great tragedy leads to great love

Close to 200,000 people are dead, more than a million are homeless and the injured include hundreds of thousands. Whether anyone has a connection to Haiti or not, the aftermath is seen through the same lens – a horrific one that reflects the likes of an apocalyptic film. But it is usually in the midst of great tragedy, where many of us show our extension of God’s love towards strangers. This disaster is no different.

“Love is patient and kind (I Cor 13:4).” Many generously wanted to send food, clothes and blankets. However, the best tool Haiti could ever acquire for the massive earthquake cleanup would be the funds to keep the rescue efforts coming. And many responded accordingly. U.S. Magazine reported that celebrities helped raise $9 million in one night on Larry King Live. And this does not include donations the average household contributed to the American Red Cross and other charities. Even the young generation broke media relief records by texting contributions through cell phones and chalking up a $10 charge on next month’s bill. 

 “Love never gives up, never loses faith… (I Cor 13:7).”Aid organization Doctors Without Borders had five supply planes diverted from their rescue mission. But it didn’t stop the organization from using quick thinking to do their absolute all in saving lives. Renzo Fricke, the group’s chief in Haiti, told CNN that in order to make life-saving operations: “This morning we had to buy a saw in the market, in the city … for our surgeons to do amputations,” he said, “the medical equipment is not coming as it should arrive.”

Everyone can do something to make a difference in some way.  No matter your age or your financial position or where you live, we call can do something to help in the relief efforts in Haiti.

1. Give, give, give.  The relief effort in Haiti is not going away any time soon.  There are months of work ahead for the Haitian people to rebuild and financial support will need to keep coming.  Find a local charity (or maybe your local church has something going there) to give financially to as often as you or as God leads.  Examples supports Compassion International, a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.  http://www.compassion.com  You can make a donation directly to their Haiti relief effort by clicking the below:

https://www.compassion.com/contribution/default.htm

2. Pray, pray, pray.  We should all pray frequently regarding the recovery of Haiti.  Prayer for the families that lost loved ones, for children who lost parents and siblings, for families that lost homes, for individuals that lost everything, for the government to rebuild and strengthen.  There is so much to pray for and God will hear you and answer.

3. Mission Trips.  If the opportunity presents itself, consider taking a missions trip to Haiti to help in the relief efforts and serve the Haitian people with God’s love.  Northwest Haiti Christian Mission is just one organization that is offering opportunities to travel to Haiti to minister to their people.  http://www.nwhcm.org  Your local church may also be planning trips for you and your family to get involved in. 

We all are able to do at least one of the above items in order to help this country.  If you know of other ways for people to get involved with Haiti relief, please let us know by posting a comment or contacting us at contact@examplesyouth.org.  We will review and post for others to read about.

rihanna teaches us to be salty!

Immediately after Rihanna’s interview on ABC’s 20/20 last month, dating abuse hotlines rang off the hook. Calls to the National Domestic Violence crisis line went up 59 percent and teen helplines went up by 73 percent. Her story inspired so many young ladies to reach out from their carefully hidden bruises and plead for help. Although Rhianna reunited with Chris Brown shortly after he attacked her, she eventually walked away from the relationship. And she says her decision was profoundly sparked by the impact she had on her fans.

“When I realized that my selfish decision for love could result into some young girl getting killed, I could not be easy with that part. I couldn’t be responsible,” Rhianna told Diane Sawyer. “If Chris never hit me again, who’s to say their boyfriend won’t?”

Rihanna’s final decision was not only unselfish, but it was a perfect example of how living a responsible life can inspire others to do the same. And for those who believe in Christ, this principle is significant. Sometimes we all can inadvertently become role models, whether it is towards a younger brother or sister who closely watches what we wear and do, or a friend who is curious about our relationship with God but still doesn’t quite understand the gospel.

You can find Rihanna’s daring hairstyles in high schools across the country and hear her voice on car stereos everywhere. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that young and older ladies imitated her decision to get out of an abusive and potentially deadly relationship.  And one can wonder how many look to us? We Christians are supposed to be the salt of the earth. And according to the book of Matthew, if we lose our flavor, who will the world look to as an example?

“..You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden…Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV)

We have a responsibility to be a Godly example that inspires others to want and obtain the best life possible.

How many times have we judged others in front of our children, cheated a waitress out of a tip on a lunch date with friends, or grew angry in front of strangers because a line was too long? We must continue to compare our lives to the Word and adjust in the areas that do not reflect love.

“Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors…they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.” (1 Peter 2:12 NLT)

Rihanna found the strength to rid her own selfishness so that others may benefit. She even possibly saved a life. And if we continue to deny our selfishness, we can possibly lead those closest to us to salvation. With one decision, Rhianna gave hope and encouragement to people everywhere. In our daily walk with Lord, do we?

if He trusted mary…

Luke 2: 1 – 7 (AMP)

¹In those days it occurred that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole Roman empire should be registered.

²This was the first enrollment, and it was made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³And all the people were going to be registered, each to his own city or town.

⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵To be enrolled with Mary, his espoused (married) wife, who was about to become a mother.

⁶And while they were there, the time came for her delivery,

⁷And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn.

A few days ago, I heard a story depicting Mary and Joseph’s, as in parents of Jesus, journey to Bethlehem for the census when she was pregnant with Jesus.  It was the first time I ever really considered what Mary went through on that trip or what Joseph may have been feeling.  Think about it – Mary was nine months pregnant and went on what was probably about an 11-day trip on a donkey!  I can’t even imagine going on a road trip in a car for 11 days if I was nine months pregnant!  Just thinking about the discomforts I had when I was in my last trimester…my goodness.  This was not an easy trip for her.

Can you imagine what Joseph was going through?  The woman he loved and was responsible for was exhausted and uncomfortable.  He didn’t have a bed for her to sleep in during the nights.  He didn’t have the comforts from home that could ease her during their travels.  When she went into labor, did he lose it?  Was he frantic and feeling helpless???  I imagine all he could do is his best to find a safe place for her to deliver and do his best to help and provide for her.  That had to have been hard for him.

Now, try to imagine the whole cave scene where Jesus was born.  I already have trouble thinking about natural child birth with no meds!  Mary was surrounded by animals and their excretions, outdoors, and probably laid on the ground while giving birth (maybe she had some hay to lay on I don’t know!).  Bottom line, this was a less than ideal place for her to be, but she got through it and all went well.

When I heard the story, I was like, whoa…I don’t know if I could have done that.  I don’t know if I could have gone through all of those discomforts and hard times.  I’m sure Mary had her doubts at times too, but…God chose her to carry and bare His Son.  He knew Mary would take care of herself while pregnant.  He knew that she would make sound decisions about her body during the delivery.  He also knew that Joseph would have the wisdom, ability, and provisions to take care of her and Jesus.  He trusted them with His only Son.  What a big deal.

After pondering this entire ordeal, I believe the Holy Spirit whispered these words to me, “Hey, I trust you too.”  What???  Wow.  God has put His trust in Eddie and I to care for the two children He has blessed us with.  When things get hard and uncomfortable, He is saying, “I trust you.  I trust you with two of my prized possessions.  Care for them.  Keep and protect them.  Teach and discipline them.  Love them well.”  God has given us all of the wisdom, ability and anointing necessary to raise our children from infants to adulthood.  Just as Mary and Joseph got through that very rough journey, we can get through our very rough journeys in life with our children as we trust and rely on God to lead us.

What peace I have knowing that I don’t have to fear that I am incapable of being a parent.  It’s one of the only jobs you get where there is no orientation prior to getting started.  All of it is on the job training.  So because of this, God has implanted in our Spirits the ability to successfully rear our children as He watchfully and faithfully orders our steps.

So I admonish you today.  If your journey happens to be rough during this season of life, take courage.  God has not left you stranded, just like He did not leave Mary and Joseph stranded with Jesus.  He has equipped you for this occupation and you can do it; and not just get by with the minimum effort, but you can do it well.  The God of Mary and Joseph, the Father of our Lord Jesus, is with you.

“The Princess and the Frog” – big movie release from Disney!

OK, this is really a big deal folks.  I am a big fan of Disney: its products, theme parks, and commitment to family and excellence.  I personally, however, have been very careful about introducing my daughter to the world of the “Disney Princesses.”  I grew up with a host of beauty images that did NOT mirror my large nose, full lips and kinky hair.  I have spent much of my adult life recreating positive images of beauty for myself and am very conscious of those that are before my children.  So, I have been slow to bringing the whole Disney Princess craze into my home which in my opinion indirectly promotes images such as “snow white” skin and long blonde hair (or long black hair or long brown hair…long hair!) as beauty – even though they are beautiful, they are not physical similarities shared by my daughter, who is definitely beautiful as well with her short curly hair, caramel skin, and chubby tummy!

Now, I am very aware that there are many images of beauty in the world; all of different races and ethnicities so don’t get me wrong.  But, what we cannot deny is the HUGE media buzz around the movie The Princess and the Frog and what it means to little African-American girls all over the world.  It is exciting to see and maybe it will be another piece of the puzzle in recreating and adjusting the images of what we all view as beautiful – impacting races of people everywhere.

A press release describes the story as follows (from Art Daily and Disney.com):

When the free-spirited, jazz-loving Prince Naveen of Maldonia (Bruno Campos) comes to town, a deal with a shady voodoo doctor (Keith David) goes bad and the once suave royal is turned into a frog. In a desperate attempt to be human again, a favor in exchange for a fateful kiss on the lips from the beautiful girl, Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), takes an unexpected turn and leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana to the banks of the almighty Mississippi and back in time for Mardi Gras in New Orleans. An unforgettable tale filled with music, humor and heart where two frogs—along with the help of a 197-year-old voodoo priestess, a love-sick Cajun firefly, and a trumpet-playing alligator—discover that what they want isn’t as important as what they need.

In the official trailer it is revealed that once Tiana kisses the frog prince, she herself becomes a frog, and they must journey together to change themselves back to humans.

View movie trailer here: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/

it’s always better to give

“…it is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35

It’s that time of year again…Christmas.  All over the world, little kids are preparing their letters to send to Santa, teenagers are showing their parents commercials about the latest gaming system or cell phone and grown-ups are telling each other what they desire as a present.  One of the most famous questions we usually hear doing this time is, “What are you going to get me for Christmas?”

Sadly to say, a lot of people’s attitudes and actions during this time are motivated solely by what they are planning to receive.  For example, people will buy someone a gift because they want to receive a gift in return.  However, what if we shift our focus this season and purposed solely to see what we can give.  We make giving our motivation for our attitudes and actions, not because we want something in return, but because giving is our desire, not receiving.

As we shift our focus this year, let’s make sure our giving says the following:

1. Our giving should be an expression of our love. John 3:16 says that God love the world so much that His love prompted Him to give. When we give this year, we should follow God’s example and do it because we love the people we are giving the gift to.

2. Our giving should represent our best. John 3:16 also says that God gave his best – His only son – to those He loves.  When we give, we should make sure it represent our best, or something that has value to us.

3. Our giving should be done with a cheerful heart. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that God loves a cheerful giver.  It also says that we should not give grudgingly.  To give grudgingly means to give something to someone, but in our hearts we really did not want to.  To give with a cheerful heart is to give something to someone, and we are happy and excited to do it.

Ways to Give

Giving your time: A good way to give of your time is to volunteer in some capacity.  I am sure that you have probably seen the people in front of the grocery stores ring the bell for the Salvation Army.  They are actually giving of their time to volunteer to raise money for a great organization.  Or it could be as simple as volunteering to help your mom with Christmas preparation instead of going to the mall with friends.  What personal time can you give up and donate to helping someone else this season.

Giving your talent: To give of your talents is to use the things you are a good at doing to help others.  For example, you may be a great actor and your church is putting on a play at a nursing home.  Volunteering to be a part of the play would be you giving of you talents to bless others.  Do you bake?  Are you good at crafts?  Sometimes original and unique gifts from the heart mean more than buying something flashy from a department store.  Does your grandmother enjoy hot drinks?  Maybe putting together a basket of flavored coffee and tea would mean more to her than a new Blue Ray DVD player.

Giving your resources: This is the most common way of giving during the Christmas season, but it doesn’t always have to mean buying a gift.  There are also many different charities and organizations that could use your financial donation.  For example, Angel Tree is an organization which gives gifts to children who have a parent (or parents) that is incarcerated.  Another organization is Compassion International which gives gifts to children in impoverished countries.  There are many ways you can give of your resources that does not necessarily mean spending a whole lot of money shopping.

There are many ways you can give.  We should all take the time to seek God and consider how He would like for us to spend our time, talents, and resources on in order to be a blessing to others.  Whatever you decide to give this year, let’s make sure that the actual “giving” is your focus and that it is heart-felt, full of love and excitement to do it!

using polls in your youth group with YouVersion

Several months ago, I came across a tool that has really been a tremendous help to my word study time.  This tool is called YouVersion, and from the first day I downloaded it, I became excited about it.

YouVersion is a multi-featured web based application developed by Life Church in Edmond, OK.  The main feature I use from it is its online Bible tool.   If you have an iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android mobile device, there is a downloadable YouVersion application for your convenience.  If you have a different brand of mobile phone, there site is optimized to work in your mobile web browser.   One of the cool things about YouVersion is the convenience of having multiple Bible versions/translations in the palm of your hand – so no matter where you are, as long as you have your mobile device with you, you can read your Bible.

Another cool feature with YouVersion that I’ve recently come across, and what I think will be of a benefit in live events, is their live polling feature.  This feature gives you the ability to poll your audience/youth group/congregation and get instant results.  This would be a great feature to incorporate into your youth Bible study.  My church has used the live polling feature during service and it is eye opening to see the responses and results – almost instantly –  from others in the congregation.

There are plenty of other features that YouVersion offers that could add value to your services.  For more information please visit http://www.youversion.com.

youth leader “RELATE” tip – “praise to parents”

Here’s a quick tip to help build relationships with your teens and their parents.  This month, chose one or two (or a few if you have a bigger youth group) of your teens and write something nice about them.  It can be something that they did that was note worthy, an area of growth that you see them developing in (like reading the Bible more, taking the lead in small groups, praying in front of the group, bringing a friend to Bible study, etc.), or maybe something that they recently achieved in school or somewhere else.

Say something nice and encouraging about them to their parents in a note, put the note in a card or something, and mail it or give it to them personally.  Chose different students to do this for each month and watch the connection between you and their parents start to grow!  The students will feel great too!

For more great Youth Leadership Tips, buy a copy of “Your First Two Years of Youth Ministry” by Doug Fields.

balloon boy – let’s not make haste!

So 6-year-old Falcon Heene was never in the home-made helium balloon that somehow accidentally lifted off 15,000 feet into the Colorado air early October.

Some of us were relieved. We had prayed through the CNN newscasts for hours, hoping that he hadn’t fell out of the aircraft his father built. But there were others who took one look at the silver flying saucer-like object when the story first broke, and thought, “Are you kidding me?” This skepticism may now be highly appropriate.

The Denver International Airport was temporarily closed down and National Guard helicopters searched for the boy’s body, but Falcon was found hiding in the attic. Days afterwards, the local county sheriff made plans to bring charges against Falcon’s parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene. Officials say the Heenes did it all for attention in hopes of fame and a television show.

There are so many lessons to be learned. But there is one biblical standpoint that sticks out sharply: No one can force a plan that is not in God’s plan for their life. In 2 Timothy 1:9, we find“…

God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace.”

How many times have any of us believed in a dream so wholeheartedly that when it didn’t come to pass, we tried to force it? Sometimes visions and hopes stir up so much excitement in our hearts that we know God had to have placed them there. Yet, there are many of us who year after year, wonder why the dream has not manifested into our realities.

The Heene’s family history reveal two parents who struggled to get acting gigs, and tried to get attention through storm chasing and YouTube videos. The height of their journey includes two appearances on the reality TV show “Wife Swap.” The couple had also been in talks with the producers for a separate reality show. And Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden believes the Heenes desperately thought the hoax would give them the spark they needed to seal a deal. If true, that spark has put them in a whole new struggle – fighting a possibility of felony charges, six years in prison and a $500,000 fine (The Chicago Tribune).

Sometimes we just have to go back to the drawing board, pray, reevaluate the origin of the idea and possibly let go of something that was more of a good idea than a “God idea.” Other times, it was in fact God speaking to us and His promise is still true. It’s just that we have to remain faithful until it’s our time. But if we try to pursue something despite God’s grace that’s not there to make it a success, we can lose ourselves and do anything to force it to happen. This choice disrupts our lives and causes unnecessary disappointment, or possibly as in the case of the Heene’s, jail time!

Proverbs 28:20 (AMP) A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich [at any cost] shall not go unpunished.

new movie – Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” with Jim Carrey

Christmas is approaching and soon the streets will be filled with lights decorating the homes of many.  There will be carols playing and every channel will have that one classic Christmas movie that you have to watch every year!  You know you can’t miss the Charlie Brown Christmas Special!  Disney has struck again and has remade a popular Christmas movie which will open in theaters November 6^th: the classic Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol”.

“A Christmas Carol” is about a miserable old rich man named Ebenezer Scrooge who believes that Christmas is just an excuse for people to miss work and for lazy people to expect handouts. He doesn’t believe in all of the good cheer and charity that the season promotes, and he makes sure everyone knows it.   Because of his sour attitude he doesn’t have many friends and spends Christmas Eve alone.  That night Scrooge falls asleep and is visited by three ghosts: Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. They show Scrooge his mistake in valuing money over people.  Scrooge awakes on Christmas morning a new man. He becomes very jolly and charitable, and truly turns into the man he promised the ghosts he would become. He then begins to carry the spirit of Christmas with him all year round!

Disney has remade this classic and will be featured as a 3-D motion picture!  Jim Carrey stars as Ebenezer Scrooge and also plays Ghost of Christmas Past and Ghost of Christmas Present.  This movie will truly be a must see for this holiday season.

Check out the trailer here….enjoy!

FOR PARENTS – thank God for the mud!

Recently I went on a field trip with my son Quad and his pre-school class to the pumpkin patch. Just to give you some sort of an idea of what this trip was like; it had rained almost every day the prior 16 days…so to describe that place as muddy is a vast understatement. It was sooooo MUDDY! There was not one place we could step without our feet sinking into squishy, mushy grass and mud. I honestly don’t think I have ever been somewhere (on purpose) that had that much mud. LOL!

Well, it probably goes without saying that a class full of four-year olds thought that this was the absolute best place to be. My son, even without a pair of goulashes on, splashed in every mud puddle, visited every muddy farm animal pen, ran multiple times through the muddy hay maze, climbed a huge, soggy wood chip hill (and ran down it countless times), rode the muddy hay ride (where we were warned that the tractor may get stuck), and let’s not forget, picked a muddy pumpkin. He had a ball and I truly had a blast playing with and watching him.

While there, however, I overheard some comments from a few other parents. One warned me as I walked in, “It is too muddy to have the kids here!” Another said, “This is just ridiculous!” Many complained about the mess their children were – mud-splattered coats, shoes soaked through to their socks, pant cuffs turning from blue to dark brown (believe me, you can forget about the cuffs of their pants!). So many chaperoning parents (from other schools I must add – not our wonderful pre-school!) were disappointed in the condition the pumpkin patch was in and the brown blurs their children were becoming. I was unsure how to respond to them; I mean I was quite enjoying watching Quad splash and run in the mud. I splashed and ran with him as a matter of fact. My perspective was quite different – I had never been on a field trip with my child before and with this being his last year before going to school, I was so thankful to have the freedom in my schedule to go with him. It was SUCH a joy and I was so blessed for it.

Now, I’m not writing to talk about how unthankful these “other” parents were about being at the pumpkin patch with their child. On the contrary, listening to these other parents complain actually made me repent about all of the things in my life I took for granted but needed to be thankful for. For example, I relocated to Chicago from Florida and every since I have been here, I have complained about the weather. How much better would it be for God’s ears if I thanked Him for giving me the opportunity to live in the same city as my parents and sisters? Another example (I could go on an on folks…): when we moved here to Chicago, we moved into a small two bedroom condo which was probably less than half the size of our three bedroom home in Florida. Oh, hear me when I say I complained about that one! Once again, how much better would it have been for me to thank God for allowing us to live in that condo rent free for almost two years!

I know there are a lot of things that happen in our lives that are crappy…or even tragic for that matter. The Bible tells us the following:

John 16:33 (AMP)
In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration;

Trouble is a part of life. We all know what it is and we have all experienced it. There is nothing good or joyful about going through trouble. Whether it is in our finances, our relationships, with our children…trouble ain’t fun.

But, the last part of this verse says this:

…but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Because Jesus has overcome the world and the trouble this world brings, there really is no circumstance or situation that I come across that I cannot give God thanks in…because according to this verse Jesus has deprived it of power…and in the end I win. This is applicable even with whatever you may be going through with your teenager. Isn’t it wonderful to know that no matter what it is, the power satan would like to give to it has been taken away by our Lord? Wow. That should minimize your issue down to itty bitty when you look at it like that.

When you look at life through these eyes, not only does a muddy pumpkin patch and dirty four-year old kid not disturb you, the other nuisances of life should be small in our sight as well. What a blessing it is to have our families, our children, our jobs, our homes…whatever it is, you fill in the blank; and it doesn’t matter if we are not in the exact place in life that we envision ourselves to be. Whatever place life has us, let’s take Jesus’ advice and “be of good cheer.”

So, in this season of Thanksgiving, take inventory of your life. List all of the good that you can, and give God thanks. For the not so good things, know that God has overcome them and still give Him thanks for doing that for us. Don’t let the trouble in life rob us of the joy the good in life brings.

16 days of rain + dirt + four-year old = one big mess!
Four-year old in muddy pumpkin patch + parent watching = JOY!

I thank God for it.

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