St. Paul Lutheran Church 701 Washington Street Grafton, WI 53024 THE LINK 262-377-4659 PARENT Splgrafton.org June 2013 FOR PARENTS OF TEENS facebook.com/SPLChurchGrafton FIND STRENGTH IN MEEKNESS THE VIEW One of the many qualities our culture encourages young people to develop is In The Jesus Survey (Baker Books), strength. Physically, academically, and socially, teenagers are urged to try to Mike Nappa discovered that young come out on top. Those who seem too meek or gentle are viewed as push- Christians find strength through overs and told to stand up for themselves. core beliefs:

Yet the Bible has a different message about strength—not only about how to  94% of Confident Christian show it but also where to find it. Psalm 73:26 (NIV) says, “My flesh and my Teens strongly agreed with this heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” statement: “I’m 100% certain Jesus spoke often about the blessings of gentleness and servanthood. In fact, Jesus has answered one or more Jesus himself “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as of my prayers—and I can prove a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, NIV). it.”

In our noisy, “me-first” world, meek people display peace, calmness, and  86% of Confident Christian caring. They don’t have an overinflated view of themselves but instead rely Teens strongly agreed with this on God’s grace. In Live Large. Be Different. Shine Bright. (Simply Youth statement: “I’m 100% certain Ministry), Doug Fields and Joshua Griffin write that meek people are slow that the Holy Spirit is present to speak, put other people first, and serve in small and large ways. Yet and active in my life today— meekness shouldn’t be equated with weakness, they write. Instead, meek and I have proof that this is people accept their status before God and “realize that the beautiful, sensi- true.” tive, humble quality of meekness comes from knowing that God has the power and love to make you his new creation.”

PONDER THIS TIPS >>> In 99 Thoughts on Jesus-Centered  Realize that nothing is beneath  How would you define the fol- Living (Simply Youth Ministry), prayer. God wants to be involved lowing words: strength, weak- Rick Lawrence offers strategies in every aspect of your life, so ness, gentleness, meekness? for living like—and for—Jesus: don’t think anything is too small for his concern and consultation.  How does your relationship  Practice congruence. A with God empower you? congruent life means that what  Offer ridiculous love for your  In what ways have you found enemies. Jesus said it’s basically you say is who you are, in every strength through serving? environment. It’s evident from a no-brainer to love the people your choices and priorities. who love you. The real evidence that you follow him is that you  Live “The Progression.” love people who don’t particularly Following this will change your life: Get to know Jesus well, love you. because the more you know him,  Practice extreme generosity. the more you’ll love him, and the Give with no requirement that you more you love him, the more receive anything in return. you’ll want to follow him, and  Armor up! Find strength from the more you follow him, the God by suiting up in his armor. more you’ll become like him, and God offers you protection against the more you become like him, harm. Every day, simply ask Jesus the more you become yourself. to “dress you” before you leave your bedroom for the day. Power Under Control Expert Insights for Parents of Teenagers By Brent Carl

When I was asked to fill in and My mind went back to when I Indeed. He was now a force to be reckoned preach during a “Fruit of the Spirit” coached an eighth-grade football with. The guy added, “You know what’s sermon series, I was excited until I player named Joseph. Despite his in- funny? Joseph is the nicest guy in the world discovered my topic was gentleness. timidating 6' 4", 245-pound size, the off the field, and even when he puts on the As a guy who loves sports of all boy couldn’t tackle. Joseph’s problem equipment, he doesn’t go out to hurt anyone kinds—especially contact sports that was that he didn’t want to hurt any- In fact, when he tackles someone, he picks require a certain level of aggres- one. He never did get the concept of them up, dusts them off, asks if they’re sion—I had a hard time seeing how tackling. okay, and apologizes if he hurts them. He is gentleness was going to apply in my power under control!” own life, let alone be able to share it I moved away but then returned four authentically with the audience. years later for Homecoming. I was That’s it right there: power under control. amazed at the play of the left defen- All the power that exists in the person of So I prayed that God would help me sive end. He was about 6' 8" and 290 God is available to us, his children. He understand gentleness by living it. pounds, quick as lightning and ex- wants us to learn to use it his way, not our Turns out I was going at it all wrong. tremely powerful. way. I still don’t have gentleness all figured I thought of meekness as weakness out, but God expects me to approach him and of gentleness as downright wim- I asked a fan sitting next to me who for guidance with this and every area of life. pyness. that was. To my surprise, he replied, —YouthMinistry.com “That’s Joseph. He’s gotten a tad bet- RESOURCE

In Flipped: Wrestling With What Mat- BIBLE FOCUS ters Most (Simply Youth Ministry), Kurt Johnston addresses Jesus’ “upside- “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is down” views. For example, Jesus said made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will power doesn’t matter; instead, if you boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, have influence, you should use it to so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is serve others. These messages can be why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, a launching pad for hands-on ministry in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in diffi- opportunities. culties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NIV MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

MAINSTREAM MUSIC CHRISTIAN MUSIC MOVIES

Movie: Man of Steel Genre: Action, Adventure Rating: PG-13 Synopsis: A young boy (Henry Cavill) finds out he’s from an- other planet. As he grows up, he must use his superpowers to save the earth. SKILLET Our Take: More than any other Background: Chesney, who’s been Background: Although this rock superhero, Superman has always around since 1994, is one of coun- band has been around since 1996, embodied pure goodness. Al- try music’s biggest names. Of his they’re still one of the most though this film was directed by 15 , 14 have been certified popular Christian acts around. Zach Snyder (300, Watchmen), gold or higher. He’s sort of the Because they’ve toured with big it should be safe teenage fare. Jimmy Buffett of , names in the secular and Chris- touring each summer with themes tian markets, they’ve been of having fun and hanging out on a ranked as one of the hardest- Movie: World War Z beach. Chesney’s charity work in- working bands. Skillet has re- cludes cancer fundraising and Farm ceived two Grammy nomina- Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller Aid. tions, and Awake went double- Rating: PG-13 Albums: Life on a Rock (2013), platinum. (2008), No Shirt, No Synopsis: A United Nations Shoes, No Problems (2002) Albums: Rise (2013), Awake employee (Brad Pitt) is in a race (2009), Collide (2003) against time to stop a pandemic What Chesney Says: The song that’s changing people into zom- “Happy on the Hey Now” was in- What Skillet Says: Lead singer bie-like creatures. spired by a friend’s death. Chesney John Cooper, the only band says death “has a way of stopping Our Take: Despite the played- member who’s been around since you in your tracks, grounding you out zombie theme, this film the beginning, says, “You’ve got in ways you didn’t see coming.” He should be very popular with to follow your heart and do what adds, “It changed me. It made me teens this summer. you feel called to do. You can’t realize I had to appreciate the ex- measure success by how many periences life has to offer. Life records you sell. You’ve got to doesn’t stand still.” measure it by if you’re doing Explore: All of Chesney’s albums what you’re called to do and giv- are available on services such as ing it everything you’ve got.” Spotify, Pandora, and Last.fm. Explore: All of Skillet’s albums are available on services such as Spotify, Pandora, and Last.fm.

VIDEO GAMES Remember Me—In a future where memories are bought, sold, and traded, a woman’s memories are wiped clean. After escaping from prison, she sets out to discover who she truly is—while being hunted by her enemies. (Rating pending; Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

The Last of Us—This gorgeous third-person, post-apocalyptic thriller features scares, paranoia, monsters, and a deep story. It’s just the sort of game teenagers will love to play—until the next version of Call of Duty comes out. (Rating pending but almost certainly M; PS3 exclusive)