Spiritual Life

"A Master of Divinity?" By Brent Parker

"When we dip a new believer into the baptismalwaters, declaring that our old self is buried and then raised to new life with Christ, or when we stand at the communion table and pronouncethat the bread is Christ's body and the cup is his blood--we invite our students into a mysterious encounter with the Holy."
A Freedom Story By Mike Yaconelli
Abide: Means of Grace By Libbie Patterson

"There's something deeply right about the language of the heart."
Ambassadors of Compassion By Jamie Duke

The teenagers we minister to are a lot like the people Jesus describes in Mark 6:34.
An Experiment in Re-creation: A Journey of Joy By Wes Dillon

In response to a sense that they were not really experiencing all of God's celebration and joy, a group of students and adults sought to intentionally make re-creation a part of their daily lives.
An Unexpected Breakfast with Jesus By Dave Urbanski

Daily communion, the discipline of silence, simple-but-profound worship, repeating prayers and Scripture 'til they're rich and dripping with meaning—just some of the highlights from the Sabbath 2000 spiritual retreat for youth workers.
Annoying Faith By Mike Yaconelli
Clearings By Mike Yaconelli
Confessions of A Poor Listener: Buying In to the Lie By Bo White

"I've encouraged my staff to be busy and in so doing haveasked them to do the impossible—to be about the Lord's work without listening to the Lord's voice."
Even Wise Men Make Mistakes By John Losey

Lessons we can learn about following God.
Faith's Struggle By Sarah E. Haringa

Struggling to understand God's will.
Faith, What a Rush! Following Jesus, Not the Adrenaline By D. Scott Miller

Miller explores ways to move teens through the adrenaline pounding extreme activity on to the rush of faith in God.
Go Ahead...God Can Take It By Doug Ranck

Spiritual Chutzpah During Difficult Times
He's Got That Look By Luis Palau

Have you looked at Jesus long enough to see him looking at you?
I Don't Need More Talking About God; What I Need is More of God By Kelly Monroe

Books, music, and Web sites that help us receive the living water.
I Guess This Is What It Would Feel Like to Leave My Life Behind By Linford Detweiler

A songwriter's experience of going on retreats: leaving himself and finding himself in God.
Living by a Different Doctrine By Ken Moser

"This is my new doctrine. God is in control and wants me to slow down—to 'still down' if you will."
Not My Will, but Your Will Be Done By Dorris Ngaujah

One of the great ironies of the Christian life is that often our most noble, God-centered desires can be miles away from God's will.
On Sabbatical By Tony Jones

Contributing Editor Tony Jones will make you jealous talking about his three month sabbatical with no church-related phone calls or e-mails.
Please say Goodbye to Jesus for Me By Mike Yaconelli
Returning Home By Lawrence Kushner

A rabbi explains teshuva—the Jewish concept of repentance, apology, and returning to God and to who we are meant to be—and links it to Jesus.
Sacrifice: What Does It Really Look Like for a Youth Worker? By Dale Friesen

We give lip service to it, but there really are things we need to sacrifice to be effective.
Self-evaluation or Self-absorbtion? By Mike Yaconelli
Stop Struggling and Dance By Laurie Polich

An overburdened youth worker goes to Paris and learns to let go and let God lead the dance.
The Expertise of the Inept By Mike Yaconelli
The Glory of Being Stuck By Mike Yaconelli
The God of Second Chances By Carlo Walth

After getting fired for crossing emotional lines with a girl in his group, this youth worker was on the brink of suicide. Here's how God brought him back to life.
The God of the Inbetweens By Mike Yaconelli
The Lost Language of Play: Misunderstood Spirituality By Jason Minnix

Re-examining the assumption that adults are spiritually mature and young people are not, and tapping into the value of Godly Play.
The Safety of Fear By Mike Yaconelli
The Secret Self By Mike Yaconelli
The Shape of Belief in the New Millennium By Steve Rabey

Worldwide interest in spiritual things is at an all-time high. And this interest only promises to grow in the future—at least if American teens have their way.
The Terror of In-Betweenness By Mike Yaconelli
The Truth of the Twigs By Kara Eckmann

The story of Jacob and the spotted and speckled sheep is a reminder that the one in charge of our youth ministry is God.
The Truth Shall Make You Odd By Mike Yaconelli
Thirsting at the Fountainside By Philip Yancey

How can we have a 'personal relationship' with a God who is invisible, when we're never quite sure he's there?" That's among several hard questions this esteemed writer poses in an excerpt from his work, Reaching for the Invisible God (Zondervan).
This Is The Place Where Jesus Is By Ginny Olson

Finding the essence of youth ministry in the catacombs.
Week of Sabbath By Beth Slevcove

This week is about Wasting time. Sabbath is about wasting time with God, letting the soil lie fallow. Farmers know this is a must in order for the soil to rebuild nutrients to grow healthy and strong crops. It's a must for productivity. The same is true for us. Without fallow time, we become mentally, physically, and spiritually shrively, life-less, hollow.
Welcome Home: An interview with Mark Yaconelli

After several years of sprinting on the youth ministry treadmill, the creator of the Sabbath retreats decided his vocation was killing him. Then, dangling at the end of his soul's rope, he suddenly encountered a God who demands much-and loves much more-than he ever imagined possible.
When our Souls Stand on Tiptoe By Mike Yaconelli
Where's Jesus? By Mike Yaconelli
Why We Need To Go To Church (Part One) By Steven Case

"Yes, I would be in church even if I didn't HAVE to go. Here's why..."
Why We Need To Go To Church (Part Two) By Steven Case

Here are the rest of the reasons I'd choose to go to church, even if I didn't HAVE to go.