Where is God?

Scripture for the Week
Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,
which means 'God is with us.' Matthew 1:23

Dear Friend,

Where is "God with you" in your life? Can you identify the God tracks? Places where you've seen him show up? When have you experienced the unexplainable? Maybe a better question is . . . have you looked lately?

Just yesterday one of our partners was working on the front door of the church. After a long effort he prayed "God, I don't know how to fix this door, please help me." Just then, a young man who was dropping something off for Scott walked by and said "You need an impact hammer, I'll go home and get it. I've done this kind of work many times." Long, cool story short, God showed up. . . and the door got fixed.

This Christmas God showed up. In a most difficult time in this economy, Crossroads gave more to our Haitian mission and our Food Pantry at Christmas time than ever before! That means you've given all 1000 children in Haiti a gift and provided the ability to help fix up their school in Meyer... plus fed 129 families through the Pantry. (Not to mention that 50 gifts for our mentoring program, money for our Jamaican orphanage, lunch for 100 homeless and struggling people, gifts to 30 sexual assault victims and 46 units of blood were given!) This is amazing! God is with us!

God took on the form of a human being when he came to us on that first Christmas. He started what would be his "M-O" for everyone who would look for him. Be encouraged, God is with us! He is showing up for you, too. He wants you to experience His presence with you. So many times we are more aware of our trouble than our answer. We can be so blinded by what isn't that we can't see that God is. Think about it, if He can be conceived in a virgin, your situation is a piece of cake! He is with you. Just look.

This Sunday, come to our special Christmas service, Songs of the Season: "My Silent Night". It will be a live "Nativity Gallery". We will tell stories of how God is showing up all the time in the lives of people you go to church with. Bring your friends...come see God with us in art, song, dance and spoken word. Let your faith and the faith of those you love come alive!! God is with you! Just look!

Looking for God,
Scott & Clare
Crossroads Church & Ministries

The "Purchase" Driven Christmas

Scripture for the Week
"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15(NIV)

Dear Friend,

Paul Harvey tells the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. Get ready, this is not a story for the faint of heart.

The Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. He then adds layer upon layer of blood, until the frozen blood completely conceals the blade. The hunter next fixes the knife in the ground with the blade up. A wolf smells the blood and when he discovers the bait he licks it, tasting the fresh-frozen blood. He licks faster, more and more vigorously, lapping the blade until the keen edge is bare. Feverishly now, harder and harder, the wolf licks the blade in the arctic night. In his mad craving for blood he does not notice the razor sharp sting of the naked blade on his tongue, nor does he recognize the moment when his insatiable thirst begins to be satisfied by his own warm blood. His carnivorous appetite just craves more-until the dawn finds him dead in the snow.

This is a disgusting and horrifying story. Yet it can offer wisdom concerning the devouring nature of greed. Greed could be defined as desire with no discipline. If we truly want to live a purpose driven life we must resist the "Purchase Driven Christmas." Whether it is our own undisciplined desires or the desires of others that drive us, we must be on our guard . . . especially this time of year. Our hopes and dreams for satisfaction and love are not enhanced by over-spending or dangerous giving. In fact, our enjoyment of this season will increase if we would choose to practice a few new disciplines. Try one or two and see how the purpose of Christmas comes alive!

Pray and ask who "can" I buy gifts for this year?

Stick to a budget: How much do you have to spend? 0? 25? 100? 500? Be honest about your amount and stick with it . . . without guilt :)

Choose new ways to give. Write letters. Frame a picture and present it with a memory of a great moment.

Start a tradition; Cook, build, write, sing or decorate something together. Visit a soup kitchen or a nursing home. Make a card with scripture for someone who is sick or depressed.

Look for new opportunities to be generous with your time, talent, and treasures for those who have less than you. Your gifts can make an eternal difference in someone's life.

Go to church with family and friends on Christmas Day.

Share the gift of your faith this season. Nothing you can give this season can come close to the value of giving God's love this Christmas.

We want to wish you all beautiful and generous moments of love leading up to the day we celebrate the greatest gift of all . . . Jesus Himself!

Love and Blessings,

Scott & Clare
Crossroads Church & Ministries

Happy Thanksgiving

Scripture for the Week
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!

Psalm 100:4 (Amp)

Dear Friend,

Happy Thanksgiving! This past week our message on Thanksgiving revealed the power of giving thanks. We looked at what God has to say about a life of giving thanks . . .

Thanksgiving will open doors for you.

Thanksgiving will cleanse you.

Thanksgiving will change you.

Thanksgiving will make you whole.

Thanksgiving gives life.

Thanksgiving gives us communion with God.

Click here to watch that life-filled message.

We pray you will purposefully look for all things to be thankful for. List them . . . and then tell the people you are thankful for why you are thankful for them! Let your life be filled with the power of thanksgiving.

A Prayer for Thanksgiving

Grant me a heart of gratefulness oh God

so that I can live from the depth of my being.

May I take notice of disregarded moments of goodness.

Reveal to me the neglected gifts of grace

and show me your Presence within them.

Give me the desire to grow in thankfulness

that I may know true freedom--

the freedom of living without the need for more or better.

In gratitude I go deep

In noticing I experience your touch

In growing I am free.

On this day, I give thanks.

All our love and thanks for you this Thanksgiving,

Scott & Clare
Crossroads Church & Ministries

Good Work! You Did Your Job Well.

Scripture for the Week

"The servant showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'"
Matthew 25:22-23

Dear Friend,

Don't you want to hear Jesus say those words to you?

Just yesterday, we had a conversation with one of God's partners who wanted to help a young person get their life started. You know, one of those people who are always looking for ways to double the work of their hands. They just seem to thrive on how they can do the business of helping someone else. While they're doing that ... prosperity comes to them!

We also got an email. The subject line on the email was "Families in Need this Christmas." We thought it was people who were in need, writing us for assistance. No . . . instead it was a group of young business people who want to give gifts to families at Christmas time. What they "needed" were the names of families to bless! You can count on God partnering with these business people.

Last week, we went to Lansing to receive an award for the Crossroads Church partners. It was called "The Beacon of Light" award. Crossroads was one of 10 feeding agencies (out of 3,000) in all of Michigan to receive this award for fulfilling the mission of "Providing hope, help and security for the hungry people of Michigan." God's partners do their job WELL!

Today, as we pray for you, we echo the words of Paul to the church in Thessalonica...

Every time we think of you, we thank God for you.
Day and night you're in our prayers as we call to mind your
work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope
in following our Master, Jesus Christ, before God our Father.
It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much
but also has put his hand on you for something special.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-4

Keep doing your job well,

Scott & Clare
Crossroads Church & Ministries

prayer for healing

Please pray for my co-worker Carol, her father had a heart attack earlier today and is on life support in the hospital. Carol's family is in Pennsylvania so she will be traveling as well. Please pray for her safe arrival and for her father's healing.

Thank you,

Jill

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You are so beautiful...to me

Scripture for the week:
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger bringing good news, breaking the news that all's well, proclaiming good times, announcing salvation, telling Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:8 MSG

Dear Friend,

Remember Joe Cocker singing "you are so beautiful . . . to me"? Now the key part of the lyrics is "to me". Those words are filled with the doubt that anyone else thought she was as beautiful as he did. It's clear that Joe Cocker found the girl he was singing about to be the beauty "he" was looking for.

It's kind of like the feet in the passage of scripture above. How many of you think feet are beautiful? Our grandson does. One time I (Clare) came home from a trip and Dante came running shouting "Gramma's feet are home!" He then fell at my feet and hugged them. A little strange . . . but he thinks my feet are beautiful! (By the way, Dante has never said that to me [Scott]).

Are you planning to bring beauty into someone's life this week? Does seeing your feet coming mean that you're bringing beauty; the news that all's well, proclaiming good times, announcing salvation? People need you to be beautiful. In a world that is filled with such ugly circumstances and hideous news, you can be beautiful . . . to them!

Bringing home the beauty,
Scott & Clare
Crossroads Church & Ministries

Action Steps:
Look for someone who needs good news.
Give them a word of encouragement, a card, a flower, write a song, give them good times!
Afterwards, REJOICE that you were an instrument of beauty! What a great feeling.

Do You Want Joy?

Scripture for the week:
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:4-7 (NIV)

Dear Friend,
Do you need JOY? Not happiness that depends on what's happening, but JOY. The kind that gets deep on the inside of you and changes your outlook, your in-look, your life! You can have it . . . are you ready? Look for lost people and help them find their way home to God. If this is your life pursuit, you will live so full of JOY people will want to bottle up and sell your attitude! Consider this: after all the miracles that heaven has witnessed, the view that is above and beyond the temporary and sees the future with total clarity. . . this is what makes all of heaven stand up and cheer! This gets out-of-this-world parties started! This is the kind of living that is others-centered not self-engulfed. This is where JOY happens.

Simple Thoughts for the week:

Jesus cares about the lost
Outward focus on the lost takes the spotlight off you
You become like Jesus

Do you need JOY? Look for lost people and help them find their way to God. Live like heaven and find this joy today.

Going for the JOY,
Scott & Clare
Crossroads Church & Ministries

What's in Your Future?

Scripture for the week:
Seek the peace and prosperity of the land to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.

Jeremiah 29:7

Dear Friend,

Take a minute. Imagine your ideal future. What does it look like? What does peace and prosperity mean for you, your family, our nation? Sometimes the best place to realize the possibilities for our future is in a place of exile. Exile from what we see as good, safe and abundant. This kind of uncertainty can awaken our desires for a blessed life. It can cause us to get up off our behinds and do something.

What do we do? A prosperous and peaceful future is intentional, not accidental. The quality life of freedom, respect, goodness and abundance requires two commitments: seek it out and pray it through.

Seek: the Hebrew word for seek is darash. It is an action word. It means to pursue, search and follow. We must search out, pursue and follow the quality life we long for. Follow the trail. Set your eyes on what you desire and be active in bringing freedom, respect, goodness and abundance to others. Do the homework as to how that God-kind of life is received and shared. Then . . . live it out.

Pray: The words peace and prosperity are rooted in the Hebrew word shalom. Shalom is a pregnant word, meaning: well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace. Wow! Looks like a campaign promise! God says to pray this for our land and it will come to us personally! It's not enough to just do the work of seeking. Even diligent seekers leave this life without experiencing a deeply satisfying and abundant life. People who pray prayers for their land experience that kind of peace alone and together. This kind of prosperity comes from the power of God.

So, because these words apply to us in solitude and community, let your vote be congruent with them. Before you vote next Tuesday, choose the candidate you see as pursuing and following God's ways. Let prayers of true shalom be spoken over our nation. You may not have the answers to all of life's problems, but you have two steps that lead us into God's plan for peace and prosperity. Begin today.

Prosperity and peace are created by those whose pursuit and prayers are larger than their own little world.

Shalom,

Scott & Clare
Crossroads Church & Ministries

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I seek the peace and prosperity of our land. You promise that if it prospers I, too, will prosper. Give us leaders who will make your ways their ways and your thoughts their thoughts. Save us from the false choices and guide us into all truth. I commit to seek peace and prosperity for others, to see Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. For Yours is the kingdom the power and the glory now and forever. Amen

Quick Links
Invite your friends to the final week of Real Change We Can Believe In: Future
Sign up for Experience God 201, November 4 and 11 at 7 p.m. in the Cafe.
Forward this email to a friend.
View Sunday services.
Subscribe to our newsletter.

Who Do You Think You Are?

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Matt 16:15

Dear Friend,
This is a question we ask ourselves regularly. Just this week I (Clare) took time alone to hear who God says I am. It blew me away! I have heard God say so many things to me over the years but this fresh word gave me a new understanding about myself that is resulting in direction that is lighting me up! Then a close friend/mentor clarified this understanding with yet another word that took it to a higher level of energy and purpose! Then I (Scott) said, "Of course that is true about who you are...it describes you exactly...you didn't realize that about yourself?"

Who do you think/say you are? Or maybe a better question is who have you become because of what you believe about yourself? Are you the "you" that God created with words of faith, hope and love? Have you ever heard what He believes about you or are you the result of someone else's words? Someone who cannot possibly know who you were created to be. Are your inner conversations consistent with how God describes you?

Words definitely shape us. Demanding words can force you to strive and prove yourself to be good enough, smart enough...worthy enough. Negative or doubt-filled verbiage can hang over your head like clouds just waiting to dump rain on your parade. Are the words you experience ominous or luminous? Words truly have the potential to shape your soul and ultimately define your perspective and the meaning of your life!

Whose words are always in your head? What do they say to you? Do they impart courage, peace, and a deep sense of joy about who you are? Does that vocabulary linger in your heart saying "beloved child, pleasing, beautiful, called, created for good works..."? Do the internal discussions you experience impart energy, life, love, peace and purpose?

You have been educated about yourself based on the thesaurus in your mind. Today, listen to the wordbook of God! God's vocabulary brings health, peace, resolve and backbone. The world is then impacted by your enthusiasm, motivation, conviction, and dedication to be all God has made you to be. Living from God's description of you has natural and supra-natural power.

The scripture we began with in Matt 16:15 describes a conversation between Peter and Jesus. Jesus asks Peter, "'But what about you? Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.' Jesus knew who He was because He had been listening to the Father. Jesus had the words of his Father always in his head. He would only agree with people who agreed with the words of his Father.

The world needs you to know yourself and be yourself. Who do you think you are? Take the time to find out who God knows you to be.

"With God's Help I shall become myself."

Soren Kierkegaard

Practice this Truth
Find a place to be alone.
Read Matthew 16:15-19.
Ask God "Who do you say I am?"
Listen for words of life, love, belonging and calling. Those are the Fathers words.
Journal what you hear.
Meditate on those words. Let them linger.
Share with a spiritual friend/mentor that will support or help clarify these words.
Reject any words that are contrary.

Speaking words of life over you,



Sundays Live at Crossroads
"Real Change We can Believe In" Series
Listening to the promises of politicians can be exhilarating, overwhelming and disturbing! Who can we believe? Will this be another over-promised and under-delivered moment in history? Who can really bring "change we can believe in? There are some answers in the ancient words of Scripture that we think can help us discover the "change" we are looking for and help us determine what "change" is dangerous.
These talks will endorse no candidate or party, but tackle the issues we all care about with real hope for change and what scripture promises. What change is required to walk in health, prosperity, protection, intelligence, and a secure future? Using the book of Proverbs, we will build a campaign for whole life goodness.

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

Economic Good News

Scripture for the week:
"And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant... Deuteronomy 8:18
Dear Tami,

"If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life."-- Billy Graham

How do you feel about money? What would you change about your money situation? Do you think your attitudes about money could even change your life? Our economy?

Did you know that some financial experts are saying that the worst of the present economic problems are behind us? They're saying, "Don't panic, be patient." What we're experiencing right now is the result of what we've already done. It is truly a lesson in reaping and sowing. The good news is that even though you may be reaping a bad harvest from the last crop, you can sow for the next harvest! Get this . . . God wants to bless you! Still, those blessings may require change on your part.

There are ways to bring change to your finances.

First, change your attitude. God takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants. Start thanking God for that truth and don't believe anything else. Choose faith and resist fear. If you've been foolish with money, ask God to forgive your misuse of the money He blessed you with.

Second, change your understanding. Take a class, read a book, talk to a financial counselor and get the understanding you need to prosper. (see offerings below)

Third, change your behavior. Take one step toward financial health from what you've learned. Let money serve you rather than you serving it! Increase your generosity . . . you will never out-give God. Be encouraged by the psalmist's words, "The LORD be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant." Psalm 35:27

We hope you'll join us this weekend for the Real Change We Can Believe In series. You will experience scripture and hear stories that can change your life . . . if you let them. Crossroads will also be offering a sign up for "Financial Peace University" with Dave Ramsey! Check out the sidebar. We pray for your prosperity so that God's covenant can be established in your life and on the earth.

Change we believe in,
Scott & Clare



"If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master."
-- Francis Bacon

P.S. Click here to invite a friend to the "Real Change We can Believe In" series.

Forward this email to a friend.

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

What Are You Afraid Of?

Scripture for the week:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 1:7

Dear Friend,

What are you afraid of? The economy, defense, health care, education...the future? Can things get any worse? Yes, they can. What "change" can remove our fears? Do you really believe change is possible? Can a candidate bring it? A political party? Or does real change only come from something or someone larger than life?

Maybe your fears are more personal. Maybe you've lost a loved one, a job, a relationship, your home or are facing a life threatening disease. What "change" can calm your fears?

From a spiritual perspective, fears can be the best fuel for change. Whatever you fear is limiting your life. For instance, if you're afraid of heights, you are limited to living down low. Your fear limits your freedom and keeps you from real change. When we recognize what our fear is, we can begin the process of learning what God says about it.

The fear of the Lord is not the kind of fear we experience that paralyzes us, but fear that liberates us from all other fears. The word fear here is better translated "reverence." It is the kind of reverence that says, "God is AWESOME, ABLE, LOVING, POWERFUL, FAITHFUL...." When we understand that nothing is higher than God, lower fears begin to diminish. The freedom to live in "real change" arises. When we trust the power of God we experience true knowledge, and a paradigm change occurs. We begin to see from the perspective of "no matter what is in front of us we face it with the All Powerful Mighty One." We stop looking for people to change our circumstances and look to God to change our understanding. When you use fear as a fuel to draw near to God and His ways, life truly changes.
If you are fearful right now, ask God what needs to change in you.

Ways to Face Fear:
1. Make a list of your fears.Write down the times this week when you were anxious, uneasy or fearful about your life or the world.

2. What does God's word say about the things you fear? Use a concordance or ask a spiritual friend or mentor.

3. What mindset or paradigm needs to change now that you know what God says?

4. Revere God and thank Him that He is higher than all of your low fears!

5. Keep meditating on the words from scripture and allow them to continually bring real change in your life.

Let the Spirit change your way of thinking. Ephesians 4:23 (CEV)



About the series, "Real Change We can Believe In
Listening to the promises of politicians can be exhilarating, overwhelming and disturbing! Who can we believe? Will this be another over-promised and under-delivered moment in history? Who can really bring "change we can believe in? There are some answers in the ancient words of Scripture that we think can help us discover the "change" we are looking for and help us determine what "change" is dangerous.

These talks will endorse no candidate or party, but tackle the issues we all care about with real hope for change and what scripture promises. What change is required to walk in health, prosperity, protection, intelligence, and a secure future? Using the book of Proverbs, we will build a campaign for whole life goodness.

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

Do You Feel God's Support?

Scripture for the week:

2 Chronicles 16:8-9 "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His."

Dear Friend,

Do you feel God's support or does He seem unreal, uncaring or miles away from you?

Our son Paul had a syndrome called triploidy. It was a syndrome incompatible with life. During the months of his illness and the time following his passing, Scott and I needed a close encounter of the God-kind. We were desperate for God's support. That support came in supernatural and natural ways. There were times God met us in ways that are not explainable and other times He supported us through faithful friends. In our darkest hours, we heard God audibly and experienced Him through people's acts of kindness.

You may be facing days of great challenge or maybe you need support for a small situation. Whatever the case, God wants to strongly support you. Isn't that amazing that God is looking through the earth to find people He can strongly support! Only one condition: Your heart must be completely His.

Who or what has your heart today? Is it image, success, money, leisure, education, skepticism or pride? Maybe it's fear, rejection, unforgiveness, anger, addiction or slothfulness. Do unhealthy behaviors or relationships have your heart?

The Hebrew word "completely" in this scripture is translated into several English words. Some of those words are: safe, finish, full, whole, peaceful, perfect, prosperous, restored, rewarded. A heart that is completely His is a heart that is at rest and enjoying life. The "completely His" heart doesn't fear the economy or the future. That heart isn't looking for fulfillment in things that won't satisfy. The life that is supported doesn't seek fulfillment in empty or destructive behaviors because that heart is whole. During the days of Paul's illness, no amount of money, education or success could support us. No drink or drug or activity could make us happy or whole.

We thank God for our son Paul's life. We learned some things in our 20's that have lasted us our lifetime. Through Paul's life we learned this; in order to have God's support, He must have our hearts...completely.

Completely His and enjoying life,

Our prayer for you: Father, bless our friends with a complete heart. Whatever life looks like today (good, bad or ugly) let their hearts be Yours and Your support be theirs. We pray You will do for them as You have done for us. We are grateful always. Amen

Spiritual Practices
Confess to God where you need support
Confess to God who or what has your heart
Ask God to forgive you, restore you and support you
Surrender your heart to God completely
Pay attention and watch God's support supernaturally and naturally
Share your journey with a spiritual friend

Invite a friend to the last message of the "Facebook" series. Are your friends connected to God? Here's a way to help them get connected. Click here.

Forward this email to a friend.

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

Friends, you can't live with 'em . . .

Scripture for the week:

All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me . . . Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. Psalm 41:7, 9 (NIV)

Dear Friend,

On many occasions we have experienced the pain of relationships, but some experiences have been much harder than others. The most painful times have been when it was a close friend . . . one we "trusted, who shared our bread and then lifted his heel against us." A few years ago during a very challenging time in our lives we had friends who bailed on us. They pretended they loved us to our faces, but whispered behind our backs and left us when we needed them. It was one of those moments of real betrayal. We asked ourselves, "Who can we really trust?" Then we answered ourselves, "People just can't be trusted. They love you to your face, but don't fail them, disappoint them or disagree with them or they will turn their back on you so fast . . ." It was a "friends, you can't live with 'em . . ." moment.

While all that may be true, there is something even more true - real friendships rock! For some reason we still believe in imperfect people. Call us crazy, but we keep investing in the building of relationships! We are experiencing the fullness of friends that can fail us and we can fail them, yet we still want each other. Today, even on this very day, we need our friends. We have a family member that needs prayer and we have friends that are praying. We have friends saying "What can we do?" and they mean it! We're so grateful we haven't given up on friends.

Have you ever had a friend let you down, disappoint you or even betray you? How do you get through broken or ailing relationships? Do you know how to remove relational shrapnel? How do you recover and enjoy friendships after moments of deep disappointment? Here are some important practices to live into relational health:

Take the time to discern
Do you have broken or ailing relationships? Are you at fault? Are you innocent of any wrongdoing? Are you unkind, judgmental or unforgiving? Be honest with yourself and God.

Take time to forgive and repent
Take the time in prayer to forgive (sometimes again and again) the person who hurt you. Ask God to give you His compassion for them. The Scripture tells us when we pray to say, "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."

If you were wrong, ask God to forgive you. Ask the person you've wronged to forgive you. You may need a spiritual mentor or friend to help you in this process. Don't let pride rip you off.

Take time to begin again!
Once you deal with relational brokenness it's time to begin again. You may or may not be able to rebuild with those newly forgiven situations, but God will provide new ways to enjoy your life. Connect in a ministry project and/or a Life Group with imperfect people who love God. Look for ways to be a friend and watch friendships emerge. In the midst of life's losses and difficulties, we pray that you will experience relationships that will go the distance.

Friends, you can't live without 'em,



Hope you can join us this weekend during the Facebook series. This is week four and "Friends" is the subject. You won't want to miss our surprise! Invite a friend here

Recommended Reading: Relationships 101 by Les and Leslie Parrot

Forward this email to a friend.

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

Your Faith has Saved You

Scripture thought for the week:Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:50 (NIV)

Dear Friend,
Are you at peace today? Are you aware of your need for God at this moment? Are you looking for Him to be your Friend... Teacher... Provider... Counselor... Comforter... Rescuer... Saviour?

The words in Luke 7:50 were originally spoken to a woman in need. This particular woman had a reputation. This woman came into a room and began to worship at Jesus' feet in tears. Everyone in the room knew who she was and what she had done. She was unaware of people at that moment. She was expressing her worship to the One she needed.

At first glance one might think that the words of this scripture in Luke were directed to her alone, but they were spoken for everyone to hear. Some were practicing a form of welcoming Jesus, but their hearts were far from Him. Some in that room were judging the worship that was going on. Some were in debt and didn't realize it. Every person had a form of connection to Jesus, only the woman had real faith connection to him.

Whenever we know who we really are; when we become honest about our own condition with God; when we are fully engaged in the awareness of God's presence and refuse to look around, criticize, complain or judge others; we will honestly worship and hear the words we long to hear, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." These are words we all need to hear on this day.

Action Steps to Find God's Peace:
Find a place to get alone
Read Luke 7:36-50
Be aware of your present condition
Put away thoughts of others and what they should or shouldn't be doing
Acknowledge your need for God
Worship Him offering words of honor and adoration
Listen for His words of peace to you

Peace,



You're invited this Sunday to the Facebook Series: "Interested In". We will discover ways to know and connect with God at a deeper level. You don't want to miss this week's message.

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

New FAQ Blog is up!

Hello Friends and Family of Crossroads,

If you haven't heard the BIG NEWS click here and scroll down to the message on 8-03-08 titled "Big News". Once you have heard the vision of Crossroads Church and the blessing of this new opportunity to reach this region with the Good News, feel free to submit a question here. (Please allow 5-7 business days for your question -- and the answer -- to appear.)

This FAQ section is designed to keep our church family updated on the progress of our new land opportunity and building plans. Our Eldership Team and Pastoral Staff are open to ANY and ALL questions! The only wrong questions are the ones not asked or the ones asked to people who can't give you accurate information. All of our leaders will be regularly updated at the Leadership Community meetings (next meeting- 9-27). They will also be able to help direct you to the correct information.

This will be our faithful effort to provide factual, up-to-date information. Check back often, as we will update this section with new information as it becomes available.

Let the Conversations begin!!
We look forward to it.

Committed to Christ and this region,
Your Pastors,

"So let us concentrate on the things that make for harmony and the growth of our fellowship together."

Romans 14:19

P.S. For those without web access, we will continue to encourage them to call the office and speak to anyone on our staff.

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

Share Courage Today

Scripture thought for the week: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. . ." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Dear Friend,
Do you need a word of courage today? Try giving courage away and see what happens. The word encourage means to impart courage, to urge forward. We all need that! We find if we need courage we should look for someone we can give courage to. Then, it's amazing . . . our own hearts get stronger!

Unfortunately, we all have relationships that dampen our courage; relationships that feed on the "what if's," the impossibilities or the negatives of life. Proverbs tells us "the tongue of the wise brings healing." Do you look for ways to heal and encourage people? Do your words bring hope, health and strength? Or do you waste your gift of words in gossip, nay-saying or negativity? Relationships were given to us by God to help one another reach our God-given potential. We were made to build each other, heal each other, to urge one another forward!

So here is our word to you: God made you in His image. You matter to Him and to His purposes on the earth. Your life can reach its full potential as you love Him and other people. Receive the truth of God's words about you and others. He formed you and the people you are in relationship with to accomplish great things on the earth. He desires that you enjoy His love for you and the beauty of the life He created you for. We believe in you because we believe in the God who made you. Receive courage from God today! Refuse to partake in hearing or speaking words of negativity or discouragement. Believe in God, believe in the work He is doing in you and others and watch healing and courage rise up!

Action Steps:
Begin your day reading words of life from Scripture, slowly, savoring each word.
Reflect and allow God to speak to you from what you read.
Allow the words or phrases to speak to you all day.
Write them down and keep them with you.
Look for opportunities to encourage someone else with those very words.

This, our dear friends, is the un-vicious cycle of courage.

Be Encouraged Today,

News and Such . . .
Remember to pray for the families who were victims on September 11th, for our country and its leaders who take counsel for the world and its tragedies.
Also pray for Pastor Carlo. The families, the schools and the churches have survived the terrible hurricanes! Many who lost their homes are staying in the churches and because of Crossroads Church they are all being fed! All praise be to God! Thank you, Crossroads partners!

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

You're in the Family Now

Scripture thought for the week:

You are a member of God's very own family and you belong in God's household with every other Christian.
Ephesians 2:19-20 (Living Bible)

Dear Friend,
In case you never noticed, we love being a part of God's family! We have experienced the meaning of life by loving God and loving people. Our hearts have never been more fully alive and in motion to care for the broken and the poor in this region and around the world. It's all because we belong to God and others. The connection to God's family has made our lives ROCK! We thank God for making it possible to live with this level of grace and richness.

The day you said yes to enter into faith in God through Jesus Christ, you were connected to God Himself and His family. Your victories became ours to celebrate. Your challenges became ours to intercede for. God wanted you in His family and so do we! But are you getting and giving all you really want in the family of God? Are you feeling connected in name only but not experiencing the power of belonging to God's very own family?

Some of you feel very connected to family and friends in this life. Others feel like a rock or an island. Why? How can someone move into a place of being loved, cherished, needed and wanted. . . connected at a deep level?

More connection points are available in today's world than ever before. Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Friendster, eHarmony . . . we are overloaded with opportunities to know and be known at a "deep" level. All you need is to get online. Right? For many however, our attempts at networking our lives relationally has left us lacking the core of what we're really after - a life that is making a difference. A difference individually and also in community. . . a family.

We want to invite you to experience the Facebook series for the next 4 weeks at Crossroads. We are going to study God's Words about connecting our relational lives in ways that will satisfy your soul and can change the world for Jesus' sake. In this series we will discover how rich life can be when we find ourselves deeply connected to God and people. We hope to see you here!

For the Family,

Click here to invite a friend to church for this series.

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

Where the Action Is

Scripture thought for the week:

Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left. . . 1 Kings 18:21-22a

Dear Friends,

In 1 Kings 18:22 the prophet Elijah makes an interesting yet untrue statement to the people of Israel. Elijah said he was the only one of God's prophets left. It may certainly have seemed that way because the others were in hiding, but still untrue. Our perception at times seems more real than reality itself.

Take the church for instance, the reality is the church is meant to be God's refuge for the world, not God's refuge from the world. We can easily and understandably feel as though the church is the one place the unbelieving world can't "get at us." We perceive the church to be the bomb shelter in the midst of intense warfare. However, God's intention from the start was that we would find our refuge, shelter, protection, and hiding place only in His presence. God's intention for the church is that it would be a refuge for the world. A place for the broken and weary to finally find the hope and healing they have longed for. Where the lonely and outcast find love and community. A place of transformation from the imprint of a culture and environment that we all desire to break free from.

Maybe that's why the biblical record of the birth of the church is called "The Book of Acts" instead of "The Book of Hiding." The church is the active life force of God on the earth, called to bring hope, restoration, and love to a broken world. There's nothing on earth like the local church. Isn't it great to be where the action is?

Take A Step:
Examine your involvement in bringing God's love and presence to people who are away from God. Make a step this week to invite a friend to where the action is (the church).

For Christ and His Purpose,

Click here to invite a friend to church for this series.
Forward this email to a friend.

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

Real Power

Scripture thought for the week:

From Genesis 12:1-3 The LORD said to Abram: Go, Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you.

Dear Friend,

You may be familiar with the new business paradigm and wellness teaching "BE --> DO --> HAVE" after so much of the world has been living "HAVE --> DO --> BE" and came up dry. If you're not familiar with HAVE --> DO --> BE, it goes like this: If I could HAVE... (more time, money, love, etc) I could DO... (start a business, take up a hobby, go on vacation, buy a home, start a relationship, give to charity, tithe), then I would BE ...(happy, content, blessed powerful, etc). Now what's beginning to be articulated is what philosophers have taught for centuries: when the "HAVE" part of the equation is first, in order to DO something good, it doesn't result in becoming the person you want to BE. The HAVing can start to own you and being happy is replaced by DOing more and more to get HAVVY(oops we meant happy!) What a vicious treadmill!

The power of HAVing is the wrong emphasis. The power is in BEing first, then DOing something good out of who you are will result in HAVing the power and happiness of a good life. The BE --> DO --> HAVE principle is now the business success buzz resulting in people being more charitable and sometimes becoming so altruistic they're going green and even giving green!

Still, even this comes up short of the power of experiencing the life that God intended. God's way with Abraham was more like GO --> BE --> HAVE --> DO --> HAVE MORE! God told Abram GO --> get out of your limited life and mindset into the way of life I will show you. BE --> My child. HAVE --> blessing just because you are mine! DO --> be a blessing out of what I give you (even with the little I give you at first). HAVE MORE --> in blessing all the families of the earth! This is truly living a powerful and blessed life.

Take a Step:
What limited life mindset or lifestyle do you need to GO from? What or who is stopping you from GOing? Make a step this week and GO.

This Sunday, in the final week of the Money Sex and Power series, we will help unwrap the powerful life God has for you.

GOing to BE, DO and HAVE all God wants for us,
Scott & Clare


Click here to watch the 60 second commercial for the Money, Sex and Power series*, mymoneysexpower.com.
Click here to invite a friend to church for this series.

*The "Money, Sex and Power" series is designed for PG-13 audiences. Toddlers through 6th graders are invited to join in our C.R. AdventureKiDs "Fiesta del Verano" (Summer Party) during the 10:45 am service. (Childcare is not provided during our 9 am service.)

Sex or Celibacy?

Scripture thought for the week:

...First, is it a good thing to have sexual relations? Certainly-but only within a certain context. It's good for a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world of sexual disorder. The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality-the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. Marriage is not a place to "stand up for your rights." Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out. Abstaining from sex is permissible for a period of time if you both agree to it, and if it's for the purposes of prayer and fasting-but only for such times. Then come back together again. Satan has an ingenious way of tempting us when we least expect it. I'm not, understand, commanding these periods of abstinence - only providing my best counsel if you should choose them. Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me-a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others. 1 Corinthians 7:1.-7 (MSG)

Dear Friend,

You may have heard the story of the night we gave our lives to Christ (in the back seat of a Ford Fiesta :) and determined that we would now promise to abstain from sex until our wedding day. Scott determined that a short engagement would be best :) Four months after our decision to follow Jesus Christ we were married. We have lived sexually pure for almost 3 decades now and God has blessed our marriage more than we could have asked for or imagined! We have very strong convictions concerning healthy sexuality and look forward to sharing them with you. God's ways rule!

Still, we know that healthy sexuality is not everyone's story. Believe us; we have heard more tragic and unfulfilled sex stories than we can count. Stories of breakup and divorce that have left people feeling like healing and sexual purity will never be theirs. Others have stories of one relationship after another adding to the sexual dysfunction of their lives.

Gratefully, we also know stories of healing that would blow you away! Jesus is the giver of sex and the healer of dysfunctional and broken sex for singles and married couples. Some people are walking testimonies of God's grace and healing after sexual brokenness in their marriage. Their lives are proof of God's power to restore to a "better-than-the-original" condition when people surrender to His ways. Thank God for His indescribable gift.

This Sunday we will be talking about the God-given sexuality of men and women, both single and married. We will talk about the way God has wired us that will give you abundant life and keep you out or get you out of the tragedy zone.

The Bible has a lot to say about sex. In fact the Author of Sexuality wrote this book, wired you sexually, and knows how to make your life everything you desire it to be. We want to help you grow and so...

For Married Couples:

* On Friday, July 25, we have a Marriage Tailgate party to give married couples ways to explore and discover the God given gifts for married couples.
* Marriage mentors available for those who need support (click here)
* Pastoral direction to help assess those in more difficult situations (click here)
* And our dear friend Dr. Sharon Morris May will be in Michigan during August working with couples who need more intense work. (Click here for Dr. Sharon)
* Recommended reading resources below.

One thing we know for sure is that couples who invest in their marriage...get what they pay for!

For Singles and Married Couples, ministries are available to help you grow as a follower of Christ:

* Celebrate Recovery (including sexual recovery)
* Divorce Recovery
* A Man's Road
* Ladies Only
* Millenials (18-30 group)
* And many Life Groups to help you grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ (click here for a list)

If you need more individual specific help, pastoral direction and assessment, click here. For professional counseling, click here. What you invest into your spiritual journey will pay great dividends!

We are trusting God this will be a season in all of our lives to live in God's best design for our sexuality.

Living Pure and Loving It,
Scott & Clare


Click here to watch the 60 second commercial for the Money, Sex and Power series*, mymoneysexpower.com.

*The "Money, Sex and Power" series is designed for PG-13 audiences. Toddlers through 6th graders are invited to join in our C.R. AdventureKiDs "Fiesta del Verano" (Summer Party) during the 10:45 am service. (Childcare is not provided during our 9 am service.)

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

The Best for YOU!

Scripture thought for the week:

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.

Isaiah 1:19 (TNIV)

Dear Friend,

God gave you a desire and an appetite for the best from the land. He designed you to want the best, not bruised, insect infested or left over, but truly His best. When some people are hungry, they'll eat anything, but those who are willing and obedient will enjoy the best. God promises the best if we will do two things...only two things: 1) Be willing. God will never supersede your own free will. Are you brave enough to say, "God I want your will in my life"? 2) Be obedient. Once you find out what God's will is, are you ready to obey Him? Are you bold enough to believe God knows better than you do?

There we sat, drinking a cappuccino and eating biscotti on top of the Ufizzi Gallery overlooking the captivating scenery of Florence, Italy. We laughed and cried sharing memories of the 25 best and blessed years of our marriage. Our decision to live willing and obedient to God had given us the best from the land. Seriously, we could never have dreamed of the truly "best from the land" for our own lives, but God did.


Uffizzi Gallery Overlook
View from the Uffizzi Gallery

Whether you are single or married, whatever you've been eating or where you've been living... God has a fresh opportunity for you to live a "best from the land" life! As Albert Einstein once said, "I want to know the thoughts of God; the rest are details." Following God's framework for morality assures a full belly and a blessed life. For the next 2 weeks in our "Money, Sex and Power" series* we will be teaching from God's Word about the connection of our spirituality to our sexuality. God desires to give you the best of the land. Being willing to learn His ways and then be obedient to them will provide exactly the life you are longing to live.

(picture missing)Loughriges at the Arno River
Scott and Clare at the Arno River, Florence, Italy

(picture missing)Scott's Proposal in Italy
Scott asks perfect strangers
to take a picture of his asking
Clare to marry him (AGAIN!) in
the Boboli Gardens, Florence, Italy


Praying God's Best for the Land for You,
Scott & Clare

Click here to watch the 60 second commercial for the Money, Sex and Power series*, mymoneysexpower.com.

*The "Money, Sex and Power" series is designed for PG-13 audiences. Toddlers through 6th graders are invited to join in our C.R. AdventureKiDs "Fiesta del Verano" (Summer Party) during the 10:45 am service. (Childcare is not provided during our 9 am service.)

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

Live Larger than Yourself!

One Month.
      One Prayer.
            One Chance to Change the World.

Scripture thought for the week:

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

Dear Friend,

"The apostle Paul encourages believers to be truly unified as one body, to be in one mind with others of the faith and not in strife over things that have no eternal value. Our life should be Christ-centered and not self-centered. We must learn to die so that He can live through us. To be like Jesus is to truly desire nothing for ourselves outside of Him." Excerpts from: One Prayer Daily Devotional by Pastor Benny Perez

This is our last fasting Tuesday with "One Prayer." Thank you for joining with us! The apostle Paul is encouraging us to live larger than ourselves, to be in unity with followers of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday Prayer and Fasting Focus: World Leaders and Governments

Please especially remember: Pastor Aaron and Pastor Jan, the pastors and the churches they oversee and the government of China; Pastor Carlo and Guerline, the pastors and churches they oversee and the Haitian government; Amanda and the government of Jamaica.

We will also be praying for the pastors and government leaders in the 10/40 window, which includes the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina, Faso ,Cambodia, Chad, China, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Gibraltar, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Macau, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma) Nepal, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Western Sahara and Yemen. Many of these countries are some of the worst offenders of religious persecution.

Lastly, please remember to pray for: us and our pastoral staff, the government of Michigan, and the government of the United States. Pray as the Holy Spirit leads you.

With One Prayer, One Heart and One Voice,
Scott & Clare

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

Miracles!

One Month.
One Prayer.
One Chance to Change the World.

Scripture thought for the week:

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you

have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:24-25

Dear Friend,

Check out today's message from oneprayer.com. We couldn't have said it any better ourselves!
The promise in Mark 11 is powerful! Practically speaking, how can we pray with this kind of bold belief? I've studied many of the great prayers of the Bible and discovered three components of faith-filled prayer that emerge again and again.

Audacity
God is not intimidated by our large requests. He's insulted by our puny ones. The highest compliment we can pay God is to ask Him to do something so enormous that we have to blame the results on Him.

Accuracy
Our theme verses describe the process of requesting something very specific from God. When we pray vague prayers like: "God, just be with me today," it's very hard to engage our faith and quantify the results.

Get out of the realm of generalized, bless me, help me, be with me prayers. Develop a prayer vocabulary that is vivid, expressing your heart's desires and most urgent needs to God.

Action
If the desire you're praying about isn't enough to move you, why would it be enough to move God? God always requires us to step out in faith before He steps in.

In Mark 11:25, Jesus contrasts our willingness to do the spiritual work of prayer with our willingness to take a practical step of obedience by forgiving someone. Prayer is useless without corresponding Christ-centered action.

One Prayer is our unprecedented opportunity to unite in Christ worldwide, praying faith-filled, audacious, accurate, and active prayers for the glory of God.

Let's make the most of it.

How can you change your prayer life to make it more audacious and accurate, and what faith step do you need to take to get God to step in?

By Steven Furtick, Lead Pastor, Elevation Church

Today:

So, when was the last time you witnessed a miracle in action? There's an unbeatable thrill that comes when we know, beyond a doubt, that God has just showed up in a big way.

As we fast today, the focus of our prayers will be on miracles. Dream big. Think of areas in life that you consider hopeless. Be bold and ask for the impossible........because we know nothing is out of reach for our mighty God.

What miracle are you praying for today as you fast? Email it to us so we can pray with you. Email us and share one of your miracle stories.

Believing for MIRACLES with you!

Scott & Clare

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

Wake Up!

One Month.
      One Prayer.
            One Chance to Change the World.

Prayer Direction from oneprayer.com: During the four weeks of One Prayer, we're setting aside each Tuesday as a time to fast together. This week we're going to concentrate our prayers on the most important experience that can occur in an individual's life - salvation. As you fast and pray, ask God for opportunities to share Christ with those who don't know Him. Consider inviting someone to church with you this weekend.

Scripture thought for the week:

Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Acts 20:9

Dear Friend,

Wow! Talk about a bad dream! The guy fell asleep because Paul was just going on and on... how fair is it that he woke up dead?! Have you ever fell asleep and missed the end of a movie, a book or a sermon? Can you imagine missing the climax of your own life? WAKE UP before it's too late!


What has God made you to be and do in this life? What does God expect you to be awake for? Is there something in particular you are ignoring or sleeping through that God has made you for? What has put you to sleep? What has you drifting off from the life God has given you to live? The word for this week is WAKE UP! Life is too good, too important to miss out on your own conclusion, your own last scene, your own last chapter. Choose to live right now in the fullness of God's words for you.


One way to WAKE UP...

One of the ways to WAKE UP to God's voice is through fasting. When you deny yourself the regular luxury of a meal or meals, you will wake yourself up to pray and then listen to God. While your stomach is rumbling and longing for food, allow prayers to come from you that are full of longing and desire. We hope you will be fasting with us and over 760,000 other Christ followers (from oneprayer.com) today. Whatever you are willing to "fast," replace it with a hunger-filled prayer. You'll be amazed at how you will WAKE UP to the things that matter to you and more importantly, to God's Kingdom.


During this one month of the "oneprayer" series, we will be WAKING UP to some things God has been trying to give us for a long time. Don't miss a single Sunday --you will never be the same.

Our prayer for you today:

Let the prayers Your people pray wake them up to Your goodness. For those that are troubled let them find Your purpose, for confusion bring assurance, for pressure bring endurance, for fear bring generosity, for discouragement bring vision, for sleepiness bring conviction. Let Your people live these few days on this earth fully awake, fully alive, fully in love with You and completely engaged in the purpose You have created them for, including reaching people for Christ. Lead each person in prayers and witnessing that will bring others to salvation. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen

WAKING UP,

Scott & Clare

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

One Prayer

One Month.
      One Prayer.
            One Chance to Change the World.

Dear Friend,

Have you ever prayed and felt the support of Heaven in that prayer? Have you ever experienced God's presence in prayer because you were praying a prayer that He agreed with? Do you know what it's like to operate in the power of God in prayer? Have you ever prayed a prayer that could change the world?

What would happen if believers from all over the globe came together to impact the world like never before? Would you sign up for that? We know you would, so we did!

Join us beginning this weekend, June 8, as we lead Crossroads Church in unity with hundreds of churches across the country and around the world. This global teaching series will address the question, "If God would answer 'one prayer' for the church, what would you pray?" We will be joining over 1,000 churches to pray prayers that can change the world!

Grow closer to God and become a part of something bigger than any of us as we join together with hundreds of thousands of people to pray for and serve our communities, our cities and our world with One Prayer.

Each weekend you will be challenged through teachings by some of our country's greatest communicators via the BIG SCREEN to pray One Prayer. During the week we will have ways to put this prayer into action. Every Tuesday the church globally will be fasting! There will be opportunities to join in on a food fast, a lifestyle fast, a special project with a mission offering, and even a prayer gallery in the lobby with your requests to God for this world.

And, as the Church stands together during the One Prayer series, we will each discover the power, significance and potential that One Prayer has to change the world.
Praying and believing with you,
Scott & Clare

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

You Only Believe the Part of the Bible That You Live

Scripture thought for today:

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart
that you have lied to the Holy Spirit ....?

Acts 5:3&4 (TNIV)

Dear Friend,

While at Saddleback Church last week we heard Rick Warren make the statement, "You only believe the part of the Bible that you live." That statement sucked the air right out of the room. Seriously, this statement was made to a group of pastors and Christian business leaders who just paid to come to this conference in California. Wouldn't you think it's a "no brainer" that these people are believing and living the Bible? Guess not!

Now rewind history to the book of Acts, Chapter 5, to the first New Testament couple, Annanias & Sapphira (A&S). A&S were a part of the first church. It was a miracle-filled, HOT time in church history. Peter was the pastor for heaven sake! A&S must have known the truth of God's Words and "Acts," yet they didn't really believe, did they? Why? They had an identity CRISIS brought on by CONTROL issues. They forgot who God was and forgot who and whose they were. They moved from managers of their lives to Lord of their lives. Bad move.

Now rewind even further to the first Old Testament couple Adam and Eve (A&E). They were with God Himself everyday, yet it seems as though A&E had the same problem as A&S. They decided having fellowship with God and dominion in the garden wasn't enough; they wanted to be God! Once again, identity CRISIS brought on by CONTROL issues!

Do you have an identity CRISIS with CONTROL issues? Ask yourself:
Is Jesus the Lord and Leader of your life?
How much Bible do you live in your:
career?
friendships?
marriage?
finances?
prayers?

This week we will help uncover how much of the Bible we really believe. This knowledge can help move us from death to real life. The life God wants to bless you with! Find out how you can reverse unbelief in your life. Don't miss this week with A&S! Click here to invite a friend to the "Bad Guys of the Bible" series. Send this email to a friend.
In Pursuit of Believing and Living,
Scott & Clare

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige
P.S. Please keep sending in your testimonies. It's another way to live a "more than conquering" life. "They overcame him, the devil, by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony." (REVELATION 12:11)

How is God Showing up in Your Life?

Scripture thought for today:

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks

Proverbs 27:23 (NIV)

Dear Friend,

Right now we are in a 3-day conference with Rick Warren (author of The Purpose Driven Life). He is training pastors from all over the world to love the people of God and give them God's very best. Please pray for us as we hear the words of Christ through Pastor Rick.

There are two questions on our hearts while we're here. Would you answer one or both of these questions?

1. How is God showing up in your life?
2. What do you need from Crossroads Church to help you on your journey?

Now, would you please take the time this week to let us know how you are doing? That's it! We just need to hear from you. We will prayerfully read each of your responses and seek God on your behalf for this next church season. As we hear your responses and listen to the words of Pastor Rick, we pray we will serve the people of Crossroads in the way Jesus is asking us to.

We love you and look forward to sharing with you the things God is working with us on this week.

Showing up to be with God,
Scott & Clare

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

To visit the Saddleback Church website, click here.

5-14-08
What or Who are You Tolerating?

Scripture thought for today:

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance,
and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel...

Revelation 2:19-20

Dear Friend,
What or Who are you tolerating? What is going on in your life right now that you are putting up with that you shouldn't? The words in this scripture are in red because God is speaking. These are actually the words of Christ to the church in Thyatira. He was just commending them for the wonderful things they were doing but then He tells them they are "tolerating that woman Jezebel." Jesus is warning them that even if they have a lot of good going on, tolerating the wrong things will keep them from God's very best for their lives.

When we live tolerating less than God's best, our lives get stuck in mediocre-to-barely-living. In this case, "that woman Jezebel," stood for the idolatry and immorality they were allowing in their lives. Those are sins that will steal this life and eternity, but what can be equally disabling are the more subtle "tolerations." Things that you know are stealing your time, talent, energy, money... your blessed life.

"Tolerations" are things like:

- unhealthy, life-draining relationships
- cluttered schedules (living with no margin)
- addictive habits, hurts, hang ups
- overspending, overeating, overreacting, over...
- no self care (spirit, soul, body)
- passionless spiritual life
- mediocre or lifeless marriage
- procrastination

If we understood how "tolerating" unhealthy people and situations takes our blessed life away, we would never tolerate toleration. We would say, "God, what one thing can I do today to improve or remove what I am tolerating in my life?" Take the time today to ask God that very question, begin to journal and then listen. Study what God's Word has to say about that specific situation. If you don't know where to look in Scripture, ask a spiritual friend or mentor to help you.

During this series, "Bad Guys of the Bible," we are uncovering what the "Bad Guys" tolerated and mapping the road to a "toleration free" life. This week we'll look at Jezebel and Ahab to discover the way out of toleration into liberation and a powerfully blessed life.


Working to live toleration free,

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige

P.S. Please keep sending in your testimonies. It's another way to live a "more than conquering" life. "They overcame him, the devil, by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony." (REVELATION 12:11)

5-7-08
God of the Second Chance: Bryan's Story

Scripture thought for today:

There are things I hate I end up doing...the things I want to do, I just don't do. Who will save me this time? Thank God -Jesus Christ our Lord!

Romans 7:21-25 (paraphrased)

Dear Friend,
Do you need a second chance? What an amazing story we watched on video this past Sunday of Bryan Denbrock. (To watch click here.) He is such a grateful Christ follower who has a beautiful marriage and family. It seems impossible that his life was so broken. God is the God of second chances! God will transform every life that will surrender to Him. We all have a story of God's grace giving us another lease on life again and again. (To send us yours, see below.)

The Bible is full of second chances; from Jonah who ignored what God created him to be and do, to the woman caught in the act of adultery. Some sins are willful acts of disobedience; some sins are willful ignoring of God's purpose for our lives. Thank God. . . He forgives, restores and empowers people to live the life He created for them to live.

Do you need a second chance? Does someone you know need a second chance? There really is a simple process. Move from PRETENDING and DEFENDING to ADMISSION and SUBMISSION. Don't pretend nothing is wrong. Stop defending the decisions you've made. Admit that you have not been listening to God and submit to God's will for you. Take a bold step and do what God is leading you to do! Stop living in a place of misery or chaos when you can take the next step into the blessings God wants you to have! Then watch God turn your history into a story of His grace and your blessing. Watch God turn your DECISION into HIS PROVISION!!

In our series Bad Guys of the Bible, we will see the God of second chances always offering a new lease on life to even the worst bad guy. You'll find people in the Bible who have your same story.

A prayer for another chance:
Psalm 51:10-13 (NKJV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You. Amen

Living in the Second Chance,


Writing Your Story

"It is a proof of your faith. Many people will praise God because you obey the Good News of Christ - the gospel you say you believe - and because you freely share with them and with all others." 2 Cor. 9:13(NCV)

1. Before you start writing, pray and ask God for help and the words to share.

2. Write out your testimony.

PART I: WHO ARE YOU?(¼ page max)If appropriate, include family history and/or church background. Avoid naming religious denominations since this may alienate some listeners.

PART II: THE PROBLEM (3/4 pages max)Describe your attitudes and actions before the problem/crisis occurred.

Give an explanation of your trial and/or crisis, with an emphasis on how you felt.

PART III: THE SOLUTION (1 page)
What did your journey look like? (i.e. your healing, actions you took, help from a group or friend, impact of scripture.)

Describe changes in your attitudes and actions since placing this situation in God's hands.

PART IV: THE OUTCOME (½ page max)
Give a snapshot of your life and service to God today, including your future plans.

3.Give us your testimony on a hard copy or email.

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige