Digital Orthodoxy

Quite simply a beautiful book, truly Australian, etched in our history as the book begins with people talking about the riots in Cronulla in 2006, 10 Things is more than a coming of age story, its about identity, family, friendship, self awareness, confidence, of learning to be ones self without any fear of retribution.

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I have several copies of this book on my book shelf. I used to have many more, but, over the years I’ve given them out to young people with the words “pass this on to a friend or someone else when you’ve finished reading this” written in the front cover. And, when I see some copies of this book in a “for sale” bin I usually grab them all up so I can pass more on to others to read.

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While this book is not necessarily Christian it really needs to be read by youth workers, ministers, parents and most importantly by young people… It’s a unique book with a beautiful message and an honest nature.

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Mahedy makes the connection between his work with Vietnam veterans and the members of Generation X he encounters on campus. He sees widespread problems with students struggling to develop a sense of stability and self-image. Young adults content with constant feelings of emptiness, depression, suicidal thinking, fear of the future, and lack of hope.

This is not primarily a book about Gen X, as much as an exploration of Lutheran understandings of Christian good news for Gen Xers. Cox lays his material together in a way that allows for personal reflection, discussion and perhaps even feedback. Having said that, Cox does start off with a description of the context in which his generation are finding their way. Part of that reality is the need to express the gospel in ways that connect with current concerns and aspiration.

Time and time again I’ve seen older leaders discount the contribution of emerging leaders, because of their lack of a driven work ethic. Likewise I’ve seen Gen Xers leaving churches in disgust as they see older leaders attempting to cover cracks in organisation or character. No doubt churches or mission organisations started by these emerging leaders will exhibit characteristics that seem strange to older leaders with more traditional values

Andrew Root’s revisiting relational youth ministry is an excellent book. if you teach youth ministry or are doing it or both i suggest you get a copy. his main argument/point/passion is that relationships are not a means to achieve an end goal. they are valuable in and of themselves. to make them about influence (i.e. a means to influence people) cheapens them. this may sound obvious when you say it but as he argues relational youth ministry is often guilty of being a means to an end.

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