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D.Flood

@wevalueteens.bsky.social

81 followers 140 following 250 posts

Contextual theologian / mentoring teens through education art & skills training / Adventurer always leaving the trail / I write fiction & non fiction / DMin Northern Seminary, MA Dallas Theological Seminary Married 38+ years, 3 sons, 12 grandchildren

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D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 1

WestBow Press, Soft-cover and ebook: www.westbowpress.com/en/bookstore...

Amazon bookstore: ebook (kindle)

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · Jul 22

Connections made at the teen center often extend beyond its walls, leading to frequent visits to our home. Many of these casual encounters have grown into deep, enduring friendships.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · Jun 27

"Another striking paradox is the contention by Christians that God's eternal counsels are compatible with ordinary, everyday speech. This view cuts across the tendency in some parts of early Christianity to cast the religion into an elitist gnostic discourse."

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · Jun 27

"Christians are unique in abandoning the original language of Jesus and instead adopting Greek in its central media of the church. Except in extremist sectarian groups, Christians never made the language of Jesus a prerequisite for faith or membership in the fellowship."

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · Jun 27

THE GOSPEL, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE: THE THEOLOGICAL METHOD IN CULTURAL ANALYSIS LAMÍN SANNEH
"It is this linguistic revolution that accounts for the entire New Testament canon being written in a language other than the one in which Jesus preached."

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · Jun 6

Ultimately, the texts emphasize that the gospel is God's unfolding story of restoration and shalom for all creation, calling believers to active participation in bringing about peace, justice, and love in the world.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · Jun 6

We advocate an incarnational approach to ministry, emphasizing the importance of listening to & being present with youth to address their anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness, often exacerbated by social media contagion and a cultural shift away from traditional religious language.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · Jun 6

The practicality of theology is essential. Of Robert Schreiter’s four styles of theology, the fourth style, “theology as praxis,” relativizes the gospel and has positively influenced young people in my neighborhood. A theology that “seeks to make a difference” resonates with adolescents.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · Jun 5

Pew Research Center notes that the total number of teenagers who recently experienced depression increased by 59 percent between 2007 and 2017.” They state that one in five teenage girls suffers from depression and that depression in girls is almost three times higher than it is among boys.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · Jun 4

Social media contagion refers to the purposeful emotional manipulation of others to influence a cause, attract subscribers, or find validation. It is about generating revenue for the platform, but subscribers seek a sense of acceptance that offers escape from reality or the creation of a new one.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 28

A desire for immediate gratification compels many people to remain tethered to social media devices.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 28

Cornel West uses the term nihilism to describe American culture as a whole, stating that “psychic depression, personal worthlessness, and social despair are widespread in America.” This sense of hopelessness and meaninglessness that West describes is especially widespread among young adults today.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 28

Many Christians and churches today, perhaps most, have failed to engage the human imagination with the wonder of God's transcendence. Are we simply content to teach what we consider biblical facts, or are we helping people encounter the God who is both beyond us and intimately present with us?

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 27

J. K. A. Smith, observes the white American church does not understand its purpose; “church has only a role to provide a place of fellowship with other individuals who have a private relationship with God…Xtianity becomes intellectualized rather than incarnate.”

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 27

The language of spiritual has come to mean non-material, whereas Alan Roxburgh rightly contends that in the premodern world, it meant “engaging with God in God’s world—in the ordinary sensual order of everyday life.” There can be no separation between the spiritual and physical world.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 27

Alan Roxburgh observes that something new is emerging within the Western Christian context. "The disruptive Spirit is gestating something new, & is drawing people out of rigid fundamentalism." The shockwaves from this movement are unsettling the foundations of Americanized cultural Christianity.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 15

The evidence that teens suffer from anxiety & depression, & that they are fearful most of the time, exposes the need for a missional approach that practices a physical presence in the lives of youth. We must be with them so they don't feel alone.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 15

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens with firearms being the preferred means. Firearm-related death among youth increased by 29 percent from 2019 to 2020, and death resulting from a firearm is the number one killer of teens overall.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 15

Teen death by firearm replaced traffic deaths as the number one killer of teens. Fear of violence at school increases anxiety. Medical researchers Jason Goldstick, Rebecca Cunningham, and Patrick Center at the University of Michigan co-published an article for The New England Journal of Medicine.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 9

The doctrine of the Incarnation offers the human body no greater honor. The fact that the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among humanity (John 1:14) shows that the human body, as created by God, can embody God's presence. We image God almighty.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 8

The younger generation is looking for a spirituality that doesn’t split the world into a sacred/secular dichotomy.
Rich Villodas, substack.com/inbox/post/1...

Spiritual Formation and the Younger Generation

Pastoral Observations from Queens, NYC

substack.com

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 8

Social media contagion does more than overload one with stimulation, it also deprives the mind and body of rest.

Ruthann Richter, “Among Teens, Sleep Deprivation an Epidemic, in Stanford Medical News Center (October 8, 2015), med.stanford.edu/news/all-new...

Among teens, sleep deprivation an epidemic

Sleep deprivation increases the likelihood teens will suffer myriad negative consequences, including an inability to concentrate, poor grades, drowsy-driving incidents, anxiety, depression, thoughts o...

med.stanford.edu

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 8

1/2 students are on devices 12AM- 5AM on school nights. R. Richter notes sleep deprivation is epidemic among teens, “teen sleep deprivation increases the likelihood that teens will suffer myriad negative consequences, inability to concentrate, anxiety & depression,suicidal thoughts & attempts.”

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 8

Male and female are presented as the image of God; man alone is not an image bearer, nor is woman alone. This doesn't mean a man and woman must be married to be image bearers, but that both sexes are inseparably, equally, and intrinsically essential to God's ongoing mission since creation.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 7

For many teens, feelings of powerlessness are prevalent, contributing to a constant sense of despair. While social media may serve as a temporary distraction, it exacerbates their suffering. Crucial in this context is to recognize the deeper social dynamics at play beyond surface-level observations.

D.Flood @wevalueteens.bsky.social · May 7

Mayo Clinic claims social media is addictive. Two signs of addiction: (1)"risky behavior when under the influence. 73% of young drivers knowingly take risks such as texting and driving." (2)“cutting back on social or recreational activities because of the drug.”