Chipmunk Charity

This ornament was inspired by a story from the Big Book of Character. Here is a little summary and why these acorn ornaments are so special!

There once was a busy Squirrel who was hard at work collecting acorns for the winter. As he was searching he bumped into something. At first he thought it was just a rock, but then he heard the sobs of a chipmunk. All of chipmunks food she had stored was stolen by a racoon and she didn’t know what to do. Squirrel was too worried about himself to help, but he assured her someone would probably help her and scurried off to hide his bounty. As he stuffed acorns into a hole in a tree stump, he worried that the chipmunk might have followed him and spied his secret hiding place. He thought he should secure it with a large rock, but as he was moving it another animal was watching.

Racoon offered his assistance to Squirrel and proceeded to lift up the rock and eat all of the acorns! Poor squirrel watched in dismay and gave up all hope of surviving winter after that. He laid down and closed his eyes as the first snow started to fall. There was a light blanket covering him as who would happen to bump into him, but Chipmunk!

Will she leave him to fend for himself like he did to her? I think you can guess, but if you want to read the whole story, you can download it for just 1 dollar or buy the whole collection of 5 different stories in paperback. Each story features reflection questions and a Bible verse or two that goes with the story. Like Hebrews 13:16 for Chipmunk Charity, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

Kid Made Acorn Ornament

Before I came up with this one, I had the kids try to make an ornament with yarn, glue and balloons. Let’s just say, it didn’t go so well. So, I came up with this one on a whim. Pipe cleaners and wooden beads were the only things left in my craft drawer that went together and I love how the acorn ornaments turned out!

They are so easy and just gorgeous. Definitely a memorable ornament for your Christmas tree.

To prepare for the craft, you’ll need to cut the pipe cleaners. You’ll need one full length pipe cleaner for the acorn cap and one cut about 3/4ths length. The 3/4ths length pipe cleaner will be the one that the kids put beads on. You can also cut some short pieces to decorate the acorn cap if you’d like, but you don’t have to.

You may want to try and make a model ornament first so your children can see an example. Have your kids string the beads onto the 3/4ths length pipe cleaner, leaving room on both ends to attach to the cap.

Form the cap of the acorn ornament by putting both ends together and twisting about 2 inches down for the stem. Then put your thumb and pointer finger in between the folded part of the pipe cleaner and extend your fingers to make an elongated oval shape.

Attach the shorter, beaded pipe cleaner to the acorn cap by twisting the end onto the bottom. You can then add shorter pieces of pipe cleaners to decorate the acorn cap.

Hang the kid made acorn ornament on your tree and remind your children that no matter how little we have, we can always share it.

What to see more kid-made ornaments inspired by books?

Check these out:

Teach Beside Me – Christmas Music Tree

The Life of Jennifer Dawn – Patchwork Ornament

Kitchen Floor Crafts – Polar Bear Ornament

Arty Crafty Kids – Twig Christmas Tree

10 Days of a Kid-Made Christmas Series!

The post Teach About Charity with Kid Made Acorn Ornament first appeared on True Aim.

Then came the moment of offering, and everyone began dutifully stuffing checks and bills into envelopes. Usually, I felt good about tithing – that is what Christians are called to do. But that morning I was in a strange mood. I looked at my envelope and thought, “What the heck am I doing?” I shut the envelope and kept my tithe.

I did the same thing the next week, and the following week. Understand, this was not a crisis of faith. It was the opposite.

My faith was growing, growing faster than it ever had; I felt it was even outgrowing my church. I wanted to do more for the Lord, and ironically, that made me feel like giving less money to my church.

I was a minister’s kid for about half of my youth. My family lived off other people’s tithing. Also, I knew God calls Christians to give, and to give perhaps even more than the traditional 10%.

For most of my life I did. There was no thought involved. A certain percent of my money went to taxes and a certain percent went to my church, and that was that. The money wasn’t missed because I knew beforehand that it was already spoken for.

Then something, no it wasn’t something, it was a series of things, happened. Let me list a few:

1. I volunteered to take over my Church’s children’s ministry. The children and I decided that we would take a weekly collection and sponsor an orphan in Honduras. So, we did.

This was a big no-no. When the head pastor got wind of my plans, the whole thing just about blew up in my face. He was afraid that if people started giving a portion of their tithe ($35 a month) to the orphanage, they might give less to the general fund.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

2. My wife and I have always been big Prolife people in our hearts, our voices, and with our wallets. We use all of our avenues to call an end to the murder of innocence. We even use this blog’s facebook page, knowing it will costs us wave of “unlikes.” That’s okay. Babies are way more valuable than “likes.”

The only thing that we hadn’t offered, was most precious to us – our time. So, we decided to volunteer for 40 Days for Life. Basically, we stood outside Planned Parenthood and prayed that God would soften hearts, and rescue babies.

We don’t live in San Francisco or New York. We live in a conservative state, with a Church on every street corner. So, I just imagined that this vigil was going to be huge. I thought that Christians and churches would rally with us, and we’d have Planned Parenthood’s murder-mills closed in an afternoon.

Yet, when my wife and I, and our 4 young kids showed up, we were alone. And the shift before us, and the one after us, was empty.

We thought people just didn’t know, so we got the word out, but nearly everyone turned us down. They said things like, “This isn’t for me,” and “Churches shouldn’t get involved in politics.” I wanted to bang my head into a wall! Since when were babies’ lives “politics?” And what could be more important for a Church to do than to speak up for, as Jesus would call them, the “least of these?”

These are the Christians who take the time to call me hateful when I speak out against homosexuality, but won’t utter a word in support of ProLife causes because it’s too controversial.

3. Then I found out about Joel Osteen, head of the largest church in America.

He’s a smiley guy, who says nothing, as if it were something profound. And Joel is another one of those Christians who doesn’t like to talk about those “complicated” Biblical issues, like homosexuality and abortion, because those issues are divisive – and they sell less tickets.

He’s a preacher who has raked in 40 million dollars, not preaching the gospel, but smiling and telling people to be their best.

I thought about Joel’s ministry the entire week. It really bothered me, not just because Joel was a hypocrite, or giving Christians a bad name; it bothered me because I knew that I was just like Joel and my church was just like Lakewood Church.

It was easier for us to appear humble, because we didn’t have much money. But that didn’t stop us from dreaming of our own multimillion dollar center. And just like Osteen’s followers, I was giving blindly. I didn’t have a clue where my money was going.

And just like Osteen’s church, my church loved to support feel-good charities and offer feel-good messages.

A few Sundays later, I was sitting in Church examining the beautiful building, the soft pews, the high-tech sound system, you know, the comforts of Church. Suddenly, I wondered if I was tithing to build up God’s kingdom or paying dues to cozy social club.

What would Jesus do? How would He spend the money? How could the church justify a million dollar building when there are orphans living on the streets? 

How could we afford a $100,000 sound system, when there are starving people? How could we fund school drives to show the community we care about its children, but not have a dime to give to those fighting for babies being murdered down the street at Planned Parenthood?

Jesus preached in homes and fields. He did have followers who supported him financially, but that didn’t stop him from living modesty. When the topic of money came up, Jesus told people to give to the sick and the needy.

After much reflection, I found a new church, and new approach to tithing. Here is what I decided:

1. Giving money to a church to fund programs, is more like paying membership dues, similar to those fees we pay to gyms and clubs. That is okay. If I enjoy the services, I should pay. But that doesn’t let me off the hook from meeting the monetary needs of missionaries, widows and orphans, and those who are sick or down on their luck. I still give to the Church, but I also give generously to the truly needy.

2. I will never tithe “in good faith.” I need to know where the money is going, how much the ministers are making, and what percent goes to missions.

3. There is no need to be stingy towards ministers. If they work hard, they can be paid well. However, I will be on guard against ministers who are lazy, or take advantage of Christian generosity to line their own pockets.

If you share any of these feelings about church and tithing, and would like to give directly to those in need, here are some great needs – ones that my own family supports. Please, click on the links. Read the stories, and think about how you could meet one of these needs. Your money could not be better spent.

1. Here is a Christian family who chose not to abort when their son was diagnosed with a rare heart disorder. Now this family is facing a huge medical bill for his open heart surgery. If you have children of your own you can have compassion for their desperate situation. I couldn’t think of a greater need.

2. Honduras is considered the murder capital of the world and the streets are teeming with young orphans. Here is an orphanage in Honduras that is caring for those orphans. This story is amazing! A couple stepped out in faith and sold all they had in the world, and moved to Honduras to make this happen. Now they need other Christians to back their efforts.

3. Here is a Christian organization that fights to free children from sex slavery.

4. Here is a gal whose organization went undercover and busted some of the most notorious abortion clinics in the U.S. She is a hero on the frontlines fighting for babies’ lives, and she deserves our support.

What are your thoughts on tithing?

The post Why I Almost Stopped Tithing to the Church first appeared on True Aim.

In 2006 I volunteered to help gut houses in New Orleans that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina. It was an amazing experience, but what was even more amazing was the gratitude I was shown.

One evening in our make-shift shelter, a small warehouse blasted out with water by the fire department, a very short man walked through our gate. He had a small limp and old face, but the spirit of a young man. He proceeded to rap the best thank you I’ve ever heard!

I wish I could have recorded it, but back then, my cell phone didn’t even have a recorder.

He talked about how the only reason he could smile after loosing his home was us strangers giving our time to help. At first he was really exuberant, but as he rapped through his story the emotion welled up and he couldn’t continue. 

At that moment, I thought about all the people who had pitched in to get me there. My family and friends had helped finance my trip. Some could only give a few dollars, but in that moment their few dollars meant the world to that man. It wasn’t even so much about the work that we did, but the fact that people were willing to help.

That’s why I’m so excited to tell you about Vitamin Angels. Their mission is a lot more beneficial than what I did in Katrina. 

Vitamin Angels helps at-risk populations gain access to life changing vitamins and minerals. In 2014, they are working to reach 40 million children in approximately 45 countries, including the US, with the vital nutrients they need. 

An estimated 190 million children under the age of five suffer from vitamin A deficiency which can lead to weakened immune systems, childhood blindness, and even death.

You can help! Even the smallest gift can change a child’s life. Your 25 cents will bring lifesaving vitamin A, and encouragement, to a child in need.

Just 25 cents reduces mortality in at-risk children by up to 24% by providing one dose of vitamin A, twice a year. This is the least expensive solution to addressing preventable child deaths.

If you’re looking for a gift for someone who has everything, you can donate to Vitamin Angels in honor of that individual. This is a gift that lasts beyond the holidays and creates a legacy of giving. You will receive a shareable card that shows their donation to Vitamin Angels.

Vitamin A Saves Lives, so don’t wait. Show people you care and help Vitamin Angels meet their goal to reach 40 million children. Get involved. Donate now.

The post When Little Things Make a Huge Difference first appeared on True Aim.