Hi Parents!
From the time we start to talk, we begin to learn how to fudge, evade, or lie, especially when the truth could get us into trouble.  As we get older, we may learn to lie for personal gain, to put ourselves in a better light, or even to commit fraud.  We are surrounded by lies from Hollywood, the mall, the media, our politicians, and our neighbors.  We hear you are not beautiful enough, smart enough or worthy enough.  Eat this, and you will have the body you desire.  Drink this, and you will be cool. It's someone else's fault.  We hear the lies everywhere we turn and see people living out those lies.  Lies bind us to our insecurities.  They feed off of our fears.  Lies are like monsters under our beds, whispering in our ears as we sleep until we start to believe the lies.   

Even in the Garden of Eden, Adam stretched the truth to shift the blame to Eve.  But God commands us not to lie.  Jesus calls us to speak the truth.  Still, being truthful is not always easy.  How often do we fudge a bit when a friend asks, "How do I look?"  What do we do when a little white lie might seem helpful or even more loving?  On a much larger scale, who can blame those who risked their lives to hide Jews during the Holocaust or to help runaway slaves in America escape to freedom.  Are there times when it is OK not to tell the truth?

Take the example of David and King Saul...
Many people think that for a rumor to be harmful, it must be negative.  But David knew all too well that to be harmful, a rumor simply has to be untrue.  After David killed Goliath, the Israelite soldiers were returning home.  Women from the towns along the way ran out to greet King Saul with dancing and singing: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands" (I Samuel 18:7, NIV)).  David, the hero who had killed the Philistine giant, was only a teenager.  He had not killed thousands in battle, much less tens of thousands.  Yet that rumor spread through the nation of Israel; and years before David go close to the throne, it poisoned Saul's heart against David.

Jesus reminds us that HE is the truth.  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.  God shines a light into the darkness of the lies; and as we recognize the lies for what they are, we can be freed from our fears.  Jesus shows us that the truth can free us from fear, hate, and insecurity.  He reminds us that:

1. Our neighbor is someone to love and by whom we can be love.
2. The mall can't turn us into people who are loveable or loving.
3. Justice is the way God works in the world - feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and welcoming the refugee.
4. We are all unique and beautiful people whom God loves.
5. Forgiveness isn't a sign of weakness.  It's a strength, a way of life.
6. Be a truth teller.
   
7. Be someone who questions the lies - commercials, shopping hype, magazine ads, politicians - and who confronts them with truth.
   

Prayer...  Dear God, help me to know the difference between those who speak the truth in love and those who simply want to hurt me.  Give me courage to hear the truth I need to hear and to offer that truth to others.  Amen.

Hi Parents!
With tech at our fingertips 24/7, we can whip out our phones or tablets at the first sign of boredom and be entertained anywhere.  The stream of stuff we pump into our brains seems to have no "off" switch.  I confess, I'm the same way. I struggle with boredom, so I seek more and more stuff to do and often fail to enjoy the moment.  By constantly flitting from one activity to another, from one screen to another, we allow busyness to rule our life.  

So what do you do when you're bored?  Maybe you turn on the TV, reach for that half-empty bag of Cheetos, or scroll through social media.  If you are really desperate, maybe you even talk to someone.  You know, a no-tech, face-to-face conversation.  But do you ever think about doing something else - something more significant?  Instead of vegging out, get out your Bible and talk to God. Or use your technology to search a passage of Scripture, a historical place or event in the Bible.  Dig deeper.  Find out what the culture was like, what the terrain was like, what lives of Christians who have gone before us were like.  Read the stories of people who did great things for God. 

Break out of your rut!  When your routine starts to get boring, change it!  Find a different route to school or work.  Try a new food for lunch.  Talk to a different co-worker or new kids at school.  Remember, God has not called us to a life of boredom.  He wants us to have passion for life remembering the verse from Colossians 3:23 (GNT) "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people."

Ask you child...
What gets you excited?  What skills and talents do you have?  What social injustices rile you up?

Challenge your child...
Get involved in a ministry through your church or community.  Continue to develop your talents.  Pray for courage to see ways you can offer your God-given gifts to the world.

Prayer...
Dear Lord, let us not take for granted the time you have given us.  Help us to use our time to serve you and to get to know you better.  Amen.

Hi Parents!
Our fast-paced world puts a lot of pressure on us to produce.  Teens are expected to spend hours at school, play sports, work weekends, maintain social lives and family relationships, and still manage to find time for homework.  Parents, teachers, and bosses may push us to work harder and to achieve more.  But God calls us to be still, to rest, to listen.  "For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him." Psalm 62:5 (NRSV)

Jesus knew that part of his work on earth was to be still and to pray.  He knew that his mission could not be fulfilled without setting aside time to be with God.  The same is true for us.  In stillness, we draw strength from God.  In silence, we hear God's voice.  Only then can we respond and obey.  So how can we be ready for what the world will throw at us?  How can we strengthen our identity in Christ and not lose it to the world?

Ask your child...
Do you have a friend or a trusted adult with whom you might walk together in faith and hold each other accountable for living your beliefs.
If you already have an accountability partner, ask God how you can support a friend who may be struggling.

Challenge your child...
Try a new prayer practice.  Begin a journal and carve out time to write down your prayers.  Remember to record when they have been answered.

Prayer...
TRY IT:  Each night this week, focus on your breathing and allow these breath prayers to carry you into sleep.
BREATHING IN PRAY: "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God,"
BREATHING OUT IN PRAYER: "Have mercy on me" (or more often, "on us") or "thank you for loving us."

Hi Parents,
We are quickly approaching the first Nebraska football game of the season under the direction of new head coach Scott Frost!  Nebraska fans are dreaming big about Frost's first year.  Can we go back to the winning team we once were?  According to USA Today Sports, "it may be more realistic to set the baseline at 6 Nebraska wins and a bowl berth, and then start planning for more to come in 2019.  Nebraska could surprise a few teams in Big Ten Conference play and get eight or nine wins, including bowl play... To get there the Nebraska team must address more than a few holes: quarterback play, the pass rush, special teams, and most of all the play of the offensive and defensive lines.  But once Frost gets his house in order the program has a cohesiveness not seen in about a generation - what the staff calls 'unity of purpose.'"

To be good at something, we have to practice and set our eyes on a goal. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) says [Let us fix] our eyes on Jesus... For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." When we love the game or whatever we are doing, we find ways to get better at it and ways to focus while competing.  If we love God, we have to practice to keep our hearts and lives focused on the One who loves us and teaches us to love.  For followers of Christ, the test of greatness is not to see how far a few of us can go alone, but to see how far all of us can go together - in "unity of purpose" - just as the Cornhuskers, or any team for that matter, play the game.

Ask your child...
In your spiritual life, when have you lost sight of the goal?
Who helped you rediscover the joy of life with Christ?
If you play a sport, how can you be a light for your teammates?
When have you sacrificed a win or a trophy to serve and care for others?

Challenge your child...
The next time you are giving your all to a game or competition, ask yourself if you are serving God with the same kind of energy.  If not, what do you need to set aside to focus more fully on God?
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Prayer...
Father, help us to keep you as our focus; to be Christ-like in our every action and deed, glorifying you first and exhibiting humble leadership in all we do.  Amen.

Hi Parents!
Looking at all the problems in the world, I often wondered, how can we change things?  I am only one person.  Then I read John 3:8 and began to consider the power of wind.  Wind is a mighty force that can change an entire landscape.  When we stand outside and feel the wind sweep by, we can't tell where if comes from or where it might be going.  Yet we can see its effects all around us as it rustles through the trees and shakes up our surroundings. 

With God's spirit living in us, we can be like the wind so that chains no longer bind us.  We can make small decisions every day that will touch lives in a positive way.  Jesus said, "Love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
LOVE CREATES CHANGE!  Making a difference in the world does not mean putting on a big show.  Most often, the greatest change comes from the little things we do out of love.  Here are a couple of examples:

BE KIND:  Many lives can be changed dramatically if we simply choose to be kind.
OFFER A HUG OR A SMILE:  Share a smile or a hug with someone today.
FORGIVE:  Don't hold on to bitterness.  When someone hurts us, be quick to forgive.
PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES:  Instead of complaining about others, pray for them.

Prayer...
Father, may we be filled with your Holy Spirit and may we use the gifts and abilities you have given us to serve those in need and to make us aware of the opportunities we have to show God's love to others.  Amen.