THEPARENTLINK (insert logo or text here) October 2012 FOR PARENTS OF TEENS TEACH WISE STEWARDSHIP THE VIEW 35% of parents say they’re Finances are a stressor for more than just adults these days. Teenagers are reluctant to discuss smart increasingly nervous about job prospects and paying for college. Yet many parents avoid serious conversations about money, dreading them as much as spending strategies with kids. talks about the birds and the bees. 61% default to a “casual talk” about money matters. The discussions can’t wait, though. Contrary to what many kids think, there —BillMyParents isn’t a magical age when people need to be fiscally responsible. Young people can learn early on to honor God with their time, talents, and treasures—and 80% of teenagers get more than can discover the blessings he promises when we give from the heart. $100 per month in allowance. Almost all kids say they have Jesus taught about money more than any other topic—and those teachings go to do household chores for it. against the world’s views. Jesus wants us to be free from the trappings of —BillMyParents wealth and materialism yet rich with life, joy, favor, and relationships. 64% of teenagers say the recent As Doug Fields says in a sermon featured in Backward$ (Simply Youth recession has made them more Ministry), “God doesn’t need your money. God needs your heart.” Tithing, or giving 10 percent of our income, is one way to lessen money’s grip and honor grateful for what they have. —aboutschwab.com God. By tithing, Fields says, we proclaim the following three things:
I am thankful—for God’s gifts, his love, and Jesus’ sacrifice for me. I am yours, God—and I’m showing you where my heart is. 85% of 2011 college graduates I trust you—and I’m going to turn my back on the world’s ways. intend to move back home. —TwentySomething Inc.
>>> PONDER THIS TIPS Financial experts advise parents to Monitor how much money kids How would you describe your follow these money-management are saving. Help them stay on track relationship with money? How strategies with their kids: for big expenses such as college. might it be affecting your relationship with God? Help young people develop and Don’t pay for good grades. stick to a budget. Then pay kids Instead, encourage kids to do the What are the most important an allowance that covers all the best they can and to feel rewarded things you want to teach your “necessities.” by their accomplishments. kids about money, and how are you doing that? Don’t buy stuff for kids that Don’t tell kids how much you they should pay for themselves. earn. It’s best to maintain some How can you be a better steward Let them experience the personal boundaries and authority. of your own time, talents, and consequences of poor budgeting. treasures? Give them credit. If you want your Give out allowance only once a teenagers to be credit-savvy, select month. This teaches kids how to a good first credit card. Then budget over long periods of time, explain the importance of keeping a experts say. high credit score and paying off the card balance every month. Don’t pay kids for doing regular, expected chores. But Model stewardship. Attitudes you can provide a financial about finances are contagious. Let incentive for taking on extra kids see you giving generously and duties. cheerfully, and they’ll follow suit.
Give It Away Expert Insights for Parents of Teenagers
By Josh Griffin
In the downloadable sermon That’s backwards thinking, but it’s Next, they can discover their SHAPE, series Backward$, Josh Griffin what Jesus teaches. He says the which stands for Spiritual gifts, Heart, ponders the rewards of giving: way to live a rich, full, abundant, Abilities, Personality, Experiences. and meaningful life is to give as Basically, it’s who God made you to be. A few years ago, our family was much away as possible. Discovering your SHAPE is a great way robbed. The monthly cleaning to use the talents and gifts God has given service that I gave my wife as a Another backward approach that’s you to serve other people. birthday gift cleaned us out. They relevant to teenagers, who are just took everything. starting out financially, is stated in Finally, young people can give their Matthew 25:23. Jesus says when time. When we serve, we’re the most Eventually, we received an you have a little, be responsible like Jesus. So help kids ask, “Who needs insurance check, but before I got with what you’ve been given and my time?” home from work that evening, my God will bless you with far more. wife had given it all away. She If you want to have more, then be Resources are opportunities. Every donated 10 percent to the church trustworthy with what you have. dollar that ends up in your wallet or and then gave the rest to a group purse is an opportunity. Every moment that rescues child prostitutes. She Teenagers can start by giving of time is an opportunity. Your talents viewed the robbery as an answer to something, whether it’s a portion are an opportunity. So start thinking prayer because it allowed her to of their allowance or the change backwards about everything God has help exploited kids! they accumulate each week. given you.
RESOURCE
In Living With Less (Simply BIBLE FOCUS Youth Ministry), Joshua Becker walks through the Bible’s “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on teachings about possessions, earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where challenging people to spend thieves break in and steal. But store up for their hours, energy, and yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth resources in ways that draw and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do them closer to the heart of not break in and steal. For where your treasure Jesus. is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21, NIV
MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
MAINSTREAM MUSIC CHRISTIAN MUSIC MOVIES Movie: Frankenweenie Genre: Animation, Comedy Rating: PG (for thematic elements, scary images, and action) Synopsis: After a young boy loses his dog, he uses the power of science to bring his beloved pal back to life. He tries to keep the creation under wraps, but soon the whole town wants to use TAYLOR SWIFT ANBERLIN his technology for their gain.
Background: Swift has accomplished a Background: This rock band, formed Our Take: Director Tim Burton has a great deal in her 22 years—including being in 2002, is now on a major label and slightly twisted but compelling style. the youngest songwriter ever hired by the more popular than ever. Anberlin This will likely be a great movie for Sony publishing house. She’s received combines rock, alt-rock, acoustic, and junior highers, full of weird humor many awards, including six Grammy emo into a hook-laden stew. They’re and unique characters. Awards, and has been involved with involved with social-justice causes,
numerous charities. Many of Swift’s songs including Faceless International, an deal with love, feelings, and broken organization that lead singer Stephen Movie: Silent Hill: Revelation relationships. She has dated many Christian founded to raise awareness Genre: Horror, Thriller celebrities, and the breakups have created of human trafficking and other issues. great fodder for her songs. (Her latest Rating: R (for violence and disturbing number-one single, for example, is titled Albums: Vital (2012), New images, some language, brief nudity) “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Surrender (2008), Never Take Together.”) Swift’s honesty and catchy Friendship Personal (2003) Synopsis: A young girl, on the run lyrics resonate greatly with teenage girls. with her father most of her life, is What Anberlin Says: Singer tormented by terrible visions and Albums: Red (2012), Speak Now (2010), Stephen Christian doesn’t call dreams. When her father disappears, Fearless (2008), Taylor Swift (2006) Anberlin a Christian band. But he she’s drawn into a demonic world that says his faith “affects every single threatens to separate them forever. What Swift Says: When discussing how aspect of my life.” He adds, “I’m not much money she gives away to various Our Take: This film is based loosely a preacher, I’m an entertainer.” causes, Swift says, “I get to take care of the on the “Silent Hill” video games,
people that I love, and I like spreading it which are full of disturbing and sexual Explore: Anberlin’s albums are around. Like my Dad says, ‘You can’t take horror elements. Please don’t let your available on Spotify—including it with you when you go.’” kids see this. Blueprints for City Friendships, a Explore: Swift’s entire catalog is available three-CD anthology. Many of the on Spotify. band’s videos are on YouTube. For more media discussions and ideas,
go to www.MinistryandMedia.com.
VIDEO GAMES
Resident Evil 6—This long-running franchise has moved away from its scary, survival-horror roots toward more action—with some scary elements. Publisher Capcom promises this game will be a combination of the two styles. Stuff that remains, though, includes blood, gore, language, and nudity. Rated M; Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Assassin’s Creed III—The third game in this popular franchise is set during the American Revolution. While the graphics, details, and gameplay are excellent, the series takes every opportunity to bash the church— specifically the Catholic church. It doesn’t just attack corrupt people within the church but paints the entire faith as corrupt. Rated M; PS3, Xbox 360, PC, WII U
OCTOBER 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6
High School Middle School Leadership Lock-in Team 7:00 11:00 pm – 8:00 am
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Youth Group Youth Council 7:00 – 8:33 7:00 pm
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Confirmation Class Kickoff 10:00 in room 001
Crop Walk 12:00 – 2:30
Sudan Health Clinic - Dinner and Presentation 6pm 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Toby Mac Youth Group Concert in Grove City 7:00 – 8:33
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Youth Group
7:00 – 8:33