Taking a Biblical Stand

Last night, at the Mecklenburg County Commissioner meeting, approval was granted for the county to begin offering benefits to "domestic partners" (the politically correct term for homosexual partners).

Several used the argument that, "God is love and is accepting of all individuals," in favor of offering benefits to homosexual partners. Those same individuals were also very intolerant of those who were strongly opposed to this issue.

It is becoming very evident that the world (and even mainline "Christianity") is becoming more and more intolerant of those who take a Biblical stand against sin!

However, for those who would stand strong, find encouragment in the words of Paul, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)

My son...

"My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother." Proverbs 1:8

In his commentary on Proverbs entitled, Godly Advice for Young Adults, Dr. David Sorenson says, "It is...incumbent upon parents to instill discipline, obedience, and the principle of righteousness in their children at the earliest age."

Why Wait?

We've been studying the book of Acts & the early church in our teen Sunday school class. (We haven't gotten very far at this point. We've been in the first chapter for over a month.) In Acts 1:4, Jesus told the disciples to go back to Jerusalem and "wait for the promise of the Father." 10 days later "when the day of Pentecost was fully come," they finally experienced the promise of the Father. An interesting question, that I don't have the answer for is, why did Jesus want them to wait for 10 days? Why didn't they recieve the power of the Holy Spirit right there on Mt. Olives as Jesus ascended back into Heaven? Think about that one today.

What is Wisdom?

The whole of Proverbs can be summed up in one word - wisdom. There are 3 parts to Biblical wisdom. There is the accumulation of Biblical principles. In the book of Proverbs it is refered to as knowledge. (Proverbs 2:3-4) Next comes the assimilation of Biblical principles. In the book of Proverbs it is refered to as understanding. (Proverbs 2:5-6) This is the part of Biblical wisdom where, with the Holy Spirit's help, you get a firm grasp on the understanding and meaning of those priniciples that you have eagerly sought to accumulate. The final part of Biblical wisdom is the application of those accumulated & assumilated Biblical principles. (3 John 4)

Young people are simple. Proverbs 7:7 says so. Being simple is not necessarily a bad thing. (It is if a young person stays simple!) A simple person is neither wise or foolish but can be easily influenced either way. That was the point King Solomon was trying to make with his son - "You are simple, I want you to become wise!" (Proverbs 1:1-7)

We all need to develop more Godly wisdom. It is found in the pages of God's Book - the Bible! Spend time in it each day. Encourage your children to spend time in God's Word!

Do they know how a Christian should act?

It is common knowledge among the men that I play basketball with in the mornings at the YMCA that I am an associate pastor at a local church. This morning, as I was sitting on the sidelines waiting for the next game, to players came toward the sidelines both of them going for the ball. When the ball went out of bounds several of the players looked at me and asked who the ball went off of. I told them who the ball went off of and then a couple of players on the court began to playful bicker about whether I was right or not. It was at that time that one of the other player loudly said, "Hey! He's a minister. He's not going to lie!"

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Although I am not trying to pat myself on the back, let me ask you, "What is your testimony saying to others?"

Why?

For those of you who teach Sunday school or Children's Church, let me ask you a question: Why should your class listen to your lesson tomorrow? Do you build your lesson so that it is very clear to your students that they need to listen? Something to think about.

The Wilds - Day 4

It really is hard to believe that the week is almost over. Only 2 more days before we come home. I'm sure that most of the parents are eager to see their children and, although some of the young people are looking forward to going home, they would still love to see this week continue.

Evangelist DeGarde's message in chapel this morning was very good and powerful. The title was, "5 ways the God displays His power." His text was Jonah chapter 3. I don't have my notes right here with me so I can't give you the points. The one point that has stuck is, "God displays His power through preaching!" (1 Corinthians 1:18)

This afternoon we were able to have Family Reunion with the juniors and the teenagers. We took time for the teens to share a spiritual testimony from the week (and a "fun" testimony). From the teen's testimonies I must ask the parents, "Are you being a hinderance or a help in your teenager's spiritual walk?"

Tonight, we went to the junior's service where Jeremy Frazer preached a message entitled, "How to block Satan's attacks!" Several of the young people responded to the message.

Moms and Dads, I must ask a favor of you. On Saturday, when we get home, please let your young people rest for awhile first before you pepper them with a lot of questions about how their week was. They are going to extremely tired and may not be too excited (right after they get home) to answer a lot of questions.

Also, we will give the young people the opportunity to give their testimonies on Sunday night while the experiences are fresh on their minds and hearts.

The Wilds - Spoke Tag

The Wilds - Day 4 in Photos

The Wilds - Day 3 in Pictures

The Wilds - Day 3 (Wednesday)

Today started out with a trip into town. We have a "Family Reunion" time with the teens on Thursday and we always like to give them some snacks at that time. So, every year we take a trip into Brevard to visit Wal-Mart.

When we got back to camp, it was time for Water Wars. The Juniors play water games at/in the lake. Immediately after that we ate lunch with the teens and then they had their "Lake Games." The Wilds has not done water games at/in the lake with the teens since 1997 but with since this year's theme has water related, they brought them back. Both the teens and the juniors loved the water games.

I was able to get my laptop working this afternoon on the Wilds' wireless network. After doing a little work, I had to hustle back to my room before the thunderstorms rolled through. It rained heavy for about 30-40 minutes and then cleared up again.

Wednesday night is always "Fun Night" at the Wilds. We went to the junior's fun time, then went to the teen's preaching service, and then the teen's fun time. Willie and Matt Herbster are hillarious together.

Evangelist Ron DeGarde preached a strong message on sin and salvation. Many responded. I am eager to look at the decisions slips that our teens have filled out. I will see them on Saturday morning when we leave.

All the kids are doing great! Not a single problem! Continue to pray that their spirits will be receptive to the Lord speaking to them.

Until tomorrow!

The Wilds - Day 2, Part 2

I'm having computer problems here at camp. I have yet to get my laptop to work on the Wilds wireless network. I've got things that I need to get accomplished that I can't do until I can get that working.

Tuesday went by quickly. Everyone was busy. I was "accused" today of being 48 years old! Wow! I wouldn't have seen that coming.

All of the young people are doing great! I'm sure that there are some parents that are having a worse time of it than our young people are doing. Not one of them has complained of being home sick. They are having too much fun!

Stephenie went to the Junior Boot Camp chapel this morning and told me that they're speaker - Mr. Frazier - did an excellent job! Apparently Mr. Frazier holds a black belt in Karate and used it in his chapel message! Needless to say he was able to keep the kids' attention.

Evangelist DeGarde is preaching through the book of Jonah during senior high chapels in the morning. The teens are also studying through the book Jonah during they're "God & I Time" each day.

Evangelist DeGarde preached another powerful message tonight entitled, "The Blueprint for the Battle." His text was Matthew 3:16-4:11. His main points were 1) The warning signs of our enemy 2) The weapons of our enemy 3) The weakness of our enemy. He preached hard on sin and many of our teenagers responded during the invitation.

Stephenie & I have enjoyed watching the teens/juniors have fun. My mind tells me to go on the hikes, ride the giant swing, etc. but I can't just seem to get my body to go along with it. So, we end up sitting in a central location watching all the activity around us.

Have a great night! More tomorrow!

Wilds - Day 2

The Wilds - Day 1

Today has been a day of "forgetting." When we left the church this morning, I left the checks (to be used for paying for camp) sitting on my desk. Fortunately, I realized it before we got too far. Pastor Scott brought them to us at the Wal-Mart parking lot off of Hwy 49. Then, when we got to camp I realized that I forgot to pack the power cable/adapter for my laptop. Contrary to what some may think, I do spend some of my time during camp working. I had to call Bro. Waller and he very graciously volunteered to send it to me.

The trip to camp went very well. We had no problems with the bus. (Praise the Lord!) Would you believe, though, that it was the guys (one in particular) who were more "in need" of stopping to go to the bathroom than the girls were?!?!?

We arrived at camp around 2:30 and began the check in process. Normally it takes Stephenie just a short time to get the juniors checked in. She then meets me as I wait to get the teens checked in. However, today, I got the teens checked in and then got to our room and unpacked before Stephenie even got finished!

We took a short "power nap" after our sponsor meeting tonight. Driving several hours in a bus with that many juniors and teens can wear a person out!?!?!? It's not difficult but there's just only so many times a person can hear, "Are we there yet?" before they begin to lose a little of their sanity!?!?!

We watched the juniors tonight play a game called "Battleship Dodgeball." What happened after the game provided me with 2 - not just 1 - "Video Clips of the Day." Both of these would be on anyone's "Top 10" list! I may post one of them tomorrow.

Tonight, Evangelist Ron DeGarde, preached (to the teens) on "The Power of the Word of God." No pun intended but, it was a powerful message. His main point (and his only point) was, "God's Word has the power to change lives!" His main text was from 2 Timothy 3:15-17.

Well, everyone should be in bed and asleep by now. That's where I'm headed! I will try to give an update each day while here along with posting some pictures. Please spread the word to others about this blog so they can keep up with what the teens are doing.

Pray for the young people! Some mighty great things can be accomplished this week! God's Word is powerful!

The Frustrated Christian

Are you a frustrated Christian? That was the opening question to a wonderful message that Evangelist Norm Stevens preached last night in the mid-week service at South Charlotte Baptist Church. Christians get frustrated because 1. No man can serve two masters (and there are plenty of Christians who try.) 2. A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways. Trying to serve two masters would make anyone a little "unstable." And then he finished with this question, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve!" Everyone is going to serve someone or something. Choose to serve Christ.

The entire audio of the message can be heard or downloaded from our website at www.SouthCharlotteBaptist.org.

Enjoy!

Six Flags

This past week we took 25 people to Six Flags over Georgia. We had a great trip!

Trip - The actual trip, both going and coming, was excellent. The bus ran perfectly, the weather was cool and comfortable, the teens didn't beg to stop for the bathroom every 5 minutes or son, and I had a wonderful church member who went with us to drive the bus so that I could fellowship with the teens instead of driving myself.

Teens - All of the teens had great attitudes during the entire trip! Now, don't get me wrong, they weren't perfect but they did a great job! I was especially please to see how they all pitched in to help set up and clean up for dinner on Wednesday night.

Accomodations - We stayed at Bible Baptist Church in Gainesville, GA. An old college friend of mine, Jon Williams, is the pastor there. Jon's wife is one of Stephenie's good friends. We had a great time of fellowship with them!

Six Flags - The weather was superb and the crowds were short. The worst wait was for the Superman coaster. We waited about an hour to get on. The best ride we went on was The Goliath. The Goliath is a metal version of a wooden coaster. It has three things going for it - a huge first hill, speed, and great hills that keep your stomach jumping up and down!

Connecting to An Online Generation, Part 1

Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

Teenagers are growing up in the most “connected” generation ever. Due to the information age where they have grown up, teenagers can connect with whomever they want, whenever they want. However, many of these same teenagers feel more “disconnected” from their parents and other loving adults than any other other generation before them. Sure, these teenagers live under the same roof with their parents, eat breakfast at the same table, watch TV in the same room, and even ride in the same vehicle; but that’s not the type of connection I am talking about. I am talking about the type of connection that Solomon was referring to when he said, “My son, give me thine heart…” I am talking about a connection that goes beyond the physical connection of living in the same family to that connection that binds the heart of a parent with the heart of their teenager. I am talking about the type of connection that so many parents and teenagers desire to have with one another yet so few actually do.

Over the past decade and a half of ministering to teenagers I have seen, as a whole, parents and teenagers drifting further apart. I have read books that deal with this issue. I have preached messages that have dealt with this issue. I have taught lessons that have dealt with this issue. Yet, as the years go by, the real heart connection between parents and their children has continued to deteriorate. Although they have not said it verbally, I have seen the questions in the eyes of parents and teenagers alike, “Why is this happening? What can be done to stop it?” Over the next several issues of this newsletter, I want to tackle the subject of connecting - really connecting at the heart - with your children. I want to encourage you to prayerfully read these articles and ask yourself the question, “Am I really connected with my children? What can I do to make the heart connection with my children stronger?”

In order to begin the process of really connecting, on a heart level, with your teenager, you must first seek to understand them. Have you ever made this statement in reference to your teenager, “I just don’t understand teenagers these days!” Or have you ever asked this question about your teenager, “What were they thinking?” Part of this feeling is due to the infamous “generational gap.” However, it is a valid point that in order to understand your teenagers, you need to understand that world in which they have grown up is different from the world in which you grew up.

Each year, two professors at Benoit College in Benoit, Wisconsin put together a “Mindset List.” They have been putting this list together for the past 11 years and it is designed to help the college faculty and staff understand the incoming class of freshman students. This list identifies those experiences which have helped shape the lives, mindset, and worldview of the incoming freshman. I want to include a few of the items from this past year’s list for the 2008 incoming class of freshman. You must realize that this list was compiled for a secular university that is not interested in Biblically training these young people. But, as you read this list, stop and consider how different of a world in which your children have grown up from the world in which you grew up. (If you would like to see the entire list, you may visit www.Beloit.edu/mindset.)

Mindset List for the Class of 2012
1. Gas stations have never fixed flats, but most serve cappuccino.
2. WWW has never stood for World Wide Wrestling.
3. Films have never been X rated, only NC-17.
4. IBM has never made typewriters.
5. The Tonight Show has always been hosted by Jay Leno and started at 11:35 EST.
6. Caller ID has always been available on phones.
7. Soft drink refills have always been free.
8. Windows 3.0 operating system made IBM PCs user-friendly the year they were born.
9. 98.6 F or otherwise has always been confirmed in the ear.

Although this list may make you feel a little “old,” it serves to illustrate the fact that your teenagers have grown up in a world that is vastly different from the world in which you grew up. You must keep that thought in mind as you seek to “connect” with them. The next time you need to “confront” your teenager, keep in mind the command found in James 1:19, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” Before demanding that they understand your point of view, seek to understand where they are coming from. That attitude will serve to help you truly connect with your teenagers.

It's Been a Long Time!

Busy, busy, busy...That's all I can say. I'll finish this later.

Attack of the Cotton Balls

Last night in youth meeting, we played two games - both involving cotton balls. It was quite amusing watching the teens try to pass a cotton ball using only a straw. Enjoy the pictures.

Snow

I woke up this morning at 4:45 planning to go to the gym but when I looked outside, the ground and the streets were covered in snow. Normally that would not keep me in but...
I turned the news on to see if school had been cancelled. It had. The weatherman proceeded to describe some of the conditions outside which included black ice. Again, snow wouldn't normally keep me inside and off the roads but the combination of how early it was and the fact that there could be some black ice on the roads was enough to keep me in.
Instead, I made pancakes, hasbrowns, and bacon for breakfast!

Computer Crash

Here is the timeline of events:

5:00 PM/Friday - I am informed that people are having trouble sending emails and accessing information on the server.
9:00 PM/Friday - Determine that the UPS (Uniterruptable power supply) for the server has been shut off. Why? I do not know but server is now online.
10:00 AM/Saturday - Server is still online but I am receiving an error from the UPS stating that the battery needs to be replaced.
3:00 PM/Saturday - Replace battery in UPS but Server will not come online.
9:00 PM/Saturday - Determine that external hard drive (via USB) is causing the Server to freeze. Upon removing external hard drive, Server boots up properly and comes online. However, this external hard drive contains information necessary to run School Dynamics, a program vital to the smooth flow of our Academy. I also determine that the Server's onboard USB connections are not working. External hard drive is "dead." Fortunately, we do have a back up of the information that is/was on that hard drive.
3:00 PM/Sunday - Install new USB card in Server. Purchase new external drive. On Monday, I will need to reinstall School Dynamics and restore the information from the backup.

My thanks to Mr. Joel Schaeffer for a wealth of trouble shooting information!

Questions About Standards & Potato Fencing

Last night, in our 7 Star Teen meeting, I preached about standards. In a nutshell (a very small nutshell) here is what I preached.

What is a standard? Christian standards are rules, that have been based upon Biblical prinicples, which guide our conduct.

Are standards necessary? While we all would agree with and understand the fact that a person's spirituality is not determined by the outward conformity to a standard or a rule, standards are still a very necessary part of the Christian life.

Why are standards necessary? (Before continuing, take the time to read 1 Peter 1:13-16 and 2 Timothy 3:13-14) I gave the teenagers 3 Biblical reasons why standards are necessary.

1. Because God is holy.
2. Because God commands us to be holy.
3. Because the world is getting worse.

The issue of standards, whether standards that a parent sets for their children or the standards that a church youth group sets, really go back to a person's attitude. (2 Corinthians 7:1, "...perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.") As I travelled for Pensacola Christian College, most of the questions that teenagers would ask me dealt with the rules that PCC had or that the teenagers "heard" that PCC had. My normal response to those questions was, "If your attitude toward authority is right and your heart's desire is to please God than you will not have a problem with the rules."

Last night we played a game called, "Potato Fencing." Enjoy the pictures!

Ping Pong Ball Relay

We have a lot of fun on Wednesday nights during 7 Star Teens! (At least I like to think so.) We normally play some type of game during the course of the evening. Last night we played "Table Tennis Relay." The teens were divided into two teams and then grouped together by two's. Each person was given a straw. Each group, using only the straws had to blow a ping pong ball down the length of two tables and then back without letting it fall off the tables. If the ball fell off, they had to start over again. For some of the teenagers, it was a little harder than it looked!