Good time this morning on the Bob Dutko show. Great question from Bob on how to train teens to not buy into spiritual relativism. I think one of the big fears that makes church-raised teens fall for this is the fear of being considered a bigot (intolerant, narrow-minded, arrogant). In fact, it's more humble to come under the authority of what God has revealed. And believing in exclusive, objective truth doesn't make you intolerant--you can (and should) treat with respect and kindness those with other beliefs. But merely thinking others are wrong doesn't make you intolerant or arrogant. … [Read more...] about Helping Teens Rebut Relativism
Culture
Leadership Journal Interview on Preparing Your Teens for College
In an interview for Christianity Today's Leadership Journal, Daniel Darling (VP of Communications, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission) asked me these questions: 1) When we think of "preparing our kids for college" we often think through the actual academic preparation. But do parents think through the spiritual preparation? 2) Seems the church does a good job telling teens about following Christ, but not so well in helping them flesh out what that calling might look like. How can we be better at this? 3) In your experience, what do incoming freshmen seem to lack the most? 4) … [Read more...] about Leadership Journal Interview on Preparing Your Teens for College
Is Your Child Prepared to Major in a STEM Field?
Fascinating post by Lynn O'Shaughnessy on the popularity of STEM majors and the importance of preparation for success in them. The 2013 report she cites notes the need for students to "understand what takes place in a specific major or occupation." When they do, the report shows, their ACT scores rise, which implies better preparation for the rigors of college and a greater likelihood of success in a family of majors with a higher than average attrition rate. Like I explained in Chapter 9 of Preparing Your Teens for College, we need to help more HS students understand what's required for … [Read more...] about Is Your Child Prepared to Major in a STEM Field?
Living space per person has doubled over last 40 years
Though the economy has been tough in many ways (e.g., declining work force participation), housing space per person is dramatically on the rise. Mark Perry of AEI writes, "In 2013, the average size of new houses built increased to an all-time high of 2,679 square feet (see blue line in top chart), and the median size new home set a new record of 2,491 square feet (see red line in chart). Over the last 40 years, the average home has increased in size by more than 1,000 square feet." (The average is greater than the … [Read more...] about Living space per person has doubled over last 40 years
Preparing Teens for College (And Adulthood)
The opening of my article on the Desiring God blog: Raising teens to be faithful Christian adults has never been easy. Like us, our children enter this world as sinners whose hearts must be transformed by the Holy Spirit. As parents, pastors, teachers, and mentors, we seek to be God’s instruments in this process. And while we pray and instruct them about the kingdom of God, we also prepare them to live fruitfully in the kingdom of man. The two are not disconnected: Academic, professional, and relational success flow primarily from character and maturity. And as Christians, we know that … [Read more...] about Preparing Teens for College (And Adulthood)
Preparing Your Teens for College
I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has already helped in some way to spread the word about my new book, Preparing Your Teens for College. It was the result of over 16 months of fairly intense work. It was a far harder book to write than Thriving at College, but I believe it has a far greater potential for fruitfulness. It's written to parents, youth pastors, guidance counselors, ministry leaders and anyone else involved in the great work of equipping parents to train their teens to leave home with the faith, character, and maturity to be successful not just in college but in the … [Read more...] about Preparing Your Teens for College