High fives to those of you who have already hopped in and participated in our first unnofficial question. Now it's time to get down to business for real. Take some time when you're done with the chapter on Influence to answer the questions in the book. Then look at the questions below (one of them is similar) and answer them by clicking on comment button below. Make sure to mention your first name & last initial so I will know who has participated. And don't feel like you have to stop with your first comment...read what other people say and respond to that, too.
Who do you think is the most influential person in the world? Why?
How do others view your generation? How do you wish your generation were branded?
Take a look at Proverbs 31:8-9. Think back to Deuteronomy 10:17-19 from our last meeting. Read Micah 6:8. From our discussion last week, what does "justice" mean to you? Why do you think it's important to God?
About Me
- joeldaniel
- i like to pick and choose when i use capital letters. i do middle school youth pastor sorts of things at First Friends, and am also their Instigator of Justice (the job title came with a sweet super hero cape, so i had to say yes). in my free time i give leadership to a small group ministry related to sexuality known as six19 and am an Associate Staff member with the CCO. i grew up in Canton, Ohio and live in a house there where i try to think about what it means to be a good neighbor. i hang out with students at Malone College (the college from whence i graduated), trying to help them think about living lives without compartments. I worked at Camp Gideon for 10 years. i miss the sunsets (among a myriad of other things). i enjoy discussing the emerging church, Quaker theology, HIV/AIDS issues, and the intersection of culture and Christ followers. i love the outdoors, get a kick out of leading worship, and half-heartedly pursue long-distance running.
34 comments:
I think that the most influential person in the world is George W. Bush because he influences a lot of people around the world. He makes huge decisions that influences people around the world. Others view my generation as reckless and irresponsible. I wish that people would see my generation as the whole group instead of just individual people. The individual people they see are the ones who stand out more so naturally those people are going to be more outgoing. They don't see the people that just stand behind the other people. I guess in a way you could compare it to like.... an apple tree. When you first see the tree all you see are the really bright, shiny, red apples that stand out in the open, but when you look closer you can see that there are more than just those few apples in the front there are many apples behind the ones in the front and there are apples hidden in the leaves. So that is how I want people to view my generation as the whole group not just the ones in front. I think that justice means doing what is fair to everyone. I think that it is important to God because God wants us to be fair to everyone we know not just the people that we like but be fair to everyone.
Dawn L. =) ;)
i guess some people that inspire me are my jump rope team. they encourage me to do better. they are always ready to help me with w/e i am working on. also my older brother cuz he has already been through what i am going through right now in school and stuff.
-autumn b
Alot of people view celebraties as 'role models.' They could be flat out horrible people but if they can, if they can act, if they can play a sport insanely well, people say 'wow...i wanna be like them when i grow up...rich, famous...' I dont think any one person is the most influential. I think others see our generation as corrupt. Flatout- this world is just so sick sometimes...take the VT shootings...think about how depressed...how much bitterness...rage...morbidness...that you'd have to have inside you to kill 32 people, and then kill yourself. Not only that but the media. The media and the world combined basically says, 'If its feels good, if its fun, if it gives you pleasure now, go for it.' What most people never think about when they go off and make stupid decisions is their FUTURE! Is getting high really worth it when you realize its killing you? Is sex really worth it if you end up getting an STD, and then have the risk of giving it to your kids? Thats a wiser mindset to have-how is this going to effect my FUTURE?? I'd say justice is basically what you deserve. Definitely might not be 'fair', but its always deserving. Justice is really important to us as Christians cuz its whats right. Its what God wants.
-mike m.
I think the most influential person in the world right now is George W. Bush. I don't it's because he has the best ideas but because he won the title of President for a short time and has the most publicity. Even though he has a big spot light he is Presisdent because at the time of election he was more popular or had his ideas supported more but now after almost 7 years as President that has changed. He now has less and less supported because of how he has been alienated because of the Iraq War. I think that people with even better ideas could have the spotlight if we weren't so prejudice. This next election people are more likely to vote for a democratical candidate because Bush was Republican. Our nation can be so Prejudice.
That is also a reason our generation is considered spoiled and bratty and even violent espicially after that VIrginia Tech incident. Just because we have a many types if people in our country we arn't all the same. As a result people see someone, notices something negative or bad about them and set it as a stereotype for our generation.
Justice to many people is doing what is right. To me, as a Christian, that means do what do would want u to do no matter how it would affect u or how it would make u feel, such as embarrassed or stupid. God would want us to treat everyone equal.
Dawn...
I love your apple tree analogy. Sometimes maybe it means that we have to step forward even when we don't want to or don't feel comfortable. I agree with you that I wish more people would see the big picture.
Mike...
Thinking about the future is a good idea. Especially when you let it affect the decisions you make now...some people think a lot about the future but only in the "someday maybe" sense, instead of realizing that the actions they take change the future. Great thoughts!
I was thinking about what you said about justice being "what you deserve." I wonder how that works, though? I mean, none of us really deserve anything, right? And yet we would be unjust if we kept what we did have just for ourselves when others have less. I think I see what you're saying about in some ways...when God is giving justice. But when we enact justice, or do justice as God's agents, then there is maybe something bigger than what we deserve? Would we only give things and take care of Christians, because they "deserve" it more than others? Maybe there's both some "deserve" and some "fair" in there?
Zac...
What do you think we can do to change the perception of our generation? I think what you said about the spotlight of influence was good!
I agree with Mike - I don't think any one person can be considered the most influential in our world today. Athletes like LeBron James, talk-show hosts like Oprah, and Actors/actresses can be very influential though. But I think the most influential people are singers or song-writers. A band's style of music and their lyrics definately influence their listeners. I personally am most influenced by Christian artists.
I think different people think different things about our generation. Most old people prolly think we're all troublesome kids who have no respect for adults (and that's partially true). But I have also met people who really think this generation can make a difference in our world. This is how I would like our generation to be branded. We are a generation that cares about our world and the people that are suffering in it - we have the POTENTIAL to change the world!!!
I think there are many different interpretations on Justice. The dictionary's definition is: Fair or right treatment or action. I think justice on earth is what's fair. But God's justice is different I think, but I'm not really sure how to describe it.
I think the most influential person is George W. Bush, or whoever is the President of the USA. He has a lot of connections throughout the world. President Bush was the one who led the war on terrorism; he "runs the country." He is also the Commander of the Army, and you know the saying, "The sun never sets on an American soldier." I'm not just talking about the USA, but the whole world. He sends the army into Iraq to protect the citizens there. He has his soliders all over the Middle East to enforce the peace so nuclear war doesn't breakout. A decision is a question of thousands of lives; maybe millions.
People view my generation as...well I don't know. I do know what I think. I think we are a generation that has been especially poisoned by sin. Seeing how people treat each other at school (I go to a public school) is probably not too far from their home life. People are into things that will ruin them for the rest of their lives. I'm not saying that everyone is like this, but the majority is. I want us to be thought of as a generation that changes this and helps the oppressed and feels for those who are in need. Instead we tend just focus on our own selfworth.
Justice is to me that everyone is treated fairly. I'm not suggesting communism, but people should be looking to help people live a good life. Nobody has to live a perfect life, but they shouldn't have regrets while lying on their deathbeds. I think it is inportant to God because He wants His children to "do unto others as you would have them do to you."
I also think George W. Bush is a very influential person. Being the president many people depend on him to make important decisions. People may thing that since he is such an important person then he must be a good person to follow.
Many people may view our generation as being lazy, spoiled and that we have lost our morals. I want our generation to be seen as a strong and influential generation that is able to bring about change for the good.
Just to me is saying we need to act on the truth of God. Every part of our lives should be run by the God's truth. To me it's almost saying we need to act like God would act if he was on earth with us, just like the saying What Would Jesus Do. This is important to God because if people see the way we are acting they might start to wonder what's going on. This may be an opportunity to bring people to Christ.
Kayli W.
i dont think that there is one most influential person in this world.
others either ingonre our generation(which is niether bad nor good, i mean if you don't have kids then - out of sight, out of mind) or else they probabaly view it as being just another age group of the world. most of the world we live in is corrupt, not just this generation. I don't think people tend to think about kids between the ages of 13 and 15 as one group of people.
on another note...
the people that i am often exposed to (my parents and friends at church and a few of my friends at school) think that our generation is corrupt, myself included. most of the people on this ministry trip are people that stand out from the rest of the world because they don't do the bad stuff that the world does. those kind of people, if left to only themselves, can get the impression that the world thinks our generation is corrupt. i don't believe this is true.
on another note...
GO ANBERLIN!!! WEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
on another note...
yes i do realize this is kind of late.
bye
One negative influence on the world would be Sadam Hussein. Though not a good influence he impacted the world with everything he did. Many things changed. The way we travel, view certain religions and the views on foreigners on US soil.All these things changed dramatically because of one man. Just one man changed the way the world is run. Not only that, but the few followers he had now view him as a martyr dying for what he believed in. Isn't it rediculous how one man can have such a huge negative influence on the entire world. Our generation is viewed as the moody teen without a care in the world. Self absortion is found among many teens our age. My mom says it's the parents fault.Our generation is wrongly viewed. People our age can do more than society thinks. I mean...look at ZACH HUNTER!!! Here we are reading HIS book learning about what he did for the WORLD!! That's what I think.
DJ C. :-D
a follow up to my last post -
i didnt notice the "what do you think justice is" question up there. I think justice, for all of us people, is going to hell. fortunately, we don't have to do that thanks to our good buddy Jesus. beyond that, justice on earth should be giving people enought punishment that they won't repeat their wrongdoing again. that's the whole point of punishing someone. like when you have to spank or ground your kid you make the punishment worse (i.e. more time grounded, etc.) depending on how hard you think it will be to make them quit doing the "undesired action" or how much you want them to stop. justice on earth is up to our discresion, and it is not because we need to erase our sin or because we deserve it or anything like God's justice is, justice on earth is simply something to prevent something else from happening.
on another note...
If a father drinks his son will most likely start drinking.
If a mother is divorced her daughter won't think as highly of marrige.
If a parent cusses their child will probabaly cuss too.
you can tell a lot about people's parents by the way they act. if we think of the world of the parent and our generation as the kid (and we know most kids have some pretty messed up morals) would it not make sense to say the world looks at us just like it looks at itself - just more normal people?? that's why i dont think the world sees us as corrupt - because it, too, is corrupt.
cheers,
jesse
the clock on blogger isn't updated with daylight savings. i posted this at about 9:00
I’d like to follow-up on what Jesse said about justice. I really like your point and I think that that is one of the many concepts of justice. Justice is of one of the many arguments that governments will go at each other about. Dictators have the idea that everyone who protests them is a person worthy of punishment. In democracies we have laws and who ever breaks the laws are worthy of punishment. In countries run by religion (like Iran) people who don't follow the religion and/or doesn’t follow the rules are put to justice. Plus each of these have different punishments and ways to "do justice" to people. Just a though.
P.S. I love my study hall. This is so cool to post during school! J
alright so im sorry if i repeat anyones answers. i wanted my ideas to be what i truly think and not what others have said, so i didnt read any of them yet. but anyways, i think the most influential person in the world is you (whomever you may be.) obviously not everyone in the world is going to hear what you say or even know you. but, think of this. you can say something, anything and someone will most likely remember it. for example..i remember when a kid made fun of my laugh. that may seem insignificant, but now let me tell you this. when he made fun of me, it was in 5th grade, i know exactly what time it was, what we were learning, what the room looked like, everyone at my table and where their seats were, and the look on his face. i can recall all of that, and all he said were 5 words. you can influence anyone, and hopefully we all use this in a good way, and not in the bad way like i mentioned. if you can positively influence one person in the world, i think thats amazing! and to me, that makes you the most influential person.
i think other people view our generation as a bit corrupt. they view us as the druggies, sex addicts, and stuff along those lines. and i wonder why they view us this way...? i think i know why. because, to be brutally honest, that is the way most of our generation is. i do wish we weren't view this way though. because obviously that isnt how everyone is. but i dont think we should spend our time complaining about it. if all you do is whine, how is that going to change anything?? if we want people to view our generation differently, then its up to us to make them see that we can have an impact on the world. we cant change everyone, or everyones opinions about us, but we can set a good example for the people that are watching you.
so i guess i partially cheated and i looked up the actual definition of "justice." it said "to act or treat fairly." so i guess justice is getting what you deserved for something that you've done. but then i realized..thats horrible! because if we got what we deserved...ohh boy. that wouldn't be good. we sin almost, if not every, day of our lives. if we got what we deserved, we would NEVER spend eternity with God. Christ died so that we wouldnt get my definition of "justice." so quite honestly, i have no clue what justice really is i guess.
sorry if that was long, i couldnt really tell.
later gators.
SORRY! i just realized i wrote a TON! lol. but i wanted to comment on other peoples blogs, now that ive read them.
first of all to zac i understand what hes saying. but i also dont think that we should judge President Bush. we have NO CLUE what we would do in his position, even if we think we know. also, i think America should be behind his desicions, whatever they may be, because we voted him into office..but we aren't really here to discuss this.
to jesse. i agree with most everything you said. except when you said "most of the people on this ministry trip are people that stand out from the rest of the world because they don't do the bad stuff that the world does."
we are different from other people, obviously, but isnt that kinda discrimination? i mean, some kids who are Christians drink and do the "bad stuff" that the rest of the world does too. to set a good example they probably shouldnt, but that doesnt really mean we can automatically assume that all Christians are going to do "whats right." i see where you're coming from though and i totally understand but we have to love everyone. ya know?
Bethany...
Good thoughts...keep thinking about how to put to words what you think justice is!
Alena...
Did you know that the saying "The sun never sets..." actually originated being about the British Empire when they had colonies all over the world? I think that's interesting because it shows us how things change over time...some day, maybe America won't have the world influence it does now. Who knows?
Kayli...
I really like your thoughts on justice, particularly how you said it's "acting on the truth of God." I think this is really good insight. It still leaves us to sort out what God's truth is and how to live it out, but it gives us a base to start at that's absolute and positive in nature.
Jesse...
I agree that this group are people that stand out...in good ways! I was interested by what you had to say about justice. It seems like you see justice more as a negative thing that hopefully guides us towards something positive. I think justice, though, is a positive act, not only discipline. Like me giving money to help Hurricane Katrina or tsunami relief would be an act of justice. Sometimes justice might involve discipline or punishment, but justice is also a hopeful, postive act. I think Kayli hit it head on with acting on God's truth.
DJ...
Good stuff bro...keep throwing in your thoughts!
Kiersten...
Great thoughts. Hopefully we will take your thoughts and act on them in being good influences. I think you see a lot of potential in people, and that's a good thing! As for justice, I think you're right on in realizing that the dictionary definition falls a bit short in some ways. At least as Christians we get to experience the mystery of this awesome mix of justice and grace. So there's consequence for our sin, but in Christ that consequence has been overcome. But so what does justice mean now for us? I think the dictionary does help us out here, as do some of the other answers that were given above. Let me know what you're thinking in response to what others said on this. And thanks for interacting with other posts!
I think that the most influential person in the world is the president because evryone knows his name, what hes doing, what hes done. A lot of people want to be president whan they grow up so they try to be like the president was when he was a kid.
I think a lot of people view our genoration as kind of a rebel genoration. I would like people to look at our genoration as what we really are, hard workers, sure we are going through tuff times but we all seem to get through it no matter what. Once we put our minds to something we dont stop untill we have acomplished it.
Justice to me means everyone is treated the same. It dosent matter what amount of money you have or how high up you are in the world you are allways treated equally.
i definitely agree with u guys. the celebrities and athletes are very influential in this generation. most people today are always watching tv, movies, listening to music, watching sports and they see these people as their role models and want to be like them.
I think our generation is viewed as lazy, selfish, and spoiled. many people see the way our generation acts and think if they acted like that when they were kids, they would get in a lot of trouble. instead we need to be influential and take a stand for what we believe in, hopefully others would follow.
I think justice is being fair and righteous. it's like if u are just, you wouldn't go and judge others. God was just and we are to follow his example. we could make a big difference in the world if everyone would be just.
sorry the comment above is from Nicole M. :]
I think that the celebrities are the most influential people in the world today, but not in a good way. No matter where you go or what you do, you see celebrities and are affected by them, unless you are in a padded room.People see our generation as being able to do so much and change the world from the sad state that its in, but we are too lazy or just don't give a care! I personally wish our generation was branded as something more postivie. Perhaps as the generation who is changing the world.To me justice mean the end of carma, what comes around. Its basically getting what you deserve. I beleive that this is important to God because he gives out justice, but he wishes that he didn't have to.
I think the most influential person in the world is Billy graham he was the man i was named after. And his son Franklin Graham because both are great envangilist for Christ. They serve every day for the Lord and they teach huge quanities of people every day and are responsible for leading many people to Christ. I hope i can be like them when i grow up.
People think that are generation is spoiled and not very big worthethichs. That we are lazy bumes on the street who care about vidio games and stuff like that. I think that technolgy is getting ahold of us and that we are getting to relied on other people to do jobs for us that we do not diserve.
I think that justice means doing what is fair to everyone. I think that it is important to God because God wants us to be fair to everyone we know not just the people that we like but be fair to everyone. Justice can also mean to other people that criminals get introuble the goverment brings justice to them and gives them a verdict about so on and so on.
I agree with Mike too and I dont think anyone is the most influential. Besides different people have different views on who influence them, and most of the time its people like models or celebrities that aren't really that great just because they're famous.
I think people view our generation as basically just bad becuase of a lot of the things they see on media and magazines both our generation and the people who see us as corrupt and they probably think things like 'why would these teens even want to listen to the things media tells them?' and not all of us do many teens dont give into peer pressure but many people probably would still think that we do.I wish my generation was more branded as a generation that can help change the way things are because we have the power to do that.
I think justice means that you standing up for and doing what is right and fair for everyone. I think it's important to God he wants us to treat everyone fairly, even if we don't like them or they aren't our friends.
~Gretchen
I think celebrities influence a lot of people in many different ways. A lot of people see celebrities and want to look like them or dress like them just becuase they are famous. I think music is also very influential. There are so many different kinds of music and today a lot of it is basically telling kids that it is cool to do different things like smoke and drink, when really its not. Also there is music that is saying that it is not good to do things like that. I think some music makes our generation look bad, it makes it seem like all we do is what is said in some songs. I think some people just want to bring out the bad side of things when really there are so many kids that are trying to make our world a better place. I think that those kind of people are not just. They are judging a whole generation of people when really they probably aren't doing anything to change what they are saying is wrong.
-Kalie H.
i think the most influential person in the world is celebrities because every one is trying to be like them.
Every one wants to be in style and say what they do and do what they do cuz they think its cool.but to me the most influential person would be my sisters becuz they are great role models and do the right things not all the time but 50% of the time. i want to be like my oldest sister mary she is a nurse and i want to be a nurse she went on all of the mission trips with the chapel.
I agree with Dawn saying that President Bush is most influential right now. All the decisions that he makes affect a lot of people and at the moment, I don't think that anyone else has that kind of power.
Many people view the younger generations as foolish and irresponsible. I think (while that might have some truth to it) that is a bad stereotype to have. Our generation affects the world just as much as older generations. We can make a big difference.
to me, justice means getting what is coming to you. While it is definitely not always good for us, God wants us to remember how important justice is. Lots of stuff to keep in mind.
-Ben D
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Kayla...
i think that the most influecial people in the world are ones who stand up for what they beleive in and aren't afraid to speak their mind. also ones who are brave enough to stand up for what others are afraid to stand up for like Zach Hunter with modern day slavery. i think this because its brave to do something like that and you never know it could make others want to do the same thing and it could carry on.
i think others veiw our generation as kind of spoiled because we are to buisy saying "what did you get me" instead of saying "what can i get you" even something as little as that can make a difference. i wish our generation was veiwed as more giving becasue as they always say "its better to give that to reseive."
i think that justice is the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness.i think that this is important to God becuase i think that this is how he wants us to be and how he wants us to teach others to be.
well i hope you guys injoyed reading this because i know i injoyed yours.:)
yup i agree with the mike man about how its totally not worth to have sex once if its possible that you could get an STD. Seriously, is one small night of fun worth ruining your life? I dont think so. And is it worth sniffin cocaine once? No it will mess you up and after your first hit, you'll be begging for more. Yea, the media definately has a huge influence on us.
and oh yea I agree with Jesse, Anberlin is g-0-0-d stuff.
and Ice Box by Omarion, good stuff right there.
Jason
I agree that George Bush right now is the most influential person in the world. Pretty much any decision that he makes will somehow effect the entire world. Most adults that i talk to or have heard talking say that our generation is reckless and out of control. I want our generation to be looked upon as a generation that is known to not complain, but act on problems that we see. Eleanor Roosevelt's best friend said that Eleanor would rather light a candle than curse the darkness. I want us, when we are as old as our grandparents to be able to look back and be proud of what our generation has accomplished. I think that justice is getting what you deserve. But i don"t think that justice has to be negative, i think that it also can be rewarding. If i got a 100% on a test and the person sitting next to me only got a 70%, we both got Justice. It was justice for me because i may have studied harder so i got a better grade.
fun chatting, see ya
Craig M.
first of all..icebox mmm yes i love that song. it was in my profile once...but anyways. i also liked the thing about Eleanor Roosevelt. it was cool.
uh i guess thats all!
Ok, well i think anyone could be the most influenctual person in the world. We all look up to different people in the world who influence you and they influence that person. The most influencial person in the world could be someone like your parents up to someone really popular. It all depends on how you see it.
Yeah people think a lot of different things about our generation. example- some people think we are spoiled, lazy, making a lot of wrong choices, fallen, and some good ones would be- fun, mature, making a lot of right decisions, and really bright. But i really think it is who the person is looking at, because we all have different character traits and if you're looking at someone who is in a bad situation or making wrong choices, then you might think something bad about everyone teenager in the world.
But i would like our generation to be more of a better example to everyone in the world, and make a change, go for what is right instead of wrong, and being wise about your decisions.
Justice means to me to do what is right, and being fair...
Stephanie C.
Well, I agree with everyone who put celebrities because everyone strives to look and act like them. Most of the celebrities in the world have a negative effect on kids and teens because of their immodest and ungodly lifestyle. But then there are the other celebities as we read about in our book that have a positive effect on us because they want to help people in need. Hopefully the those celebrities will have a stronger effect.
People view our generation as selfish and rebellious but I know we can change that! I want our generation to be strong leaders that can change the negative things that are happening in our world. I know we can do it!
Justice as we talked about is practically impossible to describe. What I think it means is something that everyone ought to deserve, but God is the only one who can fairly give it. As we know not everyone in the world gets the justice they deserve and that is what we are here to help with. With God's help I think we can help people get the justice they deserve.
~Sydney B.
i agree with bethany, i am also probably influenced a lot by Christian singers( their music). Also, my mom.
People think of our generation as people who olny think about ourselves. I think that if we act the way that God would act in diff. situations then others will see that and want to become a Christian.I wish that people would see our generation as people who want to help others and people who care about people other than themselves.
looking forward to fri!!!
Katie B.
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