Culture: Extra Credit - Week 3

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, change my heart to look more like yours.

Extra credit is different this time because it will be two weeks before we will meet again.  So, since we have a little time on our hands, I want to challenge you to spend some time learning about God's truths in a different way.  PLEASE stay in His word daily!  I Timothy 6 would be a great chapter to focus on.  I want to challenge you to do at least 1 of 3 things:

                 1. READ TRUTH!

Tons of people read during the holidays especially if you are traveling.  So, here are some great reads that speak truth to our topic of culture.

Radical by David Platt
Radical Together by David Platt
The Heavenly Man by Paul Hattaway
Jumping Through Fires by David Nasser
I Never Thought I'd See The Day by Dr. David Jeremiah
Revolution In World Missions by K.P. Yohannan
Leadership And Self-Deception Getting Out of the Box by The Box by The Arbinger Institute
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis and Beth Clark

               2. WATCH TRUTH. . . OR LISTEN
Check out a couple of podcasts! I enjoy watching these while I'm cooking or working in the kitchen.

www.brookhills.org
On the homepage click at the bottom where it says "weekly teachings".  Next page on the right it will say "weekly teachings" and you can choose "video" or "audio".  The page will have a list of sermon titles and dates. 

Check out

• The Gospel and Materialism 10/9/11
• The Gospel and Materialism 10/16/11 - you will enjoy the interview with Katie Davis

http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/living-proof-with-beth-moore/listen/

On the left side of the page click on "broadcast archives".  Then scroll down to June 14, 2010; June 28, 2010,   Check these out -- I heard them a long time ago, but I think they apply.

               3. PRAY TRUTH

Take just a minute each day of the holidays to pray a truth to Jesus  . . . such as . . .
"Lord, I know you created me for your glory and not my own.  Help me desire You above all things."
"Lord, help me to resolve myself to follow you just as Daniel did in Babylon."
"Lord, help me to resist the temptations that get in the way of my devotion to you."

I am proud of you for hanging in there with us during the holidays!  Stay strong, sweet friends!  We are almost to the end of the month.  Resolve not to give in.  It's only a few more days.  Remember your little black books.  You might read or hear something in the "Extra Credit" that you can jot down.  I can't wait to hear what you all have to share on Wednesday the 30th.  Happy Thanksgiving to you!  May we truly be thankful for Him!

Love you friends!
Amy Harris

Raising Godly Kids in Today's Culture with Stacy Mintz

Parenting includes every emotion known to man - from exhilaration to exhaustion, pride to panic, frustration to pure fascination - the list could go on and on because each new day and each new stage brings something new.  But the one remaining constant from newborn to adulthood and beyond is the responsibility God gives us to not only set a good example for our children but to train them up to be able to live IN the world but not be OF the world while being a light TO the world.  It is a HUGE responsibility.  One we cannot take lightly.   Here are some highlights from the hints Stacy Mintz gave Titus 2:4 Women when she spoke.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM STACY''S HELPFUL HINTS:

1. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Seek, listen and obey.  Most of these issues are 'disputable' matters without clear directives in Scripture stating it is right or wrong.  It can vary for each home and each situation.  (Permissive versus beneficial)
2. Do NOT give in to "peer pressure" - it exists even in Christian parenting circles.  Just because every other child is going to that movie or reading that book doesn't mean it is right for your child.  Remind them that you love them.
3. In the Mintz home, no R rated movies.  Pretty much, no PG-13 movies until you turn 13; then it is a case by case decision.  The couple of PG-13 movies they saw prior to age 13, one of us would go to the teater and watch it firt before giving our permission.  Honestly, it was a pain in the neck, but God has given them into our are to guide and to guard their hearts and minds. Redbox and 'fat forwarding' is great, although it can provide a license to rent movies you probably shouldn't
4. Give yourself permission to invest in guarding and training your kids spiritually.  Great books, DVDs,, CDs do cost money...and often are not available at the library.  Most parents have no problem writing a check for several hundred dollars to a soccer league since their child will be a star, invest financially int he spiritual development of your child also.  Swap with other moms.
5. Prepare your child to conbat the culture.  Prior to sleepovers, give them a 'code or/phrase' they can use with you if they feel uncomfortable and need to come home.  Practice with them what to do if they get in an inappropriate situation.  Tell them to call you if they are unsure about a movie.  
6. Middle school/teenage years especially, try to keep on hand books and movies that are appropriate.  Group of kids will be over and want to watch a movie.  I stock up on books when Lifeway has their sale.  (Think creatively: old movies, Ghost and Mr. Chicken/ Bella ...)
7. Shopping/Materialism:  Shopping can become a "hobby" for kids, which wastes time and money. Starting in the middle school years, be proactive.  Before leaving the house, ask them to make a list of what is needed.  Ask them to decide what is a reasonable amount to spend on each item.  tick to the lsit.  Pray aloud with the child that God will direct your time and energies on the way to the stores or as soon as you arrive.
8. If our kids can learn alagebra in school, then they have the ability to learn Hebrews in church.  Set your expectations high for your kids.  Expose them to men's/women's conferences/Bible studies at an early age (middle/high school).  When I carpooled (middle school/high school), my kids listened to Family Life with me everyday at 7 am on the way to school.  Unless it was a topic like intimacy, they listened...even if marriage or something.
9. Parents of boys: pray for wisdom when it comes to decisions regarding sports.  Try to keep an eternal perspective with regards to time and money to invest.  I have met MANY parents who see SPORTS as the answer for the child in terms of popularity, fitting in with other kids, staying out of trouble...when the tru answer to security is Christ.  
10. Guard against our culture's "superkid" mentality that results an overscheduled kids with stressed out moms who have to prepare them by starting piano lessons at 4 years old to ensure they get into the "best" school in order to land the "perfect" job".  Your children are only in your care for a limited time; one day, you will wish that you had spent more downtime with them.  
11. Teach your kids to be selfless by serving others -- coounteract the 'me" mentality.  Let them volunteer at Fall Festival for an hour, work at Jessies's Place, visit a nursing home, help out at church etc.  Ask Pastor Chuck if there is anything they can do to help.

by Stacy Mintz

God Says...That's Who!

^{We all experience it...young...old...man...woman...boy...girl...Christian...and nonChristian --the effects of  our society's culture.  It is the driving force behind the power of peer pressure that dogs every age, race, gender and social status known to man. This societal norm  - or as our kids so aptly put it what "everyone else" is doing - dictates what is acceptable and unacceptable, what is successful and unsuccessful ... the list is endless. And you really can't blame them in a way for being charmed  by the world's allure for everywhere you look our society seems to be campaigning not only for their attention but for ours as well.  This is why we are studying Culture on Wednesday nights - so we will stop and ask ourselves that important question, "Who says?"  Who really has the right to set the standard?  What does it really mean to be happy and successful?  Well, actually, God does!}

 ^{Stacy Mintz spoke last Wednesday night about our role as parents in today's culture.  As I was studying my notes later in the week, I remembered an incident over 20 years ago that happened with my son - our oldest child.  I went to pick him up after school one day, and he flung himself into the backseat with tears streaming down his face.}  

^{"Mom, you gotta teach me all the bad words!" he blurted out.}

 ^{Well, his dad and I had worked hard to guard his precious little 6 year old mind from learning any such thing so my first thought was, "Absolutely not!" but there was obviously more to this story so I asked him why.  It seems he had been sitting with a group of boys a lunch who had been using some foul language.  Wanting to fit into the crowd, Kyle had joined in.  When the lunchroom monitor walked by, the other boys knew to stop, but poor Kyle did not.  When he tried to explain that he did not know that he was saying a bad word, he got into even more trouble for lying because the lunchroom monitor and teacher could not believe that he would not know that particular word.  My poor, sweet innocent child had spent a very traumatic afternoon being punished for not one but two things he did not do - but that our culture's standards dictate could not be possible.  Even when I went to try and explain to the teacher that he was telling the truth, she was skeptical that this was even possible.  I think this illustrates peer pressure on several levels: Kyle, of course, to talk inappropriately and to lie, Me, as his parent, to teach him words I didn't want him to learn, and the school personnel who had a strict mental image of how a 6 year old boy acts.}  

 ^{Unfortunately, incidents like this are going to happen in our children's lives.  In fact, they only grow and get more and more serious as they get older.  But this just demonstrates the importance of our role as parents in the lives of our children.  This was the foundation of Stacy's discussion with us.  We cannot wait until the situations arise.  We must seek God's guidance, plan, and act before society - or Satan - raises it ugly head and attacks.  Our culture would like us to think their way is the only way to live, but the TRUTH is God's way is the only way.  Who says?  God says!  And as parents we have a responsibility to not only live that out and set an example for our children but to train them up to be able to live IN the world but not be OF the world.}

^{Stay tuned - my next blog will give you Stacy's wonderful Biblical advice on how to do that.}

^{Robin Kelley
copywritten by Robin Kelley, used with express permission}

Culture - Extra Credit Week 2

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, change my heart to look more like yours.

Day 1:
Daily Prayer - Lord, change my heart to look more like yours.
Read:  Matthew 7:5 and Luke 6:42

Last week we talked about the fact that we need to resolve ourselves to follow God in our own culture so that we can be a light and Godly to others.

Stop and pray and ask the Lord what planks you need to remove in order to be used by Him in our culture.


Day 2:
Daily Prayer - Lord, change my heart to look more like yours.
Read: Proverbs 18:21

If you have used your words inappropriately, please say a prayer of forgiveness.  How can you use your words for life today?  Is there someone you need to encourage or speak a loving word of truth to?


Day 3:
Daily Prayer - Lord, change my heart to look more like yours.
Read: James 3:1-9

What stands out to you in these verses?


Day 4:
Daily Prayer - Lord, change my heart to look more like yours.

Read: James 3:6

What is the source of the tongue when it is used like fire? _  _  _  _  (One 4 letter word.)

Read  Acts 2:3-4
Where is the source of these tongues of fire?

Our tongues can be used for heaven's purposes or hell's.  The tongue is hard to tame as we read yesterday.  We will never be perfect, but we certainly can be better.  Say a prayer of resolve to commit your tongue to the purposes of heaven.



Day 5:
Daily Prayer - Lord, change my heart to look more like yours.
Read: Exodus 14:14


Ask God to help you trust Him enough and His mighty power to do a mighty work while you remain in silent obedience against the spread of evil for the protection of His bride.


If you want a little something more to read, try the book of James.  It is not very long -- just 5 chapters.  I believe you will see lots of relevance and challenges for what we face in our culture today.


submitted by Amy Harris

"I Will Not Defile Myself"

"But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself..."  Daniel 1:8a

Wednesday night as Amy Harris introduced November's study on Culture, I was transported back to my childhood - to a time when many of my classmates were discussing the show Soap at school.  I wanted to be able to join in their conversations and feel like a part of the "crowd" so I asked my parents for permission to watch the show.  Now, I knew the answer before I even asked the question - absolutely not.  There was no need for discussion.  There were topics portrayed on the show that my parents did not approve of; therefore, they did not see any benefit from any of us watching it.  

We read and discussed Daniel 1 Wednesday night where Daniel and his friends were captured and taken to Babylon to be slaves to the king.  They were not asked to do hard labor.  They were not given horrendous or menial tasks to do.  They were simply asked to eat the rich food the king sent them from his own table. Sounds down right horrible, doesn't it?  "Here, Daniel, eat this wonderful food the king has sent you straight from his very own table - food prepared as though it were prepared for him and not for slaves."  I mean typically you would expect slaves to be getting slop or bread and water, right?  This sounds like the royal treatment!  Most of the slaves agreed and had no problem doing as they were told.  Daniel, however, stood his ground.  God had given Him a directive as to how he should eat and how he should conduct himself, and Daniel was unwilling to compromise on that at all.  In the end Daniel and his friends not only found favor in the eyes of God but in the eyes of the king as well who found them "far superior to all the other young men."  Because Daniel was faithful to God he "gave (him) knowledge and skill in both books and life.  In addition, Daniel was gifted in understanding..."

As I have reflected on this lesson, I have been convicted.  Daniel did not compromise God's directives one bit for to do so would have given Satan a stronghold to weaken him in every area.  So I have to ask myself the tough question: have I compromised God's standard for me?  Once upon a time a show like Soap was off limits without any discussion.  What about today?  What is the standard set for today?   I cannot allow the culture of today's society to dictate my standards for me.  I must "resolve that I will not defile myself." for to do so is to obey God in every aspect of my life.  I owe Him no less!