Interbellum, Greatest, Silent, Baby Boomers, Busters, MTV, Gen X, Gen Y, Post-Millennial, Gen Z. It seems we’re obsessed with naming and defining our past and present generations. The “experts” tell us what each generation is motivated by, what they’re thinking, what they dream of, and what they are afraid of. I have stacks of books on my shelf about how to relate to people in each of these generational groups, and I constantly get emails that tell me the newest way to get each generation’s attention.
However, when I look in the Bible I only see two generations: this generation and the next generation. God is not concerned with description, but with action. I love what God said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in THIS generation.”
What you and I do in THIS generation reverberates into the NEXT generation.
The most important generation is Generation Now.
Yesterday I discovered something a whole lot easier than reading all of these books and sifting through all of the data to learn about GenNow. I discovered this by accident. I discovered it by fun. And I discovered it was exactly the same way Jesus connected with and related to His GenNow.
All I had to do was hang out at my office.
Throughout the day people saw my car in the parking lot, so they just stopped in. It was a blast! Just as Jesus spent times at parties, wedding banquets, in the market place, and with His friends, I got to know GenNow by simply being with them. We talked, we played music (great jam session!), I got beat in ping pong, we ate pizza, we worshipped God, we threw marshmallows at each other.
Through all of this, I learned what GenNow is dreaming about, laughing about, and worrying about. I also affirmed what I already knew: GenNow is a very special group!
Do you have a family member or friend that you want to connect with more deeply? Follow the example of Jesus: just spend time with them. I did, and it was great. In fact, I can’t wait to do it again and again and again!
O Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
Galaxies and snowflakes.
Volcanoes and water geysers.
Summer and winter.
Day and night.
Puppies and mosquitoes.
Red blood cells and white.
Me.
You made them all.
You know them all.
You are in them all.
How great Thou art!
I want to praise You more.
To praise You more,
I must know You more.
To know You more,
I must experience You more.
Give my eyes sharper sight.
My ears more attentive hearing.
Give my tongue better tasting.
My nose more acute smelling.
Give my skin more sensitive feeling.
All my senses more keenly aware of all Your creation.
More aware of my Creator in creation.
You are in every sight.
Sound.
Taste.
Smell.
Touch.
You are in all.
Today I want to experience You more.
To praise You more.
To know Your greatness more.
To realize Your love more.
How great Thou art!
s
Craig T. Owens 