Alone

Posted on: 04/24/17 8:09 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Yesterday I sat in a restaurant on my drive back from a speaking engagement and voices grew loud behind me.

“You don’t understand!”

“I understand perfectly. You’re failing.”

The voices were growing loud enough that people at other tables were pausing and awkwardly looking over at the commotion.

I snuck a glance. A teenage boy, probably 16 or 17-years-old, was typing on his phone, trying his best to ignore his mom while she sat across the table from him with her arms crossed Continue reading “Alone”

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When Teens Doubt

Posted on: 04/4/17 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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It’s sad, but I hear it more and more each year.

Every weekend at my parent workshops I get at least one question about it… and I constantly receive emails asking the same thing:

What do I do when my teenager tells me they don’t believe in God?

Here’s an email I just received:

Jonathan,

Thank you for all the wonderful ideas and advice! We are taking it all to heart in raising our teens. The question I have is, how do you apply these strategies in your book with a 16 year old who has decided she doesn’t believe in God the way you’ve taught her? She is not going to have the same moral compass you’re wanting her to make decisions from . . . Continue reading “When Teens Doubt”

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Porn in plain sight

Posted on: 03/6/17 11:14 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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We’ve all been in the grocery store line at one time or another where we glanced to our peripheral only to see provocative images and headlines paraded across the front of a magazine cover. Of course, now these same periodicals offer online versions as well, clickable from frequented locations like Snapchat (the overwhelming favorite communication choice of young people today, by a landslide).

Do you think your kids ever peek at these?

I asked a handful of kids last week. “When you’re browsing Snap stories and you see an interesting Cosmo or Daily Mail headline… do you click on it?”

Every kid I asked said yes.

Do you have any idea what your teens and tweens are reading? Continue reading “Porn in plain sight”

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Social media making kids less “social”

Posted on: 02/27/17 3:28 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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My friend Ryan brought this YouTube video to my attention… a creative insight into how social media is making us less “social.” It’s super short, incredibly insightful… and guarantied to provoke conversation.

Here’s the video and some followup questions to engage in meaningful conversation with your kids:

Questions you could ask Continue reading “Social media making kids less “social””

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Engaging kids in conversations about “Stranger Things”

Posted on: 02/23/17 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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I’m loving this new Netflix Discussion page!

Yeah! Using Stranger Things to discuss Luke Chapter 11. Whodathunkit?

A few months ago we announced a brand new resource on our TheSource4Parents.com page … our brand new Netflix Discussions page. The page gives parents ideas for dialoguing about what they watch with their kids on Netflix.

No, we don’t expect moms and dads to sit their kids down and Continue reading “Engaging kids in conversations about “Stranger Things””

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Mom, is Chance the Rapper a Christian?

Posted on: 02/16/17 10:53 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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It’s not something anyone expected to see at the Grammys—a rapper leading worship.

As millions of Americans gathered around their flatscreens this week for one of the most anticipated award shows of the year, they had no idea what was about to take place. One moment Gaga was singing with Metallica. The next moment one of the countless young ladies with a distractingly plunging neckline introduced Chance the Rapper… and a hush fell over the crowd as an angelic voice began singing the words, “How Great is Our God.”

“Pinch me Mildred, but did someone just switch the channels?”

If you missed the moment, then you not only missed Chance the Rapper making history Continue reading “Mom, is Chance the Rapper a Christian?”

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Teens and Sleep Infographic

Posted on: 02/13/17 3:00 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Did you know that kids using electronics during bedtime are 200% more likely to be excessively sleepy during the day?

Last month I just posted some eye-opening research about social media keeping teens awake, and now TeenSafe has created a nice little infographic on the subject. Take a peek Continue reading “Teens and Sleep Infographic”

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Here’s my sex talk

Posted on: 02/7/17 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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In the youth ministry world, February is the time to talk about sex and dating. So I thought I’d give you the outline of one of my sex talks (or Download Youth Ministry put their professional flair on it HERE with readymade slides, the complete transcript and small group questions, all for just a few bucks. Those guys rock!)

In this talk I equip young people how to actually save sex in a world that exploits it. In other words, how can I “flee”? (This talk is drawn from chapter 2 in my book to teens, Sex Matters.)

TALK TITLE: What do you mean, “Flee”?

INTRODUCTION: I tell a story of a teenaged boy and his girlfriend going to her house after school. Her parents aren’t home, they go upstairs to her room “to talk”, begin kissing, the laying down… and next thing they know they end up having sex.

The young man goes to his youth pastor and tells him, “We didn’t intend to do it. It just happened. We couldn’t stop! Why?”

The youth pastor wisely responded, “Because you weren’t designed to stop Continue reading “Here’s my sex talk”

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Lady Gaga Super Bowl Performance

Posted on: 02/5/17 6:09 PM | by Jonathan McKee

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Hey… just wanted to hit you with a quick post in the middle of the game. Lady Gaga just performed what some are already calling a “mediocre” Super Bowl Halftime performance. A little harsh commentary, I think. If Gaga isn’t scandalous, they call her boring.

And you wonder why so many are trying scandalous.

Here’s a quick recap of her performance Continue reading “Lady Gaga Super Bowl Performance”

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The drawbacks of constant connectivity

Posted on: 01/3/17 4:33 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Do you ever think about the ramifications of “constant connectivity” with our devices?

Do your kids?

I’m actually writing a book on it right now. That’s probably why I found this video so intriguing… and a great resource as well. In fact, I’d show this incredibly insightful little video to today’s young people at youth group, at church, or even at home after a family meal. Then if time is short, I’d ask one question:

“Is he right?”

Tons of application here Continue reading “The drawbacks of constant connectivity”

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