We’ve already plowed through the meat of the new school year. And if your life is anything like mine you’ve catapulted from the bustle of summer into the craziness of fall. My schedule is fuller (how is that possible?), overshadowed only by the packed calendars of my teenagers.…
From our deepest fears to our own self-image, we all have ideas of what we consider to be true. While these may hold an element of truth, most can be distorted. What would it look like to slow down and start using Jesus as a filter when it comes to the truth?…
Critical thinking has become a quaint habit of a bygone era. In its absence, assumptions and partial truths can run amok, compromising the freedom Jesus offers to us. But what would it look like to start pushing back against these false beliefs?…
When we think about Jesus, we generally rely on popular assumptions made about him. Often times people think Jesus was a “good teacher” or a “really good person.” How would these assumptions change if we started critically thinking about what Jesus did and didn’t do?…
It’s time to lean into the grind. What does that mean? Read on to find out! Youth ministry is hard. Of course, it’s also fun—I love what I do, even when it’s hard. But some seasons are harder than others. In our context, Winter feels like downtime, with the pace of life a little slower (except for Christmas).…
Julie’s a 10-year youth ministry vet. That means she’s sailed her ministry ship into the doldrums over and over. The doldrums, as it turns out, is a real thing—it’s the name sailors have given to the Intertropical Convergence Zone, where the northeast and southeast trade winds converge into a stifling calm.…
When we asked young adults all over the United States to describe Jesus, their most popular description is that Jesus was a “nice guy.” When we consider Jesus’ encounters, we are either forgetting or maybe never really knowing Jesus. What would it look like to stop imagining and start remembering Jesus? …
At the end of every show and magazine issue, Oprah asked this question to her guests, “What’s one thing you know for sure?” Using this simple practice, what would it look like to ask this question about Jesus in our Bible studies and our lives?…
When a child comes to a mud puddle, they jump right in and splash around, while an adult either jumps over or goes around the mud puddle. Why do adults react this way? Jesus said you won’t understand or appreciate the kingdom of God unless you become like little children.…
Kendra’s parents are waiting for longtime youth pastor Ralph Paige in his office—when he walks in the door, his church admin gives Ralph that “buckle up” look… It’s not going to be an easy conversation. Ralph welcomes “drop-in” conversations, but when most parents have a concern to bring up, they catch him in the hallway or call for an appointment.…
 The Beeline Practices: Nothing but the Truth){kind=link}
 The Beeline Practices: The Jesus Pushback){kind=link}
 The Beeline Practices: What Jesus Does & Doesn’t Do){kind=link}
 The Beeline Practices: Remembering, Not Imagining){kind=link}
 The Beeline Practices: Asking “The Oprah Question”){kind=link}
 The Beeline Practices: Wallowing in Mud Puddles){kind=link}
