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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National School Walkout. . . Solutions?
Just like it will happen all over the country, high school and middle students here in our area will be walking out in planned demonstrations today. . .four weeks after the horrible tragedy in Parkland, Florida. Our kids can and…
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A Passionate Appeal To Parents. . .
There is a cultural narrative that is catechizing our kids. The classical definition of catechesis is “to instruct orally.” Traditionally, catechesis in the Christian faith took place in the home and the church, with adults asking students a series of questions…
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For Youth Pastors Who Struggle With Porn. . .
My head is still spinning around the message Gail Dines delivers in her video, “Growing Up In A Pornified Culture”, that I blogged on last week. Her message is in-your-face, troubling, and oh-so-true. As long as we keep moving in…
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Pornography, Cultural Schizophrenia, and a Video That Tells It Like It Is. . . .
Over the course of the last couple of days I’ve had numerous people tell me about an organization that’s addressing pornography as “the public health crisis of the digital age.” I agree with that assessment. . . and was thrilled…
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Post-Parkland Thoughts. . . .
So it’s been one-week since a deeply-troubled and broken soul wreaked havoc on a school in an act that has sent unimaginable ripples of pain and brokenness near (family, friends, community) and far. In the week since, a grieving community…
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Cellphone Addiction. . . A Helpful Infographic. . .
Tethered to our devices. . . that’s what we are. Do we really need to be this connected to our digital tools. . . especially when our digital tools steal our attention from the people in our lives and noble…
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Another Tragedy. . . Beginning the Day After. . .
It’s all over the news. . . and it should be. And as is always the case in the minutes, hours, days, and weeks after, social media is overflowing with finger-pointing and arguments over solutions. We’ve heard that before, as…
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Fifty Shades Freed. . . A Plea To Christian Parents And Youth Workers. . .
Thirty-nine million dollars. That’s the gross for the weekend’s #1 film. . . the just-released Fifty Shades Freed. . . the third installment in the Fifty Shades series. We all know what the movie is about. No need to go see it or…
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Youth Ministry. . . Addressing The Sad Reality of Sexual Abuse. . .
This morning, I stumbled upon an article I had written almost 10 years ago for Youthworker Journal. At the time, the issue of sexual abuse of children hadn’t yet assumed the oh-so-necessary place that it increasingly holds in our culture. Yes,…
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