TFC Youth Ministry Parent E-mail
2/5/2009

Contents
    * Announcements
   1. Tools for Parenting Teens
   2. Learn Their Lingo
   3. Links to Learn From
   4. A Little Humor

* Announcements

Super Bowl Party - 5:15 Sunday at the Mason's.  Jv. & Varsity lets meet for food, friends and football. JV brings 2 liter drinks, Varsity brings dessert.

Planet Wisdom Conference - February 19-20, Friday 6pm to Saturday 5pm.  $45. This experiential journey brings together a first-class team in Mark Matlock and Dawson McAllister, who together possess a unique ability to create powerful connections for students in faith and in truth. This experience will make an impact of biblical proportion and empower the youth of this nation to rise up, and fully embrace the power found in Christ's great sacrifice. More Info Here

Aim For Success - February 28, 11am-2pm. All jr. high and high school students and their parents are invited to "Transformed to Succeed." A presentation and  interactive parent/child communication workshop about sexual abstinence and God's will. The program will cover "Why waiting is best," "Everybody's NOT doing it", STD's, "Your body is a temple," and more. $5 per family includes lunch.

Varsity Peru Missions Trip- July 17-24, We will be serving with a ministry that has been connected to Trinity Fellowship for a number of years, Mision TEC. Our own missionaries, Lucas and Krysten Bishop and Kyle and Cristina Thomas will oversee our ministry there. We will be helping with construction projects around the site and also leading boys and girls clubs. If you're interested in participating in this exciting opportunity then complete a short-term missions application and submit it to Keith Mason by February 28. More Info Here

Wednesday Night Study -
Our high schooler are studying apologetics from Focus on the Family called TrueU. TrueU is an apologetics training series primarily geared to help prepare high school students for the rigorous challenges and attacks that will confront them on the university campus. More Info Here
Our Jr. High students are studying the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel provides vivid illustrations of who God is, who we are, and what that means in terms of our lives and relationship with Him. More Info Here

UPCOMING EVENTS
2/10 - Word Wednesday 6:15-7:45
2/14 - Varsity Serve at Dallas Life Foundation
2/14 - JV Serve at the Center Of Hope
2/17 - Ash Wednesday Service at 6:30pm
3/13-3/17 - Varsity Ski Trip
7/17-7/24 - Varsity Peru Mission Trip (details coming soon)
Online Calendar

1. Tools for Parenting Teens

Practical Faith
What does it mean, really, to trust God, to “have faith”? One opportunity we have as Real World Parents is to show our kids exactly what trusting God looks like, both in our daily lives and in the ways we talk with them about walking in God’s wisdom.…Read More: http://www.realworldparents.com/starters/article/practical_faith/

2. Learn Their Lingo

Happy Late Year = People who still say "Happy New Year" even though it's the middle of January.

Good lenses, bad frames = Describing someone who gives a bad first impression but is actually a good person. Someone who doesn't appear to be competent, yet is extremely capable at what he/she does.

Shawty = A good looking female

3. Links to Learn From

Unattainable Beauty  - Newsweek features the decades biggest airbrushing scandals
http://www.newsweek.com/id/231629?GT1=43002

Abstinence Education Effective; Comprehensive Sex Ed a Big Flop
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NWIwNzIwMGYxZmVmMGNjZWQ1MzIzYTE3YTJlYzAxNjg=

Do Your Adolescent Children Keep Odd Sleep Hours?
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleep-newzzz/200912/do-your-adolescent-children-keep-odd-sleep-hours

The Myth of the Perfect Parent
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/january/12.22.html?start=1

4. A Little Encouragement...And Humor

Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits.
- Anonymous

Resources

Youth Medical/Liability Release Form

Media Links
CPYU – The Center for Parent and Youth Understanding – Culture studies
PlanetWisdom – Movie and music reviews from a Christian perspective
KidsInMind – Detailed! movie reviews
PluggedInOnline - Movie Reviews from a Christian perspective
ThePornTalk – How to talk to your kids about porn and sex
CovenantEyes – Software to keep you accountable on the web

Money Links
Moneywisekids – Training program to help teenagers with money

Family Discipleship Links
HeartConnex –Family eDevotionals
Almenconi – Helping parents communicate values to their children
Crosswalk – Online Christian magazine
ChristianityToday - Online Christian magazine
FamilyLife – Marriage and parenting resources
WalkInTheWord - A ministry of Dr. James McDonald
StrongFamilies - The center for strong families
cbmw - The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Fathers - National Center for Fatherhood
TruthForLife - Where the Learning is for Living
JosiahPress – 30 day program for parents and their teenagers

Personal Study Links
Bible – N.E.T. Bible resource
BibleGateway – Bible search
SonicLight – Great Bible study notes with Dr. Constable of DTS
DesiringGod – Ministry of John Piper
Echoprayer  - Prayer reminder website
YouVersion – Online devotional space
BiblePlan – Online Bible reading plans

Marriage/Dating Links
MarriageToday
Family - Focus on the Family
SongOfSolomon – Building life changing relationships God’s way

Podcasts (clicking the below links will launch iTunes)
Dr. James Dobson - Family Issues
Heartfelt Radio - Help for today’s parents on today’s teens on OnePlace.com
Tough Talks Podcast - How to talk to your teenager about porn, sex and internet dangers