Jonathan's Blog From The Source
Posted on: 10/9/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee
Teens typically think their smartphone use is reasonable.
Parents and teachers, however, think teen smartphone use is out of control!
Who’s right?
That’s the question I just proposed in the brand new blog I’m writing to teenagers every week (the blog is being hosted by that amazing new Faith Happenings site, the new online hub of Christian happenings in your city).
Here’s a snippet of that blog post Continue reading “Talking with Teens about Their Smartphones”
Posted on: 09/30/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee
I love hearing feedback from parents after they attend one of my Parenting the Smartphone Generation workshops– it’s fun to hear how their kids respond when the parents arrive home with all this new information (knowing that I’m telling their parents to start paying attention to what they are watching, what sites they are browsing, etc.), and I’m always curious to hear how the parents responded to the glimpse I gave them of music, TV, video games and other entertainment media.
A good friend forwarded me the feedback from a church in Amish Pennsylvania where I spoke about three weeks ago. They actually printed the parent feedback right in one of their newsletters to the church.
Here’s the feedback, as printed Continue reading “Parent Reactions”
Posted in Entertainment Media, Music, Parenting, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Social Media, Speaking/Training, TV, Youth Culture | | Leave A Comment
Posted on: 09/11/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee
It’s always fun when a quality film comes out that points to faith and hope, and maybe even shows churches in a good light.
This little feature clip just crossed my desk yesterday. It’s a film called The Good Lie, and it looks like it’s going to be excellent. Reese Witherspoon… with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer behind it. Wow.
Maybe I’m biased because I’m heading to Africa this Sunday… but this looks GOOD!!!
Posted in Entertainment Media, Faith, Movies | | Leave A Comment
Posted on: 08/26/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee
This last Sunday night MTV revealed something new about today’s most popular music stars… they are mostly female.
It was an incontestable reality at MTV’s VMAs this year. Ladies swept the awards. In fact they won almost every single award except Best Male Video.
So what are our daughters gleaning from these female role models?
The VMAs
Sadly, the entertainment industry is providing most of the role models for many young people today. And if you glimpse at a show as powerful as the MTV VMAs, a show that last year was cable’s #1 entertainment telecast of 2013 among 12-34 year-olds, you’ll discover who many of these role models are, and you’ll garner a pretty accurate a sampling of their content and fashion choices.
Continue reading “Nicki Minaj and Other Top Female Role Models”
Posted in Entertainment Media, Music, Sexuality, TV | | Leave A Comment
Posted on: 08/5/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee
In my previous post I discussed the growing popularity and availability of sexually-charged entertainment, shows like Game of Thrones or the upcoming movie, 50 Shades of Grey.
Popularity, availability... how about the morality of these shows?
In a world where this kind of entertainment is commonplace or “no big deal”… I’m starting to hear a lot of Christians growing comfortable with it. The Millennial Generation in particular really likes Game of Thrones and doesn’t seem to have a problem watching it.
So that’s why I asked you the question. Is it okay? If we have put our faith in Christ alone and are being sanctified by Him, when does this modern “art” and entertainment become a distraction slowing us down, a sin that we need to “strip off” (Hebrews 12:1,2)? Continue reading “Should I Watch Game of Thrones, PART II”
Posted in Entertainment Media, Jonathan's Rant, Movies, Sexuality, TV | | Leave A Comment
Posted on: 07/29/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee
Game of Thrones anyone? How about the new Fifty Shades of Grey?
In a world where this kind of sexually charged entertainment is rapidly becoming the choice diet of mainstream audiences… what are Christians to watch? I mean seriously. How many times do we have to watch Facing the Giants?
I just read an article sharing John Piper’s thoughts on “Nudity” and Game of Thrones, and I was compelled to chime in. Yes, I realize that I’m taking a risk to even speak out about Game of Thrones, especially to my Millennial readers (currently, age 19-34), because… Continue reading “Should I Watch Game of Thrones?”
Posted in Entertainment Media, Jonathan's Rant, Movies, Sexuality | | Leave A Comment
Posted on: 06/24/14 5:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee
The biggest complaint I hear from parents is about the amount of time their kids are glued to their entertainment and technology.
Kids are glued?
Pop Quiz: Which generation watches more TV in America?
A. My 16-year-old daughter?
B. My 21-year-old son?
C. Me (44, yet young and ruggedly handsome?)
D. My 72-year-old dad?
In a world where young people spend so much time glued to screens, the answer might surprise some of you. The answer is Continue reading “Kids or Adults?”
Posted in Entertainment Media, TV, Youth Culture | | Leave A Comment
Posted on: 06/10/14 5:00 AM | by Jonathan McKee
Last week McAfee released their newest Teens and Screens study to help us understand exactly what our kids are doing online.
The report revealed some interesting findings about teens’ online habits.
Here are a few observations worth noting:
Teenagers Love Talking with Strangers:
This report isn’t alone in their findings. Just a few weeks ago Continue reading “Teen Online Behavior 2014”
Posted in Entertainment Media, Internet, Parenting, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Social Media | | Leave A Comment
Posted on: 05/29/14 5:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee
As you know, I like to keep my thumb on the pulse of youth culture. (Funny analogy. Does anyone really take someone’s pulse with a thumb?) This means hanging out with teenagers, but also keeping my eyes on research about youth culture and technology.
Currently there are three reports I am eagerly awaiting because of what they tell us about teens and tweens today Continue reading “3 Studies I Eagerly Await”
Posted in Entertainment Media, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Youth Culture | | Leave A Comment
Posted on: 05/6/14 3:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee
The following is an excerpt from my new book, The Guy’s Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. This is just one of the 101 pieces of advice I offer to young guys in that book.
In the summer of 2013, Miley Cyrus came out with a song with the following lyrics:
It’s our party we can do what we want
It’s our party we can say what we want
It’s our party we can love who we want
Repeated throughout the chorus is the line:
Doing whatever we want
Wouldn’t that be nice? I guess it’s possible . . . as long as Continue reading “The Lonely Road of Doing Whatever You Want”
Posted in Books, Entertainment Media, Music, Youth Culture | | Leave A Comment
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