Blake Bouldin

to blog or not to blog

Hey, this is not blake, but his wife, otherwise known as the "blog hater." I do read blake's blog at times b/c he loves feedback.  But, even when he doesn't ask for it, i sometimes feel the need to affirm what he says.  it's not the blog i hate, but the fact that it is yet another way to consume one's time and energy.  it's like anything else that is supposed to be good and enjoyable.  when used in moderation, and with good intention, it can certainly be a good thing.  however, when it becomes a burden, an obligation, a time waster, a means of manipulating - that's when i get mad.   i've been subject to it - reading a blog from someone in texas that i don't know from adam, looking at pictures of her family and then proceeding to her favorite blog, etc. etc. only to realize i have wasted half of my morning on the computer.  i went as far as to send myself an email reminder to "stop wasting time" and make every minute count.

Speaking of making things count, have you heard the song "say" by john mayer?  that is really all that i wanted to say to blake in this guest blog attempt.  sometimes we spend a lot of time saying things that we feel others want to hear, or maybe we hold back for whatever reason.  john mayer has a way of writing simple lyrics that have profound meaning.  check it out, and blake, blog on baby.  i know you love to speak your mind :)  just set your timer...

The Journey Part 2 : Are we there yet?

Yesterday we talked about “The journey”, WCC’s new family ministry….launching this weekend. We are pretty excited about it because a journey is always an adventure….at least with my family in the mix. The adventure starts before we even leave the house…it ‘s usually in the form of scrambling children dragging their suitcases down the stairs, dropping various things along the way and yelling for “dibs” on whichever seat in the car is most desirable at the time. The adventure continues as we try to fit everything in the car and still have room for the people. It almost never works. But my favorite part is perhaps an hour down the road when from the back seat we hear the dreaded words…”are we there yet?” They are the most dreaded because we know that they are the first of what will be many of the exact same question repeated over and over until we actually arrive at our destination.

So, how do we answer that question as we set out on “The Journey” this weekend ….how will we know when we get there? How will we know when we have arrived? I’ll tell you what I tell my kids…..just keep watching for signs along the way…and you’ll know. Here are some signs we want you to be watching for as we launch out this weekend. Along the way, be looking for kids who want to know more about God. They will be asking questions like “will my dog go to heaven?” and “can you pray for my hamster?”  You may see classes starting to get larger and preschoolers needing a little extra TLC as they get dropped off for the first time. Kids of all ages and with all kinds of special needs may appear along the way….needing an extra touch or a listening ear, or just someone to tell them how they are wonderfully made. When you see these signs along the way….be warned you are getting close…very close. So, upon your arrival…you won’t want to stay in the car…or go quietly off to your hotel room….you’ll want to burst out of your car and run out on the beach and plunge into the water. Are we there yet? Come on in the water‘s warm!

Guest Blogger

One of the best things that has happened at WCC in a long time is the hiring of two women, Mary Padgett and Marty Montague.  Not only are these two women knowledgeable about how to create a "family" ministry that will enhance the opportunity for families to grow together spiritually, they are also just fun to work with. 

This Sunday, Mary and Marty will launch our elementary age K-5 ministry.  A ton of work has gone into this venture in a very short amount of time. I can assure you though that they are ready to reach our kids with a dynamic new approach.  I have asked Mary to be a guest blogger the next two days to give us an idea of what to expect.  Mary the floor is yours...or should I say the blog is yours?  I am so excited about what God is doing!  Thanks to you and Marty for being the catalyst.

The Journey Part 1:Packing and Preparation

As you know we are launching “The Journey” this weekend as we begin our ministry to elementary children K-5^th grade. I like the name because it really is a journey for all of us as we dream about what God can do in the lives of the kids at WCC. If your family is like mine, we have taken many journeys together, some good and some not so good.  In our house the journey begins with lots of preparation. The excitement of where you are going and what you are looking forward to makes all the packing, arrangements, and many details worth the wait. I believe that we are in the preparation stage right now for what “the journey” will become. We are preparing our small group leaders, our worship leaders and our storytellers to help the Bible come alive for children. We are preparing for kids to understand perhaps for the first time, what worship is all about, or how to pray and listen to God on a daily basis, or what it means to bring an offering to meet the needs of children on the other side of the world. We are also preparing for them to respond to God in whatever way they want….maybe they’ll take big steps like asking Jesus into their life or obeying Him through baptism. Or maybe they’ll take baby steps by obeying their parents more or reading scripture on their own or inviting a friend to church….whatever that step is for them is the beginning of their journey. Won’t you join “the journey” team as we prepare for a great adventure at WCC? Pick up an information packet this week, fill it out, and let’s get started!

Stay tuned for “The Journey” part 2  Are we there Yet?