I did a story on this school a few years ago, when they'd raised their first $80,000 or so. I loved the story, because one of the seniors involved had grown up in Zambia as a missionary kid. But the story has continued after that class graduated, and the school has continued to remember Zambia and give sacrificially.
That's just cool.
]]>More than half of America's teens know a friend who has been abused in some way by their significant other. (Reuters, June 9, 2005)
]]>"We want to come and pour out all that we are and fill ourselves up with all that God offers us," says Chris Armfield, director of the Shannon Forest Presbyterian Church's youth group. As many as 100 teens attend the Tuesday night meetings in a renovated house, and nearly 50 come back for a Saturday evening meal and more in-depth Bible study.
"Someone comes to Christ every single week that we meet," says Armfield. At least 400 teens have discovered Christianity in the four years of the ministry.
]]>I liked girls.
Not one of those girls ended up being the one I married. I don’t even talk to any of those girls today. But when I was your age I found a certain fulfillment in dating. I was good at it. I bought flowers and talked on the phone and played the role. At times you’d think I had to date somebody. When I wasn’t dating I was eyeing up the possibilities, trying to figure out if I liked someone, or if they liked me, or some such nonsense.
Dating in high school is funny. It seems like the most important thing in the world. It seems larger than life. It’s not. I didn’t know anything about relationships in high school. I just knew I liked the squishy feeling I got holding a girl’s hand or—gasp—kissing her. I liked knowing someone liked me. To quote an old country song, "I want you to want me, I need you to need me, I love you to love me." In essence it was all a bit selfish.
Since then I’ve learned that relationships actually hard. It takes a lot of work—painful, time consuming, difficult work. If a relationship is going to last, you can’t just hang up the towel and walk away. Most importantly, you need to know yourself. You need to know what you want and need, and how that meshes with someone else. It doesn’t necessarily mean you look for someone just like you. My wife and I are complete opposites in some ways—the important thing was to learn how we were different and deal with it.
Dating is awkward. It’s goofy. It’s strange. And it can be fun. But not always. I don’t want to tell anyone not to date (though your parents may wish I did), but there’s wise counsel in that. Keeping the opposite sex at arm’s length isn’t the greatest either, but being cautious and taking your time before jumping into a relationship is a good thing. Hearts are easily broken and poorly mended. You can make a lot of dumb mistakes dating in high school—though sometimes we need to learn through mistakes. Just be sure to keep your head.
The mess took three hours to clean up before prospective students could visit the school, prompting the principal to cancel graduation as punishment.
]]>Yet, he says, "I don't have many sad days."]]>Indeed, his life is lit by joy when he looks to the future. Graham sees that future carried by young people "trying to make a better world and serve the Lord."
When he came to the microphone at his most recent crusade, in Pasadena, Calif., last October, the Rose Bowl was packed with young people, most of them teenagers. He expects the same in June at Flushing Meadow, in Queens.
"It's amazing to see how many young people are searching for something else and don't know what. They will come to the meetings out of curiosity — they want to see someone who has believed it (God's truth) and lived it."
You teens do more than we give you credit for.
]]>37% - More than 60 hours
35% - 20 to 39 hours
15% - Fewer than 20 hours
13% - 40 to 59 hours
(USA Today, April 24, 2005)
What's especially cool is that today's teens are volunteering more than teens ever have—going back through the entire 50-year history of volunteer statistics.
70% give out their first name
67% their age
61% their contact info
59% their location
44% e-mail address & IM screen name
39% their birth date
20% their full name
It maybe something as innocent as mentioning your school mascot, but it means your online persona is no longer private. Anyone could track you down, and that could be dangerous. There's nothing wrong with blogging, just be careful how much information you give to the world. (link via YS Update)
]]>A mom heard the hype and began the fear the worst for her preteen daughter. But she paid attention and saw that her daughter was normal. Bad things can happen, but expecting the worst from teens doesn't help anyone. My Girl: Adventures With a Teen in Training is probably better reading for your parents, but the bottom line is more respect for you.
What do you think? Does the media blow troubled teen girls out of proportion? (link via YS Update)
]]>It's not always the most magical night ever, though thankfully most of the stories seem to end with overcoming whatever bizarre adversity struck.
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