About Our Youth
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The "252 Effect"
by Shereen MarcusAs a parent, I often struggle with how to navigate raising my kids up in God’s character and not worrying so much who we offend. I wish I had a little of my dad’s moxie for pushing that envelope. True - his sense of humor didn't "age" very well, but he always emphasized character over substance.
I suppose that is why with my own kids and my Church’s Youth Ministry, I’m really big on something we call the “252 effect.” What’s that, you ask? (Or maybe you didn’t – but just humor me). It comes from Luke 2:52 and it is the moment when the world was astonished with the amazing character, wisdom, and stature of a 12-year old Christ. Isn't that what we want for our kids? Let's mirror our Youth Ministry off that blueprint - no dad jokes required.
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Revertigo
by Shereen MarcusHave you heard of the phrase Revertigo? Its a thing - Google says so. Its the tendency of a person to revert back to an older version of themselves when around people from their past. It explains why when we travel back to our hometown for a weekend visit, our maturity declines a couple decades hanging out with old childhood friends. Or why siblings can laugh until their sides hurt over inside jokes as if they just happened. And yet, we are in fact grown adults with real responsibilities.
Sometimes the phenomenon also happens during Lent - we hit the time of year as if it is just a "default" season and revert to whatever we think we ought to be doing or reading or eating (or not eating). Lent is supposed to be a forward journey, and it is supposed to be new every year. Christ has something new to teach us every year. In writing our Lent series, "Follow Me" I was astonished at the artificial roadblocks we put up ourselves to stand in the way of our journey in following Christ - our fears, our pressures, our identity, logic... and yes, our revertigo. This Lent, let's not be like the Nazarenes who rejected Jesus in His own town, failing to see the Divinity through the Humanity and instead embrace the invitation to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.