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Key Bible Verse: As a father treats his own children, we pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12). Bonus Reading: Exodus 32:7-8a

For six months my ninth grade daughter, Kayla, begged for a MySpace webpage. With proper guidelines, I decided, she could participate in the phenomenon. So MySpace Commandments were written by the hand of Dad: "No friends you haven't met personally;" "I must be one of your friends;" "No personal information on your website."

Most back-and-forth comments were about par for 14-year-olds, but Kayla's music choices slowly became more questionable. She became enamored with accumulating friends, and was up to 156! As I did recon on these friends' websites, I found one filled with disturbing images and death metal music. The screen name was pure profanity, and his language was starting to rub off on my daughter. It was high time for Moses to come down from the mountain!

I confronted Kayla, expecting defiance and rationalization. Instead I detected relief. Swept away with trying to keep up with the crowd, she'd lost herself. As we edited her MySpace together, she pointed out music and comments that should come out. When I shut her down for 30 days, there was no argument. Now she wouldn't be ashamed to have Jesus view her web page.

—Lane McGullion in Georgia

My Response: What boundaries should I set for my teen?

Thought to Apply: [Boundaries are] not to insulate children but to equip them—not with our fragile cocoon but with the whole armor of God.—David Veerman

Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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Prayer for the Week

I need Your wisdom, Lord, to adjust my parenting style from director of children to encourager and shaper of emerging adulthood for youths.

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