Chris Elrod

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!!!