If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them. “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss.
At Last, A Millennial Segmentation - Carol Phillips
Millennials are the most diverse generation in history, yet there is a tendency to assume they are the same when it comes to their technology habits, political beliefs, shopping behavior, food preferences, media habits, and more. Last week, I learned of the first publicly accessible “LOHAS”-type segmentation equivalent for Millennials. It was created by the Kansas City-based integrated marketing agency, Barkley USA, which sponsors the ShareLikeBuy Millennial marketing conference, in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Will this schema be applicable to all marketing? Probably not, but it serves as a useful reminder that when discussing Millennials, a box of crayons is more useful than a broad brush.
The study was based on a survey of 4,000 Millennials (ages 16 to 34) and 1,000 non-Millennials (ages 35 to 74) in the United States. The research profiles six discrete segments based on responses to questions about technology, cause marketing, media habits, and general outlook on life: Hip-ennial, Millennial Mom, Anti-Millennial, Gadget Guru, Clean and Green Millennial, and Old-School Millennial.
As Millennials come of age and graduate from college, they’re making decisions about where they want to live and put down roots. Watching shows like “Girls,” “The New Girl,” “Men At Work,” “2 Broke Girls,” and even “Glee,” one would think that all Millennials are clamoring for their chance to make it in New York City. Putting aside the idea that “making it” is really more about simply surviving in the current economy, we had to wonder if most Millennials really are thinking that life in the big city is for them, so we asked nearly 1500 Millennials about where they see themselves living. The breakdown:
41% want to live in a city, the bigger the better;
40% say smaller cities are more their style;
19% prefer small town life.
While slightly more Millennials want to live in a big city, nearly as many think smaller cities are for them. Small cities have been putting in a lot of work to attract young people. There are burgeoning art scenes, green initiatives (including steps to make small cities more walkable and bikeable), revitalizations of downtown areas… In many ways, smaller cities have many of the same attractions as big cities, without the high cost. But also without the name recognition.
4 Characteristics of Effective Communicators - Michael Hyatt Blog: Guest Post by Ken Davis
Listen to most presentations and you will hear a litany of stories half submerged in what might be major points—or maybe just another story.
Regardless, 75 percent of the people leave a presentation with no idea what the point of the message was. Even worse, 50 percent of speakers can’t identify the objective of their own talk.
During my thirty-five years as a professional speaker, I have been constantly asked the secret to being a powerful communicator. My experience with audiences of all sizes and from all walks of life have taught me that, whether speaking to twelve people in a board room or fifty-five thousand in a stadium, effective communicators share four characteristics:
Effective communicators know how to prepare a message with a singular and crystal clear focus.
If you know where you are going, you can take anyone with you.
If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.
Camp is an exciting event often serving as a divine interruption in a student's summer routine. It is just the right experience to challenge them to think honestly about their spiritual life. Word of Life Camp has been used by God to help literally thousands of students find spiritual direction for their lives.
There are Word of Life has camps around the world and two (about to become three) are right here in the United States. Word of Life Florida Camp, the self-proclaimed "Greatest Camp in the Universe," is branching out into Southern Florida for two weeks of Camp in the Keys. In New York, Word of Life Island, better known as “The Rock” is launching several new specialty camps to an already dynamic camping experience. Here is the rundown:
If paintball is your favorite camp activity, you need to check out Paintball Camp. You will receive everything you need to master both Woodsball and Speedball (2,000 paintballs, a paintball camp T-shirt and access to our expert instructors).
Many students find themselves choosing between camp and a missions trip, but not at Word of Life. For one price you can spend a week on Word of Life Island, receive missions training and then travel abroad serving the Lord. Word of Life has trips going to the Dominican Republic, South Africa and Mozambique, Trinidad and Tobago. For more information visit go.wol.org
Do you have a group of skateboarders in your town who always seem to be hanging around the church parking lot? Why not bring them to Ramp Camp? Word of Life operates the largest skate park in the Adirondacks. They will get daily time in “The Cage,” one-on-one professional instruction and the full “Island” experience.
This summer we are partnering with 12th Rock Ministries to offer Basketball Camp on both the Island and Ranch. If you know students who can't get enough basketball, this is the week for them.
Excitement is building about the first-ever Wake Camp at Word of Life Island. We are teaming up with This Iz My Story, Team Natique and pro rider Emily Copeland-Durham to put on a wakeboarding camp experience like no other in the nation. Wake Camp includes: 4-5 hours in a boat each day, world class instructors, free products from our sponsors, camp T-shirt and other gear. Space is limited so register early.
I hate quitters! I know this is strong language and sounds insensitive. I do not subscribe to what some call the “Trophy Kid” culture where everyone gets a trophy for just “showing up.” No, I think there is something to be said for “sticking it out” even when things are hard.
That is why it is difficult for me to talk about The Day I Gave Up! I have always taken pride in hard work and perseverance. I honestly would rather go home wounded and bleeding than to walk away from the battle. But on May 11, 1975, I Gave Up!
That was the day I finally decided that I it was time to get serious about my walk with Christ. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the Lord long before that day but that day marked a new level of commitment for me. It was the day I decided to stop playing games with my personal spiritual walk and to make it intentional.
So I gave up . . .
My excuses for not reading books, having personal consistent devotions (Quiet Time) or memorizing Scripture.
My selfish habits which kept me from giving my best time to God instead of my left over time.
My stubborn will that hindered my willingness to learn from those who practiced godliness because I convinced myself it was just legalism.
My unwillingness to tackle one Christian discipline at a time because my pride told me I had to do everything or nothing.
My self-righteousness that had me comparing myself to others rather than the Word of God.
Don’t get me wrong. I do not have personal discipline mastered. I still struggle!
That is why I celebrate May 11, 1975, every year -- not to build a memorial but an altar. This is the place I come and once again remind myself that it is my relationship with Christ that really matters. This is what is important. . . . So once again I give up!
If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them. “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss.
Dispatches From The Millennial Mega Mashup: The Influence of Hispanic Millenials
Jake Katz, Ypulse’s Chief Architect, opened the Millennial Mega Mashup telling conference attendees that “we’re a collective thinking about what’s happening with [Millennials] from a lot of different perspectives.” Today, the conference focused not on only on what makes certain cultural moments particularly Millennial, but also how those moments reflect Millennial Hispanics. Their cultural reference points are different, from family dynamics to language and slang to shopping.
Millennial Mamis Are Similar To — And Different From — Millennial Moms
Patricia Shibata, VP, Multicultural Practice Lead at McCann Worldgroup, was on site to talk about how Hispanic Millennial Moms are both similar and different from Millennial moms overall.
When most people think about older Millennials in their 20s, they think of them going to bars and concerts, but with Hispanic Millennials, it’s a different picture. Many are in the role of parents — 26% of Hispanic women become moms by age 19 — taking their kids to playgrounds and having family time. But they are Millennial moms first and Hispanic second.
Because of that, there are many similarities among Hispanic Millennial moms and Millennial moms in general, as well as some key differences. They celebrate their differences, but also realize they’re connected to a larger group.
After Gen X, Millennials, what should next generation be? - Bruce Horovitz
A frantic race to name the next generation of American consumers may be nearing the finish line.
The winner could walk off with fame, fortune — and way cool bragging rights.
But exactly what do you call a generation of techno-junkies? How about Generation Wii — after the wildly popular home video game console? Or, perhaps, the iGeneration — with a wink and nod to Apple's iPod and iPhone? Both are in the running. So are a bunch of other tech-drenched monikers, including Gen Tech, Digital Natives and, of course, Net Gen.
"Everyone wants to be the first to come up with the name," says Cheryl Russell, dubbed the goddess of demography at New Strategist Publications, who is one of several with claims to have coined the term iGeneration, which she says she created three years ago. "It's cool — and you gain credibility."
Gen Y Still Depends on Mom & Dad More Than You Might Expect
Graduating from college may be a symbol of transitioning into the real world, but new grads still depend heavily on Mom and Dad, a new survey shows.
Not only do parents often provide new graduates with financial help, they often lend a (heavy) hand with their child’s job search, too, according to the Adecco Group’s 2012 Graduation Survey. Their telephone calls to more than 500 recent college graduates aged 22-26 found that more than half rely on their parents to pay at least some of their living expenses. The most popular covered expenses include cell phone bill payments (32 percent), food (21 percent), internet (20 percent) and health insurance (20 percent).
When it comes to the job search, nearly a third of those graduates reported their parents are somehow involved in their search, even if they’re not depending on the ‘rents for financial support. One in 10 said they’re tapping their parents’ personal networks to help them find job opportunities.
And get this: males are more inclined to get the extra help. Fourteen percent of young men reported their parents help them find job listings, compared to 9 percent of women. More guys also received help from mom and dad as far as resume and cover letter preparation: 11 percent versus 4 percent of young women.
What do you think? When you’re a new grad, what’s a healthy level of dependence on the ‘rents?
By climbing standards it may not be considered a real mountain but it is still called Mt. Severance. The elevation is a mere 1693’, the vertical ascent 813’ and the entire round trip is only 2.4 miles. Climbing it does not count in any contest nor earn you status with any mountaineering club.
It is not a high peak but it is good practice for climbing one. It is around this time of the year, or earlier if the winter has not been too severe, when people like me begin our Mt. Severance ritual. Once my timing is down, I can drive there after work, make the climb and return home in a little over an hour.
This little mountain helps me build my stamina, cardio and leg strength all in anticipation of climbing some of the Adirondack High Peaks. It may be small but it is incredibly strategic to what I want to accomplish long-term. In past years I have discovered that my diligence on this small hike has really paid off on the large ones.
Over the years I have also found my leadership skills and competences have been developed by being diligent with small things. The more I paid attention to the day-to-day - sometimes mundane - responsibilities, the more they paid long-term dividends. My faithfulness to the things that others overlooked or disregarded has benefited my leadership abilities.
When I am tempted to take a short cut or skip steps in the leadership process, I think of Mt. Severance. I think about how hard it is to breathe the first time I climb it each year. Just remembering the burning lungs and aching leg muscles of that initial 813-foot climb is enough to confirm I should never begin on a High Peak!
That alone is a good reminder when I think I am ready for a leadership role without having first been diligent with the small things.
I totally get Habakkuk and his protest; I understand his confusion, horror and disbelief at God's plan. He complains to God and asks what I am sure he thinks is a logical question (1:1-4) only to get an answer (1:5-11) that must have taken his breath away. He was just sure God was going to rescue His people and punish the wicked but what God says…well… it does not make sense.
If you are using the Word of Life Quiet Time Diary then you know we are reading the book of Habakkuk this week. I realize some student devotionals would never tackle a minor prophet like Habakkuk but this little book is rich with raw truth and real life questions.
Habakkuk is mortified at God's plan to use the ungodly Chaldeans to answer his question and prayer. He protests (1:12-17) because he does not like the idea; and he even uses God's own character as leverage in his counter argument. I would criticize him for this but I have done the same thing myself a time or two.
I have been there. I have struggled to see the big picture. I have faced the challenge of trying to justify tragedy with the character of God. Just as Habakkuk (2:1), I have stood on my wall watching and waiting for answers. Some came. Some are still coming and I assume some will have to wait until I see Jesus.
I think it is interesting that in the midst of all of this confusion is one of the most quoted verses of the Bible. This verse seems like it should be in another book - not one where the prophet is questioning God. However I think it is appropriate because the Christian life is comprised of the tension between our questions and our faith.
So Habakkuk declares (2:4) “the just shall life by faith.” I think Habakkuk still had questions but he had chosen to trust God.
For me, the character of God is not in question; it is just the circumstances that don't always make sense. Perhaps you can relate.
Pain, sorrow and ultimately death are inevitable in this life. For that reason, Pastor Randy Gilmore and Hamilton Hills Baptist Church are sponsoring a Fires of Sorrow Conference. The conference is designed to help hurting people and to equip others to assist those who are grieving, sorrowing or dealing with loss.
My wife, Betsi, and I are speaking from the experience of the death of our twenty-four year old daughter. The overwhelming emotions we endured forced us to make some Biblically principled choices to prevent us losing hope. We are focusing on Psalm 18, where we see the Psalmist’s description of God’s healing in his life after he had gone through painful fires of grief, enemy attacks and disappointment. He too had to make some very deliberate choices.
In our seminar we will be sharing four of the feelings we personally battled and the principles we had to choose to embrace. In counseling people who are in mourning, ultimately you want to help move them from the desperate feelings of emotional hopelessness to the solid principles of the Word of God.
Feelings # 1: Shock and Numbness!
When God chose to take our daughter we were literally overwhelmed with “Whys.” For the first few days, in shock and numbness, we cried out over and over, “Why, God? Why?”
Principle # 1: Choose to Focus on God’s PERSON (vs. 1-6)
We could easily edit David’s first words here in these verses in this way: “I choose to love You, O Lord, my strength.” We had to begin focusing on “Who” not “Why.”
Feelings # 2: Separation and Loneliness!
Separation and loneliness were like a darkness that smothered us. Our daughter loved to communicate frequently through a variety of ways. The deadly silence after her passing was almost unbearable.
Principle # 2: Choose to Focus on God’s Comfort (vs. 16-18)
God literally rescued us from a “sentence of silence” just as the verses describe. We found release from our prison of loneliness as our focus turned from ourselves to Him.
Feelings # 3: Frustration and Anger!
It is good to know that we serve a God who is big enough not to be intimidated by our finite pettiness. We got angry with God and we told Him so. He merely drew us closer to Himself until we were embraced in His love.
Principle # 3: Choose to Focus on God’s Security (vs. 27-31)
God is our Rock and refuge from even our own terrible anger that would consume us. His strong arms of love and peace are our security.
Feelings # 4: Emptiness and Hopelessness!
Probably the most searing emotions we faced were thoughts of “what could have been,” and “what should we have done.” Both of these thoughts produced intense hopelessness.
Principle # 4: Choose to Focus on God’s Restoration (vs. 32-39)
Our hope had to be in God alone. We had to keep the “Big Picture.” As depression and hopelessness tried to claim our lives, we turned to God’s healing Word, looking forward to His healing and restoration.
* I have placed a bibliography dealing with grief, pain and loss in the resources section of my website for your personal use.
* Next Thursday (May 3, 2012), I will be blogging based upon my book Where Was God When...?, which is now available in the Kindle Edition.
If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them. “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss!
5 Prices a Leader Must be Wiling to Pay - Perry Noble
Jesus gave some INCREDIBLE advice in Luke 14:28-30! Today, we will dive into five areas where we need to be willing to pay the price as a leader.
1. There Is a Financial Cost
Books cost money. Conferences cost money. Putting yourself in a position to be stretched and grown cost money. AND one of the qualities that I’ve always noticed in leaders who were “getting it done” is that they were personally willing to pay a financial price.
Replacing vs. Partnering with parents - Tim Schmoyer
The more I read youth ministry blog posts, it feels like there’s a growing dichotomy between how we work with parents in our youth ministries.
The first approach doesn’t come right out and say this, but to me it feels like we’re essentially replacing parents by assuming the roles and responsibilities scripture gives to parents. That includes things like:
assuming responsibility for teenagers’ spiritual growth
preparing them for the future
building a spiritual foundation for them
teaching good morals
helping them make right choices and establish good habits
STATS: Young People are Flocking to Twitter - Adam Ostrow
One of the most actively discussed topics in the Twitter universe over the past couple months has been the idea that teens don’t tweet– at least not as much as older demographics, and certainly not as actively as teens who use other popular social networking sites.
Now, it appears that this story may be shifting. According to new data from comScore, younger users – specifically those in the 12-17 and 18-24 year-old demographics – are Twitter’s fastest growing audience segment. Here’s what the audience measurement company has to say on the trend:
So, be honest. Do you think Youth Pastors are Overrated? Do you think they get way too much attention in churches today? When I mention Youth Pastors, what comes to your mind? Is it youth camp pranks, noisy kids in the sanctuary, the inventive colors he painted the youth room with - or maybe just the strange way he dresses?
Whatever your reaction may be, perhaps you just don’t get all the fuss over this guy. After all, what does he really do? Is there a real need for this person? Would your teens be just as well off without him around? Couldn’t you save the church money if you did not have to pay him?
This brings me back to my original question, “Are Youth Pastors Overrated?” I have had the privilege of working with churches and Youth Pastors for over 40 years so I think I can answer this question with some authority. Obviously over that time I have met some who were not committed or even competent. However, I know people that fit this description in every profession on earth.
Here is what I do know after working with Youth Pastors for these 40 years:
They love kids even sometimes when no other adult, including a parent, seems to care.
They are willing to sacrifice for students.
They listen. Yes, really listen.
They are willing to invest time into the lives of students who grow up to repeat the process.
They teach kids how to live life in the real world by living life with them, not just telling them what to do.
They spend time with students because they want to, not because they have to or are being paid to - and the students know it.
They are making an eternal difference by pointing kids to Christ.
They save lives…literally. They save lives sometimes because they are the people who are called when kids are thinking of taking their lives.
They are the parents’ best ally, not their surrogate.
They can take deep Biblical truth and drive it home to the heart of a student using their knowledge of the culture.
They are “one more voice” speaking truth into the life of your teens during a time when they are hearing many voices giving them wrong information.
My books Where Was God When…? and Myths & Misconceptions: 8 Reasons Why I'm Not a Christian are now available for Kindle. Better late than never, I suppose.
Where Was God When…? was co-written along with my friend Ric Garland to address one of the most difficult questions that any Christian will ever have to face, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" The generation that is now coming up through our youth groups and children's ministries are asking this question with more urgency than any generation before. In eight chapters, Ric and I answer this question in the same way God does in scripture – by focusing on the character and nature of God himself. Each chapter includes the personal story of a real person and his/her struggle with hardship or tragedy, and an attribute of God that applies to that specific situation. This book has been a tremendous blessing to anyone facing hardship or loss, and I believe it will be a blessing to you.
Myths & Misconceptions: 8 Reasons Why I'm Not a Christian was written in response to the contagious doubt sweeping through the ranks of young people today who are disillusioned with the church, religion and the Christians who have wounded so many. A team of four men handle two two topics each in this book, which is the product of both academic study and personal experience.
Below are links to each book in the Kindle Store and to a special Small Group Kit that has been put together by Local Church Ministries.
The term “collateral damage” usually conjures up images of military operations. Explanations of regret for “incidental” destruction of civilian property or non-combatant casualties follow. I guess “collateral damage” should be expected even in ... > Read More
Students are not the only ones who struggle with post-modernism, tolerance and the rejection of absolute truth. Adults live in the same world and are often no more prepared for the challenges of pluralism than their children. As fathers, we must embrace the truth as well as live the truth before we ... > Read More
If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them. “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss.
How Luxury Brands Can Prepare for Affluent ... > Read More
It has been called a student “rite of passage” but its history can really only be traced back to the late 1930’s. There have been movies made about it, explicit documentaries detailing it -- and in the spring, it is constantly in the evening news. Spring Break is so big in some ... > Read More
If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them. “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss.
The Hunger Games and What It Means for Your Students ... > Read More
I know it is against the law to give “Insider Investment Tips” but I just cannot restrain myself. I probably should not be so bold as to publish them here on the internet, but this information is not only critical but time sensitive. I really do not want you to miss your opportunity to ... > Read More
If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them. “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss.
Facebook launches university-exclusive Groups -- Emil ... > Read More
Today’s post is a guest post from friend and veteran student ministry professional Dale Flynn. Dale has been ministering to youth and youth leaders for over 51 years. He is a gifted writer and has a passion for pastors consistently publishing an electronic newsletter for ministers. The ... > Read More
If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them. “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss.
The Millenials Check In - Janet Morrissey
The hotel ... > Read More
I love meeting with people who have a passion for student ministry. There is something refreshing about being with others who understand the struggles and pressures of working with youth but also the incredible joys and rewards.
I enjoy the late night talks, Starbucks coffee breaks, the ... > Read More
