I spent five years working at a multi-ethnic, multi-site congregation.
There was much I loved about this church and my role there. During my time there, I discovered who I was as a youth worker. More importantly, though, serving in a context...
I do not generally enjoy books on prayer.
Oh believe me, I've read my fair share – for small groups, class, and work.
But there tends to be something about these books that rub me the wrong way. Perhaps that's why even though I received Anne...
What the book's about: In Daring Greatly , shame and vulnerability researcher Brene Brown explores what it means to show up and let ourselves be seen. In it, she distills her research into practices designed to help people be more vulnerable,...
A few weeks ago, a dozen or so high school students sat in my living room and discussed Looking for Alaska by John Greene. This book chronicles the relationships between a group of teenagers living away from home at a boarding school. In many...
Last week, I sat on a plane and wept (Think ugly cry) as I finished Addie Zierman's When We Were on Fire . I'm sure my poor seat mate thought I was crazy but it couldn't be helped. Addie's words moved me deeply.
Having followed her blog for quite...
One of the greatest gifts my Mom gave me is a love of reading. I grew up in a house that was loaded with books and I loved reading, even as a small child.
Today, my house is the same way. We have books everywhere: Three dedicated shelves as...
In the last several weeks, I've been ever so slowly working my way through Brene Brown's Daring Greatly . It's a book that's every bit as wonderful as everyone says it is.
Last week, I read the chapter on Vulnerability Armory and was struck...
Recently, one of my new adult leaders asked me, “Why don’t we talk about the Holy Spirit more with our high school students? It seems like we’re very focused on Jesus.”
Truthfully, this is a pretty fair assessment of my high school ministry: It ...
I am unashamedly a fan of Kenda Creasy Dean. Her book, Almost Christian, is one I believe every pastor, youth worker, and parent should read.
As as result, when my colleague and I decided to use a book as the framework for our adult...
What the book's about: This is a fiction book geared towards Young Adults. It's central character, Colin Fischer, is a high school student with Asperger syndrome. He can't stand to be touched and struggles to read facial expressions. Yet, he has a...