If you work with inner-city teens, you know that violence isn't anything new. There's a lot of fear living in an urban environment, and there's not an easy answer to most of your teens questions It's rare to know a kid who hasn't lost a loved one or friend to a bullet. But as much violence as these kids have seen, the tragic events of September 11th shook their neighborhoods, too. Here's some things you might want to talk about with your teens, even a year later.

Use this time to talk about the reason for living vs. the standard of living. Have a rap session with your teens where you ask these questions: When it's all said and done, what's gonna matter? The brand name on your shoes or the brand marks of Christ in your heart? Do you think last September 11 has been forgotten already?

Get your teens to reach out to those in need. You see on the TV how Hollywood and has pitching in. Make sure that your group does their part, too. While Ground Zero is all cleaned up, the city will never be the same. Find a sister church in Washington DC area or New York to become prayer partners with. It's also the perfect time to write the White House. If your group writes, you will get a letter back (not necessarily from George W., but it's still impressive).

Turn Off the TV already! Dwelling on the horrific images is not a good idea. Philippians 4:8 reminds us: "...Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything of worthy praise, let your mind dwell on these things." Get each teen to think of three positive things to visualize (for instance, a Big Mac Value Meal, a free amusement park, playing a game of pick-up with Michael Jordan). This could be a good exercise in getting the teens to turn off the TV and turn on their imagination.

Focus on the Good News, not the National News. Don't wait for the next disaster to share the Good News of the Bible. The life changing power of JC isn't just for the darkest moments of one's life. It's for the good times, too. It's the joy in your heart during good times and bad that will create a craving for Christ with the non-believer. The biggest disaster in America's future won't be the next terrorist attack--but waiting for that event to share the love of Christ. Challenge your teens to make sure that their life styles and attitudes reflect their Christian faith.

Drive bys to Fly-bys. But the most important thing to talk about with teens, is that nobody knows what tomorrow holds. Tomorrow just might be the day Jesus Christ might return. Or tomorrow might be a horrific day when one of your teens gets hit by a stray a bullet. Ya just don't know. It's a good time to check with each teen where they stand with God. This is something you might want to do with each teen one-on-one and every last one.

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