From the moment I stepped through the door of “ministry” my view on the “holidays” changed. Thanksgiving became navigating phone calls of both those wanting to drop off an extra Turkey, mixed with getting them to the families who needed them.…
It’s almost that time of year again—yep, Christmas. And oh, there are so many distractions to look forward to. The new iPhone is out, and my contract is up. I don’t really need a remote-controlled drone, but man that looks fun.…
From the last porch light of Halloween through the last light of the Christmas tree, our holiday schedules are packed! Cramming their way into our margins are school Christmas parties, staff get-togethers, and family dinners—and we haven’t even touched decorating, cooking, shopping, and wrapping.…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. A holly-jolly Christmas. Do you hear what I hear? Silver bells. The First Noel. We get it. The Christmas nostalgia in our soul’s cup “spilleth over.” But threaded through the music, food, and decorations of the Christmas season is a reminder of something greater and deeper—that God came near and continues to come near.…
Christmas is supposed to be a season full of peace and goodwill as we celebrate the Savior’s physical arrival into this world. So why are we often bombarded with feelings of pressure and extreme stress? We know Advent’s not supposed to be this way, but how do we change it?…
During the Christmas season, most youth ministers try to find new ways to teach old truths. With the same old “angels sang, shepherds wondered, Mary did you know?” routine, it’s easy to lose sight of the wonder of Jesus’ birth. On the first Christmas, [tweet_dis]God came to earth and conveyed his message in some pretty incredible ways.[/tweet_dis]…
Dear PK’s, I was you once. Well, I guess I still am, a ‘Preacher’s Kid’ even though my Dad went home to the Lord a few years back. I wanted to say “thank you.” Thank you for all the time you sacrificed with your mom or dad for my family to have a wonderful holiday season.…
Lent is an odd thing. For some, it’s their chance to be noticeably religious for 40 days. For others, it’s a dare to do something zany for that time. How many people have heard another person say, “I’m giving up Mountain Dew for Lent!”…
 Best of PRATJ—The Stress of Advent and the Pursuit of Jesus){kind=link}
