Tag: youth

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Here's why Miley Cyrus deleted her Twitter (Video)

(See below video)

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Teens will have healthy relationships if you do

My favorite Line: "...the  way teens learn about healthy relationships IS BY SEEING THEM..."

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Sam Bradford & Colt McCoy say that Jesus is #1 on Video

Sam Bradford is starting Quarterback for the University of Oklahoma (Sooners).  In 2008 he became the Second SOPHOMORE EVER to win the Heisman Trophy and as a freshman he set the NCAA record for most touchdowns passes with 36. Colt McCoy is the starting Quarterback for the University of Texas (Longhorns).  He was the runner up (behind Bradford) for the 2008 Heisman Trophy.  In 2008 he won the Walter Camp Award and he's already projected to be a First Round Draft Pick.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO

My buddy Clif Marshall posted this yesterday on Twitter and I loved it!  I haven't checked this site in a while and I'm glad these two guys hopped on here and made a video sharing their faith!

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How much do their words weigh?

Every student has lots of voices in their life speaking to them about what they should and shouldn't do. Particularly as it pertains to peers, I always ask students to WEIGH THE WORDS OF THE ONE GIVNG THE ADVICE. Does the person/persons giving you advice have a character worth relying on? If not, think twice about how much you rely on their advice.  That goes for peers, mentors, parents, pastors, preachers, teachers.

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GSM post-baptism interview with Eden Wittendorf

(Eden in Mexico on our High School mission trip this past summer)

I love to hear the 'process' that goes into how students make their big decisions for Christ so I pulled Eden Wittendorf aside last night after GSM for an impromptu interview about the process that led to her being baptized. This is raw footage a few minutes after GSM was over so the audio isn't 'produced', the lighting isn't 'produced', I didn't give her a couple days, hours, or even minutes to think about what her response would be...this is just real raw uncut footage that will let you inside the heart and mind of one of our students who got baptized this weekend at GCC. I hope you enjoy! I'm so proud of all the students who got baptized this weekend!!!

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Naive to the recessions affect on teens.

Until recently, I was pretty oblivious to how the recession might be affecting our teens.  We're flooded with talk of how it's affecting jobs, ministry, budgets, etc. but over the past two weeks i've talk to a hand full of students who have mentioned some ways that it's affecting them.

Here's a few things i've heard:

• -"I feel bad that my dad has to drive me all over the place to get me to all my activities because we don't really have extra money for gas..."
• -"My dad used to work in the RV industry in Elkhart and now that he lost his job my parents fight all the time about not having enough money."
• -"...I just wish we had money to
• -"...i knoooow, dude we only have 1 ply toilet paper at home now..." (This was a student trying to make light of the reality as his friend was telling me about their hardships)

I wouldn't like to think of myself as naive but I think I have been regarding how this recession is affecting our teens.  In the midst of these various conversations, i heard hurt, confusion, frustration, huge faith, lack of faith, bitterness, humor, strength, maturity, and immaturity. Some students tried to cover up the pain it's causing while others openly expressed they felt at "the bottom".  I'm not the greatest "counselor" but I care deeply about where our students are at so I offered what little advice I could.

Here's some things I intentionally avoided doing/saying:

• -Speaking on behalf of God
• -Saying "it will turn around" (because i don't know that it will, so instead of manufacturing hope I offered sincerely that I "didn't know what is going to happen."
• -Lying (saying "I know what it's like" when in some of the situations i had NO IDEA what it was like...so why lie about it.  That doesn't help)
• -Belittling their emotional state (saying "you shouldn't feel that way about that" or "It's not THAT bad")

So as i avoided doing/saying those things I found myself saying these few things over and over:

• -"It's not your fault"
• -"Hang in there"
• -"You're not alone"

I'm not sure that any of those comments were super helpful but sometimes I just don't have all the right words and in those moments I listen more and speak less.

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When you're face-to-face with hurting teens

I must admit this is an area that's not one of my strongest so I love learning from people who's passion is in this area.  I can have a tendancy to respond too quickly when i'm face-to-face with a "hurting student" so i'm soaking all this free training in. I loved these words of wisdom from Megan Hutchinson.  (Megan's one the high school ministers at Saddleback and wrote the popular "life hurt...God heals" which we used last semester as a midweek study for teens who needed to work through some hurting times in their life.) In an article HERE, she wrote: 3 Valuable Lessons when you're face-to-face with a HURTING student: 1. Sometimes the best experience of church is away from the church itself; just you as a youth worker, alongside a hurting student, over a cup of java. 2. Sometimes the greatest prayer is a silent one when you haven't a clue what to say next. Trusting that God will show up. 3. Students need tangible, practical and often, ongoing care. Offering Life Hurts-God Heals gives hurting students life-long tools to help them through their pain. To check out this curriculum click here: (www.simplyyouthministry.com) 6 words every HURTING student needs to hear: 1. I believe in you 2. I am here for you 3. You are going to get through this 4. You can make good choices 5. You are talented, gifted, rare 6. You matter

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Student Tips: Youth Group Etiquette

I've been meaning to write this post for a long time but just haven't gotten around to it.  This didn't stem from anything specific but let's be honest, we know how students act when "The Youth Pastor" or "Pastor" is around. Here are some tips for students:

1. Don't treat your 'Youth Pastor 'one way and everyone else a different way.  People will see your difference and resent it.
2. If someone else has favor, don't try to destroy that persons image (in the eyes of the Youth Pastor).  Trust that their discernment will show them everything they need to see.  Also it will eventually backfire and know that they will reap what they sow.
3. Don't try to take authority or leadership that hasn't been given to you.  

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Great video depicting todays youth struggles.

Great video from Youth Specialities.  Big topics, Big issues, excellence in the way that it was shot, and perfectly relevant in Student Ministries across the globe. Well done friends!

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Parenting Tip: Something is probably wrong

I think it was John Piper who once said, "If your child is rejecting Jesus, something might be wrong, don't pretend everything is fine."  ...acknowledge that something is wrong.

You'll know the best way to talk to your student but don't settle for comfort by not talking to them at all.  You might feel better about your relationship in the short-run by avoiding those tough conversations but you won't feel better about the reality of their eternity by avoiding them.