FAMILY PLUS High School - February 23

Hello HS Parents

This past Wednesday night we started a new series in the District called Evolve. For the next few weeks we will be focusing on the fact that students are in the middle of a transitional period where the parent/child relationship is in a constant state of change. In fact, I suggested to them that they should really be prepared for the next few years to be a time where they are learning to adapt to the changing relationship they have with you...and...to LEAVE ROOM for your ever important voice in their lives as they walk through a time where your voice can be distant compared to others in their lives.

I also wanted to share with you how Robert and I put into practice a tool we regularly suggest to parents. We had the privilege of meeting a young man for lunch this week - he's a guy we've had a little difficulty "connecting" with at church. But we took our own advice: we took him out to lunch and to hit a bucket of range balls. We all three had a GREAT time getting to know each other and there was much less pressure because our focus was not gaining information - it was having fun and hanging out. Guess what - the "gaining information" part just happened. The student learned about us and we learned about him, but none of us were "trying" to do that - we were just hanging out.

I had a similar conversation with a parent recently who wanted to do a Bible study with his son. The son was VERY adamant that he did not want to participate. But the dad and I re-strategized the plan for the two of them to view a DVD study together once a week and go have dinner afterward. This gives them time in the car (to and from the restaurant) to talk. Again, the focus is on something else, but natural conversation can (and likely will) happen based on both of them focusing on something else. The content of the study (it's a pretty deep study that will make BOTH of them think) will help facilitate conversation.

Remember - sometimes you need to have targeted, intentional conversation with your students. But sometimes you should just "do life" with them and allow the content of your conversations to happen naturally. It is likely that your student will stumble into talking to stuff that is closer to their hearts than they might convey if you are interrogating them like the gestapo!

Let me know how I can pray for you.

-Michael


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

FAMILY PLUS High School - February 11

Hello HS Parents!

Great ending this past Wednesday night to our "Lost in Translation" series. We wrapped up by talking about the word: salvation. Typically, students think about salvation as a means of being saved "from" something. What we discussed Wednesday night is the fact that our salvation in Christ saves us "to" something. Although we are certainly interested in being saved FROM hell, we are more interested in being saved TO heaven, Christ, and His plan for us.

This coming Sunday we will continue our study on purity. This series has been interesting as it has allowed us to explore the "heart" issue of a life of purity rather than just focusing on behavior. This is largely because our Wednesday nights have been so narrowly focused on matters of the heart and how they drive our behavior.

It has been interesting for me to see and hear the relativism that our students believe as a matter of principle. In other words - many of them are totally okay with the notion that what might be true for "me" doesn't necessarily have to be true for "you." It's been pretty telling to listen to them describe the basis for this mindset, especially since it crept in through a discussion on purity. I hope you'll explore the notion of Truth with your students and the fact that there is, without a doubt, a Truth about every situation they encounter. Two things in contradiction to each other about a particular belief can't both be true. Our students have a very difficult time with that. We're planning to tackle that and other things again this Sunday.

Please let me know if there's something I can pray about for you or your family!

Michael

FAMILY PLUS High School - February 3

Hello HS Parents!

We had a GREAT time yesterday at our Virtual Brown Bag! Thank you to all of you who "stopped by" to grab a bite to eat and learn about how to protect your home in an ever-increasing digital universe! If you were unable to attend, you'll be able to view it from our video archive at the first of the week.

This past Wednesday night at the District we continued our series about words that have lost their meaning over the years. Last week we looked at the word belief; this past Wednesday we looked at the word righteousness. Both of these have been very informative and have set a great stage for this coming Wednesday night where we will look at the word salvation. If your student has friends who need to hear a clear, simple gospel message - get them to the District next Wednesday night.

This coming Sunday we will continue our series on Purity. Most people tend to think this is all about sex, but we are discussing ALL areas of purity. In fact, I asked your students to take a 30-day purity challenge with me - to give up something (that shouldn't be in their lives anyway) for 30 days. For example, if they swear all the time - I asked them not to for 30 days. If they party every weekend - I asked them not to for 30 days. If they are sexually active - I asked them to refrain for 30 days.

Now, you might be thinking, "Hey, Michael! Why didn't you ask them to give it up all together?!?!?!" Well, that's the plan. But for now - I just asked them to give it 30 days and see if they recognized any change in their lives. I asked them to do this in the short-term to see if there is a potential long-term gain. I think 30 days might seem less "impossible" to them initially.

It's interesting to note that at the same time we are discussing Purity on Sunday mornings, we are discussing "heart" issues on Wednesday night. On Sundays, we are discussing behavior. On
Wednesdays, we are discussing the condition of the heart.....which gives way to our behavior!!!! Robert and I are both VERY excited for how these two series have shaped up and are complementing each other.

If you need me to pray about something for you or your family - shoot me an email, text, or call.

-Michael

Virtual Brown Bag

Join the New Generations Team for lunch from your computer on Thursday, February 2, from 11:30am-12:30pm!

This will be an interactive Internet experience where we will address how to "Protect your Family Online". You'll be amazed at what your kids can access! For instance, by the age of 18, 94% of boys and 63% of girls will have seen pornographic material on the Internet. You will have a chance to eat your lunch, ask questions, and gain practical insight to immediately upgrade internet safety in your home.

Go to www.gladevillechurch.org and click "Watch Live" on the homescreen in order to view the Virtual Brown Bag on Thursday, February 2, at 11:30am.