A Streaming Peek Into Today’s Youth Culture. . .
Netflix is now streaming the film “Eighth Grade.” If you’re a parent, grandparent, or youth worker who wants to jump into the world of today’s teens and and learn what it’s like to grow up in today’s youth culture, then…
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How To Block Porn On Kid’s Devices. . . .
Whenever I’m speaking to parents and/or youth workers about matters related to our Digital Kids Initiative, I am inevitably asked for recommendations regarding blocking software or technologies that can keep kids from danger and danger from kids. I never know…
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Youth Workers. . . Guilty Of Oppression? . . .
Oppression is a word that’s used quite a bit these days. In most cases, I think that’s a good thing. One way that the dictionary defines oppression is as preventing people from having opportunities and freedom. When a people group or individual…
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A Youth Worker’s New Year’s Resolution. . . “Read And Feed!”. . .
Quit and begin. That’s just about always what a New Year’s Resolution is all about. We resolve to quit something that’s destructive. In it’s place, we aim to begin a habit that promotes our flourishing in constructive ways. Typically, our…
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Parents. . . Christmas And How Time Flies. . .
A few simple words today and something that caught and brought a little bit of moisture to my eyes. My wife decorated our tree with a scheme that put these four hand-made ornaments in close proximity to one another. .…
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Teens, Wicca, And Alternate Spiritualities. . .
“Huh???” That was my response when, as a young college student, one of my campus pastors told me that “all human beings worship.” In my naivete, I wondered how one could worship when they weren’t a follower of Christ. But…
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Your Mid-Year Youth Ministry Checkup
I’m not a hunter, but I’ve got a son who is. A few weeks ago he took a couple of hours to head out to friend’s farm to “sight in” his rifle. It’s a process of getting everything lined-up so…
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Movies, Ministry, And Asking The Right Questions. . .
Later this morning I’m engaging in a fun and eye-opening little exercise that can yield powerful ministry opportunities, responses, and results. I’m going to be meeting with a group of local youth workers who have a passion for knowing Christ…
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Self-Injury. . . The Scream On The Skin. . .
As a culture-watcher, I sometimes like to “rewind” as a way to gain perspective on just how much and how fast youth culture has changed. The practice serves to wake me up at times when familiarity with what was once…
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He Makes Her Walk To School. . . This Dad Is Awesome! . . .
This morning, someone I know sent me a link to the video I’ve embedded below. It’s going to be very interesting to see what kind of response snowballs as people watch a 10-year-old girl walking 5 miles to school as…
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Detecting Body Image Issues In Teens. . . A Helpful Infographic. . .
We’re told that the average teen in America sees between 4,000 to 10,000 marketing messages a day. So many of those messages picture idealized human beings. . . defined primarily by appearance. These standards imprint themselves into the minds and…
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What Do Kids Brag About On Social Media?
I ran across this data on teens and social media bragging/boasting from Pew today. I’m reminded that our sinful/broken default setting leads us to try to assuage and eliminate our insecurities (we all have them) any way we can. Social…
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