I spend my days writing for and training youth workers JUST LIKE YOU.
The Unpardonable Sin In Youth Ministry?
What do you do when a kid (or kids) from a fellow youth workers youth group comes to your youth ministry? If you're in a small town, like mine, you're going to have kids church hop. Kids will make the rounds from youth group to youth group. You...
I Don’t Want You To Be A Better Youth Pastor
Making life-long followers of Jesus. It's kind of the point of my blog here. Every idea, video, etc, is meant to encourage you to think long term. To change something about yourself, your program, or even your theology when it some to making...
Sorry, You’re Not A Member? Are You Kidding Me Church?
Just had a conversation with a friend of mine. Her and her husband wanted counseling to work on their marriage. As many of us, who wanted help I our marriage, we'd look outside of our church because we might think the people in our church were too...
The Best Summer Job Ever!
If you've been following this blog for any amount of time you know I love camp, and not just any camp, Life For Youth Camp to be exact. They're looking for summer counselors and, if you are a youth worker, I'd like you to consider sharing this...
Don’t Be Surprised
Christians under daily punishment flourish all the more. This is the high rank to which God appointed them; and it is not permitted to seek exemption. - Ignatius Ignatius seemed kind of obsessed with martyrdom, at least according to his...
Audit Your Circle
If you've kept up with this blog you know there are a few people I like to quote, Seth Godin, Gary Vaynerchuk (where I got audit your circle), etc. and none of them are Christians, let alone Pastors. "So, why do you quote them Paul?" Because...
I’m A Youth Pastor First
I have been cranking out quite a bit of content lately and boy is my throat and fingers tired lol. In case you did not know, this is what my schedule kind of looks like in an average week. Up at 6:00 a.m. (most days) Morning Facebook Live Devotion...
New Resource: Follow 5
This is a blog about discipleship, so it's natural that I create curriculum, lessons, and retreats around the subject. Today I offer Follow 5. Follow 5 is really my manifesto on discipleship. It's takes students past the "pray, read your bible,...
5 Options To Consider Before You Go Nuclear
In light of the United Airlines debacle, I thought we should talk about how we should respond to the occasional obstinate teenager without losing our minds and reputations. If you're not aware of the United Airlines incident, it's simple, United...
Movie Review: My Case For The Case For Christ
I just got back from watching The Case For Christ. I read the book, ok, read is a strong word; I glanced really hard though the book when it first came out in 1998. It's a very good reference book for getting the conversation started about...
Fix The Well Not The Sink
I heard the phrase "Fix the well, not the sink" the other day on The GaryVee show. I thought the phrase was worth exploring. We all have a well, a depth of heart and spirit where everything we think and say draws from. I don't know how many times...
One Too Many Battles Has Led To This
I was thinking about why I'm so touchy lately and this thought came to me. "My armor is broken" I've already discussed, in a previous post, that I am in the midst of a period of burnout. This probably means I have some vulnerable spots where sharp...
Four Reasons Why AI Will Never Take My Job
The question each of us has to ask is simple (but difficult): What can I become quite good at that's really difficult for a computer to do one day soon? - Seth Godin There are a lot of jobs, well, just about every job has been affected by...
I Didn’t Go To College For Youth Ministry, But Here I Am 26 Years Later
In fact, I did not gain a degree from any college. I am one class (Math) shy of an AA from my local community college. So, what’s a guy with no college degree in youth ministry busy doing creating his own courses on youth ministry? Before I answer...
Is Their Approval Worth The Effort?
“Jesus calls us to his rest, and meekness is His method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort.” ― A.W. Tozer, Pursuit of God Tozer says that the...
The Disciple Project OUTREACH MANUAL
HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR DECAYING YOUTH MEETING INTO A FLOURISHING CITY-WIDE MOVEMENT