[Kid Inspiration]

Hung out with friends Matt and Jo Garratt at Dee Why Beach – ah, one of the perks of Sydney, Australia.

Below we have a photo of Brooklyn Wakerley and Daisy Garratt seeing who can get the most amount of food on their faces rather than in the mouth! (Not sure who the Grandmother is behind, but she is somewhat shocked… not that surprising, most of the food didn’t even make it to their faces).

Merry Post-Christmas!!!

There is a community developing of sorts amongst blogging pastors — which makes sense right? If you are writing a blog on a specific topic you are bound to attract like minded people, and in turn be attracted to like minded people.

I read a bunch of blogs from lead/senior pastors all over the world, guys leading their local church.

It makes no difference their denomination, style or affiliation… the strength of their passion, and their engaging writing overrides the things that may separate them. The thing that unites these pastors is the conversation, the journey (and Jesus).

With a bunch of differences, prejudices and style issues out of the way people are really listening.

This may just be post-services, pre-Christmas ‘Sunday Night’ talking… but we need LOTS more conversations going about kids!

I add every single blog relating to ministering to kids to my google reader… and I hunt them down like a hungry wolf in the dead of winter… and still only find 76 on the whole of the internets.

We need a blog explosion in Children’s Ministry.

This blogging thing is not a passing fad, it could be the end of the ‘lone ranger’ minister, out on the prairie with nothin’ but a passin’ tumbleweed to keep him company.

Blogging, and whatever it will become in the coming years is the future present.

I want to be able to pick and choose in this CM niche, not add them all jus’ ’cause… ‘they were there’… show me passion and a love for kids and I’ll read it… and while we’re at it let’s create community, have a virtual coffee… and while its virtual, an entire bag of marshmallows…

If you’re not blogging… do it.

Don’t just leave it to the senior pastors, I want to see more people passionate about ministering to kids blogging! (Not just the paid dudes, the volunteers, the part timers, the parents… bring it on!)

…and <breathe>

P.S. Amen in the comments if I’m preaching well.

I’m evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they’re letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

Mark Joyner makes some great courses and as a a marketing test (I guess), he’s decided to give this new course away for a limited time. Mark is the creator of Simpleology 101 which I highly recommend for helping you to become successful and it also happens to be free.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I’ll let you know what I think once I’ve had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it’s still free.

Hi there, my name is Dancer David Wambam-foo-Who — if I lived in Whoville…

Just in time for Christmas – get your Whoville name…

Visit grinched.com, click “Enter site” at the bottom, and then drag the magnifying glass over to “City Hall” on the upper left hand side.

Go find out your name and then post in the comments below your Whoville name!

Via Best AFP Photos 2007

Talk about a David and Goliath Face off… this is the attitude I love to see in children! Bring it on to every challenge!

“If there’s one thing I just don’t have time for, it’s delegation”…

No one would admit to agreeing with that statement, but we can often act like it. There are too many people sitting in churches doing nothing, that will find their purpose by serving children. Ask and keep on asking, knock and keep on knocking…

Found these great tips on delegation via churchrelevance.com

From Kevin Moore, the youth pastor at Oneighty from Church on the Move (Tulsa, OK)…

1. Speak it.
   Make an effort to clearly speak to each worker about the details of what they are suppose to do and how those details are important to the vision of the ministry they are serving in.
2. Spell it.
   Make sure that you spell out in writing (a) the vision and goal of the ministry, (b) the expectations and guidelines of the task, and (c) the details of the job.
3. Slowly Release.
   Let your worker watch you perform the task. Next allow them to work alongside of you. Spend some time observing them, giving complements and criticism when needed. Once they have learned from you, they are ready to succeed on their own.

Don’t miss any one of these steps!!

Proof the web is getting cuter and cuter!

YouTube Link

Cool Tools in a great blog that highlights awesome products… (You should read it). A cool tool can be any book, gadget, software, video, map, hardware, material, or website that is tried and true.

They blogged about these today: Peltor Kid Earmuffs

Which made me wonder why I hadn’t blogged about them.

We have a few sets of these available in our Parenting Rooms (for parents with kids under 1 years old). They can use them to protect their kids ears when they head into the main auditorium for services (our music is kinda loud).

Parents love ‘em!

It can strike at any time, so be informed

Join a 10-year old, change the world!We were once kids.

Then we grew up.

And sometimes, we need kids to remind us about
what’s important.

Lit-tle Laura did it today. She’s 10. And she’s
a leader.

Laura Is Changing The World

And she’s inviting you to join her. It’s easy.
Grow DOWN. Be a kid again. Believe you can
change the world.