So we put out are newest book of the month early…

Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell

I’m sure I will take some heat for this, but I don’t care…this is one of my favorite books that has been written by a current younger leader/pastor.  Rob Bell, founding pastor of Mars Hill in Grand Rapids, Michigan, did a great job of just asking questions about our Christian viewpoints and how we got there and how the Bible adds up with these viewpoints.

Whether you agree with Pastor Rob Bell or not, you should read this book…you have to deal with these issues today as a follower of Jesus.  I personally enjoyed the book and have read it now twice.  I’m planning on another read before the end of this year.

In fact…thinking back now, I read this book the month before we launched Elevation Church.  It really inspired me to allow others who were searching for Jesus to be OK with asking questions and trust that they would find the answers in Jesus as they searched.

You can pick up a copy at our info table on Sundays for $12. 

I know I get so excited about every new sermon series we do here at Elevation, but we have been doing this sermon series on the book of John from the New Testament for the last three weeks.

We started off the first two weeks at the end of the gospel of John and then yesterday we jumped to John 1:1-2.  It was awesome.  I’ve had so much fun already.

Have no clue how long this series is going to last, probably over a year to be honest.  We will take breaks with other mini-series from time to time…but for now get your read on with JOHN.  Check out the podcast to get caught up as we head through this.

Madison didn’t win…

Not sure what happened…the kid that won has 623 views on youtub verses Madison’s 800+ views.  They didn’t give a count of the exact votes for everyone.  Oh well.

Thanks for helping out!

Just bought tickets to the Jack Johnson concert on August 18th!  Ami doesn’t know it yet, I guess when she reads this she will.  Should be pretty fun…I’ll be getting back from Cambodia that day…so it will be fun to listen to some smooth music while Ami and I are hanging.

If you want to go…go get some tickets too!

It happens every so often, about a few days every other month…I get down.  Nothing motivates me, I don’t care about anything, I feel lonely, I don’t want anyone around me…

Yep…I admit it, I get depressed every so often.  The last couple of days including today is that time again.

My mom suffers from depression every so often, I think more than I do…so if it runs in the family that is where I got it from.

I’ve learned this about myself though and have made some pretty good rules to live by:  1-I don’t make any big decisions, 2-I stay away from others until the time goes away, 3-I don’t go or do anything out of the ordinary, 4-I try to find a new book during these times to read, something to re-boot my mind during this time.

I’m doing better today, still don’t feel like a champ…but I can feel myself coming out of it.

So, I have been working on a finishing a few rooms in my basement.  A spare bedroom, an office, a hall closet, and a bathroom.

We have wanted to do this for a long time now, but really just didn’t have the money until now.

We are having the youth & children’s pastors at Elevation, Joel & Brianna, move into our basement as soon as we are done.  They will take the spare bedroom & bathroom.  There is a big open area of the basement where they will move some sofas and a TV into and make it into a living room for themselves.

The office is really what I am excited for.  I have no place to shut a door and get away from everyone and everything.  Now that Elevation’s office has four people that are there pretty much most of the day (we have two suites that are openly connected to each other), I need a place to get away, a place to study, and a place to put all my stuff!

I’ll post some pics when it is completed, but really we are done with everything until the carpet gets installed, hopefully, later this week.  Joel & Brianna are excited…I’m excited…my books are excited…

Even went to IKEA today to pick up some stuff for the office….this is going to be RAD. 

I am admitting something right now:  I got hooked on the TV Show Dexter.

I downloaded it about a month ago off of iTunes to just watch something on the airplane when I was traveling.  I was in from that point on.

Last night, I finished the first season of Dexter.  WOW…basically feel like I just finished a 10 hour movie that I can’t wait to see the other 10 hours.  The last episode of season one put it all together…

Yes the show is about a serial killer.  Yes the show is bloody.  I’m like the CSI type shows, but the interaction between the characters in this show is really what makes Dexter a great show.  The depth of the characters and the problems they walk through.  Or maybe I’m just nuts.  Either way. 

• woke up today with coffee brewing…lent is over, the coffee fast is done.

• had a voice mail this morning from a friend in Denver who was praying for me this morning.  It started the day off so right…thanks Doug.
• my girls looked so pretty in their easter dresses.
• My daughter Madison asked Jesus to live in her heart today.  I’m going to remember this Easter for a long time.
• What a great Sunday morning gathering at Elevation Church.
• 300 balloons…
• breakfast for everyone…thank you Starbucks for the donations, the coffee was great, the pastries were top shelf, and Patty you did a great job making 100 cinnamon rolls
• Of course we had a great attendance, it is EASTER…you know the day that everyone decides to show up to church, but really our attendance was about what it was last week.
• Worship team did a great job with the extended worship.
• Brandon, your videos are still the best out there.  Your newest video, the new funny one with you and Perko, well…let’s just say it was one of your best funny videos to date.  If you missed it, I was told it will be on the podcast by tomorrow morning.  www.elevationpodcast.com
• everyone at elevation stepped up to the plate today to get our day done right…if there was ever a day that we can say TEAM WORK…today was that day.  Thank you everyone!
• I had fun with the sermon today…it wasn’t your typical Easter sermon, but it was lots of fun…hope it didn’t come off as me trying to crack too many jokes in the beginning.
• Jared…don’t know if you will read this, but I’m so glad to have met you today and you made the gathering worth all the work we put into it…I hope your day was made.  Look forward to lunch.
• Easter naps…mmmmmmm, the best.
• today is the day that this whole thing of Christianity hangs on, I LOVE TODAY…my favorite holiday