Terry Linhart

When tragedy strikes, or when evil happens, we often ask, “Why?’  Some get mad at God for letting painful things happen, others doubt a loving God exists if there’s evil the world, and some work to find a reason behind tragedies, as if God is sending a sign or judgment.

In the midst tragedy and evil/pain, we hurt, cry, get mad, feel despair, and often feel hopeless.  And these moments often seem without reason or purpose.  Some ask why does God let bad things happen to good people?  Yet, we all go through pain, have loved ones die unexpectedly, and deal with sudden tragedy.

read more…

Posted on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 7:11 AM in LEAD WELL, YOUTH MINISTRY. No comments

It’s never worth your second-best.

That corner you’re tempted to cut isn’t going to help you.

Others take notice when you’re unwilling to help.  Or when you treat others poorly.  And you don’t notice either.

That extra preparation and practice you’re too “tired” to do will be worth every effort you put in to get it just right.

read more…

Posted on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 at 7:11 AM in LEAD WELL. No comments

Perhaps we need to rethink dating.

In the late 1990s, a Christian book titled I Kissed Dating Goodbye (by Joshua Harris) came out and caused a stir in some regions of the Christian subculture.  It created a change in how youth dated in my part of the world and I don’t think it was always a helpful step. We kissed dating goodbye and I think it created even more pressure on some young people.

read more…

Posted on Monday, May 20th, 2013 at 7:11 AM in THE WORLD, YOUTH MINISTRY. No comments

What makes for a great panel discussion?

One of the more common “creative” methods I see used is that of the panel discussion.  Panel discussions have the potential to be very good, but they also possess the greatest danger (well, next to mime perhaps) of being a big flop if done poorly.  They make me nervous because I know the preparation necessary to make them work.

read more…

Posted on Thursday, May 16th, 2013 at 7:11 AM in CONNECT EFFECTIVELY. No comments

Make sure you hear your talk before they do.

I’ve recommitted myself to a rule of practice:  Speaking my talks out loud before I speak in public.  It’s a discipline that I saw my dad, a pastor, do every Saturday as he “practice-preached” to the garden plants while he weeded or he went over to the church to preach to the pews. So, early in my ministry days I took on that practice as well and found it very helpful.

read more…

Posted on Monday, May 13th, 2013 at 9:20 AM in CONNECT EFFECTIVELY. No comments

How you spend your time “off” from work needs attention.

How do you spend your time off from work?  When you get time off from work – a week or weekend – what do you choose to do?  Most of us hopefully choose to complete a few unfinished jobs around the house, exercise, and sleep a bit more.

read more…

Posted on Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 at 7:07 AM in LEAD WELL, YOUTH MINISTRY. One comment

I was happy to have my good friend, author, and colleague Jim Hampton (from Asbury Theological Seminary) on the YS Roundtable show.  Jim had many years of experience in the local church before stepping into denominational leadership and then the seminary classroom.  He can tell stories from the trenches of youth ministry!  And his experience of working with senior pastors prompted him to conduct a nationwide study on that and related topics about being a youth pastor. In this episode, he shares a few of those findings and insights.

YS Roundtable :: Jim Hampton from Youth Specialties on Vimeo.

Posted on Sunday, April 21st, 2013 at 11:41 AM in YOUTH MINISTRY. No comments