Month: December 2008

I read this article about a recent study which found that Many Teens Don’t Keep Virginity Pledges. http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20081229/hl_hsn/manyteensdontkeepvirginitypledges

Questions for discussion:
What do you do in terms of purity programs/pledges?
How do you involve parents and families?
What curriculum do you use?
Do you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?
What have you found to be helpful in your program?
What would you not do if you could do your program over again?
How do you measure the success of your program?
Would you say your program has been successful? Why or why not?

Here is the list of books I read in 2008. I have underlined the ones that were most impactful for me personally.

1. 25 Ways To Win With People by John Maxwell & Les Parrott
2. A Christian Manifesto by Francis Schaeffer
3. A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren
4. Beyond Your Backyard: Stepping Out to Serve Others by Tom Ellsworth
5. C.S. Lewis: His Life & Thought by Terry Glaspey
6. Christianity Through the Centuries by Earle E. Cairns
7. Conspiracy of Kindness by Steve Sjogren
8. Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybles
9. Covenant Marriage by Gary Chapman
10. Creating Community by Andy Stanley
11. Deep Ministry in a Shallow World by Chap Clark & Kara Powell
12. Do They Run When They See You Coming? by Jonathan McKee
13. Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
14. End of the Spear by Steve Saint
15. Enjoy the Silence by Duffy & Maggie Robbins
16. Experiential Story Telling by Mark Miller
17. Getting Fired for the Glory of God by Mike Yaconelli
18. It’s the Little Things by Lena Williams
19. Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw
20. Jesus-Centered Youth Ministry by Rick Lawrence
21. Mistaken Identity by Van Ryn & Cerak
22. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
23. Red Letter Christians by Tony Campolo
24. Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
25. Samson & The Pirate Monks by Nate Larkin
26. Sex God by Rob Bell
27. Son of a Preacher by Jay Bakker
28. Soul Shaper by Tony Jones
29. Speaking to Teenagers by Doug Fields & Duffy Robbins
30. Starting Right: Thinking Theologically about Youth Ministry by Creasy Dean, Clark, Rahn
31. The Bible in 90 Days
32. The Book of God by Walter Wangrin Jr.
33. The Dirty Little Secret by Craig Gross
34. The Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann
35. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
36. The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
37. The Journey to the East by Hermann Hesse
38. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
39. The Ministry of Nurture by Duffy Robbins
40. The Pilgrim’s Regress by C.S. Lewis
41. The Shack by William P. Young
42. This Way to Youth Ministry by Duffy Robbins
43. Thrones of Blood: A History of the Times of Jesus by Josephus
44. Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand
45. Tribes by Seth Godin
46. What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey

My friend Linda sent me this video. I am sure it’s not about me because she doesn’t hear me preach. lol!

Merry Christmas Everyone! We have had a wonderful morning. The girls woke up at about 7:30 and came down stairs to discover that Santa Clause did indeed make it last night! We then went downstairs and opened our two big family gifts – a ping pong table and an air hockey table. The girls enjoyed playing with their new games and watching Prince Caspian. I then went to the church and played drums for our Christmas service while Ady got some more sleep. When I returned home we opened the rest of our presents. We are now hanging out together, eating brunch, and enjoying our gifts.

A friend passed this article along to me the other day: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=081201214307.uhk1mtoo&show_article=1