Ministries:
Adult | Teens | Children

Pastor's Pen's:
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

Sermon Series:
Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
Promised Land Living

Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2006

Grace Church of Burlington April 30, 2006 “Kids are not connecting what they’re doing on the computer with real life. They do not believe they’re accountable.”    Parry Aftab, online safety expert             For many of its 72 million users, MySpace serves as a new kind of lifeline to the world. But MySpace.com, as well as other social web sites that allow anyone to post photos and personal information about themselves for all the world to see, are increasingly becoming the focus of investigations related to the molestation, rape and murder of teenagers. A recent report by USA Today found that teens are regularly posting their cell phone numbers, school names and other information along with inappropriate pictures of themselves on sites such as MySpace, which has 55 million members. Unfortunately most teenagers appear to be oblivious to the dangers of such broad disclosures. And many parents don’t have a clue.             After seeing several news reports and hearing from a police officer about this site, I did some searching on my own. It was shocking and sad to see what even some of our own church kids had on their web sites. Admissions of drinking, friends that were inappropriate, language that would make a sailor blush, music that was obscene, etc. Sadly, their parents probably have no idea what their kids are doing. Too often parents  are the last to know.             While even the most proficient parent can be hoodwinked, that’s usually not the case. Frequently, it’s spiritual ignorance of the sin nature and the depravity of their own children. Some parents have a hard time believing that their innocent baby has the same sinful drives that they do...but they do.             As Christian parents, it’s our responsibility to disciple our own teenagers and also to hold them accountable. That means checking out what they’re doing on the Internet, knowing about their friends and their friends’ parents (frequently, they have very different standards than you do), and having behavior standards with consistent and enforced consequences. It means, too, that if we are going to disciple our kids, we must first be disciples ourselves. If we’re not in the Word, people of prayer, looking for opportunities to serve the Lord, and faithful in attending worship services, our children will get the message. It also means asking some very tough questions and not making assumptions.             I remember talking to one dad some years ago who was shocked that I periodically asked my own kids about drug use or sexual behavior. I’ll never forget his response, “Do you think that I ought to ask my kids that?” I encouraged him that he should but what was saddest to me, is that I knew that one of his kids was heavily involved in alcohol...he was completely in the dark.              Being a parent is a lot of work. Sometimes you suffer for doing the right thing. Your own kids tell you that you’re a horrible parent. Too many parents cave in at that point. But our parenting is service to our Lord who entrusted our children to us. We are serving an audience of One. That means that we have to make the tough decisions and do the tough things.             It means, too, that we are willing to get help. When it comes to parenting, all of us are naive and inexperienced (you don’t become an expert until you’re a grandparent ☺). So ask those whom you respect and who have modeled godly parenting for counsel. Read widely. Watch programs or attend seminars, even secular ones. And pray, pray, pray!             Recently, our own small town had a heroin bust. Alcohol, drug abuse and promiscuous behavior are nearly epidemic among today’s teens. Later this week (May 2nd) our local high school is hosting a national expert on drug abuse.  This should be a helpful and informative seminar for both parents and young people. If you can, you should attend.             Too many parents are blind-sided by their own children’s behavioral choices. Christian parent, please don’t be another statistic! May Grace Church raise a generation of grace-filled children for His glory!!