Invited To A Same-Sex Wedding? What Now? . . .
Over the course of the last few months, I’ve had a handful of phone calls and emails from people soliciting advice on how to respond to an invitation they’ve received to a same-sex wedding. Some have received the invitations from…
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Youth Workers and Parents. . . Today We Need Your Help. . .
Almost twenty-seven years. . . that’s how long we’ve been serving youth workers, parents, educators, pastors, grandparents, churches, schools, community organizations and a host of others here at the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. During that time, our non-profit organization has…
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Sexting and Teens. . . Some Helpful Resources and Talking Points. . .
It’s been a little over a week since the news broke about the sexting ring at Canon City High School in Colorado. Early reports were that at least 100 students were involved in distributing at least 300 to 400 nude…
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Have You Ever Prayed About Seduce-ability? . . .
We are all highly susceptible. . . and we need to recognize this reality. Proverbs warns us about just staying on guard. . . all the time. . . against the efforts. Proverbs chapter 7 offers a sobering warning against…
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A Little Primer On Worldviews. . . .
Yesterday I read through Philip Graham Ryken’s little 100-page book, Christian Worldview: A Student’s Guide. It’s one in a series of books for students in the “Reclaiming The Christian Intellectual Tradition” series. This is crucial stuff that’s not only essential to…
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Finally! Fresh Data On Kids and Media Use. . . A Helpful Infographic. . .
We were incredibly disappointed when we learned early this year that the Kaiser Family Foundation was terminating their “Generation M” ongoing study of teens and media use. Done in five-year increments, the study began in 1999 and served as an…
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What Kids Want From Their Parents. . . A Powerful Video. . .
Here’s a little Christmas-time reminder for parents. . . parents who are busy. . . parents who are willing to give their kids all the material things they didn’t have when they were growing up. . . parents who so…
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When Youth Ministry Is Counter-Productive. . .
I’m convinced that one of the reasons so many teenagers and young adults are walking away from the heritage of their faith is that we haven’t given them a complete heritage. Many of our kids have a church experience that’s…
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When It’s No Longer Normal, It’s News. . . .
Gotta love this story. In a day and age of self-centered sports posturing, this is all about selfless service and sportsmanship. Gotta love Clay Soule and his service to Kevin Koenig, who was having trouble tying his shoe. Awesome. Sadly,…
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Youth Ministry and Technology. . . How The Electronic Age Has Mis-Shaped Our Kids. . .
Something said by media critic Marshall McLuhan may have initially fallen on deaf ears, but its truths scream loudly about the contemporary power of media, technology, and electronic tools. McLuhan once said, “We become what we behold. We shape our…
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Pitbull, Mediocre Music, and the Call to Create Good Culture. . .
So tonight, Pitbull is going to let the world know on a CNBC special (“Pitbull: Fame & Fortune”, 10pm) how to make a boatload of money and status in today’s world. . . particularly in the world of popular music. When…
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The Teen Brain, Alcohol, and Drugs. . . A Helpful Infographic. . . .
Recently, I’ve had several youth workers lament the fact that they are ministering in churches and communities where adolescent drug and alcohol use is being promoted rather than prevented by parents. . . the very people who should be intervening to…
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