Your are what your search results return and so are your kids - Blog Maverick
Mark Cuban shares how students of tomorrow may interact with parents. He shares how "everything digital that I share online will become an entry in my kids digital profile that will always be just a search away and stay with them forever. Nothing will be thankfully lost in the garage anymore." He goes on to say in regards to relationships that by the time (his daughter) starts dating, I wont need to greet her dates at the door with a shotgun, I will have a digital history of the poor kid and know pretty much everything about him, before I meet him. Read his full comments on his blog.
I kinda believe he is right. Relationships are morphing as technology upgrades and innovates. Regardless, as Christians you need to think about how to address these new issues from a biblical worldview. I wonder how you'll address virtual dating. I wonder how you'll speak to virtual sex. I wonder how you'll deal with all that's coming. Whatever may come, God's truth is eternal. Learn God's truth. Obey God's truth. Integrate God's truth into this emerging culture. Volunteer, parent, or student, the challenge is to think biblically in an ungodly world. May we be as gentle as doves, yet shrewd as serpents.
Pastor D
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Sunday Evening Equip
Small Group Info and Tips
This Sunday night we will explore how God is our Father. You can call upon Him everyday to meet your needs and trust in His provisions. Your relationship with God should be shaped by these truths. I will email the abbreviated outline for Sunday Night. I learned from last week that I need to make things shorter so that students can gather in small groups.
I want all the students together to create a corporate worship experience filled with music, teaching, and small groups. This short three-week series will fill the gap between the end of the last session and the summer break. I am still experimenting and learning when to integrate and how to integrate all age groups for a corporate experience. I expect high school students to model a walk with Christ so that the middle school students would "idolize" their remarks and actions to foster a legacy of students committed to follow Christ better. I expect the adult leaders to gather with a small group of students and to engage in one meaningful conversation about your walk with God where students "rub-shoulders" with you and peer into your own walk with God right now.
I provide the list of questions for adult volunteers to target their discussions in small groups around the main theme. Yes, you will need more time to get to know them. But try to listen well and rephrase their responses so that you communicate that you really heard what they said.
What if there is silence or a "I-don't-know" reply? Allow for silence. Then ask, "Who wants to help (student's name) with this question?" If there is still no comment. Say, "If you had to guess, what would you say?"
I want all the students together to create a corporate worship experience filled with music, teaching, and small groups. This short three-week series will fill the gap between the end of the last session and the summer break. I am still experimenting and learning when to integrate and how to integrate all age groups for a corporate experience. I expect high school students to model a walk with Christ so that the middle school students would "idolize" their remarks and actions to foster a legacy of students committed to follow Christ better. I expect the adult leaders to gather with a small group of students and to engage in one meaningful conversation about your walk with God where students "rub-shoulders" with you and peer into your own walk with God right now.
I provide the list of questions for adult volunteers to target their discussions in small groups around the main theme. Yes, you will need more time to get to know them. But try to listen well and rephrase their responses so that you communicate that you really heard what they said.
What if there is silence or a "I-don't-know" reply? Allow for silence. Then ask, "Who wants to help (student's name) with this question?" If there is still no comment. Say, "If you had to guess, what would you say?"
This week I will try to give more time to small groups. You can change, modify, or throw out the list of questions and the proposed scripted lines. But please stay true to the main point for the session. You will wrap up the lesson and help them take God's truth home with them for the week ahead. My prayer is that you will help prepare them to live out God's truth in real life for the coming week. Please offer suggestions by leaving a comment. I'd really like to hear from you.
Other Small Group Tips:
- Pick 5 minutes one day to pray for the students who will come this sunday night.
- Show up ready to talk with students discovering what he or she is interested in this week.
- Seek to actively listen. To be heard is to belong.
- Take turns praying for one another.
Pastor D
Sunday Evening Equip
The Bread Series
This week we will target how God is the provider for our daily bread. Many people memorize the Lord's Prayer, or DIsciples' Prayer. But I wonder have you spent some time unpacking it and really thinking about what Jesus said. This Sunday night you will unpack these familiar verse differently. Come to engage in learning how God is your Father. You will learn how to relate to Him better as your Heavely Father. Your Heavenly Father provides for you. He cares for you. He loves you!
Pastor D
Sunday Morning Lesson
Students are bombarded with the message that "hooking up" is acceptable. Because the media, peers, and public school staff tell them that it's okay, students need to hear the other side of the story in a positive, nonjudgmental way. This series discusses how to foster great relationships with the opposite sex. Our goal is to let students know God's views of relationships and not feel guilty about relationships gone bad. But students need to know the facts about fostering great relationships. This series will share how to foster healthy relationships and to discern how to recognize unhealthy relationships with the opposite sex. Using recent data, our five-part series will focus on challenging students to "use your head and your heart." The main thrust for students this week is to know the other person and to seek to develop healthy biblical relationships. So I wonder what the media says about girl and guy relationships. I wonder what TV shows or movies portray guy-girl relationships. I wonder if they depict a healthy, biblical model. So come this Sunday and learn how to use a tool for fostering great guy-girl relationships. Hope to see you Sunday!
Pastor D
Pastor D
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Simply Kurt: Simple Thoughts
Simply Kurt: Simple Thoughts
Kurt Johnston is the middle school pastor at Saddleback Church in California. He has spoken at Willow Creek conferences where I attended. I appreciate his random thoughts about junior high/middle school ministry. He is right. Students want to be liked! I need to re-visit how I communicate that to students. I also need more people to extend God's love to students. I'll ask God to raise up laborers for His harvest.
Pastor D
Kurt Johnston is the middle school pastor at Saddleback Church in California. He has spoken at Willow Creek conferences where I attended. I appreciate his random thoughts about junior high/middle school ministry. He is right. Students want to be liked! I need to re-visit how I communicate that to students. I also need more people to extend God's love to students. I'll ask God to raise up laborers for His harvest.
Pastor D
Henriet's Blog: I Saw A Kid Do It
Henriet's Blog: I Saw A Kid Do It
You need to keep a heads-up for students like these. Students who want to help other students find Christ. I met with Jared Long today for a meeting at Caribou. I discovered that I am not doing something that I had always done. I have stopped chanting the mantra for student ministries at NWC, "To help students find, follow, and share Christ." I wonder which students you would nominate who have this characteristic of living for Jesus and influencing others for Him--students who want to share Christ.
Pastor D
You need to keep a heads-up for students like these. Students who want to help other students find Christ. I met with Jared Long today for a meeting at Caribou. I discovered that I am not doing something that I had always done. I have stopped chanting the mantra for student ministries at NWC, "To help students find, follow, and share Christ." I wonder which students you would nominate who have this characteristic of living for Jesus and influencing others for Him--students who want to share Christ.
Pastor D
InformationWeek Blog | 13-Year-Old Gets Thumbs Up At LG National Texting Championship
InformationWeek Blog 13-Year-Old Gets Thumbs Up At LG National Texting Championship
Amazing! Texting Championship? I follow championships, but I missed this one. I thank Stephen Wellman for this linked article and interview. You can view a gallery of photos from his article cited above.
Pastor D
Amazing! Texting Championship? I follow championships, but I missed this one. I thank Stephen Wellman for this linked article and interview. You can view a gallery of photos from his article cited above.
Pastor D
InformationWeek Blog | E-Mail Is Out With Today's Younger Web Users
InformationWeek Blog E-Mail Is Out With Today's Younger Web Users
Stephen Wellman posted how students differ from their parents and from me. I send email. But students IM, TXT, and social network online. If I am going to make adjustments to how we connnect with students, then I need to begin going "to-their-turf" online. However I need to remain balanced. I may need a few facilitators to help respond immediately to posts and comments. I still have more questions than answers. But I do need to embrace how students stay in touch today.
I added the comments of John Birch which intrigued me and made me think about how i need to consider creating new connecting points for students. I appreciate John's remarks.
Posted on 4/25/2007 07:45 AM EDT Absolutely right. I run a girls rugby team - age group 11-18. After trial and error we basically now contact the girls via a blog and associated RSS feeds, and their parents via email. In emergencies we'd use txt - but that is too expensive for routine use.
So, I wonder if launching a blog with RSS feeds is the first step or if IM, TXT, or MySpace or Facebook is the first step. I wonder what you think.
Pastor D
Stephen Wellman posted how students differ from their parents and from me. I send email. But students IM, TXT, and social network online. If I am going to make adjustments to how we connnect with students, then I need to begin going "to-their-turf" online. However I need to remain balanced. I may need a few facilitators to help respond immediately to posts and comments. I still have more questions than answers. But I do need to embrace how students stay in touch today.
I added the comments of John Birch which intrigued me and made me think about how i need to consider creating new connecting points for students. I appreciate John's remarks.
Posted on 4/25/2007 07:45 AM EDT Absolutely right. I run a girls rugby team - age group 11-18. After trial and error we basically now contact the girls via a blog and associated RSS feeds, and their parents via email. In emergencies we'd use txt - but that is too expensive for routine use.
So, I wonder if launching a blog with RSS feeds is the first step or if IM, TXT, or MySpace or Facebook is the first step. I wonder what you think.
Pastor D
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Middle School Connect 9:30am
Middle School gets a play day!
What about guitar hero II? I wonder if anyone could bring guitar hero I. I'll bring the donuts and a few breakfast drinks. First come. First served.
Soccer may be our theme this weekend hour. I hope you can come.
pastor D
What about guitar hero II? I wonder if anyone could bring guitar hero I. I'll bring the donuts and a few breakfast drinks. First come. First served.
Soccer may be our theme this weekend hour. I hope you can come.
pastor D
High School New Series
Starting Sunday, April 29 How NOT to marry a jerk/jerkette
Certified Instructor Mrs. Wendy Feusse will facilitate our discussions regarding relationships. Students often become relationship casualties. This five week series will target how students can learn to manuever through dating relationships before marriage while lessening the risks of injury during the process. The series will be an open class allowing for new students to attend every week. Each session will "stand on its own." We will explore these sessions Sunday mornings starting April 2 through May 27.
Watch this news story and interview by Meredith Viera of young women's view of the term "hooking up." Please read what I posted earlier. More to follow.
Pastor D
Certified Instructor Mrs. Wendy Feusse will facilitate our discussions regarding relationships. Students often become relationship casualties. This five week series will target how students can learn to manuever through dating relationships before marriage while lessening the risks of injury during the process. The series will be an open class allowing for new students to attend every week. Each session will "stand on its own." We will explore these sessions Sunday mornings starting April 2 through May 27.
Watch this news story and interview by Meredith Viera of young women's view of the term "hooking up." Please read what I posted earlier. More to follow.
Pastor D
Sunday Morning Connect 11am
High School Lesson
Your world seeks guidance for life. When tragedy strikes, you want answers. You want guidance. The free video from bluefishtv.com of the VA Tech Prayer Vigil shows how students want direction in the midst of life's challenges. Yet the culture around you offers many avenues for guidance. One is dreams. In the movie trailer for premonition you can see how your dreams could shape or re-shape the future or any outcome. Where do you get your guidance for your life?
You read a daily reading from a real horoscope. You said it was untrue, a sham, a fun thing to do but you wouldn't follow its insights. You even described it as foolish. But many students look for guidance in life, but seek it in the wrong place where you create more problems. You watched a satirical look at someone who seeks wisdom from a horoscope mini-scroll. Someone has to buy them! Then you created mottos or bumper-sticker summaries of the following Bible verses: Exodus 15:13; Psalm 23; Psalm 25, 5,9; Psalm 31:3; Psalm 32:8-10; Isaiah 48:17. You can get guidance from the Bible! But are you?
I wonder if many times God can't guide you because you are either too busy following something else, preoccupied, or filling your time and mind with way too many things that drown out His voice. I trust you will take the challenge to spend at least five minutes each day listening to God and reading His Word in the Bible. You can do it! I am striving to fulfill my commitment. Today is not over. Make time to hear God's voice. I'd love to hear how God is speaking to you. Please share.
Pastor D
Sunday Morning Lesson
Middle School Connect
You were challenged that the world sometimes seeks guidance in foolish ways. It's like letting a stranger guide your life. You shared how most kids make their own decisions but factor in the great influence of what their friends or culture says. A few of you were willing to do what a stranger suggested to make that point. One student did cartwheels, another did the worm, another played a song on the keyboard synthesizer. You observed how crazy it is to trust your future to a horoscope. You may even have friends who don't have much better guidance in their lives. But you do. Or at least I hope you know that the Bible gives guidance.
You can find genuine guidance in your life from the Bible! You fashioned mini-scrolls for your use this week. I wonder how it's going for you. Is the Bible your source for guidance? Are you letting God lead your life? My prayer is that God helps you to live your life for Him!
Pastor D
Shame on me
I have not posted since Friday. I intend to post at least once a day. But my own life got very busy over the weekend. Still, no excuse for posting how my journey with God is going. As I reflect on this past weekend, I am not satisfied with the time focusing on hearing God's voice. God is the One I follow. Yet I often find myself occupied with my own needs and wants. I leave God out. So I will spend five minutes each day in silence pondering God's truth for my life and then seeking to obey His promptings.
So should you!
In Psalm 119 I recall a verse that says in effect that you need to meditate on God's truth regularly; even at night!
I wonder if you would take the challenge to stop your busy life and hear God's voice. You will need to direct your thoughts by reading a chapter of the Bible, like Proverbs. Then ask God to speak to you from His words in the Bible. Next, be silent and listen. As in all interactions with people, He may have something to say or not. He is a real person--sometimes people have nothing to say at a particular moment. However, if you make it your regular practice, He will speak. So like the young person Samuel say in prayer, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening ( I Samuel 3:10)." Then sit in silence for five minutes jotting down any promptings you receive. I hope you could let me know what God is saying to you. I'd like to pray for you about His promptings. You'll hear from me tomorrow (or maybe sooner).
Pastor D
So should you!
In Psalm 119 I recall a verse that says in effect that you need to meditate on God's truth regularly; even at night!
"In the night, Lord, I remember your name, that I may keep you law.
This has been my practice. I obey our precepts (Psalm 119:55-56)."
I wonder if you would take the challenge to stop your busy life and hear God's voice. You will need to direct your thoughts by reading a chapter of the Bible, like Proverbs. Then ask God to speak to you from His words in the Bible. Next, be silent and listen. As in all interactions with people, He may have something to say or not. He is a real person--sometimes people have nothing to say at a particular moment. However, if you make it your regular practice, He will speak. So like the young person Samuel say in prayer, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening ( I Samuel 3:10)." Then sit in silence for five minutes jotting down any promptings you receive. I hope you could let me know what God is saying to you. I'd like to pray for you about His promptings. You'll hear from me tomorrow (or maybe sooner).
Pastor D
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