Blog

Author Archives: Paul Masek

Blog

Spiritual Direction (it’s not the end of the world)

By | June 22, 2011

One of the many thoughts I had on May 22 – the day after the world didn’t end – is that I seriously wondered whether Mr. Camping had a good spiritual director, and here’s why. Had I gone to my spiritual director and shared with him that the Lord told me when the world would end and that I wanted to tell everyone about it through a major media blitz, I probably would’ve been told something like this …

Blog

Is It Prayer or Is It Gossip?

By | May 4, 2011

We churchy people love to pray for others. The Bible, Church teaching, and our personal experiences constantly remind us that prayer makes a difference. Prayer has the power to change people’s hearts, and draws us closer to the heart of God – perhaps in the way that my heart is moved when I have a deep conversation with someone or receive an unsolicited hug from one of my kids. I’ve noticed, however, that our sinful nature can infect even our most pure desires for prayer. I call this phenomenon

Blog

Holy Naps

By | February 18, 2011

Most people I know are convinced that prayer should be a regular part of their lives, and most people I know are also convinced that they don’t pray as often as they should. I include myself among most people I know. I find it is easy to forget that prayer is more than just a part of our relationship with God; rather, prayer is our relationship with God (you can thank Mark Hart that quote!).

Blog

Too School for Cool

By | November 24, 2010

Every once in a while a line from a song jumps out of the radio and speaks to my heart, and sometimes it’s even from a Top 40 song. Right now, the line that I can’t get out of my head is from the song “Raise Your Glass” by Pink.

Blog

Step 1 – Pray. Step 2 – Repeat.

By | September 1, 2010

The ministry that I coordinate, The REAP Team, has just begun its 22nd year of presenting retreats. Our longevity can be attributed to the fact that we haven’t given up on teenagers, and any success we might have in reaching teens for Christ can be attributed only to God’s grace. I am absolutely convinced, though, that one big reason that God’s grace flows so freely through our efforts to His kids is that we are rooted in prayer.

Blog

Hot and Holy: Youth Ministry Spouses

By | May 10, 2010

Have you ever wondered why every youth minister you’ve ever met refers to his or her spouse as the most attractive member of the opposite sex ever created? You know that it’s true. But how is it possible? Could it be that God rewards those who dedicate their lives to youth ministry by graciously making an attractive spouse His sweetest gift while fulfilling the promise of Mark 10:28-30?