Kortni's Last Request

This blog first appeared on August 4, 2011.  It has been seven years since Kortni Marshall died.  I wish I could say things have changed but the reality is substance abuse is still a reality.  It has been a couple of years since I shared it.  I thought it was time.

The realities of our sinful world have hit me hard over the last week. On Friday night my brother, Jim, called me to tell me of the death of his wife's nephew. Jason was only thirty, but had a hard life. His mother deserted their family, and he struggled with a bi-polar like disorder. Jason also battled he demons of addiction. He had spent time in prison, but was finally putting things back together. He was in a halfway house and had even reconnected with his family. They found him dead Friday afternoon.

On Saturday I got news of the sudden death of one of my former Lutheran High students, Kortni Marshall. Kortni and her twin sister, Kimberly, were in our daughter Katie's class. My memories are of a smiling, pixie-like face. Kortni was too innocent, almost naive, but always full of life. There was another side to Kortni. Like Jason, she fought the demons of addiction. Her last request is posted on the Dallas Lutheran Alumni page on Facebook. Tell everyone, "Addiction is real, and it is a disease that can kill you."

Drugs and alcohol are a reality in the teenage world. The choices kids make can lead to tragedy and heartbreak later on.

Two realities:

The average teenager has their first experience with alcohol during the middle school years. Most of the time it takes place in an unchaperoned home environment.

While drugs have been an issue since I was in college, the culture is much different today. The marijuana available today is twenty times stronger than the stuff smoked in the sixties and seventies. It's usually laced with other drugs that are designed to create dependence.

Kortni was a baptized and redeemed child of God. She now rests in Jesus' strong arms. The demons can harm her no more. Just remember her last request. Please talk about this issue with your teens. "Addiction is real, and it is a disease that can kill you." I only wish Kortni was still here to deliver that message personally.

Satisfying Their Curiosity

Each year the Barna Group, in partnership with American Bible Society, conducts a survey to examine behaviors and beliefs about the Bible among U.S. adults.  The recently released 2018 survey reveals that Americans still read the Word, and it remains a powerful, trans-formative tool in their lives.  Perhaps most surprising is that Millennials use their Bibles at about the same percentage as other generations.

Overall, about half of Americans are “Bible users.”  That means they engage with the Bible on their own by reading, listening to, watching, praying or using Bible text or content in any format (not including use at a church service) at least three to four times a year (48%). That percentage has remained relatively steady since 2011. Adults who use the Bible daily account for 14 percent of the total adult population, followed by 13 percent who use it several times a week, 8 percent who do so once a week, 6 percent about once a month and 8 percent who use it three to four times a year.  Baby Boomers have the highest percentage of Bible users (51%) but Millennials are not far behind at 47%.

Americans of all ages continue to be curious about the Bible.  In response to the statement “I am curious about what the Bible says,” 29% strongly agree and 37% somewhat agree.  As expected, curiosity is most common among weekly church attenders, but also with adults with minor children at home and young adults.   

This leads me to wonder whether churches are capitalizing on this curiosity.   As faith communities we often gather around The Word.  In addition to worship, most churches offer Sunday morning Bible classes.  In some cases we also gather in homes in small groups.  But in most cases, we are gathering with other believers to strengthen our faiths and grow in our walks of discipleship.  My concern is that for the most part our studies are exclusive.  If those around us who do not know Jesus have a curiosity about God’s Word why are we not including them in our discussions? 

Aside from the Sunday morning education hour, I would like to propose moving all Bible class out of the church and into the community.  That should especially be the case for small groups.  Restaurants like Panera Bread or Corner Bakery can be an ideal settings.  I do a fair amount of writing at Starbucks.  I have found that having a Bible open, even when I am working on my laptop, can be a door opener.

If the world is curious about the Bible we need to be more open to satisfying that curiosity.

A Surprising Love Affair

I spent the last four days at the Texas District LCMS youth gathering; Glorybound 2018.  I was part of the planning committee and during the event was part of the adult care team.  It was an inspiring event filled with dynamic music and inspirational speakers.  Two of those speakers had inspiring stories to tell.  Jake Olsen has been blind in both eyes since the age of twelve.  In spite of that he has become a long-snapper for the University of Southern California Trojan football team.  At age eleven Victoria Arlen was struck with a combination of two autoimmune disorders.  For four years she was a prisoner inside her own body, unable to move or communicate.  She recovered to earn a gold medal in the Paralympics. Since leaving her wheelchair behind she has appeared on Dancing with the Stars and today is an on-the-air reporter for ESPN.  Both Jake and Victoria gave testimony to the role their faith played in their lives.

Surprisingly the most popular speaker at the gathering was not Jake or Victoria.  The speaker the kids could not get enough of was World War II veteran Don Graves.  Don Graves was part of the Battle of Iwo Jima.  Of the over three hundred men in his company he is one of less than twenty who survived the attack.  At age 92, Don continues to tell his inspiring story and the young people at Glorybound could not get enough.  He got a standing ovation after singing the National Anthem to kick off the event.  They crowded around the table where his pictures and memorabilia were displayed.  They could not wait to meet him and hear more stories.  The program team could not find a room big enough to accommodate all those who wanted to be in his sectional workshop. 

I was not surprised that today’s teens would be drawn to a World War II veteran and his story.  As a group, members of Generation Z (those born since 1999) are more driven to make a difference in the world.  Many are making decisions about a career and education earlier.  Their goal often is to make the world a safer, better place.  Learning from those who have gone before them is part of that process; hence the desire to be mentored by a World War II veteran. 

The above makes this generation unique from any that has gone before them.  I am not sure Millennials and members of Generation X had the same desire to listen to voices from the past.  Yes, I am optimistic about today’s generation of teens and this past weekend confirmed it.

Like a Mighty Army

The United States Army is looking for a new slogan.  Evidently “Army Strong” does not speak to the current generation of new recruits.  The Army wants a slogan closer to “Be All You Can Be” which was successful during the 1980s and 1990s.  They feel such a motto would resonate better with Millennials.  The Army has nearly 1 million soldiers in the active-duty, in reserve forces, and in the Army National Guard.   It is now looking for a new catchphrase that relates its story.  Army Sergeant Major Daniel Dailey recently told reporters, "I think we have to change our marketing strategy as an Army, and we are looking at that right now,"  

According to The Business Insider, The US Navy has also struggled to find a recruiting slogan that captures the attention of millennials. They recently retired their last slogan, "A Global Force for Good," in favor of, "Forged by the Sea."

All of this has caused me to wonder why churches have not gotten on board and come up with a catchy refrain designed to reach the current generation of teens and young adults.  Across the board, mainline denominations are in decline.  Perhaps a catchy slogan would speak to a new generation.  If the Navy has dropped “A Global Force for Good” perhaps we could rephrase that as “A Force to Save the World.” 

Then I got to thinking.  Each of us should be a living slogan.  The church really should be an “Army of One.”  I recall some of the great hymns of the past, “Like a mighty army, moves the church of God.  Brothers we are treading where the saints have trod.”  I fear we have become complacent.  A catchy jingle does not mean a thing if people do not live up to their calling.  God has called us to be "A Force to Save the World."