Fornication and Facebook

I haven't posted much lately, I apologize for that. Well sad news I'm not really posting now either but I am sharing a post from the blog of The Source for Youth Ministry (if you work with teens, have teens, or ever see teens on the street you should check out this site once in a while.) I think this is great insight into what I think is such a sad reality of our world and social media. Please take the time to check it out because your kids shouldn't know about this before you do, but they probably will.

Bang With Friends - David R. Smith

 (Yes it is as bad as it sounds)

They aren't just phones anymore . . .

I've read a few youth articles lately that have been very informative about teens and sexting. (Don't know what sexting is - ask one of the teens you know to explain it to you . . or watch the following video and read the article and you'll know soon enough) Sexting is a phenomena sweeping through the teens of our nation, just one more of the "dangerous pitfalls" facing teens daily, and because of that we need to be informed.

With the invention of the camera phone . . . and then the even more versatile smart phone, owning a cell phone no longer means just making phone calls, but what does it mean for Generation-Y?

Maybe you have heard of the app "Snapchat", it's been making a buzz in media for the past little bit and I am intrigued by the coverage it is getting. Why is it getting the attention it is? Maybe it is because there is more to it than meets the eye. I would encourage you to peruse the following articles, watch the video and maybe even do a little research of your own on teens and cell phone use. Snapchat & sexting isn't the only danger, we should have a well rounded understanding of what teens are doing on their phones daily. We should also have a healthy plan to engage our kids/students in conversation about cell phones, social media and other issues that they face daily.

Check out these links:
Teenagers & Snapchat

Snapchat app has parents of teens concerned (video)

Nina Grewal on Christmas

Interesting Research

Here's some interesting research that was shared with me this week. I found parts of it to be really fascinating and thought I would share it with you as well. This is research that was conducted in the city of Red Deer and I would consider it very relevant. The part I found most interesting was concerning Teenage Promiscuity. I'll let you skim the whole article here, but just to throw this out there, they found in their research that "The number one protective factor inhibiting female promiscuity is family activities. In fact, for every increased family activity per week—with the father figure present—a 9% decrease in sexual activity is the result." I find this incredible!

A House Full of Blessings

We had the incredible privileged last night of having many of my supporters into our home for a casual ice cream social. I have been wanting to invite my supporters to something like this for a long time as a way of saying "Thank you" for their commitment to my ministry.
The plan was to spend the evening outside enjoying a fire and some fresh air . . . the rain changed those plans a bit. Instead we crowded into our home and mingled inside. Not all of my supporters were able to join us, but my gratitute towards them is just as great as to those who were able ot come out last night.

It was an incredible thing to see so many of the people who make my work possible all in one place. to be surrounded by people who sacrificially give towards the work God is doing, it truly was a house full of blessings last night!

I'm Celebrating

Last year at about this time I shared with you, on my One to Fifty page, a need that I had in my support levels. I am Blown Away, I am also more aware now then ever, how weak my faith is as I did not anticipate the response I received in answer to my need. In one short year (a little less actually) you guys have helped me to reach my goal in an incredible way. Together you have brought me to a place that last year at this time I thought not possible. God has used you to bless me and so this is for you . . .
                                                 
                                                  THANK YOU!

Thank you for giving sacrificially to make this ministry possible. The monthly donor commitment that I have astounds me, and the one time donations that come in always blow my mind as they consistently cover the remaining shortfall I have. God is good and I am celebrating his goodness. Please Praise God with me for this incredible gift, and incredible answer to prayer!

And now were all Cowboys

The Ponoka Stampede wrapped up yesterday. For those of you who aren't from around here let me give you an idea of what that means.
It's Canada's Largest 7 day Rodeo I don't know the exact number but I'm guessing that our town of 7000 becomes a town of about 12000 during that time. The sea of campers, RV's, tents and trailers blows my mind every year. To be honest, I like the event, it's fun and brings excitement to our town. I don't love everything associated with it, namely the 7 days straight of intoxicated noise, but the actual Rodeo is a great event. The one thing that gets me every year though, is the influx in Cowboys in this town. I'm not talking about the real Cowboys, there are lots of them that come in from all over, and even lots that hang their hats here honestly. But the influx in people who all of a sudden "become" cowboys for this event makes me laugh. You can pick them out easily, you never see them with a horse, their boots are brand new and they usually walk a bit funny with them on, and the hat on their head just doesn't sit right, not to mention they couldn't tell you the first thing about livestock, farming or Rodeo for that matter. As I was assessing this grand number of "cowboys", seeing their pictures show up in my Facebook Newsfeed and watching them walk around the fair grounds, it made me think of the Christian walk.
Mathew 7:21-23 Explains very clearly that looking the part of Christian simply is not good enough. "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"
These are sobering words, they should make us examine ourselves, we should not brush over them quickly. Accepting the teachings of Christ, and saying "yes" to Him truly means I should be different. I cannot brandish a Bible and memorize some verses and so fool myself to think that I know Jesus, or that He knows me in the sense of salvation. Verse 24 is the Key "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock."
After their 7 days of rodeo fun those wannabe Cowboys  stash their boots, buckles and hats for another year, no harm no foul really, apart form looking a little silly. But for the Christian who thinks they are but they are not, the stakes are much higher, for when the wind, rain and storms come the consequence are real and the house built on sand will fall with a great crash, and  a high price will be paid for that folly.