I moved…. sorry the transition had to be made its for mine and my readers own good. But maybe you haven’t heard…

Well click this link and it will take you to a page and you can subscribe to the new site…

Take advantage of it and if you get tired of me you can always quit, just not without the shedding of tears.

So I am finally taking the plunge! I have bought my own domain and have started it and you are welcome to visit.

The site is: JC is ONLINE

Here’s what I would like for you to do when you visit the site:

1. Subscribe to the RSS feed at the top.
2. Explore the site and comment with any problems or issues (Especially PC users!)
3. Let me know what you think.

Thanks so much for reading my thoughts, I am happy for this blog to continue to progress and that is all because of the input that you guys give. The input that you give is the most important reason for this blog. I thank you for all that you have done. You guys are awesome and wonderful.

PEACE!

If you didn’t hear then Adventure Week 2009 is coming this way! And the best part is that we get to try out all the goodies!

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 – 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

So we’ve been so busy around Brookwood Kids, renovating areas, modifying programs, and thinking of stuff to put in our new areas.

One thing that we really are excited about doing is making our production equipment universal. Basically we want to have the same lightboards, soundboards, and video stuff in all areas of the church.

Why?

Great question

• Our kids are fully participating in service.  They are running the program in every sense of the word on Sunday mornings.
• We want to promote growth in everyone participating in ministry.
• It allows us to streamline training across ministries. Imagine kids being able to train and learn on smaller versions of stuff being used in your main service. It’s going to be awesome.

I am so glad that our kids are given an opportunity to live out the lesson of service to God on a weekly basis! This is going to allow us to take production up a few levels and allow our kids to realize the potential that they could reach!

So today, I’m working and working and browsing through the bevvy of tweets that come across my desktop app “Twhirl” I see an awesome post from Kenny Conley called “Where’s The Theology”. Awesome post by Kenny! And I am thinking to myself how do the CM people feel about the notion that you can’t get deep with kids?

I think that Theology is important at all times but especially as a child, and especially in a society where the family dynamic is broken. So where do you go with kids? How do you incorporate theology into what you do? Do you think it’s useless for children?

And on a totally separate note, What direction are you going for Easter in your kids programs? What are you teaching for those weeks? Continuing a program, doing someone’s easter stuff, or writing you own curriculum and what do you want to teach your kids about Easter?

anyway waiting for your comments!

Our VBS on steroids is almost here! Swamp Stomp 2009 is going to be much bigger than last year. Check out our first promotion!

Well this is crazy but right now I am in the middle of trying to get a new website going to take this blogging thing to another level. No the post’s content won’t change it will range from newlywed topics, sports, ministry w/ a focus on Children’s Ministry, tech and funny stuff.

So I am prepping you for a move.

People say that if you have a good thing going don’t change it.

I say if you have a good thing going, why not make it great??

So here is to taking it to the next level.

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