Winter Retreat

Hey all- I announced this morning that a $30 deposit is due for winter retreat in two weeks, January 11th. This is to help us know how big of a cabin we need to reserve. Here's what's going on right now: We have a cabin reserved that will sleep approximately 35 at the absolute max. This is the cabin that we have stayed in for the past several years (except 2006). Here's the rub: there are 45 students signed up to go on the winter retreat. If this many go, we will be well over 50 attendees and we will need to rent a larger cabin. There are several still available for a group that size, but we need to know for sure soon. Since we only have a cabin that will sleep 35, as of now I can only guarantee the spots of 29 students (we're taking 6 adult chaperones). We want all 45 students who are signed up to go on our trip, but in order for that to happen we need deposits to start rolling in. A larger cabin cannot be reserved until we know for sure that more students are going so we can keep the cost down for everyone.

So, please make your $30 non-refundable deposit as soon as possible. Full payment is due by the time of the trip, so the deposit is intended to help everyone make payments in a timely and affordable manner. Please contact Dustin at the church office if money is an issue. We are able to provide scholarships for students every year who want to go but cannot because of finances. We want everyone who wants to go on this trip to go, so please contact the church office if there's anything we can do to help.

Teens 'under pressure to have sex'

Teenagers feel under increased pressure to have sex during the festive period, a survey has found.

A poll of more than 1,000 13 to 17-year-olds found more than a third (34%) were more likely to have sex over Christmas, while more than two-thirds (68%) were more likely to drink alcohol.

A quarter (25%) said they felt under increased pressure to have sex at this time of year.

Despite the statistics, two thirds of parents still believe sex is something that other people's children have.

The survey was commissioned as part of the Time to Talk campaign, which encourages parents to talk to their children about such issues.

Continue reading here...

Don't soft-peddle Christianity!

What follows is from David Wells, a professor at a seminary in Massachusetts. He has written a Quadrilogy of books on evangelicalism and postmodernism in the Unites States over the past two decades, and his latest release, The Courage To Be Protestant, is his attempt to synthesize his previous 4 books into one accessible volume. The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding recently interviewed him, and the following question and answer struck me and I wanted to share it with you, as this is, I hope, what we are doing here at the Hill with our student ministry:

CPYU: If you were to address a room full of youth workers and you had the opportunity to communicate one message to them, what one message would you communicate?

DW: It is time to get brave. Let's stop the pandering. Kids see right through it. Let's give them the real thing. They are looking for it. No one has demanded anything of them; let us tell them that if they come to Christ, he bids them die. No one has told them that they can know truth as something other than their own private perspectives; let us tell them there is Truth and those who know it, lose their lives. No one has told them that there is a different way of life. What many churches have done has been to run after the kids fearing that they will be lost irretrievably to MTV, rock, sex, and drugs. So, better to give them small, undemanding doses of Christianity that won't interfere too much with their lives and which they will be willing to accept, than none at all, we think to ourselves. Wrong! If we tell them that they can have Christ on their own terms, we are selling them down the river. They instinctively know that. So, let us not make fools of ourselves anymore.

from Dustin- If you see area of the student ministry where we are soft-peddling the Christian faith or what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, please let us know. We don't want to be that kind of student ministry. Thanks!

State laws fail to curb teens' indoor tanning

ATLANTA (AP) — State laws meant to keep teens out of indoor tanning booths haven't made a dent, a new study has found, disappointing doctors hoping to reduce deadly skin cancers.

The researchers say it's not clear why the laws failed, but pointed to lax enforcement as a factor.

The study is the first to look at the laws' impact. Some medical experts were disturbed by the findings, saying more needs to be done about the health threat from indoor tanning parlors.

"Basically, these are businesses that are exposing teenagers to carcinogens," said Dr. Jeffrey Sosman, a melanoma researcher at Vanderbilt University, who was not involved in the new study. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and has been linked to childhood sunburns.

Continue reading here...

The Eschatology of Parenting

Yesterday I helped a toddler clean up a 44 ounce cup of Coke Zero he’d spilled everywhere (yes, it was mine; and no, there were not 44 ounces left remaining in it when he found it). I answered forty questions about whether Jesus made Lego blocks (so stay tuned for my new sermon series on “The Logos and the Legos”). And I disciplined a tantrum thrower and a sulker.

All of that was about the end times.

When we think of Christian eschatology, we tend to think first of prophecy charts or apocalyptic novels, but nothing is more eschatological than parenting.

Continue reading here...

Looking for a 'Serious' Conversation

This is an editorial from Christianity Today refuting the Newsweek cover story on marriage, homosexuality, and the Bible.

The Newsweek cover story on "The Religious Case for Marriage" has understandably raised the ire of religious conservatives. As many have pointed out (as did Mollie Hemingway, our new columnist, on the GetReligion website yesterday and today), the so-called case is not much of a case, and at many points, seriously misrepresents the views of those it argues against.

Continue reading here...

Love Your Prodigal Children

Here's some fantastic advice from Abraham Piper, son of pastor and theologian John Piper, on loving your prodigal children and showing them Jesus Christ.

When I was 19, I decided I’d be honest and stop saying I was a Christian. At first I pretended that my reasoning was high-minded and philosophical. But really I just wanted to drink gallons of cheap sangria and sleep around. Four years of this and I was strung out, stupefied and generally pretty low. Especially when I was sober or alone.

My parents—strong believers who raised their kids as well as any parents I’ve ever seen—were brokenhearted and baffled. I’m sure they wondered why the child they tried to raise right was such a ridiculous screw-up now. But God was in control.

One morning, before 8 o’clock, I went to the library to check my e-mail. I had a message from a girl I’d met a few weeks before. Her e-mail mentioned a verse in Romans. I went down to the Circle K and bought a 40-ounce can of Miller High Life. Then I went back to where I was staying, rolled a few cigarettes, cracked open my drink and started reading Romans. I wanted to read the verse from the e-mail, but I couldn’t remember what it was, so I started at the beginning of the book. By the time I got to chapter 10, the beer was gone, the ashtray needed emptying and I was a Christian.

Continue reading here...

This post is a must-read for Parents, especially Fathers

Having Very Little Can Mean Having It Very Good

At a young age, both Sidney Poitier and I learned the value of poverty. Although we came to that understanding in a different time, from a different race, a different generation, and on different corners of the planet, we both had families that left a legacy of the significant value of commitment, discipline, and character rather than mere pleasure. He and I both understood as small children before either of us could tell you why, that as Poitier put it “by having very little, I had it very good.”

He learned directly by experiencing that poverty as a young child. I, a generation younger, learned indirectly through the legacy of my parents who made sure that even though I was raised in a fairly cushy, white, middle-class environment the lessons they learned in harder economic times were not lost on me.

But Poitier, far more accomplished than I, says it in a way that touched my soul. It bears repeating. So here is a taste of what Poitier has to say about building character in an affluent, pleasure-seeking society, which I hope will whet your appetite enough to find the book and read it in full.

In talking about his own parents, Poitier writes:
"Reggie Poitier (Sydney Poitier’s father) knew what his legacy would be. He knew and believed in the importance of his role as a father, and he knew that it extended well beyond his capacity as a breadwinner. He believed in the responsibility and the dignity of his task as a bearer of standards and as an enforcer of standards and he wouldn’t let his relative position in the economic hierarchy of a crazy tourist economy in any way belittle that role. . . The fact is you can’t do that kind of parenting if your values aren’t clear to you in terms of your own life. You can’t be passing on to your kids a strong foundation if you don’t have one yourself, because whatever foundation you do or don’t have –that’s what you’re going to pass on. And when we pass on something that doesn’t serve our children, we have to be responsible for that."

Continue reading here...

Internet Addiction

Just ask any teen - and many will say they can’t live without the Internet.

“I’d say out of any given week it probably takes up more than half of my time,” says Adam Schindler, a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

“It’s a big part of my life,” says 21-year-old Chris Skinner. “And even when we have problems at home, with an internet connection. It’s like the whole world has crumbled, sadly enough.”

Internet addiction. It’s become so common the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto has started a new treatment program for teens.

Experts say signs that your child might be in trouble include isolation, giving up activities he or she used to enjoy and irritability.

”You come in and you are just asking what do you want for dinner, and you get snapped at because you have interrupted their virtual world,” explains psychotherapist Eddie Reece, M.S., L.P.C.

So what should parents do if their child is substituting a virtual world for the real one?

Continue reading here...

1 In 5 Young Adults Has Mental Problem

(AP) Almost one in five young American adults has a personality disorder that interferes with everyday life, and even more abuse alcohol or drugs, researchers reported Monday in the most extensive study of its kind.

The disorders include problems such as obsessive or compulsive tendencies and anti-social behavior that can sometimes lead to violence.

The study also found that fewer than 25 percent of college-aged Americans with mental problems get treatment.

One expert said personality disorders may be overdiagnosed. But others said the results were not surprising since previous, less rigorous evidence has suggested mental problems are common on college campuses and elsewhere.

Continue reading here...

The Anti-Energy Drink

First came Red Bull and Monster Energy, giving a high-octane boost to late-night parties and study sessions.

Now the anti-energy drinks have arrived, carbonated beverages that promise to help you "slow your roll" or "lean with it."

But with their hip-hop-inspired advertising campaigns, Drank and Purple Stuff are generating a buzz that is anything but chill.

"I am very concerned about the marketing," said Ronald Peters, a University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health professor. Peters has researched the phenomenon of mixing codeine syrup with soft drinks or alcohol, a concoction that is believed to have factored in the deaths of three local rap stars.

"Sippin' syrup" is believed to have originated in Houston and it remains a common topic for Southern rappers. "Drank," "purple stuff" and "lean" are street terms for the illicit mixture.

Continue reading here...

Robert Gagnon

Robert Gagnon is one of the leading evangelical scholars on the issue of homosexuality and the bible. He is a New Testament professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. The link below will take you to his detailed response to Lisa Miller's (of Newsweek) article on the bible and homosexuality.

Living in a culture which celebrates many things which the Bible condemns and condemns many things which the Bible celebrates, we have an obligation to engage in thoughtful and critical thinking about contemporary issues. For too long the conservative Christian response has been a weird mixture of misinformation, cultural naivety, and fundamentalist hatespeech. Many have based their thinking and position on homosexuality more on a "God and Guns" American ideology than on Christian theology. The critics have aimed their rifles and are firing at will- we cannot afford to retreat to the bunker and fearfully pray for Jesus to come back by noon tomorrow.

Here is the link to Robert Gagnon's lengthy detailed response. It is well worth your time!

It's About Theology, Not Territory

Christian leaders formerly associated with the Episcopal Church have announced the creation of a new denomination -- the Anglican Church in North America. The announcement came Wednesday as conservative Anglican leaders met in Wheaton, Illinois to plan for a future province of the Anglican Communion -- in this case a province determined by theological conviction, not geographical designation.

As The New York Times reported:

Conservatives alienated from the Episcopal Church announced on Wednesday that they were founding their own rival denomination, the biggest challenge yet to the authority of the Episcopal Church since it ordained an openly gay bishop five years ago.

The move threatens the fragile unity of the Anglican Communion, the world’s third-largest Christian body, made up of 38 provinces around the world that trace their roots to the Church of England and its spiritual leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Continue reading here...

Turning the Bible on its Head -- Newsweek Goes for Gay Marriage

Newsweek magazine, one of the most influential news magazines in America, has decided to come out for same-sex marriage in a big way, and to do so by means of a biblical and theological argument. In its cover story for this week, "The Religious Case for Gay Marriage," Newsweek religion editor Lisa Miller offers a revisionist argument for the acceptance of same-sex marriage. It is fair to say that Newsweek has gone for broke on this question.

Miller begins with a lengthy dismissal of the Bible's relevance to the question of marriage in the first place. "Let's try for a minute to take the religious conservatives at their word and define marriage as the Bible does," Miller suggests. If so, she argues that readers will find a confusion of polygamy, strange marital practices, and worse.

Continue reading here...

Media Saturation

A new report indicates that the average child in America now spends 45 hours a week immersed in the media -- a multiple of the hours spent with parents or in the classroom.

Commonsense Media, a group that advocates for better programming in the media, commissioned and released the report. Researchers looked at 173 studies done on media and its effects on children and adolescents. The results are sobering. Taken together, these reports strongly suggest that significant exposure to the media is related, among other concerns, to behaviors such as smoking and early sexual activity, as well as low academic achievement and obesity.

As USA Today reports:

Parents and policymakers need to take action to protect children from being harmed by TV, the Internet and other types of media, a report says.

Researchers have done individual studies for years to learn how media affect children. A review released today, which analyzed 173 of the strongest papers over 28 years, finds that 80% agree that heavy media exposure increases the risk of harm, including obesity, smoking, sex, drug and alcohol use, attention problems and poor grades.

Continue reading here...

2009 Winter Trip Details

I handed out half sheets of information for this year's Winter Retreat at last night's Collision service, but some of those papers didn't make it out of the room, and I'm sure many others didn't make it into your hands.

When? February 13-16, President's Day weekend

Where? Sevierville, TN, in a big chalet

Why? Why not?

How much? $100, tentatively. This price will drop to $90 if 30+ students sign up and $80 for 35+. This price includes dinner on Saturday and Sunday, breakfast on Saturday-Monday, snacks, a custom-designed tshirt, and bible study workbook. It does not include lunch while traveling to and from the chalet nor lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Do I need to sign up? (referring to the students) Yes!!! We need to know how many are going relatively early so we can plan food and purchase the correct number of tshirts. To guarantee a spot and tshirt you need to sign up by Sunday, January 25. Final sign up deadline is Sunday, February 1. Balance must also be paid in full by Sunday, February 1. Signup sheet is in the Crash Room (youth room). Many students (about 20) have already signed up, and Dustin will call all the parents of students who have signed up to confirm their attendance in early January.

Can I pay early? Yes. If you would like to pay over a few month period, you are welcome to do so. The following payment plan may be helpful for you:
12/14 - $30
1/11 - $30
2/1 - $40 (or remaining balance)

Can I pay late? No. Whether you follow the payment schedule or pay all at once, your balance must be paid in full by Sunday, February 1.

If you have any questions please contact the church office at 937-746-4248, Dustin on his cell at 513-464-2325, or Dustin via email- dustin@hillcrestbaptistchurch.org.

Video games top gift lists; retail sales rise

Despite tough economic times, families are still out there shopping, and video games are at the top of a lot of lists.

Experts expect overall retail sales to grow a modest 2.2% over last year, but sales of video games could improve as much as 15% over 2007, says analyst Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities. "With the hours of play that video games give you, it's a very cost-effective purchase," he says.

This past weekend and recent trends are giving gaming retailers reason to be optimistic. The Game Crazy retail chain, with 562 stores in the USA, had 50% higher sales on Friday than in 2007, and more than 30% higher sales Saturday.

Continue reading here...

Video Game Report Card

The link below will take you to an extensive report detailing the rise in popularity of video games and an inside look into the video game culture. The report contains a summary of the rising popularity of video games in general, the impact of M-rated games on children and teens, a discussion offering suggestions for how a family can develop rules and boundaries with regards to video games, a video game glossary, discussion of the ratings assigned to games, an overview of the parental control capabilities of the different gaming systems, a full page of parent tips, and a list of video games that they recommend and a list of games that they discourage.

This report will be very helpful to you if you are interested in understanding the gaming culture that is so prevalent in America, if you want to develop standards in your home for video game use, or if you just want to know what the content is like in some of the games out there.

Read the full report here...

Lying, Stealing, and Cheating

Survey of teens reveals entrenched habits of dishonesty — stealing, lying, and cheating rates climb to alarming rates.

Josephson Institute's 2008 Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth is based on a survey of nearly 30,000 students in high schools across the U.S. The results paint a troubling picture of our future politicians and parents, cops and corporate executives, and journalists and generals.

STEALING. In bad news for business, more than one in three boys (35 percent) and one-fourth of the girls (26 percent) — a total of 30 percent overall — admitted stealing from a store within the past year.

LYING. More than two of five (42 percent) said that they sometimes lie to save money. Again, the male-female difference was significant: 49 percent of the males, 36 percent of the females. In 2006, 39 percent said they lied to save money (47 percent males, 31 percent females).

CHEATING. Cheating in school continues to be rampant and it’s getting worse. A substantial majority (64 percent) cheated on a test during the past year (38 percent did so two or more times), up from 60 percent and 35 percent, respectively, in 2006. There were no gender differences on the issue of cheating on exams.

Read the full report here...

A Christian Cullen?

Of course the vast majority of you reading this already knew about the highly anticipated Twilight movie - right? Kind of like a combo of Dracula and Romeo and Juliet, this story has captured the attention and hearts of literally millions of teens.

And you also know about the unique choice the Cullens have made in terms of being vegetarian vampires - i.e., not drinking human blood. Sure, it smells great to them, but on moral principle they abstain because of the harm that comes from partaking.

So what about the idea of a 'Christian Cullen'? No, obviously not a decision to abstain from drinking human blood - I'm kinda assuming most if not all of you don't really have an issue with this area.

But there is another area that is definitely an issue with teens. In a word...sex.

Whoa - just wait a second! Am I saying that having sex is like a vampire drinking blood? Well, if it is taking place outside of marriage, yes.

Continue reading here...

From Dustin- I haven't seen this movie yet, but I plan to in the near future. I'm not posting this story here because I'm endorsing Cullen as a Christian hero-type that we can point to in our evangelism of vampires. I do think, hoever, that the point that the writer of the above essay makes towards the end of his article is valid, however- postponing the immediate desires of your flesh for the purpose of glorifying God and enjoying a sexual relationship within the confines of marriage is a thoroughly Christian principle, and to the extent that Cullen delays drinking blood, he typifies this principle.

Nor am I pointing to the Cullen/Bella relationship as an example of Christian dating and relationships. From what I've read of the movie's script and plot (and seen in one still shot from a scene in the movie) Cullen and Bella engage in sexual activities that go well beyond the limits that the Bible places on single people. Keep that in mind as you interact (hopefully) with your students about this movie.

Give the gift of death this holiday season

Sounds a bit grim, eh? But, this is exactly what Planned Parenthood is giving Indiana residents the opportunity to do this holiday season, that celebrates, ironically, the birth of our Savior. The following is from Dr. Albert Mohler:

A gift certificate for health services might be a thoughtful and meaningful, if unusual, gift. But Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest abortion provider, performing multiple thousands of abortions nationwide each year. The organization also receives hundreds of millions of dollars in income from performing these abortions. Abortion is a big business, and Planned Parenthood is the market leader.

Information on the Indiana group's Web site indicates that the certificates may be used for a basic health exam for $58, or on a range of services including abortions, which may cost up to $900 in the baby's first trimester.

Continue reading here...

"It's JUST marijuana!"

False. At least, researchers are still proving that Marijuana does serve as a "gateway" drug, that is, it serves as a "gateway" to further (and harder) drug use.

Is marijuana a gateway drug?

“I don’t think so,” 18-year-old Katie Falkenberg says.

“I just have known kids who have done it and they don’t do anything else,” adds Randy Glance 17.

“I don’t think it’s gonna lead them into anything bigger,” 17-year-old Cody McGuire says.

But a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests these teens are wrong.

The study examined 311 sets of twins, with one twin in each set having smoke marijuana before age 17.

“And what they found is that the twin who began smoking marijuana at a much earlier age had a very high increase in the probability that that twin would go on to use other drugs other than marijuana,” says Dr. Robert Margolis, an addiction specialist.

Continue reading here...

'Twilight' leaves its box-office mark

A wildly popular vampire love story took a big bite out of the box office, helping deliver a banner weekend for the industry as Hollywood brushed off one of the most tumultuous weeks ever on Wall Street.

"Twilight," the film that drew legions of fans of Stephenie Meyer's vampire book series, more than delivered on the advance hype by generating an estimated $70.5 million in North American box-office receipts during its opening weekend. The movie rang up the fourth-highest November opening weekend of all time.

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"Twilight" and True Love

The following excerpt is from blogger Jeffrey Overstreet's commentary on the theme of love as it is portrayed in "Twilight," the recent blockbuster teen vampire-heroine love story. I highly recommend reading this post in its entirety, especially if you have a teenager, or tween, that has seen or is planning on seeing this movie. These movies present very real and poignant opportunities for parents and youth workers alike to engage teenagers in a way that makes them think. Challenge their thinking. Point out the gaping holes in the story's depiction of love and romance. Help them understand the biblical concept of love as self-sacrificial and God-honoring, not as emotional emptiness.

One of the reasons that divorce is becoming to prevalent, I think, is the lost concept of love. Feelings dictate decisions, and feelings don't consider commitment. Commitment involves sacrifices at times, and sacrifice is a concept which the dangerously narcissistic upcoming generations do not understand and will not practice, unless we challenge their conceptual framework and explain what love truly is and involves.

Anway, now to Overstreet's blog entry:

"Sure, the basic “Beauty and the Beast” elements are at work here. They will always work. I’m not going to deny that the Power of Myth is at work in this story. What disappoints me is how poorly it is developed, how many opportunities for thoughtful storytelling are bypassed for the sake of including long sequences that amount to “How far can we go without actually fornicating?” If you want a good vampire story involving a fascinating, monstrous vampire and an engaging heroine, check out Robin McKinley’s book Sunshine. Now THAT would make an interesting movie!

But don’t tell me that this is a love story. This is a lust story. You have to get to know someone to really be “in love” with them. Otherwise, it’s just hormones. Good luck with everything after."

Continue reading here...

How to Share Your Faith During Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving. Turkey and stuffing. Pumpkin pie. Family gatherings/family squabbles. Football. These are the trappings that crowd our days and fill our conversation. The 'thanks' part of the deal sometimes seems peripheral to the whole production. Maybe God gets allotted a 30 second timeslot where heads are bowed and eyes closed - just before everyone digs into the feast spread out before them.

But what would it look like in our hearts and our lives if day-by-day, moment-by moment, we were thankful to God? After all, the Bible tells us,

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:19-20).

If you've ever felt beaten up by life, you know what it feels like to choke on those words. But did you realize the Apostle Paul wrote that sentence while he was locked up in a Roman prison, doing time for sharing the Good News with others, facing brutal treatment and harsh conditions. Yet from his prison cell he had the audacity to challenge followers of Jesus to "always give thanks to God the Father for everything." Makes it a little harder to dismiss it as irrelevant to our lives when times get tough.

Continue reading here...

Deodorant Kills Boy!

Sounds like the headline from a tabloid, right? You would expect to find this headline underneath the latest picture of Elvis singing "Devil in Disguise" with the aliens. But no, this story is from Fox News, the inerrant and infallible source of all things newsworthy. (I really hope you detected the sarcasm).

Anyway, this article could potentially be used to help you win the "Stop spraying Tag/Axe/Old Spice body spray all over the place" battle with you middle school son.

Fervor builds for Friday's release of vampire flick 'Twilight'

This weekend, cold becomes the new hot. Cold, as in Edward Cullen, the vampire hero of the upcoming supernatural movie "Twilight."

Hot, as in how the love affair between Edward and his teenage -- and very human -- girlfriend Bella makes females from 16 to 66 flush.

Edward and Bella are at the center of author Stephenie Meyer's four-book "Twilight" saga, which has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide on its way to becoming The Next Big Thing.

The movie adaptation of "Twilight," the first book in the series, opens Friday, and the anticipatory buzz is almost deafening. The movie has sold out hundreds of midnight shows at theaters across the country, according to online ticket sellers Fandango and MovieTickets. 

Continue reading here...

The Child Trap: The Rise of Overparenting

We’ve all been there—that is, in the living room of friends who invited us to dinner without mentioning that this would include a full-evening performance by their four-year-old. He sings, he dances, he eats all the hors d’oeuvres. When you try to speak to his parents, he interrupts. Why should they talk to you, about things he’s not interested in, when you could all be discussing how his hamster died? His parents seem to agree; they ask him to share his feelings about that event. You yawn. Who cares? Dinner is finally served, and the child is sent off to some unfortunate person in the kitchen. The house shakes with his screams. Dinner over, he returns, his sword point sharpened. His parents again ask him how he feels. It’s ten o’clock. Is he tired? No! he says. You, on the other hand, find yourself exhausted, and you make for the door, swearing never to have kids or, if you already did, never to visit your grandchildren. You’ll just send checks.

This used to be known as “spoiling.” Now it is called “overparenting”—or “helicopter parenting” or “hothouse parenting” or “death-grip parenting.”

Continue reading here...

Teens turned aliens: How to communicate with kids in tough years

Parenting teens is a tough, stressful job these days, but the payoff can be huge with a reserve of patience and the drive to ask for help when needed.

Here are some strategies:

Declaration of independence

Adolescence is about struggle - for identity, independence - but the grab for power often competes with the intense need for reassurance at home and conformity among peers.

Teens may fight the leash while also taking comfort in it. Robin Goodman, a child psychologist and art therapist in New York City, suggests parents lengthen the tether, stay involved and step in sooner rather than later when newfound freedoms are abused. Remember, she said, defiance is a tool used by teens. It's nothing personal.

Continue reading here...

Twilight

I apologize for the lengthy post, but the original story had a photograph in it that I didn't think was appropriate, so I copied the whole article onto here.

Twilight is a phenomenon in youth culture today, and this article will help you think through the way love is portrayed and displayed in the movie and the books. Millions are reading the books, millions more will see the movie, and I'm pretty sure that one of the television networks will pick this storyline up for a string of television shows. In short, Twilight is everywhere.

"Seventeen million copies of the books have been sold worldwide, and midnight showings for the upcoming movie are selling out.

But what is this story really teaching young people about love?

Romeo and Juliet Meets Bram Stoker
When Bella Swan leaves her mom in sunny Phoenix to move in with her chief-of-police dad in dreary Forks, Washington, she meets Edward Cullens, the most mysterious and handsome guy she's ever seen. She couldn't take her eyes off him... and he couldn't take his mind off her. Not only was she smitten with love, but she was in danger of being bitten as well. After all, Edward was a vampire.

That's right, a vampire.

But that didn't seem to bother Bella very much. She says,
"About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I didn't know how dominant that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him."

The rest of the 512 page novel, Twilight, tells the story of these two star-crossed lovers as they seek to understand their emotions for one another, and engage in a life-and-death battle against a coven of evil vampires.

The story has captivated a global audience and has claimed some very prestigious accolades since its release in late 2005. It's been a #1 New York Times Bestseller and was voted "Best Book of the Year" by Publishers Weekly. Teen People made it their "Hot Pick," and since then, the novel has been translated into twenty different languages. This is worthy of some celebration in light of the recent decline in teen reading. Not since the Harry Potter books have so many teens had their noses in a book.

Edward and Bella's tale doesn't end on the last page of Twilight, however. When her first book sold millions of copies, Brigham Young educated author Stephanie Meyers did what any writer would do. She wrote another one....

and another one...

and another...

And so, the Twilight Saga was born, and teen and tween readers, mostly female, have been captivated since page one.

A Scary Love Story
I grabbed a copy of Twilight to see what the buzz was about, and I must say, it was a good enough read that I tore through it in a few hours. It's your typical "boy meets girl, saves girl's life, falls in love with girl, saves girl's life again" young adult romance novel... but with a vampire.

Meyers provides readers with a (somewhat) original twist on the whole vampire legend in her story. Her vampires have a "superfluous" amount of superhuman abilities and can survive in sunlight; plus, there are good vampires as well as evil ones. Meyers also does an excellent job with suspense and cliff hangers, so I stayed up past midnight feverishly flipping pages to find out what happens in the end.

If books were rated like films, Twilight would probably land at PG-13, with minimal swearing (a couple of "damns") and a wee bit of violence. The sensuality is what helped push Twilight to the PG-13 mark. The MPAA seemed to agree concerning the upcoming film, rating it PG-13 for "some violence and a scene of sensuality." You can watch one of the TV spots to judge for yourself.

Subtle Messages
Many people in religious circles are worried about the "vampire" elements in the books. But our chief concern gravitated more toward Bella's emotional vulnerability and the graphic sensuality described in the romantic scenes between she and Edward. We're not talking Harlequin Romance material, but it was enough to make me wonder how young readers would react to the content. For instance, in one scene in her upstairs bathroom, Bella found herself regretting leaving her Victoria Secret silk pajamas in Arizona while Edward waited in her bedroom. In the book, nothing sexual happens, but we catch a pretty accurate glimpse into the thought process of the modern teenager.

Today's young girls will most definitely identify with Bella's concern for self image and consistent need for validation. In the books Bella is portrayed as very plain. Most girls can relate to this. Seven in ten girls feel they do not measure up in some way, including their looks and in relationships.

What about the sensuality?

Parents are going to have to be the judge if they want their 12-year-old girls absorbing Meyers' descriptions.

In chapter 13 of the book, Bella describes a private moment in a meadow with Edward.
Slowly, never moving his eyes from mine, he leaned toward me. Then abruptly, but very gently, he rested his cold check against the hollow at the base of my throat. I was quite unable to move, even if I'd wanted to. I listened to the sound of his even breathing, watching the sun and wind play in his bronze hair, more human than any other part of him.

With deliberate slowness, his hands slid down the sides of my neck. I shivered, and I heard him catch his breath. But his hands didn't pause as they softly moved to my shoulders, and then stopped.

His face drifted to the side, his nose skimming across my collarbone. He came to rest with the side of his face pressed tenderly against my chest.

Listening to my heart.
And a little later in the same scene...
And then his cold, marble lips pressed very softly against mine.

What neither of us was prepared for was my response.

Blood boiled under my skin, burned in my lips. My breath came in a wild gasp. My fingers knotted in his hair, clutching him to me. My lips parted as I breathed in his heady scent.

Believe it or not, this scene is actually what prompted Meyers to write the book in the first place. On her official website, she gives an unusual explanation for the origin of the entire story line...a dream.
In my dream, two people were having an intense conversation in a meadow in the woods. One of these people was just your average girl. The other person was fantastically beautiful, sparkly, and a vampire. They were discussing the difficulties inherent in the facts that A) they were falling in love with each other while B) the vampire was particularly attracted to the scent of her blood, and was having a difficult time restraining himself from killing her immediately.

In spite of these steamy scenes, the lead characters actually remain chaste. Even though the Mormon author doesn't allow Edward and Bella to have sex before marriage, she may be a bit naïve about what tends to happen when passionate teenagers get alone in a field.

From the preview, the movie seems to take it a step further. In one clip, Bella is seen in her underwear kissing Edward in the bedroom. As a parent, how would you react to this reality?

Interestingly enough, it seems that many parents aren't all that concerned with the amount of sensuality, because in this story, it doesn't lead to sex. But what message does this mentality send to our kids? (There's been a lot of debate about these messages lately.)

The studio producing the film, Summit Entertainment, is hoping that the absence of sex scenes will expand its marketability to young kids. According to this Advertising Age article (subscription required), Summit is "counting on an unexpected group to help evangelize the film beyond its pubescent base: moms." The studio won't be disappointed, because PG-13 is deemed "okay" by most parents today.

"No sex? Oh, it must be clean, then."

What's Our Role?
There are lots of points to consider when deciding if our kids should read this book and/or watch the movie.

First, we must remember to monitor our kids' reading material in addition to their media choices. The Internet is not the only place where kids come across unhealthy messages. Reading engages the mind in a different way than music, TV, or movies; there's much more imagination involved. Knowing that reading makes an impact on our kids, let's be sure to keep an eye on what our kids have on their book shelves.

Secondly, let's note that kids are devouring a book that focuses on love, passion, and romance. Young readers have questions; this book provides answers. Unless you want your kids to only hear Edward and Bella's take on the subject, speak up. Love and romance are issues that most teens struggle to understand. We must be prepared to wade through those questions with them in search of answers. If that means we have to read a few chapters from these books to discover a way to initiate a conversation about love, romance, or even sex with our teens, so be it. Remember to focus on asking questions, rather than giving lectures.

Finally, as popular as these books are, the film will reach a much larger audience. While the book audience is mostly female, guys are already expressing interest in the film.

We encourage parents and anyone working with youth to go see this film and judge for yourselves. Twilight opens in theaters on November 21st, and The Source will post our review of the film on our movie review page that weekend. The highly anticipated movie is directed by Catherine Hardwicke, whose film debut was the sobering movie Thirteen, which she also wrote. Her later works, Lord's of Dogtown and The Nativity Story demonstrate Hardwicke's ability to present a story about young people to today's youth.

Twilight is a love story with a bite. If we proactively engage our kids concerning love and romance, maybe we can help guide them to answers to some of the questions raised by the story. Twilight's tagline is, "When you can live forever what do you live for?"

What answer does the movie provide?

What are your kids' answers to that question?

The New Christians

As part of a book-club initiative (that failed to meet more than once after we read the first book) this past summer a small group of my friends read "The New Christians," by Tony Jones. Jones was, until a few weeks ago, the national director for Emergent Village, the online epicenter of the emergent church. I had cause to reread this book a few weeks ago for a paper I wrote about postmodernism's affect on the evangelical church, most clearly evident in the emergent church movement.

Anyways, Tony Jones has recently decided that the GLBTQ community (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender/Transsexual, Queer) should be embraced by the church, since they "can live lives in accordance with biblical Christianity (as least as much as any of us can!)."

This statement/position is indicative of the emergent church's liberal leanings, and while Jones scoffs at the "slippery slope" accusations that have been hurled at him, one can hardly deny, at least in Jones' case, that once you start downplaying the authority of Scripture and re-interpreting the plain meaning of the text of Scripture, you will end up apostatizing from biblical Christianity. In "The New Christians," Jones relates the following story: There was a group of GLBT people that were told that they could not rise to leadership positions in their church. Rather than affirming the church's (biblical) position, someone who Jones came into contact with started a church around those GLBT people so that they wouldn't feel "alienated" from Christianity. Now, Jones himself has decided that GLBT can experience the grace of God just as much as the rest of us while remaining in the GLBT lifestyle.

I realize that many of you may not be familiar with postmodern thought or the emergent church, but they are radically affecting the younger generations of church-goers, including your children. Postmodern influence is huge, and we should all have a basic understanding of it so that we know how to engage our children who come home from college with a new or "enlightened" understanding of truth, the Scriptures, and Christianity.

This is an excellent book on the emergent church, and so is this, if you want to read about the movement from a conservative evangelical perspective. This book is the one written by Tony Jones and will provide a glimpse of the emergent church from the inside if you'd like that perspective. I have the first and third books listed here if you'd like to borrow them.

They Like Themselves (too much?)

A recent USAToday story reported that graduating seniors of the 2006 class are much more optimistic about their chances of success in marriage, employment, and a host of other areas. While this seems to be good news (who wants a bunch of depressed teenagers wallowing around?) some are concerned that the boost in self-esteem is the result of over-praising by parents, teachers, and coaches. I think these researchers are onto something, and the following two statements may be indicative of why the younger generations are fairly impressed with themselves.

First, every kid gets a trophy. The trophy used to be the prized possession of the true "winners"- those who succeeded and accomplished the most in a given season/event. Now, everyone is a "winner" and everyone gets a trophy.

Second, there are teachers around the country who are refusing to grade papers/exams in red ink because red ink supposedly induces a negative psychological reaction. When a student sees red ink on a returned exam or paper, they know they did something wrong, and we just can't have that. So many teachers (none that I've ever had, thankfully) are grading in softer colors like, purple, green, and blue.

Dr. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, posted an entry to his blog that examines this issue and his insights are worth heeding:

"In recent years, some observers have warned that children are not well served when parents lavish them with inordinate praise or with unrealistic assessments. The culture of earned recognition has given way to sports teams that award a trophy to every player and to contests in which every participant wins.

"As they grow older, some children turn cynical about all this. They just begin to discount what their parents, educators, or other authorities tell them. Eventually, reality intrudes in the form of college admissions, athletic scholarships, or other dimensions of merited recognition. It may be that every player on the 8th grade team gets the same trophy, regardless of performance on the field. All that changes when it comes time for college athletic scholarships, however. Those are not passed out without regard for performance."

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How to Write Better Emails

How to Write Better Emails

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Texting

Hey all- on Sunday morning Larry mentioned that texting is both a gift and a curse. It is a gift in that it enables quick communication when not much information is needed, but a curse because it can disrupt the privacy of our homes and distract us from paying attention in school, at work, or during worship services. I had pretty much made the same appeal last Wednesday night during the Collision service to the students directly- there's a time and place for texting, but during the Collsion service and the Sunday morning worship service is not that time nor that place. We don't want to be ogres about this, but it was starting to get out of control, so we both felt that the issue needed to be addressed.

Anyways, I have an opportunity to try out a texting service for free fro 45 days that will simplify the way information is disseminated from me to students, parents, and the student leadership team. Typing the same message 10 times to get information out to everyone who needs it, is a cumbersome process, and this program will allow me to send messages to up to 100 people at a time. It will enable me to group people together (ie parents, students, volunteers) so that I can quickly and easily communicate updates to whoever needs them.

As part of the process I need to input the phone numbers and service providers (Verizon, Sprint, etc...) of my contacts, so I'm asking for that information from you. If you have a cell phone with texting capabilities and would like to be on my text-list, please email your phone number and service provider to dustin@hillcrestbaptistchurch.org. This applies for your students also, if they are in the student ministry currently. I have many of their phone numbers, but some I do not have. I'll be talking about this with them directly Wednesday evening and next Sunday. I have phone numbers for several of the parents, but I don't know if texting is an option for you, and I will not add you to my list unless I hear from you. For most of you, I can't add you right now because I don't have your number.

This text list will be used for short reminders of upcoming events, payment schedules, and the like. It will not be used to send "Dustin's thought for the day" or any other information. The blog information will not be sent to you through texting. It will only be used to get relevant information to you in a timely manner. Such as, "Hey, the concert went longer than expected, we'll be home 45 minutes later than we thought," or, "Hey, don't forget that the $30 deposit for mission trip is due this Sunday."

I hope many of you will respond to this. Texting is the primary form of communication for many, including your teenagers (if you have been gracious enough to allow them to have a phone AND purchased a texting plan for them, that is), and your cooperation will make it much easier for me to get information out to you in a timely manner.

Teenage Bullies are Rewarded With Pleasure, Brain Scans Show

It’s no fun being bullied, but new research supports what many teenagers have long suspected: A victim’s pain may be a bully’s gain. A new brain imaging study of aggressive teenage boys found that watching others being bullied triggered parts of their brains associated with pleasure. “It is entirely possible their brains are lighting in the way they are because they experience seeing pain in others as exciting and fun and pleasurable,”[Reuters] said co-author Dr. Benjamin Lahey.

The study subjects were 16 boys 16 to 18 years old, half of whom had aggressive conduct disorder and half of whom had no behavioral disorder. While their brains were hooked up to functional MRIs, the boys were shown video clips of people getting hurt either by accident, such as having a heavy object dropped on their hands, or by intentional actions by others, such as someone stomping on their feet.

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The Vampire That Rocked The Chart

The soundtrack to the upcoming teen vampire romance Twilight debuts at #1 on The Billboard 200. Twilight is the first soundtrack to hit #1 in advance of the movie's release since 8 Mile six years ago. That album topped the Nielsen/SoundScan chart for the week ending Nov. 3, 2002. The Eminem movie was released on Nov. 8.Only five other soundtracks have ever hit #1 in advance of the movie's release.

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Riding the Highs and Lows of Teenage Faith Development

This is an interesting article on the stages that we all have progressed through at some point in the development of our faith. Not all of us have progressed as the same speed, nor have we all experienced each level, but nonetheless it's an interesting article highlighting the need for patience and Godly instruction at all levels of the faith development spectrum.

Trapped in Neverland

Carl Trueman is one of the most insightful evangelicals around today and he has written an excellent short essay on the "adolescentization" of American society. Below is a brief excerpt from his essay:

But it gets more disturbing than simply finding people in their twenties and thirties acting like spoiled children. Parents are becoming increasingly involved as well. With two sons in travel football (that's soccer to any American readers), I have stood on too many touchlines where parents act like frustrated two years olds as the game does not develop as they would like; and, again, as a professor, I have had unpleasant experiences with parents too. Being told by a parent that their child is `young and immature' works for my wife - she teaches at a church nursery, dealing with three year olds - but it wears a bit thin when the problem child is eighteen, nineteen, twenty....thirty.... And that this kind of stuff seems more common in the church than in the secular world is disturbing.

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Response to the Homosexual Arguments

Robert Gagnon, professor of NT at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, offers some very helpful and biblical responses to the arguments being pushed by gay-rights activists in today's society.

The homosexual lobbyists and activists are aggressively pursuing their agenda of redefining marriage to include homosexual unions. Violent outbursts in California recently focused the attention of the nation on the issues surrounding homosexuality and marriage. California recently voted in favor of Proposition 8 which defined marriage as an institution between a man and a woman. Californians have passed similar ballot initiatives in the past several years, only to have their will overturned by 7 judges in robes who create laws from the bench. This is the modus operandi, or standard operating procedure, of leftist liberals who cannot get their policies passed into law- they appeal to radically leftist state supreme courts, and those judges, drunk with their own power and in complete disregard of their constituent citizens, create laws from the bench which override the voice of the people of their respective states.

It is my contention that the issues of marriage and homosexuality, like the issue of abortion, are settled once one has a biblically informed worldview. This video interview featuring Robert Gagnon will go a long way toward giving Christians a biblically informed response should this issue ever come up in conversation or should the state of Ohio ever face ballot initiatives similar to those faced in CA.

The video is long (28 min) but well worth your time.

Events Update

Hello all- here's a quick summary of the upcoming activities:

11/14- Scallywagtag Overnight Laser Tag. We're heading to Scallywagtag for an all-night laser tag and concert party. Cost is $20 which includes all laser tag and concerts. Bring extra cash for food and arcade video games. We'll leave the church around 10:30 and return around 7am.

12/13- Christmas Sweater Party. Invite your friends to the Christmas Musical and the after-musical Christmas Sweater Party in the Crash Room. Prizes will be given for the ugliest Christmas Sweater. This event is free, but there will be food for sale. We'll have a live band playing some songs also. The following links will take you to the website of some of the bands that we're covering so you can give them a listen if you'd like.

Worth Dying For- Consume Me Now
The Almost- Say This Sooner, Southern Weather

As well as some songs from Hillsong, Switchfoot, and assorted Christmas tunes. This will be a party you do not want to miss!!!

Study is first to link TV sex to teen parenthood

Could the amount of sex teens see on TV predict whether they'll become a teen mother or father? A study in today's Pediatrics says it's a distinct possibility.

The study is the first to draw a direct link between sexual content on TV and the likelihood that teens who watch it will become parents. Researchers examined survey data from about 2,000 teens. They plucked out 23 popular shows and asked how much teens watched each. They coded the replies to established indicators of sexual content for each show — everything from nudge-nudge jokes on network sitcoms to full-blown intercourse on steamy cable dramas.

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PTC Finds Increase in Harsh Profanity on TV

The article contains graphic language, so I'm not posting a link to the story. If you would like the link to the story, email me- dustin@hillcrestbaptistchurch.org- and I will provide the link to the full story. Below is a quote from PTC (Parents Television Council) President Tim Winter:

“Our results show that when an expletive is introduced on television, usage of the word becomes commonplace in fairly short order. Then the broadcast networks feel the need to up the ante with even more offensive profanity. The result is that there is a significant increase in the overall use of profanity on the public airwaves, and an escalation in the offensiveness of the words used. While certain expletives may become ‘commonplace’ to network executives, they must keep in mind that most parents do not want their children bombarded by those words during hours when they’re most likely to be in the audience.”

Teen Net addictions growing

A growing number of parents and family therapists are seeking help for teens who appear to be hooked on cyberspace.

Addiction specialists say in some cases kids are jeopardizing their health through compulsive Internet behaviour that includes staying up all night, skipping school and withdrawing from real-life friends to get immersed in online games or surfing the web.

“We’ve been receiving at least a couple of calls a week asking, ‘How do you deal with Internet addiction?’” says Bruce Ballon, a psychiatrist with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. “(Society is) just starting to realize — oh my God, it’s so huge.”

In response, CAMH has just launched a pilot program to treat teens with problematic computer behaviour from excessive online gaming to gambling.

Internet addiction came into the spotlight this week after the disappearance of Barrie teen Brandon Crisp. Brandon went missing Thanksgiving Monday after his dad removed his Xbox from the house. Steve Crisp says he had confiscated it at least 20 times since Brandon became “obsessed” with the online war game Call of Duty 4. He began to skip school and stay up all night. The teen hasn’t been seen since that day.

Those who treat teens agree that, like other addictions, excessive Internet use is a sign of underlying problems and often goes hand-in-hand with mental health issues such as depression.

How not to raise a pagan

No one sets out to raise a pagan- except those who have deliberately chosen to be pagans. But Dr. Albert Mohler told the students of Southeastern Baptist Seminary that that is precisely what will happen if the instructions of the Lord are ignored. The default result of neglecting to carefully and diligently raise your children in the instruction and admonition of the Lord is that you will raise a pagan. You can listen to the audio from Dr. Mohler's sermon entitled "How Not To Raise A Pagan."

John MacArthur Sermons

This is a monumental achievement for the folks working over at Grace To You ministries, the public ministry of pastor John MacArthur. All of his recorded sermons (over 3500) have been made available online for free here. MacArthur is well known as one of the best preachers of our day and to have his entire preaching career available at our fingertips is a treasure. MacArthur preaches straight through whole books of the bible, predominantly the New Testament, so you will find sermons available on just about every text in the New Testament. This would be an excellent way for you to study whole books of the bible. Enjoy!

Howard Stern

I am no fan of Howard Stern. The man is gross and disgusting, and he's no friend of conservative politics or religion of any sort. But listen to these interviews that he conducted on the streets of Harlem. Unbelievable. Hilarious. Disappointing. Mind-blowing.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

I'm not one for email forwards usually, but this caught my attention:

The Ant & the Grasshopper 2008
Two Different Versions! Two Different Morals!

OLD VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!

MODERN VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs
and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the sh ivering grasshopper calls a press
conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth,
this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green. Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome.' Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake. Nancy Pelosi & John Kerry exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share. Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act
retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate
number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government. Michelle gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a
defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Barack Obama appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients. The ant loses the case. The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the an t's food while the
government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it. The ant has disappeared in the snow. The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2008

Here he is folks- unadulterated socialism

Barrack Obama radio interview

I can't believe Charles Gibson pointed this out, but he did: when the capital gains tax is lowered, tax revenues to the government soar. When the capital gains tax is raised, revenues decrease. Listen to Obama's response to this FACT.

Glenn Beck on Obama's socialism

A good reason to be arrested

This video is indicative of how militantly pro-homosexuality the public education system is becoming in this country. I applaud the resolve of this father, and it is my hope that if these sorts of things begin to happen outside of the liberal Northeast, we will stand our ground and humbly accept the consequences for civil disobedience.

Is socialist too strong a word?

Cal Thomas doesn't think so:

The October surprise may turn out to be a seven-year-old interview with Barack Obama in which he strongly suggests that the U.S. Constitution is an impediment to his desire to redistribute the nation's wealth. How does Obama credibly take the oath of office to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" when he thinks it impedes his socialist agenda?

Is socialism too strong a word? Consider one of its definitions from dictionary.com and tell me it is something other than Obama's economic philosophy: "A theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor."

Continue reading here...

The Haunting of...You

Sure, most parents make mistakes with their children. Forgetting to change a diaper when they are babies, yelling at them as kids, and of course, the ever popular selling their soul to the devil.

Say what? Yep, that's exactly what happened to Haley Bennett. Well, the character she plays anyway in the film The Haunting of Molly Hartley.

Not much mystery left after reading that title - eh?

And yep, pretty much the same plot as a legion of horror films from the last 50 years. Pact with Satan, creepy helium induced demon voices, and...who knew? The boyfriend was even in on it! Muhahahahaha!

I guess the Halloween release date is even a further attempt to ramp up the scare-o-meter and give you spine tingling chills and thrills as you watch a film that I would have called - The Devil Went Down to the O.C.

While it may be fun to scare yourself silly, when the goose bumps go away, you can take comfort in the fact that no one can sell your soul to Satan. That choice is yours. And believe me, I see teens make that choice in little and big ways nearly every day of my life.

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Beer, bad habits fuel college weight gain

This can't be too surprising, but it's helpful information...

Many college students don't gain the dreaded freshman 15 their first year away from home, but they do pack on 6 to 9 pounds, two studies show.

Why? Key reasons include dramatic increases in beer drinking and significant decreases in physical activity.

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MySpace Top Draw For Young Movie Fans

It's no secret that MySpace has become a key part of the promotional machinery behind big Hollywood releases. Now the social network has produced metrics underscoring the leading role it plays connecting studios with young audiences.

According to a Nielsen study commissioned by MySpace, the site is the top Web destination for 15- to-24-year-olds looking for information on new movies. Nearly 30% of consumers in that coveted demographic turned to MySpace first for movie searches, beating out Yahoo and Google, each with 23%. AOL trailed with 14%.

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ESRB Teams with Parenting Group

The ESRB today announced a partnership with Bonnier Corp.'s Parenting Group. The two parties will work together to help parents make better decisions about the games their children play via new online tools and content on Parenting.com. The ESRB and Parenting Group partnership is expected to generate roughly 50 million parent impressions.

"As we head into the Holiday season, parents are keeping their ears open for gift ideas, and video games are a perennial favorite. But just like movies and TV shows, not all games are intended for kids," said ESRB president Patricia Vance.

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American Spirituality Gives Way to Simplicity and the Desire to Make a Difference

American spirituality is a mixed bag- here's a short story detailing some of the hodge-podge of spirituality dotting this nation's landscape...

Love it or Hate it, texting is huge

Think texting is just for the young? Think again. New research from Sprint Sponsored by:
confirms that the under-30 crowd is definitely texting in mass, and they're driving their parents to text, too. The number of adults who are texting has risen from just two years ago, when a 2006 Pew Research study cited that 13 percent of adults ages 50-64 used the text messaging function on their mobile phone. The Sprint study reveals that now 20 percent of adults ages 55-64 send text messages.

Seventy-six percent of adults ages 55-64 who are texting are sending messages to their children. According to 2007 U.S. Census Bureau data, 57 percent of 50- to 64-year-olds have children ages 18-24. With those kids away at college or living in different cities, texting is a fast and efficient way for parents to stay in touch.

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Upcoming events

Friday, 10/31- Free Concert! Doors open at 7:30, first show starts at 8, event ends around 11. Coffee shop will be open with cafe drinks, candy, and pizza for sale. All bands will have merch (ts, cds, one will even have a dvd for sale!), so bring some spare cash to support the bands.

Sunday, 11/2- Paintball. We're going to Cedar Ridge on Friend Road in Germantown immediately after the service Sunday morning. Costs are as follows: $10 field fee. $20 field fee and rental equipment (gun, mask, air, and 200 paint balls). $15 for 500 paintballs. Basically, if you have your own equipment, bring about $30. If you don't have your own equipment, bring $35-$40. Everything you buy will need to be paid for in cash unless you bring a check to Dustin Sunday morning. We'll stop at Macdonald's in Germantown en route to the field, so have some extra cash for that or pack a lunch to eat on the way.

Friday, 11/14- Scallywag Tag. This is an overnight laser tag excursion in Cincinatti at Scallywag Tag, a Pirate-themed laser tag venue. The whole night costs $20 and includes laser tag all night and live music from local bands. There might be some food involved here as well, but I don't have all the details yet. We'll leave the church around 10:30, depending on what time the event begins. We'll return to the church around 7am on Saturday, 11/15.

Mark Richt

Most people wouldn't figure an SEC college football coach to have much of a soft side, but Mark Richt is that guy. This moving video explains why, and I think the Christian church would do itself good to follow his example and begin demonstrating their pro-life convictions by adopting orphans and castaway children, for "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world."

What's God got to do with it?

In her new book, "Love Your Life," Victoria Osteen tells the following story. When she and her husband, Joel, were courting, he came over to her house for dinner. She knew he was the son of a prominent Houston pastor and she, a nice Christian girl, was hoping they could talk about Scripture while she prepared the meal. "Joel began flipping through the pages, but before long, he put the Bible down," she wrote. Victoria was disappointed and complained, "I thought you'd be a spiritual giant."

"Joel said nothing and just grinned at me as we carried on with the evening." Later, he joked with friends that she'd called him a "spiritual midget."

Dustin's interjection- if Newsweek can see this, why can't the Christian church?

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Abortion Unfiltered DVDs

Abort73.com has produced a video that they have for sale. I'm wondering if any of you have an interest in purchasing this short video (only a few minutes). This is not a full length documentary by any means. Rather, it is a short video that highlights the main issues involved around the issue of abortion. It could be a helpful tool for you to have on hand to give away to people who you converse with regarding this issue, including those who believe abortion is an insignificant issue, or that an abortion only involves a mother and her doctor, or that we do not have an obligation to get involved in a pro-life cause.

Again, this video is graphic, but the reality of abortion is graphic.

If you have an interest in purchasing one (or several) of the DVDs please respond to this message and indicate how many DVDs you may want. They will only be $2 apiece.

49 Babies Saved on Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity That We Know of So Far

The following is the text from an email that I received from Bryan Kemper, the founder of Stand True which sponsors the Day of Silent Solidarity that our students participated in last Tuesday. Here's what he had to say:

"The Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity was a huge success yesterday with 49 babies saved that we know of and two girls coming to Christ. We know that it is because of all of you and your willingness to allow God to use you that this is possible. While we know about 49 babies saved, I am sure there are many more we don't know about.

"I know that many of you faced persecution for standing up for the babies and God will bless you for your courage. What is important for you to remember is that you were not alone even if you felt like your were. Over 250,000 students were with you around the world in 25 countries taking the same stand Tuesday in solidarity.

"I can tell you that I have spent many hours in tears over the past couple of days. Every time I start reading some of the stories that are coming in, it renews my commitment to this movement. I have always believed and preached that it will be the youth that will change this nation, and the PLDSS has proven that to me again. I don't understand why God has given me the honor to work with some of you; I am tuley blessed. There are no words to describe how proud I am to know such amazing young people who are so committed to Christ and to life.

"I felt the best way to tell you about the day was to allow your words to speak about the event. Here are just a few testimonies I have received from yesterday, and there are hundreds more.

“I attend a Baptist college so I knew I wouldn't get much of a chance to spread the word so after my last class I went down to the mall and was there for about 20 minutes before a group of teenage girls walked up to me and asked what I was doing. I handed them a paper and one started to cry. I took off the tape and asked what was wrong. I found out that 2 of those girls had just set up an appointment for an abortion. We sat and talked for almost an hour; it was clear that God was at work. Not only did these girls cancel the appointment but I had the privilege to lead them to the Lord.”

“I went into my work Tuesday. My boss knew what I was doing and why. When I walked in he explained to a lady in line behind me what I was doing. I had my 4 year old little sister with me. I handed the woman a flier. Yesterday I learned she had passed that flier on to a co-worker. Little did either of us know that co-worker had an appointment for an abortion THAT AFTERNOON!! She canceled her appointment & came into my work Wednesday to talk to me.”

"I'm speechless! I saved a baby today! Without even saying a word! Praise the Lord for His hand is upon us and our harvest shall be bountiful."

“ I was surprised as to how much I prayed; I have never prayed that much in school, ever. There were originally five people doing it this morning and by the end of the day it doubled. I was super happy. You never know how many people are affected by the things you do.”

“There was another woman considering abortion, so again I broke my silence and had a 15 minute tear-session/convo with her and she too opted for adoption! I'm so far beyond ecstatic and I am yet again radically affected by this!”

"Today was great! You could walk down the wall at school and see red tape everywhere. Very few people stayed silent; it is hard not to talk for a day but having tape over your mouth helps. I had so many people come up and ask what the tape was about. I showed them my badge. I cant wait for next year. This day means a lot to me. I got pregnant when I was 15 and people told me I was ruining my life and I should just abort him. I didn't and I couldn't be happier. I've gotten my GED, am in college and have gotten a job offer for when I grad. I'm proof that you can make it no matter your age and I want everyone to know."

"When I got back to class, I stayed silent- lunch was crazy; my white board got a lot of good use. I brought about 15 people who were wondering about what I was doing to one area and told them about it. After a heated debate with a fellow student, about 13 of them changed their views on abortion. Next year I'm going to hold a part-year club and it will be the most successful year of Silent-Day for me and for that school"

"I was brutally picked on today, but I don't care; I'll do it again next year. Children will live and that's what I care about! I broke my silence today for a girl, she not only opted for adoption but talked another girl into opting the same way!"

"Like I said these are just a few of the amazing stories I have received so far and they keep pouring in. You can read more at www.silentday.org."

Teen Sex: The Parent Factor

Many policymakers, health professionals, and "safe sex" advocates respond to these troubling sta­tistics by demanding more comprehensive sex edu­cation and broader access to contraceptives for minors. They assume that teens are unable to delay their sexual behavior and that a combination of information about and access to contraceptives will effectively lead to protected sex, preventing any form of harm to youngsters. Not only are these assumptions faulty, they tend to disregard impor­tant factors that have been linked to reduced teen sexual activity. A particularly noticeable omission is parental influence.

Parents, as teens themselves reveal, are the ones who have the most influence on their children's decisions about sex. Indeed, two-thirds of all teens share their parents' values on this topic.

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Advertisers bombard kids where they live

Do you know how many advertising images our children are bombarded with every day?

Drum roll please, and I'm not making this up -- as many as 6,000 to 7,000. That's according to findings from the folks at the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding in Elizabethtown, Pa.

That number is a little tough to imagine, but it gets easier when one thinks of the fleeting images our kids get on everything from billboards to backpacks to lunch boxes and milk cartons, store windows and stores. And that's all before they get to magazines, television, Internet and radio.

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