thePARENTLINK July 2011

BRING OUT THE HERO LURKING INSIDE YOUR TEEN

The Bible is filled with unlikely heroes. A

young shepherd boy and a ragtag bunch of

disciples are just some of the people God used

to fulfill his plans. God doesn’t have a strict set

of requirements or an age limit for service.

Instead, he uses young people in mighty ways

to minister and serve.

Twins Alex and Brett Harris are two young

heroes who set out to spark an adolescent

“rebelution.” At age 18, they wrote Do Hard

Things (Multnomah Books), which challenges

teenagers to fulfill their potential and defy the

world’s low expectations of them. Although

the world views teenagers as irresponsible

and adolescence as a vacation, “God calls us

to be exemplary,” Alex says, adding that

adolescence is really a “launching pad for life.”

The Harris brothers challenge teens to

intentionally do five kinds of things:

� Things that are outside your comfort zone.

� Things that go beyond what is expected or

required.

� Things that are too big to accomplish alone.

� Things that don’t earn an immediate payoff.

� Things that challenge the cultural norm.

How can you encourage your teenagers to

become heroes for God?

Tips “Not all superheroes have abs of steel. Here

are insights into real-life heroes:

� Strength comes from recognizing

God, the source of strength. Heroes

shouldn’t rely on themselves; only

God is omnipotent, or all-powerful

(see Isaiah 50:2).

� Strength comes from weakness.

This seeming contradiction shows

that when you recognize that you need

help, you become willing to rely on God’s

strength (see 2 Corinthians 12:10).

� Hard times build strength. God uses

troubles and challenges to test and grow

our faith (see James 1:2-4). During tough

times, we learn to trust God with our

weakest moments so that other people can

see his strength.

� Real-life heroes recognize that they’re

significant enough to be part of God’s plan.

God doesn’t need our help, but he does use

us. He created each of us with value, and

that means we’re equipped to fit perfectly

into what he wants to accomplish here on

earth (see Jeremiah 29:11).

Statistics Every week, nearly six in every 10

teenagers is engaged in some kind of group

spiritual activity. But the percentage of

teenagers who are inclined to have

conversations with non-Christians about their

faith decreased from 63% to 45% between

1997 and 2009. (barna.org)

In a survey of nearly 20,000 Christian

teenagers, kids listed their top need as help

with building a positive relationship with God.

Number six on the list was needing help with

how to share faith with friends and others.

(Group Magazine)

Going Deeper

During summer, theaters are filled with

action flicks and heroes—two things that

attract teenage fans. Use the blockbuster-

movie season to convey messages about

heroism:

� Watch a new flick together and turn the

post-movie conversation toward spiritual

things.

� Write the screenplay or storyboard of your

life. Answer these questions: If your life

story were turned into a movie, what would

be the key scenes? Who are the main

characters? What role does/has/is God

playing in your movie? What hero-like

qualities do you have? What qualities do

you need? What is the next scene after the

one you’re currently in? How does the story

end?

� Plan a movie night. Let teenagers invite

friends over for a movie “theme” night. For

example, rent Soul Surfer (due out on DVD

in August) and hold a beach-themed get-

together. Afterward, talk about how

Bethany Hamilton faced her fears, showed

heroism, and trusted in God’s plan for her

life.

� Stay young at heart. If your kids are

animation fans, enjoy a matinee show

together. After watching Kung Fu Panda 2,

for example, discuss the spiritual battles

Christians wage, the difference between

fighting offensively or defensively, and how

the armor of God protects us (see

Ephesians 6:10-18).

� Enjoy some “oldies.” Dig up copies of

classics such as The Ten Commandments,

Ben-Hur, and Chariots of Fire. Then share

thoughts about the heroes and deeds each

film portrays.

Discussion Questions

� How might your definition of a hero differ

from your teenager’s definition? How does

it differ from God’s definition?

� What “hard things” have you done? Have

you shared the experiences with your kids?

� Who has been a hero in your life, and how?

In what ways can you be a hero for God,

your family, and other people?

Resource The next generation stands on the brink of a "rebelution."

With over 35 million hits to their website TheRebelution.com,

Alex and Brett Harris are leading the charge in a growing movement of

Christian young people who are rebelling against the low expectations

of their culture by choosing to "do hard things" for the glory of God.

Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with

humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-

life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of

revolution already in progress challenges the next generation to lay

claim to a brighter future, starting today.

For a free copy of this book, talk with Mario Arindaeng at

630.361.2436 or David Wood at 630.391.3572.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon Review Read the rest of this and other reviews at www.pluggedin.com. ©Focus on the Family 2011

Plot: We've been lied to.

Everything we've been told about the Space Race of the

1960s was a cover-up. When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin

landed at Tranquility Base, their assignment wasn't just to

gather a few moon rocks or to take "one giant step for

mankind." It was to hustle over to the dark side …

… where they found a massive alien vessel. A ship, we

learn 40 years later, that had shuttled the fleeing Autobot

leader Sentinel Prime away from Cybertron's civil war

between the noble Autobots and the wicked Decepticons. A

ship carrying prototype technology that could have given the

Autobots the edge against their archenemies in the war they

soon lost. A ship whose contents—including the barely alive

Sentinel Prime—could still hold the key to the next inevitable

battle between these good and evil shapeshifting robots.

But lurking Decepticons are already onto the secret (at

the expense of self-serving humans foolish enough to do

business with them). And the Autobots, who've been working

for the American military, quickly realize what's at stake as

well. And the race is on.

In the eye of that brewing storm, of course, is plucky Sam Witwicky. Underappreciated by virtually

everyone for twice saving humanity, Sam's got more mundane things on his mind these days.

Specifically, landing his first post-college job and trying to please his curvy new live-in girlfriend, Carly.

She's far better employed, it turns out. And her boss, Dylan, is a car-flaunting, big-shot accountant who

ogles her even as jealous, insecure Sam flinches.

But when Sam learns through a crazed colleague that the Decepticons have returned and are

determined to decimate Earth, his existence suddenly becomes a whole lot more purposeful. Once

again he steps up to responsibility of saving his damsel-in-distress girlfriend … and saving the planet

from the Decepticons for a third time. At stake is nothing less than the survival of human life on earth as

we know it. And when the Decepticons' full-metal maelstrom final breaks around Sam, Carly and the

Autobots, the city of Chicago will bear the brutal brunt of its fiery, mechanized fury.

Conclusion: The massive worldwide success of the Transformers franchise, despite the critical

drubbing of the two previous installments, has apparently given director Michael Bay license to do

whatever he wants. Because of that, Transformers: Dark of the Moon clocks in at a staggeringly

indulgent 154 minutes—that's 2 hours and 34 minutes for those keeping score at home.

The last hour delivers a nonstop apocalyptic conflagration so unremittingly intense that my CGI-

numbed mind struggled to process the chaotic carnage onscreen. And I'm not the only one who felt that

way. Bill Goodykoontz, of the Arizona Republic, wrote, "As if realizing he's spent all this money on such

spectacular effects, Bay pulls out all the stops in the last act in an orgy of cacophony, pitting shrieking,

grinding metal against metal in one incoherent battle after another. By the time it's over you'll be

beaten down, pummeled into submission."

Just as Plugged In reviewer Paul Asay mused after viewing Revenge of the Fallen in 2009, it

dawned on me as I sat through this installment's unceasing explosions (not to mention Bay's shameless

objectification of Carly, played plastically by newcomer and former Victoria's Secret model Rosie

Huntington-Whiteley) that this is what Hollywood believes people want to watch.

And given the billion-and-a-half dollar box office tally of the first two films, this probably won't be

the last Transformers film to assault our senses and sensibilities. As Goodykoontz concluded, "Bay's

hammering technique works, in a commercial sense. Executive producer Steven Spielberg is the richer

for it." Unfortunately, audiences won't be.

This review is not intended to endorse this film, but rather to help parents make informed decisions.

Calendar of Events July 2011

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri Sat

26 27 28 29 30 1 2 AC Cause/Squared

Gathering 6-8:30pm

SG Refuge/Aliens Meeting 6:30-9pm

Six Flags Outing Jr & Sr HighNo IC

Gathering

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 AC Cause/Squared

Gathering 6-8:30pm

AC Student Ministry meets on Mondays

starting July 11.

SG Refuge/Aliens Meeting 6:30-9pm

IC Cause/Squared The Loft: 5-7pm

Gathering: 7-9pm

Junior High Mission Trip with Wayside Cross 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Capture the Flag

at IC Campus 2-4pm | Meet at

SG at 1pm for ride

AC Cause/Squared Gathering 6-8:30pm

SG Refuge/Aliens Meeting 6:30-9pm

IC Cause/Squared The Loft: 5-7pm

Gathering: 7-9pm

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 AC Cause/Squared

Gathering 6-8:30pm

SG Refuge/Aliens Meeting 6:30-9pm

IC Cause/Squared The Loft: 5-7pm

Gathering: 7-9pm

Detroit 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

AC Cause/Squared Gathering 6-8:30pm

SG Refuge/Aliens Meeting 6:30-9pm

IC Cause/Squared The Loft: 5-7pm

Gathering: 7-9pm

Senior High Detroit Mission Trip Follow the blog at www.villagebible.org/detroit

Upcoming Events August Aliens and Refuge Wednesday Nights are Off-Site

Sugar Grove Aliens and Refuge meet at various students’ homes. August No Cause or Squared for Aurora and Indian Creek during August September 7 Sugar Grove Campus Back 2 School Bash | Jr & Sr High at separate locations | $5 September 15 Indian Creek Campus Back 2 School Bash September 19 Aurora Campus Back 2 School Bash October 28-30 Fall Camp | Senior High and Junior High | $120 ($99 early bird) November 12 Kendall County Food Pantry Service Project | Pack Thanksgiving Meals November 16 Ad Vivum – Moody Bible Institute Drama team | Junior High & Senior High November 19 Senior High Turkey Hunt | 5:30 – 10:30 PM | $5 | Meets at SG Campus December 3 Pack Teen Christmas Bags | $10 per teen bag donation

Visit villagebible.org/students for details on these events and our ministry.