The Gospel is About a Parent and a Child

A person’s story obviously shapes the way in which he or she interprets the world. For me, as a person who has had a child die, I tend to have a greater sensitivity toward parents when I hear…

When Talking to Your Teen is Hard

One night at the beginning of the summer, my college-bound daughter was home without plans.  Her friends were either out of town or working. She was bored. Now I could think of several things she could use the time for – you know,…

Gospel-Astonished Parenting

What lies at the heart of longing to see faith in Christ passed on from one generation to the next? I have two compelling reasons to busy myself with figuring out the answer to this question. First, I…

Why Teens Don’t Talk to Their Parents

Last winter I conducted an anonymous online survey of teens. The survey results serve as the foundation behind my second book for teen girls, which is currently in the works. But what I gleaned from one particular question is something…

I’m a Decent Youth Minister, an Even Worse Parent

This is the sixth piece in our ongoing series, “Confessions of a Struggling Youth Minister.” While student ministry is often extremely edifying and even a barrel of laughs, it can also be isolating, discouraging, and totally exhausting. Our…