Parenting, Youth and the Kitchen Sink

Parenting, Youth and the kitchen Sink September 2016 From time to time, something will capture your attention, and take over your life. It may be a book. You begin reading, only to not be able to put it down until you finish. For some it could be a video game, like Minecraft. I can watch our kids be so engrossed in it day after day. For me, recently it was the Summer Olympics in Rio. I had no desire to have it consume me or even interest me at all, but then on a Saturday afternoon it was on and while I was toiling around the house, it caught my attention and I was engrossed in it! What is it about the Olympics that’s so engaging? Is it the unique sports, yes! Is it the amateur athletes who spend all their time working for this really brief moment for gold, yes! Is it the wall to wall coverage that kept me constantly engaged, yes! The Summer Olympics is a big stage for these athletes to be on. They have captured the attention of not only me but by many in our world including teenagers. Teens can really identify with these amateur athletes. After all, very few teens will ever compete and be successful on the professional stage. These events allow the teenagers to be willing to showcase abilities and gifts in a variety of sports rather than the sports considered to the “popular” or “main stream” sports. Also, and even more importantly, what are we to do, and especially those Christian athletes who have the type of forum that the Olympics provide? They have the opportunity to glorify God. I came across this article leading up to the games from “The Gospel Coalition” https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/6-christian-athletes-to-watch-at-rio-2016. I wish I would have read this a little sooner and been more focused on these athletes and their witness, but fortunately, I did not have to read this article beforehand to see and hear the witness of Christ take place. David Boudia was listed in the article above, but not his partner Steele Johnson. Fortunately, although Steele was not on the Christian radar, he certainly is now along with his diving partner. Here is what happened in Rio, http://religionnews.com/2016/08/07/steele-johnson-and-david-boudia-have-faith-in-their-diving/. Teens, all of us, have the opportunity to witness. Sometimes it is on a grand stage, sometimes it is with 25,000 others at the National Youth Gathering (NYG), sometimes it is in the back yard, at school, at home, in the car and there is always opportunity! The summer Olympics really captured my attention, but it was made even better when the witness of Christ was shared! God’s Blessings, Pastor Seabaugh