Just keep casting your line
I’m not what you would consider a man of the outdoors, but I did my fair share of fishing during my teen years.
I’m not what you would consider a man of the outdoors, but I did my fair share of fishing during my teen years.
Adobe Stock Photo. Do not publish.
The 20th century political anarchist Edward Abbey loved the desert and once observed, “What draws us into the desert is the search for something intimate in the remote.” Abbey was not the only person who discovered intimacy in the solitude of the desert. The same could be said for some of the most influential people of prayer mentioned in Scripture. God originally created man in a garden, but He frequently recreates them in a desert.
a golfer blasts his ball from the sand trap
I have tried really hard to like golf, but I prefer hobbies that do not tempt me to say or do things I will regret later. One thing I do like about golf is the mulligan—a do-over stroke that doesn’t count. They make those terrible shots disappear into thin air.
Adobe Stock Photo. Do not publish.
For many pastors, it’s difficult to not take it personally when people leave their church. But according to a recent Lifeway Research study, most churchgoers aren’t leaving a church because they have a personal complaint against the pastor. During the research screening process, it was determined only 53% of U.S. regular churchgoers say they have attended more than one church as an adult. Among these, most say their church change was impacted by a residential move (60%). Still, 40% of church changes were driven by something other than a residential move.
Most teenagers experienced a learning deficit during the COVID lockdown of 2020. Many educators believe they will never overcome that deficit. Similarly, could teenagers experience a spiritual deficit when their churches go for many months with no student pastor?
In many ways, the future of our churches depends on our reaching, discipling, and mobilizing a young generation. I am not despondent. If pastors and churches make some Spirit-directed and Spirit-empowered changes, we are going to see the graphs move in new directions.
After 50 years of working in and studying youth ministry, Richard Ross says a "radical reevaluation" is needed to foster a "mature, enduring faith" in teenagers.
Easter sermons are incomplete if they don't convey Christ's current reign, columnist Richard Ross says.
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–Baptist Press provides a helpful platform for discussion about the first draft of recommendations from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. The civility and gracious spirit of all those who are providing comment there seems more Christ-like than much of the blogosphere. The goal of the GCR process was resurgence. Consider: What […]
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--Real men eat rare steaks cut from the grizzly bear they killed with a hunting knife.
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--It's been fascinating to see a presidential candidate capture the loyalty of young people.
FORT WORTH, Texas. (BP)--Almost every Sunday morning I’m in a different pastor’s office. Often the ministers gather for prayer before I preach that morning.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--I believe it is time for leaders to challenge every committed student to spend a summer, semester or year in full-time mission work while young.