There are lots of articles out there about how to “protect” your marriage. We have heard the statistics about wandering eyes and hearts that can lead to affairs, failure and porn addiction. I read a quote on ministry burnout recently that discussed how those of us in ministry can merely “accept” the “distance” that happens […]![]()
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Practical Advice On Marriage & Ministry (Part 2)
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Two Letters for Teen Trips – Adult Volunteer Version
Yesterday I posted a letter that I shared with students before a big youth conference. Part of the takeaway (I hoped) was to give you a template to use on your trips. The other takeaway is how I see that letter now, fourteen years after I wrote it; It had at least one huge blind […]![]()
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Be a Ghostbuster!
Let me ask you a question: Are there ghosts in your church? Ever glimpse the fleeting shadow of times gone by flitting through the halls? I don’t mean ghosts like in Casper or Nearly Headless Nick. Real ghosts aren’t…well, real. What I’m talking about are the roaming, almost hallowed, spirits of “pastors past.” A strange […]![]()
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LTYM: 3 Youth Ministry Principles
Hey #ymnation Happy New Year!!! This new year we are committed to keeping the show 20min. We are mindful of your time, and love sharing what we’re learning with you. If our show has been helpful to you I would love for you to share and Subscribe!!!!!! The three principles: 1. Don’t over think, but […]![]()
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Aw, Sugar… Faking Sincerity Is Real
Adam Levine is a liar? That’s what is being said by more than one or two articles calling out him and his band Maroon 5. The pop-rock musicians appeared to be crashing as many weddings as they could in one day by spontaneously playing their song “Sugar” for unsuspecting guests. As Levine explained in the video: “It’s December […]![]()
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Home Phone on a Budget
I’ve been wanting to get rid of our home phone for a long time. Having traditional residential phone service seem super practical if your Internet or power goes, that system is self powered. That said, I don’t want to pay $30+ a month for residential phone service “just in case the power goes out.” I have been using […]![]()
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#You’reNotGod (Neither Am I)
My 8th grade son has always been the king of the deep question. From the time he was little, he has woken up in the morning not only talking (Before my coffee, I send him to his Dad.) but contemplating the struggles of humanity. The other day in between discussing his football workout schedule and […]![]()
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Chameleon Youth Pastor
Many people have asked me to share with them the best methods of gathering and engaging students in a youth group so that they may come to understand and experience God in a powerful and deeper way. The word that comes to mind here is…chameleon! Webster Dictionary defines a chameleon as: a type of lizard […]![]()
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Pros/Cons of a Small Church Superbowl Party
The big game is Sunday, Feb. 1st. Game time is also when lots of youth groups regularly meet. What to do, what to do? REASONS YOU SHOULD HAVE A YOUTH SUPERBOWL PARTY: You meet anyway. Why not? Its generally pretty low key planning-wise. Students like being invited to a SB Party since everyone around them […]![]()
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Strategic Teaching….Very Strategic Teaching
Strategic Youth Ministry; nothing new about that idea. Doug Field’s classic book, Purpose Driven Youth Ministry, began it’s quest for youth ministry world domination almost TWENTY years ago. And while it outlined the most popular (and in my experience extremely effective) youth ministry paradigm, it certainly wasn’t the first or last. Most of us could […]![]()
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Cell Phone on a Budget…(Part 2)
I have been playing around with a Samsung Galaxy S4. It is pretty slick. I purchased it at a used phone dealer so I can play with a review more Android apps. As I have been reacquainting myself with the Android system, I decided to try to make it work with one of the pay-as-you-go […]![]()
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Signs You’re Hindering Your Own Leadership
It’s one thing to desire to be in leadership…it’s another to actually lead people. As I watch other leaders, consider my own life in leadership or think about all the people I have had on my staff, there are some common denominators in those that are effective in leadership. I can also think of a few commonalities I […]![]()
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A Poor Understanding
You likely have an opinion about the poor. You may have even served the poor. Do you have an understanding of the poor, though? “When you are broke, you can’t plan ahead or shop sales or buy in bulk. Poor people wait to buy something until they absolutely need it, so they have to […]![]()
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2015 Super Bowl® Party – SUPER STREAM SUNDAY
Are you, your ministry, or your small group(s) hosting a Super Bowl® Party this year? Did you know that Super Bowl XLIX will be available FREE via Live-Stream from NBC Universal? You could stream the BIG game directly into your party. XLIX will kick off with pregame coverage at 12:00 p.m. ET on Feb. 1. This streaming service is a […]![]()
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Throwing In The Towel On Sexting?
Sexting. You can talk about this until you’re blue in the face. Still, a large majority of teens and adults see nothing wrong with it: “Our only way of being alone was to do it over the phone.” – one teen, about why she began sexting It doesn’t help that people students look up to […]![]()
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A Shout-Out to Youth Workers
I recently spent some time with the band Everyday Sunday after they led a worship concert at our weekend services. They had a few words of encouragement to share with you, so (if you’ll pardon the simple camera phone capture of their words) here’s a shout-out for you from the guys in the band: Thanks […]![]()
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Meeting Minutes (Productivity Apps!)
I am awful at remembering little things like tasks, appointments, and pants. Well, maybe I remember pants. But my life literally changed “in the year 2000” when I purchased a Visor PDA. It became my memory, reminding me to be places. I like my reminders app built in to my iPhone and I use OmniFocus to GTD but I […]![]()
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What Sin Are You Hiding?
I realize the title of this post is a bit invasive. It assumes you’re hiding a particular sin. I once worked with someone who thought this way and spoke out often on the subject. He’d say to just about anyone, “I really have a hard time believing that you’re not hiding something sinful.” Can you […]![]()
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An Argument Against “Service Projects”
A guest post by Aaron Kirkpatrick at RethinkingYouthMinistry.com offers this compelling thought against involving youth in “service projects”: A project is a job. A project is an assignment. A project is something that must get done, regardless of whether you actually want to do it. Cleaning the bathroom is a project. That fifteen page paper […]![]()
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Pre-Super Bowl Fun: Must-See Videos & More!
Hey #YMNation!! In spirit of the week before the Super Bowl, wanted to let you know about an awesome video to show your students or just watch yourselves. NFL athletes and coaches share about their faith and football!! Watch it here: While you’re at it, check out Super Bowl posts with tips, tricks, and challenges […]![]()
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More Pages to Explore .....
