Podcast
Youth Culture Today with Walt Mueller
Hosted by Walt Mueller · EN
Youth Culture Today is a 60-second daily radio spot from CPYU and Walt Mueller, now available as a podcast. It provides a quick glance into the world of teenagers and today's youth culture for parents, youth workers and others who care about kids and want to help them navigate adolescence in ways that bring glory to God.
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Episodes
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Energy Drink Dangers
3d ago00:01:00Tap to summarizeThere’s a common scene in old western movies where a weary traveler comes into town, ties up his horse in front of the tavern, and steps to the bar. The bartender always asks, “What’ll you have?” If you ask that question of teenagers looking to quench their thirst with something other than water in today’s world, the number one beverage of choice is energy drinks. Researchers at Piper Sandler say that thirty nine percent of respondents choose energy drinks over coffee, which is number one for thirty one percent, and soda, which is number one for thirty percent. Yes, our kids love their caffeinated beverages. But since we are called by God to steward our kids’ physical well-being, we should be aware of what one Texas cardiologist, Dr. Ravi Ashwarth, is saying. He’s seeing more kids who use these drinks coming in with heart palpitations, anxiety, chest pains, and shortness of breath. He gives us this directive: “energy should not come from the can. It should come from health.”
Transcribe →Your Screentime Example
4d ago00:01:00Tap to summarizeSome new research reported in the World Journal of Pediatrics offers some compelling data regarding the connection between the borders and boundaries put on screen time use, and a child’s video gaming behavior. Researchers found that greater screen time on the part of parents, combined with the habits of allowing screen use at meals and in the bedroom, and using screens to manage behavior, was linked to some concerning outcomes in the lives of their kids. What were these concerning outcomes?Kids raised in these kinds of homes showed a higher level of later use of mature-related games, problematic video game use, and greater amounts of weekend gaming time. We shouldn’t be surprised that our screen-time borders and boundaries, or lack thereof, influences our child’s behavior. Parents, we are called to lead our kids to spiritual maturity. Take stock of the example you are giving, make changes, and prepare your child for a lifetime of flourishing in their faith.
Transcribe →Is Family Number One For You?
5d ago00:01:00Tap to summarizeLast year, the Gallup organization released the results of their latest American Values Index. Respondents were given a list of twenty-three values and were asked to choose all of those values that were important to them. Finishing at the top of the list were family, with forty nine percent placing that as most important, and Freedom, with thirty-percent placing that at number one. Rounding out the top ten in this order following family and freedom, were health, integrity, faith, trustworthiness, happiness, respect, kindness, and knowledge. It’s encouraging to see these results. The key, however, to bearing fruit from these values is that we choose to prioritize and functionally live out the values we say that we hold. As Christians, we know the family is a creational institution, established by God, as one male and one female enter into a covenantal marriage, then bearing the fruit of children. Parents, spend time with your kids, and diligently nurture them in the faith.
Transcribe →The Answer to Our Deepest Desire
1w ago00:01:00Tap to summarizeAll this week we’ve been looking at some great quotes that help us to look deeply into who we are and how our culture has shaped us and our kids. Here’s quote from C.S. Lewis: "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." These words are especially helpful as we live in a materialistic, market-driven world. With our teenagers seeing thousands of marketing messages a day, there’s no doubt that many of those messages sink in, convincing them that their lives will be complete if they just make this one purchase, acquire this one thing, or get to experience this one great experience. Those who are older know what that’s all about. We also know from experience that no matter what promises are made, they are never fulfilled. Lewis reminds us that we have been made by God and for a relationship with God.
Transcribe →What is True Faith?
1w ago00:01:00Tap to summarizeAll this week we’re looking at some great quotes that help us to look deeply into who we are and how our culture has shaped us and our kids. Here’s one from writer G.K. Chesteron: “Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave.” Chesterton’s words hold true today in a cultural climate where the threats to deep and meaningful Christian faith run deep and wide. Researchers with the National Study of Youth and Religion are telling us that the shape of faith for Christian kids is anything but Christian. Researchers have labeled this faith “Moralistic, Therapeutic, Deism.” What this means it that kids believe their purpose in life is to be good and feel happy, and God exists to help make that happen whenever they decide they need him. Sadly, this is not Biblical faith. True biblical faith is that God has saved them, and that they exist to bring glory to Him.
Transcribe →Are You Talking about God?
1w ago00:01:00Tap to summarizeAll this week we’re looking at some great quotes that help us to look deeply into who we are and how our culture has shaped us and our kids. Journalist Dorothy Day wrote these thought-provoking words: “If I have achieved anything in my life, it has been because I have not been embarrassed to talk about God.” Parents, how much time do you spend talking about God? And when you talk about God, what is it that you tell your kids? Research from the National Study of Youth And Religion points to the fact that America’s teenagers and young adults have little or no knowledge about God. When asked to verbalize what they know about God, few have anything to say. Much of their confusion is rooted in the fact that there haven’t been any adults committed to teaching them about who God is and who He’s called them to be. Parents, study the Scriptures, know God, and teach your kids.
Transcribe →Works or Grace?
2w ago00:01:00Tap to summarizeAll this week we’re looking at some great quotes that help us to look deeply into who we are and how our culture has shaped us and our kids. Here’s one from C.S. Lewis: “A world of nice people, content in their own niceness, looking no further, turned away from God, would be just as desperately in need of salvation as a miserable world. . . and might even be more difficult to save.” What do Lewis’s words have to do with today’s youth culture? Sadly, research is pointing to the fact that many kids and adults – some who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ – believe that salvation depends not on the free grace and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, but on our works and living as a nice person. But the Scriptures are clear: our salvation is a free gift of God that depends on our trusting in him alone. Teach your kids the truth about the saving grace God shows to us, through his son, Jesus Christ.
Transcribe →The Idols We Worship
2w ago00:01:00Tap to summarizeHere’s a thought-provoking quote that I recently ran across from Ralph Waldo Emerson - “A person will worship something, have no doubt about that. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming.” You may now be wondering why I would use time on a spot about today’s youth culture to share an old quote from someone who’s not living. Well, there’s great wisdom in Emerson’s words, wisdom that holds true for our kids and even ourselves as we live in today’s world. You see, all kinds of potential idols jockey for our attention and allegiance. And even though we claim to be followers and worshippers of Jesus Christ, it’s easy to slip into worship of something else. Take a look at your life. What do you worship? And what are you modeling for your kids?
Transcribe →True Freedom
2w ago00:01:00Tap to summarizeThis is a big weekend for those of us living here in the United States. Tomorrow, we celebrate the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of our nation, or, what’s called our Semiquincentennial. You’ve no doubt experienced the buildup and even some anniversary events, where the main theme of these celebrations is freedom. This weekend’s events give us a great opportunity to teach our kids about true freedom, which is the freedom which comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Take some time to read and talk about John chapter eight, verses thirty one to thirty eight. This is where Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and truth will set you free. If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” True freedom is not the ability to do whatever we want whenever we want. True freedom comes when we are liberated from sin’s power and penalty through the death of Christ on the cross, and living obediently to His glory!
Transcribe →Digital Fatigue
2w ago00:01:00Tap to summarizeOne of the great responsibilities we have as parents raising kids in today’s screen-saturated world is the prevention and treatment of what’s now known as digital fatigue. Also known as “tech burnout”, digital fatigue occurs when the excessive use of digital devices like a smartphone and the constant connection to the online world becomes exhausting. We live in a world of over-stimulation, where notifications and other prompts continually increase screentime. What occurs is a multi-layered state of exhaustion that’s mental, physical, emotional, and yes, spiritual. When screen time takes up most of our time, other important and noble pursuits fall by the wayside, including the time we should be spending in God’s Word and prayer. In effect, our screens become idols. They don’t give us life. Rather, they suck the life out of us. What we need to do is get our kids to tap-out from screen time, so that they can tap in to the gifts of Jesus Christ, God’s Word, and sabbath.
Transcribe →