ACTION NEWS
Issue 33 - Fall 2023
Proverbs 1:8-9
My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
Do you own a smart TV? Have you ever wondered why it is called smart? This technology that graces its presence in our home is “an internet enabled TV which connects to your favourite streaming platforms
for endless enjoyment of your favourite content. If your TV has internet connectivity, runs on an operating system, and comes with its own app service, it’s smart!” (samsung.com). I own two smart TVs and recently I put the remote from one through a complete cycle of my washing machine. After that the remote was not as “smart” as it had been previously. I tried putting it in rice to draw the moisture out of it, but I couldn’t bring it back to life again. The TV just wasn’t the same without it.
My husband (who is quite smart) simply said the remote from the other smart TV could run either one. Even though the TVs were different brands he was right! So as long as no one wants to change the channel at the same time, we are back in business.
Proverbs 3:21−26 (NIV)
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
The content chosen on a home’s smart technology can either add or subtract from building into the lives our young people. The concept of how much screen time we do as a family can also be put in the
subtraction column, depending on the amount viewed. Perhaps we can consider smart this way: Spending Meaningful Anticipated Real Time together as a family.
In these summer months there were many ways I saw families spending time together: hiking, biking, swimming, camping, road trips and vacations, gardening, sports, canoeing or kayaking, and much more. We live in a beautiful part of the world where possibilities to spend real time together in nature seem endless.
With so many parents today busy working, grandparents and great-grandparents can also have a part in imparting their spiritual “smarts” to the next generation, the way it is laid out in Deuteronomy. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:4−7, NIV).
These are important days in the spiritual formation of our youth. We want to encourage families to do all they can to engage with their children and youth about what is important on this journey. The smartest thing our kids can choose is to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and strength. May we seek out ways to spend meaningful and anticipated real time together as a family to nurture faith in the context of those family relationships.
You Can Have An Impact On Our Youth
It is through the generous support of people like you that we are able to create programs that impact the lives of our youth. Through your support, our programs provide youth with information to help them make wise and healthy choices for their lives.
Marsha’s Comings and Goings
The summer has continued to fuel the curriculum vein for CAFNB. We are gearing up for fall and meeting with churches, schools and community
groups to promote SMART Family and SMART Friends. Please reach out for this offer.
Other Conversation Starters For Youth
Here are some of the other talks we share with youth:
- “How to Say No and Keep Your Friends”
- “Something for the Pain”
- “The Dating Discussion”
- “Before You Hit Send”
- “Love Kindness”
