Parenting
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Aug 03, 2020
Is Youth Group Worth The Risk?
Why Discipleship Is Essential In The Time of Pandemic
The other day I listened to a podcast by a very famous pastor who assured his church that there would be no services of any kind except online until 2021. Social distance is the new rule of the day. Because we are in a pandemic I understand that. Safety is so important.
However, while that’s true, I’ve begun asking the question: what if, in some ways, we are being taught to value safety and health above our need for community, discipleship, and connection with God and others? -
Jul 20, 2020
How To Talk To Teens About Politics
HOW TO TALK TO YOUR TEENS ABOUT POLITICS
It feels like overnight our culture has gone from considering politics a somewhat taboo topic to becoming the only topic people are talking about. Social media, the News and even ESPN are ablaze with protests, racial tension, anger, violence, and political unrest.
I even rolled up to a gas station the other day and saw people fighting about what seemed to be politics.
If you’re not having conversations about this subject with your kids already you’re probably thinking about how to approach it. Maybe you’ve tried to talk with your son or daughters about it and it’s resulted in conflict. How do we navigate these issues with teenagers?
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Jun 15, 2020
Arrows - Week 05
Week one we explored the idea of bible culture. So how is this different? I would argue it’s extremely different and a highly important distinction. -
May 31, 2020
Discipleship Groups
DISCIPLESHIP GROUPS!
Discipleship Groups will launch on June 10th. As the world, Oregon, and Multnomah County slowly re-open we re-open discipleship groups with intentional precautions to continue the mission of making disciples in a way that keeps our youth and families safe. -
May 11, 2020
Arrows - Week 03
D.L. Moody once heard Henry Varly, a preacher in his day say: “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him.” And his response was: "By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”
Moody then poured his life and work into that calling.
This is the kind of vision we need to give our kids! What would your life look like if you threw everything at Jesus? What if you were a young man or woman who was fully committed to His work and His will for your life?
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May 04, 2020
Arrows -Week 02
Discipling Kids For The Day They Move Out
The psalmist of Psalm 127 poetically describes children as arrows. And like real arrows we must allow certain key anchor points or values guide our leadership toward the goal: to send of fully devoted disciples of Jesus.
I mentioned having principles that govern my parenting and leadership in the student ministry. These are the key cultural markers I want to drive into my kids and students before they fly off. I’m going to talk through the first today:
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Apr 27, 2020
Arrows - Week 01
Discipling Kids for the day they move out
I can still remember when it hit me: I was free.
My cap was flying in the air, and what came down was the sense that the rest of my life was up to me.
Whether I walked with integrity,
whether I worked hard,
whether I was a faithful friend,
whether I lived an honorable life,
…and whether I followed Jesus
was all up to me.
Yet, the only thing that would determine what decisions I wouild make moving forward was the discipleship I received up to that point.
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Apr 13, 2020
Asking Quality Questions
3 Powerful Questions for Parents of Teens
Have you ever had a conversation with your teenager and found it less than engaging?
As a youth pastor, I feel like one of the biggest hurdles in ministry for my team is figuring out of to get students to open up. Making matters worse, if you’re like me, the tendency is to talk at people rather than to engage with them. Are there practical techniques for helping people open up?
There are.
This weekend I powered through an audiobook that was really helpful. It’s The Coaching Habit by Michael Stanier. I love the subtitle: Say Less, Ask More and Change the Way You Lead.
In this book he offers seven questions that are key to helping cultivate dialogue. I want to offer three of them in somewhat re-vamped forms for the context of discipling teenagers.
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Apr 03, 2020
Surviving Your Quaran-Teenagers
THREE Thoughts On Surviving Your Quaranteenagers
THREE Ways to Survive Your Quaranteenager! -
Mar 30, 2020
Redeeming Evil Days
How to buy back what feel like stolen time.
This morning I was looking at the news and saw that the White House will be extending the the coronavirus guidelines until April 30th. I’m going to be honest, even though I knew that was coming, I was still pretty discouraged by that thought.
These days feel dark. This is but one of many difficulties within this pandemic. People are losing lot. From their sense of normal, to their jobs, to retirement, and even loved ones.
I was on our church’s prayer channel Friday morning as prayer requests came pouring in.
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Jun 05, 2018
Raising A Generous Generation
After last Sunday's sermon, I got to thinking more about generosity. I started wondering if I am teaching my children to be generous? Scripture calls us to be generous people, but am I living this out in front of my children? Am giving as I am able? Am I actively teaching my children to do these things? The very best way to teach our children is to lead them by example. Am I doing this adequately?
