H.A.B.I.T.S.
In a book called "UNchristian" there are some alarming statistics from the Barna Group:85% of 13-29 year-old non-christians know a christian.
15% of those people can see a difference in the way that they live.
When we obey our Creator people notice.
When we disobey our Creator people notice.
This month we are going through a series called Developing H.A.B.I.T.S. Will Change Your Life. We are going to be going through these 6 Habits:
H - Hang Time With God
A - Accountability With Another Believer
B - Bible Memorization
I - Involvement In The Church Body
T - Tithing You Time and Resource
S - Studying Scripture
As we come into this New Year, talk to your children about the ways in which they are living their lives for Christ.
Here are some more ideas:
- Do a bible study with your children.
- Memorize a Bible verse with them.
- Serve in the church along side them.
- Pray with them.
We Are Cross-Culture Missionaries
The Center for Parent & Youth Understanding was born out of one Youth Leader's interest in culture and his church's parents desire to know more about the culture that their children where living in. As we get older, we naturally get farther and farther removed from the culture that teenage adolescents are immersed in. So we need some way of understanding what they are going through. CPYU and Walt Meuller have dedicated years to equipping parents and youth ministers to "Talk With" teenagers and help them develop into the Godly men and women they were created to be.
I am convenced, like Meuller, that as youth ministers and parents, we are called to be Cross-Cultural Missionaries, understanding the world that teenagers live in so that we can use God's Truth to help them along in this world that desires to bring them down.
Check out the CPYU Website for a great resource on Youth Culture or Walt Mueller's latest book that comes highly recommended for parents, "The Space Between Us."
Do Something...for God
This week we had our first night of our November Series, "Do Something". God challenges us all to do something with the lives he has blessed us with. During this month we will learn that God calls his followers to be "Noticers" of everything that He does and act in the same loving way towards our friends, enemies, frenemies, neighbors, classmates, families, and those we've never met.Week 1 - Noticing Needs
Week 2 - Overcoming Numbness
Week 3 - Confronting the Afflicted
Week 4 - Made in God's Image
This month we are challenging students and families to "Do Something" by packing shoeboxes for children in need in other countries through Operation Christmas Child. You can get all information by clicking the image to the right. We will be collecting the shoeboxes on November 22nd. Read More!
Most Extreme Makeover of Our Lives
These days everyone is getting makeovers, from new fashionable wardrobes, to plastic surgery, to botox. I don't think this is what God had in mind when he created us in His image. Do we really think we can be more attractive than God? This makeover that God offers us isn't about our look, it's about our heart. It's about the way that we treat ourselves, the way that we treat others, and the way that we treat God. He wants us to be made over to look more and more like Him on a daily basis. The challenge for us is to completely rely on God to change us, because a fashion consultant can't do it, doctors can't do it, and we can't do it on our own. We need God's help.Here's some questions to start discussion with your teens:
1. Do people at school pick on you for any reason?
2. If they are your enemies what can you do to love them?
3. Who would God say you are? Who is God to you?
Here's some activities you can do with your teens:
1. Let them pick out one outfit for you at a store.
2. Pray with them before they go to school each morning.
3. Have a meal together and talk about the HIs and LOWs of that day. Read More!
God Gives Us a Fresh Start
Since we just started a new school year, and we just moved into a new place, what topic would be more appropriate than God Giving Us a Fresh Start. This is a 4-week series focuses on the basics of our faith like our spiritual identity, salvation, redemption, and forgiveness. Each and every day, God gives us a Fresh Start to follow his lead. The challenge is to allow God to make you a new creation daily so that you may follow him with all of your life. We'll get a chance to make a Fresh Start with each other and with God during this time.Here's some questions you can ask you teen:
1. What new challenges have you faced entering into this new school year?
2. How would you like God to make you new this year?
3. What is something I can pray for you about?
Here's some activities you can do with your teen:
1. Go to the beach and check out God's beautiful, fresh creation.
2. Tell your teen your testimony and how God gave you a fresh start.
3. Give a plant a fresh start in your back yard or neighborhood.
4. Make a commitment to do something together just the two of you.
(ex. homework, exercise, play a sport, cook dinner for the family, etc.) Read More!
Peter Lebhar: Keepaway
Peter Lebhar, a former student of RSM has finally released his much anticipated debut EP "Keepaway". This album is awesome! It's four songs of Peter banging on his drums and singing his heart out. I've probably listened to it like 100 times, and I've only had it a week. Peter is an amazing writer and all his songs point to Christ. To get this album, you can email Peter at peterlebhar@yahoo.com and have him send you a copy or you can get it on iTunes soon. Get this CD! Read More!
