iGens 12

Last updated on: March 7, 2009 at 12:10 pm By Scot McKnight

What about sex? In her study, Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled–and More Miserable Than Ever Before), Jean Twenge examines generational shifts about sexual activity and attitudes. What to do? What do you think really works in teaching sexual ethics? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the sexual liberation movement? How has this changed in pastoral ministry? In church contexts? In the late 1960s, women had sexual intercourse first at age 18; in the... Read more

Weekly Meanderings

Last updated on: March 7, 2009 at 12:04 am By Scot McKnight

We may not have the same kind of Weekly Meanderings next week, unless something goofy happens and keeps me near a computer. We’ll be on Spring Break in North Carolina, beginning in Asheville, and then meandering up to southwest Virginia, hunting for life and that kind of thing. Great story about Flannery O’Connor. Here’s a story about Kris’ basketball family. It’s in our blood. Kris and I often played together as little kids in the gyms where our dads coached.... Read more

What’s your favorite…

Last updated on: March 6, 2009 at 3:27 pm By Scot McKnight

… song by Abba? Mine: Dancing Queen. You can’t listen to Abba’s Dancing Queen without wanting to do some dancin’. I hear that even Mike Bird, when he remembers Abba in Australia, can really cut a rug on this one. Read more

The Inner Apologetic

Last updated on: March 6, 2009 at 1:13 pm By Scot McKnight

St. Augustine famously said, “for You have formed us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in You” (Confessions 1.1.1). Though I’ve never seen a full-scale discussion of the Bible’s presentation of the “inner apologetic,” how the soul is designed to yearn for God, one finds glimmers of such at least in these verses in the Bible: Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart (Ps 37:4). Glory in... Read more

Friday is for Friends: Mark Swallow

Last updated on: March 6, 2009 at 6:02 am By Scot McKnight

Mark Swallow blogs at The Swallow’s Nest. Next week we will hear from Kevin Sweeney. Today’s post is a powerful reflection, if not grief, about church by one who loves the church and seeks for conversation. Mark Swallow is from the States (Boston) has now lived in Hong Kong for 10 years with his wife Ling. He has been a business person and served on a pastoral staff team at an English speaking church in Hong Kong. How do we... Read more

Impostor Syndrome

Last updated on: March 6, 2009 at 12:10 am By Scot McKnight

Last week a group of us were sitting over lunch when a female colleague asked if we had heard of the “impostor syndrome.” I hadn’t, so she explained it. Here’s the essence, drawn from Wikipedia (with their links remaining). What do you know about this? Have you seen this? Do you feel this? Any thoughts or suggestions? Would you expand this to ethnic minorities? others? The Impostor Syndrome … is a syndrome where sufferers are unable to internalize their accomplishments.... Read more

A Brother’s Wisdom 12

Last updated on: March 5, 2009 at 1:01 pm By Scot McKnight

We aren’t quite done with James 1:9-11. 9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. I’m interested... Read more

Re-Thinking Mission in Youth Ministry

Last updated on: March 5, 2009 at 6:34 am By Scot McKnight

Through a variety of influences I have renewed my own commitment to the utter significance of youth ministry today — and I mean by that from junior high until adulthood (and that might mean 12 to 30!). Our future churches are rooted in what happens in the next decade with this age group. I have asked a dynamic young youth minister, Chris Folmsbee, to guide us in some conversations about youth ministry. And I’m urging you to join us in... Read more

The Garden of Eden? (RJS)

Last updated on: March 30, 2013 at 7:47 am By RJS

Michael Kruse brought these articles to my attention earlier this week. An ancient temple at Gobekli Tepe in Turkey revolutionizes thinking about ancient human culture and thought. A prehistoric construction, a “temple” dating from some 8000-12000 years ago. This is truly an impressive find. The Smithsonian artice on the find is fascinating: Gobekli Tepe: The World’s First Temple? The Daily Mail has an article that is somewhat more sensational (no surprise): Do these mysterious stones mark the site of the... Read more

Quotable Quotes

Last updated on: March 4, 2009 at 4:18 pm By Scot McKnight

From Erwin McManus: “Most of us want God to fix every wrong choice we make without taking from us our right to choose wrongly. We want to make God into our own pooper-scooper following right behind us, cleaning up our mess. [But] God lets us make our bed and makes us lie in it.” Read more