Self-Love – Witkowski Blog
April 7, 2015 April 7, 2015 Peter Witkowski Children's Ministry	
“So, when do I get one,” was the perhaps most innocent and revealing questions that I have encountered from a kid. Several of us had just spent about an hour running an energetic Easter egg assembly line consisting of hard candy, pencils, and chocolate bunnies. And as we were placing the bags and eggs back into their boxes, one kid naturally wanted to know how to get her share of the goodies. She was surprised and a touch disappointed to learn that we had been working to serve others. But on the upside, she learned an invaluable lesson: Church is not just about us.
As adults, we too need to be reminded that church is not about us. Though we all recognize Jesus’ command to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31) and know we should use our freedom in Christ to serve one another (Gal 5:13), we still at times look at church, wondering what we will get out of it. While we don’t see the church as the ticket to free candy, we see it as the ticket to free childcare, entertainment, and community. We want other people to teach our kids, to sing for us, and to care about our problems without offering to serve those who care for us. Instead of asking, “What can we do for the body;” we ask only, “What will the body do for me?” In so doing, we downsize the radical service of the Bible to common, everyday service of self.
Love, community, and peace are not found in relaxing, fun actives or in cool worship services. They are found in radical, unnerving obedience to Christ. And being obedient to Christ means we have love God with everything and then care more about our neighbor’s needs than our own. We have to willing sacrifice for others, counting them more important than us. This calling is ridiculously hard. But to follow Christ as individual and as a church, we have to live to serve.
And, we need to teach our kids this Biblical mindset. Although I firmly believe kids’ ministry should be evangelistic (avoiding the common pitfall of training unbelieving kids to be missionaries,) I also think we need to practically demonstrate God’s love for others in front of our kids. We need to go beyond wacky Wednesday and Super Sundays. We need to include kids in mission trips, fundraising drives, and service projects. We need to help our kids see that true faith is not a call to consume but call to give.
I’ve been blessed to work with many teachers who have great ideas for serving others. What things or activities have helped your kids learn how to care for others?
March 17, 2015 March 17, 2015 Peter Witkowski Parenting	
God The Father > Peter The Father
Its easy to think you are a great parent! I did. Then I had a baby who cries, and cries, and cries. As I watched my son beat most every one of our scheduling, medical, and social engineering concoctions for sleep, I came to the realization that I have some serious limitations. Thankful God’s parenting skills do not!
As I have sat up with my son coveting sleep, I’ve capture a better understanding of God’s fatherly love for us. Although my son is cute and personable as all-get-out, I still become weary, tired and irritable with the little dude after a few tough weeks. When his needs class with my sinful heart, my patience begins to evaporate.
But here is the great news: God’s loving patience for me never ends. Time and again, I sinfully wander away from the truth to worship my ego, stuff, and personal peace and affluence. I insult the very nature of God, the God who has given me way more than a onesies, a crib, and dissolvable food. Yet, God still loves me. He is continually gracious to me. He continues to lovingly discipline me. He continues to grow me in wisdom and understanding. He continues to provide me with health, food, an income. And, he continues forgives me, extending his merciful hand of fellowship through the blood of his son. Although I’m ready to tap out of fatherhood after a few rough hours, God lovingly cares for me for eternity!
As one theologian from yesteryear said,
Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God.
Having children has helped me to see what a poor father I am. And it has also helped me understand what an awesome and great Father our God is. When I compare my heart to God’s, I cannot help but confess that God is “worthy of worship worthy of praise!”Oh to be parent more like God!
As I gear up for the next round of late night tears, I know there is hope. (Yes, every baby goes through phases, seemingly faster than diapers.) But the hope I’m talking about comes from Christ. Because we have been loved by GOd the father, I know and want to love my son even in the hard moments. We are our father’s children. And there is nothing my son can inflict upon me that I have not already inflicted upon my heavenly father. Yet, God continues to love me. And equipped with a gospel mindset, I can patiently love my little man.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another – I John 4:11