Worst Question Ever

Over the years I've pretty much given up on buying any youth curriculum that's out there. I know there is some good material, but it's just too much work. I'm a big believer that what works for you won't necessarily work for me. I've been to so many conference and read so many books and heard "how to do youth ministry". In practice it falls flat on it's face.

Here's what I've found...
1. No one knows my students better than I do. I know who they are, and what they're dealing with. Stock curriculum just doesn't do justice to my kids.

2. Warren is different. What works in California, or New York, or pretty much everywhere....probably won't work here. My students just aren't dealing with the same things that students elsewhere are.

So even when I do have curriculum, I have to change questions or re-work stuff so that it works with my students. It's basically more work than it's worth. And to be honest, just teaching from the Bible is much more effective and worth while. Getting kids into God's word is way more important.


SOOOOO anyway...I rarely ever buy pre-processed programming. However I did get a book for my Sunday School class. Actually I got a few books in an old series that Group put out. They've been really good. We've really enjoyed them. I've had to re-word some of the questions, and asked questions that aren't there. No biggie. It's been worth it.

However this past week I came across THE WORST QUESTION EVER. The lesson was on our priorities. What is the focus of our attention. Are our priorities God's priorities. For most of us that's just not true. So are you ready for this? Toward the end of the lesson this question was there: "What would be different if everyone used God's priorities?"

Are you serious? What would be different? What WOULDN'T be different? The end of poverty, the end of materialism, the end of violence.....basically heaven would be here on earth if everyone used God's priorities. How ridiculous. What would be different. UGH! Come on people think before you write!

This weekend

This is a fair warning: If you have used the RSS link in the past or on the right in the last couple days, I might blow it up this weekend.

I'm headed to Louisville KY for a national youth worker convention. I'm driving all day Thursday and will be back Monday late night. I've toyed with a couple ideas....one of which is blogging as I go throughout the convention. They might be short snippets of posts.....another idea is making one or two longer posts when I get back....that seems a little more daunting to me. We'll see.

I have some good music that I've been saving for the drive times, so I might be reviewing those....who knows. Just FYI.

Facelift

I did it. Jim kicked my butt so I did a little face lift.

Here's the deal. Jim listened to a podcast that was all about generating more blog traffic. You can read the notes of the podcast here. I like some of the hints that Michael says about building traffic.....but I have some problems for personal reasons. Here's why....

1. Because of the nature of my job, I don't necessarily desire my teens to constantly be reading my blog and creeping on me. I don't really think they would, but in a world were EVERYTHING is out there for the public, for me, my blog is just a place for me to pass along info and share thoughts with friends.

2. I don't really care about getting my name out there. As of right now, I'm in the place where God has called me to be. I don't need to market myself. I don't want to go on speaking engagements around the country.

So there are clearly some things on his list that I just don't feel are relevant to me.

HOWEVER....Blogger changed it's layout format a few years ago, and I never changed over. I was stubborn and kept everything in the old antiquated format. I finally upgraded...and I'm glad....so much easier to do what I want. I needed a little change. I know that it's still black on black...and it might be for awhile...but I don't think I"m done changing some aesthetic things yet.

I also really liked what he said about the need for regular posting. I know I've been really really bad at that....pretty much since I started this thing. I want to believe that I"m gonna be better at that. We'll see. I'd like to have a schedule of posting.

How can I do better? Without changing me, what can I do better? What am I already doing well? What keeps you coming back to read?

New

Jim Baker has laid the gauntlet down. He wants me to blog more and better. Not really me specifically, but I took it that way. I love it. We all know I've been a slacker. Maybe I need a schedule. Maybe I need a Jim Baker to light a fire under my bum. Maybe, just maybe I should upgrade my blogger like I should've done two years ago.

Changes are coming. Get ready.