The real issue is not the muslem people but their religion. We are to love them as we are called to love all people, but we are not called to love their sinful, pagan beilefs. we are to bring them to salvation in Christ, as we are commanded by God himself.

There is more on my mind, but the mind/keyboard translation is rather akward for me at times, so thats all for now.

In our Lord.

Alix, please, until know anything about the Muslim faith, and until you’ve been to the streets of Paris yourself and talked to these youths, I really think it might be wise to refrain from these hate-filled rants based on nothing but prejudice.
Have you ever got to know a Muslim young person? I sincerely doubt it.

Furthermore, if you had done you might realise that, for those few young European Muslims who do become radicalised through disaffection from society, the vast bulk of their frustration is directed towards those people who lead God-less, sinful lifestyles - making them against Western irreligiosity rather than against Christianity.

Yours, concerned,

Jenny

God bless

brett and alex have done an excellent job outlining all the characteristics of an ideal teenager. however, we are not talking about average american teenagers. what we are dealing with in france, germany, and many other eur-abian countries, are bored, MUSLIM young men.

their religion does not allow them to assimilate with their host country’s culture. they take pride in standing out, and defying the “christian” westerners. also, as many of them are untrustworthy (stealing, lying, cheating, is considered clever in the arab/muslim community), they and their families are jobless, and therefore alot of them are on social security. high school is not mandatory for them, and after lounging about the streets all day, what an exciting thing when night finally comes and they have a purpose, a goal! they are all united, and gaining pleasure from the arab communities all around them who before, saw them as good-for-nothing lazy young people. now, they are standing up for their religion! they are being real men! they are fulfilling allah’s will for their lives. what satisfaction to finally be good at something, to be an object of pride at last!

Many teenagers (myself included) don’t feel that their sphere of influence is very significant. I personally see others in influential positions (legal interns…;)) and long for opportunities to have similar influence, though in a different way. Instead of being discontent, I/we need to cultivate what influence we already possess…to be faithful in little, so to speak, so are ready to be faithful in much. If we are good stewards of our current influence, God will give us more and provide us with opportunities to be more effective servants.

Earlier this week I sent a… lengthy… e-mail to you guys, but since then I have decided I would like to write an article in my school newspaper about the ideas you put forth in the series “The Myth of Adolescence.”

I don’t imagine you will mind me mentioning you guys and your blog in my article, as I will certainly want to give all due credit. However, would either of you be willing to answer a couple specific questions that I could actually quote you on? Technically, I’m not supposed to quote internet sites, but if you were answering a direct question of mine, I would be allowed to quote. And it also might be a little more effective in conveying the idea.

Reading your posts has had a huge impact on me (as I mentioned a lot in the e-mail I sent) and I want to do my part to give all the kids in my school this same incredible encouragement. (As a part of this attempt, I have already quoted you and linked to you on my own blog.)

Anyway, I understand you are very busy, but if this is doable, I can post a few questions here or I can e-mail them to you, whichever is easier for you guys. Thanks for considering.

To God be all glory,
Brian W

We are interested in hearing how you think we can improve. Thanks. =)

I have the belief that people by default know that they’re supposed to build character and take responsibility as youth, but they refuse to, especially if they know it’s socially acceptable.

I personally have had a strong drive to do great things, but have had a stronger drive to play great videogames.

Really, I haven’t played a video game for probably….. 4 months, and even then it was only for an hour or so. So yes, I’d say at least 6 months of no real gaming activity.

Yet still, it occupies chunks of my time. I think about “Man, it’d be awesome if I could just take a break from my scriptwriting, from my filmmaking, from my work with the horses and cattle, and just play a few minutes of Halo….”

Now, I don’t own Halo, or any gaming console, and never have, BUT, I do own a couple computer games. Age of Empires 2, for instance.

I just simply can’t get myself to play them, when I’ve got other stuff to do. While I want to play them, I want to very badly, I simply can’t make myself play them.

It’s very, very weird, but I suppose I should be thankful for my incapability in the area of spontaneous time wasting.

*sigh*

Yup.

Well, I gotta go build some filmmaking stuff.

Have a good day guys!

~ In Christ, John.