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!