09/23/2026
MSM Parental Email for this week. To get on the list hit up Kristie O’Keeffe, [email protected]
Fall Are You Out There?
As the young people say, my "Insta" has been lit up with Homecoming pics the last couple weeks. It's the season and I have seen the biggest mums in recent history with some taller than the girls wearing them. I think I bought one mum in high school, and it was a pretty tame version ha-ha. The memories of these events will be remembered on social media and won't be stored in boxes in a closet (like at our grandparents' house). I wonder how today's teens will remember their middle school and high school days? What will they take with them into the college/pre-married times ahead?
This is a recent post from Focus on the Family I wanted to share with you. It talks about not only how parents should protect but to equally prepare our students.
If we want our kids to have lifelong self-discipline, morals based on God's commands, and a desire to pursue God on their own, we must be proactive in developing their critical thinking about life. Not just keeping them away from things.
So how do we prepare instead of just protect?
1. Teach kids why something is wrong, not just “don’t do it". The commands God gives us aren't just His whim, they have real-life consequences, and our kids need to understand both sides. Young children especially will have a hard time understanding right and
wrong without experiencing or seeing the consequences in their own life.
2. Connect behavior to heart issues (anger, pride, lust, selfishness). We teach our kids yelling is wrong, to not do it. But they need to know what is making them want to yell and be taught to bring those heart issues to God. Practice praying about behavior
and heart issues with your children.
3. Practice discernment together (movies, music, media). When you encounter a questionable situation in a movie, through music, or on YouTube with your kids, be intentional to talk about it. "How did that make you feel? Do you think that was honorable to God?
How should you react in that situation? Let them speak first, hear their thoughts, then share what the Bible says first. Don't shame them for their responses and let them really speak their mind.
4. Ask: “What is this teaching you?” When you listen to music together, see movies, etc., your kids are learning something. Entertainment carries messages, whether or not it's intentional. Help them learn how to identify the subliminal messages to protect their
minds.
5. Build conviction, not just compliance. You can help them see how their experiences and reactions to what they see can impact their lives and relationships (if they're older). If they are only motivated by compliance, once they are out from under your watch
they will not hold to the standards you set.
6. Pray with them about real-life temptations. Pretending that immoral things don't exist is not going to protect them - it's going to make them more vulnerable to temptation and danger. Memorize scriptures together to pray against temptations and talk through
ways they might be faced with temptation. Your presence and loving approach will help them feel comfortable coming to you and asking for help when they face a difficult situation.
Hey Parents, Good coaching not only requires us to say what we are teaching but why we are teaching it! I hope this is helpful cause parenting as we all know is hard. Thanks for letting us come beside you as you disciple your student. Have a great week!
Eric
This Sunday, theMSM begins a new three-lesson series exploring the book of Romans—a book that is arguably the deepest and “heaviest” book in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul throws a lot of complex theology at us in just 16 chapters. However, as “deep” as the book is, it also helps form the foundation for our faith. The concepts within its pages unpack truths about salvation and what it means to live as followers of Jesus.
In our first conversation, we discuss the gospel—in other words, the good news of Jesus. The message of Jesus is good because it tells us that God loved us so much, that he sent Jesus to us. Jesus lived a perfect life, was crucified, and then came back to life. If we accept his gift of forgiveness, our sins can be forgiven and we can spend eternity with him.
As you interact with your teenager this week, consider using these questions to fuel your conversation about our lesson:
What exactly makes the message of Jesus such good news?
Faith is a word we hear a lot at church. But what is faith? What does it look like?
How has Jesus been “good” in your life as you’ve followed him?
A great series for MSM Students to dig into the real life foundation Jesus Gives Us!
Wednesday September 23rd is the worldwide Day of Prayer, See You at the Pole. Students will lead out by praying for their school, friends, families, country, and the world on Wednesday morning at the flag pole at their prospective school . Meet Up Times Vary! We will celebrate Wednesday Night with the city-wide Pole Vault here at NSBC in the worship center with churches from all over Parker County. MSM Student will be released a little later than usual prob around 7:50 pm.
8th Grade Girls Day Out at Hulen Mall is Sunday Oct 11th from noon-5 pm. Amy Wilkins, Misty Browning will take the ladies for Shopping and Lunch at the Mall and then over to Barnes and Nobles/Starbucks for Coffee. Leaving from the church at the MSM/HSM Back doors and will return by 5. They will need $ for lunch, shopping, and coffee! We will hand out a flyer with a QR Code this Sunday to sign up.
Picture of our boys Matt, Josh and Ben in October 2014 at the Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World.
