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eZine 07.20.2010

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Jonathan’s Resource Ezine

Weekly Resources, Ideas and Articles from The Source for Youth Ministry
Tuesday, July 20, 2010

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Jonathan’s Blog: “Just Let Em’ Watch TV”- Parents Watching Their Kids Lose Their Innocence

It’s fun, it’s informative, it’s gritty… it’s Jonathan’s Blog.

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Jonathan shares a revealing story that he witnessed last week on his flight back from speaking in Nebraska…

“Just Let Em’ Watch TV!”
It’s amazing how often parents just stand by and watch their kids lose their innocence.

This past weekend on my flight coming back from speaking in Nebraska two elementary-aged kids sat next to me. Their mom sat a couple rows behind and her kids ended up by me- a boy and girl, probably 3rd and 5th grade.

I introduced myself and joked a little about the drawings on the emergency card. They laughed and I asked them questions about flying, “Have you ever flown before?” “Do you like flying?” I wanted them to feel comfortable with me for the flight. After the takeoff, I helped them order their drinks and work the tray tables. They were really polite, sweet little kids.

Soon the little girl pulled down her seat tray, removed a stuffed monkey from her bag and placed him up on the tray, sitting comfortably with his legs crossed and staring back at her with his shiny black little eyes. The boy pulled out a toy dragon and placed it with care on his tray table.

I remember thinking, “How young. How innocent.”

About 30 minutes into the flight, they slid their backpacks from under the seat in front of them and pulled out some magazines. The little boy had a MAD Magazine, the little girl had the newest tween magazine, littered with pictures of Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Robert Pattinson and other teen idols.

It was heartbreaking watching this little girl, probably just 8-years-old, looking in awe at pictures of Miley and Kristen, reading little “did you know” facts about their celeb lifestyles. It was upsetting because I saw the innocence slowly being sucked away. Here’s a sweet little kid who probably just learned how to ride her bike. Her favorite companion is a stuffed monkey. And what does our society want to do with these little girls? Grow them up much too fast!

Here little girl… look at this celeb named Miley. Or this one named Britney. Sorry, we can’t show you pics of Lindsey right now… she’s fresh out of rehab and back in jail.

Which ‘Twilight’ guy do you like better? Robert or Taylor? Here they are with their shirts off. Aren’t they dreamy? Here’s a rapper singing with Justin Beiber. Oooops, don’t download any of this rapper’s music- it’s explicit.

I felt like covering the monkey’s eyes. I’ll protect you Baboo!

After the kids tired of the magazines, they started playing with their toys. It was adorable. “Hey, let’s say that Baboo rides your dragon!” The kids made their toys fly, wrestle each other (the dragon seemed to always prevail against the monkey), and romp off to an assortment of imaginary worlds.

All of a sudden their mother came up to check on them. “Hey, use the earphones and listen to the music or watch the TV show.”

The kids stared back at their mother like, Do we have to?

Mom dug the headphones out of their seat pocket and showed them how to put them on. “Here, watch this show.”

I looked up to see what United was playing for “family” enjoyment. An episode of Two and a Half Men (I kid you not). The kids reluctantly put on their headphones and stared up at the screen while their mother returned to her seat. After two minutes the kids grew restless. The boy leaned over to his sister, “Let’s play some more.”

The headphones disappeared, Charlie Sheen’s sex jokes were silenced, and within seconds Baboo and the dragon were back to wrestling once again.

If only we could freeze this moment of innocence.

Unfortunately, in just a blink of an eye, middle school will arrive, the monkey and the dragon will probably be shelved, and the iPods of these two cherubs will be full of that day’s Katy Perry, Christina Aguillera and Miley Cyrus. Mom won’t have to encourage TV watching anymore; TV will trump building forts, riding bikes and playing with toys. ABC and MTV will become their teachers, innocence will be totally lost… all under the watch of well-meaning parents.

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’ (Ezekiel 33:6)

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Matthew 18:6)

Other Topics Jonathan Blogged about Recently:

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Connect

An Idea You Can Use: Using The Book of Eli for Movie Clip Discussions

Book Of Eli

Last week we gave you one… here’s another! It’s no secret that I really enjoyed the movie The Book of Eli. I go into depth in my movie review of the film. But in addition to being enjoyable, this film offers some great discussion starters that we can use with our kids about God’s will, living His Word “outloud”… and more. The film is loaded with thought provoking scenes. Here’s the second of two complete discussion guides (including small group questions) that our writer Dave Urbanski just finished. For free-as always-on our website:

The Book of Eli (Our Actions)
(Warner Brothers Pictures, 2010)

Main Point of Discussion: Let’s not simply know the contents of the Bible; let’s put its contents into practice.

The Movie Clip: “All the years I’ve been carrying [the Bible] and reading it every day…I got so caught up with keeping it safe I forgot to live by what I learned from it.”

The Book of Eli is a great movie with many clips that provoke discussion. It features Denzel Washington as the main character on a mission in post-nuclear America to bring the only remaining copy of the Bible somewhere “west.” The film is quite gritty and violent at times, but at the core of it is a hunger and thirst for God and purpose in life.

The clip we’re using for this particular discussion is from the tail-end of the movie and features a badly wounded Eli walking along the road. He’s distraught because Carnegie, the movie’s villain (played by Gary Oldman), just shot him and stole Eli’s Bible-the last known copy on earth. Solara, Eli’s friend, pulls alongside and helps him, giving Eli a ride. (It should be noted that Eli was motivated to give up “the book” a few scenes before because Carnegie held a gun to Solara’s head.)

Introducing the Clip:
Today I want to show you a clip from the movie The Book of Eli. Some of you have seen this movie already, but for those who haven’t, it features Denzel Washington as the main character on a mission in post-nuclear America to bring the only remaining copy of the Bible somewhere “west.” The clip we’re using is from the tail-end of the movie and features a badly wounded Eli walking along the road. He’s distraught because Carnegie, the movie’s villain, just shot him and stole Eli’s Bible. Solara, Eli’s friend, pulls alongside and helps him, giving Eli a ride. (It should be noted that Eli was motivated to give up “the book” a few scenes before because Carnegie held a gun to Solara’s head.) Let’s take a look at this scene..

Scene Script:

BEGIN CLIP AT 1:30:27 seconds into the movie (Chapter 21).

Solara: I’m sorry.

Eli: For what?

Solara: This. This is all my fault.

Eli: No, it’s not.

Solara: No, it is. If I didn’t come with you none of this would’ve happened.

Eli: It’s not your fault. I did what I had to do.

Solara: I didn’t think anything could make you give up that book. I thought it was too important.

Eli: All the years I’ve been carrying it and reading it every day…I got so caught up with keeping it safe I forgot to live by what I learned from it.

Solara: Yeah, and what’s that?

Eli: Just…do for others more than you do for yourself. That’s what I got from it anyway.

END CLIP AT 1:32:20 as their vehicle continues down the road.

Transitional Statement:
In this scene Eli comes to several realizations: First, saving Solara’s life was more important than holding on to the Bible; second, after years of reading the Bible he lost track of putting its principles into practice; third, that he should have been doing more for others than for himself.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word…

Jonathan in Person: Jonathan will be doing his CONNECT workshop in Amarillo, TX on August 13th and 14th

-A Note from Jonathan-

Jonathan McKee This year I have already had several chances to do my CONNECT workshop! This is my favorite workshop to teach-we always have a great time! In August, I’ll be doing this workshop in Amarillo, TX. Come join us for this fun little Friday night and Saturday morning workshop in a retreat setting!

August 13-14, 2010 (Amarillo TX)

“Connect” -Training Seminar

What: This Friday-Saturday workshop equips youth workers, both paid and volunteer, in connecting with today’s teenagers.

Where: The event will take place at Ceta Canyon Camp & Retreat Center located in the beautiful Palo Duro Canyon near Happy, Texas. Click HERE for a map and directions to the camp.

When: We’ll begin Friday, August 13 with dinner at 6 PM followed by Jonathan’s training from 7 PM – 9 PM. We’ll continue Saturday, August 14 with breakfast at 8 AM, followed by training from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM, then we’ll share lunch before parting ways.

Cost: The seminar, three meals, and lodging all for $79. ($49 without lodging) See here for more details.

REGISTER: Easy! Jump on this web page for more details and to register.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BRINGING OUT JONATHAN TO TRAIN YOUR LEADERS OR DO A PARENTING WORKSHOP


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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.

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