Nothing too profound here today, but I’m just curious about how you see what matters to youth’s clothing and style choices change as they make school transitions. Have you observed some truly awkward trends that teens have tried (please don’t remind me of my leisure suit in middle school or ‘body wave’ perm my senior year) en masse at your local high school?
Yesterday I sat next to the 13 year old son of a friend and I did a double-take to make sure it was him and not Justin Bieber. He look just like the Biebs – hair crowded forward around his face, white jacket, exact clothes (he looked like the photo), and the shoes (very important!) were one of Bieber’s favs. I chuckled and thought “It’s all going to change next year when you head to high school.” Based on watching countless boys make that transition in my local school, they soon cut their hair short, take on the more industrial approach to style, and wear nicer button down shirts. Then, four years later at college he’ll sport as much facial hair as possible, wear old T-shirts from the local thrift shore, and sport an abundance of university apparel. And sweat pants.
My wife and daughter have introduced me to country music. Daily. So, it’s growing on me a bit – though I’ll take classic rock, classical, jazz, and electronica over it any day. But, I particularly enjoy Lady Antebellum and their harmonies. So, I know I’m late to the party on this song, but their song “HELLO WORLD” inspires me. It reminds me that we aren’t to be in such a self-focused hurry that we don’t remember that everyone’s story matters and that most people wake up each day working to do their best. I also like the song (the video’s wardrobe choices are suspect) because the creative/performer side of us wants to ‘make a mark’ in our . Each day gives us the chance to do just that – as if we get to say “hello world” as we look out over each day’s ‘canvas’ and begin to paint with our lives … as God directs us.
So, enjoy this video and remember to believe that every story matters.
This past weekend, I looked over some InterVarsity Press offerings and I was struck by the number of books on global topics that I hadn’t read, but want to read. My work on the book Global Youth Ministry: Reaching Adolescents Around the World (YS Academic)has prompted me to include some of the more prominent books on global topics into my reading list for this year. What I like about the global youth ministry text was that the authors were not from North America writing about global topics. They were from their region. So, I’m hesitant sometimes to get excited about global texts written by North Americans, but I think this is a great list of the IVP books:
I am fairly apolitical, which frustrates the people around me who care deeply about their particular party. So, I know I’m wandering into dangerous waters here for those passionate about politics. My issue is that I am drawn/convinced about some principles and, when I look up, they don’t align neatly with our current political divisions in America. Then I become curious as to how the shouting back and forth of “conservative” or “liberal” helps us move forward with some very complex problems facing our country and world.
In fact, as I look back over the two administrations (from very different parties), they don’t look very different to me. They both spent us into a large debt on programs, wars, and agendas that mattered to them and ended their term with a broken trust with the American people. Both at a time where either President could have earned significant trust with the people and left a legacy.
I received this link from Jacob Bland, which leads to a video made by Eric Whitacre. Eric coordinated a choir via the Internet, a virtual choir, to sing a song and the result is stunning. It’s worth watching and reflecting on where we are as an interconnected world, connected through nontraditional means. More on that in the future. In the meantime, enjoy the video:
On a recent business trip, I stopped (thanks to Foursquare. I’m not sure I would’ve seen it tucked away) at a Espresso Love Coffee in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. It is a delightful place and clearly loved by the community as people of all sorts (farmers, business-types, shoppers, and the usual coffee shop types) came and went, or stayed and chatted. It was what a local coffee shop should be.
Perhaps due to the economic situation, but Kel and I have become more committed to buying local than we once did. We consciously work to support local businesses and to frequent local coffee shops over the common name brand types that have corporate influence. One of my favorites is Quincy’s, who serve my favorite coffee, Intelligentsia (roasted in nearby Chicago…. that’s local, isn’t it?). I love hanging out at Quincy’s not only because of the coffee and service, but also its communal vibe, that the people who hang out here see and live life creatively and aren’t just sitting by while others shape the world.
Nothing too profound here today, but I’m just curious about how you see what matters to youth’s clothing and style choices change as they make school transitions. Have you observed some truly awkward trends that teens have tried (please don’t remind me of my leisure suit in middle school or ‘body wave’ perm my senior year) en masse at your local high school?
Based on watching countless boys make that transition in my local school, they soon cut their hair short, take on the more industrial approach to style, and wear nicer button down shirts. Then, four years later at college he’ll sport as much facial hair as possible, wear old T-shirts from the local thrift shore, and sport an abundance of university apparel. And sweat pants.
has prompted me to include some of the more prominent books on global topics into my reading list for this year. What I like about the global youth ministry text was that the authors were not from North America writing about global topics. They were from their region. So, I’m hesitant sometimes to get excited about global texts written by North Americans, but I think this is a great list of the IVP books:
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