Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Thursday Talk'n About Teens~Purity

Plans4You
Purity is a topic that every child needs to be aware of in their lives. Purity is defined as
    a) freedom from foreign admixture or deleterious matter; as, the purity of water, of wine, of drugs, of metals.
   (b) Cleanness; freedom from foulness or dirt. "The purity of a linen vesture." --Holyday.
   (c) Freedom from guilt or the defilement of sin; innocence; chastity; as, purity of heart or of life.
   (d) Freedom from any sinister or improper motives or views.
   (e) Freedom from foreign idioms, or from barbarous or improper words or phrases; as, purity of style.              [1913 Webster] Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Recently I won a video Pamela's Prayer from  Plans4You who does TTAT (see button) and had hoped to use it with the youth at our church for a lock in, but it didn't arrive until the day after it, but since we have begun a summer program of youth group each week, I plan to use it tonight. I have watched this film and it's good.  But I must warn you that it's slow moving and the setting is definitely 1980, which will be a hoot to today's teens.  Aside from this, the message is clearly a great one.  The goal is a high and lofty one of remaining absolutely chaste including no hand to body or kissing as is the practice of many teens today.  In planning to show this film, I have come to realize that some of the kids may see this film AND ME as archaic and extreme.  But in the light of God who is ALL holiness, what's wrong with the highest of standards? Why do we set the benchmark at a low place, for successful FEEL GOOD feelings that are so popular today in our culture? I mean, today, 2010 is the only time in history it's not cool to win or strive for heights UNREACHABLE hoping to gain on what is the norm for us.  IF we had never set goals AND learned from our failures how would we have ever reached the heights we have? I am so undone with society's view that this world should be a success driven model.  I actually dislike failure, but RECOGNIZE it's value in my life. My goodness, if I had NEVER FAILED I would have never known the sweet sweet savor of success!!! With this said, our God who is high, holy and all purity has a standard while we will NEVER fully achieve it, we should be striving for it with all humility~and in His power.  STRIVING is all He asks.  Pamela's prayer shows the conflict of a high standard and the sweetness of success doing dating and marriage God's way.  Thanks Lisa for offering Pamela's Prayer on your blog and giving teens the spotlight each week.

Now about mine~they are busy working to refinish the basement with their Dad for new bedrooms.  Also my daughter has received her driving permit~whoohoo! WATCH OUT! LOL!  We are so blessed...and they are precious to us~perfect NO, but neither am I!
SisterTipster<3

2 comments:

Illinois Lori said...

Oh the fun of the learner's permit! I am so happy to have a son w/a license...he's been a great help to me!

Yes, Pamela's Prayer WILL ABSOLUTELY be laughed at by the "youth group" culture. And what a shame...it is merely evidence of the lost state of so many of these kids, whether they claim Christianity or not. The fact that 85% or more of evangelical youth who are active in their church's youth group and call themselves Christians will turn their backs on their "faith" once they leave home and high school backs this up. Sounds like you're ready for their response to Pamela's Prayer, and I will pray for those rare few whom God plans to deeply touch with the message of this film. For most who have been allowed to root themselves deeply in today's youth culture, including the youth culture of the modern evangelical church, it will, sadly, be too late.

God bless you as you reach out to these kids...many of the mocking and snickering kids, girls especially, will be doing so to mask their pain at realizing what they could have had, but gave up. They will need a sensitive response, but a truthful one of the forgiveness and cleansing of Christ. Until we see ourselves as sinners (and feel the pain of our own sin) we will not comprehend the depth of the forgiveness that Christ offers. Pamela's Prayer might just reach someone, but it won't be "hip" or "cool" enough for the vast majority of today's youth group kids.

Again, may God bless your efforts with the kids!

~Lori










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SisterTipster said...

Thanks Lori for your prayers. God is in control and His Word is going forth.