kevin alton
misfit musician & youth minister.. normal family man
flag man ahead
When we moved to the small north Georgia town of Ringgold 5 years ago, we were surprised to discover what a throwback community it was. We’ve lived in and are both from small towns, but the uniqueness of a town where everybody still seemed to know everybody was striking. Other quirks appeared over the years. [...]
this doesn’t matter a bit.
Except that it was amusing. Both of my boys are delightful goons, but very difficult to wake up in the morning. As a result, there is no one method of waking them that works for any length of time. A couple of weeks is about all you’ll enjoy out of any particular success. So a [...]
winding down
You know, once all the wheels have come off of the bus the ride isn’t nearly as scary anymore. Slows right down. I had to break dress code a week ago. As my friend Jake & I were finishing our hike on Big Frog, I stepped off of the edge of the trail and rolled [...]
up Big Frog
It’s been two weeks since my last post and this one will technically be out of order with the one that follows it in the next couple of days. During this whole experience I’ve really re-engaged the person of Jesus in a new way. It began, I think, with a writing assignment. A recent project [...]
I think Jesus did less miracles when it was humid.
“Seriously guys, can we suffer the little children to get out of my personal space box for a minute? And can we get a fan in here?” I forgot to post this photo from the event I attended with my youth last weekend. It’s the princess bed I found my amused, greasy self retiring to [...]
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flag man ahead
When we moved to the small north Georgia town of Ringgold 5 years ago, we were surprised to discover what a throwback community it was. We’ve lived in and are both from small towns, but the uniqueness of a town where everybody still seemed to know everybody was striking. Other quirks appeared over the years. [...]
this doesn’t matter a bit.
Except that it was amusing. Both of my boys are delightful goons, but very difficult to wake up in the morning. As a result, there is no one method of waking them that works for any length of time. A couple of weeks is about all you’ll enjoy out of any particular success. So a [...]
winding down
You know, once all the wheels have come off of the bus the ride isn’t nearly as scary anymore. Slows right down. I had to break dress code a week ago. As my friend Jake & I were finishing our hike on Big Frog, I stepped off of the edge of the trail and rolled [...]
up Big Frog
It’s been two weeks since my last post and this one will technically be out of order with the one that follows it in the next couple of days. During this whole experience I’ve really re-engaged the person of Jesus in a new way. It began, I think, with a writing assignment. A recent project [...]
the cumulative effect
I used to be a pretty avid kayaker until an underwater concussion knocked the interest out of me. I’d arrive at church with my boat in the back of my truck and take off for the Ocoee right after services most Sundays. At least once a year we’d go camping and paddling 2 or 3 [...]
I think Jesus did less miracles when it was humid.
“Seriously guys, can we suffer the little children to get out of my personal space box for a minute? And can we get a fan in here?” I forgot to post this photo from the event I attended with my youth last weekend. It’s the princess bed I found my amused, greasy self retiring to [...]
perspective
My entire adult life I’ve lived in relationship with feeling dirty in degrees. A humid rainy day with too much running around results in your hair getting a little plastered and a little more sweat than you’re used to in mild weather. Or an unexpected amount of time outside in the heat leaves your shirt [...]
Random Archives
Kevin Alton
Youthworker Circuit Articles
- An App for Your Youth Ministry EventOne of the great things about being a part of our local Youth Pastors Anonymous group is that I can regularly hang out with some awesome people who challenge the normal processes of ministry. A recent, and upcoming, undertaking is a training by our network of youth workers for our […]
- Look the Youth Minister is in the Pulpit! 7 tips to doing the youth minister sermonIt is going to happen. Somewhere along the line the pastor/s will ask you to give a sermon, from the pulpit, on a Sunday, in front of every one in church (well, at least those who show up that Sunday). Do not panic. You have got this & here are […]
- Grow Up Youth WorkerIn a youth ministry career that is coming up on 20 years I have been around a number of fellow youth ministers. They all, with rare exception, have been wonderful people. One short coming that I see over and over again, in my opinion, is the need to the youth’s […]
- What to do with the Graduates?I originally wrote this for Youthworker Movement. Wanted to share with our circuit folks as well. ME: We would like for us to recognize our seniors in service as graduating youth. PASTOR: That’s great, how would you like to do that? ME: We would want to recognize our two […]
- Start Writing as a Youth Ministry {Program Ideas}If you have been plugged in with us for awhile you know we are big on writing personal letters, thank you notes, etc. At one of our technologies conferences the other week a friend introduced me to Post Crossing, a social network of another kind. Instead of sending emails, […]
Purrington Band Speaks
- moving dayWhat, you don’t like it when I only call once a month?Kevin is moving his personal blog to a new home: www.kevinalton.com. This blog will remain active with various band news and thoughts from the community within the band.Nobody is fired and no one has quit, though Brandon has announced a trial separation beginning in mid-August. More on that later. At leas […]
- the odd relationship of helpEverything in American culture is available on a consumer basis. You can do almost anything of which you can conceive at virtually any hour, any day of the week. Somewhere. Probably even online.Except.If you want to HELP, you can’t do that on your own terms. Help isn’t open 24/7 and it doesn’t offer free shipping for orders over $25 and it sure doesn’t care […]
- slapping babiesThis picture is of the house across the street from where I worked clearing trees with one of my church families today. It’s a traditional 2-story Cape Cod, except that the storm converted it into a cozy master-on-main with an open floor plan. And a completely vanished first floor. What you see there in shadow is the main floor with the second floor, nearly […]
- oh, not helpless--useless.In spite of all my self-interested instincts, I headed back to town today ready to fix it. Yesterday had been a little slow, what with nobody being allowed in and such distractions, but today, surely today I’d be a fireball of fix-this-thingness plus UMCOR had jobs for at least 200 people to do. I had my coveted green sheet of paper with “UMCOR” in a bold fo […]
- first day inI got the call early this morning from my pastor that staff would be allowed in to meet with UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief, for the pagans) at our church, which was cleared to be the official GEMA distribution site. To get in to town the most simply, we gathered at a church member’s house outside of town and rode in together.Everything is wrong […]
Wild Goose Festival
- Announcing An AnnouncementSome of you may have already picked up on the extra buzz surrounding the Wild Goose camp lately. As anticipation builds for this summer’s 2nd annual Wild Good Festival at Shakori Hills in North Carolina, we’ve also been hard at work prepping for a […]
- Crowder Comes To Wild Goose 2012After 9 Dove Awards and 22 nominations, the David Crowder Band released its final album, Give Us Rest, earlier this year. Their last endeavor was the grand finale to their career together, earning them a number two spot on Billboard’s Top 200 and selling 50,000 units in just one week. Since then, David Crowder has […]
- Wild Goose 2012 Is Pleased To Welcome GungorWild Goose 2012 is Pleased To Welcome Gungor Gungor is a band that can’t be easily labeled with a single genre like “pop” or “folk.” They’ve won multiple Grammy nominations for their 2010 album, Beautiful Things, and have since released a concept album that “celebrates the beauty of life even in the midst of […]
- Wild Goose Regional Event in North Carolina This WednesdayThis Wednesday, the Wild Goose team and friends would like to invite you to a night of music and conversation at the Full Steam Brewery in Durham. The evening will feature performances by Pinkerton’s Raid with special guest Alex Wilkins, while enjoying local food truck phenom Piepushers and local ice cream from The Parlour. Festivities […]
- Wild Goose Announces 2nd Round of Lineup: New Speakers and Performers AddedDAVID CROWDER, GUNGOR, PHYLLIS TICKLE, LAUREN WINNER, FRANK SCHAEFFER AND NAOMI SHELTON AND THE GOSPEL QUEENS AMONG OTHERS JOIN THE LINEUP GATHERING AT SHAKORI HILLS IN SIX WEEKS. To celebrate this announcements, we have reverted ticket prices back to the early bird price of $119 until this Wednesday, May 9th, at midnight. * * * […]