Lloyd's Art Info

Many of you might remember when this song came out. You might have been a teenager and were able to identify with the lyrics, feeling as though you were being “put down” by the older generation or as if they didn’t understand you and accept you. On the other hand, you may have been a parent of a teenager at this point in time and didn’t understand why your children felt the need to rebel and follow a different path. The truth is, this has been going on since the beginning of time. While this particular song was released in 1965, most of the ideas still hold truth today.
The lyrics can be directly related to the church. Often times the youth do not necessarily feel comfortable in the church due to the older generation. Is my skirt too short? Should I not be wearing jeans? Did I just say something inappropriate to one of the older congregation members? We do not feel like we should change our appearance or personality because we are entering a different situation, yet we always fear that we are being judged, because we are much different from the older generation.
My generation, one that is often regarded to be spoiled and lazy, is a generation of doers. We do not always benefit from an environment that requires passive learning, such as listening to a sermon. We benefit from using the talents and gifts that God has bestowed upon us in order to learn more about Him and to better serve Him. Today is a wonderful example of this. From public speaking to performing music, we have a very gifted congregation, and what an excellent way to utilize these talents.
Our church has been wonderful about allowing our youth to actively serve God. Dozens of people in our church have served on a mission trip in their youth. Their service has included building fences, painting houses, playing with underprivileged children, spending time with mentally challenged adults, and having bible studies with the homeless. The service to God is undeniably obvious, but there has been much learning as well. Through being active, I know that I have been able to develop my relationship with God tremendously, and I think it is a safe bet to say that others have also. While I wouldn’t deny that my generation can be spoiled and lazy, I believe that it is compassionate and thirsty for knowledge too.
We have been raised in this church, and many of you have been a part of the journey that we are now on. Please be patient with us while we try to find our own way in the church, even if it is different from previous generations. I’m not trying to cause a big sensation, I’m just talking about my generation...........Jordan Messner