Category: faith

Why young adults stop, continue and restart attending church

Churchrelevance has the latest from a Lifeway survey that shows that 70% of Protestant young adults ages 18-22 stop attending church regularly for at least a year, why 30% continue attending church, and why 75% of those who dropout return to church at ages 23-30.

AMONG THOSE WHO STOP ATTENDING CHURCH

  • 27% say they simply wanted a break from church
    >> 20% planned on taking a break from church once they finished high school
  • 25% say they moved to college and stopped attending church
  • 23% say work responsibilities prevented them from attending
  • 22% say they moved too far away from the church to continue attending
  • 22% became too busy, though still wanted to attend
  • 17% chose to spend more time with friends outside the church

Your Bible is safe!

Nate brings up an interesting question…

I can’t for the life of me figure out why we needed HB 167 this past session and which goes into effect Sept. 1. If you don’t know what I mean, then read this description of the law:

Relating to exempting a religious bible from attachment, execution, or other seizure for the satisfaction of debts.

Has there been a spate of bible seizing from people who owe money? If you think about the time it took for someone to write down the bill language, then have staffers go over it to check for errors, then have committees and the whole Legislature to vote on it, just so you can keep your holy book when the repo men come to collect on a debt… I’m just confounded.

With school funding, kids without health insurance, the Trans Texas Corridor debate, was it really necessary to waste the time and paper writing this bill? Don’t worry though – your Koran or Torah or any other sacred writings are included as well. But don’t expect your Popular Science or Hardy Boys books to be covered – if the bill collector comes knocking you better be prepared to give those up.

New additions to SSL

Some of you may have noticed SSL went down for a few minutes this morning. Have no fear. It was just a simple WordPress upgrade from 2.1 to 2.2.2.
I also upgraded Laurie’s blog as well as the encounter blog at the same time.
Something else you may notice as a trial feature here at SSL is the Holy Scripturizer plug-in. I’m trying it out to see how I like it and may extend it to Laurie’s and the encounter blog if it’s so requested but you’ll notice during the trial that anytime I give a Scripture reference, say, Eccl. 3:1, John 3:16-17, or 1 Peter 3:15, a link will be created, giving you the option to read the passage from Biblegateway.com.
I have my site set to default to The Message, but you’re more than welcome to view any number of versions that are available through Biblegateway.com
Let me know what you think. Is it annoying or is it a benefit? We’ll see how it goes.

Overflow problems in the bathroom

“Anytime you have overflow problems in the bathroom you’ve got a problem.”
We put together a fun spoof video to show some of the overcrowding issues our youth group at encounter is dealing with.
Things aren’t quite as bad as they may seem in the video, but they’re averaging between 30-40 kids each week at Brian and Heather’s house and running out of room fast.
Phil and the rest of the youth leadership team are hoping to convert the Treadaway’s garage into an additional room so the Jr Highers can start meeting there while the high schoolers remain in the main house and living room.
If you’re interested in helping out with the project – let us know.

Give that clothing away

Chances are you’ve got a closet full of clothes that don’t get worn very often. I know I do. I have a top shelf full of t-shirts from college days and back when I was a computer tech and everyone and their mother gave away free promotional t-shirts for their product.
A wise rule of thumb to remember when you’re trying to declutter (so say the experts) is to get rid of anything you haven’t used in six months to a year.
Here’s a handy way to figure that out with your clothing from Merlin and Lifehacker…

First, turn the hangers of all your clothing away from you, and set a calendar reminder to go off in 6 or 12 months. Then when your n months have passed, and your calendar reminds you that it’s time, open your closet and remove every piece of clothing on a backward hanger; the chances are good you can give it away without the slightest pain, because you just clearly demonstrated that you don’t wear it.

When you’re ready to give those clothes away – there are plenty of places to donate them to, or you may be able to find a second-hand store that will actually buy them from you. Of if you have the spare time, you can sell them on E-bay or Craigslist and then give that money to charity ;-).
Folks from our church are always looking for clothes, coats and blankets to take to the Austin Street Shelter and other homeless areas in Downtown Dallas – so if nothing else, let us know and we’ll be sure they get in the hands of those in need.
And speaking of, I think it’s time I give my clothes another look as well.