Youth Ministry-- What MUST Die (Cont.)

*If you haven't read "Youth Ministry-- What MUST Die" please do so before continuing* I agree with Mark Oestreicher and Mark Driscoll when they talk about belonging. Mark O. wrote a quick article in Group Magazine recently about the new Youth Cultures needs and at the top of the list is belonging. Mark Driscoll in his book The Radical Reformission discusses how the old pattern of evangelism was: " Know Jesus, then belong" but today we need a new way or "Reformission" as Mark calls is that looks like this: "Belong, then know Jesus". Killing...

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Youth Ministry-- What MUST Die

I've been in Youth Ministry as a student, leader and now pastor for 13 years. I've experienced tons, both as a student and as a leader. I've seen things work and things fail. I've done some amazing things that students loved and I've done some stupid things that students hated. I've also noticed a shift in ministry. Many have talked about the depth of the change such as MarkOstreicher in his book: Youth Ministry 3.0, Andrew Root in his book: Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry and Mark DeVries in his book: Sustainable Youth Ministry. All...

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Bi-Vocational Youth Ministry

It's funny how, when I typed into google images: "bi-vocational ministry" this little lego guy juggling legos popped up. I liked it and thought it true that bi-vocational ministry is a lot like juggling. I've recently re-entered the bi-vocational world and it is harder than I remembered. I was a full time pastor for a little over a year, and in that time I forgot about my "bi-vo" days. Now, I know that this is only the beginning of my new "bi-vo"...

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Christian Writers' Market Guide 2009

Publisher: WaterBrook PressPaperback: 560 pagesLanguage: EnglishISBN-10: 0307446433ISBN-13: 978-0307446435The Christian Writers' Market Guide is indeed the Essential reference tool for the Christian writer. I know this, because I am myself an aspiring author who has been helped tremendously by this work. This book is full of resources that have been compiled for the past 24 years. Sally Stuart has been writing these guides for 24 years and has...

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The Gift of Psalms

The Gift of Psalms is the most recent release of the Word of Promise audio series. This is different from any audio bible series I've ever encountered. It is set up as a 50 Day devotional, both in print form and in audio form. The audio is done by many well-known actors whilst the devotional reflection on each Psalm is written by Lori Jones. I've never been one to pop in the audio Bible and simply listen to a person read the Bible to me, but...

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Guard Against Lorena Bobbit Pt.3

Part 3 of the Lorena Bobbit series and the last segment. I've discussed how this series was spawned in my heart and mind by reading Wild at Heart by John Eldridge and how I was simply taking some ideas he brought up in the book ad interacting with them here. This is the same as all the other three entries. His third "man-need" was every man needs a Beauty to save. John talked about the innate desire we men have to rescue the damsel in distress,...

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Guard Against Lorena Bobbit Pt.2

If you haven't yet, read "The Emasculation of Men" and "Guard Against Lorena Bobbit Pt. 1" before proceeding.Satan loves the spirit of Lorena Bobbit. He enjoys watching men be stripped of manhood. If he could, he would emasculate all Christian men making them fearful beings who never put up a fight. What we all (woman included) forget is that every day, we are in a violent, bloody war against Satan. If he could make us calm, little puppies instead...

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Guard Against Lorena Bobbit Pt.1

In my post "The Emasculation of Men" I discussed my recent reading of Wild at Heart by John Eldridge and how it positively effected me. I also stated that I would be writing a series of post on the topic, this is the first one in that series. Just for reference, Lorena Bobbit was the woman who angrily emasculated her husband back in the 90's. Guarding against her is guarding against anyone, or anything that would attempt to emasculate men today.Men...

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Facts and Predictions

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Temptation (Letters to the Corinthians Series)

Why is it that we don't discuss our deepest darkest temptations in the church? Most times we avoid the fact that we have deep nasty junk inside ourselves that Satan loves to pluck out to lead us into sin. The capacity to sin is within us and each of us has a "special room" for those sinful desires. Satan know that room, God knows that room and WE know that room. A lot of times those rooms are built due to pain. I talked to the Sr. High teens...

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A Different Perspective

When I was a young, wide-eyed college student, I was a selfish jerk. Not too much has changed, but I notice a different outlook. All through college, I worked at Chili's as a server. I was a hard worker, gained good income...but I was selfish. I didn't act as a team player. My attitude was how much money can I make in as little time as possible? How can I help myself earn money and leave? These were my thoughts. Now, times have changed. I have returned to Chili's in order to take care of my family. This has changed my attitude on working...

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The Final Twitter Answer

Seriously, I am a HUGE fan of Twitter. I've posted once before about the cool things about it, but this video is definitely the best reasoning as to why I use Twitter. There are more reasons than shown in this video, but man does it help explain my fascination. If you haven't tried Twitter yet and are skeptical...watch this video. If you LOVE Twitter, use Twitter or think Twitter is cool, watch this vide...

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For The Tough Times

For The Tough Times by Max LucadoISBN: 978-0-8499-2144-5 Tough Times are here. I know, I'm experiencing some tough times. Due to the economic downturn, my job was reduced from full time to part-time starting February 1st. I've had to look for another job to supplement the income I will be losing. The media is having a frenzy over the stock-market plunge and more and more people are losing jobs than have been in almost 10 years. Tough Times are...

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The Ugliest Thing

Dear Friend,Let me tell you a simple truth. Divorce is indeed ugly, it is not fun, it is not freeing it is ugly. I know what you're going through, I've been there and lived it...actually to say "lived" is the wrong word because in fact I LIVE it. It is ugly because for the rest of our lives, it is lived by us and all who've been affect by this, the ugliest thing.Your wounding is much more recent, so let me tell you I understand. You feel alone, abandoned, cheated and pissed off. These are all REAL feelings. They are OK to feel. In fact this...

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The Fight for Adequacy

Have you ever felt in life like a failure? Have you heard the whisper in your own mind that you'll never cut it? Maybe you heard loud voluminous screams from a loved one, friend or teacher that you just aren't good enough being who you are. You have to shape up, change up and make up a new self to be worth it.I hear this whisper in my ear a lot. Last night was one of those times I felt like I was fighting for adequacy. I know that without Christ I am nothing. I am aware that no one is righteous, no one is good enough. Yet, that knowledge...

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How I Broke...My Toe

Many stories in my life are comical, silly and downright ridiculous, this short story of how I broke my toe is no different. I wish I could tell you how I broke my toe by lifting way too many boxes full of heavy books. Or How I broke my toe taking a couch up some stairs. Maybe even I broke my toe playing a sick game of football. However, the truth is I didn't break my toe doing any of those things. Yesterday was my day off. I was home chillin'....

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The Emasculation of Men

I've been doing a lot of reading lately on man-hood and am doing a series for my Jr. Highers on Biblical Men. The reading, and studying I've been doing has definitely given me the idea that we as men (especially within the church) are being or have been emasculated. I'm currently reading Wild at Heart by John Eldridge, in which he says this exact sentiment.One of the things John Eldridge says is: "Inside every man is a warrior". That may not seem...

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