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!