Singing Oaks Church of Christ

Role Models

By Beau Davis, Youth Minister | November 18, 2011

You don’t have to be a parent long to find yourself wondering whom your child will look up to and want to be like. As our culture creeps slowly and more deeply into the protected areas of our life we parents often wonder and fret over how much influence entertainers, athletes, and other celebrities have over our children and teens. Recently I read an article from the Barna Group that addressed this very question:

So who do teenagers name as their role models? Even while limiting the answers to non-parents, family members still come out on top. The most commonly mentioned role model is a relative—37% of teens named a relation other than their parent as the person they admire most. This is typically a grandparent, but also includes sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, and uncles. After “family,” teens mention teachers and coaches (11%), friends (9%), and pastors or other religious leaders they know personally (6%).Notice that a majority of teens indicated that the people they most admire and imitate are those with whom they maintain a personal connection, friendship, or interaction.

Seasons

By Beau Davis, Youth Minister | September 30, 2011

This year has officially been one of the hottest years on record in Texas. The drought has struck our economy, farming, ranching and recreation hard. Fires have destroyed millions of acres of land, and lakes that I grew up skiing and swimming in are drying up. All toll the drought will cost Texas around 5 billion dollars.

Sheep, Trees and Chainsaws

By Beau Davis, Youth Minister | June 17, 2011

If you would have told me that within a few minutes you could move the island of Japan 4 feet, I would have said yeah, I can imagine an earthquake could do that. If you would have told me that in 24 minutes 990 structures could be completely destroyed and over 2000 could be critically damaged, I would have said yeah, I could see a tornado doing that. But if you would have told me that it will take 10 to 12 years to fully recover from the tornado damage in Tuscaloosa, and decades to recover from the earthquake and tsunami, I would have said, I can’t imagine that it would take that long. However, after spending two days with 28 people working for 6 hours a day with 5 chainsaws, a skid steer, and any tool we needed at our disposal, we were still only able to help out 3 households.

The Power of a Child

By Beau Davis, Youth Minister | April 15, 2011

I often wonder about God. As a pastor and therapist I am often confronted with many questions about God and the created order. As I sit and silently observe the conflict in the heart of those whose words call for an ear, I often pause … and wonder.

Does God Exist?

By Beau Davis, Youth Minister | February 11, 2011

300 years ago the vast majority of people on this earth would have never asked the question, does a god exist? But these days the perceived need for a god has diminished to the point that even some of those who claim to be followers, don’t really believe in a god’s existence. Since the advent of the scientific method, man has been desperately trying to understand everything about the world around us, so that ultimately he/she can control it.