Youth, Faith, and Church. . . Will They Stay Or Will They Go? . . .
I’ve been around way too long to think that it really isn’t an issue. Sadly, my personal “way too long” includes way too many stories of kids who were a part of my youth groups. . . who then graduated…
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Navigating The Difficult Sexual Issues With Kids. . .
“Transgender” . . . “Pansexual”. . . “LGBTQ” . . . “Hook-Up”. . . every one of those terms was part of a foreign language for those of doing youth ministry in the 1970s and 1980s. I could have ventured…
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Thanksgiving Communication With Teens. . .
Happy Thanksgiving! Your kids are home for a few extra days of vacation, you spend more time around the table at meals, and you might even be spending extended periods of time together in the car as you travel to…
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The Deadly Path of Following Your Heart. . .
It’s the mantra for life in today’s world. It accurately reflects the spirit of the times. It’s a recipe for disaster, destruction, and death. It’s the advice we give, get, and follow so often in today’s world: “Follow your heart.”…
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Kids and Sleep. . . A Helpful Infographic. . .
If we are truly called as followers of Christ to do all things to the glory of God, then we’ve got to include sleep in that list. Yes. . . sleep is actually a form of worship. Who knew?!? And since…
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Teens And Dating Abuse. . .
If you start your day with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other, you are aware of two realities in today’s world. First, relationships and dating among our teenagers are horribly broken. And if that’s the…
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Facing Grief And Other Difficult Stuff. . . This I Know. . .
A recounting of a 1962 interaction during a post-lecture Q and A session between a university student and the late theologian Karl Barth tells of the inquisitive student asking Barth, “Can you summarize your whole life’s work in theology in…
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Grief. . . and God. . .
Things are not the way they’re supposed to be. God’s good creation has been broken, marred, and distorted by sin. Death is now part of our lives. Perhaps we put off the thoughts until the tragedy of death hits home.…
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Friday Fodder. . . The Meaning of Sex. . .
Navigating the emerging landscape of sexuality and gender is a difficult endeavor in today’s culture. How do we come to a deep understanding of the Creator’s design for sex, sexuality, and gender? How do promote human flourishing (facilitated by God’s…
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Teens and Texting While Driving. . . A Helpful Infographic and Advice. . .
Did you know that almost 40% percent of driving-aged teens here in the U.S. say they text while driving. One of the first times I ever spoke publicly on this issue here in Pennsylvania I was saddened to learn that…
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A Letter to Youth Workers. . . (aka “Theologians”) . . .
“We’re not going to be talking about theology here.” I’ve heard that statement uttered many times as a preface to a youth ministry training session. I’m not sure that maybe I haven’t said something like that myself on occasion. If…
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Friday Fodder. . . Teaching Kids About The Surety Of Troubles. . .
“Come and follow Jesus. . . and everything will fall into place.” Count me in as someone who has heard, believed, and sought after that reality over the course of my life. In many respects these words are true when…
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