A recently posted article on usatoday.com referenced this year's incoming "college freshman class," largely born in 1991, with the following observation..."The 18-year-olds entering college this fall have lived their entire lives with Iraq as an enemy, Russia as a friend (and investment opportunity) and Ozzy Osbourne as a perpetual comeback kid. Born in 1991, most freshmen have grown up in a world that has always had mega-churches, chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, Planet Hollywood and the Cartoon Network."
Gwen and this Weigh Down Ministry never has shied away from tackling how to have a godly perspective on any and all current events and happenings in the world. In the case of "Generation Y," that 15-to-29 year old age group heavily involved in "social networking" and all things modern (especially technology-wise), Gwen REGULARLY speaks about and addresses how we as PARENTS should and do have a huge responsibility to stay COMPLETELY CONNECTED to our kids. We don't have ANY excuse for LOSING this connection...just because they're "kids" or "we're just not up on all the stuff they're interested in these days." That's a convenient way to say, basically, "I don't want to take the TIME to understand"...the impact of the internet, e-mail, text messaging, blogging, the fact that there are hundreds of TV channel options they have access to, online chatting, kids' tendencies to become immersed in "reality TV," YouTube, downloadable music and podcasts...and the list of what's been developed SINCE 1991 could go on and on...
Poll an average Teen or early 20s Youth about some of the following questions/issues and the responses could be all over the map!
- Is a BLACKBERRY known more for being a plump, juicy fruit that is picked and used to make cobblers and pies...OR a cell phone/e-mail/internet/texting device used to connect with the world?
- What was the "Gulf War?" What was the "Cold War?"
- Was there ever a time when we DIDN'T have hundreds and even thousands of TV channels to choose from?
- What is a "cassette tape?" What's a "vinyl record?"
- How did people communicate before cell phones, e-mail and text messaging, instant messaging and chatting online?
History and communication and politics and news...ALL of it races through time at a breakneck pace. New technologies and ways to connect spring up regularly...and totally understanding all of it isn't really isn't the MAIN point...nor is it necessarily what GOD asks of all of us...but the point is, where are our HEARTS as parents? These "Y-ers" are using this stuff because it connects them to others. Are we AWARE...REALLY aware...of who they're connecting with and what they're doing? Are we INTERESTED ENOUGH in it to dig deep and find out? How DO we stay connected with them? There IS a way...
What NEVER changes, what we CAN pass down, and what is the ULTIMATE uniter of people who want a relationship with GOD is TRUTH. A humble heart/mind/spirit/attitude knows no age boundaries! It knows no racial or social or technological or economic divide. No matter the age of the person, GOD Himself has ensured throughout the ages that where two or more are gathered in the mighty Name of Jesus...meaning gathered in the attitude of His humble spirit...His selfless mindset, His obedient heart before GOD...with GOD as ONLY GOD in that gathering...then GOD and Jesus are THERE and PLEASED with that gathering. It's CONNECTED...CONNECTED between the people and connected to GOD. He BLESSES it. We're seeing that here in this Weigh Down Ministry and the Remnant Fellowship church that has grown out of this Ministry's teachings and programs. People of ALL ages are able to communicate with each other and hang out together and TRULY enjoy each other's company! It's the TRUTH that unites...the TRUTH that GOD is GOD, we are NOT, and we need to run after and obey ALL of His commands. THAT is interesting! That is real! That is relevant! THAT is WHY all of this technology shouldn't be a point of DISconnection. It should be just another, easier way to connect with and be a light to people of ALL ages.
SO - even though the "birth class" of 1991, today's college freshmen and/or the next to enter the workforce, has grown up perhaps not knowing of life BEFORE Blackberries, texting, allies and enemies of countries, cable and satellite TV, etc...that's NOT what is most important anyway. If we're PLEDGED and RESOLVED to stay connected with them through a loving example and a passing down of TRUTH...and if we PRAY and take the TIME to know more about what they're involved with, we've got a shot at helping them USE this great new stuff for GOOD, GODLY purposes. PLUS, we'll keep a close, connected relationship with our precious children THROUGHOUT their lives...not just until they become teenagers. Isn't that what we want? TRUTH - the tie that binds...We'll talk about all of this TODAY at 3:30pm CST on WDWB LIVE. Join us!
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