Sex...with Mom and Dad

Sorry to be so crass with the title of this entry, but that's just the name of a new show set to launch on MTV on September 29th. Here's the description.

For MTV to herald a show as "shockingly frank" means that there will be very little boundaries regarding the topics covered on the show and little bleeps will abound during dialogue scenes.

I almost typed in a reminder of the kinds of things that MTV has aired in the past to further my point about MTV labeling anything as "shocking," but I cringed as I began typing. If you think your child isn't watching this stuff, you really should try to pop in some afternoon. Surely some teens don't watch this or other similar networks, either because it's blocked, their family doesn't receive cable television, or they are sensitive enough to the kind of material aired on this channel, but many do. Yours might. It would be worth taking the time to talk about what kinds of shows your student is watching and which networks should be acceptable in your home.

Would your life be over if you couldn't text?

Nearly half of the teenagers surveyed in this study said yes. Wow. Now look, I'm a huge fan of gadgets and electronics, and that includes cell phones. I would love to have an iphone or Blackberry as much as any other electronics nerd, but would my life be over without it? I think this study should be a warning to parents about how materialistic our society is becoming. Cell phones are now the second most important indicator of a teens' social status or popularity, only behind clothing.

Most teens and tweens (8-12 year olds) are clamoring for cell phones and many have them. The desire to have a cell phone and accompanying text plan (unlimited plans are the only option for many because of how many texts are sent in a given month) is motivated by a desire to be popular. Since a cell phone had no bearing on the social status of previous generations, oftentimes parents don't understand the obsessive desire for the newest (and by extension the coolest) cell phone on the market. It's not just because they want to text- it proclaims to the world that they get it, that they have arrived, just as much as a pair of Air Jordan sneakers or Starter jacket did during the mid-90's.

Again, I like cell phones. I text- a lot. However, my value as a person in social situations is not tied to my cellular telephone, and it must be a priority of those in positions of authority (parents, pastors, sunday school teachers) to be aware of societal obsession and hammer away at the concept of finding ultimate self-worth in stuff.

new ministry paradigm

After undergoing some intense introspection regarding the way the student ministry at HBC is functioning we have decided that an innovative and creative ministry philosophy shift was necessary. This involved plugging in new people, putting a lot of thought and money into getting the coffee shop up and running again with a variety of hot and cold beverages, and some room renovations.

The single biggest change that we have decided to implement is a change in service schedule. We believe that the diversity that exists between middle school and high school students requires a different approach to teaching and discipleship. In an effort to accommodate the different stages of life that our students are at, we are going to have separate services for the middle and high school students. Several area churches, including Far Hills and Springboro Baptist, have divided their services according to these classes with tremendous success.

The service schedule will be approximately as follows:

6:45- middle school students arrive and socialize
7:05- middle school Collision
7:25- high school comes in, corporate worship time/announcements
7:45- middle school transitions to games and/or small groups. high school Collision
8:05- middle school games end
8:15- high school Collision ends

There will be no time where either high school or middle school students are unattended. We have plenty of adult volunteers who are going to be involved in running the coffee shop, organizing and running the games, and leading worship. Dustin will teach both sessions of Collision. The coffee shop will be open at 6:30 before the middle school service begins if students want to come and chill, listen to music, and talk to their friends, as well as after the high school Collision is over.

We have looked at a variety of scheduling options and the above plan was the best fit for the church as a whole and the schedules of the students and parents. We anticipate that this change will give both groups a more customized and applicable service, which will in turn create opportunities for growth and deeper discipleship for both groups.

Please call the church office if you have any questions or email Dustin from the church's website.

Creation: The Tour

Hey- there's a possibility of attending the largest Christian tour ever assembled on Thursday, October 9th. The headlining band is Kutless, supported by Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar, Fireflight, Worthy Dying For, run kid run, Esterlyn, and Capital Lights. KJ-52 will serve as the emcee for the event, with Bob Lenz serving as the event speaker.

The concert is at Landmark Baptist Church in Cincinnati. Tickets for this concert are $20, and if we get 15 or more students, tickets will drop to $15! The concert starts at 7p and will conclude around 11p. We will leave the church around 5:45 and return around 11:30. Students need to pay by Sunday, October 5th.

Engage

Engage is the name of a monthly magazine published by the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (cpyu), a solid Christian organization that analyzes and reports on adolescent culture. They have decided to make this months issue available for free in an online format, and here is a link that will take you to the magazine.

I want to draw your attention to two articles specifically that were in this magazine. The first is called the developing teen brain and sex, and the other is new tobacco and alcohol trends. The first article in particular was very insightful and helpful and I think it would be beneficial for you all to take the time to read it and reflect carefully and what God would have you do in response.

Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity

I want you all to know about an event that I am promoting and encouraging students to participate in called the Day of Silent Solidarity. Basically, it's a challenge to Christian teenagers to lose their voice for one day as a public testimony on the behalf of the 4,000 children that are aborted (read: murdered) every day in America alone (and that's only the ones that we know about).

Bryan Kemper (who ran the pro-life organization Rock For Life for many years) started a ministry called Stand True to educate teens and the nation at large about the horrors of abortion and to call for an end to legalized abortion in this country. He is asking that the Christian teenagers of this nation give up their voice (stop speaking) for one full day to speak up for those children who never get to speak on their own behalf.

This is accomplished by tying a red arm band onto one's arm or by covering one's mouth with red duct tape for the day. Each student participating in this event will be given small cards that explain the Day of Silent Solidarity to hand out to people who ask them what they are doing.

Please visit the above websites to check out the resources that are available. Above all, pray that your student would be so consumed with a passion for God's glory and the value of life that they would commit to participating in this day and speaking up for murdered children.

God loves me how much?

This much. The vastness of God's love is sometimes difficult to comprehend when contemplated in terms of the heights of the sky and the depths of the sea and the distance that separates east from west, but this video goes a long way towards explaining just how vast God's love is for His children. The images and distances explained in that video, along with the Scriptures that reference God's love for us in relation to the spacial relationships of the planets, blew my mind and really gave me a fuller and deeper gratitude towards God and His love. I am not by nature an astronomy fan, but I was deeply affected by this video and the thoughts from the blog author that went with it, so please click the link, watch the video, and reflect on the magnitude of God's love for you!

It might be a great idea for you to gather as a family and watch this video together and read the thoughts from the blog author, then read the Scripture passages and reflect together on God's ginormous love for His children.

Purity Rings

Unlike mood rings, purity rings are still being worn and celebrated by Christian teens as a public statement about their commitment to wait until marriage before engaging in sexual activity. Purity rings were the object of a jab by 'comedian' Russell Brand, who hosted this year's VMA's (Video Music Awards on MTV). Jordin Sparks, last year's American Idol winner, took the opportunity of her performance at the awards show to publicly defend purity rings and what they stand for.

Here is an article explaining that sex is a gift from God and as such it is meant to be enjoyed within the confines of a married relationship between a man and a woman. I think the writer of another article that I read online raises a critical question that society at large (including Christian teenagers) would do well to consider: "So, since God invented sex, and designed it for a ‘marriage only' context, maybe that is why there are negative consequences for rebelling against His design?"

I never read or even visit the celebrity gossip pages online (I promise- I don't), but I did a little searching to get some information on Sparks and her pledge of abstinence and I came across this brief story. I wanted to post this one because of why she is holding firm to her vow until marriage. I have said before and I truly believe that parents have infinitely more impact on the lives of their children than any youth pastor, Sunday school teacher, or student leadership team could dream of having, and here's one case where that has proved to be true. Her pledge to her parents as a 13 year old girl is affecting the way she is living her life now, after fame and fortune. Please don't underestimate the impact that one simple conversation can have on the life if your child, much less than multiple, even regular, conversations with your children about the lives they live and the choices they make.

Failing Economies and God's Sovereignty

Here is a helpful interview with David Kotter about the recent government intervention in the failing corporations of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and AIG. These issues are understood differently by different people and I found this article to be a thoughtful yet easily understandable description of the events that are taking place as well as some helpful biblical advice in thinking through these economic issues.

Medical Release Forms

Hello all- I have some technical (but actually pretty important) information to convey to you all. I want to direct your attention to the fact that in order for your child to participate in any activities that are sponsored by Hillcrest and occur off-campus (ie anywhere other than the church grounds) they are required (by legal stuff, not by me) to have a completed and signed Medical Release Form (MRF) on file at the church office. Most of the students that are actively involved at this point have filled this form out for this year, however, there are a few that still have not. This form can be found on the church's website here.

If you are not sure whether or not the church has a completed MRF on file for your student, please call the church office and speak to Dustin or Judy. If we don't have one on file, please download a form from the church's website, complete it, sign it, and return it to Dustin or the church office during normal business hours. Thanks!

My child WANTS to spend time with ME?

Yes. At least, if you believe the statistical integrity of this report. Notice especially this paragraph:

Even during the turbulent transitional years of adolescence, teens seem to value time with their family above all else. That's a really good thing! Indeed, young people who spend time with their parents, talk with them and feel close to them are overwhelmingly less likely to drink (62 percent versus 43 percent) or to use other drugs (87 percent versus 77 percent) than are those who don't, says Teens Today.

Snurf

Sounds like an old cartoon character, right? False. This is a new over-the-counter drug that's catching on and quickly gaining in popularity. Read this brief report at WedMD.

College Fair

This will be of most interest to parents whose students are graduating in the next year or two. There is a Christian college fair coming to the Christian Life Center in Dayton on September 16, which is next Tuesday. This is a great opportunity to get a lot of information in a short time frame without having to drive hundreds of miles to visit colleges. You can visit the website with more detailed information about the college fair here.

Calendar of Events

I can't seem to attach a calendar to this website, but if you look at the top right of this page, above the blog archive, you will see a link that, when clicked, will take you directly to the HBC calendar page where you can find information about upcoming events. The link is called "HBC Calendar." Hope this helps!

Ubiquity

This product might be the coolest thing I've seen on the web in quite some time. Check it out, try it out, love it- it will change the way you browse the internet!

Toms Maze

Hey- we're going to Toms Maze this Saturday, September 13th. Meet at the church at 8pm dressed for wet and/or cold conditions. Bring $7 and all your friends. We should be back at the church around 10:30 or so.

Cultural obsession with beauty...

Employees: 'Hierarchy of hotness' rules at Abercrombie & Fitch

There's no in between. You're either Abercrombie hot – or you're not.

Kristen Carmichael discovered she didn't fit the clothing store's self-described "sexy, effortless style" when she was pulled from a sales position on the floor of the NorthPark Center store and shoved back to the stockroom to fold clothes.

This was after they'd rated her face.

read more...

Redbull? Monster? Rockstar?

Heavy use of energy drinks can threaten teens’ health

Too much caffeine can make it harder to nod off

Energy drinks have turned into a sort of designer beverage for the young and the restless. Of course, those young people might be restless because of the drinks themselves.

“They should really be labeled as stimulant drinks,” said Christopher Ryder, a Mechanicsburg, Pa., pediatrician. “The main ingredient in virtually all of them is caffeine.”

read more...

To tan, or not to tan...

Over 1 in 4 teens and young adults addicted to tanning: Study

Shannon Proudfoot , Canwest News Service

More than one in four teens and young adults show signs of "tanorexia" or tanning dependence, leaving them craving the sun or a tanning bed in much the same way addicts yearn for alcohol or drugs, a new study shows.

Researchers at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia examined the tanning habits of 400 college students aged 18 to 24, using the same framework that defines substance addictions.

read more...