Compass Church Wired

Compass Church Initial Strategy in Plain English

2007-06-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

I was really inspired by the clarity of the communication style of the "Rss in Plain English" video of the "Common Craft Show." So much so that I decided to rip it off. :D

Yesterday I created a video providing a simple answer to the question, "So what's the plan?" in relationship to starting "Compass Church." It's a simple, slightly silly, but hopefully clear presentation. Obviously, there's more to it all, but this is the gist of what we're focusing on for the next 4 to 6 months.

Link for email and feed readers: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2607638505823667330&pr=goog-sl

I don't mention this in the video, but our goal is to reach at least 25 adults in each zone before we begin weekly services. If you live in one of the "zones" mentioned in the video, I'd love to talk with you about creating a connection point with us!

There are 100 other ways to do it that are all correct. But for a number of reasons particular to this area and the ones doing the planting, I believe there is strength, stability and momentum in this approach. If not, we'll adjust accordingly. :)

I know that this video certainly doesn't answer every question, but it does provide at least a "compass' worth" of direction!

More details soon...

Enjoy.

New Little Compass Kiddo welcomed to the world

2006-09-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

Our worship leader, Kim Wells and her husband Ricky are definitely doing all they can to grow our church...

Today a little after 4 p.m., they welcomed their new baby into the world!

The newest member of the Wells family is a bouncing baby girl, weighing in at 7lbs and 6 oz, and has been given the name, "Sydney Kate Wells."

Mom, baby & Dad are all doing fine.

Congratulations, Ricky and Kim!

Chris Roberson leading worship this Sunday (8/27)

2006-08-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

Long time friend of Compass, Chris Roberson, will be leading worship for us this Sunday (8/27)! It should be a pretty fun day.

Be sure to pray for Kim and Ricky Wells this week, as the time to deliver baby number two is approaching quickly. Maybe before the weekend??

Great things are happening at Compass Church, and I'm looking forward to sharing the plans for the fall with everyone. Invite a friend and join us this weekend as we continue the "MOVE" series!

Watch the Series trailer Here.

See you at the Roanoke Recreation Center, Sunday at 10:30 a.m.!

"All Get Out" this Weekend

2006-07-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

This weekend, July 23rd, we will not be meeting at the Roanoke Recreation Center. This Sunday we begin 3 hot Sundays in July and August for "All Get Out."

Sunday one is a brunch kickoff at the Leckie home. Google 13265 Elmhurst Drive, Keller, Texas 76248 for directions.

I have a post about this strategic move on the part of Compass on my blog. Check it out here: "All Get Out."

Hints to the "Picture Code" game

2006-07-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

There is now a hints page on the compass website containing additional hints to the Picture Code game. More will be added as we approach the end of the series.

Once you figure out the password to each clue, there are additional fun things to discover in the pdf file it opens. Wallpapers, a free mp3, videos, and more are just waiting to be found...

Have fun!

Things Are Not Always What They Seem

2006-06-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

In Sunday's message, "Sink: When You're In Over Your Head," I talked about the importance of getting a new perspective because things are not always what they seem.

Here's an extra illustration to drive that point home:

The squares in this image marked "A" and "B" are the same shade of gray.

...Really.

For proof and the explanation, click here: Checker shadow illusion. (Still not convinced? Print out the picture and cut out the squares)

In Matthew 14:22, Jesus "made" the disciples get into the boat because they apparently were thinking like the rest of the crowd. The crowd was ready to make Jesus an earthly king, but Jesus had a completely different purpose in mind.

Things were not what they seemed.

The disciples needed a new perspective to judge the situation properly. As we follow Jesus, we will find ourselves in situations that don't make sense from our point of view. This is why we need to have the "eyes of our hearts enlightened" to see things from His point of view. It provides true hope in all circumstances.

The way things seem can often get in the way of understanding the way things are.

Immersed In Adventure Beach

2006-06-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

The series, "Adventure Beach," is meant to be an immersive experience. If you were present on Sunday, you heard the first "clue" to the Adventure game that accompanies the series. There is now a link on the Compass Church website that is designated specifically for "clues."

We want to encourage everyone to have fun solving the riddles, exploring the Bible, and discovering the hidden "easter eggs" throughout the series. There will be fun things to explore and clues to uncover in many places over the next six weeks.

Hints and extras will be everywhere you find Compass Church. At the Rec Center on Sunday, at community events, on our website, in this blog, in the Sunday Rewind Podcast, in the Calendar, and in Team blogs.

Some are just fun extras. Some build upon each other. Some will involve some real family adventures on your own. Some may include people you wouldn't expect. Some will give you a unique insight or understanding of the upcoming message. All will help make this one of the most memorable series at Compass so far!*

Be alert. Explore. Invite someone to join you and have a blast.

You never know what may happen on Adventure Beach!

* Of course, you can ignore all of this and just join us for the series on Sunday mornings. You're free to experience the series at whatever level you like! :-)

New Series

2006-06-03T13:36:00.000-07:00

We are beginning a new series at Compass Church called, "Adventure Beach." Take your life to a whole new level as we explore stories from the Bible of seaside encounters with God. Together we'll discover how to live the "Adventure Life" as we follow His lead throughout the summer and beyond.

Click the image for a larger view.

Watch the trailer for the series here.

Campaign of Kindness - Easter Egg Hunt

2006-04-05T10:57:00.000-07:00

This weekend we will continue our Campaign of Kindness by volunteering at the City of Roanoke's Easter Egg Hunt. The event starts at 10am at the Roanoke Community Center (by the Library). There will be billions of eggs for kids to hunt and even a free picture with the Easter Bunny! We will be arriving at 9am to help setup. If you would like to be a part of this event, please email kim@compasswired.com

Check out the kindness page on our website for info on future events and pictures of past events.

Visuals From "SHIFT: Changing Your Focus"

2006-03-24T11:02:00.000-08:00

Visuals from last Sunday's message:

Team100 Prayer Guide

2006-03-07T22:57:00.000-08:00

The Prayer Guide is now available! Download the Adobe file here: Compass Church Team 100 Prayer Guide

Podcast & Prayer Guide

2006-03-06T10:50:00.000-08:00

The "Sunday Rewind Podcast" from 3/5/06 is now available: Engage - Expanding Your World

Are you a part of "Team 100" yet? Prayer guides for the series will available later today!

Sunday Recap [from 2/19/06]

2006-02-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

It was chilly, but it was a great day, nonetheless!

Sunday's message was about guardrails that need to be put into place for a marriage to be strong. There were some technical difficulties in the recording process, but hopefully, the podcast of the message will be available by Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.

Feel free to use the following to talk more about the message or share it with someone else this week!

"Guardrails For A Strong Marriage"
Presented by Pastor Johnny Leckie, Compass Church, 2-19-06 | www.compasswired.com

1. Guardrail # 1 - Burn [or scuttle] Your Ships.

In 1519, Hernando Cortes destroyed the ships that brought his expedition to Veracruz in their pursuit of treasure. In one fell swoop, he eliminated the option of turning back, and created an intense motivation for succeeding. No escape routes. No turning back. There was only one option, and it was to go forward.

Matthew 19:4-6
4 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." NIV

We live in a world that makes it easy to quit. Easy to give up. It’s a world of choices where we can change phone service, Change cable providers, change internet service providers with a simple phone call. We can get a gazillion channels on our tv’s. Some people see marriage in the same way. The attitude is, “I’m not going to put up with much, so if you get on my nerves, I’ll just move on to the next one.” We need to realize the seriousness of the covenant.

2. Guardrail #2: Make “Flirting” For Your Spouse Only.

Proverbs 5:3-4
3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; 4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,sharp as a double-edged sword. – NIV

Job 31:1
1 "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman. – NLT

3 Quick things about this idea of saving flirting for your spouse only:

(1) Refuse To Glamorize The Possibility of an affair.

Hebrews 13:4
4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. – NLT

Proverbs 5:15-17
15 Drink water from your own cistern,running water from your own well. 16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,your streams of water in the public squares? 17 Let them be yours alone,never to be shared with strangers. - NIV

Deuteronomy 5:18
18 You shall not commit adultery. – NIV

(2) Commit like The Competition’s Over, But Act Like It Never Will Be.

Proverbs 5:18
18 May your fountain be blessed,and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. – NIV

Commit with no exits, but always treat your spouse like ten other people would love to have them for a companion. Don’t let the “dating” end!

(3) Tend To Your Temple.

Song of Solomon 5:14
13 His cheeks are like sweetly scented beds of spices. His lips are like perfumed lilies. His breath is like myrrh. 14 His arms are like round bars of gold, set with chrysolite. His body is like bright ivory, aglow with sapphires. 15 His legs are like pillars of marble set in sockets of the finest gold, strong as the cedars of Lebanon. None can rival him. 16 His mouth is altogether sweet; he is lovely in every way. Such, O women of Jerusalem, is my lover, my friend." – NLT

Sometimes people who are recently divorced or are involved in an affair– lose 40 pounds, get a total makeover – start trying to look their best. Why not in your marriage? Why not for your spouse?

3. Guardrail #3 Determine To Meet Your Spouse’s Needs.

Ephesians 5:28-29
28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church. – NIV

1 Corinthians 7:5
5 So do not deprive each other of sexual relations. The only exception to this rule would be the agreement of both husband and wife to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time, so they can give themselves more completely to prayer. Afterward they should come together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt them because of their lack of self-control. – NLT

Many marriage problems could be solved with a simple surgical removal of selfishness from one or both partners. Learn to serve and you learn to love.

4. Guardrail #4 Commit Yourself Daily To Your Spouse.

Remember Your Covenant With God.

Proverbs 2:16-17
(Wisdom)
16 It will save you also from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God. - NIV
5. Guardrail 5 :Make Your Spouse Your 2nd Highest Priority.

2 Chronicles 16:9
9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him… - NIV

Commit to God more than anyone,
To Your Spouse more than your kids,
To Your kids more than your work or anyone else.

Sunday Rewind Podcast [2/12/06] Now Available

2006-02-13T12:54:00.000-08:00

The "Sunday Rewind Podcast" from 2/12/06 is now available. [You do not need an ipod to listen to the podcast.]

It's not yet available as a "subscribable" podcast, but you can enjoy it now by clicking here: Heart Check: For Healthy Relationships

Campaign of Kindness - Valentine's Dance

2006-02-13T12:18:00.000-08:00

We had a great time serving at the Roanoke Valentine's Dance on Friday night!

We served tons of great food along with gallons of tea all while jamming to some pretty fun music. At the end of the night, we had met many new people, enjoyed the company of many of those we met at previous events, and really had a great time.

If you'd like to join us in our Campaign of Kindness, we'll be helping to serve water to the runners of the annual Run the Ranch event at Circle T Ranch in Trophy Club on Saturday, March 11th. Check out the Kindness page on our website here for more info on upcoming events!

Sunday Recap [from 2/12/06]

2006-02-13T06:50:00.000-08:00

Great day, yesterday as we continued the series, "Love Revisited." We took a deeper look at our hearts, and how they can affect everything we do. Pastor Johnny taught about this using principles from the Bible to give us a "heart check" for healthy relationships.

The "Sunday Rewind Podcast" of yesterday's message will be up shortly. Feel free to use the following to talk more about the message or share it with someone else, this week!

"Heart Check: For Healthy Relationships"
Presented by Pastor Johnny Leckie, Compass Church, 2-10-06 | www.compasswired.com

1. Guard Your Heart.

Proverbs 4:23
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. (Hebrew: for from it flow the springs of life.)- NLT

• Don’t Be Ruled By It.

Jeremiah 17:9-10
9 "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I know! I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve." – NLT

[God wants us to follow Him, not our heart. Our heart is not dependable all by itself.]

++ This is where Pastor Johnny unveiled the infamous "pink shirt" he received from Pastor Ben Arment of History Church.

• Don’t Be Foolish With It.

Matthew 7:6
6 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. –NIV

Psalm 109:22
22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. - NIV

2. Train Your Heart to Love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
1 If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever. – NLT

Colossians 3:14
14 And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. – NLT

Some Characteristics of Love:

1 Corinthians 13:4a
4 Love is patient and kind. – NLT

• Love Is Patient.

Colossians 1:11
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, - NLT

• Love Is Kind.

Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. -NLT

• Real Love Is Found In Jesus.

1 John 3:16
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. – NIV

Isaiah 1:18
18 "Come now, let us argue this out," says the LORD. "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool. – NLT

Psalm 51:7
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. - NLT

This Weekend @ Compass (2/12/06)

2006-02-10T21:52:00.000-08:00

This weekend we are continuing our series, "Love Revisited: Going Back To The Start," with a message called, "Heart Check: For Healthy Relationships." Do you follow your heart in relationships? Should you? Who's pulling your heartstrings? How do you keep from breaking it? Understanding the role our heart plays is vital for healthy relationships. Bring a friend and join us this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Roanoke Recreation Center as we see what God's Word has to say about our hearts. Just in time for Valentine's Day...

Last week's message, "Word Works: Making The Audio Connection" is now downloadable as an mp3 podcast. Sound and recording at the Rec Center is an ongoing work in progress, so this "Sunday Rewind" podcast isn't quite ready for prime time through itunes, yet. But you can still get it here: Word Works.

New Header

2006-02-08T11:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't figured out how to change the header in this template, yet, but what do you think about this header? Cool and modern or just too weird? Any thoughts?

Hello from Pastor Johnny

2006-02-08T10:45:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to test things out here. This is a cool new tool for our church!

There are many possibilities for this blog. Here are a few:

People can subscribe to it as a "live wire" up to date newsletter from Compass Church.
Extra stuff from Sunday's message, including some discussion, can happen here.
Schedule changes, updated needs and news about coming and recent events.
Team interviews and conversations.

There are many more, but we're seeing this as an experiment. Join in the conversation, and let's see how it goes!

Compass Church Wired Blog

2006-02-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Compass Church Wired. More is on the way!