When Karl Wallenda, the legendary tight-rope walker, would talk about his passion, he would say: "Life is being on the wire: everything else is just waiting!" His passion was not a burden but a time of release and freedom for his soul. He practiced his craft not because of “duty” but “desire.” All performers have days they practice because they “have…
“Send me a man to fight!” was the cry from the valley of Elah by the Philistine warrior Goliath. Saul had the opportunity to save countless thousands of his men from slaughter if he would fight for them - serve as their Protector. This was a common practice for armies in those days and soldiers knew how good leaders performed…
We often define churches by their size, music quality, architecture or notoriety of the pastor. Elaborate facilities. Multiple staff members. A plethora of programs. Is this how we define church? Is it about all of these things? The answer can be “yes” and “maybe,” if these things are contributing to the main thing. The main thing is not bringing a…
Summer camp is a vital tool in the student ministry toolbox. It can either be a time of life change or simply a week of fun! As an annual event on the calendar; it plays a strategic role in the overall ministry of the church. Student camps come in all shapes and sizes. Like your church, they each have their…
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. (Excerpt from "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost) Our path naturally leads us to a crossroad demanding a life changing decision. Over time as…
The ability of a leader to clearly communicate message is vital. As Gilbert Amelio said, “If a leader can't get a message across clearly and motivate others to act on it, then having a message doesn't even matter.” Leaders usually fail to clearly communicate message for one of two reasons: They are out of touch with their constituency, so they…
Today may be ragged with the remnants of uncompleted tasks, failed projects, or waning vision, so we look to tomorrow. We need a fresh start…a new page to turn. Tomorrow could be the day to turn the page. Tomorrow is alive with possibilities and opportunities. However it should not serve as a “guilt-reducing blender” we hurl every procrastination from today.…
So be honest: do you think Youth Pastors are Overrated? Do you think they get too much attention in churches today? When I mention Youth Pastors, do youth camp pranks, noisy kids in the sanctuary and the crazy colors they paint youth rooms come to mind? Whatever your reaction may be, perhaps you just don’t get all the fuss over…
Great communicators make profound concepts simple and simple ones profound. They are students of their audience. This allows them to predict and answer questions in the audience minds during the presentation. Don’t let that thought be too intimidating because it is a learned ability. Every student ministry leader can be an effective communicator if they are willing to spend time…
I made a remarkable scientific discovery in the fifth grade. Actually I did not discover the principle: I just became aware of it. I was playing with two magnets, watching them attract each other when it happened. I turned them around and voila! …they repelled one another. I know this is not “earth shattering” information. Most of us know about…