Resurrection hope for a despairing generation - CFN Newsletter Week 144

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 144

> Hilary McDowell on resurrection hope for a despairing generation
> News:
> Children are not a 'consumer accessory'
> Record breaker: quads confirmed in north-east
> Crusaders launch new youth tour
> Sites:
> Christian election sites
> New schools touring band out in Manchester
> Phatfish launch UK tour
> Ex-Korn guitarist's testimony site
> Marriage MOT: Every day is an opportunity!
> You've got to laugh: Hymns for the comfortable
> Members' Zone latest

> OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS WEEK

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> FROM THE EDITOR

Dear all

First of all - I hope you've all finished your chocolate by now! No? Well, you either got given just too much or you've got too much restraint for your own good!

Second, our printing date for the latest Families Together magazine was put back slightly, so apologies that you haven't received your copy yet - they'll be going out very shortly.

Third, we hope you enjoy the latest update. Do let us know what you think about rearranged school terms, by the way, the subject of Alison Farnell's column - we'd be really interested in your views.

Enjoy the rest of the Easter holidays - and look forward to a bit of peace when they're over :)

Shalom

Russ

Russ Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk

PS Christian Family Network is here to direct you to the best in parenting, marriage and family resources; to link you up with other Christian families up and down the UK; and to help you make the most of life as a follower of Christ - at home, at work, at school and college, at play and online.

Your feedback, positive and negative, enables us to develop CFN in the way that is most useful for you - so please tell us if we're off the rails or on the button!

And don't forget - if we can pass on material (sample copies of Families Together, leaflets) which will help you tell your friends and your church about CFN, just mail Lyn Bedford at marketing@christianmedia.org.uk and she'll be glad to help you out.

> RESURRECTION

Risen indeed?

• If the Resurrection is truly in our hearts, we can no longer fail a despairing generation, argues HILARY MCDOWELL

This month the results of a Province-wide survey in Northern Ireland are said to reflect attitudes throughout the UK. Its findings are startling and are all about life, or sadly the lack of it, in our teenage population. More than half of teenage girls believe that life is not worth living and the suicide rate among their male counterparts is soaring in an alarming manner.

As we've celebrated Easter this year with its familiar proclamation of “Christ is risen”, and the joyful response, “He is risen indeed”, surely we must ask ourselves where have we failed the up and coming generation? Have they not seen our witness of praise and worship; our lives of joy and fulfilment, our gladness of heart and worthy lifestyles; our high examples of morality and self-sacrifice and most of all that relationship. The intimate, daily walk with our Saviour and friend that puts problems into perspective and makes living worthwhile. Have they not noticed these things in us, are they ignoring what they see, or worse still, does our witness fall so short of the example and commands of Jesus to his original followers that our teenagers have come to the conclusion that there is nothing much to write home about this ‘Christian thing’?

On Easter morning we celebrate the glorious fact that “death has lost its sting”, and we can rely upon Christ’s act on the cross and his resurrection for salvation, no longer depending fearfully on our inadequate efforts to pull ourselves up by our own bootlaces. Yet, in towns and cities throughout our country, despair resides in the hearts and minds of many who belong to the younger generation. Surely we dare not fail to ask why?

According to the young people surveyed they bitterly complain of too much pressure. They cite exams; home life; and how they look; as the three greatest areas of concern. Only 23% of teenage girls in Northern Ireland are happy with their body. But was it not ever so, we ask? Self-image and self-worth have always been at the root of adolescent insecurity. However, within a mere generation, the variety of communication channels of both print and technology have multiplied at an alarming rate. We know that the technology now exists to beam images and ideas into the home, (indeed directly into the bedroom which was traditionally the single most “safe” place of relaxation and affirmation of the self). Illustrating, as they do the most unrealistic goals in the area of materialistic lifestyle and self-image. It is in this area of unreachable goals where our human psyche sustains great personal challenge and distress. Depression can often have its roots here.

Have we failed to convey to our youngsters that it is not what they do or even what they achieve that makes us most proud but who they are to us and to God?

While they are struggling to achieve physical perfection by becoming more beautiful, more slender, more sexy in accordance with the teen magazine images of the supermodels, their Mums are watching TV programmes of surgical cosmetic procedures and wishing ... While the boys are struggling to establish a sense of belonging in questionable gangs, their dads are having male mid-life crises and working every hour God gives to establish a higher position in the pecking order at work.

A sense of belonging and self-worth are high priorities for every human being and is not this exactly what Christ offers? When “fellowship” is exactly that, – the oneness of the family of God at worship, in leisure, in work/ministry, then we truly “belong”. When we understand that the justification for our existence comes only from God (Romans 8:33/34) and that we are “the apple of his eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10) whatever the mirror shows, then a proper sense of self-esteem is established and when we are committed to him he reveals to us his will for the future, giving us an unrivalled sense of purpose for our lives. Then, even though our circumstances in this broken and imperfect world can often put us at a disadvantage, they can never destroy our hope (2 Corinthians 4:8).

• Read the rest of Hilary's article in our Advice section at http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/advice.asp

> THIS WEEK'S NEWS

> Children 'not a consumer accessory'

An Anglican Bishop has hit out at the idea of gender selection in the interests of 'family balancing', mentioned in a Commons select committee report on Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> Confirmed: quads go in the record books

History was made in a village church on the borders of County Durham and North Yorkshire on 20 March when identical quads were confirmed by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp for the full story

> Crusaders target 10,000 youngsters with new tour

A new 12-date tour dubbed No Turning Back will be making its way around the UK during April and May.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> MARRIAGE MOT

> Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members' Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk

Every day is an opportunity

Every day I get out of bed and before I know it I am in the thick of daily life. It is so easy to take my family and of course my dear husband for granted. Yet none of us know what each day will bring.

It’s good to pause a moment and be thankful for what we have in our marriage, for the things that make our husband or wife special and precious to us. OK, there may be things we aren’t happy about, but if we stop and think, there will also be things that we can appreciate.

Each day also brings a new opportunity to show our love and commitment to them. It may involve telling them we love them, or picking their dirty clothes off the floor yet again, or doing that job we have both been putting off. It may simply involve giving them a smile or sharing a bit of our day with them.

What opportunity do you have today to show your love to your husband or wife? Will you take it?

> EVENTS

> YOU'VE GOT TO LAUGH ...

Hymns for a lapsed generation

Now available! Revised Gospel Hymns for today's generation of modern churchgoers. The old favourites can now be sung without guilt, conviction, or discomfort. Hundreds of your old favourites made comfortable. Some of the titles include:

• Amazing Grace, How Interesting the Sound
  
• Lord, Keep Us Loosely Connected to Your Word
  
• Praise God from whom All Affirmations Flow
  
• Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
  
• What an Acquaintance We Have in Jesus
  
• We Are Milling Around in the Light of God
  
• Blest Be the Tie that Doesn't Cramp My Style
  
• Blessed Insurance
  
• Onward, Social Workers
  
• Avoid the Good Fight
  
• The Gold-Plated Cross
  
• Crown Him with One or Two Crowns
  
• Be Thou My Hobby
  

You'll find more on the Resources page at www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp

> CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
(MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp

> Advice

> Kate's Marriage advice - every day is an opportunity
> Eric Spellmann in part 2 of his PC guide
> Resurrection hope for a despairing generation, by Hilary McDowell

> Resources

> Rob James previews the year's Bible weeks and festivals
> Short-term thinking? Alison Farnell on the new school year
> Adjusted hymns for the comfortable
> New parent and toddler events

> Magazine

> The lowdown on what's in our great new Spring issue of Families Together

> News

> Children are not a 'consumer accessory'
> Record breaker: quads confirmed in north-east
> Crusaders launch new youth tour

> News extra: Review abortion law, urges Evangelical Alliance + election opportunities for schools

> Top sites this week

> Christian election sites
> New schools touring band out in Manchester
> Phatfish launch UK tour
> Ex-Korn guitarist's testimony site

> Events: What's on near you

> Webwatch index: more than 700 sites categorised at your fingertips

> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 1,000-page plus archives

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