Thursday, March 31, 2011
S'CAMP
It's official. Registration for S'CAMP is now open. If you haven't heard, S'CAMP is REALife's summer camp... the most awesome week of summer for many of our students. We head down to Myrtle Beach for five days of the beach, fun, and amazing worship. To register your son or daughter head over to the events page of our website by CLICKING HERE. S'CAMP is also open to high school students outside of REALife, so have your son or daughter bring a friend. Space is limited, and registration ends April 17th.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
More on the Dangers of "Sexting"
I've written about this issue before, but teenagers are still dealing with this issue. Today's Charlotte Observer draws more attention to the dangers of "sexting" among teenagers. Check out the article here: http://tinyurl.com/6lbbcm9.
If you haven't addressed this topic with your son or daughter by now, it's time to do it now.
If you haven't addressed this topic with your son or daughter by now, it's time to do it now.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Jamaica 2011
For the past three years Meck has been partnering with Won by One ministries to bring a team down to Harmons Jamaica from our church. While we often think that Jamaica is just a tropical paradise with beautiful sand beaches, the truth is that most of the people on the island live in extreme poverty. Harmons is a village in the interior of the island, and this village along with the surrounding villages are some of the poorest areas in Jamaica.
Needless to say, we're taking another group down this summer to serve the people of Jamaica. This trip is open to everyone at Meck over thirteen years of age, and each year we try to get as many REALife students on this trip as possible. I will avoid giving all the details here, but you can find them on our website by CLICKING HERE.
What I will tell you is that this trip is a life changer for all our students who attend. We get to experience the love of Jesus first hand as we serve some of the poorest of the poor in the world. This trip benefits the people of Jamaica in amazing ways, and also inspires all of our groups who have participated. I've been on this trip three years running, and each time we come back I see a group of Meck people who's lives are changed in amazing ways.
So check out the website above. If you have any more questions please free to ask. The registration deadline is the end of March. And check out these pictures from last years trip.
Needless to say, we're taking another group down this summer to serve the people of Jamaica. This trip is open to everyone at Meck over thirteen years of age, and each year we try to get as many REALife students on this trip as possible. I will avoid giving all the details here, but you can find them on our website by CLICKING HERE.
What I will tell you is that this trip is a life changer for all our students who attend. We get to experience the love of Jesus first hand as we serve some of the poorest of the poor in the world. This trip benefits the people of Jamaica in amazing ways, and also inspires all of our groups who have participated. I've been on this trip three years running, and each time we come back I see a group of Meck people who's lives are changed in amazing ways.
So check out the website above. If you have any more questions please free to ask. The registration deadline is the end of March. And check out these pictures from last years trip.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Mating, Dating, & Mating Week 1
Our Waiting, Dating, & Mating series has begun, and let me tell you... the energy in the room this past weekend was off the charts. Students were so engaged and eager to hear about this topic of sex that is so prevalent in the culture all around them. This is a topic that really interests them and one they truly want to hear about. Students are hearing about sex from friends, from school, from social media, and from so many other outlets, but these sources of information don't hold the same weight as the Bible. Those other outlets don't usually move past discussing sex as an action based on physical urges, but the Bible speaks to much deeper questions about sex, like 1) how should we view sex? 2) is there a right and wrong time and place for it? and 3) are there moral implications for going at this the wrong way? As we continue this series, let's keep the conversations going with our students to help them establish a Christian mindset for how to approach this important topic.
Among other lessons from this past weekend, I challenged our students with two things:
First, I challenged them to step back and consider how they are speaking to the opposite sex. Our students live in a very sexualized culture. They are surrounded by people who use sexually explicit language as a means to put people down, coerce sexual activity, or merely make a joke at another person's expense. The language that our students use can contribute to treating others this way, or their language can stand out as words of love, care, and respect that exemplify the love of God. At REALife we brought up Ephesians 4:29, that we are "not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." It's important to realize that the topic of sex should not be isolated to the physical act itself, as we can see that even our language can get wrapped up in this topic as well.
Second, I also challenged our students in the area of pornography. This is a serious issue that a large percentage of teens struggle with. Matthew 5:27-28 tells us "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Pornography objectifies those involved as the people being viewed become objects of our fantasy instead of human beings created in the image of God. As Christians we are called to a higher view of humanity than that, as we believe that people are created in the image and likeness of God.
From here let's see how you can help lead your son or daughter in these areas. I would encourage you to sit them down and have a conversation with them about these issues. This shouldn't be just a passing question on their way out the door. Really set some time aside and ask them some serious questions: "How do your friends treat the opposite sex?" "Explain to me what it means to treat others the way God wants us to treat them?" "Do you struggle with pornography?" We also need to understand that while this topic really interests them one of the biggest fears teens have is disappointing their parents for mistakes they've made. When you approach your son or daughter with these questions be sure to make it clear that you will love them and help them through any issue they are facing. Opening up this line of communication may be difficult at first, but establishing this kind of openness will greatly help you be able to speak God's truth into the life of your son or daughter.
Please contact me if you need further direction when navigating through this topic with your son or daughter. And know that I will be praying for you.
Among other lessons from this past weekend, I challenged our students with two things:
First, I challenged them to step back and consider how they are speaking to the opposite sex. Our students live in a very sexualized culture. They are surrounded by people who use sexually explicit language as a means to put people down, coerce sexual activity, or merely make a joke at another person's expense. The language that our students use can contribute to treating others this way, or their language can stand out as words of love, care, and respect that exemplify the love of God. At REALife we brought up Ephesians 4:29, that we are "not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." It's important to realize that the topic of sex should not be isolated to the physical act itself, as we can see that even our language can get wrapped up in this topic as well.
Second, I also challenged our students in the area of pornography. This is a serious issue that a large percentage of teens struggle with. Matthew 5:27-28 tells us "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Pornography objectifies those involved as the people being viewed become objects of our fantasy instead of human beings created in the image of God. As Christians we are called to a higher view of humanity than that, as we believe that people are created in the image and likeness of God.
From here let's see how you can help lead your son or daughter in these areas. I would encourage you to sit them down and have a conversation with them about these issues. This shouldn't be just a passing question on their way out the door. Really set some time aside and ask them some serious questions: "How do your friends treat the opposite sex?" "Explain to me what it means to treat others the way God wants us to treat them?" "Do you struggle with pornography?" We also need to understand that while this topic really interests them one of the biggest fears teens have is disappointing their parents for mistakes they've made. When you approach your son or daughter with these questions be sure to make it clear that you will love them and help them through any issue they are facing. Opening up this line of communication may be difficult at first, but establishing this kind of openness will greatly help you be able to speak God's truth into the life of your son or daughter.
Please contact me if you need further direction when navigating through this topic with your son or daughter. And know that I will be praying for you.
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