Seniors, when you got the five15 Award Ballot, you should have also received from me a letter inviting you to make a “Senior Address.” Here is the deal:

I want to invite you to participate in something new this year called the Senior Address. This is an opportunity for you to influence the younger students in five15 by challenging them to godliness and passion for the Savior.

Basically, I would like any seniors who are interested to make a five-minute address to five15 on the topic of their choice. I’d like you to speak from what you’ve learned while in five15 and/or challenge the younger students to a particular expression of godliness. This short essay could address a question like the following:

• What did you learn about living for Christ during your years in five15?
• How did honoring your parents make a difference for you during your high school years?
• If you could do high school over again, what would you do differently?

Here are the basic requirements: Each Senior Address should…

• …honor God.
• …be 400 words or less.
• …challenge other students by exhorting them to an area of godliness or urging them to learn from your experience in five15.
• …be turned in by Friday, May 2.

I’ll choose a some of the essays to be read at the Senior Meeting on May 10. The rest we’ll publish in a booklet for the students of five15.

Thanks in advance for considering this! I know you have a lot to do to prepare for the end of the year, but I want to ask you to seriously consider doing this. It is a great opportunity for you to challenge younger students to “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim 4:12)

Categories: five15 blog
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Parents and students, sorry we didn’t have these questions ready for you Saturday night.  Here they are!

QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS TO ASK TEENS

• Let me share with you ways that I have been encouraged about your progress recently.
• Do you have any observations for me as a dad?
• Is there anything I have said or done that would cause you to struggle or you would want to bring to my attention?
• Do you feel that mom or I have treated you unfairly in any situation or circumstance that you would want to bring to my attention right now?
• Have you had any conversation with friends regarding issues or expressing thoughts, which you know I would be concerned about or want to know about? Have you engaged in any activities which you know your mother and I would not approve of since we last met or that you have not informed me about?
• Is there any thought on your mind that you know is wrong but you are having a hard time with?
• Are there any unresolved relational issues among you and this family or your friends?
• What things have been repeatedly on your mind during the past week or two? What have you been thinking about? What things specifically?
• What has been the main focus of your quiet times recently? What are you reading? What are you praying about? Are you benefiting from your devotional times or are you doing them primarily out of obligation?
• How do you feel about your relationship with God right now? Are you feeling passion for him and his kingdom? Is there anything competing for your affections right now that would hinder you from loving God with all your heart? Are you growing in your passion, love and affections for God? How are you seeking to grow in your knowledge of God and your passion for his kingdom?
• Are there any girls/boys that you are having a hard time not thinking about? What are you thinking about them? Do you have any questions about relationships with guys or girls?
• In your relationships with others, are you being a faithful friend according to Scripture? (Prov. 27:6, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”)
• Would those friends you are choosing to hang out with presently be considered wise companions? (Prov. 13:20, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”) What are your friends passionate about and why are you drawn to them?
• Have you viewed any inappropriate images, or read any inappropriate articles since we last met? (TV, movies, pictures, internet, etc) How much time are you spending on Internet, TV, movies, ESPN, other?
• How are you being diligent in managing your personal life? Devotional times, chores in the home, schoolwork, budget?
• I want to bring up with you (current weekly issues with spiritual life, relationship to mother, relationship to siblings, relationship to peers).
• What sins are you struggling with and how are you working on them? What have you done to work on your sin area? Do you have you any kind of plan?

QUESTIONS FOR TEENS TO ASK PARENTS 

• Where do you see me growing in my relationship with the Lord?
• Based on my conversations and enthusiasm, what would you say I most passionate about?  Do you think my priorities reflect Matthew 6:33 that I am seeking first the kingdom of God in my life?  In what specific ways would you encourage me to make my relationship with God the highest priority in my life? How would you recommend I pursue growth in my relationship with God?
• Where do you see God at work in my life?
• Have you observed any patterns of sin in my relationships with friends, my relationship with you, or my pursuit of the world that you have been trying to bring to my attention? How well do I respond to you, when you try to bring these questions/concerns to me?
• As you observe my life, is there one particular area that you would say I need to grow in? Can you please share with me examples of where you have noticed this and also help me with a plan to change?
• On a scale of 0-10 (10 = humble and diligent, 0 = independent and defensive), how diligently and humbly do I pursue your correction and counsel? What kind of questions should I be asking and what situations would you like to see me pursuing you regarding any area in my life?
• Do you think that I value your wisdom more than my friend’s opinions? Can you share with me examples of how I am valuing my friend’s opinions too highly? Can you share with me examples of where I am appropriately valuing your wisdom more than my friends?
• Do you have any concerns for me in regards to my choice of companions? Where do you see me being influenced and where would you see me being an influencer?
• How would you describe my attitude toward your authority? In what ways have I grown in showing you and mom my respect? In what ways would you like to see growth in the area of honoring and respecting my parents, and/or other authorities in my life?
• Have I sinned against you in any way and not sought forgiveness?
• How can I grow in serving the family? Is there one person in the family (dad/mom/sibling) that I need to be more intentional with in regards to serving?

Categories: Discussion Questions, five15 blog
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I found Kenneth’s message to be tremendously helpful. First, the historical perspective, because:

I. EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.

• 1968: Your TV could pick up 5-6 channels via antenna

• 1980: personal computers did not exist on a popular level. When introduced in 1981, IBM’s model looked like this:

• 1994: the World Wide Web goes mainstream with the introduction of Netscape Navigator

• 1982: Cell phones did not exist.

• Currently: 3.3 billion cell phones for the 6.6 humans on this planet (possibly the fastest diffusion of technology ever)

• 1998: cutting-edge music technology looked like this:

• 2001: the first iPod was introduced. 110 million units later, they are still “must-have” technology

• 2003: MySpace introduced

• 2004: Facebook created for college students. A year later, it goes mainstream.

We don’t know what will come next. Within a few years, Facebook will probably be replaced by something newer, cooler, flashier. Christians can’t come to simplistic answers like “No Facebook”. As Kenneth explained, we need a principle-driven approach to understand why we do or don’t engage in modern technologies.

But this is an urgent discussion, because teenagers have created a virtual society largely hidden from parents. For instance, one school in the DC area has more Facebook pages associated with it than it has students. In other words, false identities abound as a means of hiding online activities from parents and school administrators.

Facebook and other social networking sites make it possible for teens to learn from, interact with, and be influenced by students around the world. Can this be a good thing? Sure, but it comes with risks and dangers that have to be thought through. Why? Because…

II. NOTHING HAS CHANGED

Ephesians 5:3-20 calls us to be different, distinct from the culture. We are called to walk differently, transformed by the gospel. These verses set an agenda for our online experience:

1. Avoid Sexual Immorality, Joking, and Speech. Joking about sexual sin dulls the conscience. Sex is a wonderful thing, when it is enjoyed within the gift of marriage. So, we need Biblical standards for what we look at, convictions that guide our behavior on the internet. The problem is not technology, but our hearts.
2. Be Aware of the Influence of Friends. When we are in community together, we are never in neutral. What is the net effect of your life and influence? When a friend sins, what do you do? Is it “no big deal”? God sees all things, and knows all things, so we must be careful that we are living to build others up.
3. Be Careful How Much Time You Spend Online. It is easy to be distracted from God and others by technology. Wise living means examining our use of time and resources. rents

Parents, our children need help to develop convictions in this area. Their participation on the internet can be done wisely with full parental involvement. Talk it through so they understand your perspective and gain your convictions. If your kids are online, get their password(s) and daily monitor their online activity.

Students, you need your parents here. Be humble and honor your parents. If you disagree, do it respectfully and get a pastor involved (I would love to help). Christian maturity here means asking your parents for help. And if you have sinned online in some way, there is forgiveness in the gospel for you! There is nothing you have done, written, read, or seen, that is beyond the blood of Christ. Talk to God, and then talk to your parents.

Categories: five15 blog
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In case you missed it, here were the announcements from Saturday:

Prince Caspian

• Saturday, May 17, 7:00pm
• Fairfax Corner 14 Cinema De Lux
• Advanced tickets available online.

five15 Retreat Registration is ONLINE!

• Massanetta Springs Conference Center, Harrisonburg, VA
• August 20-23
• Registration online: www.sovgracefairfax.org/member-registration

Summer Book Club (Replaces the Summer Reading Challenge)

• Sundays, June through August, 8:30am
• Do Hard Things, Alex and Brett Harris
• Watch for another post with more information!

Logo Design Contest

• Watch for another post with more information!

Categories: Announcements
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Yesterday was quite a day.  Obviously, yesterday’s ordination is one of major events of my life, one that I will long remember with great fondness and joy.  Mark’s message was very powerful, taking the vows was very sobering, and everyone’s comments were very encouraging.

I was surprised at how moving it was to get to address the church and thank and honor those who have had an influence on me.  I took about three sentences to thank the students and parents of five15 for making pastoring such a joy.  I want to elaborate on that a little bit here.  Here’s what I said:

I’m particularly grateful to the students and parents of five15.  For 4½ years, you have made it a joy to serve you.  I love how eager you are to hear God’s word and how you love to be reminded of the gospel.  THANK YOU.

Here are some specific reasons I love serving five15:

• You love God’s Word.  I love your attentiveness to preaching, and I love hearing about how many of you are reading the Mull or some other Bible reading plan.  Well done!
• You love the gospel.  I hear it when we sing together and when I preach.  You respond to the right things: the Savior’s sacrifice for our many sins.  Well done!
• You love your parents.  I love how so many of you see so much benefit it your parents wisdom and leadership.  So many of our students are humbly pursuing their parents’ influence and help in their lives.  Well done!
• You love to serve the church.  So many of our major outreach events are staffed by so many students!  You set an excellent example in serving the church!  Well done!

So, to all of five15, thank you!  You do indeed make pastoring a joy, and I am convinced that I have the best job in the world.  I’m turning off comments on this post, because I don’t want this to turn into, “no, thank YOU.”

five15,  I thank God for you and I love building the church with you.

Categories: Monday Matters
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REMINDER: Saturday is a five15 not-so-big meeting.  In case you’ve forgotten, it’s not-so-big because it is for 9th-12th grade students and their parents.

Our special guest will be Kenneth Maresco, and he’s going to help us think biblically about the internet, Facebook, MySpace, text messaging, and other forms of electronic communication.

After his message, we’ll have some Q&A with Kenneth, so if you have questions you’d like to get answered, leave a comment or send me an email.

Like usual, pizza and ping-pong starts at 5:15pm, and the meeting starts at 6:30.  See you then!

Categories: Announcements
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We announced at the last five15 Meeting that we are going to go see Prince Caspian together. This is a semi-official event. We are not organizing a group ticket purchase, but we are encouraging anyone who wants to go with us to buy advance tickets for opening day. Here are the details of when and where:

• WHO: five15, plus all comers (a GREAT Each One Reach One opportunity)
• WHEN: Saturday, May 17, 7:00pm
• WHERE: Fairfax Corner 14 Cinema deLux
• TICKETS: Buy them here.

Act fast. I would expect this showing to sell out in a hurry.

Categories: Announcements
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In case you missed it yesterday, Merritt Anderson is a new friend from CLC. He preached yesterday a message called “Ask for More” from Ephesians 3:14-21, helping us understand that “praying God’s way returns God’s results.” These verses answer three questions:

1. Who do we pray to?
2. What do we pray for?
3. What will be the result?

I really enjoyed Merritt’s story-telling ability, but more than that, I was inspired to pray more and to ask for more. I particularly liked how Merritt showed us specific things to pray for in verses 16-19: that 1) we would be strengthened with more power, 2) be rooted & grounded in God’s love, 3) that we would know more of God’s love and 4) be filled with the fullness of God.

How do you think this message will help you pray?

Categories: Monday Matters
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Check it out: five15 Retreat Registration is online and open.  It’s not so simple that a caveman could do it, but it is pretty straightforward.

Here are the details of the Retreat:

• Dates: August 20—23
• Location: Massanetta Springs Conference Center, Harrisonburg, VA
• Cost: $200 (includes free drink refills at meals!)
• Special Guest: Eric Hughes

So go ahead and register already!

Categories: Announcements
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Good evening. Just last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to go down to Mexico and help serve Dean and the orphanage in whatever way they needed us. I also had the unique opportunity, along with only a few others, of staying at the Ranch for the whole week, while most of the others went to work at the Pastor’s College. This was a particular delight because I got to spend a lot of time with the kids there.

God showed me many things through this. One was that He showed me just how blessed we are to be living here in America. Here we don’t have to worry about taking one minute showers, or getting sick from just drinking the water. We live in the richest county in the United States; one of the richest in the world, and yet we take advantage of so many little things that God has blessed us with. And yet these things are of no worry for the children. They were still tremendously joyful, which spoke volumes to me. Many of them had been very badly abused yet rarely did I see the children without a large smile on their face. It was something that you don’t see often here.

Where do you see a child here in America who runs up to you and gives you a hug after just meeting them? Where do you see a child who gives you a rock as a gift and starts laughing hysterically? Where do see a child take a trash can and use it to roll themselves in for hours at a time? Where do see a child wait patiently at the door for you while you eat, just so that you can push them on the swing? I don’t see that here very often.

The power of the gospel was clearly at work there. God also showed me of the great opportunity we had to spread it further, through our own example of love and joy. As I looked around on the last night I saw nothing but smiles from our own team, and I knew that these people are God’s own, and that we had been called down there by God for a reason. Maybe one day I’ll get to meet a David, Angel, or Jesus, but this time as they plan to head up a new church in Oaxaca or Mexico City. Maybe I will meet again a Jonathan or Cristian, but this time as they are the new director of the orphanage.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” I don’t know who, when, where, or what exactly will happen, but I do know that God has and will continue to work in the lives of these orphans for the advancement of his kingdom. And I thank God so much that we had a chance to be a part of that. Thank You.

Categories: Mx08
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