MILWAUKEE (AP) – For students entering college this fall, e-mail is too slow, phones have never had cords and the computers they played with as kids are now in museums.

The Class of 2014 thinks of Clint Eastwood more as a sensitive director than as Dirty Harry urging punks to “go ahead, make my day.” Few incoming freshmen know how to write in cursive or have ever worn a wristwatch.

These are among the 75 items on this year’s Beloit College Mindset List. The compilation, released Tuesday, is assembled each year by two officials at this private school of about 1,400 students in Beloit, Wis.

The list is meant to remind teachers that cultural references familiar to them might draw blank stares from college freshmen born mostly in 1992.

Of course, it can also have the unintended consequence of making people feel old.

Remember when Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Dan Quayle or Rodney King were in the news? These kids don’t.

Ever worry about a Russian missile strike on the U.S.? During these students’ lives, Russians and Americans have always been living together in outer space.

Being aware of the generation gap helps professors craft lesson plans that are more meaningful, said Ron Nief, a former public affairs director at Beloit College and one of the list’s creators…….

“Snail mail’s kind of fun. When I have time I like writing letters to friends and family,” she said. “It’s just a bit more personal. And yes, I write in cursive.”

Peck did agree with the item pointing out that most teens have never used telephones with cords.

“Yes, I’ve used them but only at my grandparents’ house,” she said.

Keeping this in mind, and while it makes me feel old it certainly makes sense, if colleges are changing their presentation methods, why aren’t churches?  Why is that so offensive?  These colleges are not teaching different materials…..I think 2+2=4 still (hopefully they are teaching more than that, but this is an example), but if they put it in Facebook, or an electronic white board instead of writing it in chalk, does the message change?  Nope!  Just the delivery method, into something the student is more comfortable with.

Shouldn’t church be the same way?  And yet churches continue to split everyday because older generations can’t let go of the methods they are comfortable with.  After all it worked for them, right?  So did a corded phone, snail mail and cursive.  That is not how the newest generation operates.  The church needs to change its delivery of the same message…..”You need Jesus!”.  It needs to text it starting with a “U”.

Poetry Jam 5/20/2010

Spaghetti, spaghetti, all over the place,
Up to my elbows—up to my face,
Over the carpet and under the chairs,
Into the hammock and wound round the stairs,
Filling the bathtub and covering the desk,
Making the sofa a mad mushy mess.

The party is ruined, I’m terribly worried,
The guests have all left (unless they’re all buried).
I told them, “Bring presents.” I said, “Throw confetti.”
I guess they heard wrong

‘Cause they all threw spaghetti!

I can use all three of these right now.  The first is easy.  I am your dad.  You are my daughter and I love you no matter what.

The second is also easy.  I am your dad!  You got another haircut and donated your hair to less fortunate kids through the “Locks of Love” Program.  I am proud that you have had only 4 real haircuts in your life and have donated the hair to someone all 4 times.  That is VERY cool.

The third goes like this.  I am your dad?  Have you seen my hairline lately?  I am jealous.  You must get that hair from your mom.  That’s a good thing for you. :o)

I am excited and looking forward to starting the next 15 years as soon as I get home….and the 15 after that…and the 15 after that….

It has been a while since I was on here, but I am back.  I tried to use Facebook for a while and enjoyed it at first.  It was really great to keep up with people so far away, and see what they were doing.  The thing is, like everything in America, more of a good thing does not always make it better.  I found that it can be extremely addictive, and can turn me into a time-wasting mess.  Please note, I said “ME” a mess, not you.  This is not a judgement on you, but a harsh observation about myself.

Here is the deal.  Recently I was listening to the radio and people talking about Obamacare, and how the country was being destroyed.  I realized that many (myself included) were placing the country ahead of God, as an idol.  See, none of the stuff going on in Washington is a surprise to God.  Why should we worry about earthly concerns more than spreading the gospel?  The answer is, we shouldn’t.  See, something good (USA) can become an idol that tears us away from God just like something bad can.  Regardless of whether it is a good or bad thing, if it becomes more important to us than God, we are sinning.  And spending more time arguing and fighting for our political beliefs (regardless of the side you are on) than we spend reading His Word and telling others about Him is idolatry.

We are told to go out and make disciples of men.  We are not told that we need a free country, or a Republican Senate or a Democratic House to do that.  We are told to spread the word.  If all the generations in the Bible that had less convenient political situations were expected to make God their priority, then I think we are called to do the same.  At least that is what I am banking on.  I hope that the USA is OK.  I hope it lasts as a bastion for freedom until Jesus returns.  But if it’s not, that’s OK, because the kingdom I am concerned with won’t change directions at the will of the people.  It will stay the same at the will of the one, true God.  And no election, no social chat tool, and no amount of political intimidation will EVER change that.

We have started to get settled into our new house and wanted to stop the unpacking (I swear we are decorating in cardboard) to say thank you for your going away gift. If we had known you would give us gifts to go away, we would have done it sooner! Just joking. Seriously though, we are blessed to have such great friends and family, we miss you all and hope that you will be able to come visit soon. Thanks again, please find the attached pictures or get a Facebook account, as Jay is uploading many ABQ pics to his page.

We have found a church, gone bike riding, taken a tram to the top of the Sandia mountains for a hike, gotten the kids enrolled in school and Jammie is an official member of the New Mexico gang known as Lovelace RNs. We were also initiated into life in the big city close to Mexico. The first Saturday night we were here, our car was one of 7 broken into and we had a $90 car stereo stolen. Seriously, the guys left car chargers for our phones worth more than that and the garage door opener and took a $90 stereo. Who said stupid people couldn’t find work these days! We have also found that Boston Market and Fuddruckers are not out-of-business here! Not sure about the green chilis everyone is trying to get us to eat (we are hesitant….I think those are why everyone is so laid back and can’t drive….what are in those exactly?)

Sorry this is so late, we had intended to write sooner, but the pile of cardboard boxes fell over on me and it took a few days for Jammie and the kids to realize I was missing. I am fine now, just a bit scared to walk out into the garage again. We love you all!

I thihk I see the curve in the Earth!

Sitting on top of the world...

Be quiet kids...I think there's someone behind me.....

– Have a blessed day! Jay, Jammie, Jaylynn, Jarod