So I have been asked to be a part of the Blogger’s Lounge at the Orange Conference this year in Atlanta, GA. I went last year with our Children’s Staff at Brookwood and it was incredible. Besides all the stuff you will see everywhere else, there is an extremely important reason for you to go. It’s called connection.

You can connect with people from all over the world who are in similar situations with similar experiences. God has given us an opportunity to tap into one another in more ways than possible. This is a way that you can take advantage of: This year there will be a Blogger’s Lounge. It’s going to be an incredibly awesome way to meet and greet some people that are making a big difference where they are: Here’s the                       latest list of everyone that will be there.

Carlos Whittaker – Production Director, Buckhead Church, GA
Twitter: loswhit
Blog: ragamuffinsoul.com

Jon Acuff – Creative Writer, GA
Twitter: prodigaljohn
Blog: stuffchristianslike.net, prodigaljohn.com, 97secondswithGodcom

Ben Arment – Director, Catalyst West Coast, GA
Twitter: BenArment
Blog: benarment.com

Brad Lomenick – Executive Director, Catalyst, GA
Twitter: bradlomenick
Blog: bradlomenick.com

JC Thompson (that’s me)– Elem. Production Director, Brookwood Church, SC
Twitter: jcsonline
Blog: jcsonline.wordpress.com

Kenny Conley – Next Generation Pastor, Gateway Church, TX
Twitter: kennyconley
Blog: childrensministryonline.com

Matt Mckee – Pastor of Students and Children, Horizon Community Church, OH
Twitter: mattmckee
Blog: mckeelive.com

Jonathan Cliff – Children’s Pastor, Trinity Church, TX
Twitter: jonathancliff
Blog: jonathancliff.com

Sam Luce – Children’s Ministry Director Mt. Zion Ministries Church, NY
Twitter: samluce
Blog: samluce.com

Gina McLain – LifeKids Pastor, LifeChurch.tv, OK
Twitter: jabberfrog
Blog: jabberfrog.com

Chad Swanzy – Student Ministried Pastor, Gateway Church, TX
Twitter: theuprisinglive
Blog: chadswanzy.blogspot.com

Rick Smith – Youth Speaker, Seminary Student, TX
Twitter: Rick_Smith
Blog: rickwsmith.com

Anna Meadows – Associate Youth Pastor, LifeChurch.tv, OK
Twitter: anna_meadows
Blog: annameadows.com

John Saddington – Creative Web Director, North Point Ministries, GA
Twitter: human3rror
Blog: human3rror.com, churchcrunch.com

Seth Godin, of incredible blogging fame, recently wrote an article about something I vividly remember from my education at the University of Memphis. Is Marketing Evil?

Seth talked said this

“Marketing is powerful when it sells a product to someone who discovers more joy or more productivity because he bought it. Marketing is magic when it elects someone who changes the community for the better.“

Does Marketing Scare You?

It’s what we always talked about. If you can satisfy a need that the consumer has then you are doing a great thing. It’s why I loved marketing so much in high school and it’s why it’s still a passion of mine. However, the word sale, sell, commercial, salesman, and advertising are usually viewed with a look like this kid.

Especially in the church. We are totally afraid to do exactly what Seth talks about.

Give people an opportunity to change the community for the better.

Things I hear in the church are “they are too busy. They have a really full schedule. They have a lot on their plate.”

We are calling them to impact themselves and others around them for the better and yet we feel afraid, timid, or in some cases guilty for calling people to go the extra mile. So today, change. For you, those you work with and for the community and the world. It’s time to make a difference.

I have the wonderful opportunity to teach kids on a weekly basis. I desire to teach them truths about God each and every time that I get the chance. I often remember how my faith has grown over my life. I continually think what are some things that I wish that I had known about God when I was 6-13 years old.

A couple that I have come up with are these:

• God is not angry with me.
• God wants the best for my life
• God loves me more than I love myself.

If we could get a generation of kids to understand these three truths about God, I think it would do wonders for their entire lives. Imagine grasping the truth that God is not angry with you at age 10 and living your entire life with that truth in tow.

So with that said, what are some truths that you wish you had known as a kid about God?

Alot of times in our leadership, we come to a point where we must make a decision for growth. We know that we can’t possibly control all that is given to us and we must find someone capable enough, skilled enough, gifted enough, passionate enough, strong-willed enough, careful enough, and worried-enough that it reminds ourselves of us. But the reality is that the person just described doesn’t exist except for in you.

Only you have the gifts and talents that you have in the distribution that you have them in. But you know that you have to pass some things on in order to grow past this and take the next step. Even Jesus as His mission was accomplished left the fate of His movement in the hands of mere mortals (not just a cliche in this instance).

Yeah there was a calling, yeah there was training, yeah there were decisions and times of struggle. But then there was a release. Jesus handed over the reigns. Where is that area or program or ministry that you just need to give up on? Where do you know God is leading you to give up control?

No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself.

-William Penn

I’ve shown this video a few times but just as a throwback for my new readers and as our first V-Day as a married couple, I wanted to show this video again.

This is our engagement. Totally a surprise for Kristen. Check it out!