If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them.  “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss.

Young Adults as Youth Ministry Volunteers

In a recent edition of Slant33.com, i responded to this question:

If young adult brains aren’t yet fully formed (particularly in the areas responsible for wisdom and decision making), what implications does that have for working with young adult volunteers?

Here’s a rub I regularly experience when talking to rooms full of youth workers. I’ll mention the new realities of extended adolescence, and the findings referred to in the question above. Then I’ll ask: how many of you are under 30? Usually, somewhere between 30% and 50% raise their hands. My regular gag is to say, “Well, it’s nice to have so many teenagers in the room today!”

I’ve never been (or at least haven’t been for a long time) one of those youth workers who thinks that only young adults make good youth leaders. I like diversity. But, there’s no denying that some of my most wonderful youth ministry volunteers over the years have been in the 18 – 25 year-old range.

And while I’d like to think my particular young adult leaders were always a serious cut above average, the reality I’d rather not admit is: they are – on average – physiologically limited in wisdom, decision-making, prioritization, impulse control, and a bunch of other skills I’d sure like my volunteer leaders to possess.

Part of my struggle with this, though, is that I’m still very unconvinced that the whole teenage brain thing is a nature thing (god’s design, you might say), and is more likely to be a nurture thing (the result of our collective restrictions on young adults, keeping them from moving into adulthood or using their brains as adults). And, as I’m buying into the notion that young adults (and even teenagers — particularly older teenagers) are fully capable — whether behavioral indicators show this or not — of “being adult,” I’m forced to wrestle with a few things:

Read entire article here.

12 Accountability Questions – Doug Fields

Today Jim Burns and I were talking about some of the men and women we know who have flamed-out/crashed-and-burned/failed in ministry. Of the ones we know personally, it’s pretty easy to point to the fact that they don’t have real friends asking the tough questions. They were busy leaders who were doing ministry alone.

What about you? Do you have someone in your life who will ask you the tough questions so you don’t become isolated or the Emperor [leader] with no clothes?

We made a list of 12 Accountability Questions that we’re considering inserting into HomeWord’s leadership stream. As we develop team and encourage community within ministry leaders, we’re wondering if 2 or 3 of these questions might have some power to trigger good, authentic conversation. We realize that accountability is only as good as the honesty it connects to–which is why we added #12.

Read entire article here.

10 Must-Have Apps for Successful High School Students – Neha Prakash

A high school student’s plate isn’t just filled with classes, but also sports, clubs, SATs and a social life of proms and pep rallies. Don’t head into the classroom unarmed — turn to your phone or tablet. There are plenty of apps to help keep your hectic life organized.

In high school, your courseload will tip the scales and the pressure of college apps and AP classes will challenge every moment. Use these 10 apps to make sure you’re on top of homework assignments, ensuring studying is effortless and efficient rather than stressful and unproductive.

Read entire article here.