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B ook
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www.ChristianBookSummaries.com

COUNCIL OF REFERENCE
Summaries
THE
Volume 1 . Issue 24

Dr. Richard Averbeck

Dr. Bill Bright

Dr. Paul Cedar

DISCONNECTED
Mr. Dave Coleman

Dr. Larry Crabb

Mr. Roger Cross

Rev. Samuel Farina

GENERATION
Saving Our Youth From
Dr. Kenneth O. Gangel Self Destruction
Rev. Lud Golz

Dr. Howard G. Hendricks

Mr. Olan Hendrix
Dr. David Jeremiah
Rev. Knute Larson
Dr. John C. Maxwell
Dr. Bruce McNicol
Mr. Dean Merrill
Mrs. Elisa Morgan
Dr. Ray Ortlund
Dr. Luis Palau
Dr. Gilbert A. Peterson
Rev. Wes Roberts
A Quick Focus
The Book's Purpose
Identify factors and situations
that lead to youth disconnection.
Explain the impact of Postmod-
ernism on adult-youth relation-
ships.
Learn how to recognize and
establish crucial connection points.
Understand the roller coaster
world of the adolescent.
Link belief to absolute truth.
The Book's Message
Murder, illicit sex, and callous disregard
by Josh McDowell
Published by Word Publishing
Nashville
At the root of this pain is a sense of alienation
and aloneness; if we want to help counter it, we
must offer our teenagers strong relational connec-
tions. The stronger the connections, the better
equipped they will be to make positive choices
and lead healthy lives.
Six Main Points

VI
Mr. Jim Warren
for life and property~something has gone The Generational Disconnection .............. 2
terribly wrong. What causes our young
Dr. Rick Warren people to lash out with fierce brutality? Postmodern Generation ........................... 2
Disintegrating families and light-speed The Relational Factor .............................. 3
technology provide fertile ground for re- Six Crucial Connection Points ................. 4
lational alienation. Societal ties and founda-
Publishers
tional doctrines have crumbled in the face Connecting to Their World ...................... 7
David A. Martin
John S. Martin, III of postmodernism, leaving our youth feel- Beyond Belief to Conviction .................... 8
ing lost and disconnected. Violence ensues
Editor as an outgrowth of their unbearable pain,
Michael J. Chiapperino loneliness, and confusion.
 The
Generational
Disconnection =
Self-Destruction
West Paducah, Kentucky
Pearl, Mississippi
Littleton, Colorado.
These are only a
sampling of the communities recent-
ly scarred by horrific tragedies at
the hands of youngsters. Recent sur-
veys conducted by USA Today and
CBS News reveal that an alarming
percentage of teenagers categorize
their schools as a hostile and unsafe
environment. The data showed that
80 percent of kids polled at a Mid-
western middle school admitted to
bullying their peers in the last month,
one-fourth feared personal injury at
school, and more than half could en-
vision a murderous rampage break-
ing out in their own school.
Why? What causes young
people to resort to violence towards
their peers, parents, and teachers?
What is happening in our culture
that produces such vicious anger in
mere children?
During World War II, the U.S.
Army discovered that soldiers were
much more likely to pull the trigger
in combat if they had plenty of prac-
tice firing at man-shaped outlines
rather than bull's eyes.
"Directing the soldiers' firing
practice at man-shaped outlines
numbed their consciences and
made killing a reflex action."
Today, computers can be pro-
grammed as virtual reality simulators,
offering hands-on instruction on
everything from driving a car to
piloting an airplane. Similar techno-
logy~used to develop realistic, inter-
active video games~is teaching our
young people how to kill. Points are
given for hitting specific targets; in
many popular games, headshots are
rewarded with bonus points! In Pa-
ducah, Kentucky, Michael Carneal
shot five out of eight people in the
head or neck.
The problems we
are seeing are not
solely outgrowths of
violent video games, how-
ever; a major factor is the
abandonment of moral
absolutes. Establishing
a foundation of unwav-
ering truths, the moral
absolutes identified in
Scripture, is one key to
curbing the destructive
trends among our youth.
There is something even
deeper still~the need to
feel connected to par-
ents, to adults in gen-
eral, and to society
as a whole. Feeling alien-
ated in a hostile world is
frightening and the result-
ing emotional pain often
unleashes anti-social
behaviors.
Disconnection
“...The core
reason...is that
they feel alone,
disconnected,
and unsure
of who they
really are.”
To successfully reach out to
this "disconnected generation,"
it is imperative that we learn who
these kids are and why they feel
so alone.
On-Line, But
Disconnected
In the quest for a unique iden-
tity, each generation creates new
social norms by pushing back exist-
ing cultural boundaries. The present
generation, often referred to as "echo
boomers," "millennials" or "mosaics,"
number over 22 million. These "baby
boomer offspring" enjoy unprece-
dented opportunities, including al-
most limitless access to the world
through the Internet.
Newsweek predicts that more
than 70 percent of teenagers will be
Internet-connected by 2003. Social
relationships that once revolved a-
round family, church, school and
friends now take place through cy-
berspace chat rooms, e-mail, and
instant messages.
Violent interactive video games,
rejection of moral absolutes, and
cyberspace technology have all been
contributing factors in widening the
present generation gap. Add sky-
rocketing divorce rates and the grow-
ing numbers of kids coming home
to empty houses, and we can begin
to grasp the underlying causes for
their disconnection.
Postmodern
Generation
It is not what you
say that matters; it is what you mean.
In many homes, teenagers and par-
ents are failing to connect because
they simply do not understand one
another.
"I'm talking about adults and
youth using a common vocabulary
with different definitions, com-
pletely unaware that such differ-
ences exist."
The root cause of this communi-
cation problem is the fact that the
thinking of many teenagers has been
colored by the modern cultural doc-
trine of postmodernism~woven into
the fabric of their lives via public
education, secular music, television,
advertising, movies, and peers.
“Postmoderism is
a worldview
characterized by
the belief that
truth is created
rather than
discovered.”
Words like tolerance, acceptance
and truth have been subtly redefined.
A postmodern thinker cannot sepa-
rate a person from his or her beliefs
and actions. Therefore, criticism of
any aspect of a teen's life strikes a
blow at his self-esteem and causes
feelings of rejection.
"Postmodernists contend that any-
one who claims to hold an objec-
tive truth that unfavorably judges
the values, beliefs, or lifestyle of
another person is intolerant and
bigoted."
The most insidious lie, however,
is the belief that there is no objective
truth~true for everyone, everywhere,
all the time. Subtle cultural condi-
tioning has convinced our youth
that they can create a personal life-
style that is "true," even when it vio-
lates biblical mandates. Dedicated
Christian parents, committed to rais-
ing their children to respect and obey
God, struggle to understand why
their kids will not embrace their tra-
ditional values. Frustrated teens can-
not understand why Mom and Dad
will not let them choose their own
beliefs. And the distance between
them broadens.
"The real challenge before us is
learning how to enter our students'
sometimes complex and confusing
world and make relational con-
nections at a deep, emotional level
that no cultural influence will be
able to destroy."
Disconnection occurs because
of the generation gap and the influ-
ence of postmodernism, but it does
not have to result in isolation and
destruction. Parents, youth workers,
pastors, and Christian edu-
cators can reach across
that gap to build strong,
permanent connections.
The
Relational
Factor
Rules Don’t
Connect Us
In an honest effort to help their
teenagers become obedient and re-
sponsible, many parents and youth
workers unwittingly push the kids
away~until they are disconnected
relationally and all but captured by
the culture. How can we provide in-
struction, discipline and correction
without disconnection? One of the
best ways is to first establish a rela-
tionship based on unconditional love.
It is significant to note that God
gave His people the Ten Command-
ments after he had entered into an
everlasting covenant of love with
them. Rules, presented in the context
of time, attention, and care usually
bring a positive response.
“Rules - Relationship =
Rebellion
Rules + Relationship =
Positive Response”
Typically, young people do not
respond to rules; they respond to
relationships.
Nature and
Nurturing
Recent discoveries at the Nation-
al Institute of Mental Health in Beth-
esada, Maryland indicate that the
two regions of the brain mature at
different rates. The limbic system,
which generates raw emotions, in-
cluding anger and fear, shifts into
high gear during adolescence. At this
same stage, however, the prefrontal
cortex operates on low, limiting the
teen's ability to make good decisions.
"With their prefrontal cortices on
overload, teenagers don't always
have the brainpower to organize
their thoughts and make wise de-
cisions. No wonder our kids often
feel confused and disconnected
while everything makes perfect
sense to us. They aren't fully hard-
wired yet!"
The Los Angeles Times reported
that children between the ages of
three and eight produce twice the
neurons, synapses, and energy of an
adult brain. Upon entering adoles-
cence, however, the brain "prunes"
unused synapses~thousands per sec-
ond~as it reshapes itself based on
experiences. Trauma, severe neglect,
and abuse have been shown to cause
the neural systems to enter a state
of fear-related activation. Chronic
activation numbs the brain's stress
hormones, causing the person to lose
the ability to experience emotions~
such was the case with Luke Wood-
ham, who killed his mother and three
other students in Pearl, Mississippi.
Positive nurturing
has a critical impact on
a child's mental devel-
opment and behavioral
patterns. Adults have
the opportunity and
privilege to help our
youth sort through
their physical, mental,
emotional and social
confusion and to solid-
ify positive neural
connections.
continued on page 4
THE RELATIONAL FACTOR continued from page 3
Getting Up Close
and Personal
It is abundantly clear that our
youth are impacted~either positively
or negatively~by the treatment they
receive from adults. We enter into
their world and provide loving re-
lational connections by getting
“up close and personal" with them,
learning what makes them tick, lis-
tening, and letting them know how
much we care.
One day your child is standing
on the mountaintop, the next in
T
a bottomless pit. Intense ups and
downs can appear to be triggered
by trivial matters, but we do well to
realize that issues that seem inconse-
quential to adults can be major di-
sasters for a teenager. We need to be
considerate and sensitive in helping
them handle both pleasure and pain.
It is also important to recognize
and validate the teen's need to de-
Discon
Six Crucial Connection Points
We can discover and
cultivate at least six "points of con-
nection" with our young people. Nur-
turing a teenager in each of these
areas will help to equip him or her
to make the right moral and relational
Gene
decisions.
#1 Affirmation
Giving Youth a
Sense of
Authenticity
People have always been drawn
to Jesus Christ, embracing Him not
only because of what He taught, but
also because of who He was.
His identification with our
woundedness binds us together. In
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velop purpose and identity apart from
family. Although each teen wants to
be unique, each also has a strong
need to identify with a group. Parents
need to expect some conflict as their
baby bird tests his or her wings.
Likewise, we need to remember
that spiking hormonal changes ele-
vate a teenager's emotional tensions
physically, socially, and emotionally.
Unfortunately, these changes often
obstruct a teen's ability to think and
act wisely. An adolescent's ability to
know what he should not do is much
different from his ability to identify
the warning signals to stop.
"Just as sexual interest and attrac-
tion intensify, their ability to make
sound judgments is hampered by
an overabundance of neural con-
nections. High emotional and hor-
monal pressure and low self-control
are a disastrous combination."
“We deserve punishment,
but He validates
our need for acceptance.
We deserve rejection,
but He says we’re
worth forgiving. We
deserve abandonment,
but He affirms we’re
worth saving.”
the same way, our teenagers need us
to deeply identify with them.
Identification is communicated
through affirmation, by telling teens
that they are worthwhile human
Resistance comes when we offer
instruction before establishing and
affirming a connection. Once this
connection has been put in place,
we need to discover the crucial con-
necting points in our teenager's life,
and learn how and when to provide
needed guidance.
“When young people
sense they are secure,
significant, lovable,
important, authentic, and
responsible, they become
shaped mentally and
emotionally to choose
to live in right
relationships with you,
God, and others.”
beings with valid feelings. Affirma-
tion begins with active listening with-
out judgment, admonitions, or quick-
fix solutions.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn."
Jesus was moved to tears by the
grief of Mary and Martha, even
though He knew He would soon
raise Lazarus from the dead and trans-
form their sorrow into joy. In that
moment of pain, however, Jesus wept
with those who were mourning.
Oftentimes adults become so accus-
tomed to picking up the pieces of a
teenager's mistakes that they are not
ready to the leap up and rejoice with
a teen when there is a victory.
What is your response to every-
day frustrations and conflicts? Do
you tend to be "quick to mourn and
slow to rejoice?" If your son has
dented your fender or your daughter
 has failed biology, what is your first
response~the circumstances or the
child?
Without first establishing a con-
nection of care and concern, rules
and advice will create a rebellious
heart. God calls us to respond to our
kids in the same way He rejoices and
mourns with us~to communicate
His compassion, concern and com-
fort. Comfort takes place when we
empathize with someone's feelings
and respond accordingly. Rousing
pep talks and attempts to explain
away painful circumstances are not
comforting.
The
If your 14-year-old son slams
the door as he angrily stomps into
the house and announces he was cut
from the football team, your response
needs to address his pain, not the
problem. Help him to identify and
vent his feelings of rejection, anger,
and humiliation and then later on
offer suggestions about other activi-
ties he might try.
Dealing with feelings before ad-
dressing issues is a major key to de-
nnected
veloping and affirming a loving bond
with teenagers. People~including
teenagers~receive comfort when
someone feels their hurt and sorrow
with them. If we truly wish to comfort
our kids, we must demonstrate to
them that that their feelings are our
first priority.
#2 Acceptance
Giving Youth a
ration
Sense of Security
God accepts us unconditionally.
Jesus told the Pharisees that it is the
sick who need a doctor. Christ died
on the cross while we were still sin-
ners so that He could forgive us and
bring us into a relationship with Him-
self that would transform our lives.
"If we are to strengthen the loving
bond with our young people, we,
too, must accept them for who they
are, no matter what."
It is important to assure kids that
their value is not tied to their perfor-
mance. Examine your words and
actions closely. Do you withdraw
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yourself and your acceptance when
your kids do not meet your set stan-
dards? Look back at the last time re-
port cards came out; did you convey
conditional acceptance based on
grades?
Acceptance focuses on positive
qualities like diligence, persistence,
and creativity~qualities which instill
a healthy self-view. Today's youth are
unsure whether they have any value.
Romans 12:3 encourages us to see
and value ourselves as God sees us,
as human beings made in God's
image with infinite value, dignity,
and worth.
Encouraging the development
of a healthy self-view is not a "one
size fits all" proposition; nurturing
and discipline must be conformed
to the uniqueness of each child. A
healthy sense of self-worth provides
a teenager with the security and cour-
age to stand firm in the face of peer
pressure.
#3 Appreciation
Giving Youth
a Sense of
Significance
Appreciation is the cornerstone
of a secure relationship. It communi-
cates significance, value, and the
knowledge that someone believes my
accomplishments matter. The heav-
enly Father expressed His appreci-
ation for Jesus at His baptism. Paul's
letters contain many instances of ap-
preciation toward his spiritual chil-
dren. Praise is a wonderful motivator
of positive behavior; in most homes,
however, the quickest way to get
parental attention is to misbehave.
Parents would be better advised to
switch gears and focus on the many
things kids do right~and honor them
with words of praise.
At the same time, parents must
establish an atmosphere and attitude
of unconditional acceptance, other-
wise teenagers may determine that
the best way to relate to them is based
on performance, i.e. "They will love
me if I get straight As...if I hit a home-
run...if I...." Children experience a
great deal of shame and self-condem-
nation when they believe they have
failed.
"Appreciate your students' efforts
more than your students' accom-
plishments, and appreciate your
students' worth as God's creation
even more than your students'
efforts."
#4 Affection
Giving Youth a
Sense of Lovability
Appropriate verbal and physical
expressions of affection tell our young
people that we believe they are worth
loving. Numerous studies have docu-
mented the negative emotional ef-
fects sustained by children who are
raised without the caresses of a de-
voted caregiver. Affection not only
shows that you care, but it also helps
kids feel close to and connected with
other people.
When kids do not experience
relational connection at home, they
are tempted to fulfill their need for
affection somewhere else, generally
in a sexual relationship. Young peo-
ple across this nation are crying out
for the affection of their parents, es-
pecially their fathers.
"Ignoring a young person's need
for affection can trigger an explo-
sive and destructive chain reac-
tion, leading to premarital sexual
involvement and its frightening
complications."
Numerous studies validate the
importance of the father/child rela-
tionship in relation to a child's heal-
thy development. A 1994 survey of
3,795 youth in evangelical Christian
churches found that 54 percent sel-
dom (or never talk) about personal
concerns with their father, with one
in four never holding any type of
meaningful conversation with their
dad. Sadly, one in five felt that they
seldom (or never) received expres-
sions of love from their dads. Even
when mom is maintaining relational
connections, kids still crave a signi-
ficant relationship with both their
mom and dad.
Affection can be shown in three
main ways. First, when parents open-
ly demonstrate affection, their chil-
continued on page 6
SIX CRUCIAL CONNECTION POINTS
continued from page 5
dren gain an invaluable sense of se-
curity and are more likely to keep
an open connection. Young people
watch how spouses interact and ex-
press love and commitment, and use
their examples as role models for
their own relationships.
Secondly, everyone needs to hear
the words "I love you" over and over
again. We need to look for other ways
to be outwardly affectionate as well~
catching a daughter's eye across a
room, choosing a special affirming
nickname, putting a note in a son's
backpack, or sending e-mail messages
and cards. We need to express sin-
cere affection to our kids in creative
ways.
Third is the need for appropriate
physical affection.
"Physical touch alone will not sup-
ply the emotional connection, but
it is difficult to maintain a loving
emotional bond without the rein-
forcement of physical affection."
Work on discovering ways to
show affection without embarrassing
your child. Teenagers may shy away
from hugs and kisses, but the need
for a loving touch never goes away.
These are simple ways to express
affection, yet they are powerful in
strengthening relationships and em-
powering our youth to take a stand
against the negative forces in our
culture.
#5 Availability
Giving Youth
a Sense of
Importance
Deadlines, business meetings,
phone calls, church activities~in the
midst of this pressure-filled world,
it is easy to lose sight of our priorities.
Providing affirmation, acceptance,
appreciation, and affection is impor-
tant~but we can only offer them in
the context of being available to our
kids.
A recent study reports that 66
percent of churched youth average
less than four and a half minutes a
day with their fathers. Meanwhile,
62 percent spend about eight and a
half minutes a day with their mothers.
These same kids claim they spend
at least four hours a day listening
to music, going on-line, watching
T.V., etc.
“If we want our kids to
feel more important and
connected to us, we
simply must give them
more of our time.”
It is misleading to believe that
scheduled "quality time" is sufficient
to maintain a relationship. It takes
a large quantity of time to produce
quality connections and to provide
a role model so kids can see how
adults relate to the temptations and
frustrations of this world. Another
myth is that "Disneyland experiences"
will compensate for the lack of your
available time. What molds young
people, however, are consistent,
everyday relationship moments.
Parents need to spend ample
time asking probing questions and
discussing specific situations if they
truly wish to gain insight into their
teen's thoughts and beliefs.
Ask questions like:
Would you do things differently
if you were I [parent/youth
group leader]?
Tell me what makes you happy
and sad?
What one question would you
ask God?
Do kids need less time with
their significant adults as they get
older? Research conducted by Dr.
James Dobson found that adoles-
cents needed their parents, especially
fathers, as much or more at this age
as in their childhood.
#6 Accountability
Giving Youth
a Sense of
Responsibility
Responsibility grows out of a
balance between relational connec-
ting points and appropriate boun-
daries. Parameters provide stability
and authority without which chaos
and confusion reign. Adults gener-
ally utilize one of three approaches
when trying to set boundaries and
teach accountability.
The autocratic approach is "big
on rules but low on relationships."
It centers on the adult having the
status as the "absolute ruler." Young
people respond in one of two ways:
flight or fight. Anger may be churn-
ing inside a withdrawn~but outward-
ly obedient~child who has chosen
the flight option. Open hostility and
anger can be manifested verbally or
physically.
Permissive adults, on the other
hand, allow love to win out over
limits. Kids take control and hold
their parents hostage. They still feel
unloved, believing that if their par-
ents really cared, they would see
their need for boundaries.
Many baby-boomer parents, in-
dulged by their parents, have an
indifferent approach to their kids.
While providing lots of nice things,
these parents are unavailable physi-
cally and/or emotionally. The anger
and hurt their kids feel usually rein-
forces this dysfunctional pattern in
their own parenting behavior.
A relational (authoritative) ap-
proach uses a discipline system that
fosters learning and maturity. We
see two such modes of discipline in
the Bible. The prodigal son experi-
enced the uncomfortable results
of natural consequences when he
squandered his inheritance and end-
ed up in the pigsty. Likewise, when
Adam and Eve chose to disobey
God's clearly stated instructions,
the logical consequence was the en-
forcement of the forewarned penalty.
"Relational parents hear the dis-
connected cries of their children
and move toward them with a bal-
ance of love and limits to connect
with them."
 Connecting in Their World
of Love and Sex
"Many kids grapple with these del-

Their World
icate, emotionally charged issues
alone because the significant adults
in their lives are either unwilling
or unavailable to talk about them."
The Downward Spiral of Disappointment Our youth are receiving mixed
The downward spiral begins when life's inevitable disappointments, signals all around them~misinforma-
minor and major, are not acknowledged and the teenager's feelings are not tion that distorts the truth about love
affirmed. Repeated disappointment can lead to discouragement and the loss and sex. God created us with the
of hope and confidence. Discouragement can deepen into depression when need to love and be loved; yet the
the sadness and dejection last for an extended period of time. Without in- pursuit of this elusive goal has result-
tervention, depression will produce despair, the belief that everything in ed in unbearable pain and heartache.
life is hopeless. This despair can be so devastating for some teenagers that Help your kids realize that love re-
self-destruction appears to be a reasonable solution. quires emotional and spiritual inter-
Disappointments fall into two general categories: centering on things/ action, not just physical linkage; true
experiences or centering on people/relationships. Failing a test, trying to love is not the same as lust, romance,
balance a job and a social life, overhearing unkind comments about appear- infatuation or sex.
ance, cancellation of an anticipated event~all of these disappointments need Today's youth are constantly
to be taken seriously. Watch carefully for evidence of disappointment, and bombarded with sexually oriented
then move in quickly to connect through affirming responses. Words and and explicit messages. The media
gestures of comfort tell an adolescent that you recognize the hurt and that portray sex as exciting and glamor-
you understand the pain. Once this foundation is established, communicate ous, tempting teens to get in on the
your acceptance of the teen~apart from the circumstances of the disappoint- fun. Many young people find that
ment. sexual pleasure affords a temporary
Look for a positive element within the disappointment and offer affir- respite from emotional emptiness.
mation. Your appreciation and support may take the form of practical assis- Teenagers, angry at the distance
tance or advice to avoid future disappointments. Spend time encouraging between them and their parents, may
your youth to refocus on their goals so that discouragement will not pull use sex as an expression of rebellion
them down. Entering into a teenager's disappointments tells him he is not and defiance.
alone.

Their World of Relational Losses “If I were asked to

Disappointments involving people or relationships bring about signi- name the number-one
ficant pain and a deep sense of loss. There are five major areas that bring reason a child yields
about feelings of separation and loss.
Moving away (or experiencing the move of a friend) to sexual pressure,
Rejection by friends at the top of my list
Divorce/family separation would be adolescent
Ending of a romance
Death of family or friends alienation brought
on by parental
Do not worry about saying the right thing; comfort and compassion inattentiveness.”
have more to do with being there emotionally alongside someone, than
in speaking the right words.
Make sex an open door topic;
Their World of Conflicts welcome any question at any time.
Commit yourself to stay connected, even in the midst of conflict. Look Establish your guidelines for sexual
for the underlying relational needs and focus on connecting at those points. behavior within the context of the
intimate relational connection you
Conflict is inevitable, but when your child can tell that you are sincere- have already built with your kids.
ly trying to connect, it goes a long way towards resolving the problem. An
excellent way to head off conflict is to schedule time alone to discuss ways
to keep the lines of communication open.
 Beyond Belief

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Book
to Conviction
What do kids want The basis of our young people's
Summaries
Volume 1, Number 24
Publishers
out of life? They want the same faith is a subjective belief that has David A. Martin
things we do~"a healthy and rela- no substantiating basis. Such "faith"
tionally meaningful life on earth and John S. Martin, III
has no power to guard the believer
a home in heaven." Adults who play against making wrong choices. Editor
a significant role in a young person's Michael J. Chiapperino
life can establish relational connec- Bringing our young people be- Christian Book Summaries is published
tions that will impact the teen for a yond shallow belief involves convin- by Christian Book Summaries, Inc., 850
lifetime. These horizontal connec- cing their hearts and minds of God's Morrison Road, Gahanna, Ohio 43230.
tions play a vital role in helping our truth. They need to embrace a per- U.S. Copyright C 2000 by Christian
youth connect with God. sonal, relational connection with Book Summaries, Inc. All rights reserved.
Christ, while also receiving evidence Reproduction in any form without the
In a recent study of over 3,700 of that truth so they can understand copyright owner's written permission is
church youth, 46 percent of teens with their minds why they believe prohibited.
believed that all faiths lead to the what they believe. The mission of Christian Book Summaries
same truths, and 65 percent said is to enhance the ministry of thinking
there was no way to tell which world
We can only get this message Christians by providing thorough and
religion was actually true! across to a postmodern generation readable summaries of noteworthy books
by showing how Christianity from Christian publishers.
will work for them in their The opinions expressed are those
“Most young people own lives, then teaching them of the original writers and are not
do not choose that it works because it is true; necessarily those of Christian Book
this is the true relational con- Summaries or its Council of Reference.
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The author: Josh McDowell, internation-
ally known speaker, author, and traveling
representative of Campus Crusade for
Christ International, has authored or co-
authored more than 50 books, including
To Our Subscribers: Right from Wrong and Handbook for Coun-
seling Youth. Josh and his wife, Dottie,
Issues 23, 24, and 25 will be the final have four children and live in Dallas.
Christian Book Summaries published in print form. The Disconnected Generation by Josh Mc-
Dowell, copyright C 2000 by Josh McDowell
We are pleased to announce that the printed version and Ed Stewart. Summarized by permission
will be replaced by a downloadable of the publisher, Word Publishing, Nashville,
Tennessee. ISBN 0-8499-4077-X. $14.99.
e-mail version, offered free of charge, This book is available at most Christian
this fall. Log on to our website at bookstores, at any online bookseller (such
as Amazon.com or Parable.com) or by call-
www.christianbooksummaries.com for more details ing Word Publishing at 1-800-251-4000.
about this exciting new development. You may also visit the Word website at
www.wordpublishing.com.