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22

February, 2012

6 Comments

To the generation above us…..

I know we seem hard to reach, distracted and often arrogant and honestly, sometimes we are. But maybe you can appreciate some of what gets our attention. We are a reckless passionate generation, who longs to know Jesus and change the world.

Our Generation longs for…..

Honesty.
We would rather you be a wreck and honest than polished and plastic feeling. Be a broken sinner and we will forgive you and like you better for it.

Depth.
Don’t give us feel-good shallow theology. We want to know God, every dimension of him. Not just the things about him that go down easily. We want to attack the dark hard stuff about suffering and justice too. Don’t hide God from us. Don’t water him down.

Mentors.
Even though sometimes we act like we don’t need help. We actually want a deep connection with the generation above us. We want mentors, even if we are questioning the way the generation above has done things. We still long for you to pour into us. Don’t let our passion for different things push you away. We need you.

Reckless Faith.
We want to be challenged to live for something bigger than ourselves. We actually believe the verses that say, “Die to yourself… to this life” and we’re willing to do it. Give us a God worth dying for and point us toward his mission on this earth and we will flat sell out to him.

Impact.
Let us change the world. Don’t hold us back. Empower us. Believe in us. Pour into us. Care about the things we care about. We know you want us to be happy and comfortable. But we actually want to live uncomfortable for the sake of others. We want orphans to become ours and tribes and neighbors to know Jesus, we want smaller houses so we can have a bigger impact. Don’t be afraid of losing us to another country. We see our lives as short and we see them as already lost.

Jesus.
We actually are starting to get our heads around the gospel- who Jesus was and is and what he wants for us and that’s why we want all of the above. He is wrecking us. It isn’t a list of dos and don’ts that we obey, it is a person who we would do anything for. His grace is captivating us. We’re starting to lose our religion and find Jesus and he is changing everything.

What else….

What is the difference in our generation and our parents? I think it is urgent we build bridges. We need each other.


Posted in God |

6 Responses to To the generation above us…..


Jocelyn says: May 12, 2012 at 2:39 am

Jennie,
Just started reading your book, Anything, today. My good friend, Lauren (who is friends with your little sister?) had introduced me to your ministry and Bible studies.
I so needed this blogpost today. This very week I have been struggling hard with the generation above me – my parents/my kids’ grandparents, and this is such a good starting point for me as I try to explain my heart to them. As I’ve been starting to write more honestly, raw and from my messy heart (via my blog) I am facing resistance from parents who are uncomfortable with me sharing my mess and my little family’s story so openly. Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me some words to articulate my heart.

Excited to finish Anything, and hopefully do one of your studies this summer!

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Kellye says: May 16, 2012 at 3:56 pm

This blog entry is just what I needed. Don’t know how to DO it, but it helps. I know God is calling me to disciple others. (He told ALL of us to do this! And he told me/us ‘experienced women’ again in Titus 2!) I don’t know where to start, but here goes… I just bought ‘anything’ yesterday. You have put into words many of the jumbled feelings and thoughts in my heart and soul. (I am 51, have been a ‘Christian’ for years, but it was plastic and ritualistic, I have experienced the ‘more’ over the past several years and am hungry and thirsty for even more.) Thanks for listening :)

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