It's Life or Death

Scripture for the Week
John 9:4 (NCV) While it is daytime, we must continue doing the work of the One who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work."

Dear Friend,
What is it about a show like "24" that seems to capture something deep within us? Maybe the draw is the action and adventure packed into every single show. Possibly the fact that it has an underlying theme that pits an undercover U.S. agent (Jack Bauer) against the terrorists here and abroad. We are sure all of this plays some part in our attraction, but it doesn't seem to explain the core of our interest. Perhaps more than any other element, shows like "24" again accentuate how much we love heroic acts. Face it, we all were born as fans of heroes.

Who doesn't want to cheer when they hear a story of a fireman going into the Twin Towers to save as many as possible at the expense of his own life? How about a woman spending the majority of her life caring for the most impoverished and diseased people the world knows on the streets of Calcutta? Passengers aboard an aircraft rushing a bunch of terrorists to make sure this aircraft they are about to die on would not be used to kill many others. The stories go on and on.

Part of our attraction is the respect we feel for the courage these heroes display. Perhaps at the core of what draws us to heroism is that we want to believe if we were placed in a similar position we would step up to the call to save some lives. We were all created with a hero inside.

When all things are considered, this "heroic drive" is what should motivate us as Christ followers to share the love of Jesus to a world in the midst of an all out attack. Salvation really is a life or death issue for all of us, and all those around us, everyday. The truth is, the stakes of this heroic opportunity are higher than any other. It's not just life or death, it's eternal life or eternal separation. People's eternal destination is counting on you. So let's get busy being heroic, our "24" hours are almost over.


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Your Next 24 hours...Suddenly

Scripture for the Week
Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Dear Friend,
Can you imagine this scene? You just met to pray with some people. In fact, you met with a crew of disappointed, disheartened, disenfranchised grieving people and then Suddenly. . . BAM. This was a crazy moment. . . a phenomenal moment. These people had issues nobody could reverse, cheer up or make better. Then, all of a sudden there is a sound "like a" violent wind. They have to say "like a" because nobody had ever heard a sound like this. They saw "what seemed to be like" tongues of fire because they couldn't explain what they were seeing. This was unexplainable. Within a Suddenly moment they were filled with power that exceeded their experience, education, understanding and ability to communicate.

They were now filled with the Spirit for the first time.

People accused them of being drunk because they spoke in other languages (because everybody knows that drunk people become bi-lingual). These drunkards were now change agents for an entire city. This Suddenly moment changed this displaced group's future. This supernatural power surge changed what they lived for, invested, and trusted in. The next 24 hours and the days following them changed history. They preached the message of redemption in every language present. That moment changed us and our children forever!

When was the last time you had a moment you couldn't explain? When was the last time God did something in you and for others that exceeded your talent, education, experience and understanding? When was the last time you enjoyed 24 hours of suspense and redemption? You think Jack Bauer (from 24) lives on the edge. Do you watch him to juice up your own life? Let's change the channel. Find your upper room. Pray and wait for God to fill you and direct your next 24. Suddenly...

Being filled,
Scott & Clare

Quick Links
Watch our series24:Redemption
Invite a friend to the 24 series this week!
Forward this eletter to a friend
Subscribe to our eletter

To learn more about the infilling of the Spirit:
Click here for info on Class 201: Experience God
Join us this week at Crossroads for 24: Redemption--Mission Impossible

24: Redemption

Scripture for the Week
Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption...

Dear Friend,

What do you need to be redeemed from today? Sin, fear, worry, debt, hijacked relationships, a broken or warped image of God, ________? You fill in the blank. What is it? Where is life not all it could be or should be?

Redemption is defined in these ways: deliverance, rescue, atonement for guilt, salvation, paying off, as of a mortgage, bond, or note. Sound like what you need? You can have it.

Have you seen the series 24? This season is called 24: Redemption. The new season begins with the fictional federal Counter-Terrorist Unit's (CTU's) fearless agent (Jack Bauer) facing a Senate investigation for his treatment of terrorists while seeking to save or "redeem" innocent people. Among the fans of "24" is Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Why? We think it's because everybody is really hoping there is a Redeemer. Even the people at the top of the food chain for the greatest Super Power hope there is someone heroic, self sacrificing and unstoppable in the fight against evil.

Guess what? There is a Redeemer! It's not Jack Bauer or Michael Chertoff. When you read about the life of Jesus, Redeeming describes every "24" hour period of His life. Read Mark chapter 4 and 5 in the Bible. Jesus uses a 24 hour period to give people peace, health, correction, understanding and forgiveness. It becomes so clear that this is the business He is always up to in every 24 . . . saving people from terrorists. Terrorists like sickness and poverty, anxiety, fear, sin and even sick religion!

Let this be a 24 where you allow God to be your hero. Let him enter into any darkness or terrorism that exists in your life.

Prayer: Dear God, I believe that in this 24 hour day you can meet me in the place of my need. My first need is to know Jesus Christ as my Savior and Redeemer. I then give you permission to show the dark places in my life. Let this be the day that I experience your rescuing power. Thank you that I have hope on this very day. Amen.

Redemption Blessings,

Action Steps:

Read Mark 4 and 5

See yourself in the story. What needs do you have that are like the people you read about?

Tell God where you need his redeeming power

Pray the above prayer (add your own words)

Watch for God's rescue

Tell someone what God does for you