08-13T06:18:00.001-07:002010-08-13T06:19:23.824-07:00

Recently I heard the following story: A family with two children started attending a church close to their home. The son was deaf, partially blind and had a rare blood disease. Even though the boy was very sick, he was also energetic, creative (read into that what you will!) and fun loving. While they were the only family attending with small children, they thought they were loved and accepted by

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-13787732725049314182010-08-01T14:04:00.000-07:002010-08-01T14:07:57.368-07:00

I had two students in my Junior Church class today. One was a regular attender, a very active, bright young man nearing eleven years old. The other was a middle aged woman with a middle age spread and middle aged gray hair peeking through the deceptive blond tresses - in other words, me.My teaching partner and I decided to coast awhile before starting our next round of curriculum so that kids can

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-42565226050081315482010-07-26T08:06:00.000-07:002010-07-26T08:07:22.672-07:00

This past week, our church combined forces with the church next door to do a Community VBS. Our average attendance for the week - ten. That's right, ten.I heard it all week long. Forty years ago, just our church alone had 150 kids. The church in the large town twenty miles south of us had seventy kids. Years ago, VBS ran for two weeks. The mega-church my daughter attends in Columbus had 600 kids

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-22305456512883760312010-07-23T11:18:00.000-07:002010-07-23T11:20:29.151-07:00

About 4 months ago my sister, Karen asked me if I might write a guest Blog for her sometime. At that time she was looking for ideas for a teacher’s devotional book. I have been out of the teaching loop too long. But I wanted to give my sister a little break and throw some thoughts out for us to ponder. I am not one who has read the latest Christian Ministry books or curriculum but I do have ideas

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-27671524839556757412010-07-17T10:57:00.000-07:002010-07-17T11:00:35.665-07:00

In my last post, I said it would be the final edition of my thoughts on Children's Ministry. Thank you to all who have heard the discouragement in my words and have written to encourage me. You are precious people! That post will be the final edition in this blog about children for awhile because I currently have no contact with children and have nothing to draw from to share with you. However,

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-65249859374670303072010-07-12T16:37:00.000-07:002010-07-12T16:38:59.668-07:00

This will be the final post for the "Inside the Classroom" blog. Thank you to those few who have faithfully read my column. Your trust in my words is humbling. When I first started this column four years ago, there were no Children's ministry blogs. Now, there are many fine blogs out there full of good ideas and godly advice. I hope they will be a blessing to you.I have a confession to make.

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-2667516493270646932010-07-06T17:05:00.000-07:002010-07-06T17:08:21.403-07:00

Last Saturday, Heaven gained another one of the faithful. Ivan Martin, a long time missionary to Zimbabwe and a personal family friend, was taken to Glory after a long bout with cancer. The world's loss is Heaven's gain.We first met Ivan and his wife JoAnn twenty years ago when we ministered to a small church in Colorado. JoAnn's mother was a member of our church and one of the most hospitable

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-21670608855960122772010-06-28T12:40:00.000-07:002010-06-28T12:42:06.315-07:00

This past week, my daughter stood in Red Square. I mean, the famous Red Square of Moscow, Russia. Red Square, that sits at the foot of the Kremlin palace, former USSR seat of power. Red Square, the scene of May Day military parades that celebrated the rise of the Soviet Revolution in 1917. Red Square - the very words caused a feeling of foreboding in the hearts of American schoolchildren in the

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-35208546594973904892010-06-15T15:35:00.000-07:002010-06-15T15:36:51.295-07:00

My eyes brimmed with tears as the elders of my church laid their hands on my daughter in a sending ceremony before she left for Russia. What I dreaded most happened. As the minister’s wife, I didn’t want to cry in front of my husband’s congregation, yet as her mother, my full heart overflowed, leaking between my eyelids.Yes, I was anxious about her leaving. Recent terrorist attacks in Moscow

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-65212462025113553332010-06-09T04:18:00.000-07:002010-06-09T04:19:41.750-07:00

How do you attract kids to your children’s ministry program and keep them coming back? How do you build the excitement enough that they beg mom and dad to bring them to church week after week? Wouldn’t that be a dream fulfilled, music to every worker’s ears? “Mom, I don’t want to go to T-Ball practice! Puhhh-lease, can I go to youth group tonight instead?” How do you make it happen?Is it by

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-51992263067410644172010-05-22T11:19:00.000-07:002010-05-22T11:21:01.104-07:00

Recently, a church member called me with a question about the Bible. "Where is the story about Elijah on Mt Carmel?" she asked. I gave her the reference from 1 Kings 18. Then she explained the reason for her question. Her sixteen-year-old grandson, Johnny, had asked his mom where the story was, for he wanted to read the story for himself. Her curiosity piqued, his mom asked him if he had heard

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-29660517664683357662010-05-12T08:59:00.000-07:002010-05-12T09:01:37.078-07:00

On Mary 5, 2010, a California high school assistant principal sent five students home for wearing t-shirts bearing an emblem of the American flag because they provoked the school's Hispanic population of students by wearing the shirts on the Mexican holiday, Cinco de Mayo..I liked a Fox News commentator's take on the fiasco. Mary Katherine Ham noted on the "O'Reilly Factor" that this would have

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-40287061006608585792010-04-28T07:12:00.000-07:002010-04-28T07:35:29.693-07:00

Teaching resource Internet sites are quickly gearing up for the next big holiday - Mother's Day. This week, you'll find all kinds of craft ideas that kids can make Inside the Classroom for their mother. Here are some suggestions:Ministry to Children: http://ministry-to-children.com/video-mothers-projcets/Family Fun: http://familyfun.go.com/mothers-day/mothers-day-ideas-854863/Danielle's Place:

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-89031319911297206902010-04-20T06:26:00.000-07:002010-04-20T06:27:39.501-07:00

More than anything else in my teaching Inside the Classroom, I want to be an effective teacher. I want to see results. I want to see the "Ahha" look on my student's faces. I want to hear exclamations of delight over discoveries. Most of all, I want to see changed lives, lives that stay faithful to Jesus for a lifetime propelling them straight into the eternal bliss of Heaven.An overabundance of

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-3982181593674311372010-04-12T16:42:00.000-07:002010-04-12T19:08:09.748-07:00

After two months of teaching Sunday School, I still had knots in my stomach every time I entered my classroom. Controlling my class was my greatest fear. How could I make this lively group of first, second and third graders sit down and listen to me?It was the era when the time out corner was the MO of child discipline. Dennis the Menace ensconced in his corner clutching his teddy bear was etched

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-4242364670914600282010-04-06T11:58:00.000-07:002010-04-06T12:00:18.624-07:00

Easter and Christmas Sundays are exciting times in children's ministry. Of all times, that's the Sunday to have a children's program and to make it your best. Your lesson is predictable - the Christmas story for Christmas and the story of Jesus' resurrection for Easter. The challenge, however, is to present those well known and time worn stories in a fresh and meaningful way to a part of your

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-50025341937720821322010-03-30T19:14:00.000-07:002010-03-30T19:19:47.316-07:00

A study conducted by the Search Institute discovered that the most influential person in a teenager's faith journey is first Mom followed by Dad. And third? Grandparents.Yet so many parents feel inept to teach their children at home. Isn't that why we take our kids to church, enroll them in Christian schools or send them off to church camp? Where do we start in teaching our kids about our faith?

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-6543636469419931982010-03-19T11:51:00.000-07:002010-03-19T11:59:07.636-07:00

Children’s Ministry should be the primary focus of the church. I’ve quoted that concept for years and I’ve believed it with all my heart. Our youth are the future of the church, right? Therefore, we need to pour ourselves into creative programs that both attract and retain children, right? Doesn’t George Barna say as much in his book, “Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions?”I wanted to

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-46093102412957345112010-03-13T08:47:00.000-08:002010-03-13T09:08:19.449-08:00

“Would you stop being a brat?” Against my better judgment, I turned slightly to see who was the recipient of such harsh words. A cute little boy, no more than two years old, sat quietly on a booster seat in a nice restaurant. The only infraction I could see was that he was looking around the room while his apparently tired mama tried to figure out the menu.Only days before, a grandmother

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-14336708385597778852010-02-27T06:58:00.000-08:002010-02-27T07:02:21.699-08:00

It took almost thirty years. But Safaa never gave up.Safaa is a preacher in Egypt. Years ago, he became convicted of the need to preach only what is in the Bible. He has faced much opposition over the years, especially from those in his own denomination who feel he is being heretical. But now, people, churches, even an entire denomination is ready to turn away from historical traditions to

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-79003691987358982632010-02-22T08:35:00.000-08:002010-02-22T08:44:23.033-08:00

What can you do with a coffee filter – besides make coffee? The food editor of the Canton Respository came up with a creative list:1. Cover food to be cooked in the microwave. Good idea. A coffee filter would probably stay put better than a paper towel.2. Pan protectors: Store and protect good dishes by placing a coffee filter between each dish. Just the right size Hey, this would work for

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-73120510483426574642010-02-12T15:36:00.000-08:002010-04-05T11:38:35.128-07:00

As my husband and I neared Atlanta on a trip to visit family, cars merged into a heavy flow. Ahead of us, a driver tried to change lanes, unaware of the car a few feet behind her in her blind spot. I sucked in my breath, fearing the worse and realizing, in the heavy flow, we were too close. Without saying a word, my husband slowed our car, putting distance between us, and moved into the left lane

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-57156308174846834182010-01-11T07:13:00.000-08:002010-01-11T07:16:18.301-08:00

Last week, I shared how we taught our children’s church class about setting goals. This week, it was time to return to my regularly scheduled lesson from the curriculum. Since we use a rotation of three teachers, I haven’t taught for two months. The last teacher couldn’t quite remember which lesson she had taught last, so she and I guessed at which one it would be. I was delighted. The lesson I

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-39697683090429234772010-01-04T15:47:00.000-08:002010-01-04T15:48:06.069-08:00

New Year’s Resolutions. Weekly goals. Day planners. To do lists. All of these are at the forefront of our brains at the beginning of each year. It’s good to make plans. If we don’t plan, we’re guaranteed we won’t reach our dreams. If we do plan, we might catch some of our dreams. I’d rather bank on 50% failure than 100% failure.Children can learn to set goals too. But how? Should we waste our

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-58462211937023779992009-12-03T07:40:00.001-08:002009-12-03T07:41:20.220-08:00

When a relative or close friend passes away, I like to spend some time reflecting on the memories of special moments I enjoyed with that person. This helps me deal with closure, especially if I am far away and unable to attend the funeral. Experiencing two deaths in the last two weeks has made me nostalgic. One of those deaths, the passing of Aunt Mabel, my grandfather’s sister, brought back a

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-4423278981413696172009-11-18T09:50:00.000-08:002009-11-18T09:52:30.142-08:00

On a flight from Atlanta to Paris, a seatmate and I intermittently talked books for nine hours. I was woefully embarrassed by how illiterate I sounded, for time and again I had to answer “no” to her queries of “Have you read this?” Finally, determined to join the real literary world, I grabbed my notebook to record the titles she threw at me as fast as a batting machine. My face flushed with

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-58544634931600308902009-11-04T07:39:00.000-08:002009-11-04T07:40:23.583-08:00

A friend sent me a cute email this week. It told the story of a man who visited heaven. The angel guide took him first to a large room. “This is the receiving room where prayer requests are received.” Volumes of paper and a large group of scurrying angels worked hard to process all those prayer requests. Then the angel took him to another large room, called the “Packaging and Delivery Room.” In

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-38032637579730712122009-10-26T07:16:00.001-07:002009-10-26T07:17:32.781-07:00

Breaking News: Minister’s wife caught leaving church carting a suitcase and clutching a teddy bear. Speculations as to her motive are running rampant in her tiny community. (You know how news flies in small communities – who needs a newspaper?) Yesterday’s event was only the last of a series of bizarre behaviors. Several Sundays ago she asked her congregation for a donation of metal coffee cans.

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-54868378506443289112009-10-22T06:23:00.000-07:002009-10-22T06:24:41.474-07:00

As a children’s ministry worker, I tend to think of the Bible in terms of the bible stories I teach my students. Years of writing curriculum has taught me to look for the application of the story to daily life. This drives my husband nuts because sometimes bible stories are recorded in God’s word not necessarily for us to apply a lesson but to show the working of God among His people. Sometimes,

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-59935394124347700122009-10-12T06:55:00.000-07:002009-10-12T06:57:48.075-07:00

One day, several years ago, the beginning activity of my weekly lesson suggested I prepare a blind taste test. I was to put several foods, both desirable and undesirable, like peanut butter, lemon juice, and icing in small dishes, blindfold the kids and lead them one by one to taste the foods. I particularly remember one of the suggested foods was horseradish.Now I have never tasted horseradish

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-54574554264707566602009-10-07T10:08:00.000-07:002009-10-07T10:13:08.277-07:00

After years of praying for an opening to reach the children in his country with the message of Jesus Christ’s offer of salvation, a Child Evangelism worker from Macedonia was invited into the public schools where he was allowed to distribute over 80,000 shoeboxes filled with clothes, toys and school supplies. What an open door to ministry!I heard this amazing story from one of the students

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-63862933964567436232009-09-30T06:54:00.000-07:002009-09-30T06:56:25.293-07:00

I’ve just returned from my second short term mission trip to a bible training center near Vienna, Austria. While there, I was asked to share my testimony of a way God has worked in my life. I shared how, as a visually impaired person, I learned certain lessons that God would use later to help me endure a difficult season in my ministry. My vision loss strengthened my faith in God’s unlimited

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-71752062853871787712009-09-07T16:09:00.000-07:002009-09-30T15:30:11.228-07:00

Our children’s church ministry made the decision to take the children into adult worship one Sunday per month. Our church has a balcony so we arranged we would sit in the front row upstairs. We told the minister of our plan and warned him there might be extra wiggles and whispers.I arranged for the children to meet with me before we headed upstairs yesterday. “Do we have to be quiet all the time?

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-4909513105513422032009-08-31T07:14:00.000-07:002009-08-31T07:20:10.507-07:00

My latest read is the book, “To Sir With Love.” You might remember the 1967 movie version starring Sydney Poitier. While a bit earthy, especially for a book of 1959 vintage, “To Sir With Love” provide great inspiration for teachers.Rick Braithewaite, after being repeatedly rejected by potential employers because he is black, finds a job as a high school teacher in an East London slum. He

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-82851330967476099342009-08-24T02:31:00.000-07:002009-08-24T02:34:12.360-07:00

One of my greatest joys in ministry is watching people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus /Christ. While I do not espouse to any Calvinistic theology, watching the stories unfold of how people come to Christ remind me that God does have a definite hand in brining people back to Himself. As I sat in our small church’s balcony, watching the baptism of a mother and a nine year boy, I felt awe at

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-28060749201331284202009-08-10T09:09:00.000-07:002009-08-10T09:18:40.467-07:00

Education comes in all shapes and sizes. Classrooms don’t always stuff neatly into the confines of four walls. I love Moses’ words to Israelite parents in Deuteronomy 6:6,7: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (NIV)”

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-65006793066222728272009-08-05T10:53:00.000-07:002009-08-06T11:54:53.613-07:00

I love VBS! A colleague told me several years ago that the children’s ministry program, Vacation Bible School, was an outdated, antiquated program which the right kind of churches weren’t doing any more. I disagree.It’s all in how you measure success. Do you measure success by the number of children who attend? By the number of children who accept Christ? By the size of your volunteer force? Or

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-58869641011893903582009-07-27T16:17:00.000-07:002009-07-27T16:25:36.187-07:00

I love new recipes. New recipes promise adventure, change from the routine, and excited anticipation of pleasures to come.Here’s a children’s ministry recipe for you. Prepare one large room with plenty of space and tables. Gather the following ingredients: one ten-pound bag of potatoes, the children in your children’s ministry program, leftover art supplies, and tasty snacks or main dishes that

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-88992046212480038842009-07-20T07:59:00.000-07:002009-07-20T13:33:21.686-07:00

Recently, my husband and I noticed a nostalgic magnetic sign on our daughter’s car bumper was missing. When we asked where it was, she told us someone had stolen it from the college parking lot. A few days later, our younger daughter left her USB drive in the slot of a computer at her college library; when she returned just a few minutes later, it was already gone.We acted shocked but the girls

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-31211408618989174812009-07-08T06:32:00.000-07:002009-07-09T09:50:45.071-07:00

This week, I’m pleased to have Dr. Rick Chromey serve as a guest columnist for Inside The Classroom. Dr. Chromey is a leadership imagineer and cultural explorer. He’s also the preteen columnist for Children’s Ministry magazine and author of Energizing Children’s Ministry in the Smaller Church (Standard, 2008). Rick is available to speak for your conference, convention or leadership summit on

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-57601175982791382762009-06-28T12:44:00.000-07:002009-06-28T12:47:15.757-07:00

There are good days and there are bad days in the work of ministry. As I overheard the minister’s wife at the church of my childhood once say, “In the ministry, there are high spots and there are low spots. The high moments make it worth it all.” Today made it worth it all.A six year old girl came bounding into my junior church classroom this morning. Before I could connect with what she was

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-72965493128946211112009-06-22T07:25:00.000-07:002009-06-22T07:29:12.214-07:00

Rick Cromey, author of Energizing Children’s Ministry in the Smaller Church, said on his Facebook status this week, “A person never becomes more ignorant than the moment they believe they know it all. Learning is fueled by driving doubt and wild eyed wonder.”Over the last few weeks I have struggled to achieve the goal of publishing a book. One agent turned me down with the gentle reminder, “

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-74929438268031060042009-06-10T12:25:00.000-07:002009-06-10T12:29:11.617-07:00

It’s the classic small church dilemma. Kids won’t come to your church if you don’t have an organized and exciting program, but you cant’ have an organized, exciting program without kids/As a friend and I bemoaned the lack of children in our mutual congregations, she told me the district superintendent of her Methodist area reassured the congregation, “It’s not you. It’s everywhere.” Children’s

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-91392309122679935502009-06-04T11:30:00.001-07:002009-06-04T11:30:35.661-07:00

Have you received one of those emails that quote 2 Chronicles 7:14 at the top of the post? I don’t have one in front of me because, after reading it the first time, I quickly deleted any duplicate copies. Besides, these emails distress me. The originator of the email meant well and is on the right path. Citizens of the United States do need to pray for our nation. Yet using this Scripture as a

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-344115144702287102009-05-28T15:44:00.000-07:002009-05-28T15:45:38.497-07:00

I have a confession to make. When I was in third grade, I committed a terrible crime. This is one of those secret sins, that if I was ever nominated for a high ranking government position, the Special Counsel to the President, the Senate Ethics Committee and the drive-by media would all uncover my atrocity. CNBC might even make a reality show portraying my wayward youth.My crime?I tore a math

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-25925670589642036152009-05-18T07:59:00.000-07:002009-05-18T08:00:52.641-07:00

Childhood bullies still roam the halls and playgrounds of our schools. Human nature, being what it is, will always desire the thrill of power, one-up-man-ship, the need to be top-dog, a craving for control. At the core, that is what sin is – wanting ME to be in charge rather than God. The drive for power is more of a temptation for some than others. Children who are victimized from abuse, divorce

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-59970474946790622792009-05-11T09:00:00.000-07:002009-05-11T09:02:09.485-07:00

Children are these sweet little angels who make us smile with delight. Their eager curiosity charms us with their innocence. I don’t know about you but I feel deep hurt when I see one child bully another child. I want to grab them and ask with anguish, “Where did you learn to be so mean so young?”A bully is made, not born. Bullying is all about power, the desire to redistribute the wealth of

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-36684867057374823872009-04-30T07:57:00.001-07:002009-04-30T07:57:52.850-07:00

As parents, we send our children off to school with a few tears and a few more worries. Will they succeed academically? Will they make friends? Will they choose the right kind of friends? Will they avoid the pitfalls of youth? If there are special needs, will the school manage the IEP adequately to help our children overcome the obstacles they face?I don’t know about you but how other

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-13178473687652708212009-04-20T08:20:00.000-07:002009-04-30T07:57:04.886-07:00

What will get me steamed more than anything else Inside the Classroom? When I see a bully in action. When I hear kids tease each other. When I hear kids ridicule another’s opinion, abilities, decisions or interests. When kids in my high school class recently made fun of a boy for dropping out of college on his first day, I felt sick to my stomach. He was humiliated enough – why did they have to

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-31278575807535153592009-04-14T09:06:00.000-07:002009-04-21T16:40:22.983-07:00

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)He was always getting into fights at school. Sunday School lessons on kindness and forgiveness were beyond him. “It’s not right to hit others,” we told him. “He started it,” was always his

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-5728481292410427692009-04-05T12:57:00.000-07:002009-04-05T12:59:32.930-07:00

Creative Classroom Expressions About EasterApril 5, 2009I’m a big proponent of interactive learning, where the teacher gets the students involved in the learning process. It’s the kind of learning my 4-H motto from years ago described as “Learn by Doing.” Long gone are the days where kids sit dutifully before a teacher who spoke words of wisdom, confident something was oozing into the little

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-51874534735478101342009-03-30T08:56:00.000-07:002009-03-30T08:57:05.423-07:00

As my husband and I were returning from Arizona after my grandfather’s memorial service, we had a two-hour layover in Phoenix before the next leg of our journey. Knowing we would be sitting for the next four hours, we struck out for a brisk walk along the concourses. Trailing the moving sidewalk, we saw a dark haired boy who must have not been a day over three-years-old running along the moving

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-79017579683636799022009-03-15T04:00:00.000-07:002009-03-15T04:06:35.174-07:00

Grab a cup of your favorite brew and let’s do some catch-up. Let me fill you in on what I am currently doing in Children’s Ministry and in curriculum writing.Right now, I’m taking a much needed indefinite sabbatical from teaching Sunday School. It’s been at least six years since I have had a break and I am already appreciating the chance to recharge my spiritual batteries. I’m still teaching

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-18361684192956155712009-03-11T09:08:00.000-07:002009-03-11T09:16:38.984-07:00

Have you ever noticed that the creative people who get the most attention in the church are those who can sing, speak or play a musical instrument? What about those Christians who have been gifted with the ability to move their bodies in expressive ways, who sculpt or use paint to glorify their Redeemer? Are they any less “Christian” than the one who can act or sing?My friend, LeAnne Martin,

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-9239915552180718062009-03-03T13:46:00.000-08:002009-03-03T13:57:54.647-08:00

My reading list this month includes Bill O’Reilly’s book, A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity. Now, before you label me as one of those screaming fanatical conservatives, hear me through. First of all, O’Reilly labels himself as an independent, one who chooses to be a free thinker. From reading his book, I would certainly agree with that. Also, O’Reilly’s book covers far more than his views on

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-10113377173550386772009-02-21T17:00:00.001-08:002009-02-21T17:00:44.363-08:00

Recently, I was teaching a lesson to my Junior church students on the commitment of John the Baptist to forego everything else in order to proclaim the message about the coming Messiah. “How do you put Jesus first?” I asked my group. I was expecting answers like “Be honest when others aren’t,” “Watch movies that aren’t violent or that put Jesus down,” or “Be kind and reach out to other kids who

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-59887264702324090092009-02-18T08:34:00.000-08:002009-02-18T11:18:51.343-08:00

Last week I shared part of an interview with Brenda Nixon, author of the “Birth to Five” book, a great reference for rearing a preschool child.Granted, it’s important to start teaching and training a preschool child as early as possible. Some teaching, like potty training or eating habits, is a "Well, duh!" But studies have shown how important it is to give our little ones lots of discovery and

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-87511550736384445002009-02-06T07:13:00.000-08:002009-02-06T07:15:27.936-08:00

You need a driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle. But no license is required for guiding another moving object that some parents would vow has more energy than a two-ton pickup – a two year old child. Children don’t come with an operating manual stowed under an arm pit. That’s why books like Brenda Nixon’s “The Birth to Five” book are so hot – and so needed.I love Brenda’s emphasis, that

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-59331819930923508262009-01-26T07:07:00.000-08:002009-01-26T07:11:29.045-08:00

Last week, someone left a comment regarding the salvation of a Down’s Syndrome child.First of all, I want to applaud the courage and diligence of families and teachers who work with these precious children. You are taught by the Lord to see our children not as the rest of the world sees, to value the gifts unappreciated by the rest of society. God has a plan for these special children, just as

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-17787381342916942662009-01-19T08:07:00.000-08:002009-01-19T08:08:46.946-08:00

Early in his ministry, as recorded in Matthew 13, Jesus started to speak to the crowds in parables. “Whoa, wait a minute!” The twelve disciples found the first available moment to throw up their hands with confusion. “Why are you speaking to the people in parables (v. 10)?”Without criticizing them for asking, Jesus explained why he was using parables, then revealed the meaning of the parable of

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-51284003088897424682009-01-15T10:27:00.000-08:002009-01-15T10:30:14.002-08:00

The legend of Faust tells the story of how the scholar Faust makes a compact with the devil. The devil increases Faust’s knowledge of magic and gives him twenty four years of power and pleasure. After that, Faust’s soul belongs to the devil (Source: Encarta).No one in children’s ministry would ever do that! Yet, at times we’re so desperate to see our program succeed, to experience growth, to

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-52661070110396635062009-01-07T08:58:00.000-08:002009-01-07T09:01:53.444-08:00

In her book, “Condi: The Condoleeza Rice Story,” Antonia Felix explains Secretary Rice’s description of one difference between liberals and conservatives that I had never heard before but that makes sense to me. In the area of foreign policy, conservatives are realists and liberals are idealists. Realists recognize that a nation will fight when its national self interest is threatened; that it

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-57502887397022076702008-12-30T08:07:00.000-08:002008-12-31T10:42:59.839-08:00

It was a bright, sunny morning, not unusual for Tucson, Arizona. Ninety percent of the time, mornings were always clear and sunny. The inconvenience of bright and sunny mornings in Arizona is that bright sunny mornings turn into hot sunny days. If you want to do anything outdoors, from walking to watering your lawn, best to do it early.Grandpa and I were out walking, not unusual for us either. I

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-52981771610847568032008-12-20T12:42:00.000-08:002008-12-20T12:44:04.797-08:00

Tomorrow is the Sunday before Christmas. Adult services might run long. Do you have an extra activity planned in case you have too much time and not enough lesson? What about your bible story for tomorrow? How do you tell a story that your students have heard many times in a fresh appealing way?Maybe your students don’t know that Christmas story as well as they think they do! Here is a

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-37905525972028430572008-12-10T16:45:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:47:35.519-08:00

Did you hear about the eight year old boy who, when his parents asked him what he wanted for Christmas, said he wanted to give toys to sick children? So he and his parents took a bunch of toys to give to patients at a Children’s Hospital.Perhaps you are thinking, “I wish that was my child” or “I wish that child existed in my classroom.” My thoughts were, “I’d like to meet this child’s parents!”

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-59200976066379274212008-12-03T17:33:00.000-08:002008-12-03T17:34:58.161-08:00

Classroom Christmas CraftsChristmas! What an exciting time in a children’s ministry classroom! Students may come to your classroom that have never darkened your door before. As a teacher, you have the privilege to tell the most precious story on earth – the story that God himself stuffed the divine presence of His Son into human form so the Son could lead the world back to God.All right, so

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-49134970669881586022008-11-26T07:42:00.000-08:002008-11-26T07:44:01.843-08:00

Before reading his Communion meditation last Sunday, one of the elders in my congregation asked us to bow our heads and thank God for the people who brought us to Christ.Initially, I thought of Mary Anderson, the preacher’s wife at our small congregation in Arizona. At church camp for the first time, I was miserably homesick and woke up several mornings with tummyaches. One morning, when she

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-62358837710193629512008-11-16T15:20:00.001-08:002008-11-16T15:21:36.392-08:00

We have so much to be thankful for! Look around you. Touch what is in front of you. Take a deep breath and smell the world around you. Everything you see, touch, hear, smell, the food you put to your mouth is a gift. Even that breath you took to breathe the scents around you is a gift of life from the Creator who loves you.That’s just in the physical realm. Think of the spiritual blessings

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-18730085027632720372008-11-09T13:48:00.001-08:002008-11-09T13:48:39.818-08:00

I admit it. I’m a worrier. I joke that I make excellent stew. I can sit and stew about matters for hours.A prime time to make stew is Sunday morning. It’s amazing the petty things that will come into my mind in the moments between seven and nine in the morning that I need to worry about. All the church politics, all the gripes I have against my husband, all the concerns I harbor about my

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-91779561767712373322008-11-02T18:49:00.000-08:002008-11-02T18:50:44.797-08:00

This past week, my mother sent me a letter from an old friend dated thirty years ao. Grammy Jean was a family friend who attended our church while spending the winters in my hometown in Arizona.Grammy Jean didn’t often write letters. When she did, it was a four page tome tha rambled on as if she were across the table having a cup of tea with you. She shared from her heart, weaving her past

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-59008837301068790802008-10-27T07:13:00.000-07:002008-10-27T07:20:45.065-07:00

In both my teaching sessions yesterday, conversation was hot and heavy about the Presidential elections. One fifth grade boy was evangelistic in his support of Obama. “McCain’s going to bomb America,” he said, “Vote for Obama.” His other reasons for supporting Obama? Everyone but one child in his fifth grade class supports Obama. McCain is old and going to die. McCain is going to prosecute

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-68296896016455372602008-10-22T09:03:00.000-07:002008-10-22T09:05:15.646-07:00

At a recent conference, I became convicted of my need to build relationships with my students. Teaching Inside the Classroom is more than lecturing and pouring information into students’ heads. As teachers, we need to connect with our students, earn their trust, show we are interested in their lives and in them as people. How can they know that Jesus loves them if we aren’t willing to

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-72501693145703570932008-10-15T08:45:00.000-07:002008-10-15T08:47:44.387-07:00

Last week, I discussed lessons we can teach our children on how not to repeat the mistakes that have caused the conomic crisis our country has experienced in the last month. Here are some more ideas:4. Overcome greed with gratitude. I am saddened to see so many Americans always wanting more, never being satisfied with what they have. Lead your children to be thankful for what God has given us.

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-55523609397354244192008-10-10T06:41:00.000-07:002008-10-15T08:48:21.496-07:00

My daughter has a paper due in her Philosophy class this week. The teacher won’t grade the first paper, yet my daughter was still nervous about her first college assignment. “I hope I don’t blow it,” she told me. “This is a good one to fail on,” I told her. “If you go amiss, the teacher will most likely make comments and you’ll learn from your failure.”In the past two weeks, America failed. We

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-76332309248449468092008-09-26T13:02:00.000-07:002008-09-26T18:39:10.184-07:00

I love to make homemade bread. I’ve been making bread since I was a teenager, enrolled in the 4-H program. I won multiple awards at country and state fairs and state demonstration days. Through that hobby, I developed my own recipes for whole wheat bread and homemade pizza and did experiments with making sourdough bread starter.I have continued to make homemade bread and pizza which my family

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-89273128942556790802008-09-24T08:46:00.000-07:002008-09-24T08:49:31.683-07:00

“I’m not being fed.”I’ve heard that sentiment several times in the past month from precious, dedicated, worn out teachers. One dear lady has taught the preschool class at our church for over thirty years. Never one to complain, she surprised all of us as we sat at a golden wedding anniversary party by saying, “I wish I could go to an adult Sunday School class. I need to learn too.” Her adult

Karen Wingatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08922983662282862282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34186353.post-5314382107121139732008-09-18T08:54:00.000-07:002008-09-18T08:55:26.372-07:00

I belong to a church whose foundation is built on adhering to New Testament Christianity. That means we try to practice what Christians in the New Testament practiced. “Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent” is one of our great slogans. That gives a lot of latitude. The Bible allows for cultural differences in regard to method but there are certain

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