In a new class that Dave and I our teaching, we are going over the Essentials of Discipline.  One of the things that has struck me in this class is all the questions that people have.  It isn’t just that everyone has question, that is to be expected.  It is that everyone has very unique questions that are very different from anyone else’s.

So one of the first things I have learned in this class is just how different every kid is and how varied the approaches we have to have in dealing with this variety.  This means there are no simple answers.  Parenting is a highly creative and personable process that takes patience, understanding, love, and attention.

I am thankful that we can come together and ask questions of each other and seek out some collective wisdom in the difficult venture, bounce ideas off one another, and sometimes, laugh at our experiences.

Brian

I had an awesome time this past weekend.  We got 20 guys together to go to the mountains near Winter Park, CO.  We had a great time laughing, watching a little Winter X-Games to get us ready for the slopes and did some skiing/boarding.

I really enjoyed getting to know some of the men better.  I also enjoyed watching them interact and get to know each other. 

However, we will lose these connections if we don’t keep getting together, talking, and challenging each other to lead and serve together as followers of Christ.

Thus, I would like to challenge us to get involved in a Men’s Fraternity group that is starting up this week.  You can attend on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm or on Saturday at 8:00am.  For you men who want to attend Saturday mornings, remember to come prepared to play a little basketball after the lesson time (if you enjoy basketball).

Even if you did not make the trip to the mountains with us and want to get involved with one of these groups, I would love to see you there!

I’m already looking forward to Ski Weekend ’09!

Brian

We have had much discussion and many questions regarding the future of CEFC.  How are we going to handle the growth?  Where are we headed as a church? 

We have taken these questions very seriously and over the past six months, a Vision Team has been meeting to discuss them.  This has been a very important time for us to evaluate what God is/has been doing at our church, and to attempt to articulate where God is leading as a church.

It is now time for us to share our findings with everyone.  We will be having a special informational meeting during our Sunday school hour in the sanctuary on January 20.  This will be a time to present our findings.

Please take the time to attend this meeting at 9:45am on Jan 20, in the sanctuary.  We will be having this meeting instead of our regular adult classes.

I trust that, as we bring some clarity to the future of CEFC, you will get excited about what God is doing in our church and what God desires us to accomplish in the future.

Blessings,

Brian

This Sunday (the 16th) we will be having our children's Christmas musical during our regular services.  You do not want to miss this time together.  The children have been working hard and things are coming together.  It will be a good time together as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ.

One other Christmas happening here is our annual Christmas Eve service.  This service will be on December 24 (you may have guessed this) at 6:30pm.  We are planning our usual lighting of the candles as we sing.  This is one of my favorite things to do on Christmas Eve period.  I love singing "Silent Night" (the usual candle lighting song) in the dark by candlelight as we reflect on the miraculous birth of our Savior.

Christmas is right around the corner.  I trust that this year will bring you peace and joy as you reflect on the birth of Jesus. 

Then, may we all adjourn to the slopes to enjoy some of this wonderful new snow that we are getting.  Winter Park has received over 30" of new snow in the past few days.  So if you call the office and I'm not here, I, um, may be perfectly healthy, but otherwise detained.

Blessings,

Brian

Yesterday, I was able to do something that comes about only four times per year.  I was able to visit another church.  I took yesterday off, but was back in town from our vacation in the mountains.  So my wife and I decided to attend another church here in Cheyenne.  It was the first time that we have actually been able to attend a different church in Cheyenne (except when I occasionally speak at other area churches). 

Jenny and I attended a new church plant in Cheyenne called the Element Church.  It meets on Sunday mornings in the movie theater at the mall. 

It is good to be the visitor sometimes.  You realize that visitors do not know exactly where to go or what to expect.  You realize that they need some sort of direction.  I’m happy to say that the Element Church’s greeters where really friendly and steered us in the right direction and one lady even showed us exactly where we needed to drop off the kids and where things were.  It really helped to put us at ease.

As for the service, the Element Church is only a couple of months old, so we did not know quite what to expect with them being in their infancy.  After the first worship song and video introducing their next series, it was obvious that their infancy was nothing to worry about.  For a brand new church, they had it together and did things very well.  I was impressed.  They are putting much energy and thought behind this church plant mixed with some creative thinking and problem solving.

However, the thing that I liked most about this church was their emphasis of putting an extremely high value on serving the community of Cheyenne.  They are not about being content within four walls of a church (yes, a church could get internally focused even if they are meeting in a movie theater), they want to impact and serve the city.  They want this city to be a better place and bring hope to those who are hurting.  This is something that we are focusing on more and more as a congregation and it’s exciting to see another church that has a heart for the community rather than just existing for itself.

I’m glad for this.  I support this.  I am thankful that the Element Church is a new addition to our community.  You could call me a fan of this new church plant.  This may sound weird coming from a pastor at a different church but it shouldn’t.  It should not be weird because we are all a part of the same Kingdom.  We are all a part of the Church.  We are on the same team.  Thus, we need to celebrate when another church is doing something well and bringing glory to God.

Thanks, Element.  I trust God will continue to bless your efforts!

Brian

Last week I did something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.  I took my oldest son on a father-son trip.  We went up to Estes Park, CO for a night and spent two days together: just me and my boy.

It was incredible.  We played mini-golf, played football on the deck of our cabin, talked about life, played games, did a puzzle, went out to dinner, went swimming together and closed out our time watching the newly released Bee Movie.

It is easy for time to slip away and for us to neglect the importance of stopping and spending time together.  I could tell that having daddy for two days meant the world to my son.  He loved it.  I cannot wait to do it again sometime. 

I want to be a person who is willing to stop and see the blessings God has given me rather than just screaming through life at an out-of-control pace.  I want to enjoy my wife and sons.  I want to enjoy God’s creation and others.  I want to enjoy God. 

Blessings,

Brian

My head has slowly risen above water, which means that I am now taking life giving breaths and enjoying the slow, full intake of air filling my lungs.  Breathing again!

After a wild start to the fall and all of our fall initiatives, it is nice to settle down into a little more routine environment.  This means that I can get back to the computer and be better about updating this site and blogging.  I am sorry for my absence.

The reason for the head below water phenomenon that occurred over the past couple of months had to do with the start of 24 small groups with about 240 adults who are now participating in the Truth Project.  I have heard many great things about the groups and what they are learning.  The response has been overwhelming, and I'm excited about the transformation going on in the lives of the participants.

We also kicked-off our fall youth programs, Men's Fraternity, hosted a Walk thru the Bible seminar, and had an AMAZING Fall Festival that people came out in full force for.  It was one incredible party on a perfect fall evening.  One young kid captured it so eloquently after emerging from the obstacle course, "Fall Festival rocks."  Indeed!

This past week we approved the trial period for our new articles of incorporation and by-laws, which will change our structure to be more team orientated and enable more ministry with less hassle.  A church’s dream.

Thank you for all who volunteered and worked so hard to help us accomplish all that has happened in the past two months.  It has been an exciting ride!

On a side note, don't forget that this is the day that the Lord has made (the song has been repeatedly playing in my mind the past week).  God has been challenging me lately with the importance/necessity of rejoicing.  It is crucial that we rejoice in Him.  I am becoming convinced that this is more critical to our Christian walk than we have previously believed.

I have been challenged with it, so I will bring the challenge to you on November 18, following our series on Job and just in time for a Thanksgiving prep talk.

Rejoicing,

Brian

As a church, we are already talking about things that will be happening this fall.  I can't believe it.  Fall has already become a focus and a lot of things will be happening around here.

We don't want you to miss anything, so I thought I would dedicate a blog to things that are rapidly approaching:

August 26, we will be hosting a Blackwood Legacy concert @ 6:30pm.

September 8, we will be hosting a Walk thru the Bible (Old Testament) from 9:00am - 4:30pm.  Registration is $20 and will be limited to the first 250 people who register.

September 9, Youth Group will be having a Kick-off party @ 6:30pm.

September 16, we will be having an extended worship service with a Ministry Fair during the Sunday school hour.  Please plan to attend this service as we will be discussing important information about our church and some of the things that are happening.

Week of September 16, we are launching our small group emphasis.  This fall our small groups will be going through The Truth Project, which is a 12 week, in-depth, worldview experience.

September 9 & 16, Camp 3, Discovering My Ministry, will be held from 6:30 - 8:30pm on each of the two Sunday nights.

Men's Fraternity groups will be starting back up on September 19 for the Wed night group and September 22 for the Saturday morning group.  The Saturday morning group will continue to play pick-up basketball following the meeting time.

September 29, we will be having a huge fall party.  This will be a great event that will include a chili cook-off, pie baking contest, BB gun & archery contests, and hay rides.

As you see, things are going to be heating up around here as we approach the fall.  You are not going to want to miss these great opportunities to get involved.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at bgregg@cheyennefree.org.

For more in-depth information, you can always get our weekly bulleting on the sermon archive page.  Check it out - Click here (also check out the special newletter on 8/5/07 for fall happenings)

Blessings,

Brian

This past weekend I had the privilege of speaking at Frontier Methodist Church here in Cheyenne.  I am always excited about opportunities like this.  Opportunities in which I get to see God at work in other area churches.

I believe, as Christians, we need to be able to celebrate God moving in our church as well as other churches.  All of us, not just the church we attend, make up the body of Christ.

So when we hear about great things happening in ministries that are connected to other churches, let's celebrate.  Because effective, God glorifying ministry is crucial no matter what church it is in, and the more healthy ministries that exist in Cheyenne, the more effective we will all be as a body.

Thanks for the opportunity Frontier; I had a great time meeting you!

May the Church be one,

Brian

On June 24, we had an all-church Summer Bash.  It was a great time together.  I love events like this because they are a memory maker, especially for kids.

I believe that a church needs to learn to have fun together.  For too long, some have viewed church as boring or irrelevant.  We shouldn't be either.

I'm glad that we are willing to put on events like the Summer Bash '07.  Times that are dedicated to the fine art of fun and celebration.

Thanks for a great time! 

Check out the pics - Click here

Brian