The cool folks at the MinistryCOM conference, Sept 18-19 in Oklahoma City, asked me to speak. I am actually going to be giving the final keynote address of the conference, which focuses on helping church communication professionals be awesome at doing what they do. Loads of cool people will be there, including some great speakers.
Here’s the thing, as the last message, on a Friday afternoon, the reality is that lots of folks are going to leave early. Which I completely understand. There are flights to catch, families to get home to, etc. And speaking last is cool with me. Andy Stanley spoke last at a conference in 2007 and I have already completely annoyed my wife by suggesting that is proof he and I are pretty similar.
But I thought it might be fun to do a quick list of reasons you should not only come to MinistryCOM, but why you should stay until the very end.
1. I might bomb.
Seriously, maybe I’ll stink. Maybe I’m just average at writing and horrible in front of a mic. I’ll get all sweaty and just start making Simpsons references (something I do when I am nervous). And then you’ll be able to say to friends, “Yeah, that dude blew it.” We all secretly love a train wreck.
2. But maybe I’ll be awesome.
Maybe I’ll just destroy it and drop the mic like Eminem at the end of the movie 8 mile as I step off stage with the toughest glare a speaker at a Christian conference can muster. And you’ll be able to say, “I knew him when.”
3. I might bring a worship eagle.
These are incredibly difficult to get, but a reader in Mongolia tells me eagles are available. If I am able to get it shipped here (can you imagine how angry my UPS guy would be with a huge eagle talon’d to the side of his uniform) I will bring it. At the bare minimum I will bring a pigeon if I am able to capture one at the Oklahoma City airport.
4. I’ll be walking around that conference like a hurricane made of side hugs.
Several people are working diligently to ensure that this small, minor modicum of blog success does not go to my head. And so far it is working. I’m not a jerk yet. So if you want to talk about ideas or hang out or leg drop unsuspecting people with me, just let me know.
5. Skittles.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, most people don’t realize that throwing candy at someone is a really easy way to get someone’s attention. It worked for Michael in the television show The Office and it worked for my friend Chris when he preached on the “Everyone is on vacation, anything goes” service. I probably won’t be able to get sponsored by Skittles before then, if the heir to the Skittle fortune is reading this please email me, but I will be carrying a massive backpack full of Skittles with me. You’ll get free candy, so you’ve got that going for yourself, which is nice.
The bottom line is I think it’s going to be a blast and would love to see you at the conference and even have you stay until the very end with me.
Side hugs and leg drops
Jon
