Okay, so this one most everyone knows. But it’s an important point nonetheless. My generation has been raised on the fumes of its own fame. Actually, let’s revise that: the fumes of its own “fame.” We’re not really worthy of fame, most of us. It’s just that we’ve been told we are. As a result, narcissism–the relentless pursuit of self-adoration–becomes us. Cultural commentators and pundits are quick to jump on the backs of my peers for our self-exalting ways, and... Read more

A quick note about this series: I’m speaking about my secular peers, those who form the bulk of my generation, but what I’m saying also applies, I think, to all of my generation, though some of us may not know it. Long sentence, I know, but a true one. Now, not everyone is cynical; but most of us will have undercurrents of such behaviors and principles in our thinking and living. We may not even know it. But we are... Read more

Yesterday I talked about the need to understand that twentysomethings place a premium on honesty. I’m focusing on something tangential today. Honesty is so important primarily so few people and entities of the current day are perceived as honest by my peers. In short, everything is suspect to today’s youth. Everything. This is especially important for Christians to remember because we are, if anything, a convinced people. We place presuppositional faith at the top of the list and work down... Read more

I think that this could be a mildly useful series for pastors and people whose life work is ministering–or trying to–to my generation. I don’t know much, but I know a few things about what makes a Nexter tick. I want to take a few days and think this through, especially in light of the emerging church movement that is drawing so many young people. I want to ask two questions, then: first, what makes my generation tick, and second,... Read more

I’ve got a book review up on 9Marks of John MacArthur’s The Book on Leadership. The Christian leadership book market is fairly depressing these days, with most authors simply copy-and-pasting from the secular business world. MacArthur comes out with a broadshot in his text, advocating with unequivocal conviction that church leadership must draw on biblical principles for its content. The book, which searches Paul’s letters and Acts for material, is typical MacArthur: bold, clear, and convictional. It’s also helpful. Spiritual... Read more

The last week has been pretty serious in Consumed land. I’m happy about that; maybe it’s sparked thought (among one of the six of you who reads this). Thanks to Jed and Richard for their insightful comments. But enough of pleasantries. Let’s deal with something pleasant. In the course of my research work, I ordered a book entitled Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris, an engrossing, amusing bio of Teddy Roosevelt. It’s quite a historical biography, which happens to be quite... Read more

Here’s another phrase that has received an unconscious editing by the culture-at-large in the current age. As schoolchildren, we learned in World History about the Epicureans, who lived by the motto “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” The Epicureans were renowned for this mindset because it marked them as a people who lived only for the moment. Yet their watchword reveals that while they lived only for now, they had an eye on later. They knew tomorrow... Read more

Here’s something I’ve noticed lately. Occasionally I’ll hear a person from the Boomer generation speak of a young cohabitating couple with the description “shackin’ up.” You’ve probably heard this expression, particularly if you’re a Boomer. A generation ago, it was the most common description of a couple enjoying the pleasures of sex outside of its proper context, being marriage. It was likely that the couple had not simply enjoyed sex once but had in fact moved in together. Years ago,... Read more

When we shirk our biblical obligation to speak of hell to this world, we not only dishonor God, we take off the table one of the chief means God uses to convert sinners. In our age of quivering consciences and ginger conversations, we have forgotten that speaking of hell does not hinder people from coming to Christ–it brings them to Him! It was intended to be so. The news of hell makes the gospel, the truth of Christ’s atoning work,... Read more

Back from the honeymoon, which was wonderful. Please do not in any way associate this blog with my experience as a honeymooner. It has occurred to me that many evangelicals today, even the conservative, the-Bible-is-inerrant kind, don’t speak much about hell. Have you noticed this? I’m not talking about people who have difficulty believing in hell. I’m talking about people who affirm with certainty that the Bible and its teachings are true. Many of us struggle even to utter the... Read more