Stress is a big part of our life, and people who are skilled problem-solvers have learned how to surf the waves of stress instead of letting it crash down on them. What would it look like to start problem-solving in a Jesus-centered way?…
Imagine your ministry isn’t going very well. (For some of you, this may not take much effort.) Maybe students are abandoning ship, heading to a flashier program down the street. Maybe youth night has been a train-wreck lately. Maybe kids aren’t inviting friends, no matter what you try.…
Whether it’s a small rumor or a major misconception – we have all faced a wrongful accusation against us. Even when it’s false, we begin to question how we portray ourselves and how the world sees us. What can we learn from Paul’s method of defending himself, and why is it the very message we need at the start of a new year?…
Our lives can boil down to two essential questions: Who do I say Jesus is? And who does Jesus say I am? How can discovering the answers to these questions help us discover our true purpose and identities? Join Rick in the last episode of a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus.…
Remember when you had the perfect ministry role? It was the night before you started serving in it. After that, and every day forward, you likely thought: “This isn’t exactly what I expected.” Maybe it was close enough that you stuck it out.…
As we prepare to celebrate MLK Day, we’ll see plenty of “greatest hits” quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. So much of what he said about social justice and racial equality is still relevant today. But Dr. King said a lot of powerful stuff that will never make it onto a meme.…
Sherlock Holmes is known for being able to unravel the toughest of mysteries by seeing past the surface. What would it look like to start practicing a Sherlock-like commitment to “seeing” people so that we can better understand the heart of Jesus?…
Words and “mirrors” can have a major influence on our lives. What would it look like to rely on the voice of Jesus to shatter all the false beliefs we’ve embraced about ourselves? Join Rick as we continue a series devoted to practices that naturally draw us into a closer “orbit” around Jesus.…
Fifteen years ago, I found myself unexpectedly let go from a full-time youth ministry role. I didn’t see it coming, nor was I prepared for what to do to provide for my family. Typical of these sorts of traumas, I saw myself as the persecuted hero and my church as the insensitive villain. …
For many years the longtime column I wrote for GROUP Magazine was titled “The Youth Ministry Drill Sergeant”—I guess I have the sort of opinions that fit best in a boot-camp setting. Translation: I’m very direct when I have something to say.…
 Foundations: A Big Problem to Solve){kind=link}
 Best of PRATJ: The New-ness of You—Thorns){kind=link}
 The Beeline Practices: Living Out of Your True Name){kind=link}
 The Beeline Practices: The Sherlock Effect){kind=link}
 The Beeline Practices: Fighting Warped Mirrors){kind=link}
