How is technology affecting successive generations?
February 25, 2009
Good question. The Barna Group has made me think about it today with the new research they released this week. You can find it here. After reading it myself, I came to these conclusions about how technology is affecting the way I relate to youth.
22% of 18-24 year olds consider owning the very latest and coolest technology a “high priority” in life. Label this phenomenom “technology lust.” That’s twice as much as adults over the age of 25.
I think this mainly is going to affect the value I myself place on technology. Cause to me, and 89% of everybody else over 25, having the newest and coolest technology doesn’t matter all that much. I don’t stress out over not having an iTouch, you know? But I can’t let my feelings influence the way I look at them and put me farther out of touch with the youth who need me.
For example, I have students that come and show me this “cool new thing” they found or have. My initial response may be “So what? Good for you. Why are you being so self-centered? Who really cares about the cool new thing you have that I don’t?” The feelings I have inside may even border on aversion because, sadly, I’m reminded of my own days in school when my friends were all like, “look at my cool stuff” and I didn’t have it. I need to make the jump to understanding that techology may not hold the “high priority” status in my internal world, but it does in theirs, and I need to respect that about them.
I think it’s way too easy for adults to just dismiss the next gen’s values as a “their thing, not mine.” If we let ourselves develop an aversion to the technological tide that is rising, the worst thing will be that we won’t be able to navigate the technological waters alongside our youth.
Seeing that our youth place a high value on technology forces us to wade into the sea of technology instead of quarantining ourselves from it. Youth aren’t going to stop their pursuit of newer, more complex technologies, and if we don’t pursue some kind of understanding with them, they will be figuring out the ups and downs of it with out us. Youth are the ones pioneering the technological frontier without the guidance and maturity of adults. We have got to find a way to be alongside them as they continue moving forward, even if it means getting out of our comfort zones when it comes to technology.
Do you want to relate to the youth in your life? Don’t automatically classify things like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and anythingGoogle, as a waste of time. Because it’s not a waste of time to our youth, and they will continue to throw themselves further into with or without us.
Paint Days 2/28 and 3/8
February 25, 2009
Hey Everyone,
Besides the already scheduled 9am-1pm Paint Day this Saturday, I’m going to schedule another Paint Day for Sunday March 8th, directly following 2nd service and ending at 3pm. I’m really hoping to find some takers for these days. We have to get the Wonka Hallway done and its rooms to move forward with the relocating of our Buya AM small groups and the launching of a Shoal Creek Thrift Store.
I will buy Pizza for any family or student that would want to come to either of these two dates, just let me know if you can come, cool? I could use a few more students this Saturday for sure, and I’ve got nobody signed up yet for the 8th. I’d be looking to try to find 8-10 students/people for that date as well, at least. We’ll always take more (but you know that already, lol).
Just let me know, thanks!
justin.talley@shoalcreek.org
Shoal Creek Thrift Store
February 24, 2009
Below is a message that Roy Moran, lead pastor here at Shoal Creek, has started to circulate around the Shoal Creek community, and it better explains the vision and purpose of a Shoal Creek Thrift Store better than I can, so please read:
“We having been researching the idea of a “Thrift Store” for several
months. After looking into in we feel that starting a Thrift Store
has real ministry potential.
There are a myriad of questions that arise and I will attempt to
answer a few.
The Thrift Store is an extension of our attempt to reach the under
resourced but not as you might think. The average Thrift Store
shopper is not a homeless single mother on welfare. Quite to the
contrary, Thrift Store shopper are more like soccer moms than the
homeless.
The Thrift Store is an amazing way to generate funds, create jobs,
encourage missonal volunteerism, and attract people to our campus.
The Thrift Store will be focused at raising monies to underwrite the
general activities of Shoal Creek and in general our efforts in South
Africa and our Student Ministries, including Summer Camps, Mission
Adelante Partnership, Mission Trips and the Foundry.
Holly Shaw has been spear heading this effort along with Justin
Talley. They are ready to bring it into reality.
Justin is remodeling the “Wonka” hall. There is a lot of work to be
done there to make a new home for the Student Ministries. This area
better fits the relational style of ministry and will provide 6 group
rooms.
The Thrift Store will move into the Underground/North for the time
being. There is a moderate amount of work to done there as well.
We’ll be looking for volunteers to help remodel some of these area.
Holly and Justin will be promoting the needs of both of these areas.
They are hoping for an opening late spring.
If you have an interest of those on your teams or in your groups are
interested I am sure that Holly and/or Justin would love to hear from
them.” Roy Moran
Questions? Let me know! justin.talley@shoalcreek.org
Mission Adelante Info
February 24, 2009
Just wanting to keep promoting the Mission Adelante Workday that we’re having Saturday March 14th. We’re for sure leaving from the Shoal Creek building at 8:30 and we’re going to get back to the building around 3:00. At this workday, we’re going to be doing “stuff.” I don’t know what “stuff” yet, but I’m finding out this Friday.
If you’re curious about this workday, why don’t you go watch this video!
If you like what you see, here’s what I need from you:
1. Let me know that you’re coming! RSVP to justin.talley@shoalcreek.org.
2. Come to the March 8th prep meeting that will happen right after second service in the Underground at Shoal Creek. If you can’t come, let me know! This prep meeting is important because it is where we will split up into teams and decide who’s driving and what needs to be brought.
That’s all for now.
CPYU book review “Generation Me”
February 20, 2009
I just read an interesting quote from a CPYU book review. The book is entitled “Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled–and More Miserable than ever before.” The author is Jean Twenge, a pshyhology professor at San Diego State University.
After about 12 studies and data from 1.3 million young people later, and here’s what CPYU has to say:
“So, how did we get here? According to Twenge, the “Me Generation” consists of people born in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. Currently this group ranges from elementary school kids to 30-something adults. Here’s what’s most unique about this generation: they have been bombarded with the notion that the individual always comes first and being happy is the highest virtue. This has been communicated by educational programs that attempt to build high self-esteem and is reinforced by popular culture. Movies, music and advertising continually remind kids they are special and can do anything they put their mind to.
So, why the misery? Here’s the ironic twist: “Generation Me has the highest self-esteem of any generation, but also the most depression. We are more free and equal, but also more cynical. We expect to follow our dreams, but are anxious about making that happen.” Basically, this generation has been taught unrealistic expectations about how the world actually works.”
You know, I am hearing more and more quotes like this, about this newest generation being raised as the most individualistic, self-seeking generation yet to be raised on this planet. Being 25, honestly, it’s hard to see outside my own wetness on this issue. I feel like it’s true, but I also feel like I’m betraying a generation of peers by saying so.
And if generations are only become more narcisistic, then what possibly could the future hold? hmm…