Simple Church and Missions Philosophy

29 11 2007

We have taken on some different church philosophies around Element Church. We have done this intentionally. As a new church with limited resources (money, people, time) we want to do our best to maximize our impact to the city of Cheyenne. Really all churches should have impact in mind when determining what and how they do things. So, here is my take of simple church and my missions philosophy.

Simple Church: We have chosen to pursue three main programs at Element Church. The Worship Experience, Life Groups, and Servant Evangelism (missions, outreach). Now there are a few exceptions of things that we do which revolves around these three things. For example: We have First Friday (prayer night for ministry of Element Church and the Cheyenne area on the first Friday of each month), The Tour (our connecting point for first time guests once a month), etc. Pretty much other than our three essentials we are going to say “NO” to everything else! There are lots of great ministries that we will probably never do because we don’t feel that’s what God has us here for. For instance: I don’t know if we’ll ever do MOPS program. Why? There are several churches doing great jobs with them already. Why don’t we support THEM in what they are doing. VBS: What if we volunteered our services to another churches VBS instead of adding another one to the PLETHORA already happening. It amazes me how many VBS‘ the same week were doing the same curriculum. Nothing wrong with doing those ministries, and it doesn’t mean we NEVER will, we just are choosing to focus on three main ministries. This allows our time, energy, and finances to be focused in three areas. It hopefully will help us maximize our impact.

Missions: In Acts 1 Jesus tells his disciples “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the world.” Now, I’m not saying this is Jesus’ missionary strategy but it is ours. We want to be good missionaries to Cheyenne (Jerusalem) first before we ever take our message and serving around the globe. I’ve said several times that if we aren’t good missionaries to our city FIRST we’ll never be good ones to another country. Our first calling is Cheyenne. That’s why we will put money and effort into organizations such as Life Choice Pregnancy Center, Needs Inc., and into serving the City of Cheyenne. Notice the scope of what Jesus said. Jerusalem (home city), Judea (area or state), Samaria (region, country), ends of earth. If each of us would work from that circle the ends of the earth will be reached. For far too long I think we’ve placed our major missionary efforts on overseas missions while the whole time the spiritual health of our countries, states and towns were fast deteriorating. SO, we as Element Church are going to pour efforts, finances and time here in Cheyenne. Please don’t tell me I’m not concerned about overseas works. My wife and I financially support missionaries in Brazil each month. WE WILL NOT NEGLECT OUR CITY. PERIOD! That is our missions strategy.

Our goal is to do one major outreach/service/serving project once a quarter to our city. We will fill in monthly things and things as they arise as well to serve Cheyenne.

There it is. Simple church and missions strategy. You maybe didn’t even want to know, but now you do. HA!

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Missions, Outreach, church life, church planting

Christmas Outreach and outreach thoughts

29 11 2007

Hey Elementers! Don’t forget to go to Wal-Mart or Target and start supporting the moms and their families that we are providing Christmas for. Reagan has done a phenomenal job of setting all of this up. We have found needs, wants and desires for these moms. All four moms are soon to have, or recently had children in which they chose LIFE for those Children. We found the moms by partnering with and working through LifeChoice Pregnancy Center. Check out their web-site and see what they do. They are an awesome organization. Element was one of a few churches who sponsored tables at their recent fundraising banquet in October.

We are not supporting these ladies to get them to Element, or even to get them to Christ. We ARE doing this to BE Christ to them. To be the hands and feet of Jesus. That’s all. Would we welcome them at Element? YES! Do we want them to receive Christ? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT! Simply put, this is part of going to our Jerusalem. Being missionaries to our city. I’ll be posting tomorrow on my missions philosophy.

This outreach may not be a gas-buydown in which hundreds of people are served and the news airs it and the city reads about it, but that doesn’t make it any less outreach. We are meeting a practical need for some moms who are IN need. Sometimes our serving the city will be a big project. Other times it will be smaller. EVERY TIME it will help bring life to individuals and to our city.

Starting in January we are going to be on the ground floor of a new program to help keep the food pantry stocked at “Needs Inc.” here in Cheyenne. Needs is a community non-profit serving the needy of Cheyenne. I’m not sure I’m at liberty to share details but I will when I can. We are the first church in on this program and it will be a HUGE service to this community group and to the needy of Cheyenne. NEEDS also knows they can include us in any service needs they may have.

We are continuing to develop our relationship with the City of Cheyenne. We have asked to be involved in the Easter Egg hunt again this year and even added an idea of our own, that if pulled off, would seriously be the BIGGEST Easter egg hunt this city has every seen. (Not sure the city is on board with the idea…we’ll see) We have offered our service to the city, not only at events, but to clean parks, clear brush, paint over any vandalism (graffiti), etc. We want to serve… just to serve.

Anyway, I don’t want to just give from our church during the Holidays, but all year long! We are starting our ability to do that. We are 8 weeks old and we have provided inflatable games for the city Easter Egg Hunt (snowed out), held one gas buy down (2 hours, 200 vehicles), provided free inflatable games at the city SuperDay, held anther gas buy down (4 hours, over 400 vehicles), provided prizes to the city Goblinwalk, Sponsored three tables at the Life Choice fundraiser, adopted 4 moms and families to provide for Christmas, and starting in January, this new NEEDS Inc. food pantry deal. I’d say we are building this into our DNA. Wouldn’t want it any other way. And we’re not done yet. Still developing other ideas and always open to knew opportunities to serve.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Missions, Outreach, Serving, church life, church planting, updates

Excited, scared and pumped!

29 11 2007

Just got back from our first official meeting with the set up/tear down team as well as the tech and praise team. All those areas are involved in the set up and tear down portions of Sunday morning. I’ve been handling all the set up of the sound system and computer stuff so am so excited that we have a guy that may be able to step in and fill some sound tech issues. Curtis has been running sound during the service, with really no prior experience. I have been managing all of the set up of sound and then setting monitoring it all during praise team practice. With all the other pressures of Sunday morning, I am excited to be able to train someone else how I do that so they can begin serving there. Adam did a great job setting up the meeting and leading tonight. We are moving set up to 6:30 AM on Sundays. We’ve got set up pretty much down to an art. We don’t do a set design for every series but we definitely are for Christmas so there will be a few things added this week that aren’t normal.

I am very nervous (scared is more accurate) about two services. Just being honest. This week has felt like a launch week. We did a 10,000 piece mailer to the community for our “Believe” series in which we’re launching the 2 services. We also put a large full color ad in the newspaper on three days this week for the “Believe” series. There feels to me more variables in this launch than there were in the beginning. Oct. 7th launch feelings were who will show up? Now they are “I hope they don’t all show up for 2nd service.” Oct. 7th “Will we get everything set up?” Now “Will we get out before people watch us as the pre-movie entertainment.” or “Will we get out before Enchanted begins playing on the screen.”

I am pumped about our new opportunity. Even though my nerves rise, they are nerves because I know the gravity of what we do. We hold THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE known to man and I don’t want to screw that up. We want to create the most ideal experience for someone to meet Christ or grow closer to Him. We want to allow ourselves to get more people to that experience so two services is what we are doing. I have said a lot recently “I don’t know how to prove God to you. I can only hope to bring you to a place where you and God might meet.” That’s what we do.

I am nervous every time I preach. Why? Because I don’t trust God. NO! But the thought that God trusts ME with HIS message floors me. I don’t want to screw it up. It is of utmost importance to me to present the Gospel clearly. To be intentional, relevant and practical so that I can be effective.

I told you I had some blogging in me. I can’t wait for Sunday. Nervous? YES! Scared? Out of my mind! (Ok, maybe not that bad) But I trust completely that God, once again, will see us through. The comforting thing is that REGARDLESS of how I feel, God is in control. God will rule the day. God will bring the harvest.

Ok, I gotta stop. Elementers, I’ll see you Sunday!

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : church life, church planting, personal, updates

Under The Weather

28 11 2007

I don’t think I have ever had a migrane headache in my life. The headache I’ve had the entire day today would probably be the closest. Thank fully (praise the Lord) I actually got a lot done today despite my pounding neck and headache (which I still have). I am pumped about this weeks message. I am pumped about our Believe series. The five passages of Scripture we’re looking at in John are REALLY good. This weeks there is just some great historical and cultural backgrounds that really make the passage come alive. Anyway, I really have some blogging in me but my head just can’t take it. If you would, please say a prayer for me. Tomorrow is a HUGE day in the office for both Adam and I as we approach 2 services. Love all you guys.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : personal

Holy Spirit

28 11 2007

Thought this was great.

Yesterday, Jonah asked Sabrina who the Holy Spirit was. That question is hard enough to explain to an adult who doesn’t have much “spiritual” knowledge, let alone a 6 year old. I love that the inquisitiveness of kids.

Sabrina attempted to give her best explanation in 6 year old terms and thought she had a good way to convey this great doctrinal truth. She said “Well, the Holy Spirit is God’s voice when he talks to us. When you’re about to do something naughty don’t you hear a little voice inside tell you not to?”

Jonah, as serious as could be said “NO, I just hear yours!”

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Random, personal

Encouraging Word

26 11 2007

God is just so cool! Grant and I had a discussion with an individual here in town over Thanksgiving that was very frustrating. I won’t get into the details but it just felt like it was very negative toward our city and toward ministry in our city (even though they were involved in ministry). Nuff said.

Our life group lesson in James 3 tonight was on the power of the tongue. How it is a small thing but able to start “fires” just like a small spark. In fact James says the tongue is set on fire by hell itself. WOW! Strong warning about the words we use. We had some great discussion in the group about the use of the tongue, and James 3 just has some great word pictures.

(Side Note: One of the coolest things about Life Groups to me is hearing other peoples perspective on the Scripture and on life. We’re in this thing together. We need to learn from each other)

Anyway, I got an email today that was just what the doctor ordered. We had a guest in church Sunday. He’s a local pastor here in town. Had no idea he was there but he had some very encouraging words that he put on his blog today and I wanted to share them with you. His name is Brian and he is the equipping pastor at Cheyenne Evangelical Free Church. Here is the link or I’ll paste the text below.

“Yesterday, I was able to do something that comes about only four times per year. I was able to visit another church. I took yesterday off, but was back in town from our vacation in the mountains. So my wife and I decided to attend another church here in Cheyenne. It was the first time that we have actually been able to attend a different church in Cheyenne (except when I occasionally speak at other area churches).

Jenny and I attended a new church plant in Cheyenne called the Element Church. It meets on Sunday mornings in the movie theater at the mall.

It is good to be the visitor sometimes. You realize that visitors do not know exactly where to go or what to expect. You realize that they need some sort of direction. I’m happy to say that the Element Church’s greeters where really friendly and steered us in the right direction and one lady even showed us exactly where we needed to drop off the kids and where things were. It really helped to put us at ease.

As for the service, the Element Church is only a couple of months old, so we did not know quite what to expect with them being in their infancy. After the first worship song and video introducing their next series, it was obvious that their infancy was nothing to worry about. For a brand new church, they had it together and did things very well. I was impressed. They are putting much energy and thought behind this church plant mixed with some creative thinking and problem solving.

However, the thing that I liked most about this church was their emphasis of putting an extremely high value on serving the community of Cheyenne. They are not about being content within four walls of a church (yes, a church could get internally focused even if they are meeting in a movie theater), they want to impact and serve the city. They want this city to be a better place and bring hope to those who are hurting. This is something that we are focusing on more and more as a congregation and it’s exciting to see another church that has a heart for the community rather than just existing for itself.

I’m glad for this. I support this. I am thankful that the Element Church is a new addition to our community. You could call me a fan of this new church plant. This may sound weird coming from a pastor at a different church but it shouldn’t. It should not be weird because we are all a part of the same Kingdom. We are all a part of the Church. We are on the same team. Thus, we need to celebrate when another church is doing something well and bringing glory to God.

Thanks, Element. I trust God will continue to bless your efforts!

Brian”

Thank you Brian! You don’t know how much it means for us to have the support of other pastors in town. Very encouraging words! May God bless you for that!

Dudes, we are all about JESUS! We believe that JESUS is the only way for us to receive Life and to enter heaven. We believe JESUS is the only thing (element) that can make us into who we are intended to be. We believe JESUS through HIS local church is the HOPE OF THE WORLD. Folks, that should light a fire in our belly that cannot be quenched.

Will we all agree on strategy, mission, vision or even doctrine? NO! But if we can reach people with JESUS we can change the world! MAN that gets me going.


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Categories : church life, church planting

Sunday Night Rumination (11-25-07) Post #200

25 11 2007

Well, I typically try and blog about once a day just to keep things fresh (hint hint Grant) but I decided this week to take a blogging break. No reason really, just thought with the long Thanksgiving weekend I’d take a break. NOW I’M READY TO ROCK AND ROLL!

Another great service today. I think it was THE HARDEST message, in fact this series contained the two hardest messages I may have ever preached. They just felt so real and personal to me. God was REALLY working on ME through these messages. It took some vulnerability and honesty to preach on being grateful and generous. Today’s message just felt very heavy at times to me. The tension felt thick in the room, although some mentioned it didn’t feel tense to them. Maybe it was just my struggle with the message. Anyway, we had a lot of great response and many people said how good it was for them to hear.

A couple of bullet points. The big question today was “What does a generous life look like?’ “Generosity has nothing to do with how much is given but how much it costs the giver.” “The key to generosity is to begin to see people as Jesus sees them. When I see people as Jesus sees them it breeds generosity because I want to give myself away.” “Generosity reveals itself in more than just money. A generous life is willing to give of its time, talent and treasure.”

— Attendance today was 162. That was higher than I expected for the holiday weekend so that was cool. Actually up a bit from last week. Since launch we have been over 200 three times and only under 150 once. The next step for us is huge. How do we bust that 250 barrier. Going to 2 services will help enable us to do that.

— Offering today was $2258.50. Giving has been very good as well. For a brand new church I feel we have had wonderful attendance and giving.

— We announced our Christmas outreach today. I think this is going to be so much fun. We have adopted 4 moms (and their families) through LifeChoice Pregnancy Center. LifeChoice works with moms who are struggling with their “birth” choices. These 4 moms we are adopting have chosen life for their children yet need some help, especially through this Christmas season, financially. SO, we are going all out for these moms. Reagan (young lady in church) kind of spearheaded the whole thing and called each mom and asked questions for needs that I never would have thought of. From cribs, to car oil changes, to one months rent, we want to spoil these mothers with GENEROSITY from Elementers of all ages. Reagan has registered for the items in which we are allowed at Target and Wal-Mart. They are registered under (first name) Element (last name) Church. We will have a list of un-registered items at church on Sunday, and I’ll post it on our blog and web-site as well.

I would love to do this for more than four families, and if the response is big enough then perhaps we can do more. Elementers, it’s time to step it up. Lets shower these moms with Gods love in a practical way. One thing I want to be made REAL clear. I DON’T CARE IF THESE LADIES EVER COME TO ELEMENT CHURCH!!! That is not the goal. The goal is to be generous. To think of others better than ourselves. And to show God’s love in a practical way. I want to be able to do this, not just at Christmas, but all year round. That’s the kind of church I want to be.

— I’m pumped about our Christmas series. “Believe” We are doing some cool stuff during the series. Set design. Effects. And Adam is putting together some AWESOME music sets, including some remade Christmas favorites.

— We have been blessed, as a two month old church, with an UNBELIEVABLE praise band. Adam, well, lets just say it takes a world class leader to find a guy like Adam. HA! God brought us that dude. Adam is phenomenal. Can’t imagine this without him. We have two OUTSTANDING drummers. Seriously, GOOD drummers are hard to find and we have two, count em, TWO KILLER drummers. One of them played for the first time today. What a blessing! Morgan has been playing bass guitar since day 1. Setting up and tearing down from the beginning. Morgan, you ROCK! Can’t imagine this without you either bro!

Bryant, Morgan, Nate, Ben, Grant, Matt, Curtis, Terri (wow, Terri does so much), Keenan, Katrina, all you guys have been setting up and tearing down for MONTHS now. Seriously, you guys are amazing.

— Wow, two services this week. That’s crazy! Be praying for God to bring us new people to fill those empty seats.

— Today we cut it close. The movie in our auditorium literally started as we were throwing stuff out the door to get out in time. We have some MAJOR issues with time in going to two services. We’ll need to talk to the management this week. Be praying for us that they will move the early showtime movies to the other wing of the theater.

— MY FAMILY IS BACK! The quiet house gets to me real quick. I’m glad Sabrina and the kids got to go spend time with her family. I got some stuff done around the house and chilled with friends. I would have loved to go, I just couldn’t miss the whole week. I love my wife and kids. Missed them a ton!

— I am tired! I have more on my mind and will begin posting regularly again this week. Sundays wipe me out man, BUT MY DO I LOVE IT! Thanks Elementers! You guys are the best!

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Sunday Rumination, church life, church planting, updates

Laughing Before Life Group

19 11 2007

I’m sitting here waiting for Life Group to begin. We host a group on Monday’s here at our house. I was getting the place ready for group had the front door open and I stood there looking out the door and began to laugh. Why? Because I remember 8 months ago (March) doing the same thing only I was wondering “Will anyone show up to this thing we’re doing?” There were 6 of us then. Grand and Terri, Keenan and Katrina and my wife and I. Our first Life Group no one we invited came. I think our second Life Group (maybe more), a lady came that we all had made a connection with. It was hilarious. “SOMEONE ELSE IS HERE!” We all started whispering. 7 of us. Then 10, 12, 14.

In June we decided to start Unplugged. We DESPERATELY did NOT want people to think we had started our church. Unplugged was NOT how we wanted to do church but we knew it was necessary because we were multiplying into three different Life Groups from our original one and we needed that large group time to begin building our team. So, that second Sunday in June we begin, and again I’m watching the door “Will anyone come to this thing?” 34 people came to that first Unplugged.

July 1st, our first “real” service as a preview. August 5th, Sept. 9th, October 7th (launch). Still that same question. “Will anyone show up to this thing we’re doing?” And now, December 2nd is coming. What is December 2nd? Our launch into 2 services. And that same question.

Around the office and with the team, it feels almost like we’re launching again. We’re making this next step. Taking this big risk. It would be comfortable to stay at one. We can know everyone, we know people will come. We financially, volunteer, energy and time wise could do it. BUT that’s not why we are here. I don’t know if I’ll ever stop asking that question. Literally every week I wonder if people will come. I don’t know why I’m like that. I know this is God’s thing and not mine, and maybe that’s why. The fact that I get to lead this amazing thing God is doing blows me away. I get to be a part of GOD’S church. “Will anyone show up to this thing I get to do?”

I don’t ever want to lose the sense of anticipation, wonder, awe, amazement at what God does and what He allows me to be a part of. Elementers, I love you guy’s. Thanks for coming. Because of you I can answer every week “Someone came!” As long as someone comes, I’ll keep doing what I do. lol

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Memories, church life, church planting, personal

Sunday Night Rumination 11-18-07

18 11 2007

Today was VERY exciting. We started a new mini-series called Thanks:Giving and these 2 sermons in this series have been some of the hardest for me to prepare for, because I may need to hear them the most. I feel like I’ve been preached to all week as God has been beating on my heart about some issues in my life when it comes to gratitude and generosity. It’s really not about being thankful and giving. “What do you mean Jeff?” Glad you asked. When I have a grateful heart, it produces thankfulness. When I have a generous heart, it produces giving. Anyone can say “thank you” and anyone can give, but not everyone is grateful and generous. I want to be both.

— 155 today in church. I knew the day was coming when we’d be down in attendance. This was the first time in 3 weeks we’ve been under 200. I know it’s ALL about #’s but there isn’t a pastor in the world who doesn’t look at the attendance each week and sometimes fret over it. (I’m not fretting and if a pastor says they don’t, they are lying)
— 155 in today in church. (I know I’m repeating) Know what? I am thankful for those 155. 6 weeks ago we were launching this thing and didn’t know if 50 would show up. I’ll take 155 but I know there are thousands more out there who don’t go to church. How will we get them? I will not be satisfied with 155, or 255, or 355. Not sure where God will take us but I know He’s a big God and has a bigger heart for Cheyenne than any of us do.
— $3180 in the offering today. Our giving has been solid. God has been good and taken care of us all along the way. He won’t stop. I think when we are generous AS a church, people will be generous TO the church.
— Great worship service today. The band was again amazing. I think they get better every week. Adam blogged about it here. We spend a lot of time planning our services and really didn’t know what to expect time wise this week with dedications and communion. I think we let out of service at 11:18 so it worked out great.
— We dedicated 10 kids today. It was AWESOME! From 15 years old to a 5 week old. It was a special time. It was so cool to see a mom stand there with her 15, 13 and 7 year old and say “I want to raise them in the way of the Lord.”
— We baptized 2 people today. One 12 year old young lady, and our Elevate kids teacher (don’t know her age and wouldn’t share if I did). We met at Calvary Chapel (thanks Calvary) and used their baptistery and sanctuary. Pastor Shaun (thanks Shaun), who has been AWESOME to and for us, and his family came to the service. Shaun has been a huge blessing. Just a Kingdom guy, supportive and willing to help wherever he can. As I thanked him he said “I hope we see lots more of these.”
— Grant got in the water and helped me out with the baptisms. What a turn in life that dude has seen. From a mormon home, baptized at 8 years old into the mormon faith, saved in the back of his Frito Lay truck, now standing waist deep in a baptistery, helping baptize his across the street neighbor that he helped lead to the church and Lord. How stinkin‘ cool is that. Grant, I love you bro! You’re doing so good!
— We are plugging people into serve more and more. I love seeing people commit to what we do. We’ve had some new help setting up and tearing down each week. We had a young lady start taking pictures for us today (she is a professional photographer) and will also help on the video side of things. Another young lady is spearheading our Christmas outreach event (which is going to be off the charts awesome)
— Christmas outreach. I can’t share yet what we are doing, but it is going to be so much fun. I love being able to bless people and we are going to get to do that. Elementers, get ready to be a blessing. Not only do I love blessing people but it’s even greater that we are going to get to do it for some people who made a “right choice” in life. Difficult I’m sure, but right. We will announce it this Sunday.
— Two services in two weeks. That blows my mind. It feels like we’re launching again. I’m getting nervous. “Who will come to the 9 AM service?” We actually had someone show up today for the 9 AM service. We had a news brief in the paper about it yesterday but the family didn’t see the date for the start of it that was in the article.
— Looking forward to our Christmas series “Believe”. We didn’t do any set design for this mini series but are planning some cool stuff for “Believe”.
— My wife is leaving me! lol, she leaves tomorrow with the kids to go to Oklahoma to her dads for Thanksgiving. All her dads family is going to be there which will be a first in a while they’ve all been together. She wanted to go and I said “Go for it!” So it will be Doritos, diet pepsi, bologna for the next few days around here. I never like it when my family is going. It’s cool for the first night or so, then it’s just WAY to quiet. I’ll miss them!
— Got a lot to get done this week on the short week. This weeks message is a tough one again as I talk about generosity.
— Whether your an Elementer, family, friend or just a casual onlooker. Thanks for following along. I say this too much but I seriously LOVE what I do.


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Categories : Sunday Rumination, church life, church planting, updates

Blog Links

16 11 2007

Grant has a great new post up. Man, have I said how good he’s doing. His growth rate is through the charts. (And no that’s not a joke about how tall he is) He is seriously growing as a leader. He has all the God given leadership skills, he is now using them as a pastor which is a different role for him. He’s taken to it naturally. He has a great post about empowering people. GOOD JOB GRANT!

Adam has a couple of new posts up as well. He’s trying to blog more now cause he wants to be like me. I really hope some other worship leaders start reading his blog. We have gleaned so much from other pastors blogging, I think some of the things Adam does and talks about guys could learn from. GOOD JOB ADAM!


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Categories : blog link

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