Teen Loneliness. . . and Youth Ministry. . . .
If ever there was a sad and tragic irony, this is it. The generation that has more social connectivity tools and possibilities at their fingertips (literally), is the loneliest. The research, released today, indicates that young people are more likely…
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Adolescent Suicide. . .Numbers, Prayer, And A Helpful Handout. . .
This morning I’ve been scanning the adolescent suicide numbers in the recently updated “Pain In The Nation” report. The numbers not only reflect the pain among children and teens, but they should be causing us pain as we ponder how…
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Youth Ministry and the Bible. . . Paper? Or Digital?
I’ve been having this conversation with youth workers ever since we kicked off our Digital Kids Initiative several years ago. And, because we youth workers have a tendency to jump into the river of what’s trending with little or no…
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Discipleship of the Mind. . . A Challenge to Youth Workers and Parents. . .
My friend Dick Doster recently wrote a provocative and timely Editor’s Letter that appears in the front of the latest edition of ByFaith magazine. After reading it, I went back and read it two more times. It’s titled “Wise Christians Strive…
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Kids And Smartphone Addiction. . A Helpful Infographic. . .
They were outside in the driveway playing basketball. I saw them last week as I drove through a local neighborhood. Two boys. . . elementary-aged. . . doing what kids everywhere used to do every day after school when the…
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Redeeming All Things. . . A Resurrection Song. . .
He is risen! . . .
Redeeming All Things. . . The Day After The Cross. . .
Paul Tripp writes these words about the Cross: “In God’s righteous and wise plan, this dark and disastrous moment was ordained to be the moment that would fix all the dark and disastrous things that sin had done to the…
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Redeeming All Things. . . Good Friday. . .
The Biblical story runs like this: Creation – Fall – Redemption – Restoration. And this weekend we celebrate God’s great grace and mercy through His plan of Redemption. The sad reality is that even though Jesus came to redeem all…
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Redeeming All Things. . . Holy Thursday. . .
The Biblical story runs like this: Creation – Fall – Redemption – Restoration. And this weekend we celebrate God’s great grace and mercy through His plan of Redemption. The sad reality is that even though Jesus came to redeem all…
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Ministry Downfalls. . . And The Problem of Me. . .
In years past I would watch the crash-and-burn of others in ministry and simply shake my head. “Should have known better.” “Well, that was easy to see coming.” “I’m sure glad I would never do anything like that!” All that…
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So, What’s Wrong With Being Self-Centered? . . .
One sunny Labor Day, I had the opportunity to go boating with a group of six high schoolers in the clear blue waters off the coast of Miami. Six of us enjoyed the beautiful weather while swimming and water-skiing off…
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Appearances Are Everything. . .
It’s pretty simple. . . the mantra for identity these days, that is. It goes like this: I am what I look like and what other people think of what I look like. Its for that reason that I’m glad I’m not…
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