LEARNING MY LINES . . .

. . . discovering what it means to follow Jesus, seeing my story swept up into his . . .

God's Story artwork

Easter Weekend and Teen Anxiety

During yesterday’s conversation over coffee with friends, I was asked a very general question about kids, parents, and parenting in today’s world. The conversation quickly turned to how new ways of parenting (think “helicopter”, “lawnmower”, “snowplow”, etc.) have done little…
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Thoughts on Holy Week and the Cross

Easter week has gotten better as I’ve gotten older. In fact, as I’ve gotten older life has gotten worse in many respects, thus leading to new experiences of the joy of Holy Week and all that it means. When I…
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Just Jesus?

Truth be told, I get a bit nervous when I hear a youth worker say that the goal of their youth ministry is to “just bring people to Jesus.” I don’t question the intentions. I don’t question the fact that…
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Decision-Making and our Kids

This morning, I logged on to my Google News Feed and checked out the stories that came up with the key words “Teen,” “Teenager,” “Youth”, “Adolescent,” and “Adolescence.” Sadly, the news that pops up is usually less than positive. While…
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The Latest on Teens and Social Media

Confession. . . and this one’s easy to admit. I watch “All Creatures Great and Small” on PBS. And, I like it. . . a lot. Earlier this week when this latest season of the show came to an end,…
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Discerning Culture. . . And Distress

It was twenty years ago this month that my kids had just about had enough. We had hunkered down together in the family room to watch Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s halftime show during the 2004 Super Bowl. As a…
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Super Bowl Commercials: We Have An Idea!

Does marketing work? You bet! If it didn’t work, then why are companies willing to fork out $7 million for a 30-second commercial spot during this year’s Super Bowl? If you’re one of those parents or youth workers who plan…
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Six Marks Of The NYMS Youthworker Training Event

It was so good the first time around that we’re doing it again! The Northeast Youth Ministry Summit will be happening March 4 to 7 in the beautiful Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. So far, we have youth workers registered from…
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The Problem With “Nice” Youth Ministry. . .

There have been times in my life where all I needed was a good kick-in-the-pants, someone to “smack some sense” into me, and a serious conversation where someone isn’t afraid to tell me the truth. Maybe it’s a friend who’s…
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TikTok. . . A Message For Parents

Are you aware that in the rapidly changing landscape of social media, TikTok use is on the rise among our kids? The latest research from the Pew Research Center reports that two-thirds of our teens report using TikTok, making the…
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The Northeast Youth Ministry Summit Training Conference!

Did you ever hear what John Calvin said to churches considering sending their young leaders to Geneva for pastoral education? “Send us your wood and we will send back arrows.” That captures the heart of what we’ve curated with the Northeast Youth…
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