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Category Archives: Personal Spirituality

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The Non-Secret to Youth Ministry

By | October 11, 2011

In my experience of imitating the saints and holy people I’m surrounded by now, I like to think that they are just created holier than me. They just have gifts that make them want to pray more. Those people, those saints and those people who know their faith better than me, were just born more interested in it. There’s some secret that God has revealed to them, because they are meant to be pray-ers.

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Transitions and the Comfort of an Unchanging God

By | October 10, 2011

I have been finished with school for a long while, but being in youth ministry my calendar years run in school years. The “New Year” for me is when the teens head back to school and Life Teen and Edge kick off again. Freshman experience what it is like to be in high school, trying their best to fit in and not get lost. Seniors try to enjoy their year as the kings and queens with the added pressure of answering the question of what comes next. And, those of us in youth ministry begin anew trying

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Steve Jobs: Reflections on His Life For Youth Ministers

By | October 6, 2011

Today we stop to recognize a true pioneer of modern technology. His creativeness and passion and image were second-to-none. His attentiveness to detail inspired many to change how they live their day-to-day lives. His creativity was evident in the iPod, iPhone or iPad but he also gave us a glimpse into what kept him going in times of doubt and discouragement.

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Following the Leader: The Struggle of Obedience

By | September 26, 2011

Obedience to God is one thing (sometimes difficult, but understandable); obedience to others is a whole different story. When it comes to submitting to other people we struggle. God is perfect; we are not. Yet, I think our discomfort with submission comes more from feeling like we are giving up control rather than a desire to actually do the disobedient or contrary actions. We want to be in charge of our world; when we are a called to function under authority, we think we are losing our freedom.

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3 Books to Add to Your Youth Ministry Reading List

By | September 20, 2011

If you’ve been in youth ministry long enough, chances are you’ve been to a conference in which multiple speakers listed off books that “all youth ministers must read.” Most of these are very great spiritual books that lead us to be holier people so we can lead others to deeper holiness. But let me recommend to you three unconventional books that can still make a huge impact on you personally and in your ministry.

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Ministering in the Midst of Terror: A Youth Minister’s Reflection on 9/11

By | September 10, 2011

I need to make a disclaimer, if only to bring myself peace. I was probably less involved in the events of 9/11 than most anyone in the area. I had just moved to Long Island 18 months before. I didn’t know a lot of people. There is nothing that I did that was “heroic” or “spectacular.” I’m writing this from my own perspective. I’m not saying that anything I did was right or wrong. I’m not making any political statements. This is simply how I remember this event and its impact in

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Martha and Mary: Preoccupied or Present?

By | August 22, 2011

As a Youth Minister at a Life Night, how often do I find myself more concerned with the “flow” of the evening than the moments in which God is working on the hearts of His youth? I asked myself: when was the last time I took a step back, literally and figuratively, at a youth event and reveled in the amazing work God is doing in the hearts and lives of these teens? Sadly the answer was not very often.

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Bambi is a boy deer?!?

By | August 8, 2011

I’m not the smartest guy on the block. God, in His mercy, is constantly reminding me of how little I know. He does this through marriage, parenthood, ministry, and, well, just about every facet of my life. I do know movies, however – at least I thought I did. So imagine my surprise several years back when I plopped down on our sofa for our “Family Movie Night” and ten minutes into the Disney classic Bambi I come to find out that Bambi is male.

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Sheep Dogs: My Model For Ministry

By | August 3, 2011

My model for youth ministry has four legs and a wet nose. Back when I was a baby Core Member, I attended my first Life Teen Conference in Mesa, AZ in June of 1999. Of all the messages of that week one has stuck with me and has been my constant model for youth ministry for 13 years and will continue to be so.

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Shifting Gears for Summer Time

By | August 1, 2011

As much as we would like the summer time to be more laid back and relaxed, often in youth ministry it ends up being a different (sometimes crazier) kind of busy. We shift gears in “where” and “how” we do what we do, but we are doing nonetheless. We can typically use this busy time to create opportunities for more relational ministry. Some Youth Ministers boldly begin the noble quest of what is commonly referred to in youth ministry folklore as the elusive “getting caught up” plan. If you are successful in achieving this quest, PLEASE let me know how you did it. Regardless of what your summer is filled with, here are five things you may want to make a part of your summer gear-shifting.