Roots Youth

Parents

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Why talk about the Ten Commandments with your son or daughter? For one, our kids need to understand God’s standard for right and wrong in order to get how amazing His grace really is. The Ten Commandments is a good…
Read More:
http://www.realworldparents.com/starters/article/the_ten_commandments/

Featured Resource: The Space Between

The changes and challenges of adolescence can leave many parents feeling overwhelmed at times with fear, confusion, frustration, and a lack of understanding. But here you’ll find hope to help you understand and effectively parent your teen. Dr. Walt Mueller brings more than 30 years of adolescent research (and his own parenting experience) to help you through the tumultuous years of adolescence.

Receive 20% off The Space Between using coupon code RWPN107 by August 30th, 2009.

http://www.realworldparents.com/store/item/the_space_between/

2. Learn Their Lingo

BION = Text message short for, "Believe it or not."

RAWK! = RAWK is the slang spelling of ROCK, originally used by metal fans. 1) RAWK is used to express joy, as in a rallying cry. 2) It can also mean congratulations.

3. Movie Reviews for Parents

Post Grad

Students may be attracted to the stars in this cast, including Alexis Bledel (“Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “Gilmore Girls”) and Zach Davies (“Friday Night…
Read Review:
http://www.realworldparents.com/movies/review/post_grad/

Bandslam

“Bandslam” is one of the best-reviewed teen films in a long time, but it got killed at the box office its opening weekend. Thanks to…
Read Review:
http://www.realworldparents.com/movies/review/bandslam/

4. Links to Learn From

85% of those 18-23 who make a commitment to God did so before age 14 [Fuller Youth Institute]
http://fulleryouthinstitute.org/2009/08/the-85-statistic-is-back/

Why are coming of age movies about grown-ups now? [Washington Post]
http://www.mercurynews.com/movies/ci_13207099

Abercrombie & Fitch: Worst Recession Brand? [Time]
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1918160,00.html

5. A Little Encouragement...And Humor

Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.
- Ronald Reagan

For God's Glory or Addiction

What are some of the objects God uses to describe us as human beings in His Word? Here are a few examples; creature (from Greek word for formation), clay, vessel. I've asked this question to youth, "Have you ever tried just sitting absolutely still doing nothing? I mean absolutely nothing." You get a stirring inside of you that you have to do someting. That something can be a number of things, but you feel you have to give yourself to something. We weren't designed to be self sufficient. Based on our original design, we were meant to uplift God in every area of our lives (bring Him glory). But as a result of sin, our fellowship with God was lost (made right through Christ) and now everyone has to face the struggle of dealing with a sin nature.

One definition of sin is missing the mark, vis. the absence of God. If the driving desire of our heart is not to uplift and glorify God in every area of our life, then we are submitting ourselves to a substitute. That substitute can be defined as an addiction because we are slaves to something or someone. The definition of addiction is "The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or or involved in something." It is evident in today's society that our youth struggle with countless issues. The following are an example of some of the addictions and struggles most prevelant today.

50% of all teens admit to drinking within the last 30 days, and 33% were drunk at least once in this time frame.

20 percent of 8th graders admit to trying marijuana.

Twenty-five percent of 17 and 18 year-olds smoke regularly.

90 percent of youth have seen porn online, while 80 percent have been exposed multiple times to hard core porn.

95% of all males and 89 percent of females have masturbated

The State of New York surveyed their students to discover 15% of students engage in gambling each week, and an estimate suggests that 80% of teens have gambled at least one time per year

More than half of teenage girls are, or think they should be, on diets. They want to lose all or some of the forty pounds that females naturally gain between 8 and 14. About three percent of these teens go too far, becoming anorexic or bulimic

For an estimated 2 to 3 million Americans self injury is a serious problem. The predominant age of the beginning of this is somewhere between 10 - 16 years old

"No one knows what causes addictive behaviors, like shopping, alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling," says Ruth Engs, EdD, a professor of applied health science at Indiana University.

Now these are some of the blatantly obvious addictions today. These statistics do not negate believers, and believers don't have to be facing any of these particular issues in order to be addicted to someting. As mentioned earlier, we are just vessels, and out of God's unconditional love He will never force Himself on us. In order to live out the victory which He has already given us and truly be a disciple we must deny ourselves. That means begging God to open our eyes to what our desires and motivations are that drive us to live and give ourselves to what we are living and beg for grace to turn and submit to His grace and passion. It is a choice we must decide to live out continually, daily, as long as God grants us the gift of living this in our human bodies before stepping into eternity with Him. Only His love can drive us to live in Him and only through our surrenduring our will can we stay in this. Let us be living examples to our youth today that only Jesus satisfies.

We are here to help you. If you wish to contact me regarding any services which I can offer, feel free to contact me at kyle@xtrlive.com or by my office phone at 615-349-9166 Ext. 303.

I want you to know that I am praying for you and your family. If at any time you need to find a good Christian counselor you can CLICK HERE and search for one by zip code.

Gob bless,

Kyle Shultz

Youth Pastor

Xtreme Youth Alliance

Home of Sound of Light & Xtreme Talk Live

Sources

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/addiction

http://www.teendrugabuse.us/teendrugstatistics.html ;

http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide
http://www.myaddiction.com/education/articles/eating_disorder_statistics.html

http://teens.lovetoknow.com/Statistics_on_Peer_Pressure
http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html#anchor12

http://www.familyfirstaid.org/teen-gambling-statistics.html

http://www.essortment.com/articles/self-injury_100006.htm