Tim Harlow

VBS

It’s been such a great week of VBS. We averaged 635 kids. I want to share with you some stories and some pictures; because these are the heart of what this week is about. But it is a church wide revival when we all get together and do this. Thank you to all of you who volunteered and gave and made sure these kids know that “God is with them.”

This was in my reading this week – I thought it appropriate...

Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord: “The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.” So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the Lord. Psalm 102:18-22

As we have assembled to worship the Lord, we have done for the future generations and even “the people not yet created.” That’s so cool for me to think about, because this was my 19th VBS at this church. There are kids here that have grown up with VBS and are now working as leaders in this VBS that weren’t even “created” yet when we first started doing it. Who is yet to come?

Tim

Orland Park Campus - VBS

Lockport Campus - VBS  

Lisa Dorman:

I kept thinking tonight as I watched the 500 plus kids rock out in the worship center that Parkview sure does know how to do VBS. It is really amazing to see how many kids get a chance to learn about God. All of the volunteers really put their heart and souls into reaching our kids. This was also true in the nursery thru twos this week. On Sunday night, we had only 5 little ones in the nursery. Of the five, only three were old enough to take part in story time due to their age. However, when we started telling the story only one child was interested in listening. Little Bethany Allen sat at the table listening to Jennifer teach her about how powerful Our God is. The truly amazing and wonderful part of Parkview is that our volunteers don't mind if it is one child or 500, they put their heart and soul in teaching children about God's powerful Love for them. That is why I think Parkview VBS ROCKS!!!

Tony Killelea:

The always awesome and regular story of the kids singing the songs in the parking lot is cool, but I was dropping my kids off at Summer Camp and some of the VBS kids noticed who I (Mr. Tony) was and they pointed at us and started doing VBS songs right there at the CAMP!

Also, I had two different mom volunteers this week of teenage boys mention how seeing Josh Altman and I having so much fun worshipping God made church seem "cooler" than they thought and actually thought about getting involved too!

Mike Rhodes:

As I reflected last night on what made this week so special, everything fell neatly into 3 buckets of clarity:

First; it hit me that it was multiple God challenges that brought “Skeeter” to life for this week. The first God challenge happens every few weeks at Parkview when young parents bring their special newborn up on stage and “we” commit to helping raise them in Christ-like love, supporting their walk with Him within this church family. I am reminded of that when a call goes out for VBS volunteers to help nurture 6, 7 and 8 year olds – reminded that 6, 7 and 8 years ago I sat in our worship center and nodded to God that I would “be there for them and for Him.” The second God challenge was laid out from the pulpit here years ago when we committed to “try something outside our comfort zone and see what God can do with it”. What a blessing that challenge has been in my life – and I hope in the little lives of those I am entrusted to impact. Having never “acted” a day in my life, God has morphed me from a nervous note reader into a comfortable clown – and has used that “iconic status” to allow me to connect with kids at their level (which Nancy claims is not that much of a stretch) and lay out some “serious love and teaching moments” in between the chuckles. I am grateful that my ears and heart were open when these challenges were presented to me as the joy that has filled up inside me from working with His children is immeasurable!!

Second: As you know, commitment, sacrifice, and hard work always precedes success, and a successful VBS is no exception to this rule. From planning to preparation to production to clean up, countless hours are spent by hundreds of people committed to their role in the success story. For volunteers, time was sacrificed from paying jobs and family time. Staffers worked unpaid overtime and sacrificed family time as well. But here is what really hit me; for many their commitment, sacrifice, and hard work went virtually unnoticed and unrecognized and for some the reward of confirmation was in their face (like “Skeeter,” who because of his “high-profile role” was rewarded with nonstop high-five’s and hugs)… and that saddens me! So many amazing people worked so hard – behind the scenes; building sets, coordinating schedules, communicating, arranging travel and housing, shopping, slicing and dicing, writing scripts, bathroom escorting, cleaning up, mic’ing up, shooting video, piping music, getting props, preparing and cleaning up thousands of meals, checking in – checking out, keeping it all safe, dancing, singing, healing, steering traffic, playing games, cutting, pasting, snapping pictures, leading and following, listening and witnessing… an entire village to raise a child. I give all Skeeter’s high-five’s and hugs to the 500 heroes who made this week such a success!!!

Third: I love the whole “small group” bonding that takes place. And such an easy way to “plug in”; builders got to know builders, dancers got to know dancers, actors got to know actors, leaders got to know leaders, etc… and most importantly, followers (of Christ) got to know followers.

Random closing thought: the good news is that for those that missed out on the rewarding VBS experience … they can jump in any given weekend in Kidz connection – where every weekend is VBS!!!

In the Last Days... our Sons and Daughters

I don’t know if these are the last days.  I’m not making any predictions; try to keep your retirement plan afloatJ.  But I do know that Jesus told us to always be ready.  We are to watch, and pray.

There are, of course, many signs that the Bible would point out which could help you make a case for us nearing the end.  But then again, there always has been.  I’m really not interested in trying to make a case.  Just be ready.  That’s all you need to know.

But one of the things that the Bible says will happen is in the book of Joel and Acts,

 “‘In the last days, God says,I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions,your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17

So I’ll be the old man and dream a dream here.  It’s about the first part of this prophecy.  I do see God’s Spirit being poured out.  But it’s the other part I want to get to today, the part about our “sons and daughters.”  They will prophecy and see visions.  They will lead out in the movement of the Kingdom of God.

As we begin VBS this week, I want to remind you of the importance of the next generation.  As I will say in my sermon this weekend, I’m seeing a lot of Acts 2 stuff going on with our young people.  God is calling them and they are responding in some crazy supernatural ways.  We have a missions group coming back from the Czech Republic this weekend and God has enabled THEM to do ministry in remarkable ways.  I heard our Junior high “No Sweat” trip was the best ever and God was at work.  I know that over 100 kids from PCC went to the Christ in Youth Conference again this year and God’s spirit was poured out like never before.

And now we start into VBS for kids this week and Junior High next week.  I just really think it’s hitting me how important all this stuff is!  I did Youth Ministry before we came to this church, you know I love kids, but I think for a lot of us – youth and children’s ministry has been about us imparting spiritual knowledge to our kids so they will grow up and know and serve Jesus.

How about if we raise that a little bit?  What if all these things we do for kids is only a way to help God take them into leadership that far SURPASSES us, and anything we ever knew in the first place?  What if our “sons and daughters” raise up a generation of believers that help to usher in the second coming of Christ?  What if they are the one’s who take the gospel to the whole world?

I honestly think they are. 

That’s not to take away from our responsibility with our generation.  Jesus is coming soon and we all need to tell the world to get ready.

 I just think student and children’s ministry it takes on so much more importance when you look at it that way.  We’re not just helping kids learn about Jesus this week.  We are allowing God to give them visions and dreams, we’re going to watch as God’s Spirit is poured out on them in ways we may never understand.

How cool is that?

Watch and pray.

Tim

 

 

Shouldn’t They Know?

I was reading in Matthew 9 about one of Jesus' miracles.

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.  Matthew 9:29-31

Don’t you think that if you were blind and then some guy healed you – the one thing you’ve been waiting for so long – and then he warned you “sternly” not to tell anyone, that you would honor that request? I mean, I think I’d be worried that I’d go back to being blind if I didn’t do what he said, right? But they couldn’t help it! They went out and told everyone and the news spread all around the region. 

How do you not tell people? 

It’s funny to me, because in the next passage it says,

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 9:35-38

I don’t know why Jesus told the blind guys not to tell anyone, but he clearly DOES want us to tell people.  

So what has Jesus healed you from, and does anybody know about it? 

Pray for our young people. A bunch of our high school students and sponsors leave for the Czech Republic today. They are going to teach English at a camp to fellow teenagers who don’t know Jesus. The Czech Republic is very much a non-Christian nation with around 45% of Czechs professing to be atheists. Every time our young people go, there are many Czech students who find Christ. Pray for them.

And our junior high students left Sunday for Milligan, Tennessee to participate in “Know Sweat” a program of Christ in Youth. They have been involved in service projects for the community.

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send them into his harvest field. And don’t forget to ask him what he wants you to do, too!  It’s kind of dumb to pray about it if you already know:) 

Blessings,

Tim  

Special Spirit at Parkview

Bob Russell had such nice things to say about preaching here.  He said, “There is a special spirit at Parkview – it’s not found in most places…” and he’s right. 

At the Father’s Day car show we had one of the wives of a car owner come in to use the bathroom and she went back out and told her husband,  “You need to come in here, I felt something when I walked in.” That’s the Holy Spirit folks! Jesus promised that when he left it would be good for us, because we would get the Spirit. We are so fortunate to be a part of this. 

Here is a link to a blog I did yesterday for Catalyst.  It’s an organization and a great conference that is helping to shape the next generation of leadership for “the church.” 

I thought it was worth passing on to you guys. You can see my heart and the things we are working on in the future.  There is a lot of great stuff on this blog and it’s a great organization to follow if you are interested in the future of the church.  

Tim

Legacy

We celebrated my parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary this weekend over in Ft. Wayne with a reception at their church on Sunday afternoon.  We’re not from there, but they’ve lived there the past 19 years, and it was great to see the room full of their friends who love them and my aunts and uncles who I don’t get to see often (married 67 and 58 years also).

It’s an incredible legacy that has been passed down to my family and me.  We put on a little program for them and had a great celebration. 

I am so fortunate to have the heritage that I have been blessed with. 

I read this scripture at the service.  I think it says it all…

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.  Psalm145:3-7  

What if you didn’t have this legacy? START ONE. It has to start somewhere. Has God been good to you?  Are his works awesome? Is he great and worthy of praise? Then tell your kids about it.Share with them. Your family’s spiritual development is NOT our responsibility; it’s yours. It’s never too late.

Here are the lyrics to a song Rachel wrote for the occasion.  

Legacy

“He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands…”  (Deut 7:9)

One word, you spoke it
And built your life upon it
Did you know, as you said it
How many would see that you meant it
It echoes into the generations to come
 
One word, you sang it
Against all the odds, you became it
And when life was unexpected
In the Father’s arms it was protected
It echoes into the generations to come
 
And you’ll never know
How your legacy grows
How the love that you chose to show each day
Reflected the Father’s face
 
One home built on Jesus
Showing all of the world that He frees us
Letting harsh words and mistakes
Be forgiven and covered in grace
Washing over a thousand generations
 
And the moments, all collected
Speak of one life with Him resurrected
And you proved him every day
As you served and you gave it away
God blessing a thousand generations
through you
 
And you’ll never know
How your legacy grows
How the love that you chose to show each day
Reflected the Father’s face
 
Time that you gave to show love in His name
Board games and Belle dresses stitched up by hand
Every song that we sang, every cobbler you made
Hearing those stories again
How faithful our Father has been

And I learned to love my neighbor
And I learned to pray
And that is the legacy time cannot erase
So thank you
I sure do love you, too

Tim  

P.S. I heard Casey did a great job this weekend.  We have an amazing team here.  Don’t miss Bob Russell this weekend, he’s the best there is.