Wow! Today was a whilrlind. I LOVE IT! It is nuts every week so I don’t know why it ever surprises me. Here are my ruminations on the day.
— OU DISMANTLED Texas Tech last night! Had to start with that, now on to the important stuff. (And I didn’t say one word at church today)
— I took our team to the Toby Mac concert in Denver on Friday. We had a BLAST (at least I did). Holy cow that dude puts on a show. Relient K and Family Force 5 were there as well. It was great to get away from the normal routine of working at the building and just have some fun. Haven’t done that in a while.
— 559 today at Element.
— First service we had plenty of room. Second service just blew up. We had over 50 in the video venue.
— Guess we’re never getting rid of noon movies till we move. Had 3 noon movies in theaters we use today. The previews started in the video venue before we were done. Lovely!
— Had a special guest in church today. Dr. Dale Erbele was in town. Pastor Dale is the Superintendent of our Conference (Western) in our denomination. Dr. Dale holds a VERY special place in Grant and my life. It was during a sermon he was giving at our church in Gillette when Grant was called into church planting. It was through his leadership and vision that God directed and called me into church planting. Without Dr. Dale I’m not sure Element is happening with Grant and I on the team.
— I LOVE seeing men like Dr. Dale who are later in life, could be scaling back or dialing it in but he is just FULL of vision! He isn’t stuck in the past but is taking out blockades for guys like me to forge ahead. He is ALL for new ideas, new paradigms and methods of ministry. He is CONSUMED with doing whatever it takes, whenever it takes and however it takes to tell people about Jesus. LOVE It! Thanks Dale.
— Ended our “Heart” series today talking on our core value of Allegiance.
— Before service I felt very disconnected with the message. Not sure why. I knew it was what God laid on my heart but just didn’t connect. The word I used with Grant and Curtis was I didn’t feel familiar with it. Not sure how it came across today but that’s how I felt going in.
— I woke up yesterday morning with a super sore throat and a voice that was starting to fade. This morning was the same way and I was downing cough drops like candy all morning. I had Grant and Curtis pray over me before first service started and then Terri ran and got me some hot tea before I hit the stage 2nd service. I made it all the way through both services but not sure my voice will last through the day.
— There have been a few times over the year that I just felt an extra need for prayer and EVERY time I’ve grabbed Curtis or Grant or Adam they have dropped whatever they are doing to come pray with me. LOVE the team God has assembled. There is nothin’ more comforting than having men you absolutely trust to lay hands on you and pray for God’s annointing.
— I must have looked nervous today cause someone told me “There is no reason to be nervous Jeff.” Actually, I don’t know of a Sunday I haven’t been nervous, EVER! I take very seriously the fact that I am proclaiming the Word of God on Sunday, and that scares me EVERY time! That fact God entrusts me with preaching is VERY humbling. The day I’m not nervous there is something wrong.
— We had our pre-final inspections Friday morning. Everything is looking good. We will NOT be moving this week. It’s down to getting the doors delivered and installed. Crazy. Literally right around the corner.
— Got pictures coming. ALL the carpet is installed. Took us all day Saturday.
— Wow, this got long. I’ll quit. Pictures up in a bit!
Following Christ,
Jeff
