I’m saying goodbye to jabberfrog.com.

You’ll find me www.ginamcclain.com from now on. Click over and update your RSS feed. See you on the other side.

She’s 7!  How did that happen?

Untitled from Gina McClain on Vimeo.

We’ll never be the same.

Happy Birthday, sweetie.  We love you.

My daughter is a lip-kisser.

My son is not.  You can kiss him on the cheek.  He’ll kiss you on the cheek.  No more… no less.

But if you’re going to get a kiss from my daughter, it’s going to be square on the lips.  As I tucked her into bed the other night I gave her the normal hug and kiss.

And she gave me more.

I could tell from the get-go this kiss was different.  She came at me with the lips primed and ready.  Planted those wet ones square on mine and even gave it a head swagger.

You know the kind I’m talking about.  The “I’ve-seen-daddy-do-this” prolonged smackeroo.

Oh-My-Word

Let me be clear for all those wondering… it was lips only.  No additional props used.  At the same time, let me reiterate…

Oh-My-Word

Any parenting experts out there have sage advice for this mother-daughter conversation?!?

This post is dedicated to my friend, Matt!

Happy 31st Birthday, Matt!

You’re a great friend and am grateful for what God did 31 years ago.

This post from Henry Zonio made me think.  And I’m hoping to learn as he unpacks this.

This post from Dan Scott gave me hope… that we’re all trying to figure out the same stuff.

This post from Anthony Prince made me evaluate… can your Children’s Pastor take a Sunday off?

This post from Sam Luce was just a little controversial… and I hope more join the conversation.

This post from Jonathan Cliff made me laugh.  Wish I were that creative.

Why do you blog?  Link your faves here.  Or (better yet) blog some of your faves this week.

Dan Scott started a great conversation here about phrases to quit using in kids ministry.  Kenny Conley comments in that conversation about the process we go through as Christ followers.  Here is what Kenny writes.

…I’ve become a lot more comfortable with the idea that becoming a Christ Follower for many people isn’t an alter call experience, but a process. I’ve talked to too many people who can’t tell you when they became a Christ Follower because it was more of a process for them... I’ve had parents get frustrated when their kids “asked Jesus in their heart” and they’d already done it before… Could it be that this is a process? Kids may have made a heart decision, but their mind still hasn’t caught up (they don’t completely comprehend)…

I’ve talked to many parents with teens that have ‘grown up’ in church.  They stand before me confused because their daughter made a mistake and is now pregnant.  Mom/dad look at me and say,

“She accepted Jesus when she was 6, she never missed a Sunday, we volunteered every Wednesday night… now my 16 yr old is pregnant.  What happened?”

Are we offering a checklist?  Are we giving them hoops to jump through?

Don’t miss church.

Bring your kids to our events.

Do this bible study.

Pray this prayer.

We forget sometimes that mom/dad want to do this thing right.  If we throw a perceived ‘recipe for success’ out there, are we inviting parents to assume that following the recipe will produce the perfect child? Or at least a child with no MAJOR issues like teen pregnancy, social drinking, or addiction to 80’s hair band music.

I question our approach often.  I work to explain to mom/dad that choosing Christ is a series of discoveries and decisions.  It begins with discovering what He did for us and why.  Then continues with decisions… the everyday, ordinary decision of choosing what He says is best verses what we think is best.

Is anyone else (parent or Children’s pastor) wrestling this down?

Virtual vs. Leatherbound

There are more and more options available to explore God’s Word in digital form.  The one I use the most is YouVersion.com.  I love it b/c of the community involvement.  It broadens my perspective to hear how God’s Word impacts others.

Online bibles are not the only way to explore His Word in the context of community.  Obviously.  We’ve been doing it for years without the internet.  It’s just a new way.

What are your thoughts?  Do you use a website or online software to explore God’s Word?  Do you stick with the tried-and-true leatherbound edition?  Or is it a combination of both?

Tonight I spoke with a group of parents participating in our Child Dedication experience.  This is how I feel after I speak to a crowd.  I’m highly critical of myself and typically battle insecurity in the aftermath.

I’ve learned to pray for the things God was in to ’stick’ and the things God was not in to fall away and be forgotten.  (like my cracks about Oprah parenting tips!)

Please pray for our families.  Pray that God would inspire His vision for His glory.

Thank you, friends, for all your prayer, comments and support.

i just did my first funeral on monday.  the child was only 7 years old.

crafting the sermon was challenging.  although there were dozens of amusing stories about this lively little girl, it was difficult transitioning from stories about the fun little girl so many people enjoyed to answering the deafening question, “why?”

here is what i shared…

When a child dies, we all struggle with the purpose and will of God.  How could God allow Sierra to live only 7 years?  The truth is… He didn’t.  God did not create Sierra for only 7 years on earth, but for an eternity in His Kingdom.  God created each of us for eternity in His Kingdom.  Our time on earth is brief.  The question is, how will you choose to live out your time on earth… and where will you choose to live eternity?

i wish i could claim that, but i can’t.  i read it somewhere.

it’s the only explanation you can give to parents stumbling through such a dark season.

my attention changes today.  now it’s a question of what kind of anchors can we put in place to ensure this family is not forgotten.  their journey to healing has just started.  who will be around when the wound is reopened during the Christmas season?  who will call on her birthday to let them know she is not forgotten?  who will surround them when they’re reminded of their loss?

death has a way of defining things in our lives.  seperating the things that matter from the things that don’t.  we’re not created for the limited years we spend on earth.  we’re created for eternity with our Father in Heaven.