David Miller

Over the past few years thElement Student Ministry has had an amazing partnership with Invisible Children.

Check out some of how we’ve partnered with IC over the past two years: The Rescue and Together We’re Free.

Invisible Children will be joining us for another screening this week!  This time they’re not coming with a new documentary or initiative, but they’re bringing an individual from Uganda (who was affected by the war and featured in a documentary) to fill us in on where their life is now.

Check out this video

This is an ALL AGES event and is not only for students.  thElement is simply hosting Invisible Children.  Help get the word out to friends and family and let’s welcome everyone we know into this cause!

Invite people the old fashioned way or you can use the Facebook Event.

Here is what you need to know…
When: March 10.2010
Time: 7:00PM
Where: 4400 S Orange ave.
Who: EVERYONE YOU KNOW

Discovery Church, in conjunction with multiple homeless aid organizations, hosted “Project Homeless Connect” on February 12th.  This was a one stop shop; everything from showers, haircuts, medical attention, and help with ID’s, for the homeless of Orlando.

Video by Michael Dalton and motion graphics by Mancel Lindsey.

Check out more opportunities to get involved and serve with Discovery Church

Have you ever seen an elephant swim?

It’s crazy!  Seriously, if you’ve never seen this, go to the local zoo and stand in front of the elephant enclosure until you see it swim (or you can watch “The Fall”).  I’m in awe that something so huge can swim.

Incredible right?

Definition of awe:  “A mixed emotion of reverence, respect, dread, and wonder inspired by authority, genius, great beauty, sublimity, or might”

I can think of many things I’ve been in awe of, but I’m afraid I’ve lost my awe for God!
We live in a culture that is not easily impressed and our faith has become about us rather than God.

Ecclesiastes 5:7
7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.
When we lose our awe for God we lose our desire to draw close to Him.  It becomes about us.  This is the way that so many of us live!

I want to see God the way David did.

Psalm 8:3-4
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

David’s awe for God can be seen in the way he thought, spoke, and wrote.  Being in awe of God continually lead to his surrender to Him.

I realize that to be in awe of God isn’t something to be taught but discovered. My intent is to be a reminder that the God who created elephants that can swim also created you and me.

Draw closer to a God who is worthy of awe.

I connect with God through music.
I’ll be featuring bands and worship leaders, both well known and those flying under the radar, who are drawing The Church to the feet of Jesus.

This week: Future of Forestry

So stoked for camp this year!
June 14-18th (Save the date)

*more info to come

Have you ever been hurt by a church?

David Loveless, Lead Pastor of Discovery Church along with good friend Francis Anfuso from The Rock of Roseville co-authored a great book exploring the reality of church wounds.

Here is what the publisher is saying about the book:

Church Wounds is a rare, candid look at the blunders and blemishes of the 21st century church and the often-tragic affects on innocent Christians. Written by two seasoned local church pastors the book is based on a survey of 1,500 church attenders. It identifies the most common church wounds andholds out the love and power of Christ to be healed from them.Judgmentalism, legalism, favoritism, immorality, abuse of authority, doctrinal differences, church splits, financial impropriety and more aretruthfully exposed along with Christ’s powerful cure for the wounded disillusionment that often follows as a result. Both honest and hopefulChurch Wounds is the book for anyone who has ever been injured by the Church or abandoned it all together.

Pre-released  copies of the book are now available in the Discovery Church lobby or you can order your copy on Amazon.com.

I’ve become obsessed with the story of Jonah because it’s such a beautiful picture of God’s character.  In four chapters we see His grace as he offers the Ninevites an opportunity to repent. We see God pursuing Jonah as he runs from Him and how God rescues Jonah from death as he’s thrown into the sea.

Phase 2 of my Jonah sleeve in finished!  Rob did an incredible job.

Here are some pictures of the finished product.

Check out the phase 1 post to read more of the story.

I am skinny and a nerd. A jock and a weakling. I’ve been called a longhaired hippy and Jesus freak. I’m a skater and a poser. Tattooed and conservative. Unapproachable and the kindest person you’ve ever met. I’ve been told I’m smart and called stupid to my face. My job is beneath me and no one sees its worth.

I have been labeled each one of these things and at some point I’ve believed them all.

Far too often I find my identity in who others say I am rather than who God says I am. The truth is, we’re bombarded with a culture that is tearing us down on a daily basis and many of us only hear what God thinks about us once a week at church.

It’s no wonder we buy the lie.

About a year ago I was really struggling with finding my identity in what others thought, in my job title, and in everything else the world finds important. I needed to remind myself who God says I am. So I searched The Bible and compiled a list. Every time I start to buy the lies of this world I refer back to this list.

This is who God says we are…

You are the son or daughter of God- John 1:12; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:26; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:5; 1:3-8

You are Justified (Pronounced not guilty)- Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1; Romans 8:30

You are called (chosen)- Romans 1:6, Ephesians 1:4a; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:5; 2:9; John 15:16

You have been given Grace- Romans 5:2; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:2; Ephesians 4:7

You have received mercy- 2 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:10

You are Christ’s ambassador- 2 Corinthians 5:20

You are sanctified (made Holy)- Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 13:12; Ephesians 1:4b; Hebrews 3:1; 1 Peter 1:16

You are accepted- Ephesians 1:6; Colossians 1:13

You are loved- Ephesians 2:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Colossians 3:12; Romans 1:7

You are forgiven (redeemed)- Ephesians 4:32; 1:7 Titus 2:14; 1 John 2:12; Colossians 1:13-14

You are made new- Colossians 3:31; Colossians 3:10

You are the Bride of Christ- Revelation 19:7; 21:2, 9; 22:17

You are Complete- Colossians 2:19-10

You are His workmanship- Ephesians 2:10

You have been bought with a price- 1 Corinthians 12:27

You are the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine- John 15:16

I connect with God through music.
Each week I’ll feature bands and worship leaders, both well known and those flying under the radar, who are drawing The Church to the feet of Jesus.

This week: Jesus Culture – Kim Walker