First off, let me say, I'm really tired. This may not be very long. I'll update more later. Just wanted to get this in before tonight!
--- Attendance was 216 today. Both Adam and I thought we were below 200 by looking at it. Don't know if it was how people were situated, but first serviced seemed WAY down to me. I was pleasantly surprised with attendance today. That puts us at 3 or 4 weeks in a row over 200. Very good.
--- 10 first time guests filled out cards today. That was great!
--- Offering today was $3275.50. Great offering for a fifth Sunday.
--- I loved this series we did. I got the idea from Harvest Church in Billings who was doing a series called "Believe It Or Not" this past summer, based off the Ripley's idea. It sparked my mind to do a Christmas series called "Believe" and look at the life of Christ rather than the birth. Adam did a great job with set design and worship through the whole series.
--- I'm tired.
--- I'm excited about our Deal or No Deal series coming up. I really feel this can benefit ALL of us at Element Church.
--- I'm VERY excited about what God has in store for our church this next year. We'll be doing something in January that is going to be VERY fun. Can't wait to reveal it. It can be one of those things that can really impact everyone who attends Element Church that day.
--- I spoke on the final idea of why Jesus came today. He came to take away all excuses. Jesus did enough in this life to take out any excuses we have to follow Him. It's Him or NOTHING. I've enjoyed every message this series and felt like God was speaking as much TO me as much as He was THROUGH me in all the sermons. Usually the best sermons are ones that convict YOU first.
--- I got a little worked up in second service today. Hope everyone comes back. lol There are some things I just get fired up about. The topics we talked about today did just that.
--- I am SO excited. I can't TELL you how excited I am for our connections pastor Grant Clark. Grant moved here in Feb/March and continued working for Frito Lay (as He had in Gillette). It was such a MAJOR risk for him to move the way he did for Element Church. He has worked just about EVERY Sunday since he moved here. He took a pretty major position cut by following God's call to Cheyenne. In Gillette he had his own route, here he's been what they call a "swing" guy where he covers the days off of other guys who have routes. (Hope I'm explaining this correctly) Anyway, today was Grants LAST Sunday to work because starting next week he has his own route. PRAISE THE LORD! I pray God rewards Grant for his sacrifice. This has been a major prayer request since we moved here. CONGRATS GRANT!
--- Ok, that's it for now. I'm heading to take a nap!
Following Christ,
Jeff
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Devotional thoughts...
I finished Psalms am in Proverbs now in my devotions. Proverbs is a fantastic book. Every time I'm in it I love it. Such GREAT practical wisdom and knowledge. In fact the "purpose statement" that Solomon gives for the book is found in chapter 1 v. 3 when he says "Their purpose (of these proverbs) is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair." I am an underliner, marker, and writer when I read the Bible or really ANY book. I seem to retain things better if I mark them. Proverbs is one of those books where if I didn't limit what mark, I'd underline nearly every verse and have notes all over my pages. Here are some insights from this wonderful book that I've noted this time through.
Lots of stuff on money in Proverbs. Fitting for the sermon series we are about to go through. The next two talk on that.
Proverbs 1:9 --- "Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life." Funny how we think if we get money we get life.
Proverbs 3:9 --- "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce."
Proverbs 4:23 --- "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
Proverbs 8:13 --- "All who fear the Lord will hate evil." WOW! Their are a lot of people that claim to fear the Lord then, that according to this, don't.
Proverbs 10:16 --- "The earnings of the godly enhance their lives." Why? I think because they are willing to hold it with open hands.
Proverbs 11:4 --- "Riches won't help you on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death." Which is better, money or righteousness?
This next one I love. It spawned a comment from Grant in a sermon during our Unplugged sessions where he said "Where there is people...there's poop!"
Proverbs 14:4 --- "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest." Apply that to church life. Without people, the church stays clean, but you need strong people to reap a harvest of more people. The more a church grows the messier it gets, but isn't that the point?
Proverbs 15:11 --- "Even Death and Destruction hold not secrets from God, how much more does He know the human heart."
Listen to this next one. Read it today.
Proverbs 19:17 --- "If you help the poor you are lending to the Lord --- and He will repay you!" WHAT? Then why don't we help the poor more. Psalms says that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. And if we help the poor we're actually lending to God and HE will repay us. That is an AWESOME verse! Goes right along with Matthew 25 when Jesus says "Whatever you have done for the least of these (poor, needy) you have done for me." WOW!
Proverbs 20:24 --- "The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?" MAN, is that a church planting verse. We so often try to understand all God does (WHICH WE CAN'T, that's why He's God and we're not) instead of just chasing after Him and following Him wherever He goes.
There are a few samples. TONS more I wrote in my journal or marked in my Bible. Good stuff.
Following Christ,
Jeff
Lots of stuff on money in Proverbs. Fitting for the sermon series we are about to go through. The next two talk on that.
Proverbs 1:9 --- "Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life." Funny how we think if we get money we get life.
Proverbs 3:9 --- "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce."
Proverbs 4:23 --- "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
Proverbs 8:13 --- "All who fear the Lord will hate evil." WOW! Their are a lot of people that claim to fear the Lord then, that according to this, don't.
Proverbs 10:16 --- "The earnings of the godly enhance their lives." Why? I think because they are willing to hold it with open hands.
Proverbs 11:4 --- "Riches won't help you on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death." Which is better, money or righteousness?
This next one I love. It spawned a comment from Grant in a sermon during our Unplugged sessions where he said "Where there is people...there's poop!"
Proverbs 14:4 --- "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest." Apply that to church life. Without people, the church stays clean, but you need strong people to reap a harvest of more people. The more a church grows the messier it gets, but isn't that the point?
Proverbs 15:11 --- "Even Death and Destruction hold not secrets from God, how much more does He know the human heart."
Listen to this next one. Read it today.
Proverbs 19:17 --- "If you help the poor you are lending to the Lord --- and He will repay you!" WHAT? Then why don't we help the poor more. Psalms says that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. And if we help the poor we're actually lending to God and HE will repay us. That is an AWESOME verse! Goes right along with Matthew 25 when Jesus says "Whatever you have done for the least of these (poor, needy) you have done for me." WOW!
Proverbs 20:24 --- "The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?" MAN, is that a church planting verse. We so often try to understand all God does (WHICH WE CAN'T, that's why He's God and we're not) instead of just chasing after Him and following Him wherever He goes.
There are a few samples. TONS more I wrote in my journal or marked in my Bible. Good stuff.
Following Christ,
Jeff
Thursday, December 27, 2007
2008 --- What's next?
Wow is God stirring my heart. Had a GREAT planning session with Adam today and another good staff meeting. Some of the things we feel God calling us to do in 2008 are absolutely scary (financially, energy, volunteering). Although they are scary we feel like we MUST do them. Two things are coming in January that one is a MAJOR risk for a new church. Can't wait to unveil it. (Staff keep your mouths shut) :) We've got some service projects in the works and have even begun planning for NEXT Christmas when we do our first Christmas Eve service.
I am VERY excited for 2008. We're at that point where it could be easy for us to exhale and say "We made it". We could easily level out, relax, get comfortable and call it good for a while. BUT WHY? Has God moved on our behalf? YES! Has He enabled us to grow and reach people for Christ? YES! But He still has more. Where will He take us? I don't know, but I want to keep following so I can see. I'll be sharing some stuff this Sunday about what God has been talking to me about personally and as the leader of Element Church.
I'm very excited about our next two sermon series. We've already received one phone call from someone who didn't like the content of the mailer we sent out. One thing we will always do at Element Church is talk about the tough subjects. We'll be doing that in January and February. Two of the most difficult subjects to tackle in church we're taking on in two consecutive months. Money and sex. Below is the graphic for the mailer we sent out. We did the split graphic and saved some money by doing to series on one mailer. We're not holding anything back in our sex series. There is a reason the church is silent many times on sex. THE DEVIL DOESN'T WANT US TALKING ABOUT IT. If we don't, he gets all the airtime. Since it seems our country gets all their education about sex from satan, we're going to expose what he's been teaching through our series satan's sex ed series.
We have our sermon calendar prepared through next Fall and I am really looking forward to some of the things we are going to do. The budget got completed yesterday and I feel really good about it. There seriously hasn't been much more difficult, than preparing a budget for a full year, for a church that has existed for three months. We're stepping out in faith on some of the budget items and we understand that there are some things that are unseen for us now that will come up. We're really careful about tracking our spending right now so as to better budget as we grow.
2008 --- what's next? I know this. If we follow Jesus, we can't go wrong. God is a big God, and I think he has BIG things in store for Element Church this coming year. This turned out way longer than I had planned. Sorry. Can't wait for Sunday.
I am VERY excited for 2008. We're at that point where it could be easy for us to exhale and say "We made it". We could easily level out, relax, get comfortable and call it good for a while. BUT WHY? Has God moved on our behalf? YES! Has He enabled us to grow and reach people for Christ? YES! But He still has more. Where will He take us? I don't know, but I want to keep following so I can see. I'll be sharing some stuff this Sunday about what God has been talking to me about personally and as the leader of Element Church.
I'm very excited about our next two sermon series. We've already received one phone call from someone who didn't like the content of the mailer we sent out. One thing we will always do at Element Church is talk about the tough subjects. We'll be doing that in January and February. Two of the most difficult subjects to tackle in church we're taking on in two consecutive months. Money and sex. Below is the graphic for the mailer we sent out. We did the split graphic and saved some money by doing to series on one mailer. We're not holding anything back in our sex series. There is a reason the church is silent many times on sex. THE DEVIL DOESN'T WANT US TALKING ABOUT IT. If we don't, he gets all the airtime. Since it seems our country gets all their education about sex from satan, we're going to expose what he's been teaching through our series satan's sex ed series.
We have our sermon calendar prepared through next Fall and I am really looking forward to some of the things we are going to do. The budget got completed yesterday and I feel really good about it. There seriously hasn't been much more difficult, than preparing a budget for a full year, for a church that has existed for three months. We're stepping out in faith on some of the budget items and we understand that there are some things that are unseen for us now that will come up. We're really careful about tracking our spending right now so as to better budget as we grow.
2008 --- what's next? I know this. If we follow Jesus, we can't go wrong. God is a big God, and I think he has BIG things in store for Element Church this coming year. This turned out way longer than I had planned. Sorry. Can't wait for Sunday.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Offering Update
Offering for Sunday was $3855.50. Just wanted to update that. Thanks Elementers for your consistent giving!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Ski Trip
I took Jonah skiing yesterday up at Snowy Range Ski Area. We had a blast! Jonah did so well. I put a little video together of him skiing. He was cruising down the intermediate blue runs by the end of the day and begging to go down a black. Next time I think he'll be ready to tackle a black diamond run. Enjoy the video.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to all...and to all...EAT TONS OF FOOD! Seriously though, have a GREAT Christmas.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Rumination Additions for 12-23
--- A total of 7 people indicated today that the gave their heart to Jesus; became a follower of Christ; crossed the line of faith or as Romans says, got "saved". Whatever you call it, it's a great thing! Our prayer is the Holy Spirit would work on their hearts to bring them into a greater knowledge and understanding of who God is and the decision they made.
--- Kids are in bed, the crowd is gone, and my wife and I are going to watch Amazing Race.
--- I may or may not blog over Christmas. Please have a WONDERFUL holiday and remember the reason....Ok I won't say that cliche. Have an AWESOME CHRISTMAS.
Following Christ,
Jeff
--- Kids are in bed, the crowd is gone, and my wife and I are going to watch Amazing Race.
--- I may or may not blog over Christmas. Please have a WONDERFUL holiday and remember the reason....Ok I won't say that cliche. Have an AWESOME CHRISTMAS.
Following Christ,
Jeff
Sunday Rumination (12-23-07)
One more week of 2007 and then we're OFF to a new year. We're kickin' off the new year with two GREAT sermons series that will literally take head on two subjects that are debilitating our country. Finances and sex. I'm VERY excited about both of those series to see what God has to teach us.
Here is the rumination on today.
--- Don't know the final count (need to confirm with Adam and Grant), but there at least 5 people at 9 AM and another 5 at 10:30 that acknowledged they accepted Jesus into their hearts today. I can't tell you how important that is to the life of a church. Churches need to offer a consistent opportunity to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. Very exciting to see people acknowledge that decision.
--- We had more money come in today to add to the over $940 that had already come in for the four moms we adopted. That money went to offset the cost of purchasing many of the items that Element bought for the families. Three of the families gifts have been delivered and our family is delivering the last one tonight. So far the families have been overwhelmed by your generosity. Our Life Group adopted another family as well and we'll be delivering those gifts tonight too.
--- All total, we supported 6 families (4 through the church and 2 others from Life Groups). Grants Life Group went and worked at the Comea Shelter last night and also took some milk in for them. Grant met with the directors there and they said their two biggest needs are $$ and milk.
--- 218 in attendance today. Didn't know what to expect for our first Christmas weekend. Typically you either see a LARGE increase or decrease. We were about the same as the previous weeks up some from last week.
--- Terri told me the offering but I already forgot the #. I know it was over $3000. $3300 maybe. lol It was a good offering. Nice to be consistently in that area. As stated before, we also had some more $ come in for the adopt-a-moms. Can't wait to do more of that.
--- We had a great set up team today. Set up was quite possibly the best we've had. Done in plenty of time and gave the band ample time to practice.
--- Band...Another fantastic job in leading worship today. Adam opened the service with an original rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Instrumental). It is a really cool version (Dare I say Phil Keaggy like?). Leigh, one of our new vocalists ended O come O come Emmanuel with a kickin' solo. He really let loose in 2nd service (wish we had the video of that).
--- 2nd service...wow, 2nd service was unusual. I think it was one of those moments where God allows stuff to just foul up to remind us that it's not about us. In the middle of Adam's opening song we lose ALL power to the sound board and computers. That means ZERO amplification for the guitar, for vocal, for ANYTHING. Adam was on an island of uncomfortability. Pam (sound trainee) went running upstairs to check the breaker. Wasn't it. I was on the floor under the computer table checking the power strip. NOTHING! Adam was ad-libbing on stage getting ready to do his best Backstreet Boys accapella rendtion of O Holy Night. FINALLY after what seemed like 10 minutes (probably 2) we figured out that the extension cord had come out of the wall out in the hallway killing the power to the sound board and computers. Then the theater projector wouldn't come back on. Somehow it just popped on right when we needed it. It was BY FAR the biggest interruption I've ever experienced in church. Thankfully it wasn't during an intimate worship song or the sermon. Everyone laughed (hopefully with and not AT us) and was very understanding. It was definitely an awkward moment.
--- I'm going skiing tomorrow with Jonah. That is his Christmas gift from us. Sabrina took the girls to Princess Wishes On Ice recently for their gift. I love spending time with Jonah like that and watching him enjoy life. He is in a spiritual inquisitiveness mode lately. He asked how old Jesus would be on Tuesday. How do you explain that really, He always has been, but that he came as a man 2000 years ago? Fully human, fully God! Explain that to a 6 year old. He's been asking a lot of spiritual questions lately. We try and answer them as best we can. He asks questions about heaven and hell a lot. He's very concerned that people actually go to hell. I hope that concern makes him into an effective witnesser for Jesus.
--- Jaydah turned one today. We are celebrating her birthday tonight with some friends who are really more like family to us. Every Sunday night we get together with Grant and Terri Clark, Ben and Jill Roberts, and Jen and Brian Thomas. Being so far from our family the Clarks and Roberts' soon became like family to us in Gillette. Jen and Brian have recently joined the clan and we are glad to have them. We have a blast hanging out together. It's a good way to unwind on a Sunday night.
--- Ok, I need to load the Suburban with the gifts we're delivering. I'm excited to help these families. Anything else I'll add as a rumination addition.
Thanks Elementers for supporting us! You guy's are AWESOME!!
Following Christ,
Jeff
Here is the rumination on today.
--- Don't know the final count (need to confirm with Adam and Grant), but there at least 5 people at 9 AM and another 5 at 10:30 that acknowledged they accepted Jesus into their hearts today. I can't tell you how important that is to the life of a church. Churches need to offer a consistent opportunity to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. Very exciting to see people acknowledge that decision.
--- We had more money come in today to add to the over $940 that had already come in for the four moms we adopted. That money went to offset the cost of purchasing many of the items that Element bought for the families. Three of the families gifts have been delivered and our family is delivering the last one tonight. So far the families have been overwhelmed by your generosity. Our Life Group adopted another family as well and we'll be delivering those gifts tonight too.
--- All total, we supported 6 families (4 through the church and 2 others from Life Groups). Grants Life Group went and worked at the Comea Shelter last night and also took some milk in for them. Grant met with the directors there and they said their two biggest needs are $$ and milk.
--- 218 in attendance today. Didn't know what to expect for our first Christmas weekend. Typically you either see a LARGE increase or decrease. We were about the same as the previous weeks up some from last week.
--- Terri told me the offering but I already forgot the #. I know it was over $3000. $3300 maybe. lol It was a good offering. Nice to be consistently in that area. As stated before, we also had some more $ come in for the adopt-a-moms. Can't wait to do more of that.
--- We had a great set up team today. Set up was quite possibly the best we've had. Done in plenty of time and gave the band ample time to practice.
--- Band...Another fantastic job in leading worship today. Adam opened the service with an original rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Instrumental). It is a really cool version (Dare I say Phil Keaggy like?). Leigh, one of our new vocalists ended O come O come Emmanuel with a kickin' solo. He really let loose in 2nd service (wish we had the video of that).
--- 2nd service...wow, 2nd service was unusual. I think it was one of those moments where God allows stuff to just foul up to remind us that it's not about us. In the middle of Adam's opening song we lose ALL power to the sound board and computers. That means ZERO amplification for the guitar, for vocal, for ANYTHING. Adam was on an island of uncomfortability. Pam (sound trainee) went running upstairs to check the breaker. Wasn't it. I was on the floor under the computer table checking the power strip. NOTHING! Adam was ad-libbing on stage getting ready to do his best Backstreet Boys accapella rendtion of O Holy Night. FINALLY after what seemed like 10 minutes (probably 2) we figured out that the extension cord had come out of the wall out in the hallway killing the power to the sound board and computers. Then the theater projector wouldn't come back on. Somehow it just popped on right when we needed it. It was BY FAR the biggest interruption I've ever experienced in church. Thankfully it wasn't during an intimate worship song or the sermon. Everyone laughed (hopefully with and not AT us) and was very understanding. It was definitely an awkward moment.
--- I'm going skiing tomorrow with Jonah. That is his Christmas gift from us. Sabrina took the girls to Princess Wishes On Ice recently for their gift. I love spending time with Jonah like that and watching him enjoy life. He is in a spiritual inquisitiveness mode lately. He asked how old Jesus would be on Tuesday. How do you explain that really, He always has been, but that he came as a man 2000 years ago? Fully human, fully God! Explain that to a 6 year old. He's been asking a lot of spiritual questions lately. We try and answer them as best we can. He asks questions about heaven and hell a lot. He's very concerned that people actually go to hell. I hope that concern makes him into an effective witnesser for Jesus.
--- Jaydah turned one today. We are celebrating her birthday tonight with some friends who are really more like family to us. Every Sunday night we get together with Grant and Terri Clark, Ben and Jill Roberts, and Jen and Brian Thomas. Being so far from our family the Clarks and Roberts' soon became like family to us in Gillette. Jen and Brian have recently joined the clan and we are glad to have them. We have a blast hanging out together. It's a good way to unwind on a Sunday night.
--- Ok, I need to load the Suburban with the gifts we're delivering. I'm excited to help these families. Anything else I'll add as a rumination addition.
Thanks Elementers for supporting us! You guy's are AWESOME!!
Following Christ,
Jeff
Friday, December 21, 2007
First Element Wedding (and a picture to hold on to)
Tonight we had the privilege of performing the first wedding as Element Church. It was a very simple but honoring ceremony that we performed in the garage at the office. I did 5 weeks of pre-marital counseling with the couple I don't have permission to share their whole story, but God is doing some wonderful things in them and connecting them to Element Church. It's actually a very cool story how they found Element. Grant and Mike (groom) had a mutual friend in Gillette that connected them together. Grant connected with Mike and the rest is history. Since Grant had that connection with him I asked him to help me in the ceremony. I wanted to get Grant some experience doing some stuff like this. He is the connections pastor after all. It was an honor to have Grant stand beside me and join this couple together before God. This is one of the VERY FEW occasions you'll see Grant and I together in suits (no ties tonight). Funny, I used to where a suit every week to church, now it feels weird. I'll let Dan where his suit for me. Below are some pics.
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