Untouchables

14 07 2009

It’s not too late to invite someone to attend our Untouchables series.  Here is a YouTube video you can use to email to your friends as an invitation.  We tackled the issue of character last Sunday and talked about how SERIOUS God takes sin in our lives.  We have two more topics left, Gossip and Money.  We feel these three topics are issues the church today needs to be addressed on and understand.  Can’t wait to announce our next series for August.  So excited for what we feel God is asking us to address.  SCARY but excited.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Above all else…

13 07 2009

What are you protecting above all else?  Yesterday at Element we talked about character.  One of our Elementers came up to me after 2nd service and shared something that I thought was GREAT.  I don’t have permission to use their name, so I won’t.  They said that in counseling they learned this:  “You protect that which you love most.”  What are you protecting?  What are you guarding?

Is there a sin you are keeping from someone?…a weakness your not letting anyone know about?…a mistake in your past that you want to keep quiet?…an old habit or guilty pleasure that no one knows about?…If so, THAT is what you love most!

Proverbs 4:23 says “Guard your heart above all else,for it determines the course of your life.”

3 John v. 12 says “Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, AS DOES the truth itself.”

WOW!  What does the truth speak about me?  What do I love most?  Are there any issues in my life that I am protecting because I love them.

ABOVE ALL ELSE, guard your heart!  May the truth speak highly of us.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Sunday Ruminations (7-12-09)

12 07 2009

GREAT services today.  Was good to be back in the saddle after a week off.  Here are my ruminations on the day.

— I’m wiped out.  It’s amazing how much preaching can wear you down.  Still have Partnership Class tonight, and a date with my wife.

— My voice was REALLY feeling it today.  Sab told me a few weeks ago “If you’d quit yelling at us (at church) maybe your voice wouldn’t hurt.”  I do get worked up.  No lie there.

— Good turnout and energy today.  I hate summer church attendance, but it is what it is.  Not many churches increase in attendcance over the summer.

—  We take the summer opportunity to really focus on aiming at the church.  Did that last year and this year.

—  We have 27 people signed up for baptism on Sunday.  Not sure all will follow through with that, but GREAT interest.  Gonna be a blast.

— We started Untouchables today.  Last year we took aim at social issues of the day. This year we are taking aim square at the church.  We are tackling three issues I think the church needs addressed on.

— I talked about character today:

- God cares FAR LESS about our accomplishments than we think, and FAR MORE about our character than we choose to act.

- We must stop thinking about our accomplishments and start acting like God accomplished something in us.

-  As Christians, its not that we want to hang out in the darkness, we just want some of the darkness to hang out with us.

-  I can’t experience the grace of God, until I acknowledge the truth of God.

— Didn’t hold any punches today when talking about character.  Too many Christians act as if sin is no big deal to God.

— Preached through acts 5:1-11 today.  It’s the story of Annanias and Saphira.  It’s a powerful story of how character matters.  Many people use it to talk about money.  I don’t think money is the issue in their story, character is.

—  Had a TON of FTG’s and was able to connect with a lot of them.  I LOVE hearing that FTG’s enjoyed the service.

— My sis and bro-in law were in church today.  I am so proud of them and where God is taking them in their life and ministry.  Was great to have them in church before they head overseas to follow God’s call.

— Alright, more on my mind but I need to review my partnership class notes.  Have Partnership at 4 PM.

— An Elementer is watching Jaydah for us tonight AND loaning us their convertible corvette to take out on a date.  CAN’T WAIT!

Following Christ,

Jeff


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First Friday (on the 2nd Friday)

9 07 2009

Hey Element Church!  Every first Friday of the month, since before we launched Element, we’ve been meeting for worship and prayer.  This one montly event is the most important thing we can do as a church.  PRAY!  Since last weekend was over the 4th, we moved First Friday to THIS Friday.  So come out!  We meet in the worship center, Adam leads us in worship, and we spend time in dedicated prayer for our city, other churches/pastors, and specifically for God’s work through Element this month.  No one is forced to pray out loud, it is just some open, unstructured, reverent worship and seeking of God’s face and favor.  We got BIG STUFF headed our way and we want God’s covering over us.  I look forward to First Friday every month, and believe we MUST be a people of prayer.

Praying,

Jeff


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Things I’m Currently Praying About

9 07 2009

Hey Element Church!  Don’t know if I’ve ever done this, but thought I would today.  Here are some things that are currently HIGH on my prayer list.  You can join me in them if you’d like.

1.  Purity — I have been SO CHALLENGED, literally broken recently, at the level of purity among Christians.  ESPECIALLY Christian men and pastors.  Just a few weeks ago, a very high profile church planter stood before his congregation and confessed to an adulterous affair with someone in the church.  He resigned and is no longer in the ministry.  My heart broke for him.  NONE of us are immune to sin.  NONE.  I pray DAILY for my own purity AND for the purity of the Element Staff and other pastors around our city.  Our enemy desires nothing more than to bring Christ’s representatives down, and he seems to be doing that more and more through sexual failure.  This is going to the be topic of an entire sermon series coming up at Element.  It’s one of my main prayers right now.

2.  Pastor Kody’s house — Pastor Kody joined our team the first week of June.  They have yet to sell their house in OK and are not able to get a home here until that sells.  This is a daily prayer of mine that God would provide the perfect buyer for their home, AND that the Bybees would find the perfect house here.

3.  E:kidz Pastor — This is the next hire at Element Church.  Financially, we are unable at this time to hire an e:kidz pastor, but this is my top Element ministry prayer request.  God has provided for every step at Element and every hire.  He will for this too.  Just praying for God’s provision and timing.  (We already have our guy, just need the resources and right timing)

4.  Finish The Well — Our goal is to launch The Well coffee shop on Sept. 13th.  We are making GREAT progress.  Money continues to come in for The Well, and I think we will eventually reach our goal of $20,000 to get it up and running.  The electric work is done, HVAC begins Saturday.  I’m pryaing that The Well would be operational AND for the impact it could have on our ministry and the City of Cheyenne.  ALL our proceeds from The Well are going to go to our community outreach partners and outreach efforts.  The profit made will benefit organizations that are serving the less fortunate of our city.  This could GREATLY increase our ability to impact Cheyenne and potentially, organizations around the world.

5.  My sisters family — My sister Jenni, and her husband Dale and their son are moving to an “undisclosed location” this month for a new phase in their ministry.  Dale will be teaching at an international school in a foreign country for at least two years.  This is a GREAT opportunity for Dale to do something he is passionate about and for Jenni and Dale to interact with people and live out their faith in front of them.  I’m very proud of them, and I’m praying NOT just for their protection (following Christ isn’t always safe), I’m praying for their CONNECTION.  That as they stay connected to the heart of Christ, they would lead others to the same.

Praying,

Jeff


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Defibrillator

8 07 2009

You  might need one when I tell you this.  Since June 29th PASTOR GRANT HAS POSTED THREE BLOGS!  Good stuff he wrote as always.  Go HERE to check it out. Great job Grant.  Cool stuff.


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What is God looking for?

8 07 2009

Some of our pastoral staff just recently attended a pastors conference in Colorado Springs, CO. One quote jumped out at me today as I was looking back through my notes from the week:

David Perkins said “The church is looking for greater methods, God is looking for greater men.  What ministry looks like, is NOT the most important, what its leaders look like IS.”

2 Chronicles 16:9 says  “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

That’s what God is looking for.  He’s not looking for the next great method, but the next great man.  He’s not looking for programs that look right but hearts that look right.  We get FAR too caught up in ministry and Christianity in how our churches and programs look and often forget that God is searching the WHOLE EARTH looking for those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.  I want Him to find me.  Do you?

Following Christ,

Jeff


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The Little Things

29 06 2009

So my family was gone for a little over 2 weeks.  Sabrina took all four of our children to Oklahoma to visit family and that left me here in Cheyenne by myself.  She has done this the past couple years but it still takes some getting used to.  (Last year she was gone for 5 weeks.  That can’t happen again.  It was brutal.)

I was mowing the lawn Saturday and eventually got to the point where I needed to move our trampoline that was now standing square in my way.  All the sudden I was overcome with a longing for my kids.  I missed them immensely in that moment.  It was weird.  Then again, all of a sudden I realized why.  You see, every time I mow the lawn there is something my kids MAKE SURE I do.  If they are home, they make it VERY clear NOT to move the trampoline until they are on it.  I will even stop mowing, find the kids, then move the tramp where it is out of my way.  They love it.  They always want to be on the tramp when I move it.  Jonah always says “Come get me when you’re ready to move the tramp.”   I stopped mowing, sat down and text my wife.  I said “Tell the kids I miss them.  I wish they were here.  I’m getting ready to move the trampoline.”

It was then that God spoke to me.  He spoke about the little things.  Right then, I didn’t miss their birth moment.  I didn’t miss their birthday parties.  I didn’t miss Kindergarten graduation, school plays or sports events.  I REALLY missed the little things.  I missed them being on the tramp when I moved it.  I went into Jaydah’s room and missed her pretty little smile.  I went into Jonah’s room and missed him jumping on my back.  I went into Mariah and Makalah’s room and missed the little giggles of my princess and care bear.  I missed saying goodnight to Mariah and when I say “See you tomorrow.”  She says “See you AFTER tomorrow.”  And laughs at herself.  It was the little things.

I think God misses the little things in me sometimes.  He doesn’t necessarily miss my conversion moment.  A moving worship experience.  A trip to the altar.  He misses the time alone with Him.  The moments of praise I used to give Him.  The thoughts of my heart going to Him instead of something else.  The spontaneous things that are “little” but mean the world.  I want God to ALWAYS have the little things in me and NOT just the big ones.  It’s the LITTLE things that become a BIG deal when they are gone.

Giving the little things,

Jeff


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Sunday Ruminations (6-28-09)

28 06 2009

I am VERY excited to fly to St. Louis today.  My wife and kids have been gone for 2 weeks and I’ll reunite with them tonight.  I also get to see all my dads side of the family.  Gonna be a BLAST hangin’ in St. Louis with the crazy Maness family.  White Castle is in my future.  Couple of Cardinals games.  Fireworks under the Arch.  Gonna be a GREAT week.  Here are my Ruminations on today.

— 10 people stood up and confessed Jesus as their Savior today.  WOO HOO.  So awesome!

— Third service we had one young lady, a first time guest, who stood up ALL by herself and confessed Jesus as Lord.  No one else stood that service.  She was beaming after church.  LOVE IT!

— If only for the one!

—  WOW, first service was sparse.  Ended up being a good turnout today.  2nd service was VERY full.  Summer attendance is upon us.

— Today’s topic:  God is generous.

Here are some things I said today concerning God’s generosity:

— When we say “generous” in concerns to God, the furthest thing from His mind is money, possessions, status or health.

— It is freedom from sin, not financial gain that God is most concerned with.

—  It is victory and not valuables that God ultimately desires for us.

— God wants to do a work IN us before He ever wants to do a work FOR us.

— Sang a GREAT song written in 1225 today.  NO, not AT 12:25 but IN 1225…the year.  All Creatures Of Our God And King.  AWESOME hymn and the band rocked it out today.

—  I love coconut cake.  Talked about that today!  lol

— Ok, that’s all I got.  I’m tired and I can’t wait to go see my family.  Plane flies out tonight at 9:30 PM.

— I’ll see you all on the other side.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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One Prayer Day 28: Alive

28 06 2009

Matthew 28:  God is ALIVE

This is the last day of our 28 day journey through Matthew and through praying for our city.  I can’t think of a better way to end our 28 days than with this GREAT reminder about God.

Matthew 28:5 says  5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

Jesus WAS crucified.  He is NOT dead any longer.  He is ALIVE!  God is ALIVE!  That should change us.  That should rally us.  Encourage and inspire us.  Our God is NOT in a grave, or bound to a book.  He is NOT just a story!  Our God IS ALIVE!

He’s ALIVE!  He is with you where you are, He is ahead of where you are going and He has FORGOTTEN your forgiven past.  He is ALIVE!

This Truth is THE MOST IMPORTANT Truth of our Christian faith.  God’s not dead, He’s ALIVE!  Live like it!

Living because HE’s ALIVE,

Jeff


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