4 VOICES STUDENTS HEAR TODAY

The students of Generations Church have just returned from a life changing YOUTH CAMP (all of them are). As a career youth worker (been involved with students in some form or fashion for 32 yrs,) I am convinced that one of the reasons students do not keep what they received at camp is because of the voices they hear when they get home.

I am going to talk about these different VOICES for the next several blogs, so keep coming back.

#1 NEGATIVISM

#2 CRITICISM

#3 SKEPTICISM

#4 CYNICISM

Physical and sexual abuse are rampant in the culture of today's family but I believe that the most long lasting form of abuse today is VERBAL ABUSE. In my 30+ years of working with students I have seen more of them overcome physical and sexual abuse, but I have seen so so many come short of God's best for them because of some verbal curse that was spoken over them by parents or someone in authority over them. WE ALL KNOW THIS . . . WORDS CUT LIKE A KNIFE AND OPEN UP A WOUND IN THE SPIRIT OF THE PERSON.

Which is why I want to address this topic of THE VOICES students hear today.

NEGATIVISM - the disposition that always projects the worst case scenario.

"They think that we are not good because we do not get up with the chickens at the crack of dawn and we do not walk 15 miles to school like they did." This was a recent quote from an 18 yr. old senior with whom I was talking with on Facebook. Sure he was stereotyping all older people but there is an element of truth in his words. Many older folk from before the "baby boomers" think nothing but negativity about the youth in today's culture. There is this thunderous negative voice coming from our culture toward the youth culture of today that says: LAZY, ENTITLED, TROUBLE MAKERS, RUDE, EVEN IRRELEVANT. They respond by being even lazier, ruder, even hiding (ipods, video games, sun glasses etc.) so that they can show us who is really in charge. Which in turn just re-enforces what the world believes about them and many just write them ALL off as being that way.

WE MUST EXPRESS HOW MUCH WE BELIEVE IN THEM!!! Even if they fall short of our expectations we must express with our words how valuable they are and how they are the hope of our nation.

LETS ALL PRACTICE: "I believe in you . . . " come on lets do it again "I believe in you . . ."

In His Grace,

Ed

Matching Up

I was sent this link on my Facebook page and it made me think . . . . mmmmmmmmm!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgsKxOuhMSc&feature=player_embedded

As an ABSTINENCE EDUCATOR (since 1994) and a Pastor since 1978 (which is also an ABSTINENCE EDUCATOR or should be) I have taken a strong stand on sexual purity. Sometime at great peril to my reputation and relationships. If you have never heard I am known around the world and across the nation as "SEX ED."

In March of 2008 I was asked to take this conviction on to the Dr. Phil Show, so this is no small matter to me.

It is a matter of personal conviction since it is not just something I teach because I lived it as well. My wife and I both were virgins when we got married.

Which brings me to the point of my blog: IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST SOMETHING OR STAND FOR SOMETHING SHOULDN'T OUR STAND MATCH OUR LIFESTYLE.

The above link should be a wake up to all Christians in America. Our children are being lied to and set up for failure. If we are to make a difference in the culture by standing against the tide of public opinion and public policy then we MUST MAKE OUR LIFESTYLE MATCH UP WITH OUR WORDS OR WE ARE POWERLESS TO INFLUENCE CHANGE.

I welcome your thoughts.
Ed

Sorry . . . It has been awhile

SO LETS CATCH UP!!!

It took me an unusual amount of time to get back to normal from my trip to Mongolia. By the way thanks to all of you who prayed and gave so that I could have a successful trip.

God granted me the privilege of speaking 21 times in 9 days.
5 Abstinence assemblies in schools (1 in a private school)
2 Sunday AM service in churches
1 Youth Pastors meeting
10 Sessions on Youth Ministry @ the Bible School.
1 VET NET - animal doctors who go to the country side and train other vets (they are all believers).
1 Youth Service
1 Youth Rally

What am I reading?
Servolution by Dino Rizzo
Building Successful Teams by Bill Butterworth

What am I listening to?
Awakening by Passion
Kenny G

What am I enjoying?
I have had two grand children born in the last 8 weeks
Reed David Hutson (Denae's)
Allie Hope Ainsworth (Jeff's)
NBA PLAYOFFS

What am I preaching about at Generations Church?
A great series called "GRACE TO YOU" from the book of Galations. Check it out on the www.generationslubbock.com home page. You can stream, podcast, or download the mp3.

More thoughts to come. I am back in the the blog world.
Ed