Youth Culture Lesson: Celebs Behaving Badly | YouthWorker.com

Youth Culture Lesson: Celebs Behaving Badly
Posted: Sept. 28, 2009
Are We Becoming Less Civilized?

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What Happened:

Taylor Swift isn’t just a singer: She’s a bonafide phenomenon, and her popularity across the musical spectrum seemed to be cemented when one of her videos was named Best Female Video during MTV’s Video Music Awards Sept. 12.

Her moment was stolen, however, when rapper Kanye West jumped on stage and announced Beyoncé Knowles, not Swift, deserved the award. He was booed roundly.

Beyoncé, who later won the biggest award of the night, donated her own time in the spotlight to Swift, allowing her to finish her abbreviated acceptance speech. Kanye later apologized.

Kanye’s outburst was just the week’s latest example of highly public boorish behavior. Tennis player Serena Williams berated a linesman in a profanity-laced tirade. Congressman Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina, hollered, “You lie!” in the middle of a speech by President Barack Obama.

Civility expert Lizzie Post told USA Today that, while all these outbursts were discouraging, the malcontents were put in their places. “These three events were bad, but the reaction to them was significant in that people were not impressed,” Post said. “Kanye stole Taylor’s moment, but Beyoncé stole it right back.”

Talk About It:

Did you watch the Video Music Awards? Did you watch Kanye’s outburst on YouTube? What did you think about it?

Do you think people are less polite now than they were when your parents or grandparents were growing up? Why or why not? Is it important to be polite?

If you disagree with what someone says, do you tell them? How do you tell them?

Have you ever said or done something you later regretted? Did you later apologize? Did you make up for it? How?

What the Bible Says:

“… when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exhalted” (Luke 14:10-11).

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1).

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: …a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:1, 7).

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Sound check before the gig get underway

Lots of people worked really hard to make the event a success and in particular I would like to thank Matt and Dave for their hard work on getting the sound system up and running, Rebecca for her efforts in helping get the event from a mere suggestion to becoming a reality. Lots of the young people and several adults for their hard work on the night, manning the door, selling tickets and manning the tuck stall. Great job everyone and thanks to everyone who put the chair away and then put them all back ready for Sunday!

Break for FOOD!

Once the gig got going, it was great to see so many folk enjoying themselves. Over 100 tickets were sold so the place was really buzzing and it was a great feeling to see that our worst fears of no-one turning up were not realised! I for one was extremely relieved about that, it has to be said.

Tom gives it his all

The Band plays on

So, it was a great evening and we felt we really got to know the guys (and Vicki). We were sad to see them go and we look forward to next time (yes, there is going to be a next time… trust me!).

Thanks Tom, Olly, Dave and Benji for such  great night and all the very best for the future.

The living room Christian Centre in Tenerife is a Grassroots project, reaching out to clubbers. The aim is to provide a base for the life of God‘s Spirit to advance into the community of those who work in and around the clubs. Four days a week the centre opens and is full of people who just need a place to chill out with their friends. They play pool, table tennis and board games. They also come with their problems. It might be needing a job or accommodation. It might be a need to chat their life through with the team. Some simply come and ask for prayer.

No there is a vision to replicate the ministry on Cyprus.
Wendy Adams ,who built the work in Tenerife, moved to Cyprus for 6 months last year. She and Jade Holtham worked with a team of others (both from the UK and from Cyprus) to network, explore, pray and begin to reach out. They are already connecting with other Christians with a heart for the work of finding people in difficult circumstances and helping them in Jesus‘ Name to rebuild their lives. Among other areas, they began to focus on Agia Napa and opened a drop in centre known as “Rehab” – which was in a cafe that the owners allowed them to use in the afternoons free of charge. The clubland workers came in and had healthy meals and asked for help from the Christians who served them.

The summer season finished and they returned to the UK. they are now recruiting team and will return to Cyprus in time for the 2009 season.

Do pray for the team and if you would like to financially support them go here … or if you would like to join them for a while then email the office and we will be in touch asap!

More info in future posts on the progress of this initiative. n the meantime, if you would like to know more, support the ministry or even volunteer to go and help out, visit the Grassroots site here.