I spend my days writing for and training youth workers JUST LIKE YOU.
Divergent Left Me Hungry To Read The Book Again
Warning: Spoiler Heavy Before I went to the movies I stopped off and picked up some crackers, the kind with peanut butter and the other kind with sour cream. They made for a great snack while watching Divergent today (don't judge me, you've done...
Comic Book Movies As A Catalyst For Spiritual Growth
short rant: Yesterday I was listening to the Iron Man 3 soundtrack (songs inspired by the movie) and was saddened by the lack of inspiration on the songs. Looks like the bands did not see the movie. This is an action movie, but the songs don't...
7 Tips For Turning Movies Into Messages
With #BatmanvsSuperman out I thought it would be good to offer some tips for turning media into messages, for those who like to preach the movies. I did a video on the subject and added a few more below. 1. Choose the right movie Not every...
Is Your Youth Ministry Struggling To Be Epic?
I was listening to a local sports show the other day and they were asking listeners what teams they were going to give up for lent this year. People called in an gave up in The Chargers, Kentucky basketball, and a host of other...
3 Insights About Youtube, Youth Culture, and Gaming
I was scrolling through some Mashable articles and saw a headline with Justin Bieber and Minecraft in the same sentence. That immediately got my attention, not because I am a Belieber or because I'm a Minecraft crafter, but because the guys...
Youth Workers: Are You Part Of A Church Family or Spiritual Foster Home?
Pic link I am adopted. Now, this is not a phrase you can add, "and I am proud of it!" to it. I had no choice. I was left by my birth parents at the hospital and some time in the next few months I was adopted. I had great parents who fed me,...
My Painful Realization Of How Powerless My Youth Ministry Is
This morning I woke up with my usual Wednesday night youth program hangover. It was a long night, but last night felt longer than most because of the news I received. We are in week three of what I call the Disciple Project, three months of fine...
The Lego Movie Connects Creativty and Life, Makes Wonder
Let me make an admission before I begin. I was a Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys kind of kid growing up. Lego wasn't as cool back then so I have no vast history with Lego and I am not a Lego fan boy. On the other hand, my son grew up with a Lego Star...
Maybe Our Best Work Is Yet To Come
The Thriller by Hal Lasko. You can buy a print by clicking HERE I had a momentary existential crisis watching the video below and thought I'd tap out a few thoughts. We all are trying to put our best work out there no matter what age we...
6 Ways To Do Safe Youth Ministry
Do you remember Gus Griswald (Griswold) from the cartoon Recess? Gus was a worry worry wart of sorts. In one episode he earned the nick-name Safety Man from the kindergarteners he had to watch during the recess time. Gus spent the whole...
Life Hack: Learning To Waste Time Better
My morning is simple. I have a cup of coffee, I read my Bible and/or devotion book, I write or blog for about an hour, and then I get my rear end in gear. Today I screwed all that up. I wasted time and I thrilled to report that I think I...
Peyton Manning And Becoming An MVP Youth Worker
Peyton earned his 5th MVP yesterday and it was well deserved. But what do I think specifically earned him the title? I think it was his preparation, work ethic, and attention to detail that earned him the title. Today, the day of Superbowl XLVIIII,...
99% of Youth Workers Don’t Have This
Don't have a youth group over 12 kids. Don't have a blog. Don't have 5,000 follower on Twitter or even a Twitter account. Don't have awesome facilitates. Don't have a budget. Don't play the guitar or any instrument for that matter. Don't have a web...
Win A Set Of Story Cubes For Your Youth Ministry
I am using Story Cubes with my youth ministry to help kids get into story mode about sharing their faith, but there are other ways to use them in your ministry as well. Here's the original video where I talk about Story Cubes Three Ways You Can Use...
Casting Out The Spirit Of Quit
I quit a lot, at least mentally, I quit my job, my life, etc. multiple times a day but I am getting better at "casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity...
The Disciple Project OUTREACH MANUAL
HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR DECAYING YOUTH MEETING INTO A FLOURISHING CITY-WIDE MOVEMENT