So, yes, I watched about half of the just-completed season of The Bachelor. My embarrassment compels me to quickly explain—my 17-year-old daughter started watching this notorious (and wildly popular) show only this year, a permission that came with a price. Namely, that my wife and I would need to watch the show with her. …
We know that asking Jesus for help is a primary way we live out our relationship with him. So, what does it mean when what we were hoping for doesn’t happen? Join Rick and his daughter Lucy as they continue a series exploring the foundational truths connected to Jesus and his mission in our lives.…
Clarity is the secret weapon of ministry leaders who are skilled at helping everyone on the team pull on the oars together. When you have organizational clarity and a clear ministry direction, everyone on your team knows what to do and what to stop doing.…
We know that following Jesus is supposed to change our lives, but what are the mechanics of that transformation? What, if anything, can we do to help it happen? Join Rick as we continue a series exploring the foundational truths connected to Jesus and his mission in our lives.…
We have a core mission in youth ministry that, it seems, is also ridiculously easy to forget. As we try to keep numbers up, live up to the vision of the church, and keep up with the demands of ministry life, what can we do to keep Jesus at the center of it all?…
His name was Andy, and some weeks he was the only teenager who showed up for my youth group. It was a small church. And when things were good, the youth group might have 15 kids show up. But things suddenly became not-so-good as our senior pastor and congregation battled over whether or not he should resign. …
The Old Testament and the New Testament both have the phrase “chosen ones,” but with very different meanings. When it comes to salvation, what qualifies a person to be “chosen”? Join Rick as we continue a series exploring the foundational truths connected to Jesus and his mission in our lives.…
It starts innocently enough. She brings sandwiches for a Sunday-night event. She hangs out in the kitchen area, coyly watching all the fun and dreaming of what could be. Over the next few weeks, she strategically positions herself so she’s near the student room.…
Ever feel like a mess? Sometimes it seems like we’re a mess of parts thrown on a table that’s certainly not beautiful. What would it look like to start thinking of our lives like a “messy song” and Jesus as a creative artist who finds our mess exciting?…
Put 20 youth pastors in a room and tell them they can’t come out until the agree on a definition of discipleship and it’s possible their friends and families will never see them again! And IF they can agree, the odds of them implementing that definition in their youth ministries are about the same odds as me slam-dunking on a 10-foot rim (zero, in case you’re wondering).…
 Foundations: Yes/ No/ Maybe){kind=link}
 Foundations: Root to Fruit){kind=link}
 Foundations: Who Can Be Saved?){kind=link}
 Foundations: Building a Song from a Mess){kind=link}
