When I picked up “What Difference Do I Make” and started reading, I was moved. The book is filled with heartwarming stories that cause the reader to rethink some standard assumptions.

The book is filled with stories of hope, redemption, healing and life lessons.

I don’t want to spoil the stories here, there were several times I found myself being able to name issues and tensions that had previously remaned hidden.

If you’re a sucker for the happy ending or a sentimental story, this is a book for you.

But this is also the books downfall, while being filled with inspiration and hope, I found it difficult to continue to press on through the entirety of the book. It’s like watching a movie on Lifetime, you know it’s gonna be a sappy ending. You know the girl is gonna get the guy. You know the black kid and the white kid – though they struggle through racial tensions – are going to end up being there for each other.

My recommendation: If you absolutely loved the first book (Same Kind of Different as Me), you’ll love What Difference Do It Make. If you’ve read neither, don’t start with this one. If you’ve got too many books on your reading list, don’t add this one.

At a recent parent meeting, I explained how our students ministry has a relatively developed Theology of Hanging Out.

There is a reason we highly value time spent with students in a context void of expectations.

First is that I think it is the best example of “what Jesus would do” if he were alongside the same teenagers we are. I think he’d hang out. He’d invite them along to run errands. He’d turn a trip to Taco Bell into an object lesson. He’d let teenagers know that although they live in a world full of grades, judgmental peers, and performance expectations from their parents, He loves them. God loves them.

They could fail, underachieve and disappoint 100% of the time, and they’re still loved. There are A LOT of ways to get that message across. There is only 1 way of living that message: hanging out regularly.

In our student ministries, our adult leaders try super super hard to be mentally/emotionally/physically/spiritually prepared to hang out with students and show mad amounts of love.

Our theology of hanging out leads us to show love, and use words if necessary.

Parents, the video below may make you feel old or like you don’t know what’s going on. Teenagers, the below video will shock you. You’ll realize that the “normal” of today is relatively new. I think this should help bring some clarity…..

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[via churchkreatives]

There are things I’m good at. God has wired me in a certain way and when I’m working in that certain way, I succeed a lot. There are areas in my life that God has stacked my deck. If you take some time to think about it, there are areas of your life where God has done the same.

But there is a problem, I like doing the things I’m good at. But I know there are things I’m not good at that I ought to be doing.

So…..