Comments on: Pragmatism In My DNA, I Think http://www.juniorhighministry.com/2008/10/16/pragmatism-in-my-dna-i-think/ Junior High Rocks! Mon, 14 May 2012 17:27:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kurt Johnston http://www.juniorhighministry.com/2008/10/16/pragmatism-in-my-dna-i-think/#comment-16573 Kurt Johnston Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:46:00 +0000 http://www.simplykurt.com/?p=630#comment-16573 David...So funny! Now that I re-read your comment, I see how you intended it. sorry!<br/>Without question, we do more in the way of programs etc. than my succinct "manifesto". But within my manifesto is the phrase, "then do whatever seems to work best in your unique setting..." which allows freedom to have lots of programs, or few programs, to have small groups, or not to have small groups, to do outreach "events" or not to do outreach events...whatever works in your setting. I think my team, if pressed, would answer in terms of our purpose-driven strategy, but I hope they would also include that the goal in all of it is to connect kids with caring adults who will point them to jesus. David…So funny! Now that I re-read your comment, I see how you intended it. sorry!
Without question, we do more in the way of programs etc. than my succinct “manifesto”. But within my manifesto is the phrase, “then do whatever seems to work best in your unique setting…” which allows freedom to have lots of programs, or few programs, to have small groups, or not to have small groups, to do outreach “events” or not to do outreach events…whatever works in your setting. I think my team, if pressed, would answer in terms of our purpose-driven strategy, but I hope they would also include that the goal in all of it is to connect kids with caring adults who will point them to jesus.

]]> By: David Malouf -- http://www.juniorhighministry.com/2008/10/16/pragmatism-in-my-dna-i-think/#comment-16571 David Malouf -- Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:59:00 +0000 http://www.simplykurt.com/?p=630#comment-16571 Kurt,<br/><br/>Please forgive my lack of clarity. I'm curious if your paid & volunteer staff think one-paragraph statement captures what you/y'all do? I find, for me, sometimes I am more (or less) than what I write/think. Sometimes what we do is more (or less) than what I write/think.<br/><br/>I think you're spot-on, but I would suspect that those who work with/around/under you might add a little more.<br/><br/>Just my hunch!<br/><br/>David Kurt,

Please forgive my lack of clarity. I'm curious if your paid & volunteer staff think one-paragraph statement captures what you/y'all do? I find, for me, sometimes I am more (or less) than what I write/think. Sometimes what we do is more (or less) than what I write/think.

I think you're spot-on, but I would suspect that those who work with/around/under you might add a little more.

Just my hunch!

David

]]> By: Kurt Johnston http://www.juniorhighministry.com/2008/10/16/pragmatism-in-my-dna-i-think/#comment-16569 Kurt Johnston Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:12:00 +0000 http://www.simplykurt.com/?p=630#comment-16569 David,<br/>Nobody else on my team has read it yet. I only bought one copy and loaned it out to a guy on my flight home!<br/><br/>I think I consider myself a pragmatist because I typically filter everything theoretical through the lens of "Okay, but how does this translate into actual ministry settings"; even when I dream and vision cast. So, your assessment may be accurate. I'm not sure about the "activist" part, though! David,
Nobody else on my team has read it yet. I only bought one copy and loaned it out to a guy on my flight home!

I think I consider myself a pragmatist because I typically filter everything theoretical through the lens of “Okay, but how does this translate into actual ministry settings”; even when I dream and vision cast. So, your assessment may be accurate. I’m not sure about the “activist” part, though!

]]> By: David Malouf -- http://www.juniorhighministry.com/2008/10/16/pragmatism-in-my-dna-i-think/#comment-16568 David Malouf -- Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:58:00 +0000 http://www.simplykurt.com/?p=630#comment-16568 Would you mind telling us what your co-laborers think of the manifesto?<br/><br/>Do they think it's accurate to what y'all are doing? Would they add or subtract anything?<br/><br/>When we met 8 or 9 years ago, I did NOT take you for a pragmatist. I got the impression you had dreams for the youth, the 'adults', other youth workers, and even yourself.<br/> To me, you're not a 'pragmatist' as much as you are unwilling to let it all be theoretical-only. Perhaps a better word would be 'activist'? <br/><br/>[Not to discount your post nor the pragmatic gem that is your manifesto!]<br/><br/>David Would you mind telling us what your co-laborers think of the manifesto?

Do they think it’s accurate to what y’all are doing? Would they add or subtract anything?

When we met 8 or 9 years ago, I did NOT take you for a pragmatist. I got the impression you had dreams for the youth, the ‘adults’, other youth workers, and even yourself.
To me, you’re not a ‘pragmatist’ as much as you are unwilling to let it all be theoretical-only. Perhaps a better word would be ‘activist’?

[Not to discount your post nor the pragmatic gem that is your manifesto!]

David

]]> By: Johan http://www.juniorhighministry.com/2008/10/16/pragmatism-in-my-dna-i-think/#comment-16567 Johan Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:57:00 +0000 http://www.simplykurt.com/?p=630#comment-16567 Books, blogs, articles and more are full of excellent teachings on how to become a good youth pastor; and your pragmatism in this case was great.<br/><br/>But Kurt, how can somebody know that s/he was really called to be a youth pastor? Books, blogs, articles and more are full of excellent teachings on how to become a good youth pastor; and your pragmatism in this case was great.

But Kurt, how can somebody know that s/he was really called to be a youth pastor?

]]> By: Kate http://www.juniorhighministry.com/2008/10/16/pragmatism-in-my-dna-i-think/#comment-16566 Kate Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:46:00 +0000 http://www.simplykurt.com/?p=630#comment-16566 now if people would just buy that book... always good to come back to basics and make sure we're on track now if people would just buy that book… always good to come back to basics and make sure we’re on track

]]> By: Kurt Johnston http://www.juniorhighministry.com/2008/10/16/pragmatism-in-my-dna-i-think/#comment-16565 Kurt Johnston Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:43:00 +0000 http://www.simplykurt.com/?p=630#comment-16565 Marko,<br/>After I wrote that, I took a second look and thought the exact same thing and almost mentioned that in the post! Marko,
After I wrote that, I took a second look and thought the exact same thing and almost mentioned that in the post!

]]> By: marko http://www.juniorhighministry.com/2008/10/16/pragmatism-in-my-dna-i-think/#comment-16564 marko Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:32:00 +0000 http://www.simplykurt.com/?p=630#comment-16564 ya know, ironically, that little paragraph-long manifesto isn't a bad summary of my book! you put, in the words of a pragmatist, the whole idea of building a contextual ministry around communion (you didn't include the mission part, but it could be in there, i suppose)! ya know, ironically, that little paragraph-long manifesto isn’t a bad summary of my book! you put, in the words of a pragmatist, the whole idea of building a contextual ministry around communion (you didn’t include the mission part, but it could be in there, i suppose)!

]]> By: Joe http://www.juniorhighministry.com/2008/10/16/pragmatism-in-my-dna-i-think/#comment-16563 Joe Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:48:00 +0000 http://www.simplykurt.com/?p=630#comment-16563 Great thoughts. I really think that every youth worker could profit from coming up with their own "manifesto". It forces us to really get down to what we're all about and gives us a way to examine our focus and direction. Kudos! Great thoughts. I really think that every youth worker could profit from coming up with their own “manifesto”. It forces us to really get down to what we’re all about and gives us a way to examine our focus and direction. Kudos!

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