Pray They Get Caught
When I was a 7th grader growing up, I had a friend who started to influence me to do things that were leading me down a road that wasn’t a good direction to go. He started smoking and wanted me to do it, but I had such a weak stomach so that when I tried it the first time I got so sick I never wanted to try it again. Then we started doing some vandalism together. I once broke close to 15 windows in a house that was being built. Funny thing about that, we broke every window very loudly and did nothing to hide what we did. You know how we got caught? The last window we broke was a small window on the side of the house that had a neighbor living next to it. We got caught breaking the smallest, most insignificant window in the whole house. And did I ever get in trouble! I was grounded for a long time. My fanny hurt for a long time. I lost my parents trust for a long time. I didn’t like how my life was going for a long time. My parents ended up not letting me hang out with my friend anymore. I didn’t like it at the time, but it was the best thing they could have done for me. Just a short time later, my friend was a heavy drug user and I’m sure I would have been right alongside him if something didn’t change.
Do you pray that when your kids sin, they get caught right away? I’m so glad I got caught. My life direction changed because I got caught. I don’t know if my parents ever prayed that I would get caught, but I know I pray that for my daughters. I want to be part of helping them work out their faith amidst their failures. If not my wife and I, who will?
Will their friends always point them to God’s way of living? Not likely since they are usually young and struggling to find their way at the same time. Will their teachers and coaches do it? Not everyone goes to a Christian school or has believers in those influential positions. But we as parents are called to be there for them. We are called to point them the right way, discipling them into a lifetime of faith. We can pick them up and love them enough to say the hard things. We can forgive them and take the time to rebuild trust so they know we will always be there. Pray they get caught…then step up and be the parent they need when they need you most!
Pastor Mark
Wednesday Mornings
I love Wednesdays. A Wednesday is like a Friday to me. It is the last day of the week I work, and I gear down to be a homebody. Which I must say, being home is the best on a rainy day like today. I was just telling my husband today that Wednesdays are so fun for me because of how they start out. I get ready like any other day, but it is what I do when I leave my house that makes my heart smile.
I get in my car and pick up an 8th grade student, and then we drive to Wood Middle School. At 8:30 AM we meet with 9 other students for the weekly prayer group. The bonus is that I am not there to lead the group. My role is to be the adult who supervises this group. The students are the ones who lead this time; I just get to participate with them.
When we all arrive we start out chatting about life, about texting and how I need help, latest TV shows, and how school is going. Then we all gather together to hear everyone’s prayer requests and ask for prayer.
This group of students amazes me, and I am encouraged to grow in my walk with Christ because of them. I am honored that they allow me to be there each week and hear their requests, and watch them care for one another. And it is such a bonus when they minister to me and ask me what I need prayer for.
The students are living their faith out and being the body of Christ in their school community. It is great to get up extra early and see a glimpse of it every Wednesday morning.
Jen
Are You Ready For The Good Fight?
This Sunday we are starting a new teaching series that will focus on building the quality of your family relationships. The Good Fight series gives you and your students something to fight about, actually fight for—your relationship with each other. Below you will see the different summaries of each week’s Elevation message. Try to keep these thoughts in mind as you have conversations with your kids in the weeks ahead.
Take care,
Pastor Mark
Week 1: 3/1/09 with Pastor Mark speaking
The Good Fight series exposes the truth about family life: All families fight. We just fight about and for different things, and we fight in different ways. Some families are very vocal; others quietly stuff their frustrations inside. But regardless of how families fight, every family decides what they are going to fight over. Fighting about rules and issues will always drive us apart, but there is another way. What if we began to fight for relationship? What if our sole objective was to know each other and to honor each other? The Good Fight encourages students to stay in the fight and never give up on their relationship with their parents.
Week 2: 3/8/09 with Jen Gulbrandson speaking
When it comes to God’s intention for family, there are no ambiguities in Scripture. God desires for children and parents to turn their hearts toward each other and have a relationship. In order to have the good relationship God intends, we have to first learn how to change the fight. We have to stop fighting against “their way” and start fighting for a relationship. We have to surrender our right to be right and take up a new cause. We must prioritize relationship regardless of the cost.
Week 3: 3/15/09 with Pastor Mark speaking
This week is the final conclusion to our parent series. The goal of this week is to help students see the responsibility that they have to pursue a relationship with their parents. Some students have been hurt by their parents and they are living out the cycle by seeking to hurt their parents in return. This week we will look at the life of Absalom, who having been hurt, used the remainder of his life for revenge. We will see the outcome of Absalom’s choice and raise the question: Is this really the best way? Can students begin to break the cycle by refusing to use their influence as sons and daughters to inflict pain on the parents who may have hurt them? Can they be the instruments of healing in our parent’s lives?
Extended Camp Video
So apparently it might just be our church network that is not allowing youtube videos to stream, because i am able to watch them just fine on my iphone (got to love mobile techonology)!
Please leave a comment to let us know if you are or are not able to view the video!
Youtube Difficulties
For some reason we are having issues with our 678live channel on Youtube and none of our videos are currently available. We are quickly working on this and hoping to have this resolved sometime this afternoon. Check back in a little bit!
Determined To Disciple
I was reading some blog posts today and this one stood out to me as an encouragement to keep pressing on in the area of family discipleship. Mark Batterson has some good insights and challenges for each of us to consider. Check it out below and take a look at his blog at evotional.com.
Mark
C.S. Lewis said, “Every life is comprised of a few themes.”
Thought I would share one of my themes. I am such an imperfect parent. But I can also say that nothing is more important to me than being a great dad. Hard to put what I feel into words, but I know that my kids are my legacy.
God keeps taking me back to the last verse of the Old Testament. Malachi 4:6 says: “His preaching will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
As I travel and speak, I’ve noticed that when I talk about the discipleship covenant I made with my oldest son, Parker, people always want to know more. Part of it is the helplessness we feel as parents when our kids get older. We need all the help we can get! I’m also concerned that we live in a culture where parents delegate their responsibilities. We want schools to educate our kids for us. And we want churches to disciple our kids for us. But that’s a good way to insure that our justice system will punish our kids for us. It’s so easy to let someone else do something that is really our responsibility.
Imagine what would happen if Christian parents really took their calling to discipleship seriously? We desperately need a parenting movement that equips parents to fulfill their God-ordained roles as mom and dad.
All I know is this: I am not going to let our culture raise my kids! I am determined to disciple my kids!
Posted by Mark Batterson, 2/17/09
Who Is Really In Control Of My Spending?
I was reflecting about how frustrating it is to try and teach students about having a Biblical perspective on spending money. This last weekend we talked about how important it is to not only commit to giving and saving, but to spend money in a way that pleases God. By talking about how the money we spend can be a reflection of where our heart’s loyalties lie, I kept thinking about how much I need to learn about this very challenge.
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about giving people different talents to invest and return to the master. His big takeaway is that if we are faithful in the little things, He(Jesus) can entrust us with bigger treasures. Immediately I go to the insignificant things I buy. When I get a coffee at Dutch Brothers, am I sinning because I am paying $2.50 for something I don’t need, but I really like and can afford? My family is not starving because I have a coffee beverage 4 times a week, but am I unfaithful with the little things??? I just don’t know.
Then I think, what about the guy who makes millions each year? When he spends $100K on a car for the same reasons I want a coffee beverage, is he sinning and unfaithful in the little things too? I am really wrestling with this. I don’t want to be a hypocrite in teaching the students, but also as a model to other parents and families.
Compared to 85% of the world’s population, I am just as rich as the guy who makes millions is to me in our culture. Maybe the question I should be focusing on is not if it’s a sin for me, but if I am increasingly wanting to please Jesus in every part of my life? I know his Spirit is helping me to be more sensitive to the needs around me. He wants me to act without hesitation when he put’s a needy person or situation in front of me. To that end, I am excited about how this growth is changing me. I love how compassion is winning out over my old, self-oriented ways. I want to keep this mindset growing daily. Maybe what will happen is that I won’t have to worry about sin management because I am growing in being a grace giver to all. I think I like where that takes me in my faith journey.
Mark
Use My Ears
I know someone who has been devastated by some recent news. This news is life altering and on the scale of big, it is HUGE. And as I connected with her by phone every few days I found myself hurting for her. I had no words for her, no wisdom that seemed relevant at the time. I felt guilty for not having the right words to say or some words that would bring comfort to her.
In the past I have said to others, “God has a plan,” and “Trust God.” But, I cringed at the thought of saying these truths to her. It felt like if I uttered those words I was just saying it because I had to, or it was my duty. So instead I just listened to her and resonated with her pain, and after I hung up the phone I made my petition before God. That God would bring her the peace and comfort that no human comment could ever give.
I recently had a few conversations with some jr. high students that are really hurting. Life has thrown them some pretty tough stuff to deal with. And even though my desire is for them to draw near to the God, the Healer, I wrestle with a choice. Will I listen for a bit and then wait for my opportunity to give advice and tell them how to live, or will I really listen and allow them to pour out their hearts? I cannot look for my opportunity to speak because they would just shut down. So instead I felt God telling me to listen and not be so quick to speak. To not be so quick to give a remedy. To just extend my listening ear, and when they asked me a question I would then lovingly share how I have seen God work in my life in the midst of painful times.
I have to say that I did not always care enough to really listen. But, God is working on me to stop with the words and really listen. It is so hard, so very hard for a talker like me. But if I want to truly hear, I need to quiet my mouth, use my ears and truly listen.
Jen
College Doesn’t Turn Kids Secular?
Today I started to to try and do a better job of finding insightful information online that will be food for thought as we travel the journey of raising students who will live their faith for a lifetime. From now on, I will be inserting various blog posts and news items from the web in addition to original thoughts from those of us on staff at Rolling Hills. Let me know what you think as you get a chance to interact with it- Pastor Mark
The following response is from Tim Gebhart, Assistant Director of Wilderness Ministry at Ohio Wesleyan University. Before coming to Ohio Wesleyan, Mr. Gebhart reached out to students at Slippery Rock University.
Tim Gebhart writes:
The message that “College doesn’t turn kids secular” caused me to look at things from a different perspective than I usually do. In the CCO we often focus on Steve Garber’s The Fabric of Faithfulness, that Barna Group survey, and other sources that tell us, correctly, how habits formed in college are likely to remain for life.
What about habits formed during high school? In an interview, Mark Regnerus makes the claim that “most of the seeds for ‘secularization’ are planted well before college, but it’s only during college that the diminished participation in organized religion emerges and becomes evident.” A major cause of this “secularization” is the shoddy faith foundations of many teens (and their parents).
I have seen numerous examples that support Regnerus’ statement: High school students I have known whose parents forced them to go to church, and who kept them from alcohol and the whole party scene that comes with it but never gave reasons for these rules. The kids graduated from high school and went off to college. While at college they never went to church. In fact, most Sunday mornings they were still drunk from the night before. There was no sudden change in beliefs. These students did not get secularized by the atmosphere in their college town. While in high school (if not before) they decided that they didn’t want to have anything to do with church, and that alcohol and partying looked like a lot of fun. The college experience didn’t change their minds, but it did give them opportunities to do these things.
While college students do form long-lasting lifestyle patterns, they do not come to college as empty vessels or unshaped masses. College is a time when patterns are set in stone, but many of these patterns have been established long before. Looked at in this light, our role as campus ministers is to guide students to see the positive and negative patterns in their own lives, to reinforce the positive, and to alter the negative.
Too often, as Christian Smith says in his interview, students “can’t explain . . . what’s behind their thinking.” These students don’t know how to practice deep soul-searching or self examination. Their worldviews are made up of assumptions that they don’t even realize they are assuming. This is one place that we as campus ministers need to step in to guide these students in rediscovering the teachings of Jesus.
Many students have no solid answers to questions such as ‘Why aren’t you drinking?’ or ‘Why do you go to church?’ When confronted with these questions, students are either going to give in to their friends, the askers of the above questions, or they are going to examine the beliefs they’ve inherited from their parents, and make them truly their own. As Garber and the Barna Group assure us, whichever way students go, they are likely to continue in that direction for their whole lives. As campus ministers, we need to spend time with these students to teach them incarnationally that the gospel of Christ is true and meaningful in their lives. We need to live our lives as examples to our students, realizing that we aren’t perfect, but still we can demonstrate a consistent, faithful lifestyle based on the gospel. Also it’s our role to ask students hard questions in a safe context, a place where they can say “I don’t know,” and we can help them to discover solid answers that will hold up in the classroom and at the frat party – or in the dorm as they are deciding whether to go to the frat party.
Students often come to college with thoroughly unexamined beliefs. After they graduate, they will be much less likely to change their beliefs. This makes the college years a crucial time to correct and fine tune beliefs and lifestyle choices.
College Transition Initiative12/18/07 7:44 AMDerek Melleby (noreply@blogger.com)
You Can’t Sing What You Can’t Hear
I was reading this today from Mark Batterson, an insightful pastor in the DC area, and I thought it was worth posting- Mark
I recently read a fascinating story about a musical trainer who worked with Opera singers who could not hit certain notes within an Octave, even though the notes fell within their vocal range. It was a mystery. The trainer did extensive testing on their vocal chords, but he couldn’t find any reason why they couldn’t hit those notes. On a whim, he tested their hearing. And what he discovered is that these Opera singers could not sing a note they could not hear. The problem wasn’t singing. The problem was hearing.
Made me think of that phrase that is repeated throughout the New Testament: he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says. I think many of us are trapped in negative cycles or sinful habits or destructive addictions because we haven’t heard the loving voice of our Heavenly Father say, “This is my child in whom I am well pleased.”
When you start to hear the voice of God–His loving voice, His graceful voice, His assuring voice, His powerful voice–you begin to sing what you’re heard. By the way, this is why it’s so important to read the Word. When you open the Bible God opens His mouth.
For what it’s worth, I’d rather have people hear one word from the Lord than a thousand sermons!
The Batterson Blog – Thoughts on Life and Leadership2/11/09 7:35 AMMark Batterson (noreply@blogger.com)
Get On The Giving Train…
Last weekend we talked about giving and the different ways you can give with the students at Elevation. It went really well and I enjoyed encouraging the students to take steps of faith and action in this area. I wanted to give you a short summary of the takeaways that we gave the kids so you can get some ideas on how to build the spiritual discipline of giving into their life.
Often the ways we try and help our kids learn how to give is by giving them some money just before we leave for church and reminding them to put it in the offering basket when they get to their class. One big challenge for JH students is that they don’t learn to use their own money in that situation. It’s hard to remember and even harder to get change for their money on short notice. Ever wonder why your kid doesn’t give when you gave them a $20 bill for their allowance? So the kid goes to church with a $20 in his wallet and when it’s time to give his tithe of 10%, he doesn’t have any change so he waits until next week. It’s not that he doesn’t want to give, it’s more a matter of not having a means to give. Below is the segment of my message that dealt with applying the message and starting to give financially:
How do you start giving?
- First, answer these questions in your heart
- Do you love Jesus?
- Did Jesus give his life so you could be his follower?
- Will you follow Him in every part of your life?
- Will you start to give your money this week, no matter how faithful you have been in the past?
- Get your parents involved so you are teaming together to do this
- Ask for a checking account(which allows for learning how to write a check and use a check for your giving)
- Try to use the online giving tool at church if you don’t have cash you can easily give(this only works if your child has a debit card connected to their checking account)
- Pray for the cheerful joy of giving, in every situation that you give
- Be confident that your gift, no matter how small or big, is changing the world, one person at a time
As I worked with my Freshman daughter, I tried to apply these principles. She was very responsive and desiring to give, but she got easily stuck because she didn’t have money with her and she didn’t remember to get money before Sundays. All in all, when she used her debit card to access a regular offering gift of $1.50 taken out of her checking account each Sunday, she can now feel confident that she is faithfully giving. She always had a cheerful attitude about giving so her actions and her heart are lining up.
I hope this post will help you to take ground in this area and let me know if I can better clarify any of these thoughts.
Pastor Mark
Imitate Me, Part 1
I was reflecting today about how much it frustrates me when we lose continuity in any of our ministries in the Junior High. Last weekend we didn’t meet for Fusion because historically, when we would meet on Super Bowl Sunday, we would have so few leaders and so few students. The ensuing results of all the absentees would be multiple combined groups with strange group dynamics. So we press on and meet as frequently as we can, hoping to keep the continuity of discipling our students at the forefront of our leader’s hearts and minds.
To that end, I would like to start a series of blog posts that will help you to better build spiritually into your kid’s life. In 1st Corinthians 11:1 it says, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” When we get challenged to start discipling our families or some other setting, what usually stops us is knowing the right place to start. I often think that Jesus wasn’t nearly as concerned about where he would start with his disciples as he was about starting where they were at. I try to do the same in my Fusion group of guys.
During the course of my group time on Sunday nights, my apprentices and I do something called Imitate Me time. We talk about one important aspect about our faith and walk with God and share it with our students. We challenge them to take a step in that aspect this week and see if they did it the following week when we meet again. By seeing if they did imitate in their life the challenge I gave, I can see if they are taking steps with God or just taking up space in our group.
Each one of us has a number of significant areas in our spiritual walk that are worth imitating. With me, it’s my consistent time reading the Word, praying and listening to sermons every morning as part of my workout. Another area is my desire to serve at Hazelbrook Middle School and help in a math class each week on Tuesdays. You may be really good at writing encouraging letters to different people and modeling that to your kids. You might have a gift for fixing things that you could teach to someone. You might be gifted in sports and love to help others by coaching or assisting a coach and helping them to be successful.
Whatever you have that has shaped your faith, take that and figure out how someone could imitate that in your life. Break it down and simplify it so it has steps and a progression. Try and transfer it to your son or daughter and see if they pick it up. Just remember that it won’t happen automatically. You have to decide to start somewhere and move forward. Each one of us is worth imitating so let’s start helping our kids follow Christ more closely as we teach them how to imitate us as we imitate Christ.
Pastor Mark
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