I was cleaning up some emails and came across one that said “JESUS LAUGHING,” so I opened it.  It contained sketches of Jesus with children smiling and laughing.  It made me think how we never picture, or how I never picture Jesus this way.  I picture him in the head shot with the long brown hair that hangs on the wall or is on the bookmark.  I visualize him in the picture with the disciples having the last supper.  I picture him on the cross, but never SMILING or LAUGHING.  Many have said they picture him as the “cosmic cop,” but the sketches in that email made me think of him differently….MORE LIKE A REAL PERSON…so later that day…..

I had this thought of how people treat God and the church.  How many people don’t make either one a priority?  They come to church regularly for a while …THEN, SOMETHING HAPPENS….
…The lake starts calling, or maybe sleeping in because it was a long week;

…maybe there is a new child in the home and parents use them as an excuse;

…maybe you have had to be out of town for your job and want to hang at home;

…maybe you have a big test;

…none of your friends are going to be there;

…because the economy is bad you are working six days a week and need a day off;

…who knows the reason or excuse.

So, WHAT IF when you decided to show back up—most of the time because, once again, SOMETHING HAPPENS and you need God to be there….what if He had hung out a sign that said “GONE FISHIN”? It made me laugh…Because I know some people that would be seriously “TICKED” for lack of a more proper word!! But, doesn’t it seem that is how many treat God? Always expecting Him to be just sitting there waiting on them to come to Him with their next prayer, when He hasn’t seen or heard from them in a while and doesn’t know when to expect them.  So, God decides to move on to something else and then they are UPSET when they don’t get their answer or need met right away….just a thought.

DISCLAIMER
I am not saying you can not take a vacation!!!!  Just ask yourself what question do my friends, family and children ask me on Saturday night…”WHAT ARE WE DOING tomorrow or WHAT SERVICE are we going to?”

QUICK NOTE FROM JIM –

FIRED UP about this Sunday!! We are taking COMMUNION, which will be an AWESOME way to close out THE HAND OFF, our series on Generational Influence. DON’T FORGET – Get every STUDENT, TEACHER, and PARENT you know there -CAN’T WAIT!!!

Go DAWGS!!!

Then, when he got home and I saw the picture – I was BLOWN AWAY as a pastor and as a dad!! As a parent, that picture MADE MY DAY – YEAR!!

• THAT Never gets old…THAT is why we do what we do…I’m addicted to changed lives!!!

• 3 of them were students and one 20 Something – THIS GENERATION is coming on strong!

• The day the church gets over all JESUS did for us…and the day we stop CELEBRATING the power of God to change a life is the day we need to pack it up and close the doors!

• THANK YOU COMPASS for getting FIRED UP about something that MATTERS!!!

• Talked to my Generation & Beyond on Sunday and brought the heat in the name of Jesus…

• …how about instead of a Mid Life CRISIS, it became a Mid life CATALYST 4 the great things God wants to do in the 2nd Half of our lives?

• Games are won or lost in the 2nd Half NOT the 1^st.

• Let’s be the GENERATION that refuses to take a knee and quit on the next generation but instead FINISHES STRONG!!

• I had a 76 year young dude ask me “How long is a quarter – 20 or 25 years and is there overtime?”…

• …I told him 22-23 Years and there is absolutely OT – my 94 Year young grandmother is kickin’ some serious butt in OT & plans on playing a LOT LONGER!!

• I’m preachin’ already and CAN’t WAIT to preach this Sunday.  This Sunday will be the MOST POWERFUL & CHALLENGING of the series and we saved the BEST for LAST!!

• I’m asking 2 Favors:
• #1 – Get EVERY TEACHER & STUDENT & PARENT you know there – SERIOUSLY – got a Special SHOUT OUT from the Word of God to each group I CAN’T WAIT to share!
• #2 – I know it’s Labor Day & traditionally a Sunday to slack…DON’T!!

• My father-in-law’s birthday is today – Love that man…Taking him to lunch at Fogo De Chao! Never been…SERIOUS MEAT EATING adventure…AWE YEAH!!!

WHY I’M FIRED UP ABOUT THIS WEEKEND –

In this past Sunday’s message – STUDENT INTERCEPT, Jim referred to the “Lisa Spirit” in the 3rd question every student must ask if they are going to IMPACT their generation – “Am I Rushing The Snap Count?”

When I said this to Jim, this is what followed…

We all grow up rushing to get to kindergarten, then middle school, high school, 16 and the drivers license, 18 and graduation, college to find our soul mate, the job that will fulfill us and then the house, the kids…DON’T RUSH!

If we could all slow down and enjoy our lives, enjoy the time we are living in right now, wouldn’t that be amazing?  I keep thinking of the saying “older and wiser.” What if you could be “younger and wiser” just because you slowed it down a bit and truly experienced life instead of rushing through it?  This of course applies to everyone, not just students.

DON’T SETTLE…I think so many people do this.  Because they are in a hurry and are worried that maybe nothing better will come along, they just grab on to what’s in front of them.  I guess it’s for a lot of different reasons…fear of being left behind or alone, peer pressure to belong or just because of our society and culture today.

I want my kids to HOLD OUT for the very best they could possibly have and as a parent I believe all parents want this.  Don’t settle in school, don’t settle in choosing your friends, don’t settle in your extra curricular activities, don’t settle at home, don’t settle with your boyfriend or girlfriend, don’t settle at work. Give your best and expect to get it back—if you don’t take a time out and consider your situation, maybe it’s time for a change.

• NINETEEN people SURRENDERED their lives to Jesus Sunday…MY GOD’s NOT DEAD- BOO YAH!!!!
• IMPACT, Compass’ new ministry for Young Adults, launched FRIDAY NIGHT with 60+ in attendance and 2 people surrendering their lives to Jesus.
• Sunday’s PARTNERSHIP LUNCH Rocked – Thank you to all who chose to Partner with this local church by getting out of the Stands and INTO THE GAME!!
• WOW – LOVE our series THE HAND OFF – could be one of my favorites we’ve ever done!
• STUDENTS – THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU BIG TIME for SHOWING Up, WORSHIPPING Passionately, LISTENING Intently, RESPONDING Boldly to God’s voice, and BRINGING your Friends with you!
• Even though I had prayed and asked God to do something BIG all weekend, seeing so many lives changed on so many fronts still BLEW ME AWAY
• I LOVE HOW our students worshipped Sunday – up front on the stage, hands in the air, and with EVERYTHING they had….
• …Some adults may not like kids rushing the stage & throwing their hands up. It WASN’T for you, it was for them and JESUS!!
• We will NOT be a church that SACRIFICES this generation on the altar of another generation’s preferences.
• We will NOT be a church that raises a generation that SURVIVES the world, rather they will IMPACT the world for the glory of Jesus!!
• CHALLENGED our NEXT GENERATION on Sunday with 4 Questions out of the book of Joshua every STUDENT MUST ASK if they are going to IMPACT their Generation for the Glory of God!!
• God’s Pattern throughout history has been to reveal to Young Men and Women His plans to use them in a POWERFUL WAY!!
• …Your IMPACT is not determined by your HEREDITY, but by your HEAVENLY FATHER.
• …Your IMPACT is not determined by your ORIGIN, but by your OBEDIENCE.
• …It’s NOT your friend’s opinions that matter – It’s GOD’s
• …DON’T RUSH this season of life & DON’T SETTLE for less than God’s Best!!!
• …Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS – God is WITH and FOR you (Joshua 1:6-9)
• OK – the”Forever Young” RAP was OFF THE CHAIN…talk about a life change Story….
• …Tommy Valentine (who wrote that RAP) grew up in an agnostic/atheistic home, met Jesus & was baptized at Compass recently, just got engaged to Laura –  an awesome young lady who loves Jesus, and now God’s using him to write words that challenge the hearts of this generation – that ROCKED and more importantly JESUS ROCKED through it!!
• Wesley Odum, Andy Zuniga, 706 & Compass Kids Volunteers – Thank you ALL for partnering together to lead this next generation in NE Georgia by GIVING YOUR LIVES to HAND OFF a Healthy Church and PASS ON a Godly Legacy for generations to come!!
• Yes, I did say the word “CIRCUMCISION” on Sunday – little awkward but powerful meaning!!
• I CAN’T WAIT to BAPTIZE THIS SUNDAY – if you’ve never been baptized since asking Jesus to change your life – WHAT are you waiting for? It’s your First Step –  check out our WHAT IS BAPTISM link here.
• Did I say 19 people surrendered their lives to Jesus Sunday and I LOVE this series – I CAN’T WAIT to PREACH this Sunday and see what God does!!

• We saw people in each service surrender their lives to Jesus – ok, THAT never gets old!!
• TODAY ROCKED – if for some lame reason you weren’t out of town and SKIPPED Sunday – DANG – YOU MISSED IT!!
• The 706 Student Band led us in worship today – FLIPPIN AMAZING – those kids can PLAY!!
• I told one of the other parents – “We get to do two things today – Worship God and be Proud Dads” – I did BOTH!!
• Our Worship times have been AMAZING  - God is doing something INCREDIBLE every time the band steps on stage!!
• I LOVE our new series THE HAND OFF!!
• I think I’m going to teach with a football every week of this series.
• Big Time Apology to the dude I hit in the FACE with the football in the second service…I PROMISE it was NOT intentional and with the lights I have no clue who I hit!!
• I came clean – my football career really did end at 11!!
• As a church, We will GIVE OUR LIVES to HAND off a healthy church and PASS ON a Godly Legacy for generations to come (2 Timothy 2:2) – seriously, I’m willing to GIVE MY LIFE to make that hand off to the next generation.
• I’ve seen way too many people FUMBLE the HAND OFF to the next generation – we’re going to do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to position them to score with their lives!!
• If you’ve fumbled or had a band hand off my God can REDEEM your PAST, CHANGE your PRESENT, and RESTORE your FUTURE!!
• We’ve got way too many INJURED PLAYMAKERS and SEASONED VETS sitting on the sidelines and not in the game – WE NEED YOU!!
• We need a generation who’s willing to STAND UP and SAY ” God, CALL MY PLAY – I CAN THROW A PASS, I’m ready to do something GREAT for YOU in my lifetime and NOTHING will stop me, NOBODY is going to block me AND if you get in my way, I will run you over!”
• Yea – I”M still FIRED UP!! Why? I’m tired of seeing wasted lives instead of people pouring themselvs out for the Glory of God!!
• Here’s the link to the FULL VERSION Matthew Stafford winning drive game film (PG 13)!
• REFUEL, Compass’ Night of Worship was the BEST EVER – WOW! The Presence of God SHOWED UP in the warehouse after we took communion like NEVER BEFORE!!
• Special thanks to our WORSHIP & PRODUCTION TEAMS for all the EXTRA WORK – it was a long day, but SO WORTH IT!!
• It made my day to see the 706 Students leading the Refuel Production Team – you ROCKED it!!

• Yes, Matt really did say “Open up your gas tank and put a little Jesus in it.” Awesome!!
• I can’t say this enought – DO EVERYTHING you can to get your STUDENTS and their FRIENDS here this next Sunday for BOTH SERVICES – God is going to Rock their world as we challenge  the NEXT GENERATION like never before!!
• I’m pumped about the BRAVES!!!!
• LOVE being your pastor and connecting this city to JESUS with you!!

It was SO GOOD to be back at Compass this past Sunday - Lives were CHANGED…Worship ROCKED…ton of FIRST TIME GUESTS…and seeing first hand God at work IN and THROUGH our people….it doesn’t get any better than that!!!!

Did something this summer I’ve never done before – I took a SABBATICAL BREAK.

• I wasn’t there, but GOD showed up BIG TIME – HE is all we need!!

• Craig Groeschel’s message on UNSTOPPABLE COURAGE was inspiring, challenging, & a call to action that I’m praying each of us picks up the ball and runs with as hard as we possibly can.

• There’s SO MUCH MORE GOD wants to do in Athens & Beyond through Compass – I pray each of us are COURAGEOUS enough to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to allow HIM to do WHATEVER HE WANTS.

• HUGE THANKS to everyone who has responded so far to my letter to Compass-ers last week about our summer finances…God’s got our back and He does His BEST WORK through people…don’t for get to use COMPASS’ SUMMER ONLINE GIVING LINK.

• COMPASS VOLUNTEERS – heard you were on your A Game today!! God is using you to CHANGE A CITY for JESUS!! THANK YOU for bringing it!! (Galatians 6:9)

CATCHING UP -

• The Carpenter Family is on a Road Trip…spent the weekend in Bradenton/Sarasota, FL area with my sister and parents.

• Attended Bayside Community Church in Bradenton, FL with my sister this morning.  AWESOME CHURCH…ROCKIN’ PLACE…God is doing a GREAT WORK through them…LOVED their pastor, Randy Bezet…very funny dude.

• WOW – being just a “Spectator”…showing up, attending, leaving…nice for a day BUT SO WEIRD – I want to be IN THE GAME when it comes to the great things God is doing through the local church NOT on the sidelines.

• Pastor Randy BROUGHT IT!! Couple things he said that are rocking my world…

1. Unforgiveness & Bitterness in Unresolved Relationships is one of the #1 reasons for unanswered prayer (Matthew 5:23)
2. God’s Blessings & Answers to Prayer aren’t always for you as much as they are to get THROUGH YOU for someone else – THAT’S GOOD STUFF!!!!
3. While WAITING on God’s Answers is the TOUGHEST part of following, it’s also where the DEEPENING in our relationship with Him happens – BOO YAH!!

• Celebrated my Dad’s 65th Birthday today – good to be with him live & in person & not just call on the phone.

• PLEASE continue to pray for my mom – going through some additional cancer tests & REAL TOUGH emotionally…she cried when we arrived…MOMS ARE da BEST!!

• The break from speaking has been refreshing & good for my family…BUT I do miss  SUNDAYS @ COMPASS!!

That’s all for now….

Sometimes, God has to literally KNOCK YOU UPSIDE THE HEAD to get your attention. No pun intended, but that’s exactly what happened this past week…a line drive to the head, 28 stitches later, an afternoon stay in the ER, and some REALLY REALLY GOOD DRUGS… it was all about TRUSTING my team and being THANKFUL for all God is doing.

Tomorrow is going to be a REALLY, REALY, REALLY Good Day at Compass…SERIOUSLY!! Can’t go into all the details but Satan is trying to do EVERYTHING he can to keep us from “Getting There.”  Please pray tonight for an UNLEASHING of GOD’S POWER like we’ve NEVER SEEN before in our iives!! I CAN’T WAIT to see ALL God does in the morning!!

BE BOLD!!!!

• She got to Sleep In – bonus points!!…
• got her EXACTLY what she requested for her birthday (that’s REAL IMPORTANT guys – Not what You want her to have, but what SHE wants!!)…
• tagged team with my daughter Mackenzie and her friend Kathleen to bake her the MOST AWESOME STRAWBERRY cake (off the chain!!)…
• took her out to dinner and a movie while the kids were at THE 706…
• and tonight, the family is taking her out to dinner as well!!

I say all that to say – I am TOTALLY, ABSOLUTELY, UNASHAMEDLY IN LOVE with my wife!!!  Marriage, although it’s not easy and a TON OF WORK, is AWESOME and worth it!!

I’m learning, with God’s help, you can fall more and more in love with each other as the years roll by. I desperately want and am striving every single day (although I often fall short) to grow more in love with Jesus, Lisa, and our three kids…to fulfill the vows I made to her on May 19, 1990…to be the Godly Husband and Father she and the kids need and deserve…and to be a leader worth following in this generation!!

Hope you are having a ROCKIN Week!!

We get to BAPTIZE on Sunday – Can’t Wait for that CELEBRATION too!!

• I have the BEST FAMILY and JOB on the Planet…
• ….I know many of you would argue with me on the family thing…and that’s OK…you should!!
• 3 people surrendered their lives to Jesus today – that’s WHY we do what we do!!
• LOVE the story of BENAIAH and how he is described as “a VALIANT WARRIOR from Kabzeel” (1 Chronicles 11:22-25)
• His story Stirs something inside of me to be a VALIANT and MIGHTY WARRIOR for God and my family…
• SERIOUSLY – there is a block that sits on my desk that reminds me every day “FINISH STRONG” and “DON’T SCREW UP”
• We will be a church that “Gives our Lives to HAND OFF a HEALTHY CHURCH and PASS ON a GODLY LEGACY for GENERATIONS to come.” – that’s GENERATIONAL INFLUENCE at it’s BEST!!
• Special thanks to Mark Batterson for bringing Benaiah’s story to life in his book “In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day” – GREAT READ – took our the Wednesday Morning Men’s Group through this one!!
• We all have a PAST that serves as an opportunity to gain much needed wisdom and experience…
• …a PRESENT that is an opportunity to make a difference TODAY…like RIGHT NOW!!…
• …and a FUTURE which is the opportunity to leave a LEGACY
• The people God often uses the most are the ones with the most SCARS in life!!
• Scars are not STIGMAS rather they are Signs of Hope & Healing in our lives!!…JESUS has SCARS and I believe they were left there to remind us that the Greatest Setbacks are often precursors to the Greatest Set Ups in life!!
• Benaiah’s SCARS as a warrior were what gave him the CREDIBILITY on his resume to eventually lead David and Solomon’s Army!!
• Your ability to help others heal is limited to where you have been WOUNDED yourself!!
• “The HEALING POWER of our Heavenly Father is greater than the wounding power of our earthly Fathers” Bill Hybells

• WE ARE BAPTIZING – I CAN’T WAIT…CLICK HERE for more information or to sign up for BAPTISM!!
• Let’s be a church that IMPACTS SUMMER instead of Summer impacting the church, BOLDLY speak our ONE LINE that God can use to ROCK someone’s world, and DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to bring our Friends and Family to hear about JESUS and celebrate life change this Sunday!!

There’s a lot of BUZZ about Father’s Day @ Compass…talked to a lot of dads who want to be in church – that’s AWESOME!!

So, while I’m normally JACKED UP for a new series…after skiing, it’s off the charts and I CAN’T WAIT to preach tomorrow and kick off our brand new summer series….

Compass – let me encourage and challenge you to NOT come alone tomorrow..to do WHATEVER it takes to bring someone with you. It’s just that kind of series where God will be ROCKING people’s worlds and MESSING them up every single week.

Yea, it’s summer…but I’m so PROUD of our Volunteers and Staff teams. They have worked DOUBLY HARD and are NOT HOLDING BACK to make this one of the most POWERFUL and LIFE CHANGING summer series we’ve ever done!!

There’s a lot of BUZZ about WHO are the characters we’re talking about…here’s some clues for week #1….

This week’s Supporting Cast Member -

• CHANGED the world without ever leaving his hometown
• Lived on a street called “Straight”
• Risked his life to speak just ONE LINE

CAN’T WAIT – Praying TOMORROW to be THE BEST Day of your week!!!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Compass-ers – PRAY with me for this weekend and series like never before. I’m going to share stuff God says about Parenting/Marriage/Relationships/Families/Homes that you would NEVER hear discussed in Culture AND Satan has UNLEASHED about everything He can this week to keep us from getting there!!!

Click Here to invite your Facebook friends.

Usually not this exclusive but wanted to offer a Spontaneous Invite to all the Compass Dudes to an event geared towards MEN in our city TONIGHT, April 30th called “AUTHENTIC MANHOOD.” Wouldn’t normally hit you with this except God has used this guy to impact a lot of friend’s lives and change a lot of homes and ultimately destinies.

NATE LARKIN will be speaking. He’s the author of “Samson And The Pirate Monks: Calling Men To Authentic Brotherhood.” Most probably haven’t heard of this book but a friend recommended it to me last summer and it’s a life changing read. You can check out his story here at I Am Second. His Story is riveting and something NONE OF US ever would want to admit but WE ALL struggle with…check it out.

The Event is at ATHENS ACADEMY Presentation Hall, 1281 Spartan Lane, and begins at 7:00 pm TONIGHT. It’s NC-17 and asking Teen Boys under 17 be accompanied by an adult.

SUNDAY PRE-GAME

Been waiting the entire series to preach this Sunday’s message on decisions!! BIG FINISH for sure!! Who are you INVITING? Can’t Wait!!!!

Click Here to invite your FaceBook friends.

SHERYL GRAHAM, our Compass Admin Pro, is the BEST ON THE PLANET!!!! She has served with me 5 years this May (WOW – that’s a record!!). Lisa, myself, our family, and the Compass Staff are SO BLESSED to have her on our team!! I PROMISE YOU what happens on Sunday would NOT be possible without her – SERIOUSLY!!

Sheryl is a GODLY wife, mother, and friend. She loves Jesus, is passionate about changed lives, and a person of utmost character and integrity!! She ALWAYS brings her “A-Game,” Servant’s Heart, Smiling Spirit, and AWESOME Attitude. Every time she answers the phone you hear her smile!! She loves every single one of you (ok, there’s a few exceptions). Tuesdays are “meeting days” and she brings the “SNACKS!” (and often makes them herself)!!! We share the same birthday, BUT she is…oh, I can’t say who’s older!!

She HAS MY BACK – PRICELESS!!!! She is PURE JOY to Partner with!! Words really do FALL SHORT to describe or say thank you for all she means to us and all she does behind the scenes and in front of the crowd that no one knows about except her and God!!

Bottom line – She ROCKS & Jesus ROCKS through her EVERY SINGLE DAY she steps foot in our office!!!!!

AND, to ALL of our ADMINISTRATIVE VOLUNTEERS who serve throughout the week in the office and on Friday mornings – THANK YOU!! EVERY phone call answered, hand written letter, key of data entry, receipt/check posted, offering accounted for, mailer sealed/stamped/dropped off, welcome pack prepared, Easter egg invite stuffed, person plugged into service/small group, person prayed for…REALLY - There’s a DIRECT LINK with what you do behind the scenes  and what God does in someone’s heart!!

“Observe people who are good at their work – skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a backseat to anyone….They will serve kings rather than work for ordinary people“ Proverbs 22:29

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING….

I am FIRED UP about Sunday, this church, being your pastor, and our CURRENT SERIES about DECISIONS. We had a First Time Guest spend $20 to get to church in a flippin’ TAXI on Sunday – HUMBLED, SHOCKED, and BLEW me away at the same time. He said it was the BEST $20 he ever spent – BOO YAH!! There’s people SO HUNGRY for Jesus they are willing to PAY THEIR OWN WAY to come to church – Who Are You bringing with you THIS SUNDAY and paying their way!!??

I heard it again – “I WISH my teen, student would have heard this…I WISH I would have heard this 10 years ago!!” Let’s Do This Thing and Rock this city for Jesus THIS SUNDAY!! Can’t Wait!!

INVITE YOUR FACEBOOK FRIENDS HERE!

• “A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.” (Psalm 84:10)
• “After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant…”I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set your foot, you will be on land I have given you…” (Joshua 1:1-3)
• “…In those days I was the king’s cupbearer.” (Nehemiah 1:11)
• “…Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
• “…But Moses protested to God, “Who Am I?…God answered, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:11-12; Exodus 3-4)
• “…There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?…Then JESUS took the loaves (and fish), gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people…they all ate as much as they wanted.” (John 6:9-11)

DECISION POINTS – the good, the bad, the dumb what was I thinking decisions we daily make – they ALL ADD UP to SHAPE who we are. I really shouldn’t have to say much to get you fired up to be there AND bring EVERY STUDENT in NE GA to Compass this Sunday as we kick off our new series on Making Decisions. Hey Adults – bet we could use some insight on making decisions too, ya think…ok, little too personal, I’ll save it for Sunday!!

A FEW MORE THOUGHTS…

Still on a high celebrating all the GREAT THINGS God did Easter. Before we officially turn the page, a few thoughts…

• #1- THANK YOU Compass VOLUNTEERS – You are AMAZING!! Words Fall Short. Every time I have thought of you this week, I say THANK YOU TO GOD for each of you  because the preaching could be on, the music could rock, but without YOU and JESUS we would never have experienced the LIFE CHANGE we saw happen on Sunday. THANK YOU for making the “warehouse” SHINE…for EVERYTHING you did behind the scenes to serve that no one else sees (except God)…for doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to connect people to JESUS…and for making this the BEST EASTER EVER!! (Philippians 1:3-5)

• #2 – COMPASS KIDS VOLUNTEERS – I couldn’t tell you how many times I heard from our First Time Guest follow up calls – “My kids absolutely loved it…they did not want to leave…they can’t wait to come back…they are already asking me if it’s Sunday and we get to go to church!!” THANK YOU for not only serving but IMPACTING the next generation with the Love of Jesus. I can’t wait to hear WHO God got there this week so their world could be rocked for Jesus through a Compass Kids Volunteer!!

• #3 – DON’T STOP NOW – I know some of you invited some people who didn’t or were not able to come or who came but did not give their lives to Jesus. DON’T STOP INVITING them. God has strategically placed you in their life for a reason. Let’s make EVERY SUNDAY EASTER as we bring the Gospel with everything we have!! There are SO MANY PEOPLE in our communities who STILL NEED to CONNECT and MEET with Jesus – let’s be the church that does that!!

• #4 – THANK YOU for all you did to SERVE THE CITY – this is one of the BEST THINGS we have ever done as a church. A Tsunami of Generosity, Love, & Service was UNLEASHED by you being Jesus’ hands and feet in the city of Athens. All three of our Strategic Partners we’re BLOWN AWAY by your kindness and servant’s hearts. It’s just beginning……

• I was sitting in a movie last night when I received a text that FORTY-SIX people surrendered their lives to JESUS Easter weekend!!
• 46!!!!!!!!! I was overwhelmed with emotion and so humbled that God chose to Show Up and Show Off in the warehouse in such a BIG WAY!!
• 46 CHANGED LIVES is why we do what we do…46 CHANGED LIVES made EVERYTHING that our Volunteers did to Prepare for a Move of God ALL WORTH IT!
• Let’s do EVERYTHING we can to get those 46 people back next week, pray for and connect them, and see God continue His good work in them (Phil 1:6)
• This was, by far, my favorite and the MOST POWERFUL Easter service we’ve ever done!
• We literally used EVERY SINGLE CHAIR we had in the second service!!
• Compass – THANK YOU for going all out to “Egg” this city and INVITE your friends and family!
• Hey, if your guest didn’t come this week – DON’T GIVE UP – Keep Inviting them (Hebrews 12:1-3)
• I’ve never been so proud of our little warehouse – it was looking very SPIFFY!!!! (no words measure up to say thanks to all who worked behind the scenes to pull that off!!)
• Ushers, Parking, Greeting, Connections and Host Team – you rolled out the red carpet BIG TIME!!
• Compass Kids Volunteers – what can I say? You are THE BEST!!
• THANK YOU for doing EVERYTHING you do to make Sundays the BEST DAY of a child’s week!!
• Your special act of worship through service allowed parents and many guests to be in a service free from distractions so God could ROCK their worlds and CHANGE their lives….
• AND – THAT IS WHAT happened today and you were just as big a part of it as any song that was sung or message preached.
• Worship was intense, rocking,  and right on - NEVER heard it sounding better in the warehouse!
• My new favorite line from a song is “You’ve taken my old skin and made it NEW again.”
• Worship and Production Teams – You BROUGHT IT. Best Easter service on the planet!! Hey, the “Drums” – NICE!!
• EVERYTHING leading up to Easter was MESSED UP but JESUS made ONE DECISION that changed everything – He DIED for you and me and ROSE AGAIN!!
• THAT ALONE is what forever changes lives!!
• The church has made the Gospel all about CATCHING people in their sin but JESUS made it all about a mission to FIND people to CHANGE people not condemn them.
• EASTER reminds me that JESUS’ Response to my sin is NOT what I’d expect or what I deserve which is the beating He took for me!!
• RATHER, Jesus came to FIND us (Luke 19:10, Luke 15:32), RESTORE us, OFFER His forgiveness to us, make our dashed hopes LIVE AGAIN, call us FRIENDS, and REMIND us our BEST DAYS are ahead of us – BOO YAH!!!!!
• So, yea, I’m a little pregidous….there’s no other place and no other group of people I’d rather SERVE and CELEBRATE Easter with than right where I did today.
• I’m SO PUMPED about what God is doing in our church right now - I love seeing you guys get it, God Rocking your worlds, and people surrender their lives to Jesus!!!
• I am grateful, honored, humbled and LOVE being your pastor!!
• GET READY – Next week we kick off our new series on MAKING DECISIONS….POINTS – They All Add Up!
• After seeing 13 people give their lives to Christ on Saturday night, one of my prayer partners asked God to DO MORE!!
• I LOVED that Prayer – there are SO MANY MORE people who need Jesus in our community and SO MUCH MORE God wants to do in your life and through this church.
• I CAN’T WAIT – THE BEST is yet to come!!!!!

Easter separates the men from the boys…don’t believe me? Check the tomb – Jesus’ is the ONLY ONE that’s empty!!!

We’ve got something to SHOUT about…we’ve got something to CELEBRATE…we’ve got something to get FIRED UP for!!!

This PASSAGE of Scripture messed me up this week…”He was PIERCED for our rebellion, CRUSHED for our sins, BEATEN so we could be made whole, WHIPPED so we could be HEALED…He was DESPISED and REJECTED, and WE DID NOT CARE!!”… (Isaiah 53:3-6)

…And this thought CRUSHED me – WE DID NOT CARE!!

Compass – let’s not let that be said of us this week!!!

• LET’s CARE enough to INVITE (aka “egg”) everyone we know that breathes oxygen!!

• LET’S CARE enough to DO WHATEVER it takes to get them there this weekend!!

• LET’S CARE enough no matter how much of a LONG SHOT it may seem to invite the people God has laid on your heart – DO IT!!

God has placed them on your heart, He will go before you, and this is their year for Jesus to CHANGE their lives & ROCK their worlds!!!

We are adding a THIRD SERVICE for EASTER SATURDAY Night @ 6:00 pm (Yes, COMPASS KIDS will be open for 0-5th grade on SAT)  - you’ll be out in plenty of time to catch dinner afterward!!  EASTER SUNDAY services are at 9:30 and 11:15 am.

SERIOUSLY – If you haven’t invited anyone to Easter yet – What are you waiting for?!!!! Jesus is Alive and if you know Him, you know HE’s the ONLY ANSWER we will ever need – LET’s DO THIS!!!

Click Here to invite your Facebook friends.

When Jesus was the most powerful person in the room, what did he Do? He “TUT-ed” – he Took Up a Towel and washed the disciples feet…He SERVED!!

All week long I’ve been watching Compass VOLUNTEERS “TUT” by Serving the City AND working their butts off to make the Compass Warehouse Shine and get ready for Easter!!

I read a blog the other day about the “secret sauce” that one pastor feels makes their church unique – I agree and it got me thinking about this passage!

So check this out –  last night I’m eating at Zaxby’s and that means chicken fingers and yes – EXTRA ZAX SAUCE!! I double dip because I can’t get enough of it!!

Any person living right knows chicken fingers without ZAX SAUCE doesn’t work. And then IT HIT ME – Compass without our incredible VOLUNTEERS doesn’t work either.  The “Compass Zax Sauce” that makes EVERYTHING BETTER is the Unexplainable yet Undeniable PASSION of our SERVANT LEADERS. .

Now, I know some would argue JESUS is the ‘zax sauce’ that makes everything better and you’re ultimately right….without Jesus, we can do nothing. BUT, WE are His Hands and Feet to this Generation and HE does His best work through People.

Our Volunteers have begun a tsunami of generosity as you have “TUT’ed” 100s of hours serving the city the past two weeks.

Our Building and Grounds Teams have “TUT’ed” countless hours remodeling, bringing up to code, and now painting & landscaping our warehouse – doing things most would only hire out at their own businesses.

Our Creative Team, Band, and Worship Leaders spend 100s of hours planning, preparing, and sometimes even scrapping a completed element they’ve worked on to make our worship the best possible experience every single week.

Our Volunteer Leaders have literally freed up our staff to be FOCUSED on praying, planning, and preparing for the BEST EASTER EVER!!

Our Set Design Team was hard at work this week “TUT-ing” to get our Easter set ready (BTW – watch your backs – Sheryl & the Admin Volunteer team are scheming!!)

Our Compass Kids Teams “TUT” every Sunday by changing poopy diapers, calming screaming children, and imparting life changing truth to our rug rats every single week – and ALWAYS with the most incredible Attitudes and Smiles!!

Our Host Team “TUT” rain, cold, or sun to welcome, greet, and park guests every single week.

On our Administrative Team, I noticed them this week “TUT-ing” wearing out the keyboards and ink entering first time guest data, sending hand-written welcome notes, and preparing 1000s of mailers and welcome packs. Most have no idea of the tedious daily labor of love that goes on behind the scenes. But that’s not why they do it.

On and on it goes.

COMPASS VOLUNTEERS – thanks for “TUT-ing” with PASSION every single week and making EVERYTHING we do BETTER! You ROCK and JESUS ROCKS through you in every single act of service and generosity!!

QUICK HIT ABOUT EASTER

Our Creative Team says this is going to be the BEST FLIPPIN EASTER SERVICE of all time.  I CAN’T WAIT to see WHO shows up and WHAT God Does.

We are adding a THIRD SERVICE for EASTER – SATURDAY Night @ 6:00 pm - you’ll be out in plenty of time to catch dinner afterward!!

If you haven’t invited anyone to Easter yet – SERIOUSLY – What are you waiting for?!!!! Jesus is Alive and if you know Him, you know HE”s the ONLY ANSWER we will ever need – LET’s DO THIS!!!

• We saw people in both services today surrender their lives to JESUS – why we do what we do!!!!
• Wesley Odum (706 Student Pastor) spoke today. He BROUGHT IT!!!
• Now, you know why I keep screaming you need to get your students and their friends to THE 706 on Wednesday nights – their worlds will be rocked by Jesus!!
• BTW – we now have commitments on 18 of the 22 Student Camp Scholarships we need – BOO YAH!!
• BUT, we also had 10 more students sign up today for camp which means…
• …we might end up tripling the number we took last year!
• If you want to scholarship a student for camp this summer email Wesley Odum here and let him know as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly!!
• THANK YOU for INVESTING in the NEXT GENERATION!!
• BTW – the video of Chris and Nick’s scholarship and camp life change story BLEW ME AWAY – THAT is what it’s ALL ABOUT!!!
• Several things I wrote down that were said today that need to be repeated…
  • This Generation is ok w’ God, Spirituality, and Jesus, BUT they can’t stand the CHURCH!!
  • Why is that a big deal? because of how people view the church ONLY 4% of this current generation will surrender their lives to Jesus!!
  • CHURCH – that WILL NOT happen on our Watch and we WILL NOT let that happen to this Generation – we’ve got WORK to do!!
  • The church is called to FILL IN THE GAPS in our city with GRACE FILLED GENEROSITY (Nehemiah 6:1-3)
  • If you are not willing to be generous, you don’t know what Jesus did for you!!
  • If our mindset is “people don’t deserve our help – they should help themselves,” you don’t know what Jesus did for you!!
  • QUIT PRAYING about building a wall of hope in this city and BEGIN PREPARING for God to do it!!
  • Satan isn’t concerned that we STARTED building a wall, he’s concerned with us FINISHING the wall – WOW – that’ll mess you up!!!
  • The lack of Generosity in the church today leads to a Half Told Gospel!!
  • Without Generosity my Generation is going to grow up without understanding what Faith & Hope is (1 Corinthians 13:13)
  • The Gospel is not about STARTING something it’s about FINISHING!! (2 Corinthians 8:10-12)
  • Jesus didn’t die for HALF-IN, He died for ALL IN!!
  • Sometimes God will call us to GO FIRST (2 Corinthians 8:1-9)
  • My Generation sees a church that is totally IN TO THEMSELVES!!
  • My Generation is waiting for a church to “Step in the Box…Grab the Bat…Fill in the Gap…and Finish Strong” for this generation by pointing us to Jesus!
• Tonight’s REFUEL – Night of Worship was the BEST ONE we’ve ever had….our worship, creative, and production teams are second to none!!
• THANK YOU for taking us where we needed to go – STRAIGHT to the THRONE of Jesus!!!!!
• Did you notice something different about the building? YEA – BAM POW!!
• I have to say I’m absolutely BLOWN away by our VOLUNTEERS and their passion to take the warehouse God has blessed us with and make it the BEST POSSIBLE PLACE for People to CONNECT with JESUS!!
• These guys are AMAZING…it is going to look AWESOME for Easter…
• …much to do this week (painting, landscaping, etc.) – CAN’ T WAIT to see it when it’s all in place!!
• BUT – it’s all WASTED EFFORT if we don’t BEG GOD to BREAK our Hearts for the people of this city and GET THEM them here this EASTER!!
• Compass – in a 10 mile radius of our church there are 178,000+ people that don’t go to church!!
• I’m not asking God just to Show UP and Show OFF on Easter Weekend but rather to FOREVER CHANGE THIS CITY with His love and passion for them.
• That begins with us being HIS HANDS & FEET to the 178,000 people in our community who need JESUS!!
• Read that again – if 178,000 people that need Jesus doesn’t break your heart and move you to action – then YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU!!
• JESUS changes people, NOT us…BUT it is our job to get them to a place where He can ROCK THEIR WORLD!!
• I CAN’T WAIT  to see what God does EASTER WEEKEND!
• Let’s PRAY like crazy, work as hard as we can to EGG this City for the glory of God, and do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get people to church EASTER WEEKEND so God can ROCK THEIR WORLDS with JESUS!!
• DON’T FORGET!!!! - we are adding a SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICE Easter Weekend!!

We’ve FINALLY received permission from our building owners to make a few upgrades. Special thanks to our 706 Students on Wednesday evening and a Host of incredible volunteers for getting the building ready for a fresh coat of paint before Easter. If you want to get in on the action of preparing the warehouse for hosting 100s of guests on Easter Sunday EMAIL US HERE,  like RIGHT NOW and someone will let you know what time to drop by the church this weekend and next week.

5 BIG THINGS TO PRAY ABOUT TO GET READY FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS –

#1 – SERVE THE CITY

The reports are coming back in, yesterday was AMAZING, you guys are AWESOME, and most of all people are SEEING JESUS with skin on and not just hearing about Him!!!!

#2 – EGG THE CITY

Have you heard? Compass is EGGING THE CITY for Jesus this Easter. 1500 people have already been egged this week with an INVITE to one of Compass’ THREE EASTER SERVICES (don’t miss this years SATURDAY NIGHT EASTER SERVICE!!). We’ll have 500 more eggs waiting for you this Sunday!!

What can you do?

• PRAY and ask God to open doors for you to invite people to church Easter weekend.
• EGG them with one of our EASTER EGG INVITES (pick them up this Sunday).
• BEG God to do something BIG in their lives this EASTER!!

Yes, it’s a statistical fact that 50% of Americans would come to church on a Sunday IF THEY WERE INVITED. There’s no better window than EASTER to invite – what are you waiting for…Go Egg Someone!!!!!

#3 – EASTER

Need I say more! Jesus is alive! We have something to SHOUT ABOUT!! Let’s beg God over the next 10 days to show UP and show OFF and CHANGE LIVES like we’ve never seen before! If you know someone (we all do) that needs Jesus to rock their world, do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get them here on EASTER!!

#4 – THIS SUNDAY

Looking forward to closing out our LET”s DO THIS series in a BIG WAY!!!!

#5 – REFUEL – THIS SUNDAY’S NIGHT OF WORSHIP

Can’t Wait to Worship with all of you!! Starts at 6:00pm. Yes, You want to GET THERE EARLY to get a seat!!!!

• serving teachers,
• providing much needed Spanish interpretation for parent-teacher conferences,
• packing food for mobile food pantries, helping to feed Athens,
• reading to students, coaching kids, mentoring students, and much more.
• We are also “On Hold” waiting at the starting gate for the Green Light to Unleash our Volunteers and help build another house in Athens.

For those who wondering what this is all about (…you missed Sunday), we challenged all Compass-ers to volunteer an hour of time to be Jesus’ Hands and Feet to Serve The City over the next two weeks.  We are praying this is just the beginning of unleashing a Tsunami of Generosity and Support to those who are battling poverty in NE Georgia.

We are initially taking “3 bites out of the elephant” in the areas of food, housing, and education by coming alongside three Strategic Partners who have already said “Let’s Do This” in our community. Partnering with these organizations allows us to have maximum impact while combing their STRENGTHS (Know How & Infrastructure) with our STRENGTHS (an army of Volunteers).

FOOD - Northeast Georgia Food Bank helping to meet immediate physical needs of people in our city and in our church

HOUSING - Habitat For Humanity helping to meet long term physical needs through affordable housing, and

EDUCATION - Fowler Drive Elementary School serving some of the most needy kids in our community

COMPASS - LET’S DO THIS!!!! GO FOR IT by CLICKING HERE for a complete list of Volunteer Opportunities and to sign up for the One Hour Time Slot that works best for you!!

MENTORING is also one of the biggest and most impacting needs our education partners have. It’s living out our value of GENERATIONAL INFLUENCE at it’s best. Statistics prove that education is the NUMBER ONE way to help move people out of poverty. For those who want more info on becoming a MENTOR Click Here to Email Chase McKissick and he will contact you.

“Give to the one who asks you…” (Jesus - Matthew 5:42)

“…whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life…” (Jesus - Mark 10:44-45)

• Whenever someone surrenders their life to Jesus it’s an AMAZING day…that happened today!!!!
• My oldest son, MacLean, was recently asked “What kind of a church we were?“…
• …not really knowing how to answer that he told them “Compass is a JESUS CHURCH!!“
• BEST answer I’ve ever heard…Yes, I bowed my chest out a little when I heard that (very Biblical thing to do – Mark 1:11)
• We’re not real good at that yet, BUT we are trying to be obedient and live that out!!
• BTW, what Jesus said will totally MESS you up!! (Matthew 5:42, Acts 20:35, Matthew 25:35-40, Luke 12:48, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 4:16-21)
• BTW, the religious people rejected Jesus and killed him for what He came to do!!
• BTW, YES, we are called to CONNECT PEOPLE TO JESUS,  BUT as the local church we are also Commanded, Commissioned, and Called to HELP the poor, FEED the hungry, CLOTHE the naked, CARE for the sick, and INVITE strangers in (Matthew 25:35-40).
• We have so FAR to go, BUT today we took some GIANT STEPS towards being a GENEROUS JESUS CHURCH!!
• #1 – we introduced THREE STRATEGIC PARTNERS we will be partnering with in 2010 to meet needs in our community…
  • Northeast Georgia Food Bank, Habitat For Humanity, Fowler Drive Elementary School.
  • This Video Link from our Strategic Partners says it all – CHECK IT OUT HERE!!
  • I can’t explain it all – check out this Sunday’s Podcast for all the details.
  • Yes, this is just a start and I pray over the next 10 years we can partner with dozens and give away millions!
• #2 – we introduced  SERVE THIS CITY - a strategic initiative of 300 hours of service over the next 14 days
  • What is it? SERVE THIS CITY will kick start us to become the Hands and Feet of Jesus in NE GA 365 days/year
  • What’s your part? GO FOR IT by giving ONE HOUR of service over the next two weeks and TOGETHER reach our goal of 300 hours of service
  • What Do I do? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR ‘One Hour of Service‘ - We’ve filled almost 200 hours and counting so far!!!
• #3 – we announced EGG THIS CITY our Easter Promotion to invite 3 Friends and perform one act of Generosity b’w now and Easter (info overload – more on that tomorrow)
• Here’s what I know…
• …up to this point we have been SPONTANEOUS with our Generosity (meeting whatever needs we could at the time – John 6:5-9)…
• …From this point we MUST become STRATEGIC (Isaiah 32:8) where Generosity is a Priority, Planned, and a Percentage is set aside…
• …and SACRIFICIAL (it’s going to cost us something!! – Mark 12:44)
• Jesus didn’t die on the cross for us to give SOMETHING, He’s asked us to give Him EVERYTHING!!!!
• Most of us are not real good at this, INCLUDING ME, but we are going to figure it out!!
• WHY? “Because God has given us SO MUCH MORE than we deserve, we are going to learn how to INTENTIONALLY give others MORE!!”
• I love and am humbled to be your pastor…I see God so at work changing, shaping, & molding our hearts to be GENEROUS one person at a time – let’s open our lives to Him BIG and let Him DO HIS THING!
• LET’S DO THIS and Let’s GO FOR IT!!!!
• If you have not signed your students up for 706 SUMMER STUDENT CAMP, you can do that here.  We have a limited window as parents – let’s position them for life to do great things for God in their generation. Summer Camp is one of the BEST INVESTMENTS you’ll make in your student’s life this year – PROMISE!!
• CAN’T WAIT for next Sunday’s Night of Worship beginning at 6:00 pm (GET HERE EARLY) as we come together to worship,  prepare our hearts for Easter, and BEG GOD to Show UP and Show OFF BIG Easter Weekend.

• One of our 706 students who was recently baptized at Compass came to me after the service last week and I could tell God was really working in his life. He said as a high school student, he didn’t have much to give but he wanted to give all he could. He sold his PS3 so he could give the money away and tithe it back to God. OK – THAT BLEW ME AWAY!!
• He also said he was attending Joe Sangl’s FINANCIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE this Sunday night AND he’s not the only student who is attending. I LOVE the passion of this Generation to position themselves to do something Great for God!!
• If you haven’t registered yet…seriously, I’d do that RIGHT NOW by CLICKING HERE! Free Food, Free Childcare, Free Financial Counsel – NO EXCUSES!!!!!
• One of our Young At Hearters presented one of our high schoolers from a very tough home situation with a car they were getting ready to sell, but God asked him to do something else with it – GIVE IT AWAY and BLESS someone else. OK – THAT BLEW ME AWAY too!!
• I know I’ve been screaming about this but WHAT IF ALL of us began to Prepare for and Pass the Generosity Test and not just a few of us…I’m just saying – WHAT IF!!?? (Proverbs 11:24-25)

• UNCOMMON – Finding Your Path To Significance by Tony Dungy (having my boys read Part 1 – Developing Your Core…Golden!!)
• LOVE and WAR – Finding The Marriage You Dream Of by John & Staci Eldredge – nothing more needs to be said!
• LEADING ON EMPTY – Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion by Wayne Cordeiro – a must read for every leader!!
• THE YEAR OF LIVING LIKE JESUS by Ed Dobson – Messed me up BIG TIME!!!

• Heaven got BIGGER today – we saw people in both services surrender their lives to JESUS….
• ….haven’t received the exact count yet, BUT if it was only just ONE it was WORTH IT!!
• Today, we simply opened up the Word of God and saw what HE had to say about MONEY!!
• It’s ALL HIS (Deuteronomy 8:17-18, I Chronicles 29:11-12, Psalm 24:1)
• It’s a TEST (Luke 16:10-12)
• It’s the #1 COMPETITOR FOR YOUR HEART when it comes to following Jesus (Matthew 6:21-24)
• God wants our FIRST and our BEST – anything less is DISOBEDIENCE!! (Genesis 4:3-4, Proverbs 3:9-10)
• IMAGINE what if EVERYONE who Follows Jesus said “Let’s Do This” – let’s stop robbing God and BRING to Him what is His….(Malachi 3:8-10)
• IMAGINE what we could do together in this generation to help the poor, take care of the sick and see lives changed!!
• IMAGINE what the church could be – a flippin TSUNAMI of GENEROSITY, FULLY FUNDED to do the WILL OF GOD!!
• It all starts with a group of people willing to say LET”S DO THIS -  TRUST GOD, Be Obedient, & Be Generous  - LET”s BE THAT Group of People!!
• We had 50 people register for next Sunday night’s (March 21, 5:30-7:30pm) FINANCIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE (FLE)!!
• Yes, that’s AWESOME, but there are more of you who need to be there.
• Satan has a plan for your money – to totally keep you in bondage through debt and screw up your life!!
• God has a plan too – FREEDOM from debt where you can use what He’s Blessed you with to do the most good in your generation.
• SERIOUSLY – if you are married or single, you don’t have to argue about money or stress out over paying the bills.
• I can’t do this for you, but with God’s Help and some very practical steps ANYONE can – YOU CAN DO THIS!!
• If you are a student, single adult, married or about to me married…breathe oxygen…love Jesus…and never attended the FINANCIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE – YOU NEED TO BE THERE – like CLICK HERE RIGHT NOW TO REGISTER.
• Free Food, Free Childcare and God’s Plan for a blessed and stress free financial game plan – WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??
• We’ve seen almost 200 people attend FLE in the past year – THIS STUFF WORKS!!
• We only have 4 spots left for 706 SUMMER CAMP 2010 – Wesley is trying to get more BUT NO GUARANTEES - REGISTER HERE!!!
• BEST PART OF THE DAY (besides people giving their lives to Jesus) having my friends Belinda James and MJ (Morgan) in the service today….
• …if you don’t know the story - check out her story here - AMAZING story of God HEALING by showing UP and OFF in a BIG WAY!!
• Can’t Wait for Next Sunday – God has opened up some AWESOME doors to do some things in this community we’ve NEVER done before – can’t wait to tell you all about it!!

• READ the Old Testament book of Nehemiah chapters 5-10 and ask God to speak to you
• DO ONE spontaneous act of GENEROSITY before Sunday
• INVITE a friend or family member to be your guest on Sunday
• PRAY and beg God to change our lives as we gather to worship HIM this Sunday!!

Also, remember that DAYLIGHT SAVINGS begins this weekend, set your clocks forward ONE HOUR on Saturday.

Invite your friends via Facebook.

• 7 people surrendered their lives to Jesus today…6 students on Wednesday night @ The 706 – why we do what we do!!
• If you have a Middle or High School Student - GO HERE NOW & SIGN THEM UP FOR CAMP – most important thing you can do this summer!!!!!
• Talked about GENEROSITY today – I really am asking God to change my heart and this church’s heart to be THE MOST GENEROUS CHURCH on the planet!!!!
• Honestly, I don’t know exactly what that looks like, but do know it’s what we’re called to.
• These verses will MESS YOU UP - 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Proverbs 11:24-25, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
• Hey, if you don’t believe you are RICH, go here and type in your salary.
• I’m wrestling with the question – “If Compass wasn’t here…or the local church for that matter…would anybody miss us?”
• I want us to become known as the church who gave their lives away and lived like Jesus!!
• The MOST GENEROUS person I know was JESUS – He gave His life for me!! (2 Corinthians 9:15)
• Thanks for being MESSED UP enough as a church to do something about it – the Marta Givens Video story on Sunday about adopting 3 children from Haiti was AMAZING and challenged me BIG TIME!!
• Yes, it’s true…own it…most Christians are not GENEROUS because we’re GREEDY…
• …but, I also believe there’s another layer below that – we don’t understand GOD’S GRACE!!
• THAT ALONE BLOWS me away – when I look at the cross, it makes me want to put Him FIRST and give Him my VERY BEST!!
• If you have an issue with Generosity, it’s a HEART problem, NOT a money problem (Matthew 6:21)
• Some of you are blessed with a burden – a heart that is disturbed enough to take action.
• Don’t Complain, Avoid, or Appease it, but rather let it MESS with you and MOVE you to Action!!
• By the way – that’s what God did – John 3:16!!!!
• I’m praying for a heart that asks “What can I GIVE UP FOR God, rather than what can I GET FROM God?!!”
• I love the story of Nehemiah because his first response was “LET’S DO THIS!!”
• Nehemiah’s heart was DISTURBED enough to take action, BROKEN by his disobedience, and was WILLING to give EVERYTHING!!
• Jesus never said “I want SOMETHING.” He said, “I want EVERYTHING!!”
• I don’t have all the answers and I don’t even know the questions…but I DO KNOW God has made a BIG ASK of His church, He has strategically PLACED us here, and He wants us to BE OBEDIENT and GENEROUS however He Prompts us!!
• LET’S DO THIS!!!!!!!!!

• READ the Old Testament book of NEHEMIAH chapters 1-4 to get your heart ready for Sunday!
• ASK God to show you a NEED you can meet in someone else’s life before Sunday!!
• INVITE a FRIEND to come to church with you this Sunday!!!
• PRAY like crazy for God to Show UP and Show OFF BIG in this city and your life on Sunday!!!!

Invite your friends via email.

Invite your friends via Facebook.

This will be our third time to go together. God has always used this day and event to mess me up, challenge me in big ways, renew, refresh, and refuel me, help me fall more in love with Jesus, and make me more excited and passionate about the local church than ever before. YEA – Can’t Wait to see how God moves at UNLEASH today.

For those that wanted to go but somehow couldn’t make it this year, I just found out they will be streaming the two Main Sessions LIVE…and FOR FREE!  Just Go To This Link Today…the two live sessions will begin at 9:00am and 3:30pm EST…it would be AWESOME for you to join us!!

6 Students surrendered their lives to Christ last night at 706 – BAM POW!!!! That’s WHY we do what we do!!

I CAN’T WAIT to begin our new series “LET’S DO THIS” this Sunday!!! This is a GREAT SERIES to bring a guest to!!!!

Three weeks ago at the beginning of the series kickoff, God showed up and showed off more than I honestly had expected in seeing the people show up with open hearts, and open minds, READY to experience Him, and Go to the NEXT level of Worship! We also did live worship in the Elementary Kids Service during the first week!

This past Sunday topped it all off. I had the opportunity to interview several different leaders who are a part of our Music Team and asked them three questions: (1) When and How did you find God? (2) What does worship mean to you, and how do you choose to worship God? (3) How would you encourage people to worship God with their life apart from just during a Sunday experience?

To be able to hear their hearts and see the impact and response from the people was amazing. After the video segments, I personally challenged the people to examine their hearts in asking themselves, “Do you worship God with everything you have, every single day, is He your number one?…” – And here is what it is all about, in the 2nd service alone at least 4 people entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. – Come on Jesus!

God is up to something BIG! We can’t see exactly what it is, but I encourage you to hold on, trust Him, remain faithful, and Worship Him with your life every single day!

This upcoming Sunday will be the last week of our Worship Him series, you will not want to miss it. Don’t come alone, invite your family and friends, and come ready to go to another level in worshiping God!

Remember this – Your life will not be blessed, if you are not blessing Him!

I love serving with every single one of you!

Matt

One of the best Sundays of my tenure on staff here at Compass Church happened just two Sundays ago.   It was the first Sunday of the merge and the energy in the church was incredible.  From the parking lot to the stage there was an excitement and buzz around this place and an expectation that God was going to show up in a powerful way!

Then… sure enough He did!  It was incredible to walk into the back of the worship center and see it packed full of people singing praise to God and to see so many people with “arms high and heart abandoned”.  The spirit of God was all over that worship center in that moment as we came together as one body.

As amazing as that experience was it could only be topped by my experience that day in Compass Kids.  We decided that as we kicked off our new worship series it was time to take our kids’s worship to a whole new level.   So for the first time, we had the incredible 706 band lead Compass Kids in worship.  It took the kids a little bit of time (especially for the older ones) to stop worrying about what they looked like to their friends standing around them, but pretty soon the kid’s theater was filled with the same spirit of worship that everyone experienced in the adult service.

Seeing so many kids in such a short period of time learn and then experience what it means to worship was an event that challenged me to the core.  Seeing so many little kids genuinely raise their hands in worship and sing praise to God reminded me that we are truly wired to worship. What if I was like some of the youngest kids in the theater that day in my worship to God?

What if I let go of everything that gets between me and God and truly worshiped Him like a child?  What if we were like that in our worship to God as a church? Maybe this is part of what Jesus meant when he said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

This Sunday at Compass we continue our “Worship Him” series.  I invite you to join us as we seek to experience that same kingdom Jesus spoke of by learning more of what it means to worship Him like a child.

In our culture today, we all have to fight the desire of instant gratification and a “what have you done for me lately” mindset.  At times, students will tell me that God is not there for them.  Look around. We live in world of high speed internet; we can retrieve information at the touch of a finger, 5 minute dinners and a scrolling sports update on ESPN networks.

This has created a scary trend in my life as well.  At times, I battle feeling like worshipping God with my life because of a notion that He has failed me.  The fact that I somehow believe that God has failed me leads me to fail Him. It hinders me from offering the only thing that I have to give God, my worship. There is absolutely nothing else to offer or anything else He wants from me.

Why worship?

Psalm 103:1-5

Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

I do not deserve anything else from God; He has rescued me from death and has given me hope. That’s enough! If He never did anything else for me, He has been more generous than I deserve.

So I encourage you to be reminded of the joy of your salvation and Worship Him.

This past Sunday we showed a video that I had been excited about ever since we began planning our Worship Him series.  We called the video A Life of Worship.  The reason I was so excited about it was because we wanted to illustrate how worship is more than just what we experience together on Sunday mornings.  How we worship God personally throughout the week has a tremendous impact on our relationship with Him.

If you didn’t get a chance to see the video this Sunday, here it is.

Click here to view the embedded video.

One of my favorite ways to worship God is to ponder who He is.  Any little thing can set me off on a journey to learn something new about who God is, how He thinks, and how He loves.  I can be sitting at a stop light and I’ll start thinking about how our eyes work and how God makes these little blobs in our heads capable of using chemicals and electrical pulses to see the most incredible things.  It tells me that God has an intricate mind that engineers amazing things, but also has a taste for tremendous aesthetics in what He creates.  He loves beauty and order.

In those few moments sitting at a stoplight I’m brought to my knees (not literally of course because that would be a bit difficult in the drivers seat), and I worship Him as I ponder who He is. Psalms 111:1-4 says:

¹ Praise the Lord!   I will thank the Lord with all my heart
as I meet with his godly people.
² How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
³ Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
⁴ He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

This week, how have you pondered who God is, or delighted in the great things He’s done in your life?

• Worship is more than a song, it’s moving in response to God the 110 hours of our life we are not sleeping or in church!!

On Monday afternoon, the long awaited phone call finally came from the Haitian government that Ava and Elle’s 5 year old brother, Stevenson, was being flown to the US – YEA GOD!!

After a little last minute scrambling, we put Marta Givens on an airplane for Miami, FL late Monday. She is there now waiting for Stevenson to arrive on a plane from Haiti where they will go through the final US and Haiti customs and adoption process. Once completed, they will return to Athens, GA on a plane to REUNITE these three children together as a family!!

I know we’ve been praying, giving, waiting, and hoping for several weeks now and it’s easy to take for granted that this would happen. BUT, THIS REALLY IS A MIRACLE!!!! God has showed UP and showed OFF in so many ways to orchestrate this adoption and these 3 orphans being raised TOGETHER and in a GODLY HOME and CHURCH. He is SOVEREIGN, He is AWESOME, He is GOD, He CAN DO ANYTHING (Ephesians 3:20)!!

PLEASE PRAY WITH US FOR MARTA:

#1 – For Stevenson to arrive SOON and everything to go smoothly in Miami with the adoption.

#2 – For expedited paperwork and adoption clearance at the US Embassy.

#3 – For safety in travel there and back.

Compass Family and Friends, thank you on behalf of this family for your incredible GENEROSITY – THIS IS SO AWESOME!!!!

• 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!!!!

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!!!!

• 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!!

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.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.

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!!

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!

Compass Family or Compass-ers as you like to be called –

I’m often asked, “How Can I Help? – I love what God is doing at Compass! He has used this church to change my life and if there is ANYTHING I can do, let me know.” Ok, here goes.

I’ve never written a letter like this in our short 10 year history. There was no way I could focus on preaching this Sunday before sharing with you the extraordinary burden I am currently carrying. Please read to the end and respond as God leads as soon as you possibly can.

I recently journaled, “2009 was the TOUGHEST but Most AMAZING year of ministry I’ve ever experienced!!” For me personally, and for us as a church, the TOUGHEST part came at the end. I’ll address that first.

In 2009 we faced an economic recession unlike any other this generation has seen, leading to 10%+ of our Compass family being out of work. We also courageously and in obedience to God’s Big Ask of us sailed out into unknown waters to launch our second campus – I love this church!!

However, the impact of our people being out of work coupled with the increased ministry expenses of two campuses taxed our budget unlike any year previously. Still, with wise stewardship, unbelievable generosity from you (Compass Connection Groups have been AMAZING meeting needs), and major cutbacks in every area of ministry including salaries – (nothing went untouched) we’ve stayed close to being on budget all year. Then…during the fourth quarter we flat-lined and the bottom dropped out.

Beginning mid-September through the end of December, our total offerings were 25% less than what we normally receive, leaving us $100,000 in the red for the year. In addition, our 18 month Beyond commitments came in $107,000 less than our original pledges. We prayerfully, and with great hope, anticipated that our End of the Year Gift Offering would make up the difference. I returned to the office this week to find to date with what has been received, we are still $75,997.93 in the red for 2009 ministry expenses unless we are able to make up the difference during the month of January.

Please read the AMAZING things God has done this year through you, and then take one of 3 actions below.

2009: TOUGHEST BUT MOST AMAZING YEAR OF MINISTRY IN SPITE OF THE RECESSION

God showed up SO BIG – it’s BEYOND words. I’ll hit the highlights (maybe 10%) of how God used you in AMAZING ways to GO BEYOND and impact this community in the past year –

YOU’VE BEEN JESUS IN THIS COMMUNITY TO SOME OF THE POOREST and MOST HURT BY THE RECESSION THROUGH SEVERAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS:

• NE GA Food Pantry – delivered 28,000 pounds of food….providing 365 families and 1,704 total people with 13 meals for every person in the family!
• Fowler Drive Students – your gifts have helped put coats, shoes, racing stripe free underwear, and soon uniforms, on students in the toughest life and economic situations in our community
• Fowler Drive Christmas – your gifts and generosity have helped 51 children in 15 families experience smiles and joy on Christmas morning they otherwise would not have
• Fowler Drive Mentoring – your time and gifts have resulted in over 150 hours spent mentoring and encouraging at risk children in our community
• Project Safe – your gifts, time and passion allowed our Women’s Groups to be recognized as “Faith Organization Advocate of the Year” by Project Safe for supporting and contributing in the fight against domestic violence in our community
• Care Ministry – your gifts have provided meals, prayers, cards, encouragement and the presence of God in some of the toughest personal crises people face
• Financial Coaching – with 10% of our church family out of work, this ministry launched in 2009 with 7 Financial Counselors trained to provide much needed FREE & Professional financial debt and budget counseling
• Prayer Partners – by gathering every Saturday morning, through personal prayer counseling, and on Sunday morning, 100s have been prayed for, and in crisis received much needed support and prayer

YOU ARE CHANGING LIVES FOR JESUS –

• Eternity Impacted – we’ve witnessed 572 people acknowledge asking Jesus to be their personal Lord and Savior – UNHEARD of for a church this size
• Baptisms – 87 people celebrated new life and went public for Jesus through baptism – UNBELIEVABLE for a church this size
• Celebrate Recovery – every Monday evening you’ve opened up your doors to help people find the freedom and purpose in their lives for which God created them
• 706 & Compass Kids – we’ve seen 38 teens and children invite Jesus into their life

YOU ARE HELPING PEOPLE CONNECT WITH GOD THROUGH WORSHIP & IMPACTING THE NEXT GENERATION –

• You opened a second campus in Oconee – allowing us together to now impact 9 NE Georgia counties between our two campuses, expand to 3 worship service times, and welcome 1,083 first time guests through our doors – AMAZING!!
• Launched Our First Ever Night of Worship – what an amazing night as several hundred gathered under one roof to boldly sing and beg God for healing and life change in this community – next one is January 24 @ 6pm.
• Fusion – you have partnered through your gifts, time, and passion with FCA’s monthly Fusion event to minister to 800+ Teens from all over Northeast GA this past year
• Compass School of Arts – launched in 2009, you are raising up the next generation of musicians as 10 students took weekly lessons with one of our 3 instructors. Our Compass Kids Choir debuted by leading us in worship Christmas Eve. For info on lessons this coming year email Matt Ammons at mammons@compasschurch.com.
• Internships – 7 high school and college interns are being trained and mentored in student ministry, creative arts, worship, and discipleship recovery through your generosity and gifts

YOU ARE HELPING PEOPLE GROW SPIRITUALLY

• Connection Groups & Volunteer Teams – The heart and soul of Compass is partnering together to do life together, grow as a Christ Followers,  and do whatever it takes to Connect People to Jesus. We’ve seen our Groups and Volunteers explode with growth, passion, energy, focus, and extreme servant’s hearts in 2009.
• Our 706 Middle & High School Ministry & Compass Kids – you are making a generational impact by shaping lives and handing off a healthy church and godly legacy for generations to come every single week. In 2009, you ministered to over 1,000 teens and children through The 706, Fusion, and Compass Kids.

REVIEWING JUST THIS SHORT LIST…it’s obvious God has done something unexplainable yet undeniable through your generosity this past year. Investing through the local church is clearly providing you the opportunity to make a difference with your lives, shape the next generation, and impact eternity more than anything else you could support.

While it would be easy to look at this as an obstacle, God’s gotten in my face to remind me that His Ways are FAR BEYOND our ways (Isaiah 55:8) and this is an OPPORTUNITY for us to see Him do an unbelievable miracle to kick off 2010.

On January 31, we will be combining all 3 services from both campuses to celebrate Compass’ TENTH ANNIVERSARY (10:30am at the North Oconee Fine Arts Center). I also believe that we will be celebrating two miracles – our 10^th Anniversary AND God’s amazing provision of the $75,997.93 we need to move into what’s NEXT in the black instead of the red.

YOU CAN HELP TURN AN OBSTACLE INTO AN OPPORTUNITY 3 WAYS IN JANUARY

#1 – CLICK HERE right now to give online as large a beginning-of-the-year gift as you can to help us avoid this crisis. If we all do what God asks us to do no matter how small or big the gift, we’ll be part of a miracle.
#2 – Mail in your Gift today. Mail to: Compass Church, 525 Calhoun Dr., Athens GA 30601
#3 – Drop your Special Gift in the offering basket this Sunday at church.

Compass – You ROCK and Jesus obviously ROCKS THROUGH YOU!! THANK YOU for reading, praying, and allowing me to share this burden with you. You have always come through when asked. God has always taken our little and made it MUCH. His specialty is multiplying our “sack lunches” to feed thousands.

Now, you have the opportunity to make a difference and help us continue to serve people and connect them to Jesus. If we all do what God asks us to do, we can start this year in the black and begin the NEXT 10 years of ministry with great anticipation.

Compass, I love being your pastor. I’m humbled, honored, and privileged to partner with you! I look forward to preaching this Sunday and can’t wait to see what God does NEXT!!

Pastor Jim

Jim Carpenter III
Compass Church
Blog: jimcarpenter.cc
Email: jcarpenter@compasschurch.com

Just wanted to do a quick shout out and celebrate what happened on Sunday.  We did something we haven’t done before and that was to look back at some of the most impacting series we did this past year and pulled message clips from those Sundays that had a huge impact on people’s lives.  We also pulled songs from worship services during those series and had some extended worship.

It was great getting to go back and reflect on what God has done this past year.  We played the bumpers from those series, and during that I just kept thinking about individual lives that I know were shaped during that time.  I was also challenged again by the words God had given to Jim to speak during those times.

It was an incredible Sunday.  If you were there and were particularly moved by a message, here are links to the full messages.

My Year…My Time…My Passion – great message on our need to spend daily time with God.

The Reunion – a powerful message for those that have been dropped by someone in their lives, and how God is there for us no matter what.

Biblical Baptism – baptism is an important part of our spiritual journey, and if you’ve ever wondered why this is the message for you.

Waiting in the Dip – a message that speaks to being in a dip in your life, even though you’ve done everything thing God had asked you to do.  This is a direct message that speaks to the fact that even if you live a life dedicated to God, you’re still going to experience difficult times.  Learn how God can use those times in our powerful way in our lives.

It’s been an incredible year, and I’m looking forward to see what God has in store for 2010.  Make sure and be here on Sunday as we kick off our new series NeXt and look at what God’s vision is for our church and the impact we’re to have on those around us.

To close off, here’s a walk down memory lane.  We’ve compiled most of the bumpers from this past year.  Take a look and remember how God has worked in your own life in 2009.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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We took my father-in-law to the Chick-fil-A Bowl Thursday night. I know there’s a God – Tennessee only scored twice and one time they scored the band was on the field getting ready for half time so I only had to hear the most obnoxious song in the world, Rocky Top, just once!!

It’s truly been one of the TOUGHEST but most AMAZING years of my life. Saying that – I’m looking forward to a very special service this Sunday as we come together with a heart full of gratitude to  look back, remember, celebrate, and worship in awe the great things God did this past year and as we begin to look forward with great anticipation for what’s NeXt in 2010.

We’ll be back on our normal Sunday schedule at our Athens and Oconee Campuses!! Can’t Wait!!!!!

Words fall short to describe the overwhelming feeling of gratitude and thanks for how the Compass Family of Volunteers, our unbelievable Staff, and so many Friends have literally picked us up and carried our family on their backs these past 4 years and especially this past week. Seriously – we would NEVER have made it without you and God working through you.

I’ve never seen the Compass Warehouse look so AWESOME, never heard so many comments from family and friends about how AMAZING the Compass Staff and Family were and how graciously every single guest was treated. It was truly a day for CELEBRATING an AMAZING Woman and a Life Well Lived.

Words fall short, but from the bottom of our hearts the Pridgen and Carpenter families say THANK YOU for loving, caring, serving, praying, encouraging, feeding, being Jesus with skin on and giving us the strength to go on!!!!!!!

CHRISTMAS EVE

Many of you have asked, “If you need ANYTHING, just ask!!” Ok, here’s the BEST Christmas Gift you could give your pastor and honor our family and Nancy’s legacy with – INVITE Everyone you know, DON’T come alone, and BEG God to change HUNDREDS of lives in our Christmas Eve Services tomorrow (Here’s the Link if you have not reserved your tickets yet).

Monday, I showed an interview Nancy did for our church a year ago for a series called “30 Days To Live.” Here’s a link to watch it. It says it all. It’s Worth the Watch!!!

This Christmas you and I have an opportunity to make an eternal difference in the lives of people we love. In a tough, cloudy, and foggy season for me and Lisa personally, we’ve PRAYED more than ever before for God to SPEAK Clearly, Powerfully, and Boldly words of HOPE through us and the Compass Church family this Christmas Eve. The most important gift any of us could give our family and friends this Christmas is NOT a great meal, a beautiful tree, or that perfect gift….it’s introducing them to JESUS – THAT ALONE will change their lives, marriage, situation, their future, or whatever they are facing!! In honor of my mother-in-law’s legacy the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ will BOLDLY be Presented and you and I will be giving all of the people we know in our lives who are far from God an opportunity to respond & place their faith in Christ – I CAN’T WAIT!!!!

LET’S DO IT – Nothing would celebrate my mother-in-law’s life and honor our family more than filling up the North Oconee High School Fine Arts Center and seeing Hundreds of Lives Changed on Christmas Eve.

PERSONAL PRAYER

Nancy’s brother, Glenn Cross, and his son/her nephew, Cody Cross, completed a successful son to father kidney transplant at Piedmont Hospital yesterday (yea, we’ve had a CRAZY week). God is Mighty, a Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace, and THE GREAT PHYSICIAN. My Uncle called Jimmy personally this morning and said everything seemed to be working. Please pray for them and our family this week during this critical time of transition and healing.

• As I was studying at Panera Bread this week (the bakery was calling but I resisted!!), I ran into a Compass-er who told me he is celebrating this December being clean and holding down a job for 14 months after beating a 3 year addiction to Meth!!
• I love THAT!! - THAT’s what it’s all about, THAT’s a MODERN DAY MIRACLE we get to be part of!!!
• We talked about his first visit to Compass and how YOU accepted him “As Is” and showed him through your love that God was His ONLY HOPE!!
• God can do anything – let’s get people there and let HIM do HIS THING!!!!
• HERE’S THE LINK FOR TICKETS ONCE AGAIN!! Um….if you don’t have tickets yet….yea, I’d get on that RIGHT NOW!!)
• Can’t wait to See you Sunday and see God Rock Our Worlds by doing something Unexplainable Humanly yet Undeniably Divine to close out 2009!

SO MUCH Happening – wanted to get a Thursday  SHOUT OUT to everyone – 2 thoughts:

• THANK YOU for all your prayers for our family. Yes, it’s tough, it’s not easy, and we don’t like it…BUT, God is real, He’s there, and I’m so PROUD of Lisa, my father-in-law, and brother-in-law for how they’ve led our family through this life changing “Dip.”
• Psalm 34:18 says “If your heart is broken, you’ll find God RIGHT THERE; if you’re kicked in the gut, He’ll help you catch your breath.“
• I’m so thankful that God is PRESENT in the midst of our deepest hurts!!!!
• I’m also reminded that just because we are Christ Followers, we are not exempt from pain & suffering…
• …and yes, we have questions, doubts, and fears too…
• ….BUT we also have a HOPE in Jesus that goes BEYOND the grave and a PEACE that passes understanding!
• Compass Church – we could not ask for a better staff and group of passionate servant leaders who have surrounded our family to provide MORE than we could ever ask for – you guys are AWESOME – thank you for being JESUS WITH SKIN!!
• Yesterday, the church staff asked if they could lay hands on and PRAY over me – POWERFUL & ANOINTED!!

This Sunday we begin a new series called Christmas Present. I don’t know about you, but for us things are CRAZY during the holiday season. We’re shopping, organizing holiday parties, emailing the kid’s Christmas lists to family, getting cards and letters written, decorations, cookies, ringing bells, attending fundraiser events…you get the picture, because you live it. Amidst all of this activity, oftentimes we miss what it is that motivated us to do all of this in the first place…to spend quality time with friends, to love our family, to reach out to those in our community, and most of all thankfulness to God for sending His Son to save us.

During this series we are challenging everyone to be PRESENT this Christmas. To sit down, listen, love, enjoy, bask, watch, be in the moment during these holidays. It’s amazing how much we miss amidst all the busyness. Will we choose to turn down the volume of noise in our lives enough to hear from God, and move in response to His voice? If we will do that, we will find the blessing, joy and fulfillment God desires for us.

Don’t miss this Sunday, and make sure and bring a friend.  Be here, be present.

Email invite

Facebook invite

Because of my tenure here, I feel the liberty to write this blog today.  Some of you may not know that I don’t attend church at Compass.  Actually, I have the best of both worlds:  During the week, I get to work with a great group of people who love Jesus and are focused toward a common goal that is way bigger than we are; then on Sundays, I actually get to go to church and worship!  I’m not pulled aside because the copier is jammed or we’re out of toilet paper, or the coffee pot isn’t working, or, or, or…you get the picture.  Let’s face it, when you’re in the ministry Sunday IS a work day.

I feel very blessed to be a small part of the great things that God is accomplishing through Compass.  I do want to say, though, that if I had not already been involved/serving in another church before I began working at Compass, I could call Compass Church my home.   You see, I’ve been behind the scenes all this time and I know the inner workings of what goes on here.   I know procedures, personalities, motives, attitudes…and I’m proud that I can say without reservation that Jim and the other pastors have a heart for Christ and a burning passion to connect people to Jesus like few others I’ve ever met.   Compass, you’re blessed to have their leadership.

With that in mind, let me ask something of you.  Would you commit with me to pray for our pastors, and especially Jim and Lisa during this time?  The enemy is attacking any way possible and hates the fact that God is being lifted up through Jim, the other pastors, and the people of Compass Church.  Isaiah 59:19 says, “…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” I took the liberty of putting the comma in that sentence in a different place and it lifted my spirit.  Now read the same verse this way, “…When the enemy shall come in, like a flood the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” Wow!  The enemy will come in, but picture the power of a flood as the Spirit of the Lord works on our behalf…no stronghold can withstand that kind of force!

Right now we need to FLOOD Jim and Lisa with our prayers and ask that the Spirit of God cover them like a flood.   Perry Noble’s blog from earlier this week lists specific things/ways to pray for your Pastor.  I have included them for you to use as a guideline when you pray.    Please pray…pray specifically, pray fervently and pray in faith believing that the God who began this good work will bring it to completion!

Honored to serve you,

Sheryl

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PERRY NOBLE’S BLOG

Pray For Your Pastor November 30, 2009

This particular post may seem a little self serving…but so be it…this needs to be said (AND…I don’t mind asking people to pray for me!) 

This past Thursday (Thanksgiving) I was enjoying some great food and watching a football game when all of a sudden I began receiving text messages about something happening to Matt Chandler, the pastor of The Village Church in Texas.  Long story short…Matt passed out, hit his head…was rushed to the hospital and after some tests was diagnosed with a mass on his frontal lobe that will be looked at this week.  Matt is a young leader (33 or 34 I believe) whom God’s hand is all over.  His preaching/teaching is amazing…and God has used him to grow the Village Church from about 100 or so people to over 7,000 in just a few years.  (He is an incredibly gifted preacher/leader!)

Hearing about what happened to him shook me up…BIG TIME.  I had VERY few words for the rest of the day as I began to think about the stress and pressure that is on pastors that simply is not understood by many.

My prayer is that things like this will cause the church to rally behind their pastor…and pray for him with more passion and intentionality than ever before.  Here are several areas where you can be praying for your pastor…

#1 – His Walk With God – Pray that his relationship with Jesus isn’t one out of obligation…but of OBSESSION for HIM!!!  It is VERY tempting for a pastor to read the Bible for sermon prep and NOT to know Jesus.  Pray that His relationship with Jesus will be FRESH and that he will be filled with vision and passion like never before.

#2 – His Integrity – It takes YEARS to establish integrity…and it can be destroyed in seconds.  Pray for your pastor to keep his eyes on Jesus and OFF of anything that might lead him astray!!!

#3 – His Marriage – Pray that your pastor just doesn’t preach about a healthy marriage…but LIVES it out.  I promise you the enemy comes STRONG after his marriage…and his kids!!!  Lift up his wife and children by name as well!!!

#4 – His Sanity – He deals with critics, he deals with unrealistic expectations, he deals with accusations, he deals with pressure that is intense.  Pray that he will keep his sanity.  I recently heard of a survey that said only 10% of the men entering the ministry actually retire…the others either get disqualified OR drop out!  That is a 90% failure rate!!!  THE STAKES ARE HIGH!!!

#5 – His Health – I was in a meeting of pastors a few years ago…everyone of us were leading large churches…everyone of us were under 35…and over HALF of the men in the room (remember, we were under 35) had been hospitalized in the past two years because of serious medical problems (most likely brought on by stress and anxiety!)  Good health is so vital for ministry…and I can promise you that physical, emotional and spiritual health do not just “happen!”  Do not assume that just because your pastor is young that he is healthy…lift him up.

Whoever your pastor is…seriously…I would ask that you lift him up.  No matter who you are…no matter who your pastor is.  I don’t care if you are reading this site and hate me…don’t hate your pastor.  Cover him…and pray that Jesus will speak to him and through him in ways that he has never experienced.

Rick Warren once said that he believes pastors are the most underrated changes agents in the world…and I believe that!!!  SO…let’s lift him up before God…and pray that Jesus will have HIS way in his life!

AND…keep praying for Matt!!!  He is in God’s hands…God has a plan for him…and I know God will receive ultimate glory out of all of this!!!

For all of those who have been asking and waiting, and love to worship, the time has arrived! This Sunday night you will not want to miss this incredible service filled with Worship & Prayer. Singers and Musicians from both Campuses will join together and lead us in songs focusing on Faith, Hope, Healing and Praise!

This event is open to the public, members, and especially the volunteers who serve every Sunday and are ready to just bask in the presence of God!

It’s time to SING BOLDLY like never before and BEG GOD to do something great this Christmas season in our city and church and to BRING HEALING to those who so desperately are seeking a touch from God in their life! CAN’T WAIT!!

I’m Ready, are You? I’m coming, are You? And who are you inviting?

Don’t miss out, we will see you there!

Where – Compass Church Athens Campus

Time – 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Doors Open – 5:50pm

• God spoke through Shaunti Feldhahn in a POWERFUL way today…She knocked it out of the park!
  
• Young Marrieds and Singles – I SO WISH I had heard, known, and acted on some of this stuff when I was dating and newly married – it would have saved me from a lot of stupid mistakes & misunderstandings!
• If you’re a married gal and haven’t read “For Women Only” or a married guy and haven’t read “For Men Only” – DO IT!! TODAY!!
• What God says through Shaunti and her husband, Jeff, has the power to CHANGE your marriage!!
• If you’re a teen/single dude and haven’t read “For Young Men Only” or a teen/single dudette and haven’t read “For Young Women Only” – DO IT!! TODAY!!
• Both will change the trajectory of your current and future relationships!!
• I have a lot of exasperated parents say, “I just don’t know what to do sometimes!!”
• Parents here’s a start – get these books and read them WITH your kids!!
• “For Parents Only” will be my next read and purchased ”For Young Men” and ”For Young Women” for my 3 kids…
• …which will be required fun/reading for my 2 boys and will be waiting for my daughter Mackenzie when she turns 13.
• We’ve got to fill this next generation up with the RIGHT stuff!
• Got to say I was a little intimidated being on stage with a Harvard Grad, but she was cool!!
• She was SMART too – everything she said about how guys think was RIGHT ON!!
• I love how modern research validates time tested Biblical Principles!
• Yes, Women want to be CAPTIVATING and Men want to be CAPTIVATED!
• If you are a pastor reading this, you need to have Shaunti as a guest at your church – AMAZING!!
• I actually think I did an entire Sunday without one sports analogy.  Could be the first time EVER.
  
• CAPTIVATING has been an incredible 4 weeks – I pray God uses this series to inspire Women to the great things He created you for – Strength, Power, Beauty, and Shapers of the next generation – YOU GO GIRL – God’s got BIG PLANS for you!!!

COMING UP

• Announced this morning that on Sunday, NOVEMBER 29, Shaunti Feldhahn, author of “For Women Only” (AWESOME BOOK), will be our special guest on November 29!
• Ladies – you definitely want to bring a guest and Men, you will NOT want to miss what Shaunti has to say – TRUST me on this one!
• Sunday Night, December 6 is our 1st Churchwide Night of Prayer and Worship hosted by Matt Ammons and the Compass Band – I Can’t Wait.  Save the Date and Bring a Friend – it’s going to be awesome.
• We are blessed to have not only some of the most talented musicians on the planet, but a group of people who passionately want to worship God with EVERYTHING they have.
• PS – I’m really praying my mother-in-law can come so we can pray over her together as a church corporately.
• If you know people who are hurting, need healing, a relationship that needs God to show up big time, or someone who just needs a touch from God – THIS is the evening to bring them with you.
• God’s Prescription for Pain is Praise (thanks Wesley for that truth) – that’s what this whole night is about. Begging God to do something great in this city and worshipping Him even in the middle of the dips in life – CAN’T WAIT.
• Leaving to go to New Spring for my Pastor’s Round Table with Perry Noble today – going to be a GREAT DAY!

Guest Blog – Chase McKissick:

Curious about Compass Church? Want to be a PART of what God is doing here?

Then join us for a Partnership Class. This 90-minute class explains the purpose and mission of Compass Church, answers any of your questions, and enables you to meet and talk with church members and staff.  Afterward, you have the opportunity to join the church.  Childcare will be provided.

Our next partnership class will be held this Sunday evening, November 15th at 5:30 pm at the Athens Campus. This event is being held at the Athens Campus, but is intended for attendees from both our Athens and Oconee Campuses.  If you are interested in officially “joining the church” you should be here! If you have already “joined,” but want to be a bigger PART of what God is doing through this local church then you should be here!

People often ask me, “How did you and Heidi end up at Compass?” I tell them about how I got serious about my faith when I was in college; how when Heidi and I were dating we began the search for a church home here in Athens and stumbled upon Compass.  We quickly knew that this was the community that God had prepared us to be a part of.  We attended Partnership Class at Compass and it provided clarity and confirmation of this.  We felt that the passions, gifts and personalities that God gave us perfectly aligned with the mission and vision of this local church.  We joined the church and became a part of the action!  Acts 13:36 speaks about the Old Testament character David.  It says, “And David served the purposes of God in his generation.” To put it simply, we felt “called” to Compass — that it was a place where, like David, we too could serve the purposes of God in our generation.

If you’re eager like we were to serve the purposes of God in our generation, then I strongly encourage you to sign up today and make plans to PARTNER with us in this great calling!

A Great Statement that provides Clarity & Focus in the present – ‘That’s Not What We Do”

• Today was why I LOVE pastoring this church – Awesome Worship, Risky Topic, God Rocked our worlds!!
• Today lives were changed – THAT never gets old.
• Today the 706 Student Band led worship at the AC – Sammy, Micah, Evan, D’evan, Andrew, & Matt –
  • it was AMAZING!!
  • it was Generational Influence!!
  • it was worship – real, authentic, powerful, made God smile!!
  • Thank you 706 Band for taking us where we needed to be this morning – straight to the heart of Jesus!!
• Hearing Marcus & Felicity sing at the OC “How Deep, How Wide, How GREAT is YOUR LOVE for me” was a highlight of the day!!
• Today would NEVER have happened without our VOLUNTEERS who adapted and stepped it up big time as 100+ more people showed up than our October average  - THANK YOU!!
• Thank You to ALL of those who made TODAY happen, invited, and brought someone with you to church – it was worth it!!
• Today a mom introduced me to her son she has been praying for 2 years for him to come with her – made my day!!
• Today we launched the most anticipated series of the year – CAPTIVATING – Compass’ first ever WOMAN SERIES!!!!!
• I received in an email from one of our ladies on how God spoke to her – “You were captivating before you received your body; before you received your soul; before you received your mission.  You are the beauty bearer of my image.  You have my DNA.  I want, NO, I am determined to call forth your essence and show you who you are!” – WOW!!!!!
• Women have a hard time hearing “You are Something.”
• Today we talked about asking WHO and WHAT do you allow to define you? I pray many women we’re set free.
• The reason women struggle with feeling captivating is they allow themselves to be defined through they eyes of culture instead of the eyes of Scripture.
• Jesus says “LISTEN TO ME, O ROYAL DAUGHTER.”
• “THE KING IS WILD ABOUT YOU…HE DELIGHTS IN YOUR BEAUTY.” (Psalm 45:11)
• My biggest prayer for ALL the Ladies at Compass is that you will ask Jesus to “Let Me See Me As You See Me.”
• I really wanted to encourage both married and single women today. Singles especially – if you are dating or living with a ‘Crumb’…you now know what to do.
• A PRINCESS is worthy of a PRINCE – don’t leave the castle!!
• Next week we will be dealing with the question, “What are the characteristics of a godly women?” I promise there will be some TENSION in the room (which usually means God’s at work in a big way!!) I Can’t Wait.
• COMPASS PARTNERSHIP CLASS – Next Sunday Night, November 15. Your next step to getting connected with all God is doing at Compass. SIGN UP HERE.

“CAPTIVATING”

Email Invite

Facebook Invite

October was pastor appreciation month and two weeks ago Jim surprised the staff by bringing us up on stage and collecting a special offering to honor the staff of Compass.  That time really meant a lot to us as a staff.  Well, yesterday Jim presented the staff with what you all had given and to say we were all blown away is an understatement.  I know that I speak for all of the staff when I say that we are so honored to do what we get to do.  We are constantly humbled at how God uses us to help lead the work He is doing here at Compass.

Thank you for blessing us in this tangible way.  Check out the video of our staff time yesterday.

• We saw four people accept Christ today – worth it all!!
• My new favorite worship song is “Revelation Song” – POWERFUL!!
• Volunteers – you AMAZE me! Thank you for doing what you do so people can meet Jesus!!
• Because of you 27 people’s lives have been changed for eternity and 100s who find themselves in a dip have been ministered to the past 3 weeks.
• I’m going to miss our Habakkuk series – I knew it was going to be good, just not this good.
• As I said today, when you find yourself in a Dip, STOP DIGGING!!
• Do the “Habakkuk” – REMEMBER the good stuff, ACCEPT the tough stuff, and TRUST the God stuff!
• Many of us set up our permanent mailing address in our Dip when God just intends for us to stay overnight!!
• You cannot have a Habbakuk 3 FAITH until you’ve been through a Habakkuk 1 QUESTION and a Habbkkuk 2 WAIT!!
• There will be entire chapters in your life you would never have written – that’s how you know it’s His Story not yours.
• My prayer is that you, too, after walking with Jesus THROUGH enough yesterdays, will come to a place where you can trust Him with all of your tomorrows!!
• It was SO awesome to share about our 2009 Christmas Gift Offering today – I’m BLOWN away by all God is doing in our church – even in a recession!
  
• What rocks – there’s MORE to come – get your ready shoes on!!
• Can’t Wait to start CAPTIVATING this coming Sunday – who are you bringing with you?
• Lis and I celebrated a close friend’s 36th birthday at the Cheesecake Factory this afternoon – cocunut cream cheesecake with a side of hot fudge – Boo Yah!!
• Prayer for our staff – intensely Wrestling with and Embracing ALL that God is asking us to do as we end 2009 and plan ahead for 2010 – I’m in AWE!!
• Save the Date – December 6, 2009 – a night of passionate worship and bold prayer at Compass led by our amazing worship team – Can’t Wait!!
• THANK YOU for all your Prayers, words of support and encouragement for my wife, Lisa, and her mom & dad – we NEED and FEEL them Big time!!

Beginning November 8 – the most anticipated series of the year…

• We saw Six People SAY YES to Jesus today – Boo Yah!!
• That’s 17 the past two weeks - That’s why we get up on SUNDAYS and do ALL that we do!!
• Compass VOLUNTEERS – you are AMAZING – THANK YOU for doing EVERYTHING you do so people could meet Jesus today!!
• RETRACTION from today’s message – My wife DOES NOT take 1 hour every week to pick out her clothes. That would be me (actually I have somebody help me pick them out and track what I’ve worn – really weird I know but I’m really weird!!!). Lisa lovingly explained to me it was the “seasonal transition” weekend; thus, the necessity for extra time in trying on and picking out.
• That might have been the MOST IMPORTANT thing you read besides 6 people gave their lives to Christ today.
• WORSHIP was BAM POW today (aka – Rockin’) – the band/worship/production team have been killing it the past several weeks!!
• Matt, Marcus, Georgie, Justin – THANK YOU for taking us where we sometimes hesitate to go on our own – directly to the THRONE of God!!
• I LOVE hearing our church sing boldly and worship passionately. (Isaiah 61:11)…especially the guys!!
• Singing Great Is Thy Faithfulness was POWERFUL – I needed to put those words on my lips and be reminded of that today.
• LOVED the new song we did today from Elevation Church, “The Lord IS My Rock”
• And, I just saw the set list for this Sunday – another new song our students have been singing which is UNBELIEVABLE!! I CAN’T WAIT!!
• I’ve been BEGGING God, along with our Saturday Prayer Partners, to do something Unexplainable Humanly yet Undeniably God in our marriages/homes, schools, community, and church in the last quarter of this year – please join us in this heart’s cry!!!!
• If you find yourself currently in a Dip , read Hebrews 12:1-3 (Message translation) – ‘That Will Shoot Adrenaline into your soul!”
• OK – I didn’t say this before because you always say I say this – BUT, with one week to go – HABAKKUK quite possibly has been the most powerful, real-to-life series and where many of us find ourselves maybe we have EVER done!
• Hint – Don’t miss Week 3.  The ending is the BEST PART!!
• I can’t wait to start our series for Women (and men who love women) called CAPTIVATING.
• Don’t forget, you get an extra hour of sleep this weekend – let’s capitalize by INVITING a ton of people to come with us this Sunday.

• THANK YOU Compass Church for your spontaneity and encouraging our Compass Pastors today with the special offering for Pastor Appreciation Month.
• We’ve NEVER done that before and it was just the right thing to do at the right time!
• Yes! They were surprised. Yes! God used you to encourage them. Yes! It meant A LOT!!
• Yes, most don’t know they took a 10% pay cut a year ago, never said a word, and our budget has not yet allowed us to restore them to full pool.
• Yes, they are THE BEST (not perfect) but the most passionate, God fearing, humble, servant leaders on the planet who are willing to go to Hell and back if necessary to see God do something BIG in Northeast Georgia.
• There is no other team of guys in the universe I’d rather do ministry with than this team!!!!
• “The elders (pastors) who lead the church well should receive double honor” (1 Timothy 5:17) - Compass, thank you for honoring them well today.
• I Love being your pastor…I am MORE FIRED up, MORE PASSIONATE, MORE EXCITED about our future than ever before.

The 706 meets each Wednesday night at our Athens Campus from 6:30-8:30 with services beginning at 7:06.

• Today was AMAZING – I’m Really Sorry if you missed it!!
• We saw 11 people receive Christ today – made EVERYTHING that it took to pull off today MATTER!!
• Our VOLUNTEERS truly are INCREDIBLE – it’s because of JESUS dying on the cross and you dying to yourself to serve that 11 people received Christ today!!
• Children’s Volunteers – because you make Compass Kids FUN, teach them about GOD, and even change poopy diapars – these kids parents are coming to know Christ in our services – seriously, it happened again this past Sunday….Boo Yah!!!!
• I’m Loving our new series HABAKKUK – Please (yea, I’m begging you) to do WHATEVER you Can to…
  • #1 – PRAY for God to Show Up in our church like never before, beginning this coming Sunday
  • #2 – BRING A GUEST with you this Sunday – what God has to say through Habakkuk is WAY TOO GOOD to come alone!
• A lot of Christians are incredibly frustrated with God because they’ve been taught a bad theology that nothing bad happens to people that love Jesus.
• Two thoughts on that – YOU’RE WRONG and DIP HAPPENS!!
• Dips don’t happen because God isn’t Fair or God doesn’t Care.
• Dips Happen so we can learn to Embrace & Wrestle with God (Mark 9:24), to not Dip alone (Ecclesiates 4:9-12), and to NEVER LET GO. (Hebrews 10:35-36, 1 Peter 5:10).
• The CROSS is proof that God will not LEAVE YOU HANGING!!
• The CROSS is proof that our greatest PAIN can become our greatest GAIN!!
• Our Worship was AMAZING today – God BROUGHT IT through Marcus Dobbs, Dave Dalton (welcome bro), and both our bands – Great Job.
• Both Compass Production Teams continue to knock it out of the park – THANK YOU for creating an environment every week where we can meet with Jesus!!
• October is Staff Appreciation Month – we have THE BEST, HARDEST WORKING, MOST PASSIONATE STAFF on the planet – let them know through a quick note or telephone call how much they mean to you.
• CAPTIVATING – our long awaited Women’s series begins in 3 weeks….Get Your Ready Shoes On – it will go down as one of the most AMAZING series we’ve ever done!
• I Can’t Wait for our Christmas Eve Services – plans are being finalized…WOW! God you are AMAZING is all I can say right now!
• I absolutely LOVE being your pastor. Going to see if the Falcons can hold on and then snuggle with the most Captivating Woman on the planet!!

You see it every day. Bad people taking advantage of the weak. Good people down on their luck. Innocent people suffering. War. Injustice. Ever get the feeling God isn’t fair? In Compass’ newest series beginning THIS SUNDAY, we’ll tackle the tough stuff  most would rather divert and discover how an Old Testament prophet can inspire a modern day faith in God’s Promises.

Attended my 8th Catalyst this past week – It was awesome. Each year a LIfetime Achievement Award is presented to a General who has led set the tone for generations to come. I Love It. These awards and their teaching always surprises me, messes me up, and challenges me to the core. 

I’ll never forget being boldly prayed over by Bill Bright in his wheel chair with an oxygen tank just months before he saw Jesus, Franklin Graham’s challenging words to not be ashamed of the Gospel for it is the Power of God, Truett Cathy’s vision to honor God with a Sabbath and how God honored Him as a result, and this year one of the greatest Bible teachers ever, Chuck Swindoll. Here’s what he shared – it’s simple, self explanatory, but will ROCK Your World as you read BTW…Enjoy….Let’s be that Generation that follows Jesus NO MATTER WHAT!!!!

TOP 10 LEADERSHIP LESSONS I’VE LEARNED (Chuck Swindoll)
#1 – It’s Lonely to Lead
#2 – It’s Dangerous to Succeed
#3 – It’s Hardest at Home (ps – nobody will ever tell you that, very few will admit it)
#4 – It’s Essential to be Real (“Be who ya is because if you ain’t who ya is you ain’t who you ain’t”)
#5 – It’s Painful to Obey (you will inevitbably give up your plan for the cross)
#6 – Brokeness and Failure are Necessary
#7 – My Attitude is more important than my Actions
#8 – Integrity always eclipses Image (best things you do are never seen in public)
#9 – God’s Way is Always Better than My Way (most of us are way too capable)
#10 – Christ-Likeness Begins & Ends with Humility

BONUS - 
“When God wants to do an impossible task, he takes an impossible person and crushes him.”
“We must be willing to leave the Familiar Methods without disturbing the Biblical Message.”

On Sunday, I told you How To Have An Affair.  Lot’s of comments on that one. Let’s flip the script. Here’s How To Have An Affair…With Your Spouse.

• #1 – CONVINCE YOURSELF THAT IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU – You CAN have an affair…with somebody else OR with YOUR SPOUSE. We’ve got to STAY AWARE of situations, conversations, environments where we can easily be tempted (1 Corinthians 10:13).
• #2 – CULTIVATE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SPOUSE – Outside of passionately pursuing Jesus, there’s no one else I make it a priority to STAY CLOSE with more than Lisa. I’m forever grateful to my former pastor, Ed Young, for sharing with me the 52/2 Plan. Date your spouse once a week (no, technology and double dating went out with high school) and get away twice/year OVERNIGHT & ALONE (yes, that means NO KIDS).  BEST PRACTICES by far Lisa and I have found for our marriage.
• #3 – COMPARE YOUR SPOUSE TO CHRIST – STAY IN the Word of God. I’ve discovered during 20 years of marriage, the more I fall in love with Jesus, the more I fall in love with my wife. (Ephesians 5:21-33).  Singles – if they are NOT in love with Jesus (you’ll know it, it’s obvious), they will NEVER be able to love you the way God has created you to be loved.
• #4 – CONNECT WITH YOUR SPOUSE REGULARLY – In real estate, they say it’s “Location, Location, Location.” In marriage, it’s “Communication, Communication, Communication.” STAY ALERT to marital drift and stop the slide whenever you see it happening. BTW – healthy communication starts when you are dating, not after you are married.

• Today GOD BROUGHT IT – He just flat out got in our face and ROCKED our worlds!!
• Yea, we talked about Sexual Morality BUT with a TWIST and in a way I’ve never addressed it from the Compass stage – married couples who have affairs.
• It was TENSE…very hard to preach…and my heart literally BROKE preaching to many of you today!!!!!
• I’ve seen WAY TOO MANY many marriages/families of close friends devastated by affairs in the past year.
• As I said, ALL I want to see is Christ Followers actually act like Christ Followers.
• My text/email has been blowing up all afternoon with “How Do I Get A Copy of Today’s Talk” to share with a friend- CLICK HERE for the podcast.
• The Video for you to share with friends will be available online beginning tomorrow – check back for a link.
• Oh yea, having your own middle school and high schooler in there when talking about sex changes EVERYTHING – lunch was….FUN!!
• BTW – that’s accountability – they have direct access to my computer, my life, their mom & dad’s marriage!!
• The look on your faces when I said I had a picture of me getting my prostrate checked – that was priceless!! (had to explain that one to the boys too!)
• There is no more UPDSIDE DOWN Value in Culture than how we view Sex and Marriage.
• God CREATED Sex (Boo Yah & THANK YOU JESUS)….BEFORE Sin…I think we should take our cues from HIM on this one.
• The reason we look to Hollywood, Internet and Romance Novels instead of God for our ideas about Sex & Marriage is because the CHURCH has been silent and most PREACHERS aren’t willing to take the HEAT for addressing tough topics like this.
• You can deny a problem…even pray about it…but the fact is until you are willing to confess your problem and ask for help, the problem will never go away (James 5:16).
• I know it’s popular opinion, but Gods primary goal is NOT for us to be happy – He’s obsessed with us being HOLY!!
• AND, God will not be IGNORED (mocked – Galatians 6:7)…You WILL Get Caught AND All Hell WILL Break loose sooner or later!!
• AND, don’t be so selfish or naive or prideful to think you’re only affecting you – you’re IMPACTING EVERYBODY in your life and you’re killing your KID’S future.
• I’ve seen first hand the relational devastation that happens all because Men can’t keep their penis in their pants or Women just want to “feel loved” and sacrifice their relationship with their kids for the sake of an orgasm/special feeling – WAKE UP!!
• I THANK GOD for leaders who will be courageous & truthful like in this blog post – “Keep Your Penis In Your Pants“
• I’m sick & tired of seeing WAY too many people sacrificing the “Permanent on the Altar of the Immediate.” (Bob Jones, Jr.)
• If you’re a single dude and addicted to PORN – it will DESTROY your marriage – STOP IT!!!! You’ve got to do WHATEVER it takes to CUT OFF the “Premium Channels” in your life.
• Some of you need to FLEE, Real Fast like Joseph (Genesis 39:6-18)
• Got an email saying they received a “friend” invite on Facebook from an old flame…it had been sitting there a few days…she told her husband and pressed IGNORE this afternoon – Boo Yah!!
• David repented, was broken, changed, and was restored – read Psalm 51.
• I’m praying God would make Broken Bones in our lives and marriages DANCE AGAIN (Psalm 51:8)
• The WORLD needs to see first hand that God can turn Broken Pieces into Beautiful Mosaics!!
• Thank You Compass for the freedom to speak what God asks – love being your pastor.
• A couple (have first hand experienced God’s AMAZING Grace & Forgiveness in this area) emailed me to say if anyone was mad or defensive about today, tell them “THEY ARE IN DENIAL.”…you can email them at…just kidding.
• I’m willing to take ANY HEAT on this one if God uses it to save just ONE MARRIAGE from an affair.
• Can’t wait to begin our new series ”HABAKKUK” THIS SUNDAY, October 18 Sunday.
• Just studying for it is MESSING me up BIG TIME!!
• November 8th, we kick off our first ever series for WOMEN,  ”CAPTIVATING” (EVERY dude needs to be there too, trust me on this one bro).
• REALLY looking forward to Thursday and taking our staff and Volunteer Leaders to spend the day with Perry Noble and the New Spring Church Staff – Can’t Wait!!
• My body clock is doing really weird things right now – restless nights, waking up early – can’t wait for time change to get here (Nov. 1st).
• PLEASE PRAY for me, our staff, and leadership as we sense God asking us to take some steps we’ve never taken and need wisdom, clarity, and a sense of His perfect timing.
• REALLY excited about today and all God is doing in our church…GOOD DAYS AHEAD!!

• In case you haven’t heard, Sunday’s topic is Upside Down Values and yes we are talking about SEX!!
• There’s not another topic on the planet more Upside Down than Sex (ok, the economy is a close second).
• It will be different than any other and the most straight forward (and transparent) talk I’ve ever given on stage on this topic.
• Most Married Couples struggle big time in this area…Most won’t talk about it…and most expect the church to be silent.
• Seriously, there isn’t a Married Couple or Single in NE Georgia or on the planet you shouldn’t invite AND do WHATEVER it takes to get them there.
• I’ve been BEGGING God all week to do something powerful through this message – PLEASE pray with me between now and Sunday!!