Sunday AfterThoughts!

Starting on Friday night, I began having a buzz and an anticipation in my spirit for Sunday. All day yesterday as we were constructing the set design for our new series, I was so pumped for today. God is up to something at element and I don't understand why I get to be a part of it. I feel so blessed. I have so much to learn.

This morning I got up, just pumped. Again I couldn't wait to start rehearsal. And it went great. And then FIRST SERVICE happened. Man it was rough. Between a broken string, a broken guitar (pickup sounded like it was exploding, headphones that were blown, so i didnt hear anything the entire service, and no metronome, a backup guitar out of tune, and then peaking with distortion, wow. I struggled honestly today. It was tough. After so much anticipation and excitement for everything today, I was discouraged. I went and hid in my office and pouted, "why this, why that". As Nathan and I reflected on how tough it was to continue, I jumped into the psalms to set my heart right. God spoke something big to me during that time, which I think is key for us as leaders:

"I MAKE IT HAPPEN".

"Your cool new set design. Awesome. It helps with what I am wanting to do. Your creative spin on an acoustic set. Awesome. Thanks for changing things up. Your light show, haze, sound tech, motion backgrounds, cool songs, etc. Awesome. It all helps people find life in ME. BUT I MAKE IT HAPPEN. YOU DON'T. ME SHOWING UP IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. Not that everything would go just right although I think its important to eliminate distractions. SALVATION AND REPENTANCE IS THE GOAL. Not a cool set, good tunes, creative guitars. I MAKE IT HAPPEN.

I felt a huge heart check and talked with Nathan and encouraged us in our attitudes.

THEN...

I go to close service and my guitar freaks out again, sounding like it was going to explode. So I dismissed everyone, and Nathan and I just laughed. My friend Brian came up to me and said "REMEMBER WHAT YOU ALWAYS TELL THE TEAM, WHAT ITS ABOUT". He is right I just didn't want to hear it.

WOW.. Sorry so long. Just thought I would be honest about my feelings.

However, 2nd service was moving. No crazing technical things happened and worship was powerful. It was both services, my heart was just right second service.

702 people today. So good.

Love seeing new faces every week and hearing the stories of how they come.

We built a sweet set design this weekend, I will post pictures tommorow.

We stripped everything down and did an acoustic set. Lots of fun. Good job nathan.

Then to top everything off we baptized 8 people tonight. I loved that. It was amazing watching all those people.

Alright I am off to play some "SETTLERS.

Peace out!

Set List:
The Chase is on - Tony Sutherland
Unchanging - Chris Tomlin
Everything Glorious - David Crowder
Yearn - Adam Cruz
Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle



Adam

a scary place

so I started my 21 BEST day challenge. one of those is to work out consistently. I have an ideal weight goal, I am attempting to acheive. IT SUCKS!! LOL. Man are there days that just are lame. But I have to stay committed and focused. I feel so much better when I work out. I feel so much better now that I don't eat fast food and have reduced my pop intake.

This thought hit me today as I was out to get lunch. I was craving so bad the taste of a sonic cheeseburger and a dr. pepper. I remembered what that tasted like. And how much I love it. But I always, EVERYTIME, feel tired and drooggy and horrible after I eat it. I never feel good. But I convinced myself of this: the pain I will endure afterwards is worth the pleasure now. HOLD ON! So then it hit me, DO WE HAVE THAT ATTITUDE TOWARD SIN.

THIS IS THE SCARRIEST PLACE WE CAN BE.

When the pleasure of a moment is worth the pain of a lifetime. We replace the pleasure of sin, KNOWING the result, and become OK with the after effects, a miserable life and a scary eternity. You see, if I never choose to stop eating fast food, it has a bad ending for me. If settle for the pleasure, DEATH is the result.

As I was listening to a new IHOP song called I surrender, I heard the line "YOUR LOVE MAKES IT WORTH IT". I said, "JESUS, cause my heart to find PLEASURE in you because your love makes the PAIN OF STARVING MY SIN LIFE worth it".

And this morning I remember reading James 1:14 in my devotions: "temptation comes from our own DESIRES, which entice us and drag us away. These desire give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death".

STARVE YOUR SIN!

STARVING,
ADAM

Sunday AfterThoughts!

Yesterday was wonderful.

Jesus was lifted high and people are finding financial freedom.

Joe Sangle ended our series 21 on the topic of finances. Helping people become financially free. He did a great job and we have already heard stories of people making steps into financial freedom.

This series really really has the potential to change our lives forever. If we will apply the 5 weeks, then our lives will not be the same. It does us no good if we don't apply the principles. I encourage everyone to pick up the complete "series in a can" of 21. Re-listen to it and make some life changes. So Good. Great job Jeff on putting those messages together and not being afraid to challenge.

I love that as a church we are not afraid of any topic. There are so many REAL LIFE issues that REAL people are dealing with and they are finding freedom in Jesus every week. As Tim Stevens said, "the church is providing answers for questions the world is NOT asking". I love that we get to partner with Jesus in helping people life and becoming free in REAL areas.

Our new series WILD GOOSE CHASE starts next week. Invite people thru this video below. Email it, facebook it, myspace it. LOL.


The Wild Goose Chase from Jeff on Vimeo.

Grab a bunch of rave cards and invite your friends.

May we continue to make HELL less populated!!

Set List 2-1-09
My Savior Lives - New Life Worship
Glorified - New Life Worship
Enough - Chris Tomlin
Pleasing to You - New Life Worship
Everyday - Hillsong United

Let the chase begin,
Adam