As Christians it is easy to get hung up on ourselves.  Instead of asking God about who we can reach for His kingdom we begin to ask Him questions about our own selfish desires.  What about my needs God?  What about my wants?  God, what about my schedule? What about my dreams? What about my family Lord?  What about my finances?  Me…me…me…I…I…I.  Christ was pretty hard on His Disciples when it came to this area.  Jesus basically told them in Mark 10:35-45 that they needed to be servants to God and others…that the first must be last…and He displayed that daily.

At Compass Point we try hard to create a culture of servanthood…that it is better to give than receive.  This is why we put so much focus on our ministry teams.  Every week we encourage people to get involved greeting our guests, setting up the production, making coffee, running the worship computers, leading our children or investing in those far from God.  Our ministry teams are the only place we intentionally try to create community.  It is where friendship are built and relationship are developed.  It is also where we find our potential “next level” leaders.  Mainly it is our way of carrying out one of the most important concepts in God’s Word…we are here not for ourselves…we are here to be servants to God and others.

Most of our teams ask their members to serve several times a month.  We have found that the more they serve on the team…the more they make friends at Compass Point and get plugged in for the long haul.  Some of our team or more geared for this than others.  A few of our teams are structured so that there members get to be in the worship service every Sunday like our Set Up Team and Greeting Team.  We schedule them to serve two to three Sundays a month. Others like our Kids Team don’t have the option of being in the worship so we try to schedule them to serve only once or twice a month.

Our scheduling goal of these teams only focuses on giving people the chance to live out the Biblical principles of servanthood and Christian community.  Burnout is really something we ask our team leaders to ignore when scheduling.  The reason is…in 20 years of ministry I have discovered that people using the “burnout” excuse do so because:

1. They have become so turned inward and selfish that they have forgotten Christ’s mandate to serve others.
2. They have added so much non-church crap to their lives (work, school, playing, events, hobbies, schedule, etc.) that the Church and God is getting the shaft.

Our goal at Compass Point is to create disciples.  With that goal in mind we work hard to create a culture where people begin to understand that following Christ means denying themselves…so they can serve God and others.

Over the years one of the most frequent questions I have received is, “What are the expectations for Compass Point volunteers and team leaders?”  I thought I would devote a blog post to answer that question. Thanks to Michael Lukaszewski and the folks at Oakleaf Church for the help in developing these.

1. We need volunteers that are committed to reaching people far from God with he message of Christ and fulfilling the vision of Compass Point Church.
2. We need volunteers who can set aside their egos.  At Compass Point it’s about serving others…not entitlement, personal agendas or being cool.
3. We need volunteers to remember their job. On Sundays it’s not about talking to your friends, catching up on the latest gossip or sharing your personal issues with a pastor.  It’s about serving others and making guests feel welcome and at home at Compass Point.
4. We need volunteers to be at Compass Point consistently.   You can’t be out two Sundays of every month and expect to be used…you are missing too much training, experience and vision casting to be a part of what God has called Compass Point to do.
5. We need volunteers to give their best.  This is God’s Church…the one thing He said He would build His Kingdom on. This is serious…people discover Jesus almost weekly at Compass Point and your best effort is needed to continue that.
6. We need volunteers to communicate with us regularly.  If you are going to be out, have an idea to better implement the vision of Compass Point or have an emergency…communicate with us or your team leader.  The best way to communicate at Compass Point is by email or by calling the church office.
7. We need volunteers to uphold Biblical principles in their everyday life. This is the most important expectation…we are here as a church to lead people to Christ.  That just doesn’t happen on Sundays…but every day of the week through your example as a follower of Christ.

To all of those men and women that served...and are serving...in our armed forces...thank you!

]]> http://pastorelrod.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/thank-you-5/feed/ 0 Chris Elrod World War II veterans now residing in Lakeland, Florida. http://pastorelrod.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/unleash-2010/ http://pastorelrod.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/unleash-2010/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:20:53 +0000 Chris Elrod http://pastorelrod.wordpress.com/?p=1660 ]]>

Last year several Compass Point leaders had a chance to travel to Anderson, South Carolina for the Unleash Conference at NewSpring Church.  Led by Senior Pastor Perry Noble, God is doing an amazing thing there and everyone of us that went to the conference came back energized, full of vision and experienced a renewed sense of urgency to reach people far from God in Lakeland, Florida.  This year I want to make the Unleash Conference (March 3-5, 2010) available to all of our leaders and volunteers…in fact Compass Point is going to cover the travel costs and a portion of the meals to make it more affordable for everyone.  The total cost per person is $150 which covers travel, lodging, breakfast & lunch each day, materials and all the fun of hanging out with other Compass Point folks.

This is what I need you to do if you want to go:

1. Go here to see detailed information about our trip.
3. When you’re done, go here to register (you only need $50 right now  to hold your place)
4. Go ask your boss for Wednesday, March 3rd through Friday, March 5th off.
5. Get ready for a life-changing experience.

Space is limited to several dozen people, so it’s first come first served.  The trip up will be a blast, the main sessions will challenge  you in mighty ways and the breakout classes will be give you practical tools for carrying out the vision God has given us as a church.  Don’t delay in registering or for asking for your time off from work.

I promise you that Unleash 2010 will be an experience that will grow your vision, spiritual life and relationships with others at Compass Point.  Newspring is an example of what God can do with a church who will stop at nothing to reach people far from God with the message and hope of Jesus Christ.  Their calling and vision is contagious…Unleash 2010 will rock your world beyond belief!!!

Hey Compass Point leaders and volunteers….watch the video below and then check out my blog tomorrow for a BIG announcement.  Mobile phone users can watch the video by clicking here.

Over the last two days I talked about rogue males and the ongoing consequences of their actions.  Today I want to finish this series of posts by talking about how not to be a rogue male.

Men that defy the purpose that God created them for (to lead their family in a Godly manner) don’t really plan on becoming a rogue male.  Then again…they don’t plan for it NOT to happen.  Men just don’t walk down the street and then accidently fall naked into an attractive woman.  It is a “frog-in-the-kettle” gradually letting down you guard kind of thing.  The only known way to stop a rogue male from happening…is preparation, accountability and death.

Preparation - If a man is following God…then Satan is following the man.  At every turn the Devil wants to destroy Godly men and their families.  The snares, the traps, the deception is everywhere…many times when we least expect it.  Men have to be always be prepared for the unexpected.  We have to constantly stay in God’s Word and in prayer with the Father.  We have to be sharing God’s Word with our families…praying that God will protect our wives and kids.  There will be a battle for your heart men…and the heart of your family.  You can never let down your guard…not even for one minute.  You never know when the Enemy will attack or from where.  You just don’t have that lunch with your female co-worker…even if she is your boss.  It’s better to quit your job…than to quit your desire not to be a rogue male.  You don’t sneak a peak at online porn. You don’t hang out with “the boys” for old times sake.  You don’t give in one single time…because that’s how rogue males begin.  It’s not one fatal moment of judgment…it’s incremental moments of poor judgment.

Accountability - Accountability has no boundries…there are no “off limits” conversations.  There is only you and another man…following God’s Word…praying for each other…meeting regularly…and asking the really hard, incredibly personal questions.  A good friend of mine in ministry used to say that accountability only happens if you want to be accountable.  In essence accountability and avoiding becoming a rogue male takes hard work.  You have to schedule time for it.  You have to do prep work and follow up.  You have to become actively develop a friendship with another male on a level beyond surface questions.  You have to be open, honest and willing to set your ego aside in order not be a rogue male.

Death - Your ego…your wants…your desire to be the constant teenager…must die in order not to become a rogue male.  You are not a child…put away childish things.  Yes you can go hunting or bungy jumping or skydiving…but as an occasional respite from the pressures of leadership.  If you live for the thrill and adrenaline…instead of God and your family…you’re one step away from being a rogue male.  The Bible tells us to take up our cross and follow Christ daily…to die to our selfish desires or perceived needs.  When you die to yourself is makes it easier to be prepared and be accountable…and to avoid becoming a rogue male.

Yesterday I began discussing the recent news reports that Jon Gosselin wants to apologize for this actions to his wife and his mistress.I also talked about how he was a rogue male and explained what the term meant. The problem with all the press surrounding Jon and Kate is that no one seems all that surprised by their actions. Yes it makes good tabloid fodder, but it is also a scene we see played all too much in households across America. A little boy disguised as a grown man…doesn’t get his way…so he takes his “toy” and goes to play with another woman. Pathetic!!! Then said little boy comes dragging back to the house months later…after he’s gotten “the goods”…to apologize for his actions…expecting all to be forgibem and the family to go back to functioning like it did before “the fall”. Again…PATHETIC!!!

Forgiveness does not equal trust…ever! A wife can forgive a husband that has cheated, but that does not entitle him to be trusted again. “But Chris,” you ask, “what about forgive and forget?” There is nothing Scriptural about that concept. Forgiveness is Biblical…and should be immediate. Trust and restoration is also Biblical…and another matter altogether. When you cheat you break the thing that binds you to your spouse and to God. What was before…will NEVER be again.

I’ve known too many men that God was moving in their lives and their leadership. People were coming to Christ because of their efforts and their family was being blessed on a daily basis. Then comes the decision to cheat…and the man trades it all in for a piece of tail. How much was your walk with God worth? A night of sex outside the marriage. How much was God’s moving on your behalf worth? A roll in the hay. How much was a loving wife and good kids worth? A fling with a floozy. In one fatal moment you’ve told God, your wife, your kids and the world that nothing is more important than your penis. You’re a rogue male…you’re a loser.

The people that you hurt may be able to forgive you…with God’s help…but it will be years…or possibly never…that they ever trust you again. Every time you’re late for supper…they’ll question where you are. That’s your fault rogue male. Every time you take a passing glance at another woman, you will get that disappointed look from your wife. That’s your fault rogue male. Every time you see God doing something in the life of another man…that he used to do in your life…that’s your fault rogue male. Every time you plead and beg God to give you back the leadership level you forever lost…it’s your fault rogue male.

God is a God of second chances…but He is no fool. He entrusted you with a wife, kids and opportunities to serve Him…and you blew it. He gave you a shot and you blew it. He may give you another shot…but it will never be at the level you had before. Rogue male…you traded in your birthright for a bowl of soup…live with it. He will forgive you…your family will forgive you…but it does not entitle you to living without consequences for your actions. You were given a test. You failed…you got an ‘F’ on it. There will be other tests…but that first one will never come your way again. You gave up your chance at first place. God may allow you to race again…but the best you can ever hope for is second place.

Tomorrow we finish this series of posts by talking about putting steps in place to avoid being a rogue male.

This morning I was reading a story about Jon Gosselin where he talks about being ashamed of his actions and wants to apologize to the women that he has hurt.  In this case those women would include his wife and a mistress…and God only knows who else.  There will many in the world that will see his gesture as noble…as a step in the right direction…as an example to follow.  As for me…I will probably always see Jon as a loser…a rogue male.

The term rogue male is something I learned from a previous senior pastor that I worked with.  In Scripture men are called to be the spiritual head of the household…setting the example, leading the family, maintaining good self control and pastoring the spiritual needs of his wife and kids.  A rogue male doesn’t do any of that…instead choosing to live like a little boy wanting what he wants…doing what he wants…ignoring his God-given responsibilities.  Jon…and millions of men in America meet the criteria to be called “rogue males”.

I have heard it argued that Jon wouldn’t have looked to other women if Kate hadn’t have treated him so bad.  What a load of crap!!!  Jon created that behavior in his wife by being the quiet wall-flower and letting Kate to take the alpha-male role so he could live like a little boy.  I see men come through Compass Point all the time that do the same thing.  The wife has to take the lead role in the home because the husband still wants to be an adolescent.  He doesn’t want to discipline the kids  because he wants to be popular.  He doesn’t want to pray or share Scripture because he still wants to cuss like a sailor and have a beer with the boys.  He doesn’t want to stay home to lead because he wants to go out bungy jumping, skydiving and any other “thrill-junkie-relive-your-teen-years” kind of activity.  In essence these men have passed on what God has called them to do…have turn the leadership reigns over to their wives…and have publicly declared “I don’t want to grow I’m a Toys-R-Us kid”.  Rogue males…and rogue males equals wussy.

Tomorrow we’ll discuss how sorry doesn’t cut it.

Several years ago I read a book called “The Houdini Solution: Why Thinking Inside The Box Is The Key To Creativity“.  It basically pointed out that the great magician Harry Houdini did his most amazing work inside a box.  Too many times leaders and creative types are trying to think outside the box…beyond the confines of what they know and the parameters in which they have to work in.  The book challenged that idea and proposed that some of our best ideas are developed when we have to work within limitations forced on us from others.

At Compass Point one of biggest challenges is how to pull off Sunday after Sunday as a portable church meeting in a YMCA.  We have limited space, limited time with which to conduct services and limited amount of volunteers for an ever growing church.  I think it’s human nature to fight against those things…to look for bigger space…a better location…throw finances at the problem…and guilt people into volunteering.  The realization is that there is no better solution around the corner and that the cards we have been dealt are the ones we are going to have to play.

Instead of pushing back from those “limitations” maybe it’s time to take a page out of Harry Houdini’s book.  With over 30% of our average Sunday attendance being children we are never going to have enough space or volunteers to meet the demand.  The only course of action is to get creative within the Compass Pint Kidz box.  Meeting in a rental location means we are always going to have a mess to clean up and furniture to rearrange every Sunday morning during set up.  Instead of fighting it we should better embrace it and figure out a creative way to function within the box.

Confines, limitations and parameters are only a state of mind.  They can all be overcome with a little creativity, flexibility and elbow grease.  “Thinking inside the box” is a term the leaders and volunteers of Compass Point are going to be hearing more often.  It’s time to start thinking like Houdini.

It’s not that I want to avoid social interaction with people online…it’s that I need to control the time and amount of the input.  I love talking to people and I love the online interaction of “iron sharpening iron” sometimes.  The difficulty is that some people try to communicate with me through email, others through Facebook, some through Twitter, an increased amount through text messages, a few through phone calls and there are those still sending messages to me through the old Compass Point MySpace site.  Last week I took stock of the amount of messages directed to me through social media and normal means (phones, email, etc.)…it was a little over 700 messages in just one week….and that wasn’t even the unsolicited stuff.  There is no way on Earth I can possibly respond to all of that…and still spend quality time with God, be an attentive husband and lead a growing church.

The first step was creating a response priority…who gets a response first.  It shakes out like this:

1. My wife and family
2. The Senior Management Team of Compass Point.
3. Close friends and mentors.
4. People that lead (non-SMT) or volunteer at Compass Point.
5. People that regularly attend Compass Point.
6. Church planters or leaders that I already have a relationship with.

That doesn’t mean I always ignore those not in the list above.  If someone else in leadership at Compass Point can answer a question or tackle an issue I’ll forward it to them.  However, in all honesty…about 65-70% of the incoming stuff just gets ignored or deleted because they don’t fit in the context above.

The next steps was to actual limit the amount of input from social networks.  The following steps were taken:

1. Facebook - I am slowly deleting people that are not actual friends or family.  That means that folks I met once at a conference or who went to kindergarten with me don’t make the cut. I also have stopped participating in live feed discussions.  Finally Facebook is the lowest on my totem pole as far as answering direct messages.  I only check my inbox once a week…and only answer about half of the messages there.

2. Twitter - Every week we have new people start coming to Compass Point that have a Twitter account…I can’t follow them all.  I am in the process of unfollowing everyone but the SMT, ministry friends and those that motivate me as a leader.  I use TweetDeck almost exclusively to keep up with Twitter postings.  I may not be following you, but if #compasspoint or @compasspoint is in your Tweet then I know it.  Also I answer mentions quite often…but rarely answer DMs.

3. Text Messages - Strictly for close friends and family…I don’t respond to anyone else.

4. Email - The absolute best way to communicate with me.  I check my account twice a day and try to respond (or forward) legitimate emails within 24-hours.

5. MySpace - Killing it.  The Compass Point account will be down this week.

I know this sounds kind of hard-nosed…but something had to give.  I want to be a good pastor…but more than that I want to be a submissive follower of God and a loving husband.  It’s more important that I be social with God and my wife…than social with the world.

So it begs the question…what is the best way to communicate with me and expect to get a response?

1. Call the church office (863-853-1300) Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST.  If I’m not in a meeting or studying I’ll take the call.

2. Send an email to chris@compasspointlakeland.com . Under most circumstances I’ll answer it within 24-hours or  forward it to a Compass Point leader that can better help you.

3. Come to Compass Point Church on Sundays.  I’m usually hanging around the lobby of the YMCA after the service and would love to talk to you.