Alright Element Church. You REALLY need to check out Pastor Derek’s new blog. Click HERE to follow. He already has some GREAT posts up. So cool to see what God is doing through our e:kidz program. Not only learning about Jesus but serving our community too! If you are a parent that has a child in e:kidz this is a great way to stay up to date on what is going on there. Check it out. Way to go Pastor Derek!
Believing in the Kids,
Jeff
Awesome Summer Sunday for Element Church today. I love doing this series we’re in and love Element Church. Here are my ruminations on the day.
— Solid turnout today! I like how our three services are filling out. Third service is definitely the least attended but adding a third service has really served its purpose. Adding more seats.
— I took the day off today. It was awesome to be able to chill with Elementers, greet at the front door, catch up with people I rarely get to talk to and watch the team serve.
— I am SO PROUD of our Element volunteers. If you serve at Element, THANK YOU! You guys do an AMAZING job. So impressed with the number and quality of the people that serve at Element.
— We continued the One Prayer sermon series today by showing a message that Pastor Francis Chan submitted on “God is Strenth”. WOW, was it challenging.
— I had watched it twice already before Sunday and saw it in it’s entirety today and was challgned AGAIN! Such GREAT insight into just how BIG and POWERFUL our God is. So good. If you get a chance I encourage you to watch it online.
— This ALL POWERFUL God lives IN US. What should this mean and look like? Great question.
— Because Francis was preaching in my stead, I was able to walk the church all day. I talked to people I don’t normally get to. Was able to look at our program from front to back door. It was great and refreshing.
– — Adam gave worship leading responsibilities to other band members today too and didn’t lead any songs. He played guitar but didn’t lead vocals at all.
— We did take advantage of the time off and had Pastor Curtis along with Nate Clark help me film a “What to expect” video to go on our web-site. I took a potential first time guest on a tour from the front door,through hospitality, kids check in and worship center, of what to expect when they attend Element Church. I think it will be a helpful addition to our web for someone who is interested in coming.
— Meeting first time guests NEVER gets old. Met several today!
— Catching up with regulars NEVER gets old either. We have some AMAZING Elementers. God has blessed us with unbelievable people that love Jesus who serve those HE loves.
— Was talking with someone today who just recently got saved at Element. They signed up to be baptized. I went up to him and said “Dude, I am so excited you are getting baptized.” His response “Well, I’ve been reading the Bible and it seems pretty clear that after you get saved you should be baptized.” I felt like saying “Could you teach other Christians to just do what the Bible says?” LOVE seeing new followers COMMIT themselves to the Bible AND do what it says.
— That’s a novel though huh? Do what the Bible says…Hmmm, might work!
— Pastor Kody’s family made it in to town. They drove all night from Oklahoma yesterday at got in about 4:30 AM this morning.
— Have The Tour tonight. That is one of my favorite times at Element. Seeing new people seek more info on a church home is awesome. It is a GREAT way for newcomers to find out WHO we are at Element.
— Alright, gonna chill before I head to church. Thanks Elementers for being who you are!
Following Christ,
Jeff
Half way through our One Prayer journey. Two more weeks to go. If you need a calendar to follow along you can get it HERE.
Matthew 14: God is THE PROVIDER
Every time I read the story of the feeding of the 5,000 I am challenged. Challenged in how I view my own life. How I view our church life. How I view Kingdom life. Ever get like me and have the “But we only have…” mentality? “But we only have five loaves and two fish.”
Matthew 14:13:21 says 13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” 17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. 18“Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!
I think we forget sometimes who we are talking to. Jesus tells the disciples “you feed them” and their response was “But we only have…”. Jesus tells us “You do…you give…you go…you say…”, and often times our response is “But I only have…”. God is THE PROVIDER. Not A provider or ONE OF the providers. He is THE PROVIDER.
I know MANY times I’ve been in a situation where the PROVIDER is right there, and I say “But we only have…” and I totally miss the opportunity to trust.
What need in your life have you been unwilling to give to the PROVIDER? What situation do you find yourself in that seems to have no way out, but the PROVIDER is standing right there? What task is God asking you to do that ONLY the PROVIDER can pull off through you? Be looking to the PROVIDER and not to the situation.
Looking,
Jeff
