Chris Elrod

I've Moved To WordPress

ChrisElrod.com has made the move to WordPress. For the RSS feed and subscriptions, please click here.  To see the new blog, please go here.

Less We Get Too Smug

In the last 24 hours...

• Over 40,000 children worldwide died of hunger
• 845 million people worldwide went to bed hungry
• Over 3 billion people on Earth lived on less than $2
• Almost 6,000 people worldwide died from AIDS
• Over 32,000 children in Africa became orphans
• Almost 1 billion people worldwide couldn't read a book or write their name

It's fairly easy to point the finger at Hollywood...it's a little more difficult to point the finger at us...followers of Christ. Consider the statistics above...now...how many of us Christian leaders, pastors, bloggers and laypeople....

• Spent $5 this week on a cup of coffee?
• Helped our church raise millions to build another "much needed" building?
• Blew over $100 this week on Christmas gifts?
• Filled up the tank of our gas guzzling SUV?
• Spent a butt-load of cash on multi-media products for worship?
• Are taking the youth group skiing?
• Bought a video game console for our children?
• Broke the bank to market our church?
• Left uneaten food on our plate at a buffet?
• Spent hundreds to thousands of dollars on a staff retreat?
• Downloaded a cool ringtone to our cell phone?
• Paid a bunch of money to go to conference?
• Didn't spend a dime of missions or relief ministry?
• Patted ourselves on the back for being doctrinally sound, while totally ignoring Matthew 25:34-40?

Oh Look, More Hollywood Crap!!!

In the last 24 hours...

• Over 40,000 children worldwide died of hunger
• 845 million people worldwide went to bed hungry
• Over 3 billion people on Earth lived on less than $2
• Almost 6,000 people worldwide died from AIDS
• Over 32,000 children in Africa became orphans
• Almost 1 billion people worldwide couldn't read a book or write their name

What are the fine and caring Hollywood actors and actresses doing?  They are making cute little videos in support of the writer's strike that is affecting Hollywood. A first year writer on a sitcom makes between $60,000 and $100,000 a year...almost below the poverty line. I can certainly see why this worthy cause deserves such charitable attention from Hollywood. Without writers...there are no scripts. Without scripts there are no television shows or movies. Without television shows and movies...actors and actresses may have to live on less than $2 a day. Hmmmmm....

 

WordPress Thoughts

Earlier this week I announced that I would be moving ChrisElrod.com over to WordPress. Since then many folks have asked me about WordPress vs. TypePad...I will try to answer a little about that in this post.

First off...I'm not unhappy with TypePad...I just found it limited in design and simplicity for the price. In order to do major changes to TypePad basic designs you have to be a master at HTML...I am not. Also I never had much success using Ecto or email posting. Posting from my Blackberry never worked...even after receiving help from tech support. I also found that any of the real cool blog features were an extra cost on TypePad.

WordPress is free and their templates are much more user-friendly (not to mention better looking). I found posting to WordPress...using multiple formats...has been incredibly easy. Even a bonehead like me can make things look pretty good and professional.

There are few drawbacks to Wordpress...none of which bother me much. The first is that nothing can be put on the blog that remotely looks like commerce. This means no posting those cute little Amazon wishlists or stores. Also no plugins...which did bother me a little. I do not allow comments on my blog...but I was intending to put up one of those banner things on my posts with thumbs up and thumbs down. No plug-ins means no blog post ratings.

I hope this answers some questions I've been getting via email this week. By the way...I will stop posting to this account over the weekend. My domain now feeds into my WordPress account...but my RSS feed has changed. Click here to subscribe.

No Friend Of Emergent

This post is…by far…the most difficult I have ever written.  By publishing it I know that I will receive much flack…quite a few flaming emails…and lose some dear friends…including some within my own congregation.  However, I learned a long time ago that:

• Silence is support.
  
• If you don’t stand for something…you’ll fall for anything.
  
• There are hills in which to die on.
  

Before I begin, please know that this piece has taken almost six weeks to write.  Before that I spent many months in prayer…and God’s Word trying to discern things.  I also have been blessed by receiving counsel from Godly pastors, missiologists and theologians from around the United States.  They know who they are…and I thank them for taking my calls and responding to my emails.

For the last several years the church I pastor (Compass Point) and I have been mistakenly lumped in with the Emergent movement.  It may be because Compass Point puts so much emphasis in missional, servant outreach…or it could be because I’m an occasional contributor to Next Wave.  I have never been comfortable with us having the Emergent tag, though I did little to discourage it.  I had always maintained a “live and let live” mentality when it came to my concerns about Emergent’s theological stance.  I can no longer do that.

Recently two fairly emerging church plants have ceased functioning in an official capacity.  These were made up of mostly young to mid 20-somethings that had theological leanings toward a more liberal and Emergent doctrine.  As a result of these two communities of faith dissolving, some of the participants began coming to Compass Point.  With them came a universalistic doctrine that they attempted to convey in every situation that was presented to them.  For the first time the leaders of Compass Point and I had to deal directly with the illness that is the doctrinal beliefs of those that align with the Emergent movement.

I’m all for a healthy theological debate…however I will not even begin to entertain a discussion into the integrity and validity of God’s Word.  The truth is that not everyone will see the gates of Heaven…and Hell is real.  Our repentance of sin and acceptance of Christ our Savior…by the grace of God…is the only way out of eternal damnation.  Any teachings to the contrary is…heresy.

For a while now the leadership of Compass Point and I have been able to sit on the sidelines of the Emergent debate.  While there was much that we disagreed with theologically…there were also many Emergent things that we did when it came to outreach and missions.  I think there was certain “frog in the kettle” scenario for us…while we were bothered by statements and books by some of Emergent’s leadership…it was not to a crescendo that really rocked our world.

That all changed last year when many of the main “voices” of Emergent began to get a little louder with their universalism stance.  It began to show up in books they were writing, magazines they contributing to, in interviews they were conducting, in videos they were producing and in keynote speeches they were giving.  They would be very subtle in the way they would drop it in…while talking about social justice, inequality and missional outreach.  It was almost “smoke and mirror”-like…an old magician’s trick to divert your attention away from what was really happening.  It would be something as simple and unassuming as, “God isn’t mad…God is love…He doesn’t want you to feel guilty about the sin in your life…and oh, by the way…everyone is saved no matter what they believe…they just don’t know it”.  Universalism.  Heresy.

It is not my place to name names or expose those “voices” of Emergent.  They do not fall under my accountability…nor do I have access to them.  However, their heretical views and false teachings have now been brought into the field of the Compass Point flock…and it IS my job to protect the sheep.  The Elders of Compass Point and I can no longer sit silently by.  We have decided to take stand.  The following things have been implemented at Compass Point:

1. For the first time in our history we now have a Constitution & Bylaws with a comprehensive Statement Of Faith.


2. Our small groups are being revamped in order to protect the doctrinally integrity of God’s Word.  Resources by authors, pastors or speakers aligning with Emergent will no longer be used.


3. We have a much better mentoring strategy and program in place for our up-and-coming leaders.


4. There is greater accountability and training in place for those that preach or teach the Word of God at Compass Point.


5. Only literal translations of the Bible will be used in the preaching and teaching of God’s Word at Compass Point.  Our sword of choice…English Standard Version (ESV).


6. Our Sunday messages will occasionally be topical-based series…but will mainly be expository in nature.  We have already been doing this for some time…but we have now made a more “official” stance of it.


7. We are in the process of having our church listing removed from websites or publications that have ties to Emergent.  We are also in the process of disassociating ourselves from networks or alliances that are affiliated with Emergent


8. This post was added to my blog to be a public statement that Compass Point Church and Chris Elrod is not affiliated in any way, shape or form with Emergent.

There will be those that will criticize the steps we have taken.  So be it.  There will be those that will choose not to fellowship with us.  We can accept that.  There will also be those that will say that this blog post was not needed because Emergent has no official theological stance.  That’s a crock!  Those that speak for you…define you…and what you believe.  Others will say that we’re being legalistic.  It’s not legalistic to believe that “theology” contradictory to the Word of God is wrong.  Finally, there will be those that say that we’re judging.  No…it’s called discernment…and it’s Biblical.  It’s what we’re suppose to do as the shepherds of the flock that God has entrusted us with.

PLEASE NOTE:  ChrisElrod.com has made the move to WordPress. For the RSS feed and subscriptions, please click here.  To see the new blog, please go here.

The Mythical Jesus

In today’s world there seems to be two kinds of Jesus Christs making the rounds.  One is the Mythical Jesus…and one is the Biblical Jesus.

The Mythical Jesus came not to be a Savior…but some kind of ancient Mother Teresa…with a little Al Sharpton thrown in for good measure.  He didn’t like the rich…or the Republicans…or war…or church…or corporate worship…or pretty people…or absolute Truth.  He only came to hang out with prostitutes, homeless people, sick people, rebels and liberal people…and shunned everyone else.  He staged protests against the Roman Empire, loved to pray in labyrinths and only read Scripture in the confines of a communal home environment with zero accountability.  He questioned all that His Father stood for and only asked questions without ever giving answers…in order not to offend anyone.  He was a pacifist that never got angry and practiced tolerance…except with those that disagreed with Him.  He used a lot of big words to describe what He did…words that nobody else understood…but made Him look cool.  He also spent a lot of time drinking beer and talking about all the stuff He was going to do different.

The Biblical Jesus…was none of the above!

PLEASE NOTE:  ChrisElrod.com has made the move to WordPress. For the RSS feed and subscriptions, please click here.  To see the new blog, please go here.

Jesus Wasn't A Social Worker

Jesus wasn't a social worker.  He also wasn't a political activist.  He was the Perfect Lamb that came into the world...and left the world...as our Savior.  Yes He healed people...fed people...and loved people...but that was not His purpose.  His purpose was sacrifice...in our place...because of our sin...so we wouldn't have to pay.  He lived...He died...He arose.  Our acceptance means that we never have to taste Death.

The God still gets angry...when we cheapen the message...and the purpose...of His Son...by saying that Christ was on this Earth living some kind of mystical "secret life"...as a politically-correct social justice lesson. 

You can dress it up with nice dust jacket graphics and promote it with a sold-out coast-to-coast tour...but crap still smells like crap at the end of the day.  The packaging may look inviting...but the stink coming from some of today's "communities of faith" is almost becoming unbearable!!!

PLEASE NOTE:  ChrisElrod.com has made the move to WordPress. For the RSS feed and subscriptions, please click here.  To see the new blog, please go here.

Copyright Issues

Last spring the an Associated Press writer used a quote from my blog in an national story. The first I knew about it was when I got a call from a radio station in Detroit for an interview due to the article making their local newspaper. I wasn't ticked about the quote being used without my knowledge...in fact I was honored. However, it got me thinking about copyright laws and how they pertain to blog posts. In the past I haven't really sweated people taking a good quote from this blog...posting it on theirs and then linking back to my original post. However, in the last few months I've seen folks reprinting complete posts of mine...or series of posts...without a link back to this blog...or even crediting me with the original thought. The watchdog groups have been especially bad about this. So I got to checking with one of my lawyers from back in my comedy days...a guy that specializes in intellectual property (not that any "property" that I write is all that intellectual). It seems that blog posts are considered intellectual property and are subject to basic copyright laws. On my new WordPress site I have a copyright info section in one of the tabbed pages and at the bottom of the sidebar. It basically says:

Blog posts on ChrisElrod.com may not be reprinted, reproduced or redistributed in their entirety without written permission from Chris Elrod or Compass Point Church. Minimal use of specific quotes, sentences, phrases, media or written thoughts on ChrisElrod.com may used elsewhere online or in mass media with a link back to this blog or by specifically mentioning ChrisElrod.com in the reproduction, reprint or redistribution.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's cool to repost a quote or thought from my blog onto another blog or media resource...but please don't recopy the entire thing. I will occasionally let Next Wave or Relevant Christian do that...but they always ask for permission. Also, if you quote something from me on your blog...or in an article...be sure to give some "link love" to ChrisElrod.com!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Flogging Molly

The guys from my Monday night "Pub Club" have really turned me on to the band Flogging Molly. I've been pretty sick this week...major cold and no voice...and I've been really jamming to the "Drunken Lullabies" album. I know we are on the eve of Thanksgiving...but I'm in a St. Patrick's Day/Irish kind of mood. Nothing like a good punk rock tin whistle to help you feel better. :-)

Wesley Update

Many folks have been emailing in asking about how Wesley is doing. In the first two weeks that he's been here we've been able to get him settled into the 21st Century (he's been locked up since 1987), get his Florida drivers' license (a HUGE undertaking), open a checking account and our folks have really embraced him well. He's also been a big help with mentoring some of our people and helping out on Sunday mornings. Because he got out so close to Thanksgiving...most places are not taking applications at the moment. We are still looking for him a permanent job and a permanent place to live. Any prayers in that direction would be greatly appreciated.

Before You Email Me

Like everyone else in the world I love getting email. In fact I love it so much that there have been times in the past where it has consumed large amounts of my day...thus keeping me from what God has called me to do. Many times I have been on my knees repenting to the Lord for wasting His time on my email. It is something that I have struggled with...and still struggle with. I am grateful for the amount of email I get each day because of this blog...many days over 100 emails...and do not want to necessarily discourage people from contacting me. However, before you send an email you need to know a few things:

1. My email is heavily filtered. I have some pretty extreme filters on my email. Also, someone else checks my public email account for me and forwards the stuff I need to see to another account. In essence, very little of the email I generate from this blog ever makes it to me.

2. I rarely have time to respond. This sounds pretty arrogant...but it is not meant to be. With the amount of email I get each day there is just no possible way I can respond to much of it. Compass Point folks get responded to within 24 hours...the rest seldom ever get a reply. It's not that I don't appreciate it...it's just that God called me to shepherd a specific flock...and they must be my main priority.

3. I don't want a conversation about my blog posts. I guess this is the most misunderstood thing about me...I really have no interest in dialogue about my thoughts on this blog. I would have thought that by shutting down the comments section of the blog people would have gotten the point. Yet every week there seems to be someone that disagrees with me that wants to have an endless private email debate. I really don't have that kind of time...patience...or tolerance. If you disagree with me...fine...go write about it on your own blog...because your emails get deleted.

4. I could care less about what you think about my friends or other church leaders. There are some pretty messed up folks in cyberland that think that I care that they don't like Gary Lamb or Perry Noble. Newsflash...I don't!!! Those emails get deleted. Also...I will not give out their emails, phone numbers or pass along a message.

5. Negative emails get deleted. There are folks that I highly regard and others that I am accountable to. If they have a problem with me...I'll listen all day long. I'm not prepared to see emails calling me a heretic or raking me over the coals from someone that thinks I'm accountable to them.

6. Threatening emails get turned over to the authorities. Back in the summer we had a little stalking incident around Compass Point. At first I didn't take the emails seriously...when the guy was caught with photos of my wife and a map to my house...things got pretty real. I don't take chances any longer. Threatening emails are turned over to Polk County Sheriff's Office and...in some cases...the FBI office in Tampa.

7. I will not pimp your stuff. I would have thought that this post and this post would have ended people wanting me to promote their "Jesus junk"...but it didn't. Those emails get deleted.

8. We don't take solicitations for prison aftercare candidates through email. Compass Point is very specific about who we accepts and who we decline for our inmate release aftercare ministry. The inmate must have some current contact with Compass Point...either through a family member or friend already attending. Please also understand that it takes us almost a year to process the requests and do the background checks. Please do not send me emails about your son or daughter that is getting out of prison next month.

9. I don't know everything about Compass Point. About 80% of the requests we get for info about Compass Point gets forwarded to other staff members. Another large percentage of my email gets answered by other people. Still other emails with FAQs get a form answer back. In essence, don't expect me to be the only one that answers your email.

10. Get mad...get deleted. Last week I got a pretty hateful email from someone that didn't think I answered her back fast enough. Her email address is now on the "spam list". Unfortunately, this is not the first time that has happened.

After saying all of that...I do try to answer back to folks that are friends of this blog. I don't always get it done in a timely manner or with a long email...but I do try hard to respond. I just can't respond to all of them.

New Attendance Record

Today Compass Point had the highest attendance ever. The crazy thing...we had quite a few regulars out-of-town for the holidays. The even crazier thing...other than our student mininistry leaders' parents...none of our guests were family members visiting for Thanksgiving. It was all new folks that were invited by our regular folks. Heck...we had two people that were guests last week...bring guests with them this week. The even more super-gonzo crazy thing...all our guests today have never been to a church before!!!

This statement is not meant to sound arrogant...but it can only be the moving of God that has caused our recent growth. We have done no advertising...we are not preaching an evangelistic topical series right now...I am hitting it hard preaching some pretty meaty stuff at the moment...and we have no special emphasis or attendance push right now. The Holy Spirit is just starting to work in our people...they are taking the Word of God seriously...and are investing time in disconnected people's lives. It is amazing to see God at work. I am truly humbled...and honored...to be a part of this.

Bachelor

I just got back from five days in Colorado and now Denise headed out overnight for the Women Of Faith Conference in Tampa. I've been considering moving out while she's gone...she always comes back pretty militant from those women's conferences. The cats and I will just have to endure... :-)

Wesley's Up

It's 4:30AM Denver time...I had my alarm set for 5:30AM...but Wesley is up. He called my room to see when we were flying "home". To say that he is a little excited is an under statement. He's keeps talking about meeting his new family...seeing his new "home" (it's an extended stay hotel for a few weeks)...and starting his new life. The simplicity of his life and devotion to Christ is inspiring. Seeing normal-every-day things anew through his eyes...is fun.

Last night he had some guys from "the joint" come by the hotel. Most were wearing ankle monitors and had to leave around 8:30PM because of curfew. The stories that I heard of Wesley's mentoring and shepherding behind the walls were...well...moving.

I think most people reading this blog think that we are here to help Wesley. What most of you don't realize is that Compass Point is bringing him down...to help us. I can't wait to see what God has in store.

The Value Of Ex-Cons At Your Church

People always ask me about the reason why Compass Point reaches out to inmates and ex-cons. I thought I would just post some of the great benefits about having them as part of your church.

1. You don't need keys for your church building...or any of the congregation's cars.

2. It always gets a laugh when you pick up your Bible while preaching and say, "Look at my little friend..."

3. Tithing isn't a problem...we end up with everyone's wallet by the time the service is over.

4. You never have to worry about singing that stupid song "Shackles" in the worship service.

5. You get to say the phrase "One for me and one for my Homey" during communion.

6. A security team that would make T.D. Jakes jealous.

7. You beat all of the other local churches in the annual boiled egg eating contest.

8. Sunday afternoon visitation is now called "drive-bys".

9. It's just a healthier church when a member of the welcome team has a tattoo on his neck that reads "I love consumer Christians...they taste like chicken."

10. You get the blessing of actually living out Matthew 25:35-40.

A Photo Of Freedom

After 20+ years the debt to society has been paid and a new life of freedom can begin. This was shot 10 minutes after Wesley's release...just outside the gates of the prison. He hasn't stopped smiling since I picked him up...though hotel key cards and the Internet has kind of thrown him. :-)

It's moments like these that make me glad God called me...to shepherd those that no one else wants to!!!

Utah Hates My Cameras

Two years ago I was staying at the Grand Vista Hotel in Grand Junction, Colorado. While there some of my Prison Fellowship friends and I decided to go over to Utah ( a thirty minute drive) to get some pictures. My wife had just won a very nice digital camera through a contest at her work. While shooting Utah photos it slipped out my hand...hit the ground...and broke. After a year I was able to save the money to buy a Sony Cybershot.

Last night I was staying at the Grand Vista Hotel in Grand Junction, Colorado. I decided to go to Utah to shoot some pictures. Not wanting to recreate the tragedy of my last photography adventure in Utah...I put the strap around my hand so the camera wouldn't slip out. Shot some pictures...went to get back in my car...got my jacket caught in the seat belt...while struggling to free myself...the camera slipped off my hand...hit the ground...and broke the screen. To say that I got ticked is an understatement.

I loved those cameras...Utah must have hated them!!!

I Got High Today

Sitting In Charlotte

So here I am in the Charlotte Airport...with a great business center featuring incredibly nice cushy couches...not to mention the super cool rocking chairs in the atrium...but I'm sitting on the floor in a hallway leading to an elevator just so I can recharge the old Macbook and iPod. :-)

Had to get up before the chickens today...heading to Colorado. I'm going to pick up a guy that the Colorado Department of Corrections is releasing Sunday after 23 years. He has no job...no place to live...and no family...Compass Point gets to be his family...and our people are excited. I love the flock that God has allowed me to shepherd!!!

Ecto Test Message

There is a new Mac program called Ecto that I'm trying out. It supposedly lets you type up blog posts offline and then puts them up once you are online. Since I am flying to Colorado tomorrow this could really be helpful.

Oaky...here goes...let's see if this works....

UPDATE - It worked like a charm. What a great software program!!!

A Huge Musical Mistake

Because of my post about Elevation band's new album I've been getting emails telling me about other "great" worship bands with recordings on the internet. Most of the emails are from well-meaning church members pumping their band...others are from band members themselves. As a result I've been checking out mp3s and videos from a bunch of church praise bands...many from some of the top churches in America. I gotta tell you...there are some really female-sounding MALE worship leaders and crappy praise bands out there!!!

Music moves me...however most of what I've heard over the last few days has only caused my bowels to move. A vast majority of it has been fairly lame cover bands...doing lethargic note-for-note versions of Hillsongs United and Chris Tomlin...almost like they are a NyQuil-induced karaoke act with guitars in their hands.

The worst was a large "innovative" church that did an entire message series around U2 songs. First off...U2 was cutting edge...20 years ago...they are only cool these days to 30-something artsy-fartsy wannabes. Secondly, the worship leader looked like Christopher Cross (yeah...the 70's wimpy guy) and sounded like George Michael!!! Don't get me wrong...the musicians in the band smoked...but as soon as the worship leader started singing the words to "Vertigo"...you just wanted to holler out "Hit me with it one more time RuPaul."

Far be it from me to assume I know anything about church planting or church leadership...but I do know a lot about good music. With that in mind I offer the following helpful hints for church pastors when it comes to their church's praise bands and worship leaders.

1. If your band sounds like Culture Club with distorted guitars...it's a HUGE musical mistake to put their music up online. They suck...and anyone listening to it will think you and your church also sucks.

2. If your male worship leader sounds like Helen Reddy...can his butt IMMEDIATELY!!!

3. If the band members think that Coldplay and Matchbox Twenty are innovative...slap them real hard in the face with the latest compact disc from any band that headlined this year's WARPED Tour!!!!

4. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and flies like a duck...most likely it's a duck. If your worship leader walks fruity, talks fruity and acts fruity...guess what...

5. If your target market is rednecks...feel free to have your guitar player finger tap like Eddie Van Halen during a solo. If not...tie him to an ant mound...cover him with honey...and nicely ask him to stop.

6. Christian T-shirts suck...they have always sucked...they will always suck!!! It is better for your band to go topless than wear them!!!

7. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a great band. Putting cheesy Christian lyrics to their songs will have you riding the short bus to your next innovative churches conference.

8. If the guy trying out for worship leader sounds like Frankie Goes To Hollywood...relax...don't do it...hire somebody else.

9. Eletronic drums went out with The Cars and Devo. These days they are only good for sitting potted plants on in your church's foyer.

10. Teenage middle schoolers can pull off the whole "High School Musical" look...not middle-aged worship band members. Also...horizontally-challenged people (like myself) should never...I repeat....NEVER...wear mid-riff exposing shirts on stage!!!

Final note - Please stop emailing me suggestions for other church bands to go look at or listen to on the web. I've had all of the Michael-Bolton-on-helium worship leaders fronting ABBA-sounding bands for a while. I've got to crank some serious ZZ Top and old-school Van Halen through my head just to recover!!!

My Only Comments About It

Gary - I bow to your supreme prophectic skills...you are much wiser and all-knowing than I.  Thank you sir...may I have another...

Georgia Dawgs - You guys flat came to play - congrats!!!

Florida Gators - I'm sorry your coaches can only see the inside of their colons when it comes to play calling and game management.

Compass Point - Due to tonight's developments...tomorrow's sermon delivery could get pretty agressive.  You might not want to sit on the front couple of rows.  So help me God...if any of you ask me about the game...your personal giving records will be posted on the video screen during the service!!!  :-)

Denise is currently hiding the sharp objects in our house.  My will to live is gone...

Are You Kidding Me

Are you kidding me?  Fourth and two...well within field goal range...and Florida goes for it with a SWEEP!!!  The sweep has not been working all day....now we are down by eleven.  If we lose this game...which it looks like we will...Meyers has no one to thank but himself.  Another poor offensive coaching game for the Gators!!!

Gary Lamb Is Full Of Crap!!!

My friend Gary Lamb is in la-la land if he really thinks his Poodles (a.k.a., Bulldogs) are going to beat my Gators. I love him to death...always listen to his church leadership advice...would join Revolution in a heartbeat were it not for Compass Point...but he is full of crap when it comes to college football.

Hey Gary...I'm calling you out for your football heresy!!! Hide the sharp objects around the Lamb household because Saturday is going to be a dperessing day for you my friend!!! : -)

Hump Day Thoughts

Kyle and I made it home from Atlanta last night around 9:00PM. I've already hit the hospital visits this morning....now I'm getting some paper work done at my South Lakeland office (Panera Bread) and digging The Nuge (above the canyon walls...strong eyes did glow...it was the leader of the land...the great white buffalo).

I can't say enough about the staff and volunteers of Mountain Lake Church. The practicum was one of the best things I've been a part of....really cleared up so many questions we've had at Compass Point. God used Shawn Lovejoy and his staff to really speak to us...so many definitive decisions made this weekend it'll take several months to implement. If you are a church planter, I can't stress enough to get you and your staff to the Evolve Conference in February!!!

I'm currently working on a blog post that I hope to have up next week. I've actually been working on it for several weeks now...it basically separates us from Emergent. I'm coming to realize that silence is support...and that heresy is hill to die on. It is difficult...as I have many friends who are Emegent...but I'm no friend of Emergent. The complete lack of Scriptural integrity of the spokespeople for Emergent has begun to affect Compass Point...I can no longer sit on the sidelines of this debate.

That's about all from a rainy day in Lakeland. Gotta go...Tesla just came up on my iTunes shuffle program (it's a show down in a no man's land for the cowboy of the modern day). Rock on in a radical way...

A Ragamuffin Run-In

Getting to go to Buckhead Church tonight was an unexpected treat for Kyle and I. It was kind of a "last-minute" thing...but we thoroughly enjoyed the worship service and seeing Andy Stanley on IMAG (a pretty amazing technology...like something from the mind of Walt Disney). Anyway...we had the coolest run-in with the "righteous" Ragamuffin and "LA Ink" star himself...Carlos Whittaker. We've talked through email a few times and read each other's blogs...but never actually met in person until tonight. He was gracious enough to take us on a wonderful private tour of Buckhead's new campus. To say that the audio-visual technology is unreal...is an understatement! To know that it all runs by the efforts and talents of volunteers is truly what makes it all so amazing.

Thanks Los for hanging out with us and the incredible tour...I definitely owe you some Waffle House the next time I'm in town! I'm glad you're on this coast now!!!

Three Services

Kyle and I have been to three amazing services at three amazing churches over the last 24-hours (see pics below). First was Mountain Lake in Cummings, GA last night...then Revolution Church in Canton, GA this morning and finally checked out Buckhead Church in Atlanta, GA tonight. We heard three phenominal messages and three incredible praise bands. We also got to grab some lunch with Gary (one of my favorite people in the whole world) and met Los for the first time in person.

Shawn Lovejoy talking about bling at Mountain Lake Church.

Gary Lamb getting his inner-pirate on at Revolution Church.

Andy Stanley bringing the message at Buckhead Church through IMAG technology.

With Apologies To Cheap Trick

Since I am in Atlanta...this is the announcement video I made for Compass Point tomorrow. Just another example of us being "loud, rude and obnoxious"!!!

In Atlanta

I am currently in Atlanta with our Connexxions Pastor, Kyle Bridges. We are up here for this. The cool thing is that we are also going to get to visit and worship at some great churches while we're here. Tonight we went here...tomorrow morning we'll be here and tomorrow night we'll be here. It's a whirlwind tour...but one that I can already feel God speaking through!!!

A Moment To Make My Day

There are those moments when something happens that just makes you love church planting. This morning we had an elderly couple come to Compass Point...which is highly unusual. They were the grandparents of one of our vocalists...the lady had been last week. Anyway...I got a chance to visit with them after the service. The man kept commenting on how much he loved the service...the preaching...the music...and how he'd be back next week. At our staff meeting tonight I found out that he hasn't been to church in over 20 years. Man...how I do love this!!!

Missional vs. Attractional

Missional - Two Sundays ago we had a guy nursing a hangover, a couple that had given up on church years ago and a Muslim attend Compass Point...after we had befriended them through community outreach.

Attractional - This past Sunday they all came back because they liked it the week before.

It's a stupid argument...you need both!!!

Random Thoughts From A 41-Year-Old Church Planter

• The pursuit of cultural relevance is a crock of crap…being counter-culture attracts people hungry for change.


• There is nothing more counter-culture than actually living the Word of God.


• Vision statements are for churches that never read Matthew 28:19-20.


• I never ignore criticism…just the people who criticize.


• The best mega-churches….never started out to be mega-churches (just ask Perry)


• Listen to guys that are further down the road than you.


• If your only concern is how many people showed up Sunday...you'll never effectively reach disconnected people.


• At 41-years-old my race is half over…I’m in the last few laps…it’s time to sprint.


• If people come to your church because of a cool building...they'll leave your church because of someone else's cool building.


• Being hard-nosed gets people to read you blog…but it isn’t always Biblical.


• God’s Word doesn’t need our “dog and pony show” to be relevant today. We should just feel blessed that He still uses jackasses to talk!


• It's all about the discipleship.


• Churches not doing anything lash out at churches that are.


• Dinosaurs make big noise...but eventually get quiet when they die.


• Disconnected people don’t flock to a church.


• Christians hang out at Starbucks...disconnected people hang out in bars.


• Blogs and books have made church planting look too glamorous.


• Success can make you a whore.


• Baptism is the beginning of the journey…not the end. Celebrate for a moment…but then get to work raising that child.


• Never embrace church hoppers...yet don’t be leery of people that left another church to start a revolution.


• That stupid “starfish story”…sounds cheesy in your twenties…but becomes a mission statement in your forties.


• I'd rather be the first shepherd to a flock of 200....than a shepherd to 2,000 of someone else's sheep.


• Disconnected people can sometimes grow to become disgruntled Christians.


• Every freakin’ day is war…don’t leave home without your armor.


• All you really need to know…about anything…is in the Bible.

Ignoring The 90%

I've always been a 10% kind of guy. I like to live life on the edge of disaster...a world where 90% of stuff I try fails. However, when you hit that 10% it's magical...really a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I truly believe that God created me to be a 10% guy...it's the spiritual thrill junkie in me.

I'm also learning that I have to be a 10% pastor and leader. Each year I attend multiple conferences, read a butt-load of magazine articles, struggle through dozens of books, endure numerous podcasts and check out hundreds of blogs. What I find is that only about 10% of the stuff I discover from other church leaders has any application value at Compass Point. It doesn't mean that I narrow my input (though I've cut way back on books and podcasts)...you never know when one of those 10% ideas will present itself...it just means that I've got to do a better job of ignoring the other 90%.

It's taken me three years and a bunch of heartache to get to the 10% point in my church leadership. I find that most first-time church planters fall in love with their community...but someone else's church structure and style. When we first started Compass Point I had a heart for the disconnected of Lakeland, Florida...but also a love for Northpoint. I read everything Andy Stanley wrote (still do), went to their conferences, bought the 252 Basics kids materials, structured just like Northpoint and tried to do a more 7:22 type service. The problem...0% of the Northpoint stuff we tried worked. That's nothing against Andy or his church...it's just a fact.

When we stopped trying to be Northpoint...or any other church...things began to move forward (though we lost some of the core team that strictly wanted to be Northpoint Lakeland). As I said...I still read everything that Andy or his staff writes....but now I look for the "10% idea" that is Compass Point...and ignore the "90% ideas" that are Northpoint.

A Fun Question For Friday

I've been laying low with anything overly serious on my blog this week because half of the free world is at Catalyst. Anyway, I haven't done a "Chris Question Friday" in a long time and I thought I would throw out a fun question I actually get quite often. It has nothing to do with church leadership or planting...but about my other great love...rock n' roll. Here goes...

QUESTION - Chris, I know you are a rock trivia buff and you have been to a bunch of concerts in your life. What is the greatest concert you have ever seen live in person? - Tim from Arvada, Colorado

ANSWER - Great question Tim...one that really had me thinking hard. I've seen a bunch of wonderful shows over the years by some of the greatest live bands ever... KISS, The Clash, U2, Rolling Stones, Cheap Trick, Led Zepplin, The Who, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, etc. However, the greatest concert I ever saw was on Saturday, August 9, 1980 at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. It was "The Game Tour" by one of my all-time favorite bands...QUEEN. At that time...thanks to hits like "Another Bites The Dust", "The Game" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"...Queen was the biggest band in the world. The show was amazing...even better than when I first saw them in 1978 in Dallas on the "Jazz Tour". They were at the top of their game and the lighting was amazing. To this day I still think Freddie Mercury was/is the greatest front man and vocalist in rock music. His lifestyyle choices and ultimate passing were a complete tragedy! I also saw them in your neck of the woods Tim, in 1982 on the "Hot Space Tour" at McNichols Arena. It was a great show...Billy Squier opened for them...but could not compare to "The Game Tour".

By the way...my second favorite show was just recently. That would be April 12, 2007 at The House Of Blues in Orlando when I saw The Flaming Lips. It is a true rock n' roll spectacle that can't be missed!!!

Guilty Pleasure: The Waltons

We all have guilty pleasures...those things which we enjoy that seem to contradict our personality. For me, one of my guilty pleasures is the 1970's television show "The Waltons". I used to love watching it as a boy back in Shreveport..and have recently rediscovered the show through The Hallmark Channel. They run two episodes every morning...not to mention "The Waltons" are now on DVD.

I guess what draws me in is the fact that the show is set during The Great Depression...which is a moment in history that really interests me. I used to love hearing my grandparents and great aunts or uncles talking about those days. It seemed like a more simple time...where bartering replaced money...and people worked hard for what they got. I guess I'm also drawn to it because family and Sunday church was such a big part of life back then. It was a generation that held firm to moral values and a strong work ethic...it was a different time.

I guess what I really love about "The Waltons" is that every episode is chopped full of rich lessons concernimg living a life of integrity. It is a theme that is rarely seen in today's television world of immorality, crime, violence and reality.

Everyone else can have their "Prison Break", "Two And A Half Men", "LOST" and "24"...I'll take John-Boy, the "recipe" and Ike Godsey's store over them any day!!!

For I Am A Warrior

At night I dream as a warrior of great battles yet to be won...and victories that have already taken place.

In the morning I strap on my armor...preparing for war...and spend time with my King to discover the battle plans of the day.

Like David...I run to the battle...to face a giant....knowing that the skirmish will be painful...but the enemy will never emerge victorious.

At night I return to my place of comfort...wounded and weary...but anxious for more.

As the twilight of slumber sits in...there is a fleeting thought of Truth that creates a smile upon my face. The enemy only attacks...what frightens him!

With my King as my commander....His Righteousness as my armor...His Word as my weapon...I will rise again tomorrow...to do that which I love to do. I will fight!!!

I will not wait for the attack...but take the battle...to the enemy. Strike before he's prepared. Lay waste to his strongholds...by the power of my King.

I will take comfort in the carnage...and privilege in the pain. I will relish the wounding...and find blessing in the bloodshed. I will love every moment...knowing that I am living my purpose.

For I have been created for only one thing...to go into battle!

For I am a warrior!!!

Black Saturday

"Black Saturday" is over and my beloved Gator's was another Top Ten team that suffered a loss. The game just ended...Auburn kicked the winning field goal...not once but twice...and now Denise is hiding the sharp objects around the house. Tomorrow we are suppose to have FamJam at Compass Point...a kid-friendly worship service. It will be kid-oriented...but after the Gator's performance tonight...I'm not sure how friendly I'll be. :-)

How To Kill A Cow

Never let it be born!!!

As a pastor, staff member or church leader...every decision you make has the potential to be a system for growth (both spiritually and numerically) for your church...or a sacred cow. At Compass Point, we are learning that every decision has to scrutinized for the impact it may have tomorrow...not just today. In other words, look beyond the moment to create systems...manage for where you want to be...not where you are. It'll prevent you from giving birth to cows!!!

Conversations About A Cow

The following are typical statements in the life curve of a sacred cow:

Calf Conception - "Pastor, we really want to start a small group Bible study and we'll all bring a food dish so we can eat as a family. It will be just like what they did in Acts."

Calf Birth - "Okay, next week you bring the meat, you two bring the drinks, you guys bring two vegatables and we'll provide the cups, plates and bread."

Sacred Cow - "Okay, it's been a great discussion, but we only have time for one more question about tonight's Bible passage because we have to talk about what everyone needs to bring for dinner next week."

The Herd - "You know that other group has dinner at their Bible study...maybe we ought to do the same thing. It will be just like what they did in Acts."

The Stench - "We were just slammed trying to get the house and meal ready for the group tonight and we're pretty tired. Why don't we skip the Bible study part this evening, just eat dinner togther and have a night of fellowship?"

The Mess - "The fellowship-only night was kind of fun...maybe we ought to have one of those every month!"

The Disease - "You know, that other group blows off the Bible study one time a month and just has a fellowship night so they can really enjoy their meal. Maybe our group should start doing that?"

The Contamination - "Let's stop calling them Growth Groups and start calling them Dinner Groups...with more emphasis on fellowship and community!"

The Stampede - "Pastor, ever since we came to know the Lord and you baptized us last spring we've been really wantng to grow in our faith. We went to one of those small group Bible studies you guys have...but only they wanted to do was eat and hang out. Also, my wife and I don't have the finances to bring a dish ever week. I'm afraid we are going to have to start going to another church so can learn more about the Bible."

The Slaughter - "Pastor, everything was going great here until you tried to stop us from having meals at our small group Bible studies. You're tearing apart our close friendships and our reason for coming to this church. We've all been talking about it and feel it would be best for our church if you stepped down....and went some place else."

Calves Become Cows...Cows Become A Herd

In my previous post I mentioned that we were blowing most everything up at Compass Point...at least when it comes to systems and structure. The reason why? It all comes down to bovine.

Calves are cute when they are born...small, doe eyes, loving...etc. However, they most always grow into large, stinky, messy cows. Cows then become great BIG troublesome herds. Eventually, you are no longer enjoying a small cute calf...now you are spending all of your time trying to move the herd from one place to another. It bogs you down...drains your energy and...slows any forward progress you could ever hope for.

Avoid giving birth to calves. That was a little gem that most church planting books forgot to add. I'm learning that every decision you make as a church planter or church leader has the potential to be a system...or a calf. Systems are great...calves become sacred cows that will need to be slaughtered at some point. Unfortunately it has taken me three years into Compass Point to learn that...as some of our calves have grown into cows. Fortunately none of our cows have become a herd yet...so it's not too late...to break out the butcher knife!!!

Sponges Can't Talk

Thanks for all of the great emails...I'm not dead...just REAL busy at the moment. Also for the last two weeks God has been really speaking to me through different avenues and people. I've been like a sponge trying to soak it all in...thus I felt the need to be silent until I could process everything. I'm not done processing the whole picture...so I'm not sure I have that much to say on this blog for the time being. Also Compass Point is going through some growth pains...and we're working hard on new systems and structure to accommodate. Basically we are blwoing up most everything we've "always done" and re-evaluating all of our systems. I'm excited about the changes...however...I've learned in church work...people with no Kingdom mind react pretty bad to change. We'll just have to see what God has in store.

Out Of The Hunt

What a day in the NCAA...HUGE upsets in football today!!! Michigan and Georgia are completely out of the hunt for the National Championship...and it's only the second game of the season. Gary's beloved Dawgs are barely going to stay in the Top 20 and Michigan's Coach Carr will be lucky to still have a job this time next week! I can't remember when I saw a worst defensive performance from a major college team than the Wolverines today. The Dawgs just got out-coached tonight. Ah, it's good to be a Gator...but our "day of reckoning" comes next week...

On The Bubble

Things are starting to wind down in the Elrod house tonight as I look back over my sermon notes and get ready for tomorrow. I've got my earbuds in jamming to some old-school Christian rock (Barnabas, Servant and Rick Cua) and occasionally checking out the Gator score (priorities ya know). There's a really cool indie concert tonight at the Polk Museum of art that our Catalyst pastor Chad Chastain is heading up. It was suppose to be an "Outside The Box" kind of thing that Compass Point would co-sponsor...but there was a mix up in communication with the museum's folks. A bunch of our young 20-somethings will be there...it kind of bites that I won't make it. However, I trying hard to stick to my plan of keeping things quiet on Saturday nights when I'm preaching the next day.

At Compass Point right now it's the calm before the storm. The momentum is starting to build and things are beginning to move. Each week there are more folks showing up than the week before...people are getting involved with Connexxion groups...we've baptizied people the last two weeks....and new people are stepping up to help. For the first time since we began we have a team of staff, we're working on a budget and we're putting together some policies. We are also in the process of revamping our entire structure, launching a student ministries and purchasing some big ticket items we've never been able to afford before. All of this is leading up to February...we are doing our first big, concerted marketing push...50,000 postcards and some other stuff. We'll be doing some smaller marketing things in the meantime...but basically trying to get the structure in place. With that in mind I'm heading to a Nelson Searcy thing in Tampa next week and then going to Mountain Lake's practicum in October (with our Connexxions Pastor Kyle Bridges). Anyway...we are sitting on top of the bubble right now at Compass Point. The next few months are going to be exciting...and hard work. This is the stuff I live for!!!

KISS Fan

People always ask me how can I be a KISS fan. When you watch the video below (which is a rare bootleg that just surfaced)....especially the last 60 seconds of the clip...keep in mind that I was in 6th grade when I saw them live. Also keep in mind that American was at the height of the disco craze and NOBODY was putting on a show like this. It blew my mind then...and it still blows my mind today.

A Rough Month For Church Planters

This past month has been pretty rough for church planters around here.  A couple of churches that started around the same time we did closed their doors this month.  A few that started after we did also called it quits.  It's pretty depressing....a bunch of fall out and sheep mess to clean up.  Some of them closed because of flawed leadership...some because of flawed strategies...some closed because of God knows what.  It has really made me take a long, hard look at Compass Point.  After all this time...with the odds against us...we are still here.  The realization is...it is simply because God has His hand in all of this.  That in and of itself is scary.  I spend everyday...all day...scared to death I'm going to do something stupid that would cause God to take His hand off of us!

I'm heading to a bar-b-que today with a group of folks from a church plant that just had their pastor quit on them.  After a couple of years of struggling as a church plant...he just up and quit...no transition...no leadership tranfer...no...nothing.  I had lunch with some of their young people yesterday.  You can see it in their eyes...that hunger to do great things for the Kingdom of God.  They are like a bunch of trained warriors with no war to fight...because there is no one to lead them into battle. So much talent...so much potential...they just a need a vision to follow.  At the same time...they are not ready to let go of the vision that just walked out of the door.  It is going to be a difficult day...

Fantasy Team #1

I'm playing in three separate fantasy football leagues this year...one for a few pastors around Lakeland, one for blogging pastors and one for Compass Point.  Drafted the local pastors league a few nights ago...just got through with the blogging pastors draft...Compass Point's will be Tuesday (I have first pick...bye, bye LaDanian).  Anyway...this is how tonight's draft came out for me:

Quarterbacks
Drew Brees
Ben Roethlisberger

Running Backs
Steven Jackson
Jamal Lewis
Jerious Norwood
Chris Brown

Wide Receivers
Marques Colston
Bernard Berrian
Torry Holt
Derrick Mason

Tight Ends
Chris Cooley
Dallas Clark

Kickers
Nate Kaeding
Shayne Graham

Defense
New England Patriots
Philidelphia Eagles

All in all I'm pretty happy with this team.  My receivers and tight ends could have been better...but I'm pleased with my running backs and defenses.  We'll just have to wait to see how the season shakes out.

I'll post my other two teams later in the week...

Wat Wuz I Thinkin?

One of my church members told me about a blog that was slamming me pretty hard today by a guy named Keith. Normally I wouldn't even bother checking it out...but she said I'd appreciate the humor. She was right...the dude is hilarious!!! I agree with almost nothing he writes (especially this)...and he lumped me in with the Emergent folks (which I am not)...but his smart-aleck sense of humor had me in the floor. I had tears in my eyes when I read "Purpose Driven Combination Mouse Pad/Daily Journal/food processor" and " I've got set a "Prayer of Jabez" lawn furniture listed on eBay if anyone is interested." His comment section is a riot (at the bottom his reply to Julie about the caveats)!!! Yeah, he dissed me pretty good...but because of his sense of humor I'm adding him to my Google Reader.

Hymns, Newspring & The Completely Clueless!!!

I really could care less about what others say or comment about me at other blogs. I never Google myself anymore, dropped Technorcrapi a few weeks back and rarely check my TypePad stats. However, one of my influencers at Compass Point made me aware that my post about hymns has been used in blog comments by several "Watchdog Freaks" to take shots at Newspring Church and Perry Noble. I dropped by the sites this morning...read the comments...and am amazed at how completely Scripturally clueless some "guardians of the Word" really are!!! The way that verses of the Bible have been taken out of context and twisted with zero doctrinal integrity to make a pitiful point was almost...cult like!!! On top of that...they just totally missed the gist of what I was saying in my post. So let me clarify some things...

I love the words of hymns...but musically they suck!!! This is not about me being culturally relevant with today's society...it's just the fact that most 15th and 16th Century music sucks in a 21st Century context. Matin Luther took some kicking lyrics...and then beefed them up with the AC/DC, Flaming Lips and Kayne West of his day. Because he wanted people to actually listen to the message the hymns are freakin' beer drinking bar songs with Christian lyrics....which have become "sacred cows" today! Not to mention Marty banging revolutionary writing on the door of the "establishment" in the middle of the night...just spells rock n' roll and rebellion!!! If he were around today he'd be whipping out a Les Paul with a Marshall stack...blasting out power chords...with fire shooting off the stage (hmmm seems like a church just did that for a buttload of teens...with incredible results). I'm all for the depth of the lyrics of hymns...but the music has got to be upgraded big time!!!

There is deep stuff being written today! My blog is like a diary...not some manual. There are days when I convey my thoughts just so I can go back and look over them down the road. My "hymns" post was one of those days...and people took it to mean that all praise and worship stuff today is fluff. Musically...most of it is. We are in desperate need of some Fanny Crosby words with Metallica face-melting music!!! However, there is some great...deep stuff being written today. Songs like Hillsong's "Mighty To Save" and Billy Foote's "You Are God Alone (Not A God)" are just plain deep and doctrinally sound...and rock in a power ballad kind of way. Think "Sister Christian" and "Amazing Grace" mashed ("when we've been motorin' ten thousand years, what's your price for flight"). :-)

"Arm chair quarterbacks" need to shut up! If you ain't in the game...keep your mouth shut. The same kind of bonehead that would stand on the sidelines and write "the ends don't justify the means" about a youth event that saw 100+ teens come to Jesus...is the same kind of bonehead that would be taking Jesus to task for not turning the water into iced tea...instead of alcohol. I'm fairly sure that the same God that put a pillar of fire in the sky got a kick out of a pillar of fire on stage. I'm fairly sure that the one and only God that creates deafening thunder in rain clouds gets a kick out of a thunderous hard rock instrumental. I'm almost certain that a mighty God that created music...only to watch it be stolen by Satan for the glory of evil...got a kick out of a church stealing it back to reach young people for His glory!!! While the "watchdogs" are ripping the method...Heaven is rejoicing in the victory!!! Perry and company are in the game reaching people for Christ...bench warmers need not comment.

I am not on "your side". Look...I had a pleasant exchange of emails with Ingrid and Ken. That doesn't mean we are going to take long walks in the rain together or hold hands singing hymns by a campfire...there is still much I disagree with. Let me make this perfectly clear to "Slice Saints", "Leaven Lovers" and "Apprising Peeps"...never assume that we are working toward the same goals. While I respect a few of your spokespeople...I am totally repulsed by your methods. I will speak for myself...stop speaking for me!!!

Rant over...have a nice day and drive carefully!!!

Great Posts From Around The Blogosphere

There have been a couple of really great blog posts this week that have been rocking my world. Check these out when you get a minute...

• Tony Morgan has a great post about vision that I shared with the entire Compas Point staff.


• Shawn Lovejoy hits another one out of the park with this post about pastors and their wives.


• Steve Furtick reminds Christian leaders about the danger of running on spiritual fumes in this post.


• This post about 5 "gut check" questions by Perry Noble really kept me up the other night!!!


• Micahel Lukaszewski really hit the nail on the head with this great post about labeling churches.


• My friend Tony Wheeler gets pretty open and honest with this post.

Michael Vick's Jury

Sunday Night Rewind

• We had two people pray to received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives today!!!


• We still had a BUNCH of regular folks out on vacation...but we still packed out the place.


• We're doing nothing but "word-of-mouth" right now...but guests are showing up like nobody's business!!


• Our leadership really dropped the ball today in the area of communication.


• Most people couldn't tell we dropped the ball because our young volunteers really stepped up to cover vacant areas.


• Football is back!!!


• I broke my own "Saturday night" rule and went with my family to Dolly Parton's "Dixie Stampede" in Orlando last night. It was fun, relaxing, great food, wonderful show and I really need some family time.


• Dropping the ball because of poor planning, communication or leadership really ticks me off.


• I'm speaking to a group of young 20-somethings and college students in Brandon tomorrow night. I'm really looking forward to it.


• Tomorrow night I get to have dinner with one of my favorite people in the whole world...Bobby Triplett.


• The Devil kicked in overtime today...but God moved in a big ways at Compass Point this morning.


• When people attack...you learn who you're true friends are.


• Email was not meant for confrontation.


• People that view themselves as "guardians of God's Word"...seem to act nothing what Scripture calls us to act like as followers of Christ.


• I'm glad this week is over and I'm tired. I'm going to bed now that the game just ended.

My Heart's Desire

Unfortunately, I'm more like Peter...going around lopping of ears in fake bravado and acting like an immature, power-hungry screw-up. But my heart's desire is to be like Andrew. Almost everytime we see Andrew in Scripture he is bringing someone to meet Jesus (John 1:43-51, John 6:5-9 and John 12:20-22).

Why Can't We Have Hymns?

As I prepare for my sermons each week I listen mainly to hymns. There is a subtle intensity to them that I hope transfers into my teaching at Compass Point on Sunday mornings. Their words challenge...push and pull....cause a deepening of my thought process. Hymns for me are like protein for an athlete...that extra edge for the endurance.

To say that I'm bored with modern praise and worship music is an understatement. It all sounds so...simple...so easy...so repetitive. The words are simple...the structures are simple...the instrumentation is...well...simple. The same words are sung over and over and over and over...to infinity.

I truly believe that this is one area where the Church's obsession with chasing culture has caused us to throw the baby out with the bath water. As a pastor of young families and 20-something art freaks I understand that the world is a different place today...there seems to rapant ADD and warped speed living. The general mantra of life today is "give it to me now the way I want it". But following Christ doesn't work that way...disipleship takes time and stretching. I'm afraid in our effort to reach society we have dumbed down many things in church...including the music. Instead of raising the bar for people to live life above this world...we have brought it all down to a level that reaks of mediocrity.

Im not talking about choir robes and pipe organs (though a great Hammond B3 sound can add punch like nobody's business...just ask The Black Crows). Quite a few of the greatest hymns of yesterday were put to the music of beer hall songs. I'm for "rocking the house"...but I just think we can give the world a little more to chew on lyrically. I understand people with no church memory freak when you sing songs about getting washed in blood. As a fairly creative pastor a hymn like "Are You Washed In The Blood?" is a great attention-getter and set up for me to discuss that the Lamb is Jesus Christ and what it means to be "washed in His blood".

A couple of weeks ago our worship leader Jonathan Williams "introduced" a "new" song at Compass Point...it was the old hymn "Invisible Immortal". He added a central chorus that we sang between the original verses and the music would melt your face off. Our people loved it...all of our people. Musically it was relevant to our younger attenders...but lyrically our older folks were digging the depth. There was meat without making the music sound like an Air Supply cover band. The song was over 4 minutes long because we sang all of the verses. Nobody left...nobody got bored...nobody complained. In fact they thought Jonathan wrote the whole song and were saying how cool the lyrics were. By the way...the folks dishing out compliments were young 20-somethings with little church experience in their past.

So if it is possible to rock...have lyrical depth...and sing every stanza in a church setting...then my question is...why can't we have hymns?

Next-Wave Article

I'm probably the only doctrinally conservative, Reformed Theology, Southern Baptist pastor of a slightly attractional, but purely missional church that