Element Church — Personal Story

30 01 2008

Hey Element Church. We got this email today from a regular attender at Element Church. I asked for permission to blog it and received such. I’ve edited a few things out to protect the innocent. This is an AWESOME story!

Pastor Jeff,
Something exciting happened to me this morning and I just had to share it.
First off, my husband and I have decided that Element Church is where we belong. We have ALWAYS had a passion for teenagers, and have been very active in youth group leadership – well – since we were teenagers ourselves. Sunday you mentioned your passion for teaching today’s youth and expressed it exactly the way we have for the last 25 years of our marriage, we decided THIS is our church.

The other thing I have to share is even more exciting! I have been looking for a nice, used, queen size bed for my guest room. I am really thrifty, but I like quality. The other day I found an ad on Craigslist for a mattress in Greeley Colorado, for twenty bucks. After talking to the gal about it, I decided it would be worth the twenty bucks in gas to buy it. On the way to Greeley this morning I thought, “this mattress is going to be crap, you get what you pay for, turn around and don’t waste the gas”. But I felt the urge to move forward. I got to Greeley and found the [clear throat] dumpy basement apartment to look at the mattress. I was greeted by a very sweet little two year old with a binky in her mouth, I LOVE kids, and she wanted to show me her movies, so her mama showed me to the collection of DVDs while this sweet little one showed me each and every one. The mother commented that normally her little one is shy and I told her I have a grand daughter that age and just love being at her level. We talked a bit more, I looked at the mattress, found it to be above and beyond my high standards, and we proceeded to load it into my truck. I felt an nudge from the Lord to give her forty dollars, not twenty. Upon handing her the money she began crying and told me her mother had just told her that morning that an angel would be coming to visit today. She told me I was that angel. After a brief conversation, she rededicated her life to Christ with her little girl sitting on her lap smiling up at me!

I don’t tell you this story to boast or brag (quite the opposite, as I am really shy), but to show you that the “Element Church Gives Back” continues even after we have used the money we received. God is honoring your committment and decision to turn the offering back over to the people of the church. Please pray for that young single mom and her daughter. Their names are Lindsey and Cienna.

Now that is cool! Thanks for sharing it with us.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Element Church, Element Gives Back, Testimony, Updates

Satan’s Sex Ed Update

30 01 2008

Hey Element Church. I am here in my office working on my Sex Ed sermons and thought I’d blog about some thoughts. Wednesday is my study day. As stated in this post, I have to have a pretty strict routine or I just don’t get things done. So Wednesday I dedicate entirely to getting sermons prepared and studying for them. I like to stay at least two weeks ahead on sermon preparation. I don’t schedule any appointments or meetings on Wednesday and try not to take many phone calls (unless you’re in my fav 5). lol Anyway, I’m working on these Sex Ed sermons and let me tell you, this is weighing heavy on me. I’ve battled more what to say and what NOT to say in these sermons than in most I do. I want to be TOTALLY honest and bold in the Truth on sex, yet we want to have tact and taste as well in how we present it. The conclusion is, this is possibly going to be the most uncomfortable I’ve been on the platform in a while. This series is definitely rated EC-17 (Element Church – parents STRONGLY cautioned). While I know that some people won’t/don’t like what we say or do in this series, I know this: Our third graders are most likely hearing and learning more explicit material than we will study over the next four weeks. Please pray for me/us as we attack these lies of the devil. For far too long we’ve been deceived when it comes to sex and we want to EXPOSE satan and storm the gates of hell with the Truth of God’s Word. Many of you have already sent encouraging words and we thank you for that. Again, lets bathe this series in prayer that God would use His Word to set the captives free and to bring redemption to the lost. Thanks Element Church!

Following Christ,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Church Planting, Element Church, Preaching, Updates

Satan’s Sex Ed Update

30 01 2008

Hey Element Church. I am here in my office working on my Sex Ed sermons and thought I’d blog about some thoughts. Wednesday is my study day. As stated in this post, I have to have a pretty strict routine or I just don’t get things done. So Wednesday I dedicate entirely to getting sermons prepared and studying for them. I like to stay at least two weeks ahead on sermon preparation. I don’t schedule any appointments or meetings on Wednesday and try not to take many phone calls (unless you’re in my fav 5). lol Anyway, I’m working on these Sex Ed sermons and let me tell you, this is weighing heavy on me. I’ve battled more what to say and what NOT to say in these sermons than in most I do. I want to be TOTALLY honest and bold in the Truth on sex, yet we want to have tact and taste as well in how we present it. The conclusion is, this is possibly going to be the most uncomfortable I’ve been on the platform in a while. This series is definitely rated EC-17 (Element Church – parents STRONGLY cautioned). While I know that some people won’t/don’t like what we say or do in this series, I know this: Our third graders are most likely hearing and learning more explicit material than we will study over the next four weeks. Please pray for me/us as we attack these lies of the devil. For far too long we’ve been deceived when it comes to sex and we want to EXPOSE satan and storm the gates of hell with the Truth of God’s Word. Many of you have already sent encouraging words and we thank you for that. Again, lets bathe this series in prayer that God would use His Word to set the captives free and to bring redemption to the lost. Thanks Element Church!

Following Christ,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Church Planting, Element Church, Preaching, Updates

Satan’s Sex Ed Update

30 01 2008

Hey Element Church. I am here in my office working on my Sex Ed sermons and thought I’d blog about some thoughts. Wednesday is my study day. As stated in this post, I have to have a pretty strict routine or I just don’t get things done. So Wednesday I dedicate entirely to getting sermons prepared and studying for them. I like to stay at least two weeks ahead on sermon preparation. I don’t schedule any appointments or meetings on Wednesday and try not to take many phone calls (unless you’re in my fav 5). lol Anyway, I’m working on these Sex Ed sermons and let me tell you, this is weighing heavy on me. I’ve battled more what to say and what NOT to say in these sermons than in most I do. I want to be TOTALLY honest and bold in the Truth on sex, yet we want to have tact and taste as well in how we present it. The conclusion is, this is possibly going to be the most uncomfortable I’ve been on the platform in a while. This series is definitely rated EC-17 (Element Church – parents STRONGLY cautioned). While I know that some people won’t/don’t like what we say or do in this series, I know this: Our third graders are most likely hearing and learning more explicit material than we will study over the next four weeks. Please pray for me/us as we attack these lies of the devil. For far too long we’ve been deceived when it comes to sex and we want to EXPOSE satan and storm the gates of hell with the Truth of God’s Word. Many of you have already sent encouraging words and we thank you for that. Again, lets bathe this series in prayer that God would use His Word to set the captives free and to bring redemption to the lost. Thanks Element Church!

Following Christ,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Church Planting, Element Church, Preaching, Updates

One Year Anniversary

29 01 2008

Hey Element Church! This past Sunday was the one year anniversary of our move to Cheyenne. I CANNOT imagine not making that move. This coming Sunday is the one year anniversary of our first ever Element Church event. While we were still packing up our house and preparing to move, Keenan was working hard on planning a Super Bowl party hosted by Element Church. We arrived in town with the moving van on a Monday and by Sunday our house was completely ready to host this party. Several people who came to that party are now regular attenders and contributors to Element Church. It’s amazing to see how far God has brought us. We were SO excited that anyone would come hang out with us. Grant and Ben drove down from Gillette for the night. It was great! Little did we know it was the beginning of what we have now one year later. Here are a few pics of the festivities. Congratulations Element Church on your one year anniversary (at least when it comes to events) lol.





Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Element Church, Updates

First Friday

29 01 2008

Hey Element Church! Once again, First Friday is upon us and we completely forgot to announce it. SO, this is your announcement. First Friday is this Friday at 7 PM at our office (1011 E. Lincolnway). It’s a GREAT time of prayer and praise as we dedicate the next month of Element Church to the Lord. Childcare is available at the office for First Friday. Hope to see you there! Don’t miss it.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Element Church, Updates

Is Christ in your routine?

28 01 2008

Adam was gone today to his cousins funeral in Wichita. Our weeks typically are INSANE as we try to get everything done. We have intentionally tried to act as a church bigger than what we are. Why? That’s for another post, but simply put, we want to be organized as a church double the size we are, so if we do double in size, we are ready. We call it “Dressed for the wedding”. Anyway, in order to accomplish what we need to each week, we rely on a pretty strict routine. Mondays are JAMMED full of planning meetings most of the day. Either we are debriefing the previous day, meeting to plan the next weeks stuff, with staff, or accomplishing tasks from those meetings. Today, with Adam gone I was COMPLETELY lost. It took me a while to get in the groove. A majority of our staff was tied up today too so we didn’t have staff meeting. I felt like a child lost in a grocery store. (Terri had to tell me to quit crying a couple of times) All those feelings because a few people in my life weren’t around FOR ONE STINKIN‘ DAY! The people who were a normal part of my routine weren’t around. It made me think. Is Christ so much a part of our “routine” our life that when we leave Him out it throws off our whole day? How often in our lives have you missed a day, then two, then a week (maybe longer) of spending some personal time with Christ, and you barely noticed? I was like that. (In no way am I boasting in what’s next) In my life today I am FINALLY to the point where spending good, effective, meaningful time with God is as habitual, natural and “routine” as Mondays in the office. It took work. It took some mornings when I didn’t want to get up but I did. It took changing habits and making new ones. Just like Mondays full of meetings took a while to get used to, so did MAKING time for God each day BECAUSE IF I DIDN’T I couldn’t get done in my life what I wanted to. Anyway, just some thoughts.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Discipleship, Element Church, Personal

Element Gives Back

27 01 2008

Some great new stories on Element Gives Back. www.elementgivesback.com


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Element Church, Element Gives Back

Sunday Rumination (1-27-08)

27 01 2008

Hey Element Church. I think I had the most fun at church today than I have ever had! WOW! It was a BLAST to end our service the way we did doing the percussion deal on the trash cans (watch service online to see it). I closed my sermon by saying “As a church we are not called to remain silent, but to make some noise”. When then did an entire percussion solo on trash and paint cans that Bryant (one of our drummers) wrote. It was off the HOOK! AND ADAM LET ME PLAY A TRASHCAN (still waiting for my keyboard solo). We played with the band on the closing song (This Is The Noise We Make). It seemed like people really liked it. The energy was very high in the room. Here are my thoughts and results from the day.

— 307 today in church. PTL! We had 147 in first service so thank you to all who came at 9 AM. It definitely helped open some seats for the 2nd service. We took the drape down in first service and opened the whole theater. We think we can get to 350 at the theater before we are absolutely maxed out! Pray that God opens up/reveals our next location.

— I felt we ended the series on finances well. We REALLY hit hard today on vision, and where we are going as Element Church. We are going to continue to feed people who are hungry for Jesus. I felt like people were connecting with where we felt God wanted us to go. Vision is a hard thing. Typically people are either totally on board or against it. Not much in between. We are going to chase the vision and dream God set out before us without wavering, and that means sometimes that some wonderful people won’t be along for the ride.

— I know it was tough for Adam this weekend with the loss of his cousin, but he rocked again today leading worship (even when his guitar went completely out of tune). Should I even say it? The band again did an INCREDIBLE job leading us in worship. We are blessed at Element with great musicians and leaders.

— Pray for Adam and Amber as they head out tomorrow to fly to Wichita for his cousins funeral. It’s been VERY rough on their entire family. His cousin was only 23 years old. Tragic. We pray for God’s rest and peace to cover them this week.

— Set up was incredible today. We kind of changed our approach to set up, as far as the order in which things get put up. It got us done with set up in the best time ever. No problems with anything really led to what I think was our best set up day since launch.

— Currently we have someone running sound and someone running lights. That is HUGE for us and they are both doing a GREAT job! It helps so much in transitions when you can focus on one thing.

— WOW! This is totally off the subject but I can’t wait for Lost to start this week! HA! I know, that’s sad. Lost is possibly the best tv drama of all time.

— Alright, that’s it for now. Can’t wait for Satan’s Sex Ed. Excited to teach God’s view on sex and expose some of satan’s lies in regards to sex.

Thanks for following. I love all you Elementers.

Following Christ,

Jeff

Element Church Element Church Element Church Element Church Element Church


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Church Planting, Element Church, Sunday Rumination, Updates

Element Church — Excited for this Sunday!

25 01 2008

I went to praise practice for a while yesterday night, I’m still not allowed to play the keyboard (Adam hasn’t believed in my super ability yet) but I do get to have a part in an aspect of worship. We are ending the service HUGE on Sunday in a way that I’ve never done before in church. It’s going to be fun. Don’t miss it. I met with two other guys this morning who are also playing a role in this ending thing. Some people know what we’re doing, but I don’t want to blow the surprise of our ending. Again, it will be FUN! We’re not giving anything away, just a BIG ending to our series.

Deal Or No Deal has been VERY exciting. People are being set free from financial bondage and set free to use their money for God’s Kingdom. If you haven’t signed up for the finance seminar and want to go, make sure you get on that. We got the information packet from the seminar speakers and the stuff they are going over is FANTASTIC!! VERY excited for the seminar. Tickets are FREE but you MUST have a ticket to attend. You can get them on Sunday morning at Element or through the web-site (www.elementweb.net)

If you can attend 9:00 AM service please do so. We packed out the 10:30 service last week and need to make more room there. Thanks! We want to keep as many empty seats available as we can for guests. Looking forward to worshiping with you this week!

Following Christ,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Church Planting, Element Church, Updates

« Previous Entries


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 174 other followers