Life rarely turns out like we think. Leadership is not what we assume when we sign up. The goal of success is not accomplishment but relinquishment. We are told that if we do certain things, we will gain what we desire. Leadership is about acquisition. The American church has largely put all its chips in […]
We live in a secular age. Some would even say it is beyond secular and post-modern; we are now decidedly post-Christian. We don’t believe in God; we believe in science. We live in a disenchanted world where every, I would argue, nearly every Act of God is explained away in scientific terms as if God
Why Bring Kids into a World Like Ours? Read More »
This year, I missed my goal, which I have never liked to do. Looking back, I read some larger books and read more slowly this year. I also co-wrote two books. One will come out in August of 2024. You can pre-order it here. One of the ways God has always spoken to me is
Top 10 Books of 2023 Read More »
We live in a world of perpetual outrage. We march for war and against war. We march for women and for babies. We block streets to save whales, turtles, and the polar ice cap. Long after we are too old to march or too sick to care about the turtles, we will realize too late
The Most Subversive Thing You Can do is Start a Family Read More »
We tend to think that our current cultural moment is the worst it has ever been. We tend to think that the past was much better, and things progressively worsen daily. Likewise, we tend to over-romanticize the past and long for the “good ole days.” Eric Metaxas, writing about the English Reformer William Wilberforce, said:
Revival of the Ordinary Read More »
Today my little blog is old enough to drive. A lot of life happens in 16 years. Sixteen years ago, my oldest was two our other three children were unborn. We would never have even considered owning a dog. There were many tears that had not been shead ther were many joys we had yet
5 Things I Learned From Blogging For 16 Years Read More »
Talking about sorrow and death is something that we, as parents, do not do well. In my experience, many pastors are not much better. I have come to understand the goodness in God’s providence. As Spurgeon would say, ” I have learned to kiss the wave that threw me upon the Rock of Ages.” This
When tragedy strikes: How to talk to kids about shootings and death. Read More »
Here is a post I wrote for Youth Worker Journal. They have an incredibly resource-rich website as well as a magazine filled with excellent articles to grow your faith and capacity as a youth worker. If you work with youth or lead family ministry the Youth Worker Journal needs to be on your radar. It
Rabbit Starvation and Missional Youth Ministry Read More »
When I was new to children’s ministry, one of the most challenging things for me to deal with was kids who misbehaved. I so wanted difficult kids, all kids actually, to like me, and parents to think well of me. I avoided hard conversations with kids and parents. What I have come to realize is
How to Deal with Difficult Kids Read More »
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Enjoy this classic from Luthern Satire. Ten years later, it is still so good. I grew up hearing lots of bad anthologies around the Trinity. Explaining the Trinity is not easy. Explaining the Trinity to kids is nearly impossible. Parents and kidmin leaders, if you are looking for a resource to
St. Patrick’s Bad Analogies Read More »
