sex on TV linked to teen pregnancy

Posted on November 18, 2008 by

It seems to take a study or survey for us to believe the obvious. Recently there were two we all should pay attention to.

Monday, November 3rd, RAND corp released its study that showed a link between a teen’s exposure to sex on TV and to teen pregnancy. 

“Teens exposed to high levels of sexual content on television were twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy in the following three years as teens with limited exposure.”
Article: Study: Sex on TV linked to teen pregnancies
Today Show /MSNBC

Also recently 10,000 teens anonymously participated in a survey through the Tyra Banks show, focusing on sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy, drinking, drugs and violence among females.

Continue reading →

Posted in family, teen sexuality, teens, young adults, youth ministry | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

internet addiction

Posted on November 17, 2008 by

Eyes Online

Press Release from Standard Publishing:

Internet addiction? Millions of Americans admit to compulsive Internet use

CINCINNATI – November 2008 – To many people, constant Internet use is the “new normal,” but author Jan Kern challenges this, asserting that too much Internet use is an addiction just like many others.

While affirming that “God isn’t anti-Internet,” Kern argues that God wants more for us, wants us to have a real life and relationships, not just virtual ones.

“The Internet can offer a really great experience, and for many people, this is not a problem. Most of us use the Internet for research, news, communication—and fun,“ said author Jan Kern.

“But for some, it can easily become an obsession. Without realizing it, we get sucked into activities that rob us of the amazing identity, resources, and relationships God has in mind for us,” she continued. Continue reading →

Posted in faith, family, internet addiction, teens, young adults, youth ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

author chats about vital teen and young adult issues

Posted on September 6, 2008 by

[NOTE: Unfortunately Abunga is no longer in business. so the links are not active. I will be deleting this post soon.]

Want to talk about the Live Free series and the topics of self-injury, sexual compromise, and Internet obsessions? Chat with me about my journey in writing these books and telling the true stories? Join me on Wednesday, September 10th at Abunga.com!

Author Chat with Jan Kern at Abunga.com
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008
11 a.m. – Noon PDT / 1 – 2 p.m. CDT / 2 – 3 p.m. EDT (LIVE)

For more information:
Abunga’s Newsroom

How to participate in the chat:

Go to: Author’s at Abunga

You can visit the site prior to the chat and submit questions ahead of time, even if you won’t be able to participate on the day of the chat. And of course you can submit questions, if you’d like, during the chat on Wednesday, September 10th.

On the day of the chat, go to the link above and click on “Chat with Jan Kern.” Join in the discussion!

Afterwards (give Abunga some time to compile), you can download a pdf file of the discussion in Abunga’s archive section. Continue reading →

Posted in families, Internet obsessions, self-injury, sexual compromise, teens, young adults, youth ministry, youth workers | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

fear, fire, and fullness

Posted on July 9, 2008 by


(Cross posted from the Girls, God, and the Good Life blog, July 09, 2008. Note: I don’t usually cross post but felt this one might be applicable to this site and audience as well.)

A couple weeks ago I was traveling through a beautiful canyon toward the northern California coast. The colored sky was filled with dramatic clouds only God could paint. Then the sky darkened over the mountains to the south and lightning shot toward the treetops. We didn’t realize these initial electrical cracks were the beginning of storms that would push California into a fire season that may become the state’s worst ever. It’s not over. Typical fire season for California doesn’t end until the rains of late fall.

Many Californians are in survival mode, fleeing their homes. Others are doing what they can to prevent a fire from taking everything they have—a fire not yet threatening, dreaded just the same. Continue reading →

Posted in faith, families, teens, young adults, youth ministry, youth workers | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

parents responding to self-injury

Posted on June 16, 2008 by


You see unexplained cuts or burns on your teen’s arms. They heal, then you notice more as her long sleeves, meant to hide the wounds, slide up to reveal fresh injuries.

Or maybe he comes to you, head down, unsure of what to say. He finally mumbles, “I’m not doing so great. I’ve been hurting myself. And I don’t know how to stop.”

You’d never imagine your own child would purposely hurt himself. How do you even begin to handle it? Continue reading →

Posted in families, self-injury, teens | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

understanding self-injurious behavior

Posted on June 13, 2008 by

I just added another article link to the others listed on the self-injury resources page. Understanding Self-Injurious Behavior is an older article, from 2002. But I ran across it while doing some research and felt that it covered the general facts about self-injury compassionately and well. 

What I try to do is offer a few good resources rather than too many. Along with the posts I include below, those links listed on the resource page should give anyone seeking to understand self-injury a really solid start. And for those who are self-injurying and want help, the same is true.

While I’m at it, I’ll include an exciting announcement:

Scars That Wound, Scars That Heal—A Journey Out of Self-Injury, the first in the Live Free series, published by Standard Publishing, is an ECPA Christian Book Award finalist in the youth and children category. Winners will be announced July 13th at the International Christian Retailers Show.

If you have nothing better to do at the moment, check out the press release. You’ll see why I’m excited.

Anyway, I feel honored just to be a finalist. Something I wouldn’t have imagined in a bazillion years. Mostly, I just want to get the book out there. I know those who have struggled with self-injury and those who want to help will be encouraged and changed by Jackie’s amazing story.

More soon.

Posted in self-injury, teens, young adults, youth ministry | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

teens into the Bible

Posted on April 12, 2008 by

Recently I taught a workshop on reaching hurting and addicted teens. While discussing how we can encourage and support, we explored ideas that would help the teen connect strongly to Christ. One way we do that is by showing them that God’s words in the Bible can be extremely relevant and exciting for them today.

Daniel Darling has written a great book that can help all teens discover that. It’s called Teen People of the Bible–Celebrity Profiles of Real Faith and Tragic Failure. Daniel kindly offered to answer a few of my questions about his book.

What most inspired you to write Teen People of the Bible?

I was looking for good devotional resources for a few teens I was mentoring. I thought to myself, why would a teen read the Bible? What is in there that would inspire them? Then I thought, why aren’t we telling teens the stories of teens in the Bible? And so it snowballed from there. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible study, devotional, family, teens, young adults, youth ministry, youth workers | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

more than one way to hurt yourself

Posted on March 10, 2008 by

Suzy, who had self-injured through cutting, told me there was another way she had chosen to hurt herself. In fact, it became her main form of “self-injury.” So she began to tell me her story.

It started out so innocent. Just wanting to be accepted and popular. But that turned into an all-consuming objective. Suzy would do whatever it took. One day it took too much. 

A decision. A boy. A bed in a garage.

The force of her resolve shattered all other cautions. This was the only way to gain the acceptance she hoped for. She would do what it took to get it.

As Matt pulled her into his arms and onto the bed, she fully gave in to this goal.

In the next several moments she felt a faint but deep twinge in her heart. Like the sad dying of something important.

p. 28, Seduced by Sex, Saved by Love–A Journey Out of False Intimacy

Suzy’s life quickly tumbled into a downward spiral of choice after choice of sexual compromise. She said, “Having sex was another way to cut on myself.” Continue reading →

Posted in self-injury, sex, teens, young adults, youth ministry | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

self-injury awareness day

Posted on March 1, 2008 by

Today, March 1st, is Self-Injury Awareness Day, known by some as National Self-Injury Awareness Day. Though it is not officially recognized by the U.S., except in a couple states, it is known by many and globally recognized as a day to raise awareness, dispel myths, and encourage sensitivity to the issue and to the individuals who struggle.

What can you do in recognition of this day?

  • Examine your own thoughts and questions about self-injury and become even better informed.
  • Determine if you have misconceptions that are preventing you from reaching out and more effectively helping someone who is struggling.
  • Commit to discovering the resources and services within your own community that can be of help to someone who self-injures.

    • Continue reading →

    Posted in self-injury, teens, young adults, youth ministry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

    helping and yet struggling—a deepening faith

    Posted on February 13, 2008 by

    closer_women_imgMaybe you’re helping others understand and grow in their faith, but you’re struggling with your own.

    God. Jesus. Faith. Questions. Doubts.

    Is God there? Does he care about me?

    Do I know what I believe? Do I want to pursue knowing? Continue reading →

    Posted in doubt, faith, women in ministry | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment