December is always a little quieter month here at FaithONCampus.com by comparison to the rest — and this year was no exception.
With the conclusion of the fall semester, preparations for the Christmas holiday, and a paternity leave on top of all that — I posted far fewer posts last month then I have in the two and a half years I’ve been blogging.
But you still showed up! Scanning the Archives, combing back through recent articles that you may have missed, and even enjoying the few new ones I posted — you hopefully found the resources you were looking for as you closed out a fall of ministry, and began to think towards the year ahead.
Below is a list of the Top 10 most viewed posts from the month of December.*
10. Outreach That You Will Actually Do: Sharing Jesus Using Gospel Appointments – Part I | Paul Worcester
If you’re anything like me (or other pastors for that matter) you may struggle at times to know how to share the Good News about Jesus Christ with others. Especially in a one-on-one setting.
Sure, it’s one thing to get up and speak to a large group… or even share within the context of a small group… but when you get one-on-one with someone it can quickly get intimidating. Especially in an age that preaches cultural tolerance and political correctness!
So what do you do? (Keep reading…)
9. How Do You Assess Your Ministry’s Effectiveness?
Assessment.
I don’t know many people in ministry who get excited by the idea of it, let alone the process.
I think, in part, it has something to do with the fact that most of us are highly relational people — and would prefer to be sitting with a group of students and talking about what God is up to in the world… and in their lives.
But I think there might be another part of us that, well… struggles to know how best to assess what we do. (Keep reading…)
By the time December rolls around, those of us who work with college students are likely recognizing a couple of different things:
1. Students are done — over the Thanksgiving holiday they had a foretaste of their much larger Christmas break to come and they are just ready to be there, and
2. We’re not too far behind them — we’re tired from a semester of ministry and are likely ready to have a little break from students, campus and our regular routines for a little while. (Keep reading…)
7. Sex’s Unexpected Consequences: Don’t Start What You Can’t Finish | Shellie R. Warren
On January 9, just a few days from now, it will be four years since I’ve had sexual intercourse. Since I’ve committed fornication. Since I’ve engaged in “pornea”, which is the Greek word for fornication.
Hmph.
When you put sex with someone whose not your spouse that way, when you realize that it’s just a “hop, skip and lay down” away from the word, “pornography”, it really does take all of the “fantasized romance” out of the experience, doesn’t it? (Keep reading…)
6. The College Ministry Year: 12 Months of Ideas (FREE eBook)
I’m excited to announce the launch of my newest eResource:
The College Ministry Year: 12 Months of Ideas
The College Ministry Year is a quick read, offering ideas for ministry, leadership development, investing in student leaders, self-care and more! (Keep reading…)
5. On Helping Students Go Home
As students near the end of another term… and some, graduation… many will make their way towards the home of their parents.
And although they return to a place that is familiar, to people who love them (we hope), we know that they head back different — changed — from who they were the last time they were there.
Regardless of whether they’re first semester freshmen, or graduating seniors, once students have been out on their own — and tasted many of the new-found adult freedoms — it can be hard to go back under the roof — and authority — of their parents. (Keep reading…)
4. Reframing the Discussion: Shifting from Abstinence to Celibacy | Christine Colon
If you glance through the names of various abstinence campaigns, one word appears again and again: wait. Whether they are asked to sign a pledge, wear a ring, or attend a ball, teenagers are repeatedly reminded that if they wish to glorify God with their bodies, they must wait until marriage for sex.
Studies have shown that this message has been successful to a certain extent. Teenagers who participate in these programs generally wait about eighteen months longer than their peers before engaging in sexual activity. But is this enough? (Keep reading…)
3. The Problem Isn’t Porn: Finding a Frame Beyond Shame | JD Walt
It’s 1am. My roommate is long asleep. I’ve got to finish this paper for my 8am tomorrow, actually today. I don’t know what I would do without Wikipedia. Really I wish I had used that www.writemypaper.net site everyone talks about.
I’m really tired.
I check my Facebook, again. This time one of those sidebar ads catches my glance. It’s a woman. She’s clothed but bending over in some kind of salacious yoga pose. It’s like she’s saying, “Let’s workout. Come over to my place.” I know better than to click on that. I know where it leads. (Keep reading…)
2. The Top 12 Guest Posts of 2012
As we move further in to the Christmas season, and nearer the end of 2012, it’s time to for some of my annual countdowns.
It seems fitting to start with one of the things I am most thankful for — because it’s what makes being a part of Faith ON Campus so enjoyable for me — and that’s YOU!
Some of you have gone so far as to offer guest posts at different seasons, that have helped to provide a unique perspective and/or insight that I myself could not offer — and the collective Faith ON Campus community has benefited from it — GREATLY!
So for my first countdown of 2012, I bring to you the Top 12 Guest Posts of the year! (Keep reading…)
1. An Experiment in Being Present
I recently had the pleasure of enjoying lunch with a couple of friends — and a few strangers.
And when one of the young guys put his phone in the middle of the table, two others quickly followed — and then looked at the two of us who had yet to clue in.
As I looked at the growing pile of phones, and then back at the young guy who started the pile, he could see that I needed an explanation.
“The game,” he said, “is quite simple. The first person to reach for the phone — for any reason — buys lunch.”
“YIKES!” I thought. (Keep reading…)
And there you have it! Thanks for making December — and 2012 — the best yet!
(*) This list excludes posts found on the Top Posts of All-Time list — in order to highlight other great posts.
