Some church services are more memorable than others. While many faithful churchgoers have heard hundreds or even thousands of sermons, most can only recall a few in any detail. The following video from Hickory Grove Baptist Church illustrates what I imagine was the most memorable moment for almost everyone present in that service. Catch The Kid from Hickory Grove Baptist Church on Vimeo. So What? Pastor Clint Pressley likely prepared for many things, but apparently not Read More …
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Youth Ministry Is (#0937)
Rachel Blom is a seasoned youth ministry leader who founded Youth Leaders Academy: "a blog aimed at training youth leaders worldwide to serve better in youth ministry." Recently she wrote about her understanding of the shift underway in the preferred model or paradigm for youth ministry. More specifically, she believes it is shifting from big youth ministry to smaller youth ministry; from event-driven and program-oriented to personal and relational; from making Read More …
Does Distance Matter? (#0926)
Cor Chmieleski, senior associate pastor at Hope Community Church (Minneapolis, MN), recently asked "how far is too far?" when it comes to the distance people will travel to participate in a community of faith. Chmieleski lives six miles from the church he serves, but passes "more than 50 churches" on his commute. He questions whether, in the current era, distance should matter and if there is a point at which a congregation should encourage those who travel over a certain distance to Read More …
Thankful America Is Not a Christian Nation (#0921)
On this Thanksgiving, I am especially thankful that America is not a Christian nation. Parker Palmer, a best selling author, regularly dispenses incredible wisdom in his writings. In a Huffington Post Thanksgiving article, Palmer shares why he is "grateful that America is not and cannot be a Christian nation." More specifically, he argues that historical and present-day reality clearly show that America is not a Christian nation: Lack of a government established Read More …
Teens & Sleep (#0899)
Understanding the Zombie Teen's Body Clock may sound like a Halloween challenge, but is actually the title of Sue Shellenbarger's recent Wall Street Journal article exploring just how different the adolescent sleep cycle is from that of childhood or adulthood. Zombie teens experience a "biological 1-2-3 punch:" Puberty creates a median 1.5-hour delay in the body's release of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. The buildup of the need to sleep as the day wears on, Read More …
Removing the Cross (#0895)
Louisiana State University recently shared an image of the Painted Posse in the school's e-mail newsletter that has generated significant controversy. Rather than using the original image, the school shared an edited image that removed the small cross painted on each man's chest. When questioned, the following explanation was offered: We don't want to imply we are making any religious or political statements, so we air-brushed it out. Later, the University reversed Read More …
Most Religious President (#0874)
Forrest Wickman's recent article in Slate asks the question "Who is the most religious (American) president of all time?" He concludes that this distinction probably belongs to Jimmy Carter. Carter, a Georgia Baptist, has always been straightforward about his religious beliefs and practices. While in office, Carter attended church wherever he went, even while on the road, and continued to teach Sunday school when at home. He prayed daily and read the Bible, and when he Read More …
The Adolescent Brain (#0866)
The video below is a must watch TED Talk for anyone who cares about, works/serves with, and/or is raising adolescents. TED offers the following introduction: Why do teenagers seem so much more impulsive, so much less self-aware than grown-ups? Cognitive neuroscientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore compares the prefrontal cortex in adolescents to that of adults, to show us how typically "teenage" behavior is caused by the growing and developing brain. So What? Blakemore provides many Read More …
Overcoming Embarrassing Church Websites (#0854)
Terrell Sanders is offering a free ebook (email sign up required) designed to help churches overcome embarrassing websites. The ebook leverages his extensive church web design experiences through the work of the company he founded to suggest 10 practical pointers for church website design (or redesign): Use a simple, classic design Design for content Consistent style does not mean boring Start small, design to grow Design for guests A picture is worth 1,000 words Read More …
Teens Benefit from Time with Parents (#0831)
A new long term study published in the August issue of Child Development reveals that teens benefit from spending time with parents. While the study included only a small group of two parent families in Pennsylvania with limited diversity, the findings are worth noting. More specifically: The study authors were surprised to discover that when fathers spent more time alone with their teenagers, the kids reported they felt better about themselves. "Mothers weren't Read More …