(Ok, so that’s a pretty cheesy title)

Today, was the first preview service for Element, Tampa’s newest church plant headed up by my friend, Bobby Triplett.

Obviously, given the fact that this was the very first corporate gathering of the church there were a few snags, nothing that can’t be fixed. Overall, it was quite the gathering. Number one, the church can’t afford chairs yet, so picture, if you will 145 folks in lawn chairs, yoga balls, and picnic blankets spread out across a 5,000 square foot dimly-lit concrete floor. Then picture all 145 of those folks crying out to their creator and catching the vision of what Element Church is. It was quite the site to see.

I approached this day with a bit of trepidation. You see, Bobby and I had talked a very long time ago about the vision that God cast in him to plant this church, and what this church would be and how it would change the City of Tampa. Initially, without little thought or even an ounce of prayer I jumped on board and said “heck yes, lets do this thing!” Then, Bob brought in this guy Chris to speak to us one Monday night at Revolution (which was at the time, what I considered my church, and the ministry that Bobby was leading). For those of you that have never had the opportunity to meet him, Chris Elrod is essentially, in my opinion someone who is deeply rooted in his faith and not afraid to bring a message if he feels led by the spirit to do so. That particular night, he brought a message and I begin questioning where and what my purpose in Element was to be. In the end, I really felt like I needed to take a time out and eventually told Bobby that I wouldn’t have a part in what he was doing.

That was about 7 or 8 months ago. Through the past 7 or 8 months I have been wandering around aimlessly looking for a sense of purpose and direction. I have spent countless hours praying and literally arguing with God about what it is He wants me to do and where it is He wants me to be. You see, I’m a judgmental bastard, as are most human beings. With me though it’s not judging the clothes someone wears or the car they drive, it’s judging their character. I tare people a part and insanely over-analyze who they are and what their intentions are. (It’s a horrible character flaw that I am working diligently on overcoming) This was such a case. In talking with folks well before Element came to be I was feeling like a lot of people were involved simply because it was the cool thing to do. As, we all know I really HATE jumping on the cool train. I felt like, the intentions of a lot of the folks involved didn’t properly align with the vision that God had cast in Bobby, and subsequently he cast for Element. I was allowing my judgment of those around me to get in the way of a vision that I have stood behind, and fully supported since the beginning.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Kenny and I are talking, I had been considering the idea of getting involved in Element, solely because all my other ideas had crashed and burned and I was having a hard time finding a church family to be a part of that accepted me for who I was. I began praying about my place in the world, in the city, in my job and in God’s kingdom. I really felt as if there was a reason for me to be a part of Element church and despite my every inclination to resist I gave in. I began helping work on Element’s new space in the Clair Mel area of Tampa. What I saw really set me back. The other people there, the people pouring their sweat, their time and their lives in making this vision a reality, didn’t have false intentions. They were there for the same reason I was. They BELIEVED in and EMBRACED the vision that Bobby had been given for Element. It was quite frankly, God’s way of saying: “Hey you idiot, I TOLD YOU SO!” <-- Yes, even God says I told you so.

This morning was amazing, and it really blew me away. Perched in what over the years has become my "home" in churches ,the sound booth, high above the 145 folks who were in attendance for Element's first preview gathering I realized that a lot more folks than I initially believed were in this because they believe in and embrace the vision too.

I honestly, have found (well I knew it was there all along) a place where I can do me, and whereby doing me I can impact the world around me.

Even though, Element is not about me, and it's really not about anyone except for God, I am happy to be a part of a family, that while containing people I certainly don't care for, can put away it's differences and vivaciously live out the vision that is Element Church.

Tampa, get ready for a movement that is truly unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. (I hope)

…I’ve managed to have a decision made for me, as far as my new church home is concerned.

Over the last several months I’ve spent a significant amount of time wrestling with this decision. I’ve argued (yes ARGUED) with God on multiple occasions, even making it known that He’s not exactly as smart as people make Him out to be. I posted a couple weeks ago about how I’ve been struggling with trying to figure all this crap out.

Needless to say, from that post forward, to about a week ago I have been in one fight after another with God about the subject. Basically, I’m going to do what I should have been doing all along, and that is be a part of Element, which is the church that Bobby is planting here in Tampa. It’s also basically the church that “Revolution,” the ministry that I considered my church for about 2 years has grown in to. I’ve learned (well not really, because I pretty much knew it already) that despite every inkling in me to not be, I am one of the most judgmental human beings I know. I listened to God in the beginning, grabbed on to the vision He cast in Bobby and ran with it, only to let the judgmental bastard in me get the best of me and let me believe that I couldn’t be involved because too many people were doing it just so they could hop on the “cool train.” (That damn train, I hope it derails eventually)

Anyway, long story short, the immature side of me has spun around in circles, fought off the direction of God, as well as, several significant spiritual leaders in my life for the last several months when I knew the answer from the beginning.

STILL though, I demanded some type of confirmation, and I received it today. I spent 5.5 hours hanging out at where Element will be meeting putting furniture together, cleaning up construction mess, helping hang crap and a variety of other chores before the first preview service this Sunday. I did all of that along side some incredible individuals, people who really are on board with the vision God has cast in Bobby. I realized today that those who aren’t really on board with the mission will eventually be phased out by the large number of folks who are. I’m proud to be serving the Tampa Bay community along side these great folks who are running with the same vision that I’ve decided to run with.

This whole post is flaky, but it’s coming from deep inside me. I don’t know that I could illustrate properly the struggle that I’ve had over the last several months about all this. I do know though that I’ve come out on the other end and while I’m still uncertain of the results, I’m going to go with them. I have absolutely NO IDEA, why God feels the need for me to be involved in all of this, but I’m going to do it in spite of myself. Element is going to do some crazy shizz in the Tampa area, and why my God, who knows just how screwed up of an individual I am wants me to be apart of that, I’ll never know. What I do know is that Element will be my church home, and I’ll do whatever it is I’m told to do to ensure the vision that God has cast in Bobby is carried out.

It’ll be a journey for sure, but after today I’m quite happy going on that journey with my fellow journeyers.