Hope from the Movie, Eighth Grade

You are working harder than you have ever worked in your life; your heart is pounding, your body aches, you are struggling to breathe, you are drowning. If you go under one more time, you fear you may…

Get Them in the Ark

How to Be a Mom in 2017: Make sure your children’s academic, emotional, psychological, mental, spiritual, physical, nutritional, and social needs are met while being careful not to overstimulate, under stimulate, improperly medicate, helicopter or neglect them in…

Working Under Heaven

Once a year I consider moving to a hut on the island of Fiji. That time of year is usually at the beginning of August, when parents are confronted with the entirety of the semester in all of…

The Heart of Middle School Meanness

It doesn’t matter where you live, what type of school system you are in, or who your kids’ friends are, there is no fool proof way of avoiding middle school meanness. That is not to say the meanness…

Books to Teach in Jr. High Youth Ministry: Mark

Paul said it well, “all Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching.” We can teach any book to group of people and expect spiritual benefit. Simultaneously, I have found in experience that certain books of the Bible…

Books to Teach in Jr. High Youth Ministry: Ruth

Question: Why teach the Book of Ruth to junior highers? Answer: Junior high students should be taught the Bible. Ruth is in the Bible. Therefore, junior high students should be taught Ruth. All kidding aside, of all the…