Pastor Tim Jacobs

Compass Church is Going Multi-Site!

2011-08-25T01:43:00.001+05:30

In case you haven’t heard, last Sunday we made a huge announcement: Compass Church is going to multiply!

In other words, in February 2012 we will be launching our very first “multi-site” campus - meaning we will be one church with two locations!

To help communicate the vision as clearly as possible, here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):

1) What is a “multi-site” church anyway?

There is a new trend that has been spreading like wildfire among healthy, growing, contemporary churches like Compass: rather than remaining in one location, building ever-bigger and more expensive buildings, and growing only to the capacity of its facilities, many churches are adopting a strategy to reach their community by starting new “campuses” in other locations in their surrounding community and beyond.

This allows for the church to use its existing resources, staff, elder board, and congregation to reach new people with the gospel who would be much more difficult to reach had the church just stayed in one location. The multi-site strategy is becoming a practical, affordable, and highly effective way for a church to fulfill its mission.

2) Why has Compass decided to launch this multi-site strategy now?

As you know, since 2007 the vision of this church has been not only to grow, but to multiply! Four years ago we had about 240 people in attendance on a Sunday morning with one service. Lately we’ve been approaching 700 with two services, and we are launching our third service on September 18. (Remember the times? 9:00, 10:30 and 11:59!)

The best answer to the “why” question, however, is because we believe that God has called Christians to be a “sent” people. We are not just to Know, and Grow, but also to Go! To launch a new campus is the best way to multiply, because now we need two of everything (and everyone!) if we’re going to pull off a second site. This creates a tremendous opportunity for tons of people to step forward and be part of something new!

3) Why are you starting a new campus rather than planting an independent church?

Over the last four years we have been laying the groundwork for either planting a new church or launching a new site. Pursuing one or the other has been dependent upon the type of leader God sends us. Some leaders will want to start independent churches that have their own staff, budget, sermons, and style.

Other leaders, however, will be gifted to start new campuses under the umbrella of the “mother church,” where they can take advantage of its existing staff and structure and yet expand into a new area. These leaders make perfect multi-site campus pastors.

4) Who will be leading the new site?

We believe that God has led Brad Hixon to be the leader of this new site. Brad and his wife Nicole have been attending Compass for about three years. For the last two years Brad has felt God’s call to go into ministry, so he enrolled in Phoenix Seminary and is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Biblical Leadership.

God has gifted Brad with great entrepreneurial ability. He’s been part of several small businesses that have grown tremendously under his leadership. This background, combined with a steadily increasing amount of ministry responsibility at Compass, has helped our elder board identify Brad as the right leader for this venture.

5) Where is this new site going to be?

After looking at many factors, we have chosen the city of Surprise to be the target area for our new campus. We chose Surprise for several reasons:

First, Surprise is close enough to allow us to use the resources of our current facility, but far enough away for the two campuses to not draw from the same neighborhoods.

Second, we are starting to see more people make the drive from Surprise to the Goodyear campus, and we are excited about launching a site in their immediate area with which they can practically reach their friends and neighbors for Christ.

Third, Brad and Nicole already live near the Surprise area, so it seemed like a natural place for them to be sent.

6) Do you have an exact location picked out?

We do not have an exact location yet. However, our leadership is currently looking for properties in the target area. We will most likely rent or lease a facility such as a school or a warehouse. Research on multi-site campuses reveals that about half of them meet in a school and a significant percentage meet in a warehouse or other type of commercial property.

7) Who will do the preaching at the new site?

Pastor Tim will be doing the majority of the preaching at Compass Surprise through what is called a “video venue.” We are already gathering the necessary technology we need to be able to produce high-quality videos to present at the new campus.

At the same time, we plan on having live preaching at the Surprise campus at least once a month. That means that Pastor Tim will occasionally be preaching live at the Surprise campus. At the same time, we will develop a preaching team down the line so there can be a mixture of both video venue and live preaching.

8) Can a video venue to be as effective as live preaching?

It can and it will! We live in a video-based culture that is used to being engaged through that medium. Our goal is to make video-based preaching an equal or even better option than the live experience.

9) Will there be “live” worship?

Yes! There will always be live worship at both the Goodyear and Surprise sites. In fact, except for the preaching, everything that happens live at the Goodyear campus will happen live at the new site.

10) Will there be Children’s and Student Ministries at Compass Surprise?

Definitely. We will be working hard to make sure that we launch the new site with a Children’s Ministry that is as safe, energetic, and effective as the one we currently offer.

In terms of Student Ministries, we will work to generate a ministry that can effectively meet the needs of the Middle and High School students that God brings us.

On a side note, remember that we are quite limited in what we can offer on Sunday mornings because of the size of our facility. However, if we end up in a school or other type of rental facility, we may very well have access to much more square footage than we currently have now, making the site even more advantageous for key ministries such as Children and Students.

11) Okay, sounds like a good idea. How do you guys intend to pay for this?

There are three sources of funding we expect to utilize in order to finance this new venture:

a) Outside fundraising. Our Campus Pastor, Brad Hixon, has already worked on raising support through sources outside the church, and has already received monies through a designated fund.

b) EFCA West. Our denomination, the Evangelical Free Church of America, has a commitment to starting new churches, including new campuses, out of existing churches. We have communicated with Dave Page, the Director of Church Planting for our district, and he has voiced support to direct district funds to this new site.

c) Compass Church. As God calls people from the current Compass family, their tithes and offerings can begin to go toward the funding of this new site. Also, because this is a mission work (i.e., ministry done outside our four walls), we will be drawing from a portion of our missions fund that has been allocated to church planting and multiplication.

12) I want to go and be a part of something new! Where do I sign up?

As was mentioned above, we fully expect that God is already working on the hearts of many in Compass who are ready to establish a new work in Surprise that will result in many people coming to saving faith in Jesus. These people are the pioneers among us who want to be able to look back on their lives and say that they gained new ground for the kingdom.

Is that you? If so, please let us know now so we can contact you about upcoming meetings, Q and A sessions, and pre-launch events. Remember, our strategy is to be a blessing to the city of Surprise, which means we’re going to take a similar approach we’ve taken at the Goodyear Campus. We want to start off with acts of service, love, hope, and restoration, so that we can earn the right to be heard by the residents of Surprise. Then, and only then, can we help them see that life really is all about Jesus.

If you’re interested, please contact Brad at bradh@compasschurch.info.

Also:

Twitter: @bhixonaz

Blog: bradhixon.blogspot.com

I know this is a lot of information, but it’s vital that we all understand what we’re doing here and why. As you’re processing all of this, I urge you to step back for a moment and dream for a moment: What if?

1) What if Compass Surprise became the reason why hundreds, even thousands, of people come to know Jesus?

2) What if twenty years from now we see both new sites and new churches all over the West Valley that were started because we, back in 2011, had the vision to see beyond the way things are and reach for what could be?

3) What if you became a founding member of this new work? How would that change your prayer life, your passion for God, and your understanding of the role you play on planet Earth for the kingdom of God?

There will be more updates along the way. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this – it is the fulfillment of a dream that has been a long time in the making – to actually become a reproducing church! We have thrown off all the limits, and we are bound now only by the passion for the One who has set us free and given us this amazing ministry of proclaiming his kingdom to the whole world!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Tim

The Word

2011-08-11T05:29:00.000+05:30

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."
John 1:1-5

What an interesting opening to a book that tells the story of Jesus. A simple fisherman penned this quite a while ago, and yet its aesthetics, poetry and logic still move us today. (It's like he had help or something...) The Greek (the original language the book of John was written in) word for "word" is a lot richer than we understand. It encompasses full expression and/or complete thought. Ravi Zachrias switches it with the word "definition". If we read this passage with this light, we would see that in Jesus is full expression and definition of God. The invisible and Holy God has made Himself known in Jesus. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. In what He says, what He does, how he treated people, how he moved, breathed, lived and died is the definition of God. And this definition is eternal. It has always been and always is existing.
In a time where truth itself is challenged and morals are thought of as relative, there stands this timeless claim that God has since the beginning defined and given meaning to what things are. He made them with definition. He is the truth that gives light and reveals life for what it is. And if you want to know what He is like, look at Jesus. Jesus is God's word.

Gabe Legaspi

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

2011-07-23T00:08:00.001+05:30

This week I’m the speaker for our Club 56 (5^th and 6^th grade) and Ignite (Middle School) Sumer Camp! Yes, I’m speaking to 5-8^th graders. As I write this we’re in Show Low at Fool Hollow Lake swimming, fishing, playing volleyball, and all kinds of stuff.

As I was preparing to preach to this 5-8^th grade age group, I was taken back to my youth pastor days, and even earlier to my days as a Middle School student. I don’t know about you, but those were the worst days of my life! Have you seen the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Yeah, kind of like that. Even though I didn’t have an older brother to terrorize me, I didn’t need one because most of my problems were self-inflicted!

Do you remember your old Junior High/Middle School days? Here are a few highlights from mine:

1) Being told by a girl that I had the skinniest arms of any boy she had ever known. (Yeah, Melissa, you should see them now.)

2) Having a lit firecracker put in my back pocket after P.E. class that detonated. (The plastic surgeons did a pretty good job on my butt reconstruction.)

3) Getting arrested for vandalism (I didn’t do it, I swear) and getting a ride in the back of an LAPD squad car handcuffed to my friend Frank who is now in jail for murder (not kidding.)

4) After getting bored with bringing crickets to math class, bringing a water balloon that the teacher, thinking it was just an air balloon, stepped on. It made a big puddle. (That was a good memory actually.)

5) Sneaking into an orange grove and smoking unfiltered cigarettes with my friend David, and then spraying ourselves down with Aqua Net to make sure we didn’t get caught.

6) Sentenced to clean the bathrooms after I was busted for “sagging” my pants too low (I was just trying to make a point).

7) Throwing a large piece of candy with an attached note in the backyard of a girl I had a crush on. Hey, I tried knocking but no one was home. Funny how that relationship never worked out.

8) Writing the phrase “I Will Refrain From any Further Moronic Behavior in Mr. Suenaka’s Class” about 1500 times.

So, as I said, I’m the camp speaker for some of your kids this week.

I can honestly say there were two reasons I survived that time of my life: My church and my parents. If it wasn’t for my Youth Pastor and the great example of my parents there’s a good chance I’d either be eating three squares with a set of numbers on my shirt or still be living at home with a life that resembled the character “Kip” from Napoleon Dynamite.

You see, in the midst of all that ridiculousness, I knew deep down that God had something for me – that I was created for a purpose. I just had a hard time finding anything constructive to do until I got into high school.

With each passing year, the memories of that time in our lives fades just a little more. But let’s not forget how tough those years were for most of us. And at the same time, let’s not forget how critical the decisions are that these young people are making. They are charting a course now that will affect them for the rest of their lives.

So I’m excited to be hanging out with some of your kids this week (including my own, who’s going into 5^th grade). I believe God has great plans for each one of them as well, but it is time for them to own their own faith.

Please remember to pray this week for our 5-8^th graders and the many wonderful adult volunteers who came up to help make this camp unforgettable. Also, if you’re the parent of one of these students, don’t forget that they’re watching you – how you live, who you are when no one is looking, and the degree of intensity to which you follow Christ.

It is AWESOME to be a part of a church that’s making such a great investment in the lives of young people!!

See you this Sunday,

Pastor Tim

Killing Giants

2011-07-13T22:26:00.008+05:30

Some stories you’ve heard so many times that you forget how important they are. Growing up in church, I heard the “David and Goliath” story told and retold on everything from flannelgraphs to cheesy animated videos to impassioned speakers at youth camps to highly cerebral bible scholars trying to explain why David had five stones (because, they say, Goliath had four brothers).

Because familiarity tends to breed contempt (or at least boredom) and there are so many other great stories and topics in the Bible, I've often dismissed this epic episode in the Bible with "Yeah, yeah, he kills the giant, nice job, let's move on."

But what makes this story so timeless is that the characters and the outcome are crystal clear: there is a visible enemy who seems bigger than life and by all odds the good guy doesn't stand a chance. But in face of danger, the good guy steps up, trusts God, and knocks the enemy right between the eyes and cuts off his head. Yes!

So here are a few lessons to take from this story:

1) We were made to kill giants. Did you ever think about that? If there were no giants, there would be no need for faith. You're not likely to go up against a dude who's nine feet tall and walks around with the weight of a Ford Festiva in weaponry; but you and I will face giants that are just as lethal throughout our lives. When the giant shows up, that's the time to remember that the reason you were created was to fight him (or "it"). You bring God glory when you step up against the odds to go against the one who has declared war against God and his purposes for your life.

2) If you're gonna kill the giant, you have identify him first. When everyone's afraid of the bully on the playground, then everyone wants to deny that he's really a bully. Instead, they project their fear and anger on other people who aren't so scary while making up excuses for the bully's behavior. But if we're really going to kill giants, then we have to name them. We have to be honest about what is standing in the way of God's purposes for our lives.

David did this by verbalizing, out loud in front of everyone, the existence of the enemy and his offense to God:

"For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Sam. 17:26).

3) Be specific: It's not enough to identify our giants as Fear, Addiction, or Worry. We have to finish the sentence: I'm afraid of... I'm addicted to... I'm worried about... When we're specific, we're naming the giant and what its going to take to kill him. Notice how the giant is described in Scripture:

⁴And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. ⁵He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. ⁶And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. ⁷The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. (1 Sam. 17:4-7)

While this description would instill fear in anyone who had to face him, another reality comes to light: he's just a man. He is mortal, he is fallible, and with God's help he can be taken down.

4) Expect to kill the giant: You were made to kill giants, not to succumb to them. David says to the Goliath:

⁴⁶This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, ⁴⁷and that all this assembly may know thatthe LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand." (1 Sam. 17:46-47)

It is foolish to think that we can conquer the giants in our lives on our own. But we face these challenges in the name of the Lord, who created us to destroy them.

What giant is facing you right now? Is it overwhelming financial debt? Is it out-of-control anger? Are you losing the private but painful battle of secret addiction?

I believe God made us to conquer the things that stand up against his purposes. So get to work, go to war, and kill the giant for God's glory.

We Are Making a Difference

2011-07-07T20:39:00.003+05:30

When the current Compass Church facility was in the midst of getting city approval, part of that process involved meetings with city officials, church leaders, and members of the community. During one of these meetings someone asked this question: What value will this church add to our community?

Great question. What value does a church, or Christ-followers in general, add to a community? And what value could they possibly add to a culture?

Let’s answer that question by taking a little tour of history:

1) In the Roman Empire, Christians risked their lives caring for the outcasts of society: “Members did nurse the sick, even during epidemics; they did support orphans, widows, the elderly, and the poor; they did concern themselves with the lot of slaves. In short, Christians created ‘a miniature welfare state in an empire which for the most part lacked social services.’” – Rodney Stark, Cities of God, pp. 30-31.

2) During the so-called “Dark Ages,” Christian monks brought restoration to war-torn Europe: “The monks were poor, and they worked incredibly hard; they plowed, hedged, drained morasses, cleared away forests, did carpentry, thatched, and built roads and bridges…Through their disciplined and tireless labor they turned the tide of barbarism in Western Europe and brought back into cultivation the lands which had been deserted and depopulated in the age of invasions. More important, through their sanctifying work and poverty they lifted the hearts of the poor and neglected peasants and inspired them…” - David Bosch, Transforming Mission, p. 232.

3) Under Muslim rule during the time of the Crusades, Christians formed the backbone of a society that was oppressing them: “Indeed, as late as the middle of the eleventh century, the Muslim writer Nasir-i Khrusau reported, ‘Truly, the scribes here in Syria, as is the case of Egypt, are all Christians… [and] it is most usual for the physicians…to be Christians.’ In Palestine under Muslim rule, according to the monumental history by Moshe Gil, ‘the Christians had immense influence and positions of power, chiefly because of the gifted administrators among them who occupied government posts despite the ban in Muslim law against employing Christians [in such positions] or who were part of the intelligentsia of the period owing to the fact that they were outstanding scientists, mathematicians, physicians and so on.’” - Rodney Stark, God's Battalions, p. 61.

4) Today Christianity is exploding in the Southern Hemisphere. As it transforms the lives of men, it radically improves the plight of the women and children in their midst: “The reshaping of gender roles echoes through Southern Hemisphere Christianity, and Latin American churches often present Jesus as divine Husband and Father. In practical terms, the emphasis on domestic values has had a transformative and often positive effect on gender relationships… Membership in a new Pentecostal church means a significant improvement in the lives of poor women, since this is where they are more likely to meet men who do not squander family resources on drinking, gambling, prostitutes, and second households. - Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity

Throughout history, this is what Christians do: They raise other people’s children, rebuild what others have destroyed, love their enemies, and work to redeem the culture in which they live.

Even so their views and contributions are routinely mocked in the media, universities, in the courts, and in entertainment. They are also stigmatized by the actions of a few wackos in their midst, as though your creepy uncle from Toledo accurately represents your whole family.

But they don’t let that bother them. They just keep building.

So here’s what we do each and every day: we build communities, we redeem culture, and we proclaim the kingdom of God. Therefore, here’s what that should look like (not that it always does) in each and every one of our lives:

1) We are industrious. We get up each day and give our best energy to whatever task God has placed before us. We don’t squander our time or our money, but with a sense of urgency direct both of those resources to our God-given priorities.

2) We are honest. We don’t cheat others to get ahead, but we present ourselves as worthy of trust in both our personal and professional lives. We don’t lead double lives: what you see is what you get.

3) We are patient. We trust God to provide, fully aware that we may not always get what we want, but we will always have what we need. That prevents us from restoring to selfish manipulation of others for our own personal gain.

4) We engage. Rather than rolling up the drawbridge and staying safe inside our little castles, we go out to find those whose lives we can bless by sharing the Gospel or at least living it out.

5) We are happy. We forgive because we know we have been forgiven. And we know that God wins in the end no matter who claims to be in charge now!

So when we had thirty-seven kids respond to the Gospel message last week at VBS, you can bet that adds value to the community. When we send a team to the max unit in the Women’s prison every Thursday to preach the Gospel to murderers, you can bet that adds value to the community. And when we are challenging hundreds of people each week to become more like Jesus by laying down their lives for others, you can bet that adds value to the community.

We are making a difference. Christian, what you do today matters. If you’re living out the Gospel message, as has been done throughout history, then whoever is around you will always have hope.

Burn the Ships: The Elements of Passion

2011-06-29T20:12:00.002+05:30

If I I could have preached another 20 minutes last Sunday, I might have thrown in the following:

In Philippians 2, considered by many to be merely a “travelogue,” Paul tells the Philippians that he’s going to hang on to Timothy for a while, but Epaphroditus he’s sending back to them to be an encouragement to them. But I believe it’s a window into three lives that were lived with wild, burning, take-no-prisoners passion!

Here’s how he described Timothy: “For I have no one like him… For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.” (v. 20-22)

Here’s how he described Epaphroditus: “…my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier…” (v. 25). He went on to say that he “nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking…” (v. 30)

It seems to me these men were living in what can only be described as a constant state of “faith on the run.” You’ve got one guy being held as a religious prisoner and two other guys who are courageously committed to him, even though one of them almost died because of it.

There is a word that comes to mind when I imagine how these guys lived: passion.

Passion is that primal, gut-level, semi-irrational life force that comes from the inside out. While knowledge and experience move from the outside-in, passion begins on the inside; from that deep part of your soul and bursts out of your heart with an undeniable force that says, “I MUST do this!!”

Passion tramples that other word that has doused the dreams of countless millions: prudence. Prudence is the name of that old, crusty lady in the corner of your mind who wags her bony finger at you, shakes her head, and says, “Come on, let’s put away these silly thoughts in your head and get back to reality.” In other words, “Play it safe. After all, you don’t really think this is worth your life, do you? We’ve got to have some balance, some rationality here.”

Don’t get me wrong: Passion without wise planning and consideration is foolish and potentially destructive. But too often the valid concept of “prudence” extinguishes the God-passion in our hearts that rightly takes risks for the cause of the Kingdom.

Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus were not called to map everything out - they were called to lay everything down. They were passionate men who were fighting for the Kingdom to the death. They burned the ships, because sometimes faith requires you to burn them, and burn them all.

A wise man once told me to make decisions that would leave me with multiple options in the end. In other words, hopelessness only comes when one realizes there are no more options. In many aspects of life this is true. The decision to go to college creates more options than if you don’t. The decision to open a savings account creates more options than if you don’t.

But after dwelling on that statement for a number of years I’ve come to the conclusion that the decisions that define us are not the ones that leave us with the most options in the end. Rather the opposite is true: the decisions that truly define us are the ones that cut off every other option.

Next to becoming a Christian, the most defining moment of my life was the day I married Judi. On that day I cut off about 132,943,503 (or something like that) other options – that is, all the other women I could have married.

When you became a Christian, you threw off every other “religious” option available to you. You said, in the lyrics of the old hymn, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”

Contrast that to the idea of “moral relativism,” the idea that there is no objective truth outside of what the individual wants there to be. The stench of this belief is not merely that it’s wrong – it is that it demands nothing of you. Its very premise is based on “options” that allow you to morph into whatever belief is most convenient at the time. It’s the philosophy of posers. Very few people have died for moral relativism. (Many have died because of it, but not for it.)

What does all this mean? Godly, effective, lasting passion comes from faith that ditched the “options” a long time ago. It was Esther who said, “If I perish, then I perish.” (Esther 4:16). Paraphrased for today: “If this goes bad for me, then it goes bad for me.”

This attitude is evident in the life of a single mom who commits to raising her children in faith, without malice for the husband who bailed, not dwelling on the years of love lost because of his selfishness. She fights to the death because she made a decision a long time ago that cut off all of her options: to follow Jesus without turning back.

It is evident in the father who doesn’t chase the fantasy of all he thought would have had by now back when he was twenty-one. Rather, he steps up and faces the challenges of being a husband and a father to people who were entrusted gracefully to his care. He doesn’t enter a second childhood at forty. Instead, channels his energy toward what gains the most ground for the Kingdom: godly leadership, gospel-driven risks, fidelity at all costs, and integrity to the end.

The examples could go on and on, but faith that ditched the options a long time ago is what Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus had. They lived on the run; every second counted. Life was not mapped out; it was laid down. Where you’ll end up in 20 years is not so important when you’re not sure where you’ll end up tomorrow.

When I die, I’m not interested in people remembering all the things I did or said. I only want them to say with confidence, based on the way I lived, that I really believed.

Reflections on My Visit to the Perryville Women's Prison

2011-06-22T10:34:00.003+05:30

Hey There!

Tonight I went to the Perryville Women’s Prison. I was invited by our very own Compass Prison Ministry team to come as a guest and see what they do each and every week in this facility that is literally in our backyard.

We went through all the security procedures, took a short bus ride, and arrived at the facility that would hold the 180 women who showed up. One by one the ladies trickled in, all wearing the same orange attire with “ADC” (Arizona Department of Corrections) stenciled in big black letters across the back.

It’s hard to imagine a women’s prison. Women aren’t supposed to go to jail. They’re typically the victims, not the perps. In our hearts we sense this. Very few movies depict women as the masterminds of evil, for example. Men are overwhelmingly the ones who commit the crimes that we deem worthy of serving time.

It’s equally hard to look at most of the women who were cramming into the worship service as criminals. Granted, I met a few I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley (unless I had a can of “family-size” pepper spray). But what’s a 20-something woman who could put on normal clothes and fit right in at the mall doing with prison tattoo’s and the whole “I’m a tough chick” swagger?

There’s only one explanation: A war has been waged for their souls, and the Enemy appears to be winning.

What no one ever told these women is that, in truth, they’re all Eve’s. They were born with the same purpose as this First Woman: to bear the image of God in the expression of a female.

The Bible says that Eve was created not with the rest of Creation but afterward. Only after Adam recognized that something was missing in a world that God called “very good” did God grace this Earth with the Other Side of his image. When Adam saw Eve, his reaction says it all,

"This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." (Gen. 2:23)

James Montgomery Boice notes that the first woman could have had all the strength and intellect of the man, but with a “beauty and grace” that excelled him. This would have stopped Adam in his tracks, as surely it did, in the state of mind of which folk singer Ellis Paul wrote, “And that is the mystery: here she is.”

It was under these circumstances that Eve came into the world. The woman was never to be worshipped as God, but was to be cared for, nurtured, and attended to for who she is: the finishing touch of God’s creation.

We have fallen so far since that day. As these women came in I could see evidence of the Enemy: Drugs, absent fathers, bad boyfriends, and a series of bad choices have been their history. Their war torn faces bore scars that come from a life lived far away from that original vision to which they were created: to be beautiful, to radiate the glory of God.

That’s where the Compass Prison Ministry comes in. This team of eight men and women come in each week and bring smiles, hugs, prayers of encouragement, music, and the message of the gospel.

Tonight there was a choir of 25 women who sang as well as any choir you’d hear on a Sunday morning. They’re led by an African-American woman who apparently reminds of them of Whoopi Goldberg’s character in the movie Sister Act. So they call her “Whoopie.”

This is the 35^th week that our Prison Ministry Team has been working in the prison, and it has grown from a few dozen to the over 180 that were there tonight. And when you hear them sing, laugh, and respond to the message, you can begin to sense the beauty starting to come back.

While they’ve all got a long way to go, tonight twenty women came forward who said they wanted to give their lives to Jesus. Bill Alford did a great job spelling the Gospel out simply, and told them that forgiveness and restoration is found only through the Cross of Christ and the love of our Great and Mighty God.

You see, the world does not possess the capacity to tell a woman who she really is or what she might become. These women all acted on exactly what the pop culture taught them: live for the moment, follow your heart, innocence is outdated, and a man is the key to happiness.

This is why we hold fast to the message that we do – it is the only thing that works! The Bible is the only book, the only book, whose message is large enough to fill the gaping holes of a woman’s soul.

So our team continues each week to bring hope and restoration to the fallen Eve’s of this world, whose spiritual captivity has resulted in physical captivity. And they are gaining ground. Over 300 women have come forward to receive Christ in the eight months they’ve been there. (There are only 700 women in that particular unit!). I spoke with several who are excited about getting back on the outside and leading lives that can glorify God, and you can tell they are serious.

Maybe you’ve read this and your heart is tugged toward wanting to help. While practically the prison ministry can involve only so many people, they are looking for one other person who is able to meet the high-level of commitment that a ministry of this nature requires. If you’re interested, contact Bill Alford at bill.alford@yahoo.com.

Aren’t you glad to be part of a church that is truly making a difference in our community? I am.

VBS is almost here

2011-06-17T02:24:00.002+05:30

It's official, we are only days away from VBS! Meetings are happening, kids are registering, the t-shirts are in, volunteers are preparing, and prayers are being prayed for the numerous children we will have the privilege of serving during VBS. Please join us as we pray and continue to prepare for this wonderful week June 26-July 1st.

If you are wondering why you can no longer register online it is because online registration has closed. If you missed it, or had any problems with it, don't worry though. You can register on the day of VBS without any issues!

As always, let us know if you have any questions!

Passionately serving Jesus,

Pastor Mike

Stay "In-touch"

2011-06-15T23:38:00.001+05:30

Hey Everyone:

Well, summer's here which means kids at home (all day!!!), vacations, and reminisces of sub-100 degree days. Because this is the time when many of us "check out," I thought I'd give you some very easy, practical ways to stay "checked in" during this fun but crazy time of year:

1) Stay Spiritually Strong: As you know, we've launched Monvee, a new spiritual growth process here at Compass that's completely web-driven. It is consistently being loaded with new resources to help keep your walk with Christ fresh, relevant, and compelling. For those of you who have purchased a Monvee pack, we're actively working to make this tool something that has continued value for you. For those of you who don't know what Monvee is, click here and you can watch a few videos about it and find out how to get one. This way, no matter where you are around the country this summer, as long as you're connected to the internet, you've always got a way to grow.

2) Stay Informed: Did you know our website has a searchable calendar that allows you to see all that's gong on at Compass? For example, our Student Ministry is having "Pool-side" events each week at different homes, and all the locations are listed there on the calendar, making it easier than ever to stay connected with what's happening.

3) Stay on Track: If you miss a Sunday morning service, you can always watch the sermon here. This is a great way to stay consistent with our series in Philippians, as well as a great tool to show friends and neighbors what a Sunday morning at Compass is like.

4) Stay Faithful (in your giving): You can easily set up an online profile here and continue your giving throughout the summer even if you're gone for extended periods of time. You even have the ability to track your year-to-date giving online. Please know that our financial needs remain the same throughout the summer, especially as we’re trying to move forward with new initiatives and get ready for the greatest fall ever!

5) Stay Sane: Take your kids to VBS. Register here.

So you see, there are a ton of ways to stay "checked-in" during the season when everyone checks out. Don't forget, this Sunday is Father's Day, and every man is encouraged to wear a superhero T-shirt!

Jump! VBS 2011

2011-06-07T22:19:00.003+05:30

VBS is here again! I can't believe it, I love VBS! The kids, the games, the skits, the music, the crafts, the kitchen team making sure we get fed, you name it and I love it when it comes to VBS!

This year’s theme is "Jump! Put your faith in Motion." We will be taking kids on an energy packed journey as we examine Paul's missionary travels. They will see that once Paul put his faith in Jesus, he hit the ground running, and never stopped telling people about the good news of Jesus! Our prayer is that kids who Jump! in this year for VBS will walk away as Jesus loving, gospel sharing, disciples of Jesus Christ... oh, and they'll do it with style, too.

Think about this picture… hundreds of kids converging onto our campus every night with their VBS t-shirts on, full of energy, and ready to hang out with us as we share about the good news of Jesus, and about how awesome it is to live for Him every day. Like what you see? If that excites you as much as it does me, then I want to invite you to join our team this summer. You can do this in many ways:

Volunteer to serve in many different positions: small group leader, recreation team, kitchen crew, craft team, and the list goes on….
Take a donation balloon off of the wall in the lobby, and help us by donating the items listed on it.
Join us as we pray for the lives of each child that participates.

Click here for a link to the VBS info on our Website... make sure to check out the video's too.

As I mentioned already, I love VBS. And I look forward to serving alongside you as we impact the Kingdom of God through the lives of kids!

Passionately serving Jesus,

Mike Szoradi

Paying Attention - by Tim Jacobs

2011-06-06T22:50:00.004+05:30

In Philippians 2:1-4, Paul shows us what drives unity in the church: an attitude of humility followed up by the action of looking after the interests of others.

Yesterday at Compass we crystallized the concept of "looking after the interests of others" into one word: attention. When we give attention to others, it is the most tangible, three dimensional way of loving them.

Rather than starting at the "macro" level (e.g., loving the world), we were challenged to pay attention to those on the micro level of our lives: our spouse, children, home group, church, neighborhood, and business. From there we can expand into seeking unity with "humankind" - once we've achieved it with those with whom we live and work.

Who are you paying attention to this week? Who are you studying, attempting to notice every detail about their lives?

In Love Beyond Reason, John Ortberg points out that God pays attention to us. That's one of the clearest ways we know of his love for us.

Check out Psalm 139:1-4:

"O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, beyond, O LORD, you know it altogether."

Because God pays so close attention to us, we don't have to have a spirit that constantly worries about wether we'll get hung out to dry. The Creator of the universe has intimate knowledge of us, and that should free us up to then pursue the needs and interests of others, especially those closest to us.

Unity happens, then, when both parties involved are paying attention and seeking the good of each other. That's when unity isn't lame, but becomes a tangible reality that actually makes a difference in the world.

Tearing Down Idols and Building the Future - By Scott Johnson

2011-06-04T22:28:00.002+05:30

Hi there! I'm Scott Johnson, one of the elders here at Compass Church.

Today, my Monvee daily reading took me to 2 Chronicles 34. When Josiah, the 8 year old king, was about 16 years old, he began to seek the God of his father David. (v.3)

He started out by destroying asher poles and altars to Baal. Throughout the Old Testament, this is a recurring theme. God moves in the hearts of godly kings to destroy them, the nation turns and prospers, and then like weeds, the alters and poles quickly sprout again in the next generation.

Anyway, Josiah decides to renovate the old, broken down, temple. Money for the capital campaign was stored inside this dilapidated tribute to God. So, one day, when it was payday for the workers, one of the priests, while collecting the cash noticed a dusty old book in the corner. What a discovery: It was the Book of the Law given to Moses. Amazing!

Word was given to King Josiah that the book had been found. He ordered that the book be read in his presence.
When the King heard the words of the Law, he was so convicted by his and his nation’s sin, that he tore his robes. Eventually, King Josiah and the nation of Israel turned completely back to God.

Then, something amazing happens. (Chapter 35) For the first time in hundreds of years, the nation of Israel celebrated Passover. No one knew how to do it. So, following the Book of the Law, they found descendants of Levi to serve as priests, arranged the sacrificial lambs, had musicians, and observed every ordinance in the 7 day festival. Chapter 35 provides quite a bit of detail because, I believe, it was a very cool event! A nation worshiping God with all of its heart for the first time in generations.

So, why is this important? I think for a couple of reasons.

First, Tim shared this week an amazing story of how a guy he knew many years ago, suddenly re-entered his life, renovating a church that had been vacant for 20 years. In this place of desolation, 9th and Van Buren, God provided a remnant. Imagine the joy of that first (up-coming) worship service.

Second, we need to be committed to removing asher poles and altars to Baals in our own lives and in the Church. God really blesses when we do.

Lastly, let’s not get discouraged by individual or national events that appear to be setbacks. Yes, we should be moved to act. However, know that God is God. For His glory, He will restore. He will not be denied.

Give 2 Chronicles 34-35 a read!

Be encouraged,

Scott

You Never Know What Might Come Back Around - by Tim Jacobs

2011-06-03T10:29:00.003+05:30

Today I visited a friend of mine I haven't seen in almost 20 years. We went to Chatsworth High School together, but after we graduated we lost touch until recently when he found me on Facebook.

I was surprised to find out he's living in Phoenix and sure enough, is a pastor. We were originally supposed to meet at a Starbucks near downtown, but he asked me if we could meet at his church building instead. "We just closed on this building and we're trying to get it ready for Sunday."

So I went down to his facility on Van Buren and 7th Ave, a church building that hasn't housed a church in twenty years! There he was, with a crew made up of different ages and backgrounds, all busily working to clean and repair this church that was originally built in the early 1900's. It was an amazing thing to see this friend of mine encouraging the workers, giving them direction on the various projects but doing so with love and grace.

The craziest part about it is that when I knew him in high school he was not a Christian. I had brought him to church with me a few times and shared the Gospel with him, but it nothing really took. So you can imagine my amazement to walk around this church facility that he renovating in what is literally downtown Phoenix.

But here's the best part: As he was introducing me to his fellow laborers, he told them, "This guy is one of the main reasons I'm a Christian and in ministry." I was very humbled by that description, and didn't feel worthy to occupy such an important role in his life.

But he went on to tell me that after high school he spent many years living far away from God, but he never forgot our conversations. After a series of events, he gave his life to Christ and then married a wonderful Christian woman who is expecting their first child together.

The whole ninety minutes we hung out was truly amazing for me. I never would have guessed that my happy-go-lucky friend Jonathan would someday find Jesus and be renovating a building that is literally down the street (just a half-hour east on Van Buren!) from me.

But you never know how God is going to use your words and your example to impact the life of someone else long after you felt you had any impact. So keep planting seeds, and let God bring the increase!

Adventures in Monvee - by Tim Jacobs

2011-06-02T08:03:00.002+05:30

This Sunday's passage is Philippians 2:1-4. Verse three of that passage states, "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."

You know that Monvee has tested each of us to determine what is called the "spiritual inhibitor" - that quality that keeps us from growing in the way God designed us as believers.

Check out this list: Anger, Pride/Self-Centeredness, Deception/Dishonesty, Pride of Knowledge, Anxiety, Greed/Excess, Inaction, and Misplaced Desires.

It strikes me that all of these qualities contribute to a life of self-centeredness, the exact state that Paul is encouraging us against. Instead, as he says, we've got to follow Christ's example and count others as more significant than ourselves.

My "spiritual inhibitor" (or "chief sin" as I might call it) turned out to be "greed/excess" - something I did not at all expect! But as I read the description, it told me that I have an "insatiable desire for more." And as I consider what has really tripped me up in life, I had to admit that this type of sin can be found at the root of it all.

When "nothing is ever good enough" in your life, its hard to think about the plight of others. Sure, I have every intention of really giving my best effort to counting others as more important than myself. But I'll get started on that as soon as I've gotten enough for myself(!).

This week, think about how your "chief sin" might be getting in the way of becoming someone who can really live out this verse. Do you have the courage to entrust your needs to God and truly live to pursue what is good for others?

It's a Great Day!

2011-06-02T02:47:00.001+05:30

We've got a ton of things happening at Compass Church. Check out our new website to see the latest!

I Dare You

2010-08-04T10:51:00.000+05:30

So I'm on the plane on the way back from Dallas this past Friday, and I sat next to a guy named Albert. He was a pretty big Hispanic guy, probably about my age, and judging by appearances you would think that we wouldn't have much in common. Before we took off, I turned my head and did one of those, "How's it going, man?" introductions, followed by, "Going home?"

I found out he was on a connection flight from Odessa, TX, and was headed to Las Vegas. He had found a job as a heavy equipment operator in Odessa and had been working for two months, away from his wife and kids, and was going back to Vegas to pick them up and move them to the Lone Star State.

We didn't say much for the first 30 minutes or so, but slowly my conscience began to bother me (remember that message series from a few years ago?). It hit me that, while I was mentally and physically exhausted, I had just spent two weeks in a doctoral level class on church multiplication. I had been around some phenomenally gifted people, and had the privilege of immersing myself into my life's passion: churches, and how to make more of them.

But here was Albert, sitting next to me. Heavy equipment operator, moving to Odessa. I had the window seat (my favorite seat) and all I wanted to do was stare out at the big puffy clouds that were turning orange in the sunset.

Then all of a sudden I heard a voice. This voice came to me saying, "Jacobs, if you can't share the gospel with this guy, then you're a hack. You spent two weeks flapping your lips about church multiplication, the least you can do is buck up, quit your 'but I'm tired' whining, and come up with something out of that ADHD brain of yours that will lead into you presenting the gospel."

When God really wants me to do something, that's how he speaks to me. Honestly. Not the first time.

By the way, the conscience is quite a mechanism: the word comes from "con" which means with, and "science" which means knowledge. Your conscience is knowledge with God. It is the measurement of your behavior against the knowledge of right and wrong, knowledge that comes from God.

So I turned away from the view of the puffy orange clouds and began to drill Albert with questions until I could find a hook. He proceeded to tell me about his kids, how badly he missed them, and how he couldn't wait to hug them. We started talking about fatherhood and I talked a little about God. Then I said, "In the Bible, it says that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. I don't know about you, but there's no way I could do that unless I had a model. For me, I need Jesus to help me 'cause I'm a pretty selfish guy at heart."

I told him I admired him for taking responsibility for his family by working hard for them and making the trip out to drive them back safely to be with him. These are hard times, and Albert was doing what it took to support his family. It says in 1 Timothy 5:8 that if anyone does not provide for his family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

As the flight was descending, we started talking about religion and he was wondering why Protestants and Catholics have so many arguments. At that point I tried to say as clearly as possible that while we should all strive to be loving in our words, I believe that there's nothing I could do to ever work my way to heaven, and there's nothing I could do to lose my salvation. To believe those things places all the focus on me, when it should be on Jesus. Because Jesus' death and resurrection on the cross paid everything, I can stop dwelling on myself and point all of my attention on him.

I'm sure it didn't come out as clean as that but I know I got the message out there. No, I didn't lead him in a prayer in the seat, but I did tell him about grace, Jesus, and what a husband and father looks like who is following Jesus. As I was getting up to change planes in Albuquerque and he was continuing on to Vegas, I told him that I would pray for him, that he and his family would make it safely to Odessa. He almost got a little emotional and was very grateful.

Folks, God gave me a challenge while I was on that flight: Bet you can't share the gospel before the plane lands. So I have a challenge for you: Bet you can't share the gospel with someone by the end of the week!!

Well? Are you up for it? If you do, will you send me a note and tell me about it? Don't worry, I'm in it with you as well. And if you just can't find the words to speak the Gospel, will you at least invite them to church this Sunday? I promise they'll hear there.

So come on, I dare you!!

This is Discipleship

2010-07-14T10:47:00.000+05:30

Hey!

They say that legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi, used to encourage his team during a rough game by holding up a pigskin and saying, "Gentlemen, this is a football." The whole point was to remind his exasperated players that the game is really quite simple if we can get back to the fundamentals.

Jesus had a "this is a football" statement in Matthew 28:18-20 and it went like this: "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

The way we do that at Compass is really through three simple words: Know, Grow, and Go. These words form the process that we use to accomplish this command of Jesus, the Great Commission. These words also drive the environments we have created at Compass. Here's what it looks like, in its most basic form:

Know: We want people to know the grace of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Our dream is that hundreds, even thousands of people who right now are far away from God come to faith in him and have their lives totally transformed. The "environment" that best accomplishes that is our Sunday morning services. Each Sunday we craft the service to be something that a non-believer can understand and relate to, and at the same time make it challenging and compelling for the believer to want to grow deeper in their walk with God. Each Sunday is an opportunity for you to worship God alongside someone you've invited to observe what Christians believe and practice.

Grow: God created us for each other - we were not intended to be alone! Yet so many people go through life disconnected. At Compass, we want to grow closer to Jesus as we grow closer to one another. We want to experience God together, encouraging and supporting each other. The environment that best fits this step is Home Groups. That's why this Fall we will be starting many new groups along with the ones we already have. It is our dream to have no less than 80% of our church involved in Home Groups, so that everyone's name and need can be known.

Go: The Christian life is a journey. The late missionary Roland Allen wrote almost 50 years ago that every great city has a great prison and a great railway. The question every church has to answer is which one its going to be: a prison that locks up talented, passionate people and keeps them "contained" in its structure; or a railway that sends them out to the adventure God has for them, holding them loosely as they constantly welcome in and develop new people. The environment that best fits "Go" at Compass Church is all of our various ministries. Have you found where in our church you can use the gifts God's given you to his glory and to strengthen the church?

Now here's the only tricky part: Everything about Know Grow Go must multiply. Worship services have to multiply; Home Groups have to multiply; Ministries areas have to multiply. Otherwise it will all end with us. The biggest challenge we have at Compass is building a culture of multiplication. That means every one of us, from the pastoral staff to the person who thinks that God could never use them, must embrace Jesus' "this is a football" command of making disciples.

So here's the whole point: The question isn't, "Are you knowing, growing and going?" The question is, "Who are you helping to know, grow and go?"

Gentlemen (and ladies!), this is discipleship.

On the journey with you,

Pastor Tim

2010-06-24T20:20:00.002+05:30

Today is sermon day. It started at 5:30 with a 7 mile run up the canal. Had a kink in my neck because bambino numero tres got in the bed at some ungodly hour and likes to sleep perpendicular.

So we spend the whole night in a "defensive sleeping mode" trying to avoid getting kicked where the proverbial sun don't shine. In any event, the run was good, but every time I looked to the right I got light headed.

I've got less than a month to dust off another 1800 pages of reading as well as write a few papers for my two week residency at DTS. The good news is, I'm learning a ton and applying it to my current situation at Compass.

Today I'm meeting with a church planter in Peoria who has started a multi-cultural church. He's a good guy, and has shown faithfulness and tenacity in the work God has put in his heart. I need to hang out with guys like this, as it keeps me inspired for our own church plant/multi-site plans.

The oatmeal is cooking, and the Perpendicular Sleeper is up and needs help getting dressed. Adios.

Church Planting Movementas

2010-06-24T03:03:00.001+05:30

Did you know that church planting movements are exploding all across the world? Christianity may be seen as old and dying to some in the West, but in almost every other part of the world people are coming to Christ by the thousands!

David Garrison, in his book, Church Planting Movements, reports that in some of the darkest places in the world - places that have seen poverty, famine, and the devastation of war - the Gospel of Jesus is spreading like wildfire. One such place is Cambodia. During one of Garrison's visits, he found himself in a rural village where 50 people crowd into a one room house, singing together the praises of God. This is just one of countless "house churches" that have sprung up all over the world. It's located in a village that lies along what was once was the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail, used by the communists to smuggle arms into South Vietnam.

Garrison noticed that the landscape had been dotted by ponds. One of the Cambodians explained that these ponds were bomb craters made during the Vietnam War. Then, referring to one of the craters now filled with water, Garrison writes that the man "paused to let the words sink in, and then smiled. 'Last Easter,' he said, ' we baptized 70 new believers in that pond.'" What once was a bomb is now a baptistery.

I don't know about you but that fires me up. Out of the ashes God brings new life, redemption, and hope to a people who have been through untold sorrow. Humanity, in all its wisdom and power, ultimately cannot stop the Spirit of God who Jesus describes as a wind that "blows wherever it pleases." (John 3:8) This is the same Spirit that lives inside each of us who have been born again to new life. He is capable of anything - there is nothing beyond his power or his imagination.

How does it strike you to know that the Spirit of God lives inside you? The same Spirit who hovered over the waters at the moment of creation and the one who the Bible says regenerates (i.e., brings us from death to life) hopeless sinners like you and me. Every day he is always looking to breathe new life into what has been written off, decayed, or destroyed.

Will you join me in expecting the Holy Spirit to work through us to bring new life, new breath, or new hope into someone in desperate need of it this week? Who knows, maybe he'll surprise you in a way you'd never expect. Maybe the "craters" that mark our town can be the very places where redemption takes place. Pray for it, look for it, and be ready to step up when the time comes.

Leadership Lesson Learned on Camelback Rd.

2010-05-28T21:08:00.004+05:30

So today I was out for a run and noticed amidst the farm fields one solitary man standing there with a shovel. As I continued running I looked over occasionally at him and saw that he would walk around for a bit, shovel a few mounds of dirt, and walk around a little more.

When its 6:30 in the morning, and there's a guy all by himself with a shovel among hundreds of acres of crops, you gotta think something isn't quite right. But then I realized what he was doing: he was looking for where the water was being blocked as it flowed down the various rows of crops.

So when he saw a mound of dirt that was preventing the water from getting to where it was supposed to go, he would shovel it away and allow the water to get to its intended target.

The amazing thing was it looked like a pretty low-stress job. It didn't require a ton of labor (at least then), just a watchful eye and a little proactivity. But what's most important is that he wasn't generating anything spectacular - he was simply removing obstacles that were preventing a system from working properly.

I think that's part of what good leaders do. We often think that based on our energy, initiative and just plain brilliance we're gonna make everything happen. But if, in the case of church leadership, the system is in place, our job is really to walk around and deal with the obstacles that arise and remove them as best we can.

Roland Allen, in his book, Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours? talks about every great city having a great prison and a great railway. Similarly, every church can either be a great prison or a great railway. Either they will lock up and prevent talented and called people from ever truly developing their God-given potential, or they will become a railway that receives new people with the goal of sending them out to be part of God's mission.

The issue is in many churches the system doesn't allow for the free flow of water to come and go. We as leaders must realize that the Holy Spirit is the one who is a continual source of life, and we must do everything we can to remove the systemic obstacles that prevent the free flow of his expansion into every area of the field.

Church Planting

2010-05-24T20:37:00.003+05:30

Yesterday at Compass we brought up Felipe, a church planter in Mexico Compass is supporting. He has moved, along with his family, to a suburb (of about 1 million people) named Toluca. In his particular area there are 7,000 homes and not a single evangelical church.

Felipe's journey was our springboard to talk about our own church planting efforts here locally. Basically, I said that Compass Church is "going off birth control" and going to try and have a baby.

Here are some facts about church plants:

1) New churches grow faster. Most churches in America are either stable or in decline. The ones that are growing are typically new churches. Why is this? Well, first of all, they have to! Their very survival depends on it! They don't have the same 200 people who have been coming for the last ten years. Secondly, they usually have an "all in" approach when it comes to involvement. New churches are forced to "assimilate" new people quicker because they don't have anyone else.

2) New churches get more converts with fewer resources. Research shows that for the average church, it takes 100 people, $100,000, and 1 year to reach 1 person for Jesus. Not even the government would go for that kind of spending! But church plants are much different. For example, it takes 89 people to reach 1 person for Christ in a church that is 10 years or older. However, it takes only 3 people to reach 1 person for Christ in a church that is 3 years or younger!

3) New churches don't fight over the "small stuff." Because new churches see themselves on mission, they dedicate their resources to the mission and tend to not turn their guns on each other.

As Compass "goes off birth control" here are a few things to keep in mind:

1) We're gonna need "all hands on deck"! Everyone, including our children and students, are going to have an opportunity to have a larger stake in the ministry of Compass and its church plants.

2) We're going to need greater dependence on the Holy Spirit. If we're going to become a true "mother church" we're going to have the Spirit of God guiding and directing us, bringing unity and momentum in our efforts.

3) We're going to need to do church differently. I think there's going to be a shift in how new churches are started, especially now that economic conditions are so different from what they were. We'll have to have churches started with more involvement and passion from each person in the launch team to make up for the bells and whistles we may not be able to fund from the beginning. But that's probably a better strategy in the long run.

Another Great Day at Compass

2010-05-17T03:10:00.002+05:30

Today at Compass we were able to get over 50 children sponsored through our C2C partnership with Compassion International! That means that there are at least 50 lives who are going to be impacted forever by the love and support of the people in our congregation.

It is so amazing to be a part of a church that is doing something, both locally and around the world. I can't wait to hear the stories that come from the folks who have decided to "spend themselves" on the poor and oppressed - there is real life change that is coming!

Right now I'm waiting to get on a flight to Chicago (which I just found out will be delayed), where I'll be team teaching another Church Planter's Boot Camp at Trinity Seminary. I'll be able to hang out with over 40 seminary students and potential church planters from around the country and dive deep into what it takes to realistically get a new church off the ground.

Our denomination has an excellent church planting organization armed with a process that greatly increases the success of new churches being planted. At Compass we have the opportunity as an existing church to send out church planting teams to dot the area with fresh expressions of the movement of God.

So its been a great day so far!

Disser - what?

2010-05-05T22:00:00.001+05:30

There's something you may not have known about me. For the last five years I've been slowly working away at what is called a Doctor of Ministry degree at Dallas Theological Seminary. In order to complete it, I have to write a dissertation, which is basically a 200 page research project on a subject in ministry that interests me. Then it has to be submitted, ripped apart with a vicious red pen, sent back to me, reworked a few times, then finally submitted for approval. Then, when mysterious panel meeting in some undisclosed location think it makes the cut, I graduate.

I don't know if you've ever had something in your life that you wish would just go away but you know you've got to get through because, well, you're just supposed to. So many times I've wanted to tell the world of academia to go fly a kite, but every time I get close, my advisor (who's about my age and 3235 times smarter than I am) calls me and tells me to buck up and get it done.

So I wrestle with thoughts like:

"I don't really need this."

"Nobody will care whether I finish or not."

"Lots of people don't finish their doctorates.

"Maybe I just have too much ADD to get this done."

The problem with these thoughts is, well, they're mostly true. And I was just about ready to give into them when one night I was talking about it with Judi. She said, "You've come so far in this program, it would be ridiculous for you to quit now." I could have argued against that. But then she went on: "Besides, our whole family has been in this with you, including the kids and the time you've spent working on this thing. If you graduate, its like we all graduate. Not only that, but what does it model to the kids if you quit now?"

Shoot.

So I guess I'm getting this thing done. Don't get me wrong - the more I dive into this the sharper I become as a leader. In fact, my project fits the exact reason that I came to Compass Church. You see, my dream ever since I got here was to see this church grow and then raise up leaders who could plant new churches all over the West Valley and beyond. And while it takes time to lay the groundwork spiritually and organizationally for such a thing, our team has done a fantastic job and I believe we're getting closer with each passing day!

So don't be surprised if you get tapped on the shoulder at some point and get invited to be a part of something new. Don't be alarmed if God calls you to be part of a brand new church that is birthed out of Compass and will be responsible someday for thousands of people coming to know Jesus in the coming years. Does that light your fire? Well, it lights mine. And so this project I'm working on is requiring me to study other churches that have transitioned into "church planting churches."

Some people are still pretty fuzzy about the concept of church planting. But I like what Ed Stetzer wrote in his book Planting Missional Churches, "How did Christianity change from a faith spread primarily through church planting to a faith where church planting is rare, sometimes even controversial?”

Anyway, these are my thoughts, and thanks for reading them.

Great Day at Compass

2010-03-29T07:46:00.002+05:30

Well it's Sunday evening and I'm spent. Preached two services, had a great lunch with the leader of our Audio Team and a very talented consultant, came home, and then ran out to Lowe's.

We had to get some stepping stones to connect our patio to the kids playhouse and then it was time to attack the weeds. Anyone outside of Arizona probably doesn't understand the power of sunlight, dirt, and a little water here and there. Even the weeds grow like weeds.

Anyway, Judi and I have declared war on them and as long as they can't grow as fast as we can pull them, eventually we will prevail.

I don't have final numbers yet, but we are set to break a non-holiday attendance record, having at least 575, maybe up to 600. The best part about it is all the new folks who are coming back 2, 3, and 4 times.

I had fun preaching today, although I think my seminary profs would have critiqued my somewhat segmented content. I must somehow be imagining they're in the auditorium, because for no apparent reason I defended my lack of a three point sermon. I said that there are no 3 point sermons in the Bible (there may be, but I'm not aware of any) and that I don't need to preach a 3 point sermon because I'm not Socrates.

In any event, I love love love preaching through Genesis and unloading its power to our congregation. Yes, I made a veiled reference to the health care legislation that just passed last week. While I don't like to be gratuitously political, I felt this was a salient point. You see, the more that the government does for me and other men, the less we have to do for ourselves, and that just doesn't seem to be a wise strategy for the long ter.

I don't believe men want to be taken care of if they really believe they can take care of themselves. The danger over time is, at what point is it going to be more sensible to not work at all and just receive the benefits that a compassionate but rather misguided society wants to give?

But I believe that there is much restoration that can occur in society when its men are counted upon to save the day, so to speak. Sure, some of them will turn out to be deadbeats and dirtbags. But we're better off on the whole challenging guys to rise up and fulfill their God-given roles as providers, defenders, and leaders.

I love our church more than ever these days. It is a joy to spend this life with such phenomenal people.

Namaste - That's "Hello" in Hindi

2010-03-12T09:58:00.001+05:30

The flight home was pretty amazing as we had about 23 hours of daylight before the sun finally set. It's a strange thing to land in Germany and then think to yourself, "Wow, I'm almost home!"

The experience there was fantastic. We were able to dive deeply into both the problems and the potential that exist in Dandkhora, the village where our partner church is located. Of course, things happened there that broke our hearts and at the same time inspired our souls.

Its hard to know how to begin recounting this trip. I don't think anyone who was there has really had time to process all that we saw and experienced. But I can say at this point that there is one thing of which I have become convinced: As Christians, each of us has a responsibility for making the plight of the poor part of our lives. That seems to me as I sit here to be undeniable. However, that doesn't just simply mean giving money or taking trips or committing to pray. All of those things are appropriate, but it isn't that simple. Instead, I'm thinking more along the lines of carrying a burden in our lives for those who live in a continual state of hopelessness.

You see, I'm a flag waving patriotic American through and through. And I've always believed that anyone, with hard work and initiative, can live in this country with a legitimate sense of hope for a better future. But that is simply not the case for hundreds of millions of people in India. For the countless faces we saw, hopelessness was not a state of mind to be corrected by the power of positive thinking. Instead, it was an accepted reality. This discovery was, and still is, difficult for me to fully absorb.

Yet at the same time there is great potential. In the village of Dandkhora the only light is the church - and yet it is a bright one. We saw 275 children who, because of this church and their partnership with Compassion International, are receiving meals, education, health care, and a future. When you drive hundreds of kilometers seeing only downcast faces and then come upon a place where children sing, dance, laugh, smile, and wear bright colors - well, all I can tell you is that I know what I saw. This is why John says of Jesus, "In him was life, and that life was the light of men."

At the same time, what is true for them is true for us as well. Our job is to bring hope to the hopeless in our community. It's a little harder because the needs are not as immediate. Please remember as we move forward here at Compass, let's not take our eye off the ball. It's not right for our hearts to break for those in India and yet completely ignore our next door neighbors. Both need the same Jesus, and both will end up in the same place without him.

As we work with Compassion International and the church in Dandkhora, we'll be able to come up with some very specific ways to make a lasting difference in that community. Our goal is not to run out and be heroes to these people, but rather figure out how to best use what God has given us in strategic, thoughtful ways over the long term. It's really about relationships at this point, not simply resources.

Even though we were occupied the whole time, I still missed everyone last Sunday! They did say, however, that the rain might have scared some of you away. So this Sunday rain or shine, sleet or hail, UFO's or comets, road blocks or road kill, late nights out or faulty alarm clocks, cranky kids or funeral processions, mismatched socks or minor headaches, photo enforcement or agoraphobia - you can make it, venture out... God will protect you! :)

Another India Update

2010-03-07T21:53:00.003+05:30

The last few days have been amazing. We hopped on Kingfisher Airlines to the town of Siliguri in West Bengal. From there we got in a car and drove four hours (200 km) to the smaller but wilder town of Katihar.

The drive there was nothing like I have ever experienced. In Honduras they drove like there was no tomorrow, but there they didn't have to dodge cows, chickens, rickshaws, goats, and yes, people driving on the wrong side of the street. No, I don't mean on the left, because here they drive on the left. I mean cars driving the opposite direction that they are supposed to. And the driver honks at everybody. Honking the horn in India is like saying "Excuse me, just trying to get by and I don't want to take you out, have a nice day!" Nothing malicious about it.

When we finally got to Katihar the place was swarming with people buying, selling, standing around and whatever else people do. We literally had to "beep" our way through. We checked into the Hotel Katihar, which made Motel 6 look like the Marriott. Actually, that's a little unfair. I guess it wasn't that bad. The occasional power outage, combined with the ability to hear everything, I mean everything, going on in the rooms all around and outside added to the experience.

They had a dimly lit lounge downstairs where we ate several meals. To be honest wherever we went we stuck out. They told us these people never see tourists, let alone white people. But as if Katihar wasn't far enough off the beaten path, the next morning we drove another 1/2 hour to Dandkhora, where our partner church is located.

Of all the places we've been in India, I've liked Dandkhora the best. The interesting thing about it is that is so close to Bangladesh that the "oriental" (to use their terminology) influence is much stronger. The people have more of a Mongolian look to them, and even the terrain itself reminds you of the Far East. There were rice fields and tea farms everywhere. The people in Dandkhora live mostly in mud huts with thatched roofs. The area has a beauty all its own except for the great darkness of poverty and spiritual oppression that loom over the whole place.

The Child Development center is a bright light in a dark place. As soon as we got there, we could feel the darkness lift and the joy set in. They had an amazing reception for us, as young girls prepared several dances for us and several boys accompanied with music.

The center (where the ch*rch is) has 275 students, all of whom were at our welcome ceremony. The two pastors, Gayus and Nethaniel, then took us around the campus and showed us all that they are doing for the children of the community.

Let me make this clear: Without this facility the children in this community would have no hope. They would have no education and no future. What amazed me was how specific the education was.

For example, we watched as about 50 students were being taught about how to prevent and treat diarrhea, a very common and even dangerous condition in the village. It is brought on often by the amount of flies that get on the food and contaminate it. So we were watching as six year olds were taught how to mix sugar and salt into a glass of water in order to treat that condition.

Here's the great part: These kids can now go back to their families and teach them what they have learned. That's just one small part of what the kids are learning. Truthfully, these kids that are in the program are the only ones who have a chance to to get a better life someday and lead their village and their families out of the strangleholds that now have them.

Today at the church service everyone showed up at 7:30 in the morning, even though they moved the church service from its originally scheduled time of 10:00 am to accommodate our need to be back in Siliguri by 2:00 pm. It was amazing to see hundreds of people show up on time for church. Hmm. What a difference. :)

They even took an offering. It was quite humbling to see people who live in mud huts and probably haven't had a hot shower in years (if ever) drop what little they had into the buckets. The pastors made no apologies about this - they were teaching the people that they have something to contribute to the Kingdom of God, no matter how small.

If there was one word that would describe the work that is going on in Dandkhora, it is this: Redemption. There is redemption happening there. Something very beautiful.

There are many more stories, but that's all for now.

Quick India Update

2010-03-03T22:15:00.001+05:30

Local time is 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night. That's 10:00 a.m. for you in AZ. So I'm off too bed while you still have MOST OF YOUR WORK DAY LEFT! Ha! Chalk up one more for India.

Our first day went really well. Want to know where I am? Right here. But we won't be there for long. Tomorrow is a 2.5 hour bus ride to observe one of Compassion International's projects where they care for kids.

Then Friday we fly 1000 miles east and then take a four hour bus ride to an extremely remote and poverty-stricken area, where our partner church is located.

So here's my one take-away from today. I sort of knew this already, but when you actually see it, it makes all the difference: We saw pictures of a village in India that does not have electricity at night (or at all, I don't remember). So consequently, all they have at night is candles, making it very hard to have any type of safety or do anything when it gets dark.

Compassion International recently partnered with a church in this village to put in solar panels next to the church. It has totally changed the community. The villagers are able to do things after dark. In fact, they hold classes for kids at night (because that's when a lot of them can go) and run sports leagues and anything else constructive you can think of when you have a LIGHT BULB (or two, or ten)!!

Now, do you want to know why they don't have access to light at night? It's not because there's no availability. It's because the government, in conjunction with the ruling religion here (Hinduism) believes that if you are born in a place with no electricity, that's your problem! It is your fate, you must have done something bad in a past life to have deserved that. So, too bad, we don't care, and even though we could do something about it, we won't.

Well there you have it. Beliefs matter. All religions are NOT the same. Once again, Christianity is the hope of the world.

Today I ran 15 kilometers on the treadmill and then had a fantastic dinner. Indian food is awesome, and so far its all agreeing with me. ;)

I'll try to post video tomorrow.

Off to India

2010-03-02T06:27:00.000+05:30

Think about this: India is a country that has FOUR TIMES as many people as the United States and the vast majority of them have not heard the gospel. Now, I'm not saying God can't do more than one thing at a time, but if you were God for a day, where would you focus your attention?

It's because of this that we're sitting here at JFK ready to fly out to India. We've been meeting up with church leaders from across the country who are excited about establishing partnerships with churches in India.

Compassion International is the organization that is putting this together, and we are going to get a chance to see some of the projects they have going on in India that are changing the course of children's lives who are in deep poverty in this nation.

Please be praying for us that God would open up doors between Compass Church and the church in eastern India that we are partnering with. It is clear that this is an area of the world that is in deep need, the type that is really foreign to most of us who live in the U.S.

Who knows the lives that will be touched by Jesus in the coming months and years? It's been great to hear so many from Compass who have said, "Sign me up for the next trip!"

Well, its time to take the next leg to Frankfurt, and from there to Delhi. We'll be getting there at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday Arizona time, which will be 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning Delhi time!

We'll try to post pictures and video as we get them!

Vision and Execution

2010-02-01T03:41:00.000+05:30

We had an amazing weekend with Brad and Kim Oaster from Harvestime. Brad calls himself the "Chief Evangelist of Really Big Ideas" and he certainly doesn't fall short of that.

There were 8 of us who flew into Denver and spent a couple of days with Brad talking through our ministry strategy and what the next 10 years will look like at Compass. Of course its beyond exciting to dream big and ask the "what if" questions that get you out of the box.

Once we began to make a list of all the ways to execute the "Know/Grow/Go" strategy in the coming years we ended up realizing that we could easily spend the rest of our lives trying to make it happen.

The subject matter of the last few days reminded me a of a book that I need to re-read that is simply called Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done.

The authors, Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan, suggest seven "behaviors" that begin the process of successful execution (p. 57):

Know your people and your business
Insist on realism.
Set clear goals and priorities.
Follow through.
Reward the doers.
Expand people's capabilities.
Know yourself.

The reason I'm so interested in this is because over the years I've fallen victim to endless "good ideas" that for some reason never get off the ground. But whether you have adult ADHD, you're too busy, or you're just trying to stay "balanced," at some point you have to take responsibility for whether or not the things you set out to do actually get done.

What do you think?

Compass Church's Response to the Earthquake in Haiti

2010-01-15T20:51:00.001+05:30

Dear Compass Family -

By now you know of the devastation that has shattered the nation of Haiti. Right now we at Compass Church are trying to put together the best response we can as quickly as we can. Obviously there are numerous organizations to which you can donate to the relief effort. However, we are working on specific ways we can get involved.

Here is what we are doing right now:

1) If you would like to make immediate cash donations, we'd like to invite you to do that through www.efcacrisisresponse.blogspot.com. The EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America) is the organization we are affiliated with and they have done a fantastic job of crisis response in the past. Judi and I made our donation to them.

2) One of our members, John Rineer, who works with our City Reach Ministry, is scheduled to leave for Haiti within the next few weeks to be a part of the relief and recovery effort. He will be leaving with a team of doctors, nurses, and other professionals in the Phoenix area who are trained to effectively deal with this type of crisis response work. We are going to want to support him as best we can as he will "represent" our church as one of the earliest workers on the ground there in Haiti.

3) Because John and the team he is going with will be in Haiti for an indefinite period of time, they are going to need a "supply chain" of medical products. Therefore, Compass has been designated as a "drop-off" spot for churches across the West Valley to bring these supplies that will then be shipped to Haiti by way of the Haitian Disaster Relief of Arizona. Here is a list of products that you can bring to Compass as early as this Sunday:

a) Crutches
b) Slings
c) Gauze
d) Big Bandages
e) Medical Tape
f) Antiseptic
g) Alcohol pads

4) Along with all of this, we have let the EFCA Crisis Response Team know that we are available to send teams to Haiti once they have established a "handle" on the situation and are able to coordinate crews. Right now, as you know, it is best to have only those specially trained to deal with the immediate crisis go into the country. However, there will be opportunities for years to come that people of all skill levels will have to go and be a part of rebuilding that country.

Let's also not fail to pray for the people of Haiti as well as the relief workers. Let's also pray that many will find the grace and hope of Jesus through this time.

Together for Him,

Your Compass Pastoral Team

Follow up to today's sermon

2010-01-04T07:06:00.001+05:30

Today we started a new series called "The Journey - Adventures in Living by God's Word." I felt it was appropriate to start at the beginning - Genesis 1:1.

We are challenging ourselves to read the Bible in a year and you can get started by going here and creating a profile and then joining our group.

Some are wondering how I intend to handle the issue of evolution as I preach through Genesis 1 and 2.

Well, basically my point today was that Genesis 1 and 2 is often taught from a "defensive" perspective. In other words, we have to read it through the objections of secular evolutionists whose goal it is to tear it down. Consequently, we aim to demonstrate the scientific merits of the book rather than let it speak for itself.

Today I said that the evolutionist has nothing to offer a diseased child, a widow, the poor, or the hurting. Evolution only addresses one dimension of life - namely, the "scientific."

We're not going to spend our time trying to wipe out evolution. We're going to spend our time making the case that the book of Genesis offers truth, direction, and meaning to every aspect of life, including suffering.

By the way, several of the resources I used in preparation for today's sermon were as follows:

Genesis by James Montgomery Boice
The Gifts of the Jews by Thomas Cahill
The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch

The Christian faith is the greatest in the world. It provides the most freedom, is the most elevating to women, produces the highest virtue, and is responsible for the greatest advances in human civilization. And it all begins with Genesis.

More later, but now its time for dinner. :)

LATER: I ran across this post from Hugh Hewitt. Once again, this articulates the same point I was trying to make in the sermon, but from a different angle. The atheists he cites in his post are desperately dependent on evolution. But again, what message does an atheist have to the world? And how in the world does that message better address the needs of the human condition?

Monday Morning

2009-12-28T20:06:00.000+05:30

I posted the video from yesterday in the "Featured Videos" box to the right. If you were in the first service we had a few "technical difficulties" but we had them all worked out by the second service.

For a "Between Christmas and New Year's" Sunday I thought our attendance was great! Both services were full of energy and as always our teams did a great job.

I'm heading out the door to workout with Judi, but before I do...

I've been thinking a lot lately about how Christians are supposed to function in a free society like ours. Today I read 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12: "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

This verse flies in the face of our narcissistic culture - the culture that pursues fame for fame's sake, rather than significance. More on that later...

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

2009-12-26T07:59:00.000+05:30

Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for
Untitled

For Christmas, you get a poem called "Get on out to Christmas Eve at Compass Church!"

2009-12-24T04:26:00.001+05:30

'Twas the night before Christmas

Though they thought it was Heaven

But 'twas just Christmas Eve Services

At five and at seven

They invited their families

Along with their friends

There were plenty of chairs

For all their rear ends

Children sing and hold candles

While their parents admire

And silently pray

That they won't start a fire

But what's Christmas Eve

Without a little drama?

After all, they'll be no animals

No, not even a llama

It's time to sing songs

With all of our might

Like "Joy to the World"

And "O Holy Night"

And together with family

What could be better;

Even if old Uncle Harlan

Wears the same reindeer sweater?

So come on out early

Don't be left in the lurch

It's Christmas Eve 2009

At your very own Compass Church!

I'm Learning...

2009-12-21T07:08:00.000+05:30

That a clear conscience, a loving family, a healthy body, and sense of purpose are all the greatest things in the world to possess. But of all these things, a clear conscience is the best.
As I reflect on the many years that I confused chaos with holiness, and "burning the candle at both ends" as godliness. I'm beginning to realize that a heart of peace is hard to come by, but more rewarding then simply throwing caution to the wind all the time for no other reason than its exciting to do so.
The value of the phrase "a long obedience in the same direction" which is the title of this book by Eugene Petersen. I didn't like this book when I first read it but its wisdom is beginning to settle into my heart.
That there is nothing new under the sun. In the past the next "new thing" would always grab my attention and make me think that maybe I've been missing it all along. Now I know better.
To rely on the power of God's Word. Nothing else compares to it. Leaders, fads, cultures, and even philosophies come and go, but God's Word still stands as the backdrop that defines all of human history. It just needs to be proclaimed, over and over again, and its power be clearly seen.
What its like to live in a (semi-) constant state of gratitude to God for his blessings. I have so much that I don't deserve.
That life is an act of worship. My only prayer is that I will always live a life of worship, even when times are at their hardest.

I'm Thankful

2009-11-27T20:20:00.000+05:30

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, and in the spirit of gratitude, here are twelve things I'm thankful for:

I just heard this week that we have 150 adults in Home Groups, which is an all-time record for Compass. I'm thankful for my home group that meets on Mondays
Being able to baptize Rebecca Legamaro last Sunday. That's exactly why we're here!
Our Student Ministry is gaining momentum as Pastor Mike is reporting that it is not only growing numerically but spiritually as well!
Our Women's Ministry leaders who are touching the lives of hurting and hungry women.
Even in the midst of real financial challenges, God is providing and the last three weeks have been very encouraging!
Our Compass flag football team took the championship - great job guys!
Even though several of our staff and key volunteers have experienced some tough personal challenges, they are hanging in there and God is sustaining them. It is a great privilege to work with people of such great faith and endurance.
We have a Local Outreach Team that is fired up about being Jesus to our neighbors!
While the last three months have been challenging at Compass, our Elder Board has never been more hopeful, positive, forward-thinking, and unified.
The opportunity to reach and teach the children who are coming to Compass Church and the chance for more volunteers to make a huge difference.
The ten people attending our Christian Basics 101 class, again another record!
The amazing worship team who has gone way over and above with our Saturday evening service experiment this Fall.

Back from the Beach!

2009-11-23T04:56:00.001+05:30

This past week I had an amazing time with my wife and a few friends as we took off to Sunset Beach for a week on the sand. The difference between this trip and other trips was, to say it like the French, sans l'enfants. That's probably not the right way to say it, but in English it is WITHOUT the kids.

We love our kids and missed them terribly, but it was great for Judi to get a way for a bit and for the kids to hang with grandma. AND, we snuck in a Disneyland trip. (Shhhh, don't tell them!)

Being at Disneyland without your kids brings you back to the days when you were a kid, so you resort to doing and saying the silly things that the Land of the Mouse brings out that have remained dormant in your soul for all these years. I'd mention some of those things, but as they say, what happens in Anaheim stays in Anaheim.

But it was great to be back and be a spectator in a fantastic worship service this morning. We baptized Rebecca in the first service and let me just say I LOVE BAPTISMS!! Also, the congregation was able to bring in 168 boxes to send to Operation Christmas Child. That's a world record for us, so way to go Compass!

I'm reading an outstanding book right now called Start Up Nation by Dan Senor and Saul Singer. I had really no clue how Israel came into existence as a nation in 1948. Did you know that Israel has more companies on the NASDAQ than any other nation except the United States, and they are a nation of only 7.1 million people. If you want to live in Israel, just show up! No test, no waiting period. They want you. And if you believe in what they're trying to do, they'll do everything they can to help you assimilate. Want to learn Hebrew? They offer free immersion classes, five hours a day for nine months. Worried that'll interfere with work? They'll give you a stipend to help you when you first show up so your language studies won't stop you from making ends meet.

It's a fascinating story. I've always been pro-Israel but have distanced myself a little from the hyper-pro-Israel Christians who seem to hinge all of Biblical prophecy on every minute event that occurs there. Sorry if that offended anybody. :)

Well, gotta take grandma back to the airport. Yes, she survived, and yes, she'd do again. In the words of my wife, "PTL" (that's Praise the Lord)!

Sunday Evening Reflections

2009-11-16T09:31:00.000+05:30

Well overall we had a solid weekend at Compass Church. While it's no secret that our Saturday night services have struggled with solid attendance, this weekend all three services had great energy and were well attended!

Last night our family went to Baja Fresh and bumped into a couple from Compass who had been at the Saturday night service. We decided to eat together and they shared an amazing story about tithing that the Compass Church family just had to hear. So I invited them to come this morning and testify to God's faithfulness in the midst of their obedience and trust in him in terms of their tithe.

And, there were 9 people in our Christian Basics 101 class, which is huge! Way to go Stan!

In other news the kids are wound up because grandma's in town. Lately my strategy has been to literally "run" the energy out of them. Cambria, the 6 year old, is the biggest late night culprit. So tonight I said, "Okay, honey, let's go for a run." We got out there and I ran her until she had nothin' left (at least that's what I thought).

Then she proceeded to lead us in an aerobic workout right there in the driveway:

"Okay Daddy, windmills, ready...go!"

"Now it's time for kayak's. Starting now, one, two, etc."

Then it was pushups and some other exercise. It would be one thing if she were just repeating the exercises that she does for PE, as Ryan at first pointed out.

But she was calling out the moves as though she had an entire class of flabby, unmotivated guinea pigs ready to shed 15 pounds! An aerobics instructor in the making!

I don't know why we feel the need to do this. It's disheartening.

On that note, am I the only one who has noticed that Hollywood has basically stopped making movies of the same genre as Braveheart, Gladiator, and The Patriot? Unless I've totally missed something, it seems that our choices these days range between pedestrian love stories, cartoon violence, and CGI movies for kids. What happened to the warrior who could see right and wrong? There seems to be a vacuum of movies that bring up real issues of courage and sacrifice.

Speaking of courage and sacrifice, I've got to go help my kids get to sleep!

Start Up Costs

2009-11-15T10:17:00.000+05:30

Well, today was a usual Saturday. I ditched the running club this morning because I was tired as all get out and they were meeting at 4:30 a.m. Most people quit running when it gets too hot, but as for me its getting a little chilly. I know, I'm being a wimp. But we had 32 people at our house last night for one heck of a vision meeting, and the whole even wiped did me in pretty good.

Ryan's team lost again this afternoon. While I can leave my emotions on the field, during the game I turn into quite the raving lunatic. Yes, I'm still Pastor Tim. And no, there's no cussing or lewd comments. But let's just say I want to see us win really bad (and see the other guys suffer).

Tonight we had 90 people in our auditorium, which is got to be a 6 week high! Our Saturday night services started off with a bang, but quickly dwindled down to horribly low numbers. It's hard to keep the momentum going when you're sucking wind that bad. So tonight I resigned myself to the fact that we were going to have another heartbreaker and wouldn't you know it, we did pretty good!

So afterward we took the kids to Baja Fresh and ran into a couple who was at the service and decided to eat with them. They shared an AWESOME tithing story and so I asked them, "What are you doing tomorrow?" Long story short, they'll be sharing their story in both services tomorrow!

Then we were off to Barnes and Noble with our 25% off coupons. I bought a book that was recommended on the Dennis Prager Show. It's called Startup Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle.

When I got to B&N I had initially forgotten the title of the book. I asked the guy at the Customer Service counter for help, thinking that if I got the right category, he could find the book.

I told him I thought it would be the economics section. He asked me to spell it.

"Spell what?" I asked.

"Economics."

Is he serious? I thought. How do you work at a bookstore and not know how to spell economics? Well, he couldn't find the book, so I suggested in might be under the Entrepreneur section.

"Don't even ask me how to spell that one." he said.

You gotta be kidding. But he was a nice guy. And we finally found the book in the front of the store in a huge display.

After that we got some Starbucks and hung out with the kids. They were going back and forth yelling out, "They turned off the gravity like in Halo." It's a line from Aliens in the Attic, the movie du week that has already been watched 453,189 times.

Overall, it was FANTASTIC day. See you tomorrow.

Thursday

2009-11-13T10:09:00.000+05:30

Today started as it usually does: boiling water to throw the steel cut oats into. I've made the switch from the rolled oats for about 2 months now, and I'll never be able to go back. The steel cut are typically more expensive, but I found them for 79 cents a pound at Sprouts.

I eat one cup of oats mixed with three cups of water, a little bit of salt, and a grip of raisins. I pour it all into this cereal bowl on steroids that we have because its the only thing big enough to handle the finished product.

Not that this has any importance at all, but there are days when I will eat a giant vat of oatmeal for breakfast and then go to Pei Wei for lunch. By 2:00 in the afternoon I'm chewing the molding off the doorway because I'm so hungry. It's like anti-eating, the more you eat, the hungrier you become.

Today, however, was lunch at Grimaldi's in North Scottsdale (DC Ranch to be exact) with three other EFCA pastors. We talked a bit about the merits of "missional" vs. "attractional" churches (there's a new subject), although it quickly turned into a comparison of "seeker-driven" vs. "seeker-sensitive" styles of ministry. Bottom line is, you've got to teach the hard core truths of Scripture and give the congregation the theological foundation they need to follow Jesus in every area of life, not just the easy times.

Driving back, I was very bummed out to discover that the Coffee Plantation in Westgate is gone. They had a sad handwritten note at each door thanking the customers for the business, and that was that. I loved the atmosphere there, and I got to know a few of the employees. But its just another sign of the times I guess.

No doubt these are challenging times. But we will prevail.

Think your day was stressful?

2009-11-12T20:11:00.000+05:30

David had been living in the city of Ziklag. He had been given this city in the Philistine territory to reside in with his 600 men. This was while he was on the run from Saul, who wanted him dead. At one point he and his men went off to war, and while they were gone the Amelikites raided Ziklag. Here's what David found when he got back:

“When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David's two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.” (1 Samuel 30:3-6)

It’s hard to imagine the range of emotions: shock, horror, anger, grief, regret, and hopelessness. Consider the men’s response as they saw their homes burned and their families missing: They wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.

We can only speculate what they experienced with their senses: With their eyes they could have seen fragments of their children’s toys lying half burned in the ashes. In the silence they could have heard the screams of terror as they recreated the scene of the attack in their minds. The stench of burned wood and masonry must have permeated the air. Were the smoldering ashes of their homes hot to the touch? Was each man choking on the taste of the smoke coming from the still burning fires?

These guys were not pansies. They were hard-core warriors who had brought more than their fair share of carnage on their enemies. Yet what they saw melted their hearts and broke their spirits. It was so bad that the sorrow turned to rage against their leader, David, for getting them into this mess in the first place.

When you’re in the middle of a crisis its only natural to look for someone to blame. It’s human nature to find an object to throw all of your emotions at. David was about to be that guy.

Most leaders would have buckled right there. They would have either gone into self-defense mode, manipulated the situation, or just run away. But what does David do? Look at the rest of verse 6:

“But David found strength in the LORD his God.”

Notice how he puts his strength in the “LORD” – not some fuzzy, ill-defined, one-size-fits-all Deity. This is the LORD.

The LORD, who makes promises and keeps them. The LORD, who is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The LORD, who told David he would someday be the king and has brought him this far and has never failed him.

This is the LORD who has brought you this far and has never failed you. When your strength is gone and you’re too tired to even be afraid anymore, it’s time to go to the LORD. In fact, it’s time to praise the Lord.

Listen to the lyrics of one of David’s songs, written during a time of great fear: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4)

In the end, David and his men got all of their wives and children back. Not one of them had died in the raid. God was faithful. David was not a dummy for trusting in the LORD.

Grateful...

2009-10-24T11:04:00.000+05:30

The people of Compass Church are the best! I know I might be accused of superlatives, but I can't help it. So let me list a few:

1) I'm fired about our Local Outreach Team and all the work they've put into Faith in Action Day.

2) Then there's our home group leaders who are bringing people together every week.

3) This week has been fantastic in terms of building momentum for November 1st. We've got too many projects for the amount of people we have, and many people in the community are PUMPED that we're doing this. I'm grateful to EVERYONE who is heading up a project. Here's a cool one that Laura Willard lined up for us: The Buckeye Community Service needs us to clean out a massive amount of weeds all throughout a subdivision that's been abandoned by the builder. The Buckeye people are going door to door telling the residents that we're coming, and asking them to join us and make cookies for us. How cool is that?

4) We've got another guy who has been tracking down where homeless people hang out so he can lead a team to make lunches for them.

5) I also appreciate so much our Children's Ministry volunteers. Week in and week out they do an intensely important job. I see my kids flourishing in that ministry.

6) The Women's Ministry is doing an awesome job getting our women connected and helping them grow.

7) Our Student Ministry had 20 Middle School students last Wednesday night - how awesome is that?

8) And then there's our worship ministry. They put in more hours than I'd ever want to add up!

Anyway, I was just sitting here GRATEFUL for everyone who makes this church happen.

Faith in Action Sunday is Coming Up!

2009-10-22T09:57:00.000+05:30

Sunday Evening Reflections

2009-10-19T09:06:00.000+05:30

We did an acoustic set this morning that got great feedback from a lot of folks, so thanks to Robin, Robert, Eric, Jim, and Roland for pulling it off! We also had a mob of people signing up for Faith in Action Sunday. I can't wait to see what's going to happen on that day!

We had 9 people in our Discover Compass class today, with one couple who came to church for the first time this morning and came back for the class. There are people who have been at Compass for 4 years who haven't gone to the class yet!

I love teaching the class because it reminds me of what's most important at Compass - our values, our beliefs, and getting new people engaged.

Right now times are challenging. While I absolutely love what I'm doing, I believe that within a year or so there will be a few of us who will look back on October '09 and say, "Wow, I'm glad we got through that!"

This week will be tough, with the funeral on Tuesday and all that goes along with a death of a parent. But we will prevail. That's what I love about the power of the Biblical narrative - it's going somewhere - history has a point, and we can play a role in God's redemptive agenda.

Thanks to all who made another awesome weekend happen!

What a Week

2009-10-16T09:42:00.000+05:30

Tomorrow I'm returning on a 6:00 a.m. flight back to the desert. It's been quite a week. As many of you know, yesterday Judi's dad passed away. Of course I hate being 1300 miles away from her during such a time as this, but there were no flights that were realistic for me to take.

Today I finished up my sermon for this weekend, which will allow me to devote my Friday and most of Saturday to Judi and the family. We've got to go up to Payson and make arrangements for the service and begin to go take care of the details that involve wrapping up the life of a man who lived 69 years.

Being a relatively mentally and emotionally draining week, I decided to cut out for the evening and live life on the edge. For me that means a trip to Powell's Books in Portland where I bought an old book by Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Volume II on The Messiah.

Since I've been up here I've had enough coffee to kill an elephant - but that's what you do in the Great Northwest. After sitting at the coffee shop for a while, I decided it was time to head back to the house (it was getting close to 9:00 p.m.!) and on the way out I watched Toyota Tundra gun it in reverse and slam into an Acura. Right in front me. Thankfully it wasn't a hit and run, so I was able to go about my business and didn't have to open up a can.

In other news, my right foot is giving me some trouble, which I'm pretty sure is from my barefoot running session with Barefoot Ted last Tuesday. His advice to me was to back off on going out too intensely. "We're building an orchard, not getting fast food." I'll have to give a more in-depth update on my time with Barefoot Ted, but for those who are interested here's another article on the trend that is sweeping the nation.

Sunday Evening Reflections

2009-10-12T05:47:00.001+05:30

We had a great weekend at Compass! The Worship Team sounded so AWESOME! This was due to several things:

1) Larry's amazing sound board skill.

2) Steph, Robert, and yes, Ed's vocals blending very well!

3) Jim, Mike, Roland, and yes, Ed (again) keeping tight rhythms and great dynamics.

It was encouraging to meet more third and fourth time guests, and if that's you I really hope you're feeling a part of this church!

Honestly, Compass is in one of those best of times/worst of times seasons. On the one hand, our Saturday night services have been a blast even though we're clawing each week for critical mass. At the same time, we're seeing our Sunday morning services slowly begin to fill back up to where they were before we started Saturdays.

Also, we're seeing a lot of new people show up and they're excited about the church. People are stepping up like never before and each weekend Jesus is being glorified.

The challenge right now more than anything else is our finances. People like to say, "Don't worry, God's going to work it out." Yes, that's true. And I'm really not worried, as in, afraid. But we still as a leadership team must manage the situation and we've come to the point where some tough decisions are going to need to be made.

"Tough decisions" is usually code for layoffs and salary cuts. That's not necessarily what I mean at this point, although that does loom on the horizon. But even more important than that, its hard to see aspects of our ministry that take money have to be shelved because its just not there right now.

But we'll do what we have to do. I'm well aware that the people who are committed to Compass are doing all they can, and for that I'm grateful. God always provides and he will now.

The whole point is that it's such a strange contrast - awesome ministry momentum and yet lagging resources. But that's where faith on our part comes in!

I can't wait to hear how our Student Ministries Magic Mountain trip went this weekend. They had 20 or so students and another 8 adults take a luxury bus and head out to "Cali" (as they like to say here). Mike is doing a fabulous job and its great to see our students connecting so well with him.

I'm looking forward to a week of long range sermon planning. I'm grateful to Judi for encouraging me to get away for most of the week. I don't know about you, but I've learned that when the circumstances of life start to control me, it's time to pull away and get some perspective! That way I can re-engage a little sharper and more purpose-driven (no, I didn't coin that term, some other guy made it up).

Cha Cha Wrap Up

2009-10-11T11:11:00.000+05:30

Here are my meditations on the Cactus Cha-Cha run this morning:

1) My goal was to finish in 1 hour or less with no injuries - I finished in 1:02:07 AND with no injuries! The race results are here. Look for #63 in the "Full Cha-Cha" category!

2) This was a hard race, the hardest 7 miles I've ever done. They told me there were two hill sections, one that was very steep. At one point, just when I thought I had seen the worst of it, we came around the corner and saw this very steep set of switchbacks. The guy behind me saw it and swore.

3) The thing that killed me toward the end was all the gulleys that littered what otherwise would have been 3 miles of straightaways. It's nice to go downhill, but not when every single step is placed with as much precision as you can muster.

UPDATE: As of 4:00 p.m. Sunday, my feet feel FINE. This is significant because I was one of only two guys who ran the race in VFFs. I got a lot of attention, even on the run. I passed one guy and I heard him say behind me, "So, you're a barefoot trailrunner?"

In an earlier life those would have been fighting words. But it was the first time I had ever been referred to that way. I was sort of proud of that description. Wow, me, a barefoot trail runner.

For some reason I've never felt worthy of titles like that unless I'm one of the really hard core guys. Gosh, I should be running every weekend 20+ miles and placing in the top 10 to be worthy of that title.

But, as far as that guy was concerned, a barefoot trail runner I was. So I'll take it. :)

Here's the deal, however: While my feet are fine (okay, a little sore), my CALVES are KILLING ME. I'm at the SLC airport waiting to board a flight to Portland and I've had old ladies passing me all day. People are looking at me with that look that says, "I know I shouldn't stare, but I wonder what happened to that poor man!"

But the point is, I've become somewhat of a barefoot running evangelist, at least in my circles. I didn't set out for this, and my guess is that soon barefoot running will be just as common as "shod" running. But for now, I'm the raving lunatic on the fringe, and I'm FINE with that!

Thoughts on the Cactus Cha Cha tomorrow

2009-10-10T07:32:00.000+05:30

Tomorrow morning I am running the Cactus Cha Cha, a 7-mile trail run in the White Tank Mountains. Normally I wouldn't think much about it, because 7 miles is a normal distance for me during the week, and even though the "trail" aspect of the run will make it harder, I'm pretty confident in my abilities for that type of run.

The challenge, however, is that it will be my first race in my Vibram Five Fingers. I've had them for two weeks and have put 63 miles on them, the longest jaunt being 13 miles that I did on Wednesday.

My understanding is this is quite a rocky course. So I went up to the top of Lost Creek in Verrado earlier and did a little bit on a trail that I thought was pretty rocky and I did okay. I took a few sharp rocks right in the middle of my foot, and if I'm honest the top of my right foot is giving me a little trouble.

Yet at the same time I am FIRED UP about doing this course with minimalist footwear. Running in that type of environment is much more proactive because you're navigating every step, trying to land in the best spot possible seeing as how you have zero support and the bottom is tough but very thin!

I'm not looking to set any land speed records tomorrow. The way I figure it, if I can finish in an hour with no injuries I'll be happy! I've got my appointment with Barefoot Ted at Volunteer Park in Seattle on Tuesday, and I don't want to do anything to mess that up.

Can't wait to post the outcome tomorrow morning!

Another Reason I'm a Christian

2009-10-07T06:17:00.000+05:30

I just finished a book called Killing Rommel by one of my favorite authors, Steven Pressfield. Pressfield has an amazing talent at gathering the facts of the great wars and conflicts of history and retelling them in stories that are both gripping and inspiring.

My favorite line in the book takes place when the main character of the story, a British soldier named Lt. Chapman is in the infirmary alongside a captured German soldier who is badly injured and near death. As Chapman weighs whether to go back onto the battlefield or transition to a safer assignment, he finds himself torn between the love he has for his new bride and the deep commitment he feels towards his cause. It is then that he hears the advice of the dying German lying next to him, in words that would be his last: "Do not be afraid to take that decision that a warrior would take - and for a warrior's reasons."

The warrior senses a deep commitment to something larger than himself. The goal is not self-preservation but self-sacrifice. If you're a warrior there is no shame in risking it all, even losing it all, for something you believe in.

That's why, among other things, I'm glad I'm a Christian. You see, the problem with atheism, evolution, relativism, secularism, and the like, is not that they offer nothing to live for - it's that they offer nothing to die for. There's nothing inherently noble about any of those beliefs, because at their core is self-preservation.

Ours, however, is a faith that requires nothing less than everything. It is a faith whose central figure, Jesus Christ, did not ultimately take but ultimately gave. The Author of our faith says things like: "For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

And all that is required of us? Nothing more than everything. Put simply, take up your cross and follow him.

We all wrestle with a temptation that is perhaps greater than any other society has ever experienced to date: to live life in neutral and get away with it; to effectively entertain ourselves to death; to throw some solar panels on our rooftops, buy a hybrid, and live with the audacious, self-justifying delusion of grandeur that we are "saving the planet."

I don't know about you, but more than I care to admit I find myself living in the tension between risk and retreat, sacrifice and self-preservation, commitment and complacency. Like Peter, I want to tell Jesus, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." But like Peter, I've heard the rooster crow more than a few times.

That's why it's a good thing it's not about me. It's about the one who secured my forgiveness and purchased my freedom. It's about the One who was not afraid to take that decision that a warrior would take - and for a warrior's reasons.

What do you think?

Beautiful Day

2009-10-01T09:23:00.000+05:30

It started off with a great 7 mile run in my Vibram Five Fingers. So far I've logged 23 miles in them since last Thursday and I'm still injury free! My calves are sore and I'm feeling it a little in the tendons, but nothing bad at all, especially when I get going.

In other running news, I signed up for the Cactus Cha Cha run. I'll be doing the 7 mile version. I have no intentions of setting a land speed record, although I probably won't be able to help giving it everything I've got once I get there. But my goal more than anything else is to run a successful trail race in the Vibram's. By then I'll have had my coaching session with Barefoot Ted so I should have it down a little better by then.

Today Pastor Mike, our Student Ministry Pastor, and I had a great time at lunch talking about what's happening in his ministry. There are a ton of opportunities to serve and I'm seriously thinking about leading a "small group" of high school guys when he gets the groups kicked off.

I went home a little early so I could lock myself in my office and get moving on my dissertation. To be honest it was frustrating because I had to "clean up" a bunch of files that were scattered throughout my desktop, my mobile me account, and the server at the church office. But I made progress that's all that matters.

After wrestling with the dissertation, we took a walk as a family (I went barefoot, even ran a bit barefoot), had a great breakfast for dinner, and did a puzzle with Cami.

At some point I'll talk about how specifically God answers prayer when we ask him for things. The bottom line is this (which I'll never forget from Dr. Sunukjian's preaching course at Talbot Seminary) - ask, and if it's a good gift, God will give it to you. So last week I prayed for something very specifically and God very specifically answered.

But the point is, I prayed to God out of faith rather than fear. It wasn't that I had faith that God would give me exactly what I asked for. It was faith that whatever God would give me was good, even if it wasn't what I asked for. That's how we pray in faith without making God our cosmic errand-boy.

As for today, all I can say is God is good. I try everyday to remind myself that the very fact I have air in my lungs, the mobility to run, a healthy family, and wonderful church means I'm more than blessed by God. Everything good comes from him, and I deserve none of it. All I can do is live to not squander it, to invest as best I can in eternity, and to live everyday as though it was my last.

Which made today - even with its "regularity" - a beautiful one.

Awesome Weekend!

2009-09-29T09:24:00.000+05:30

Compass was a blast this past weekend! One guy told me that the message changed his whole perspective on his severe health problems, and how he needed to give God glory even in the midst of his challenges.

Someone else who has only been here twice wants to serve in the Children's Ministry and is FIRED UP about the church. She and her husband already have several friends in the church that they knew before they got here.

It just seems that wherever you look, lives are being changed, people are being challenged, and momentum is building.

Today, being my day off, I went to the gym with Judi, which usually means I do an hour of "Muscle Cardio" and a 1/2 hour of "Restore the Core" which is the greatest misnomer of the new Millennium. It should be called "Gore the Core" because that's how it feels.

Don't get me wrong, its' a GREAT class! I even worked my "gluteus minumus." Did you know we all have one of those in addition to the maximus? I do now.

Anyway, I went home and ran a record 4 miles in my new VFF's (Vibram Five Fingers). I have to say that I've never enjoyed running more in my whole life than in the past four days. It's just hard to scale down the miles as I've been doing to avoid the stress fractures and other ailments that can accompany going out too hard too soon wearing minimalist "shoes."

But I plan on getting better. In fact, earlier this year I earned a free airline ticket for allowing myself to get bumped off a flight from Minneapolis. So I paid $4 to book a ticket to the Northwest for a few days in October, between Sunday's of course.

Booking that flight gets me within 200 miles of this guy, which is close enough for me, so I've booked a barefoot running lesson with him. He's become one of the gurus of this rapidly growing style of running, and I've bought the whole concept hook, line, and sinker.

If all goes as planned, I will chuck traditional running shoes FOREVER and run marathons and beyond either wearing my vibram's or going totally barefoot. A year ago I would have thought myself completely nuts for all the above comments. But life is supposed to be a process of discovery, trial and error, and not just thinking but LIVING outside the box.

Today Judi and I were talking, and I brought up the fact that no matter what, I want to bring glory to God each weekend. Attendance, giving, membership, all the "measurements" that are supposed to be measures of health and overall success will at times be affirming but most often frustrating and even disappointing.

But if the people at Compass can be brought face to face with the truth of God's word in a way they never have before, and if guests and non-believers can walk out provoked by the Spirit of God, then I've done my job. The results are his.

Anyway, great day overall. Judi made some amazing sweet potato fries (that were actually healthy) to go with our chicken. Each child made us laugh tonight, which is a joy as well.

Faith in Action Sunday

2009-09-24T10:33:00.000+05:30

Here's a copy of an email I blasted to Compass this afternoon:

We're just two weeks away from the start of something that I believe will be huge for our church and our community.

What is it? Well, if you go to our website, www.compasschurch.info, you’ll see at the top that we’ll be canceling our worship services in 39 days from today! That would be the weekend of October 31/November 1. Some of you have even been approaching me saying, “So, what’s this about cancelling church? Is everything alright?”

Things couldn’t be better! But we’re not really cancelling church. We’re just going to do it differently for one Sunday. In fact, November 1^st is going to be called “Faith in Action Sunday.” We’ll start the day at the Compass Church campus with a time of commissioning prayer. Then we'll spread out around our community in groups (Home Groups will be encouraged to work together) doing acts of service that will have a direct impact on Goodyear and the West Valley.

Later on that evening we’ll gather together as a church family on the Compass lawn to celebrate what God did through Compass around the community during that day. It’s going to be a huge day for our church!

Robert Lewis, in his book, The Church of Irresistible Influence, asked this question: If you’re church disappeared would the community notice? The whole point is: does our community need us? Would they be at a loss if we went away? I have to say there have been times where I’ve asked myself that question and not been too thrilled about the answer.

But this is our opportunity to go into our community and allow our actions to speak louder than our words! Of course, no amount of social action is equivalent to the clear presentation of the Gospel, which is what everyone must hear in order to be saved. In other words, no amount of graffiti removal projects will lead a person to Jesus on their own!

But through sincere acts of restorative and constructive service throughout Goodyear and the West Valley, we can earn the ear of those who otherwise would never dare to “darken the door” of our church. We can show them in a physical, tangible way, that God loves them.

So what types of projects will we be doing? We’re still putting them all together, but our desire is to work with a variety of organizations who are more connected to the immediate needs of our community than we are.

Home Groups are really going to be the driving force behind the organizing of Faith in Action Sunday. If you’re not able to be in a Home Group, that’s okay. You’ll still be able to get connected with a project. But how awesome will it be to do something totally different with a group of people you’ve already been getting to know along the way? Each Home Group session throughout the month of October will serve as “prep” for Faith in Action Sunday.

Through studying what the Bible has to say about serving others, getting to know those in our group, and deciding what to do together on Faith in Action Sunday, these meetings should be packed with momentum!

Also, this is a tremendous opportunity to bring friends and neighbors to Compass. Right now “social justice” is a huge topic in our society. Everyone, regardless of their faith or lack of it, seems to want to make a difference. It’s my hope that we’ll have unchurched people serving alongside us on Faith in Action Sunday. They’ll be able to see what its like to do something constructive with the people of God.

There will be much more information about the what, when, where, how, etc about Faith in Action Sunday in the coming weeks, so stay tuned into the weekend worship services and the electronic communication so you are ready to “hit the streets” come November 1.

So Compass is an exciting place to be right now. By the way, last weekend we had 570 in attendance, a new Compass (non-Easter record)!! I wrote out 9 first time guest thank you cards - that’s a lot of Starbucks gift cards to give away!

For His Glory,

Pastor Tim

An Awesome Weekend!

2009-09-15T08:54:00.000+05:30

This past weekend we launched our first Saturday evening service, and it was a hit! Over 180 people were on the campus, and our auditorium attendance exceeded our expectations!

Sunday's services were a little lighter because of the great response to Saturday, but that's fine with me. Now we have room to grow and that's exciting!

It was very gratifying to meet 1st time guests at all three services. I met three couples on Saturday alone who said they came to Compass solely because of the Saturday option.

I realized something on Sunday: The services, while lighter, had a feel similar to what it will be when we launch our first church plant. There are no immediate plans for that yet, but in a sense it felt like we did that.

For example, the week before we launched the Saturday service, we had everyone who was making the switch stand up and we prayed for them, commissioning them, so to speak. In a sense, we sent them.

Then yesterday at our Sunday services, it was a little bittersweet because many of our "regulars" were gone. However, we knew that they were a part of our new venture.

As I write this, I'm getting more fired up about Compass sending a core team out to plant. It's been a dream of mine since the day I got here, and I believe we've never been closer to that reality!

Finally, let me share this thought: I did not walk into this challenge of adding a Saturday service with any presumption. In preparation for this change I downloaded Nelson Searcy's "10 Key's to Starting a Successful Saturday Service" and listened anxiously, hoping we had done what we needed to in order to pull this thing off right.

After listening to that I felt pretty good, but you never really know how something is going to work. The point is, this thing scared me. And you know what? That is GOOD.

I believe that it is godly, righteous, and essential to growth to scare the living daylights out of yourself as a leader. It is the right thing to live in a state where you're saying, "Crud, I hope this works!"

If you're not doing that, you're not really living - you're just managing your existence. The truth is, starting this service drove me to a deeper dependence on God's provision and strength, because I just didn't know what the outcome would be.

Of course we shouldn't do stupid things that serve no purpose just for some fleeting adrenaline rush. That's not at all what I'm talking about. But we've got to go for the long pass once in a while when the goal is clear but the outcome isn't.

So if the outcome will bring glory to God and it fits what you've been called to do, but you're just scared out of your wits - then I say GO FOR IT!!

Update on Cash for Clunkers

2009-09-12T08:36:00.000+05:30

First of all, regarding my Cash for Clunkers post, I'm sad to say that today the Honda died at 59th Ave. and Bethany Home Road. I was on my way to pick up Ryan's football helmet from this place over on 35th Ave., and all of a sudden at the stoplight the car just stopped working.

Well, after trying to starting it up about nine times, it finally took and I drove it straight to Wilhelm Automotive. In my earlier days I would have thrown caution to the wind and kept on with my errand, but I didn't feel like doing the whole AAA Towing thing today, you know?

I did consider driving straight to the Mini dealer, or the Jeep Wrangler dealer, or the Ford F-150 dealer. But, alas, I exercised restraint and didn't end the relationship over something as trivial as an engine failure at a stoplight.

Later on I did a 7-mile trail run/hike to the point that would be where Indian School and Watson roads would intersect, if they could. It was 104 degrees and I'm still feeling this self-imposed butt kicking. But it occurred to me in the midst of semi-hallucinations that our men and women in uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan endure far worse conditions on a daily basis.

9/11 was not an "event" nor a "tragedy." It was an attack. It was evil incarnate. We cannot forget, ever, what these wicked bottom-feeders did. And we cannot forget the ideology that drives their successors to this day.

It's much easier to blame the guy who calls out the bully than to blame the bully himself. If you call out the bully, you are acknowledging he exists which means you have to do something about him.

But if you go after the guy who names the bully, you're safe. Since he's the good guy, he's not going to beat you up on the playground. And you're free to perpetuate your lovely evil-denying fantasy.

To those of us who think that we are somehow responsible for 9/11, or that we brought it on ourselves, the Bible has a great verse for them. It comes from Isaiah 5:20 - "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."

Well, gotta clean up the kitchen now, so see ya!

This Weekend at Compass!

2009-09-11T07:28:00.000+05:30

Cash for Clunkers

2009-09-11T03:43:00.000+05:30

Last weekend I sold my green 2003 Nissan Altima. It had 142,000 miles on and was falling apart fast: coolant leaking into the cylinders, A/C cutting out, engine mounts giving way (don't know what those are, but I bet they have to do with mounting the engine), and a whole host of other issues.

Sure, I was tempted to trade it in for a brand new 2009 Ford Car Payment. But I decided to sell it through a broker, private party. And YES, we were honest. The ad basically said: "2003 Nissan Altima: Special Caveat Emptor Edition." But that didn't stop them, no?

Anyway, now I'm driving a 1995 Honda Accord that my parents have graciously bestowed upon our family. It's not that we couldn't afford a new car, it's just that we don't want to pay for one... at least not yet.

The odometer stopped at 112,500 exactly. On the one hand, that's a pain because when you go to sell the car someday you have to confess this somewhat tragic flaw. It's kind of having to admit to your fiancee that you served a decade in prison: "I'm fine now, really I am, but you should probably know."

On the other hand, you could throw caution to the wind and say, "Yes! The odometer is frozen!! No more oil changes, no '120,000 mile service'! I'm free!"

Actually, while the car is in great condition for its age, and I'm not at all apprehensive about driving it, I have considered joining the Junky Car Club. The only problem is that I haven't joined any worthy causes just yet and that's sort of a prerequisite. Besides, when I finally trade it in for the BMW I may have to remove myself from the list. JUST KIDDING.

The whole point is that in my opinion cars are a rip off. I love them and at least once a day I'm tempted to enslave my family to 72 months worth of $400 payments on a machine whose value will drop faster than the stock price of its manufacturer. But somehow, despite radio commercials, internet ads, and occasional trips to cars.com I resist.

Honestly, I credit Dave Ramsey for this. It's like there's a mini version of me one shoulder saying, "You only live once, make good memories, they want to DEAL" and Ramsey's on the other shoulder thumbing a wad of cash and saying, "Well, I guess you can't fix stupid."

So for now I LOVE my Honda Accord, because it's paid for!! Our other car, a Chrysler Pacifica, we're still making payments on. Someday I'll rant about that machine. "But it's got a Mercedes chassis," they say. That's like saying, "Yeah, but she has a great personality."

Anyway, my goal is to eliminate forever car payments, pay cash for my wheels, and enjoy life.

Nice Shoes

2009-09-10T09:40:00.000+05:30

As many people know I've been doing a lot of running over the past year. On my vacation I read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall and it was by far the most inspiring non-theological book I've read this year. The book led me to Barefoot Ted's website who is, not surprisingly, a barefoot runner.

I've read the research, watched a few videos, and now I'm a believer: barefoot running (or, almost barefoot running... minimalist, as they call it) is the way to go. So yesterday I went online and ordered my Vibram Five Fingers KSO's. They're backordered and should be in two to three weeks. Yes, they are the goofiest shoes you'll ever see, but I can't wait to start my (almost) barefoot running endeavor. If these workout, I'll take the next "step" and try these.

The main thing is to start out easy at first... you're not supposed to run more than a quarter of a mile at first if you're running barefoot, because your stride is very different and you'll be using a different set of muscles and tendons. But once they get strengthened, it's supposed to be the greatest type of running known to man. I guess I'll find out.

AND... it's gonna start getting cooler! That means the races are coming. Here are a few that have caught my eye. I probably won't be able to do all of them this year, but eventually I'd like to knock them out:

1) Cactus Cha-Cha (White Tank Mountains) - October 10

2) Bisbee 1000 Great Stair Climb (Bisbee, AZ) - October 17

3) IMS Marathon (West Valley, AZ) - February 14

4) Ragnar Relay Del Sol (Prescott to Mesa) - February 26-27

5) Bataan Memorial Death March (White Sands, NM) - March 21, 2010

The Ragnar Relay would be awesome, but we've got to put a team of 12 together. So far we've only got about 5 people interested - so that may not happen this time around. But these races all fire me up, and hopefully in the next few years I can say "been there/done that."

Ryan Got Straight A's, Cami Turned 6, and Other Stuff

2009-09-04T08:56:00.000+05:30

Yeah, it was only "midterm" grades, but hey the kid was pretty happy. The hard thing about hitting all A's is that there's only one way you can go. Sort of like child actors - they're huge at 13 but then at 33 they can't even make "Where are They Now?"

Cami turned 6. I bought her flowers, a card, and a Disney Princess Balloon on my way home from running. She's a female, so I scored major points with her. She talked about it all day. Plus, I raised the bar a little higher to keep the meatheads away. Sure, she's only 6 but we're starting early on setting impossible standards for the knuckle-dragger who shows up at my door in ten years promising me he'll have her home by midnight.

"No, I think she wants to stay home with the family and watch The Sound of Music. Hit the road." Hey, I can dream.

We took Cami out to Islands for her birthday. They're famous for burgers. I had the fish tacos.

By the way, for what its worth I'm taking a class for my Doctor of Ministry program called "Homiletics Practicum." Yes, it sounds like an intestinal disorder, but it just means "Get Better at Preaching."

So I had to watch a video of myself giving a sermon. Actually it was the "Won't Heaven Be Boring After a While?" sermon. I was hoping it wasn't going to turn into a "Will This Sermon be Boring After 5 Minutes?" sermon.

Look, its hard to watch yourself on TV. Here was my feedback on myself:

1) Could have cut it down by 10-12 minutes. (Sorry)

2) Should have been more deliberate in my body language.

3) Could have slowed down a little more.

Coulda-shoulda-coulda. The point is overall I thought it was okay. However, the point is this: THANK YOU.

Thank you for sitting through all of that. Yes, I believe its worth it. I work my butt off on those things, and I believe the content is relevant, engaging, and unique. But it still doesn't take away from the fact that I'm blown away that people will show up and sit there while I go on for 40 minutes. And do it voluntarily. Hey, and you didn't even take a pledge!

Sorry, but that video just creeps me out.

Anyway, hopefully watching that video will make me better so that when you show up to church, my job will be done with greater effectiveness. Anyway, time to go tell bedtime stories!

Should You Accept Christ?

2009-09-01T20:16:00.000+05:30

Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to besaved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, youand your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took themthe same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. - Acts 16:30-34

It seems to me that the phrase “accept Christ” helps to only perpetuate the narcissistic spin that is easily woven into the gospel in our time. When one is accepted by someone else, it implies that they've somehow "made the grade." I was accepted into college. I was accepted into a fraternity. I have accepted others despite their faults or our differences.

So when I accept Christ, it seems as though I’m saying “Okay, Jesus, you make the cut. I get it. You make sense. Welcome to my life."

This seems to be in sharp contrast, however, to the conversion experience of the Philippian jailer. So what were the events leading to his conversion?

1) He saw the power of God. Paul and Silas were in prison singing hymns, which in and of itself must have been strange. But then there is this violent earthquake that shook the jail to the point where the prison doors were open and the prisoner’s chains had come undone. That’s quite an earthquake!
2) He experienced grace. Assuming that the prisoner’s had all escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself, presumably because whatever he could do to himself would not be as bad as what the Romans would do to him for allowing such a thing. But as he’s about to end it all, Paul stops him and demonstrates to him that all the prisoners are still there. They had not made a run for it – instead, they stuck around when they didn’t have to, resulting in this prison guard’s life being spared. Just considering the implications of that would require another discussion altogether.

It was only when he saw the power of God and received a demonstration of his grace in a very real way that he asked this question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” You see here a man who was truly moved to the point where he recognized he was in a position of need.

I do not believe that one can truly be saved unless they first recognize their vacuous spiritual condition. This prison guard, for example, is not in the position of evaluation, consideration, and decision. He is not wondering whether he should make a purchase, decide on a political candidate, or select a job among multiple offers. He sees himself as desperate yet so inspired by the grace he has just experienced that he will do anything to get to the source of this grace.

The apostles response? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. In other words, receive the gift of grace. Know that Jesus Christ is the King of Kings, surrender your life to him, and you will be saved.

I have to admit that throughout much of my life evangelism has been reduced to events that resemble those horrible time-share presentations - a limited amount of information and a lot of pressure to make a commitment right now. Raise your hand, walk down the aisle, pray the prayer, and make sure you sign on the dotted line. And all of a sudden you've got all these people patting you on the back, but you're still not quite sure what you just did.

Of course we need to follow up with people who respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Of course we need to challenge people with the truth of the gospel in a clear cut way which demands a response of some kind.

But we need to throw out this “accept Christ” terminology. We need, instead, to pray for the power of God and authentic demonstrations of grace to overwhelm our friends and neighbors. That way, rather than asking them if they’ll please “pray a simple prayer to accept Jesus Christ” they will be running to us and pleading out of a heart filled with both desperation and inspiration, “What must I do to be saved?”

What Does a Christian Marriage Look Like?

2009-08-28T00:09:00.001+05:30

Got this question in an email this week from a woman in our church. Here is my response:

Thanks for your note. Your question is not an easy one, but I'll give it a shot.

First of all, my wife and I are just like most couples - we have our ups and downs and it is by no means an idyllic scenario where we're always operating in spiritual harmony and unity. In fact, I've never heard of a marriage that really is like that. However, marriage can and should be based on both parties pursuing Jesus as individuals so when they come together they're both going the same direction.

While I would say I "lead" my wife spiritually, that happens largely through the intensity of my own walk with Christ. I will read something out of the Bible and share it with her, and at times vice versa. But I find that spiritual leadership is more of a natural outgrowth of the condition of my character and closeness to Christ than it is an active thought. If there are sin issues in my life, it doesn't matter how hard I try to lead her, it won't work because my inside won't match my outside.

When it comes to each spouse's respective responsibilities in marriage, Ephesians 5:22-33 outlines it the best: Wives are to submit to their husbands godly, caring leadership and husbands are to love their wives with greater care and attention than they give themselves. When it's working right it doesn't feel like "submission" on the part of the woman and it doesn't feel like "giving yourself up" on the part of the man. These things are the natural actions and responses of a couple who is trusting Jesus in every aspect of their lives.

A Christian marriage will take on a variety of forms but always has trust in Jesus at the center. That means that both the man and woman find their identity, hope, and happiness in Christ and not primarily in each other. When couples look to each other to provide their deepest needs, rather than Christ, the relationship becomes destructive. No man or woman can be everything their spouse needs or desires, no matter how great they are. The result is a strangling of the other person in an attempt to fill a void that can only be filled by a sinless, perfect, infinite God.

It sounds like you're having some real challenges in your marriage. Here are a few things you can do in an attempt to keep things from deteriorating:

First, you can pray earnestly for your husband, that God will convict him and draw him by his grace. Second, you can find your joy and satisfaction in Christ alone. That will allow you to forgive him for the wrongs he's done as well as give you the strength to not demand of him that he be this way or that. You can ask him to fulfill the vows he made to you, but remind him that Jesus is the one who is ultimately in charge of your life and is the determiner of your happiness and security, not him.

Well, what do you think?

Good vs. Great and other stuff

2009-07-02T23:46:00.000+05:30

1) Life requires an amazing amount of discipline to live well. In other words, success is found in the margins. As someone once pointed out (I think it was this guy) the difference between a .275 hitter and a .325 hitter is 25 more hits per season!

2) On that note, its not whether you ran 10 miles today. It is whether you wanted to quit so badly at 8 miles but pushed it through until 10.

3) On that note, my son's basketball team made no progress during their practice last night for the first hour. The real progress was made the last 1/2 hour. Did you get that? Without the final 33% the practice would have been completely ineffective, but the 33% would not have happened without the first 67%!

4) Shifting gears, http://www.stevenpressfield.com/ has an amazing series of short videos on why the war in Afghanistan is so difficult. Except for a few lame references to evolution, Pressfield is brilliant and completely on the mark. I've read four of his books and loved them all.

5) Speaking of books, yesterday I bought Christopher McDougall's Born to Run - A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen. Inspiring and awesome.

6) I am loving my vacation! It's being spent working on my dissertation at Mokarabia, running in 90-100 temps with humidity, drinking black coffee, eating trail mix from Sprouts and playing wii fit with my kids.

7) I am more in love with my wife than I have ever been in my life. I don't gush online about my wife like some pastors do (i.e., "my wife is a smokin-hot supermodel and let's face it, she's better than your wife"). Really, I don't get that... they must be compensating for the quilted skirt, hair-in-a-bun, plain Jane, sexually repressed image of a pastor's wife that many people are used to. My theory has always been, if you've got a smokin-hot wife, you don't need to tell everyone that she's smokin-hot. They already know. However, if you don't have a smokin-hot wife, they know that too. You're not fooling anyone. :)

8) All that to say, I am more in love with this woman than I can ever remember.

9) I love Facebook and Twitter, I just hope we won't wake up in ten years and realize that we wasted an unbelievable amount of time...

Living in the Dot

2009-06-26T21:14:00.000+05:30

Well, everyone knows they die in threes. This week we lost Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and perhaps most surprising, Michael Jackson.

I’ve already been in a state of reflection this week, and the news of each of these deaths confirms what I shared on Monday at my mother-in-law’s memorial service: “We are gathered here today not because this is the exception; but because this is the rule.”

Last Friday morning, my mother-in-law, Judi’s mom, Mona Ybarra, passed out of this life. On Wednesday, June 17, she had a massive heart attack, and was on life support throughout the day on Thursday. When we received the news, we did everything we could to get our family of five packed and ready for the drive to Lancaster, CA, for an indefinite period of time.

The news was shocking. My mom-in-law was only 62, and Judi had just spoken to her not a week before her death. Neither Judi nor I have ever had to deal this closely with making the arrangements for a loved one’s burial and dealing with all the peripheral issues that accompany an unexpected death (such as dealing with an estate, going through personal effects, etc.).

Before I get too far I want to say thank you to so many of you for your prayers this past week. I believe we rode on them, and for that we are grateful. We are also grateful for other support such as meals (which so far have been awesome!) and offers to help however possible.

No matter how you feel about Facebook or Twitter, it was pretty amazing to drive on Interstate 10 and get comment after comment “buzzing” through on the Blackberry from people all over offering their encouragement. One guy even called us from Texas at 7:00 a.m. to pray for us, all because we posted what had happened while we were on the road not ten minutes prior!

While we’re getting through this, there is no doubt that Judi is missing her mom. This week I have been struck by what a strong woman my wife is. I’ve observed her step up and deal with each step of this process. Quite frankly, her strength and serenity amazes me, and I’m trying to not take it for granted. She has kept a level head and even a sense of humor in the midst of all of this even though there have been a lot of tears.

It’s easy to want to “get back to normal” in times like this, but as many of you know when you lose a parent, you can’t go back – you can only go into the “new normal.”

More than anything else, my mother-in-law’s death, for me, is evidence that life is short. No, that’s a cliché. Life, as the Bible says, is a vapor: “You are a mist that appears for a little while, and then vanishes.” (James 4:14)

When I was younger, like most people, I had deceived myself into thinking that my life would continue on this earth indefinitely. So while I was a believer in Jesus, there was no real urgency to make every moment count, because those moments will “always” be there. These days, however, I am seeing what has been true all along – my life on earth is a mist. Never before in my life have I seen the raw futility of so many pursuits I have undertaken.

Further, I am gripped by a parable that Jesus told about the deception of thinking that this life is all there is. Please read it carefully:

16And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 20But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

Look at verse 19 – isn’t that the goal of life in the U.S.? Isn’t that what we’re all working for? But then there’s verse 20 - and you know what? That’s not the exception! Death is the rule, not some tragic twist of fate! God demanding our soul at his will is the rule – it is universal. It just seems weird to us because it hasn’t happened to us. As Randy Alcorn explains in The Treasure Principle, this life is the dot, and eternity is the line with the arrowhead on the end that proceeds from the dot. We’re living in the dot.

So when we hear of celebrities dying in threes, while understandably weird, it shouldn’t surprise us! While I would never presume to judge the soul of another, I do believe that many celebrities will fall into the category of those who have “gained the world” but have lost their soul. And that is tragic.

The point of all of this is that, as Paul says in Philippians, “to live is Christ.” Nothing matters in our lives if it is not done to bring glory to Christ. Nothing. The sooner we get that, the more we will live with wisdom, meaning, purpose, and yes, joy!

That’s what I’m learning.

I Love Seth Godin

2009-06-13T03:57:00.000+05:30

...becuase of posts like this one.

We can't control the economy, but we can control our aptitude and our attitude.

So there.

Big Stuff Happening...

2009-06-10T04:52:00.000+05:30

I can't believe the year is almost half over!

I can tell summer is here because my kids are out of school. If you were a fly on the wall in our house, every five minutes you’d hear a child say: “I’m bored!” (Whatever happened to that year-round school thing, anyway?)

But let’s fast-forward past this time of vacations, backyard bbq’s, endless hours in the pool, and really high electric bills for a moment and look at a date this Fall that is going to change everything at Compass Church:

September 12th, 2009.

Save it. Mark it. Heck, tattoo it somewhere if you have to (just remember, they’re permanent!). Why?

Because September 12th, 2009 marks the beginning of Saturday Night Services at Compass Church!

Here’s how it’s going to work: This is going to be an experiment. We’re going to try it out. For 16 weeks, we’re gonna give Saturday nights a shot. If it goes great, then we’ll make it a permanent part of what we do. If it bombs, we’ll “re-evaluate”!

This is a huge opportunity for those of us who have been sitting on the sidelines to step up and get a stake in our ministry. We are going to need more guitar players, drummers, and bass players. We’re going to need more Children’s Ministry Volunteers, ushers, greeters, and everything else that makes our two services happen now.

More than anything else, we’re going to need a certain amount of people to commit to attending the Saturday night service. It would be awesome to have 150 people commit to Saturday nights. Would you be willing to make that commitment?

We’re not talking forever, just16 weeks to help us get it off the ground. If you like it, stick with it! If not, you’re free to return to Sunday mornings, but either way you’ll have been an integral part in helping us get it going.

We’re moving forward in big ways here at Compass Church! By now you know that we’ve hired Mike Szoradi as our Student Ministries Pastor. We’ll formally introduce him on Sunday, June 21st and his start date is June 29th. Mike comes to us with experience growing a student ministry from where ours is now to upwards of 90 students in a church that is much smaller than ours.

By the way, how did we decide on Mike? There are four areas that we look at with any staff hire at Compass Church:

1) Character – is this a person with excellent moral character, and are they growing in Christian maturity?

2) Call – Have they been called by God not only to ministry but to the kind of role they would be playing if they were hired?

3) Chemistry – Will this person be a good fit at Compass given our vision and values?

4) Competency – Finally, does this person have the ability to do the job not just adequately, but with excellence?

I’m excited about the fresh vision, energy, and ability that Mike will bring to our team. Again, this is all part of the larger plan to engage the community around us most effectively. I’m grateful to God and to you for making this critical piece of our ministry possible!

Ignite!

2009-06-06T03:03:00.000+05:30

Nothing great that has ever been done happened without vision. It is the spark, the catalyst, the fuse, that ignites action.

Vision is critical, and yet it is killed by the critics. Critics, even casual in nature, push vision back into the box where they think it belongs. Critics, naysayers, cynics - they have done so much damage.

And yet I can’t deny their power in my life – how many times they’ve shoved me back in my place because I haven’t wanted to be seen in a negative light by them or anyone else.

But vision is the central element to everything. Vision comes from a core conviction that it can be done: we will win, the lost will be found, profit will be made, the plan will work, the dream will come true.

The problem with people like me who struggle with a mild case of ADHD is not that they lack vision; it’s that they lack focus. 5000 visions are great, but only one or two will do for a lifetime. So the challenge in the real world isn’t vision as much as it is discipline.

Discipline in this case is the ability to say no to the endless “goods” so you can remain in hot pursuit of the best – and it’s got to be done daily, even hourly, as the next in line behind the critic is the one who has got an opportunity that will blow you right off course.

But like a plant must get water to grow, vision must get fed the fertile food of time, reflection, and necessary adjustment. All of this requires concentration, which I’ve found as a husband, father of three, Lead Pastor, doctoral student, and most recently pastoral coach, is a rare commodity.

But all we have is today. All we have are the seconds that are ticking by. Tomorrow may not afford us as many opportunities as today. Let's not wait to find out.

Negotiating with Al-Mechanica

2009-06-05T05:21:00.000+05:30

Okay, so here we go. This week I've had two cars that needed service. My Altima has had the "check engine" light on forever, even though the engine seemed to be running fine. So I take it in because I'm worried that eventually I'll have to pay the piper so I'd better just do the responsible thing.

So they tell me its some issue with the coolant sensor, which led to malfunctioning spark plugs, and $265 later I'm on my way.

BUT THEN!! This morning the "check engine" light goes on again. Hmmm.

So I take it back, (this is now the fourth time I've taken it in because of this coolant issue!) and they tell me, "Okay, well we'll put it back up on the rack and take a look." They haven't admitted guilt yet. And that bugs me. I want them to say, "Mr. Jacobs, we are so sorry, you should not have had to drive this car all the way back here... we should have fixed it right the first time. Your time is valuable and you have been one of our best customers."

But here's the deal I've never understood about car mechanics: are they like terrorists? Are you supposed to negotiate with them, or do they only understand the language of intimidation?

Seriously. I'm trying to be a nice, reasonable man. Why? Well, a) I have a Compass Church sticker on each of my cars, b) they have my car in their possession and c) I know basically nothing about cars. I take that back: I can change the air filter and put more coolant in as needed, all by myself.

I know that's pathetic, but everyone's got their gifts.

My issue is, what am I to think? Do I continue my posture of firm but courteous behavior, hoping that they'll say, "Now that's a nice guy, let's not cut the brake lines after all. In fact, let's solve his problem right away and at a fair price!"

Is that realistic? Or do they mock my attempts at civility when I get off the phone, saying, "This man is weak and we hold in him in contempt! We're going to slowly drain him of whatever cash he has by dismantling this car piece by piece!"

I don't know. All I know is I took the other car in there to get the oil changed and they rotated the tires and now it drives wierd.

I've thought many times about learning about the car maintanence thing so I could do some of these repairs myself. But I've decided against it because a) I love my family and would never intentionally put them in harm's way b) I have the patience of a gnat when it comes to this stuff and c) I'm just not really all that interested.

I wish there was a John Bolton of the auto mechanic world I could consult with on matters of this nature. But until then, I'll just have to go it alone...

Wisdom from a Malfunctioning Sprinkler System

2009-05-27T23:33:00.000+05:30

As I write this, I’m waiting for the landscaper who put in our front yard to show up and fix the sprinkler system. I don’t know anything about sprinkler systems, except that there shouldn’t be a loud rumbling coming from the valve that seems like its going to shake the stucco off the side of the house!

The way I figure it, I’d better deal with this quickly. Because whatever is wrong with it will likely impact the flow of water from the valve to the grass and the plants. The main issue is that there is something that could be preventing the water from getting where it’s supposed to go.

You know, the same is true in the church. We are like water: we’re supposed to be moving forward to the place that God has called us to go. We all know what happens when water gets stagnant – it gets filled with bugs, turns green, and starts to stink! (I don’t know about you, but I’ve met my share of stagnant Christians!) But, when the water is flowing where its supposed to go, its fresh, alive, and beautiful.

At Compass Church we have a way to keep our lives flowing toward the maturity God has called us to. We’ve designed a mechanism that keeps us fresh, alive, and beautiful, and prevents us from getting stagnant. It’s a simple structure of flow that we call Know, Grow, and Go.

The whole plan is to grab as many people as we can throughout the West Valley and beyond and help them Know, Grow, and Go! We practice “Know” every Sunday mornings, as we come together corporately to shout out our praises to him and study his eternal Word. Every Sunday is an Open House to our community about love and grace of God. It’s where we collectively know God and make him known. And it’s been where many people this year have come to Know him by receiving Christ as their Savior!

But the flow doesn’t stop there: We “Grow” by getting into Home Groups. Home Groups is where we do the “one another’s” commanded in Scripture: Love one another, serve one another, bear one another’s burdens, etc. The whole time we’re growing – closer to Christ and closer to each other.

Finally, we “Go.” This is the most important part of flow: Churches that simply “Know” and “Grow” tragically stop the flow and easily become stagnant and ingrown. That’s why we eventually have got to “Go.” The entire New Testament is a playbook for the sending of the church into the world to make the name of Jesus known. “Go” is where we use our gifts to let others know about Christ – some folks use their gifts to serve in our Children’s Ministry, others in our Student Ministry. There are women who are mentoring other women in our Women’s Ministry. Greeters and ushers making people feel at home in our First Impressions Ministry. Then there’s Home Group leaders, our missions team, and the list goes on and on. Even though most people never see themselves as “spiritual leaders” as a believer God gave each of us a gift and He’s got a place for us to use it.

Eventually, “Go” for some of us will literally be “going.” In the future some of us will be called to be part of a church plant sent from Compass to a neighboring area to bring the message of Christ in a unique way to those people. In case you haven’t realized it yet, I am passionate about church planting, and I’m excited for Compass to be a place that is greatly equipped to launch effective churches throughout the West Valley and beyond. In fact, I spent last week training prospective church planters at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in the Chicago area. I wrote about my experience here if you’re interested.

I know many of us might be saying, “Yeah, yeah, I know all about Know, Grow, Go.” But it’s my responsibility as the Lead Pastor of our church to keep you reminded of the mechanism we have here to move each of us to maturity in Christ. So let me ask you, If you’re “Knowing”…that’s great, but are you “Growing?” Are you in a Home Group? Have you connected with people outside of Sunday mornings? If you’re Knowing and Growing, are you “Going?” Are you using your gifts to make the name of Christ known? Are you living as someone who was sent by God to fulfill your God-given purpose in his kingdom?

When your life is focused on Knowing, Growing, and Going, and getting others to do the same, you’ll always be fresh and attractive, just like a spring of living water!

A Week of Church Planting

2009-05-27T20:26:00.000+05:30

Last week I was in Deerfield, IL, at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) located on the Trinity International University campus. I was part of a teaching team for the EFCA's Church Planting Boot Camp. There were about 45 students in the class, some who were taking it for course credit, others who were there becuase they are ready to launch a new church .

The Evangelical Free Church of America has a great new website called efcastartchurches.org that has a ton of resources for church planters and much of what we taught is available online for free.

Teaching along with me was George Klippenes, the Director of Church Planting for the EFCA National Ministries, along with Ray Chang, Founding Pastor of Ambassador Church in Anaheim, CA. There were a few other guys who stepped in as well, but Ray, George, and myself did the majority of the teaching.

There are some fantastic guys out there doing great things. I met Tony Balsamo, Founding Pastor of Integrity Fellowship in Long Island, NY. He's got a church of 300 in what is known as one of the toughest areas to do ministry in the country. He was there to learn how the Boot Camp works so he can take it out east and begin to teach it there.

It was awesome to be able to reconnect with Dave Miller, the former Senior Pastor of my home church, The Church at Rocky Peak in Chatsworth, CA. Dave is now living in Exeter, a small town not too far from Visalia, CA, and will be launching a new church next year.

Even though I didn't plant the church I'm currently at, I do have a love and passion for church planting. The church I planted back in 2002 is still doing well, and my plan is to start a church planting residency at Compass Church within the next year.

Even in the midst of hard economic times, we've got to be sending out leaders and launching new congregations. I believe that a major reason churches split is because they never had a vision for multiplication - so God allows it to happen in the form of a split, which is obviously a much more painful way to go.

But churches that are intentional about planting realize that they're going to lose people anyway, so they might as well send them off with a positive purpose.

More on this later...

6 by 6 Execution

2009-03-19T09:36:00.000+05:30

Last week on the plane ride to Florida I read what is perhaps the most user-friendly leadership book ever. It's Bill Hybels' Axiom. While Courageous Leadership is a classic (which our staff is currently reading and discussing at our meetings), I believe Axiom is Hybels' best.

He's got 70+ leadership "axioms" that are easy to retain and powerful to live by. The one that stands out the most to me is what he calls "Six by Six Execution."

Basically it answers this question: What six things do I need to accomplish in the next six weeks?

This is signficant for several reasons:

1) It assumes you can't do everything, and forces you to narrow down your schedule to going after the six most important things that only you can do.

2) It gives you a time limit for completion.

3) It allows you to live with a high level of adrenaline and concentration broken down into short energy bursts.

4) By allowing six weeks to get something done, you're moving beyond merely the urgent "to-do" list and making room for projects that require planning, thought, and reflection.

For guys (like me) who have a mild to moderate case of adult ADHD, this is absolutely brilliant. What would you put on your list?

Ten Apples Up On Top

2009-03-17T10:34:00.001+05:30

Every night Madison (our 2 year old) makes me read the not-so-well known Dr. Suess book, Ten Apples Up on Top. She calls it simply "Apples on Top."

The story is pretty simple - three characters: a dog, a lion, and some other figure all challenge each other to put as many apples on top of their heads as possible. It starts out with one, then two, and pretty soon seven, nine, and yes, ten. As they're doing this they keep upping the ante on each other, seeing of they can hop around and drink (milk, I assume) while they're suspending all these apples on top of their heads.

So for the first half of the book you have these three individuals living in this very creative, challenging, semi-competitive, highly imaginitive environment full of innovation and friendly one ups-manship (if that's a word.)

And everything is going along fine until they encounter a bear that starts attacking them with a mop. There's no real reason for this; you never really know the beef that the bear has with these apple-stackers, but it becomes very clear that this bear wants nothing more in the world than to knock the apples off of each of these guys' heads.

Then, if that wasn't enough, there's another bear that's attacking them with some type of tennis racquet and then a flock of flying geese show up and try to attack the apples from above. So they are attacked from all sides, and in a line that is classic to Dr. Suess:

"They will get them if we let them.
Come, we cannot let them get them."

So it dawned on me the other night that the three characters stacking apples on their heads are a lot like today's visionary leaders: they're bold, outside of the box, and competitive. But they are also colloborative - they aren't content to keep their wild ideas to themselves, but they love sharing their challenges with others and letting others provide input and improvement. They all get better as they push one another.

But for every one of those there seems to be a dozen of the bear-like character, whose whole goal is to knock the apples off the heads of the innovators with a mop or some other type of object.

These are the folks who are afraid of originality, or even progress, and so they take a swipe at everything they see that looks out of place. Sure, the apple-stackers are loud and obnoxious, and they are definitely disturbing the peace.

The book ends with all of the characters crashing into a giant apple cart, and on the last page everyone has apples on top of their heads, even the angry bears and the crazy geese. But they're all happy and now see how much fun it can be to put apples up on top. Hey, it's a kid's book, it's got to have a happy ending.

So which one are you? Are you the one with the new ideas and the wild vision? Do you feel like you're always trying to proctect yourself from the People of the Mop?

Or are you a critic? Do you find yourself first criticizing, either verbally or internally, every new idea simply because its new or different? Worse yet, have you ever found yourself wanting to squash someone else's idea simply becuase you don't fully understand it?

The moral of the story is, Either you've got apples on your head or you've got a mop trying to knock down someone else's.

The Latest

2009-03-09T07:00:00.001+05:30

So I'm sitting out here in the driveway watching Cami ride her scooter around, trying to get ready for the week.

On Tuesday I'm headed out to Ocala, FL, to talk coaching networks with these guys. I'm looking foward to hanging out with some very high-caliber people and seeing what role I might be able to play in coaching other pastors who are walking the same road I have.

I picked up A Sense of Urgency by John Kotter. His main point: its the job of the leadership to identify and communicate their organization's opportunities and hazards now. The key is not to fill up your schedule with meetings, but to accomlish something significant in those meetings.

Right now I'm preaching a series called "The Story of Joseph: Integrity no Matter What." I've decided that I really love expositional preaching. That might sound strange to put it that way, but I've always felt that tension between being "true to the text" and inventing some incredibly great sounding topical series that everyone and their mother will want to show up to hear.

Because I would never give up the truth of the text to fit some predetermined title, I usually end up trying to cram two ends that together that don't really fit, and the result has been a lot of frustration and wasted time.

Besides, I've seen more than my fair share of really lame topical sermon series, and the whole thing is rather embarassing if you think about it. Here we have the greatest life-changing book in all of history and we're worried that if we don't put some sexual or super artsy spin on it, the general public will yawn and completely ignore us.

Maybe I'm just getting old before my time, but I think we can do better than all that. The way I figure it, if I can get to the truth of what God is trying to say, and then be real about how I either like it or don't like it, but either way I have to deal with it because its not about me, and get my hearers to do the same, then I've probably done my job.

I appreciated what this article had to say and the idea that even the younger unchurched want an authentic approach in our preaching and aren't afraid to swallow the heavier concepts.

Anyway, I did a 10K in Litchfield Park yesterday in 46:51, and got second in my age division which was 30-34. On June 17 I'll graduate to the 35-39 category, and then its all downhill from there.

But for a guy who has never won an award for any athletic achievement in his life, it was a nice start to the day. After the race I saw my son's team win their basketball game, in which he scored 6 points.

There are times when I don't believe life on this earth can get any better. As of now, I can say that these days are the happiest I've ever had in my life. To be honest, most of my life has been lived with some degree of angst and dissatisfaction.

But since I've finally made peace with the fact that nothing will be absolutely perfect until Heaven, and after a long time I'm beginning to see some of the fruits of years of labor, I have to say things are pretty good.

Most importantly, however, I've grown to trust my Savior ever more. I've given up trying to prove myself to the rest of the world (which has been the root of my greatest mistakes) and learned to love what I have been given and make no excuses about anything else.

The Marathon

2009-02-17T05:26:00.000+05:30

I came in at 4:26:28.

68th overall out of 101 marathon finishers.

The race results are here.

Overall, it was an awesome experience, although I missed being at Compass. I wish these marathons were on Saturday.

I did well the first half, and about the 18 mile mark my hamstrings got seriously fatigued. I ate a few of the gels and took either water or Gatorade at every station.

In retrospect, I shouldn't have worn a belt carrying a 20 oz. bottle. But I was worried that the drink stations would be crowded and I didn't want to have to wait for anything.

Also, I was surprised to discover that I lost 3.5 pounds during the race!

The course was pleasant until the last six miles when we had to run down Glendale Ave. Let's just say you won't see any of photos of that street on their "Come to Glendale" visitor's guide.

"If I can just make it past the landfill" was all I kept telling myself. I had to pass the salt mine and a bunch of other unsightly places before I got to the landfill. Of course that was at about the 22 mile mark and I was basically shot by then.

The finish line was right in front of the Jobing.com arena, and it was awesome to be able to cross it. It was all I could do to not fall over once I finished, and I grabbed whatever was handed to me: a bottle of Gatorade, a banana, a bagel, a bag of chips, and some broken up chocolate chip cookies. I stuffed everything in my mouth and walked around in a daze. They basically pummel you when you cross the line to get their chip back so you don't walk off with it.

They say that once you finish your first marathon you'll swear to never do one again or you'll be pumped about the next one. My reaction was the latter. I'm excited about beating my time. I'd love to at least get under four hours next time.

It was pretty awesome to have Judi and the kids standing there on Glendale Ave cheering me on. Lisa Cantrell was there as well, and they all had a sign (it was a pink sign, but nevertheless) with my name on it, and that was a huge encouragement.

We all went to the Cantrell's afterward and met up with the other runners from the Village running club in Verrado. Apparently I was the only full marathon runner - everyone else did the half, still quite an accomplishment. We ate stacks of ribs, baked potatoes, beans, salad, and a fantastic banana/chocolate cream pie.

So it was a great day, but I still missed being at Compass. I can't wait for this Sunday!!

By the way, here's a video of me crossing the finish line:

Marathon Day

2009-02-15T18:17:00.000+05:30

Today I'm running the IMS Marathon. It's the first year they're doing this, and its my first marathon as well. It starts at the new Target center on Yuma and Cotton Lane and takes the long way to Westgate in Glendale.

I wish they didn't do these events on Sundays, for obvious reasons. I'm going to miss the folks at Compass, but the course takes me right by the church, so hopefully I can hear the worship team blasting through the walls!

Tom Garasha from the EFCA West is preaching today, and he'll do awesome.

Well, gotta go!

Theology on the Run – Part 1: When They Take Your Ball

2009-02-14T10:14:00.000+05:30

So Ryan is playing is basketball this season and having a blast. While he gets along with everyone on his team really well, there’s one kid who for whatever reason never brings a ball to practice. This has resulted in him grabbing Ryan’s ball and shooting around with it as though it were his own – and this has happened on more than one occasion.

Ryan has finally gotten tired of this, and expressed to me his frustration that this one kid keeps taking his ball. He was hoping, in a more than subtle way, that I would solve this problem for him. What do you do?

I pulled him aside and said, “Well, son, here’s how this is going to go: Every battle you cannot fight for yourself I will fight for you. I am your father; that is my job. But every battle you can fight for yourself I will not fight for you. My job is to teach you how to fight the battles that arise in your life.”

I went on: “You need to get into this kid’s face and say, ‘Hey, that’s my ball. I will share my ball, but you need to ask me first. Do you understand?’ If he doesn’t listen to you, you need to get up in his face closer, repeat what you just said, and then grab your ball and insist that he not touch it anymore. If you want to be a leader, then you define the terms. Don’t let a guy who is acting like a jerk define the terms for you.”

My son is not a perfect child, but he doesn’t understand why another kid would just make off with his ball as though he were entitled to it. He has not been brought up that way – his logic tells him that if you want to use someone’s ball you either ask him or he offers it to you - that’s just the way it goes.

This kid’s behavior, however, is a microcosm of a larger issue that I knew I would eventually have to deal with. So at that point I decided it was time to break him out of the Disneyland view of the world:

“Ryan, I want you to listen to me very carefully. This world is a rotten place. That kid on your team is a sinful, selfish kid. He does what he does because that’s what he was born to do – think only of himself. It’s what we were all born to do.

“This is the reason Jesus had to die on the cross. He didn’t die for our sins because we’re all basically good but sometimes we shock ourselves and do bad things. He died for our sins because we are born selfish, sinful, rotten people. I’m not saying we should always expect people to act sinful and self-centered. I am saying we should not be surprised when they do.”

You see, it would have been very easy to simply say, “Oh, that boy probably didn’t mean any harm! He just doesn’t have his own ball, and wants to make some baskets too. I wouldn’t let it get to you.”

A statement like that is flat out wrong, and it begins a cycle of justifying evil by pretending it doesn’t exist. It also goes directly against the Bible’s understanding of anthropology – namely, left to himself, mankind will think only of his own needs and ultimately worship himself above all others.

My goal, however, was to offer Ryan a worldview that could place this event within the larger scope of what is real and true about the world. After all, we may not think it a big deal if one kid takes another kids ball, but for an eight year old boy the significance of an event as simple as that cannot be overstated.

If he is able to tie that experience back into the larger truth that the humanity he is surrounded with is imprisoned to sin, then he’ll be all the wiser because he’ll understand the truth about the human condition.

He also has another apologetic for the reality of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. If he never felt cheated, taken advantage of, or unjustly treated, he would not be able to grasp the righteous anger of God toward our sin and the goodness of his justice.

But if Jesus had to die to make such self-centered people holy, then it not only shows the justice of God in requiring Jesus’ death to make that payment for those he has chosen to justify, but also God’s love and mercy for His willingness to send his Son to die in our place.

In every situation God’s truth can shape, define, and frame the issue in a way that empowers us to see clearly the truth contained in it. Even when you’re 8, right and wrong are important. When Jesus’ truth can be made known in even the common situations, we can bring him glory and bring strength to the one who needs it.

"Thoughts From Pastor Tim"

2009-02-11T01:49:00.000+05:30

I have a lot of “thoughts” this week, so here we go:

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.

Quick Thoughts....

2009-01-21T10:47:00.000+05:30

Here are a bunch of one sentence thoughts:

1) My entire political philosophy can be summarized in this excellent article by Stephen Moore in the Wall Street Journal last week. Yes, I read all 1100 pages of Atlas Shrugged last year.

2) While its great that we have a new President who has made history and has obviously captured the hearts of a lot of people, I believe that the treatment of President George W. Bush by many in our country is reprehensible. President Bush will be vindicated, now its only a matter of time.

3) Rick Warren's prayer was awesome.

4) Next month I'm running the IMS Marathon next month, my first ever marathon. Anyone else?

5) I've been blogging a lot less and Facebooking a lot more.

6) In a few weeks Pastor Jack and I will be attending the Desiring God Pastor's Conference in Minneapolis. I was told to get a "winter coat" because its supposed to be something like -186 degrees. I'll try to find one on Craigslist.

7) Yesterday I hung out with a guy who had a ton of questions about marriage. Here's a few thoughts that I shared:
a) Marriage (including sex) gets better over time. Nobody believes this but its true.
b) Our culture often is afraid of marriage because its afraid of commitment
c) The best way to be a "one woman man" is just sheer discipline in everyday life. The enemy wants to destroy what God has made beautiful, and its our job to be aware of that and always be on our guard.

8) Finally, this Sunday is "Vision Sunday" at Compass and its going to be awesome!

See ya!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-06T09:22:00.000+05:30

How is your 2009 so far? While I think New Year's Eve is the most useless holiday (even more than Groundhog Day, because at least then something happens!) I absolutely love New Year's Day. Life is meant to be lived with milestones and landmarks along the way. The power of New Year's Day is proven at the gym, which is always packed until about April!

Anyway, about a year ago the elders challenged me to get a hobby. You know, an "avocation." I have a wide variety of interests but have always been one of those guys who would rather "live to work" than "work to live." The former can't wait for Friday night, the latter can't wait for Monday morning (or in my case, Sunday morning.)

I've always been that way. Before I got married, I used to dread the "day off" that my boss at my former church (two churches ago) used to make me take. I'd get up in my awful but affordable rental house, (which is here, by the way) and I would not know what to do with myself.

Time to get refreshed, I would think. But I'd always end up in some semi-depressed, introspective funk counting down the moments until Tuesday.

Now I love my day off. It used to be Mondays, where I would walk around in a adrenaline-deprived stupor until about 4:00 p.m. because Sunday just killed me. Now it's Fridays which allows me to get a jump on the week and have more days in the office with the other staff. The problem with Fridays, however, is that it's so close to Sunday, and if it ain't all done for Sunday, well, you know.

But about a month ago Judi told me that I needed to go running with the running club at the gym we belong to. I've always loved running (as mentioned earlier) but I injured myself about a year ago and, like many wishful-thinking runners, it has been hit and miss ever since.

However, I think I'm finally getting into a groove here, and if all goes well next month I will accomplish a "Life Goal" I've had for many years. But I've never been one to be presumptuous, so I will refrain from being too specific at this point.

In general, however, its important to say "Yes" to things that challenge and stretch us. To lean into what is different, maybe even uncomfortable, if it is something that could be ultimately good for us.

I think, for a variety of reasons, that I have found my hobby (at least for now) in running and what is associated with that. So the challenge the elders laid before me has been met. My biggest struggle now is the subtle guilt that comes from diverting some attention away from that which is the great Passion of my life, Compass Church.

However, I'm feeling better than ever and I cannot remember a time in life where I've sensed more peace. There's been a lot of angst over the years, trying to figure out where I fit and why. But all my life I've felt drawn to the desert. I can't explain it, I'm not sure I understand it - I've just always felt a longing, strangely enough, for where I am right now.

That's a first. Happy New Year.

Wow, It's been a while...

2008-12-27T04:15:00.001+05:30

I haven't meant to neglect the blog - it's just that I'm doing a lot more updating on Facebook. Right now I'm sitting at the Phoenix airport with Cambria (my daughter) waiting to take a flight that will eventually end up in Portland, OR.

We've got a 3 hour layover at LAX (almost enough time to show her the town!).

I was blown away by our Christmas Eve services! The total count was about 640 (I subtracted a few "double counts" to get it more accurate. This was by far the biggest and highest quality event Compass has done (at least since I've been there).

The band did an amazing job, Steph, Robin, Helen, Roland, Mike, Joey, Kyle, Jim, Robert, and the many others involved truly outdid themselves.

I'm proud to be a part of a team that is doing everything possible to be excellent and authentic at the same time.

And, it was a bonus to see my son Ryan up there reciting (from memory) Matthew 2:1-12!

Anyway, I'm stoked about Compass Church, and while I'm splittin' for a few days to hang out with the relatives in the Northwest (where I will freeze!) I can't wait to get back and jump back in to 2009!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2008-12-12T08:41:00.000+05:30

...is what I've been. But I feel great. A week ago Tuesday I got home and told Judi I was going to go to the gym.

"If you leave now you can make it to the muscle cardio class." she said.

Famous last words. Yeah, I was one of three guys in the class (if you count the instructor). But it got me on a roll, and I'm feeling awesome!

I've run 18 miles this week which is a good start for me as I'm getting back into it. And, I'm going with the "running club" at my gym - a new thing for me.

Whenever I've run in the past, it's always been alone. I'm independent like that.

But of course the paralells to life spring up, such as: you can go farther, much easier, when you're shoulder to shoulder with others who are going the same direction.

So we'll see where it goes. I've tended to take an all-or-nothing approach to things. I'm hoping my patience level increases as I'm getting older and I can take a longer term approach to progress and results.

That's how I feel about Compass, by the way. We've grown a lot, especially in the last few months. We're averaging about 500 on Sundays, and we're building a ton of infrastructure underneath the surface with missions, student ministry, and home groups.

But in my mind we haven't even scratched the surface of what we're capable of seeing in the future. That topic, however, is going to be shared in January when we kick off our Vision series.

Anyway, back to it...

It's Gonna Be Okay...

2008-12-08T08:47:00.000+05:30

That line doesn't sell, but it's true!

To be positive is requires a lot more creativity and endurance than complaining. I believe it's actually difficult to think of real ways that tough situations can and should get better. Complaining about the world is easy because all you have to do is point out the obvious and construct a scenario that plays on people's deepest fears.

For example:

1) "The housing market is so bad, I don't know how its going to recover."
2) "Don't try to start a business now, no one wants to spend what little money they have."
3) "Things are so much worse than they used to be."

I've thought about this a lot, and I've decided that I never want to be on record to have any the above statements or any other negative statement come out of my mouth.

True optimism doesn't mean turning a blind eye to real problems - it means acknowledging the challenges and pointing out the possible solutions. Here's how I try and counter these common complaints:

1) "Once the market hits bottom and starts to come up even just a bit, I think people will jump in and we'll see a huge rebound."
2) "Right now the economic deck is being reshuffled a little, and there's a lot of people paying for bad management during good times. And, there's some great people who have products and services that just aren't as relevant as they once were. However, there's never a bad time for smart ventures that are able to meet a need in a unique way to give it a shot."
3) "There's no other time in history I'd rather live than now, and I can't wait for what the future will bring."

I really believe that last statement. Here's my evidence - in fact, here's a list of reasons why living in 2008 in the West Valley, in 2008, is the greatest time and place a person could live:

1) An hour ago I visited the new Basha's supermarket earlier on Esterella Parkway (about 2 miles from the church) and it was the nicest standard grocery store I have ever been in. I'm going to go tomorrow and try their Mongolian BBQ bar. I haven't had Mongolian BBQ since I lived in CA.

2) I can keep up with people on social networking sites like Facebook who I thought I'd never run into again. My "news" is quickly becoming comprised of things that are happening in the lives of the people I care about. Who needs to hear about an accident 25 miles away, or the weather in North Dakota, if I can read updates concerning my friends and personal contacts? Take note, old media.

3) Gas is cheaper than its been in years.

4) I have more options to get the things I want than ever before.

5) I can download an entire album while I'm sitting at the kitchen table for less money than cassette tapes I bought 20 years ago.

6) Friends of mine are alive and achieving a higher quality of life becuase of advances in medicine that were not around even a decade ago.

7) I have a Bible software system on my computer that allows me to "carry" wherever I go books that could comprise an entire library. Students of the Bible for centuries would give anything for the access to information I have.

8) I can heat or cool my house to the exact temperature I desire - most people in the history of the world could not say that.

9) The fact that I can sit here and arbitrarily type this to an unlimited audience.

10) If I really wanted to, I could stay within the borders of my country and freely move to just about any climate available on Earth.

Life is hard, yes. But it always has been. But there's no time and place I'd rather be than here and now.

Blown Away

2008-12-03T08:36:00.000+05:30

I've been reading Packer and Dever's In My Place Condemned He Stood. With every page I am kicking myself: Why didn't I read this book 15 years ago?

Well it wasn't around, but Packer's essay contained in the book "What did the Cross Achieve?" has been around for decades.

Throughout my ministry I've tried really hard to avoid being one of these know-it-all theological types, because its so easy to make other people feel inferior who haven't had as much exposure to certain things.

But I have to say, I have been a Christian since 1989, and have tried to apply myself to understanding this faith I have embraced. This journey has led me to seminary, and now the pursuit of a doctorate. But in all of that, I am still moved to tears as I am reading through Packer's essay. I am discovering Jesus in a way I never have.

If you are able to get a hold of this book, please do. It is not easy reading, and anyone who says it is, is not honest. But there are some works that are worth fighting through, reading and re-reading until the message begins to become clear.

I brought this book with me when I traveled to Oregon to bury my grandfather. Next to the Bible, this book is what got me through that experience. While I did not supress my grief at his service (I was actually quite a mess, and I questioned whether I should have even officiated the service) I was able to have a sense peace and conviction about his passing that I have never experienced in my life.

It shouldn't be so strange that objective theological concepts would provide such a deep comfort in times of sorrow. I remember listening to a friend of mine who had lost his wife tell Wayne Grudem that the only thing that got him through his wife's death was Grudem's Systematic Theology, most specifically the chapter on Heaven.

I guess what hits me is this: eternity is a long time. It's probably worth figuring out the how and the why of life while I'm here on Earth, even if it takes me a little time. And if I'm created in the image of God, then the knowledge of him and his ways should be the most amazing and fulfilling realizations of life.

Just thinking...

Sunday Evening QB

2008-11-24T05:13:00.000+05:30

It was a good day. Here are a few of my thoughts:

1) Awesome energy in BOTH our services today!

2) My second service message was a lot better than the first. Truthfully I wasn't happy with either one of them. But after saying that I should probably let it go. Once I asked a radio talk-show host friend when his best show was. He simply replied, "The next one."

I've never forgotten that.

3) Our worship team did an awesome job, despite their frustrations with how their rehearsals went and an overall desire to do their very best always.

4) It was exciting to meet more new people today who found the church because somebody brought them.

5) I loved interviewing Joey and Sara Reyes in front of the church. How blessed are we to have them at Compass!

6) Our staff was really encouraged by the response of so many after we made the announcement about our finances. If you missed it, we'll be uploading the video to our site tomorrow, and have a print version available as well. But we had so many people tell us that they're with us and they want to be part of the solution!

7) Scott Johnson told me this morning that the best thing happening at Compass is his 3-5 grade class! I can't tell you how great that was to hear!

Well, it's time to hang out with my wife and kids!

Farewell, Grandpa

2008-11-18T06:21:00.001+05:30

The following is the tribute I read at my grandfather's memorial service last week. He was very special to me, and he will be greatly missed:

My grandfather was to me what all grandfathers should be to their grandsons: He was a legend. He was bigger than life. He was above the law. He was above my parents, which meant, he was above the law. He was a man, to me, who knew no fear.

He built a tree house for me. He taught me to shoot a gun. He let me wear his California Highway Patrol cadet badge when I was a kid. And I proudly wore the old patches of his uniform that were sown on a little shirt for me.

He had a tractor he liked to drive around his property and I always felt so grown up when he would let me drive it around with him.

I bragged about my grandfather. I tried to get others to see the legend that I saw. In a way he defined me. I was always proud to be part of his stock.

“He’s designed and built two of his homes.” I would say. “He’s a pilot, he’s self trained in trigonometry. He’s a painter. He can identify any bird in the entire Western United States. He rode a Harley up and down Beach Blvd. as a Highway Patrolman. He was a forest ranger in Yosemite National Park.”

But as is the case with legends, you can’t really put them in a box. On the one hand, here was a guy who was a proud member of the NRA, and he hated to dress up for any reason. He could count on one hand the times he wore a tie. At one point he sent me to buy 59 cans of cat food from 3 different stores. He told me the story of when he planted a cherry bomb in his neighbor’s yard. And when, as a highway patrolman, he and a few of his buddies figured out a way to put a motorcycle inside the captain’s office. Now if that’s all you knew of him, you may not expect much in the area of
refinement.

But I will never forget the weekends I spent with my grandparents. There was the sound of Mozart filling up the house, and a glass of red wine on the table in the late afternoons. There was a sharpened pencil on his drafting table, and paintings from his own brush lining the hallways of his house.

He always seemed so curious about things; it seemed there was no subject that he did not try to master if he had even the slightest interest.

But of all that he did in all of his life, nothing impressed me more than the way he took care of my grandmother during her battle with cancer back in 1995. Of all that he did, his commitment to her during that time was what brought him the highest honor in my mind. What he did leaves me with no excuse in my own life when it comes to rising the challenge of the commitment of being a husband and a father.

When my grandmother died, that was the saddest I ever saw him. But he was an optimist, and as long as he had breath in his lungs he never wasted an opportunity. And so, in what was such a wonderful surprise to all of us, my grandfather met Delia, and she brought him seven wonderful years. I want to publicly say thank you to Delia, for taking care of him during his final years, and bringing him so much joy.

As I grew older my grandfather became to me the incarnation of an era – the 20th century self-made man: the fearless, can-do spirit that never seeks anyone’s approval nor asks anyone’s permission.

The image of the rugged individualist has been attacked in recent years. The idea of a man making it on his own, taking care of himself and his family, and freely pursuing
his dreams is not as celebrated as it once was.

But I will never lose the image of my grandfather – I will vigilantly guard it. I will hold close to my heart the picture of a man who to my knowledge never woke up with a project he could not accomplish, never saw the glass half empty, and left this world with no excuses.

In the music he loved, in the airplane he flew, the art he created, the homes he built, all of that woven together represents a man who to me will always remain a larger than life. He will remain in my memory as he has always been – a legend.

The Heavier Things of Life

2008-11-08T07:53:00.000+05:30

...so we're watching "Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" and the question was, "When was the Battle of the Bulge."

The right answer? World War 2.

My son Ryan: "I thought it was the Civil War, the one John McCain was in."

Oh, to be a kid again.

On another note, I started reading In My Place Condemned He Stood by Packer and Dever.

Holy cow.

I had to dig through about 1000 books that wanted to tell me how great I am and how much health, wealth, and happiness God wants to give me if I just believed in myself a little more. It's not the bookstore's fault. That's what people are buying.

But there is a gravity to this book that simply cannot be put into words. I bought the store's only copy (another tragedy in my mind), buried behind a few other solitary works on the atonement.

Don't get me wrong. It's heavy. But that doesn't mean its bad. Gold is heavy. My Vox amp is heavy. A Rolls-Royce is heavy.

Anyway, my wife was sick so I tried to help by taking the kids to the park and then McDonald's. I would have had an easier time herding 50 cats across the Plains, but it was fun nonetheless.

These activities, including the above comments, are written in light of the fact that my grandfather is in his final hours, and I will likely be travelling to Oregon in the next week to honor a man who has been a very signifncant part of my life.

So I'm trying to keep my mind on the heavier things, and capturing the moments that so quickly fade.

My Post-Election Thoughts, Abbreviated

2008-11-05T19:33:00.000+05:30

Last night on my Facebook page, after reading comments from my friends both celebrating and lamenting, all that seemed appropriate was to simply post this: Psalm 2:10.

It came to mind because it was referenced, almost as an omen, alone on the first page of Paul Johnson's Modern Times. Johnson chronicles the history of a century that was the bloodiest and most violent we have ever experienced in the history of humanity - the 20th. This past century saw unprecedented human cruelty, largely because of leaders worldwide who did not heed the words of this verse:

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.

My prayer is that President-elect Barack Obama leads our nation with this verse leading him.

I love politics, but I don't write much about it here because it would be a distraction to my calling. I have strong opinions on what makes an economy work well, one that elevates everybody. My opinions are formed through my understanding of Scripture and the training I had in economics back in my college days. I attended a university that did not walk in lock-step with with all the others when it came to those subjects.

Regardless, I have remained disciplined and will continue to say with confidence that the only person that can save your Economy and your Future is Jesus Christ. Neither candidate would have had that ability to the degree each of us need.

My job (and yours, if you're a believer) is to help my community, and perhaps my country, understand who the real Leader is. I have a feeling that opportunity might be greater than ever now.

So today I'm going out to seize it!

Election Eve!!

2008-11-04T11:54:00.000+05:30

Here's a photo of our Home Group tonight (I had to turn the night shot on because the flash wasn't working). We've been hanging out in my driveway over the past few weeks around a fire pit (or a "firecamp" as my 5 year-old calls it!), and tonight we even had smores!

Anyway, if you're not in a Home Group at Compass, you're missing out on times like these. If you want to come to ours, it's at 7:00 p.m. on Monday evenings. Let me know and I'll shoot you the addresss.

Well, Election Day is here in case you just arrived on Planet Earth. So make sure you go out and vote! As for me, I have a seriously passionate view about who should be the next president, and what policies have made this nation great. In my earlier days I had a stint as a call screener for the Michael Reagan Talk Show, and that gave me some exposure to issues that I've come to believe in deeply. But ultimately the only Candidate who can really bring change is Jesus. Whether its McCain or Obama who takes office, America ultimately needs Jesus. And it's wonderful to have a church full of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents (not sure if we have any Ralph Nader folks, but they're welcome too!).

On another note, Compass Church volunteered to be a polling place, and the folks at the elections office said to expect a full house! It will be a blast to have almost 1,000 people walk on our campus tomorrow, most of whom have never set foot on it!

Lastly, you probably don't know this, but every Tuesday for the past six weeks our staff, elders, and key lay leadership have been fasting and praying for our church. Basically, we've been skipping breakfast and lunch to commit that time and energy to pray. We've been praying for our finances as well as our ability to make an impact in our community. You are welcome to join us, especially on Election Day.

The whole purpose behind fasting is to "redirect" the hunger pains you feel into prayer. Every time you visualize a huge hamburger from Jack in the Box, you turn that thought into a reminder to pray! Jesus practiced this discipline during his ministry, and we've been wonderfully blessed as a Leadership Team by following suit.

We've got an exciting week ahead!

An Important Public Service Announcement

2008-10-31T04:22:00.000+05:30

Breaking Through More Barriers

2008-10-28T23:56:00.001+05:30

Hey!

What an amazing service we had last Sunday! The highlight for me was being able to baptize Doyle Owens in our 8:45 service. If you were at the 10:30 service, or you just weren’t able to see it, you can watch it right here.

In fact, please watch this. If you want to know the vision of Compass Church; if you want to know why we’re doing what we’re doing. If you want to know why I moved here and took this job, THIS is it. Right here. This is our vision. To see this, over and over and over and over.

This is why we need a full time Student Ministries Pastor.
This is why we need more Children’s Ministries Volunteers.
This is why we aren’t afraid, in hard economic times, to challenge ourselves to give faithfully to God.
This is what our tithes and offerings are producing. This is what you are giving to.
This is why we need ushers, greeters, Home Group leaders, musicians, student ministry volunteers, etc.
This is why we need more space in our facilities.
This is what I challenged all of us to do on the day I was voted in – that someday every one of us would be in that baptistery, standing with someone we led to Christ, who once was lost but now is found.

Doyle was lost, but now he’s found. So my friends, whatever you’ve given to Compass – the dollars, the hours, and the countless sacrifices that have built this church over the years - if that’s you, you had a share in this. And I hope you see, and will always believe, that it was worth it.

I do.

This is only the beginning, folks. Last Sunday we had 529 people on our campus, a new record. There were over 100 kids at the 10:30 service alone. I don’t know where all of they’re all coming from – all I know is you are building a church that is attracting people who desperately need to hear the gospel!

This Sunday we’re starting a new series called: “Don’t be scared.” – God.

It’s a huge opportunity to bring someone, anyone, who is wondering how to process all that is going on in the world right now. We’ve got more economic and political uncertainty on our hands than we’ve had in years. So what do we do? Cower in the corner? Live in paralyzing fear? Kiss the future goodbye?

I don’t think so.

Don’t believe me? Read 1 Peter. Then show up this Sunday (at 9:15 and 10:45!!) and let me prove it to you.

Live boldly this week!

Baptism at Compass Church - 10/26

2008-10-28T09:36:00.001+05:30

Alignment...

2008-10-24T10:23:00.000+05:30

...is what happens when you can take your hands off the steering wheel on a flat, straight road and the car just keeps on cruisin'.

Misalignment is when you're always pulling the wheel one way or the other, and sooner or later the tires go bald, the engine has to work harder, and you're facing quite a bill from the auto repair shop.

And alignment is what we talked about at the Next Coaching session today. We've been reading Andy Stanley's 7 Practices of Effective Ministry. Here are some thoughts generated out of our discussion:

In ministry, alignment is everything. While not everyone needs to walk in lock-step functionally, there has to be clear communication about what it is we're trying to do, all the way from the top down.

So last night in our Leadership Development class, I asked the dozen or so who were there: "Is the vision clear?"

Then I held my breath.

To my great relief, heads nodded all around the room, and were able to articulate the three words: Know, Grow, Go.

While the answer could have been more vivid, like, "we're here to tell everyone in the West Valley about Jesus, plant churches locally and worldwide, and reduce the crime rate within a ten mile radius becuase so many people are following Jesus," I'll take "Know-Grow-Go" just fine for now!

The point is, if "success" at Compass Church isn't clear, then folks over time will get frustrated, wondering what all their hard work, dedication, and financial support is actually accomplishing.

It is the job of the leader to define what a "win" is, and then point it out when we get one.

This Sunday we're going to have a huge win: In the second service, the church is going to see a young man who came to Christ not too long ago get baptized. There is perhaps no greater picture of what it is we're trying to do here than that.

In fact, everything we do at Compass is designed to eventually bring us to the place where more and more people in our community can't wait to jump into our portable (but attractive) baptistery and tell of their new life in Christ.

That's the Big Win, as far as I'm concerned. Godliness, maturity, knowledge, service, sacrifice, purity, and preaching, all done with excellence, will bring as an end goal what we will see this Sunday - another person giving God the glory for his love and his grace.

Breaking Through Barriers

2008-10-22T08:33:00.000+05:30

Well, the big news from last Sunday is we broke the 500 barrier: we had 506!! A new Compass record! How awesome is that?

This number tells me that a lot of folks are finding our church and feeling like they fit in. Think of it – dozens of folks each Sunday who haven’t been connected to a church in who knows how long, if ever – and they are feeling for the first time that they belong.

So, hats off to so many of you who have been so faithful! As I’ve said before, your effort is paying off. Remember: the whole goal of this thing is that more people know Jesus by the time we leave this Earth than did when we got here. That’s why we’re here. And you, by your passionate involvement here, are helping this place become attractive to those who need to hear the Gospel.

We had a great service as well – there was a ton of energy in both of our services, the worship team did fabulous, and we had a huge number of kids in our Children’s Ministry! I was really excited to have my wife, Judi, get up with me and talk about what the wife’s role of submitting to her husband looks like in real life. She was pretty nervous getting up in front of everyone, but I thought she was articulate and insightful. And thanks to so many of you who encouraged her afterwards. I hope you got the picture that we’re both just real people trying to honor God in our marriage just like anyone else!

In addition to the growth we’re seeing, it also seems like every week people are checking “I want to know more about God” or “I want to receive Jesus as my Savior” on the back of their cards. We’re making contact with these folks, and doing everything we can to get them connected and help them in their new-found walk with Christ.

My Home Group has been an example of this. Last night we had 14 adults and 12 kids over at my house. The adults sat around a fire pit in the driveway while the kids hung out in the house. (Yeah it was chaotic, but it was fun!). And in our group we’ve got several folks who are just beginning their journey to Jesus. They’ve been intrigued by the subject of marriage and relationships, and they’ve been drawn in by the idea of talking with real people about real issues and feeling a sense of community with the others.

Anyway, this Sunday is the final chance to bring someone to our Fireproof Your Marriage series. But I’m already totally pumped about our next message series starting November 2nd, at 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

So what’s the next series on? Well, we’ll be taking a tour of the book of 1 Peter. And the title, while very simple, is designed to strike right at the heart of what we’re all dealing with right now:

“Don’t be scared.” – God

This Sunday at Compass...Love for a Lifetime

2008-10-17T03:27:00.000+05:30

The Genius of the "AND"

2008-10-16T10:08:00.000+05:30

I grew up as an AND kid in an OR world.

I never understood why I had to pick one or the other when both sounded so good. What’s wrong with pizza AND tacos? Why can’t I get a bike AND a skateboard? Why can’t we watch Superman AND Batman?

Clearly, that’s not very realistic. However, there’s a lot more AND out there than you might think.

For example, Jim Collins described “the genius of the AND” in his groundbreaking book, Built to Last. He writes, “The ‘tyranny of the OR’ pushes people to believe that things must be either A OR B, but not both.” (Collins, 43.) Obviously, there are some things that are either/or. The light is either red OR green. Either you’re a Democrat OR a Republican. Either there’s a God OR there isn’t. Either you like your mother-in-law OR you don’t.

But maybe there are a bunch of other things that don’t have to be mutually exclusive, you know? So I thought I’d make a list of the “genius of the AND” at work at Compass. Check it out:

1) We can be fully committed to excellence AND totally authentic.
2) We can work hard AND pray hard.
3) We can, through Home Groups, become a large church AND still feel small.
4) We can preach sermons to spiritually challenge the mature believer AND the first time guest.
5) We can grow larger AND plant new churches.
6) We can cut back in lean times AND move forward with creativity and flexibility.
7) We can build mature believers AND be a place for those who are completely lost.
8) We can have fewer programs AND reach more people.
9) We can hang on to traditions AND eat sacred cows.
10) We can invest in global outreach AND our local community.

How cool is that? It’s a different way of thinking, one that gets us out of the boxes that we love to put ourselves in!

By the way… thanks for all the encouragement! I always forget when it’s pastor appreciation month – I’m not one to keep track of those things. So thanks to those of you who do!

And don’t forget our new service times starting November 2nd – 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

My Home Group Starts in a 1/2 Hour...

2008-10-14T06:59:00.000+05:30

...which is why I have two minutes to blog. Life has been extremely busy. Today I wrote out 12 first-time guest cards (we've switched to $5 Starbucks cards) between meetings and wrapping up details from yesterday.

Every Monday we ask four questions about our service. They have become known as The Four Questions:

1) What's right?
2) What's wrong?
3) What's confusing?
4) What's missing?

You can ask those questions in just about any context: a marketing plan, a report, a marriage, a speech, or a book. It helps us get better and clarifies our thinking.

Anyway, overall we're trying to keep up with the weekly growth of this church. Which, I might add, is extremely fun, challenging, engaging, exciting, and many other adjectives I don't have time to write about.

On top of that, I've got a huge part of my dissertation due on Wednesday, so I've been wrestling that monster in between everything else. Who knows, I may even be just about as busy as you are!

But life is good, and I truly believe that it's only going to get better!! Do you?

Gotta run.

This Sunday at Compass...He First Loved Us

2008-10-10T10:11:00.000+05:30

Movin' On Up!

2008-10-08T09:18:00.000+05:30

This is a view of my new office. Yep, I relocated down the hall. My previous office was about 200 square feet, and this one’s about 85. Perfect.

“Why?” you ask. Well, we’re outta space. The old office is being converted into a conference/classroom that can be used on Sunday mornings, and I couldn’t be happier about that.

We had a record high attendance this past Sunday – 482 counting adults, kids, and everything else that moves! In fact, in the second service alone we had 89 kids. If we keep growing at this rate we’re going to have to blow out the walls of this entire office building and set up shop at Starbucks. Fine by me.

The point is, it was really fun moving out and cramming everything I’ve got into a tiny little space. Why? Because I had to. Because the mission of our church demands it. Because I can’t wait for the day when I have to move my stuff into the Mobile Mini out back because they need my last 85 square feet for the Children’s Ministry. You don’t really care about feng shui (pronounced “fung shway”) when you get emails from 1st time guests saying how grateful they are to find our church and how badly they need help in their marriages.

In peacetime, we’re able to take hours making sure everything looks and feels just right. But this is not peacetime. This is wartime. We’re engaged in a battle now for the hearts, minds, and souls of people in our town that God dearly loves. We are called to introduce the West Valley to Jesus. And we expect to gain ground.

On another note, our Home Group kicked off last night at my house and it was awesome. We had 9 adults and 8 kids. Judi and I were grateful to get to know some new people, and our kids got to know one another as well. How did you like your Home Group?

If you haven’t seen the Fireproof movie yet, you should go. Today I read that it is still in the top ten after several weeks. Not bad for a movie made by a church! Click here to read stories of folks who have been touched by the movie.

Fireproof the Movie

2008-10-04T10:44:00.000+05:30

Judi and I just got back from seeing Fireproof with a whole lotta Compass folks over at the Harkins on 99th. We were the loud and rowdy crowd, but we had fun!

Here are my thoughts:

1) Yes, you should see this movie! Overall, it is very well done. There were a few awkward parts, but I felt they were compensated by a plot everyone can relate with, and some truly funny scenes (e.g., The "Wrath of God" scene and the guy dancing in front of the mirror had me cracking up).

2) Fireproof had no profanity, nudity, crudeness, or innuendo, which makes it radically different from everything Hollywood hurls at the world. Yet, it brought up more substantive issues that truly affect American life than any movie playing right now or perhaps even this year.

For example, this movie addressed divorce, pornography, adultery, forgiveness, unconditional love, commitment, family, gender differences, courage, and on top of it all the Gospel. Sure, our theater was made up of a large percentage of Christians. But Christian or not, you really got the sense that everyone there could relate to normality of the movie (e.g., bringing his sick wife Chick-fil-A!), even if at times some of the acting left a little to be desired.

3) You can tell how good a movie is by how much you talk about it after its over. Judi and I talked about it the whole way home.

4) Kirk Cameron did a fantastic job. Here's a guy who hasn't become another shallow Hollywood clone, but he's someone who actually lives out his convictions. In fact, he kissed his real wife in the movie, not co-star Erin Bethea. Makes sense to me. I'd feel a little wierd locking lips with another woman, even if it wasn't "real."

5) The music was very cool, and you can get it here.

6) It was so cool to see so many Compass people there -many people I haven't seen at all outside of Sunday morning. It just fires me up even more about the massive, amazing, one-of-a-kind church picnic we're supposed to have in November!! (Wait, did I just say that out loud?)

By the way, our Home Groups are kicking off this Sunday. We're launching 11 groups, with all but a few using the Fireproof curriculum. As for Judi and me, our group starts this Monday night at 7:00 p.m. Yes, you can still sign up!

The message series starts Sunday, and I'm so fired up about the message - you have no idea!

So... what did you think of the movie? Leave a comment and let me know!

This Sunday at Compass...He Said/She Said

2008-10-03T05:05:00.000+05:30

Monday Morning QB

2008-09-30T11:18:00.000+05:30

A few highlights from Sunday's service:

First, the energy in our auditorium was awesome! It is so much fun to be with a church family that is so ALIVE!

Second, here is the gist of an email I received today about our service:

Pastor Tim,

Yesterday was so awesome and my family is ON FIRE for the Lord! Your message was so inspirational, so powerful...all of us felt the Holy Spirit alive and well in that room. We invited a couple to church last week [and] they came again this week!! The guy said his wife was so touched by the message that she cried on the way home... this is a BIG deal because she has gone through certain things in her life that made her not want to go to church and now--the Lord is working in her life!! Both of their lives!! And their daughter's!!! I don't know if I am more exicted because of the service and your message or about how it affected her.I cannot express to you enough how powerful and absolutely wonderful the message-and worship music- was!! Thank you again, and we are really looking forward to next week!!!!

Third, we had a record high attendance, 448 people (counting kids, adults, and pregnant women twice!) That is second only to Easter!

But that was this past Sunday - I can't wait to see what will happen this Sunday!

So...what would I change (to play the whole Monday Morning QB role)? Well, we need more Children's Ministry Volunteers! Of course, we only need those who can really develop a passion for teaching our children. They deserve the best we've got, and we'll settle for nothing less than delivering that!

On that note, we're almost totally out of space for our Children's ministry. Between both services we had 113 kids!! Can you believe that?

God is up to some BIG STUFF at Compass!

Full Speed Ahead!

2008-09-26T19:36:00.000+05:30

I'm a huge fan of Seth Godin, and his post today is absolutely terrific.