Chris Elrod

To My Church Planting Friend

A friend of mine...who is about to launch his church plant...emailed me about being discouraged.  This is for him...and others that are in the same boat.

Hey man, don't get discouraged.  Keep in mind that it's not about the launch, it's about the long haul.  You are planting a church...not a launch event!  The launch day is just the FIRST day...there will be many more beyond it.  Some of those days will be great and some will not be so great.  The cool thing is that there is always tomorrow to make a change, focus on something new or...clean up the mess that was made yesterday.   God will always be there to lead, guide and refresh your vision!

As for the launch team...don't sweat it.  Some folks will be with you forever and some will be with you for a short time.  Half of your launch team will bail on you in the first year and a bunch of new folks...with greater vision...will fill their place.  Some of them you won't mind losing, others will cause you to cry yourself to sleep over seeing them go.  However, they all contribute to the journey...and the experience.  God knows which ones have the faith and vision to travel where you must go.  Trust Him...and not your own instincts...to provide the right traveling companions.

As for money, staff and resources...there is never going to be enough.   You don't need money...or staff...or resources...to plant a church.  Saddleback started with three folks (Rick Warren, his wife and a guy that was showing them homes) and NO money.  The truth is that some folks promise you the moon and don't deliver.  Others promise you nothing and then come through in a big way.  Don't rely on any of them. God's going to provide you with what you need in order to accomplish His vision.

Just keep in mind, where your journey begins is not where it will end.  It will go on after you are gone and will reach people beyond your own abilities.  At the end of your travels there will have been many trials and tribulations...triumphs and defeats.  There will be war wounds and medals...conquering heroes and those that fell in battle.  The will be stories upon stories to tell...some good...some bad.  But at the end of the day you get to say that God took you on a journey that only a few choice individuals get to travel.  You get the honor and privilege of saying that you were a church planter.

Stay strong...do not be discouraged...the greatest experience of your life is about to begin!

Blog Disclaimers

I recently visited a blog by the lead pastor of a church (which shall remain nameless) and saw that he had a disclaimer on it.  You guys know the disclaimer I'm talking about.  The one that goes, "My opinions on this here blog may not exactly represent the things the church believes, most Christians believe or the things the lead pastor unchains me to say."  I expect to see one of those disclaimers on blogs by church staff members or leadership.  However, I have problems with it when I see a disclaimer on the blog of the lead pastor.

I am a firm believer that a church begins to take on the personality of the lead pastor...like it or not.  I'm also a firm believer in a lead pastor being who he really is both on and off the pulpit.  I understand that God is the ultimate leader of the church, but a Lead Pastor must infuse himself into lifeblood of his church.

So here is my deal...if the writings of a Lead Pastor on his blog is not the thoughts or beliefs of his church, then what the heck is he even doing in the pulpit?  Everything a lead pastor says, writes or speaks should be the thoughts and beliefs of his flock...or at least where he's trying to lead his flock!  However, the bigger concern is this...which one is the authentic lead pastor when you see a disclaimer on his blog?  The one in the pulpit or the one on the blog?

Central Florida Finally Got Below 40 Degrees

Tonight's Music Selection

I've got a cold coming on, my throat hurts and my voice is shot.  However, after a day like today I'm rocking the house with some "Shout It Out Loud" and "Detroit Rock City"!!!

I did get in a nap because I felt physically bad...but spiritually and emotionally I'm still so stoked!  I'm proud of the family and leadership of Compass Point.  Except for two people that attended because they heard the podcast, the rest of today's guests came because someone invited them. It is such a magical thing when it all clicks and God moves.

Well, enough blogging for today.  I'm going back to my bottle of NyQuil and some "God Of Thunder".

Today ROCKED!!!

It is a day like today that makes you thank God that you're a church planter.  Man, it was "on like a neck bone" today at Compass Point.

The band rocked, the people rocked, the attendance rocked and I was PUMPED UP!!!  We ran out of chairs and had to dig up a few more from some of the YMCA offices.  We had a bunch of guests and several folks indicated first-time salvation decisions on their Comm Cards this morning (much follow-up to be done this week).

I mean, the whole day was just a God thing!!!  Not just because the attendance was great, but because there was this air of excitement and expectancy flowing throughout the whole service.  I am so stoked I don't believe I'll be able to get my normal "Sunday-afternoon-because-I'm-a-Baptist" nap. 

While the Compass Point leadership and I worked hard this week to follow God, I believe today's success was because of the intercessory prayer of others.  A GREAT BIG thank you to all those that emailed or called with words of encouragement this week. I could feel the love and your prayers.  We rocked because you rocked!!!

You Gotta Have Friends

Some days God just puts people in your path to be an encouragement and inspiration.  About an hour ago I received an email from my friend, Gary just telling me he was praying for me and tomorrow's service at Compass Point.  After last week, I really need it...and appreciate it.  What an amazing pick-me-up at the right time!  Thanks man!

I Wonder

Does our obsession with relevance mean that the Word of God is no longer relevant?  Does our slick modern marketing mean that the timeless truth of God’s Word isn’t appealing? Does our desire for cultural acceptance put us at odds with the very Message we are trying to bring? Does the world turn away because they see our lack of faith that God can speak…without our help?  I wonder???

Dungy's Going To The Dance

As a Buc's fan, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Tony Dungy.  Obviously, Gruden and the Bucs rode to their Superbowl win on the shoulders and former leadership of Dungy.  I am thrilled that he finally has a shot at going to "the big dance" and winning the Superbowl.  I'll be rooting for him and the Colts on February 4th.

When The Big Mo Dies

As I have stated many times on this blog, I believe in complete honesty and brutal truth.  Week after week I try to be humorous in stating what I perceive to be truth.  Today is not one of those days...you'll still get the truth, just no humor.  The problem is...I'm bummed.  Church sucked this morning at Compass Point!!!  The music was great, the sermon could have been better (as always), but the real problem is the climate of emotions...or lack thereof.

I know most of you in "church planting land" are used to many of us bloggers talking about how great Sunday was and how our people are the best...blah, blah, blah.  Today isn't one of those days on this blog.

Church planting is hard work with many difficult days.  There is very little middle ground for a church planter.  You don't just have "a day".  Either the day is really up or really down...there is rarely just a middle-of-the-road day emotionally.  You go from loving people to daydreaming about choking them.  One day you think you can crash the gates of Hell with a squirt gun and the next day you wife is hiding the sharp objects in the house.  Some Sundays rock and some Sundas suck...there are very few "normal" Sundays in the life of a church planter.  It seems like an endless ride on a bipolar roller coaster.

Alot of it depends on the "Big Mo".  For those in the dark, the "Big Mo" is momentum.  The life cycle of a church's ministry, outreach and numerical growth rises and falls with the "Big Mo".  It's a combination of the moving of the Holy Spirit, an air of expectation and a level of excitement that draws people in.  All in all, it's the greatest feeling in the world!!!  When the "Big Mo" is not there it can feel pretty damn lonely for a shepherd!

Compass Point had the "Big Mo" cranking when we hit Christmas.  Christmas sucks!!!  The holiday season almost always knocks the wind out of a church's sails that is  reaching 20-somethings.  It did it again this year.

Things were happening, people were joining, folks were getting saved, the tithe money was flowing and guests were packing the place.  In essence, you could feel the prescence of God almost every Sunday and the "Big Mo" moving.  Then comes Christmas and New Year.  Attendance is down, the money is tight, leadership is complaining about being "burned out", no one is inviting guests and volunteers are dropping likes flies.  It happens almost every year like some kind of "after Christmas" church-wide depression.  I should be prepared for it.  Yet, somehow it always catches me off guard and I get really bummed out.

We'll get the "Big Mo" back...we always do.  Tomorrow will be a better day.  God and I will spend some quality time together working through this.  Compass Point will get back to normal and ministry will take place again.

However, for today...the sharp objects have been safely locked away.

Apologies To Some Friends

Over the last several days I've been getting quite a bit of private email about my SEX! post.  Most of it has been flaming, some of it has been cool, but there are a few folks out there that thought I was taking shots at Jonathan Herron or Gary Lamb.  I think because Jonathan's church is doing a message series on sexuality and Gary's church just had a bunch of press over a "controversial" video, the assumption was that I was posting about them.  This couldn't be further from the truth!

I've communicated with both of these guys in the past and love them dearly.  I would never dream of publicly slighting them , their ministries or their churches.  I apologize to both guys...or anyone in their churches...if they think I was taking shots at them.  I can assure you, I was not!

The purpose of the post was to point out how absurd it is to preach a sermon series just because it's controversial enough to get press.  It was also to point out that most of the churches that were doing it were just copying Granger in hopes of seeing the same kind of success in their own towns.  If there is one thing that chaps my shorts the most, it's unimaginative, non-creative, copy cat churches just doing what they see successful in other churches because they have no vision of their own.  Well, that and heretics.  :-)

There is nothing more desperate looking...or pitiful...than a church trying to be relevant.  Either you are or you aren't.  A lump of crap is still a lump of crap...even if you put it in a pretty box.  Relevance is not about window dressing, it's about the substance of the DNA of the church body...and leadership.  If you have to try to be relevant...or copy verbatim what others do in order to look relevant...then you really aren't relevant!!!

The SEX! post was written over several days - neither Gary nor Jonathan were on my mind during the process.  The "rapping Santa" video that Gary and Ridgestone put out was strictly to communicate to their own folks in an intentionally cheesy way about an upcoming event.  The Ridgestone Church body thought it was crazy enough to tell their friends about it and post it on YouTube.  It took on a life of it's own without specific marketing by Gary or his staff.  Now that's relevant!!!

Jonathan's church reaches younger 20-somethings.  They have a pretty warped view of the differences in the roles of men and women.  They are also pretty ...um...well...um...sex driven at their age.  The message series he is doing is both relevant and needed for his flock.  He's not copying anyone or purposely using a controversial subject to gain press...he's just spiritually meeting the needs of the Catalyst congregation.

Obviously, there were specific churches and/or pastors I was thinking about when I wrote the SEX! post.  Those will remain nameless now and forever.  However, I realize that sometimes my writing can be more of a shotgun approach (hitting many targets) when I need to zero in with a rifle shot on occasion.   I'll try to do better with that in the future.

PLEASE NOTE - At no time did Gary or Jonathan contact me about the post.  Chances are they never even knew about it since they are pretty busy guys.  I just felt I needed to clear the air for the folks that did email in.

List Stupidity 101

Apparently, the recent craze of magazines or websites producing lists ranking "top" churches/pastors/etc. is undergoing a rising backlash.  There have been many online comments and blog postings (besides mine) in recent days concerning this new form of ego masturbation - including this great one by Drew Moser.

From what I can tell, no one...including myself...has a problem with listing great resources (influential pastors, innovative churches, best cleaned toilets in the children's ministry, etc.).  The problem arises when the lists are ranked from best to worst numerically.   I just can't see how a God that emphasized in His Word, "the first shall be last and the last shall be first" can really be all that pleased with this list stupidity!!!

Self-Centered

When a church...and its pastor...becomes self-centered this is what happens!!!

Obama

Barack + Obama = A new way to spin the same old crap!!!

Kudos

Well, quite a bit has happened since I took a break from blogging last week.

1. The Slice of Laodicea relaunched with a new name, a new look and the same old crap.

2. I've discovered I'm the only blogger in the whole world that could care less that "24" is back on (Some time ago I set my television to The History Channel and intentionally broke the knob off).

3. In between the daily report of how many boxes of his book he has in the garage, Mark Batterson posted a really great article about vision.

4. No one gave a rip about this intentionally offensive posting on my blog, but I'm still getting hammered in emails about this one.

5. My friend Gary got pretty honest about some boneheads in his life with this post and this post.

However, the biggest news while I was away was the announcement that Tony Morgan was leaving Granger Community Church to work with Perry Noble at Newspring.  Yeah, I know I am late to the party with this post, but I was gone on a staff retreat for Compass Point and cut off from the blogging world.

I mentioned Tony and the two churches because I was really impressed by how they handled the whole thing.  No, this isn't some cheap attempt to get Tony to invite me to his "going away party" after my comments concerning his "25 Most Innovative Churches" debacle (I thought Outreach Magazine listing innovative churches was way cool, but ranking them numerically from best to not-so-best was one of the all-time brain dead blunders - especially since the majority of the voting "panel" ended up on the list).  This posting is simply here to give credit where credit is due and to say "kudos" for a job well done.

Tony is a very well-known guy and a true expert in his field.  His blog and  books have inspired many of us in church planting - myslef included.  Perry Noble is also a very well-known guy in the world of blogging.  His lessons in leadership have been legendary among recent church planters.  To top all of that off, Granger and Newspring are incredibly innovative churches that have blazed a trail for other church leaders to follow.  All of this combined could have made for a very awkward...and publicly negative transition for Tony.  It could have lent itself to hurtful rumors, conspiracy theories and accusations from outside parties.  Yet, it has gone smoothly due to the amount of online communication by all of the folks involved.

Perry, Tony, Granger and Newspring showed great wisdom in the way that they squashed all of the potential rumors before they could get started.  Their blog postings, letters to their congregations and willingness to be open with everyone about the change really set a positive tone.  They showed all of us in church leadership that change is a good thing...and a God thing! They also showed the proper way to handle a potentially misunderstood situation.

Thanks guys for setting a great example!!!

Going Silent

The Compass Point staff is getting ready to go on our annual retreat this coming weekend.  Due to my preparation for that, I'm not going to be blogging again until sometime next week.  Holler at you later!!!

Let's Talk About SEX!!!

That's it...I've had it with trying to be myself or doing things differently.   I'm tired of never being the "in" church around town that everyone goes to.  I want more people, so I'm going to do what all of those church leadership conference speakers and mega-church bloggers said to do...I'm going to be just like them!!!

With that in mind, Compass Point is going to jump on the bandwagon and launch a series about SEX!  Our hope is that we - like the dozen or so other churches that copied Granger Community Church and did a SEX! series - will create a buzz in the community by using the cheap tactic of promoting a controversial subject.

According to most of the church growth experts, marketing is the key.  I found out that people are not looking for spiritual answers at church these days, they are looking to be taken in by gimmicks (no wonder our attendance hasn't been exploding).  With that in mind, here is the marketing plan for our SEX! series:

1. We'll use a really suggestive advertisement on billboards, flyers and postcards like the one above (click on the thumbnail to see a larger version).

2. We'll give out tacky gifts to our guests that play along with the theme of SEX!  We're thinking about using condoms with the "Prayer Of Jabez" printed on the side.  You know...the "enlarge my territory" prayer.  It'll be kind of like a Christian Viagra.

3. We've worked out a deal with Hef and his team to give out free Playboy Magazines throughout downtown Lakeland with our own customized "from your friends at Compass Point" cover.  There's even a possibility that they may do a special layout for it entitled, "Girls Of The SBC".  Of course, we won't call them Playmates or Bunnies.  This is church, so we'll call them "Love Offering"!

4. To really create a buzz, we're going to use a celebrity on the first day of the series like Fellowship is doing with Hulk Hogan.  We're planning on using either Dr. Ruth or that chick that Hugh Grant got busted with!!!

5. We're going to include video clips during the message that are relevant to today's culture and creatively visualize the subject of SEX!  We're thinking about using classics like "Debbie Does Dallas", "Deepthroat" and "Behind The Green Door".  However, we won't use "The Devil In Mrs. Jones" because that talks about Satan...and Osteen said that's a negative subject to talk about in church.

6. The worship band will wear latex each week and start each service with a Snoop Dog tune.

7. We are going to have a special free seminar about SEX! for couples in our community.  We're so excited to be bringing in Ron Jeremy and Jenna Jameson to speak at that!  Compass Point really lucked up as they both had a break in their shooting schedules!

8. For the next twelve weeks every piece of advertising, email or stationary from Compass Point will feature the word SEX! spelled in all caps, bold print, underlined and followed by an exclamation point.

9. We'll endlessly blog about the series to other church leaders in the attempt to look like we're relevant and cutting-edge!

10. Last but not least, we'll write a book about SEX!, shamelessly self-promote it, package the whole thing (graphics, Bible studies, video clips, message notes, etc.) and sell it for hundreds of dollars to other churches that also lack imagination or creativity.

The entire Compass Point staff and leadership is pumped about SEX!  I'm so glad we stopped listening to what God wanted us to do and starting stealing what worked at every other church out there.  Now we'll finally see the growth that really matters on all those "end-of-the-year" top church lists...numerical growth!

NOTE TO THE HUMOR IMPAIRED - Granger did it first and did it the best.  Word of wisdom...when you're only ambition is to follow the lead dog, the view will always look like ass.  There's enough copycats in the world of churches...be your own dog!!!

NOTE TO THE TERMINALLY CLUELESS - No, Compass Point isn't really going to do a message series about SEX! or use the marketing ideas listed above.  It was a joke to make a point.  It's called satire!  Now go back to your deacon's meeting.

Blog Problems Everywhere

Sorry to everyone that gets my blog through a RSS feeder.  Though I have my TypePad account set to show the entire message, apparently it is only showing the title.  People are having to click over from their feed manager to this site.  I know because I keep tabs on my blog through NewsGator.  Anyway, TypePad is "aware of the probelm" and is trying to "fix" it.

Also, some of the Blogger sites are down.  Gary Lamb's blog has gone dark...which really, really sucks!!!

Been Waiting Ten Years For This

All These U2 Message Series

What is with all of these message series centered around U2?  I mean U2 is alright and all, but if you really want to impress me...do a series using Foghat!!!

THE GATORS WIN!!!

My prayer life rocks...the Gators win the National Championship!!!  Florida also made history as the only NCAA school to win national championships in football AND basketball in the same year.

I hope this finally puts to bed the disrespect the SEC gets every year from the press and coaches.  The Gators didn't just beat Ohio, we handed them their ass!!!  I mean, when guys are making tackles with no helmet on, it shows my boys came to play hard-hitting football!  Other than the first, lucky opening play, Ohio wasn't even a factor.  The Gator defense just totally dominated and Chris Leak played a perfect game.

On behalf of Gator Nation and myself, a HUGE "thank you" goes to UCLA.  Without them beating USC we would have never made it to the Big Dance!!!

Needless to say, there will be very little sleep in the Elrod house tonight!

Ready For The Game!

The Gators And My Prayer Life

In little less than an hour we will all get to see what kind of prayer life I have.  If my prayer life is good, Ohio will stink as bad as New York did today.  If my prayer life sucks, well...

The Problem With Perry

So this afternoon I was polishing off a six-pack of Budweiser and thinking about all the things that are wrong with Perry Noble's church  Let me put down my cigar and I'll type it.  The probelm with Newspring Church is...nothing.  Great post Perry!!!  :-)

Tony Morgan Rocks!!!

Okay, so I put the previous post up about the "25 Most Innovative Churches List" bashing Tony Morgan and Outreach this afternoon.  A little over an hour later Tony left a reply.  While I still stick my feelings that the list is just a load, I gotta change my tune about Tony.  His sense of humor and ability to take a bashing makes him a "rock star" in my book!

If Granger truly adds plasma screens to their bathroom stalls they should...without a doubt...be #1 on the Outreach Crap-O-La list next year!!!

Wait a minute...I have an idea.  What if the plasma screens were also touch-screen computers connected to wi-fi.  Blogging while doing your "business"...now that's innovative!!!

Outreach's List Of Crap-O-La

Okay, I realize that THE list came out several weeks back.  I also realize that, for some, this may be old news.  Still finally, I also realize that I may be a little late getting to the "cool kids" table by blogging about this now.  The truth is I saw Tony Morgan blogging about his church being on some "innovative list" during the Christmas break.  I followed the link over to Outreach's site where I downloaded the PDF file.  I then printed the thing out, realized it was just another "ego stroke" for certain churches and left it in the bathroom in case I ran out of toilet paper!  My basic thought on the whole matter is, "What a ridiculous load of bull excrement and a fine waste trees!"  Why Tony even went to the trouble of convincing Outreach to do it just escapes me.

Before I continue - in the effort of full disclosure - I have a fondness for Tony Morgan and Granger Community Church.  Compass Point has bought some of their church management forms kits (an excellent resource).  We have also used a few Outreach marketing products in the past (a not-so-excellent resource).  I must also admit, however, that I rarely pay either one of them much attention these days.  Tony's blog seems to have become numbers obsessed (i.e., how many blog hits, Sunday attendance at Granger, how many plasma screens they have in each restroom stall, etc.) and Outreach seems more concerned with helping to promote Hollywood movies than serving the local church!  Now back to the list.

The list itself is basically a joke.  I mean, there is no credibility to the thing!  Let's break down some important points here:

The Panel - How is it that the majority of the panel's churches ended up on the list?  I realize that the article said the panel couldn't vote for their own church, but the question is, "How did they all - except for Perry Noble's and Efrem Smith's churches - end up on the list?"  For that matter, why isn't Newspring on the list?  I may be labeled a conspiracy nut, but I believe we better check the "grassy knoll" on this one!!!

The Criteria - While the panel was listed and the winners profiled, there was no mention of a critieria as to what constitutes an "innovative" church.  From what I see in the majority of "the winners" is that the following equation applies:

mega + multi-site + a butt load of technology = innovative

There are exceptions to the rule.  Crossover in Tampa and Imago Dei in Portland are truly innovative in their approaches to the people they are trying to reach.  They are doing things so outside-the-box from normal "cookie-cutter" churches (i.e., hip hop praise music, community gardens, break dancing classes, recording studio for local artists, etc.) that they re-define innovative.  Yet, The Potter's House is also on the list.  What in the hell is so innovative about The Potter's House?  A television preacher reaching people by...wait for it...television.  Ooooo, innovative!!!  Boy, I wish I had come up with that groundbreaking gem of an idea!

Where is Vineyard in Cincinnati - the home of servant evangelism?  Where is Ridgestone in Georgia - that proved that viral marketing can work for churches?  Where is Flamingo Road in South Florida - a church with a rich, long history that reinvented itself to stay relevant?

The Decade - What decade are we determining this list to represent? Is this the most innovative churches today...or ever.  If it's ever, then where is First Baptist Church of Dallas (does anyone remember W.A. Criswell?) or...for that matter...one of the churches that Paul started?  If it's for this decade or the 21st Century (which we are fully into now) then how did Saddleback end up on the list?  Did church leaders in Syria get to vote?  Why is Willowcreek there? They were both innovative at one time...but now?

The Little Guys - If we are talking true innovation, then where are the "little guys"?  Some of the most innovative stuff is being done by church plants less than a year old and an attendance of less than 300. I mentioned in a previous post about Jonathan Herron and Catalyst Church up in Ohio.  Witn no money and plenty of creativity they have become the most talked-about thing on the campus of Kent State University (other than an "incident" back in the 70s)!  Yet, they are not on the list.  How about Summit Church in Florida?  They have no real lead pastor - the entire staff is on equal footing.  I don't understand how it works, but I've seen it in action and it's innovative!    Finally, what about Scum Of The Earth Church up in Denver?  I have no clue how innovative their ministries are, but you gotta stick them on the list for the name alone!!!

The First Annual Top 25 Innovative Churches List article began with the Bob Dyaln lyric, "The times they are a-changing".  Tony and Outreach, please embrace that lyric!  The times are changing and the only people that give a rip about a cheesy innovative churches list are the people that need the "ego boost" of being on them.  Most of us just quietly go about being innovative in our own communities in a never-ending quest to reach people for Christ.  Do us all a favor...drop the "annual" part and let this year's crap-o-la list be the last one!!!

NyQuil

The NyQuil has kicked in!!!  For me it's the "sneezing, sniffling, wake up three days later naked on the bathroom floor medicine".  I'm going to bed while I can still crawl to it!

Low Key Evening

We had an okay day at Compass Point this morning.  Our attendance is still not back up from the holidays as our college students are still about two weeks from returning.  The band sounded amazing today - they did a really cool version of "Be The Center".

We are still having some issues with our new sound system.  The DBX DriveRack is an amazing piece of equipment, but it is very difficult to initially set up.  Once we get it EQed out everything should sound better.  Still, the new sub woofs are making a HUGE impact to our sound.  I can't wait to get the new system out on a prison yard.  It's gonna rock for prison ministry!!!

Tonight I'm fighting a nasal infection.  The fun of living in Florida is that the weather goes from 70 degrees on Monday to 38 degrees on Wednesday and then back to 70 degrees on Saturday.  It makes for some real fun head colds and nasal problems.

Anyway, I'm having a real laid back and low key night.  Instead of rocking out to some great rockabilly music, I'm digging my NyQuil and watching "The Stand" on the SciFi Channel.  That Stephen King is a real freak!!!  Hopefully I'll be past this nasal thing by morning as I have full day planned.

The Slice Is Down!!!

As most of you know, I am no great fan of the Slice Of Lame-O-Deceive-Ya blog.  However, I do stop by there every day just to get my blood pumping and to remind me why Christ was so hard on the Pharisees.

Anyway, I stopped by today and it's down!!!  No prior announcement, it's just down.  The old site and old articles can't even be accessed.  They say they're coming back in a few weeks, but it looks like there will be no archives.  I guess there wasn't a toilet big enough to store their past posts.

Hope springs eternal that we've seen the last of Ingrid and the boys on the Internet!

Please Pray For Dr. Mohler

Please pray for Dr. Al Mohler.  There have been some complications with his recent surgery and now he has blood clots developing in his lungs.  This is quite serious and he has been moved to intensive care.  Please also remember to keep his family in prayer.  Thanks!

A Cool Quote In Relevant

The lastest edition of Relevant Magazine asks several Christian leaders questions about the future of the Church and it's influence on today's culture.  Pastor Efrem Smith of Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis gave this incredible quote:

"I'm very concerned about the continual influence of consumerism Christianity and a Christianity that is very self-centered. Even in some of the social justice initiatives that I see, I wonder at times if it's really about social change and kingdom advancement or if it's about the sense of accomplishment and adventure one gets from the experience. Christian television (even with its good side) seems to push consumerism, capitalism and individualism. It's not that these traits are so sinful as much as it limits the Gospel message and keeps us from kingdom community and reconciliation."

Man, I love his honesty and the fact that he pulls no punches!!!

The Most Important Blogs For 2007

Lately my posts have been pretty tongue in cheek or used humor to drive home a more serious point.  However, this post is 100% serious.

I truly believe that the face of church planting...and church leadership is changing.  2007 will...in my humble opinion...see quite a bit of change in how church and ministry is done.  With that in mind, I believe that the following five blogs are currently the most important ones on the Internet for all church planters, pastors and staff:

Tadd Grandstaff - Tadd is still a ways off from his church plant's official launch.  However, he is asking all of the right questions, concentrating on all the right things and providing thought-provoking posts about the core essence of planting a church in the 21st Century.  He has become a catalyst to take me back to some of those initial questions I was asking before Compass Point launched...and should be asking again!

Jonathan Herron - Jonathan just launched Catalyst Church near Kent State University.  Considered one of the most unchurched areas in Ohio, it is filled with artistic college students that could care less about going to church.  However, through grassroots marketing and innovative approaches (that should have landed Catalyst on that piece of crap Outreach Magazine list - more on that later), Jonathan has followed his calling and is reaching his community in a mighty way for Christ.  His blog is both inspiring and a look into the future of church planting!

Gary Lamb - Yeah, I know we are friends and therefore some may see this listing as biased. However, in getting to know Gary I can honestly say I have never met a person more in love with God and his community.  He really doesn't give a rip about the latest church planting trends, instead he concentrates only on what will grow his people spiritually and reach the unchurched of Canton, Georgia. Gary's blog is the definitive manual for church leadership in today's churches.  His people skills, combined with his almost-obsessive desire to reach disconnected people for Christ has helped to mold Ridgestone into a truly outward-focused evangelistic church.  They may never win any MTV Music Video Awards, but they will continue to reach North Georgia in a mighty way for the Kingdom of God!

Johnny Brooks - He may not be a name that pops up on your radar very often, but he has a blog I check everyday!  He and his family (wife and 3 children) left everything here to go to Africa in order to reach people for Jesus Christ.  Based out of Kenya, Johnny travels to many other African countries spreading the hope of Christ through true servanthood. His approach to missions is so different...and refreshing...than other missionaries I've come in contact with over the years.  His blog records all of the triumphs...and heartaches...his family faces as they serve God on the frontlines of foreign ministry.  I truly believe that future missionaries will be quoting Johnny's posts in the years to come as a blueprint for reaching other cultures for Christ!

Dr. Al Mohler - Love him or hate him, he is the voice of the evangelical community.  More than the Driscolls, Bells, McLarens or Warrens, the nation's top media outlets turn to him for quotes, guest appearances and debate panels.  He speaks for you, he speaks for me, he speaks for all of us...and his blog is a great way to gather insight into what he is thinking.  Time Magazine named him one of the "Top 25 Most Influential Religious Leaders For The 21st Century" and they hit the nail on the head.  For most unchurched folks he is the only face of Christianity and the Church that they will ever see.  I'm comfortable with that!

A Worship Service Photo

A friend of mine was just out in Dallas and dropped by Fellowship Church for their Sunday service.  Here is photo he took of the praise and worship time:



Just kidding . . . .

Pat Robertson Is At It Again

Apparently Pat Robertson has been talking to God again and the news isn't too good.  From what part of his colon does he dig this crap from?  Pat's not prophetic, he's pathetic!  Everytime he opens his mouth and does his "Sister Cleo" act you just really expect to see Nurse Ratchet come to take him back to his rubber room for some rest.  That's, of course, if he's not leg-pressing the Washington Monument.

Goliath Falls In Arizona!

Holy crap, I just witnessed one of the greatest games in college football - the Fiesta Bowl!!!  A HUGE congrats to the Boise State Broncos for beating the Oklahoma Sooners to go 13-0 this season.  It totally blows the BCS out of the water!  I love it when the underdogs become a Cinderella!!!

Boise State's gutsy play calling was thrilling...and refreshing!  Those boys came to win and never quit.   I can't decide which of their amazing plays should be "NCAA Play Of The Year" - their "Hook & Ladder" lateral for a touchdown or the "Statue Of Liberty" play for two points to win the game!!!

While I will be pulling for my beloved Gators next Monday to win the BCS Championship, the Bronco's win tonight gives so much ammunition for having a playoff system for college football.  The BCS and their politics completely blows!  Rutgers and Boise State proved that the "little guys" need a fair chance for the National Championship!

Rose Parade

It is truly amazing what creative people can do with rose petals!!!

I particularly liked the "Purpose Driven Life" float sponsored by the nation of Syria.

A Message From The Future

For all you West Coast readers of this blog...I am typing this from the future as it is 1:30 AM here and only 10:39 PM there.  So far 2007 is pretty cool and there have already been some major historical developments.  So far:

1.  Ryan Seacrest was killed in a bizarre accident when the Times Square ball dropped on him...thus answering the prayers of millions world-wide.

2. The guys from Coldplay bought a guitar and a distortion pedal.

3. Mark Batterson has written, released and begun to shamelessly self-promote his new book, "How To Field Dress A Dead Lion Without Getting Entrails In Your Snowy Pit."

4. Brian McLaren has been elected the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

5. Hilary Clinton has announced Monica Lewinsky as her running mate for Vice-President.

6. Bono took off those damn sunglasses!

7. Tony Morgan was seen using a flannel board and puppets.

8. Fellowship Church has announced plans to work with NASA in launching the first video-venue multi-site church on Neptune.

9. Congress passed a bill prohibiting white, redneck church planters from doing "the worm" on video.

10.  Joel Osteen finally admitted that he is the illegitimate son of Mr. Rogers.

Happy New Year's everyone.  Welcome to 2007.  It's going to be a great year!!!