An Invitation to all Women!

Dear Friend,

Do you desire a closer walk with God? Are there times you don't know what to expect from God and what He expects from you?

I hope you are considering participating in the Crossroads Women's Retreat, "EXPECT". If you are, I truly believe you won't be sorry! It will be a matchless investment into your spiritual life. We will be looking at people in the Bible who EXPECTED God... and were not disappointed! Transformation of circumstances and of ourselves happens when we are EXPECTING an experience with God. Whatever your life story, in the past or right now, there will be something for you.

What you can EXPECT:

You can expect times of teaching, worship, and hearing from God for your future. We will have places for people who want to talk and places for those who want to be in solitude. We will offer individual appointments for Spiritual Direction and for Life Coaching for those who are interested. We look forward to spending this time together and especially with the God who loves us. We EXPECT God will meet you here and none of us will ever be the same.

I am praying and preparing for this retreat right now. I am praying that you will open yourself to God. Time on retreat will transform those who hear God's Word, experience its power and are willing to keep moving in His direction!

You can EXPECT that!

Clare and the EXPECT Team

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The following is the EXPECT schedule:

Friday Night:

6:30 Registration coffee, cocoa, conversation and registration

7:00 Worship

7:30 What and Why can I Expect?

8:30 Welcoming Expectation

9:00 Go home, stay with a friend, a local hotel or B&B ...you decide!

(Hampton Inn, 269-789-0131 $99 special when you mention Crossroads Women's Retreat; National House Inn, 269-781-7374; Holiday Inn Express, 269-789-9301)

Saturday:

9:00 am coffee and conversation

9:30 - 12:00 choose from:

· teachings

· spiritual formation group

· life and spiritual direction appointments

· social opportunities

· solitude times...

12:00-1:30 lunch, walk the grounds, meet with a life coach or a spiritual director... just enjoy yourself!

1:30 - 4:30 choose from:

· teachings

· spiritual formation group

· life and spiritual direction appointments

· social opportunities

· solitude times...

4:30 Go home or eat out with a friend!

New Sunday Service Times are 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Upcoming Events

5/15-5/16 Ladies Retreat
5/17 Experience Crossroads 101

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Overhaulin': What's Under Your Hood?

Click here to watch Overhaulin' Part 1.

Scripture for the week:
from Galatians 1:17-18

I went immediately into Arabia ...then after three years...

Dear Friend,

Do you feel like any areas in your life need an overhaul? Your health, relationships, finances, spiritual disciplines? Do you feel like there is enough power under your "hood" to take you where you need to go? Is the engine of your life humming or sputtering?

The Apostle Paul had a true overhaul on the road to Damascus. He left his old life as a member of the Sanhedrin (like our Supreme Court), a debater, a persecutor and a destroyer of Christians and went to Arabia for 3 years. He spent 3 years praying, seeking God and reading the Scriptures with a new mind and fresh spiritual eyesight. The result... talk about power under the hood! "Then after 3 years"...the teachings, the writings and the miracles done through this man were a result of a real God encounter.

Most people can't leave their life for 3 years to get an engine overhaul, so what can we do? What can we do to get an engine that purrs or better yet... ROARS!? Gaining power in our health, relationships, finances and disciplines come from One power source... experiencing God's Word in all the issues of life. Paul had been a scholar in the Scriptures most of his life but did not "experience God" and therefore had no real power until after his time in the Arabian desert. In our "Experience God" class (which begins tomorrow night!) we teach what Paul learned in the desert about God's Word to us. In the Midweek Experience classes, we soup up your engine through:

Hearing God's Word:

"Faith comes from hearing the Word of God." Romans 10:17

When and where are you purposefully hearing God's Word taught so that you have powerful faith? Church every week? Midweek classes?

Studying God's Word

"... they accepted the message eagerly and studied the Scriptures everyday ..."

Acts 17:11 (Ph)

Learn or sharpen your study tools by taking a class. The "Experience God" class teaches the tools of studying, and "The Book of James" class (also beginning tomorrow night) is a Bible study.

Meditating on God's Word

"As we ... contemplate the Lord's glory, we are being transformed into His likeness ..."

1 Corinthians 3:18

Experience new ways to meditate on Scripture in an Experience God class.

Applying God's Word

"Be a good workman ... Know what His Word says and means." 2 Timothy 2:15

If you don't know where to apply God's Word take the "Experience your SHAPE" class and discover the power of your life's work!

If you go to Crossroads, it's not too late to sign up today. If you don't attend a church that teaches you TO EXPERIENCE the Scriptures... find one fast! We all desperately need the power of God's Word in our lives. Commit to giving yourself the power you need.

Final wisdom from Paul's power encounter...

...we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 (Youngs Literal Translation)

Our translation:
Experiencing God is our precious metal... it is His excellent power under the hood!

Click here to sign up for Wednesday night Experience Classes.

Start your engines!

New Service Times are 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

Upcoming Events

4/22 Midweek Experience classes begin

4/23 Town Hall For Hope meeting with Dave Ramsey 8:00 p.m.

5/15-5/16 Ladies Retreat

What's Your God-Story?

Click here for more information about this Sunday

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Scripture for the week: "I have heard from many about this man..." Acts 9:13

Dear Friend,

What do you hear about people? Do you hear the back-story or the God-story? Why is it that we listen to what isn't good about a person rather than what God says about them? Why do people love to say "Well... I heard..." It's almost like birds of prey gathering around road kill.

This scripture comes from the mouth of Ananias about the soon to be "Apostle Paul". God told Ananias to lay hands on Paul and be his instrument of healing. First words from Ananias are "I have heard..." Now, don't judge Ananias too harshly, he is just like most of us. He's heard the dirt on Paul and it's true! However, Paul is about to define the word "transformation". Not only did he define it but gave us hope for you and every person you know.

Last week we had an amazing Resurrection Sunday service! We had hundreds of transformation stories displayed on 3x5 cards. About 40 of those people gave their story LIVE as a poster board testimony. (click here to watch) On one side the card tells what life was like before God stepped in... the "back-story". The other side tells about transformation... the "God-story". It was a celebration of transformation!!!! One person was sitting behind some of the stories and said "the way you see a person depends on where you're sitting... your viewpoint."

Do you see people's back-story or God-story? How about your own back-story? Let's commit to hear God's words about today and the future. Let's pray that our viewpoint comes from the transformative resurrection power of God.

Pray this prayer:

God I want to see the transforming power of your resurrection in my life and in the life of others. There are things that you believe are possible for me and others that I can't see yet. I choose to change my viewpoint and open myself to God's viewpoint that comes in my life, right now, as I surrender to you. I keep my eyes wide open and my words saying what you say about today and the future. Amen.

We begin a new series of talks about this very issue in our new series called Overhaulin'. The sights and sounds of this series are going to change our lives for eternity. Through looking at the life of Paul we are going to understand transformation like never before! Don't miss a single week and be sure to invite a friend!

Overhaulin' for Jesus,

Scott and Clare

Upcoming Events
4/19 Service Times change to 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
4/23 Town Hall For Hope meeting with Dave Ramsey 8:00 p.m.
5/15-5/16 Ladies Retreat

Easter Sunday

Do you need to be baptized?
Get baptized Easter Sunday!
Click here to be baptized Sunday
Click here for more information about this Sunday

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Scripture for the week: I thirst. John 19:28

Dear Friend,
This Sunday, one of the ways we will celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is by baptizing people according to Jesus' words: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19 NIV).

Baptism declares our faith in Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead. Being baptized is a symbol of you dying to your old life and finding new life in Christ. It declares that you want to live in the new life that only Jesus can provide. Going into the water says I am now a part of God's Family and I am not ashamed to say that publicly!

Isn't it time you went public with your faith? Your baptism should not be postponed any longer. Baptism is not an option, nor is it the ticket into heaven. It is your response to the proof of Jesus' resurrection and a declaration of your faith in Him! It is going into the water that Jesus said was a part of quenching the thirst every human being has. Click here to be baptized Easter Sunday.

However, Baptism is only PART of the the thirst satisfying power of God.

Easter Sunday, we will be presenting Jesus' words on the cross: "I Thirst". We think you'll be surprised and challenged at how much he actually said in just those two words. Why did he want those words to be one of the last he would speak in his life as a human being?

The Creative Team has been working hard to interpret the words of Jesus in a service called iThirst. The music, drama, dance, film and teaching will take you deeper into God's love for you, your love for God, and the message of the Resurrection. Come celebrate with us! Bring your friends and family to hear, see and experience the power of God's love!

Click here for more information about iThirst. Click here to be baptized Sunday.
HE IS RISEN!

Upcoming Events

4/10 Good Friday Services at 12 noon
4/11 6th Annual Community Eggstravaganza 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
4/12 Easter Sunday Services 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
4/14 Financial Peace University classes begin
4/19 Service Times change to 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

April Fools

Psalm 14:1 A fool says in his heart there is no God

April Fools Day doesn't quite mean the same thing to the Loughrige family that it does to many others. For us, it's not a day for pranks, but a day of remembering, prayer and thanks.

Twenty-one years ago today we said hello and goodbye to our son Paul. Paul had a syndrome that was incompatible with life. Even though his spirit already left his body he was held, cherished, prayed for and wept over. He was cradled by aunts, uncles and grandparents. His big sister, Sara, stood silently wondering where all the prayers she prayed had gone. She and her family had prayed since the third month of pregnancy when it it was clear something was wrong and then fervent prayers took over in the fifth month when we knew exactly what was wrong. The last six months were overtaken with prayers and fasting that Paul would be healed here on earth... not in heaven. We watched Ian and Sara at the Memorial Service searching our faces for answers... what is the meaning of this? Where did all the prayers go? Where should we go? What should we believe?

Friends who were professionals in the mental health field had a very similar situation happen... depression took over and their marriage ended in divorce. Were we going to make it? Was our faith going to make it? Would we ever pray for someone to be healed again? Could we believe our prayers mattered... that they went somewhere... accomplished something?

Fast forward several years later on April 1st. We are in court for a violent crime committed against one of our family members. Today is the verdict after a month long trial. This verdict would bring some justice to several children and the verdict is "not guilty". The perpetrator was acquitted. How can this be? What is the meaning of this? How do people who commit evil atrocities go unpunished? Where did all the prayers go? Where should we go? What should we believe?

We've seen how others handle unrighteous verdicts. You know the "an eye for an eye" way. They take the law into their own hands or equally as tragic, they give their lives away to unforgiveness, suffer silently and die a slow death.

On this day, April 1st, we remember, we pray and we give thanks. When we said good-bye to Paul we had no idea what we would be saying hello to. When we sat in that courtroom and watched this man go free, we could never imagine the freedom that would come to us... the faith that was being built in us. The un-countable miracle prayers that would be prayed through us. The freedom that would come to others through our family. The ways God would allow us to experience Him through joy and even...pain.

This is not a fools day for us. This is a day that marks some of the biggest tests of our faith. Would we be fools and say "there is no God" or would we press in and find the God who is present in both triumphs and tragedies. We found God in April and it was not a prank. We have experienced God on the mountaintops and God in the valleys. He has taught us love and compassion for people with the biggest questions and sadness in life. He has strengthened our faith for the impossible. Clare's father taught us to say "what is the meaning in this" instead of "what is the meaning of this". That truth has caused us to enjoy 28 years of marriage (on Friday!) and 22 years of pastoral ministry. Truly a life with "meaning in it." That meaning is found in God...knowing and experiencing God.

Tonight we will all gather for a family dinner. We will remember, pray and give thanks. We will say we believe in God. We will talk of the times we have seen him forgive, heal and make the impossible- possible. We will talk about life with "meaning in it".

Only a fool says in His heart there is no God. A fool is a fool because he won't look for the One who longs to love him, comfort him and teach him meaning. When we don't look for God, the joke's on us. When we seek Him, we find Him and the joke is on the enemy of your soul.


Today we pray that you too will always find meaning... find the God of meaning.

Finding God,

Scott & Clare

...if you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deut 4:29