Youth Ministry and Evangelism – Part 4 – Where to Go

You can read the first three posts here, here and here. Where do we go from here? I am sure there is all of the statistical data to discuss and missional "stratgery" that merits our attention. But if we take a step back and ask, "What works?" I am not sure that we can come …

How to speak at Chapel, FCA events and Other School-Sponsored Events

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak at Goodpasture Christian School during their chapel time. I have probably spoken there 20 times since I have been at Main Street. I have also had the pleasure of speaking at numerous FCA events all over the county. It is a daunting task to speak in front of …

How to not lose your sanity before church services on Sundays

I may be the only one who experiences this but our pre-church service routine on Sunday mornings is similar to battlefield scenarios in war situations. There are strategies to do just about everything that needs to get done. One of the following seems to happen to at least one of our children on Sunday mornings: …

Psalms for Teens 10 – Thanksgiving Psalms – Psalm 30

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. 3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those …

Help! My Teenager is Using Drugs! A Personal Story

Let me start with my story so that you can understand where I am coming from. First, I have to give a disclaimer. I was taught to be careful when disclosing information about my past as it might give license for people to justify their actions. Sort of a "Well Robbie went through it so …

Here I am Alive (Yellowcard)

I have been a fan of Yellowcard since they released their epic album "Ocean Avenue" in 2003. I have loved just about every song they have come out with. Their new album "Southern Air" looks to be a great album and I absolutely love the song "Here I am Alive." In the video it portrays …

Messy Spirituality Quote

"Messy Spirituality is the scandalous assertion that following Christ is anything but tidy and neat, balanced and orderly.  Far from it.  Spirituality is complex, complicated, and perplexing-the disorderly, sloppy, chaotic look of authentic faith in the real world.  Spirituality is anything but a straight line; it is a mixed-up, topsy-turvy, helter-skelter godliness that turns our …

Year-round schools and Youth Ministry

I read an article in The Tennessean that talked about starting school in July in an effort to boost test schools for some districts.  I have no qualms one way or the other but I wonder what does a youth ministry do when the children have to go to school all year-round?  Most camps, mission trips …

7 Lessons from 7 Years in Youth Ministry

On July 31, 2011 I celebrated my 7th full year of youth ministry at Main Street in Springfield, Tennessee.  Seven quick lessons about my/our journey: Learn to say "no" - All ministers struggle with this as we want to do so much for people in the name of God.  We take on projects, speaking engagements, weddings, …

An Open Letter – Part 5 (Students)

Dear Students, I want you to know that my heart is dedicated to serving and helping your parents rear you to engage the world and the Word by way of discipleship.  I also want you to know that I am going to go the "extra mile" for you in ways that you will love and …