WEEKEND UPDATE 062809

Busy, busy (and productive) Monday makes this the late edition of the weekend update.  Trust this post finds you well, at peace, and doing God's will for your life.  Here a few quick takes from Sunday morning's service at Crossroads:

1. Had the privilege of praying with a young man as he made a first-time decision to trust Christ with his life.  That NEVER gets old!
2. Many people rededicated their lives to Christ at Crossroads on Sunday!
3. Biggest crowd in several weeks!  
4. Over a dozen first-time attenders this weekend!
5. Lobby team ROCKS!  I love the lobby at Crossroads.
6. Nic did a great job leading worship Sunday morning.
7. Loved the hat guy clip from The Robinson's.
8. The Fourth of July is now July 3rd.
9. Great feedback from people on the Checkpoint Survey that we did!  Tons of data to digest. We'll be rolling out our findings on Sunday August 2nd.
10. Love that Crossroads is attracting so many young married couples.  What a great time for our new series 'SIZZLE' - Making Your Marriage HOT!
11. It was awesome having an opportunity to roll out our plans  for supporting missions and church planting!

Thanks to all who work so hard to make the Crossroads experience happen!  Crossroads is loaded with high-capacity volunteers who are heart-deep in what God is doing in our community.  It is a privilege to serve in the ministry with you!

Have a GREAT week!  See you Friday July 3rd at Fort Rucker for FREEDOM FEST!

FREEDOM FEST JULY 3RD (not Fourth)

Dateline Fort Rucker, Alabama.  In a bold and sweeping decision, the US Army at Fort Rucker has officially changed the Fourth of July to...the THIRD of July. 

So...apparently we had the wrong day for Freedom Fest at Fort Rucker.  Oops!  Don't know why or how, but the important thing is that we all get the word out to Crossroads attenders.  Our booth and our presence at Fort Rucker is a very big deal for our church. Last year we saw incredible growth as a result of our participation in this important annual community event.

Crossroads will have a big booth at Freedom Fest on FRIDAY JULY 3RD.  Please sign up in the lobby at church this Sunday so we can get a good idea of who will be available to help out. Please conitnue to bring cases of water ot the College Cinema on Sunday morning, or to the Annex Monday through Thursday of next week.

Sorry for the miscommunication.  Hope it hasn't messed up your plans.  Please make every effort to turn out and support Crossroads at Freedom Fest at Fort Rucker on Friday July 3rd.  BTW, really cool Crossroads T-shirts will be available for purchase starting that day!

Glad we caught this heinous scheduling error in time.  Fortunately, at Crossroads, all of our scheduling is now 100% computer controlled, ensuring that nothing can possibly go wrong...go wrong...go wrong...go wrong...go wrong...go wrong...

See you Sunday!

 

This Summer at Crossroads

We have a HUGE Summer on tap at Crossroads.  Stay connected all summer long by attending church on Sunday mornings at the College Cinema, by using the resources provided on our website www.crossroadsenterprise.org, by checking out my blog each week, or following any of the 60-some Roadies (regular Crossroads attenders) now on twitter.  You can find me right here. 

Here's a quick look at what's happening at Crossroads from now until school comes back in session on August 12th:

• Sunday June 28th, 10AM @ College Cinema - CHECKPOINT.  In this special Sunday morning service we'll be looking at how we've done in the first 6 months of 2009 at staying focused on the course we set at the end of last year.  Then we'll look ahead at what we'll do the rest of the year to have maximum impact on the Kingdom of God, the world, and the community around us.  This is a biggie, don't miss it!
• Saturday July 4th, 4PM to 9PM @ Fort Rucker - FREEDOM FEST.  Hook up with other Roadies as we man our big booth at the biggest community event we participate in all year long.  Food, music, fireworks and a chance to put Crossroads on the map for the 10,000 plus that will be there.  Bring cases of bottled water to church over the next two weeks to support this great event!  Last year we saw 300% growth in attendance at Crossroads after our appearance at Freedom Fest.  Wow!  
• Sunday July 5th, 10AM @ College Cinema - SIZZLE.  Join us as we kick off a new 4-part marriage and relationship series guaranteed to put the 'sizzle back in your marriage!
• All month long in July we'll be collecting backpacks and school supplies for distribution to neighborhood kids that live in proximity to the College Cinema, Crossroads Sunday morning home.
• Sunday July 26th, 4PM to 6PM @ the Annex - ROADIES 101.  This is Crossroads very first membership class.  Sign up and spend a couple of hours Sunday before dinner time to learn what it means to be a Roadie (a member) at Crossroads, and hook up with the hardest working, most effective movement in town!
• Sunday August 2nd, 10AM @ College Cinema - EVOLVE.  Don't miss this special one-off service that will focus on what 'servant evolution' is all about.  Jesus modeled us for it, we're called to live it, so we're going to unpack what it really means to be a servant.
• Saturday August 8th, 11AM-2PM @ college Cinema - BLOCK PARTY.  A chance to put into practice what we've learned about serving others as we provided food, fun, needed supplies and backpacks loaded with school supplies to the neighborhood directly behind the College Cinema.

Don't forget all Summer long Crossroads youth ministry will continue to meet and grow at the Annex each Wednesday night.  Doors open at 6:30PM.  Also, the Annex houses Crossroads offices and is open from 9AM to 4PM Monday through Friday.  Annex phone number is (334) 347-3947.

You know what?  I think I just found the cure for the Summer Time blues.  It's staying connected, serving, and growing in your faith all Summer long with friends and family at Crossroads!

Oh yeah, AND really cool Crossroads T-shirts and car magnets will be on-sale starting July 4th!  (cue fireworks)

     

WEEKEND UPDATE

What a banner weekend we had at Crossroads!  I am still buzzing from it and I can't stop talking about it.  The service was great and last night's Hot Blues and BBQ is an event we'll never forget at Crossroads.  Here's a few quick takes from the weekend:

1. Great attendance Sunday morning.  To be honest, I thought we would be a little slow being Father's Day, but I was wrong.  We had a ton of regulars out and still had 172 in service!
2. Set-up teams did a great job especially in the Lobby where everyone stepped up without the Ordways and made it happen fast.  Great job guys!
3. About a dozen first time attenders Sunday!  Gotta love it!
4. So excited by all the new couples and families that have dug in at Crossroads since Easter!
5. It was great to meet so many family members of long-time Roadies.
6. I really enjoyed sharing from the platform on Sunday.  The topic was essential and really cool even though I had a bit of a rough landing at the end ("So, I'm done".  Whaaaaat?).
7. Hot Blues and BBQ with Kim Klaudt was OFF THE CHAIN!  If you missed it, you missed a lot, but we'll do it again next year for sure.  Kim Klaudt is an incredible guitar player.  The Annex was rocking from start to finish.  We had a great band including yours truly on the drums (wonderful impact therapy), Jeff Williams on bass, Jeff's uncle Bill Covington on rhythm guitar, and Will Lurie on keyboards.  It was FANTASTICALLY LOUD and I'm not kidding, but all I could see in the house were great big happy smiling faces!  My ears are still ringing, and my body hurts (it's been years since I played like that), but the whole night was exceptional. Great food, great attendance (90 people in the house!), and Kim Klaudt had everyone rolling in the aisles as he shared about his life and how awesome God's gift of life is for all who believe.  I was so proud of everyone for the way they gave to support this gift to the church, evangelist and missionary Kim Klaudt.  A great love offering was received for him and he was truly blessed to be at Crossroads.  Kim bragged on the whole church and had an absolute blast, Crossroads style!

The whole weekend was a big hit.  It was so encouraging to have such a great weekend as an exclamation point on the favor we've experienced over the last couple of weeks from Roadies and other supporters really believing and hooking up with what God is doing at Crossroads, giving big financial support to help us take this thing to the next level.

Next week, in a special message entitled 'CHECKPOINT', we'll take a look at the past six months and look ahead to how we're going strong into 2010!  Don't miss it.  God has given us a big vision for this part of the world and He is assembling a team of people to get it done!  It's a privilege to be a Roadie and to serve as your pastor!  

           

Hal Mayer Quoted In The Bible

This morning, I came across a Bible verse I have read before, that in the King James Version never really stood out to me; "Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity"  Proverbs 17:26.  I mean I get the whole "don't punish the good" thing, but inequitable prince-striking was never something particularly relevant for my life.

But check out this same scripture (especially you church-planting types) in the NLT: "It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest".  The idea that: it is wrong to flog leaders for being honest literally jumped off the page and slapped me upside the head.

If we are to cultivate an environment in our churches where people are willing to step up and lead big, they have to know that they can trust the leadership that is asking them to do it.  In business, I had my head handed to me on more than a few occasions for leading out as a truth teller.  So I fully know the best way to ensure people will keep their best ideas to themselves, is to create a culture where being honest is rewarded by public humiliation.  

But if I'm being honest, I have also doled it out...and there's a price to pay.  I've seen first-hand (as the guilty party) that nothing pours cold water on a productive staff meeting like an insecure leader singling someone out for a perceived offense, or worse for being honest.  It's a momentum-killer.

This scripture reminded me immediately of Hal Mayer's advice to, "Use leadership as a ladder...not a hammer". I've made plenty of mistakes, and I'll make plenty more, but as a result of - at times - personally leading in business, in church, with staff, and especially at home with a hammer - and seeing how quickly relational doors close, I am actively re-tooling myself to SLOW DOWN and think EVERY DAY about how to lead by lifting others up.  Hopefully, given time, I'll be able to help engage, enlist, equip and empower others to lead.  There is no more important task for someone "in charge".

Giving people on our staff, or giving our employees, or giving our subordinates at work, or giving our children ample latitude to roll out new ideas, to say they don't understand, or even to confront things they think are wrong without the fear of being steamrolled or laughed at is HUGE.  I get that.  And I'm working at it.  How 'bout you? Let me hear your horror stories; your success stories.

Here I thought it was Hal's idea, and it's been in the Bible the whole time.  Sound off.

WEEKEND UPDATE 15 JUN 09

Until someone comes up with a better title for this regular blog post that doesn't have the word 'poop' in it (not that I didn't appreciate all the input...infants), welcome to WEEKEND UPDATE.  Here's a few highlights from this weekend:

1. A dozen first-time attenders Sunday morning, who all said they enjoyed the service and would be back!
2. Several people - who filled out comm cards - rededicated their lives to Christ!
3. Attendance is strong.  I mean, we're less than a year from launch, schools been out for a month, a ton of peeps are on vacation, a bunch were out sick.  Crossroads is strongly attended and growing and I'm digging it.  How 'bout you?
4. Kudos, props, thank you's, and bless you's to the Roadies who stepped up and gave big last week and yesterday!  God is using your love for Him, and your faithfulness and generosity to change lives forever.
5. Janna sang her face off yesterday!  Way to bring it.
6. Children's ministry gets seriously high marks for bringing in a high quality service with less than half their regular forces.  Great job.
7. We were the only church in Alabama with blue donuts.  I don't know what that means, but I know it's true.
8. It was a kick breaking out of our usual patterns, turning on the work lights, and walking through the crowd sharing scripture.  Look for it every few months.  It was really good for all of us.
9. No one who was in the service will ever forget the image of Sam running up the aisle screaming like a girl when they read James 4:7.
10. I almost fell - embarrassingly - flat on my face, tripping over something I was TOLD, specifically, was on the floor in front of the stage.  That was actually closer than anyone knows.  Ha, ha!

I am tired this morning from staying up too late watching sports after an already draining day.  But I will never forget yesterday's service or the week that led up to it.  I trust that our series 'EPIC' was useful to many (I know it was life changing for me).  God changed things forever at Crossroads during the past week.  We broke through spiritual, emotional, and financial barriers as leaders and together as a group of believers.

Next week, a one-off service called 'Masterpiece" on Sunday morning will be followed up on Sunday night at the Annex with Hot Blues & BBQ.  Can't wait.  Look for an email blast this week with all the details.  Next Sunday night would be a GREAT time to invite the hard case that won't come to Crossroads on Sunday morning.

One last thing.  Here's why Crossroads is growing, and will continue to grow in Christ:  God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.  And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.  Eph 1:22-23. NLT  

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

             

Throwing Up Bricks

Warning for the sports averse: I'm talking basketball and prayers here.  You are completely forgiven if you haven't been watching any of the NBA Finals.  I'm not a big NBA guy, but when my old Denver Nuggets made a run, I got sucked in.  Here's my promise to you: if you could care less about the NBA there's STILL something for you in this Blog post.  Especially if you've ever prayed for anything.

Did you see any of the action last night?  With the Lakers threatening to go up three games to one in a best of seven series, Orlando, in front of a rabid home crowd...choked.  They started throwing up bricks at the foul line, and it eventually did them in. Magic center Dwight Howard was 6 for 14 from the free-throw line. Forward Hedo Turkoglu was 8 for 13.  What's worse than their average was their timing; Turkoglu missed two in the last minute, Howard missed two to put the game away...with 11 seconds left on the clock.

Diminutive, slowing and aging (by professional sports standards) Guard Derrick Fisher for the Lakers was two for seven from three-point range.  But the two he made, absolutely won the game. Timing is everything.  So what's the difference?

I am certainly not qualified to explain why one team wins and another doesn't, but I was watching the faces of the men involved, just like everyone else parked in front of their television for Game Four, and I couldn't HELP but read the expressions on the faces, and see the confidence - or lack of it - in the eyes of the three players I'm talking about.

The last two times Turkoglu and Howard stood at the free-throw line you could SEE that they were throwing up a wish - hoping against hope that the ball might somehow land in the hoop. But when Derrick Fisher stood outside the three-point line for his last two attempts (two attempts so critical that the game would not have been won by the Lakers without them), he KNEW they were going in.  And he knew it before the ball ever left his hands.

Did you ever pray and feel like you were throwing up bricks? Standing at some critical juncture in your life, hoping against hope that somehow God might answer your prayer and give you the outcome that you desired?  Is it possible to take on life outside the three-point line and KNOW that God will hear and answer your prayer before it even comes out of your mouth?  What kind of confidence would that give you, knowing that He hears and answers your prayers?  Did you know that you CAN have that kind of confidence.  The Bible says:

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.  1 John 5:14-15 

God reveals His will for our lives through His word (the Bible) and through the inward leading of the Holy Spirit.  I encourage you to feed on the words of God and ask God to reveal to you His will for your life.  Does that mean you get everything you want in life?  No, but it just might mean that God gets everything He needs from your life.  And you won't be standing at the foul line, throwing up bricks anymore.  Lakers in five.

Go-to Guys

If you follow sports you are familiar with the phrase, "the go-to guy".  The go-to guy is the one who gets the basketball with .6 seconds on the clock.  The go-to guy is the one who comes out of the bullpen to get the last three outs.  The go-to guy is the one that gets the puck during a shoot-out.  The go-to guy gets the game won.  

In business the go-to guy is the one who solves the unsolvable problem.  The go-to guy is the one who closes the un-closable deal. The go-to guy is the one who keeps his suitcase packed and his cellphone charged. The go to guy gets the job done.

In the same way, as believers and followers of Christ, we need our own "go-to guys".  Personal, powerful, life giving scripture verses from the Bible that we can always count on to secure the victory, to get the job done.

This coming Sunday as we close our current series 'EPIC', I'm going to share about the importance of having go-to scriptures for our lives, and share with you some of my very own "go-to guys".

Ever question which parts of the Bible could be counted on as truth to guide our lives?  This verse has been our "go-to guy" for the past three weeks: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives". 2 Tim 3:16

Got a go-to-guy?  Sound off.

MONDAY MIND.....?

I LOVE this regular Monday morning post, but I have grown weary of the TITLE.  Something about mind "dump" sounds so much less than the BIGNESS of what God is doing at Crossroads. I welcome your suggestions.  I don't promise to use them...but I do welcome them. A new title for this regular weekly review of Sunday's service; that's your assignment this week.  So here's a few quick hits from Sunday's service:

1. Over a dozen first-time attenders!  Awesome.  I'm pretty sure we lead the league in first-time attenders.  We are working on, and will be rolling out, some new ways to ensure that we have the best possible opportunity to make them regular attenders.  The biggest thing I've learned about making repeat offenders out of first-time attenders?  We have to earn the right.
2. Chris Brooks brought the message Sunday morning and it was a slam dunk.  He hit it out of the park.  He scored on virtually every play.  Okay, that's about all the cheesy sports analogies I can come up with this morning to describe what a great job he did - so let me go another direction:  Watching Chris take the main platform for the first time was momentous because (not speaking prophetically here, just sayin'), everyone in the building will be able to say they were there at the first service of this young dude who goes on to become a fantastically effective communicator and history-maker for the Kingdom of God on the earth.  He has mad "rightly dividing the word of truth" skills. Way to go Chris.  Proud of you.
3. Having said that, Chris would be the first to acknowledge that anything good that happened yesterday had absolutely nothing to do with him, but everything to do with Jesus.  We got an easy to listen to, engaging, humorous, and infinitely practical and applicable message from the heart of God to help us all become more focused and disciplined Bible readers.  Thank you God.
4. I was blown away how everyone stepped up to stand up and stand in for those who were out sick yesterday. Children's department and music department specifically got hit hard and everyone came through like champs.
5. Tired of people being sick.  I hate the devil and I hate sickness.  Studying and praying more about that would be good for all of us.
6. Janna McElveen OWNED the Miley Cyrus song 'Climb' yesterday.  I LOVE that song. Don't care for the original version, but I love how Janna and the worship band attacked it. Also, lots of great comments from regular attenders on the new worship tune.  Great job under difficult circumstances guys!
   
7. Loved handing out baptism certificates for all who took the plunge and went public with their faith last weekend. The baptism video wrecked me.  There's no greater privilege as a pastor than baptizing the people of God.   
8. From the sublime to the ridiculous: After being at BamaJam on Saturday, thought about wearing a sundress and cowboy boots to church (you had to be there). Considered the implications.  Opted for boots and jeans. A wise decision.
   
9. Considering BamaJam, fantastically beautiful weather, and lots of folks out of town, I am genuinely pleased at how our weekly attendance in holding up.
10. Don't forget to bring CASES of water to the Cinema next week, or drop them off during the week at the Annex.  

Here's some fast facts: We're averaging 170 on Sunday morning for the last three months. We've grown nearly 150% since this time last year.  We've had the privilege of baptizing more than 40 people. Over half of all Crossroads attenders either made first-time decisions or recommitted their lives to Christ since they started attending Crossroads. We just completed our first semester of small group participation.  We have done more with less money than any other church plant I've ever heard of.  And for ALL of it, GOD gets to GLORY.  We get to do it - HE makes it happen.

I've said all that to brag on God, not us. And I've said it because I want each and every person who reads this to let SOMEONE in your life know exactly what God is doing at Crossroads this week.  His interest, His concern, His compassion, His mercy, His grace, His kindness, His love, His Kingdom, and His glory are expanding exponentially in Enterprise, and THAT is something to tell people about!

Have a GREAT week!  Read your Bible! 

 

News From Pastor Matt in Afghanistan

As most of you know already Children's Pastor Matt Mendenhall is back in Afghanistan to finish up his responsibilities there.  He sent me a quick update to pass along:

Just wanted to say hello to my Crossroads family from over here in Afghanistan.  I enjoyed so much seeing all of you again, as well as meeting many of you for the first time.  We have such a special and precious thing at Crossroads.  That fact is burned in so well when I leave and have to watch you from the computer.  What an awesome thing though to have a great website and be able to stay connected.

Please don't worry about things over here.  Things are much safer than the news makes it seem.  One really cool thing is the relationships I am able to grow with my Afghan interpreter friends.  Many good guys and girls who have had extremely tough lives.  Many of them became refugees when the Taliban came to power here back in the 90's.  They are so thankful for our help and to have the behind them.  Its hard to imagine what it would be like to become a refugee in order to save your own life and the lives of your family.  Even with all our problems, the USA is so very blessed, definitely the best place to be in the whole world.  I can't wait to be home for good and get back to serving and sharing with all of you.  79 days to go and counting!!!

See you then,

Pastor Matt

Beach, BBQ & Baptism II

Take a look at this great bit of vid from Crossroads second BBB at Lake Tholocco last Sunday! If you weren't able to make it because of scheduling conflicts, don't worry - we'll be doing a baptism soon at a swimming pool near you.  Love to all.  Have a GREAT weekend.  See you Sunday for Part 3 of our continuing series 'EPIC'!

Beach, BBQ & Baptism II from Gene Oden on Vimeo.

Dangerous Prayers

I've been following some tweets of a friend of mind, and it brought to my mind some dangerous prayers.  I remember 20-odd years ago attending a service at big church plant in Colorado Springs.  Leslie and I were pretty new to the whole following Christ proposition, but we were truly committed to life change; to living clean & sober, committed to each other, and we we're committed to the God who had brought us out of darkness and into light.  We also believed that every word in the Bible was true, and was applicable to us.  

So it followed that whenever we went to church, and the preacher shared from the Bible, we believed what was spoken to us.  Now, we were not ignorant - you couldn't just tell us anything and get away with it - if we were to believe that what you were saying was true, it had to have scriptural foundation supporting it.

So...if you showed us something from the word that we needed to do, or something we needed to PRAY...we had decision to make: Would we do it and/or pray it?  Or would we ignore it and pack it away for another time?  I will freely admit to you that when it comes to DOING everything that I know I should do because it's Bible, I haven't always done it.  (I know...try to contain your shock at this stunning revelation).  But here's the funny part: I ALWAYS prayed the prayer!

So (and yes, I realize I just started three paragraphs in a row with the coordinating conjunction 'so', but that's just me breaking rules), we were in this big church and the pastor is talking about how at the end of our race (life), we're going to stand before God (the judgment seat of Christ), and our WORKS - not our SIN - is going to be judged. As in, "God's not going to judge us for our sin if we've repented and received the forgiveness that comes through Christ's  atoning sacrifice"...BUT...our WORKS are going to be judged...or TRIED, and there's a reward associated with that.  The pastor gave the illustration of God throwing something like a handful of holy napalm on our personal pile of works and looking to see if anything remained after all the wood, hay and stubble was reduced to ashes.  (BTW, there's scripture for all of this - but you know that, and probably know where to find it if you're still reading this homage to verbosity).

So (You got me...that's number four.  Actually, starting four paragraphs in a row with 'so', is a misdemeanor in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and parts of Massachusetts), the pastor goes on along this line for about a half an hour, and I swear I KNEW what was coming. He was going to invite us to ask God to TRY OUR WORKS NOW...in THIS lifetime.  So like a dummy - thinking it was a one-time deal - I prayed it.  And God has been trying (testing, examining, probing, blowing up, burning down) my works ever since.  My on-going prayer in that on-going process is this: "God, I pray that as You try my works, something remains that You can use".  

What's the most dangerous prayer you've ever prayed?  Here one I'm fond of, "God...do whatever it takes".  Have you ever prayed a prayer like that...and lied it?  

Mouth off.  Talk to me.  Peace.

   

Crossroads Cameo: Jeff Williams

Check out this up-close and personal segment with Crossroads attender, worship band musician, and all-around awesome Roadie Jeff Williams, as he encourages all of us with his own approach to reading his Bible, and why he thinks it's a good idea.  Thanks Jeff!

Crossroads Cameo: Jeff Williams from Gene Oden on Vimeo.

MONDAY, MONDAY

Yes, it's MIND DUMP time once again!  Hope your Monday finds you awake, alert, and ready to face the week ahead. A banner day at Crossroads yesterday, here's a few quick takes:

1. Big one: Pastor Ben, Pastor Hollie and I had the privilege of baptizing 21 people yesterday at Crossroads 2nd Beach, BBQ and Baptism celebration!
2. We had over 150 people join us in the celebration at Lake Tholocco.
3. Though there were many that could not be there to be baptized due to scheduling conflicts, we will do another baptism soon at a swimming pool yet to be determined.  Hang in there, we'll get you in the next few weeks!
4. Enjoyed part 2 of our current series EPIC yesterday.  I probably spent more time studying and preparing for that message than on any message I have ever shared at Crossroads.  As a result, I stuttered and stammered my way through most of it, and I'm sure it appeared at times that I was barely familiar with the material. That'll teach me (LOL)!
5. Absolutely LOVED the Jeff Williams video.  It was the first installment of a type of video communication we have been planning for more than a year called "Crossroads Cameos". Look for more of them from various Crossroads attenders in the future.  There's nothing like personal stories to help us hook up with what God is doing in the world.  Everyone has a story to tell.  It's great to get a bit of it on video and see how it relates to our own lives.   
6. Can't wait for next week, as Student Pastor Chris Brooks brings the message and practical application of just exactly how to go about reading, studying and getting the most out of the greatest action-adventure EPIC in the history of the world.  Big stuff, but totally approachable, and totally relevant for our lives today.  That's why it's so cool.
7. I say this often, but here it is again: I think children's ministry at Crossroads is exceptional.  Have you looked down the hallway of the children's wing on Sunday?  It's like being at the aquarium.  It's fantastic!  My hat is off to Pastor Hollie and everyone who works so hard each week to bring top quality children's ministry to Enterprise.  If you have elementary-aged kids (or you know someone who does) bring them to Crossroads on Sunday, they'll have the time of their lives.  But be ready to come back again, 'cause they're not going to want to miss a week.
8. Today is the first of June, and we have a bunch of great stuff going on this month.  In addition to our current series 'EPIC' which wraps up on the 14th, we have a special service on June 21st called 'Masterpiece', and that evening we'll be cooking up West Texas BBQ in the parking lot of the Annex and having a special night food and fellowship, with an hour or so of absolutely SMOKIN' HOT Live Blues in the Garage with a very special band! A GREAT opportunity to invite friends who don't really like the whole "church thing".
9. We'll finish up the month of June on Sunday the 28th with a special service called "CHECKPOINT" where we'll look at the things we said we'd do in 2009, see if we got 'em done, and lay out for you everything coming up in the next 6 months.  Gonna' be a great time to catch the vision God has given us for Crossroads!

All of the upcoming events with dates and times will be posted on the website, so go there often to keep current. We love you guys and thanks for all who worked to make yesterday Beach, BBQ & Baptism such a special day!  Thank you to all who allowed us the privilege of baptizing you yesterday.  Truly, you are risen to NEW LIFE in Christ!  Have a great week!