August « 2009 « Element Church Insider

Plea From the LP

14 08 2009

Alright Element Church. I don’t think I’ve EVER done this, but your Lead Pastor is doing it today. As it stands right now in our e:kidz program for Sunday, we will have to turn kids away. LOTS of kids. Normally, we just would, but with the nature of our subject matter we can’t do that this week. We don’t want kids in the worship center during this series. Sunday we are speaking to women on the issue of sexual sin and healing. We want ALL our kids rooms to be fully staffed. If you’re an Elementer and you can even serve ONE WEEK for us to get us through we would GREATLY appreciate it. Last week we had 201 different kids check into our e:kidz ministry. If you can help us out by volunteering in one of our three services PLEASE email Pastor Derek (derek@elementweb.net) ASAP. We are so grateful for our regular volunteers at Element and are just in a pickle this week. Thanks.

That’s my plea,

Jeff

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Am I A Pleasing Aroma?

13 08 2009

No this is not a rant after spending time with the Junior High boys ministry at Element Church. It’s a serious question. Am I a pleasing aroma…to God? I started Leviticus in my devotional reading today. First off, Leviticus is often TOUGH to get through. Second, if you’re not careful, you will miss AMAZING truth to apply to your life TODAY if you spead through it, or skip tough verses.

In the first chapter alone there is a phrase mentioned three times: “Then the priest will burn the ENTIRE sacrifice on the altar. It is a special gift. A pleasing aroma to the Lord.” That applied to sin offerings, peace offerings, special offerings, whatever. There is a GREAT New Testament and personal application here. That phrase “pleasing aroma” runs all through Leviticus.

Romans 12:1-2 says “Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your BODIES as a LIVING sacrifice holy and PLEASING to God. THIS is your spiritual act of worship.” The OT sacrifice was dead. My NT sacrifice is LIVING. EVERY day I must lay myself before the Lord as an offering. Am I a “pleasing aroma” to Him? Am I giving ALL of me to Him? Am I LIVING?

Too many times I’ve offered myself as a dead sacrifice. Just laying there on the altar not willing to give myself for the cause of Christ. Too many times I’ve giving part of me, but not ALL of me. Too many times I don’t think my sacrifice has been ACCEPTED or PLEASING, because it was neither ALL nor LIVING.

The OT sacrifice was only accepted when ALL of it was burned up. How much does God have of you? What kind of living sacrifice are you being? Am I a pleasing aroma to God? I want to continually be BURNED UP for Christ. I want to live out the NT principle of my daily sacrifice. I want to be a “special gift”, “a pleasing aroma” to God. What about you?

Sacrificed,

Jeff

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What He Said

12 08 2009

I LOVED Michael’s post from Oak Leaf Church this morning. Thought he hit it head on. This is what he said about church methods:

“I’ve heard this preached fifty different ways, but it’s always powerful to ponder: The message is sacred, but the methods are not.

Too often, we forget this, and we end up with sacred cows that are giving grazing rights in the church. Contemporary churches like ours often come under scrutiny or attack, usually because of our methods. Those wielding words of disdain should be quick to consider the fact that the methods they employ were also once questioned.

Organs led to Pianos which led to orchestras which led to praise bands which led to modern rock bands. And with each passing of the torch, criticism against the new model rose to the surface. Churches with steeples criticize churches with green rooms, forgetting that there were no steeples in Jesus’ day. Those wearing suits criticize those wearing jeans, forgetting that Jesus never owned a three piece suit. Those holding onto one set of methods criticize those who have adopted new methods.

We’re quick to question people’s methods, and when we do, it’s rarely based on Biblical conviction but instead, personal preference. We don’t see it that way, of course, we read our personal preference back into Scriptures. This is how we end up teaching that tattoos are sinful (though we fail to teach that wearing polyester is a sin based on the same chapter in Leviticus). This is how we end up criticizing the new generation, forgetting that the traditions that we hold so dear were once just as new.

Sunday School, VBS, stained glass, Fall Festivals, pulpits, pews, suits and hymnals. What do those things have in common? None of them are Biblical. They are all tools, created or used by people to spread the Gospel. The same could be said of small groups, church online, sending out postcards, dressing down and giving away coffee. None are sacred; all are methods.

Personally, I’m glad that new methods have come to the forefront. Because it means that more people will have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. It means that the Word of God will spread, and people will meet Jesus. That’s why I’m in favor of all churches doing whatever it takes to share their faith, spread the Gospel, and invite people to church. I want to pastor a church that will do anything short of sin (and sin as it’s defined in the Bible, not simply something that I don’t like) to reach people for Christ. I want to keep growing and learning, and using whatever new methods are at my disposal. The Gospel is too important to sit on the sideline.

The modern church, with all her lights and worship bands cannot forget this lesson either. If we’re not careful, we’ll hold worship bands and small groups and dressing casually as sacred and then question whatever comes next. And trust me…something is coming next. It must. Because our methods must change with culture. It’s our message and our mission that must remain constant. That’s the only sacred. Turn the rest of the sacred cows into hamburger.”

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Freedom Begins Here

11 08 2009

“I’m singing for freedom. I know I’m not the only one, praying to the One who can bring me this freedom. I’m ready for change” Freedom by Run Kid Run

Hey Element Church! We’ve had a GREAT response so far of men stepping out and saying “I want to make it till the end”! We announced the accountability and purity discipleship group on Sunday. That group begins Wednesday (tomorrow) night at 7 PM. It will be led by Pastor Kody and myself and will meet at the church office. If you are planning on attending this group you can come in through the office doors that are West (left) of Elment’s main entrance. We are going to be using the study “Freedom Begins Here“. It is going to be a great tool to help disciple us in purity. If you plan on attending and have NOT signed up please email Pastor Kody (kody@elementweb.net) or myself (jeff@elementweb.net). This is a GREAT opportunity to stand together as men in this daily fight! We’re called to carry our swords into battle being who God called us to be!

Till The End,

Jeff

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The Golden Calf

10 08 2009

I LOVE the story of the Exodus of Israel from the land of Egypt. Such great leadership principles from the life of Moses, Joshua and Caleb. Amazing lessons of how NOT to follow God from the Israelites. Today in my reading, I read about the Israelite’s making a golden calf to worship. The reason they made the calf challenged me.

Exodus 32:1 When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.”

They ended up making their own golden calf to worship, claiming, “this is the god who brought us out of the land of Egypt.” The Lord spoke to me in that moment and said “Jeff, YOU become your OWN golden calf sometimes.” HUH?

How many times do I take matters into my own hands when it seems it’s “taking God too long” to come down the mountain? Maybe I’m praying for a specific need or for a direction in some area of my life, and when God doesn’t answer or come through WHEN I think He should, I just take matters into my own hands. I think we as Christians, though we don’t make actual golden calves, become our own golden calf when we trust in ourselves to accomplish what we think God should be doing. AND when we take control of what ONLY God should do.

What area do you need to wait a little longer for God to come through? What need are you praying for that God just doesn’t seem to be responding like you want him to? Are you trying to play God in any area of your life? Be careful…don’t become your own golden calf. Sometimes we just have to wait.

Learning to wait,

Jeff

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Sunday Ruminations (8-9-09)

9 08 2009

Got The Tour newcomers dinner in 2 hours. I am WIPED out. AWESOME day at Element today. Here are my ruminations.

— Had the altar full of men today committing their lives to sexual purity. LOVED seeing men receive forgiveness, and a TON of them committing to make it “till the end”.

— Had GREAT attendnace again today. 201 different kids were checked into e:kidz today. That is CRAZY!

— Second service was again SLAMMED and we had a full house in third service as well.

— Third service was rowdy today. Unusually rowdy. Loved preaching to such a lively group. (Although I did go longer because of it)

— Spoke straight to the men today at Element. I was blunt and straightforward when it comes to how we can and should overcome sexual sin.

— I preached the story of David and Bathsheba today. Such a PERFECT illustration of the power and stages of sexual sin.

— What does a man need? 1. To be who he’s called to be (When Kings normaly went off to war David stayed home) 2. To be held accountable (David had NONE. Men, you may not want it but you NEED accountability.) 3. To understand the consequences (If David could have seen the tragedy would he have made the foolish decision?) 4. To take every necessary precaution (If you have to smash your computer THEN DO IT!)

— And we did smash a computer each service. Perfect illustration of the severity in which we must treat sexual sin. I wanted to use my sword, but found out (the hard way) when we practiced this morning that the sword I have is for display only. It’s not really meant for battle OR smashing computers. We ended up using a sledge hammer.

— I shared the accountability our pastoral staff has in place and subject ourselves to. We use www.covenanteyes.com for internet accountability. Each pastor has 2 accountability people who receive weekly emails on internet activity. One of the two people for each pastor is their own spouse.

— I also shared the 5 questions each pastor is asked every week. You can listen to the sermon online if you’d like to know more about that.

— I don’t EVER want to stand before this congregation and have to say “I couldn’t control myself so I am no longer elligible to lead as your pastor.”

— Success is looking your wife in the eye on your 50th wedding anniversary and saying “I’ve been faithful to YOU alone!”

— I’m begging God for godly men who will RISE UP and be the men of God we’ve been called to be! I don’t want the little boys in our church growing up without men they can look to as their examples. I don’t want to give them ANY excuse to not follow God.

— Had one couple share with me that they had missed last Sunday but watched it online last night before coming today. They shared how impactful it was for the health of their marriage.

— Talked to another young man who shared how thankful he was that we are willing to share something so relevant to life today.

— Had one first time guest who also shared how thankful she was to find our church. That this was JUST what she was looking for. PRAISE GOD!

— We gave out some playing cards we had made up to all the guys today. They had the Ace of Spades on them with the phrase “till the end” printed in the center of it. They are a reminder that this is one test we want to ACE. That the goal is to remain pure “till the end”

— Incredible worship set today. Man, Adam’s song “The One Who Loves Me” and the song “How He Loves Us” are incredibly powerful.

— They closed the service with the song Freedom. AMAZING way to close the service and take communion to.

— The one line in How He Loves wrecks me EVERY time. “I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way…He loves us” So many men are stuck in the cycle of sexual sin BECAUSE they continue to maintain their, and remain in their regrets.

— I am SO DESPERATE to see God move in our men. I think that showed today!

— Alright Element! That’s about it for today. So humbled to be able to serve along with you. You guys are AMAZING!

— Victory is possible. Freedom is available. Purity is attainable. What do you say?

Till the end,

Jeff

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XXXPosed in the paper

7 08 2009

Hey Element Church! Bailey from the newspaper interviewed me the other day and ran an article in the paper today about our XXXPosed sermon series. I thought it was very well reflected of what I wanted her to say. Check it out HERE.

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STOKED for Sunday

5 08 2009

MAN to say I’m excited about the challenge God has for us on Sunday would be an understatement. I’m speaking DIRECTLY to men on HOW to overcome sexual temptation. MAN, I’ve been there before. I’ve known what it’s like to NOT know a way out. I’ve had my secrets. I’ve had my struggles and I STILL have my temptations. We talked about the power of sex last week and we were pretty graphic in discussing how sexual sin so “clearly affects the body”. This week is MUCH MORE on how to overcome sexual sin. I am SO STINKIN’ SICK of seeing sexual sin keep our men from leading their lives, marriages, families and churches with the banner of holiness. We’re coming after the power of the enemy on Sunday folks. Buckle up! PLEASE join me in prayer for the absolute DESTRUCTION of the power of sex in the lives of our men. It’s CRIPPLING us and I’m so sick of it! I’ve been so moved by the grace and redemption of God today. The words of the song “How He Loves” keeps playing in my heart “I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way He loves”. Get any guy there you can! MEN, who’s with me in rising up and being the SONS OF GOD we’ve been called to be? We don’t have time to maintain our regrets. Our families needs us. Our friends need us. Our churches need us. Who’s with me? Sorry, had to get that off my chest.

To the end,

Jeff

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Are you good at protesting?

5 08 2009

I know I am. Not like standing out in a picket line or boycotting a certain store. I am GREAT at protesting to GOD!

In Exodus, we have this incredible story of rescue from slavery in the land of Egypt. Moses murdered someone and fled to the wilderness where God shows up to him in a burning bush. (I don’t have time to discuss it all, it really is one of the most amazing stories in Scripture. You should read it.) He calls Moses to go back and confront Pharaoh and lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Moses hesitates, but eventually through the miracles of God and the allowing of his brother Aaron to speak for him, he agrees.

Moses and Aaron go to the Israelite leaders and tell them what God is going to do. They show them the staff turning to a snake, and his hand turning white then healed. (Seriously, read it) EVERYONE was convinced. (I think it’s hilarious they were ooing and awwing over the staff and hand thinking that was God’s BIG MIRACLE. They had no idea what was coming) They thought they were gonna march right in there and BAM walk out of Egypt. But it didn’t happen like they thought it should. They went to Pharaoh but it only made him angrier. The work got harder. God, seemingly, didn’t come through. “Get to the point Jeff”.

Exodus 5:22 says “Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people Lord? Why did you send me?…You have done NOTHING to rescue Your people.” AFTER ONE TIME! ONE TIME.

Aren’t we the same way? God calls us to do something. Asks us to sacrifice. Promises He will provide. Whatever! Then the very FIRST time we think He should have fulfilled His duty, but didn’t, we go running back in protest. “You did NOTHING for me Jesus.”

IF MOSES WOULD JUST WAIT THE RED SEA WAS GOING TO PART! I need to remember most times that I DON’T HAVE A STINKIN’ CLUE about the timing of God! I can only trust. I can only obey! (Good old Hymn right there)

Trusting instead of protesting,

Jeff

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The Well

3 08 2009

Hey Element Church: We’ve been raising money and working on getting The Well up and running. We’re VERY excited about what The Well is going to offer for Element Church. 1. Increased youth ministry space. This is CRUCIAL. Fusion is a growing a thriving ministry and to offer them such a GREAT addition of space to hang out in and entertain their students before and after their ministry time is going to be outstanding. 2. Outreach. The Well will be a full service coffee shop during our ministry times. Soda machine, Foo Foo drinks and the like. The great part is…EVERY month the proceeds from The Well are going to go to a community outreach partner. Our desire is to increase our outreach giving through the coffee shop. (All coffee sold will be fair trade coffee as well) 3. Traffic flow. With 800 people coming to one of our three services, and the only space for people is the lobby it gets QUITE crowded. The Well is going to give us some much needed Sunday morning space which will open up some traffic flow through our welcome center. All in all, The Well is going to be a great addition to Element Church. We’ve raised about $11,000 of our $20,000 goal. We’ve broken it down to some simple math. If 200 people gave $20 a month for the next TWO months we’d be just shy of our goal. What do ya say? Can you give $20 a month? You can click HERE to even donate online if you’re from out of town. Sheetrock is all up and two knew giant entries are cut out into our lobby. Plumbing is next. Then the coffee bar, flooring and furniture and we’ll be up and running. Here are some updated pictures.