How do I even begin to capture in words ALL God did today??!! Here goes -
- Most importantly, 9 people surrendered their lives to Jesus - that’s why we do what we do!!!!
- YES, I would have to say the MERGE couldn’t have gone better!!!!
- Today had to be the MOST POWERFUL WORSHIP EXPERIENCE I’ve ever been part of – Not one of, not top 5 – but THE MOST POWERFUL WORSHIP EXPERIENCE I’ve ever been part of!!
- IF for some reason you were not able to attend today, YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST (posted Tues) BEFORE COMING NEXT SUNDAY!!!
- We are NOT the same church as the last time you came – God did something today that will FOREVER change the way we WORSHIP and CONNECT this community to Jesus.
- I knew this series was going to be POWERFUL, but I honestly underestimated what talking about the topic of WORSHIP UNLEASHED in our church today!!
- Today we worshipped with ALL of our Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength!!
- Today was just a TASTE TEST of what is happening in heaven 24/7/365 since the beginning of time (check out Revelation 4)…
- Today was a PRACTICE RUN of what is waiting for all of us who have surrendered our lives to JESUS!!
- Compass – DON’T TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED, Today was Not Normal – it was church at it’s best!!
- Today was what we were created for – TO BOLDY, AUDACIOUSLY, and PASSIONATELY WORSHIP HIM!!!!
- Today, we can with one voice proclaim like the Psalmist David, “I was GLAD when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the HOUSE of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1)
- We defined WORSHIP as what happens when we MOVE IN RESPONSE to God!! (Romans 12:1)
- THANK YOU COMPASS CHURCH for Moving In Response to our GREAT GOD today!! (Psalm 95:1-3)
- Compass Volunteers – YOU FLAT OUT BROUGHT IT TODAY – in every single area of service….
- From the ENERGY of the Parking Team, to the ELECTRICITY of our Greeters, to the EXCITEMENT of our Ushers, to the ENTHUSIASM of our Compass Kids Volunteers – God spoke BOLDLY and LOUDLY through every single one of you!!
- Compass Worship Team – THANK YOU for leading us where we needed to go – straight to God!!
- Compass Production Team – THANK YOU for creating an environment where we could worship our God like never before.
- Compass Staff – thank you for your leaving it all on the court this week so days like today can happen in this church and community!!
- To every single person who worked BEHIND THE SCENES this past week to make the MERGE HAPPEN (SO MANY, but you know who you are!!) – LIVES WERE CHANGED today, A CHURCH WAS SET ON FIRE today, – You are GOD’s WARRIORS and HEAVEN’s HEROES – the crowd of witnesses CHEERED LOUDLY TODAY on your behalf – you made them proud – YEA, YEA!!!! (Hebrews 12:1)
- Compass Church, Volunteers, & Staff – THANK YOU FOR WORSHIPPING TODAY – I can’t wait to do it again NEXT SUNDAY!!
- And….I heard that was only HALF of our Volunteers in action today – the rest of ya’ll better have your READY SHOES ON!!!!
- The past two weeks have ABSOLUTELY BEEN AMAZING – seriously – it’s hard to put into words ALL God is doing in this church right now!!
- What even BLOWS MY MIND MORE – God has SO MUCH MORE He wants to do!!
- I Can’t wait for Week 2 of WORSHIP HIM – if I were you, I’d make sure I didn’t come alone – the BEST is yet to come!!
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This Sunday is going to ROCK!!!!! There’s a BUZZ in the air among our staff and volunteers that’s got me FIRED UP more than normal. Couple of important things to remember:
#1 – NEW SERVICE TIMES – MERGE SUNDAY
Services begin at 9:30am and 11:15am at our ATHENS CAMPUS ONLY as we MERGE our Athens and Oconee Campuses together.
COMPASS-ERS:
- #1 – PLEASE arrive EARLY!!!!! (at least 15 minutes) to best serve our guests in the areas of parking and children’s check in!! Please honor our guest parking like never before (there will be a ton of parkers and new signage to greet and direct you).
- #2 - COMPASS KIDS is going to ROCK like NEVER BEFORE. The 706 Student Band will be playing LIVE in both services for COMPASS KIDS which means you better bring your friends!! PARENTS – get there EARLY this week for new check system.
- #3 – BRING A GUEST – this is a GREAT Sunday and an AWESOME SERIES to bring Guests to – step it up and step out and bring someone with you in your life you know needs Jesus – you’ll both be really glad you did!!
- #4 – PRAY LIKE CRAZY for God to Show UP & Show OFF & CHANGE LIVES – that’s why we do what we do!!
I just sent my message notes and can seriously say it’s one of my all time favorites – I CAN’T WAIT TO PREACH ABOUT WORSHIP ON SUNDAY!!!! The lights have been on pretty much 24/7 this week as our Amazing Staff and Volunteers have literally worked AROUND THE CLOCK to get our Athens Campus ready for the MERGE. So, now you know the Compass Team and preacher man are bringing our A GAME – How About You? CAN’T WAIT!!!!
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Hey Compass – still on a high from the incredible 10th Anniversary Celebration this past Sunday. BLOWN AWAY by all God has done the first 10 years and promises TO DO the NEXT 10 years! (Ephesians 3:20-21). They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here’s 8,000 words capturing the day in pictures!!
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I don’t even know how to begin to say thanks to God, Compass, our incredible staff, and our amazing volunteers for the best 10th Anniversary Celebration EVER!!!!!
- THANK YOU GOD for Showing up and Showing off TODAY – Your presence was SO THERE in every moment!!
- THANK YOU GOD over the past 10 years for calling us, for sustaining us, for picking us up when we failed, for strengthening us when we wanted to quit, for surrounding us with a band of warriors!!
- THANK YOU GOD for sending JESUS to die for us when we were totally unworthy!! (Romans 5:8)
- THANK YOU GOD for every single story of Life Change, Marriages restored, Addicts Freed, and Purpose for life found in you – YOU know them ALL!! (2 Corinthians 5:16-17)
- THANK YOU COMPASS for allowing me to be your pastor – I Love You!!
- THANK YOU COMPASS STAFF for the most AMAZING, POWERFUL, and LIFE CHANGING service and day of ministry I’ve ever been part of – EVERYTHING, EVERY MOMENT, EVERY SONG, EVERY VIDEO ABSOLUTELY ROCKED!!
- THANK YOU COMPASS VOLUNTEERS for being the most selfless, passionate Jesus Freaks on the planet. It is an HONOR to serve this community with you!!
- We are humbled and honored to be part of such an amazing move of God in this city and our generation!!
- Truly “You have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now….”
- …No doubt “God who began this good work will continue HIS WORK until it is finally finished!!!“ (Philippians 1:3-6)
COMPASS – OUR BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD…YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET…Can’t Wait to see all God does in the next decade of ministry!!
Truly an AMAZING day and weekend…words fall short!! I’ll try to capture some of the highlights -
- I counted at least 12 people who BOLDLY stepped out of their seat, came to the front, and prayed to receive Christ – truly the MOST POWERFUL moment out of so many today.
- THAT is why we do what we do church – THAT was the highlight of the service!!!
- And, THERE’s SO MUCH MORE God’s PROMISED to do if we’ll just keep our eyes focused on JESUS over the NEXT 10 years!!
- One of the dudes who came to the front was a brand new dad – that family and little boy will never be the same because his daddy now knows Jesus!!
- We need MEN who will be WARRIORS for their families more than ever – You Can Do It Guys!!!
- Really – I”m the cryer not Lisa – it was a SURPRISE & SO AWESOME to see her heart today!!
- I can’t even begin to explain the emotions standing on the stage with the group of Warriors who were there when “the baby was born” – it’s been worth the WILD RIDE!!
- I can’t even begin to explain the emotions looking out over ONE CHURCH in ONE LOCATION all worshipping together!
- OK – THAT is what heaven is going to be like – a place where 24/7 GOD IS CELEBRATED & WORSHIPPED LOUDLY, PASSIONATELY, BOLDLY, and NO TIME LIMIT…Hey, I’m not even sure we’ll know time in heaven!! (Revelation 4:1-11)
- Yes, there’s Beauty in Brokeness, we’re ALL JACKED UP with sin (I’m at the front of that line), BUT we worship a God who LOVES to create MOSAICS out of the broken pieces.
- I about came unglued and out of my seat when Joey Echols and crew walked out on stage during “You Found Me” with the cards declaring FOUND LIVES IN JESUS – behind every one of those cards is an AMAZING Story of God’s Love, Forgiveness, and Grace!!
- Marcus Dobbs TORE UP ‘MOVING FORWARD‘ – for a lot of us, THAT’s our song!!!
- My Mother In Law literally spoke to us from Heaven today – she flat out BROUGHT THE GOSPEL in that amazing and courageous video she left us with about leaving a legacy of faith.
- Matt and the Compass Band & Singers and Production Team took it to another level this morning!!
- Paul Sims and the Video Team – AMAZING job telling God’s Story of Changing lives the past 10 years – you guys are the BEST on the planet!!
- Wesley and Chase did an amazing job bringing organization and coordination to a potentially crazy day – your preparation and planning prepared the way for God to change lives today!!
- Sheryl – thank you for being my ‘right arm’ and doing all the stuff behind the scenes nobody but God sees – you are AWESOME!!
- OK – somebody is going to die for the last part of the service…yes, you had to be there!! no, I will NOT be leading worship anytime soon!!
- It was great to see DAVID ZIMMERMAN today – he is a Man of God and is one of the reasons I am in the ministry today – THANK YOU for believing in and investing in us before we believed in ourselves.
- I’ve never received a “singing video” or “telegram” before – thank you Glenn McClure & Dan Reiland & 12 Stone Church!!
- All the encouraging texts and emails and spoken words were overwhelming and special – THANK YOU!!
- OC – Thank You for Hosting us – it was an amazing run this past year…I know you will all DESPARATELY MISS setting up next Sunday! God used each of you BIG TIME to PROVE His LOVE and GENEROSITY to this community over and over again in 2009!
- I could go on & on…THANK YOU Again for the privilege of pastoring Compass Church and the most AMAZING group of people on the planet.
- I Love you guys and love being your pastor.
- GET READY COMPASS – OUR BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD!!!!
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This weekend, I’m asking our entire church to BOLDLY PRAY with me and our prayer partners for 3 things:
#1 – HEALING for “MJ” (Morgan) JAMES
- Just returned late last night from my second visit this week to Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Atlanta – WOW – TOUGH but AMAZING place!! This past Monday, MJ and her mom, Belinda were in the serious head on auto accident many of you read about in the paper on HWY 72. Belinda was injured, but is doing ok. MJ, their 14 year old daughter, was life flighted to Atlanta and is still in critical condition.
- MJ and her parents, Mark & Belinda, REALLY need our PRAYERS and CARE at this time. Please BEG GOD to SHOW UP and SHOW OFF on their behalf. Medically speaking, it will be a modern day MIRACLE when she gets up by the power of God and walks out of that place.
- The James’ are part of our ‘extended’ Compass family (they moved to Pensacola, FL this past year). For three years, Lisa and I have been in Small Group with them. Our hearts have been torn up this week, but also encouraged as we are witnessing answered prayers.
- MJ has three brain sheers (tiny tears) caused from the brain hitting the skull; all in 3 critical areas. They were able to take her off the ventilator yesterday and she is breathing on her own. She will need intense physical therapy and it may be a while before she fully awakes as we think of being awake. She will remain in Scottish Rite Hospital until any infection is gone (pneumonia has set in her lungs). Then she will be moved to a rehab facility.
- Please continue to pray for wisdom for the doctors and Mark and Belinda as they make necessary decisions regarding Morgan’s care. Pray for the brain tears to heal exactly as they were before without any loss of motor or cognitive function. The family has remarked that they have seen the true power of Jesus at work as prayers continue to be raised on MJ’s behalf.
- The family has also posted a web page that will be updated as new information becomes available. Feel free to check it out and send the family your comments.
- Website: www.carepages.com/carepages/morganjames
#2 – HEALING for PIPER NEEDHAM
- At Scottish Rite last night, I also unexpectedly ran into Chad and Susanna Needham from our Oconee Campus. We have been praying for their 6 month old daughter ‘PIPER’ who was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 10 weeks old.
- Piper was AMAZING – she had just finished her 3rd day in a row of 6 hour DAILY chemo treatments, BUT she was smiling, cooing, just bringing pure joy to the room when Chad & Susanna strolled her into the room. I found out the treatments will be every other week, 5 days a week, 6 hours a day, for 6 months!!
- NO, I DON’T UNDERSTAND THIS EITHER, BUT I do know PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE. I wish our entire church could have been there with me to witness these two families coming together, holding hands, praying together for their two daughters in “THE DIP” of life they are experiencing – POWERFUL!!!!
- Please pray for them as the expenses are absolutely undoable that God will miraculously provide and for Piper’s body to respond to the treatments positively and for COMPLETE HEALING – the percentages are only 30% in her favor, but with God we know that “ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!!” (Luke 18:27)
- Blog site: http://media.causes.com/ribbon/589120
#3 – THIS SUNDAY
- I literally can’t sleep – waking up EVERY NIGHT this week in anticipation of our 10th Anniversary Service!!
- GET THERE EARLY, BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU, and PRAY LIKE CRAZY for the most amazing day we’ve ever experienced together as we celebrate TEN YEARS of God Changing Lives!!
- Compass – Let’s FILL UP the NOHS Fine Arts Facility to celebrate all God has done – if we all bring JUST ONE GUEST, that will happen so DON’T COME ALONE.
- Who should you bring? Easy – that person in your life who God has laid on your heart you know needs Jesus to change their lives!!
- Remember, Compass Kids will be open for 5 and under, 1st – 5th Compass Kids will join us in the Worship Celebration.
- CAN’T WAIT – See You There!!!!
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Over the next 3 Sundays, we have 3 DIFFERENT sets of Service Times. Are we CRAZY? No!! Just AUDACIOUS!! Here’s what it looks like. Take Note because the next 3 Sundays at Compass are going to be the BEST EVER!!!!!
- THIS SUNDAY, 1/24/10 – No Changes and YES, we will be ONE CHURCH in TWO LOCATIONS for one more week. ATHENS CAMPUS will meet at 9:30 and 11:00 am. OCONEE CAMPUS will meet at 11:00am.
- NEXT SUNDAY, 1/31/10 - COMPASS’ TENTH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE at North Oconee High School Fine Arts Center. At 10:30 am, all 3 services and both campuses will come together for ONE COMBINED service. YEA, it’s going to ROCK. I Can’t Wait!! Get there early – all I know is that God is going to be Lifted High and embarrassing pictures will be shown (I’ve changed a lot in 10 years).
- FEBRUARY 7 – MERGE SUNDAY!! Super Bowl Sunday kicks off in Athens, GA with 2 merged services at our Athens Campus. Service Times will be 9:30 & 11:15 am. PLEASE get there EARLY for both services to give plenty of time to park and check your kids in to Compass Kids!!
SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS –
- CAN’T WAIT to preach tomorrow – what we had planned a couple of months ago and what God had planned we’re two different things. We decided to go with GOD – Can’t Wait!!
- The 706 Student Band is leading us in worship tomorrow – that gets me FIRED UP!!
- Compass’ 2nd NIGHT OF WORSHIP will be this Sunday Night at the AC – 6:00pm. Don’t know of a better way to prepare to merge our two campuses together than through BOLD WORSHIP & BEGGING GOD to do something BIG in our generation & city!!
- Merging our two incredible campuses back together was the TOUGHEST but most ENCOURAGING leadership decision I’ve had to make up to this point (yea, I know there will be more!!)
- TOUGHEST for many reasons -
- Most of all, God is doing AMAZING things on our OC because of this church’s willingness to take risks
- …and, I knew it would be a Big Ask of our Oconee, Walton, and Barrow families to drive an extra 25 minutes to get to church
- …and, it’s always difficult when God asks you to do something you don’t want to do
- …and, sometimes God asks you to do things JUST SO YOU CAN SAY YES & BE OBEDIENT – don’t you hate that!? (just ask Abraham & Sarah – Genesis 22)
- ENCOURAGING for many reasons -
- Each of you – your support and belief in the Big Vision & Next Steps God has laid out for this church has been overwhelming
- …a friend who told me “A Church ALIVE is Worth the DRIVE” and God definitely is ALIVE @ Compass!!
- …a volunteer leader said “This is a DYNAMIC CHURCH where God is changing lives & it does not matter where it’s at!” – BAM!!!!
- We might be meeting in the same place again (the warehouse), BUT we are definitely NOT THE SAME CHURCH
- …we are STRONGER, have 3x as many VOLUNTEERS, and a PASSION that has grown exponentially to do whatever it takes to see lives changed and make Jesus Famous in NE Georgia and Beyond!!
- No doubt – what some might perceive as a SET-BACK is really a SET-UP for ALL that God has planned NEXT for this great church!!
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Posted by: jpaulsims in General, tags: Haiti
–Guest Blog by Paul Sims, Creative Arts and Administrative Pastor–
On Sunday, Pastor Jim shared a unique opportunity that we have as a church to reach out and respond in a powerful way to the crisis in Haiti. If you weren’t here on Sunday, check out what he shared in the video below.
http://www.vimeo.com/8887982
Our church responded in a huge way and has given $5,330 so far towards the $8,000 needed for the adoption process. This week has been an interesting week because God has opened the door sooner than we expected and the adoption process may be able to happen quicker than we thought even last Sunday. We’re praying that God will enable us to finish this in order to remove any barriers that might be in the way to ensure that this boy finds a safe and welcoming home. We look forward to the day when he’ll be reunited with two of his sisters and united with his future family.
We, as a church, are excited and proud to partner in this effort because it not only changes a life currently, but for years to come. We will be able to continue to invest in the life of this boy as he becomes a part of our church.
To partner in this process you can send a check made out to Compass Church with Haiti in the memo to the church office at:
Compass Church
525 Calhoun Dr.
Athens, GA 30601
You can also give online by clicking here.
We’ve also had many people ask about posting this opportunity on Facebook. We have set up a link here that you can post for your Facebook friends that includes the video of Jim explaining what we’re doing and information on how to give.
Thanks Compass for being a generous church! It’s an honor to partner with you in what God is doing both in our community and across the world.
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COMPASS-ERs - God JUST KICKED ME IN THE BUTT – can I share it with you?
We just finished finalizing COMPASS’ 10th ANNIVERSARY SERVICE. WOW – I don’t even know where to begin!!!. All I can say is, it will be the most FLIPPIN AWESOME AMAZING LIFE CHANGING SERVICE ANY of us have EVER been part of in our lifetime. SERIOUSLY – I’m in tears and BLOWN Away by ALL GOD HAS DONE through you!!
Please FORGIVE me…I really think up to this point, I have thought and led us as if this was a celebration for our church (that is, those of us who call Compass home). God has really gripped my heart in the past 24 hours – this isn’t about US, this isn’t about COMPASS, it’s ALL ABOUT HIM and what HE’s DONE these past 10 years. DUH!!!!
AND, He’s given us a stinkin’ 1,000 SEAT AUDITORIUM to host our 10th Anniversary Service in!!!! I don’t know of anything more HONORING to God than for us to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to FILL THAT PLACE UP (with people in our lives that NEED JESUS), LIFT HIM HIGH in Worship, and TELL HIS STORY like never before!!!
I’m PRAYING for 1000 people to show up – not because it’s all about the numbers, BUT BECAUSE people need to hear some GOOD NEWS!! There’s nothing more POWERFUL than the Story of God CHANGING LIVES, people stepping from darkness to light, marriages being restored, addicts being freed, and people finding the PURPOSE they were CREATED FOR. And, that’s all we’re going to do on JANUARY 31st is CELEBRATE ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE.
PRAY FOR ME – I’m also asking God for the words that Sunday to give the BOLDEST most POWERFUL Invitation to the Gospel He has ever put inside of me!!
THAT’S WHEN IT HIT ME – there’s NOT a BETTER SUNDAY to bring a guest than to hear the story of how God has changed SO MANY lives these past ten years. It’s SO POWERFUL & such a testimony to HIS POWER, LOVE, FORGIVENESS, MERCY, GRACE, PROVISION in the valleys, & SURPRISES on the mountain tops of life.
We’re not standing 10 years later because of ANYTHING we’ve done, it’s ALL BECAUSE OF JESUS!! We’re learning and our story loudly screams there’s BEAUTY in BROKENNESS, HIS STRENGTH is made perfect in WEAKNESS, MUCH can come from LITTLE with His SUPERNATURAL TOUCH, and YOUR BEST DAYS CAN BE AHEAD NO MATTER YOUR PAST!!
If we’ll each do our part, God will do something BIG. If everyone who is coming January 31st will INVITE & BRING ONE PERSON with them, we’ll fill that place up for the Glory of God! ARE YOU IN? LET’s DO IT!!!!!
BAPTISM – I can’t divulge the Creative Team’s Plan, BUT I can tell you I had a mother come to me last Sunday from the OC and ask if her son could be BAPTIZED before our final service in that building. Let me think…..ABSOLUTELY!!!! So, if there is anyone from the OC (or AC) that is ready to be baptized and wants to GO PUBLIC for JESUS during our 10th Anniversary Service, EMAIL US HERE RIGHT AWAY and let us know so we can arrange everything.
I love this church, love this city, love being your pastor, love what’s NEXT for us, and CAN’T WAIT to see the NOHS Fine Arts Facility filled up with people CELEBRATING God’s Greatness and Power to Change Lives!!!!
Much to talk about Haiti (this church is INCREDIBLE!!), Celebrate from this past Sunday, and update you about the MERGE – I’ll post on that tomorrow!!
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Posted by: jpaulsims in General, tags: Haiti
–Guest blog from Paul Sims, Creative Arts and Administrative Pastor–
I’m sure your hearts have been heavy as you’ve heard and seen the devastation in the aftermath of this week’s earthquake in Haiti. Our immediate reaction at seeing something so tragic is wondering how to best respond to help alleviate the suffering. You may be wondering how we as a church can respond to this tragedy.
Tomorrow, at the end of our service we will be taking up a special offering for Haiti. We have a unique opportunity to reach out in a way that is very personal, and will make an impact for years to come. Please come ready to be generous tomorrow as our Pastor, Jim, shares with you the opportunity we have as a church to be generous and reach out in a powerful way.
James 1:27 says “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
Compass, tomorrow we’re going to get as pure and genuine as we can get. I can’t wait!
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