Encouraging Student Leadership

Youth ministry and summer missions trips go together like campfires and roasted marshmallows, Disney and Mickey Mouse, teenagers and drama. You get the idea… Summer is the time for missions. I often tell people that planning and organizing…

In Praise of the Useless Conversation

I blame John Piper. Well, John Piper and a natural proclivity towards idolizing productivity. You see, when I was in college, I read “Don’t Waste Your Life” and was immediately hooked. Piper writes, “One short life, twill soon…

Atonement in the Triage Tent

A recent Radiolab podcast, called “Playing God,” explores how impossible it is to be both compassionate and fair. It retells triage situations in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010, and in a hospital below the flood zone after…

The “Authenticity” Paradox

“You do you,” is all the rage these days. Personally, I’m not a fan. It sounds to me like it gives carte-blanche permission for people to be or do whatever they want. This past week at the Rooted…

A Letter to My Students: Jesus is for Losers

Dear Students, It’s pretty common to look around these days, see the hype and massive build up for some cultural event about to happen: comments and press, crowds making plans, competitors making preparations … It doesn’t matter whether…

The Top Ten: September 2016

Each month we compile a Top 10 List for the Rooted community (comprised of both parents and student leaders). This list is made up of articles from a variety of websites across the internet – articles we believe…