We’ve all experienced times where things don’t go as planned, and as a result, we’re left confused, hurting and maybe even angry. When these moments of desperation and pain occur, what does it look like to show vulnerability to Jesus while choosing to trust Him?…
Whether they bring great delight, or great pain, friendships have a transformational impact on our lives. When we look at our own friendships, what role can they play in deepening our commitment to Jesus? Join Rick and Becky as they continue our two-month pursuit of what it takes to become a “new” version of yourself (Hint- It’s not by trying harder to get better).…
I’m just imagining the first followers of Jesus taking a “discipleship assessment” just after his death and resurrection. Would a single one of them make the grade as a “fully formed disciple” by today’s youth ministry standards? If the model Jesus himself used produced the kind of results that would get most of us a poor performance review, maybe there’s a problem with the way we think about discipleship.…
I’m just imagining the first followers of Jesus taking a “discipleship assessment” just after his death and resurrection. Would a single one of them make the grade as a “fully formed disciple” by today’s youth ministry standards? If the model Jesus himself used produced the kind of results that would get most of us a poor performance review, maybe there’s a problem with the way we think about discipleship.…
Recently, three students met with me (and another leader) to share, for the first time, that they’d made a decision to embrace their transgender identity. Let that sink in—instead of running from the church at a moment like this, all three felt safe enough to open up about their journey and seek out a closer relationship with Jesus, wherever that might lead them. …
I love the 2002 movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where a Greek woman named Toula Portokalos falls in love with a non-Greek man. Gus, Toula’s proud father, struggles to give away his daughter to someone from another culture. The romantic comedy also emphasizes Gus’ love for the Greek language.…
If you ask people in ministry about their “calling” they give you the answer about what they now “do” for Jesus. You know what I mean. We are “called” to be youth pastors. However, I believe that “calling” is a far more transformational experience than any “one thing.”…
 The New-ness of You—Knocked Off Your Donkey){kind=link}
