The Weight of the Race

A couple of weeks ago I was spending some time in my devotions and praying about life and ministry and such. I felt God speak this to me:

Ministry is like a relay race. The kind with a baton. The way we get started determines the way we end. Everyone hands off the baton to the other racer. Its of most importance that the guy in front does the best he can so that the next guy doesn't have to make up the slack of the other guy, which eventually leads to a bad finish for the final guy.

This is why the greeters in the parking lot, the ones folding bulletins, those leading worship, those bringing the word, those dealing with kids, student ministries, and everything else carries huge weight.

I think sometimes we separate ministries. Saying "well, that's the student department and that's the children's, etc". Not realizing that if I drop the baton as a first impressions guy or a youth worker, I potentially damage what God wants to do from the pulpit in someones heart.

As a worship leader, I must make sure I do everything I can to the best of my ability to help people receive what God has for them thru the word God has given pastor Jeff.

I think sometimes we get lazy and don't carry the "weight of the race" and that's when we start dropping batons in ministry. That goes for all areas. People begin to leave and you become a bad steward of the talents and gifts God has given you.

The flip side of that is, the beauty of working hard and to the best of our abilities. When we train hard, the end result is worth it.

We are all in this for one purpose. Many roles, one goal.

Learning,
Adam

Be The Church Day video!

Here is a link to the video for Be The Church day, where we canceled church to go out and BE the church. 6 projects and peoples lives were changed. God did a miracle. It was a very powerful thing to be apart of. This entire series has been incredible and we are seeing God change our minds and hearts towards what the church is supposed to REALLY BE! Enjoy...

http://vimeo.com/6727011

Sunday Set List

Solution - Hillsong United
Beautiful Jesus - Kristian Stanfill
Light up the World - Desperation Band
Give me your eyes - Brandon Heath
Go Tell It - Lee Mcderment

Is Jesus recognized in your life and church?

I was reading in my morning devotions today in Mark chapter 6. Jesus has been healing people, feeding people, teaching people, and wanted to get away and rest cause so many people were coming and going. Then the disciples jump on a boat and head over to Bethsaida, Jesus walks on water, calms every thing. And when they got to Gennesaret it says:
"The people recognized Jesus at once, and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was. Wherever he went-in villages, cities, or the countryside(WYOMING)-they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed."

I was moved by the fact that the people RECOGNIZED him, and responded. They brought everyone the knew that needed him, it sounded chaotic.

It made me think, do our cities recognize Jesus in our churches and our lives. Are the "SICK" coming to find life in Jesus. Is there a sense of chaos to get close to Jesus and possibly be healed.

Jesus may your name be so famous in our city, that the hurting, broken, lost, rich, poor, healthy and unhealthy, men, women, and children will flood your churches to "touch the fringe our your robe" and be healed and given life to its fullest. Let us get out of the way and simply provide the place for YOU and them to meet.

Adam

Sunday Set List

Bare Bones Sunday is what we called this past Sunday. We literally used ZERO volunteers. NONE. NO ONE. It was the WORST Sunday ever in the history of Element Church as far as presentation goes. No one greeted, no donuts, coffee, no ushers, no worship guides, no lyrcs on the screen, no screen at all, no theatrical lighting, no sound (I PLUGGED MY MIC AND GUITAR INTO MY AMP) and led worship, no First Impression people in the lobby, no door openers, no one in the parking lot. IT WAS HORRIBLE. FOR THIS REASON, we can't do anything without our volunteers. Our volunteers are priceless and they do a phenomenal job. It takes over 100 volunteers to pull off 1 Sunday morning. We didn't want to TALK about it anymore we wanted to SHOW it. The point was made.

-- We received over 90 interest cards for people to step up and volunteer.

Set List:
O Praise Him: David Crowder
Reign In Us: Starfield
Funny How: Adam Cruz
For Who You Are: Hillsong United