I remember all the excitement of growing up in what seemed the 'new' technological age.  Playing PONG with my dad.  Begging for an ATARI for Christmas and then playing the Adventure game and Donkey Kong until I became too frustrated or blurry-eyed to continue.  Than came my friend's Apple computer.  The computer that took up the whole desk with components stacked on top of each other and fuzzy, green, boxy letters on the deep, square monitor that blinked while you stared at them.   It was all so simple and exciting back then. Also, a little ominous.....like when I saw WarGames the movie.

Today, I can barely keep track of my cell phone charger.  But I can stay tethered to my computer to keep up with my email.  I do have a Facebook page, but not that I do anything more than keep up with the happenings of my friends and the youth I work with.  It is just not part of my nature to live within the hyper fast lane of technology.  But I try. In the world today, it is a necessity. 

I was astonished today, to read an article about our kids today. http://youthspecialties.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af5742699a583e671b94078e9&id=891d401f1c&e=0344eece2e

That our youth, if not sleeping or in school, are on online every other hour of the day. Whether it be Iphone, blackberrys, Facebook, WIRED, Youtube, etc....  Is that ok?  I don't fully know.  Growing up as a young person of the 80's, technology was a tool that enhanced my relationships as I grew older.  A tool to make daily tasks easier.  Young people of this day, have technology as a formative part of relationship building.  A constant busyness.  An absolute necessity for school and the scheduling their lives and communicating with their friends.

For me, I think I crave and hope for the balance of community to enter in the lives of our kids and youth.  Remember when the term "community" had some clearly defined characteristics?  Whether it was a neighborhood, an ethnic group, or a church community, we spent time together--face to face time.  And that time was important--it helped define who we were, how we fit, and what was expected. 

Thank goodness for the community of RBCC in the lives of our children and youth.  A community that values and engages our kids to spend face-time together.  Time to discover their voice and their story as part of a faith community and the family of God.  Giving them time to experience togetherness, rowdiness, times of silence, opportunities to serve others, serve along side others and moments of just touching the earth
and knowing their connection to it.

There is balance to be found. Between technology and community. Creative and new ways to support our ministries using new communications tools such as Facebook, Twitter and pod casting and reaching out to those who may find our community helpful and meaningful.  Then, having a living, breathing, community to enter into, that technology can not possibly replace. 

My 9 year old daughter was full of questions last night.  'Why did the earthquake happen?'  'How will those people get help?'  'Why do bad things happen?'  'It makes me sad.'

As much as we want to shelter our children from experiencing the "heaviness of life," that is an impossibility. The tragic earthquake in Haiti, reminds us of that. Sooner or later, every child will experience a grief situation in his or her life, whether that is losing a pet, a best friend moving away, the death of a grandparent, or other loss. Additionally, with the evening news bringing "play by play" of the devastation of Haiti's crowded cities, fear can also enter in. The current happenings in the world come to us graphically and instantaneously. As church friends of children and as parents and/or grandparents, we must be alert and aware of how individual children may be affected by these life experiences.

• Be prepared to listen, really listen with your heart as well as with your head.
• Reassure the child of God's presence. Be careful to be real with any promises. Children are not comforted by something they know to be false.
• Let children talk as much as they would like without judgment on your part.
• Answer honestly and as completely as appropriate for the age. It is okay to say "I don't know, but (add a statement of reassurance of what you do know)."
• Limit TV exposure.
• The younger the child, the less graphic and detailed your explanations should be.

                                 (Update and adapted from Winter 2001 issue of Information: Children's Ministries)

I remind myself, that when 'bad things' happen, God loves us and grieves with us in our sadness. God is in the hands and feet of those who rush to aid the broken. God is in the middle of the suffering, suffering with those who are in pain.  God is in the rejoice of a small miracle that brings hope. 

My favorite part about decorating my home for Christmas, is setting out the nativity figures and crèche.  As a child, I  loved to carefully unwrap each precious figurine from it's cozy bed of waded paper toweling.  Then, I would gently set each little statuette into the nativity scene with careful thought of how it might look best to it's admirers.  Usually, all lined up on either side of the mossy, wooden stable on the piano of my home.

When the time came to include my own children in the unwrapping of the nativity set, I noticed that the scene never seemed to remain the same from when I had carefully helped them set it up.  My children always viewed the nativity set as a play toy.  A stage.  Engaging with the scene with words, sounds, animal noises and movement.  Sometimes adding flying cars, picnic baskets and toy food into the mix.  In watching my daughter play with the nativity set, I noticed that she would always carefully rearrange the figures into a semicircle around the stable and baby Jesus.  When I asked why she liked it that way, she said to me......."They all want to see God."

Don't we all long to see God?  To be engaged in the story of God's love that Jesus embodies.  To find in the nativity figures.....ourselves.  Realizing, that it is our story too.

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world."  John 18:36  What kingdom and what world was  Jesus referring to?  These are difficult things to figure out in the life of young people.  As the world would have it, the messages young people receive might include "Good guys finish last" or  "Kids have no say" or "Bigger is better".  These things come across as 'truths' that we often succumb to live by.  As part of the youngest of our generations, young people tend to define truth as that which can be verified through experience.  If they don't live it, it's not true. 

Jesus challenges us to a new definition of truth. Truth, as Jesus defines it, is embodied in servanthood-only by giving oneself away can one truly find oneself.  Such a vision can be a challenge for us all to live. But, especially to our young people, who are trying to find their way in a world in which the guiding principle is "Look out for number one."  The truth of which Jesus speaks of is a life lived in service to others, but this truth is often in conflict with the "truths" the world puts forth.

We can nurture our children to share in Jesus' vision of God's Way by helping them identify 'truths' as Jesus defined them, through his actions.  An easy reflection question for children might be, "What did Jesus teach us and what did Jesus do?" Jesus lived by helping others, praying often, caring for the marginalized, sharing with others, being a friend, and through the giving of joyful praise.  This is the vision of God's Kingdom that we can all be inspired and transformed by no matter how young or old. We can live the 'truths' as Jesus defined them, through our actions.

One activity I enjoy with children, is reading and asking questions from the 'Would You Rather?' book. Often the questions are silly, leading to fits of giggles.....'Would you rather sleep upside down like a bat, or standing up like a cow?  Sometimes the questions are more thought provoking....'Would you rather have the powers of a superhero for one day, or the power of the President of the United States for one whole year?'   Choices, Choices! 

I think one of the most powerful acts in life is the power to choose.  Think about what it means to make a choice. What we wear, eat, say, do, even what we feel all comes down to choices.  Our children are faced with so many choices everyday,  that we must take great care to teach our children the amazing power of a choice.

The 3rd and 4th grade Sunday school class at RBCC, put together a few pointers to help guide them in their choice making. 

1. Get all the information you can.

2. Imagine what will happen if you choose one way.  Imagine what will happen if you choose the other way.

3. Think of the advantages and disadvantages of each choice.

4. Ask the opinion of someone you trust.

5. Pray for God's wisdom and guidance.

6. Choose what seems the best choice to you at this time.

7. Follow through on your decision, knowing that if things change you may need to make a different choice.