The Dark Undercurrents of Bullying

Posted on: 12/29/14 9:00 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Nelson-Muntz-bullyI’ve been taking time off work for a few weeks during Christmas break to not only spend as much time as possible with my family, but also to finish writing my first fiction novel, a story about a school shooting on a high school campus—a sobering peek into the dark undercurrents of teen culture and bullying.

The book has been an interesting project, providing a porthole into the perspectives of various individuals: an athlete, a Christian girl, a bullied kid, a teacher, a cop… and countless other teens.

I admit, the book hits a little too close to home. As I dove into the internal psyche of the shy, teased, isolated kid who one day just explodes in a rampage Continue reading “The Dark Undercurrents of Bullying”

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Pausing for an Infant

Posted on: 12/24/14 7:32 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m running off to finish a project at my dad and mom’s house (we’ve dug up 165 feet of drainage- ditches up to 2 feet deep, and dropped in 150 feet of 6 inch pipe, 60 of it a French drain, with over 6 yards of rock) to fix a drainage problem long ignored and feared. So it’s been 3 days of hard labor for me and a crew of friends and teenagers… a fun mental break.

I just wanted to take a moment and wish you all a Merry Christmas from my family. It’s been fun having 5 kids around the house for the last few days. As many of you know, Lori and I are almost empty nesters now Continue reading “Pausing for an Infant”

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You May be Addicted to Your Smartphone If…

Posted on: 12/22/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Amy Williams just wrote a fascinating guest post about teen smartphone addiction for our Parenting Help column on TheSource4Parents.com this week.

For those of you who are a little more visual, here’s her infographic: You may be addicted to your smartphone if… Continue reading “You May be Addicted to Your Smartphone If…”

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A Glance Back at 2014 Travel

Posted on: 12/18/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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flightAs I peek ahead at my speaking calendar for early 2015… it’s getting pretty full. So I looked back at my travel in 2014 and this is what I discovered.

I traveled a total of 82,777 miles.

I took a plane on 17 different trips.

I flew 53 different legs/segments.

I flew to three countries.

I stayed in 39 different hotels for 51 different nights.

Continue reading “A Glance Back at 2014 Travel”

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Top 10 Posts of 2014

Posted on: 12/16/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Top-10-blog-postsAs the year-end approaches rapidly, it’s fun to look back at some of the highlights of ministry in 2014.

Today I looked back at the most popular posts on my blog in 2014. Here are the Top 10 posts from 2014 you readers liked the most:

10. Happy Birthday… Here’s Your Boob Job

9. Free Online Training

8. The Seahawks… and Jesus?

7. Keeping Social Media Safe Continue reading “Top 10 Posts of 2014”

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5 Ideas to Help Your Kids be Smarter Than Their Smartphone

Posted on: 12/9/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Today's-TeensLast night my wife and I saw a friend at a Christmas party who I hadn’t seen in months… at least face-to-face. But immediately I complimented her on her Thanksgiving decorations and asked how her daughter’s b-day party was last weekend… as if we had just talked days before.

Why?

Instagram. I follow her on Instagram.

Americans have plenty of complaints about cell phones and the Internet. I regularly encounter parents who just want to smash their kids’ phones. But let’s not be too quick to throw the baby out with the bathwater Continue reading “5 Ideas to Help Your Kids be Smarter Than Their Smartphone”

Posted in Bullying/Cyberbullying, Internet, Parenting, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Social Media, Youth Culture |  | Leave A Comment

Reducing Teen Sexual Activity

Posted on: 12/4/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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between the sheetsIn a world where 64% of high school seniors have already engaged in sexual intercourse, most parents would welcome programs or information helping reduce teen sexual activity. But there lies the debate. What actually works?

Planned Parenthood claims to have developed a sex education program cutting the number of sexually active eighth-graders by about 15 percent. That might not sound like much, but Planned Parenthood backers would be quick to tell you Continue reading “Reducing Teen Sexual Activity”

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Our New “Toddler”

Posted on: 12/2/14 6:42 AM | by Jonathan McKee

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Golden Doodle PuppyIt’s been a long time since we’ve cared for an infant of any kind, and we’re getting a ginormous dose of it this month… raising our new puppy.

Honestly, I think our kids were easier than this!

Saturday we drove and picked up our brand new Golden Doodle named Pippin (yes, from Lord of the Rings… and Jaws, if you’re a serious film nerd). His mom’s a Golden Retriever and his dad is a Poodle. He’s 7 weeks old, clumsy, adorable… and “so fluffy I’m gonna die!”

He’s inside with us all the time and he’s a peeing machine! We have to Continue reading “Our New “Toddler””

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