Thoughts from the balcony

14 07 2007

Sitting here on the balcony of our room at the C’Mon Inn in Billings, MT. I know, it sounds like a dive but it is a SWEET family hotel. I’m getting ready to speak at Super Summer Jr. High Camp for the Western Conference of our Denomination. Sab and I thought we’d take a day before and after camp to take the kids on a “mini” vacation. We’ve already hit the pool, hot tubs and eaten out, now we are on the balcony in the hopes that the 3 oldest kids will go to sleep in the room. Thought I’d share a few thoughts from the balcony.

— I love speaking to teens. Never done just jr. high so a little nervous about that.

— I feel good about the messages for next week. I have a couple of “camp” messages that I feel are some of my best stuff that work for camps. Tweak them to be original at a different camp but the same message really.

— Monday night: Where do I fit in? Taking a different twist on the parable of the sower. Four types of people. The only one that produced was the person who was “all or nothing” for God.

— Tuesday night: The Slippery Slope of Sin. The ONE THING that steals the power in the life of a believer is sin. And it is a dangerous and slippery slope. I get to share a story from my life that at the time was horrible, now it is funny. The time I got arrested for stealing Clinton and Perot political signs during the 1992 election. Compare that story to how sin works. It’s funny but a very POWERFUL illustration of sin.

— Wednesday night: Have some GUTS get off your buts. Taking about the excuses we’ll give God when He’s wanting to flip our world upside down with a world changing love.

— Thursday night: What will your story be? God said of Job “He’s upright and blameless. A man who fears God and shuns evil.” Those words should hit us square in the mouth. (LOL, my new phrase) GOD said that about a man. WOW! I want that to be my story. Whether anyone ever knows who I am. Whether I’m a cool sermon illustration someday, a spiritual hero, a life someone would talk about…I want God to be able to say those words about me. “Upright and blameless. A man who fears God and shuns evil.” And who did He say that to? The stinkin‘ devil himself. DUDE that fires me up.

I’ll try to blog updates each day if there is Internet. Please be praying for us.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Personal

What does the Truth say about me?

13 07 2007

Did some reading in my Bible this morning. Came across a verse I’ve probably read through on numerous occasions and today is the day it jumps out. Ever have that? I love that! Love how the Bible, even though read over dozens of times, can be BRAND NEW today! Check this verse out. It’s the kind of verse that I think we can so often think doesn’t apply to us. We almost skip it. It’s easy to miss it.

3rd John verse 12: “Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself.”

WOW! Did you catch it? I read that and got hit square in the mouth. John said at first what everyone already knew…”Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius…”. They already knew that. If everyone is speaking highly of him, then his readers have heard him spoken highly of. Isn’t this where we usually stop? “Man, everyone speaks highly of Bill Hybels.” “Everyone speaks highly of Billy Graham.” “Everyone speaks highly of Rick Warren.” “Everyone speaks highly of (insert name).” John added what REALLY matters.

He may have well said “Even though everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, THAT’S NOT WHAT REALLY MATTERS, the TRUTH itself speaks highly of him.”

What does the truth speak about me? We often chase the “Well spoken words of men” when we should be concerned with what the truth itself would speak.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Uncategorized

A Day Off

13 07 2007

Today I am taking a FULL day off. On my docket for Element Church is NOTHING. I know many people question why pastors need a day off cause they don’t do anything anyway. I also know many people, even pastors, who think church planters don’t do anything cause they don’t have a “real” church. WOW! That can’t be further from the truth. I can’t tell you how many times someone, usually jokingly (riddled with belief) say something like “Why do you need Monday off you have all day Sunday?” Or something to that effect. I haven’t been good at taking a day off. In fact, this is my first full day off in a couple months (disregarding holidays). If I am in town and it’s not a holiday I’ve been doing something with Element. Do I say that to brag? NO! I say it shamefully. I need…My family needs… God REQUIRES me/US to take a sabbath. To rest. Today I slept in longer than I have in a LONG time. I am just sitting, watching my kids run around. Sabrina is making some eggs and we will all eat breakfast together. THAT is what I need. Have you taken a Sabbath lately? Set aside a day of NOTHING? Of family? Of some good reading in the Word and prayer. As I was feeling this way this morning I came across a GREAT blog from another church planter on the same issue. Anyway, I need to get better at making myself take days off. Friday is supposed to be our day off. All of us need to be good at that. God designed us that way. It’s for the good of our souls.

Resting,

Jeff


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Categories : Church Planting, Personal

Up and Coming

12 07 2007

I can’t believe it’s been since Monday when I posted last. If you follow the blog, sorry! Been very busy this week. I’ll try to do better. God lots of GREAT stuff coming up that I’m very excited about.

— On Sunday my whole family gets to go with me to a jr. high youth camp in Montana as I get to speak for the week. I’m pumped about that. I love preaching and love preaching to teens. My coach prayed a cool prayer for me today during our coaching call. He said “Please show Jeff that he COULD still work with teens and be highly successful but confirm even more in him that Element Church is where he is SUPPOSED to be.” That was a very cool prayer. We are going to Thermopolis, WY and the Hot Springs park for a day after camp. The kids will love that.

— Missing Unplugged this week for me STINKS. I hate missing. I already can’t wait to get back and preach to our people next week. Be praying for Grant as he shares on Sunday.

— I am STOKED about Preview coming up. I think we have a cool theme and will be doing some really cool set design stuff, video, and gonna rock out an old hymn.

— We are putting together a one of a kind campaign to promote the launch of Element Church. I am very excited about IT. IT is going to be a big risk the way we are trying to pull IT off but I think IT is going to work well.

— Already talking about songs we’ll be doing during our launch series. Already have some dramas that we’re planning on doing. I love working ahead. It’s harder to START doing it but once you are 2,3, 4 weeks ahead it is very cool. We’re working on getting better at that.

— Oklahoma football is just around the corner. Can’t wait for Saturday college football.

Once I take off for camp it will probably be a week before I post again. I’ll let you know how camp went. If there is internet access I’ll definitely blog from camp so keep checking. Thanks for following the blog. Keep praying for Element and for Cheyenne.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Church Planting, Updates

Much to do

9 07 2007

It’s amazing at how much has to be done in a church plant. I think we all felt “As soon as Preview is over we can breathe easy for a week or two.” HA! Last week (especially with the 4th off) was packed and we had staff meeting this morning and there are STILL so many things to get done. We are doing a “full” staff meeting tomorrow over lunch with everyone on the team. Looking forward to that. Been reading some good leadership stuff and good blogs by other pastors. I feel my learning curve has skyrocketed over the past several months. There are so many pastors and churches doing some phenomenal things. It’s great to have the avenues we have today to learn form successful people.

— We brainstormed a really non-creative yet CREATIVE launch campaign today. WOW am I excited about that. We’re taking a risk in the way we are marketing launch in Cheyenne. More to come on that.

— We’ll be revamping our web-site in a few weeks and do it all in house. We’ve been blessed to have Church Webworks but now we need to go out on our own. Get more storage space and bandwidth.

— Grant is preaching this week! Very excited for him. Can’t wait to watch him grow in ministry and leadership.

— We’re working on some cool FTG (first time guest) stuff. Want to make a GREAT first impression to our guests.

That’s it for now.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Church Planting, Updates

CALLING ALL HUSBANDS!

9 07 2007

If you are a husband continue reading at your own risk. I am not responsible for what you may read or be convicted about in the next few sentences. I read a VERY powerful verse today that punched me square in the face.

1 Peter 3:7 Treat your wife as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

WOW! Guys, it is our responsibility to treat our wives as we should. That’s a broad statement. What does that mean? Serve her. Pray for her. Protect her. Care for her. Ask her what she needs. Surprise her. Make the bed. Do the laundry. Clean the kitchen.

If we aren’t serving our wives we aren’t serving God! Yeah, I believe that.

I’m definitely not a pro at this but I’m working at it. I need to get better at it. I know this. I don’t want my prayers to be hindered cause I didn’t treat my wife as I should.

Learning to be better,

Jeff


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Categories : Husbands, Personal

Weekend Wrapup

8 07 2007

— 54 at Unplugged today. Folks, we might be looking at a space issue from day one. BRING IT! Already thinking of ways to accommodate our growth at the theater. I love the feel of the theater and can’t imagine not being there right now. Although, if it can’t contain us I think I’ll cope and deal.

— We had 34 two weeks ago at Unplugged. Today we had 3 families return from Preview and then we had 2 brand new families and one single adult today from Cheyenne that had never been to any of our events before. God is providing some amazing connections for us.

— I’m speaking at our Conference jr. high camp next week. I’m very excited about that. Get to take the whole family, HOWEVER, I hate missing Unplugged. Grant will do a great job but I want to be there.

— We need to be very intentional about accommodating this growth. 6 people in March, 54 today.

— I need to grow as a leader.

— We need to get very intentional in building volunteer and leadership teams.

— I need to grow as a leader.

— I love Element Church. I love our people. I love Cheyenne.

— Jonah and Mariah went to church early with me this morning. They were a great help carrying stuff in. That was cool for them to come along. Can’t do it all the time but thought we’d try it today.

— Looking forward to getting into the office tomorrow and working on stuff. I’m having a hard time taking days off. I need to be better at that too. I love working on Element stuff right now and seems there is always something to do.

— Ok, that’s about it. We’ll do a weekend wrapup every week. Grant says I “stole” random thoughts. Whatever!

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Personal, Random, Updates

Unplugged Update

8 07 2007

MAN, God again brought us new faces. We had 54 at Unplugged this morning. That is 20 more than our last Unplugged. We had 3 families come back from Preview and then a brand new family that had never been there before today. The new family is in the Air Force, brand new to town and found out about us from another church. Googled us online and came across my blog. From my blog they linked to elementweb.net and found us. They were very nice and sounds like they are looking for a church like ours. Really felt God’s presence in worship this morning leading us into the Word. I spoke on our core value of “Life: We are not made to live in apathy so we will be a church that is vibrantly alive in all our activities breathing life into our community.” My prayer each week is that God would bring us new faces. That prayer has been answered positively every week. We have 3 more Unplugged services before our next Preview and 4 more Previews before launch. We may seriously be in need of a larger facility early on in the life of Element Church. MAN, I love this!

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Church Planting, Updates

How must God feel when…?

5 07 2007

Ever get one of those moments where you say “How must God feel when…”? Ya know, God is smart! I know, I know what you’re saying: “That’s what you’re blogging about Jeff?” NO! Well, yes, but NO! Everything in this life…EVERYTHING, is meant to point us to God. One of the greatest things in life that is meant to be a picture of God is the parent/child relationship. I got a taste AGAIN of that today. It was a beautiful morning so I decided to do my devos out on our back porch swing. I’m up before everyone else and was reading my Bible, praying, when out walks Makalah to the swing. She climbed up and cuddled up next to me as only a tired little child can. I immediately said “Do you want me to go turn Little Bear on for you?” (Little Bear is her favorite morning cartoon right now) She didn’t even look up, just kept her head rested on my arm and said “No, I just want to be with you.” WOW! Immediately God spoke to my heart. I wrote in my journal “Imagine how God must feel when we come to Him without requests, burdens or needs, but just to be with Him.” You see it’s really when we just want to be with Him that our burdens, needs and requests are FULLY met! They are met IN Him not just BY Him. I need to learn that truth more.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Discipleship, Family, Personal

Video of Preview

3 07 2007

Well, here is a video of our entire service. HA, horrible quality but you can get the idea of what it was like. The audio is straight from my cheap video camera. Adam put it all together and we had to compress it way down in order to get it on there. We’ll get better at this.


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : Church Planting, Preview Service, Updates, Video

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