Legacy Youth Ministry Resources

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Getting Friends by Liking Others

Getting other people to like you is simply the other side of liking other people. (Norman Vincent Peale)

Fear Clarifies Priorities in War

When the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman left Norfolk, Virginia, journeying toward the war with Iraqtheir chaplain told Christianity Today about how the military have to face their fears. "My charter is in fear itself," says the chaplain. Then he lists the very real fears that soldiers must face. "A lot of people don't know what fear is about: 'I'm not going to come home.' 'I'm going to let down my shipmates.' 'I'm afraid of dying.' I'll say, 'How can we work through that?' When fear is there, people really go to the core. When life gets really challenging, the fog lifts. You find out what your priorities are, and it's not music, your home, or car. It's people. It's relationships." (Source: Faith and Fear on the Truman: How one Navy chaplain helps men and women face combat. by Adam Piore | posted 04/01/2003)

What Anchors the Redwoods?

In the Muir Woods north of San Francisco, the great Coastal Redwoods grow to dizzying heights of over 300 feet. You'd think that a redwood must have an incredible root structure to anchor it to the ground during storms. Not so. Its root structure is inadequate. So how do these trees live so long, some predating Alexander the Great? They support one another. That's right. The redwoods never grow in isolation, but grow in clusters. Thus, the roots intertwine, anchoring them so securely that they can weather storms for a thousand years. Similarly, God didn't make our root system strong enough to stand alone against the storms of life. Instead, he made us interdependent creatures. We need each other. As Ecclesiastes puts it, "Two are better than one." Are you living with the illusion that you can make it on your own, without the help of anyone else? Don't try it. We were never meant to live that way. When you're tempted to live it alone, remember the mighty redwoods. The more firmly we're "entangled" with others, the better we can weather life's storms and the taller we can grow. (Written by Steve and Cheryl Miller, Copyright Feb., 2003)

Who Cleans Your School?

Who Cleans Your School? Humility, Relationships, Love In her second year of nursing school, Joann Jones took a test that she never forgot. The last question read, "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" She thought it was a joke. Although she'd seen the lady, she'd never bothered to find out her name. She asked the professor if the last question counted toward the grade. The prof replied, "Absolutely. In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello." She got the point, starting by learning that the cleaning lady was named Dorothy." (Guideposts)

Real men encourage and show love

Real men encourage and show love Encouragement, Relationships MARINE COMBAT HEADQUARTERS, Central Iraq (April 15, 2003) -- "On a tip from an Iraqi official, Marines with D Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, dashed through sniper fire on the streets of Samarra, Iraq." In a daring rescue, they found seven American P.O.W.'s and brought them out to safety. "After maneuvering through still photographers and a CNN crew, they climbed into military ambulances headed for a C-130 cargo plane." It was no doubt a breathtaking rescue, executed swiftly and courageously. But what I'd like to focus in on is what happened afterwards. "Scores of Marines jumped from their vehicles as the ambulances passed by. They clapped and shouted encouragement. Once the ambulances stopped, most of the soldiers literally bound out the ambulances' back doors and up the airplane's ramp. Those not capable of moving as fast limped up the ramp with help from their personal guards." "The inside of the plane turned into a spontaneous party. Hands were thrown in the air. Those capable jumped up and down. A few of the soldiers wrapped Marines in bear hugs. The Marines hugged right back. One shouted out, 'I love you, man!'" Think about it. These are Marines, one of those special operations groups that represent the toughest of the tough. Yet, they know how to celebrate their victories. They're not embarrassed to give bear hugs and shout their affection for one another. They clap for one another and shout encouraging comments. Isn't that the way we're supposed to be in our Christian warfare? Who have you complimented today? Is there someone you need to write today to tell them how much they mean to you? Do you have someone close enough that, when you share with them your spiritual victories, they just might give you a high five? (See Hebrews 10:24,25) (Written by Steve Miller. Source: Marines recount POW rescue operation; Submitted by: I Marine Expeditionary Force, Story by Sgt. Joseph R. Chenelly From U.S. Marine site: http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/97CE25D155D1D05985256D09003C0977?opendocument

Make Me Feel Important

Make Me Feel Important Relationships, Success, Self-Esteem "Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, 'Make me feel important.' Never forget this message when working with people." - Mary Kay

Urban on Success and Relationships

?Successful people build good relationships. They?re sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. They?re considerate and respectful. They have a way of bringing out the best in other people.? (Urban, Hal, Life?s Greatest Lessons or 20 Things I Want My Kids to Know, Great Lessons Press, Redwood City, CA, 1997, pp. 5,6)

Skit About Blondes and Respect

Skit on Respect or Compassion Purpose To help students understand that verbal cuts can hurt people, even when they act like it doesn?t bother them. Setting Four students, only one of whom is blonde, are eating at a lunch table. Other students can be used in the background on other tables. Dialogue Kara (Blonde) (Spills her drink and stands up suddenly, to avoid getting wet): "Shoot!" (Make sure to use local lingo - "Oh no!," etc.) Embarrassingly: "That was a smooth move!" Todd: "Be careful guys! In case you didn't notice, we've got a blonde among us." Kara: (Sitting back down.) "I may be blonde, but I can tell the future. (Closing her eyes in deep thought.) Let's see, I feel the blonde jokes starting up again." Ben: (Laughing) "I think anybody could have predicted that!" Paul: "Hey, did you hear about the blonde who wrote the initials TGIF on the top of her shoes?" Ben: "Why did she do that?" Paul: "To remind her that TGIF - Toes Go In First" All Laugh (Including Kara, who acts like she's having fun too.) Paul: "Do you know how to make a blonde laugh on Friday?" Kara: "No. How do you make a blonde laugh on Friday?" Paul: "Tell her a joke on Monday!" Kara: "Takes her that long to get the punch line?" Todd: "But not all blondes are dumb?some are into Science." Ben: "Really? You mean, like inventors?" Todd: "Right! Have you heard of some of the latest inventions by blondes?" Ben: "Like the screen door for a submarine!" Kara: "Or the water proof towel!" Todd (To Ben and Paul): We'd better get to P.E.! Paul: "Later Kara!" Kara: "Later guys!" (Camera follows the guys just long enough to not see Kara for a moment, allowing her to secretly put a dab of water beneath her eye, making a tear.) Kara (After the others leave, she dials a number on her cell, while looking around to make sure nobody is close enough to hear): "Hey mom." (Pause) "Okay." "Hey, could you pick me up some hair color on the way home?" (Pause. Camera zooms in close enough to reveal her tear.) "It doesn't really matter what color, just as long as it's not blonde." Narrator: Sometimes we don?t realize how much our words can hurt others. Today, let?s think before we speak, realizing how our negative words can hurt and positive words can help. Discussion 1 ? Why do you think Kara got upset? 2 ? Do you think the boys meant to be mean to Kara? 3 ? Why didn?t Kara let them know that the blonde jokes hurt her? 4 ? What are some of the things you hear students say that hurt people? 5 ? When we see a student getting hurt by someone?s words, what can we do to help? (Copyright November, 2004 by Legacy Educational Resources. All rights reserved.)

Will Smith on Friends

"The best thing that anybody ever said to me is that you're only as good as the people you associate with. Look at the five friends that you spend the most time with ? that's who you are." (Rapper/actor Will Smith, Teen People, August 2004, p. 102)

Tom Brady Treating Others as Equals

Tom Brady On Not Talking Down to People Super-successful quarterback Tom Brady could easily look down on others from his lofty pedestal. But according to head coach Belichick, Brady "doesn't put himself above anybody, above the equipment manager, above the guy on the practice squad, or above a defensive player. He has respect for them doing their jobs." (Moving the Chains: Tom Brady and the Pursuit of Everything, by Charles P. Pierce (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006), p. 159.)

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