ncbcsrhigh parents’ info

Winter Retreat

The Sr. High Winter retreat is coming Feb 9-11, 2007.

Our Fall Retreat was WIDE as we focussed on getting to know one another.

As promised, the Winter retreat will be DEEP!

The theme is “Seeking Intimacy with God” and it will be a spritual retreat, featuring extended times of worship, devotions, prayer, and even some fasting. The whole purpose is to carve out time to allow God to work in our hearts as we focus on our spiritual life.

Josh Bales, who was the worship leader at Summit, has a unique style of worship which utilizes sacred hymns, readings and creeds from throughout the history of Christianity.

Listen to what John Stonestreet says about him: “Of all the worship leaders I know, Josh is the only one with the level of Biblical knowledge, theological understanding, church history, and musical talent. I appreciate Josh because he is intentional about what he sings, why he sings, and how he leads others. He is the best I have ever worked with, and the more I travel and hear others in the same role, I long that God would use Josh to influence the next generation of singers, song writers, and worship leaders.” — John Stonestreet, Summit Ministries

Sound pretty intense? It will be. I’m not counting on tons of people at this retreat–in fact I’d be concerned if there were. I’m telling kids: “You should attend this retreat if you are pursuing a closer walk with God or want to get your spiritual life back on track. If you aren’t pursuing a right relationship with Jesus then this retreat would not benefit you. This will not be a “fun” or entertaining retreat although it will likely be very rewarding for those who put effort into it.”

“Why are we doing this? In our busy world it’s so easy to neglect time with God. Think of this as an opportunity where we can reconnect with God without the distractions and pressures facing us every day. To listen to God’s still small voice we must get away from the noise and spend time listening. If we compare our spiritual life to the growth of a plant it would be like putting ourselves in fertile soil, immersing ourselves in the sunshine of God’s love and sending our spiritual roots deep into the nutrients of His Word. It’s a likely environment in which to do some major growing in a short amount of time.”

Poland English Camp

Hi!  I’m in Poland right now, and you can read updates from our trip on Pastor James Wartian’s blog!  And photos can be viewed at www.poland.impactforjesus.org. 

Here’s the Scoop on the Forstrom Family

Every year or two I try to put together a little newsletter, telling about our family adventures. If you’re interested in the private world of this youth pastor and his family, simply click on the links below to download the JPEG files. Also, you’ll need to read the Poland Trip insert to understand all the headlines!

Mark

Love and Logic Parenting Tip

Many of you know that my favorite books on parenting are the ”Parenting with Love and Logic” series.  The other night we had a classic Love and Logic case study.

I was sitting in my Lazy Boy getting caught up on some World Magazine issues that I had missed reading.  Lexi, our 10 year old was having a bad night.  She had just gotten some hot chocolate, when somehow, she knocked it over in our living room and it went all over the carpet, the sofa, the miniblinds, the wall, etc.  What a mess!

It was an accident, so I couldn’t get too upset–after all, I’ve had worse accidents!  And like most things in life, I simply found it interesting.  But Lexi was clearly upset. 

After a time of her cooling down, I called her over to come sit in my lap.  I asked her how she felt about the whole hot chocolate incident.

“I feel like an idiot,” she whimpered sadly. 

“That did make quite a mess,” I said, pointing out the various areas that now were spotted with brown.  “And I’m sure Mom won’t go for the new look.”  So I said, “Would you feel like less of an idiot if I shampooed the carpet and sofa or if you did?”  

“I’d feel like less of an idiot if I shampoed them.”

“That makes a lot of sense.  Would you like me to show you how to run the shampoer?” 

“Yes, please.”

So I brought the machine upstairs and showed her how to fill the shampoo tank in the sink and empty the dirty one into the toilet, how to spray, scrub, and vacuum the sofa and carpet.  And then for the next hour and a half while I resumed my World Magazine reading, Lexi went to work on them–all by herself.   She did the carpet and the sofa, and then kept going–under all the cushions, the other sofa–things we’ve never cleaned before.  And she was loving it! 

I tell you all this because one of the key principles of Love and Logic parenting is to help the kids solve their own problems.  Too often we parents make their problems ours.  Either we rescue them (helicopter parents) or we belittle them (drill seargents).   By giving them responsibility to fix their own problems we honor them and treat them as contributors, rather than simply dependents.  At such times we should act as consultants.

And they may learn some new life skills as well.  In fact, just before bedtime, I caught her on the computer printing something out.  This is what it said.

CARPET CLEANER BUSINESS

Lexi Forstrom is going too start a carpet cleaning business starting Nov 9-Dec 15.  Probably 10-20 dollars per appointment.

She will bring: 

   Her own carpet cleaner   /   Her own supplies

You will need to provide:

   A bathroom with a toilet  /   An adult there

   Your time  /   Something to clean.

She will clean:

   Carpeted Couches  /   Carpet

   Carpeted chairs. /   Etc. If you tell her first.

For more information call 393-0415.

In many homes, a cup of spilled hot chocolate would result in frustration, anger, yelling, tempers, and words.  In our Love and Logic home that spilled cup might result in a promising career! 

That’s just one more reason for you to read the books by Jim Fay and Foster Cline! 

    Parenting with Love and Logic.      Parenting Teens with Love and Logic. 

Dating talk revisited

Well, the talk seemed to go really well. I spoke without notes, as if I was having a chat in my office. I even brought my office chair and office mug to the stage.

Andrew Male video taped it for me and we plan to post it on youtube or Google videos or someplace in the near future.  Or make copies available to those interested.

I had much more to say, and I also want to give the students chances for Q&A, so it’s looking like we’ll do a Part 2 in two weeks, on Nov 8th.

I know kids are reluctant to talk about what they learned, particularly with this issue, so it may help break the ice by asking these questions:

1. What was unique about Mark and Cindy’s wedding?
2. What’s the magnet illustration?
3. What’s the story with the Dating Card?
4. What’s the needle and red thread about?

Dating

This Wednesday, Oct 25 the subject of my lesson will be dating, marriage, and sex.  This has been put on my heart lately particularly because over the past few weeks I’ve had a half a dozen meetings with students struggling in this area.  It’s definitely something we need to address as a youth group.

Just so you parents know where I’m coming from:  My approach to the subject is the positive approach rather than a negative shame-based or scare-tactics one.  We’ll be talking about the sanctity of marriage and why it’s worth protecting now.  I want to give them a bigger perspective on thier sexuality than what the world gives them.  I’ll also deal with forgiveness and practical tips on how to preserve one’s purity from here on.

As always, parents are welcome to join us anytime we meet.  I also plan to record the message and make that available to any who would want it afterwards.

Why you should compel your kids to attend the Fall Retreat

Many parents don’t realize the importance of our Sr. High retreats.

The #1 place where we see significant growth happening in our students’ lives is on our trips and retreats. There’s something about getting away from everyday life and focussing on God and his body for an extended time that produces lasting life change.

As I think back on my 14 years here, I could name a multitude of students whose lives were forever altered by a retreat or a trip. Several are on the mission field today. Some were highly at risk and came out transformed. Many who come disconnected relationally come away with friends and a support team.

The adult sponsors see so much ministry value in retreats that several years ago we went from one to three a year: fall, winter, and spring. We often see more spiritual and relational progress in one weekend retreat than in months of regular youth group times, so that’s why we’re as excited about them as the students.

This year’s Fall Retreat is coming on Nov 10-12. The focus will be on getting new people connected and working as a team. We’ll be doing a lot of team-building activities and mixers. Our spiritual focus will be on what it means to belong to the body of Christ.

The cost and time details are now out - you can download the brochure by clicking on this link: http://www.newcovenantbible.org/images/constantcontact/FallRetreatBrochure.pdf.  Also, make sure your new Medical form is on file at:  http://www.newcovenantbible.org/images/constantcontact/MedicalRecords2006-07.pdf  The cost is $65 if you sign up by Sunday, Nov 5th. (The price goes up $2 a day after that.) We will leave Friday the 10th at 6 pm and return Sunday the 12th at 3 pm. For those who can’t attend the whole retreat, we encourage you to come for as much as you can (it is easily drivable). The price to partially attend the retreat is $1.50 an hour if you sign up by the 5th (add $2 a day after that).

I encourage you to prompt, prod, and perhaps even offer incentives to your kids who may be reluctant to sign up. They–and you–will not regret it!

Caught at the A-Shop

Family Devotions

A friend and I had lunch the other day and he asked me what our family does with family devotions.   I’m going to tell you what I told him because today was a classic example of my favorite approach to this subject!

Those of you who know me, know that consistency is something I struggle with and family devotions is no exception.  We’ve tried the daily devotional books, but it’s just hard for me to do that with any regularity.  Plus, I’m not a “curriculum guy.”  I balk at prescribed lessons that may or may not be relevent to my family’s current needs, so that has soured my enthusiasm for them.  Plus they seem like assigned reading to me, and I’ve never liked assignments.  While they may be quite suitable for many families, I personally quit using such devotion books years ago.

So am I saying that family devotions are not important–that they’re no big deal?

Absolutely not!  Family devotions are one of the primary responsibilities of Christian parenting.  It’s just that for me, devotions are a way of life more than a set aside time.  To me, family devotions happen everywhere:  in the car, on vacation, in the pet store, watching movies, listening to secular radio, snuggling in my Lazy Boy, and often at the dinner table.

Take tonight for example.  I was in my Lazy Boy reading Google News on my laptop when Brenda called out to say her seafood enchillada dinner was ready.  I brought my laptop over to the table because I had just read: 

But as the Amish were burying their dead, there was also talk of heroics. Marian Fisher, 13, is said to have stepped forward and asked her killer to “shoot me first,” in an apparent effort to buy time for her schoolmates… What’s more, her younger sister, Barbie, 11, who survived the shooting, allegedly asked the gunman, Charles Carl Roberts IV, to “shoot me second,” Rhoads said.

The four of us sitting around the dinner table reflecting on this current event was more powerful to me than any book lesson I’ve ever done.  We talked about the amazing faith of these Amish girls, how great it would be to have such a view of death and life, how their example is bound to impact the world, how dying well is as important as living well, how part of me wishes I were Amish.

This discussion led me to remind the girls of my personal mission statement, part of which reads, “…to make myself available for God to use for His glory–whether by my life or by my death…”  We had a great discussion about how people wrongly tend to cling to life as if this is all there is, when in reality as one Amish man said: “we believe in the hereafter. The children are better off than their survivors.”

So for those of you like me who struggle with consistent devotions at a set time and place, go ahead do your devotions anyways:  by sharing about life and faith as you encounter it–on the fly.  Talk about what following Christ means to you, what you’re learning, what you wrestle with, what you respect, how you feel about the culture, what you wish for them to discover.

 Oh, and the girls are now in bed, but Google News just gave me a topic for devotions for tomorrow:

Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith joined a community prayer service at a nondenominational evangelical Christian church in the Lancaster suburbs…”Is this God’s will that this happened? Absolutely not,” Smith said….”

Are you “absolutely” sure about that Michael?  Yeesh.  Looks like we’ll be addressing the sovereignty of God next!

See You At The Pole - This Wednesday

Last Wednesday we hosted a rally and over 400 students came to plan, prepare, and pray for SYATP.

Below you’ll find a list of schools and the specific plans they made. Pass the info along to those who could use it! Thanks!

I asked each school to turn in a brief report, so I could inform all of you what their plans are. Details vary, but I typed them out exactly as I got them.

The schools listed below are in alphabetical order.

Alburnett High School. The flagpole @ 7 am. Be prepared to sing. Merrick Robinson will start it off. Go inside if it rains. Dream of 50 coming!

Cedar Valley Christian: In the front yard at 7:00 am. In case of rain we will meet in the gym.

Center Point – Urbana. High School 7:30 Middle School 8:00. Be ready to worship and pray!

Central City High School. 7 am at the HS pole.

Excelsior Middle School: 7:00 am at the flagpole in front of the school. Joseph is checking with the faculty to find out which place is better if it rains: gym or cafeteria.

Franklin Middle School: 6:45 at the pole. Chanda will talk to principal about announcing over intercom. Hot cocoa will be provided. Bring Bibles.

Harding Middle School: at the pole at 7 till 7:45. In case of rain: light rain, bring umbrellas. Heavy rain: room 109. (Brenda will check with Mrs. Smith). Ben or Brenda will start it off.

Isaac Newton: 7:15 around flagpole. 8^th graders there by 7. Different 8^th graders will lead prayer and singing. They’ll do both large group and breakout groups. Ellie Grapp is willing to share a testimony. Ends at 7:30 and share donuts etc. In case of rain go in the gym.

Jefferson High School. 6:30 early bird (for band). 8 am for the rest. Someone will bring a guitar at 8 for worship. Announce it over the in-school announcement. Posters up.

Kennedy High School: 6:30 early session for those in early bird. 7:00 main session. Meet at flagpole. In case of rain, go under main entrance overhang. Haley N and Rob S will start it out. Dream of 100+.

Linn-Mar High School. 7 am @ flagpole circle. Also 6 am breakfast at Marion Hy-Vee. They’ll have worship and testimonies.

North Linn: flagpole at 7:30. Donuts, juice, milk.

Norway Elementary: 8:20 at the flagpole.

Oakridge Middle School: 7 am at the flagpole. 6:30 for those in Jazz band, which starts at 7. Go to Mrs. Vogt’s room if it rains (the fcs room). Morgan will start it off. Kaitlyn will have a song. Morgan will end it at 7:45.

Marion High School. Breakfast at 6 am at Marion Hy-Vee. SYATP at 7am. Flag pole is at the main entrance. Wear SYATP shirts the day before. If it rains we’ll move into the red gym. Wear Christian shirts on Wednesday. Dream of 200 attending.

McKinley Middle School. Meet at 7 am at the flagpole. If it rains we’ll find a room inside. Lindsey Taylor will be in charge.

Mount Vernon Hign School. 7:00 am in front of the school at the flagpole. Dream of having 100 there.

Prairie Middle and High Schools. 7:30 am at the flagpole of each school. Student leaders here at the rally will step up to facilitate the time.

Regis Middle School: 7:15 at the flagpole. Gabby Hughes and Alexa Mickelson are the contacts.

Roosevelt Middle School: 7:00 am at the flagpole. Randy Herold is checking on a location in case of rain.

Taft Middle School. 7 am out front @ flag pole. Ryan and Jake will start it off. Dream of 72 attending. Singing. In case of rain, go to a classroom.

Tilford Middle Vinton Shellsburg. 7 am at the flagpole. When you get there meet there. Play practice is from 7-8 am.

Van Horne Middle and High Schools. 8:15 am

Vernon Middle School, Marion: Flagpole on the north side of building. There will be singing, prayer time, testimonies, and donuts. In case of rain, there will be another plan.

Washington High School 2 times. 6:30 am and 7 am – both at “The Bell”. Austin will be the 6:30 leader and Josh at 7. Hannah R will give testimony at 6:30. Matt and Amanda at 7. Auditorium will be the backup for rain.

Xavier High School: 7:15 at the flagpole. Joe Arellano is the contact.

No reports received from Metro, Home Schoolers, Wilson, or West High School – Iowa City.

Don’t give up on wayward kids!

This past Saturday I attended the 50th year anniversary celebration of my former church in Rockford Illinios.

People came back from all over the midwest to be part of this reunion.

I served there for six years and have been gone for almost 14, so it was like a time warp for me.  All of the kids in the youth group then are now between 27 and 38, so I was interested to see how they’ve all turned out.  In several instances I was surprised.

One guy in the group was a skateboarder, who seemed disinterested in anything spiritual.  Today he is a missionary working with troubled teens in inner city Chicago.  He thanked me for the example of my “open door” which he says helps him today in his ministry.  To be honest, I don’t ever recall him ever coming into my office–I had no idea that I had had any effect on him whatsoever.

Another encouragement was a guy who had merely coasted through youth group, never getting too serious.  Now after some poor choices and a painful divorce, God has gotten ahold of his life.  I didn’t actually get to see him that weekend because he was away at Promise Keepers!

There was a gal in the group back then who struggled so much with depression/suicide that I helped her family do an intervention, sending her out of state for treatment.  I was happy to hear that today she is happily married, going to church and seeking God’s direction for her life.

There are other stories I could tell, but I highlighted these three to encourage parents never to give up on their kids.  A lot can happen in 14 years.  A lack of spiritual interest now doesn’t necessarily mean they will remain that way.  And some may need to flounder a bit before fully embracing faith.  And some are being impacted by us in ways we can’t perceive yet, but someday may discover. 

As Winston Churchhill once said in a speach, “Neva give up.  Neva, neva give up.” 

Introducing Pods!

This past weekend we held our Sr. High Sponsor retreat (Fri-Sat) and then our Senior class retreat (Sat-Sun). One of the big decisions confirmed was the addition of Pods to our Sr. High ministry.

Click on this Power Point slide show to learn more about them! What are Pods?

We believe that by subdividing our Quads into Pods, we will see the level of care in our group increased dramatically. The seniors are very excited about investing time to care for their fellow students. Pods will meet for about 10-30 minutes during Quad time each 1st and 3rd Wednesday. Getting to know each other, listening, discussing, and taking prayer requests will be the primary goals each time.

So parents, if your student seems disconnected, encourage them to come for Quads and Pods. It’s the environment in which he or she is most likely to experience the love of Christ in our group.

Orientation Newsletter for new students

click here for the Sr. High Orientation Newsletter

Canoe Trip - Don’t miss it.

This is our kick0ff event for the new year. You can download the Registration form and the medical form by using these links.

Canoe Trip

Medical Form

Mexico Team Update

Our Mexico Team Update can be found at http://www.newcovenantbible.org/ncbc/mexico2006.asp. Check it out!