It is a ministry situation like none other. It involves moving trucks, rollaway carts, sound systems on wheels, renting space at a local school or movie theatre, and a newborn vision of what God could do with...

In just a few more than 50 years, our media culture has gone from treating matters of sexuality as a hush-hush topic to putting all kinds of sexual practices and issues center-stage. That certainly has been...

Quick Backdrop Most of us don't set out to be liars; we don't wake up and ask, "How am I going to lie today?" We are much more subtle and nuanced. Sometimes lying just sort of creeps into our decisions. ...

I am not an emotional person. That doesn't mean I am emotionless, that I feel nothing and exude a tough-guy persona that screams, "I'll mock you, then take your candy if you cry in front of me." I just mean tha...

I was raised in a conservative home, worshiped in a conservative youth ministry at church, and attended a conservative seminary. I'm thankful for my conservative roots. They are part of what shapes me. Inter...

"Kara, we want to meet with you because we don't think you're teaching the Bible enough to our kids." This was John and Patty's greeting one Sunday morning as I was getting ready to speak to our students. Not o...

Psalm 4: Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge (Psalm 16, NIV) Sadly, high school graduations and summer breaks frequently lead teenagers into poor decisions.  Car accidents, alcohol and drugs, p...

This is a variation of the classic game musical chairs. But for this version, air-filled balloons (of the same size) will be needed.  Make sure to have enough balloons on hand for your group size.  Play like ...

Leadership in general is tough, but leadership in a church or ministry setting even more so. We’re not just expected to lead people; we’re expected to lead them like Jesus would have. We lead by serving, by...

At 2 a.m., the lights in my bedroom switched on, and my 17-year-old daughter cried, “Mom, I swallowed a lot of pills.” It had been a rough autumn, and I knew we were all stressed; but I was not prepared ...