To add to the chaos of our lives, I started a part-time seasonal job last week!  I am working at Banana Republic as a Sales Associate.  I’m still in the process of training but am already having fun.  It’s a good opportunity for me to get dressed up for a change and be out for a few hours in the world.  Plus the discounts should be helpful during the holidays when I’m buying gifts.

Finally, this Monday we’re starting a new study with high school girls on Monday nights. It’s called “What Does God Want From Me?”  It’s a study to help students understand God’s desire for their lives.  I’m excited to finally get a chance to do it because I’ve had the book sitting on my shelf for two years.  Everything is in God’s timing, so I can’t wait to see what God reveals to us through this.

I pray God will reveal to you His desire for your life also.  We can get caught up in our busy lives and easily lose sight of God’s desire for us.  I am praying for God to keep me focused on His plan and desires each day.

God Bless!

We have all been working incredibly hard to prepare for the Grand Opening of our new Worship Auditorium at Southbrook Church.  The big day is fast approaching us THIS SUNDAY @ 9 & 11AM.

Are you wondering why we’re so excited?  There are so many reasons!  First of all, our new auditorium can hold 1200 people at one time.  This means we don’t have to have 4 services on a weekend that completely stretches our staff resources.  

Additionally, the new auditorium frees up the video cafe to be used for student worship services.  That’s right middle and high school students!  No more crowded classrooms on Sunday mornings.  YOU WILL HAVE YOUR OWN WORSHIP SERVICES!!!! It will be the same as the adult service BUT A LOT MORE FUN!  The new student worship service will have ice breaker games, a full worship band, and Pastor Daryl delivering an impacting message every Sunday.  You do not want to miss it!

STUDENTS…..CHECK IT OUT THIS WEEKEND!

First of all, Brian is half-way done with his first semester of college and loving it!  For a kid that wasn’t very excited about four more years of school, he has totally changed!  

As I mentioned in my last post, Dean and I lead a 6 week study for parents of teens called “How Far is Too Far?”  We were blessed and challenged each week by the parents questions!  They had so much great input and kept us on our toes.  I know God will bless the families that took the time to learn and study this extremely important topic.

Two weeks ago, Dean and I were able to go with our church’s high school students to Folly Beach.  It was a fun extended weekend with our students.  We had Sunday morning service in a big gazebo with the ocean as our background.  It took me back to my childhood in Oregon. We had our Easter sunrise service with the ocean and coastline in the background.  What a beautiful environment to praise God!

This past weekend, Elly and I tagged along on a little “college road trip”.  It was a fun girls weekend visiting Chapel Hill and UNC Wilmington.  She loved both campuses for different reasons.  We had so much fun and laughed like crazy.  I think we hit Starbucks at least twice a day to be able to keep up the pace!  Elly came home with lots of school souvenirs and plenty to think about. 

Our youngest, Sean is doing so well in his schooling this year.  We have a full schedule with plenty of opportunities for him to be in class with other kids his age.   He has science, p.e., current events and horseback with his friends. It’s fun!

Finally, our new auditorium at Southbrook Church had its “soft opening” last weekend.  Also, the children’s ministry got to take over our previous main building.  Our previous “video cafe” is now the student ministry building.  The children’s ministry and youth ministry are painting walls and changing the interior look completely.  The children’s ministry is going to have an ocean theme called “the cove”.  The student ministry building is going to have a city look to it.  You’ll feel like you’re hanging out in the city when you step into the student ministry building.  Please check out Southbrook’s website or stop by for our Grand Opening on October 26th at 9am and 11am.

How far is too far?  What does God say about it? Parents and teens today are dealing with too many mixed messages.  But I believe God made it very clear for us in His Word.

1 Corinthians 6:18. Flee from sexual immorality.  All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because they are improper for God’s holy people.

Crystal Clear. 

So, how far is too far?

One parent described it as nothing below the neck.  I think that was a pretty good, simplified description. In a day of “friends with benefits” and “technical virginity” being the norm, we have to lay out clear boundaries and consequences to our children.

To get rid of any confusion, here’s the facts:

Oral sex IS sex…and yes you can get STDs

Mutual masturbation IS sex

Nearly 1/3 of thirteen to fifteen-year-olds have had sexual intercourse

Over 1/2 of sixteen to eighteen-year-olds have had sexual intercourse

Three million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) occur each year among teenagers

90% of teenagers that start dating at age 12 will have sex before graduation

70% of teenage suicide attempts stem from broken romantic relationships

When you stare at the statistics, you can see why continual conversations with your children are essential. Guiding them through difficult decisions and going against the crowd isn’t easy.  But the less personal baggage they take into their future marriage, the healthier and happier they will be.

source: author Jim Burns, “Teaching Your Children Healthy Sexuality”

I turned 39 yesterday!  I had a very fun day!  I spent the morning with my daughter Elly.  We got our nails done and just hung out together.  Then I went to a birthday lunch my friend Holly planned for me.  I had such a good time!  Thanks Holly and all my girlfriends that were able to make it!  Then I came home for a little snooze.  In the evening my whole family went to Volume, our middle school youth service.  It was fun hanging out with all my other kids and church family.  I love birthdays but I can’t believe I’m 39!

Life is a whirlwind!  I’m afraid to blink and something else will pass me by!  Over the past couple of months we have had so much going on!  We have made several trips to Duke Eye Center to find out finally my 18 year old son Brian DOES NOT have cancer! Brian graduated from high school and registered for college at UNC Charlotte.  We had a steady progression of family visiting to wish Brian well in his next phase of life. Elly got her drivers license.  Sean went through two rounds of EEGs to discover he is having a lot of seizure activity, even from blinking his eyes. And Brian, Sean, and I went on a local mission trip for a week!

Have I said life is a whirlwind?  At least my life!  I left out all of the camps and work schedules too.  I don’t want to bore you!

I am doing a great summer study with some girlfriends too!  It is one of the highlights of my summer.  I hope you’ll check it out!  It is called “No Other Gods” by Kelly Minter.  We meet every other week to discuss it at my friend Kelly’s house.  Check it out!  It’s a great study full of wisdom.

Have a wonderful day!

Blessings….Chris

So, here are the books I mentioned.  

Shattered Dreams….God’s Unexpected Pathway to Joy by Larry Crabb

Jesus Calling…Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young (A daily devotional)

Blessings,

Chris

I’m amazed at all of the different ideas and rules people have on raising children.  Especially when you get to the topics of dating, curfews, sex talks, and media.

Dean and I have tried to take the good things from our childhoods and combine those ideas with sound parenting strategies from the Bible and experts such as Jim Burns.  

We try to listen to our teens more than talk.  Praise them for good character and choices, not just good grades or sports accomplishments.  Play often!  And always let them know they are a priority and valued!

Parents are busier than ever with both parents working in the majority of families.  Unfortunately, once kids become self-sufficient many parents check out a bit and start to focus more attention to their own interests.  But, the teen years are when kids need us the most!  

It’s a daily struggle for me to make sure my kids know I’m available because there are so many other things I love or need to do.  But, I really try to limit saying “later” or “just a minute”. If I can drop what I’m doing or re-arrange my plans so I’m available when they’re home after school or on the weekend to go out to lunch and an impromptu shopping trip….I do it!

The time with our children is a gift God has given us to enjoy to the fullest.  It’s a gift we don’t want to pass by or shove to the side. 

Know matter what you and your child are going through today, it’s never too late to start building a relationship you both enjoy.  

Blessings! Chris

Blessings, Chris

Well, this year we aren’t going on vacation, unless God gives us one for FREE.  We have been re-evaluating our priorities over the past few years.  We are taking a class written by Dave Ramsey called Financial Peace Universtiy.  His quote is to “Live like no one else so you can live like no one else.”  In other words, make good money choices, so you will be able to do all the things you want to do.

It’s great because when you don’t have debt or the guilt of overspending, you feel more at peace.  It’s very freeing.  Our ultimate goal is to not even have a house payment.

We are continuing to focus on using vacation time for mission trips.  I was fortunate to go to NYC with Brian and Elly.  Brian went to Mexico on a mission trip in February.  Our next mission trip will be local.  Sean is going to join us on a local mission trip right here in Charlotte in June.  We can’t wait!

So, we might not get to go anywhere tropical this year to lay on the beach but we will have fun right here and put some money aside for other things.

What are you doing this summer?

What would you plan to do if you knew this was your last summer?

Last night’s NY Mission service was amazing!  I’m so proud of every student involved.  It was a night of giving all the glory to God with worship, re-enactments, live testimonies, video testimonies, and dance.  It was so much fun!  I wish we could do it again and again!!!

So, take a look at Pastor Rob’s blog and the YouTube video he has linked.  

Blessings, Chris