Oh, How Generations Have Changed — Generation Next February 21, 2007
Posted by Steve in : Weblog, Methods & Strategies, The Cultural Conversation , add a commentAs we continually think about reaching new generations at Park with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the city, it is interesting to read this national survey of 18-25 year olds and their views on life, liberty, religion, politics and the pursuit of happiness. Take a read, let me know what you think of the report.
The Pew Research Center, in their report “Generation Next: How Young People View Their Lives, Futures and Politics“, examines the lifestyles and views of 18-25 year olds, a generation raised amidst an unprecedented revolution in technology and dramatic events both at home and abroad. This report takes stock of this new generation, and explores their outlook, their lifestyle and their politics. Pew calls them Generation Next, the cohort of young adults who have grown up with personal computers, cell phones and the internet and are now taking their place in a world where the only constant is rapid change.
Key findings include that they are generally happy with their lives and optimistic about their futures. Moreover, Gen Nexters feel that (more…)
The Birth of “On Faith” November 26, 2006
Posted by Steve in : Weblog, Breaking News, The Cultural Conversation , 1 comment so farThe WashingtonPost.com has recently debuted a new internet column called “On Faith”, which hopes to provide “a new global conversation about what is perhaps the most pervasive and least understood force in human affairs: religious faith. It is a subject about which many people have strong opinions, about which many people care passionately-but about which there is, in our view, far too little constructive discussion and debate. “
It is a collaborative, moderated, blog-like site dedicated to encouraging “intelligent and respectful conversations on religion and faith” among people around the world. It looks like a good place to hear the various voices in the dialogue on some very contentious issues.
Led by Sally Quinn, of the Washington Post, and Jon Meacham of Newsweek, two (more…)
Genesis 3: The Fall July 19, 2006
Posted by Steve in : Uncategorized, Weblog, Church, Powerful Passages , add a commentGenesis 3 - The Fall of Man
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Over the last couple of weeks, we have started our new series ACT ONE: Genesis at Park and this last week, Jackson Crum, our Senior Pastor talked about Chapter 3, The Fall of Man. While I have read the Genesis story many times, I was struck this week as he laid out a way to look at verse 6:
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food (PLEASURE) and pleasing to the eye, (POSSESSION) and also desirable for gaining wisdom,(POSITION) she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
There are three things that Eve coveted by her statement:
PLEASURE: ….John calls this the cravings of a sinful man — Eve was coveting pleasure — a lot of us seek pleasure and use it to cover up pain. We seek pleasure to cover up the truth that we do not want to face. If we seek pleasure it is only temporary but it feels good and we forget our pain.
POSSESSION: pleasing to the eye - lust of the eyes — Possession: I need this, I want this..if I just have this, I will be fulfilled……She wanted stuff rather than relying on God as her Provider (Jehovah Jireh).
POSITION: If I am seen in this way I will feel better. I need position, rather than a provider.
As I grow in my walk, I still need to continually examine these issues in my life — where are my priorities? What does God ask me to prioritize daily in my life?
What do you think? Please leave a comment
