Oct
26
Religion, Teens, Sex and Parents
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Do I have your attention yet? While searching the web recently for data on current cultural trends, I came across an interesting article published in 2001 from the National Center for Policy Analysis in Washington, D.C., which included information submitted by social scientist, Laura Meckler, based on a survey of 502 teenage Americans. As a pastor, the title caught my eye; “Survey: Religion Affects Teen Sex.” Teens who took the survey said that morals, values and religion play a major role in their decisions about sex. Specifically, 40% of these teens said that morals, values, and/or religious beliefs were the most important factor affecting their decision about whether to have sex. By comparison, concern about sexually transmitted diseases was only the most important factor for 17 % of respondents. This is somewhat surprising given the significant media attention and sex education programs that have made diminishing sexually transmitted disease their primary focus. To me, this means that various faith based programs that have encouraged abstinence have flown in under the media’s radar and have b
een far more successful than many have realized. The only downside to this, as indicated by the survey, is that once “religious teens” do have sex, they are less likely to use contraception. To me, these findings suggest that we as parents (and churches) strongly encourage abstinence as the leading edge of our instruction about sex. It’s biblical, moral, healthy, and very much in the best interests of our teens. In addition, a discussion of this sort should provide ample opportunity to emphasize the grace of forgiveness available to any who have already fallen short in this area of moral conduct. In our culture, this is a subject that we as Christians simply can’t afford to ignore. Read more
Oct
24
Prayer and Mission
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A crucial part of the CoJ vision is to be a congregation that is “world impacting.” The gospel message of forgiveness and freedom through faith in Jesus Christ is life changing good news and definitely worth sharing, beginning in our own back yard and extending to the far corners of the world. That means we’ve got work to do - a mission to accomplish. Why then are we talking about prayer? Talking to God seems so passive. Why spend time talking to God about the world when we could be talking to the world about God? What’s the connection between prayer and mission? Read more
Oct
18
The Key to a Great Marriage
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Last week Martha and I were invited guests to a luncheon sponsored by KTIS Radio in honor of pastors and their wives. In addition to a great meal, the 350 who were gathered heard a stirring, heartfelt message on marriage, presented by Dr. Gary Smalley, Director of the Smalley Relationship Center in Branson, Missouri. Dr. Smalley opened his talk with a simple, succinct, and stimulating statement. He said, “The most important but often overlooked key to a truly great marriage is SECURITY.”
I’ve attended my share of marriage enrichment seminars emphasizing the importance of skills such as listening to, understanding, respecting and appreciating one’s mate as the vital ingredients in the formula of marital oneness and success. Smalley would agree that these skills are important and have their place, but only when a proper foundation for marriage is laid, which is, in a word - “SECURITY.” Read more
