Thank You

Thank you to all of those men and women of America’s armed forces…both past and present…that gave of themselves selflessly…so that we may have freedom.

The Baby Had No Heartbeat

This past Thursday Denise and I went to the doctor for her first OB visit and sonogram.  While going through the exam it was discovered that the baby was two weeks under-developed and had no heartbeat…in essence the doctor feels we have lost the baby.  As you can imagine this has been devastating news for us and it has been an emotional few days.  We still have to go back to the doctor on Monday for another exam so that they can verify that the baby will definitely miscarry.  They will also decide what steps are needed in order to protect Denise’s health over the next several weeks.

We have been told that the next few weeks will be rough for Denise physically…not to mention emotionally.  As a result I am taking an open-ended vacation from Compass Point and have no clue when I will return to the pulpit.  I also will not be answering email, posting to this blog, Twittering or returning phone calls for a while.  It depends on Denise’s health as to whether I will be attending this week’s Whiteboard Sessions…at this point I think it is safe to say that I will be a no-show.

We are trusting God through this process and know that He has a plan for all of this.  We are faithful that God is at work and we are committed to following Him no matter what.  Please continue to pray for Denise and I as we will also be praying for you.

My Most Embarrassing Moment

My buddy Travis Johnson posted about his most embarrassing moment on his blog…and I commented about an unforgettable moment from my comedy days.  However, tonight I was reminded of a truly more embarrassing moment…one that just occurred a few weeks ago.  You can read about here at Courtney Bridges blog…she’s the wife of Kyle…our Executive Pastor.  The story involves a blackout at our office…some strange noises…safety scissors…and a William Wallace sword.  Try not to laugh too much…I felt like such an idiot when the moment was over!! 

And Then I Cried Like A Baby

I’m at home today…not what I had planned. I have vertigo and last night it decided to kick in pretty bad…which doesn’t happen often…should be better tomorrow. Anyway…my day is filled with heavy meds and much bed rest…not easy when you have ADD. I thought today was going to suck…saw the video below…and then I cried like a baby. Some of the tears I shed were for the pain I had to endure from Perry’s heretical comment concerning Clemson (everyone knows God is a Gator fan)…but they were mainly for an incredible mom…and an incredible church. All joking aside…take five minutes and check it out…it will rock your world…and your tear ducts!!!

My Segway Experience

One of the highlights for me at this year’s Exponential Conference was when my buddy LV of Catalyst Road Trip fame taught me how to ride a Segway. I about killed myself…and others…but had a blast in the process. Check out the video below…

Some Sundays Are Better Than Others

Most of the times pastors write about how pumped up they are about Sunday and how this week’s service was the best ever. While Compass Point has been having some really great services recently and every week there is a new attendance records…this week was not one of them. We dealt with a BUNCH of technical problems today (mainly sound…which is always a problem in a gymnasium) and attendance was pretty ugly. To top it off I wasn’t really “on” today…the sermon was pretty weak in my opinion. In essence it wasn’t one of our better Sundays at Compass Point.

Not too long ago a day like today would have Denise hiding the sharp objects around the house. These days I don’t sweat it too much when we have less than great days…because days like today are not all that common any more. Most Sundays are good…some great…a few fair…rarely are they bad…today was fair. It’s not that it doesn’t still bother me…it does…it just doesn’t drive me insane like it use to.  I’ve come to realize some things going into my fourth year of this thing called church planting:

1. I know my church and my town. Compass Point and Lakeland is not like anywhere else in the world. I was reading some other pastor’s blog this week and they were excited because Mother’s Day is a big day for them…not Compass Point. Traditionally Mother’s Day has been a low attendance Sunday…mainly because people in Lakeland head out-of-town for Mother’s Day. Attendance will be back up next week…I can say that because I know the community, the church…and we keep pretty good records.

2. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Church planting is not a sprint…quick out of the gate and quick to the finish line. It’s a marathon where you have to pace yourself and take in every separate stage of the race. This week didn’t go so hot…last week did…next week is coming…and it will be better.  When a bad service occurs…sleep on it…meet about it…rattle somebody’s cage when needed…compliment when needed…be realistic with your assessment…and try to do better next week.

3. It’s never as bad as you think it is. I learned back in my comedy days that my perception…is not what other people necessarily see. There have been some pretty bad days at Compass Point…and pretty bad sermons…and folks will still send emails saying how great the service was. I guess what I’m saying is that I’m my own worst critic…while I know where we dropped the ball…and want to make we don’t drop it again…the folks sitting in the seats don’t always pick up on it.

4. We don’t need to hit a home run each time at bat. There are a BUNCH of perfect churches with perfect “Ken and Barbie” pastors here in Lakeland. One of the things that actually draws people to Compass Point…is the imperfection. Other church pastors I know would freak out over the imperfections we let slide. We know our people…we know Lakeland…we know what disconnected people in this community are drawn to. It’s not perfection…high tech…or excellence.  While it is never an excuse for mediocrity…some days our “dropped balls” reach more people for Christ…than the days when everything goes according to plan.

5. Safety only comes in never taking risks. Some of what we dropped the ball on today was experimental stuff. We experimented with our projector and speaker placement…it didn’t really go over well. We also used a lot of video today…something we don’t normally do…it went over pretty good. I tried to color outside the lines a little with my sermon…it felt unprepared and too off-the-cuff. However, we learned a TON today…and it is helping us take the next steps in our journey. Basically some of what happened today was because we took some risks. The day we stop dropping the ball on Sunday is the day we stop taking risks. The day we stop taking risks is the day…I quit and sell insurance.

In conclusion…if you had a bad day at church today…go home…take a nap…enjoy your family…and let it go.  Fix what you can fix…ignore what you can’t…and take comfort in knowing next week you get another shot at it!!!

The “Revival” In Lakeland

For several days I have been wrestling with the idea of blogging my concerns in reference to the “revival” taking place in Lakeland.  I foolishly mentioned it a couple of days ago before I had completely thought things through.  I learned my lesson last year when I wrote this post…that some things are meant for the world to see…and some things are only meant for Compass Point to see.  Under normal circumstances I would never comment on what is going on at another church…much less providing commentary as to the validity of it.  However, the fact that these “healing” services are taking place in our own backyard…and that quite a few of our folks at Compass Point are being “pressured” by friends and family to attend…we (the Elders and I) feel a need to address this issue…with our people.  I have watched many hours of the “revival” online through the streaming webcast…and have now attended a service in person.  I finally feel that I’m in a place to Scripturally discern what is…and isn’t…real about what is taking place…and to share that with the flock I shepherd.

I would encourage those outside of Lakeland to watch what they see on the webcast…and then search the Bible for Scriptural backing for what is taking place.  I would also encourage you not to make the trip down here for “healing” before you’ve consulted your own pastor about it.  I am not your pastor…it is not my place to tell you what to believe…or attempt to shepherd you through a blog.

Sorry to those that were waiting for my report.  Please don’t email me privately…I won’t be answering.

We’re Going To Be The First Video Venue In Lakeland

Okay, that title might be stretching it a bit…but Compass Point is taking it’s first steps into a “video venue” format by default.  We are excited to be participating in the “One Prayer” campaign coming up in June.  As a result we’ll be showing two to three Sundays of videos of other preachers…which…as we can tell…is kind of a first around here.  I’m excited…first of all…to have a week or two off from preaching.  I’m also pretty pumped that Compass Point will get to experience some pastors that greatly influence my life…Noble, Furtick and Lamb (that sounds like some kind of dysfunctional law firm).  Finally, I’m anxious to see how the video format does at Compass Point…and Polk County.  It’s an experiment…but could open up a BUNCH of opportunities and possibilities if it goes over well.

For those that have been asking….no…I decided to pass on shooting a video of the sermon I’m preaching for the “One Prayer” campaign.  I’m doing “Make Us Manly” and preaching on June 15th…Father’s Day.  However, with everything else we have going on right now…we just didn’t have the time or resources to pull off a quality video by the May 12th due date.  Thanks for asking…maybe some other time down the road.

Whiteboard Is On!!!

Thanks to some help from the man, myth and legend…Jay Hardwick…and the magic of TED Airlines…Kyle (our Executive Pastor) and I will be at the Whiteboard Sessions in a few weeks.  We’ll leave Orlando about 6:00am and be back by 10:00 pm.  I so love going to conferences…and not having to stay in hotels. 

Kentucky Derby Thoughts

They should have saved the horse…and euthanized the damn jockey!!!  A horse doesn’t shatter two legs after she crosses the finish line…unless the horse was already in trouble before the finish line…or got pulled up too early after the race was done!!!