tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26745252.post2497248733261985328..comments2023-11-02T06:25:41.882-07:00Comments on Simply Kurt: Pragmatism In My DNA, I ThinkKurt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460942000436848181noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26745252.post-89294579876868417612008-10-21T13:46:00.000-07:002008-10-21T13:46:00.000-07:00David...So funny! Now that I re-read your comment,...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.Kurt Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07460942000436848181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26745252.post-12614129227879622742008-10-20T12:59:00.000-07:002008-10-20T12:59:00.000-07:00Kurt,Please forgive my lack of clarity. I'm c...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/>DavidDavid Malouf --https://www.blogger.com/profile/13756209137101502564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26745252.post-68362396591211697972008-10-20T09:12:00.000-07:002008-10-20T09:12:00.000-07:00David,Nobody else on my team has read it yet. I on...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!Kurt Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07460942000436848181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26745252.post-75709362328954185922008-10-20T08:58:00.000-07:002008-10-20T08:58:00.000-07:00Would you mind telling us what your co-laborers t...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/>DavidDavid Malouf --https://www.blogger.com/profile/13756209137101502564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26745252.post-19471387091393422852008-10-19T12:57:00.000-07:002008-10-19T12:57:00.000-07:00Books, blogs, articles and more are full of excell...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?Johan Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07945168109956019674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26745252.post-19677050158778723892008-10-17T08:46:00.000-07:002008-10-17T08:46:00.000-07:00now if people would just buy that book... always g...now if people would just buy that book... always good to come back to basics and make sure we're on trackUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14449065461948666952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26745252.post-31686083317506577412008-10-16T10:43:00.000-07:002008-10-16T10:43:00.000-07:00Marko,After I wrote that, I took a second look and...Marko,<BR/>After I wrote that, I took a second look and thought the exact same thing and almost mentioned that in the post!Kurt Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07460942000436848181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26745252.post-62096338968522796912008-10-16T10:32:00.000-07:002008-10-16T10:32:00.000-07:00ya know, ironically, that little paragraph-long ma...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)!markohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04979913733270922639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26745252.post-8368456041386663322008-10-16T09:48:00.000-07:002008-10-16T09:48:00.000-07:00Great thoughts. I really think that every youth wo...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!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com