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 | Jonathan’s Resource Ezine |
Weekly Resources, Ideas and Articles from The Source for Youth Ministry
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
| In This Issue |
- Featured Article: Post Modernna? Our Culture’s Take on Religion … from the Mouth of Madonna
- Something You Can Use: New Movie Discussions Galore
- Jonathan Training in the Greater Phoenix Area: Today is the last chance to get the “early bird rate” of $10 for our “Reaching out to Unchurched Teenagers” training workshop this Saturday, July 23rd – register today! (Also coming to TN and WI)
| If you aren’t a subscriber of this EZINE and would like to subscribe – it’s free – just pop on www.TheSource4YM.com and sign up in the upper right hand corner. |
| Featured Article: Post Modernna? Our Culture’s Take on Religion … from the Mouth of Madonna |
July 19, 2005
Madonna’s two cents on religion isn’t very far off from mainstream youth culture today. Maybe that’s partly because Madonna historically has influenced youth culture more than almost any other individual, save Snoop Dogg.
None of us would deny that media influences youth culture. But certain artists carry a greater impact. Madonna, for example, has not only been a direct influence on youth culture for the last 20 years, but also a huge influence on younger artists like Brittany Spears, and Christina Aguilera (Brittany Spears’ song “Toxic” was the #1 music single in last year’s Teen Choice Awards.) Many of these younger artists look to Madonna as a role model, imitating her “shock” performances and risqu? marketing strategies. When Madonna talks … numerous people listen. Madonna impacts today’s youth directly, and indirectly.
That’s why I couldn’t help but pick up the latest issue of Ladies Home Journal from the grocery rack last week. (Sorry, I don’t have a subscription!)In this issue, Madonna opens up about her marriage, her kids and her faith.
Do you care?
You should. Because the kids we are trying to reach are hearing her message-directly and indirectly. The world is taking notice of her spiritual interests. But most of all, we should be interested because Madonna speaks the heart of this post modern generation-a point of view we should try to understand. It not only echoes the thoughts of many of the kids in our youth group, it influences them. I want to know these thoughts and beliefs so I can better understand the needs of today’s culture and reach them with the life changing message of Jesus Christ.
Madonna gives us a peek at three characteristics of today’s culture:
1. Like much of our culture today, Madonna rejects religion in all its hypocrisy.
Madonna has never been a very big fan of religion.
“I was raised in a very Catholic house. So religion was a big part of my life … I never really got a lot of my questions answered, so consequently, I just sort of moved away from religion.” (Ladies Home Journal, July 2005)Like many of today’s generation, Madonna has questions. But she isn’t looking to the Bible for answers. The answers she wants don’t subscribe to a certain list of right & wrong. To Madonna, right & wrong is relative, a belief over 90% of American teenagers subscribe to.
Many of us remember her preaching this in her and Christina Aguilera’s lyrics at the 2003 MTV video music awards after laying that famous kiss on Brittany Spears.
Hollywood. Hollywoood.Madonna reiterated that belief in her Ladies Home Journal interview.
How could it hurt you when it looks so good?
Music stations always play the same song.
We’re bored with the concepts of right and wrong.
“Morals and Ethics change depending on what corner you’re standing on, and to me, don’t answer the bigger questions.”But even a bigger deal for Madonna is the way we act. I know … some of us probably think that is ironic-that Madonna would be appalled with our actions. But that’s a huge factor to many who don’t come to Christ-the reputation of Christians.
“I don’t think all religious people are decent.” Madonna argues. “I think they hide behind the cloak of being religious? they don’t have compassion for their fellow men, they’re judgmental of people who are not their religion, and I don’t subscribe to any of that.”Madonna isn’t alone. The church doesn’t have a good reputation. 91% of the “unchurched” surveyed contend that “the church is not interested in my needs.”
So for those reasons … Madonna rejects religion.
But Madonna doesn’t stop there …
2. Madonna recognizes our focus on the temporary
Madonna was pretty transparent in the Ladies Home Journal interview. She shares a frustration with society’s fascination with the temporary distractions of life.
“We live in a society that encourages people to just live, base all decisions on what we see … We are raised to believe the world begins and ends with our five senses. We live in a world full of distractions and tinsel and things that are going to constantly distract us from looking inward. So you’re always at odds with yourself. ?I do care about the state of my soul. But there’s a great movie playing down the street’ … Or, ?There’s a football game I want to watch.’ And we are constantly bombarded with this seduction of the senses.”Then Ladies Home Journal’s Jeanne Marie Laskas nailed her on it-and Madonna owned up to it:
Jeanne: Of course you spent a lot of your career deducing our senses. You were part of the machinery-the engine-creating our pop culture. Do you now say, “I was a distraction?”But temporary isn’t enough …
Madonna: Yeah, I know I was. Definitely. Listen, there were some times I really had an altruistic goal, I really did want to help people. And then other times, I just wanted to show off-let’s call a spade a spade. And I knew I could get away with it, and I knew I could get people to pay attention to me.
3. Like today’s generation, Madonna realizes her need for something – something missing in her life.
Madonna’s search has recently led her to Kabbalah. But has she really found the answer she’s looking for? Every interview I see, hear or read from her, one common denominator exists: she’s still searching. You don’t even have to read between the lines:
“I’m a person who’s searching. I don’t see myself as a holier-than-thou, righteous soul, but I’m a person who’s been through a lot. I’ve lived the highest highs, and the lowest lows. I’ve attained all those things everyone wants to attain, and I’m here to say, it doesn’t mean s—. If you don’t have the other things in your life, then all the money in the world, and all the beautiful children in the world, and all the talented husbands in the world are not going to make you happy.” (Ladies Home Journal, July 2005)This generation is searching. They have a huge void in their life and they’re looking for answers.
The only answer is the life changing message of Jesus Christ.
How are we going to reach “the unchurched” with this message?
Jonathan McKee is president of The Source for Youth Ministry and author of the new book “Do They Run When They See You Coming? Reaching Out to Unchurched Teenagers.” (CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOK) Jonathan speaks and trains across the country and provides free online resources, training, & ideas for youth workers at www.TheSource4YM.com | Something You Can Use: New Movie Discussions Galore |
For those of you who frequent our web site www.TheSource4YM.com … you know that we like to use movie clips as “jumpstarters” for discussions with teenagers.
Here’s a bunch of new resources you’ll want to know about:
FREE DISCUSSIONS ON “WAR OF THE WORLDS” AND “THE FANTASTIC FOUR” FROM YS:
Youth Specialties is a great place to get youth ministry resources. The last few weeks they have released some great freebies- discussion questions on “War of the Worlds” and “The Fantastic Four.” CLICK HERE to download those freebies!
NEW ON VIDEO
Today several videos and DVD’s will hit the shelves that your students will be watching.
Constantine:
Every once in a while a movie hits the theatre that might catalyst some questions from kids about God or spiritual issues. Constantine is one of those films. It focuses on the paranormal … but misses the mark. The good news: it gets kids thinking about spiritual things. The bad news: it doesn’t provide anything close to real answers.
CLICK HERE for Jonathan’s “2 Cents” on this film including how to respond to kids who ask about this film. Also- see a link for a complete discussion guide on this film.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE VIDEO CLIP IDEAS
Ice Princess:
For those of us who work with younger kids, Ice Princess might be in their “rental cue” this week. CLICK HERE for Jonathan’s “2 cents” on this film including his description of “The Little Mermaid premise.”
Million Dollar Baby:
Last year’s best picture came to video last week. CLICK HERE for Jonathan’s “2 cents” on this one.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE MOVIE REVIEWS
| Jonathan Training in Phoenix: Today is the last chance to get the “early bird rate” of $10 for our “Reaching out to Unchurched Teenagers” training workshop this Saturday, July 23rd – register today! (Also coming to TN and WI) |
Youth Specialties/Zondervan recently released Jonathan’s hit new book, DO THEY RUN WHEN THEY SEE YOU COMING? REACHING OUT TO UNCHURCHED TEENAGERS. (CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOK) Bring the training to your city now!CHECK OUT THIS UPCOMING TRAINING-WORKSHOP:
-Chandler, AZ-
July 23rd, Jonathan is doing a Saturday workshop (9AM to 3PM) for youth workers within driving distance of the Phoenix area. If you’re a youth worker, paid or a volunteer, this is for you!
Here’s the details:
WHEN:
- Saturday July 23rd, 9AM to 3PM
- CrossRoads Nazarene Church 2950 W. Ray Rd. Chandler, AZ 85224
- Two choices:
- $20 after July 20th or at the door on the 23rd (includes lunch)
- ONLY $10 if you pre-register before July 20th (includes lunch)
- CONTACT the CrossRoads Church office at (480) 722-0700
Jonathan McKee is president of The Source for Youth Ministry and author of the new book “Do They Run When They See You Coming? Reaching Out to Unchurched Teenagers.” (CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOK) Jonathan speaks and trains across the country and provides free online resources, training, & ideas for youth workers at www.TheSource4YM.comDelivered free via e-mail to subscribers each week. We encourage you to distribute this newsletter freely and ask only that you not change its contents.
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Copyright ?2005 The Source for Youth Ministry
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Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.