I recently came across an article that I wanted to share with my readers. Here are three things we need to understand about unemployment and the Millennials. Continue reading
Why were tattoos so taboo?
Once associated only with motorcycle and street gangs, tattoos have now become a part of main-stream society. Nearly four-in-ten Millennials have a tattoo (and for most who do, one is not enough: about half of those with tattoos have two to five and 18% have six or more). Many Christ-followers are actually getting inked as a sign of their faith. Continue reading
Sacred Ink
Once associated only with motorcycle and street gangs, tattoos have now become a part of main-stream society. Nearly four-in-ten Millennials have a tattoo (and for most who do, one is not enough: about half of those with tattoos have two to five and 18% have six or more).
It seems like this percentage is the same regardless of religious background. The negative stigma of tattoos has been erased among many religious groups; but I have noticed that tattoos among believers sometimes look a little different. Many Millennials are not just getting a tat, but a sacred piece of body art.
When deciding whether or not to get inked, many EA’s do not consider what others would think. They were born before the negative stereotypes of tattoos, and never realized their ink would upset others. The only outside opinion that seems to matter to emerging adults belongs to their parents. One EA said, “My dad got extremely upset with me and shut himself out. My mom even though disappointed, was just happy I got something that wasn’t offensive.” Once seen as a mark of rebellion against parents, I recently heard of a story of a father who was so moved by his son’s sacred ink that he went out and got one to match.
Tattoos are often a sign of their faith, and not a spirit of rebellion. The legal age of tattoos in many states is 18, but people can get them before age 18 with the permission of a parent. Desiring their tattoo not to be a mark of “youthful rebellion,” several emerging adults actually asked for their parents’ permission even after they reached the age requirement. One EA said, “I talked with my parents beforehand and explained the significance [of my tattoo] and that I had been planning it for a while. I knew I did not need their permission, but I wanted to be respectful.”
So before you judge a EA by his or her skin, there are a few things you should know about tattoos.
Sacred Tattoos mark a spiritual turning point.
Much like the stone monument placed down by the Israelites in Joshua 4, emerging adults want something permanent to mark the movement of God in their lives. Many emerging adults got tattoos to represent a personal struggle in their life including: depression, or death of a friend. One EA writes, “[after a friend’s suicide, my tattoo] was a promise to myself to never turn to suicide as an answer.” Another EA writes that, “I got it when my life was shifting, but I was feeling solid about my faith. It seemed to be a good way to remember, the constant presence of God in it.”
One Emerging adult said that their tattoo represented a “significant paradigm shift.” Knowing the struggle of keeping spiritual convictions and decisions, emerging adults want a daily reminder of their decision. One EA says, “I decided I should keep my faith towards God growing. I needed something that would last, so I got the shield of faith tattooed on my forearm as a daily reminder.” In a world filled with fleeting circumstances and flaky relationships, the permanence of tattoos can encourage and comfort them in their journey.
Sacred tattoos display a message to others.
EAs have grown up in a pluralistic society, and are conscious of crossing people’s personal boundaries. Desiring to share their faith, tattoos allow Christians a reason to share their faith without being pushy. One EA described it as a “conversation initiation tool” that allowed them to share their faith with others. One EA compared it to baptism, saying, “…it is like baptism for me, a public testimony of your faith to those outside of the church.”
While some get the highly recognizable cross or bible references, EAs prefer something that needs a little explanation. It is not because they are ashamed of their faith, but because they don’t want their tattoo to be bumper sticker that someone reads and walks away, but something that begins a conversation about faith. Some EAs are getting words written in Greek, Hebrew, or Latin phrases that cannot be understood by a simple glance. One described that their Hebraic tattoo comes from, “an ancient rabbinic goodbye, and signifies that disciples would be walking so closely behind their rabbi that the dust that he kicked up as he walked would cover them.”
Several expressed frustration when someone asked flippantly about a tattoo, because it represents such a depth of who they are which includes their faith. One writes, “although it annoys me at work when customers ask because I don’t have time to talk about it at length.” Their tattoos are not done in a spiritual high, but emerge from a deep desire for long-term faith.
Faith is hard. During the difficult times of our journey, we all experience doubts.
Sacred Tattoos are a reminder to emerging adults of their commitment. They know that these marks do not inherently hold spiritual power, but knowing how fleeting the human will can be, they want their faith to stick like the permanence of a tattoo.
Long after the water of baptism has dried, the retreat is over, and the spiritual high has faded, their ink remains. They desire to mark their faith in a concrete way that will substantiate what God has done, and recognize His transforming effect on their life.
Dr. G. David Boyd is the Managing Director of EA Resources, a non-profit designed to equip parents and churches to minister to emerging adults. He is also the Founder of the EA Network, a national network to connect those who minister to emerging adults.
How to Get a Summer Job.
Summer is here, and many young adults are looking for a job. While many jobs are already taken (Sorry, but you should have started a little sooner!), here is an article that can help you find work.
Remember your summer job is not about who you are, or what you will do for the rest of your life. A summer job is following God’s direction into a position that can provide for you.
Here is another article that talks about Vocation.
Wherever you get placed, find ways to learn and enjoy it.
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/internshipssummerjobs/ss/apply-for-summer-jobs.htm
What if your 20’s weren’t what you expected?
Millennials who are said to have been pampered and babied through life are often unfairly characterized as being delusional and selfish. Rather than characterize a generation in a negative light, we should seek to personally minister to those emerging adults that God has placed around us. It is not just emerging adults who struggle because they thought life would be easier. All humans struggle with overcoming broken dreams and failing expectations.
Pain isn’t a Respector of age, but it comes on the young and the old alike. Life is hard, but God is good.
The author states that when facing disappointment, we “need to grow new expectations, ones that wait for God to show up in ways we couldn’t imagine, to expect seasons of joy and grace in the midst of difficulties. We need courage to find new dreams when our old ones aren’t happening.”
I found this article applicable to those in their 20’s, and to all who are wrestling with broken expectations.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-if-your-20s-werent-what-you-expected
Dealing with the Dark Side of Church History (for Parents)
As children grow up, it is important to acknowledge that the historical church has not always stood on the right side of issues. Due to human weaknesses, the church isn’t perfect; and therefore has a few skeletons in her closet. For example, early church leaders claimed that the earth was in the center of the universe, and persecuted those who supported Copernicus’ theory of a sun-centered solar system. Galileo, a scientist was arrested and placed under house arrest for supporting Copernicus’ theory.
The church definitely has a list of dark moments including: the Crusades, various periods of witch trials, slavery, domestic abuse, and the concept of “Manifest Destiny.” Church leaders sometimes defended the atrocities of their times using bias interpretations of the Bible, while at other times they remained silent.
Bringing up the ugly past of the church may be difficult, but it is crucial for the healthy development of emerging adults. EA’s need to have a clear understanding of church history before discovering these flaws in an academic environment that can be hostile to their faith. Some emerging adults feel as if they have been deceived by parents and the church and causes them to be disillusioned with their faith.
Rather than covering up past failures, the church should be open about confessing its faults, and seek to be an authentic institution being led into change by the Holy Spirit to redeem the world and further God’s Kingdom. In the Old Testament, illustrates the ups and downs of God’s people, why do we feel as if the church today would not have issues?
So here are a few thoughts to help you discuss with your emerging adults through the Dark Side of Church History.
1. Be Honest about the past.
Acknowledge the church didn’t stand on the right side. The church and its theology has been greatly affected throughout history by race, power, and politics. Decisions on how the Bible should be interpreted were highly influenced by more than just the Holy Spirit, but were often taken over by sinful human will. All of us approach scripture with a biased perception and often interpret the Bible to support our views.
Acknowledge the church didn’t stand on the same side. During Hitler’s rise to power, the church split over their support for the dictator. Martin Niemöller and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were two leaders of the German church who opposed him, and put their lives in jeopardy to stand for what they believed. Sometimes church leaders changed their positions as the culture and climate changed.
In the United States, most churches in the south supported slavery, while other Christians fought for abolition. Their beliefs were highly influenced by geographical location. Different beliefs towards slavery divided denominations; divisions that still exist today.
While the past is dark, emerging adults can handle the truth.
2. Don’t speak for the Past.
As a Christian, you don’t have to speak for the past. Your child needs to understand that they don’t need to be the defense attorney for Christianity in their Introduction to Philosophy class. Our limited perspective doesn’t allow us too. You were not there, and you will not be held accountable for the failures of others.
However, you can mourn the past, and be sorrowful over what has occurred. Discover ways to identify with the past, and understand the issues. (For example, I suggest watching 12 Years a Slave in order to address the difficulties of slavery.) Identifying with those wronged by the church will help us develop empathy, and enable us to direct them to Christ.
3. Learn from the Past.
When examining the Old Testament, Paul states that we should remember to learn from their example, and to respond in humility. I Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.…”
God is the judge, and so let Him judge the past actions of others. However, we can learn from them, and examine our own beliefs and actions.
The church is not yet perfect. God is redeeming the church and our world. We are called to follow God and work to further His Kingdom. Each generation is bound to make mistakes, just as those before us. There is a desperate need for humility as we approaches the Word, while discerning how to respond to social issues.
The church is not perfect, it is only spotless by the blood of Jesus.
Dealing with the Dark Side of Church History (EA Version)
Have you ever been in a group when the conversation turned to religious abuse, or the dark side of the church? Inwardly you stomach starts to churn, and your hands begin to sweat.
The church definitely has a long list of dark moments including: the Crusades, witch trials, slavery, domestic abuse, and the concept of “Manifest Destiny.” Church leaders sometimes defended the atrocities of their times using bias interpretations of the Bible, while at other times they were silent.
Rather than covering up these past failures, the church should be open about confessing its faults, and be authentic about how it is an institution being led into change by the Holy Spirit to redeem the world and further God’s Kingdom.
If church history becomes a discussion in the classroom, or in the dorm, here are a few thoughts to help you discuss the Dark Side of Church History.
1. Be Honest about the past.
Acknowledge the church didn’t stand on the right side. Early church leaders claimed that the earth was in the center of the universe, and persecuted those who supported Copernicus’ theory. Galileo was placed under house arrest for his writings.
Memorial in Salem Massachusetts
The church and its theology has been greatly affected throughout history by race, power, and politics. Decisions on how the Bible should be interpreted were highly influenced by more than just the Holy Spirit, but were often taken over by sinful human will. All of us approach scripture with a biased perception and often interpret the Bible to support our views.
The church and its theology has been greatly affected throughout history by race, power, ethnicity. Studying church history showed me how issues of race shaped aspects of our theology. All of us approach scripture with a biased perception and often interpret the Bible to support our views.
Finding fault in the church is not the same as finding fault with God. The church becomes spotless bride in heaven through the blood of Jesus. Right now, the church has more than its share of faults and issues.
Acknowledge that sometimes the church didn’t agree with each issue. During Hitler’s rise to power, the church split over their support for the dictator. Martin Niemöller and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were two leaders of the church in Germany who opposed him, and put their lives in jeopardy to stand for what they believed. Sometimes church leaders changed their positions as the culture and climate changed.
In the United States, churches in the south often supported slavery, while many other Christians fought for abolition. This division was often based on their geographical location with southern churches using the Bible to support the concept of slavery.
While the past is dark, we…
2. Don’t speak for the Past.
As a Christian, you don’t have to speak for the past. You are not the defense attorney for Christianity in your Introduction to Philosophy class. Our limited perspective doesn’t allow us too. You were not there, and you will not be held accountable for the failures of others.
However, you can mourn the past, and be sorrowful over what has occurred. Discover ways to identify with the past, and understand the issues. (For example, I suggest watching 12 Years a Slave in order to address the difficulties of slavery.) Identifying with those wronged by the church will help us develop empathy, and enable us to better speak and direct them to Christ.
3. Learn from the Past.
As a child, I remember the day when I pick a fight with my neighbor Tommy who was older and weighed fifty pounds more than me. Within a few minutes, I was pinned under that weight, and helpless. It was the last day, I fought with Tommy.
When examining the past of the church, Paul states that we should remember to learn from past examples, and remember that all of us are susceptible to failure. I Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.…”
God is the judge, and so let Him judge the past actions of others. However, we can learn from them, and examine our own beliefs and actions.
Remember God is redeeming the church and our world. We are called to follow God and work to further His Kingdom. Your generation is bound to make mistakes, just as those before you. There is desperate need for humility as the church approaches the Word, while discerning how to respond to social issues.
The church is not perfect, it is only spotless by the blood of Jesus.
Is THIS Normal? – Free Seminar on May 20
I am excited to announce that I will be holding a free event for parents called, “Is This Normal?” at Christian Life Academy on Tuesday, May 20. The event will begin at 6:30 PM. This event is open to the public. If you are interested in attending, please let me know by e-mailing me at gdavid@earesources.org.
Changes within our society have delayed the development of our children and adolescents. In this seminar, we will examine how to understand and identify your child’s developmental needs, and how to begin equipping them for adulthood. You will walk away feeling encouraged and equipped in your journey of parenthood.
This Seminar will cover:
· An overview of the stages of human developmental (Social, Cognitive, Emotional, Spiritual, Physical).
· Controlling our unhealthy need for a “normal child.”
· How to establish goals for your child’s development.
· Identifying and find assistance for developmental delay.
· How to help your child survive in a technology-saturated society.
· Practical Tips for handling daily decisions and the pressures of parenting.
Bio:
Dr. G. David Boyd has over 13 years of experience helping Adolescents and Emerging Adults. He received his D. Min from Trinity International University where he wrote on the “Role of the Local Church in the Maturation Process from Adolescence into Adulthood.” He is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources. You can access his writing and research at www.earesources.org and www.morethanabeard.com.
If you are interested in having Dr. G. David Boyd come to your church or school, please contact us at gdavid@earesources.org.
Wake Me Up When It is Over
Recently, my church performed the song, “Wake Me Up” by Avicii.
Here is my reflection on why we often want to skip through life.
We want to skip to the ending without feeling the weight if the story. We want to arrive at the destination without a scuff on our shoes. We want to experience the victory without being in the battle. We want the results without putting in the time. We want the goods without paying the price.
The end of the journey will be better with calloused hands, worn out shoes, familiar scars, and memories.
These are the things that will make it real. These are the things that make it not a show we watch, but a life we experienced.
So I will open my eyes and look around me. I will embrace the pallet of colors drawn around me both light and dark. I will put my hands to the plow though my hands are blistered. I will take the next step into the darkness because I know what lies ahead. I will take a deep breath of the air though I feel its toxicity. I will put away the distractions that have numbed my pain and cause me to sleep.
I will work for that which is unrealized on this earth. I will keep my eyes on that which is unseen. I will keep my ears tuned to the voice if the shepherd. I will cling to the one who is not the God of the end. He is the God of the beginning. He is the God of the entire journey.
If I reject the moment, then I am rejecting Him.
Last minute Gift Ideas for MOM beyond a trip to WALMART.
Mother’s Day is almost here. So before you run out and buy the typical potted plant or new shirt, here are a few ideas for those who are on a low-budget.
Technology assistance – Is there something that she can’t do without your help? I recently took the time to download a few games on her tablet, and she couldn’t have been more thankful. Sit down with a computer and show her a few tricks about how to get out of annoying Facebook conversations, or see just the people she wants to see on her feed.
Handwritten Card – Anyone else suffering sticker shock from greeting cards? Avoid them altogether. Your mother remembers your cards from childhood with misspelled words, and stick people. A hand-written card still has the same affect today. It doesn’t have to be poetic, or grammatically correct. Just put your thoughts down.
Facebook Adoration – While this does not count as a gift or personal interaction, showing that you are publicly thankful and proud of your mother will definitely lift her spirits.
Time Alone – Schedule a time alone with mom where the two of you go for a walk, or spend time doing an activity that you enjoy together. If you can’t do it on Mother’s Day, then schedule a special time and date so she knows that it is coming. Avoid problem topics, and just reminisce on your lives together.
Personalized Jewelry – While you could pick up a necklace as you walk through Kohl’s, it will probably after a few weeks end up hidden in her jewelry box. However, a personalized piece of jewelry will melt their heart, and will stick around a while. Here is a company that I highly suggest.
Surprise Visit – If you are away at school, pack your bags and make a trip home just for her. (Make sure you don’t bring her your dirty laundry like I did once…or twice.) Ring the doorbell, and wait for her to come to the door. Mothers love their kids, and what is better than extra time.
Work Together – Is there something you know how to do, that could help her out? Helping mom get that closet clean, or washing the windows. Some chores are accomplished better when you are not alone.
If you thought this article would solve Mother’s Day as easily as walking into a department store, I am sorry.
Whatever you do, make sure that it is tailored specifically to your mom. Walmart can’t do that. Target always misses the mark. The perfect gift really only comes when you spend time planning it.
Only you know your mother, and can make her Mother’s Day special.
Written by: G. David Boyd