sunday afterthoughts

YOU CHOOSE set list was today. I had a great time doing that. YOUCHOOSE was Element Church's chance to pick the set list for sunday. Great job on picking good songs.

It is always so tough to rehearse on sunday morning only. I was nervous about today because we didn't have thursday night. Reheasal is always rough on sunday morning that way. But I had a major heart check today. I really felt like God was saying, just "press in". Get up there and press in. Don't worry about what got rehearsed and what did not, just press in. So I really encouraged the band today to just PRESS IN. If we choose to go there and people see that we are connecting and responding to our creator it will inspire it in their hearts as well. If we choose to get worked up on tempos and perfection, (WHEN WE HAVE DONE ALL WE CAN), the people will see it and it can be more of a distraction than missing a beat. Anyways, big learning stuff for me today. Worship is so much about the CHOICE. PRESS IN and CHOOSE to worship regardless of how you feel. WOW. That is more than an afterthought. lol.

Please be patient with us in our tech area. We have some big decisions to make tommorow in the area of our sound. We have fought this room a little to get it where we need it. We have not been happy thus far. We understand its been louder but full in previous weeks and softer but lacks fullness in other weeks. We are working on solving all that soon.

Great job tech team. You guys sacrifice a lot and learn a lot, thanks for your energy and time.

Jeff really nailed some things for me in my life today. Listen to his podcast, its a good reminder for our change over into the new facility. ITS NOT ABOUT A BUILDING, ITS ALL ABOUT JESUS.

Looking forward to a relaxing week of hanging with friends.

21 is going to ROCK OUR WORLD. Make sure to get in on that series. God will mess you up and its going to be so good. He has already been messing me up and I am looking forward to what he will do thru this series. Make sure to invite some friends.

ROCKIN AROUND THE TREE VIDEO will be up this week. Check back on Tuesday.

Set List for Sunday Dec. 28th (YOU CHOOSE):
Happy Day - Tim Hughes
Counting on God - New Life Worship
Yearn - Adam Cruz
Glorious One - Steve Fee
Came to the Rescue - Hillsong

"this isn't your grandma's christmas service"

last night element church pulled off a christmas event like none i have been too. ROCKIN AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE was a rockin good time. We had so much stinking fun as a band. Every time we transitioned into our next scene we would laugh and talk about how much fun we are having. Again I can't express how much fun i had.

I was so stressed and nervous about pulling this event off. 2 weeks ago I pulled together our set list for the night. Introduced everything to the band. Some of the songs they laughed at me for. We did 3 rehearsals, then last week I put together videos for transitions. Then we had a caotic dress rehearsal and had so much to get done for tuesday night. Then tuesday night happened and I tell you what, it was rockin. Our tech team pulled off an amazing light show, my creative team made snow fall from the ceiling and the band pulled of a drummer boy version that was killer.

Over 500 people came out to worship God thru some rock n roll. Thanks to all who came out. You made it so much fun.

The greatest quote of the night was Curtis Marshall's welcome, "this will not be your grandma's christmas service, UNLESS YOUR GRANDMA GOES TO ELEMENT". The coolest thing is so many do go to element and love it.

I will be posting a link on this blog of the full service start to finish on VIMEO. Stay tuned for that.

Amber and I just flew into Wichita, KS. which is now home again. We had a great time with family and looking forward to a relaxing week.


relaxing,
adam

YOU CHOOSE RESULTS

FAST SONGS:
SALVATION IS HERE
COUNTING ON GOD
HAPPY DAY

MEDIUM SONGS:
YEARN
MIGHTY TO SAVE
GLORIOUS ONE

SLOW SONGS:
THE STAND
CAME TO MY RESCUE
FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Again I will pick 5 of these songs to build a set list with. You'll have to wait till sunday to know which five. Thanks for participating.

You Choose Update

Only 16 hours left.

Here are the Current standings for you choose!!

FAST SONGS:
Happy Day
Salvation is here
Love the Lord

MEDIUM SONGS:
Yearn
Mighty to Save
Hosanna

SLOW SONGS:
The Stand
At the Cross
Came to my Rescue



VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE.

Vote here!!

sunday afterthoughts

Ill begin with, what I thought was the coolest part of the day. Jeff actually did an altar call and 10 people came forward. SO GOOD!

Wow what a week it has been. I want to say thank you to our worship team. They have poured some incredible hours into rehearsals lately. Not only thursdays but tuesdays and several weekends. They sacrifice a lot so that we have good music at element. Thanks you guys.

Rockin around the tree on Tuesday, can't wait. Its going to be a great time.

YOU CHOOSE UPDATE:
I will be pulling the vote at 11:59pm Tuesday the 23rd. Results will be posted christmas eve the 24th. Again I will pick 5 of the 9 songs.
Here are the current standings:

FAST SONGS:
Happy Day - 53 votes
Salvation is here - 47 votes
Love the Lord - 36 votes
Close in contest:
Solution - 35 votes
Counting on God - 30 votes

MEDIUM SONGS:
Yearn - 67 votes
Mighty To Save - 63 votes
Hosanna - 41 votes
Close in contest:
Glorious One - 33 votes
Madly - 31 votes

SLOW SONGS:
The Stand - 57 votes
At the Cross - 53 votes
Came to my rescue - 49 votes
Close in contest:
From the inside out - 49 votes
God of this city - 35 votes

Make sure to grab "21" invite cards, to invite people to our next series. This series has the potential to ROCK YOUR WORLD if you let it. I am already having my world rocked. Please make sure your friends and family get here for "21".

Set list sunday december 21st:
Sing, Sing, Sing - Chris Tomlin
O come let us adore him - New Spring Church Version
God has come - New Life Church
Spring of Life - Kristian Stanfill
Mighty to Save - United
I celebrate the day - relient k

---adam

you choose update

So up until now I have allowed unlimited entries. Due to some people only be able to vote 1 time a day and others having the ability to sit and vote all day long, I am limiting everyone to 1 vote entry per day. This will help balance the EXTREME changing results out. Thank you all for participating, it has been fun to watch the votes tally up and the 28th is going to be a good time.

Adam

sunday afterthoughts

well today wasn't as weird as last week, however I do have to admit it is taking some adjusting with our new facility. I love it and especially love not setting up and tearing down each week, however its just taking some adjusting.

a (-34) degrees was the temp today. It was cold. When we got there at 7 this morning it was 55 inside. I wasn't sure I would even be able to play guitar because my fingers were so cold.

The band rocked it today. We wrote a new version of Joy To The World that was a lot of fun.

Jeff has done a fantastic job with this series, honestly, when we had come up with the series idea I thought it was great but we didn't have 4 topics. We knew a couple issues we wanted to address, but nothing was nailed down. All that said, the topics and delivery has been amazing. Deep issues are being drawn out that I had no idea were going to be so impactful.

We ended todays service with a response time, (so nice to actually be able to do that), we had 3 tables setup with bowls and incense (symbolic of burning). Jeff talked on Family but more than that on forgiveness and invited people to let go of hurts by family or close ones in your life. We had them write down there hurts on paper and place them in a bowl. I sang "Carried to the Table" by Leeland and it was a very special time.

Remember to go to www.elementweb.net/youchoose and vote for your ideal set list for December 28th. You have until TUESDAY December 23rd. Again we pick 5 of the top 9 songs to build a set list. Here are the current standings:

FAST SONGS:
Happy Day
Salvation is Here
Counting on God
Close Behind:
Let Your Kingdom Come
I will never stop


MEDIUM SONGS:
Mighty to Save
Yearn
Glorious One
Close Behind:
You never let go
Here I am to worship

SLOW SONGS:
Came to the Rescue
The Stand
From the inside out
Close Behind:
At the Cross
God of this city

Please pray for safe travels for Jeff and his family as they travel to the funeral of Sabrina's grandmother.

Our next series is going to be one not to miss. More details coming THIS SUNDAY!

Set List sunday December 14th:
Counting on God - New Life Church
Joy to the World - Hillsong United
O Come let us adore him - Third Day version
Here is our King - David Crowder
Your Name - New Life Worship
Carried to the table - LEELAND

---Adam

YOU CHOOSE UPDATE

Alright votes are coming in like crazy. Just a heads up.... YOU CAN VOTE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT. SOME HAVE VOTED EVERYDAY. LOL. Here are the current standings:

FAST SONGS:
Happy Day
Counting on God
Salvation is here

MEDIUM SONGS:
Mighty To Save
Yearn
Glorious One

SLOW SONGS:
Came to the Rescue
From the inside out
How Great is our God

sunday afterthoughts

yesturday "was", period. It happened. I felt like I was in an entirely different church leading worship. It was amazing and awkward at the same time.

10 people got saved yesturday. I told my wife, "that is the greatest way we could have entered the new facility".

I love this church and being used by God in what He is doing here.

Remember to go to www.elementweb.net/youchoose to vote for the set list on the last sunday of the year.

Also make sure to get your tickets for Rockin Round the Tree. Our Christmas EveEve service. YOu won't want to miss it. Tickets are almost gone. We are out of first service and half way thru 2nd service.

Set List:
Counting on God - New Life Worship
Gloria - Mercy Me
Glorified - New Life Worship
Maker of Heaven - New Life Worship
Wrap me in your arms - Lisa Gungor
Permanent - David Cook

YOU CHOOSE

Alright the votes are coming in quickly. If you have not voted go to www.elementweb.net/youchoose and put in your choice. A lot of you are only picking 3 songs total. You need to choose 3 songs from each category. You have until the 22nd to vote. We will choose 5 songs from the top 9.

Here are the current standings:
Fast - Happy Day with 8 votes
Medium - Mighty to save - 11 votes
Slow - How Great is our God - 10 votes


Waiting
Adam

We Are IN

WE PASSED INSPECTIONS!!!!!!
WE WILL WORSHIP IN OUR NEW LOCATION ON THIS SUNDAY

excited,
Adam