Recently, I had a window replaced. Consistently poor service left me disgruntled. After expressing my frustration to the installer, I received a call from the company’s district manager.

Still frustrated, I quickly rattled off a list of the...

What the book's about: A Parent's Guide to Understanding Teenage Brains explores the daunting subject of adolescent brain development in a mere 68 pages. It's extremely practical in nature and targeted at the parents of...

What the book's about: New Lenses: How I Met Jesus on MTV explores faith and culture. In each chapter, it's author, Jared Taylor, explores faith by introducing a principle rooted in pop - and in particular, music - culture. Jared then...

Several years ago, my Qualitative Analysis Professor, Dr. Terry Linhart, mentioned using photos in research. He said this as a comment made in passing, but I wrote it down, intrigued by the notion. 

His comment percolated for the next month...

My first year in ministry, I lost track of how often I heard someone say, “I can’t believe you don’t burnout.”

At the time, I wore these words as a badge of honor. I heard in them affirmation for all I was doing and for the fullness of our...

I am a big believer in the power of experiential learning. To this end, instead of giving a talk about prayer, I'd much rather create a series of prayer stations designed to give students the opportunity to pray in a variety of ways.

Over the next...

Ever feel as if your students are bored during your mission trip meetings? If so, perhaps that's because you're the one doing all the teaching, even though students learn by doing. For this reason, require students on your mission trip team to...

What the book's about: The Memoir Project is, as it's title suggests, a book about writing memoir. Yet, it is more than that. It is a charming and thoroughly engaging read. 

Why I read this book: I read this book as part of an online writing...

Today, I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker‘s Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

This week's prompt: Choose.

Throughout my career as a youth worker, I've taken a number of...

Like millions of others, on Sunday, I watched the Oscars. One of my favorite parts of the show was when it’s host, Ellen, ordered pizza. A few segments later, she escorted Edgar, a stunned delivery man carrying three pizzas onto the stage....

I'm thrilled to be guest posting at Adela Just's blog today in response to her prompt, "What is the most important thing you want your kids to know about the love of God?”

Recently, a student told me this story:

A Sunday School teacher shows her...

After thoroughly enjoying Oak and Oats and Elah Tree's The Great Christmas Exchange, as soon as I saw Leigh Kramer tweet about the We {Heart} Virtual Book Exchange, I knew I wanted to participate: 

New post: We Heart Books Viritual...

Recently, a freshman in my youth ministry asked me to accompany her for a solo and ensemble competition. Eager for some face time with this student, I agreed.

Later, this student agreed to play this piece in worship.

A few days after that, she...

Today, I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker‘s Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

This week's prompt: Small.

Jesus didn't seem to mind small.

He invested far more time in his...

I am a big believer in the power of experiential learning. To this end, instead of giving a talk about prayer, I'd much rather create a series of prayer stations designed to give students the opportunity to pray in a variety of ways.

Over the...

A few years ago, I conducted a thorough assessment of my youth ministry. As part of this, I surveyed students, interviewed them, and conducted focus groups for parents of former, current, and future students.

One of the findings that most...

In the youth ministry world, there are veterans and gurus. Neither of these words accurately describe the impact author, professor, and practitioner, Dean Borgman has had on our world.

Knowing this, I was excited to read his book, Foundations for...

Today, I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker‘s Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. 

 This week's prompt: Garden.

Driving up to Grandma and Grandpa's house, the first...

What the book's about: The War of Art is about creating. It chronicles the barriers to creativity in order to help you do as it's subtitle suggests and "break through the blocks & win your inner creative battles." 

Why I read this book: I...

I am a big believer in the power of experiential learning. To this end, instead of giving a talk about prayer, I'd much rather create a series of prayer stations designed to give students the opportunity to pray in a variety of ways.

Over the next...