This is a very common problem, as many people adopt a "quickie" faith. No one wants to work for God, no one wants to care, everyone wants their faith the way they get everything else: At the push of a button. A quick example of apathy prevalent in most youth is evidenced by the "WWJD" bracelets, which I and many of my friends have quit wearing, since most of those who wear them don't live them. If you really want to get your kids on fire for Jesus, it'll take quite a bit of work. Here are a few suggestions:

A) Don't Preach at them. Don't even preach to them. Talk with them. Don't just stand at the front of the room and talk, but honestly invite them to join in discussion. When they're participating, they're open to new ideas, they're thinking: thinking leads to conviction, conviction leads to action. A good book of conversation starters is "The Teenage Q & A Book" by Josh McDowell.

B) Have a "youth council" or other type of student leadership group, which helps plan youth happenings. When students start causing what they're doing, they become a bit more responsible about it. Let them lead their own services and discussions sometimes. When students are leading, students will follow. This is what's called Positive Peer Pressure.

C) Go (or stay) on a retreat. If your kids can't afford the likes of a camp, stay at the church for a weekend. This takes a LOT of planning. Plan "getcha" activities. What I mean by this is have activities which aren't just "for fun." Don't just play games and eat pizza, Have a discussion about problems which are prevalent in their age group, such as drugs, sex, rebellion, peer pressure, relationships, etc. A good resource to work through them with is "More Than a Fast Food Faith" available through Warner Press.

D) Plan a "Youth Service," or a time when the youth actually run a service. For adults. Like the adults do. They really can do it. When they see what goes into planning a service, and have to put this effort into sermon preparation, choral performance, etc., they will often have to look inward and ask "why on earth am I doing this?" No, but seriously, they must get into what's going on, to get into What's Going Up

#17:

GG, I just got saved, and lots of my friends are leaving me. This is mostly ok, because I don't want to hang out and do lots of the stuff that they do. But some of my friends are still being cool with me. This usually wouldn't be a problem, except that one's a homosexual. I don't know if I should talk to her about it, or if I should quit hanging around her, or what? I said something once to her and she said that gays can be christians too. I don't think that's right, but I can't back it up with anything.

First of all, congratulations! I'm glad to have a new sister!

Now, for scriptural reference, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 are the only scriptures strictly prohibiting homosexual relations, though many others simply speak of people who did that and displeased God. There are many different beliefs on how to treat gays, but most of these are based on either hate or acceptance. Neither are biblical. Under Mosaic Law (the law of the Old Testament), homosexuality was a crime punishable by death. But when Christ came, and said "God Is Love!" many took him to say that "God Will Not Punish Sin!" We know that this thinking is false, but it is prevalent in todays "do what you please" society. What was meant is that God Loves each and every person, regardless of what they have done wrong. This does not mean that God is not JUST. He is perfect, and therefore cannot have imperfection, or sin, in his presence. And he declared, in Leviticus, that homosexuality is sin. So what now?

We are to be like Christ, this is our goal. So, God being Love, does this mean that we should LOVE these sinners? You bet. If you don't, you're (oh, dreaded word) a hypocrite!

Let your friend know that you believe that homosexuality is wrong, and why. But also let her know that you still love her and that she is still your friend. Then act it out. Don't play the pharisee ignoring the poor religion-mixing samaritan, be Jesus, talking to her at the well. Show her the spring where the water of Life comes from, and let her see it in you. She may even get interested!

#18:

Dear GoodyGoody; I can't get a date to save my life. I'm a junior in college, and have only had 3 girlfriends. Whether this is because of some major personality flaw or because I'm just too shy to get out there and get the girls, I don't know. Or maybe I'm just ugly. Well, whatever it is, how can I overcome it?

You don't. You quit worrying about getting a date, and start making yourself a better person. Be who God wants you to be, not who you think any girl would want you to be. Few are called to singleness, so God probably has someone right for you. That person will be drawn to you at the right time if you are doing as you should and growing in God.

#19:

Dear GG, I'm 15 years old and my girlfriend and I have been going out for two months. I know that it doesn't sound long but it's a record for me.

I've never loved about anyone in my whole life as much as I love her. The only person that I love more is my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Anyway, she says she feels the same way. One night we spent about an hour and a half having our first fight. It was a good fight though. We were arguing over which one of us loved the other the most.

I know how I feel towards her and she has told me she feels the same way. I try to believe her but this relationship sounds too good to be true. We have based our relationship on God and we try to be accountable to each other and read the Word everyday.

I was just wondering if this could be too good to be true or is it possible for a couple not to have any problems this far along.

Yes, it is very possible, and even probable when Jesus Christ is the center of a relationship. You have something to be sought after. Just keep yourselves pure now. These things do happen! You are an example to all readers, everywhere, what can happen when God is Central!

#20:

Dear Goody-Goody; My parents were abusive to me until I was a young teen, and fought a lot with each other also. I got placed in a foster home, and now just moved away, to start college in the winter. They have been very nice to me, and very supportive, but now that I'm on my own, I'm kind of scared. I've had problems with relationships before, when problems from my first family have caused me to act irrationally. However, my new family have always been there for me, helping me overcome all of the problems and drop all the emotional baggage I'm still carrying. But now that I'm farther away from my support system, I don't know if I can handle it.

I can understand what you're going through, as it is experienced much more mildly by almost everyone who leaves for college. There are two things you must do here:

Be honest with yourself.It's very easy to just run off to college and start a new life. Literally, from birth on. Many who have lots of emotional baggage tend to cover it up, building a wall within themselves, to isolate those memories from their present identity. Then this hole must be filled, so it is filled with the "ideal" (or at least "average") childhood. If you don't know yourself, no one else can, either.

Set yourself up with a good church.Start building a new, secondary "support system" of those who you feel most comfortable with, as your foster family will not be as accessible across the distances. Don't let yourself build outer walls, keeping new people out; instead be honest with them. It will take a lot of trust and time, but it will happen.