Sunday Night Reflections
Holy Macaroni! Was today awesome or what?! Man I 'bout lost it a couple of time's hearing and seeing all the students engaging in worship down in the "pit." Have to give a yell out to the Weaver's – they brought 5 first-time – students with them today – that just rocks! I have been asking God to move in the hearts of students and to do something extraordinary in this community that would lift the name of Jesus Christ above all. Today I believe was the beginning of that! 
We had a great day today everywhere I looked. Elmwood Expressions was buzzing today and I love the energy that I feel out in the Atrium right before our Gathering begins. To see families with kids heading to KW and teenagers walking in with friends, dads, moms, older, younger, single, married, wish they were married, special people with special needs such as my man BJ – is just blowing me away.
I literally had to gain my composure a couple of times while Nick was leading us in worship – there was such passion and energy from the FRONT row with teenagers passionately singing to looking back and seeing some of their parents doing the same – it was like God was pressing in on my spirit saying - if we will be faithful to being His Ambassadors and loving Him and others we will see Him do great and mighty things in and through ordinary people (like myself).
I had a blast jumping into our first "Checkpoint Series" called Live Free or Die Hard. We established today that ultimate freedom comes under God's authority! We talked about the principle of OVER/UNDER saying that "everybody has somebody OVER them so everybody is UNDER somebody." The second thing we said about this principle was that "if you want authority you must be under authority." If you missed today I would encourage you to go on our web site www.thechapelatelmwood.com and download the message (tuesday) on itunes.
Forgot to announce our first all CHURCH PICNIC at Delaware Park on July 1 following our Gathering. Mark your calendars and make sure you come and get to meet some new people that make up this quickly growing community of faith (had 274 total today) while eating some great food. This is going to be an old-fashioned pot-luck – bring a couple of dishes to share with others kind of picnic! More info to come.
We had 9 first time kids in KW today which is great. Must tell you that the place to serve is KW. Earl Leatherland is doing a tremendous job leading and equipping a small army of young and old to do things that most (you know who I am talking about) of you would never do or get to do on your own. The Chapel at Elmwood is not a "fan" based church. We want people who join us to get in the game not to just sit and watch! You will grow deeper in your intimacy with God and others when you serve – it's as simple as that. So pray about what team to join and get in the game and find out what you have been missing!
