Intrinsic Vs. Extrinsic

If you offer a child a choice from these two pictures, they probably will choose the "stuff" as it has an allure. But the one that they will remember and carry with them is the time they spend with you.

I feel that if you give children lots of extrinsic (outside of self) rewards (candy, stickers, etc.) their motivation becomes something outside of themselves - "I'll do it for a dollar." If you can help children reward themselves (intrinsic rewards) their motivation will be the great feeling of accomplishment. Thus being said, I think it is great to praise and celebrate when significant goals are met.
Scripture memorization is one of those areas where if a child is motivated to memorize for a prize, they might not sense the joy of hiding God's word in their heart as a reward in and of itself. But how cool it could be for families to memorize scripture together and set goals that have celebrations attached.

On March 17 at the Family Dinner, families brainstormed how to celebrate when the whole family reaches a goal. Here's their ideas . . .

1. Have an ice cream night (make the ice cream yourselves!)
2. Go out for dinner
3. Kids can pick the game to play, the movie, the restaurant
4. Go for bike ride as a family
5. Go to church
6. Family game night
7. Family movie night
8. Family zoo day
9. Go to Disney World
10. Go swimming
11. Whoever memorizes first gets to pick what to do as a family
12. Pizza party for all
13. Bowling
14. Special treat night
15. Family fun day at the YMCA
16. Make cookies together
17. Family bike ride to DQ
18. Picnic in the living room
19. Family sleepover in the family room

Tape it to a Hockey Stick?

At our family dinner on March 17, families were asked to share their ideas for how to help each other memorize Bible verses. Here are some of their ideas . . .
• Put it on your milk carton
• Put it on the bottom of a clear plate
• Make a poster to include it
• Draw a picture
• Sing a song
• Read it over and over
• Tape it to a refrigerator, mirror, door you use, on TV, on computer, above bed, on calendar, on wall, white board,
• Break them up into parts/pieces
• Repeating verses with each meal or bedtime
• Say a little bit at a time, adding a little at a time
• Text it to yourself and a friend
• Tape verse to hockey stick
• Practice every morning going to school (like practicing spelling words
• Put verses on the fridge and recite them whenever you get something out
• Note cards
• Make actions that go with it
• Start small, build upon what you’ve learned
• Make up songs to go with item to learn, include actions
• Sticky notes!
• Read, write, say, quiz, repeat!
No one said tape it to their bike handles like Jill does!

Matt's Bible Presentation

I love my job. But somedays I really LOVE my job. Today was one of those days when I REALLY LOVE my job. After the 9:30 service, when I got to watch Matt get his bible, I realized that I wouldn't even know Matt if I didn't get to do what I do, and reader, let me tell you about Matt.

Matt is awsome. He's got the greatest sense of humor. One of his teachers told me that once after being sick and missing a whole week, he returned to school and his teacher said, "so, you were sick." And he said, "NO!" She said, "Then where were you?" "Stuck in a carwash!"

Matt also has a great faith. He loves Jesus! He loves to have his mom read the bible to him. He loves to pray and sing songs about Jesus.

Matt has a great personal skills. The first time I met him it seemed like a casual meeting. The next time I saw Matt, he remembered me from before because he recognized my voice.

Matt is blind.

When I found a Braille Beginner's Bible from Braille Bibles International, first I talked to his mom who gave me a thumbs up. Then I talked to the kids that know him at church. We talked about how the church had bought them each a bible when they were baptized. They decided that they were the church and they could raise their own money. They were really excited to contribute to the fund that would buy him his Bible.

(When we ordered the bible we were told that there would be no charge. The bibles are actually free because people donate to the ministry. Of course, the money that was collected was sent to Braille Bibles International so they can make a Braille bible for someone else. It takes ten volumes to fit the Braille pages in between the regular pages. Each page is made out of plastic so it it very thick.)

During the two months that we were raising money and waiting for the Bible's to be shipped here, several of the kids found me to ask, "did that boy's bible get here yet?" When the ten volumes arrived, they all got to see them - and touch them.

Today they were invited to the front of the church to have front row seats when Matt's parents placed the Bible in his hands.

Matt was asked three questions:
Where is Jesus? Matt- In my heart!
What are you going to do with your bible when you get home? Matt-read it.
Who would you like to thank? Matt- My mom and dad and the kids.

Spontaneous applause! A few tears!

Who wouldn't love a job like this!

New SPLASH 2

Cayden and Ava comfy on mom and dad's lap, listening to the story.








Jessica and Wade learn about infant massage. He's looking quite relaxed, don't you think?
The next opportunity for SPLASH! is coming up. Check it out. Invite a friend! Tell a neighbor. It is a great way to get connected.

Family Night's Been Greened!

What a way to celebrate St. Patty's Day! You'll notice a bit o' green in the crowd. But we've also gone green with our use of paper products. We decided in the fall when we kicked off our family meals that we really wanted to be intentional about the "culture" that we were creating. We wanted to model good stewardship by not filling our dumpsters with throw aways. We also wanted our kids to see us serve one another and have them have a hand in it, too. Going through a line and taking care of your own garbage only serves yourself. It does make for a bigger clean up effort, but people are really willing to help so Kudos to the wonderful clean up crew - particularly Liesha Utz, Julie, Rohana, Stacia, Jarod, Nichlaus, Paul, Matia and Kristin Person, Pixleys, Bensons and the Breuers.Plan on joining us for our next one on April 21 at 6:15! It will be a great alternative to TV during Turn off the TV week!