October 2004     "Why is it that Christian families have a hard time praying with each other?" When you think about spending time with your teen, what are some activities that come to mind? Going to the movies, a weekend road trip, or a day at the mall are just a few, but unfortunately the most important thing we can do is usually never done. I am talking about praying with your family. Why is it that Christian families have a hard time praying with each other? First, prayer causes you to be vulnerable and honest, which is hard for parents and teens. Second, we use the excuse of not having enough time. Truth be known, we all find time for the things that are most important to us. With this in mind, here are some tips to start making prayer a priority with your family. To begin, start praying with your spouse. As the spiritual leaders of your family, you must be leading out and experiencing a time of prayer with each other. Spending a few minutes on your knees with your spouse is the best place to start when you want to begin praying with your family. Second, you must plan family prayer times. Planning a specific time will show that praying together takes priority enough to be scheduled. Third, try starting slowly. Praying every night with your family when you have never prayed together will be difficult. A family prayer time twice a month is a great place to start. Remember, there is nothing more powerful than a praying family! Take this challenge and see what God does in and through your family. Having trouble knowing exactly what to pray for your teen? Here are some great Biblical ideas on how to specifically pray for your teen. What a blessing it is to call on God for help and support as you love and encourage your teen! Pray for a spirit of: 1. Humility- the willingness to submit. James 4:10 2. Reverence- the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 3. Purity- a desire to be clean. Matthew 5:8 4. Purpose- a wisdom to set goals. Proverbs 4:25 5. Assurance- a depth of faith. Hebrews 10:22 6. Compassion- love in action. Mark 8:1-2 7. Maturity- the capacity to grow. Hebrews 5:12-14 8. Holiness- Christ-like behavior. I Peter 1:16 9. Confidence- a baptism of boldness. Philippians 4:13 10. Integrity- the quality of truthfulness. Romans 12:17 (lifeway.com) Is a strong prayer life modeled in your home? You may not be alone. 1. Aside from saying grace at meals, my family prays or reads the Bible together: 32% - Rarely 18% - Occasionally 13% - Weekly 37% - Daily family.org 2. How often do you pray with your spouse? 25% - Every day 16% - Often 30% - Occasionally 8% - In emergencies 21% - Never family.org

	Wondering how to begin talking to your teen about prayer, much less actually praying with them? Try some of these questions and see where God leads. If you were President of the United States, what is one law you would create? What law would you throw out? Why? Have you ever prayed for something that you don't feel like God has answered? What is the biggest prayer you have ever seen God answer in your life or someone else's life ?		Pray that: 1. God will help you to be faithful to pray for you teen daily and specifically. 2. Your teen will begin to see how God moves and changes things through prayer. 3. Your family will begin or continue making time to pray together for one another and for others. 4. Your teen will make prayer an important and constant part of his or her life. "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) Paul gives us three big orders here, none of which can be achieved on our own. It seems like "pray continually" should have been placed first, because it is through a constant open line of communication with the Lord that we are able to always have joy and to thank Him in "all circumstances". Prayer helps us, but it also helps those we pray for...including you teen! It is no secret how difficult a task it is to be a teen in today's world. Why not start bathing your teen in prayer so that he or she will be able to face good and difficult times with joy and thanksgiving. After all, this is God's will for us all in Christ Jesus.
	Prayer has many benefits. Check out these interesting facts on prayer. * Today’s polls show that most Americans believe that faith and prayer can benefit health. In response, more than 60 medical schools are now teaching courses on religious and spiritual issues, and many hospitals and clinics have set up centers for spirituality and healing. (wholehealthmd.com) * Praying helps people maintain lower stress levels, thus enhancing immunity and promoting health in general. In addition, people who pray tend to have a sense of purpose and to find meaning in life. (wholehealthmd.com) * 41% of Americans feel there are too little expressions of faith and prayer by political leaders, while 21% feel there is too much. (beliefnet.com) * Among subjects who attended religious services once a week or more and prayed or studied the Bible once a day or more, the likelihood of high blood pressure was 40 percent lower than among those who attended services and prayed less often. (Godandscience.org)

	This page is designed to inform and educate parents and is not meant to endorse any product, music, or movie. Our prayer is that you will make informed decisions on what your student listens to, wears, and sees!
	Rene Vasquez is Peace 586. He has been creating a "diverse and innovative collection of hip-hop hits" for more than 15 years. He was with the "pioneering Christian hip-hop crew, Freedom of Soul. His last album, Generations, was released in 2003 on Uprok Records. Here, Peace collaborates with other Christian hip-hop artists as LPG, Raphi, Remnant, Mass Reality as well as newcomers Propaganda, Dokument and Saturday Night Freestyle. Peace 586's album tries to say, "After everything I've done in my life, I'm still loved by God. All my faults...God still loves me. And if He can love me, He can love anybody." uprokrecords.com Denim is always in, but with each new season, a new look arrives. Are you "comfy" with the new terms? Cropped-The new length of jeans. Pencil- The new cut for skirts. Color-FADED and distressed for guys and gals. Boot cut-Most flattering cut of jean for most body types.		Albums: Straight Outta Cashville- 8/2004 Underground- 6/2004 Thuggin' Til the End - 8/2000 Background: Young Buck, a Nashville native, began rapping at age 12 and was recording by age 14, the same age he began selling narcotics. After working behind the scenes at label Cash Money, Buck returned home and to the drug scene which ultimately resulted in two gunshot wounds. He then toured with Juvenile where he met 50 Cent and joined his G-Unit. Buck co-wrote and appeared on 50 Cent's track "Bloodhound." G-Unit's full length debut, "Beg for Mercy", launched Buck to the spotlight as the album reached platinum status. Potential Controversy: His last two albums contain a parental advisory. Parent/Teen Q&A: "I know God is the maker of my situation. I know He was there with me when I was traveling with (drugs) in my car from point A to point B. I know God is with me right now...that's where you get the references to Jesus Christ (in my music). Somebody gotta do it." Q:Does God create our "situation" or do we? Knowing the type of music Buck produces, how does this agree with or contradict God's word? sonicnet.com/mtv.com
	Drama and comedy are hot at the box office this fall. TITLE RATING RED FLAGS GENRE STARRING Ladder 49 PG-13 For intense fire and rescue situations and language Drama Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta Raise Your Voice PG For thematic elements and language Drama Hilary Duff, Jason Ritter, Rebecca De Mornay Taxi PG-13 For language, sensuality and brief violence Action/adventure, comedy Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon

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