workshop “my teen speaks another language!” ..061508

i did this workshop on saturday at new life church in pembroke pines, florida.  i must say it went very well.  it was a men’s only conference and it was addressed to fathers and other men who worked with teenagers.  those in attendance seemed to have enjoyed the session.  we had a lot of interaction and feedback.

a couple of the men who were fathers had some very insightful thoughts as they have experienced what it is like to have raised their own teenagers who are now young adults.  the basic premise of this workshop was that to relate effectively with a desire to influence teens, one has to take the time to learn their culture so that you can engage them. 

i propose a missionary mindset idea which says, before you can effectively reach a people group you must become familiar, very familiar with their culture – way of life.  you must become a student of that group so that you can appreciate some of the things they have to offer, respect their beliefs, and patiently, gradually, and carefully introduce the message you are bringing to them.  this is similar to how we “reach” our teenagers.  your thougts ….

labels … 061508

i do not like to label anyone especially teenagers.  they are at an age that those labels have the ability to stick.  i have memories of a few labels that was placed upon me as a teen that i still remember today.  thank god i had a family especially parents who were there for me all along the way so that those labels didn’t “stick”.

many teens are not so fortunate or should i say blessed.  not only have they had labels placed upon them by people outside the family but have had their own parents place such upon them – lazy, stupid, dumb, won’t-amount-to- anything, and the list goes on.  you may have had one of these labels placed upon you and you haven’t forgotten it.  as a matter of fact it has been like a noose around your neck all these years.  you cannot break loose from it.

you and i cannot change our past.  we can hope though for the future.  john maxwell has said that hope for the future gives us power for the present.  tony compolo says that your past has brought you where you are but your future should not be defined by your past.  don’t let the labels of your past cripple you as you move into your future.  make a decision today to make tomorrow a better day.  help a teen along the way.