Strength in the Strain

“God does not give us overcoming life: He gives us life as we overcome. The strain is the strength. If there is no strain, there is no strength. Are you asking God to give you life and liberty and joy? He cannot, unless you will accept the strain. Immediately you face the strain, you will …

National Conference on Youth Ministries – Day 3

I am writing this from the Denver airport as my time to fly is upon me. I will give a few highlights from Day 3. Wednesday Morning Mike Cope “Community in Lars and the Real Girl” - Hebrews It’s a movie about church, it begins in church and ends in church. Hebrews Imagining a world …

The Controversial Blogpost/Sermon/Class/Article/Email

Some things just get a person in trouble. Many of us have been guilty of writing that scathing e-mail where we use ALL CAPS to get our point across and later regretted we even sent that e-mail. Or maybe you wrote that blog post with every intention of settling the score once-and-for-all only to have …

Life does exist after 30

I have delayed writing this post much like I delay going to the dentist, doctor or even a car repair shop.  It is the self-discovery that I dread and the inevitable bad news that comes from a doctor's office or a repair shop that I loathe.  Nevertheless I drudge on through because it is only …

Soulprint left a print on my soul…a book review

I wanted to put the book down but I couldn't.  I wanted to find a reason to dislike the book but I couldn't.  What happened instead of engrossing myself in yet another self-help book disguised in Christian verbiage I discovered a refreshing (authentic) picture of what a Christian life could/should look like.  Mark Batterson's Soulprint is a book …

Destinations?

Quote that I came across in today's reading... "Every path has a destination.  Direction, not intention, determines destination.  Divine direction begins with submission.  Information is not enough.  Insight is not enough.  We need God."  Andy Stanley, The Principle of the Path, p. 95.

Decision Making

Thought this quote was next to awesome! "There are many life destinations we've never visited but desire with all our hearts to see and experience.  And our only option is to pick a path and hope it will get us there."  Andy Stanley, The Principle of the Path, p. 36.

Song of Songs #4

Sorry for the break and we now return to the Song for yet another powerful lesson.  This one is especially for you single people out there.     Beloved 1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Lover 2 Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens. Beloved 3 Like …

Silencing the Haters

Last night the youth group and I had an excellent period of worship at our monthly teen devotional.  I directed our thoughts from Philippians 1:27-30 and it seemed to be a good grounding point for the challenging next few weeks for the teenagers.  The Philippian church was not without her faults as apparently there were …

What’s Next?

I am 29 years old... I am married... I have 4 kids... I am graduating Saturday with my Master's of Divinity... I have been a Youth Minister for almost 6 years... What's next?  If you have been a Christian for longer than a morning service then you probably are aware of the uncomfortable feeling of …