Hey Central Pennsylvania Youth Workers! . . . Host A College Transition Seminar. . .
“A few summers ago I was roasting a marshmallow at a family picnic. Seated next to me was my wife’s younger cousin, David. David was about to head off to college, and at one point in our conversation he said,…
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Kids and Plastic Surgery. . . .
There she is. . . smiling at me from her perch on the magazine rack at Barnes & Noble. Everything about her looks absolutely perfect as she stares off the cover of the December 2011/January 2012 edition of Seventeen magazine.…
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Kids Who Cheat. . . And The Now and Future of Marriage. . .
I wonder if they really think they did anything wrong. And, if they think they did something wrong, what degree of wrong do they think they did? I’m talking about the 20 students from the New York suburbs who find…
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Discipline Gone Aright! . . .
Once every couple of years I leave church in tears. Today was one of those days. As our worship service began, our pastor informed the congregation that any visitors or friends would be excused as we stood to sing the…
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Praise and Thanksgiving. . . .
Something for today from my favorite little prayer book, The Valley of Vision. O my God, Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects, my heart admires, adores, loves thee, for my little vessel is as full as it can be,…
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Faces Change. . . The Youth Worker and Pornography. . .
When living out your calling includes hour after hour spent standing at the front of a room, your intuitive ability to read the faces in the crowd sharpens. Are they with me? Are they bored? Am I connecting? Do I…
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A Desperate Sign of Our Crazy and Empty Times. . . .
You could call this news of the weird or just too crazy to be believable. Still, my newspaper says it’s true. . . and it got me thinking. It’s one more sign of the times and our complete obsession with…
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Shhhh. . . It’s a Secret. . . Don’t Tell Verna. . .
I’ve got a friend you need to meet. And if you’re in Atlanta at the National Youth Workers Convention tonight, you will. . . but you have to keep it quiet. Verna Kline is in her 80’s. She drove to…
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Thanksgiving, Drought, Famine. . . and Ibrahim. . .
Thanksgiving is one week away. I thought about that this morning. Sadly, the thought was sparked by knowing that there’s only a week to get any preparation finished. . . and there’s lots to do. Realizing I needed to re-focus…
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An Invitation into Praying Deeply. . . .
I’ve found a new morning companion in Scotty Smith’s recently released book, Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith. Scotty invites us to pour our hearts out to God each morning in ways that are truly transforming. I am…
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Sexual Predators. . . Some Facts from the Penn State Case. . .
I’m sure there’s much that hasn’t been said that’s going to surprise lots and lots of people. What has been already been said is quite horrifying. . . almost too horrible to digest. Have you read the grand jury report…
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Joe Paterno. . . And More Lessons. . .
Yesterday morning I was sitting with my wife in the Susquehanna Club at the Harrisburg International Airport. The TV to our left was on Fox News. I looked above Lisa’s head and saw a large framed photo on the wall…
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