1

A positive example

Sex: Not

Everyone is doing it

Pg.2

• Invisible Children

• Money for China

Pg.3

• Diversity

• Relational

Pg.4

• Calendar of Ideas

Pg.5

• Kid’s Culture

• The Parent

Source is

Upside Down Ministries

www.ud4christ.com

Teen Culture Specialist

Robert Smith

P O Box 232

Lawton, Ok 73502

robert@ud4christ.com

I know that it seems easy to point out all of the negative things that today’s generation is involved in. All we ever hear about on the news or read about in the paper seems to be highlighting the destructive decisions that teens and children are making. Although I believe it is important for parents to stay aware of what is happening in our I culture, I also believe that we should real-ize that not all teens are as bad as the media might lead us to believe. I have heard it said that “what gets recognized is what gets done”. If that is the case, it is important to take some time to point out and recognize the things that we love about this generation. This issue is dedicated to pointing out the good things we have noticed about children and teens. As you read this take the time to identify the things about your child or teen that inspire you, encour-age you, or just makes you proud.

The Jonas Brothers were recently voted the top band at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. The band consist of three brothers Kevin 20, Joe 18, and Nick 15. Despite their growing popularity they are not your typical rock stars. Each member of this teen-pop sensation wear rings on their fingers to symbolize their purity commitment. As Joe put it on the Jonas Brothers website “ It’s a purity ring. A promise to myself and God to stay pure until mar-riage.”

Contrary to what pop culture portrays about teens and their sex lives, everyone isn't doing it. An increasing amount of teens are openly taking a stance against pre-marital sex. Why you ask? Many teens across the country are taking this vow publicly with other committed teens in their church as a way of show-ing that they are choosing to follow Gods standard concern-ing sex. For some teens it is their religious beliefs that cause them to take this stance, but there are plenty of non-Christian teens who are also choosing abstinence sim-ply because they believe it is the best choice to make.

54% of high

school stu-

dents are

virgins

Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention

2

In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmak-ing adventure transformed into much more when these boys from Southern

California discovered a tragedy that dis-gusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims. After returning to the States, they created the

documentary "Invisible Children: Rough Cut," a film that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda’s night commuters and child soldiers. The film was originally shown to friends and family, but has now been seen by millions of people. Shortly after this they formed the non-profit organization Invisible Children. Among other things, they give strug-gling mothers a job, raise awareness of the child soldier problems, and help build schools. Invisible Children started a campaign last year called “Schools for Schools”. In this pro-gram schools here in America raise money to build school buildings in Africa where chil-dren would otherwise have no form of schooling. When American kids heard about this

cause they jumped on it! A total of 1210 schools participated with 17,307 stu-dents raising money. Through talent shows, collecting old CDs to resell, mak-ing and selling necklaces, and much more these students were able to raise $1,543,860.99 and counting. They saw the need and would not stand by and let an injustice happen.

Invisible Children

www.invisiblechildren.com

Dear Parents,

In society today the

re is a stereotype s

ur-

rounding the nation

's youth which label

s us

as lazy, selfish, and

indifferent. A mission-

ary came and talke

d to our bible study

group

about young people

in China who had

a desire

to learn about the B

ible but did not hav

e the finan-

cial means to do so

. After hearing abou

t the strug-

gle of ministry in Ch

ina our group, cons

isting of about

60 high school and

college students, m

ade the choice

to break such mold

s. It was discussed,

a goal was set,

and with both passio

n and determination

we set out to

raise 10,000 dollars

to help bring the w

ord of God to

China. The amount

was large but throu

gh bake sales,

garage sales and ev

en door to door cam

paigning we

were able to slowly

move closer to our

goal. Moments

arose when it seem

ed that we would no

t accomplish

what we set out to d

o, but even in those

instances God

had a plan. We raised t

he 10,000 dollars an

d a small

group from a genera

tion so often looked

down upon

and cast aside, were

able to rise above

and change a

piece of the world th

rough the power of

Christ.

-16 yrs old La

wton, Ok

3

Today’s kids are extremely relational. The most important thing in their lives are peo-ple. It’s so easy to get caught up in money, jobs, and general everyday business. Most adults can’t say the people they care about are top pri-ority for how their time is spent. But with kids and teens it’s the exact opposite. School and church are viewed as a social activi-ties. And of course staying in contact with peo-ple through phone, myspace, and facebook takes up a lot of their time. The teenage world revolves around interacting with other people.

While there are times this can be negative the truth is- at the root of the matter young people care about

people above all else.

More so than any generation before

it, this group of young people embrace diversity. It does not matter what the color of a person’s

skin is or what music they like or their style of clothing. Teenagers today have an ability to see a person for who they are. This character quality seems to come naturally to this gen-eration. Most teens have a wide range of friends that would seem to have nothing in com-mon. This cultural diversity is something that should be embraced. It is to be admired that many of today’s teenagers are so diverse that they can relate to people who are very differ-ent from themselves.

3/4 of today’s children have friends who are of a different ethnic origin.—Ibid

High School Musical is a great example of race being a non issue. Also the fact that a musical was so overwhelmingly popular with children and teens alike shows that their interests are as diverse as their friendships.

What I love about my kids…

Diversity

4

Remember what you love about your teen in August! Show them you care and spend time with them! Even if they protest at first they’ll eventually give in and have fun.

2 1

3

10

17

24

4 5 6 7 8 9

11 16 15 14 13 12

20 19 21 18 22 23

25 27 26 28 29 30

31

Take some time to make a list of all the things you Take some time to make a list of all the things you Take some time to make a list of all the things you Take some time to make a list of all the things you LOVELOVELOVELOVE about your teen. Too often we are disciplining or correct-about your teen. Too often we are disciplining or correct-about your teen. Too often we are disciplining or correct-about your teen. Too often we are disciplining or correct-ing our kids. And most of us are just trying to make it ing our kids. And most of us are just trying to make it ing our kids. And most of us are just trying to make it ing our kids. And most of us are just trying to make it through another day of work, laundry, dinner, etc. We through another day of work, laundry, dinner, etc. We through another day of work, laundry, dinner, etc. We through another day of work, laundry, dinner, etc. We don’t always make time to notice and acknowledge the don’t always make time to notice and acknowledge the don’t always make time to notice and acknowledge the don’t always make time to notice and acknowledge the

positive things they bring to our lives. positive things they bring to our lives. positive things they bring to our lives. positive things they bring to our lives.

Take advantage of the last few days of summer. Plan a family picnic! Go to a nearby park or even the back yard! Bring out-door games and have a blast!

Play your child’s favorite video game with them. (even if your not good :) ) Not only can you be to-gether you can check out what they are playing.

Surprise your kid by picking them up from school and taking them to get a soda. Use this time to tell them some of the things you love about them.

Find any point today to tell your teen something positive about them. Like you love their sense of humor or their funky hairstyle. Anything!

Movie Night! This can be a family event or a one on one date. Rent or go see a movie your child is inter-ested in– even if you hate it! :) Go all out with pop-corn & the works!

Find a time today to attempt a con-versation with your kid about an issue they might be dealing with. Do some research and have a cul-tural example to start things off.

Show some inter-est in your kid’s sports or hobbies. Watch them skateboard or kick the soccer ball with them today.

Tell your child you love them today. Not getting off the phone or at bed-time but a heart-felt moment where they know you really mean it.

Buy your kid a CD today or download a song for them. If you are concerned about the artists they are into check out the web for Christian alter-natives.

Let your child pick what you are hav-ing for dinner tonight. Anything they want whether eating out or their favorite home cooked meal.

5

www.justgive.org

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes a humble place- becoming like this child-is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

Kids are most times the greatest teachers. Look at these kid−like qualities and see what you can add to your life:

• Kids don't worry. They trust their parents to take care of them. • Kids love to have fun and play. • Kids are persistent. They never give up! • Kids are fearless. • Kids are always asking questions. • Kids are color-blind. Anyone they meet is a poten-tial person to love. • Kids are honest. They will tell you exactly what is on their mind.

Take a closer look at your kids this week Take a closer look at your kids this week Take a closer look at your kids this week Take a closer look at your kids this week and see what qualities they are teaching you.and see what qualities they are teaching you.and see what qualities they are teaching you.and see what qualities they are teaching you.

An 11 year old 11 year old 11 year old 11 year old girl, Aubyn Burnside from North

Carolina heard about a need in foster care and

decided to make a differencemake a differencemake a differencemake a difference. Many children in

foster care carry their few belongings in garbage

bags due to a lack of funds for a proper suitcase.

Aubyn even at a young age was saddened by this

and started getting the word out with posters

and local speeches in her community. Six years

later this idea has blossomed into a charity organi-charity organi-charity organi-charity organi-

zation zation zation zation and they have collected over 25,000 suit-

cases for foster children. To read more about

Aubyn and other children who are changing the changing the changing the changing the

worldworldworldworld go to www.justgive.org

Matthew 18:2−5

Starlight.org is a charity made up of actors wanting to use their star-power to brighten others lives. Kids like Corbin Bleu (High School Musical 2), Jennette McCurdy (iCarly), and Dominic Scott Kay (Charlotteʼs Web) use their fame from TV and movies to help lift the spirits of families of seriously ill

children. This organi-zation serves over 180,000 children each month by using their generosity to help inspire others.

Kids helping kids

6

Parent Discussion questions:Parent Discussion questions:Parent Discussion questions:Parent Discussion questions: 1. How is your child doing in the area of abstinence? 2. What ways does your child help others? What ways do you wish they would help others

and how can you encourage them to do so? 3. Do you feel your child embraces diversity? How so? 4. In what ways does your child show that relationships are important to them? 5. What qualities do you love about your kids? 6. Which ideas from the calendar are you going to try with your child or entire family? 7. What qualities of younger children do you think adults need? 8. What are other positive thoughts you can think of about this generation?