https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Fri, 19 Apr 2024 18:36:18 +0000 Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/call-servanthood-ordinary-loving-our-elderly Recently, I had a conversation with a 92-year old man. Let’s call him Bill (not his real name). Bill was astonished at his life. He didn’t expect to break into the nonagenarian years, as his relatives had never made it past their 80’s. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/call-servanthood-ordinary-loving-our-elderly Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/meaningful-ways-send-years-grads Graduation season is upon us. Many of our senior high school students are getting ready to celebrate a significant milestone in their lives. With it often comes layers of transition anxiety, but also many completion moments that scream “Finally!” Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/meaningful-ways-send-years-grads Wed, 10 Apr 2019 23:32:36 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/october-new-september I few years ago, a youth pastor shared this phrase with me: October is the new September.  Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/october-new-september Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:43:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/made-love-one-small-step-time Our daughter and son-in-law had their first child during the Advent season. As new grandparents, you realize very quickly that you can discover new born love again and that when you are invited to share in that young life, your own life changes. Overnight. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/made-love-one-small-step-time Tue, 29 May 2018 12:39:02 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/why-do-my-kids-bad-music “The music that young people listen to today is explicit, repetitive, and just sounds bad.” Micah Van Dijk https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/why-do-my-kids-bad-music Tue, 27 Feb 2018 16:30:34 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/was-best-thing-i-heard-today I normally don’t share personal stories here but this one has been stirring in me and I feel nudged to share. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/was-best-thing-i-heard-today Tue, 13 Feb 2018 13:40:27 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/youth-ministry-thirds I recently attended a conference hosted by the Association of Youth Ministry Educators in Dallas, TX. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/youth-ministry-thirds Thu, 09 Nov 2017 17:56:50 +0000