I spend my days writing for and training youth workers JUST LIKE YOU.
3 Benefits Of Joining The Crash And Burn Society
I saw where a youth workers had posted that she had crashed and burned in her big group talk. Needless to say youth workers began affirming her that she was now a part of "the club". As youth workers we speak, on average speaker 50 weeks a year,...
Blogging A.D. Episode 2
If you are just jumping in on the series, you can check out my summary of episode 1 HERE. Caution: There are spoilers (in regards to back story ) This episode begins with a compelling scene, not found in scripture, between Pilate and Caiaphas. It...
A Reminder To Stay Purple
I was browsing some books in the thrift store not too long ago and one of them was called The Golden Sayings of Epictetus and this quote caught my eye: Because you think yourself but one among the many threads which makes up the texture of...
Praying The Apostle’s Creed Part 1: I Believe
I learned the Apostles Creed as a child and my ability to quote it help participate with others in the weekly mass. I haven't payed much attention to the creed as late. but there seems to have been a renewal of the creed with the song We Believe...
Being Real In A Ghost World
As of late, these lyrics by Switchfoot are stuck in my mind I've been awake for an hour or so Checking for a pulse but I just don't know Am I a man when I feel like a...
Blogging A.D. Episode 1
I just finished watching A.D. The Bible Continues from producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnette. Did it live up to the hype? Being the first episode I give it high marks. The episode begins with the crucifixion and ends with the resurrection...
How To Perform A Youth Ministry Autopsy
Sounds morbid doesn't it? You have a "dead" youth ministry and you want to know what or who killed it. Mostly, we want to know if we were the "killer". In the midst of a suspicious death you have to look for clues and evidence to see if...
Does Your Youth Ministry Really Need A Mission Statement?
I get an eye tick when I think about all the vision casting, missions statement writing, and five point purpose driven word gymnastics I've gone through over the years. When I came to my newest ministry five years ago I tried to change the...
The Worst Thing That Can Happen To A Youth Pastor
The other night I felt like the Lord gave me three examples of the worst thing that could happen to any youth group but it's also the worst thing that can happen to any youth pastor (or any believer). Picture # 1 The first word picture God gave me...
Push Forward Or Shrink Back
We have two choices to make. The first option is to push forward. Pushing froward requires hope, vision, and faith to accomplish something. Pushing forward feels good. Pushing forward shows you have, if nothing else, determination. People...
Your Guys Need A F.I.G.H.T CLUB
I really identify with many of the guys in my youth ministry. Many of them are living stories now that I lived when I was there age. I was talking with a young man last night about his alcoholic parents and so many of the kids in my group have...
Surviving A Soul Concussion
Have you heard about Chris Borland, the 24 year old rookie linebacker for SF, retiring after just one year in the NFL? It shocked me too but I totally understand it. He decided the risks of receiving multiple concussions and shortening his...
Two Questions That Could Change Your Youth Ministry
If you read my post yesterday I had a few thoughts on Pastor Nieuwhof's predictions about the future of church attendance . I conducted a two question Twitterview with Pastor Nieuwhof and he was very gracious to answer my questions. If you...
If You Are Not Doing The E Word, You’re Not Making Disciples
Did you guess the E Word? Did you think the E word was Evangelism? Exhortation? Espresso? All fine guesses and two of the three are correct, in a way, because the E-Word is Engagement. In fact, if you offer me Espresso I will also be fully engaged....
The Church We Are Looking For Doesn’t Exist
If we are looking for A church without conflict A church without Pharisees A church without hypocrites A church without money issues A church without weird people Sorry, it doesn't exist and never has, but it will, someday. The church...
The Disciple Project OUTREACH MANUAL
HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR DECAYING YOUTH MEETING INTO A FLOURISHING CITY-WIDE MOVEMENT