Oh, This Is Good Stuff.

I'm starting to wonder if I'm a leadership junkie.

I have recently purchased a new book by Bill Hybels, entitled AXIOM. Powerful Leadership Proverbs, it says on the front. I started glancing through it last week, and really dove into it today. It's meaty, relational, accessible and personal.

And that was just the first two "proverbs". Here's a sneak peek:

"The nature of human beings is such that we tend not to drift into better behaviors. We usually have to be asked by someone to consider taking it up a level. In my own life, I've rarely made a sizable step forward -- spiritually, physically, emotionally, or otherwise -- unless someone asked me to do so."

Makes you think. Made me think. I tended to think that I was putting people out by asking them to jump on board with a project, or a vision for the ministry. They don't have the time, I would reason. I'd be putting them out, I would think. Or, one of the biggest ones, what if they say 'no'. The truth of the matter is that on the whole, people are flattered when you ask them to participate in something, especially something big, and MORE especially (especially-er) if it's something for God.

People are flattered when thought of. Aren't you?

I am doing a walk to raise money for AIDS, and we have giveaway baskets. I thought of you, and was wondering if you could donate your kids' CD's to the basket.

Heck, yes!

I want to create a kid's choir, and I'm not sure where to start. Could you help me get started, maybe help me plan some ideas for enrollment and rehearsals?

You know it!

So why, then, do I balk at asking people to step it up? Why do you, then, oh Ye Faithful Eight Readers, hesitate to ask people for things? Favors? Money? Skills? Input?

I think it's because we don't know them. We don't know their skills, and we don't know what they can and can't do. Shoot, they might not even know it. When you know your people and God places a plan in your path, then you're more apt to get that face in your mind's eye, the divine fit, the ohmygoshthey'dbePERFECTforthis moment. Once you know them, rethink your plan, and see who God wants to use to make it happen.

You'll begin to see things in people that they don't see in themselves. You'll be the one to ask them to step up. Take more responsiblity. And honestly, you'll be okay with them saying 'no', if they do. You are bound to be obedient to God's prompting to ask, not bound to forcing someone to do something.

Oh, this stuff is good. I've always been a quick "coach to court" leader. What the coach corrects on the bench during a timeout in the game I walk out on the court and do it.

I'm going to re-read this post, re-read that second chapter, and then see what I can do about it.

You're Bad, Muriel.

Okay, so I'm a Chldren's Pastor, right? I'm supposed to love all things young and short, right? If it's under the age of 10, I'm just supposed to minister, and understand, and be patient, and rejoice in planting Jesus seeds, right?

Hmm.

Could be losing my mojo.

We took a mini-vacation into Chicago this past week. It was more for the kids, because there was really nothing relaxing about it, except for the 5 hours of sleep that my wife and I got. We drove in, went to the Shedd Aquarium, stayed in a hotel, swam in the pool. You know...vacation stuff. It was fun, the kids thought it was a blast. We decided to end the vacation with a trip to the LegoLand Store in Shaumburg.

--ALERT--

Incredibly overpriced. Cool concept, big things built out of LEGOs, but really pretty expensive for playing with LEGOs and a lame EPCOT-wannabe ride. Just sayin'.

--ALERT--

So. Fam's in the LEGO cafe. There's a play structure in one corner, with a slide, and those cubes that look like mini jails stacked on one another. Some poor kid was on the top one with the mesh net and the plastic bubble window, carving tally marks into the safety foam with a pin from his glasses. Other kids were running, shoeless and parentless, around the outside, up the cubes, down the slide and around again. Our kids' eyes looked at Courtney and I, wide with anticipitory excitement, and we both said, "Okay, go play. Be careful! Have fun!"

All that was left were clouds in the shape of our kids, like the Road Runner.

We sat near, to keep an eye, and an Asian lady sat next to us to do the same. We both noticed her kids, insanely cute, were being blocked by another boy. They were trying to get past to ride the slide, but this boy was blocking the way.

We'll call him "Malachi". You know, from Children of the Corn?

Malachi blocked the way, but then actually grabbed one of the Asian kids and was shaking her. Malachi's about, oh, 7 or 8, and wee little Asian girl about, oh, 5. Her mom got up and told the boy politely to stop, but there was an obvious language barrier.

Asian to English, not adult to 8 year old.

When he did it again, I got up this time. Not my kid, not my place, I'm on vacation. But I got up nevertheless and got the kid's attention, and in my best "stern Dad voice", I said, "Quit it. NOW." Malachi looked back at me, like the Dilophosaurus looked at Nedry in Jurassic Park, head cocked with an "I wonder if I spat poison in his eye he'd be good to eat", and then ran off.

Malachi kept terrorizing. I told an employee. The employee talked to him, and Dilophosaurus-Malachi did the same thing, only this time, I think I did see a bit of green poison vomit splat on "Hello, My Name Is Jeff"'s glasses. The reprimand didn't stop Malachi, didn't even slow him down.

Then he started blocking MY kids. I was really getting hot, and all I could think of was finding this kid's parents and reading them the Riot Act, along with a few choice Scriptures. But then, oh then, Faithful Reader, God smiled on us all.

Malachi went down the tube slide and stayed at the bottom, trying to block whomever came down next. Ethan, MY Ethan, my wonderfully sweet boy, comes flying down the slide, feet-first, and nails Malachi square in the back hard enough to make his stomach arch out and sprawl off the slide a good four feet. Ethan didn't do it on purpose, but if he did, I would've given him a trophy.Malachi stood up, looking wildly around, holding his back, and with tears in his eyes, ran off to his mommy.

I'm not quite sure, but I think I heard a collective "Huzzah!" from inside the jail cubes, and kids emerged, sheilding their eyes from lack of exposure to the florescent bulbs, and then Asians of all sizes hoisted Ethan up on their shoulders, heralding him as King of the LegoLand Playstructure.

I might of made that last bit up, but I have a real question. Am I a bad person for thinking that was the best thing that could've happened? Am I not fit for kid's ministry because I secretly wanted Malachi to have an accident?

I hate to admit it, but I leaned over to Courtney and said, "That was the best thing that could've happened."

My finger hurts.

Have you ever gotten a hangnail on the side of, say, your left ring finger, and tried to pull it off only to succeed in pulling in down into the skin on the side of your fingernail? Then you try to bite it off, and only get a piece of it, while there still a small sliver still attached deep in there? It's not so bad right at the beginning, but then it gets red and irritated, and you still haven't gotten that little piece out, and a Band-Aid won't help, because now ANY pressure that's put on the side makes it throb even more?

My finger hurts.

It even hurts to type, but hey, that's how dedicated I am to my eight faithful followers.

Blog through the pain, my pappy always used to say.

At any rate, I feel as though everything on this blog needs to be profound; needs to be a nugget of truth that people are simultaneously inspired and confounded by. It's with this mandate that I sit, gingerly typing without my left ring finger.

And I got nuthin'.

No inspiring words, no quips with quibbles quaint, no Good-Lord-This-Man-Is-A-Genius solutions. I have a feeling that this blog post is going to end like The Happening did the other night, with a, "....and...it's over? You've GOT to be kidding me..." and then some cursing.

So, to pass the time before you get to the abrupt end, I figured I'd make a list of what's on my mind right now.

- I'm meeting with a group called "The Think Tank" tonight, and it's basically the highlight of my month. I'm getting ready to get inspired, to think deep thinks, and solve the world's problems.

- I'd love to go on a vacation, but I'm hesitant for a couple of reasons. I'm not sure how my 1 year old will travel, and I'm not sure how I will travel. I like my house, I just don't want people to know I'm there.

- I've written several more Memory Verses, but I have to figure out a way to make them more effective in the service. Repeat them, maybe, the next week or two? I should write them down and keep them separate, too. My daughter was singing a song that I had totally forgotten I'd written.

- It bothers me that there are 4 times as many handicapped parking spots as there are handicapped people.

- Some of my favorite words? Kiosk. Slacks. Gobsmacked. Truncated. Maybe it's the hard "k" sound. But then again, I don't like the word "killer", especially when used as an adjective. Then again again, maybe I just don't like surfers.

- Everyone should read Dave Barry.

- Lastly, before I forget, and this is the most important thing, don't ever forget to...

Faith Kids Blue on iTunes!! FINALLY!

It's up! It's here! It's Blue, and it can be yours for the low, low price of .99 cents per song!

I heart iTunes.

Alright, people. Let's sell this thing. If you liked RED and YELLOW, BLUE is going to rock your socks off. And I mean, literally off. Have slippers handy.

Down at the bottom of the page is a link to iTunes, with all of the songs. Want just one? You can buy them individually. Want the whole album?? You can do that too!

This post is going on Facebook as well. Let's get the word out!!