A Thought Question: Messages from the Next Generation

7 Responses to A Thought Question: Messages from the Next Generation

1. Keith Brenton says:

   January 12, 2011 at 8:27 am

   I can't speak for the second young man, but Davis attends my home church and he has an amazing hunger for the word. He is exceptionally bright, in my estimation, and I would have to say gifted.

   His parents are musically gifted, members of an a cappella group that has recorded worship CDs, Coram Deo.

   I've posted a couple of other presentations he's made at PV on YouTube.

   I think more children might be found to be gifted with a passion for the Lord if they saw it clearly in parents and teachers and lived/worshiped in places where such gifts are treasured.

   (But what do we do with little girls who have such gifts?)
2. Alan says:

   January 12, 2011 at 9:23 am

   Our culture severely underestimates its children. And so they live up to expectations. There was a time when a 12 year old boy was expected to be a significant contributor to feeding and housing the family. Now, many 25 year olds are still dependent on Mom and Dad.
3. Laymond says:

   January 12, 2011 at 10:18 am

   Jay, I am sure you are under estimating your abilities at that age, Not degrading these youngsters abilities one bit, but with what I can determine from (only) what I have seen, they are no more or less "gifted" than other children, who have been coached to do something. And you can tell they have been coached, by their speech.
   My youngest grandson is the point guard on the seventh grade basketball team (the play setter) he has memorized every play the coach has given him, and knows what situation in which to use them. Just as all good point guards do. ( BTW I was point guard J in school) (just thought I would throw than in ) as an old basketball player, I see Chris’s gifts as ball handling, and jump shots. And I am of the notion, that with your achievements, you were not deprived of intellect while in school either.
   I am sure the parents and grandparents of these two boys are just as proud of them as I am of my (point guard) grandson, and all my other grandkids.
4. Jerry Starling says:

   January 12, 2011 at 11:33 am

   Jay,
   Are you and your readers familiar with the Lads to Leaders program working in many congregations? Here is their web page: http://www.lads-to-leaders.org/. Thousands will attend their conventions in several locations across the country this Easter. I'm confident you will see these videos replicated there several times.
   Jerry
5. Grizz says:

   January 12, 2011 at 3:22 pm

   Jay,

   At their age I sought to please people, including the preacher and Bible Class teachers at church. I did some things similar to what they have videotaped. It wasn't all that great, really. It took one part ham and one part courage and one part persistence to see it through. Did I understand? Not really much at all. Could I have answered questions about what I recited? Probably as well as the Bible Class teachers. Having answers and having understanding are two separate things.

   A lot of folks have answer but little underrstanding. Even more have no answers and little understanding. Relatively few have understanding without answers, but rarest of all are those who have both answers and understanding. In any case, I am more impressed by understanding that can guide one to the answers than any of the other options. How about you?

   Praise God for the lessons we memorized in our youth. It becomes a resource for us later in life. The caution I feel, though, is centered on what happens when we miss a few minor points in our memory work along the way? Does it make any real difference if we miss some minor matters early on? It really does.

   Satan doesn't seem to care how far away from following Jesus we get, just so long as he can put some distance between us and Jesus. Few people get lost all at once. Most just drift off a little here and a little there until they finally realize that they are no longer following Jesus. The longer it takes for a person to realize their course issues, the longer it takes to set things right and get back in step with Jesus. Jesus can do it faster than we can think about it, but we struggle to make it a practical habit for weeks.

   Promote the memory work and Bible readings of our youth. Encourage them to get familiar with presenting what they are learning to others. But let's also not push so hard to get the memory work and recital right that we fail to help that young person to understand what they are learning and be able to think through it critically and achieve real life application and integration of that teaching.

   Blessings,

   Grizz
6. Dwayne Phillips says:

   January 13, 2011 at 6:23 am

   I find myself agreeing with Grizz's comments. As a boy, I did these types of things as did most of the other boys. We were coached well. I am particularly impressed with the boy in the second video. He has "the look" down pat (the hair, the clothes, the motions).
   Also notice that these are boys, not girls. Hmm.
7. guy says:

   January 19, 2011 at 1:16 pm

   i have concerns about my own son who's close in age to these boys. He seems very naturally inclined to act and believe favorably toward Christ and the church. i'm deeply thankful for that. But i feel strongly that adolescence can bring on big changes and challenges. i'm not at all saying what these kids are saying isn't genuine–i believe it's entirely possible that it is and i hope it is. But i think it's very difficult for these traits to survive adolescence unscathed. i pray it does–especially for my son.

   –guy

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