1) I could not believe a few Sundays ago that we sold out of all the copies we ordered of The Treasure Principle! We ordered a bunch more, so if you haven’t gotten your copy yet, we’ve got one for you.
2) Last week Pastor Jack and I were in Minneapolis at the Desiring God conference. I could try to describe how challenging and inspiring it was, or you can just click here and watch every single session from the comfort of your own home and without having to brave single-digit weather. Minneapolis is a beautiful city, by the way, and of course it adds tremendously to the experience to be able to get away and spend time thinking, planning, and praying through our priorities at Compass.
3) Tomorrow we have a team from Compass leaving for Mexico City. Tom and Diane Schull, Susan Johnson, and Pastor Jack are headed down there to meet with a Mexican church planter to get the inside scoop on their ministry, their needs, and the best way Compass can begin to partner with a church that is in one of the most difficult parts of the world. Here is a recent article on the challenges the Mexican government has in just sustaining the nation itself.
4) Please pray for our team as they head down there. If you’re not exactly sure how to pray for them, just pray specifically for them what Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:16- 21:
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power
through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may
have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high
and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses
knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now
to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according
to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
5) I think often about all the new folks at Compass. It’s my deepest desire that, if you fall into that category (i.e., you’ve been here 6 months or less), you’re able to move from saying “that church I attend” to saying “my church” when you refer to Compass! I can’t make that happen for you, but the best way to take that step of connection is to attend our Discover Compass class February 22nd. I always teach that class, and it’s a chance for you to get an inside look at what where we’re going and what we’re all about.
6) I’ve been having some awesome conversations about the Gospel lately. There’s nothing in the world I love more than talking to people about Jesus. For the past 20 years of my life I have been explaining, answering, and preaching the Good News that Jesus has died for sins and brings people from death to life. I’ve argued with people, annoyed them, been yelled at, condescended to, and mocked. But I’ve also seen people respond to the truth, and that makes everything else worth it.
Being a results-oriented guy has made it frustrating when it comes to the Gospel, because the Bible says that many people will hear but not that many will respond. The message may seem attractive at first to a lot of folks, but when the demands of Jesus are really understood, that’s when many say, “Who can understand this?” (John 6:60-71). Sharing the gospel by definition will involve a lot of rejection, there’s no getting around that.
The point is (and this is what I’m learning) the results are ultimately up to God – our responsibility is to simply make the message known! That has been the most liberating thing for me to understand lately.
You see, nobody wants to keep swinging if they’re worried they’re going to strike out! Why try if all that happens is your batting average goes down? But it’s not about that - if you don’t take any swings, you’ll never get any hits! The important thing is to “swing” at every chance you get! Even if you don’t say it completely right, even if you’re just planting a seed, you can still sit back and trust God with the results.
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