Steam Rolled!

One of the thing's that I enjoy doing is learning about youth culture and the machine that it is. I truly believe that as a youth leader to teenagers, and a father to one, that we need to engage ourselves in this rapidly changing culture that our teens are in. I had a great talk with some friends from church yesterday and we discussed about the topic a bit. Man, looking at everything from media whether it's through music, movies, TV shows, commercials or any thing of pop culture, is alarming as youth leader and parent. Theres no doubt in my mind that we need to keep up with youth culture and have a better understanding of what our youth encounter, because if we don't this world is more than happy to take them in. There are just too many media outlets that teens can can plug into today. As parents it can be something that is just plain discouraging and at times is just something we don't want to deal with. Big mistake! It's an issue that we must face head on and seek with Godly wisdom. What are our teens listening to? What movies are they watching? Are these thing's shaping there values? If so why? One important thing we need to remember in all the madness is that kid's and teenagers are a gift from God!(Psalm 127:3-5) Because God values them so highly so should we. I mentioned that youth culture was like a machine and it is! It's showing no signs of slowing down and takes with it what ever it can. Can it be slowed down? Yes, it can ! By equipping ourselves as youth leaders and parents with a better understanding and knowledge of it, and in doing so pointing our youth in the direction of Jesus Christ, and helping them have a better understanding of who He is and what He can do in there lives. Jesus is Himself was very much involved in culture. I believe even now He would command us to "get with the program". The MTV VMA's(video music awards) were on last night. I stayed up last night to watch it and take in somethings. This year the host of the awards show was awful! God bless that guy and pray for him! One of the thing's that caught my attention was how he really put down The Jonas Brothers. For what? The three of them wear purity rings. They believe that you should wait until your married to have sex. Awesome! Great values that they have are unfortunately an easy target to make fun of by the host. Sad, very sad that this culture thinks that's it's the "norm" to have sex before marriage. God certainly didn't intend it to be this way, but sadly that's the way culture presents it. How many teenagers do you think stayed up to watch ? What message was communicated to them? I love what Walt Muller says... " culture is the "soup" in which our teenagers swim around and soak every day. The soup's ingredients include values, attitudes, and behaviors-as well as the media, peer group, language, and so on that express them. To know kids, we must lift the lid of the soup pot and see what's in the mix." Some serious stuff ya'll! Peace out!