Everyone Has a Voice (Kurt)

This week Josh and I are sharing some blogs we enjoy that are a little “off the beaten path”…blogs from sharp people that you may not be reading. I have to admit right off the bat that I don’t read as many blogs as Josh does. The dude reads so many blogs that I’m not sure how he actually gets any real ministry work done! My list may take a few odd turns, but let’s give it a shot.

Steve Adams—http://morethanpuppets.com/

Steve is the children’s ministry pastor at our church. Does the blog title sound familiar? It should because he stole it from Josh! This blog is really more of an archive of a podcast Steve does with a few people on his kids ministry team. The reason I watch it regularly is because I firmly believe that I’m a better youth pastor if I’m aware of the issues facing our children’s pastor.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grab last minute gifts for your Volunteers!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This podcast gives me a short peek into the world of children’s ministry, which helps me have a better understanding of the type of teenagers entering the youth group. Plus, Steve is a very sharp leader and I learn something from him on every episode.

Rachel Held Evans—http://rachelheldevans.com/

To be sure, this blog won’t be everybody’s cup of tea….heck, I’m not even sure it’s mine! But that’s a primary reason I read it. Rachel is a massively popular blogger and author, but likely not real well known youth ministry circles. She’s very progressive, and can be controversial, but has a perspective on many things that I can learn from. I watch Fox News and MSNBC because I like to see both sides of the coin. For me, Rachel Held Evans often presents a side of the coin that I don’t get other places, and I appreciate that.

Brain Pickings—http://brainpickings.org/

Here’s how the brainpickings blog/Web site describes itself:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grab last minute gifts for your Volunteers!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“Brain Pickings is your LEGO treasure chest, full of pieces across art, design, science, technology, philosophy, history, politics, psychology, sociology, ecology, anthropology, you-name-itology. Pieces that enrich your mental pool of resources and empower you to combine them into original concepts that are stronger, smarter, richer, deeper and more impactful. Please enjoy.”

With a description like that, who wouldn’t want to visit?! Creativity is a much-needed tool for youth ministry, and Brainpickings is a hotbed! You won’t know what to do with most of what you encounter, but you’ll feel your creative juices flowing every time you visit.