Hello and Happy Tuesday!

As I have stated in previous posts, I enjoy keeping up with the youth ministry community, browsing the internet for interesting articles to share with you, games for us to play, and keeping up with things you are interested in.

The latest article I found to be very interesting.  I had heard of the book it mentions, but never pushed myself to learn more about it.  This article is about a book written by 19-year-old twins Alex and Brett Harris.  Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations is a book written by teens for teens, challenging them to push beyond what they consider comfortable.

Alex and Brett Harris are challenging their generation to push beyond the low expectations that society has for teenagers; they want to show that just because you are a teenager it does not mean that you have to be self-absorbed, immature, and incapable of doing anything more than school, playing video games, and texting. They created a blog, The Rebelution, in August of 2005 as a place for them to develop their thoughts. The Bible verse shown on the homepage is 1 Timothy 4:12. “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”   How does that verse speak to you?  Do you think that as a youth group we live out that verse?

Read the article, share your thoughts.  And, in case you are interested, I do have a copy of the book in my office.  If you want to borrow it, let me know.  I’m thinking this might make a great book study, especially for senior high… what do you think?

Peace,

erin

Dear youth,
When you filled out your registration forms this fall, you had the option of receiving the student and/or parent newsletters each week. After much thought, I have decided to post the content here each week. I will send out an e-mail letting parents and/or students know that the information has been posted and to visit the blog. This will help you to see everything that is going on the upcoming week, as well as give you a chance to visit the blog and see what other interesting things have been posted.
The student ‘e-mail’ will be posted each Monday; the parent ‘e-mail’ will be posted each Wednesday. I will put all important information for the week at the beginning of the post, then the content below that will be the newsletter from Youth Specialties. Each week there is a something for your heart (your spiritual life) with questions, links, quotes, and something funny!
So, without further ado… the student newsletter!

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
COULD’VE…WOULD’VE…SHOULD’VE
Guided Meditation
You have so many thoughts and feelings rushing through your mind all at once. On one hand, you can’t wait to experience what’s ahead of you today. What are you about to do? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, isn’t it? You’ve been looking forward to this your entire life, and you can’t believe you’ve been given this opportunity–it’s almost surreal. On the other hand, you’re scared to death because you’ve never attempted anything like this before.

The minutes click by and you’re closer and closer to actually going through with it. You sense a huge knot growing in your stomach. The fear is beginning to overwhelm you. Maybe you should back out. There’s sure to be another opportunity somewhere down the road, right?

But then you consider what all of your friends will think if you back out. Many of them have encouraged you to give this a shot, and you know you’ll be disappointed if you choose not to go through with it. But who’s making this decision, anyway? You are so conflicted you begin to feel sick. What decision are you going to make?

Finally the moment of truth arrives. Your heart is racing. Your hands are shaking. It feels like everyone is looking at you, waiting to see what you’re going to do. So what will it be? Are you going to step up and do it? Or are you going to back away and wait for another opportunity?

Scripture Guides Us
It seems as though fear keeps a lot of people from doing the things they genuinely want to do. What role does fear play in your life? Has there ever been a time when you backed out of something that you wanted to do and then you haven’t yet received another chance to do it? What does the Bible say about fear and how it should affect our lives?

Take a few minutes to “chew on” the following Scripture verses, allowing God’s Spirit to speak to you.

1 JOHN 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

LUKE 12:4-5
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

PSALM 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Questions for Reflection
1. Think of a time in your life when you were afraid to do something, but you went ahead and did it anyway. What happened? How did you feel afterward?
2. Think of a time in your life when fear kept you from doing something. What happened? How did you feel afterward?
3. Have you ever had to live with the regret of not doing something you wished you had done? How did that make you feel? What would you do differently if you had it to do all over again?
4. Name the things you’re most afraid of. Why do you think you’re so afraid of these things? What may help you work through your fears?
5. What do you think the Bible means when it says, “Perfect love drives out fear”? What is perfect love? Why do you think it has this effect on fear?
6. What did Jesus have to say about fear in Luke 12:4-5? How do these verses make you feel?
7. David seems to be walking through some incredibly fear-filled times in Psalm 23. What does he do to help manage his fear? How could this same technique help you?
**
Taken from “Chew on This!” by Dave Ambrose, copyright 2007 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here:
http://www.youthspecialties.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=377

2. SURF REPORT
~ Check out the latest adventures of Bethany Hamilton, teen surfer and shark attack survivor.
http://www.bethanyhamilton.com/
~ Dr. Dare’s recipe for a Sixty-Legged Worm. Yep–60 legs!
http://planetwisdom.com/drdare/0024.php

3. FORGETTABLE FACT
Karaoke means “empty orchestra” in Japanese.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES
“If you can’t feed 100 people then feed just one.”
~ Mother Theresa
“AHHH. Donuts…What can’t they do?”
~ Homer Simpson

5. UH, THAT’S FUNNY?
What kind of cheese doesn’t belong to you?
Nacho Cheese!

So, what did you think?

Peace,
erin

So, this past Wednesday we discussed a few issues that teens face- peer pressure, friends and drugs.  The last post focused on friends, so for this post we will look at drugs and peer pressure.

I was amazed when every youth in the room raised their hand when I asked this question, “How many of you know someone who has done drugs?”.  It just goes to show you that drugs are everywhere, including junior high schools.  We talked some about the type of people that use drugs, and we all agreed that even the well-off youth use drugs.  In fact, it may be easier for them to get the drugs than it is for others that people tend to look at as typical drug users.  That may be a truth, and something that you should think about as you hear your peers talk about drugs.

We also talked about alcohol.  I named it as a drug, and some disagreed at first.  It is addictive, it can be harmful- to you and to others (think about all the drunk driving accidents that hurt innocent people).  Now, here’s a question- how many of you have tried alcohol?  My guess is many more of you have tried alcohol than have tried drugs, but maybe not.  Here’s another question- why is it that alcohol is more socially accepted than drugs?  Isn’t it just as harmful?  Do you agree or disagree and why?

Ephesians 5:15 says “Be careful then about how you live, not as unwise people but as wise…”  Live as wise people, make wise decisions, think about Christ-always.  How easy is that?  Maybe it is easier for you to think about how someone you look up to would handle a situation than to think about what Jesus would do.  Even better, instead of asking yourself the WWJD, ask yourself What Would Jesus Want Me To Do?  I believe that Fr. Alex preached about that in a sermon recently.  It is simpler to think of only yourself, but Jesus wants you to think of him and others.  So, think about that.  In fact, if you find that passage from Ephesians interesting, continue reading on in the fifth chapter as Paul writes about renouncing pagan ways, the evil days, and how to live a Christian life. 

Now, though we could never discuss enough the ways and reasons to stay away from drugs, I want to move on to peer pressure.  I think that the words ‘peer pressure’ lend themselves to images of a bunch of teens surrounding one teen pressuring them to try drugs, or cheat on a test, etc.  I think that peer pressure for today’s teens is much more understated.  Peer pressure today exists on levels that some parents just can’t understand.  Girls, what if you don’t have the right handbag or shoes- do you feel some pressure from some of your friends?  I’m guessing that at least some of you can say yes.  Boys, what if you don’t have the coolest car or mp3 player?  Do your friends make fun of you? 

Think about how peer pressure plays out in your life.  Think about how you maybe pressure others.  Are things coming to mind?  I’m sure that each and every one of you can name sometime you have been pressured and sometime you have pressured others.  Now, realize that peer pressure is something that is just there- but you can make a difference.  A little bit goes a long way!

I will end this post with a prayer that I hope you can use as you think about all of these things… Dear Lord, as I fill my mind with other things, the room for you grows smaller.  Help me to keep you always in my life and think of you as I am faced with hard choices.  Help me to realize the thrill of drugs and alcohol is nothing like the love that you provide.  Give me the wisdom to realize when I have fallen subject to peer pressure and when I am pressuring others.  Watch over me Lord as I live my life and keep you in my heart.  In your name we pray, Amen.

First, let me start this by saying that I am sorry I haven’t posted in awhile.  With the Youth Ministry Conference this past weekend, things just got crazy.  But no worries, I’m gonna make it up to you with two posts over the next few days, so read on…

We had a great talk last night at our teen issues discussion about friends, drugs and peer pressure.  I learned a great deal about you feel as teenagers faced with peer pressure, how drugs fell into each person’s life and how you feel like you can be yourself at youth group- no matter what.

But, let’s narrow that down.  For this post, let’s focus on the friends issue.  I have seen it so much, both in my life and with working with youth- friends can make or break you!  Everyone in attendance last night agreed that they had one friend that they could truly be themselves around, no strings attached. 1 Samuel 20:17 (“Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved him as he loved his own life.”) shows us that Jonathan and David had that kind of friendship and, most importantly shared a desire for God’s will.  How many of you have friends that understand your desire to go to church, youth group, and to follow God’s will?  I hope that you all realize that we have a group that can be there for you, especially in this case!  Most of the group also agreed that they feel very comfortable at youth group.  That was wonderful to hear!  I want you all to remember that you can always be yourself around your peers, you can always come to me about anything, and that you have a great group of people to support you, right here at church!

So, I said friends can make you or break you, what do I mean by break you?  By that I mean that you can sometimes fall into a rut with certain friends, or even have a separation from some friends.  Acts 15:39 says “The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company…”  Has that ever happened to you?  You know- sometimes it is the hardest thing to do to lose a friend because of different problems, and sometimes it is even harder to keep that friend because you know that you care for them.  Even though you care so much for a friend, maybe their actions have hurt you and maybe your actions have hurt them.  It is important to remember the good things about your friendship and try to salvage that. 

Friends also can help you more than you know.  We talked about times when a friend’s opinion outweighs your parents’ opinons.  For example (sorry girls, but it’s a great example), you might value your friends opinion on a prom dress more than your mom’s.  You also might value a friend’s opinion on someone of the opposite sex that you are interested in because they know that person when your parents might not.  Friends are crucial in everyone’s life, but especially during your teenage years.  You need those shoulders to cry on, people to rely on and friends who love you- just as you are.

So, what are your thoughts on this?  Have you thought of people in particular as you have read this posting?  Either people that are your good friends or people that you might have parted ways with for various reasons?  Lift those people up in prayer now, thanking God for placing that person in your life and how they impact your life.  End your prayer with this… “Lord, my friendships help keep me going.  I trust these people with my deepest secrets and fears.  Help me to realize that friendship can be risky, but each person is brought into my life for a reason.  Help push me to the edge of my comfort zone to help me see people as you see them.  In your name we pray…”

Parents- what are your feelings on this?  Do you feel as though your child’s friends are good influences, or sometimes not so good?  Do you trust that your child can see the good in people, even if you can’t?  Also, think about your friends.   How crucial are they in your life, especially in times of distress?  If friends are that important to you, think about how important friends are to your teenagers.  Pray to God to help you keep an open mind when it comes to your child’s friends and that you too can see God’s will in those friends.