A recent study showed that over 60% of California students can’t pass English proficiency tests. Some, it’s true, are just poor students, or just don’t care the difference between tense and case,* but half of those are so-called “English learners” – mostly recent immigrants from Mexico. Many of those are obviously, not “English learners” or at least are not “proficient English learners.”

This, of course, presents two problems.  Read more... (439 words, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

        

It’s Been Said About Telling…

Continuing our “It’s been said…” series, this month we look at the “Tell” commitment of campus missionaries. Consider these quotes…  Read more... (399 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

• “The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.” – Hudson Taylor
• “It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor.” – Martin Luther
• “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.” – Mother Teresa

        

Morgan Hill California made the national news when 4 students were sent home for refusing to obscure their American flag shirts. The students, from Live Oak High School, were wearing “old Glory” on their shirts on the 5th of May, or Cinco de Mayo, a holiday in Mexico which commemorates the unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

While Cinco de Mayo is a minor holiday in Mexico, it’s become something more for Mexican Americans. It would be impossible to nail down all the meanings of Cinco de Mayo for Mexican Americans (and other Hispanic Americans), it has become, in general a celebration of ethnic pride.  Read more... (928 words, estimated 3:43 mins reading time)

        

Continuing our “It’s been said about…” series, this month we’re looking at some things that have been said about the Christian life.

We talk all the time about the fact that our life can be the best way of telling other students about Jesus, but if that’s true (and it is), then the opposite is also true. Check out some things that a few well-know people have had to say about living this thing we call Christianity.

“If it weren’t for Christians, I’d be a Christian.” - Mahatma Ghandi

“I would have met Jesus sooner if not for Christians who led double lives.” - Keith Green  Read more... (505 words, estimated 2:01 mins reading time)

        

Well it’s earth day. And it’s pretty clear that environmentalism has become a religion of sorts. Think about it. It’s really got all the earmarks of a religion’s best and worst qualities.

There’s a moral code (which even comes with legislation). Try putting your garbage in your blue recycle bin if you want to see what happens when you step out of line.

There’s an orthodoxy. In religion orthodoxy serves as the agreed set of beliefs about who’s in and out. With environmentalism, there’s a move to squash dissent – even calling calling those who question global warming “deniers,” like, as in, um, “holocaust deniers.” Rough stuff.
 Read more... (585 words, estimated 2:20 mins reading time)

        

Today was the national day of silence, which is a day set aside by GLTB (Gay-Lesbian-Trans gender-Bisexual) groups to combat bullying in the public schools system against GLTB teens. Of course the idea that teenagers are decidedly gay, lesbian, bisexual or especially trans gender is misguided but the fact that students are bullied for being different is a real problem. Life for effeminate teenage boys and for others who are struggling with their sexual identity can be extremely difficult, but what is the Christian response?  Read more... (234 words, estimated 56 secs reading time)

        

It’s Been Said About Prayer…

In our continuing study of the 5 commitments of a campus missionary – Pray, Live, Tell, Serve, Give – we are going to take a look at what some interesting people have to say about those five things. Some quotes will be old, some new, but all will help us understand more about what it means to be a campus missionary. This week, we’ll take a look at prayer.

Much has been said about prayer, but here are just a few thoughts…  Read more... (371 words, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)

        

You have power that you may not know about. You have influence that is untapped. You have a voice all your own.

Believe it or not, as an American teenager, for better or for worse, the world is watching you. Your potential for positive impact on your school, your community and your world is limited only by your passion, your imagination and your willingness to work.

StudentReach believes in you because we have seen tens of thousands of students change things in huge ways.

Start a student Impacts Group and change the world. The resources are here, you just need to do it.  Read more... (110 words, 1 image, estimated 26 secs reading time)

        

Check out this story . . .

“Hate” Church vs. School?

Homosexuality is a huge issue in our schools. Most Christian agree that while homosexual behavior is outside the bounds of Biblical morality (along with all extra-marital sexual activity), we also see the need to show love and kindness to those who are engaged in behaviors that are unhealthy or immoral. We also recognize that each of us has habits and weaknesses that plague us.

Westboro Community Church (I use the term “church” loosely) is that crazy group that travels all over the country picketing American soldiers funerals saying that God killed the slain servicemen because America tolerates homosexuality. They hold signs that say things like “God hates f*gs” etc.  Read more... (239 words, estimated 57 secs reading time)