This summer led to a new experience for our family: swim team. To be honest, this was about the farthest thing from our minds as we started summer with two non-swimmers. But our oldest was eager to jump off the diving board, and that required swimming the length of the pool. When school let out, […]
Mid-Year Update for Leaders
What you do matters, and it’s important to celebrate and remember. Remember what you trained about at the beginning of the year. Remember why you do what you do. Remember why it’s important to lead small.
Making Friends
We have started a new phase in our house. Elementary school. And it is a fascinating place to be. My daughter went to a Christian-based preschool, housed in the church where I am a part of the staff team. So over the years, I have come to know the teachers, the families, and the kids. […]
Quick Links: At the Movies & The X Plan
This week in Quick Links, we take a look at the latest happenings in Hollywood, an “escape hatch” for your older kids, and what your principal wants you to know about your kid. The X Plan If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen “The X Plan” (unless you gave up social media for Lent…for […]
Quick Links: Family Vacations & Chats With A Preschooler
Quick links are a chance to see what’s out there on the interwebs. Here are our favorite finds from the past week: Family Vacations Make Families Stronger One of our favorite family experiences only lasted 24 hours, but I think it proves this point. You don’t need an exotic (or expensive!) excursion, but your family vacation […]
A New Rule for Lent
Lent brings us an opportunity to pause. To reflect. To experience new rhythms. Our friends at The Common Rule give us a great tool, and we think it can help your family this Lenten season.
Every Life Changed By…Young People?
Is your church struggling to reach younger people? Are you trying to find more volunteers, more money, more vision, better questions, more culturally awareness? See how Growing Young can bring vitality to your church.
YM Tips: Dudes and Bathing Suits
Since I’m not a youth pastor anymore, I’ve been “downloading” my habits, rituals and best practices and mentally shifting gears. Summer certainly reminds me of a lot of great memories in youth ministry, as well as some of the more stressful moments. – aL It’s summertime, which means youth groups across the country are hitting the […]
Middle Schoolers Get It
I have been out of youth ministry for 10 months, and there are a few things I miss. Relationships with leaders. Great weekend retreat experiences (although I don’t miss late nights and early mornings). The kids. There is something about middle schoolers that is great. They’re so impressionable. Full of energy and life. Creative […]
The Underdog Kids
‘This is not an argument in favor of orphanhood and deprivation,’ Brown writes, ‘but the existence of these eminent orphans does suggest that in certain circumstances a virtue can be made of necessity.’ [143] Instead of responding in a ‘let me control your behavior’ way, the teacher needs to think, ‘How can I do something […]