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This was passed along to me by the Franklin Church of Christ preacher in Franklin, TN. As a counseling major, I know my first instinct is to offer those who are in mourning and pain some special insight on life. However, this video shares another perspective. This perspective I believe is Biblical and is what each of us need when we are in that dark place that only Jesus can help us out of in life.
Check it out here!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
When texting goes bad
This is one of those activities that most people enjoy on their cell phone devices in the 21st Century. It is the age of texting for sure. I know while I travel I enjoy texting my friends and family to let them know my “status”. Others I am sure enjoy the same features and more. However, what happens when texting goes bad? Recently, I was watching a news program that featured a 15 year old boy and his texting problem. I am sure you have heard of it before. Some kids just don’t know when to stop texting. Some teens will text thousands of times every month not knowing they are running their parent’s cell phone bills through the roof. But this is not the case with this young man. He came on the Fox News Network to tell his story. How one text message has ruined his young life. He said it only took 2 minutes to text and for the other person to receive it. He stated he wished he had never sent that message. Many parents are unaware that their children are involved in this type of texting. It is called “sexting” by many. Unfortunately for this young man, he will have to face possible jail time and the label of “sex offender” until his 18th birthday that is unless he is tried as an adult.
The offense this young man and many other young people are involved in seems innocent to many. However, to the FCC and parents it is horrifying. They send graphic sex messages to friends and even strangers. Stalkers who are several years older are portraying themselves as young teenage boys only to attempt to harm our young people in many different ways. So what can we do as parents to keep our teens or youth safe from these types of situations? John Walsh of “America’s Most Wanted” suggests creating an open dialog between you and your child. He says most parents don’t have a clue about their children’s texting habits. Many parents don’t want to violate their children’s personal space or privacy. I pose the question; since when do children have privacy rights? Would not the Columbine Massacre been prevented had the parents been aware of what was in their children’s room? Therefore, we as parents must sometimes be the bad guys while they are young. Remember when they were 2 or 3 and you would get on to them only to have them throw out that pouty lip? Well, when they are almost grown that pouty lip turns into an emotional roller coaster of crazy tirade. You didn’t give in when they were 2 or 3; you shouldn’t cave when they are 15 either. Remember raising children is your God given responsibility. You have to ensure that they are safe and that they will have the best opportunity for eternal life.
Parents if you don’t ask questions and you don’t dialog with your children then you might end up regretting your parenting some day. Perhaps your son looks at you and says, “I wish I had never sent that text…it only took 2 minutes and now I am a sex offender.” Do you want to deal with that extreme? Do you want to deal with those emotions and hurt? If not, start with your children today. Insist that you trust them, but that trust is earned. Look at those cell phone records. Look at who is calling them. You can find more tips on this subject by going to http://www.cox.com/takecharge.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”—Proverbs 22:6
The offense this young man and many other young people are involved in seems innocent to many. However, to the FCC and parents it is horrifying. They send graphic sex messages to friends and even strangers. Stalkers who are several years older are portraying themselves as young teenage boys only to attempt to harm our young people in many different ways. So what can we do as parents to keep our teens or youth safe from these types of situations? John Walsh of “America’s Most Wanted” suggests creating an open dialog between you and your child. He says most parents don’t have a clue about their children’s texting habits. Many parents don’t want to violate their children’s personal space or privacy. I pose the question; since when do children have privacy rights? Would not the Columbine Massacre been prevented had the parents been aware of what was in their children’s room? Therefore, we as parents must sometimes be the bad guys while they are young. Remember when they were 2 or 3 and you would get on to them only to have them throw out that pouty lip? Well, when they are almost grown that pouty lip turns into an emotional roller coaster of crazy tirade. You didn’t give in when they were 2 or 3; you shouldn’t cave when they are 15 either. Remember raising children is your God given responsibility. You have to ensure that they are safe and that they will have the best opportunity for eternal life.
Parents if you don’t ask questions and you don’t dialog with your children then you might end up regretting your parenting some day. Perhaps your son looks at you and says, “I wish I had never sent that text…it only took 2 minutes and now I am a sex offender.” Do you want to deal with that extreme? Do you want to deal with those emotions and hurt? If not, start with your children today. Insist that you trust them, but that trust is earned. Look at those cell phone records. Look at who is calling them. You can find more tips on this subject by going to http://www.cox.com/takecharge.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”—Proverbs 22:6
Thank you Jesus!
Let us thank Jesus for His glorious creative power (Colossians 1:16). Let us thank Jesus for His mystery concealed during the ages (Ephesians 3:3-4). Let us thank Jesus for revealing this mystery to the Holy Apostles (Ephesians 3:3). Let us thank Jesus for His saving grace (Ephesians 2:8). Let us thank Jesus for His work on the cross (Hebrews 2:12). Let us thank Jesus for His resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:10). Let us thank Jesus for purchasing His church (Acts 20:28). Let us thank Jesus for His plan for mankind’s salvation laid out so perfectly and simply (Mark 16:16). Let us thank Jesus for allowing us entrance into the church (Acts 2:47). Let us thank Jesus for protecting us from the sneaky devil (Ephesians 6:11). Let us thank Jesus for His mediation between us and God (Hebrews 12:24). Let us thank Jesus for His peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). Let us thank Jesus for the promised crown of life (Revelation 2:10). Let us thank Jesus for an eternal home with Him (Revelation 21:1-3). Let us thank Jesus for His Word which gives us these hopes (Hebrews 1:1-2).
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