MONDAY MIND DUMP

Turning the corner on our current series this week, Ben Rice took the platform at Crossroads and delivered a message on how important it is for us to get OUT of debt.  Combined with a pastoral staff meeting on Sunday night at the Annex, yesterday was strong stuff all the way around.  My takeaways from the weekend:

1. Set-up team is getting so fast at setting up all the elements in the cinema, we may all get an extra half hour of sleep soon.  Great job!
2. The lobby continues to be a real warm, inviting and welcoming environment.
3. Unlike the lobby the main sanctuary (Cinema 3) was cold as a well diggers...uh...feet!  Kudos to all who braved the elements.  We'll get the heat thing worked out, I promise.
4. No heat problems in the Filling Station or Big Wheels Pre-school where everyone seemed to be fired up and good to go!
5. Props to Youth Pastor Ben Rice who brought the message on getting out of debt in the main service.  It is an important element of living the Blessed Life, and Ben could bring it, because he and Kelly have done the hard work, made the sacrifice, given big throughout, and seen God accelerate the whole process in the supernatural style that only God can swing.  Thank you Ben, for taking on this tough and important topic on a day when there was no heat in the sanctuary.  And thanks for keeping it succinct (that's French for short)!
6. GREAT meeting with our pastoral staff Sunday night.  It is a privilege to lead a team of people so dedicated to making Crossroads purpose of "Connecting People to God and to Each Other", the principle part of their life and work.  I am in awe of your faithfulness, your willingness, and your teachability!  Keep hammering on the devil.  We win!
7. Like I said in the first week of the Blessed Life - this IS a turning point for all of us personally and for Crossroads.  Attendance: UP.  Giving: WAY UP.  Connections: WAY, WAY UP!  While everyone of my coaches and those in my network kept telling me what a horrible month November usually is - Crossroads is seeing the EXACT opposite!  Thank you, Lord!
8. One of the great surprises of this month is the connections being made through the desire of a bunch of guys to go out and beat each other up on the "touch" football field each Sunday afternoon.  Another great Roadie experience.
9. Great to see the Annex being used more and more again.  What a wonderful space!
10. We have the best landlord in the history of church planting.  Huge thank you's to Clark and Charlie at Clark Theatres who not only support what we are doing, but genuinely care about it, and care about the people that attend Crossroads.  Go to the movies.  Support them.  Buy lots of popcorn and drink lots of Coke!

I have top make the big "ask".  Help me.  Personally. Invite BIG this weekend.  I mean, BIG, big.  I know it's Thanksgiving weekend (look for Thanksgiving posts later this week), and many go out of town, but look, it's like this...my wife's parents are going to be here (timing is everything, right?) and they think we're crazy, okay.  Know you and me, we KNOW we're crazy, but let's blow it up in a BIG way at Crossroads this coming weekend, and have them talking all the way back to California!  

Thank you for letting me be your pastor. Have a GREAT week!