Surfboards and Worship

Here I told you I would post some pics of our set design!
These were 2 12ft tall stained glass windows, with hymnals and candles in front to set the mood of a liturgical service.

However it back fired on us when everyone thought they were Surfboards. LOL. All that time spent painting, and everyone thinks we put surfboards up. HAHA well I guess next time we do a better job.










Worshipping Him,
Adam

Sunday Afterthoughts!

Yesturday, Jeff and I tagged teamed our message. It was a great idea I think. One of the things we talked about is how we can base our worship experiences completely on feelings. Its not just about that. Its funny because Jeff and I both didnt feel it yesturday. It was a weird sunday. maybe God had it that way just to eat our own words. Funny how God will do that.

Amber and I almost lost our home in a fire cause by cooking oil. I burned my hands with 2nd degree burns all over running the pot of oil out of the house to save it, which plays a role in how I felt yesturday. I will post pics later this week.

We had 206 people this week. Unreal. Another 40 people jump from last week. Jeff had really cool connection this week that we will share about soon, for potential meeting space.

God is good!

We built 2 12ft pieces of Stainglass windows. I will post our stage set up in a couple days.

Worship set this week:
LIVE TO WORSHIP - NEW LIFE WORSHIP
NOT TO US - CHRIS TOMLIN
O WORSHIP THE KING - DAVID CROWDER
FOR WHO YOU ARE - UNITED
HERE IN YOU PRESENCE - NEW LIFE WORSHIP
I STAND AMAZED - CHRIS TOMLIN

WORSHIPPING HIM,
ADAM

Stage Setup

Last Week we talked about Change. So we made this Ginormous Lite Brite out of Ply wood that spelled change. Thought this was one of the coolest pictures of it.

We also have a really cool set desing planned for this week.

WHY DO WE DO SET DESIGNS AND SPEND MONEY ON CHURCH?
Great Question Glad you asked!

Because when 8 people give their hearts to Christ and surrender to Him in 2 weeks of services, all of a sudden $50 was well worth it.

Is Hollywood and MTV and Starbucks allowed to be the only inovative and creative people out there. I serve a God who is far more creative that Hollywood will ever be and Starbucks could ever dream to be. So do I just sit back and say thats nice? NO we get up and we get creative and God pours it through us and PEOPLE get saved. Maybe if some churches stopped wasting money in a trust fund that sits for 9000 years only never to be touched till a RAINY DAY and quit worrying ONLY about a buildings and started applying some creativity to how they reach the Lost, then maybe some churches would start seeing the LOST come around and find Jesus. Which that IS what IT is ALL about, RIGHT? Then buildings and trust funds are all secondary and God works those things out.

There is a little venting for ya.

Worshipping Him
Adam

Sunday Afterthoughts (copyright 2007 adam cruz) LOL

af·ter·thought (ftr-thôt)
n.
An idea, response, or explanation that occurs to one after an event or decision.
***Its mine Jeff and Grant*** LOL

God showed up!!! It was awesome. The band just kicked it up a notch a did a terrific job leading Element Church to the throne room where God was worshipped. Great videos. Great Message. Decisions for Christ. Krispy Kreme Donuts. 167 people. Oh my. Yes God is up to something and it rocks to be a part. We had 124 adults in e:worship which is almost 40 up from last weeks 80 something. God is on the move and we are trying to hand on. Ha. With decisions like where do we go from here for a facilty, being that if 20 more show up next week we are maxed, to how do we get people connected, to volunteering, ect. ect. Lots of unknowns at this point. Pray for wisdom for us.

Set list last week was:
What I've done - Lincoln Park (Prelude)
We Shine - Steve Fee
Marvelous Light - Charlie Hall
Mighty to Save - United (didnt get to do because of broken string, LOL)
From the Inside Out - United
Jesus paid it all - Chris Tomlin
The Reason - Hoobastank

Worshipping Him,
Adam

Sunday Recap

Well if things went as my dream was telling me this morning we would have had a very sad service. It was weird because last week, Launch week, I had a great night rest, however this week I was a mess. I could not sleep at all along with Jeff and Grant. Not sure if there was something spritually going on or what but none of us slept. I dreamed that Jeff wanted to go and shoot a video for next week at like 7:00am which is usually when we start setting up. I was like "Jeff we can do this later this week, but he insisted." So we got to church at like 8:00 and I was like there is no way we will be able to set up. The dream made me a nervous mess.

However our service went great. I believe God was there and was worshiped. I am learning a lot and still have so much to learn. Worship dynamics and people and all the things that go into worship ministry is so much more than you would ever think. Dont get me wrong there is nothing in the world I would rather be doing, but I am learning a lot.

We were praying this week for 120 and we had 127. God is so faithful to bring the people and call the hearts if we will be faithful to give our all to Him and do all we can. God wants us to dream and it takes a lot of trust and faith to dream as big as He is. If I caught it right from Jeff we had 5 more decisions for Christ this morning. This is what its all about. I am just blown away that God just simply uses us for His glory. And yet its so simple. Just give everything and He gives everything. HA.

Curtis (our Youth Pastor) jumped in on Djembe for a new rendition of "I belong to Jesus" to open up the service. Great job Curtis. Bryant and Morgan and Amber just do a wonderful job every week. It gets better and better.

Doing a couple of really cool songs this sunday. Check out next weeks video to hear them. They will really pull in well with the message. Probably the two most complicated songs we have done yet.

Well thats a wrap up.

Worshipping Him,
Adam Cruz

Weekend pre-look

I am very excited about this week. I didnt start out feelin this way. In fact I felt very unprepared and not ready. Mentally I wasn't in it like I was last week. Partly because this week in our heads doesnt carry the same weight as last week. WHY? Why doesnt it. 5 people got saved last week. There was no other reason that we launched element church last week than for that reason. Is this week any different. Absolutely not. We want 5 people commiting their lives to Christ again and again, week after week. Our focus should never move from this no matter how cool or creative we get. Anyways I had to have a heart check this week and look at what this is all about.

Very excited about this week though. We have some creative set designs for the sermon. Can't wait to get more and more creative with our set designs.

Worship set this week is:

I Belong to Jesus- Dennis Jernigan (new chord progression and totally acoustic)
Everyone - Desperation Band
O praise Him- David Crowder Band
Let everything thing that has breath- Chris Tomlin
Doxology- David Crowder Band version

Worshipping Him
Adam Cruz

so what is next?

Man I tell you I honestly did not know what to expect yesturday at our Launch service. I really thought we would have some people, but NOT 200. I mean seriosly I went back and forth on what the e worship room would look like. It was stinkin packed. I cannot express what the energy in that room is like when 150+ people are packed in vs. 40-60. Everyone fed off eachother and worships their heart out. And when you look out and people are literally 5 feet from you cause they are packed in on the first row, that is amazing. I absolutely new that God was worshipped in that place this morning. I tell you what people came expecting. 5 people got saved yesturday. Unbelievable. I can't wait to see them plug in and join life groups and get connected and watch what God does through their new lives.

Our band did a fabulous job. Every week they get better and better, I just love it.
Our set list was:
Not to us - Chris Tomlin
Sing to the King - Billy Foote
Glory- Hillsongs United
How great is our God - Chris Tomlin

Jeff delivers such great words. I love it. You can check it out online be wed. of this week.

Here we are

Man its crazy to think that in 2 days we are launching Element Church. We have poured our selves out with everything we know to do to launch well and I feel so good about it. God has given us connections, money, creativity to make this happen. The greatest thing I love about it, is that it doesnt end here. It gets bigger, better, and so much deeper from here out. In Feburary of this year I accepted the job here at Element Church. Its scary to look back at that time and think of saying NO. There is nothing else I would rather do than this right here.

We had an incredible band practice today. Our band rocks. Every week we get tighter and stronger and better and I love it. Bryant is the first drummer I have met that practices when I give him music to work on. I love having him on the team. Morgan has stepped up and done a great job. Can't wait for sunday and can't wait for whats next.

Love it love it love. The emails and people we talk to are just excited about what God is doing. I really see God's hand all over this and here we go.

Worshipping Him,
Adam