Category Archives: Uncategorized

I’m a sucker for good harmony. Even more so this time of year. I love the Christmas season. When I was leading worship, I was generally planning ahead by a few weeks, so it gave me an excuse to start Christmas music a little early than some would like. I love it. Each year, IContinue reading “We Need Christmas”

We talk about what the church is a lot. We talk about the church being “believers” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). The church is made up of people who follow Christ. The local church is made up of people who follow Christ and come together to cooperate for ministry and growth. Expressions of the local church haveContinue reading “The Live Church Has Left the Building”

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.1 I wrote the other day about Jeremiah 29. It is also the passage I taught our students on Wednesday. But two verses haveContinue reading “A Time to Seek”

Sometimes life feels futile. There seems little point in continuing the slog of work, bills, meals, relationships, and more work. Today, things can feel even more futile than normal. For those out of work, getting up in the morning can be a challenge. For those stuck at home, waiting on this pandemic to pass canContinue reading “An Effort in Futility”

Every conversation seems to eventually turn to our present situation. FaceBook posts, news stories & papers, school, work… it all seems to revolve around the COVID-19 outbreak. People keep talking about the “new normal.” Whether this current crisis will cause a major permanent shift in our society remains to be seen, but it is certainlyContinue reading “When Normal Is Impossible”

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 11:1. “Faith is choosing to live as though the Bible were true regardless of circumstances, emotions, or cultural trends.”1 I use that faith definition with our students almost everyContinue reading “Battling for the Next Gen – Faith”

Drama is every youth pastor and teacher’s least favorite word. Except for the actual drama teachers and even they don’t want that kind of drama. Every kid has drama, guys and girls, ALL OF THEM! Some much less than others, but everyone will get dragged in eventually. I would venture to say that 80% of theContinue reading “Battling for the Next Gen – Drama”

Freedom is important for kids. This next observation is going to seem to go against some of my previous posts, but stick with me. Give your kids freedom appropriate for their maturity and age. Many of the people reading this and I grew up pre-cell phone or at least pre-popularization of the cell phone. I rememberContinue reading “Battling for the Next Gen – Freedom”

6  Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.  The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Pr 22:6. This is part two of my thoughts on Battling for the Next Gen. I would like to talk about aContinue reading “Battling for the Next Gen – Social Media”

6  Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.  The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Pr 22:6. I am about to cross the 10 year mark in student ministry. I will soon be heading to my 3rdContinue reading “Battling for the Next Gen – Cell Phones”