ThePARENTLink

October 2012
The
PARENTLink
helping parents better connect with their teens
Bible Focus
Store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven,
where moth and
rust do not destroy,
and where thieves
do not break in and
steal. For where your
treasure is, there your
heart will be also.
Matthew 6:20-21 (NIV)
Teach Wise Stewardship
Finances are a stressor for more than just adults these days. Teenagers are
increasingly nervous about job prospects and paying for college. Yet many
parents avoid serious conversations about money, dreading them as much
as talks about the birds and the bees.
The discussions can’t wait, though. Contrary to what many kids think, there
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 can discover the blessings he promises when we give from the heart.
Jesus taught about money more than any other topic—and those teachings
go against the world’s views. Jesus wants us to be free from the trappings of
wealth and materialism yet rich with life, joy, favor, and relationships.
As Doug Fields says in a sermon featured in Backward$ (Simply Youth Ministry), “God doesn’t need your money. God needs your heart.” Tithing, or giving ten percent of our income, is one way to lessen money’s grip and honor
God. By tithing, Field’s says, we proclaim the following three things:
1. I am thankful… for God’s gifts, his love, and Jesus’ sacrifice for me.
2. I am yours, God… and I’m showing you where my heart is.
3. I trust you… and I’m going to turn my back on the world’s ways.
Practical Help
.02
Tips, statistics, and
discussion questions to help
you connect with your teenagers
Going Deeper
.03
Insight on helping teens realize what they’ve got and how to give
Media Spotlight
.04
Information on some of the
current musicians, popular movies,
and hottest games available this month
DGYM Calendar
.05
Cardboard Box City, Bowling,
Scarywood, Trunk-or-Treat, and MORE!
Join us as we grow and serve together!
THE VIEW
TIPS

35% of parents say they’re reluctant to discuss smart
spending strategies with kids. 61% default to a “casual
talk” about money matters.
- billmyparents.com

Help young people develop and stick
to a budget. Then pay kids an allowance that covers all the “necessities.”
80% of teenagers get more than $100 per month in allowance. Almost all kids say they have to do household
chores for it.
- billmyparents.com

Don’t buy stuff for kids that they
should pay for themselves. Let them
experience the consequences of poor
budgeting.
64% of teenagers say the recent recession has made
them more grateful for what they have.
- aboutschwab.com

85% of 2011 college graduates intended to move back
home.
- Twenty Something Inc.
Financial experts advise parents to
follow these money-management
strategies with their kids:
Give out allowance only once a month.
This teaches kids how to budget over
long periods of time.
Don’t pay kids for doing regular expected chores. You can, however, provide a financial incentive for taking on
extra duties.
Monitor how much money kids are
saving. Help them stay on track for big
expenses such as college.
Don’t pay for good grades. Instead, encourage kids to do the best they can
and to feel rewarded by their accomplishments.
Don’t tell kids how much you earn. It’s
best to maintain some personal
boundaries and authority.
Model stewardship. Attitudes about
finances are contagious. Let kids see
you giving generously and cheerfully,
and they will follow suit.
PONDER THIS...

How would you describe your relationship
with money? How might it be affecting your
relationship with God?

What are the most important things you
want to teach your kids about money, and
how are you doing that?

How can you be a better steward of your
own time, talents, and treasures?
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THE PARENT LINK | OCTOBER 2012
Give It Away
Expert Insight for Parents of Teenagers
In the downloadable sermon series Backward$,
Josh Griffin ponders the rewards of giving:
A few years ago, our family was robbed. The monthly
cleaning service that I gave my wife as a birthday gift
cleaned us out. They took everything. Eventually, we
received an insurance check, but before I got home
from work that evening, my wife had given it all
away. She donated 10 percent to the church and then
gave the rest to a group that rescues child prostitutes. She viewed the robbery as an answer to prayer
because it allowed her to help exploited kids!
That’s backwards thinking, but it’s what Jesus
teaches. He says the way to live a rich, full, abundant, and meaningful life is to give as much away as
possible.
Another backward approach that’s relevant to teenagers, who are just starting out financially, is stated
in Matthew 25:23. Jesus says when you have a little,
be responsible with what you’ve been given and God
will bless you with far more. If you want to have
more, then be trustworthy with what you have.
Teenagers can start by giving something whether it’s
a portion of their allowance or the change they accumulate each week.
Next, they can discover their SHAPE, which stands
for Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and
Experiences. Basically, it’s who God made you to be.
Discovering your SHAPE is a great way to use the talents and gifts God has given you to serve other people.
Financially, young people can give their time. When
we serve, we’re the most like Jesus. So help kids ask,
“Who needs my time?” Resources are opportunities.
Every dollar that ends up in your wallet or purse is
an opportunity. Every moment of time is an opportunity. Your talents are an opportunity. So start thinking backwards about everything God has given you.
Resource Source
In Living With Less: An Unexpected Key to Happiness
(Simply Youth Ministry),
Joshua Becker walks
through the Bible’s teachings about possessions,
challenging people to spend
their hours, energy, and resources in ways that draw
them closer to the heart of Jesus.
Group Publishing. August 15, 2012.
$7.99 on Amazon
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THE PARENT LINK | OCTOBER 2012
This page is designed to inform and educate parents and isn’t meant to endorse any music, movie, or video game.
Our prayer is that you will make informed decisions on what your kids listen to, watch, and play.
MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
MAINSTREAM MUSIC
POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE MUSIC
MOVIES
Movie: Frankenweenie
Genre: Animation, Comedy
Rating: PG (for thematic
elements, scary images,
and action)
TAYLOR SWIFT
Background: Swift has accomplished a great deal in her 22 years
including being the youngest songwriter ever hired by the Sony publishing house. She’s received many
awards, including six Grammy
Awards, and has been involved with
numerous charities. Many of Swift’s
songs deal with love, feelings, and
broken relationships. She has dated
many celebrities, and the breakups
have created great fodder for her
songs. (Her latest number-one single, for example, is titled “We Are
Never Ever Getting Back Together.”)
Swift’s honesty and catchy lyrics
resonate greatly with teenage girls.
Albums: Red (2012), Speak Now
(2010), Fearless (2008), Taylor Swift
(2006)
What Swift Says: When discussing
how much money she gives away to
various causes, Swift says, “I get to
take care of the people that I love,
and I like spreading it around. Like
my Dad says, ’You can’t take it with
you when you go.’”
Explore: Swift’s entire catalog is
available to listen to on Spotify.
VIDEO GAMES
ANBERLIN
Background: This rock band,
formed in 2002, is now on a major
label and more popular than ever.
Anberlin combines rock, alt-rock,
acoustic, and emo into a hookladen stew. They’re involved with
social-justice causes, including
Faceless International, an organization that lead singer Stephen Christian founded to raise awareness of
human trafficking and other issues.
Albums: Vital (2012), New Surrender (2008), Never Take Friendship
Personal (2003)
What Anberlin Says: Singer
Stephen Christian doesn’t call Anberlin a Christian band. But he says
his faith “affects every single aspect of my life.” He adds, “I’m not
a preacher, I’m an entertainer.”
Explore: Anberlin’s albums are
available on Spotify—including
Blueprints for City Friendships, a
three-CD anthology. Many of the
band’s videos can be viewed on
YouTube.
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 his technology for
their gain.
Our Take: Director Tim Burton has a slightly
twisted but compelling style. This will likely be a
great movie for junior higher, full of weird humor and unique characters.
Movie: Silent Hill: Revelation
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating: R (for violence and
disturbing images, some
language, brief nudity)
Synopsis: A young girl, on the
run with her father most of
her life, is tormented by terrible visions and dreams. Her
father disappears, and she’s enters a demonic
world that threatens to separate them forever.
Our Take: This film is loosely based on the
“Silent Hill” video games, which are full of disturbing and sexual horror elements. Please
don’t let your kids see this.
www.pluggedinonline.com for more info!
Resident Evil 6 (Rated M) — 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.
Assassin’s Creed III (Rated M) — The fifth 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 Catholic church for sake of its “assassin vs. templar”
plotline. It doesn’t just attack corrupt people within the church, but paints the entire
P. 04
faith as corrupt.
THE
PARENT
LINK
|
OCTOBER
2012
www.esrb.org for details on game ratings.
Happy
Birthday!
October 10
Josh Rude
October 12
Lyric Mood
October 18
Vanessa Toombs
October 21
Tymme
McCracken
October 22
Tucker Forbush
Bible Readers Breakfast
NEWS and NOTES
All High School students are encouraged to come start your morning off with some meat from God’s word… and
bacon or sausage too! We’ll meet on Tuesdays at 7:00am at the McDonalds on Appleway for a time of Bible reading
before heading off to school. You’ll be responsible for your own breakfast if you’re hungry.
Gripped
For the month of October our youth group class will be back out in the Youth Barn from 6:30 until 7:30pm. We’ll be
talking about the many ways we can be gripped by fear, looking at some Biblical examples of people who overcame
their fears, and learning how God doesn’t want us to be afraid. We’ll start each class with some kind of goofy activity
and even watch some cheesy videos to help tie everything together. Bring your friends!!!
Game Day
All 6th-12th graders are invited to join us for some fun on your day off from school. We’ll be in the Youth Barn from
10:00am until 3:00pm for a board game and card game extravaganza! Bring $5 to help pay for food and drinks… and
I’m counting on you to bring some fun board games too.
Cardboard Box City
Everyone is encouraged to participate in this great event to help raise funds for Family Promise. Each participant
needs a minimum of 5 sponsors in order to participate (10 sponsors or $100 gets you a t-shirt!). We will meet at the
Lake City Community Church at 5:00pm to begin setting up our houses for the night (bring your own cardboard!).
Dinner will be provided at 6:00pm with some activities and concerts to follow before everyone crashes for the night.
Please see Jeff if you would like a pledge folder or more information.
Middle School Bowling
All 6th-8th graders are invited to join us for a fun night out at the bowling lanes. We’ll meet at the church building at
6:00pm then head over to Triple Play (eat dinner before you come!). You’ll need to bring around $20 which will
cover a couple of games of bowling plus give you some extra money for a snack or arcade game. Parents can pick
their kids up at Triple Play at 9:00pm, or better yet just stay and play with us!
High School @ Scarywood
All 9th-12th graders are invited to join us for a night of thrills and chills! We’ll meet at the church parking lot at
6:00pm and be back home possibly around 1:30am! Dress warmly! You’ll be responsible for getting your own ticket
unless we have enough participants in which case we can get a special group rate. Sign up on the youth board if you
plan to go with us… IF YOU DARE!
Trunk-or-Treat
Everyone is encouraged to help us with this great outreach opportunity. Whether you want to bring your car to our
lineup and pass out candy from your trunk, help serve free hotdogs, or just mingle with our guests, there’s something for you to do. Come join the fun as we offer a safe alternative to our community. Stay tuned for more details.
COMING SOON… Girls Day Out, Hockey Night, Hobbit Movie Night!
We’re sorry to announce that the
Apple Cider Press Youth Rally
was CANCELLED this year due to wildfires and smoke levels
in the Cashmere area. Please pray for those who have
been affected and continue to deal with this tragedy.