mark oestreicher

icymi: U2 dropped a 6-song Easter themed EP this morning.

Homemade turkey meatballs with a killer white miso/hoisin/tangerine sauce, on roasted portobello caps. So freaking good. More details and pic on my food and cocktail insta: instagram.com/p/DWnUVLvlOEG/…

a wee 3-minute devo thought for my youth ministry friends: theyouthcartel.com/blog/easter-de…

#GoBlue!!!!

Post-protest bougie cocktails

this week's 5 Minutes with Marko talks about four primary approaches to small groups in youth ministry. which is yours? open.spotify.com/episode/1tbIjR…

Finding it ironic that, with No Kings day this Saturday, I just got a full crown in my mouth this morning.

The Energy Bus, by Jon Gordon. This leadership fable is about the role of positive energy in teams, leadership, even families. Has a toe across the line of cheesy or 'manifesting' at times; but his faith also leaks through at points. I've already recommended it to a couple people

The Puzzler, by A.J. Jacobs. I've read most of Jacobs' books, and love his writing. Most are about what he learned in a yearlong experiment, this one being to learn about most styles of puzzles and to attempt very difficult versions of them. Super fun read.

last 3 books: The Amazing Generation, by Jonathan Haidt (author of The Anxious Generation). This pre-teen and young teen focused book shows kids the risks of social media and encourages them to be rebels. It's got a decent come-alongside tone, and doesn't feel condescending.

sure, a text from the Philippines telling me I have an unpaid California moving violation seems legit, right?

Chicken meatballs in my homemade tzatziki-adjacent sauce, served on fonio, with crispy roasted broccolini heads. More details and pics at instagram.com/p/DWF2IG5lO7d/…

uniquely weird episode of 5 Minutes with Marko today, more devotional than instructional: open.spotify.com/episode/34Odfg…

Max busted out the whistling at the Sandpiper Ensemble show tonight. Love it.

Best news of 2026 so far: Max and Bailey got engaged!! We love Bailey, and this is just perfect.

reason #843 that you might be a youth worker: you watch the 2025 documentary All American on a flight, about 3 high school female wrestlers and the challenges they have to overcome, and you pretty much weep through the whole thing, because "teenagers overcoming challenges."

awesome first meeting with the new GLS NextGen TENx10 cohort, in Chicago. three peeps weren't able to be at the first meeting; but we had a stellar time of learning, discussion, problem solving, sharing, and praying. I'm stoked to spend the year with this group.

heyo. let's chat for a few minutes about middle schoolers and Bible reading: open.spotify.com/episode/3FTGn7…

I made macadamia crusted chicken strips and caramelized beets for dinner and it was freaking amazing. More deets and pics: instagram.com/p/DVsAypsFMww/…

btw: you may not be aware that 5 Minutes with Marko actually has a video version, always on youtube. here's this week's episode: youtu.be/eUJzOA_OW9g?si…

i think this week's episode of 5 Minutes with Marko is an important one (and one youth workers might want to share with their teams, or listen to together and discuss): open.spotify.com/episode/0n12qS…