The Power Of Teachers. . . It’s Back-To-School. . .
I’m like Pavlov’s dog. Since today is the first day of school in our community, the school bus went down the street bright and early. . . and I began to “salivate.” In this case, salivation takes the form of…
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Social Media Eclipse. . . .
Yesterday’s solar event clearly points to the amazing realities of Creation, Providence, and the order that God has placed in our world. The eclipse and all the emerging science also points to the reality of the imago dei. . .…
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What Is The Goal Of Your Youth Ministry This School Year? . . .
Okay. . . . this one might get me in some trouble. And it’s all because I’m increasingly convinced that we’re doing something wrong in youth ministry. . . and perhaps in ministry in general. We’ve been chugging along thinking…
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The Empty Promise of Stuff. . .
When you’re a kid, the prospects for happiness and fulfillment seem endless. There’s a yearning for the accumulation of experiences and material things. . . all of which, at some point, we believe will allow us to rest our heads…
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Praying For Our Kids. . . Beautiful And True After 400 Years. . .
When the nexus occurs, it brings great joy. It happened again yesterday. . . and it always leaves me excited. Yes, God still speaks. I reached the milestone of 61 years on this earth yesterday. (The birthdays seem to come…
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Scripture. . . Not What You Think It Means. . .
One of my morning companions over the course of the last 25 years is Scripture Union’s Encounter With God. For the last several days it’s been taking us through the latter half of Genesis. What I read this morning prompted a…
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Watching Gender. . . Kids And Media Stereotypes. . . A Helpful Infographic. . .
Our media mantra here at CPYU has always been this: Media serves our kids as a map. In other words, it shapes the way they think about and live their lives. And, with teenagers engaged in 9 hours of daily media time.…
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Identity. . . Searching For God Knows What. . .
This morning I’m teaching a class on how technology and social media are controlling and shaping us. . . and what we can do to use the good gifts of technology and social media. In effect, how we can take…
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Hijacked by “Look At Me”. . .
“What’s the best advice you would give to a young youth worker?” Implicit in that question I’ve been asked many, many times is the reality that I’m getting older. I hope that with my increased age has come growth in…
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Summer “Coming-of-Age” Movie Suggestions. . . .
As a youth culture watcher, I’ve developed a special place in my heart for movies. French film director Jean-Luc Godard once said that “a film is the world in an hour and a half.” For those of us who need…
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Happy 10th Anniversary iPhone . . . .
Happy 10th anniversary iPhone. . . and all smartphones. You are an amazing tool. Those who conceived of you, made you, and have kept growing you have lived out the image of God through their creativity. . . whether they…
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Do You Control Your Phone? . . . Or Does It Control You? . . . A Helpful Infographic
A few minutes ago we finished recording an interview with Tony Reinke for our “Youth Culture Matters” Podcast. We talked about Tony’s book, 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You. The book is a beautiful piece of accessible, hope-filled, practical theology…
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