Take a look at the results from a KidsHealth poll. What kids worry about may not be what you think they worry about. The poll was taken with 1,154 kids from 9 to 13.

Top things kids worry or stress about:

1. Health of someone they love

2. Their future

3. Schoolwork, tests, or grades

4. Their looks or appearances

5. Their friends and their problems

6. War or terrorism

7. The environment

For full results: http://www.nemours.org/mediaroom/story/2007/11/06/kh-poll.html

Did you watch Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards last month? Who were you rooting for? What can we learn from kids' choices?

Nickelodeon reports that there were 90 million votes from kids. (Lesson? Kids want to voice their opinions! Kids want to be heard!)

In all 18 categories, the winners are...(which by the way, take a look at the "candy sweet," positive selections--which fit generational insights that Millennials and Futuristics are a much more positive generation than GenX before them!)

And, one other thing before you read the list...Miley Cyrus (my favorite, too) thanked her "Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" when she accepted her blimp award. So cool!

MOVIES:

Favorite Movie

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Favorite Animated Movie

Ratatouille

Favorite Movie Actress

Jessica Alba

Favorite Movie Actor

Johnny Depp

Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie

Eddie Murphy (Shrek the Third)

MUSIC:

Favorite Music Group

The Jonas Brothers

Favorite Female Singer

Miley Cyrus

Favorite Male Singer

Chris Brown

Favorite Song

Girlfriend (Avril Lavigne)

TELEVISION:

Favorite Reality TV Show

American Idol

Favorite TV Show

Drake & Josh

Favorite TV Actress

Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana)

Favorite TV Actor

Drake Bell (Drake & Josh)

Favorite Cartoon

Avatar: The Last Airbender

WANNABE AWARD:

Cameron Diaz

SPORTS:

Favorite Male Athlete

Tony Hawk

Favorite Female Athlete

Danica Patrick

OTHER CATEGORIES:

Favorite Video Game

Madden NFL '08

Favorite Book

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Check this out...

A new study supports the view that kids with faith are happier!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-03-25-kids-spirituality_N.htm

Family ministry is a big topic of discussion around here these days--as I'm sure it is everywhere in children's ministry!

In one particular meeting, someone lamented "why can't our Christian parents be as motivated as soccer parents?" You know the line of thinking. And I've said the very same thing! But this time, it made me wonder--are we comparing apples to oranges? Are we really talking about the same set of parents?

I'm a soccer mom to one of my three children--because she's an amazing soccer goalie and is intrinsically motivated to play. She plays on a traveling team so our family gets her to and from practices and games. We pay the big money. And we even travel to overnight games sometimes. But is it fair to compare that with ALL the parents who  bring their kids to our churches? Not every parent does this with soccer. I'd say there are "elite" soccer, ballet, piano, karate parents, etc. And, in the same vein, aren't there "elite" church parents? You know the ones: They come to every program, volunteer willingly, get involved in the Christmas production, and more. Let's compare those "elite" church parents with the "elite" sports parents. Then we'll genuinely be comparing apples to apples.

And with the other parents--you know, the regular ones who don't do all that--maybe we can have a different, more gracious approach to what they're willing and able to do. And maybe we'll really understand what these parents need from us. What do you think?

As I'm preparing for my Point Leader Summit workshop at the Conspire Conference (Willow Creek--April 23-25), I'm intrigued by how the prognosticators of generations nailed it with Millennials.

For years, I've been studying what the experts say about Millennials (born 1982-2002) and it's amazing to see that they were right! (Gives me great confidence in what they're saying about Futuristics--born from 2002 on, too.)

One key factor of Millennials is that they want to change the world together. Did you know that U.S. schoolchildren raised more than $10 million for Katrina relief--more than most corporate giants? And Group's Operation Kid2Kid outreach is the largest kid-to-kid outreach in the world? Hundreds of thousands of children give to children around the world. It's very cool!

How have you seen the truth of Millennials having a heart for service in your community and/or church?