Sunday Night Reflections
Good Gracious! What a great day! I had someone ask me today if it was ok to say that it gets better every week? I certainly hope it is because I am in trouble if it isn't. Today was a different day for us in our short history – I have many thoughts going through my head so let me list them:
- Glad to be back from DC and the Buzz Conference. It was a great couple of days and what is awesome is that this time (verses last year) around I get to come back to something incredible that God has allowed us to launch not just working toward.
- I was excited about today but I was tired getting to the theater this morning. I also sensed that our Make Over/First Impressions teams were also tired. Summer in Buffalo is a busy time – late nights, full days – trying to jam all you can into a couple of months – so I sat in the upper deck at around 9:00 in aud. 14 and just asked God that He would energize us and meet with us today. He did!
- Had several people gone today from our Special Teams so everybody had to pick it up a little (thanks Mike and others)- it is great to see new faces on these teams! If you have come a few times to Elmwood and you love the experience – join the Special Teams crew and help us create that experience for somebody else!
- Praying for our Make Over Team Head Coach Bob Zima, he had a major back muscle spasm attack this week – he's not as young as he used to be – it's easy to forget that at times – Bob get some rest and slow down!
- Worship was powerful today – the song "Carried to the Table" just got all over me while Jenna and the guys were leading us (Leeland is the group that sings it) it is just a great picture of where we are and what happens to us and for us. So thankful that we get to experience worship in such a passionate way. I think that is a real part of the early DNA of Elmwood – thank you Father!
- SO COOL to have a time of prayer corporately together like we did today.
- I really wanted to share the story of how Elmwood was launched becuase I think it is important for those who don't know the sacrifice that has been made for Elmwood to get up and running. Thank You Pastor James Andrews (at Home) Pastor Jerry Gillis (still traveling) for the leadership, sacrifice, vision to lead a community of faith to reach our world starting right here in Buffalo!
- We had our first picnic and on a scale of 1-10 it might have been a 12
– what a great time it seemed we ALL had. Good to know we have some good cooks! I was blown away just watching people connect with and get to know people that just a few weeks ago did not even know exsisted. Can't wait for our next one! - Can't wait for us all to go to the Bisons game in acouple of weeks.
- How is it that in just a few weeks this community of faith – feels like home!
- I love the authenticity that I am seeing. I hope and pray that we will be a safe place for people to walk into and find love and acceptance with NO false pretense. God met all of us in a bad place (whether you know it or acknowledge it)!
I could go on but that is enough for today. Here is what I pray for us this week. That we will ask God to help us simply obey His Word. If we do we will experience victory!
