Reflection: 9th Grade Sex Ed Retreat

Each year, we take the 9^th grade class on the Sex Ed Retreat. Freshman students always approach it with much trepidation but end up having a great time on the retreat. This year was no different.

We took 19 students and four adults to Camp Oak Hill to focus on our relationships with the opposite gender and our sexuality. The focus of the retreat is to help students be equipped with the biblical and social facts to make proper decisions when it comes to their sexual behavior. We intentionally do not tell the students what they can or cannot do sexually. We help them discover that God created sex for each of us to enjoy in the context of marriage. We help students with practical ways to avoid and run away from temptations. We answer questions they have about sex, how it affects our relationships with one another and with God.

The statistics on teenage sex are mind-boggling and sad in our society. Even worse, the statistics remain the same for teenagers who are active in church. Parents must keep the line of communication open to talk plainly about sex with their middle and high schoolers. The Church must do a better job of equipping our students with biblical facts and with stronger support. It will take the entire church community to help our students to find the joy in the gift of sex in the context of a loving marriage.

Let us pray for our parents, students and ourselves as we help our students find the truth about sex and relationships!

- Andy

Reminder: MS Fall Retreat

MS Fall Retreat

October 4-6, 2013

Camp Chestnut Ridge

Efland, North Carolina

Cost: $110

Registration Deadline: September 15

Please be sure to sign your student(s) up for our annual fall retreat!  This year we are headed up to Camp Chestnut Ridge in Efland, NC to discover the ways in which Christ calls us to himself - to believe, to relate, and to invite.  

There is plenty of room for everyone!  

You may find your registration form and your medical release form here.

Reflection: Take a breather

I hope that you all are starting to get a handle on all of the new schedules that kicked into gear with the beginning of the school year.  At the start I know it can seem a bit daunting, but once you've got the hang of the weekly rhythms it becomes almost second nature to hop in the car, drop off, pick up, run this errand or that, and then fall into bed at the end of the day thinking about the day to come.  

Here at church, our rhythms have kicked in as well.  We've been at it for a few weeks of our Wednesday night D-Teams and Northbound, and we've just begun meeting for choir and middle school missions.  Our new Sunday School classes are moving right along, and I am excited about what our students are learning about the Bible and themselves.  

With all of the activity going on our students will need some time to take a breath, recharge their batteries, and get connected with God as they retreat from the everyday busyness.  This fall we will have a retreat for our middle schoolers October 4-6 to Camp Chestnut Ridge where they will hear the call of Jesus when he says to them, "Come, follow me."  And, our high school students will make their way to Caswell November 8-10 for the "I Am Second" conference where they will be invited to re-imagine the way they can live their lives - for themselves or for God and others.  

Parents, you need a breather, too!  Take some time this fall to find a moment to reconnect with God and discover the joy of walking through this busy life with Him leading the way.  

Commentary: We have failed.

Many people have weighed in on the debacle that was seen on television all over the world during MTV’s Video Music Awards. Some have just expressed their shock and disgust of Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke’s performance. Others have expressed harsh words toward Miley Cyrus and her character. Though I did not see it live (thank goodness), I had to view it to see what the fuss was about in our teen’s culture. I was shocked and disgusted as most others. However, I also felt sorry for her, her family and all those close to her.

In a recent blog post I stumbled upon, I read words that expressed my feelings. The blogger wrote:

“Adults are supposed to protect young people. Adults are supposed to refuse to treat young people like little gods, put them on pedestals, and parade them on stages. But adults do it, anyway, and our culture is just dumb, and just numb, enough to act like it's perfectly normal. Turns out, as we've always known, celebrity messes with people's heads, particularly the young.” (http://www.air1.com/blog/brant/post/2013/08/26/miley-cyrus-MTV-culture-and-the-need-for-adults.aspx)

Adults should have stepped in before Miley made a huge mistake in front of millions of people. Adults in her life should have reminded her that her actions were inappropriate. Producers of MTV VMA show should have made her stop during rehearsals. Adolescents (even if they are 20 year olds) need adults who truly care about them as a person created in the image of God. Adolescents do not need other adolescents to be their role models. They already have friends who are in the same boat just trying to figure out life. Our children, youth and even young adults need adults who desire the best for each individual without an adult agenda.

Lord, forgive us when we fail and teach us your ways.

- Andy