No, not tent camping. I tried to get into that, but the last time I truly tent-camped in a tent-camping place, we were forced back to our house (approximately 6 miles away) due to multiple tornadoes & torrential rains. When we returned the next morning to retrieve our equipment, half of it had been stolen. Seems that tornadoes & flash flooding weren’t exciting enough for Gomer & Goober that night (real people but names I made up). They had to take it a step further and go rob some poor sap of his cheap tents and cooler.  Needless to say, that was the last time I went tent camping. INSTEAD,...

Attention Juniors & Seniors.  I’m inviting you to spend 2 weeks with me in beautiful Colorado this summer.  “Why?” you may ask.  “To get closer to Jesus, of course!” is my reply.  Not only will we be about 5,000 feet higher to the heavens, but we’ll be engaged in attending the Summit Summer Student Conference.  Summit Student Conference is a two-week session similar to a college course.  Each session holds 170 students and consists of 70+ hours of lectures and small group discussion, with excursions sprinkled in the schedule, ie. summit Pike’s Peak,...

5.  A break from everyday routine can be good!  Is your student stuck in a rut of bad habits or laziness?  Maybe a retreat can deliver a good “kick” of renewal in many areas of their life, not just spiritual. 4.  God’s voice seems a bit louder.  How many different voices are screaming for your teens attention?  You. Teachers. Coaches. Media.  Can you imagine the thought of your student unplugging from technology for 48 hours and eliminating all the voices trying to capture their heart and mind?  Maybe with less noise in their life, they will more easily hear the still...

Whether it’s with friends or family, intentionally take the time to reflect on the many blessings that occurred this past year.  One thing I learned to do from Mike Swaim is put together a highlight reel of family pics set to music and watch it New Year’s Eve.  You don’t have to go hi-tech, simply going through your vacation pics, camp pics, birthday pics will do!  We then talk about each of those events and the fun we had, the lessons we learned, what should we do this coming year, etc.  Create that family/friend moment and give thanks to God for “Every good and perfect...

“For God so loved the world that he gave…” Believe it or not, it was December 9, 1965 when CBS first aired the classic special Charlie Brown Christmas.  If Charlie thought Christmas was going too “commercial” then, what would he say now?!  Of course, my favorite scene is when Linus sets him straight & quotes Luke 2:1-14.  “And that’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” This past Sunday, I saw what Christmas was all about.  Our sophomore/junior small group, led by Eric & Michelle Witt & Jay Chapman organized & collected...

It’s the chance of a life time…to travel outside the country and demonstrate the love of Christ.  Missionaries Rich & Sandee Farthing have invited our adult & student team to join them as they minister to the children of Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Click on Bolivia trip promo and watch this brief commercial to learn more about the trip.  Prayerfully consider this eternal investment for either you AND/OR your young person.  Pick up your application in the church lobby or by contacting Linda Coop at lcoop@desmoinesfirst.org

POP QUIZ TIME!  In which scenario will your teen react more negatively? A) You preparing their least favorite meal for dinner; B) Saying to them, “No, you can’t have a friend over tonight:” C) Instructing your son/daughter, “Absolutely no answering your cell phone during dinner!” and then you take a call right before your second helping of meatloaf. If you chose “C” then you answered correctly.  It’s no secret that hypocrisy is a credibility destroyer in parent/teen relationship.  Before you quickly dismiss the thought of being hypocritical in...

5.  They might experience hardships.  If a parent wishes to protect their child from difficulties that may require of them to implement problem solving skills, conflict/resolution skills, or anything related, don’t send them on a mission trip. 4.  They might get sick, both physically & emotionally.  It’s true, students & adults have been known to catch a cold, the flu or eat/drink something disagreeable to their stomachs while on a mission trip.  Also, being away from home may cause “homesickness.” If your child has not conquered homesickness by the teen years,...

It’s been said that certain life experiences help connect human relationships more than others. For example, get a group together for a sing-along, ie. a concert, and you’ve created a moment. Gather a few others to study a particular book or passage of scripture, and now you’re beginning to go deeper. Playing a sport, organized or informal, can certainly build memories that will last a lifetime . . . ask the guy who won his senior homecoming game in overtime. The aforementioned all help bond people together, but there are two other experiences that rank above all others. They are serving...