If you blog, add content to your church/ministry website, or produce newsletters then you know there is always a need for quality free graphics. While many are familiar with and turn to Creative Commons, there are also a number of Christian based sites. For quite some time, LifeChurch.TV has been a leader in this area through their Open site. More recently I was introduced to CreationSwap, which offers a considerable amount of free content alongside items that are for sale at Read More …
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High Achievers (#1119)
Penelope Trunk is the co-founder of Brazen Careerist, a career management tool for next-generation professionals. Recently she shared three rules high achievers never break: love your process, independent of outcome; the difference between crazy and innovative is how far from the box an out-of-the box thinker resides. So stay as close as possible; and everyone needs a vacation. So What? The odds are good that either you are a high achiever, live with one (or more), or Read More …
The Role of Youth Ministry (#1104)
Doug Franklin, president of LeaderTreks and seasoned youth minister, recently blogged about a common problem in youth ministries in our consumer culture: expectations. Franklin suggests that parents rather than youth ministers or those volunteering in youth ministries should serve as the primary faith influencers of their teenaged children. So what? What is the point of youth ministry? Put differently, why does your congregation engage in ministry in an age specific manner Read More …
Every Kid Needs a Champion (#1086)
In recent years Rita Pierson has drawn on over four decades of educational experiences to conduct professional development workshops and seminars for thousands of educators. A former teacher (elementary, junior high, and special education), testing coordinator and assistant principal, Pierson believes that every kid needs a champion. Watch her recent 8 minute long TED talk on the topic now. So What? In this talk, Pierson challenges her listeners to rethink their roles in the Read More …
Top Time-Saving Tech Tips (#1075)
David Pogue, personal technology columnist for the New York Times and a tech correspondent for CBS News, recently gave a 6 minute TED Talk titled "10 Top Time-Saving Tech Tips." While you may know most of the tips in this short video, learning one new time saver or being reminded to use one you had forgotten makes watching a good investment of your time. So What? On an almost daily basis I watch people waste time completing basic tech tasks. When appropriate, I offer Read More …
An Easter Correction (#1051)
On Easter Sunday I expect a great deal of news focused on the Pope. Given the way Pope Francis has sought to be a different kind of Pope than any in my lifetime, I wanted to learn what he had to say on Easter. In addition to satisfying that quest for knowledge, I also learned of an incredible error in Elisabetta Povoledo's New York Times article: "Pope Francis Calls for 'Peace in All the World' in Easter Message." A correction to the article's final paragraph was posted Read More …
Youth Group Memories (#1006)
Jessica Misener recently shared 33 ways you may know you were a part of a youth group during your teen years, including You were so excited your crush was going to the lock-in; You went on a mission trip to Mexico, Guatemala, Haiti, Ghana, Nicaragua, Uganda, or Venezuela; Your parents bought you a purity ring; You prayed at school during "see you at the pole;" and All the concerts you went to gave you the opportunity to sponsor a kid. So What? I was never very involved in a youth Read More …
Mega-Interest in Megachurches (#0991)
Warren Bird, research director at Leadership Network, recently shared the ten most popular blog posts on Leadership Network's blog during 2012. Interestingly, 40% of the posts on the list include the word megachurch in their titles: Youngest Megachurch Pastor World's First Megachurch How Many Megachurches? Biggest Megachurch Sanctuaries So What? Megachurches, congregations with worship attendance of at least 2,000 per weekend, have been growing in number and significance in Read More …
Power of Thought (#0989)
"The Scientific Power of Thought" is a short (just under 3 minutes) video that highlights the significance and far reaching implications of thoughts. So What? In less than a week, this video was viewed over 1 million times. In a culture that often appears obsessed with measuring any and every aspect of human doing, understanding the power of imagination allows for a more robust appreciation of its value. How do you seek to develop your own use of imagination? Does your Read More …
Being Teen Online (#0972)
Zone Alarm recently posted an important infographic: The Secret Life of the Online Teenager. While more than 4 in 5 teens use social media and more than 95% of all teens are confident in their ability to stay safe online, the details of their online behavior offer parents, educators and other caring adults reasons to monitor the online actions of teens. More specifically, 69% openly reveal their physical locations 32% of teen girls and 24% of teen boys chat with strangers Read More …