Ireland, Abortion, and Talking With Our Kids. . .
It rattled me. It was a punch in the gut. When U2 voiced their opposition to Ireland’s ban on abortion and related support for the referendum to overturn the abortion ban, I was distressed. A band known for integrating their…
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“13 Reasons Why”. . . Season 2. . . Thoughts Post-Binge-Watch. . .
Watching news footage of kids filing out of the building after a school shooting is gut-wrenching. It leaves us broken, hurting, and realizing that things are not they way they are supposed to be. And then there are the all-too-often…
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School Violence. . . Some Thoughts. . .
This morning’s paper had this headline on the front page: “Many turn to Jesus for ‘hope, healing.’ Texas town worships en masse after 10 die at Santa Fe High School.” The article served up another couple of gut punches as…
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Andy Stanley, Youth Ministry, and Thoughts In Process. . .
It’s too widespread and too important to be ignored. The dialogue over Andy Stanley’s remarks in a recent sermon about the need for believers to “unhitch” the Old Testament from the New Testament has been going on for a few…
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Youth Ministry Relevance. . . And Your Song Of The Summer. . .
Do you have a group of friends who challenge you, encourage you, stimulate your thinking, and hold you accountable? If not, you need them. . . desperately. I’ve got that in a small group of trusted buddies who do all…
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Why I Grieve And Hope For Youth Ministry This Morning. . . .
I’m afraid we’re quickly losing it. My prayer is that we don’t. This morning I grieve for youth ministry. And this morning I hope for youth ministry. Some incomplete and non-exhaustive thoughts. . . Over the course of the last…
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Christians Who Happen to Play Pro Football. . . The Faith Playbook. . .
Last Friday night, a group of twenty-something guys challenged me deeply in my faith. I went to the Calvary Chapel in Philadelphia for the live Faith Playbook event. . . fully expecting to have some fun and learn a little…
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Thoughts on Abuse. . . Dr. Diane Langberg Gets Us Thinking and Acting. . .
Social media has been lighting up this week with responses to the words and actions of several high profile church leaders regarding the matter of abuse. The #metoo movement has put the issue front and center. The church is now…
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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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