November 2014 - Jonathan's Blog From The Source

Death of the Dining Room

Posted on: 11/25/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

As families and friends gather together for the holidays, the big question I have is… where will they gather?

Their dining room?

The kitchen?

It’s funny how much you can tell about a society’s social norms solely from the changes in its home design. Think about it.

Do you have a dining room?
Is your kitchen sink near the social center of your house?
What year was your home built?

Today’s homes have two glaring changes compared to homes from a few decades past Continue reading “Death of the Dining Room”

Posted in Family, Food, Jonathan's Rant, Marriage, Parenting | | Leave A Comment

What are your top three?

Posted on: 11/20/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

WINNERS POSTED- see below.

A few weeks ago I was sitting with a group of youth workers and one of them asked me, “What are the top three youth ministry books you’d recommend we read, if we could only buy three?”

Great question.

This one caused me to pause for a few moments, after all, I’ve read a variety of insightful books that have helped me through my years of youth ministry (that lot in the picture are a pretty good bunch). But which three have proved foundational?

I’ll list the three books I shared with those youth workers that evening, and then I’ll ask you the same. What three youth ministry books have been the most influential and foundational for your ministry? (I’ll even make this a contest—chime in with a comment Continue reading “What are your top three?”

Posted in Books, Contests, Youth Ministry Philosophy, Youth Ministry Planning | | Leave A Comment

A book signing

Posted on: 11/18/14 9:58 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Jonathan-Sign This Weekend the YS Store asked me to do a book signing where I’m speaking at the National Youth Workers Convention in Atlanta, a fun opportunity to connect with people who’ve bought my books. (Curious which book sold out on the first day of this convention in Sacramento?)

So if you’re heading to this convention in Atlanta, be sure to stop by the YS Store at 3:15 on Saturday.

If you’re NOT going to be there in Atlanta… NO WORRIES. I’ll do this:

order any of my books from me this week, and I’ll personally autograph them for you. Feel free to order books for your entire volunteer team… I’ll sign every last one of them!

Posted in Books, Speaking/Training | | Leave A Comment

My TV Interview about Sex

Posted on: 11/13/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Today I’m being filmed for a Canadian TV show- a Christian talk show. We’re filming several segments about my upcoming book to parents, More Than Just the Talk (coming this February/March), and then some bit on how to open the doors of dialogue with today’s teenagers.

It’s interesting, as I’ve been preparing for this, taking a peek at some of the newest studies about teen sex, I keep seeing the same assertions. “We need to talk with our kids about this regularly!”

It doesn’t matter how liberal or conservative the report Continue reading “My TV Interview about Sex”

Posted in Books, Jonathan's Rant, Parenting, Sexuality, TV, Youth Culture | | Leave A Comment

Curb Your Phone Addiction

Posted on: 11/10/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Do your kids spend too much time on their phones?

Do YOU spend too much time on your phone?

Wanna app that will help you see exactly how much time you’re on your phone?

I think many people are becoming self aware that they spend too much time staring at screens (I won’t bring up that you’re staring at one now… because I actually WANT you to be reading this), because we’re seeing more and more blogs and funny parodies about “smartphone addiction” and I’m even hearing many teenagers admit they spend too much time on their phones.

If you’re curious exactly how much time, then try the new app called Moment which not only helps you track exactly how much time you’re using your phone each day, but also can help you set limits, with occasional “nudges” when you approach those limits.

Last month a similar app was introduced Continue reading “Curb Your Phone Addiction”

Posted in Entertainment Media, Parenting, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Youth Culture | | Leave A Comment

Zombie Senior Retreat

Posted on: 11/4/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

I’ve been speaking at camps for almost 20 years, and I gotta admit… this is a first!

I received a call this summer from a camp director of a big camp in TX and he told me, “I’d like you to speak at our camp this winter, but it’s going to be a little bit different than the typical senior high retreat.”

He wasn’t kidding. This camp is going all out. Each year they have anywhere from 500 to 1000 students at these retreats, but this year they are hosting a “Zombie Senior High Weekend” and they have Hollywood makeup and set designers Continue reading “Zombie Senior Retreat”

Posted in Books, Speaking/Training, Youth Culture, Youth Ministry Planning | | Leave A Comment