Random Friday

It's Friday! Here is the random run down:

• It is week two in our series You Asked For It. This week's question: To avoid sin should I avoid sinners?
  
• I can not wait to share this weekend and talk about some of the issues that the church has dealt with very negatively in the past. It will be awesome and intense too!
• I love coming home each evening to this sweet little girl.
• It has been a rough week at the Campbell home. Three out of our four kids have been sick this week. Hopefully Ava doesn't get what the other kids have had!
• Its easy to factor God out when things are good but then want to factor Him in when things are bad. Do you worship God or just the blessings of God?
• Got to feed the Lakers and Nuggets last Friday night. Here is a picture of me and Carmelo Anthony.
  
• Seriously, what is the deal with the Snuggie. Why do so many people like it? It's a blanket with sleeves! :-)
• Five Creativity Equations by Mark Batterson equals good stuff.
  

Children's Ministry

We shared this past weekend that Ellenor Sullins will be stepping down as the Children's Director at Elevate Church.

I am laying this out there so that there can be no "prayer" sessions that are really gossip sessions and so everyone knows the truth and can pray for this transition.

Ellenor has led our children's ministry since we started in January. She also organized Entry Point (class for new partners) and Momentum (gathering for our volunteers) when we would periodically hold those events as well as some admin stuff.

All the while, she was working full time as a teacher at a local preschool. She has made some incredible sacrifices and we were getting to the place to pay her part-time. As we began those talks and prayed together, it became evident that leading a Children's ministry isn't her true calling at this time.

For now, she will continue to teach at the preschool she has served at since moving to San Diego. She will continue to be a part of Elevate in the same way we challenge anyone who calls Elevate home: attend the worship service, be a part of a small group, and serve somewhere.

I am incredibly grateful for Ellenor's love for Jesus, commitment to the vision of Elevate, and the sacrifices she has made to help this dream become a reality.

We wouldn't be where we are today without her.

Ellenor, we appreciate you, are praying for you, and love you!

That's the story. Now, please pray for Ellenor as she seeks God's direction. Also, pray for Elevate as we seek who is the best person to fulfill this vital role to the mission that God has called us to do.

Ten Mistakes Churches Make

I finished reading a really good and practical book called Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches From Growing by Geoff Surratt.

Church Planters and Pastors should read it. I am pretty sure we have or will make most of these mistakes but it is a great challenge to examine where you are as a church and what changes you need to make.

Here are the 10 mistakes:

1) Trying to Do It All
- Primary role of the senior pastor should be to cast vision, connect with leaders, and teach the congregation.
- Must realize what is a burden to you may be a joy for someone else.

2) Establishing the Wrong Role for the Pastor's Family
- It's surprising how often listening to the call of God seems to lead to ignoring the cries of the pastor's own family.

3) Providing a Second-Rate Worship Experience
- See your service through the eyes of the first-time attender.
- Challenge your people to be "guerrilla greeters" and spend the first five minutes and the last five minutes of every weekend talking to people they hadn't met before.
- Bad worship music can be lethal to a church that wants to grow.
- People volunteer when someone personally invites them, not when they hear a plea from the pulpit.
- The human mind can only absorb what the human behind can endure.
- Make the Sunday service the most important thing you do.
- Create an experience that people are compelled to invite their friends and that when they miss church they actually miss it!

4) Settling for Low Quality in Children's Ministry
- Two questions parents will ask their kids: "Did you have fun?" and "What did you do?"
- It matters who is on your team. Don't beg people or promote warm bodies over someone's need and passion to volunteer in the children's ministry.
- Wasted time equaled wasted chance and ushered in our worst enemies: boredom and its ugly stepsister, discipline problems.
- Kids aren't idiots who don't know the difference between an engaging game with purpose and a coloring sheet.
- The key elements of an excellent children's ministry are a solid safety procedures, an environment that is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing to a child, great curriculum that teaches biblical truth and how to apply it, and most importantly, an amazing team of volunteer leaders who understand the vision of the ministry.

5) Promoting Talent over Integrity
When you are considering deploying new leaders, spend time getting to know them before putting them in a position of influence.
- Talent is a good thing and a gift from God; the problem is when we let talent trump integrity.

6) Clinging to a Bad Location
- You don't want to be the Waffle House of your neighborhood. It's okay of the gospel is offensive, but your neighbors shouldn't have to wear a disguise to come to your church.

7) Copying Another Successful Church
- You must discover God's unique vision for your community using your unique gifts and talents.
- Stop worrying about who is going to church and start focusing on who does not attend church. How can your church uniquely reach out to people no one else is reaching?
- God must transform the leader before He can transform the church.

8) Favoring Discipline over Reconciliation

9) Mixing Ministry and Business

10) Letting Committees Steer the Ship
- A team without a clear leader is like a boat without a rudder.
- The key to effective team-based ministry is to remember that leaders lead and teams follow.

Sunday Reflections

Here are some Sunday thoughts:

• It was week one in our You Asked For It series. Today's topic: If God is good then why do bad things happen?
• God is good and uses trials to increase our faith. (James 1:2-4)
• It's easy to factor God out of the equation when things are going good but then blame God when things are going bad.
• Do you worship God or just the blessings of God?
• The difference between someone who runs to God instead of away from God in bad circumstances is many times determined by the people they have surrounding them. That is why we are so passionate about you being a part of a small group to connect relationally with others!
• God is good but sin is in the world. (Romans 5:12-17) God gives you and I a choice whether to follow His ways or our ways. His ways lead to life and our ways lead to destruction. Every day you are choosing who you will follow.
• God is good and His story is bigger than our story.
• "When you feel God is doing something to you, you're liable to lose faith. Instead realize God is doing something in you so He can do something through you."
• Jeremy was in GA visiting family this weekend. We had another band lead worship and they did a really great job.
• Shared some changes coming to our Children's Ministry today. Ellenor will no longer be our children's director after next Sunday. We appreciate all she has done! She feels called to be a teacher at this point in her life. We are praying for who needs to fill this position next. We aren't sure yet but God knows! Praying for His timing.
  
• I had a chance to talk with a couple who came for the first time today. They do P90X too!
• Continue our You Asked For It series next Sunday. Can't wait to share what we'll be talking about next week!
  
• Got questions send them to info@elevatesandiego.com
  

Random Friday

Here are some random Friday thoughts:

• It is the first week in our You Asked For It series this Sunday! You can get the details here. It is going to be a great series.
• Take the six week challenge! We are challenging everyone at Elevate to join one of our new small groups that start the week of November 1st. Send us an email to sign up or if you have questions: info@elevatesandiego.com
• Susan's parents are in town this weekend. Our kids always love visits from the grandparents!
• I am ready for Baseball to be over. That means football season in full swing and basketball season is starting. It is my favorite time of the year!
  
• My birthday is in November. Someone asked me recently how old I was and I couldn't remember!
• My wife and I are planning a trip to Hawaii for our ten year anniversary. It's not until August 2011 but we like to go ahead and dream. :-)
• Tony Morgan had some good thoughts from interview about volunteers here and here.
• Speaking of volunteers, Mark Waltz had a great post that everyone leading volunteers needs to read about scheduling.
• I loved the Church Growth Lessons from Herbert Cooper of Peoples Church in Oklahoma. Read it! Really great stuff.

You Asked For It

Starting Sunday, October 25th we begin a new series at Elevate Church called You Asked For It. Have you ever had a question you wish a church or pastor would answer or at least be willing to talk about? Well, here is your chance! Over the next several weeks we will be answering YOUR questions.

How to send us your questions:

Text to (858) 210-2655

Or email us at info@elevatesandiego.com

Then join us starting this Sunday as we answer your questions and more!

Invite a friend with this E-vite!

OR send out a tweet or Facebook message with the above number for people to text their questions and invite them to check out the series.

Many of you have stepped up and are inviting people! I am proud of you. Keep praying and inviting others! Let's work together to make much of Jesus!

Here is a link for our Sunday Service times and location so you can pass it on to others.

See you Sunday!

Quotable - Crazy Love

Our Married Couples Group at Elevate just completed a study on Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I love our group. God is doing some amazing things with these people and has used this book to challenge all of us in our love and devotion for Jesus and others.

Two quotes at the conclusion of the book rocked me...

"We say things like "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." Then we live and plan like we don't believe God even exists. We try to set our lives up so everything will be fine even if God doesn't come through. But true faith means holding nothing back."

"Most of us use "I'm waiting for God to reveal His calling on my life" as a means of avoiding action. Did you hear God calling you to sit in front of the television yesterday? Or to go on your last vacation? Or exercise this morning? Probably not, but you still did it. We are quick to rationalize our entertainment and priorities yet are slow to commit to serving God."

What if instead we set up our lives and our churches in a way that we are sunk without God coming through? Maybe you have never seen a miracle because you haven't really done anything that has required one.

Good To Great

I read Good To Great by Jim Collins recently for a second time. It is a great book and anyone starting a church should read this book.

Below are some great thoughts from the book:

• "It is very important to grasp that Level 5 Leadership is not just about humility and modesty. It is equally about ferocious resolve, an almost stoic determination to do whatever needs to be done to make the company great."
• "First get the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and then figure out where to drive it."
• "Whether someone is the "right person" has more to do with character traits and innate capabilities than with specific knowledge, background, or skills."
• "Retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties, AND at the same time confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be."
• "The good-to-great companies are more like hedgehogs - simple, dowdy creatures that know "one big thing" and stick to it. Other companies are more like foxes - crafty, cunning creatures that know many things yet lack consistency."
• ""Stop doing" lists are more important than "to do" lists."
• "Great companies respond with thoughtfulness and creativity, driven by a compulsion to turn unrealized potential into results; mediocre companies react and lurch about, motivated by fear of being left behind."
• "Sustainable transformations follow a predictable pattern of buildup and breakthrough. Like pushing on a giant, heavy flywheel, it takes a lot of effort to get the thing moving at all, but with persistent pushing in a consistent direction over a long period of time, the flywheel builds momentum, eventually hitting a point of breakthrough."
• "Why greatness? If you are engaged in work that you love and care about, for whatever reason, then the question needs no answer. The question is not why, but how."
  

Sunday Reflections

Here are some thoughts from Sunday:

• We finished our Making Love Last series today by praying over the Singles and the couples in our church made re-commitment vows.
• It has been a great series and I can't think of a better way to end it out than the way we did today.
• Jesus first and your spouse second. If we put anything or anyone above Jesus it is idolatry. Your marriage will never be what it is intended to be until Jesus is first in your lives and marriage. Build your life and marriage on THE Rock.
  
• By nature we pursue what we don't have. Show me a couple who is talking about getting a divorce and I will show you a couple who has stopped pursuing each other.
• Stop trying to be like every other married couple. "Normal" is over 50% of marriages ending in divorce. Be different!
  
• For better or worse your husband is becoming what you say about him. Speak words of affirmation in his life (Hebrews 3:13).
• Run from darkness into His marvelous light (Ephesians 5:8-14)! "Where intimacy lives, secrets die. Where secrets live, intimacy dies."
• If you missed a message during this series, I want to encourage you to check it out on our website.
  
• We have some amazing volunteers! It blows my mind how quick we are able to get everything out of the theater and loaded in the truck.
• We had to switch from our normal theater that we use but didn't find out until this morning. You want an adventure then just start a church. Never a dull moment.
• It was a powerful moment having the body of Christ being the body this morning. I loved seeing our people praying for others.
• I am proud of our people for inviting others. I met some people today that were invited. That is awesome!
• Will you take the six week challenge? We are challenging every person who is attending Elevate to sign up for one of our small groups that are starting the week of November 1st. It will be a six week group and then we will launch more groups the first of January.
• We start a new series next week called You Asked For It. Email your questions to info@elevatesandiego.com. Join us starting October 25th for answers to these questions and more!
  

Random Friday

It's Friday! Here are some random thoughts, links, and more:

• It is the final week of our Making Love Last series this Sunday at Elevate. It is going to be an incredible ending to the series! Be sure to be there and bring someone with you.
• You Asked For It is our upcoming series. It kicks off on October 25th. Send your questions to info@ElevateSanDiego.com and join us as we answer these questions over the next few weeks.
• This a great and encouraging blog post by Mark Batterson. Are you in a desperate situation? God could be getting ready to part the Red Sea!
• I love sports which could be why I really enjoyed these posts by Steven Furtick about coaching the special teams and redshirting an idea. Great stuff!
• I went to the Sticky Church conference earlier this week. I was definitely stretched as a church leader.
• "People love to have lived a great story, but few people like the work it takes to make it happen. But joy costs pain.” - Donald Miller// Wow, that's an incredible thought. It reminds me of Hebrews 12:2-3.
• The other night at dinner a couple said our kids were so well behaved that we should do a TV Show. I laughed then said when do we start. :-)
• I am ready for this weekend and the last message in our Making Love Last series!
  

Unbelievable

It is scary to think there are churches out there like this. I saw this video on a few blogs that I read. It is an interview that ABC News did.

What will you be doing on Halloween or at any time really? Instead of burning Bibles and books, what if we actually spent time with people to love them like Jesus loves them! (Matthew 5:16; John 13:35).

Elevate Lobby Set Up

Below is a "live" video we ran during the welcome time of our service this past Sunday. Chris walks through our set up and shows people how to take their next steps. Enjoy!

Click here if you can't view the video below.

Sunday Reflections

Here are some thoughts from this past weekend:

• It was week five of our Making Love Last series. Pastor Todd from Midway Church preached a very powerful and practical message about marriage. He shared principles how to make love last. He speaks from experience: He has been married 27 years and in ministry for 25.
  
• If you missed the message, you need to catch it online whether you are single or married. Great stuff!
• Three things that really stood out to me:
  
• 1) Some couples are like ticks and spend all of their time sucking the life out of each other.
  
• 2) Understand the seasons your marriage is in.
• 3) Too many couples get married and it is really two single people living together instead of "two becoming one." - The Law of Leave and Cleave
  
• Pastor Todd was 18 years old and Lisa was 16 when the got married! They have Susan and I beat. I was 22 and Susan was 20 when we got married.
• We had a great weekend with Pastor Todd and Lisa. I am very grateful for them taking time to spend with us.
• Pastor Todd and Midway have made a significant investment in me as well as Elevate Church. Grateful for their partnership!
• He spent some time Sunday night sharing with some of our volunteers. Great thoughts on building a church, momentum, and reaching others.
• I always love hearing stories of what God is doing through the people of Elevate. Sunday night we got to hear some "wins" and of people reaching out to others.
• On October 25th we kick off a new series called You Asked For It. Send your questions to info@elevatesandiego.com then join us for the answers to these questions and more!
  
• This Sunday is the last week of our Making Love Last series. Can't wait for Sunday!
  

Random Saturday

Here are some random Saturday stuff:

• Week five of our Making Love Last series is tomorrow! I am really looking forward to Pastor Todd from Midway Church sharing with our church tomorrow morning.
• He and Midway have made a significant investment in me as well as Elevate. I am grateful for their commitment to Elevate.
• I played Torrey Pines Golf Course on Friday morning. It was a great day to play. The view was incredible but my golf game wasn't. I did chip one in for par. Those shots are what keep you coming back.
• "Focused intensity over time multiplied by God equals unstoppable momentum." - Dave Ramsey. I heard Dave's talk about Momentum at Catalyst was great. I can't wait to hear it.
• I wish I could have went to Catalyst Conference. I will definitely catch Catalyst West Coast in the Spring.
• Circumstances change and people make mistakes, BUT Jesus is the perfect God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Trust in Him! (Psalm 20:7)
• Elijah scored three goals in our soccer game today!
  
• God is doing some great things through the people at Elevate. I am glad to be a part of this journey!
  

Where's Your Joy?

Where does your joy come from?

Many times we seek happiness or joy from a spouse, a successful job, new clothes, a new car, a better house, or many other things.

The problem is that these will always let you down. I probably don't need to remind you but your spouse will let you down. The new clothes are great until they are "out of style." The success of the job is great until it requires longer hours and more stress. The new car is great until it breaks down or something better comes out.

Everything and everyone short of Jesus will let you down! That is why our joy and hope must reside with Him. He is the rock of our salvation (Psalm 62:6), our strong tower (Psalm 61:3), and refuge in time of need (Psalm 18:2).

Where is your hope? Where is your joy? Focus on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

He will never leave your or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He is the only one who can bring true joy and abundant life (John 10:10)

Bring all of your struggles, frustrations, and disappointments to Him today.

He cares more than you could ever imagine and He will not let you down!

Sunday Reflections

Here are some thoughts from Sunday:

• It was week four in our Making Love Last series. We tackled the third of the big three: Raising Kids. We called it the Perfect Kid.
• Too many times we focus on raising the perfect kid or being the perfect parent. There is only one who is perfect: His name is Jesus!
  
• Your kids will turn out great not because of how great you are but because of the grace of God.
• Pray for your kids, lead them, and don't ever give up on them!
• God is the owner of your children and you are the manager.
• Pray for God's will NOT your will to be done in your kids.
• Yes, I listened to some Vanilla Ice back in the day.
• Are you leading your children or are they leading you?
• Discipline is not something we do TO our children. It is something we do FOR our children. Big difference!
• Lead by example! Your kids will stop doing what you say before they stop doing what you do.
• God doesn't give up on you so never give up on your kids no matter how far they are from God. I love the story in Luke 15. It is an incredible story of the compassion of a father for his son.
  
• My wife and are a part of a small group on Sunday night. We are having an incredible time with these couples. We are going through a book called Crazy Love. You need to read it!
  
• We are thankful for God's protection from the attempted break in early Saturday morning. Thanks for the prayers. Susan and I slept a lot better Sunday night. I read Proverbs 3:19-24 the morning after it all happened. Wow, thank you God for your word. Amazing!
• The band sang How He Loves. That song is awesome!
• We had some new people serving which is great to see.
• I had a couple who took a bunch of the door hanger invites to pass out to their community. AND they have only been attending a few weeks! Keep inviting!
• Excited about Pastor Todd Wright from Midway Church being with us next weekend as we continue our Making Love Last series. He is bringing a unique perspective as he has been married for 27 years and get this: he is only 45 years old! He was 18 and his wife was 16 when they got married!
• I can't wait for next Sunday! Get ready for an awesome weekend!
  

Random Friday

Here are some random Friday thoughts:

• Week 4 of our Making Love Last series is this Sunday! As a part of this series we are talking managing the BIG three in a marriage: sex, money, and raising kids.
  
• Already talked about the first two. Now its time for the third. Join us this Sunday as we talk about the "Perfect Kid."
• By far, the "How To Have Great Sex" message from a few weeks ago has been our most downloaded message since we started in January. I refuse to avoid these topics. Why? People want to know what the Bible and the church has to say! I want to see people run to God's Word instead of everywhere else for answers on these issues!
  
• I am glad it's Friday and absolutely loving this weather!
• Elijah can write his name now! It is amazing how the things you get excited about change once you have kids.
• "Ability may get you to the top, but character will keep you there." - John Wooden
• Leaders are learners. I am in a huge reading mode right now.
  
• Chris has a friend in town that is laying down some tracks with Jeremy. We hope to put together a worship CD in the next few months to give away to people who attend Elevate. That will be awesome!
• "Focus on being holy not hip, competent not cool, obedient not outrageous, anointed not attractive, praying not posing." - Rick Warren//Bring it! That is good.
• It was a challenging practice with Elijah's team this past Wednesday night. Of course it is always interesting with a bunch of 5 year old kids but we are 3-0! :-)
• Going on a date with my hot wife tonight!
  

Disturb Us Lord

I heard Craig Groeschel preach a message and quote the following prayer from Sir Francis Drake:

"Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore."

Too often we settle for the "American Dream." Get married, buy a house, have kids, buy cars, and then continue to accumulate more and more. I read that 1 out of 11 Americans have a storage unit! We have so much stuff we have to rent a storage unit because we don't have enough room at our house.

My prayer is that we would be disturbed by dreaming so small to think that this is what life is all about.

Think about it: you have never seen a hearse pulling a u-haul trailer behind it. Why? We came into this world with nothing and we aren't taking any of our possessions with us when we leave!

May God constantly remind us to lay up a treasure in Heaven that is a sure foundation. "So that they may take hold of life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Disturb us Lord to focus on what really matters in this life as we prepare for the next life.