Posts filed under ‘Blogroll’
Littleton School Remains Closed After Two Teens Shot
(Littleton, CO) — A Colorado school not far from the infamous Columbine High School massacre will remain closed today after a drifter shot two students.
Teenagers Matt Thieu and Reagan Weber were shot as they were leaving Littleton’s Deer Creek Middle School for the day.
Thieu and Weber were taken to Littleton Adventist Hospital but Thieu was transferred to Children’s Hospital, where he was in critical condition Tuesday night.
Officials say Weber was released from Adventist Tuesday night.
Nearby Stony Creek Elementary School will also be closed.
The campus is just four miles from the site of where 12 students and one teacher were gunned down in a…
Tom Brokaw Explains Canada To Americans
Tom Brokaw explains Canada to Americans during an NBC Vancouver 2010 Olympic broadcast with Al Michaels.
To Save A Life – Advance Sceenings for Youth Workers!
TO SAVE A LIFE is a powerful movie about the real-life challenges of teens and their choices. But it’s more than just a movie-it’s a feature-length film with follow-up opportunities. At some point, every teen has to decide: “What’s my life going to be about?” To Save a Life dares to bring that question into their world…,encouraging them to answer it with boldness, honesty and integrity.
Advance screenings for youth workers will take place in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton the week of February 22nd. Please email info@tosavealifemovie.ca if you would like to attend.
Canadian Show Times: http://www.tosavealifemovie.ca
Movie website: http://www.tosavealifemovie.com
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/tosavealife
The Search for God and Guinness by Stephen Mansfield: Book Review
by Adam Clarke
Note: Disclosure of Material Connection: This book was received free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.
To be honest, when I saw The Search for God and Guinness on Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze program, I was a little skeptical. I had no idea the social impact that the Guinness family had on society, nor did I know the strong moral code their company would portray to, first, the people of Dublin and eventually, the world. I thought the title was very fitting for the book as it is a strong historical look at the family, the role God played in their lives, and Mansfield’s own search for answers.
What I found unique about this historical look at Arthur Guinness and the Guinness family is the strong teaching of influence and good actions, along with a strong calling from God that goes beyond family: it impacts society as a whole. They knew they had the means to help Dublin, so they put their wealth to work by improving Dublin, its people, and its image.
However, my favorite “sticking point” of the story is the role of apprenticeship. You see that through the Guinness’ line, great men didn’t just happen. They were given the support, trust, knowledge, and experience of the older generation, so that they could excel and continue the good work God had blessed them with. They exemplify what many fathers today are attempting to do – teach their children quality lessons. The only problem is many times fathers today forget the key component of time and energy. The Guinness men had plenty of patience to pass on these traits.
I did find the book very difficult to focus on at times. It came across as a history text, more often than not. As one with a history major, I loved the historical lineage and facts about the Guinness clan, but if there is no historical interest in the reader’s hearth, this could be a tough book to make it through.
Twilight Phenomenon: Book Review
by Adam Clarke
Kurt Bruner, in his work Twilight Phenomenon, does three things absolutely well:
[1] Expresses the true power of story on the readersʼ lives,
[2] illuminates the myths of both stories and vampires, and finally,
[3] allows the readers to see the greater good that comes from knowing the content of the Twilight series.
The power of art over argument – it worked for Dickens and child labour, it worked forBambi and the decline of hunting, so what is the power of this mega-hit?
Edward had always thought he belonged to the world of horror stories. Of course, Iʼd known he was dead wrong. It was obvious that he belonged here. In a fairy tale. – Bella
Stories are made to transform, encourage and challenge us. It is obvious that Bruner does not want that to leave the readerʼs mind as they work through Twilight. He points out three key spiritual concepts that Twilight raises:
[1] What it means to be human,
[2] the nature of the soul, and
[3] how romantic love inspires us towards our ultimate destiny.
The power of story for Bruner is found in connection with spiritual formation, which takes imagination, “Boys, girls, men, and women alike love stories because we are all hungry to connect with reality.” The power found in fictional realities is what brings us face-to-face with our own realities we experience everyday, the realities that we want to run away from, and the ones we would like to forget, but the power of story is what can provide answers.
The history of the vampire within the book is quite helpful and complete. It allows the reader to see the formation of the myth as well as the literary history of the character. The turn made by the author to point the reader toward the connections between the myths that make up vampires, and the truth that is spoken from the Bible about Satan, is incredible. There is a breakdown used, to show the nature of Satan and the myths that make up vampire methodology, that will prove how sinister a true villain really is.
The connections drawn to the Twilight series are done in completion, often citing the exact location of his findings which allows the reader to draw on his conclusions and also allows for the reader to form their own thoughts on the subject. In providing the reader with both positive and negatives about the qualities found within the characters, it allows for those both for and against Twilight to see both sides. The immaturity of the love portrayed, contrasted with the virtues illuminated through Edward, is only an example of the complete functionality of this literary critic.
Bruner is quick to point out that stories only have influence if we look at the authorʼs underlying assumption, as their spiritual agenda is often leaked out through their pen – whether they mean to or not. Thus, we need to be aware of the lenses that we, as readers, look at the story. The story is shaped by our experiences and influences, which is how we discern what is good or evil. When we become aware of these two filters, we can answer the three questions that Bruner wants his reader to focus on:
[1] What are we made for?
[2] What is wrong with our world?
[3] How will it be made right?
These are the questions he seeks out and provides the answers for. It is these three questions and the power of the complete story that makes Twilight relevant to anyone working with youth. How are the words shaping the worldview of those in our midst? What are the experiences that draw them to these stories? Ultimately, this book will allow youth to come face-to-face with many questions they may have about their faith and worldview. The complete breakdown of this process, done by the author, makes this book worth the read and purchase, as with two movies left to go this phenomenon, it is going nowhere fast.
Today’s Teens Conference
Why go to Today’s Teens Conference?
A) Chance to Network with 800 other Youth Workers & 500 Students
B) Training from Worldwide Leaders in Youth Culture: Tony Campolo & Colin McCartney
C) The Leading Student Training Program to Equip them to reach their friends
D) The Lowest costing conference with a High Level Programming and Training
E) An Event that is completely planned, all you have to do it show up and walk away with long term gain from the resources gathered
F) An exciting time of fun, gaining resources, and insights to new trends in youth culture
ht to todaysteens.ca
Escaping the Vampire: Book Review
by Adam Clarke
When I was first asked to read over Escaping the Vampire by Kimberly Powers, I will say that I was excited. Right away, the connection to Twilight was unmistakable, the font type, the image bearing likeness to the forbidden fruit on the cover of the hugely popular series (hands holding a snow white rose). Being a fan of the relevance of Twilight, and
the influence it has had on the generation at large, I was ready to jump in and read it.
It took me two days.
However, after reading it through twice, I felt a little let down and disappointed. It was not in the content or the message the book sends to teen girls, but by the tie-ins to Twilight. They were present – and plenty – but there was a stronger push by the author for teens to watch out for the “Ultimate Vampire” or Satan. Although this is a strong statement and worthy of every tween and teen alike to take seriously, the original feeling and desire of the Twilight connection caused the message to be glanced over, as the reader constantly looks for the next quote about Edward and Bella.
Now that the misconceptions of this book are out in the open, the content becomes clear. This happened for me during the second read once I got rid of my Twilight bias. For Powers, the Twilight series is such a hit with young teens because it is a love story, and every girl longs for the type of love Edward has and shows to Bella.
A love that is attentive, protective, fought for, and to be desired.
Many of these qualities are not easy to fault a girl for, so why do many youth workers dismiss Edward as a tool? Too many times I have heard and witnessed leaders who, when asked by their youth why they should not read Twilight, have been told that “Itʼs bad …or evil …about vampires, who are evil.” I think that these misconceptions and default answers are why youth leaders need a book like this on their shelf: To allow them the ability to be culturally relevant.
If we cannot meet our youth in what penetrates their world, and have quality communication with them about the content, underlying themes, and the qualities that make the characters we love endearing, then we have lost some respect in their eyes.
That was one of the qualities of Kimberly Powersʼ book that I enjoyed. It was the ability to see connections and lessons that can come from popular culture.
Powers points the reader in to a strong conclusion – Satanʼs lies in our life are based on our selfish twisted desires of destruction. Too many times are young teens swayed by author, and therefore, buy into what society tells them is acceptable, and then try everything in their power to attain it. Such thinking is a bold-faced lie by Satan. Once attaining that goal becomes unsuccessful, they settle for a substitute: A form of enticement that they have been tempted with to ease the pain (i.e. cutting, eating disorders, anything that can lead to deeper pain and destruction). Satan is a masterful liar, as mentioned in Genesis 3, and there is only one true way out and that is not in the Escaping the Vampire – Kimberly Powers arms of Edward, but in the arms of the “Ultimate Hero” – God. The truth of Godʼs Word contrasts Satanʼs lies and can establish strength in the shadow of destruction.
As a resource that entices and draws on strong parallels to Twilight, I would give the book a “D+” but, for a resource that points young girls towards valuable life lessons through the truth of Godʼs Word and Godly women of faith, I would give it a strong “B.”
Worth the read, but probably not a permanent place on youth workerʼs shelf.
