Family Connection
12.17.2009
I have been listening to Christmas music since the day after Thanksgiving. I love Christmas music but I especially love the messages found in Christmas music that focuses on the true meaning of Christmas; Jesus. As a child I used to love the lights, trees, presents and the overall feeling of expectation while waiting for Christmas morning. I remember the joy and wonder I would feel to think about the “magic” of Christmas and looked forward to opening the presents on Christmas Day. I still love to see the wonder and joy reflected in the faces of children during this time of the year. In fact, for those of us who know what Christmas is really about, Jesus, that same wonder and joy should be reflected in our faces as well.
Luke 2:8-11-“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
I would like to encourage you to share this message of hope, joy and wonder with the children in your lives. Make sure that they understand that Christmas is really all about Jesus and the great gift God the Father gave us through His Son. Bookend the story of Christmas with the story of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross and the joy and wonder the women at the tomb felt when the angels announced that Jesus wasn’t among the dead but among the living (Luke 21:1-8). I encourage you to take the time to remind the children in your life that the story of Christmas doesn’t end in the stable, instead it is continued though the resurrection of Jesus and the hope we have in Him for the gift of salvation and eternal life.
Enjoy Christmas and all the joy of this season because our true hope and joy comes from our risen Lord!
“You should think in the same way Christ Jesus does. In His very nature He was God. But He did not think that being equal with God was something He should hold on to. Instead, He made Himself nothing. He took on the very nature of a servant. He was made in human form. He appeared as a man. He came down to the lowest level. He obeyed God completely, even though it led to His death. In fact, He died on a cross. So God lifted Him up to the highest place. He gave Him the name that is above every name. When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone’s knee will bow to worship Him. Every knee in Heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow to worship Him. Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord. And God the Father will receive the glory.”-Philippians 2:5-11
Merry Christmas!
Partnering with you,
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Family Connection
Family Connection
12.03.2009
This month in Flight School we are teaching on Compassion-caring enough to do something about someone else’s need; and what better month to do it than the month we are focused on Jesus’ birth. I’m amazed when I think of the lengths God went to in order to save us from our sins. God showed us the greatest compassion conceivable by sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Just think for a moment about the following verse: “God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son. Whoever believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life.”-John 3:16 NIrV; what great and glorious news!!
On December 5, 2007, Jennifer, Kenny, Josh and I met Sofie for the first time. We were in a government building in Changsha, China when this little girl walked into our lives. Sofie was 7 at the time and I remember the joy I felt when our eyes met for the first time. We celebrate this every year as a family and we call it “gotcha” day. This is a day of celebration for everyone in our family as the day when Sofie joined our family and our lives were forever changed for the better.
Do you realize that each of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior have our own “gotcha” day? That’s the day when we were adopted into God’s family and our lives were eternally changed for the better. During this Christmas season, I would encourage you to talk with the children in your life about that “gotcha” day and the changes God has brought, and is bringing, into your life. Take the time to focus on God’s great gift of Jesus and His provision through Him. Talk about why it was so important for Jesus to be born in that stable so He could grow up living a sinless life and take our place on the cross. The wonderful thing about Christmas is, it points to Easter. Celebrating the birth of Jesus is a wonderful thing but without His death, burial and resurrection we wouldn’t ever be able to celebrate our “gotcha day” and spend forever in Heaven with Him.
I challenge you to take time to talk about these things with the children in your life. We will be talking about the same things with the children who attend Basic Training and Flight School each weekend.
Partnering with you,
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H
12.03.2009
This month in Flight School we are teaching on Compassion-caring enough to do something about someone else’s need; and what better month to do it than the month we are focused on Jesus’ birth. I’m amazed when I think of the lengths God went to in order to save us from our sins. God showed us the greatest compassion conceivable by sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Just think for a moment about the following verse: “God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son. Whoever believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life.”-John 3:16 NIrV; what great and glorious news!!
On December 5, 2007, Jennifer, Kenny, Josh and I met Sofie for the first time. We were in a government building in Changsha, China when this little girl walked into our lives. Sofie was 7 at the time and I remember the joy I felt when our eyes met for the first time. We celebrate this every year as a family and we call it “gotcha” day. This is a day of celebration for everyone in our family as the day when Sofie joined our family and our lives were forever changed for the better.
Do you realize that each of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior have our own “gotcha” day? That’s the day when we were adopted into God’s family and our lives were eternally changed for the better. During this Christmas season, I would encourage you to talk with the children in your life about that “gotcha” day and the changes God has brought, and is bringing, into your life. Take the time to focus on God’s great gift of Jesus and His provision through Him. Talk about why it was so important for Jesus to be born in that stable so He could grow up living a sinless life and take our place on the cross. The wonderful thing about Christmas is, it points to Easter. Celebrating the birth of Jesus is a wonderful thing but without His death, burial and resurrection we wouldn’t ever be able to celebrate our “gotcha day” and spend forever in Heaven with Him.
I challenge you to take time to talk about these things with the children in your life. We will be talking about the same things with the children who attend Basic Training and Flight School each weekend.
Partnering with you,
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Family Connection-10.29.2009
Family Connection
10.29.2009
When I was a little boy I used to love to watch my dad shave in the bathroom. I used to imagine what it would be like to be able to shave one day. Sometimes my dad would put shaving cream on my face and make me a little razor out of a matchbook cover so I could imitate what he did. Those are good memories for me and make me realize how much I learned from my dad by watching and imitating him.
As I think of those memories, as well of the memories I have of my children imitating me, I wonder what things I have been teaching them by example rather than by my words. I’m sure you have heard the saying, “do as I say, not as I do”. I’m also sure that as adults we would agree that far more is taught by example than by words. Whether we like it or not, our children will tend to follow our examples and can mirror those things we don’t want others to see (especially if they are younger).
In Philippians 4:9, Paul writes-“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” It is interesting that Paul encourages the readers in Philippi to not only do what he says but also to imitate what he does. This can be a challenge to us all.
I would encourage you to be an intentional example to the children in your life this week. Let your children see you read God’s Word, talk about what God is teaching you, pray to God other than at mealtimes and live out and talk about your faith as you journey through your days. Be intentional about your example to the children in your life this week; so they can be imitators of you as you strive to be an imitator of Christ Jesus. Enjoy the journey.
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H
10.29.2009
When I was a little boy I used to love to watch my dad shave in the bathroom. I used to imagine what it would be like to be able to shave one day. Sometimes my dad would put shaving cream on my face and make me a little razor out of a matchbook cover so I could imitate what he did. Those are good memories for me and make me realize how much I learned from my dad by watching and imitating him.
As I think of those memories, as well of the memories I have of my children imitating me, I wonder what things I have been teaching them by example rather than by my words. I’m sure you have heard the saying, “do as I say, not as I do”. I’m also sure that as adults we would agree that far more is taught by example than by words. Whether we like it or not, our children will tend to follow our examples and can mirror those things we don’t want others to see (especially if they are younger).
In Philippians 4:9, Paul writes-“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” It is interesting that Paul encourages the readers in Philippi to not only do what he says but also to imitate what he does. This can be a challenge to us all.
I would encourage you to be an intentional example to the children in your life this week. Let your children see you read God’s Word, talk about what God is teaching you, pray to God other than at mealtimes and live out and talk about your faith as you journey through your days. Be intentional about your example to the children in your life this week; so they can be imitators of you as you strive to be an imitator of Christ Jesus. Enjoy the journey.
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Family Connection
Family Connection
10.15.2009
What do the words “family game night” mean to you? Perhaps you have good memories of playing games with your family when you were a child. Perhaps you have uncomfortable memories of playing games with your family (maybe you had an ultra-competitive sibling who made any game a war); or perhaps you never played games with your family. Whatever your reaction, I want to take a few moments to talk about “family game night”.
In Deuteronomy 6 parents are given some instructions to talk about the laws, commandments and things of God. “The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts. Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up.-(Deuteronomy 6:6-7). In order to do this we need to spend time with our children. These discussions take time but they can occur wherever we are while we are engaged with any activity with our children; even during a time of family games.
This week I would like to encourage you to turn the TV off and spend some time playing your child’s favorite game or teaching him/her your favorite game. Grab some snacks; set aside some time, laugh and play as a family and talk about the things of God while you do it. You don’t have to break out a special devotion book, instead share with your children the things God is teaching you while you play together. If you are a grandparent you can do this too. I remember playing “War” with my great-grandma when I was a child as she showed me an example of someone who loved Jesus by her actions and the songs she would sing as we played. Take some time this week to build a good memory with the children God has blessed you with and live out Deuteronomy 6 while you play as a family.
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H
10.15.2009
What do the words “family game night” mean to you? Perhaps you have good memories of playing games with your family when you were a child. Perhaps you have uncomfortable memories of playing games with your family (maybe you had an ultra-competitive sibling who made any game a war); or perhaps you never played games with your family. Whatever your reaction, I want to take a few moments to talk about “family game night”.
In Deuteronomy 6 parents are given some instructions to talk about the laws, commandments and things of God. “The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts. Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up.-(Deuteronomy 6:6-7). In order to do this we need to spend time with our children. These discussions take time but they can occur wherever we are while we are engaged with any activity with our children; even during a time of family games.
This week I would like to encourage you to turn the TV off and spend some time playing your child’s favorite game or teaching him/her your favorite game. Grab some snacks; set aside some time, laugh and play as a family and talk about the things of God while you do it. You don’t have to break out a special devotion book, instead share with your children the things God is teaching you while you play together. If you are a grandparent you can do this too. I remember playing “War” with my great-grandma when I was a child as she showed me an example of someone who loved Jesus by her actions and the songs she would sing as we played. Take some time this week to build a good memory with the children God has blessed you with and live out Deuteronomy 6 while you play as a family.
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H
Friday, October 2, 2009
Family Corner
Family Corner
09.30.09
When I was a child I used to love to hear my parents tell me stories. I would ask them to tell stories about when they were young, about what they did when they were my age, how they met and general stories from their lives before I was born. I would also love to hear them tell stories about what I was like when I was younger and things I did. Those were special times for me and great memories still today.
I would like to encourage you to do something similar in your family this week. If you have children at home, set some time aside to share stories with your children. You could possibly do this at the dinner table, over a board game or even during a bed time ritual. If you don’t have children at home, you could do the same thing via telephone, email or good old fashioned letter. If you have grandchildren, I encourage you to take the time to share a story from your childhood, you children’s childhood and something special about that grandchild this week.
I also want to encourage you to not only share a fun story this week but also share a God story as well. Share about something you have learned about God during your life, or about a time when God did something meaningful for you. Take the time to praise God by recounting what He has done for you; and pass those memories on to the younger generation. Take the time to share with a child this week and build a positive memory in their lives and help them see God’s goodness through those stories. I will join you on this journey by doing the same thing with my family this week.
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H
09.30.09
When I was a child I used to love to hear my parents tell me stories. I would ask them to tell stories about when they were young, about what they did when they were my age, how they met and general stories from their lives before I was born. I would also love to hear them tell stories about what I was like when I was younger and things I did. Those were special times for me and great memories still today.
I would like to encourage you to do something similar in your family this week. If you have children at home, set some time aside to share stories with your children. You could possibly do this at the dinner table, over a board game or even during a bed time ritual. If you don’t have children at home, you could do the same thing via telephone, email or good old fashioned letter. If you have grandchildren, I encourage you to take the time to share a story from your childhood, you children’s childhood and something special about that grandchild this week.
I also want to encourage you to not only share a fun story this week but also share a God story as well. Share about something you have learned about God during your life, or about a time when God did something meaningful for you. Take the time to praise God by recounting what He has done for you; and pass those memories on to the younger generation. Take the time to share with a child this week and build a positive memory in their lives and help them see God’s goodness through those stories. I will join you on this journey by doing the same thing with my family this week.
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H
Monday, August 31, 2009
Back in the saddle again...
I have been home for 6 days now and am getting packed to leave again. I'm not normally away this much but Josh and I are leaving for a special trip that we have been planning for a long time. Josh turns 13 on September 10 (I turn 43 on the same day but this is really Josh's birthday now, I just share it with him :-) ) and we are celebrating this special birthday with a "rite of passage" trip. When Kenny turned 13 we took a train ride from San Juan Capistrano to Seattle where we spent 3 days. The idea of a long train trip wasn't very exciting to Josh so we have planned a trip he would like. We are heading down to my mom's house today (San Juan Capistrano) and we will head to Dana Point tomorrow for a 3/4 day deep sea fishing expedition. On Wednesday we get into the car and head to Henry Cowell Redwood State Park in Santa Cruz where we will camp until Sunday. We are looking forward to doing nature type stuff but I am looking forward to the memory building and a chance to talk to Josh more about the transition from boyhood into young adulthood. A few years ago I read the book Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis, and I was impressed with the importance of creating milestones and rite of passage events in my children's lives (Jen and Sofie are planning on taking a 3 day cruise to Catalina and Mexico when Sofie turns 13). This isn't a "birds and bees" weekend because we have been talking about godly purity with our children for many years now, but I want to use this as a time to help Josh understanding his upcoming role as a man. Lewis has a great definition of what a real man is: A real man accepts responsibility, leads courageously, rejects passivity and expects the greater reward. Jennifer and I are hopeful that this definition along with asking the "Best Question Ever"; "In light of my past experiences, current realities and future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing for me to do?", and basing all of our decisions on God's Word will help our children live for God now and follow Him for life. This is an important week for me and Josh and I look forward to this one on one time with my beloved son. Please pray that this will be a meaningful time for both of us and will be a cherished memory for both me and Josh.
Thank you for your prayers.
Your fellow servant,
Brett
Thank you for your prayers.
Your fellow servant,
Brett
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
We're home!!!!
We're home and I am sitting at my home computer typing this after showering and shaving all the travel fuzz off my body. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. God was gracious to us and brought us back safely. I pray that we ministred to those we went to see and glorified God in the highest.
Brett
Brett
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