Coffee I’m Drinking
Apologies with this post. I was testing out the new Pressgram app that allows one to take Instragram like pictures and post them to a blog.
Articles — Page 14
Faith Must Reside First in a Parent
The power of a parent is to exude and model faith: “Here in this opening injunction (the Shema), God invites Israel to enter into a wholehearted love relationship with Him. But the passionate, all-consuming love for God expected in the Shema cannot be impressed on any child without residing first in the parent. Sooner or later children […]
Teachers Don’t Work Hard Enough? // Infographic
I know quite a lot of teachers. They work very hard, put in a lot of hours, and most care deeply about the students they teach. It’s helpful to know and see what they do each and every day as well as each year. source Upworthy
Warren Buffett’s Ten Rules
You gotta love Jimmy John’s for putting up great signs in their restaurants! My favorite? Never Suck Your Thumb!
Youth Group Expectations // Inner City, Urban
I was in Milwaukee, WI about a month ago now attending our denomination’s annual District Conference @ Transformation City Church. My friend, Kevin Sas is the youth pastor there and he had the rules or “expectations” he called them handwritten and taped to the wall in the youth room in a couple of places. Expectations […]
Macie’s Dedication
We dedicated Macie back on Mother’s Day. With Sari, we had her dedicated when she was still an infant, but with Macie, we just kept postponing it. HWC didn’t really have a regular baby dedication rhythm (now we do) and it got away from us. Since I’m the children’s pastor and we’ve been wanting to […]
“To This Day” Anti-Bullying Video
Shane Koyczan relates a childhood experience where he was branded a name and then that name stuck. Poetically, Koyczan goes on to share a few experiences others might have endured as someone who is misunderstood in their formative years. It’s an amazing video to watch! It’s also an amazing message to share. source YouTube
The Evolution of the Swimsuit and a Discussion About Modesty
Jessica Rey walks through the history of the swimsuit and starts a discussion in the modern arena about modesty:
We Don’t Go Far Enough…
I don’t think we go far enough in our teachings of Scripture to children, youth or adults. It’s been modeled to me and I see it all over current curriculum that we teach and implore people to do better, to be more responsible, to try not to do something, and to keep working at it. […]
Honest Question from a Teenage Girl @ Youth Camp 2013
“I know I gave God my all… but what if He screws it up?” Quote from a teenage girl @ Youth Camp 2013
Can We Prevent Bad Things in Life?
“As a saint of God, my attitude toward sorrow and difficulty should not be to ask that they be prevented, but to ask that God protect me so that I may remain what He created me to be, in spite of all my fires of sorrow.” As humans who live in a world that we […]
I Got a New Job
I got a new job! Well, kinda. I have “new” job parameters. Pastor Loretta Sunderland has been the High School Youth pastor for over 15 years and she is transitioning into a new role at Hayward Wesleyan Church. So I will be assuming the high school ministry at Hayward Wesleyan starting sometime this summer. I’ll be […]
If There Is a Chance of Repentance, God Takes It
“When there is any hope at all of persuasion, God goes for conviction and conversion, not condemnation. God never denounces somebody in such a way that sets up the person being denounced for failure.” Tim Keller, David and Bathsheba
What Gets Through to Teens…
“What gets through to teens are factual messages, in context, delivered consistently, over time, that parents echo.” source USA Today article
J.I. Packer on Personal Communication from God
“God uses language to tell us things, and the Bible is the language that he’s used.” source YouTube
We Are the Devil’s People // The Gospel
I have a young friend named Levi. He’s says and does some really neat things. Levi is very spiritually attuned and he really wants to know about the Lord. The other day, Levi drew something on the whiteboard we have in what we call Main Street Theatre, and he wanted me to see it. This is […]
Why Do You Volunteer?
There might be a variety of reasons why any sane adult would willingly give up a couple hours of their time every week to attempt to disciple middle school and high school students: Laughter Teenagers say and do some pretty goofy things. Perhaps some people volunteer because they love to laugh. Insanity Teenagers have a […]
My First Hands-On Bible // Review
My First Hands-On Bible Read the full review over at Wesleyan Kids.
Most of the World Hasn’t Graduated from Middle School
I’m a middle school pastor. I’ve thrown dodgeballs, watched students cringe and giggle when I say the word “sex,” and laughed at the silliest things with grades 6-8 students for almost 10 years. Here’s what I’ve learned: Most of the world hasn’t graduated from middle school Jocks, Geeks, Stoners, Nones, etc: There are cliques in […]
Fuel Online // May 2013 Episode
I think it’s been almost a year since this idea started, but it is finally here! FUEL Online Join Scott Simmons, Jamie Cambers, Chase Smith, and myself in a 45-minute conversation about: “What’s Happening Now?” (trending topics in the news and how it relates to youth ministry and the Gospel) “What’s Going Down?” (practical stuff […]