MONDAY MIND DUMP (Rain Delay Edition)

Well...what can I say.  After an absolutely STELLAR morning, a great crowd, a positively electric lobby, the best worship experience probably like, ever, in the sanctuary our Beach, BBQ and Baptism at Lake Tholloco was totally rained out.

I know, I know...I said rain or shine, and I meant it.  Those of you who have ridden with me know that a bit of rain is not going to spoil my fun.  However, I thought it would be irresponsible of me to drag you and your children into a roiling lake, in deluge conditions, with cloud to ground lightening and thunder clapping overhead.  Not really what we're going for.

On a really personal note, I'm not just bummed about the event being cancelled, I am aching over the fact that in our awesome service on Sunday I gave you a challenge ("get baptized TODAY") that it was impossible for you to carry out.  That hurts my heart.

On a lighter - and forward looking - note, the Beach, BBQ and Baptism has been rescheduled! Same location, same time, on Sunday May 31st!!!

By my reckoning, we had around 30 who wanted to be baptized on Sunday.  Let's see if we can make it 40 in the next two weeks!

Love you guys so much.  So sorry about BBB getting washed out.  But let's dig in over the next two weeks, and build a bigger crowd, get MORE people baptized.  Nothing like a little anticipation to stir the heart.

Have a great week, and don't forget to weigh in on the Touchy Topic Series all week long!

Fun with Dinosaurs

This one always get people going.  Everyone has an opinion.  Sent in by a regular reader, dig into this Touchy Topic.

Q: What's the deal with dinosaurs?  Why doesn't the Bible talk about them.  If the earth is 6000 years old, how come there's things on the earth that are supposedly millions of years old?   

Christian or Christ-follower?

For your consideration and comment, another reader sent this in for our Touchy Topic series.  Got an opinion?

Q: What do you think the difference is in being a "Christian" and a "Christ follower"? Or IS there a difference?

Teaching Evolution vs. Creationism

Here's an issue sent in by a regular reader of the Intersection. Consider it issue #1 in our Touchy Topic Series.  Let 'er rip!

Q: Should the public school system be allowed to teach evolution and big bang theory without offering creation as an alternative?  

EPIC

Our next series at Crossroads beginning on May 24th and running four weeks was initially to be called "txt".  "txt" is a series of teaching originating (I believe) at Northpoint in Atlanta, and done over the last couple of years by dozens, if not hundreds, of churches around the country.  The main point of the series is to encourage people to read their Bibles.

As we were preparing the series in our creative team meetings, we all voiced a certain uncomfortableness with the idea of comparing the Bible with a personal text message from God. Granted, it's catchy and current and, I suppose, relevant, but it's also fantastically cheesy and - to me, and the rest of your crack creative staff - utterly devoid of the greatness, the grandeur, the splendor and the surpassing majesty that is the Word of God.  The Bible is indeed epic, by literal, and colloquial, definition.

So come, Sunday's May 24th through June 14th, and find your place in the greatest adventure that ever really happened.  Epic.

Here's how it breaks down:

Sunday, May 24th - In The Beginning

Sunday, May 31st - The Word

Sunday, June 7th - Light to Live By (w/Chris Brooks)

Sunday, June 14th - Ever After   

Clown Barf

When I sit at my computer in my office at the Annex, the wall directly in front of my is covered by a massive 6-month dry erase calendar.  As I looked at it this morning, random non-sequiturs (was that redundant?) began flooding into my already totally flooded (think carburetor) mind.  Here's a few of them:

1. Today is the last day of the Sticks Conference that got cancelled that we didn't go to.  At least I'll be home to watch the 2-hour season finale of LOST on our really cool new ABC HD channel from Time Warner.
2. Our really cool new digital phone service from Time Warner doesn't work.  Ever. (I know that's not on my calendar, but I thought about it when I thought about Time Warner.
3. None of our cell phones work in our new house.  (That's not on my calendar either, but thinking about really bad giant companies that promise things they don't deliver automatically made me think of Sprint.  I'll get back to the calendar now).
4. I always mess up the spelling of calendar the first time: c-a-l-a-n-d-e-r.  Know what I mean?
5. I can't wait for Beach, Barbeque and Baptism on Sunday.  If it rains, I'm counting everyone who gets wet.
6. I had a friend, who's already been married four times, call me and tell me he's getting married again ("?") on the 22nd of May...in 2010.  I'll have to put that on my calander (see?) - CALENDAR - next time around.
7. May 25th is my first "tweetaversary".  I hope I get something nice.
8. Off the calendar again: My Blog readership for The Intersection has fallen to dangerously low levels.  I went under 1000 last month. I'm barely at 300 this month and it's half over.  You know what that means don't you? Expect several hideously controversial subjects taken head on at my Blog over the next two weeks.
9. Still off the calendar:  If you're reading this - send me ideas on your favorite hideously controversial topic.  I'll put in a good word for you with my publisher.
10. Back on:  I keep forgetting to bring over my special dry erase erasing liquid and special magic felt dry erase eraser from my old office.  I tried to erase April with Windex and paper towels, but as there is nothing magic about Windex and paper towels it didn't do a very good job. Looks like a clown threw up where April used to be.  Truth be told, I'm a little concerned about May.
11. On a happier note, THE GARAGE BAND will be doing worship at Crossroads on Sunday May 24th!  That'll be really cool.  We'll make a short vid about youth ministry at Crossroads to show before they play.  People need to know the surpassing level of youth ministry that goes on at Crossroads every Wednesday night at the Annex.
12. I like the word 'surpassing'.  There's something...prodigious about it.  (Clearly that was self-indulgent.  Sorry.)    
13. Chris Brooks will be bringing the message at Crossroads on Sunday May 31st.  Also a big deal.  He's really good.  He'll be doing the second part of our three-part series on the Bible called .txt. 
14. That's about it for now.  Gotta get back to message prep.  And listen, don't forget about my friends fifth wedding on May 22nd 2010.   
    

Have a bang up day!

MONDAY MIND DUMP

Fantastic Mother's Day at Crossroads in Enterprise on Sunday!  Here's a few quick takes:

1. Crossroads has the most awesome (and definitely the best looking) moms in the Wiregrass!  Happy, happy Mother's Day to all of you!!!  Special thanks to Star's mom for making lovely Mother's Day presents for all the precious moms who attended Sunday's service.
2. TONS of first time visitors on Sunday!
3. Top FIVE in overall attendance at Crossroads this Sunday!
4. Eight MORE people made decisions to rededicate their lives to Christ!
5. Four MORE people decided to be baptized next Sunday!
6. Children's ministries at Crossroads rock!  And if you haven't seen the stuff for the Filling Station that Billy Donegan has made - you have GOT to see it.  Ask someone in the Filling Station, "I wanna' see the stuff Billy made!"  He made an entire ship (you could get in and sail) out of nothing but foam board, paint and glue! The guy is a genius.
7. Worship was very good yesterday.  In fact, probably Top Five for the worship team.  No kidding. Way to go!
8. Chris Vincent now rocks the donuts from Wally World!
9. Totally enjoyed the series It Came From Within.  Incredibly challenging teaching.  Challenging to share, and challenging to apply.  Heard from SO MANY how helpful this series has been.  
10. Can't WAIT for next Sunday.  We get to BAPTIZE people!  Woo-hoo!  

Don't miss our Special Sunday morning service 'REVEAL' at the College Cinema.  And plan to attend the Beach. BBQ and Baptism at Lake Tholocco on Sunday afternoon at 3PM.  This is a whole church party at the lake, whether you're getting baptized or not.  It's gonna be HUGE fun!

Love you guys!  Have a great week.

Happy Mother's Day!

I joked last Sunday that this week was Mother's Day, so naturally...we'd be talking about anger. I thank God for my mom, and for my wife who is such a great mom. Here's to the people with the toughest job in the world!

Bring mom (or someone who has a mom, or had a mom) to Crossroads this Sunday!  We'll be talking about...well, anger - as we close out our current series It Came From Within 3D. Don't miss it!  See you Sunday!  

Totally Spiritual

I spent the morning with a good friend (and Xroads staff member) doing something completely recreational.  It was a blast and I'm entirely certain that God was digging it too.  It was just like...well, church.

Church?  Yeah, see sometimes we get stuck on the idea that church is about a service time, or a building, or a sermon, or something "spiritual".  In the same way, we can compartmentalize our thinking into spiritual versus non-spiritual activities.  Whether we understand it, as human beings, we are wholly spiritual beings.  And if WE are involved in it (whatever "IT" is) it IS spiritual.  Church is about you and me, because we ARE church.

So - while I was being completely spiritual (at church) trying to knock a little, dimpled white ball out of a sand trap - I got to thinking how grateful I am to be at Crossroads.  Not that our gatherings are the be-all-end-all of the collective Christian experience, but that God is connecting our hearts and our lives in ways we never imagined, as we experience His life-changing love together.  That's pretty cool, and it's also pretty rare.  Out of the sand trap, I felt certain that:

I have never been more passionate, enthusiastic and energized about what God is doing IN us and THROUGH us right here in Enterprise, not just at Crossroads, but in other churches as well.  

I have never been more certain that doing life and celebrating God in the way we are is right on target to put us all in the best possible position to ride this wave.  

I have never been more committed to following God's plan for our community, never been more willing to lay down whatever I have to lay down, to see His plan come to pass, and never been more confident in expressing to those who have found themselves marginalized by their life experience (or church experience) that God loves them unconditionally.  

I have never been more able to work, nor more aware that God's goodness is not a product of my work, but a product of His grace and mercy.

You didn't know golf was such a spiritual pursuit, did you?

Love.  Peace.

 

MONDAY MIND DUMP

Great service at Crossroads in Enterprise on Sunday!  We're one week from wrapping up our current series and we hit it hard yesterday looking at Jesus teaching on our heart and our possessions.  Here's a few quick takes on the weekend:

1. No Christ-followers were actually harmed in the delivery of this Sunday's service. Conversely (even in the face of a challenging message) I had more positive comments from people  leaving that after ANY other service at Crossroads (Hmm...maybe they were just relieved to be leaving..lol).
2. Kidding aside, it was a great service to be at and a privilege to prepare for and participate in.
3. Great to see more first-time attenders even on such a beautiful day!
4. Many, many regulars enjoying the day off with families and friends - also our first week after several long-time regulars moved - also several still out of tow - but we had GREAT attendance despite all of that.  Many who tried Crossroads for the first time around Easter are continuing to come back.  Exciting to see that!
5. Worship was GREAT yesterday.  The band played well, no sound equipment melt-downs and Janna absolutely LIT UP the room!
6. Lobby was rockin' yesterday - our lobby team Brian, Michelle, Shelly, Laura, Stacy, Rachel, Star (and ALL the others I'm failing to name) makes ME want to work on the lobby team!
7. Kudos to Mike Armstrong who led our short-handed set-up team to a first-rate, on-time set-up.
8. Children's ministry ROCKS at Crossroads!  From babies to 6th-graders every area of children's ministry is strong and working well.  But we still need help doing set-up and tear down in the nursery/toddler area.  Get involved, you'll be glad you did!
9. Crossroads continues to grow each week, not only in numbers, but in life-change.  I hear life-change stories from regular attenders week after week.  There is something HUGE to be said for developing the habit of going to church and applying what we hear.  I see the effect on the faces and in the hearts of those have committed to regularly attend.
10. What's more, I am consistently hearing how people are helping one another in our community.  That is perhaps one of the most inspiring things about Crossroads - that people are doing life together, sharing their time, talent and treasure with one another.

Leslie and I moved this weekend - so our small group didn't meet.  But it is reported to me regularly that small groups continue to be strong and fruitful at Crossroads.  Look for our very first membership class coming up following the end of our small groups Spring semester.  

Thanks to EVERYONE who helped us move and special thanks to all the TEENS from Crossroads who helped.  I marvel at how involved you are in everything that is happening at the church.  Youth Ministry is something that seldom makes the MMD because they meet on Wednesday's in the Garage at the Annex.  Crossroads continues to be committed to strong youth ministry as we stay committed to the teens that helped build this church, and those who will come after them.  You guys are a HUGE blessing!

Have a FANTASTIC week!  Don't forget Mother's Day this Sunday.