Hey kids, well I know it’s been awhile, like a month, and I apologize. I’m starting to look like RT (I jest in love). However today I give you a unique Rambling; so if you don’t like it don’t worry. In the past month I’ve experienced triumph and tragedy. I went to the mountain top and survived the flood. Don’t worry you get all the grimy details in the coolest Rambling ever. But onto my thoughts.

So today at work the church’s youth pastor asked me an interesting question, “How do we get back the young people the church lost when they went to college?” Now being involved in the ministry and paying attention to college issues, this is a hot topic at the moment. How does the church regain the “youth” it lost?

My answer to him was simple, but it’s not the popular thought. They were never ours to lose. Meaning that those youth never were committed to the church or God to begin with. They were either immature Christians that never got fed or more than likely they were just a part of the youth group, but not God’s family. I look at most of my friends that did the church thing growing then disappeared, their lifestyle while they were in high school never changed when they went to college. It may have gotten more extreme, but they still partied in both settings. The difference is that when they went off to school mom doesn’t make them wake up, and they don’t have to go to church to fit in.

He was a little surprised at my answer, but he also saw where I was coming from. Its not that we are necessarily disenfranchised by a relation with God it’s that we never had one to begin with. Most modern churches like to blame society or secular education for the loss. The reality is that somewhere along the way the parents, the church, the genuine Christian peers, any serious Christian influence let them slip through the cracks. I know we don’t control the hearts of men, that’s God’s job, but in the same boat we have a responsibility to our family, peers, and sphere of influence to present the Truth in a real and genuine fashion.

The world is looking for authentic lives. We all want something real and true to anchor to. A few of us were lucky enough to have a real and Godly influence in our parents, but Generation X and Generation Y (us) are America’s bastard children. We are two fatherless generations that are desperately seeking something to hold onto because our families aren’t there. The church has missed the boat with us, and unfortunately is viewed in many cases like everything else a lie. I love the church (I work for one); I love God, but I also see where we and previous generations are/have dropped the ball with the Lost Generations. It hurts me and should hurt you because that is us.

I don’t have a perfect fix solution or plan to grab these guys/ladies. I’m struggling with ways to reach out to guys our age. What I do know is that we can’t blame the outside world for snatching them away when they were never the churches to start with. I not sure why I’m writing this for ya’ll to read, maybe it’s just to get you thinking about our Lost Generation. I dunno.

Anyway that was my thought process today when I sat down. I promise to keep the next couple light and fun. You kids keep it real and remember “Luck favors the prepared.”

Thanks for dropping by,

- Captain Matt