Author Posts Archive
What’s Hot?
A weekly listing of hot cultural items from the Internet, music, television and movies
Parents Often Unaware Of Kids’...
When children are having suicidal thoughts, their parents may often be in the dark, a new study shows.
Teen Birth Control Use Up,...
Today’s teens are better at using birth control when they first become sexually active, but many unexpected pregnancies still occur, new research…
2019 Youth Pastor Compensation...
In my experience there are two big factors that drive people out of professional youth ministry…
2019 Youth Pastor Compensation...
This is the second year that Dan has published the results of his massive, online survey of youth worker compensation
2019 Youth Pastor Compensation...
This is the second year that Dan has published the results of his massive, online survey of youth worker compensation
Teens Who Attend Church Often Stop...
Two-thirds of American Christian teenagers who regularly attend worship at a Protestant congregation for at least a year quit going for at…
Pot Altered The Brain After One...
More teens are vaping pot because it seems safer
Parents Sue District Over Bring...
Students, have a First Amendment right to express a religious viewpoint to another student, including distribute flyers
Family Relationships Over Ministery
Because I am in ministry, I’ve gotten my vocation mixed up with my relationships in Marriage, Children and God
Virtually Child Psychiatrist
Remote video consults are helping pediatricians fill the gap in some communities
Teaching Your Kids Self Control
“Choosing to do what you should do, not what you want to do.”
Tracking Phones?
I gave a bounty Hunter $300. He then located our phone
‘Adulting Day’ For Students
Teaching high school students responsibilities
Millennials The Burnout Generation?
How millennials became the burn our generation
Social Media Linked With Depression...
Connection between social media use and depressive symptoms in 14-year-olds, and that connection may be much stronger for girls than boys
Teens Who Hurt Themselves More...
Teens who harm themselves are three times more likely to commit violent crimes than those who don’t, a new study reveals
What’s Hot?
A weekly listing of hot cultural items from the Internet, music, television and movies
Gospel Lite In Youth Ministry
The gospel is the announcement of grace for sinners through the life, death, resurrection, and eventual return of Jesus Christ
Join The Tech-Wise Family Challenge
So over the 21 days of The Tech-Wise Family Challenge, we’ll all get to do some
You Can Lock Your Kid’s Phone...
For parents who are worried their kids are ignoring their texts, one dad has developed a phone app to make it impossible
What Do Our Youth Need Most?
A kid in pain… do I craft a lesson around emotional pain and how Jesus can be salve for…
Do “Something” In The New Year
I don’t know if you are like me, but I enjoy blowing stuff up….
What’s Hot?
A weekly listing of hot cultural items from the Internet, music, television and movies
Good Sleep….Healthier Teens
Regular bedtimes and adequate sleep during childhood may contribute toward a healthy weight in the teen years
Pot Problems
Pot’s increasing potency could make it more likely that toking will interfere with users’ lives
The end of the year
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Resolutions and goals
So I have to ask, What are your youth ministry goals this year?
Flashback: Make Your Goals Happen...
Dream about what could and should be happening in your ministry.
3 REVERSE CULTURE TRENDS FOR 2019
Pop culture tends to change at the speed of light. As soon as we begin to take hold of a rising trend,…
WHAT YOUTH MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT
I will have been in youth ministry for 40 years. Wisdom, I believe, teaches us what to value and not value.
MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS FROM 2018
The #ysblog went through and found the most popular blog posts from 2018. Wondering what the top posts were from 2018? Check…
What’s Hot?
A weekly listing of hot cultural items from the Internet, music, television and movies
Heavy Screen Time Appears To Impact...
“avoid digital media use—except video chatting—in children younger than 18 to 24 months”
Screen Time Study Shows Differences...
Some children who spent more time on smartphones and other devices exhibited a different brain pattern than kids with less screen time
Benefits Of High School Later Start...
A new study finds that children not only log healthier levels of sleep, they also perform at a higher level in the…
Parents Warned Of Teen Online...
A FBI report concluded that sextortion is a major, if not underlying, factor for child victims committing suicide
Teen Exposes Man Who Asked For...
Justin Crawley, was arrested after a teenage girl exposed their social media conversations where the suspect repeatedly asked for nudes and sex
A Very Social Christmas
A humorous reminder that our connectedness can sometimes get in the way of actually connecting. This Christmas, don’t be social, be social
Christmas “Time flies”
Don’t miss it. You will blink. . . and they will be older. And that’s why our tree this year reminds me…
Depression In Adolescents And Young...
Are phones and social media to blame?
Study: The Effects Of Screen Times...
60 Minutes goes inside a landmark government study of young minds to see if phones, tablets and other screens are impacting adolescent…
The Presence Of God In Our Anxiety
“Studies indicate that when we suffer mental illness alone, the results can be tragic, even horrific. When we suffer inside
From The Gen Z Perspective
Conversations between my peers are often peppered with jokes of self-harm, anorexia, and suicide
Why Are Young People Having So...
Despite the easing of taboos and the rise of hookup apps, Americans are in the midst of a sex recession
‘Hail Mary’ Pass Helps Win...
In one of the most amazing plays you will EVER see!
Family Famous For Cringeworthy...
Mike Bergeron and his wife Laura, both 45, started making the funny cards in 2003 to poke fun at their friends
Alexa: ‘Kill Your Foster...
Amazon’s Alexa talks murder, sex in AI experiment
The Parenting Marathon
Eight Ways to Persevere in the Parenting Marathon
Belong: Religious Upbringing Better...
Children who had a religious upbringing are likely to be healthier and have a higher degree of well-being in early adulthood than…
Sleep Study: How Can We Improve A...
One sleep study may have a simple answer…
How To Speak To Middle Schoolers
Concerned about translating the gospel into the (foreign, treacherous) culture of Jr High
10 Reasons Middle Schoolers Are...
Middle schoolers tend to get a bad rap because they come with many challenges
Changes In Youth Ministry
How To Make Successful Changes In Youth Ministry
Woody Allen’s Secret Teen...
Sex, Power and a Conflicted Muse Who Inspired ‘Manhattan’
Barbie Same-Sex wedding Set
Couple working with Mattel on Barbie same-sex wedding set
Soaring Suicides And Toxic Social...
Soaring suicides are another sign of our toxic social disconnect
More U.S. Teens Are Vaping, But&...
More U.S. Teens Are Vaping, But Use of Opioids, Alcohol Falls
More Teens Try Pot Before Booze,...
Rebellious teens used to reach for cigarettes or alcohol. Now, marijuana is increasingly their first choice, a new study reveals.
Why ‘Passing On The Faith’...
The church needs to be—a community that calls our young adults into the body, not as passive recipients, but as active members
Why Young People Leave The Church&...
How Apologetics Can Address the Six Reasons Why Young People Leave the Church
Why Many Youth Pastors Don’t Make...
I believe the following four principles capture a biblically grounded vision of what ministry to youth should entail
The Landscape Of Youth Ministry
Here are 5 ways that youth ministry has changed since 1995
Teen Loneliness
Much of our modern life leaves us less connected with people and more connected to simulations of them
How To Be A Good Grandparent Over...
4 Ways To Be A Good Grandparent Over The Holidays
The Strange Phenomenon Of L.O.L....
“Mystery” toys that kids peel open and cast aside speak volumes about consumer culture
Teachable Moments
Why the Movie “Eighth Grade” Is Great for Digital Citizenship
Helping Parents Who Have Lost A...
Book: “Cameron Cole candidly offers practical and biblical advice for those who mourn in Therefore I Have Hope
Christmas Without A Total Meltdown
7 Ways To Get to Christmas Without a Total Meltdown
20 Memorable Family Christmas...
Traditions are important for families because they provide opportunities to keep your family legacy going
America Is Addicted To Outrage
But the greatest casualty of outrage may be judgment itself
Principal On Leave After Banning...
Historically, the shape is a “J” for Jesus. The red is for the blood of Christ, and the white is a symbol…
Tumblr 18+ Content Ban Reviewed
Tumblr 18+ Content Ban Causes Rise In Pedophilia On Twitter!?
Family Meals Make For Teens Who Eat...
Teens and young adults who ate with their family more tended to eat more fruits and vegetables and less fast or takeout…
How High School Football Changes...
A single season of high school football may be enough to cause structural changes to a teen’s brain
Better Sleep Can Improve College...
As the college semester nears the end, an innovative experiment has shown the benefits of averaging eight hours of sleep for five…
Manufacturers Lack Of Labors Are...
I’m 17 years old I have more training than most 30-year-olds. When I graduate, I’ll have a job. “It feels like I’m actually…
Top Bible Verses Of 2018 Deal With...
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I…
Flashback: How God’s Word...
The “JESUS” film has been used in 7.5 billion gospel presentations. It is the most watched movie in history
What Kids Brag About On Social...
We need to be aware of the temptation to indulge pride in front of our real and imagined online audience
Why 12 Year Olds Shouldn’t...
5 Reasons Why 12 Year Olds Shouldn’t Have Social Media
Teens’ Social Media Habits and...
Teens….express concern that these sites lead to drama and social pressure
School Blocks Chick-fil-A As Dining...
Rider understands some may view the decision as a “form of exclusion.” wanted to be “faithful to our values of inclusion.”
Sex, Love, And Science
While sex clearly belongs in this category- so does the relationship between science and faith. But first, Love
Grad Student Asked To Move Out Over...
Harvard grad student told to move out after roommates find her legally owned firearms ‘uncomfortable’
One in Five U.S. High School...
More than 20 percent of high school students use electronic cigarettes, risking nicotine addiction, lung damage and the temptation to try traditional…
Don’t Suppress Negative...
New research contradicts the commonplace advice to avoid showing conflict and strong negative emotions around one’s children. It may be better to…
What’s Hot?
A weekly listing of hot cultural items from the Internet, music, television and movies
Keeping Students Committed To...
You can’t be a serious-about-faith-and-nurture parent, youth worker, pastor, or educator and not be concerned.
Gen Z Is Coming To Your Office
The generation now entering the workforce is sober, industrious and driven by money. They are also socially awkward and timid about taking…
Makeup Brand Targets Girls Aged...
Petite ‘n Pretty: The Makeup Brand Winning Over Gen Z Influencers
Teens: Leave Us Alone Social Media...
Mostly, kids are using social media to brag and talk about their families
What Is Silent Disco All About...
Noise restrictions? Amplified sound ordinances? These are things of the past. Take back your musical freedom and throw an event anywhere your…
Social