The Victory of ‘We’

When you read Isaiah 9:1-7, the prophecy of Christ's coming, you see that the winners are always a group of people. “Those”, “their”, “they”, etc., are examples of the personal pronouns used in the passage. Together is a real theme in Isaiah 9. Now we all know there are good guys and bad guys in the original Christmas story. The good guys would be Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and the Magi. The bad guys would be the innkeeper and King Herod. There is one distinctive difference between the good guys and the bad guys. The good guys always seem to be making their appearance in the Christmas story as a group, together. But the bad guys always seem to be appearing as individuals, apart from a group, alone. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

There is power in numbers and weakness without them. Very little has ever happened by individuals…it has always been the teams that made a difference. Whatever you might do in life, it will go better with a team. We all want to be independent but life will go better if we decide to be independent together.

What are the benefits of being independent together? What good does having others with me do for me that being more alone can’t?

1. I am motivated to succeed by others.
2. I can see my strengths and flaws much better through others.
3. I can hang in there longer with others encouraging me.
4. I can be a complete person with the complimentary strengths of others.
5. I can see the situation better and act in a way better for all.
6. I can enjoy a victory or get over a loss better with others.

The innkeeper listened to his own voice shut out the maker of the universe, his savior and Lord. He could have at least been able to say that Jesus slept here! And Herod took only his own advice and became a monster.

God’s plan for the invasion was that his people would function as a team. Joseph, by himself, was about to make the wrong decision about Mary. But he listened to voices other than his own (specifically the Lord’s voice though an angel) and made the right decision. The shepherds talked among themselves and said “let us go see this thing that has happened.” The magi discussed the meaning of the stars together and traveled together to see Jesus. Mary and Joseph worked together. Together, good things happen!

Listening is a key element of functioning as a team. Listening isn’t easy but here are a few people who should listen to others. If you do you will probably have a better life.

1. Husbands should listen to their wives.
2. Teens should listen to their parents.
3. Older adults should listen to younger adults.
4. Leaders should listen to their followers.
5. Everyone should listen to God.

The Christmas Wars

Sine I am doing a series on The Invasion Of God I thought it would be good to take a moment to dive into the debate about traditional Christian Christmas displays on public land and all the things that people complain about at Christmas. That sounds like quite an undertaking but I have made it easy for myself. I am going to quote you a letter from Jesus about the Holidays that someone sent me that pretty much sums up my feelings on it.

Before you read it I just want you to know that I do not feel that these things are worth a big fight. Having Christian displays in the town square is not the mission of the church. So I am not much of a protester on this subject. There other things worth a fight...I don't believe this one is. Make sure and read my last article right below this one. Here we go...

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

6. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

7. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

8. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

9. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember,

I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

Native-ivity

I don't know if it has been created before me but I have made a new word: Native-ivity. This is the tendency to make the things that man has added to the original Nativity, the things that we really love about Christmas. For us who struggle with Native-ivity, Christmas is about the things native or natural to us that we love about Christmas: family traditions, holiday trimmings, buying presents, Christmas specials, etc. It is a personal picture of the perfect Christmas. Therefore the whole season can be frustrating for those of us with Native-ivity because we cannot make it like we would like to. How Mary and Joseph must have related. The Nativity scene depicted in little ceramic or wooden sets were certainly not the images they intended for the first Christmas. Talk about a rough Christmas...do you think Joseph envisioned a stable for the birth of God with 20 gawking Shepherds?

For me, Native-ivity sufferer that I am, I struggle with the fact that my kids are so much older now. The Christmas wish list is about clothes and money and no fun items. I have no toys to put together. I have no tents, model trains, or bicycles to create a visual impact for the Christmas morning palooza. Things are changing and Native-ivity is bringing me down a little during this most wonderful time of the year.

As some of the things that made Christmas special are slowly dissolving in the sands of time it is easy to feel a range of emotions from sadness to depression to outright anger. In fact some of us are trying to force Christmas to be what we want it to be. Family members are feeling pressure from us to conform to the perfect Christmas picture that Native-ivity has created in our minds. The success of the present Christmas in some ways is threatened by the success of the past ones.

But it is important to remember some things if Native-ivity with all of its symptoms has set in. First, the past is always remembered more fondly than what it really was. Secondly the present is often thought of less positively than what it really is. Thirdly, there is no guarantee that what you will experience in the future won't be better than what you have experienced before. And lastly, the point of the whole thing is The Nativity, something that a serious case of Native-ivity will often hide or at least obscure. Don't let what isn't this Christmas keep you from experiencing what is and will always be...today in the town of Bethlehem a savior has been born to you and he is Christ the King!

Battles and Babies?

I have been doing a Christmas series about the Invasion of God. As I have thought about the original Christmas story and the whole invasion thing I am struck by how Jesus came. All the talk about a military conquest in Isaiah 9 sandwiched around the story of a baby being born is really strange. I have seen a few shows blend their casts and stories but this combo in Isaish 9 is like blending The Military Channel's, Weaponology with TLC's, A Baby Story. Battles and babies...can they actually go together? They did then.

Jesus birth was actually a logical military tactic much like the Trojan horse (above), used by the Greeks to defeat the Trojans centuries ago. The horse appeared to be a large idol left to appease the gods of the Trojans and apologize for the war the Greeks had started. The Trojans’ strength was a massive wall that the Greeks could not breach and it appeared that they had abandoned their efforts to take Troy when they left the horse outside the city walls. But after the men of Troy brought the Trojan horse inside the city they discovered to their horror that several Greeks were hiding in the horse. They broke out and opened the massive gates, allowing the hiding Greek army to enter Troy and destroy it.

God came to earth not in the disguise of horse shaped idol but in the shape of a baby. He did not come as one would expect the ruler of the universe to come...with power, pomp, and coerciveness. Coming as a baby in a borrowed stable was about as below the radar as you could be. He chose not the route of power, though he had all the power one could have. He came not with cleverness to trick people into following him though he has all knowledge and could have easily done so. He laid down all he was and had and became the lowest and most humble thing he could be to reach us.

I think this is very instructive for all of us. Over whom do you hope and maybe even need to have influence? Your...spouse, neighbors, co-workers, customers, or kids? Aspire to wrap your efforts in the most humble, Christlike package you can muster. Forget who you are and what you have and humble yourself to those you really care about. And then watch how God uses that seemingly weak approach in a very powerful way! That was God's approach in sending Jesus to a broken world. Though having power through humility seems to go together like battles and babies somehow it works.

What Will Matter?

Check out this great poem that really sums up life. I do not have permission to print it so I am linking you to a website that has it.

http://www.charactercounts.org/pdf/whatwillmatter-1203.pdf

Victorious Invaders

I have begun a new series called, "The Invasion of God" which is a Christmas series about Jesus coming to Earth.  Jesus' birth was an invasion, the opening salvo in the battle completed when Jesus said, "It is finished" on the cross. 
 
I believe the way Jesus came to earth is an illustration of how God moves and works.  Jesus' coming to earth was a winning, victorious invasion in every sense. And I believe that God wants us to be victorious invaders in all we need to do for him. 

This world is in some way "enemy territory", the place where Satan is in charge. 

You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. Ephesians 2:2 (CEV) 
 
Making an impact for God in Satan’s world must necessarily be deemed an invasion.

Invasion really is going and taking action—there is no more discussion or planning...just action. To make an impact for God in someone’s life I have to act and invade their world and fight against the enemy.  To help my kids I have to act and invade their world and fight the enemy who also wants them.  In some ways we even have to act and invade the recesses of our minds and claim the thoughts the enemy has placed there that are wrong.  As a congregation we have to act and invade the world of the Mill Creek area in spite of the fact the enemy has claim those lives. 

But to do anything for God we must get the mindset of a victorious invader:
 
A Victorious Invader has...
-A conviction that this action is right and absolutely must be done.  (Jesus had to come to earth to redeem us.)
-A certainty of success because God is doing it. (The prophecies were given and the angels were praising and rejoicing before Jesus was even born.)
-A commitment to sacrifice totally to win.  (Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world.)
-A compulsion to go and act.  (After all the prophecies and talk it was time for Jesus to go and be born.)
-A concentration on the prize not the price of victory. (Jesus endured the pain of the cross by keeping his focus on the prize of redeeming the world.)
 
As 2008 approaches you will only be able to accomplish what God wants you to accomplish if you have this mindset.  What do you have to do for God? Pray and think about it.  Take some time to read Numbers 13:25-33; 14:1-10.  Notice how not having this victorious mindset ruined the ability of God's people to take new, wonderful ground for God. 

I think it all begins with having the conviction that what God wants me to do is right and absolutely must be done.  Get that right and it is much easier to have a certainty, and commitment, a compulsion, and a concentration.  Lose that conviction and it sows doubt into all the other mindsets necessary to succeed. So assess where you are.

Someone once said, “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.” Ask God to transform your thoughts into a victorious mindset. Look out when he does!
 

Your Most Basic Act of Worship

I was recently reminded of an article I gave a friend called Your Most Basic Act of Worship. Here it is:

Lord, I'm Yours. Whatever the cost may be, may Your will be done in my life. I realize I'm not here on earth to do my own thing, or to seek my own fulfillment or my own glory. I'm not here to indulge my desires, to increase my possessions, to impress people, to be popular, to prove I'm somebody important, or to promote myself. I'm not here even to be relevant or successful by human standards. I'm here to please you.

I offer myself to You, for You are worthy. All that I am or hope to be, I owe to You. I'm Yours by creation, and every day I receive from You life and breath and all things. And I'm Yours because You bought me, and the price You paid was the precious blood of Christ. You alone, the Triune God, are worthy to be my Lord and Master. I yield to You, my gracious and glorious heavenly Father; to the Lord Jesus who loved me and gave Himself for me; to the Holy Spirit and His gracious influence and empowering.

All that I am and all that I have I give to You.
I give You any rebellion in me, that resists doing Your will. I give You my pride and self-dependence, that tell me I can do Your will in my own power if I try hard enough. I give You my fears, that tell me I'll never be able to do Your will in some areas of life. I consent to let You energize me…to create within me, moment by moment, both the desire and the power to do Your will.

I give You my body and each of its members…my entire inner being; my mind, my emotional life, my will…my loved ones…my marriage or my hopes for marriage…my abilities and gifts…my strengths and weaknesses…my health…my status (high or low)…my possessions…my past, my present and my future…when and how I'll go Home.

I'm here to love You, to obey You, to glorify You…May I be a joy to You!

Appointments

Leaders...Have a you had your appointment yet today? For those who were working with the kids or were absent yesterday, I spoke about those of whom Jesus said, "These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me." These were seemingly spiritual people, involved in ministry, and admired by others. But their condition was very different from their public persona. They did not have God as the central focus of their time, interest, or passion even though they were spiritual leaders. Their position as leaders pressured them to rely on themselves and to put on a spiritual performance among the people to mask their distance from God. But God always knows, especially when it comes to our hearts.

In I Samuel 13:6-13, we read about Saul another leader whose self-reliance and distance from God torpedoed his leadership. Here is the text from The Message:

6-7 When the Israelites saw that they were way outnumbered and in deep trouble, they ran for cover, hiding in caves and pits, ravines and brambles and cisterns—wherever. They retreated across the Jordan River, refugees fleeing to the country of Gad and Gilead. But Saul held his ground in Gilgal, his soldiers still with him but scared to death.

8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel. Samuel failed to show up at Gilgal, and the soldiers were slipping away, right and left.

9-10 So Saul took charge: "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!" He went ahead and sacrificed the burnt offering. No sooner had he done it than Samuel showed up! Saul greeted him.

11-12 Samuel said, "What on earth are you doing?"

Saul answered, "When I saw I was losing my army from under me, and that you hadn't come when you said you would, and that the Philistines were poised at Micmash, I said, 'The Philistines are about to come down on me in Gilgal, and I haven't yet come before God asking for his help.' So I took things into my own hands, and sacrificed the burnt offering."

13-14 "That was a fool thing to do," Samuel said to Saul. "If you had kept the appointment that your God commanded, by now God would have set a firm and lasting foundation under your kingly rule over Israel. As it is, your kingly rule is already falling to pieces. God is out looking for your replacement right now. This time he'll do the choosing. When he finds him, he'll appoint him leader of his people. And all because you didn't keep your appointment with God!"

Notice in vs. 11-12, Saul is under a great deal of pressure that causes him to "take things into his own hands." But Samuel's response is that Saul should have waited on God in spite of the pressure he was feeling. He should have, kept his appointment with God. I am convinced this is the key phrase that we as leaders need to see...we have to make and keep a daily appointment with God. The pressures of life are no excuse for leaders to take things in their own hands, rely on themselves, and put on a spiritual show to mask their failure to be with God. Read the Bible, pray about specific things in your life, your ministry, your church, and your family. Make God the central focus of your heart, by keeping you appointment with everyday.

In fact, let's conduct an experiment. Let's see what happens at The Crossing when the leaders keep their appointments with God for a whole week. Let's see what happens in your home, family, spiritual life. Meet at the front during prayer at 10:20 this Sunday and let's share what God has done in our lives this week!

Program Humor

Thank the Lord for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services. Check these out!
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The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
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The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.
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Weight Watchers will meet at 7pm at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
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Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
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The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth Into Joy."
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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.
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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
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Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
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This evening at 7pm there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10am. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.
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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7pm. Please use the back door.
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The eighth- graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7pm. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
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Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
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The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours"
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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands!

A Seven Pound Summer

The fall has truly begun at my house. Labor Day concluded with Jerry Lewis singing, "You'll Never Walk Alone" (I grew up watching the MDA telethon.) The wickedly hot weather has eased a bit, Shelli has her fall decorations out (vast amounts of artificial fall-like stuff) and football teams at every level have at least played one game. Fall is here and I love it! It is the most wonderful time of the year for me.

But somehow over the summer, I gained seven pounds. I say 'somehow' as if I think someone mysteriously snuck in to my room in the night and put weight on me. How did it happen? Let's see...vacation: that's worth a few pounds. Company: with about 21 days of company I probably added a few more. Broken routine: that is definitely worth some weight. I am probably not alone in my new found summer girth. So I am back on the diet and exercise plan that helped me to lose several pounds and inches. this past spring. I wonder though if there are not other ways we need to fix the summer's impact on us? Something to think about

Unsung Heroes

Just wanted to take some time to thank some great folks who either work behind the scenes at The Crossing or have just been caught doing something really nice. In the second category, I want to thank Alex and Christina Dixon for making cookies and giving them out to people at church. They did it just because they wanted to be nice...thanks kids (and Patti)!

Those working behind the scenes...
-Thanks Shelley Smith for setting up the Children's Church area every week. This is a labor of love that Shelley does every week when no one is looking. Thanks Shelley-- when you bless kids, you bless God's heart!
-Thanks to Lisa Alspach and Glen O'Loughlin for making the coffee every week.
-Thanks to Daniel Cheatham for driving the truck every week. Thanks to all the guys who do setup as well!
-Thanks to those who work with children every week at The Crossing.
If you have someone we should honor let us know.

One and Only

Yesterday we discussed the question, "what is the central point of the Bible?" I have thought about this for 20 years. Obviously to attempt to answer a statement like this is to invite controversy. I know there may be many honestly held ideas but I have not stumbled into my understanding. I believe the center of it all..the word of God, the mission of Jesus, and of the church, and even the point of attack for the enemy is oneness. God wants us to be one with him and with each other. Below is a very brief summary of oneness and Biblical history.

-God is one (Deut. 6:4)--the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a trinity which is simply a union or oneness of three things.
-God made mankind to be one with him illustrated by the picture of Adam and God walking in the cool of the evening in the garden in an intimate fellowship.
-God made mankind to be one with each other illustrated by the intimacy of Adam and Eve, the first people.
-The fall of man broke the intimacy between God and mankind. Adam and Eve immediately began to hide from God and each other; clearly their oneness has been ruined.
-The books of the law in the Old Testament provide a system for mankind to have partial oneness with God and each other. But this system is insufficient, temporary, and looks forward to the day when a better solution to man's loss of oneness with God and each other will be provided.
-Jesus ministry is all about restoring the oneness that has been lost in the fall of man. When asked about the greatest commandment Jesus says to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. That sums up exactly what God created and was lost in the Garden of Eden. Love is the action and emotion of oneness.
-And of course during Jesus' prayer in John 17 he talks about his oneness with the Father and his hope for his mission and for the people of the world to have the same oneness that he has.
-The early church became one and was used mightily to change 1000's of lives.
-And in the end we shall go to be with the father and with each other...together as one, forever in heaven. The restoration is complete... mankind is again one with his Creator and with each other.

So what does this all mean? It means that what God wants of is us to become one with him and each other. And our mission in life is to help more and more people to do the same. One and only!

Back to School and Many Other Things

The summer is great. The freedom...the relaxation...the rest. It is good to blow off some steam, break your routine, and not be bound by 'normal' life. It is important to visit family and friends, build better relationships, and create lasting memories. I think God wants us to have this time and we definitely need it especially living in the ATL.

But I am glad it is over! School starts for us tomorrow and it signals, for the Saunders' home at least, the return of normal, structured life--yes! I need the summer but after awhile I am ready to get rid of it. It has been great but I am ready for the fall and getting back to school and...many other things. Here are some of those other things:

1. I am ready to see my friends at church consistently. Most people miss between 2-5 Sundays in the summer with a few missing many more. The Crossing is like a family and when members of the family who were always there are suddenly gone it can be disappointing. And as good as the summer has been for us at The Crossing, there should be a good crowd there when everyone gets back.

2. I am ready to organize my life. The summer has been chaotic and routineless at times. Though not necessarily a neat person I do need consistency. I can handle chaos better than others but I don't thrive in it. I can hear many of you nodding in agreement about yourselves; you are ready for some order.

3. I am ready to see some big things happen at The Crossing. It just seems like some big things are coming this fall and I am excited about it. The fall is often a time for growth but this fall could be especially memorable...and I can't wait. You will be hearing more about it.

4. Oh and one more...I am ready for some football! The guys and I have been talking about it for a month. Logan is in full practice mode. ESPN talks about it everyday. Even Shelli said she can't wait for football...she loves the sedative effect of Sunday afternoon games!

So lets get back to school and the many other things that we all know we need. Be consistent in attendance at The Crossing, bring order to your life, and let's see some big things happen this fall at church!

Oh yea... and lets watch some football!

Who's In Your Circle?

The Alltel Phone Company asks an important question...who's in your circle? Of course there are referring to their promotional campaign where you can call five people that you often call for free any time you want. Those five may include someone you call regularly because of work or some other necessity.

But when I think of a circle I think of the people who have your back. They will stand with you when others let you down. They will pray for you and wonder how you are if they have not heard from you in a few days. They love you unconditionally and are committed to your relationship.

You probably have someone like that in your life. But how many people like that do you have in your life? In a conference I attended a few years ago a speaker asked this question, "If you suddenly had to leave the country and only had a few minutes, how many people would you have to call?" He went on to say, if you have 3 or fewer calls to make you are probably not healthy. The people around us, who are committed to us, and in our circle determine much of how we handle life. They determine how healthy we are and the more people we have at that level the healthier we are.

That is one thing I love about The Crossing...we are committed to helping you build your circle. Through our small groups which we will launch again this fall and through other ministries of The Crossing you can build relationships to strengthen your life. A trite statement says, it’s not what you know it’s who you know. When it comes to really having life that statement is even truer. So...who's in your circle? Sign up for small groups this fall and I believe your circle will grow.

Summer Slumps and Mountain Dreams

So much for posting more often. Man, I am sorry for not getting back on here more often. I was away for a while in the mountains with no computer for a week with my sons (Shelli did not have enough vacation and am just now getting back to you. In addition I have had a lot going and really too much to think about to have anything to say.

It has been an eventful Summer without much rest (thankfully I had some relaxation in the mountains with the guys.) When we made the change with Adam it did create a lot of stress and work for me. I do not do that kind of thing easily or casually. But I still know I did the right thing and that helps me not worry about it too much...God will help everyone involved when you do the right thing. I think it will eventually be the best thing for Adam and Gretchen too. Continue to pray for them and us.

And usually churches experience what is known as a summer slump as attendance, morale, and giving drops with vacations and absences. Now don't get me wrong...we aren't breaking any records but we have had a very good summer. Thank you for your faithfulness in giving and attending. And the presence of God has been so powerful in the worship and the messages the last several weeks. We have experienced some spiritual peaks this summer that make me dream of even greater mountaintops this fall.

Speaking of mountains...I love the mountains! I love log cabins, mountain streams, lush valleys, bears, rhododendrons, fresh air, Dollywood (that was weird), hikes, hiking gear, go karts, Cades Cove, historic buildings, walking around Gatlinburg, etc. The Pigeon Forge area is awesome. While we were at Cades Cove (historic mountain community with trails and wild animals) we saw a mother bear and two cubs from about 20 feet away. The cubs were as playful and cute (can you say that in a guy's blog?) as any animal could be. When we saw the bears we were talking about how cool it would be to have a cabin in the mountains. I now have a dream of having a cabin up there some time. I even know what I will call it: Three Bears Lodge in honor of the three bears we saw (and I guess of the three bears who were doing the dreaming too!)

There is nothing wrong with having a dream...in fact God often inspires them. He does so I believe because a dream for the future gives you power in the present. It gets you up in the morning and focuses your energy and creativity giving you passion. You might say that Christ dreamed a dream for us...who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross.

I think it would be cool to ask God to give you a dream. Not necessarily for something personal like a cabin but for God and his work. God, give me a dream for my ministry, or for my neighborhood, or for my co-workers, or for your family? Ask God to inspire you to dream a dream for him and for that dream to grip you and motivate you to act. What could he do in your world if you took the lid off and trusted him for something big and dream-like? Maybe we are living way below where we could be simply because we are not dreaming for what only God can do? And what are we left with? Only what we can do.

Let's dream some mountain sized dreams!

Logan's Lowdown

This week my son Logan wrote an article on his MySpace page that certainly challenged me. At times you will recognize that he is a 13 year old kid, fresh from a tremendous church camp experience. At other times I think you will feel that God is speaking to all of us through him. I felt I should share it with you.

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Yesterday I got back from Camp Adrian. It really was amazing. We listened to preachers, sang, and goofed off for a whole week. The very last night at the service we had communion. After communion, one or two kids came to the altar to pray (and cry.) Then two more came...then three...then four...until there were so many kids on the floor in front of the stage that you couldn’t see the altar. I was ok for a while until I started thinking...

"This is amazing. But imagine how many people aren’t here and aren’t having this one of a kind experience? Wait...why aren’t they here? Because...dumb people like me and you are just too lazy to save people's lives! It’s not fair."

Then I slowly walked to the altar. I knelt and began to pray...

"God...give me strength. Give me strength to spread your love to lost people. Give me the strength to not care if I look dumb or ‘over-passionate’ (if there is such a thing)."

Then came the tears.

"God help me not to judge people. I now understand that it isn’t my job to judge, it’s yours. Help me not to care if my friends make fun of me for trying to help people."

I then went to different groups and prayed for the individuals crying for about 20-25 minutes. Then I went off to myself again, and prayed for my brother and dad.

You see....some people don’t do things because they under-estimate themselves. Some are afraid of failure. But most...are simply lazy. And to tell you the truth...it ticks me off.

People die and go to hell, why? Cuz, we're too lazy to even try to help. I don’t know about you, but I intend to change the entire perspective of our so called Christianity. I’ve come to realize that our current “love for Christ” is fake. Please help...the world needs it.

-Logan

Man Up, Church

The future of any organization, community, country, or even church is frequently determined by what the men do. As the men go so goes the _____?_____ fill in the blank. Thankfully, women have often stood up when the men would not; especially in the church. Unfortunately, churches have seemed to either cater to women or just to not cater to men. For whatever reason many men have thought the church was more a place for a woman than for a man. While this may be another convenient male excuse there is some evidence for this. Just look at how most churches are decorated and compare that to every other thing out there attempting to attract an audience. Most churches (especially traditional ones) are either decorated by women or by the people that decorate funeral homes. But all restaurants and most everything else are decorated to get men to walk in the door. Name a restaurant that does not have a male theme, colors, items that attracts men. Look at commercials, billboards, ads...most are geared to men. It is as if the business world has figured out what the church has either refused to see or just can't see--get the men and you get everyone else.

I am convinced we have to appeal to and connect with men if we are going to reach everyone including men. Women will tolerate things geared to men much easier than men will for women. In fact I believe most women are hoping we will fix the men in their lives while guys are often hoping we won't mess their ladies up! The point is that a woman has a vested interest in anything that will help her husband and she will endure a lot to make it happen.

The message series that I am in right now is challenging the guys to Man Up and be all that God wants them to be. But I think churches needs to man up too. Name the women that Jesus pursued for spiritual growth? Now obviously there were women Jesus helped but they seemed to be come to Jesus while he was challenging the men. But Jesus began his ministry by pursuing 12 men to work with him. They were a cross section of blue collar and white collar, young and old, introverts and extroverts...but all men. Jesus pursued them, connected to them through their work, and called to them a great mission. And they responded with almost reckless devotion.

And the results are simply off the charts. Whatever The Crossing will be it has to connect with men and minister to them. We have to Man Up!

Posting challenges

For those of you that read my blog regularly I apologize for not having posted in a while. I am going to be more disciplined in the future. I am just learning the best ways to blog and have a little more work to do to get really good at it. Thanks for your patience.

Well, It's Finally Over!

The marathon graduation party for Landon has finally concluded. Twenty family members came to stay with us from Ohio, Texas, and Florida. On Friday night Landon had three friends over too, making the grand total 27 in our house! How could we do this? Well, we love being together and we have a lot of patience. Meals have to be coordinated, sleeping arrangements have to be figured out, and children's events have to be worked out. It goes better than it should.

The best part though was what we experienced with Landon. The entrance of the grads at Landon's school tore me up for a few minutes--I didn't even catch a word of the opening speeches. But Sunday morning was an experience that I wish everyone could have. The service had some incredible music by Matt Hancock. "You Raise Me Up" with the slides of all the grads was tough to hear. But at the end of my message about finding your life work from Eph. 3 I told the grads that while they were rooted in their parents' love only they could find their wings in life. As family and friends gathered with each grad at the front Matt sang the song, "Find Your Wings." Landon is not especially emotional but he wept as we prayed over him causing all of us to cry even more. He goes to Georgia St. in the fall to study Music Business, sensing that he has been called to be a voice for Christ in the music industry.

I believe he has the gifts for this but in the end as with all of us...God is the provider of your all you need to accomplish your calling. I am excited about Landon's future and I could not have anything greater from you than your prayers for my sons. A big thanks to all of you for your kindness to me and interest in Landon. Thanks for being such good friends.

The Graduate

I remember graduation from LHS like it was yesterday. 507 gowns of the Lancaster High School class of '83 decorated the aluminum bleachers of the football field like blue and gold bunting. For me it seemed so unreal. For many years I had watched someone else move the tassle to the other side of their cap. Now it was me doing it and I could not believe it.

I am having a similar experience now. For many years now as a pastor I have attended the parties, endured the ceremonies, seen the graduates smiling ear to ear and the moms (and a few dads) weep. It was all something I observed but now I am experiencing. Like my graduation, the fact of my son Landon's graduation has not seemed real to me. But this Friday night the boy that I just took to kindergarten last week is going to be a high school graduate. I can't believe it.

Some people hate change--some people love it. Regardless of how you feel about change one thing is for sure: it is inevitable. There is no stopping what is happening in Landon's life. There is no rolling back the clock and experiencing his first step, T-Ball, or his 13th birthday again. There is only now. Today is all you have.

And that prompts me to tell you something as a person experiencing something for the first time. You will want to roll back time. You will wish you could more fully savor those moments from the past that you burned so easily. You will wish you could do it better this time benefitted by your complete understanding of its importance. But again, there is only today. What you have is based on what you did yesterday. But what you will have is based on what you will do today. Today is the only thing that matters for it is the only thing you can control.

Make the most of it, because one day the fact that yesterday is gone, that tomorrow may never come, and that today is all you have will literally 'hit home'. One day the kindergartener will be the graduate. I am so glad I have spent today well! Are you?

By the way don't miss Graduation Sunday this Sunday at 10:45. Graduates invite all your family and friends to come!

WOW!

If you missed the service Sunday you missed a great one. The band was smoking and the song choices were super. Mother's Day gave us a good setting for my message, Mother God, which taught us about the loving, tender, mother-like qualities of God. But the final song was beyond awesome. Melissa Hamilton sang the Martina McBride song "I Do It Anyway." This is a song with an unbelievable range and you don't attempt it if you can't nail it. Let's just say that Simon Cowell would have given her a kiss afterwards. The band and background vocalists were powerful in support of Melissa's singing. It was amazing.

Don't miss this Sunday...who knows what is going to happen!

You've Still Got To Be Kidding Me

That post caused a strong reaction. Here is an important question and we will leave it at this: What do you do with Matthew 19:13-15? "One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: "Let the children alone, don't prevent them from coming to me. God's kingdom is made up of people like these." After laying hands on them, he left."

Dont prevent them from coming to me could not be more plain. I have teenagers so I understand the challenges you face. Honestly though having to resort to taking away youth group is not very creative. It is also possible that we choose punishments that are easy on us without considering whether they are really effective. With all the things kids are interested in these days isn't there one other punishment we can come up with?

Here is a list of other options:
1. No phone
2. No internet
3. No snacks
4. No TV
5. No going anywhere
6. Additional chores
7. Essays
8. Book reports on books you choose
9. Washing the family car everyday
10. No Music
11. Pushups/ situps/ exercise
12. Dirty projects (cleaning gutters, ovens, trash cans, etc.)
13. Early bed time
14. Early wake up time for exercise or projects
15. Community service at someone else's house

Any one or a combination of these other punishments will have a powerful effect on them without making them miss something that connects them to God and teaches them to become better children. It may take thought and a little work (which is why we don't do it) but there has to be a better way than keeping them away from youth ministry. A person who is willing can probably find a better way. Feel free to comment on some other options. If punishment from youth group is your first thought you probably aren't thinking enough.

10:10 Connection

“A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.” -Daniel 10:10

Make the 10:10 connection! Join the leaders and staff for prayer in the theatre every Sunday morning at 10:10 AM as we pray for The Crossing. If you are a leader in The Crossing I expect you to be there.

You've Got To Be Kidding Me!

I recently had a conversation with our Student Pastor Matt and he told me some amazing things. He was telling me that some parents punish their kids when they do something wrong by grounding them from all activities including youth group activities at The Crossing. Youth group activities...you've got to be kidding me? That is like saying, "Son, you are sick again and because you are sick again I am going to ground you from seeing the doctor." So staying home in their rooms away from an event with their Heavenly father is going to help them obey their earthly fathers, how? And how does their absence help their youth group to get stronger? These things drive me nuts. We just don't think sometimes as parents.

I know some parents don't make their kids come to youth group if they are tired or have some other excuse. There may be times we should do that but rarely. Maybe if they weren't doing all those other events that don't touch their souls they would have more energy for one that does? I know some others think, "Well I don't want to shove religion down their throat." I wouldn't either but The Crossing is hardly religion. Religion is the boring, judgemental, adult focused church some of us grew up with.

But let's use that reasoning in other areas of a teenager's life. "I don't make them do homework because I don't want to shove education down their throat." Or how about..."I don't make them shower because I don't want to shove personal hygiene down their throat." Or even..."I don't make them go to practice because I don't want to shove commitment down their throat." We would never say these things. So why does everything else come before God and our children's spiritual growth?

I think it is because we ourselves are not that committed to it. Is it because God is not the living center of our lives, so why should he be for our kids? Do we think sports, education, or discipline is more important than God? What we do not realize is that if those things keep taking precedence over giving God and Pastor Matt the opportunity to shape and mold our kids we are setting ourselves up to have athletic, educated, disciplined, nominal Christians if not outright non-Christians. Well at least you got to see them play some sports and get good grades.

I challenge you to make some changes for your kid's future and yours. Get them involved in the student program. Get them to the apartment outreach this Saturday, 10-2. Be at the office at 9:30 AM Saturday or call Matt by Friday for a ride, 678-372-3130. The teens will go to an apartment complex in a repressed area and minister to kids in that complex. That will touch them.

Parents take the lead; they need you to, and so do you! You won't regret it but you will almost certainly regret not doing it.

Mother's Day???

It is a good idea to have a day set aside to honor mothers. But is it a good idea to have a day set aside to bash mothers? Because in many churches the preacher's message beats them up on Mother's Day. They get it for doing dishes instead of devotions (Mary and Martha) or for being less than a perfect mother, wife, and woman (The Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31). In addition all those ladies who could not or did not have children feel like failures on Mother's Day.

So this Sunday we are doing something different at The Crossing--we are not going to pick on the ladies. And don't worry guys...we are not going to sap you to death with lacey sermons or rose scented bulletins. In fact I believe what the Lord has given me to share with you is going to blow everyone away. And the final song definitely will. About the message: I have heard people address God as "Father God"--nothing wrong with that Jesus told us to in the Lord's Prayer. But I believe I am supposed to tell you about how God is our Mother...Mother God. Man that is awkward. Don't worry I am not going new age liberal on you...pray for me that God will help me pull it off. It might actually be funny. So join us for Mother's Day, Crossing style!

Les Miserables and My Son

I am writing something right now that is completely selfish...in a good way. My son Landon has his final performance tonight in the lead role of Javert in the musical version of Victor Hugo's classic, Les Miserables. I believe what I am about to say is neither biased or opinionated: Les Mis is the best musical of all time.

Some musicals are funnier, some are more serious, some are more modern, some are more classical--many muscial's can top it in one category but add it all up and Les Mis is just better. The story is so full of grace and redemption that any Christ-follower ought to fall in love with it immediately. The music is so challenging and powerful that any lover of music has to admire it. But there is something intangible about the musical...something almost anointed that just gives me chills when I hear a certain line or tune from it.

My hat's off to the students and teachers at Buford who tackled Les Mis. But I am especially proud of my son, Landon. He kept auditioning for leads throughout his high school career only to see them go to others, sometimes even to underclassmen. He dutifully filled a role in the background of each of those performances. But finally, in the last musical of his senior year, he got his opportunity and he made the most of it by getting a lead role as 'Javert.' People have been extremely complimentary to me about his performances thus far. I am proud of how he has handled it all and I have loved his interpretation.

As 'Javert' he has the pressure of singing difficult music using a background track where mistakes are obvious and unfixable. In addition he must focus on acting while he focuses on singing. The sound is not always perfect and it would be easy to miss notes or cues. Except for a few minor moments of humanity he has been outstanding. He has brought me to tears several times.

And as I think about him graduating from high school I am very sad that he will not be around in a few months. Please forgive me while, as a real man, I cry a little bit. I just thank God for Landon and in moments like these I have to remember that many years ago I gave him to God. He is embarking on that part of his journey where he is becoming more God's boy than mine. And while that is a very good trade for him it still saddens me to see him entering this phase in his life. But I am pleased to let him go because I believe he is following God, which is exactly what I raised him to do. Landon has not lived up to my expectations...he has lived way above them.

I just wanted to let him know by telling all of you how proud I am of him and how grateful I am to God for giving me a son like Landon...and Logan!

The Spir-It Factor

Cheesy, I know but as true as it gets. Any prevailing church that makes a difference has God's Spirit in all they do. Period. They may not have a building, gear, money, an organization, or even a plan. But what they have trumps everything else. And ministries with all the other stuff cannot begin to do what the church's version of the "It Factor," the Spir-it factor, can do.

The It Factor is usually something unseen that seems to be producing the company's/ organization's/ person's success. In the church's case the It- Factor is unseen but not unknown. God's Spirit is the only thing that produces life and success in the Kingdom. There is no other way.

This past Sunday, The Crossing had the Spir-It Factor. The Spirit of God was there probably as never before. Mark down April 29, 2007 as an important date in our history. Something changed that day--in me if in no one else.

But I sensed it was not just me. The prayers of the worship leaders and technical team before the service were awesome. The presence of God was evident from the beginning of the service until the end. There was fruitifulness in the way people responded to God at the end. And one of our teens came to me and said he had come to know Christ in the service! That is the way it is supposed to be.

I don't think it had anything to do with bulletins, equipment, or the subject matter of the message. It had nothing to do with metaphors we have used like cars, football, or poker. It was not about a building, a stage, or seats. It was simply and powerfully, the presence of God.

I never want to go back. I never want any other kind of service. I want God's presence and changed lives. Why come every week if God won't be there and no lives are being changed? I have told the staff and I am telling everyone else--nothing less than God's presence and changed lives is acceptable anymore.

I told our Worship Pastor Adam, that I don't care if he has band practice or any equipment is set up; we have to pray for God to come and people to be changed.
I told our Children's Director Angie, that I don't care if there are cookies or crayons in childen's church; we have to pray for God to come and kids to be changed.
I told our Student Pastor Matt, that I don't care if we have a cool logo or Destination Unknown; we have to pray for God to come and teens to be changed.
And I am telling our board, that I don't care if we have an agenda or if we solve any financial issues; we need to pray for God to come and people to be changed.

If God isn't coming to our services in an obvious way, then lives won't be changed. And if he isn't coming and lives aren't being changed then we fit the description of Jesus's example of the salt that has lost its saltiness. We are useless without God's Spirit at The Crossing.

I am calling The Crossing to prayer! We have not been called to be useless but we will be if we rely on anything else but God. I refuse to be useless when God has called me to be so much more...how about you? I am inviting you to join me in prayer every Sunday from 10:10-10:30 AM. I need people who can pray to be there so don't come if you don't mean business. That's right, a pastor just said don't come to a prayer meeting...unless your motives are right and you are ready to pray.

We will not be praying for any special personal needs unless they relate to the service. We will pray for God to come and be worshipped and for people to come and be transformed. But as important as the content of our prayers is the attitude of our hearts. We must have a passion and pray with a sense of desperation. Nothing can happen without God...therefore we are desperate. We must pray like a thirsty man in the desert looks for water.

And because we are praying we can expect some good things...even some miracles. I can't wait. I will see you Sunday.

By the way...you have my permission to begin praying right now!

Vision Luncheon

If someone...almost anyone said, "Hey R.D., I want to share my vision with you over lunch and I will buy, and I'll show you a funny video that also has some good content...can you come?" I would be there. I love hearing about vision, especially if it has food with it. So...I want to say something to you: "I want to share my vision with you over lunch this Sunday and I will buy, and I'll show you a funny video that has some good content...can you come?"

Don't miss the Vision Luncheon this Sunday after church. The new video will be great, the food exceptional, and I am going to share the vision of The Crossing with you. Even if you think you know it please don't miss this Sunday. For The Crossing to move forward everyone needs to know and commit to the vision. I hope to see you. Check the news article at the bottom of the fron page of our website, www.atthecrossing.org for more info.

Man...Alive

Guys my congratulations to you who were at The Crossing yesterday. I know your marriages are going to grow as you give yourself up. There is a cool verse from John 12:24-25..

Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.

Giving yourself up gives you life. It is a Biblical law; it is just the way it is. You can't change gravity...its a law of nature. You can't change this law about sacrifice. Give yourself up and you will have more. If you missed it listen on-line at www.atthecrossing.org and then click "Listen to Messages" right on the front page under Quicklinks.

Wives this Sunday is about you. This past week we had a song just for guys ("Live Like You Are Dying") that Matt and the band rocked. This week ladies there is one for you that will be awesome. Don't miss the Sunday's service.

Crossing Guards

We have big props to give out to some key team members of The Crossing. Glenn O'Loughlin (and his family) for working at the coffee table after being up until 2:30 AM the night before at his daughter Tiffany's wedding reception. Everyone who works every week in set-up and children's ministry. Are you serving somewhere? We need you there. Paul Wallace always helping with serving the attenders as an usher. Chad Aukland and his team for taking on the Vision Dinner next week. Kent Sprague for picking up the sign on the road every week. I am sure there are others. If you see someone doing something significant to help us let me know. Thanks everyone.

All In...this is not your father's church!

There was a day when a pastor using poker for an illustration would have sparked an emergency church board meeting to reconsider his employment. Thankfully the board at The Crossing is letting me slide. Poker's new found popularity makes it an irresistible illustration for someone in my line of work...especially for relationships. If there is any area where risking it all is worth it, that's it.

I think many of us, more often than we would admit, have put our family at risk rather than risk everything else for them. I think of the risks associated with being alone on business trips or flirting with someone you regularly see. I think of the risks of going all in for your work and letting your kids grow up without your presence. I think of the risks of pleasure binges with alcohol, drugs, or porn and what that says to your family. I think of the risks of not acting on some problem your child has at an early age thinking they will grow out of it.

Whatever the reason: laziness, depression, greed, lust...or somehow just thinking you deserve it, we have taken some risks. Thankfully God knows all about taking a risk for someone because he did it for us. I grew up singing a song from southern Gospel music called Who Am I?

Who am I, that a king would bleed and die for?
Who am I that he would say, 'not my will thine for?'
The answer I am never know, why he ever loved me so,
That to an old rugged cross he would go. Who am I?

I spent some time this morning with the Lord and truly wept as I considered what he did for me. I wept also as I thought about the risks that have been considered in my mind. Not only risks to my family but risks to my faith. In fact I don't know how you can separate one from the other. I know the Bible doesn't.

One of the ways we can worship God is by going all in for our family and closest relationships. It is a great investment and it pleases the Lord. Don't miss this Sunday's service as continue down this road. I have something to give each of the guys this week, so be there men!

Crossing Guards

I used to be a crossing guard. In elementary school I stood at the corner of Broad and Allen St., dazzling in an orange belted sash with a crossing guard badge. I made sure 'kids' crossed the street safely...I was so proud. Now that I pastor The Crossing there are some people who continue to stand guard and I am proud of them. I want to honor different Crossing Guards each week.

The Crossing Guards for this week in no particular order are: Jeff Runyan for serving at the last moment as a children's teacher on Easter Sunday, Travis Rexroth for continuing to be the rock behind the set-up team, Ryan Alspach for continuing to serve on set-up, Shelley Smith for childrens' ministry set-up, and Karen, Tina, and Katie Poff for childrens' ministry tear down. Matt also wanted me to thank Frankie for always being willing to help. I wanted to thank Karl Alspach for helping me build the cross last week.

Thank you everyone for all you do at The Crossing!

If you have someone who needs recognized for their service at The Crossing let me know. I am not in a position to see what everyone does each week so help me out.

Gambling

I grew up in an era when you never saw anything like the World Series of Poker on T.V. Gambling was always a taboo and that kept Texas Hold 'Em, Blackjack, etc. off the air. This post is not about organized gambling. Anything that is an addiction or costs your family what it needs to live is bad. But bad business decisions and stock market plunges can hurt you just as quickly and maybe more completely than Texas Hold 'Em.

Gambling happens all the time. Starting The Crossing was/is a gamble. It was a big risk. Some of you are making decisions for your business that are risky. We take chances all the time. But taking them for love and family are often areas where we are anything but Doyle Brunson. You may have the nerves of Donald Trump in business but when you get home you're a 98 lb. weakling. It is time for you to become poker pro for your marriage and family. It is time to go all in. Check out this link to our new series beginning this week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_QCEcShQcQ

Vacation Mind Dump

I hardly believe after 10 whole posts on my blog that I have become someone that you can't do without but forgive me for not getting back to this until now. I have been on a cruise, thanks to the the people at Navigo Vacations who 'gave' it to me for listening to a two hour sales pitch for an overpriced time share. Needless to say I have been out of the loop enjoying some relaxation with my family.

I have some thoughts to dump on you after being gone.
-Cruises are a great thing made better with friends.
-Memories with the family are about as important as anything. We picked up a neat photo album in the straw market in Nassau and with the pictures, it is priceless to us.
-Shelli, Landon, and Logan I love you more than ever! I had so much fun with you guys last week.
-I am so proud of my sons...thanks for being who you are.
-Thee Ohio State University was in the national championship game...again. And lost...again. To Florida...again. Oh well at least we were there...again. At our next church meal we are serving gator on a stick!
-Sanjaya needs to go.
-Reggae gets old. How do those guys play that all the time?
-Plantains are to Central America what sweet potatoes are to America...a side that tastes like dessert.
-Did I mention that Sanjaya needs to go?
-It is better to do your sermon before you leave like I did last week. It is always on your mind during vacation.
-Boy I like the smell of cigars.
-How can anyone believe that creation just happened when they go snorkeling? What is under water is more beautiful than what is above it.
-It is good to be home.

Omelets

Every morning I make breakfast for Landon and Logan. Yeah, I know...I am incredible father! ;-) I am an early riser anyway and I don't mind cooking breakfast (that was my job in the cafeteria in college.) And it also gives me some time to talk about God with them and get their day going on a spiritual note. Yeah, I know...I am incredibly spiritual too! (No I started this because I realized I had been dropping the ball as my sons' spiritual leader!) Today we had ham and cheese omelets with orange juice and man were they were good!

But I have discovered that there is only so much you can do with eggs in 20 minutes for a good, un-bland breakfast. One thing is certain: unless you are 'Rocky' you do something with eggs other than serve them raw. They get baked, boiled, poached, or fried in some way or another; but you always do something with them.

Last week we got eggs before Easter. In our mind the service on 3/18 did not go well (although some said they loved it...go figure?) The sound wasn't just right, the musicians struggled, the computer did what computers often do, and I of course laid an egg in the message. But the good thing about our team was we did something with those eggs...we just didn't leave them raw. Extra work went into every area of the service. We prayed harder and worked harder. And it showed. What a great service we had Sunday. Those were some good omelets!

An old saying about preparing to serve God is that we should work like it all depends on us and pray like it all depends on God. Thanks to everyone who makes it happen each week and works like it all depends on them and prays like it all depends on God. More and more people are coming each week and some of them are coming to Christ.

Did you know that since January began we have 13 new families and about 36 new people! We are doing well and we have a good two months of growing time ahead of us in April and May.

We may have some Sunday services (or children's events, small groups, student programs, etc.) where we lay some eggs. Humans will be humans. We should strive for excellence but if we get eggselence (that was bad, I'm sorry) lets learn from it and keep moving forward. Everyone makes mistakes but not everyone learns from them. Thanks for everyone's hard work...I loved the omelets!

Eggs Before Easter

It was good to see everyone at The Crossing yesterday. Time for some honesty, though. There are just some Sundays where you just don't feel like you have it. I think yesterday was one of those days. First of all I felt like I laid an egg in the message. It was too long and not interesting enough. And the thing that kills me is that it was the first in this series. We struggled in other ways too. The slides were hard to read, the sound was not just right, the band struggled, a problem with the computer kept the countdown from coming up. What a day.

So what do you do? Learn what you can and move on. This week will be better--count on it. But please pray for us. We need God to bless our work. So we had some eggs before Easter. But this was one Sunday. We move forward making things as good as we can but in the end it is God's church.

In Search of the Real Jesus

Will the real Jesus, please stand up? If the culture's discussions about Jesus are any indication, he is really popular today. That does not mean those discussions have any accuracy. In fact more discussions by those who are unconnected to him or poorly informed about him probably mean more confusion about Jesus. And the God they know through this process is not the One that makes them in His image but one that they make in theirs. As one can personalize their Scion today, so too you can your God!

And even those who are connected to him and supposedly informed about him often believe in a Seinfeld-esque Bizarro Jesus that unfortunately leads to Bizarro Christianity. (Ask someone who knows Seinfeld) "Their" Jesus is only a shadow of the true Christ. And many whose understanding of Jesus is accurate may not have really learned anything new or meaningful in a long time. The problem with that is passionlessness. Nothing new means everything old--old and stale. Somewhere along the line they stopped digging, busy with so many other things I guess. And the Jesus they show the world is cold, formal, and institutionalized.

I don't know what is worse...the uninformed making the Jesus they want, the poorly informed and their Bizarro Christ, or the not recently informed and their passionless Christ. All of it makes the job of spreading the good news in this era maybe more challenging than winning Martians who have never heard of him. (I don't know if there are any but if so, we need to win them to Jesus too.

So who is this man? And what does understanding him mean for us wherever we may be in our spiritual journey. That is the point of this new series as we lead up to Easter, Who Is This Man? I hope the uninformed come to know him, the poorly informed will know him more completely, and the not recently informed will get a new fire for him. Don't miss this new series beginning this Sunday!

Monday Morning Quarterback

In spite of the time change, yesterday was a good day. To my knowledge no one walked in at noon with a strange look on their face. Many of our new families are coming consistently now, and new people keep coming back. I know it was a wild week for Adam with the birth of Ella Kay. It was great to have Gretchen's parents, Steve and Donna Smith and her brother and sister Zach and Fran, too. They are a wonderful family and of course, very proud of Ella Kay.

Life in Stereo: Hearing God in Hi-Def ended pretty well yesterday. I felt good about the message although it was a little long (as usual). I struggled a little with my cold but had a voice until the end. Man that Nooma video was awesome. Those guys are incredible.

I am looking forward to the new series this Sunday, Who is This Man: In Search of the Real Jesus. My Choi Kwang Do instructor Chuck told me they saw a TV special talking about a tomb where Jesus' body was supposedly found. And then you have everyone else's opinion on Jesus including of course, Ricky Bobby. Even though there is a very serious side to this series, we are still going to have fun with it so I hope you come! Hopefully you will leave thinking, "Thank you Jesus for being who you are." or "I didn't really know that about Jesus."

Thanks to everyone for making yesterday a great day and I will see you Sunday!

W.W.J.S.?

O.K., here's the scenario...you have five minutes to have a conversation with Jesus at your favorite local coffee shop. You only have five minutes. What would Jesus say? What two or three things would he want you to know before he vanished into heaven? Come Sunday to The Crossing and we will discuss it. Oh, and I have a free gift (that may be redundant--wouldn't be a gift if it wasn't free) for you and your kids that will help you to hear God in hi-def everyday. Remember its a gift...and its free! Can't wait for Sunday--btw, set your clocks forward so you don't arrive at point 2 1/2 of the message!

Ella Kay...we already love you!

Congratulations to Pastor Adam and Gretchen deWeber on the birth of their baby girl, Ella Kay. Know we now why tiny Gretchen was so pregnant...Ella weighed 8 lbs. 9 0z. Thank you Adam and Gretchen for doing all you can to make The Crossing grow! Pictures are coming.

4:00 AM Messages

It is my goal that The Crossing will be a place where people can be transparent. I have to lead the way. So...I wake up every day at 4:00 AM because of a certain physical reality associated I assume with being 41. This is what I call my bladder alarm. I know some of you may think I need to be more dignified but sometimes my time as a youth pastor 20 years ago inadvertently intrudes on my present reality. I don't know when God speaks to you but often I get 4:00 AM messages. And today, 4:00 AM was a special time. I heard God in Hi-Def, and I cannot wait for Sunday...don't miss the service. The band will be rockin' and your kids will have the best day of their week.

Loving Sundays

What a great service yesterday at The Crossing! Man I loved that worship song, “Everlasting God.” The band was rocking yesterday to God’s glory. Thank you, God, for such an awesome time! Many of you said the message was helpful too which is cool because if it isn’t helpful I need to start checking out monster.com. Someone once told me, “You know pastor, I have heard a lot of comments about your message…but I liked it!” Hopefully those who commented yesterday actually liked it.

I felt a lot of energy yesterday as I spoke…it was easy and exciting to speak. Maybe it was the topic and maybe it was just people praying for me, I don’t know. I have come to know this about God however—you cannot program him in to the service; he will either bless it or he won’t. And it is not because he is inconsistent with his blessings or lack thereof but because of a combination of human factors that we don't always understand and can’t control.

I also know that believers are not always the best judges on how good a service is. Just because it helps us or makes a connection to what we like or enjoy does not mean God blessed it more so than something else. Often Christ-followers have told me a song or a message was not blessed by God because they and others were not moved by it. But how can we know how God should work in any situation? I guess Moses would reject any thing from God that did not come through a burning bush…Mary, anything that did not come through an angel…and Daniel, anything that did not come through a hand, writing on a wall. God works and speaks differently in every situation.

In the end though, it all belongs to him and is all about him. God will not dance at the end of our strings. It is his church and his people and he cares more for them and understands them more than we ever could. I do know that… (A) When we pray with passion he seems to have a powerful presence and (B) when we are focused on meeting spiritual needs, especially of disconnected people, he works. Think about this: who would you want to help more—someone who will help your child who is home safe get better grades in school or someone who will bring your child home who is missing and may be in terrible danger? That is how God sees disconnected people…like a parent whose child is missing. God help us to see things like you do!

In case The Crossing’s service does not always do it for you, here are some thoughts: pray for God to work in the service the moment you do not feel it is helping you. Say to yourself, this must not be for me today so God wants me here to help pray for whoever it is for. Somehow that service may end up being more of a blessing for you than if it actually was for you. And secondly, bring someone with you that you think will be helped at The Crossing and pray for them throughout the service. God is willing to work where people are trying to help those who need it most. What would life at The Crossing be like if we had just 10 people a week who brought someone to church and were praying for God to work in their lives in the service? Our church would double annually if we had that! And I think that we would all enjoy the services much more. In fact, we couldn't wait to get there. God, let it be!

Firsts

This is my first post on my first blog. I have never really been a blogger except for message boards about OSU football (a great use of my time I might add.) This may be the first time you have been on a blog. They are new enough to be a first for a lot of us.

I like firsts. I have never been afraid of trying new things--styles, music, foods. In Africa I tasted a root that a Swazi lady had just pulled out of the ground (they don't pack their lunch there they just dig for it.) My comfort with firsts must be part of my DNA. That may be why I was willing to plant a church. That may be why I like church that is not like the church we grew up with. Some of my favorite firsts are first time people--attenders, believers, and babies.

Let's go crazy for those people! Let's have more firsts at The Crossing--attenders, believers, and babies!

First Blog Entry

Welcome to my blog. This is where I will record some of my thoughts and revelations, and where you can see what in the world is going on in my head. I want to challenge you and help you grow in your relationship with God. Please feel free to leave comments, questions, etc. I'd love to hear what you think.