pause

In our culture, we tend to look at the beginning of the year as a time to go charging off to accomplish all the things we said we’d do last year and didn’t, or to begin a host of new habits that we resolved to start, or to stop the old ones we promised ourselves we quit. The temptation is to hit the ground running. 

But what if we just took a minute and paused…

I don’t know how it works for you, but I know that when I come home from work after a long day, and I walk through the door and the kids are bouncing off the walls and the dogs are barking, and the television is blaring, and the kitchen is bustling with activity, I just want to take a minute and decompress. Something about quiet at the end of a period, or a season, of high anxiety and stress, helps us to reorder our lives. The holiday season can get us so wrapped around the axle with urgent concerns – money, family, crowds, noise, decorations, cooking, cleaning – that our stress can go right through the roof. It’s hard to hear yourself think, let alone hear from God, when there’s so much going on.

If we’ll  slow down… just for a moment… and listen… we might hear our Heavenly Father say, “You are concerned about many urgent things. But in all your activity, be careful not to overlook the truly important things”.  

Maybe it’s time to hit pause, and just get quiet for a minute. Pause. Two weeks, starting January 2nd.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a great day in Christ!  Just a quick note to stop and celebrate what happened last night. Around 100 folks braved the chilly weather for an awesome Christmas Eve Communion service at Johnny Henderson Family Park last night.  Mulled cider, Christmas carols, and communion with the Crossroads family...what an honor it is to serve God with you all!

Enjoy time with friends and family this weekend as we take a break from our regular Sunday services.  Can't wait to see you all again on Sunday January 2nd at the College Cinema.

Peace.

WEEKEND UPDATE (Christmas Extravaganza 2010)

What a hoot Sunday was!  Crossroads was aboslutely JAMMED with people for our 3rd Annual Crossroads Christmas Extravaganza!  Tons of visitors, family and friends!  The Extravaganza is one of my favorite services of the year.  It's a decidedly low-budget affair where maximum importance on the truth of the Gospel, and maximum opportunity for hijinx and tom-foolery meet.  Here's a few of the things I noticed yesterday:

• Lobby was ROCKIN'!
• Nic, Janna and the band did a great job with the opening song and Christmas Carols.
• I totally botched the announcements, completely forgetting to mention what Communication Cards were, or what people were supposed to do with them.
• James Jones did a fantastic job with a straight up, old school, Gospel reading from Luke 2!
• Janna ripped O Holy Night!  Such a great voice.  Thank you God that you brought her to Crossroads!
• So great to welcome our listeners deployed in Afghanistan.  The crowd noise cheering for you was AWESOME!  Can't wait for you to hear it on the podcast!
• Loved sharing the message about Good News, that brings Great Joy to ALL people!
• I know many would disagree, but I aboslutely loathe singing Christmas trees.  So it's no wonder that T-Wag's Low-Budget Singing Christmas Tree was the funniest thing I've ever seen!  Way to go, Todd!  That's the stuff legends are made of!
• Elves were GREAT!!  Caleb, Sam, Caitlin, Ashley, John, Justin and Natalie cracked me up and had the crowd rolling!  Award for most disturbing elf has to go to Caleb.  Nice tights, bro!
• Will Lurie's Dancing Santa was ridiculously fantastic!  Just the right blend of holiday tradition and hip-hop hilarity...and just a bit naughty.  Will's an amazing talent...in a fat suit or out of one.
• Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make Sunday's service so special for so many people!  From those on stage, to those who set the stage, to our crack tech crew, to everyone who served in the lobby, the auditorium, the office, and the children's ministry, you offered your time, talent and treasure and God used it to draw people to Christ!

I absolutely LOVE being part of a church that takes the truth and importance of the Gospel message so seriously, while never takes ourselves too seriously.  The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus came and lived and died and rose again so that you and I don't have to go to hell.  That's the greatest gift ever given!

While you're hustling to make your final Christmas preparations this week, slow down long enough to think about this:  The most important thing is not finding the right present to give someone, or getting everything we want for Christmas.  Christmas has nothing to do with stuff.  Stuff isn't important.  The important thing is that our Heavenly Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to save us, and to bring us into a right relationship with God.  If you don't have anything else, but you have that, then you have everything!  

Merry Christmas!

WHAT SANTA LOOKS LIKE!

Yesterday I had the privilege of standing before the members of A Co 1/145th AVN REGT to thank them for doing something truly awesome.  These proud and capable young men and women collected enough food from our published list to put together 54 more Emergency Food Boxes!  Their timing could not have been better.  Our supplies of Emergency Food Boxes go up and down with supply and demand.  The last time we got low, the Crossroads family responded in remarkable fashion and in no time we had an abundance of resources.  But as we turned the corner into the holiday season, things were getting slim.

Enter A Co 1/145th AVN REGT (called "The Anvils", because they forge the future of Army Aviation): as part of their class project to dig in and serve the community, last night they brought pickup truck loads of emergency food supplies right off our list to the Annex!  Crossroads - and those served by this important food ministry - received the benefit of their generosity, and we couldn't be more grateful!  Thank you again!!  My prayer is that in 2011 we continue grow in our deep connection to the military community at Fort Rucker, serving those attending flight school and those who support the mission, and working together to serve others!  

FYI: Last night....Santa wore BDU's! 

 

    

A VERY COOL CHRISTMAS PRESENT

I wanted to give something space on the blog in hopes that more people would see it.  Last week I shared a POST about Love In Action Ministries, what a great gift from God they are to the Body of Christ, and what a great gift investing in LIA is for you to give to someone else.

Sunday night, I got this wonderful anonymous comment on that post.  What a blessing it is to see stuff like this happen.  Thank you, God!  Take a look:

"For my 64th birthday, I realized that I didn't need or want anything I had to feed, dust, wash, or put up. So I asked my adult children to please send a contribution to LIA in my honor. They did so. They feel good about it; I am thrilled that my kids understand my love for Love in Action Ministries; and we are doing God's bidding. What a blessing to be a part of this ministry!"

Let me just say, "Happy Birthday, anonymous"!  You've given us ALL a present!  What an inspiration!

WEEKEND UPDATE (121210)

Greetings Crossroads family!  Leslie and I spent a wonderful weekend with Hal and Sandy Mayer (you remember Hal from last weekend), and their staff and volunteers at Church at the Bay in Tampa (CATB).  They did something called a 'Barnabas Weekend' for us and three other church planters.  Why 'Barnabas'?  Barnabas was a leader in the early Christian church.  You can read about him in the Book of Acts.  His Jewish name was Joseph, but he was such an inspiration, the Apostles gave him the nickname 'Barnabas' which literally means 'Son of Encouragement'.

I want to thank Hal and Sandy, our host family Neal and Cathie McCullohs, the entire CATB staff and volunteers for really investing their time, opening their homes and their hearts, and pouring out generosity and encouragement on Leslie and I as well as Chip and Brittni Stallings, Steve and Amy Pridmore, and Barry and Linda Townsend. CATB is totally commited to training, encouraging and supporting church planting.  They understand that more people come to faith in God through Jesus Christ at new churches than anywhere else.  They get that church plants are the front lines in the battle to win the world to Christ!  Thank you CATB for all you do to equip churches to fight the good fight of faith!!  If you like, you can see a bit of the service HERE.

One of the greatest things about this weekend was the fact that none of it would have happened if it were not for YOU.  It's such a privilege to serve God with the faithful people of Crossroads!  Leslie and I think about you and pray for you continually!  We are so proud of you, and we thank God for you every day! 

• Thank you Pastor Ben Rice for studying and preparing and sharing a wonderful message at Crossroads this weekend!
• Thank you to all of the faithful people of Crossroads who serve, most of the time without any recognition, in the nursery and toddlers area, in the kindergarten area, in elementary ministry, in mentoring middle school kids, in youth ministry, in the lobby, in setting up and tearing down each week, in leading us in music and singing, in running the technology that supports our services, in meeting and greeting and serving and loving, in small group leadership, in showing up and growing up, YOU ARE THE CHURCH and the CHURCH IS BEAUTIFUL!
• Thank you to Crossroads hard-working, dedicated staff.  You have been entrusted with keeping and spreading the flame of God's passion and vision for Crossroads and you do a wonderful job!

I am grateful for all the kindness shown to us this weekend, but I am so aware that the biggest encourgement we get in the ministry is to stand alongside each other and serve!  I can't wait to see you all again on Sunday December 19th!  It's going to be a very special service so it's a GREAT time to invite friends and family.  We'll have some songs, some laughs, and we'll share about the GREATEST GIFT EVER!

Have a GREAT week!

   

A GREAT GIFT TO GIVE!

With the cold weather we've had lately (and snow yesterday...for 10 minutes or so), I am reminded of the brutally cold weather we had last year.  If you were around then, you might remember that we quickly set up a shelter for the homeless at the Annex.  We put out a call for blankets and food, and the Crossroads community responded like a well-trained army.  We got cots from the Red Cross, and had everything we needed to make a cozy shelter from the cold weather for those in need.  Everything except permission from the City of Enterprise.  And they shut us down after one night.

I vowed back then (as I wrote HERE) that we would have "the most effective mechanism for meeting the needs of the under-resourced that the City has ever seen".  Monday night we took another step closer to that goal as I took as seat on the board of Love In Action Ministries. Love In Action is the single most effective homeless ministry in the Wiregrass.  Part of the reason that I have been asked to participate is because Love In Action will be opening a branch in Enterprise.

Here's the great thing about Love In Action: it is not a church, it is a parachurch organization.  Parachurch organiztions work outside of and across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism.  Too often, churches have a difficult time supporting one another in our singular efforts for outreach.  One of the reasons for this difficulty (and it's such a shallow reason - but real nonetheless) is the problem of ownership...territory.  In other words, "If we get involved in what your doing than we're supporting your church with our money and our time and our people and our logo isn't on it so it's taking something away from our church".  Sounds stupid, but it happens all the time.

Love In Action knows how to help the homeless and those who are ravaged by poverty.  Love In Action opening a branch in Enterprise, and Crossroads hooking up with Love In Action means:

1. We don't have to re-invent the outreach wheel.
2. We can help an existing organization, already good at what they do, go farther faster.
3. We have access to service opportunities for our congregation that didn't exist before.
4. We're able to put resources to work right here where we live.
5. We get to do the things Jesus said to do.

In 2011, we're going to break through some barriers.  Aligning ourselves with Love In Action is one of the ways we'll do that.  Last year, in addition to the hundreds helped, clothed, fed, cared for LIA got 35 people off the street, into homes, and back to work.  Those are HUGE results.  No one at LIA gets paid.  No one.  Their administrative costs for an entire year didn't exceed $1500.  Guys, that's amazing.  These folks are the real deal.  They are motivated by the call of God on their lives.  They all work full-time at other jobs, and volunteer their time (from the top of the org chart to the bottom) selflessly.

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will reward them for what they have done.

(Proverbs 19:17)

This Christmas (hey, you're gonna buy something on-line anyway), consider "making a loan to God" by lending support to Love In Action Ministries.  You can do it right HERE.  Now there's a gift worth giving!  Here's another suggestion: tell someone who's planning on buying you a gift this Christmas, "Make a donation to LIA fo me!", it just might be the best gift anyone ever gave you.

   

WEEKEND UPDATE (w/Hal Mayer)

What an awesome weekend at Crossroads!  Many, many BIG wins for everyone (except South Carolina).  Here's just a few of the things that cranked my tractor:

• Mentor, church planting coach and personal friend Hal Mayer and his awesome (and very patient) wife Sandy flew in Friday night.  So GREAT to see them again!
• Saturday from 10:30AM to 1:00PM, Hal spoke about leadership and motivating volunteers at a staff and leaders luncheon.  He began with, "What's the last time you went skinny dipping..."  Things went uphill from there (and I learned much more about our staff and leaders than I knew before...and I'm not sayin' nuthin'!).
• Hal's teaching was direct, on target, insightful, and effective.
• Hal hammered me at every opportunity...all in fun!
• Sunday morning MIND-BLOWING fantastic job by Will, Rachel, Chris and our entire lobby team as they launched PHASE ONE of a complete lobby redesign.  It looked GREAT!  So proud of you guys!!
• New Crossroads T's and Hoodies!  Very cool.  Buy some.  100% of all profits go directly into the building fund!
• Got to meet many new people Sunday morning.  Lot's of first-time attenders!
• Worship was awesome Sunday!  Great job by Nic, Janna and the band.  Played a couple of my very favorites.  Sounded so good!
• Got to talk to Pastor Matt in Afghanistan LIVE on stage and pray with Matt and Hollie as they (sniff) step down from Children's Ministry to dive into new work that God has for them.  Love those guys SO MUCH.  Thank you Matt and Hollie and Ethan and Jacob for pouring your LIVES into the children of Crossroads!! 
• Got to introduce our brand new Children's Pastors NIC & JANNA MCELVEEN!  What a thrill to see God do what He does, and provide everything HIS church needs!! 
• Then I fumbled through an introduction of someone who has influenced my life and our ministry at Crossroads so much, I don't even know how to describe it.  Should have written it down.
• Hal Mayer was an absolute KICK on the stage at Crossroads Sunday.  He had us all rolling as he spoke very honestly and directly about SERVING OTHERS!
• Hal gets credit for the first use of the word "buttload" on the stage at Crossroads.
• Loved his story about buying his dad a drill to use building a deck.  When God gives us gifts, he gives them to us so we'll use them building what HE wants us to build!
• BEST of all...MANY made life changing decisions to trust Christ, and to rededicated their lives to His purpose!!!
• If you were not there on Sunday, BE SURE to listen to the PODCAST.

Crossroads, Staff, Leaders and Volunteers, you guys need to know how much Hal and Sandy bragged on you.  they were truly blessed to be here, and raved about how faithful you are, how comitted you are, and what a COOL THING God is orchestrating in Enterprise.  Hal saw something this weekend that I have the privilege of seeing every week: How blessed we are that God has put us all together for this work.  God is doing something HUGE in our community.  It was totally evident to Hal and Sandy both.  If we will stay faithful, and continue to love God, love each other, and serve the world around us, we will ALL be blown away where God takes us together.  And don't forget, Hal has already promised to be our maintenance man!

Thank you Hal and Sandy.  Have a GREAT week Crossroads family!

"Wangs and Thangs"

Years ago I used to record at a studio owned and operated by a guy named Steve Clayton.  Now, I didn't know Steve in his wild rock and roll days, but I know he had 'em.  When I met Steve he was much like me, an old rocker that had settled into a way of life that suited his faith and sobriety.  One of the most laid back people I have ever met, Steve had a pet phrase for any and every difficulty or challenge in life.  When faced with a blown take on a recording, an equipment malfunction, or the crippling medical condition that ultimately took his life a couple of years ago, I can't count the number of times I heard Steve say in his southern-fried drawl, "Ain't no thang but a chicken wang!"  

Way before the Outkast song of the same name, Steve lived that expression.  He was a treasure.  Steve gave so much to so many people.  He had a remarkable impact on my life, and the lives of many of the young people (including my own kids) who spent time in the studio with him, and nothing I could write here would begin to do justice in describing what a warm, caring, giving Christ-follower he was.  But perhaps the thing I remember most about him was that attitude that said, "Stuff may come my way, stuff I don't like, stuff I don't even understand, but at the end of the day, it's all in God's hands and God loves me."

That's the kind of attitude that Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 15, where he writes, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain".

Steve never let anything move him.  After all, if you're trusting God...everything else is just "wangs". 

WEEKEND UPDATE (Communion 112810)

Incredible service this morning at Crossroads.  A continuation of the 'koinonia' we have all experienced this week, from Tuesday at Love In Action, to Thursday's extraordinary Thanksgiving Outreach, Sunday morning at Crossroads was a fitting time of celebration and reflection as we shared communion for the first time at the College Cinema.  Here's a few takeaway's from the Service:

• One BIG service Sunday at 10:30AM.  so cool to have the whole church in the building at the same time!
• Worship was AWESOME!  Three of my very favorite tunes.  Nic & Janna also did an exceptional job with music at the end of the service during communion.
• Communion for many can (or already has) become little more than ritual, but when the Bible speaks of communion, ritual doesn't come close to describing the true meaning.
• Communion is so much more than just wafers (or bread Chiclets) and grape juice - yet the DEEP MEANING of those symbolic elements is not to be lightly regarded.
• The same bonds than link us to Jesus as individuals also link us to one another.
• Cool to share about the Last Supper, about the bread and the wine and what they represent!
• We share communion to remember Christ's sacrifice and all that he has done for us in his life, death and resurrection!
• Lord's Supper, commuion, holy communion, the bread & the wine, the body & the blood...MY favorite description is EUCHARIST in that 'Eucharistia' means THANKSGIVING!
• Incredible to see so many people - responding to a call for self-examination - come forward to receive the elements of communion in our church.  Wow.  HUGE God moment in the young life of our fellowship (koinonia)!

I was so amped for Sunday's service.  I am so grateful for what God continues to do in and through the lives of the faithful at Crossroads.  Thank you God for giving us all the opportunity to experience 'koinonia' as we learn what it means to BE the church in our community! 

Have a GREAT week!

GAFFE

If I were a politician I'd most certainly be cast in the mold of a Joe Biden who can't seem to keep his foot out of his mouth, or possibly even a Dan Quayle, who stumping in Idaho (or is that Idahoe), was stumped by the spelling of potato ("P-O-T-A-T-O...um, E.  At least I think...isn't there an 'e' on the end of potato?"). Gaffe.

This morning (one post below) I posted a video than included a great interview by Billy Donegan.  It also included a comment from me.  As I watched it after posting it, all the blood ran out of my head as I realized that what I thought I said, I didn't really say at all.  In fact, what I actually said, could certainly be interpreted much differently than I meant it.  For the sake of humor, let's do a little compare and contrast:

WHAT I MEANT TO SAY: "A couple of years ago, looking around the table at Thanksgiving, I thought, 'I don't want to do this anymore, where it's just a small group of people who have so much, in fact way more than we need for ourselves, while there are people in our church and in our community that have little or nothing.  This experience is so wonderful, how much better would it be to share this day with lots of other people, than just to keep it all for ourselves".  (Beautiful sentiment, don't you think?).

WHAT I ACTUALLY SAID:  "A few years ago we were sitting around at Thanksgiving and I thought, 'I just really don't want to do this anymore.  I'd rather be around a bunch of other people'".  (Somewhat less than a beautiful sentiment, don't you think?)

I'm pretty sure that my immediate family (not to mention my in-laws, who were also 'sitting around the table' that fateful day), would not be happy to hear that I would rather trade them in on a 'bunch of other people', than suffer through another Thanksgiving with them.  "Holy cow!  Did he actually say that?"  Yes...he did.  Oops.  Not what I meant.  Mea culpa.  Mea maxima culpa.

Perhaps I should consider a career in politics.  I know...I could start by running for Governor of the State of Embarrassment.  Do I have your vote?

THANKSGIVING WRAP-UP

What an unbelievably wonderful day yesterday!  The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and perfect for sharing a meal outside under the tent at the College Cinema parking lot.  Here's just a few of my thoughts about yesterday:

• Crossroads volunteer army of servants was amazing!  Thank you all so much for giving your time, talent and treasure to make Thanksgiving special for so many!  From giving, to cooking, to smoking and grilling, to set-up and clean-up, to the wondeful job decorating the tent, to translating for Spanish-speakers, to delivering hot food to needy people in tough surroundings, you showed our community what love looks like! 
• Crossroads staff hit a grand slam yesterday (and all week long preparing).  I am so proud of the job  of organizing and implementing that Will and Rachel and Chris did.  Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication!  Yesterday was the day your leadership at Crossroads came into full bloom.  I couldn't be prouder of you guys, and I want you to know what an honor it is to do the work of the ministry with you!
• Crossroads Thanksgiving outreach was all over the News yesterday.  That wasn't something we promoted like that, it just sort of worked out that way.  Thanks to all who represented Christ and the church, with your newspaper and television interviews.  Here's a great story from the Dothan Eagle.  Make sure you watch to the end to see a great interview with Billy Donegan:

• Including food delivered to the Christian Mission, food delivered to Martin Trailer Park, and food served under the big tent, YOU provided and served up 588 awesome meals yesterday!  That is simply AMAZING!
• Hollie and her helpers signed up over 100 CHILDREN yesterday to receive free Christmas Stockings!  Another HUGE win!  Anytime we have a chance to share with a child, we have an opportunity to influence a family - and a generation - for Christ!

One of the biggest surprises yesterday is how much we learned for this type of outreach going forward in the years to come.  We see the huge need to serve people who simply can't get where we are.  Like last year, this year we looked at delivering food to local communities as something to do once the walk-up traffic slowed down.  Next year, we're going to add an element of mobility to our operation from the beginning.  I believe that we can easily feed over 1000 people with a mobile effort, while still connecting with our immediate neighbors.  I can't WAIT to do this again.  In fact, I wish we could do it every day!

Again, thank you ALL so much for working so hard to serve so many people yesterday!  I am energized by your desire and willingness to serve, and I am so proud of your generosity.  I know in my heart, that your heavenly Father is proud of you, too!  I believe that as we continue to serve the people around us, our influence to reach our community and our world for Christ grows exponentially.  

Can't wait to see you on Sunday and learn together, and share in the special and deeply meaningful celebration of communion!  

      

GIVING THANKS

Yeah man, I'm giving thanks.  I'm giving thanks that I get to go to a place where people are interested in serving others.  I'm giving thanks that that interest is translated into action.  I'm giving thanks that God gives us opportunities to serve in real, tangible ways.  One of those ways is happening tomorrow at the College Cinema parking lot from 11AM to 1PM, and I'm as excited as a kid before Christmas!

I am blown away by (and SO very grateful for) the hard work, organization, and dedication of our staff at Crossroads, and by the amazing level of comittment shown by the dozens of people who are working overtime preparing food for tomorrows Thanksgiving celebration.

Tomorrow morning, people from all over our community will be going to work at 8:30AM, setting up, making preparations, bringing food they prepared, and setting the table for an outrageous outdoor Thanksgiving BBQ feast absolutely free for anyone who wants to eat.  Hundreds of flyers have gone out, newspaper and television has picked up the story, the billboard is set, and the entire community is welcome to share!  But one of the most wonderful things of all will happen near the end of the afternoon.  As the crowd begins to thin, we'll begin preparing containers of food to personally deliver meals to people in trailer parks and housing areas that many probably don't realize even exist.

I wonder what God will do tomorrow?  I know this: I'm definitely showing up to find out.  Can't wait to see that tent full of people digging in.

Happy Thanksgiving!

WEEKEND UPDATE (112110)

Well, it's deep into the late afternoon today and I'm just getting to this post.  Like everyone else, I've had a busy few days, but we did experience an exceptional weekend at Crossroads and I didn't want the day to comepletly evaporate before I got to share a few of the things I noticed on Sunday:

• TONS of first-time attenders!
• Worship was GREAT, especially in the second service.  LOVE the David Crowder song!
• Everyone really responded to our call for more groceries for Thursday's Thanksgiving feast!  Great job Crossroads!
• So excited for this week.  Can't wait to serve and eat BBQ with family, friends, and neighbors under the big tent!
• Had a great time sharing the message on Sunday.  We finished our series 'Fruitful' on Sunday.  This week was my favorite of the whole series.
• The Fruit of the Spirit isn't about coloring inside the lines and being "nice" to people.
• The Fruit of the Spirit is an amazing and powerful equipping of God that arms us to fight evil with LOVE!
• Faithfulness says, "I can count on you".
• Gentleness says, "I can learn from you".
• Self-Control says, "I can trust in you."
• My biggest take-away from Sunday's message?  We have to BEND to LEARN.
• So much POWER to live the kind of life God wants us to live is available to us.  But we only realize the power of God when we place ourselves under (and keep ourselves under) the authority of God.
• Leslie is WAY better at writing things (like blog posts) than I am.  If you haven't read her stuff, go HERE.
• Got to the Annex Saturday and one of the big front windows was smashed out.  "That'll be 460 bucks" say the glass people.  Rolling with it.  Here's the frustrating part, we're moving out of the Annex in nine days.  Timing is everything.

I'm not remotely discouraged by the window thing...or by much of anything, really.  I have WAY too much hope.  In fact, I have plenty of hope to share.  If you need some, call me, or better yet, come to the organizational meeting for our Thanksgiving Outreach tonight at 6:30 PM at the Annex.  And then be amazed on Thanksgiving Day when you see how much hope you get, when you share it with others!  Have a fantastic week.  No small groups this week.  No youth this week.  Lot's of opportunities to by thankful and to serve!

P.S. Don't forget, only ONE BIG SERVICE this coming Sunday at 10:30 AM. 

PRACTICAL LOVE (on Thanksgiving Day)

Just a few quick thoughts on why I'm eating Thanksgiving dinner outside, under a big tent, in the parking lot of the College Cinema with a bunch of friends, and a whole bunch of people I've never met before:

1. A couple of years ago (even though I love being with family) I was officially done sitting around a fancy table with fancy dishes and fancy food (getting fatter) in a private celebration, while so many others were doing without.  You don't have to agree with that, just saying that's how I felt.
2. Knowing how good the experience sitting around a table with 10 people is, I kept thinking how cool it would be to sit around a table with 100 or 1000 other people.  (In fairness, back in the day before I got saved, I always figured if one beer was good, then 12 beers must be really good.  I'm just wired that way).
3. I never wanted to just "go to church" in the neighborhood in which we're located.  Somehow, I think it's better to "be the church" in the neighborhood in which we're located.
4. Thanksgiving is a great day to get together with other folks.  Most people are available.  Most people are off work.  Most people are hungry for a good hot meal.  Most people have a sense of what Thanksgiving is all about.  Most people find themselves being thankful for something, even those with the least to be thankful for.  I want to be right where those "most people" are.
5. It's a great opportunity to reach IN to our community with practical love.
6. I'm not remotely concerned about "accidentally" giving a free meal to someone who wouldn't go to work if you paid them.
7. I'm incredibly concerned that the church in general looks completely irrelevant to the community that surrounds Crossroads.  I think we should work to change that perception.
8. For the past two years, little kids from the neighborhood come to Crossroads on Sunday morning because they know the can get donuts.  I am well aware of the fact that those donuts may be the only thing they some of those children eat that day.
9. Jesus said to feed hungry people.
10. Jesus said to be merciful, just like our hevenly Father is merciful.  

Look, this is about more than just giving people "free food".  This is an opportunity to really connect and LOVE our neighbors.  Over the past couple of years we've done a block party for the neighborhood, passed out backpacks to kids going back to school, and provided Christmas stockings for neighborhood children.  This event gives us the opportunity to build on that foundation of service and caring.  My dream is, that in the years to come, those young people growing up in the neighborhood would experience life change as a result of their encounter with Christ followers who are following Christ in word AND deed.  That in the years to come, they would choose to raise their families at Crossroads, and spend their time serving in the very community they grew up in, because they experienced first-hand what a difference it made to them.

Come and serve.  Bring food to the Annex this week from the list.  It will make a HUGE difference in the life of someone else.

WEEKEND UPDATE (111410)

Good morning and happy Monday!  Had a great weekend at Crossroads.  Here's a few of the things that stood our from Sunday's service:

• LOVE seeing and meeting first-time attenders at Crossroads!
• Many came back for their second or third visit also!
• Loved worship!  Great job Nic, Caleb and band!
• Stuck my head in the Children's Annex Sunday.  Always so impressed at the unselfish work done by all the people back there!  Thank you so much for serving God and caring for the children of Crossroads parents!
• Lobby was electric Sunday morning.  Such great energy as people are meeting, greeting and hanging out.  You can tell it's working when people linger in the lobby instead of running to their cars after service.
• Baby Dedication Sunday!  What a cool experience getting to see and pray for so many children as their parents stepped up and comitted to raise them to be Christ-followers!  Way to go parents! And way to go church as you comitted to help and support them in their efforts to raise godly kids!
• Nothing like the local church when the local church is working right, and dedicating children to the Lord as a family of believers is the local church working right!
• Sunday's message was tough in both services.  It's hard to confront our own personal lack of patience and tendancy to get offended and be unkind to others.  having said that, some of the most patient and kind people I have ever met, I met at Crossroads!  I love that I get to go to church in such an accepting and forgiving environment!
• Quotable Quote #1 (also descibes Galatians): "We can't.  God can.  So let Him."
• I am so excited for our Thanksgiving Outreach, I'm about to bust.  But know this: It will not work with your involvement.  We need people to step up, to sign up, to give, to provide food, and to dig in to the awesome opportunity to share our lives and resources with others in our community.  I promise you, it will be an experience you will never forget.  You'll never look at Thanksgiving the same way.
• Quoteable Quote #2: "Patience is not passively waiting.  that's laziness.  But to keep going when the going is difficult and slow...that is patience".
• If you're not in a small group, remember that the message doesn't end on Sunday.  You can listen to the podcast and every Tuesday morning download helpful Small Group Resources by going HERE.
• Quoteable Quote 3: "Since we've decided to be done beating ourselves up for not measuring up, let's also be done beating up other people, too.  One of the ways we demonstrate God's goodness is by not demanding that others live up to standards we ourselves can't live up to."

Have a GREAT week!  Surprise yourself (and someone else) this week by doing the wise thing and overlooking offenses. "A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense" (Proverbs 19:11).

      

Veteran's Day

Growing up, my father didn't talk much about the war.  Born in 1925, he was the age my second child is now when he boarded a bus in California for basic training at Fort Dix in New Jersey.  My second child.  One of my favorite pictures in the world is of the two of them together on the beach, my father lying peacefully in the sand with my then baby boy snuggling up to him.  It's the last picture I have of them together.

Ninety days after his arrival at Fort Dix, daddy was on big troop ship headed for Southampton on the coast of England.  He would remain there training, preparing, meeting new people, most likely drinking with buddies when he had time off, no doubt missing his baby sister half a world away in his tiny hometown of 2000, and certainly terrified to the core of the unknown battles that lay ahead.  He had good reason to be frightened.  He could not have imagined that a short time later, as part of the Third Army, he'd be packing mortar and machine gun through the frozen forests of Belgium and Germany in the bloodiest battle of World War II.  Some 19,000 teenagers and young men gave their lives for the cause of freedom in the Batle of the Bulge. Over 80,000 wounded, captured or missing.  The wounded included my dad, who took shrapnel in the back from an exploding shell, got stiches and a purple heart, and spent the rest of that Winter marching to Berlin with frostbitten feet.  Daddy could spell and type, so he was recruited to clerk after the war and remained overseas for the duration of the Nueremberg War Crime Trials.  Guess it's not hard to figure why he didn't talk about it much. You can't erase that stuff.

He came back to the States after the trials and got his degree on the GI bill and went to work.  He could work longer and harder, with more dedication to the task at hand, than anyone I've ever known.  In the 60's when me and my brother were kids, daddy didn't like the war in Vietnam.  I think it was a combination of the lack of clarity in the mission, the first-hand awareness of the horror of war, and his fear of seeing us go through what he went through. 

I had my my father's dog tags from World War II when I was a kid.  I lost them.  Serving our country as a scared teenager who became a man through the accelerated aging that accompanies the absolute terror of the battlefield, he lost something too.  They all did.  The men and women of his generation and time weren't kids like we were kids.  They had an inner strength and drive and will to live born of the great struggles of their youth.  They had far more interest in creation than recreation.  To them, work was a privilege.  How could it not be?  How could they not live and serve and work to the absolute fullest when to do otherwise would be to dishonor those who gave everything to preserve that privilege?  Those who would do their greatest work on that cold, bloody battlefield.

There's a reason they call people from my father's generation "The Greatest Generation".  They saved the world.  That's all.  And when they came home, they went to work and built a better world for all of us.  I'm going to do my best to honor that in the only way I know how.  I'm going to work today. 

It's Veteran's Day.  If you're a Veteran, please put your feet up and enjoy some much-deserved rest.  If you're in the company of a Veteran, do all you can to see that they get the most out of today, and every day.  But if you're like me, someone who has the honor and privilege of being an American because other's served, how about joining me in a productive day at work, while the ones who truly deserve it take the day off?

Appreciate your freedom?  Thank a Vet.    

WEEKEND UPDATE (110710)

Wonderful weekend at Crossroads!  here's a few quick take-away's:

• First, Second, Third-time attenders rock!  So glad you came on Sunday!
• Several made decisions to renew their faith in Christ.  That's what this is all about!
• Kicked off new series 'FRUITFUL' and dug into Galatians 5.
• Talked about LOVE and talked about GRACE and talked about being beat-up by Christians who are real into rules, but short on love, joy and peace.
• And then there's us...We are our own worst critics when it comes to messing up.  Especially when we compare ourselves with others who seem to have the whole "God-thing" down.  We beat US up.  It's as if we're comitted to this: "As bad as you treat me, I'll treat me far worse!"
• Into that craziness Paul says, "The only thing that really counts is faith expressing itself through love".  (As in 'love your neighbor' love).
• We talked about Galatians 5:22-23; the fruit of the Spirit and how there's no law against it.
• Martin Luther said, "There IS a law of course, but it does not apply to those who bear the fruit of the Spirit.  A true Christian does not need any law to warn or restrain him.  As far as he is concerned, there would not have to BE any law".
• We have to LIVE in LOVE (1 John 4:16)
• We have to BELIEVE in JOY (1 Peter 1:8-9)
• We have to TRUST in PEACE (Romans 5:13)
• My favorite take-away from Sunday: When you start feeling like a "Spiritual Yo-Yo" (up one day down the next, up one moment down the next), remember the acronym "Y.O.Y.O."  It stands for "You're On Your Own".  When we're living the "yo-yo life" it's a sure sign that while we may be trusting God with our FOREVER, we're not trusting Him with our TODAY.    
• Favorite Quote: "It's not that God can't, it's that we won't let Him!"
• Let's be done with beating ourselves up.  ML has another suggestion: "Instead, follow the Spirit and resist the flesh.  That is the most we will ever be able to do". (One of the many reasons they labeled him a heretic.  Just sayin', but I like to think ML would find Crossroads a warm and welcome environment where truth is not shadowed by religiosity, but allowed to see the full light of day).

Have a GREAT week!

Good Roots = Good Growth

Freshly ripped from the pages of our Small Group Guide for this week, I want to share this with the whole church.  So if you didn't get the chance to download the SG stuff this week, here's something you missed, that's worth not missing: 

As I studied and prayed and prepared during ‘HEALTHY HABITS’, and later during the 3-week series ‘GHOST’, it became obvious to me that these were not stand-alone series’. The Holy Spirit has completely orchestrated this season that we are in at Crossroads. Healthy Habits led into ROADIES 201 and into our teaching on the Holy Spirit in ‘GHOST’. The season continues in this same vein as we begin a three-part series on the fruit of the spirit with our new series called ‘FRUITFUL’. 

I am more aware than ever of the influence, leading, and guidance of the Holy Spirit and I trust that you are tracking as well. This is a special time in our church and in our lives. If you have noticed, there have been many changes in our congregation over the past six months. So many new faces, it’s as if we have an entirely new church! Perry Noble has said, “Numerical church growth is cyclical. It ebbs and flows in cycles. There’s a time for ‘fruit’ and a time for ‘root’”. If ‘fruit’ are the periods of numerical growth, as exciting as they are, then this time of ‘root’ is all the more precious and important. That is why the Holy Spirit is leading us in our current stream of teaching, so that we may “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17). 

I am reminded of Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, who he longed to be with, but was prevented time and again from seeing. He wrote, “I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you – that is that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 1:11, ESV). The word ‘strengthen’ means “established, or made firm, or stable, or constant”. I believe during this season of “root” that God is strengthening us, establishing us, making us stable and constant through the teaching of the Holy Spirit. And just as my faith encourages you, remember also that there is no greater encouragement that I could ever receive than seeing you grow stronger in the Lord. We encourage one another! 

So dig in. Get everything that God has for you, for your family, and for your life during this time! A season of significant numerical growth is coming again at Crossroads. Use this time wisely to prepare, so that YOU, strengthened, emboldened and empowered by the Holy Spirit might be “witnesses” to those God will send (to your life and to our church) in the months to come!

Peace.

WEEKEND UPDATE (Halloween 2010)

Great day Sunday at Crossroads!!  Here's just a few of the things I noticed:

• Lots of people in costume on Sunday.  Too much fun!  Why wait for Reformation Day to dress up?  That was awesome!
• Some of my favorites: Nic & Janna as Ricky and Lucy; Will as Dwight Shrute (looked EXACTLY like him); Tyler as "Ash" Williams from Evil Dead (complete with prosthetic chainsaw hand); Natalie replete with stiches and facial bruises as boxer "Lights Out" Lurie; Cory Shelton as Frodo Baggins; Rachel as Minnie Mouse; and a purposely unshaven, slovenly Todd Waggerman in a costume that left the good taste barrier smoldering in the rear view mirror - something resembling a homeless winged fairy with tu-tu and pink bedroom slippers.  LOVE the fact that all of you felt completely comfortable dressing like that for church!  Waggerman, you really need some professional help! Hahaha!
• I wanted to dress in costume, but I thought it would be so offensive, and distracting I decided not to.  Will Lurie, however, did prepare a picture of what I was going for.  It's at the bottom of this post.
• While all of that was fun, it was the least important thing that happened Sunday.
• ROADIES 201 finished Sunday!  So proud of all who dug in, showed up, and got the most from their Sunday mornings for the last month!  Way to go guys, and way to go Pastor Matt and Pastor Ben for doing a GREAT job teaching the class!
• Sunday we also finished our series 'GHOST' as we took head-on some misconceptions about the Holy Spirit and provided some insight into developing a close intimate relationship with Him.
• It's possible I stepped on some toes Sunday.  If you were offended in any way, pray for me.
• God's LOVE drives everything the Holy Spirit does!
• The Holy Spirit came to connect followers of Christ to the POWER and the PRESENCE of God so we can be WITNESSES of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
• The Holy Spirit desires an INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with us so He may LEAD us and GUIDE us and COUNSEL us and COMFORT us and TEACH us and CORRECT us and CONVICT us and ENCOURAGE us and EMPOWER us and SANCTIFY us and SEAL us and STRENGTHEN us and work IN us and THROUGH us so we might DO God's will!!!
• Paul told the church at Corinth "knowledge puffs up, but LOVE builds up".
• Maybe you've walked into (or out of) a church service where people were running around, rolling on the floor and all praying in tongues and the same time.  Confusion.  Not edifying.  Doesn't BUILD up.  Seems puffed up, or maybe even MADE up.  That's NOT the Holy Spirit's fault!
• I believe in MIRACLES! (But God-made ones, not man-made ones).
• "The Holy Spirit works to glorify Christ, but many who emphasize the Holy Spirit seem to draw attention to themselves". - Francis Chan.  Agreed (see TBN...or don't).
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is so powerful!  Paul redirects the focus of the church at Corinth (and any other church that will listen) from supernatural gift to L-O-V-E.
• After we "did the numbers" digging through Scripture from top to bottom" we found 17 Scriptures about tongues and 1489 Scriptures about "fruit".
• Yes, I pray in the Spirit every day, but in my room with the door closed (Matthew 6:5-9)
• I submit the overwhelming evidence of the IN-FILLING of the Holy Spirit is the FRUIT of the Spirit in operation in our lives, not the GIFTS of the Spirit.
• The gifts of the spirit are unquestionably important, but we are most like Christ when we live in a way that the FRUIT of the SPIRIT is evident on our lives!
• It is in being FRUITFUL that we become like Christ in His love! 

Have a GREAT week!  Enjoy your Small Group!  Here's my questionable costume choice:

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!

It's Friday and I'm so excited for the weekend, I can't hardly stand it!  In fact, my absolute favorite thing about Friday is how close it is to Sunday!  Earlier today I was looking for a picture from an old blog post I did a couple of years ago.  One thing led to another and a half an hour had gone by as I got lost in scanning posts all the way back to February of 2008.  I discovered a really consistent theme.  Here's a snippet of post from August 2008 that says it all: 

I'll admit it. I'm a junkie for the weekend. I LOVE attending Crossroads. But not just because I get to preach there. No, when we sat down over a year ago and began dreaming with God what church could be like, what we were dreaming wasn't a place to preach and play music that hopefully some people would come to so we could justify doing it. It was a place we wanted to attend! 

I believe we're starting to see those dreams come into being. And it's a great deal of fun! I look forward to going each week where I get to see old friends and meet new ones. (I swear it's not for the donuts, I haven't had one in a couple of weeks!) I just really dig the vibe there. Yeah, we have technical bugs and glitches to work out and we're learning week by week what they are - but Crossroads is making my church attending experience fun, enjoyable and meaningful. I can't wait to see what happens next!

I guess that's what I wanted to express today.  I haven't had a donut in a really long time now, but I am just as excited to be an attender at Crossroads TODAY as I was the first day we started doing this.  In fact...I'm WAY MORE excited.  The things that God put in our hearts more than three years ago are things we're really starting to see.  And while we've had plenty of challenges (and will have plenty more)  I can honestly tell you that I'd rather be at Crossroads than any church I've ever attended or visited.  I genuinely cannot WAIT to see (and be a part of) what happens next!!  

I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUNDAY!!! WOO-HOO!!!!!!   
  

VOICE MALE

Sunday when I got home from church I noticed I had received a voice mail from a number I didn't recognize.  I listened to it.  "Hey, Gene call me back in about 5 minutes".  I had no idea who it was.  The voice was completely unrecognizable to me.  I didn't call back.  Then today at 3:00PM I got a call from that same number.  The conversation when something like this:

Me: Hello, this is Gene (those of you who call me are familiar with that greeting).

Him: What're you doin'?

Me: (not knowing who I'm talking to) Um...just working, you know...like I do.

Him: (crackle) mmmmph  phummm mmbblll  phmufff

Me:  Hang on, let me go outside where I can hear you.

Him: mmmph phummmm mmbbll hear me now?

Me: Yes, I can hear you now, what can I do for you?

Him: Just comin' to Enterprise wanna know if you wanted to get a beer.

Me: What?

Him: Wanna get a beer?

Me:  Wanna get a...Um...who is this?

Him: Thomas.

Me: Thomas, who are you trying to call?

Him: Gene.

Me: Well my name is Gene, but I'm not the go get a beer type, Thomas.  Are you sure you have the right number?

Him: Well, he said his name was Gene when I picked him up.

Me: Sorry?  Picked him up?  What?

Him: Yeah, I picked him up at 84 and the Circle and he said he couldn't hang out now, but he said he was Gene and he gave me this number.

Me:  Okay, well that's not me.  I'm not the "get picked up on the corner and give you my number so we can have a beer later" kind of guy, Thomas.  Sorry.

Him:  Okay, well then...that's okay then.  Sorry to bother you.

So, whoever you are that's getting "picked up" by guys like Thomas at 84 and the Circle, I'd really appreciate it if you'd give them Pastor Ben or Pastor Matt's number next time.  Hahaha!  Although I'm pretty sure they won't go out with Thomas either, but he can give it a try.  Hahahahaha!

What a weird world.

WEEKEND UPDATE (102410)

Greetings and Happy Monday Morning!  Another great weekend!  I absolutely LOVE going to church at Crossroads!  Here's just a few of the things I noticed yesterday:

• Worship was smokin' yesterday and Nic, Janna and the band played my brand new all-time favorite tune, 'Your Love Never Fails' and nailed it.  Way to go guys!
• Peered into the Children's Center yesterday morning.  Always amazed by the hard-working volunteers back there who pour out their love on your children each week!
• So appreciate everyone who stays late (well into everyone else's lunch hour) tearing down and cleaning up the Cinema.  The Lobby Team really works hard to make your experience at Crossroads warm and inviting.  Praise God for people who understand how cleaning a bathroom and mopping a floor is serving God at the very highest level!  That's exactly what Jesus did!
• Cotinued our series 'Ghost' yesterday, teaching about the Holy Spirit, and sharing personal experiences.
• The Holy Spirit wants to "wholly take possession" of us.
• That those who believe have the Holy Spirit in them is a given.  What's up to us, is how much ROOM we give Him.
• The more room we give Him, the more likely we are to do God's will. 
• If praying "thy will be done" doesn't freak you out, you probably don't understand the implications.  When you pray it, don't be surprised if God challenges you by having you go places and do things that make you uncomfortable.
• We all have fear at some level of the Holy Spirit having total control of our lives.  But for the control freaks among us (like you and me), it's important to always remember this: CONTROL IS AN ILLUSION.  We don't actually have it.  We only THINK we have it!
• I love that our church is made up of people from all walks of life, different backgrounds, and different religious experiences!
• That being true, it can make for challenging discussion, especially when people have different ideas about the Holy Spirt.  We're very fortunate that we worship in an environment where people are learning and growing in their faith, and haven't decided that they already know all the answers!
• Thank you Crossroads Small Group attenders for joining me down front in the auditorium!  I encourage everyone who reads this to do just that, saving back rows and side seats for first, second and third-time attenders.  Plus, being down front helps you really engage in the service, and makes for a much livelier experience all the way around!
• If you're not in a small group, don't forget to go HERE, and take advantage of the weekly small group resources and study questions downloads from our website.

I am beyond excited already for next Sunday's service!  This week, take some time to participate in the conversation that God is longing to have with you by hearing from you, and speaking to you through the Holy Spirit living in you.  The Holy Spirit has come to give you power to be witnesses of Christ's resurrection, and to comfort you, to counsel you, and to lead and guide your life.  As you approach God's Word this week pray: "Holy Spirit, illuminate the Word of God to me as I read it, so that I can truly understand it.  Help me to see how it applies to my life.  Use it to strengthen me.  Teach me what the Father wants me to know and do.  And give me courage and boldness to do it!"  

Have a GREAT week!