Pastor B Culture, Oakwood, Parent Cue

How Much Is Too Much Social Media Use?

How Much Is Too Much Social Media Use?

Even though they’re no longer a couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie both recently confirmed they put safety measures on the Internet to provide boundaries for their children. They definitely plan to keep watch on their social media use as their children age. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently suggested he wouldn’t want his nephew on a social network. Years ago, Apple Founder Steve Jobs said he didn’t want his kids to even own an iPad. Why? It’s simple. Children’s health experts all agree that excessive use of digital devices and social media “are harmful to children and teens.”

On the other hand, so many of tomorrow’s jobs are going to be dependent on graduates having skills on computers and screens…

Read More Here

Pastor B Culture, Holy Week, Oakwood, Parent Cue, Spring, Students

Artistic View of the Stations of the Cross

I love to be inspired and look for creative ways to be reminded of the journey to the Cross during Holy Week.  Scott Erickson has a great way of merging today’s value in Art and the Spiritual Journey we all take to the Cross.  Hope this inspires you this week as well.

    Pastor Brandon

The Stations of the Cross began as a practice that pilgrims would have when they were retracing Jesus’ finals steps in Jerusalem up to the hill where he was crucified. Wanting to share that practice and experience with people who couldn’t make the trip to the Holy City, they created these stations of meditation that became in itself a tradition. Today, you can find this tradition on the inside of many churches.

This journey to the cross is not only a meditation of Jesus accomplishing what he came to do –  the redemption of  humanity through his own willful sacrifice – but it’s also a contemplation of Jesus silently participating in some of the worst aspects of being human.  We see him being tempted. Betrayed by a friend. Convicted in an unjust system. Pain.  Mockery.  Public humiliation.  Broken family relationships.

He was one who was not separate from our own pain.

I don’t think our deepest question is “Is there a God?”

IS GOD REALLY IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS?

check out more from artist Scott Erickson here 

Pastor B Culture, My Life, Oakwood, Parent Cue, Winter

A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Sex and Dating

From Pastor Brandon

After ministering to Middle School Students for a decade, I am now on the parent side, along with you, asking how I can speak Godly Wisdom into my own two children before they enter Middle School, so that I might be focused and equipped to hand them over to the loving Father in this phase of life.  With all the messages our culture is speaking on the issue of sex and dating, this short Parent Guide is a simple tool for you to use in preparing for a conversation with your preteen or growing teenager.  Mark Oestreicher is a Middle School expert, and Joel Mayward is a fresh voice, as both take steps to give you a brief theology on sexuality, reveal cultural myths, as well a church myths, and give specific helps for each gender, setting boundaries, and dealing with personal sexual issues.  This book is a great springboard into diving in deeper on certain issues and pointing me in the right direction to face the truth in our modern day culture.

Description

Helping your child make wise choices about sex and dating requires more than just one chat. It’s about building bridges of ongoing dialogue throughout the teenage years.

But youth workers Mark Oestreicher and Joel Mayward realize many parents don’t feel comfortable or prepared to have these kinds of conversations. That’s why they wrote A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Sex and Dating—to equip you to initiate healthy, honest discussions with your teenager. This book will also help you understand some of the relevant trends and issues in today’s youth culture.

Your role as a parent is to do more than provide your teenager with information about sex and dating. You have the opportunity and the calling to help your child live wisely and honor God in this sometimes tricky, occasionally awkward, and always vital area of life.

Click Here to purchase

Pastor B Culture, MS Leaders, Oakwood, Students, Winter

We had a great time at Believe Weekend 2018!!!

As the Middle School Pastor, here at Oakwood, I have seen many moves of God and have been thankful for lives changed.  This Weekend, my thoughts were “THIS NEVER GETS OLD!”  The ultimate treasure for the Kingdom of God is one more life turning to Jesus Christ.  The ultimate joy here on Earth is to see students that came through the Oakwood Student Ministry return as leaders to invest back into the next group.  The excitement for the upcoming days is to see what steps each student takes as they follow the Lord and walk in His ways.

We saw over 500 students sign up this year.  55 of those students made the decision to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  With the help of over 50 small group leaders and almost 400 volunteers, students heard from the Speaker, gave over 12,000 cans and food items to our Local Salvation Army, built long lasting relationships, and ended with a celebration service on Sunday to see 44 baptized.  God is SO GOOD!  Thanks to all that served to extend the Kingdom of God!