I’m sure you all could REALLY care less about my date night but this is my blog so I can share what I want. Sabrina and I had home date night #2 last night. This is going to seriously jeopardize my man card status, but we pick a recipe from one of the daily Rachel Ray shows from the week and make it together. This week was Texas Size Chili Cheese Fries. Last week we made homemade pizza that was off the hook. This weeks chili cheese fries were AMAZING. During our cooking it’s great just to talk about the week, day, our lives and have it be normal adult conversation. We then sat down to eat our fries while watching some drivel in TV (Celebrity Apprentice). I know, we’re sick. We also started something on Wednesday’s that we are adopting from my childhood. Each Wednesday we are having restaurant night. Basically it’s a fun way to get rid of leftovers with our kids. I am the waiter and Sabrina is the cook. The kids go out to the front door and come in like it’s a restaurant. Then they order from the list of leftovers and we cook it and serve it to them. It was pretty fun. Anyway, a couple of new family things we are doing to “Keep it real”.
Element Church — Prayer Request
25 01 2008Hey everyone. I just talked with Adam about a loss in their family last night. They got a call about three oclock in the morning informing them that one of Adams cousins was hit head on by a semi truck on the interstate. Adam told me their family is VERY close and these cousins are like brothers to him. Adam’s family is heading down to Wichita and Adam and Amber will head down after church on Sunday to be with the family and attend the funeral. Adam may post more on his blog but I wanted to inform anyone here to please pray for them and his family. Thank you.
Following Christ,
Jeff
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Categories : Element Church, Personal, Updates
Element Church — Major Request
22 01 2008Calling all Elementers (well not all just about 40). If you attend Element Church we need some people to switch from the 10:30 AM service to the 9:00 AM service. We are VERY near capacity at 10:30 and that is the most common service for first time guests to attend. If you can, PLEASE come to the 9:00 AM service. We want to enable ourselves to stay in the theater as long as possible AND keep growing. Thanks GUYS! Can’t wait for Sunday.
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Categories : Element Church, Updates
Element Church — Community Involvement
22 01 2008I have a great opportunity to join a community partnership that will give us GREAT connections into the needs of people in our community. I’ve been invited to begin attending the Laramie County Community Partnership meetings each month. “The mission of the Laramie County Community Partnership is to maximize resources and influence change to improve conditions of wellbeing for people in Laramie County.” All sorts of different non-profit groups, need groups, community organizations come together to (as the mission statement says) maximize resources and influence change…They deal with family and social issues, homeless issues, alcohol and tobacco issues, etc. I am VERY excited to get my hand into something like this and begin to learn more about how we can “maximize resources to influence change”. I am convinced that churches don’t need new programs, we need to unite with those already going to help maximize their effectiveness. I need to be better at getting involved in stuff like this, so I couldn’t say no when invited to attend.
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Categories : Element Church, Personal, Serving, Updates
Element Church — New Community Partnership
22 01 2008I announced (briefly) on Sunday a new partnership that we are thrilled to be a part of. Needs Inc. here in Cheyenne has asked us to be a part of a brand new program they are starting to try and keep the food pantry stocked. Needs Inc. is a non-profit organization that helps fill the needs of many low income families here in Cheyenne. It seems there are always certain items they can’t keep stocked in their food pantry and they know the frustration of going to the grocery store and you may not even know what the food pantry needs. SO, they have developed “The Can Man Program” to try and help this problem. Element Church is proud to be the first church on board with this program and we have been asked to be the “spaghetti church”. Instead of just asking the community to “bring food” to the pantry, they are going to ask specific organizations to bring specific foods to the pantry so as to make sure they have the right variety of food to give out to needy families. One of our goals as the Element team is NOT to create our own new programs, but to partner with those that are already going. Needs Inc. NEEDS our help, so we are going to give it. What we are asking of you Elementers, is that when you go grocery shopping, to pick up one can of spaghetti sauce and one bag of noodles. Needs has asked for 25 oz. jars of sauce and 1 lb. bags of noodles. This ensures consistency in what they are able to put in the distribution boxes to the families. You can pick up some general information about Needs Inc. at the e:connect table on Sunday mornings. In this very small way, we can begin to help feed the hungry in our community. If we need to, we will add more items to our list of what we will provide. Lets BLESS THE SOCKS OFF of Needs Inc. with what God can do through us!
Following Christ,
Jeff
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Categories : Church Planting, Element Church, Serving
Element Church: Element Gives Back
21 01 2008More stories are coming up. I LOVE what our people are doing. You guys blow me away. Can’t wait to do this again sometime. Remember, NO GIVING STORY IS TOO SMALL! Check the stories out at www.elementgivesback.com
I am SO PROUD to be called your pastor! Thank you for letting me serve you.
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Categories : Element Church, Element Gives Back, Updates
Element Church — Foundations Life Group
21 01 2008We launched Foundations tonight. I LOVED IT! I love teaching and preaching. If I can do this till the day I day I’ll be a happy man. Some people struggle to know what they are made for, I AM MADE FOR THIS! I take no credit for it, just saying I feel most alive when I’m preaching or teaching.
We had 6 people (counting me) tonight. It’s funny, I have the same jitters about “Hope someone comes” at Life Group as a do about church. I was pacing the house waiting for Life Group to start. If you ever notice me on Sunday, I’m a pacer. I can’t sit down for 5 minutes on Sunday, I’ve GOT to be moving. Don’t know why, just like that.
Had some AWESOME discussion tonight as we looked at “What is the Bible?”. Rule #1 at Foundations “No question is stupid!” And Rule #2 “Any questions are allowed” Each of the people (I think) were recent Elementers (more recent than 3 months anyway). Each had a cool story about how they found Element. Each experiencing Life at Element. That’s what we want. I am so excited about Foundations. Hopefully at the end of our 9 weeks they will have enjoyed Life Group so much that they will make sure and get plugged into another one. I feel this is going to be a great first step for people who are new to church, new believers or just want that “refresher” course in some foundational things.
Following Christ,
Jeff
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Categories : Church Planting, Element Church, Updates
Element Church: Rumination Addtions (1-20-08)
20 01 2008It’s so hard for me to take naps on Sunday. I am typically SO tired I can hardly keep my eyes open but then I lay down and either pick apart the Sunday finding any faults (I know, I shouldn’t do that) or I’m celebrating the AMAZING things God is doing. So here are a few things I thought before I dozed off for a bit.
— Two new tithe cards were turned in today. That makes a total of 42. I seriously think God is doing some amazing things financially through Elementers in this series. (And I’m not talking about giving them more money but setting them FREE FROM IT)
— One more Element Gives Back story was turned in to the offering today. Visit www.elementgivesback.com to see all the updates.
— Twelve first time guest cards were turned in today. Two return guests and a couple of regular attender cards wanting information.
— My lips were SO CHAPPED by worship time during the second that I had to call General down to borrow his chapstick. (Yeah, we’re that close!) Grant is a walking pharmacy. If you are at church and ever need medicine of any kind, chapstick, eyedrops, and possibly an IV DRIP, just go see him. He seriously has the mother load of that kind of stuff! He saved me today!
— Gonna gather with some friends as usual tonight. Love Sunday night wind downs with them. It’s almost like another Life Group.
Following Christ,
Jeff
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Categories : Church Planting, Element Church, Sunday Rumination, Updates
Sunday Rumination (1-20-08)
20 01 2008I need to quit saying I’m blown away, but I’M BLOWN AWAY! I was afraid we were going to run out of seats today. I LOVE Element Church. It scares me to death, the thought of leading these people but I’m doing my best to hang on as Jesus leads the way. I couldn’t believe how many people were coming in to the service.
— Eight people responded to the altar call today. To receive Christ or re-establish that relationship with him. All responded in the first service. I then received this email when I got home. “Pastor Jeff well it has been a few weeks since I have been to the church and I have to say every time I go there are more convictions that are plummeted my way……your comment of seven people going forward to the altar and yet no one moved at the next service, ummmm I was in need to move forward. My body was so hot and jittery inside yet my feet were like cold concrete, something that I struggle with bad. A voice that is so tender saying go (name), be free, and on the other side a voice that says look at who you pretend to be you should be ashamed….The struggle within me of knowing what is the true meaning of living, and the other saying, but its fine as you are. I not only apologized to Jesus but to you for not making the move and also to me ….”
— 302 in church today. Absolutely amazed! My dad asked me today “Did you ever imagine you’d have 300 people in church?” To be honest, I didn’t see it happening so quickly, if ever. If someone were to ask how we did it, I’d first say “WE didn’t do anything!” God is doing it, we are simply and literally just doing our best to listen to HIM and do what HE says. If I were doing this, not sure anyone would come. I am SO humbled to lead this church. I can’t imagine why God chose me. I know I say that a lot but I mean it a lot. ABSOLUTELY HUMBLED!
— Our preliminary offering #’s look like they are going to be amazing. It looks like people are taking the tithe challenge seriously. My prayer is that God would BLESS THE SOCKS OFF those of you who committed to start giving. We have the capacity of doing some MAJOR things in our city if we give! Can’t wait to see what God is going to do.
— The band, AGAIN, rocked! Nothing throwing in a little Collective Soul “Shine” to kick off the service, and then a GREAT worship set again. Band is killing it lately. I so appreciate YOUR worship leader, Adam. He came to me this week, knowing that God had thrown the curve ball into my message to offer an invitation to receive Christ. In order to leave enough time for the end of the service, Adam came to me and suggested we take a song out. I know Adam has a desired set he likes to get in so as to facilitate a good worship time so I really appreciated the change to accommodate the changes in the message.
— I hope all you Elementers know how privileged you are to have Adam as your worship leader. I don’t know many other people that have as much a passion for worship, OR put as much time and energy into creating a worship time that people can engage with. YOU DA MAN ADAM! (now give me the money you promised if I’d say that) JK bro!
— Set up went a TON better today! Looks like we’re going to have to buy a new soundboard. The one we have keeps cutting out on the right side. I think it’s an internal issue. We’ve trying different cables and different connectors.
— Someone gave us the name of a custodian today that is willing to work Sundays if we can get in the High School. I need to give them a call. Folks, I am urging you to PRAY LIKE CRAZY this week for the East High School authorities, the Laramie County School District authorities, and for this custodian that IF God wants us in the high school to meet that everything would fall into place. We were packed to the gills today! I LOVE IT! But I don’t want it to stop. In order for us to keep growing we are going to need to #1 Come up with an INCREDIBLY creative way to make more space in the theater or #2 Get into another building. We LOVE East High Schools fine arts center. That is our preference. We will obey and follow God though.
— 302! I really battled going to 2 services too. Guess God knew what He was doing.
— 302! What is next? It’s hard for me to fathom what could be next. The sky is the limit if we’ll just follow God.
— 302! Means NOTHING if we don’t connect people with LIFE IN CHRIST!
— Two things I am totally pumped about. #1 The close to our Deal or No Deal Series. We are closing the service next week in a way you won’t want to miss! It’s going to be fun! #2 Satan’s Sex Ed series. I have been working in advance on some sermons. I am TOTALLY stoked for this series. I think it is TIMELY and will strike a chord with many people. Can’t wait to expose some lies and tactics of our enemy.
— Nap time! If there is more to add I’ll add it later! I love you guys and love serving Element Church!
Following Christ,
Jeff
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Categories : Church Planting, Sunday Rumination, Updates
Date Night
18 01 2008Something Sabrina and I haven’t been good on lately is having a date night regularly. Lots of excuses we could use and all are legitimate. Finding and paying for a babysitter for four kids is a killer. I heard a pastor say one time about having lots of kids: “It’s not that I really like kids, it’s just I love my wife a lot”. I like that! After paying for a babysitter for a couple hours that doesn’t leave much money left, especially if you want to go to a nice dinner or a movie (which is a ripoff). So I heard of another pastor doing this and we started last night and had a blast. On Thursday nights we are going to wait to eat dinner until after the kids go to bed. (8 o’clock at the latest) Then we are going to cook our own dinner together, either a recipe I select earlier in the week or one Sab wants to do, and then sit down to watch a movie or something together. Last night we cooked homemade pizza and HOLY COW it was good. It had to be some of the best pizza I’ve had. While in the kitchen we actually had time to hold a normal adult, husband and wife conversation. We’ll try out new stuff and just have fun hanging out together. Every once in a while we’ll treat ourselves to a night out, but doing it this way we can schedule a regular date night, and not even have to leave the house. Sabrina said she likes it because she can boss me around the kitchen, AND SHE DID! Anyway, not that you wanted to know we had a date night, but thought I’d share. I love my wife and love spending time with her. Even if she is bossing me around!
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Categories : Family, Personal
