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...