Welcome to
Marriage In God's Hands.
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I'm Alanzo Smith and
this is my wife, June.
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And we are a couple.
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We want to talk to you
today on, The Ambitious Request.
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June, there's a story in the
Bible that I'd like to use to
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chronicle our discussion.
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It's about this mother, Salome,
who took her two sons to Jesus
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and she made a request.
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She said, "Grant that
these, my two sons, may sit
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one on the right
hand, the other on the left,
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in thy kingdom. "
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That story is
found in Matthew 20.
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My question to you is, was
this mother a selfish mother?
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The quest that she went to
Jesus and made, was she selfish?
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I think not.
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I think, in fact, she
implied she only wanted
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the best for her children.
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Of course, she wasn't
saying no one else should sit on
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either side of Jesus.
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But she wanted to
ensure that her children
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were in His presence.
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Powerful.
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So indeed, we say
it's an ambitious request,
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but it's a request that
all parents should make and
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should seek to make.
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You see, if you notice, Salome
did not ask, she did not say,
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"Grant that my sons
be given good wives,
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or grant that they have a
good education or a good job. "
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As important as those factors
are in the lives of a youngster,
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this mother requested
a best thing; she wanted
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her sons to have Jesus.
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She should be commended.
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She should be.
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You know, I watch many parents
who sit with their children
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in church or who's children
are wondering around without
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a relationship with church.
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And you have to wonder whether
the parents, whose children are
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not engaged in some
spiritual activity, are aware
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of how important it is to
introduce Christ to their child.
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So like Salome,
parents should want the best
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for their children.
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What would you
consider some of the things
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that a parent
should really want?
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I think the "best"
means the best of everything
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in all dimensions of their life.
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So I would say most parents
want their children to excel.
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They want them to do well
in school, they want them to
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perform to the level of
competences so they can become
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efficient and
capable people and take
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their right place in society.
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So they want good grades
so they can qualify for the
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best schools, get good
scholarships, and all the
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good things that come with that.
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They also...
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So nothing is wrong then
for a parent to pray and ask God
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to make their child or children
socially fit and physically fit.
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Nothing is wrong in
asking for those things?
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Those are good requests.
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All of us would like for
our children to be healthy,
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to be well, to
certainly be balanced socially.
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So your child might be
doing very well academically,
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and even physically, but
may not be socially balanced.
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So they're isolates,
they have no friends,
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and they lock
themselves away, etcetera.
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So, no, you want your
children to be balanced
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on all these dimensions.
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But above all, we're saying
that among the requests that you
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ask of God for your children,
you should ask for them
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to be spiritually grounded.
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Because that's the key
factor in their development.
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Ellen White talks about
restoring the image of God
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in the minds of our
children as one of the primary
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responsibilities of education,
and certainly of the home
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where education begins.
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So, yes, it should be every
parents desire to make sure that
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their child knows about
Christ, understands what He
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asks of them, understands
the Biblical principles that
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govern their life, and
make sure that they are
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following His footsteps.
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One of the problems we
have is that sometimes children
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are with parents who are
not setting a good example.
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They live a certain way
that does not model for their
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youngster what
true living should be.
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For example, this young
lady told me, and she was just
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sixteen and she said to
me, "When my mom goes to buy
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her pills, she buys
enough for both of us. "
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Isn't that a sad
story, a sad tale?
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Unfortunately, some
children learn bad habits
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from their own parents.
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And how tragic.
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Because if there's one
place you should be safe,
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it should be
with your own parents.
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But as we know, there
are dysfunctional families
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and people who didn't learn
how to be well themselves or
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to behave in appropriate
ways, and end up being parents,
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then they're not
going to have those values
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to pass on to their children.
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So we're encouraging parents to
seek out the correct information
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that will help you and equip you
to be able to train your child
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and to model for your child
what is appropriate behavior.
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Another parent said, "I think
my son is using marijuana. "
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So when the question was
asked, "Why would you think
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such a thing?" her response
was, "Because I am missing
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some of my marijuana. "
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Now you see
what's happening there.
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She would like her
son not to use marijuana,
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but she is using marijuana.
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"Do as I say, but not as I do. "
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That would be the
adage that would apply.
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That's an unfortunate thing.
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Drug use in any
form is destructive.
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But to introduce your child
to marijuana is unthinkable.
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Now let's talk a little about
marijuana and marijuana use
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because this is happening
prevalently in the society.
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All classes, all
levels. Just about everywhere.
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I was so surprised recently
to learn that as early as the
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elementary school in some
cities, you have little children
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who literally are compensated
to target their friends.
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And they're paid and they
take supply to their friends
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and literally teach
them how to use this.
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And that becomes an underground
market for people who
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push drugs on children.
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You know, as you say that, I
have counseled and worked with
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a lot of youngsters who are
using or have used marijuana.
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And I would say, June,
about 80% to 85% of the cases,
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these individuals
declare that it was their friend
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who introduced
them to marijuana use.
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As you can well imagine, peers
have an influence on each other.
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So if my friend is doing
something, I am likely to be
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drawn to that behavior.
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Because they're likely
to convince me of whatever
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benefit there is to them.
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So we need to have a counter
argument where somebody else
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is helping this child
learn what is acceptable and
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appropriate behavior.
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It is said that in the
United States of America,
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marijuana is the most
frequently used illegal drug.
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That is sad.
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Think about a young
child putting that substance or
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taking that
substance as a source of
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whatever it is that it does
with them, a high that they get
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from it or whatever it
is that they claim they get.
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It's just a very destructive
thing for a child to start with.
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In fact, it is said
that marijuana use is
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called a "gateway drug",
which means it opens the door
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for other hard core drugs.
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And most young people
who start using marijuana
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will go on to harder drugs.
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And the funny thing
about it is that since 1991,
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among 8th
graders and 9th graders,
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the use of marijuana
has steadily increased.
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You know what I find surprising?
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That now in the political,
and even medical arena,
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they're making marijuana
use legal in some states.
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Well we're not going to go into
that, but it speaks volumes.
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But you can
understand when a family...
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I'm going to say,
here's my experience.
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A youngster sat in front of
me and he was using marijuana.
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So we're talking, we're working
through the clinical issues.
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And he looked at me and he said,
"But Doc, why are my parents
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so concerned
about my marijuana use?
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All I need to do is to
leave and go to a place,"
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and he named the
state where it's legal.
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So we do have some
problems, and one may consider;
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I know there are arguments
to and from, for and against.
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And we're not here
getting into the debates or
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entering into the debate.
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We're merely mentioning that
sometimes that poses a problem
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for youngsters in that they feel
that, because it is approved in
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some places for medicinal
value, etcetera, etcetera,
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therefore it's not that
bad, so they can use it.
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That's the point we're making.
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We're not entering
into the debate at all.
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We just wanted
to make that clear.
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Anyhow.
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Now how can a parent
tell if his or her child
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is using marijuana?
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Or can they tell at all?
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Is there anything, any sign?
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There are so many signs.
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One of the first things that
you can tell is that you will
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smell the substance.
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You know that
this is not a cologne.
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And you should know that
you should follow up this cue
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to find out what is going on.
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Other things that you
will observe are the actual
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paraphernalia that the
child will have access to.
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Many parents will locate this in
their book bags or wherever they
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put their stuff.
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So they will have the
things that they use to wrap
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the marijuana, or whatever
and however they use this drug,
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you will find traces of that and
observe the literal resources.
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And I notice also that sometimes
they hang with the kind of
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friends who are
also marijuana users
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So sometimes, parents,
you need to know who your
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kids are hanging out with.
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And sometimes when they
say they are going somewhere,
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you need to take a second look,
sometimes you need to check.
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Because, show me your company
and I'll tell you who you are.
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Sometimes they hang
with the wrong crowd.
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If you find that you're
missing large sums of money,
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or any money for that matter.
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If you find your child
with money that you can't
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account for; you
didn't give it to them,
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you don't know of them getting
it from a legitimate source,
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or they're not working,
then you need to find out
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why do they need
money as much as they do.
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Because it could be that they
are purchasing some substance.
00:11:57.53\00:12:01.64
Sometimes you
will see red shot eyes.
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Sometimes the child has
difficulty remembering things.
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And sometimes they go
into terrible mood swings.
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These can be indicators
that suggest that the child
00:12:13.58\00:12:17.83
is using marijuana.
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Their eating is
another indication.
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Sometimes they have no appetite.
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They're always full or
they might be chewing gum.
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They do that many times to, I
guess, clean their breath or so.
00:12:26.55\00:12:32.32
A child who was doing well
in school, and all of a sudden,
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they start being
careless about their academics.
00:12:35.27\00:12:37.48
They don't follow
up on assignments,
00:12:37.49\00:12:39.14
they're not interested in
school and doesn't seem to be
00:12:39.17\00:12:42.13
motivated
anymore about learning.
00:12:42.16\00:12:43.66
These are all signs that there
could be something going on
00:12:43.69\00:12:46.27
in the mind of this child.
00:12:46.30\00:12:47.82
There also could be fatigue,
and sometimes hostility.
00:12:47.85\00:12:52.10
These are all signs.
00:12:53.00\00:12:54.31
But, you know, we have
a lot more to talk about.
00:12:54.34\00:12:56.82
As a matter of fact, parents,
you might be overwhelmed
00:12:56.85\00:12:59.29
because you have a son or a
daughter that's using marijuana.
00:12:59.32\00:13:02.62
We want to speak to
you when we get back.
00:13:02.65\00:13:04.40
We want to tell you
some of the things you can do
00:13:04.43\00:13:07.25
as you relate to your child.
00:13:07.28\00:13:09.29
This is a very important topic
because we're talking about
00:13:09.32\00:13:12.20
the minds of young people.
00:13:12.21\00:13:13.84
We do not want to lose
them, we do not want to
00:13:13.87\00:13:16.20
see them destroyed.
00:13:16.23\00:13:17.34
So, parents, we're
going to do our best to see
00:13:17.37\00:13:19.59
how we can help you.
00:13:19.60\00:13:20.93
And young people,
we're appealing to you.
00:13:20.96\00:13:23.21
Remember,
marijuana is destructive
00:13:23.24\00:13:26.17
in all forms, in
every shape, to your mind.
00:13:26.20\00:13:28.99
Stay away from it.
00:13:29.02\00:13:30.14
There are many "How
To" books available,
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but there's one that's free
and perfect for every couple.
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"How You Can
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00:13:57.61\00:14:00.17
Welcome back to
Marriage In God's Hands.
00:14:11.26\00:14:14.14
Today we're talking
about, Ambitious Desire.
00:14:14.17\00:14:18.45
You see, there is a story in
the Bible that chronicles the
00:14:18.48\00:14:23.10
experience of a mother who
requested that her two sons
00:14:23.13\00:14:27.83
should sit on
either side of Jesus.
00:14:27.86\00:14:30.93
Unfortunately, not all
parents have this desire
00:14:30.96\00:14:34.74
for their children.
00:14:34.77\00:14:35.79
So we are here to talk
about some of the challenges
00:14:35.82\00:14:39.90
that other families have.
00:14:39.93\00:14:41.74
We have identified
many of the problems,
00:14:41.77\00:14:45.01
and the number one
that we highlighted was the
00:14:45.04\00:14:49.95
use of marijuana.
00:14:49.98\00:14:51.58
We showed the perplexity,
the magnitude of the problem.
00:14:51.61\00:14:56.25
And so we asked the
question before the break,
00:14:56.28\00:14:58.61
what can parents do.
00:14:58.64\00:15:00.39
And that's what we would like to
share with you at this moment.
00:15:00.40\00:15:03.23
Parents listening to us
there, they know their son or
00:15:03.26\00:15:06.43
their daughter
is using marijuana.
00:15:06.46\00:15:08.77
Are they helpless or is there
something that they can do?
00:15:08.80\00:15:11.87
Unfortunately, some
parents feel helpless.
00:15:12.35\00:15:14.92
The last thing you want your
child to do is to be involved
00:15:14.95\00:15:17.86
with drugs of any sort.
00:15:17.89\00:15:20.07
But if you find that your child
is using or hanging with people
00:15:20.08\00:15:25.30
who use drugs, don't
give up or don't sit dormant.
00:15:25.33\00:15:29.88
You need to be proactive
and get your child into therapy.
00:15:29.91\00:15:34.22
While you do what you
have power to do as a parent,
00:15:34.25\00:15:39.91
to monitor the child's life, to
supervise every move they make,
00:15:39.94\00:15:44.86
to make sure you're regulating
their access to cash, to money,
00:15:44.87\00:15:49.39
that they will use to
purchase the drug, etcetera.
00:15:49.42\00:15:52.04
So you put whatever control
you have in place while you
00:15:52.07\00:15:56.25
reach out and get
the child treatment.
00:15:56.28\00:15:58.41
Now if your child has
gone beyond the point of which
00:15:58.44\00:16:01.80
talking alone will
help to deter them,
00:16:01.83\00:16:05.96
then you might need to
get them into even detox
00:16:05.99\00:16:08.76
to get the substance
out of their blood stream.
00:16:08.79\00:16:11.49
But you cannot not do anything.
00:16:11.52\00:16:14.56
Talking to your child about
marijuana and marijuana use
00:16:14.57\00:16:19.76
is important.
00:16:19.79\00:16:21.29
You may have to do
some research yourself.
00:16:21.32\00:16:23.99
You should have a little
knowledge about the drug.
00:16:24.02\00:16:26.98
But you should take the time
to talk to them and help them
00:16:27.01\00:16:30.92
to understand the
danger of marijuana.
00:16:30.95\00:16:34.17
This is very important.
00:16:34.20\00:16:35.43
I also believe that a
parent should remain active
00:16:35.46\00:16:40.00
in the life of their children.
00:16:40.03\00:16:41.29
You know, parents, sometimes
you take things for granted.
00:16:41.32\00:16:44.46
You just assume that everything
is going well with your child
00:16:44.49\00:16:49.76
and you leave them up
to do their own thing.
00:16:49.79\00:16:52.01
And sometimes you just
need to visit their room,
00:16:52.04\00:16:55.41
sit on their bed and
just start talking with them.
00:16:55.42\00:16:58.38
And you would be
amazed how they will open up.
00:16:58.41\00:17:01.99
And sometimes by not opening
up, you can sense that something
00:17:02.02\00:17:05.89
is wrong, and it
gives you an opportunity to
00:17:05.92\00:17:08.18
continue to explore.
00:17:08.21\00:17:09.44
You know, that's a
very good point, Alanzo.
00:17:09.47\00:17:11.21
Because sometimes we
see, or we tend to think,
00:17:11.24\00:17:14.68
that there are "bad
children" who take drugs,
00:17:14.71\00:17:18.78
or children with bad behavior,
and they're defiant children.
00:17:18.81\00:17:22.34
But it's not so.
00:17:22.37\00:17:23.71
Even children who are
doing very well in school,
00:17:23.72\00:17:27.08
children who you would
never expect to be involved
00:17:27.11\00:17:31.19
in something like this.
00:17:31.22\00:17:32.24
If they are
surrounded by friends who do,
00:17:32.27\00:17:34.70
they're just as vulnerable.
00:17:34.73\00:17:36.32
So, yes, it is critical
that parents spend quality time
00:17:36.35\00:17:40.60
with their child and they
know exactly what's going on
00:17:40.63\00:17:43.64
in the world of that child.
00:17:43.67\00:17:45.74
And you should get
your child into meaningful
00:17:45.77\00:17:50.30
and productive activities.
00:17:50.33\00:17:52.97
Sometimes children have
too much time on their hands.
00:17:53.00\00:17:56.94
Too much time to be
idle, too much time just to be
00:17:56.97\00:18:01.49
doing foolish things.
00:18:01.52\00:18:02.73
They come home from
school at any time, any hour.
00:18:02.76\00:18:07.21
They spend all these hours with
their friends or somewhere else
00:18:07.24\00:18:11.14
and you have no clue
as to where they are.
00:18:11.17\00:18:14.10
It is suggesting that the
boundaries have been blurred
00:18:14.13\00:18:17.29
and the structures are
not there in the family.
00:18:17.30\00:18:20.18
You need to help
restructure your child's life
00:18:20.21\00:18:24.54
and take away
some of the free time.
00:18:24.57\00:18:26.81
Let the child get a part-time
job, go to the library and
00:18:26.84\00:18:30.11
do some research, get
them involved in some sports,
00:18:30.14\00:18:33.81
activity, or something else.
00:18:33.91\00:18:35.81
Use up the time
wisely with your child.
00:18:36.51\00:18:39.48
Don't give them so much
free time on their hands.
00:18:39.51\00:18:42.00
Setting high standards and
verbalizing it to the child.
00:18:42.59\00:18:47.21
So you need to help your child
know, "I expect much from you.
00:18:47.24\00:18:51.93
I know you're capable and able.
00:18:51.96\00:18:54.94
And B's and C's and
D's will not be enough.
00:18:54.95\00:18:59.49
You're capable of
making better grades,
00:18:59.52\00:19:01.67
then you should produce that. "
00:19:01.70\00:19:03.80
So get your child to know
that it's not enough to just
00:19:03.83\00:19:07.40
fool around, as it were,
and go through life aimlessly.
00:19:07.43\00:19:12.07
But make them know
the sky is the limit.
00:19:12.10\00:19:15.62
You expect that they
will achieve to their
00:19:15.65\00:19:18.13
highest
potential, whatever that is.
00:19:18.16\00:19:20.86
And support them to do that.
00:19:20.89\00:19:24.04
We have said it many
times before, but it needs
00:19:24.07\00:19:28.27
to be repeated again.
00:19:28.30\00:19:29.54
Parents should
never show favoritism.
00:19:29.57\00:19:33.10
We look at the story of Jacob
and Esau where their parents
00:19:33.11\00:19:38.86
showed extreme favoritism
to both sons and we see
00:19:38.89\00:19:43.61
the complications that created.
00:19:43.64\00:19:47.50
We're saying, parents, that
sometimes a child will go off
00:19:47.53\00:19:52.25
in the deep end, sometimes the
child will move in the area of
00:19:52.28\00:19:55.57
drugs and the wrong
company and the wrong friends
00:19:55.60\00:19:58.60
simply because they feel
excluded or not cared for
00:19:58.63\00:20:03.04
or loved enough.
00:20:03.07\00:20:04.20
If you show favoritism,
it may be going well with the
00:20:04.23\00:20:07.81
favorite son or
the favorite daughter,
00:20:07.84\00:20:10.10
but what about the next one?
00:20:10.13\00:20:11.43
Are you pushing them
in the wrong direction?
00:20:11.46\00:20:14.35
Talking about
children making mistakes,
00:20:14.38\00:20:16.58
there are times when
they will make poor judgment.
00:20:16.61\00:20:19.26
They're not perfect, they're
not even very wise, although
00:20:19.29\00:20:22.51
they think they are.
00:20:22.54\00:20:23.51
So be willing to redeem them,
be willing to restore them.
00:20:23.54\00:20:28.06
If your child made a mistake,
don't throw them under the bus.
00:20:28.09\00:20:31.71
Speak with them, re-establish
the rules, and give them
00:20:31.74\00:20:36.50
all the support you can
to get them back on track.
00:20:36.51\00:20:39.49
And by God's grace, they're
capable of being redeemed.
00:20:39.52\00:20:43.32
Of course, you know you
must pray for your children.
00:20:43.35\00:20:46.96
The family that prays
together stays together.
00:20:46.99\00:20:50.64
Parents,
there's power in prayer.
00:20:50.67\00:20:53.62
And I know you're saying,
"But Pastor, I have prayed. "
00:20:53.63\00:20:56.11
I know you said to your elders,
"I have prayed," and you have
00:20:56.14\00:20:59.25
asked others to pray for you.
00:20:59.28\00:21:00.88
But you can't give up.
00:21:00.91\00:21:01.95
It was Jesus who gave us the
story of the unfortunate woman.
00:21:01.98\00:21:05.28
And He said in that
story, "men ought always to pray
00:21:05.31\00:21:09.86
and not to faint. "
00:21:09.89\00:21:10.94
So as a parent, you
can't afford to faint.
00:21:10.97\00:21:12.98
You have to keep
praying, and keep praying.
00:21:13.01\00:21:15.66
But you know, as we look at all
of these truancy behaviors and
00:21:15.67\00:21:20.45
the dynamics of what's
going on with young people,
00:21:20.48\00:21:23.09
it seems to me that
we can see how important
00:21:23.12\00:21:26.87
Salome's request was.
00:21:26.88\00:21:29.35
And that's why we call
it an ambitious request.
00:21:29.38\00:21:31.61
Because here was she wanting
the best for her children.
00:21:31.64\00:21:36.79
These days, you find parents,
and nothing is wrong with that,
00:21:36.82\00:21:40.12
they want their children
to become nurses and teachers
00:21:40.15\00:21:44.59
and lawyers and engineers
and doctors and all of these.
00:21:44.62\00:21:48.83
And that's important.
00:21:48.86\00:21:49.90
And parents will go at
length to help their children
00:21:49.93\00:21:53.47
get into these professions.
00:21:53.50\00:21:54.98
And that beautiful,
that's commendable, parents.
00:21:55.01\00:21:57.69
But again, we must
ask you the question.
00:21:57.72\00:21:59.81
Do you have the same desire
and do you work just as hard
00:21:59.84\00:22:03.62
to see them making
wise decisions about their
00:22:03.65\00:22:06.96
spirituality and
their soul salvation?
00:22:06.99\00:22:09.55
You know, I think this is
a good place to talk about
00:22:09.56\00:22:11.87
the need for Christian
education in Christian families.
00:22:11.88\00:22:16.35
If you have your children
feeding on a diet that is
00:22:16.38\00:22:19.92
going to create an
appetite for unspiritual things,
00:22:19.95\00:22:23.47
then what's that about?
00:22:23.50\00:22:25.76
So I think it is one of the
best things that parents can do,
00:22:25.79\00:22:29.61
to send your children,
especially in the young
00:22:29.64\00:22:31.73
formative years of their
life, to Christian schools
00:22:31.74\00:22:34.76
where their character is molded,
where their minds are inspired,
00:22:34.79\00:22:38.78
and where their role models
emanate the life of Christ.
00:22:38.81\00:22:42.13
And this way, you insulate
your child against some of the
00:22:42.14\00:22:46.03
harm that they're exposed
to in some other systems.
00:22:46.04\00:22:49.37
You can tell she's a
product of Christian education.
00:22:49.38\00:22:52.72
And proud of it.
00:22:52.75\00:22:53.82
Well, thank God we both are.
00:22:53.85\00:22:55.88
The story is told of a father
who heard his daughter cry out,
00:22:55.91\00:23:01.96
"Daddy, daddy, come quickly.
00:23:01.99\00:23:03.80
Stop this big cat
from licking my face. "
00:23:03.83\00:23:09.25
So the father dashed to
the room, but to his horror,
00:23:09.28\00:23:13.77
it was not a big cat.
00:23:13.78\00:23:14.88
It was a tiger that was
licking his child's face.
00:23:14.91\00:23:17.98
He went back, got his gun,
aimed, fired, shot the tiger.
00:23:18.01\00:23:22.51
It jumped through the window,
collapsed in a pool of blood
00:23:22.54\00:23:26.77
on the outside.
00:23:26.78\00:23:27.78
Later on, they discovered
that the tiger had escaped
00:23:27.81\00:23:31.26
from a nearby woods.
00:23:31.27\00:23:33.73
But the point I want
to make, June, is this.
00:23:33.76\00:23:36.07
It must have been a terrible
and a horrifying experience,
00:23:36.10\00:23:41.56
for any father, and for
that father to see a tiger
00:23:41.59\00:23:45.82
licking his child's face.
00:23:45.83\00:23:49.00
It ought to be frightening.
00:23:49.03\00:23:51.28
I couldn't even
imagine what I would do.
00:23:51.31\00:23:53.50
But the reality is,
there are so many other things,
00:23:53.72\00:23:56.34
if you think about it, that your
child, or a child is exposed to
00:23:56.37\00:24:00.18
that could be just as dangerous
as a tiger attacking a child.
00:24:00.21\00:24:05.31
I can think of, for
example, the porn industry
00:24:05.34\00:24:09.61
and the impact that
has had on young people.
00:24:09.62\00:24:13.31
I'm so appalled to see
that there are predators
00:24:13.91\00:24:19.24
so available and so
accessible to our children.
00:24:19.27\00:24:24.22
And yet many
parents are not even aware
00:24:24.23\00:24:27.70
that these things happen.
00:24:27.73\00:24:29.06
And we should give a word
of caution to you young people.
00:24:29.07\00:24:33.35
Because sometimes you
make the mistake of giving out
00:24:33.38\00:24:37.23
personal
information over the internet.
00:24:37.26\00:24:40.57
You say to yourself,
you're in a teen chat room
00:24:40.60\00:24:44.08
and the next person
you're talking to is a teen.
00:24:44.11\00:24:47.34
Not at all. Not at all.
00:24:47.37\00:24:49.79
We have seen and heard of
countless stories of adults,
00:24:49.82\00:24:55.33
predators, who go in these
teen chat rooms only trying to
00:24:55.36\00:24:59.69
solicit sexual favors
and to learn your way.
00:24:59.72\00:25:03.09
As a matter of fact, we
have heard of cases where
00:25:03.12\00:25:05.73
youngsters have lost their lives
because they went away with
00:25:05.76\00:25:09.10
someone they thought was
their age group in a chat room.
00:25:09.13\00:25:12.95
So we want our children to be
aware that you should never ever
00:25:12.98\00:25:17.32
give your personal
contact information to anyone
00:25:17.35\00:25:20.79
you don't know.
00:25:20.82\00:25:22.02
It doesn't matter how
much time you have spent
00:25:22.05\00:25:25.10
communicating with them
and how they make you think
00:25:25.13\00:25:28.02
that they're safe and
they're your friend and
00:25:28.05\00:25:30.21
they are who they say they are.
00:25:30.22\00:25:32.31
You don't know
who these people are.
00:25:32.32\00:25:34.87
Stay away from
those internet sites.
00:25:34.90\00:25:37.80
So we're saying there are
some serious things that are
00:25:37.83\00:25:40.24
out there that are even
worse than that of a tiger
00:25:40.27\00:25:43.86
licking a child's face.
00:25:43.89\00:25:45.36
We talked about the pornography
and the internet use and
00:25:45.39\00:25:48.79
what it's doing to children.
00:25:48.80\00:25:50.56
We also have to talk about
things like teen pregnancy.
00:25:50.59\00:25:55.63
You know, there's a strange
statistic that is out there.
00:25:55.66\00:26:00.79
They say that teen
pregnancy is on the decline.
00:26:00.82\00:26:05.42
But the correlation to that
is that sexually transmitted
00:26:05.43\00:26:11.46
diseases,
STD's, are on the rise.
00:26:11.47\00:26:14.91
So you see, it's not that
youngsters are not more active
00:26:14.94\00:26:20.14
in sexual activity.
00:26:20.17\00:26:21.43
It's just that they
are protecting themselves,
00:26:21.46\00:26:24.41
but they are still
getting inflicted or infected
00:26:24.44\00:26:28.51
with these STD's.
00:26:28.54\00:26:30.55
That is such a myth, and
yes, so many young people
00:26:30.58\00:26:33.21
are caught up with this.
00:26:33.22\00:26:34.33
I spoke to a young woman
just recent who had never had
00:26:34.36\00:26:39.25
sex before, and she was lured by
her friends to this experience.
00:26:39.28\00:26:43.67
And before you knew it,
she found herself with an STD.
00:26:43.70\00:26:47.95
And she is devastated.
00:26:47.98\00:26:49.84
This is an STD that she will
have for the rest of her life.
00:26:49.85\00:26:53.57
So we warn young people to
stay away from those experiences
00:26:53.60\00:26:57.55
and follow God's instruction.
00:26:57.58\00:26:59.28
Abstain from sex before you're
in a committed relationship
00:26:59.31\00:27:02.78
with your spouse.
00:27:02.79\00:27:03.79
Parents, Salome took
her two boys to Jesus
00:27:04.21\00:27:08.33
and requested of Him,
"Grant that these, my two sons,
00:27:08.36\00:27:14.43
may sit, one on the right
hand and the other on the left,
00:27:14.46\00:27:18.60
in thine kingdom. "
00:27:18.63\00:27:20.65
We're saying, that
was an ambitious request.
00:27:20.68\00:27:24.90
And that as parents, you must
also make and have ambitious
00:27:24.91\00:27:28.91
requests and
desires for your children.
00:27:28.94\00:27:31.92
You want to see them succeed.
00:27:31.95\00:27:33.70
You want to see
them do well in school.
00:27:33.73\00:27:36.46
They have all the different
things to make them happy,
00:27:36.49\00:27:39.55
but do they have Jesus?
00:27:39.58\00:27:41.65
Your son, your
daughter, do they have Jesus?
00:27:41.68\00:27:44.96
Do you want the best for them?
00:27:44.99\00:27:46.70
Remember, the best is Jesus.
00:27:46.73\00:27:49.32
And you must do everything as
a parent to see what you can do
00:27:49.33\00:27:53.52
to help your son,
to help your daughter,
00:27:53.53\00:27:55.85
accept Jesus
Christ as their Savior.
00:27:55.88\00:27:58.58
May God bless you as you try.
00:27:58.61\00:28:00.78