Last week I joined between 1,000 and 1,200 high-schoolers and youth coaches gathered on the campus of Biola University for a Christ In Youth MOVE conference.
AMAZING.
This is my eighth CIY conference, and every year I go I’m stretched like never before. And I come home a little less corny-adult and a little more passionate-youth. Definitely a good thing.
This week was no exception. I love love love hanging out with students. Their energy, insight, fresh perspective and tireless enthusiasm ignites my own. In addition to a suitcase of some pretty gnarly laundry, I also came home with a soar throat from SCREAMING and SINGING and generally acting like a ridiculous adolescent. Seriously, my vocal chords were bruised. Is that, like, crazy fun, or, like, what?!?!
This week I’m going to give you a few highlights from my week immersed in youth culture. I have some reasons for concern, which I’d love to get your take on. But I also have many reasons for hope, and I want you to help me spread the word. For today I’m simply going to tease you with this post and then allow myself another day or two to remember how to talk like an adult. And to catch up on sleep. Like, for real.
Sooooo, what’s new with you?
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Last Friday a friend of mine posted the following on his Facebook page:
“In the 50s teens were asked if they thought they were an “important person.” 12% said yes. In the 1980s…over 75% said yes. Who was right?”
A great question. Not necessarily because one is right and one is wrong, but because [...]
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After spending several days with a group of missionaries from around the world, life looks a little different back home.
Sure, I stayed in a hotel, presented a conference, trained in communication, and ingested enough southern cooking to clog my arteries well past middle age. Not exactly missionary material. Still …
I spent the better part of [...]
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Part of being a book reviewer involves the unpleasant task of being completely honest when a book doesn’t quite thrill. But that’s my job, to provide you with preview of the stories that both wow and disappoint. At least from my perspective.
For the record, I loathe negative reviews, both reading them and writing them, primarily [...]
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It’s that time of year again, time for the Writer’s Digest Short Story Competition. The “short” of the matter is below (I know, I know. Hilarity is a gift):
We’re looking for fiction that’s bold, brilliant…but brief. Send us your best in 1,500 words or fewer. But don’t be too long about it—the deadline [...]



