Football, Fathers, & Sons

If God is not a Broncos fan then
why are sunsets orange and blue? 

It’s Super Bowl week! If you’re a Seattle Seahawk fan you may not want to read this blog. I recently became a genuine fan of the Seattle Seahawks because of this video.

I am, however, enthusiastically and passionately cheering for the Denver Broncos to win the Super Bowl because God is also a Bronco Fan. If God is not a Broncos fan then why are sunsets orange and blue?

Seattle Seahawks fans, sunsets are what the rest of the world sees at just before nightfall. If it is raining, like it typically does in Seattle 352 day a year, it is difficult to see the sunset. But, trust me, the most beautiful sunsets are orange and blue. NOTE: This paragraph was playful sarcasm and not to be taken seriously. One should wisely make disclaimers about paragraphs with playful sarcasm during Super Bowl week. I do know that you are aware of what is this experience called a sunset. Calm down. Simmer down now. Breathe. Again, more sarcasm. Pastor don't often get to express their sarcasm in print form. Its' been nice for me.

I don’t really think God has preference about who wins the Super Bowl but I do think He is often ignored by people who have re-imagined NFL devotion into a form of distracting, if not destructive, idolatry. I enjoy watching football, but it’s only football. The game can teach many helpful character strengths – teamwork, discipline, hard work ethic, courage, etc. - but it’s only football. It can teach other detrimental things like blaming others, finding fault, how to use profane language when you are angry, etc.. As was once mentioned, if you don’t make football an idol, it can be enjoyed immensely. Make football an idol and it can control you like every idol does.

But wait a minute, you thought this blog was about familiy ministry? You’re right. It is. So on to more important matters. Let’s talk about the Denver Bronco future hall of fame quarterback, Danny Manning’s father, Archie Manning.

I know you’re busy, I know that you don’t have time to watch a free movie that is filled spot on truth about the importance of fatherhood. But if you did, I would want you to watch the one below.

If you are a father, and if have a son who is old enough to watch this with you, the Seattle Seahawks clip and The Book of Manning below would be a perfect way to prepare for the Super Bowl.

Here is the preview of “The Book of Manning.” The full length (1 hour and 15 minute) movie is below:

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“The Book of Manning” The full length (1 hour and 15 minute) movie.

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Living and Dying

Today, I am on a plane headed for Chicago to be with my mom and the rest of our family to attend my step-father's funeral on Friday. (Actually I am writing this on Wednesday, so even though today is Wednesday, you are reading this on Thursday, so that would be "today" for you.)

My step-father, Walker, passed away on Tuesday morning, January 18th. He was 84 years old. Walker and my mom got married a couple of years ago. My mom and dad divorced when I was in 7th grade and she never re-married until she met Walker. Walker was a very Godly man. He served faithfully over half of his life as a deacon in a Baptist church in urban Chicago. Walker had a great impact on my mother, who grew up Catholic. She became born again only a year or so prior to meeting Walker. I was very blessed to able to baptize my mom on a Mothers Day, right here at New Beginnings. But it was after she met Walker that her faith deepened. Walker showed her the importance of prayer. The importance of having a daily relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ. Every relationship develops through communication and that communication with Jesus is done through prayer. Walker didn't just talk about Jesus.He lived out his faith in front of her.He modeled who Jesus was to her.

The most dramatic impact for me was when I became ordained as a Pastor at New Beginnings in October of 2009. Walker and mom had just begun "dating" at that time, but he came all the way from Chicago with my mom to attend the ordination service. In fact, I believe it was the first time I had met Walker in person.

Two other men from our church were being ordained that evening as well. All three of us were on our knees in front of family and friends with our spouses right behind us. Each person attending had the option of coming to pray over us. Walker came and prayed for each one of us, even though he had never met either of the other two men. What came later though, was that all of my family had come to kneel and pray for me except my mom.She was fairly new in her born again faith. She had never, up to that point in her life, had prayed a spontaneous prayer out loud, that wasn't a recited prayer, such as the Lord's Prayer.

Walker pressed my mom to go and pray for her son and he wasn't going to take no for an answer. She was so nervous she couldn't get up. Walker kept pressing. He told her, "Sandy, if you don't go and pray for your son during this moment, you will regret it for the rest of your life." He told her that he would go with her and she did. My mom prayed a spontaneous prayer over me, out loud that day, for the first time.

Mom's prayer life and spiritual life changed that day.

Even though the time for my mom and Walker to be together as husband and wife was cut short, I will always remember the impact that Walker had on my mom and our entire family. A righteous man of God, who lived his life as a living sacrifice, serving his church family as a deacon for all of those years and who helped to be a catalyst in the spiritual growth and transformation of my mom. And God blessed Walker in his last days on this earth, with a wife, who helped him live out his last days with dignity, comfort and grace, by her serving him, up to his last breath.

Philippians 1:21 "For me, living is Christ and dying is gain."

Walker is now enjoying the "gain" for all of those years on this earth "living" for Christ. Rest in peace Walker. We look forward to seeing you again in heaven.


 
Terry Langenberg
Twitter: TheLangenberg
Facebook: TheLangenberg

10 Apps You Should Be Aware Of

I was just getting used to Facebook too… Last week I read an article by ‘Time Magazine’ that said “over 11 million young people have fled facebook since 2011” (Read article here).

Though I had noticed this taking place with the students I have regular contact with I hadn’t read anything definitive on it nationally.  So why is this happening?  As the article hints, “It’s lost its cool cachet” but when I talk with teens I sometimes hear a different tune.  Some say: “I don’t want to read all the ‘reposts’ of articles”, others: “I just like seeing pictures” or my personal favorite:  “my parents are on it!!”  So where does that leave us?  What are they doing and how can I help equip others.  Let me give a quick disclaimer that if our goal is spying (“creeping” if you want the technical teen term) than we are simply going to see the ‘herd’ move to another place before we ever got used to this one.  It’s almost like we have the opportunity to be a “national geographic photographer” in the wild.  If we make too much noise or interfere with the “animals” they are simply going to run away.  But if we sit tight and watch from a distance we can observe the “wild” in its natural environment and really see what they do and who they hang out with… In essence, who they are at their core (or at least who they are experimenting with being)!!  I’m not saying don’t be involved, but consider listening, learning, ‘liking’ a few pics, etc. before firing the critical comment that’s going to get us ‘blocked’ or just hesitation from them being them.  What the school was to the 60-70s kid, the mall was to the 80-90s kid, the Internet is to the millennial (kids today).

All that being said… Here’s a list of top ‘apps’ (since most teens engage the internet via their phones far more that their computer) our students at NBHighSchool (yeah I linked our facebook, I'm assuming you're a parent reading this and thus still using Facebook :)) are using and a list of apps you should be aware of as a parent.

Top apps used by NBHighSchool students:

#1 Instagram (Hands down #1 with our students and nationally among teens)

#2 Facebook & Twitter

#3 SnapChat

#4 iFunny

#5 Flappy Bird, Pandora & Pintrest

‘Jeff’s top 10 social networks to be aware of’… Disclaimer: I am NOT saying these are all bad!  I am providing information and my opinion that parents should be engaged and some what “in the know” of what is possibly on your son or daughters iPhone, iPod, etc.  I also think you are one of the best identifiers to whether it’s an addiction or not (Having heard a lot of adults say they are addicted ‘CandyCrush’ you may know what I mean!).

#10 Pandora & Spotify

I hesitate putting either of these two apps on the list but I have a lot of questions regularly about music (“Have you heard of this group”, “Is this song popular now”, “I had no clue that’s what that said”, etc.).  As I write this I’m using my Spotify app and listening to ‘Billboard Hot 100’ playlist trying to get caught up on what’s popular right now (most of the time not what I enjoy listening too anymore J).  That all being said, just be aware that both these apps provide the opportunity to listen to any and all music without restriction or censorship.  This means they may not have the songs or band you’ve said ‘no’ to on their phone but they may have a playlist with them on their app.

#9 iFunny

This app is essentially just giving you access to an online world of pictures “of fun made to your taste.”  You can figure out by their own description that they are all over the map: “simulated gambling”, “mild alcohol, tobacco or drug use”, “frequent/intense prolonged graphic or sadistic realistic violence”, “crude humor”, “Mature/suggestive themes”, etc.  Are some of the pics funny and clean, sure… You may have to wade through the ‘muck’ to get there though.  *Also “you must be at least 17 years old to download this app” (or at list click a button that you promise you are)!

#8 Vine

“Tween and teen Vine users are most likely to create silly six-second videos (like their parents do), but there’s also a ton of really inappropriate content, both violent and sexual, on Vine. While Vine Labs has taken steps to restrict access to explicit videos, they’re still out there in spades. Vine has recently been used to document animal cruelty by teens, and it’s also been linked to bullying, including video of kids who weren’t aware they were being recorded.”

#7 Ask.fm

“The Ask.fm app (and accompanying website) is intended to be a friendly Q+A forum to get to know people better. In reality, it’s rife with bullying and sexually charged discussion. To say the least. Questions can be answered anonymously, which adds to the potential for kids to make comments that they wouldn’t if they could be identified. If you happen to notice this on your kid’s phone, be aware that concerns about Ask.fm are incredibly serious: It’s been implicated as a factor in five teen suicides.”

#6 Tinder

“We really wish we didn’t have to include the online dating app Tinder in this list, but we do–because kids are using it. (We know. We’re feeling pretty gross about that too.) Teens like Tinder because it only matches you with people who like you back, and that provides some major positive reinforcement, which makes them want to keep using it. Yeah, we’ve come a long way from simply mustering up the courage to talk to the cute guy in Bio class… Tinder especially concerns us because matches are limited to a geographic area, which means kids are connecting with people in the local area who uh, may not actually be other kids.”

#5 Kik

“Messenger This app is known for its quick instant messaging and allows users to exchange videos, pictures, and sketches made through the app. Sounds fun, right? Well yes, it can be. But many teens use the app for sexting and dating purposes as well. The term “sex buddy” is being replaced with “Kik buddy.” Did that get your attention? By use of social media websites, teens have reportedly placed classified ads for sex by providing users with their Kick username. Additionally, Kik does not have any parental controls and there is no way of authenticating users, which makes it easy for underage users as well as pedophiles to use the messenger app.”

#4 ChatRoulette

“This groundbreaking site lets anyone engage in video chat via webcam with random strangers. Users under 18 are prohibited, as is nudity, but nobody's checking IDs at the door or making sure everyone is wearing pants (trust me, they aren't). And if you do get booted for violating those terms, there are lookalike services (like Omegle, ChatRandom, or DirtyRoulette) with even fewer restrictions.”

*Though this is not an app (because it requires ‘flash’ which is Apple has not made available on the iPhone, unless ‘Jailbroken’) it can be accessed on any phone with Adobe Flash.

#3 Whisper

“Whisper is a confession app for teenagers that allows users to superimpose self-written text over a picture of their choice. What makes the app interesting is that the users are anonymous and thus, so are the secrets they post. Whisper provides a sense of freedom for young users to share their feelings, emotions, and confessions to others without their identity being revealed. However, this app has commonly used for bullying… Because users are anonymous, teens have posted photographs of other teens with inappropriate text superimposed over the image. Additionally, the anonymous aspect means that users do not have to register and that there is no user profile.” *See also PostSecret.

#2 SnapChat

Yes, SnapChat is one of the most used apps at NBHighSchool and the country AND is also my number two of most concerning (it’s probably a toss up with Omegle).  So what is it?  In short it’s an app that gives you the ability to send picture texts that disappear.  Pretty obvious what can happen in a conversation between teens who think whatever they say cannot be traced!  Couple quick thoughts: it was created to sext, you can take screen shots and save them to your phone’s photo library, SnapChat does have the ability to retrieve ‘snaps’ from any user after they “disappear”.  I personally have been wrestling hard with my stance on SnapChat for months knowing it’s such a quick and easy way to communicate (and fun) but recently decided to go ahead and delete it and would encourage you to do the same (Click here to read a post with some great points you might not have thought about).

#1 Omegle: Talk to Strangers! (Yes, this is their real tagline)

“Omegle has been around since 2008, with video chat added in 2009.  When you use Omegle you do not identify yourself through the service – chat participants are only identified as “You” and “Stranger”.  From there however, anything goes – certainly a chat participant may decide to give their name, location, age and other personal information…The Omegle homepage clearly states that the service is not for those under 13: “Do not use Omegle if you are under 13. If you are under 18, use it only with a parent/guardian’s permission.”  I’m guessing that not too many 16 year olds are asking mom or dad for the okay… Note: Using video chat requires that your computer’s IP address is made available to the stranger’s computer:  “Omegle video chat requires a direct connection to be made between your computer and the other user’s computer…”  At the end of an Omegle chat, users have the option to save the chat’s log and share the link.”

*Personal note: I know of more than one student in counseling and with law enforcement involved for some of the things that went on during their time on Omegle.

References:

- Five Mobile Apps That Should Scare the Pants Off Parents 

- 4 Cell Phone Apps Parents Should Be Aware Of

- iPhone Apps Kids Use That Parents Should Know About

- 4 apps kids are using that parents really should know about

- 4 Apps Teens Love that Parents Need to Monitor

May You protect our kids from the evil one.  May You bless our time with our kids each day.  May You give us guidance with our words and actions to move them closer to You.  May we have the trust that You love our kids more than us, the courage to let them fall and the wisdom to know when to step in!! 

The Bergs

**Follow Jeff (Family Pastor of High School), also known as "surgeberg" on: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

FAITH MISSION

HOW WILL THE CHURCH ENGAGE WITH LOST CULTURE?

We’ve spent the last three Sundays introducing our finalized Faith Map with our Milestones for intentional parenting. 

Our talented Administrative Assistants and Creative Arts people made this happen!

Two weeks ago Matt Fowler shared about Faith Walks (God Moments). 

Last week Jeff Berg shared about Faith Talks. 

And this week I shared about Faith Mission. 

(You can check out those talks with Pastor Phil’s finishing sermons here.)

Check out these Biblical texts to see God’s purposes in “Faith Mission” perspective. 

Gen. 12:1-4  Abrahamic Covenant

Deut. 6:1-9   Sh’ma

Ps. 67      God-entranced view of worship

Matt. 22:34-40   Great Commandment

Matt. 28:18-20   Great Commission

Acts 1:8   Holy Spirit in dynamic power for proclamation

How do we become a people “sent out” both near and far to show and tell the love of Christ to those far off from God?

FAITH MISSION — NEAR

We want our discipleship that takes place inside the homes and families and the church building—to be a launching pad for missional living outside the walls of our homes and outside the church building!

Specific Plans for You

• Family Mission Statement—In the future we’d love to lead a family-equipping class on writing and developing a Family or Personal Mission Statement where everyone who was interested could learn how to develop and implement it. 
• Missional Project: once/per quarter (once every 3 months)
• Dinner for 6 / Dinner for 8
• Throw a block party in your neighborhood
• Serving food, cleaning or sorting donations at a homeless shelter
• Serving/volunteering/building relationships at Crisis Pregnancy Center
• Serving with a Celebration Day at the Children’s Hospital
• House/Yard cleanup for senior adults or families with physical handicaps
• Adopting a school for teacher appreciation meals/snacks/gifts
• Host college students/International students
• Sponsoring a Child
• Hospitality Dinners—once a month invite a “lost” family over for dinner—repeat with three of those families over the next year
• “Love South County” —several service projects with a large kickoff
• Family Service Project —once every three months for first year—then once per month second year—then a true mission trip on third year by saving up those three years

FAITH MISSION — FAR

You don’t have to go to “far off” places to find people who are “far off from God.” There are people surrounding us worshipping false gods in their offices, living rooms, garages, internet screens, emotions, and attitudes. 

But there are literally BILLIONS worshiping false gods who have never heard of Jesus in far off places. 

Haiti—New Beginnings has several teams going each year—people are already planning on taking their young children to do mission work there semi-far.

The 10/40 Window—real far. The 10/40 Window is located 10 degrees north latitude and 40 degrees north latitude covering much of Asia, India, the Middle East, North Africa, and many island regions. 

2 Reasons the 10/40 Window is High Priority

#2 Reason: Spiritually Dead Humanity (Love for the lost)

—2/3 of world’s population (4.2 Billion) live in 10/40 Window

—95% of this 4.2 Billion are unevangelized

—87% of the world’s poorest of the poor live in 10/40 Window

—Many of the 69 nations use imprisonment (or even death) as punishment for   witnessing 

—45 of 50 worst countries for Christian persecution

—Birthplace and 95% of adherents of Tribal, Hindu, Chinese, Buddhist, and Muslim religious blocs

UPG’s—Unreached People Groups (less than 2% Christian evangelical) 

UUPG’s—Unengaged Unreached People Groups (no known active missions)1

SO WHY DO WE DO FAITH MISSION?

#1 Reason: Jesus Christ deserves worship from every tribe, tongue, nation, and language on earth. (Love for God/Christ)

Because God is a Missional God who, after initiating and providing all good things in His created order—and even after the fall—God began His pursuit of mankind with missional fervor. 

The Bible is 66 books revealing God’s active and costly pursuit of that which was lost and far off from Him. 

There was one act—on one day—that completed and accomplished God’s missional pursuit of His lost possession. That one act was the loving heavenly Father bludgeoning and seeing His Son killed on a cross as the only worthy substitute and sacrifice for man’s sin (Acts 2:22-24). 

That one act of allowing His Son to be brutally killed was the only thing to reconcile Holy God and sinful man. 

That one act of forsaking His Son for those precious moments meant adoption for His people back into His family. 

CHRIST & HIS CROSS WERE ALWAYS ULTIMATE

Millennia before creation, God already had the day and event of His Son’s death marked as the pinnacle event of all human history. The cross of Jesus Christ was always ultimate—millions of years before the creation of the world—the cross of Jesus Christ was ultimate.

SO WHY DO WE DO FAITH MISSION?

BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST IS WORTHY OF YOUR LIFE AND TIME. 

IN RESPONSE TO YOU UNDERSTANDING THE GRACE YOU’VE RECEIVED—YOU LOVE HIM AND LOVE THEM.

The Great Commandment: “Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. Upon these two commands hinge all the Law and the prophets.”

IN RESPONSE TO YOU UNDERSTANDING THE GRACE YOU’VE RECEIVED—YOU OBEY HIM.

The Great Commission: “All authority in heaven and earth have been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And remember, I am with you always even to the end of the age.” 

IN RESPONSE TO YOU UNDERSTANDING THE GRACE YOU’VE RECEIVED—YOU JOIN HIM IN HIS MISSION OF ETERNAL WORSHIP OF THE LAMB.

Rev. 5:1-9

Rev. 7:9-12

WHAT IF…GOD WOULD USE US—THE PEOPLE OF NEW BEGINNINGS TO BRING THE HOPE OF JESUS CHRIST TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE FAR OFF FROM GOD—FOR HIS GLORY AND FOR HIS FAME? 

Sankie P. Lynch

Pastor of Families

www.nbchurch.info

www.nbfamilies.info

sankie@nbchurch.info

1. See www.joshuaproject.org

52 Weeks, 1 Big Takeaway

For those of you keeping score at home, today marks my 53^rd blog and the beginning of another year of writing here at NBFamilies. I’d like to thank all of you that tune in weekly. While some Mondays the words come easily for me, there are plenty of other times that are quite the opposite. For that reason alone, please know your readership and comments, whether online or in person, are always encouraging and greatly appreciated!

Honestly though I must say, writing each week has actually been a lot of fun for me. The Monday slot has provided me with plenty of holiday-themed opportunities, from April Fools’ Day to Columbus Day to my favorite new holiday, SPEAKUP Day. I have gotten to draft blogs from doctor's office waiting rooms and from 35,000 feet high in the clouds. I’ve enjoyed revealing little bits about our family and myself each week. Whether talking about things I've noticed from a long weekend at the ball field or sharing stuff learned from a family getaway, the blog has served as a reminder to me that the Lord gives us these experiences so that we might see Him at work and then share these things with others. Of course, the same is true for other types of experiences as well. Though it’s not as exciting or glamorous, I’ve found it important to also reveal some of my struggles. Parenting is pretty tough at times. Loving my bride as I am called to do is impossible without Christ’s help. I often fail and fall short. I’m learning that God allows these times for the purpose of sharing as well.

There’s a lot that I’ve picked up on over the last year or so. I've discovered from my musical artist references of Springsteen, Meatloaf, and Rod Stewart, that Phil and Terry are closer to my contemporaries than Jeff and Sankie ever will be. As I've suggested before, I’m an old soul. I’ve also learned that if one mentions certain celebrities like Montell Jordan or Shane & Shane, he can often earn some social media love by way of retweet or reply. Oh yeah, and the only thing that gets more hits than pics of children or sad puppies is a photo of my wife with steak knives. Fellas, I would suggest bragging on your lady a bit before revealing anything embarrassing like that. Maybe several times just to be safe.

But of all the fun I’ve had and lessons I’ve come to realize, my big takeaway from year number one is this: God is so graciously present in our every day lives. While I have at times leaned on seasonal prompts and church events to find some content for writing, the majority of what I get to share each week comes from my daily life. God is everywhere – in everything! WhiIe I pray that we would see Him at work in such apparent ways, the truth is that I quite often miss Him myself.

For me, the times when I complain of writer’s block has less to do with material and more to do with something spiritual. It is not necessarily a matter of creativity, but rather an issue of my availability. Sure, I procrastinate. Spend a week with me and you’ll learn that I’m so far from being a type-A dude that I may not even be in the same alphabet. However, the real issue isn’t about putting off a writing assignment as much as it is a matter of me putting off time with God. It is hard to write about how good He is when I personally haven’t paused to consider such truth. 

See, no matter how transparent I attempt to be with you, there is and will always be a whole other level that God sees, a depth to my stubbornness and depravity that I'm too ashamed for anyone else to know. I wish that I could say that He is always treasured above everything else, but unfortunately that isn't the case. Despite my best efforts, I still get sidetracked. I chase after silly, selfish matters and get tripped-up over stuff that's trivial. Nevertheless, God loves me anyway. He uses me in spite of me, and has proven to be my biggest fan. In fact, the big takeaway is that the grace of God's presence reminds me that He is and ought to be my primary audience, whether I'm blogging or jogging. The same holds true for you as well. May we blog, parent, preach, teach, work, play ball, dance at recitals, love our spouses, steward our bodies and our resources well. Might we simply approach our everyday routine of activities aware of this truth. May we be a community that reminds each other to live on mission for our audience of One.