Is Your Child in the 12%?

This article had some great thoughts about parenting.  Here is just one of them for you to consider: According to Search’s nationwide study,12% of youth have a regular dialog with their mom on faith/life issues.   In other words, one out of eight kids talks with their mom about their faith. Deut. 6:6-7    And these [...]

What Defines You?

John 17:14-16 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even [...]

10 Reasons Why There Is No Higher Calling than Ministry to Children

A high percentage of people in our church are involved in some sort of formal children’s ministry. If you’re like me, you may struggle with discouragement, wondering at times whether your ministry is really making a difference at all, so I put together a short list of reasons why there is no higher calling than [...]

Thoughts from a Former Youth Pastor (part 2 of 2)

Sometimes when you’re in the role of youth pastor there are things that need to be said, but you really can’t. It may come across as harsh or even my motives might not be right even though I’m speaking the truth. These thoughts are meant to be a help to parents and I trust you [...]

Thoughts from a Former Youth Pastor (part 1 of 2)

I can write this because I am no longer a youth pastor. Right? No hidden motives or secret agenda because it no longer affects me. These are things I have wanted to say, but couldn’t for fear of wrong motives, being unkind or not being spirit-filled. I write these things to be a help to [...]

Sincerity Is Overrated

“If you prayed that prayer, and you really meant it in your heart, then you’ll go to heaven when you die.” Many of us who grew up attending Gospel-preaching churches have heard–and repeated–this statement countless times. Of course, I don’t debate its truthfulness. Whenever a sinner genuinely calls upon Christ in repentance and faith, their [...]

When I Don’t Feel Like Going to Church

Do you ever feel like NOT going to church? How is it that some people never  miss a Sunday and you struggle to make 2 out of 4 Sundays in a given month? Are some people destined to be super Christians? And others destined to struggle with faith for the rest of their lives? Sometimes [...]

Vegetables Are for Eating

“Eat your vegetables!” Most of us grew up hearing this command repeated multiple times throughout the course of an evening meal. Our parents ingrained in us the reality that vegetables are part of a healthy diet. If you’ve raised children in the last 10-15 years, however, you may have set your children down in front [...]

Parenting & Influence

We’ve all heard the phrase: leadership is influence. How God disciples and parents me, as one of His children is the perfect model for how we rear our own children. When I displease Him, my disobedience strains the relationship, but God does not remove His influence. He lovingly and graciously confronts and convicts me of [...]

Stop Talking :: Start Modeling

Enough is enough. Stop talking. Start modeling. The next generation silently pleads for an older generation to model. They say, “More walk. Less talk, please.” A model does not “sell” the clothes. They wear them. They display the items. A younger generation yearns for authenticity. Whether their four-year old eyes, twenty-four year old eyes or [...]