Don't fix it if it aint broke!

Our short Q&A Series seems to no longer be a short series. The high school staff and I have decided to extend the series so that our students can continue getting answers to their questions about life. I briefly wan to share what has been happening as a result from this series. As parents I think it is vital that you know the questions that your sons and daughters are asking.

First of, many of the students are asking about self-image. They are struggling to understand who they really are; in the eyes of their friends, God, and parents. They struggle with self confidence and desperately want to know that it is okay that they are the way they are.

Secondly, they have a ton of questions about relationships. Specifically what is appropriate in a dating relationship (sexual and emotional). They want to know where boundaries are, what happen when those are crossed and how to honor God and their boyfriend/girlfriend in a dating relationship.

And lastly, they want to know more about God. They want to understand how God works and how He loves them. They need help and guidance in responding to God's love and the affirmation that God is pleased with them even when they make mistakes.

The conversations on Thursday nights are amazing and I pray that they would not end after our group but that you, as parents would be intentional with the time you have with them as you drive back home. Ask them questions. Encourage when they need it, and give correction when it is needed as well.

Lessons From A Poet

I've never been one for poetry. For the most part I consider myself to fall into the category of a mans man! I like fried food, sweating, being outdoors in the mountains, BBQ's, camping, mt. bike riding, the smell of a hardware store and truly believe everything tastes better with bacon. EVERYTHING! Except poetry. There is no amount of bacon that could make poetry palatable. And because of that I don't spend much time in the Psalms.

According to 2Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." Sadly, this includes books like Leviticus and even worse, the book of Psalms! In an effort to personally grow spiritually and teach my students about God I have decided to do a six week series on the book of Psalms. The Apostle Paul also instructs us to test everything, hold onto the good and to toss everything else out. So I'm testing 2Tim. 3:16 against the book of Psalms to see if there is anything good in the Psalms.

We're starting this Sunday right at the beginning in Psalm 1. I figure we may as well begin at the beginning. I spent all day yesterday studying, praying, reading, and studying some more and came to a conclusion about the psalm. I REALLY LIKED IT! The Psalms have a way of expressing human emotions and reaction to what God is doing in a persons life. I found myself seeing God in a new light and being reminded of the goodness of God and the wisdom of following His Word.

My prayer is that the students of PULSE will have a similar experience to mine. I also pray that my macho friends won't laugh at my new found love of the biblical poetry.

Teachings in April

Just wanted to let everyone know about the teaching for the month of April. We'll be jumping around bit with some short sermon series.

Sunday Morning Teachings.
4th - Easter!
11th - Psalm 1 Intro Series
18th - Psalms
25th - Psalms

Thursday Night Teachings
8th - is a Movie night due to spring Break.
15th - We will be starting a three week series titled Q&A. For the past two gatherings students have been handed cards for them to write down any questions that they may have. We'll try to answer as many of them as possible with Scripture and practical application.
22th - Q&A part 2.
29th - Q&A part 3.

Week 3 Parent Questions

I’m trying to get better at posting these questions. Here is a head start for Thursday Night.
I hope this helps…from week 3

1. What is the deal about sex being more than physical? How do the other life dimensions mix with sex? Social? Mental? Spiritual?
2. What was the answer about “how far is too far?”
3. How do you move from small picture living (the now) to big picture living (the future)? [parents; consider going through the different questions with your son/daughter and discuss the difference between “now” thinking and “future” thinking?
4. Is it possible to fill your mind with what Philippians 4:8 says? How would life be different if you did?
5. How does pornography sear one’s mind and create unrealistic expectations of what sex is like? And, how might that impact a future marriage?
6. Is there anything in Steve’s talk that you disagreed with?
7. What is one thing you learned from Steve’s talk?

Week 2 Parent Questions

God's Word on Sex
Parents: I realize it’s very tough to sit down with your son/daughter and talk about sex. Use these questions…skip to #8…or read through the message and come up with your own questions. Don’t be too discouraged if your child doesn’t want to talk—they may not, but don’t interpret there lack of interest as not having questions—there’s great confusion out there.

I hope this helps…from week 2

1. What does the Bible say about sex outside of marriage?
2. What did Steve mean by the “oneness factor”?
3. How do you know when you’re ready for sex? [when you’re married]
4. What’s the difference between an urge and a temptation? Is sex essential for survival?
5. What’s the deal with the mind? Why is the mind considered a sexual organ? Why can’t you forget your sexual experiences?
6. Is self-control possible?
7. How important are standards? When should you set them and communicate them?
8. What is one thing you learned from Steve's talk?

Week 1 Parent Questions

Created in God’s Image
Parents: I realize it’s very tough to sit down with your son/daughter and talk about sex. Use these questions or skip these and create your own. These are simply a guideline to use while talking about sex. Don’t be too discouraged if your child doesn’t want to talk—they may not, but don’t interpret there lack of interest as not having questions—there’s great confusion out there.

I hope this helps…

1. How is sex misused in our culture?
2. What is it about sex that confuses you?
3. If God created sex and he loves you, why would he not want you to experience sex any time you want?
4. How might an understanding and experience of God’s love impact your feeling about yourself?
5. What are some of the differences between guys & girls?
6. Why are those differences significant?
7. Currently, what guides your sexual decisions? Culture? Friends? God’s Word?
8. What did I learn about sex from Pastor Steve's talk?

Sunday Mornings

I had no idea what the Old Testament was about when I entered high school. Come to think of it I didn't really know much about it when I graduated. I knew that God got angry and had many people killed by a flood, had a guy swallowed by a fish, created ten commandments that seem impossible to follow, and allowed his chosen people to kill other nations only to turn around and have those nations start killing them. Special attention was paid to a building which housed an ark, a tabernacle (which I thought was a well known choir) and only one guy was allowed to stand in the presence of God. How come God's chosen people couldn't be in His presence? Shouldn't it be called God's chosen person? Anyway, apparently God's chosen people were separated from the mother land (or was it the promise land) and then hundreds of years later Jesus appears. Its all too confusing,

Pulse's new Sunday morning series is a survey of the Old Testament. Throughout the next few months students will study important events and key themes throughout the Old Testament Scriptures in order to better understand God, the significance of Jesus Christ, and to understand the Biblical story as a whole.

Can you explain the Biblical story to your son or daughter from Genesis to Revelation? How about simply Genesis - Exodus?