eZine 03.09.2010

Main Point: There is an unseen world that exists alongside the world we live in where a spiritual battle between God and Satan rages every day. As Christians we need to stay vigilant and aware so we don’t end up being a casualty of war.

The Movie Clip: “Not in Kansas”
In “Avatar,” a movie that’s set on a futuristic and dangerous world known as Pandora, a paraplegic United States soldier named Jake is brought face-to-face with the Na’vi. The humans from Earth find themselves at odds with the opposing culture, and….

According to new research, there are five times as many kids in this generation who are “stressed out” than the generation of kids who lived during the Great Depression.

Wait a second. Those kids stood in bread lines and then fought Hitler. What’s so tough about being a kid today?

The Greatest Generation vs. The Gravest Generation
Journalist Tom Brokaw immortalized the WWII generation by calling them “The Greatest Generation.” They faced unparalleled economic upheaval during the Great Depression and then victoriously participated in a global war that ended unprecedented mass murder.

Ummm…that sounds a bit stressful to me.

But it’s our current generation, Gen Y, that feels more stress. Much more stress, in fact.

In comparing test results from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) of 77,576 young people, taken between the years 1938 and 2007, Jean Twenge of San Diego State University found that there were five times as many students who felt high levels of stress from Gen Y than kids from the Great Depression era.

For instance, in 1938, only 5% of high school and college-aged kids suffered from “hypomania,” the measure of anxiety or unrealistic optimism. In 2007, that number had skyrocketed to 40%. In 1938, only 1% of kids suffered from depression; nowadays, 6% of kids struggle with it.

As sad as this news sounds, it doesn’t come as a big shocker to those who study teenagers. Over two years ago, we wrote about kids’ high levels of stress caused by school-related activities.

However, the other reasons behind the increase in stress may surprise you…

Listen to it now for free on iTunes! (CLICK HERE) Or, if you don’t have iTunes already… jump on Apple’s web page for a free download, then click on our podcast page.

Episode Highlights:

• Learn five ways to train your adult leaders for free
• Find out what Todd is getting Jonathan for Christmas this year
• Learn ways to sharpen the skills of your adult leaders
• Discover how you can access full, professional PowerPoint training seminars for free!

Tis the season to train our leaders, I guess… because that’s what I’m spending most of my time doing lately!

I just got back from a training workshop I did in Iowa for pastors and youth workers. I really enjoy training today’s leaders. In two weeks I get to turn around and do my CONNECT workshop at a huge Youth for Christ conference near the coast of Maryland. Then I’ll do my parenting workshop a couple weeks later at a church in South Bend, IN, and again a month later in NJ.

Here’s a peek at my speaking/training schedule so far for this year:

January 8-9, 2010 (Nashville, TN)
CONNECT Training Workshop,
Our Savior Lutheran Church

January 16-17, 2010 (Beckley, WV)
Youth Ski Conference, CTI Group Adventures

February 5-7, 2010 (Dallas, PA)
Junior High Winterblast, Camp Orchard Hill

February 26- 28, 2010 (East Troy, WI)
Timberlee, WinterXtreme

March 6, 2010 (Oskaloosa, IA)
Volunteer Power Workshop

March 26-28, 2010 (Baltimore, MD)
Keynote Speaker, Impact 2010

April 10, 2010 (South Bend, IN)
Preach/Parent Workshop, Trinity EV FREE Church

April 17, 2010 (Saint Louis, MO)
Faithfest 2010, St. Louis network of churches

May 15-16, 2010 (Jackson, NJ)
Youth Rally, Preach, Parent/Youth Worker Workshop

July 11-16, 2010 (Hordville, NE)
Covenant Cedars Bible Camp, Summer Camp

October 2-4, 2010 (San Diego, CA)
Training Workshops, Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention

	“We have Jonathan do his training seminars at our National Youth Workers Convention every year and he always does a great job. Not only is Jonathan’s presentation dynamic, his information is extremely helpful to those in attendance. In fact, that’s why we publish his books.” Tic Long, President Youth Specialties Events

	“Jonathan is an incredible communicator. He has what it takes to get tough with this generation. He is funny, committed, challenging, and he speaks with an edge.” Jim Burns, Ph.D. President, Youth Builders

	“Jonathan is a very talented speaker!.” Ken Davis Dynamic Communicator’s Workshop