Scott & Clare's Blog

Love Hurts

2010-03-10T16:55:00.006-05:00

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Love Hurts!

Beloved let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7 (NASB)

Dear Friend,

People say "love hurts". While that may be true, we must not hesitate to love completely... to love deeply. If we do we will miss the greatest gifts of life. Today we would like to share a few of the thoughts that have formed our hearts over the last 3 decades in matters of love...

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable."

--CS Lewis

"You might be afraid of the pain that deep love can cause. When those you love deeply reject you, leave you, or die, your heart will be broken. But that should not hold you back from loving deeply. The pain that comes from deep love makes your love ever more fruitful. It is like a plow that breaks the ground to allow the seed to take root and grow into a strong plant. Every time you experience the pain of rejection, absence, or death, you are faced with a choice. You can become bitter and decide not to love again, or you can stand straight in your pain and let the soil on which you stand become richer and more able to give life to new seeds.The more you have loved and have allowed yourself to suffer because of your love, the more you will be able to let your heart grow wider and deeper. When your love is truly giving and receiving, those whom you love will not leave your heart even when they depart from you. They will become part of your self and thus gradually build a community within you."

--Henri Nouwen

"Beloved let us love one another." Saint John the Apostle

Still learning to love completely,

To watch last week's message click here.

Purchase a One Month to Live (hardcover book) and/or Participant's Guide online or at the CCM Bookstore. (Supplies purchased online will be available for pick up in the Bookstore.)

Browse the CCM calendar to find a One Month to Live Group in your area.

Register for a One Month to Live Group here.

Tear it Up!

2010-03-03T15:25:00.009-05:00

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Tear it Up!

Click here for Haiti update

"Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor ..."

Romans 12:1

Dear Friend,

You and I were made for adventure!

Sure we could play it safe and sit on the sidelines, but you have a divine destiny. Jesus invites us from mere existing into passionate living. This last week we talked about the friends in Luke 5 (click here to listen) who ripped open the roof and lowered their friend to get him to Jesus. This friend had a need and these passionate zealous friends TORE IT UP to get to this friend's answer... Jesus!

Here's the clarifying question we're asking ourselves everyday: "If you knew you had one month to live how would you live your life?" Is there a friend who needs you to rip a roof off for them? Remember: Jesus lived that clarifying question every day He lived on earth. He stopped his teaching, forgave the "lowered through the roof" man's sins and healed His body. Jesus tells the crazy roof rippin' friends that it was because of their tear it up faith (Luke 5:20) that this friend was healed. Jesus will do His part to reach your friend... will you do yours? Do you have a friend that needs Jesus? TEAR IT UP this week and lead your friend to Jesus! Live like your leaving... because you are!

Continuing over the next 4 Sundays leading to Easter, Crossroads is going to be reading the "One Month to Live" devotional and coming together in groups to share the journey. We will learn the truths of how Jesus lived His final days. We will look into the power of Jesus' final moments and see how those moments can shape the way we live now!

We are taking the 30 day challenge to a no regrets life. We hope you will join us!

Browse the CCM calendar to find a One Month to Live Group in your area.

Register for a One Month to Live Group here.

One Month to Live

2010-02-25T15:38:00.010-05:00

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One Month
to Live

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end
       and the number of my days;
       let me know how fleeting is my life.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
       the span of my years is as nothing before you.
       Each man's life is but a breath."

Psalm 39:4-5

Dear Friends,
What if you only had one month to live? What changes would you make in your life? Kerry and Chris Shook's New York Times best-seller, One Month to Live: Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life, encourages readers to face their own mortality and live life to the absolute fullest.

Over the next 5 Sundays leading to Easter, Crossroads is going to be reading the "One Month to Live" devotional and coming together in groups to share the journey. We will learn the truths of how Jesus lived His final days. We will look into the power of Jesus' final moments and see how those moments can shape the way we live now!

We are taking the 30 day challenge to a no regrets life. We hope you will join us!

Prepare for beginning this 30 day challenge by reading the introduction here.

Browse the CCM calendar to find a One Month to Live Group in your area.

Register for a One Month to Live Group here.

Tap into the free resources from One Month to Live.

For more info visit the One Month to Live website

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-10T16:25:00.016-05:00

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Happy

Valentines

Day!

My command is this: Love each other

as I have loved you.

John 15:12

Dear Friends,

Maybe you would expect that on Valentines week we would talk about how to have a "romantic" marriage. Let us tell you about romance... it waxes and wanes! We have an amazing marriage and romance is sweet but what really lasts is covenant. Covenant with God is the center of every relationship we have. A covenant, very simply put, is an agreement that brings about a relationship of commitment between God and his people. Covenant is why friendships and marriages can last a lifetime and into eternity. There can be something bigger than the people involved in a relationship and it is God, Himself!

When we discovered that Jesus died for our sins and made an eternal covenant with us to join Him for all eternity, we started to live beyond today's feelings: i.e. just momentary romance and good vibrations. When our son Paul went to heaven we had a physical representative of our family waiting for us in heaven. Eternity was set in our hearts. We are convinced that nothing else matters but to live knowing that Jesus and all of Heaven are watching and cheering us on. This eternal covenant made us passionate for people and for eternity with God! We don't know how many days on this earth we have. Whether it be many or few, we are going to live life like our passions are out of this world. We're going to leave a passionate mark of love on the people God has given us. Has this always made life easy? No, but it has made it full of meaning and off the charts -- amazing.

Beginning February 21 we are taking our church on a journey called One Month to Live as we head toward Easter. (click here) We'll discover how Jesus lived the last 30 days of His Life. The strategy he laid out with His last 30 days can guide us into the kind of passionate living we deeply desire. Don't miss it! Invite your friends who are seeking answers about life and eternity.

Purchase One Month to Live (hardcover book) and/or Participant's Guide online or at the CCM Bookstore and sign up for a Life Group. For more info visit the One Month to Live website.

Living with passion for people and eternity with God,

P.S. This Sunday: "What Would Jesus say to Tiger Woods?"

Freedom!

2010-02-03T16:59:00.009-05:00

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Freedom!

From Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor...to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

You have been commissioned by God to be the bearer of this Good News! This week you have not only brought help to Haiti but to Calhoun County. A woman with 3 children came forward to tell her story of domestic violence and received direction for safety. This is part of the mission of Crossroads Church. This woman has lived through abuse for years while attending another church. Upon coming to Crossroads, she discovered a faith community that would support the safety and freedom of her family. This is a family that Jesus died for... a family Jesus wants the church to provide Good News to!

Studies show that 1 out of every 3 people have been directly affected by issues of domestic violence and sexual assault. A new survey in Calhoun County is showing results that there are about 18% of people who would not seek counsel from their faith leader, and 22% who are unsure, mostly because they either have someone else they can talk to, feel discomfort talking to their faith leader about these issues, or think their faith leader would not understand. On a positive note, 33% indicated they would feel comfortable talking with their faith leader! (To participate in the survey click here.) We are grateful to be creating a community of support at Crossroads.

Crossroads is hosting The 2010 Interpersonal Violence Summit for Calhoun County on Wednesday 2/24. This is a great educational opportunity for professionals that work with interpersonal violence issues and those interested in learning more about issues that impact the lives of those who have experienced violence. If you are interested in attending click here or to volunteer contact Gail.

Sexual Assault Services and Safe Place serve our community in heroic ways in their times of deep distress (to get help click here). They are there to support in the legal and therapeutic aspects of sexual assault and domestic violence. Our church is a place for people to find the love of God and heal spiritually. Crossroads is living the mission to bind up the broken and proclaim freedom to the captive! To attend services and classes to grow in faith click here.

God placed Crossroads in this region to be His hands and feet to those who are broken... who sit next to us in church and live next door... all the way to Haiti (click here for Haiti updates). Who is next to you that needs to hear the good news today?

His spirit is upon us and you!

But now... through...

2010-01-28T16:52:00.001-05:00

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But now... through...

"But now, this is what the LORD says he who created you: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and...when you pass through the rivers,they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you.." From Isaiah 43:1-4

We love these words from God! The words God spoke through Isaiah are words we have been meditating and conversing with God about for years. God has spoken specifically to us through different words and phrases in this passage countless times. Same scripture, fresh understanding... every time we listen.

While spending time with this scripture over the last few days I (Clare) am hearing the phrase "But now", and I (Scott) am hearing the word "through". We are continuing to listen and savor what God is speaking through this passage and these "small" words particularly. What we have learned is that the smallest word from God can change things... even your life! We are deeply encouraged and challenged to do something with what God has spoken... we are even more importantly deeply invited to experience connection with God in the process.

If you remember, the word God gave us for the church in 2010 is year of connections. Connecting with God and people in ways that will bring eternity into the hearts of people that will lead them into eternity with God. One of the primary ways to connect with God is to listen for His word to us personally through His words in scripture.

How about you... do you have time in your schedule to listen? Time to hear the words of the One who loves you and can give faithful direction to your life? Time to have a conversation with the One who listens to you? Here is a way to connect with God and His words today. Take about 15 minutes to 20 minutes...

Silence: Begin in silence.Take a few moments to quiet yourself in God's presence turning your heart and mind toward Him. Use this moment to slow down... breathe in the truth that God wants to connect with you and breathe out the busyness and complexity of your life. (1 or 2 minutes)
Read: Read a short passage of scripture aloud, slowly twice. Listen for a word that warms you, alarms you or invites you to pay attention to it. Stay with that word. Gently repeating and hearing it in your heart and mind. (4 minutes)
Meditate: Sit in silence with your word. Allow the word to ruminate within you. Savor the word like a delicious piece of food in your mouth. Consider how this word connects with what's going on in your life today... what area of your life does this word touch...? (3 or 4 minutes)
Pray: Talk to God honestly about your feelings. Does this word bring gratitude? confession? excitement? tears? trepidation? Fall deeply into prayer. Let all of your emotions and anxieties be played out without holding back. Journaling or drawing may assist you in this moment. (3 or 4 minutes)
Contemplate: Now, rest silently in God's presence. Trust God that the words that have been shared between you are blessed. Trust the understanding, the working out of this conversation... and yourself into the hands of a faithful God who loves you. (2 minutes)
Live it out! Is there anything God might want you to do in response to what you have heard? Look for the ways the Word of God will become flesh to your world... through you. Journal or tell a friend what you have heard and plan to do.

Connecting with God and you through His Word,

P.S. Learn more about connecting through our series There's an App for That. This week the app... faithbook

Throwing one back (spinach) for Haiti

2010-01-21T13:55:00.003-05:00

Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund

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Last week in our series "There's an App for That: hisLight" we talked about having a "Popeye" moment. That's the moment when you look at some deeply disturbing issue and you say 'I've had all I can stands and I can stands no more!" Then, you pop open your can of spinach and throw one back to gain heroic power. (A much better way to get courage in a can). Bill Hybels teaches this principle in his book "Holy Discontent" and encourages us to all become "Popeye People."

Guess what Crossroads? Some of you are Popeye People! You already raised over 13,000 dollars last Sunday for Haiti! Since Sunday, we have been in continual contact with Pr. Carlo and the needs of his people. We have secured a plane and pilot, purchased the supplies to fill the plane and it leaves Sunday morning! The team that worked on these efforts... Popeye People! Families have designed t-shirts, a teenage girl set up 50-50 raffles that are bringing in amazing amounts in desperately needed funds... Popeye People! Some churches in other parts of the country have heard what we are doing and have sent generous funds... Popeye People! Family Bible in Marshall sent an over the top bounteous check... Kindhearted online donations (give online)... Dr's and a pharmacy contributing medical supplies... Uhaul and ground troops donated time and truck packing. All totaled our efforts since Sunday: well over $20,000!!

POPEYE PEOPLE!

The needs are overwhelming... the generosity is rising to meet the need. We have people who have promised that their funds are coming. We have people who are praying and working to bring relief. Truly Popeye People!

To keep up to date on Haiti Relief through Crossroads go to our website. We are doing our best to post comments from Pr. Carlo and give updates on needs and ways you are relieving the precious people of Haiti. Pastor Carlo says he knows he has a family in the United States who love him and the precious children and families he serves!

Throwing one back (spinach) In Jesus Name!

Word for the Week: Haiti Update

2010-01-16T15:45:00.004-05:00

Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund

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Haiti Update

Pastor Carlo is safe! Praise God!

As you know, the earthquake in Haiti has had a catastrophic impact. Yet, in the midst of the most desperate circumstances God shows his most amazing activity. Three days after the earthquake, we heard the miraculous news that our precious friend and ministry partner Pr. Carlo Thomas is safe. He has been a part of the search and rescue mission... no surprises there! Some of the churches have been damaged. He lost a wall at his house. He will need a lot of help in rebuilding and helping the victims in his areas. Like the Apostle Paul, Carlo continues to live a life of deliverance through many dangers toils and snares.

Many of you want to know what you can do to help the Haitian people. At the same time you want to make sure that your assistance doesn't fall in to a black hole of good intention. From before the time Crossroads began, we have partnered with Pr. Carlo and New World Mission, serving the schools and churches in Haiti. At no time has that partnership been more critical. Our connections with Haiti are already proven and ready to address this devastation. Our partners on the ground in Haiti are already doing the heroic work on their end, now we are called to do our part. The most important resource we can give now is money. With it we will purchase desperately needed items (antiseptics, bandages, water, blankets etc...) to be flown to Haiti through our faithful carrier, Agape Flights. Donations can be given online at ccmonline.org, in Sunday's offering or mailed to Crossroads. All donations should be designated to Haiti Relief. You can rest assured that 100% of your donation will go directly to meet the Haitian people in their time of need.

In our devotion time this morning, we read of the friends that lowered their friend through the roof so Jesus could do what only Jesus can do!! (Mark 2:1-12) Now it's our turn. Instead of lowering our friends through the roof, it's time to pull our friends from the rubble. The pictures you see are some of the pastors and children... our friends in Haiti. Please pray for them all to be found and rescued! Please give with a generous heart.. our friends need to be pulled out of the rubble.

With thanks, hope, and continued prayer,

There's an App for That

2010-01-07T11:17:00.006-05:00

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There's an
App for That

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will,
He hears us. - 1 John 5:14

How do we pray prayers we can be confident in? How can we know God is hearing us? There's an App for that.

Its the KISS principle... Keep It Simple Sweetie. The Bible tells us to have the faith of a child. Children keep it simple. Have you ever watched a child who is confident that they are loved by their parent or grandparent? Our grandson has an amazing habit of asking for ANYTHING confidently. It's our job to determine whether or not it's good for him. It's his job to ask... and trust us, he asks confidently!

Many times people don't pray or pray cowardly, uncertain prayers because they think the answer is up to them. Don't live like that. We have asked God for CRAZY amazing things. Sometimes He says, "No" and sometimes He says, "YES!" It's up to Him to know the best answer, it's up to us to ask a loving God confidently.

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. - Matthew 19:14

Don't miss the opportunity to pray confident prayers this weekend as we teach about the App for That. This is a year of connections with God. Come learn how to get the Apps and use them. Check out last week's App for that with your theme song for the year.

Confidently Asking in 2010,

Our prayer for you in this New Year. . .

2009-12-31T12:26:00.027-05:00

Dear Friends,

Our prayer for you in this New Year...
To live in the unforced rhythms of grace
to know God in prayer as the One
who knows and loves you deeply
to experience the One
who can set the course for a year
filled with Divine purpose
to enjoy God and the people
God has given to love you
to show compassion on those
God has given you to care for...

In returning no one evil for evil
in forgiving as you have been forgiven
in sharing what is freely given
in giving away what you cannot keep...

Holding all things loosely
believing all things boldly
kneeling at all times reverently
enduring all circumstances bravely
standing in faith on all days
courageously...

and when you fail... rise again!

You will receive healing grace, divine ideas, innovative strategies, wisdom for decisions, promotion and position into God's will and ways ... the keys to His Kingdom (Matt 16:19) in this New Year.

In Jesus precious and holy name. Amen

With Deep Love and Anticipation,

Join us this January for:

There's an App for that...

...if you are in a ditch and need help to get out, there' an app for that...
if you are happy and want to thank somebody, there's an app for that... if you wonder what to do and don't know which way to turn, there's an app for that, too. In fact, there's an app for everything but only on the iamPhone. Join us over the next six weeks and learn what apps are available to connect with God and how to use them.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T13:20:00.006-05:00

Merry Christmas
and a
Happy and Holy New Year!

Dear Tami,

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift". (2nd Corinthians 9:15) May God's unspeakable gift of Jesus Himself fill your homes at Christmas and in the New Year. We thank God for your friendship and partnership in the Good News of the Gospel.

O Come let us Adore Him,

Scott & Clare

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You are in the Story

2009-12-17T10:36:00.002-05:00

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You are
in the
Story

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you... The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So the holy one that is born will be called the Son of God." ..."I serve the Lord," Mary answered. "May it happen to me just as you said it would." Then the angel left her.

(Luke 1:31 NIRV)

Our morning prayer in this season has a whole different flavor for us... and we don't mean eggnog (although Scott LOVES Detroit's own Calder's Eggnog)! Every Scripture is inviting us into the story of God becoming man.We are captivated, challenged and envisioned!

We have been studying the story of Christmas for about 3 decades now (yes, we're officially old pastors) and we can't get over it! In the past 3 weeks we've been hanging over scriptures about prophets that foretold the event hundreds of years before Christ, we've been humbled in the "His-story" of God using places like Bethlehem and people like shepherds (click here to view those messages)... but this week we are BLOWN AWAY by the majesty of the angels in the story!

What's got us flying is not just the story itself but the fact that we are being invited to be in the story. That's right, God never intended for us to read the spectacular work He accomplished, as an outsider. He wants us and you in the story. The words and acts of God have been recorded to bring the miraculous into our lives not just our ears.These stories are not for our information they are for our formation... our transformation.

So this week we'll be teaching about angels visiting people. Real people like Mary, you, and us. We'll be uncorking stories from scripture and stories of people you may know! When we understand that God wants us in the story, we'll start to experience the life we were meant to live. So, if you're reading this and something is stirring in you... IT'S NOT TOO LATE! Let the miracle of Christmas visit you this year.Join us LIVE... invite your family and friends (click here to send an evite). You don't want to miss this! If you absolutely can't be with us, watch the messages online and let the Christmas Story come alive in you! Maybe we'll even have the courage to say "May it happen to me just as you said it would."

Thanking God we are in the Story,

Joy Happens!

2009-12-10T13:43:00.002-05:00

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Joy Happens!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room...

Luke 2:8-18 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night... And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people... The shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."...And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

How does "joy happen"?

This week in Advent we celebrate the Shepherds Candle on our Advent Wreath. The theme of the Shepherds Candle's is joy! Joy to the world, people! Think about it... these shepherds were minding their own business just doing what they did for a living and all of a sudden they look up and joy happened! Next, they followed the leading and the message they were given and joy shows up again. Then, they gave the message of the joy they encountered and the joy spread and people were in wonder!!!

The shepherds were first to receive the joy message and the world has never been the same.

So how does "joy happen"? Want to start a joy movement?
· Do what God made you to do and "joy happens": What has God made you to do? Are you doing it? God shows up in our lives even when we think we are only doing the ordinary or what comes naturally. In those ordinary, natural places... prepare room for God!
· Go where God shows you to go and joy increases: Where has God prompted you to go? Have you gone yet? Have you prepared room in your schedule for entering the place of joy?
· Share the joy with other people and watch how joy spreads: Have you prepared room in your schedule to tell someone about Jesus?

Joy happens when we prepare room for Him to a) move in our lives, b) move our lives and c) move others with our life message!

Check your calendar... have you prepared room? Let "joy happen" in you today!

Joy!

scott & clare loughrige

Ways to grow...

·Sunday You're Invited

· Purchase the series
Just Be It in the Word of Life Bookstore

· New Mid-Week Experience Classes begin January 13th

How small are you?

2009-12-03T12:02:00.007-05:00

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Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in the nation of Judah. But the Lord will choose one of your people to rule the nation... Micah 5:2 NLT

Why did God choose one of the smallest towns in the nation of Judah for the birth of a Savior? Could it be to make the small significant?

How small does your life feel? Do you know why God has chosen you? Your place in God's grand scheme has meaning. We become powerful when we accept our place in this world as small but significant. We begin to diminish our fears, insecurities and disappointments when we feel the difference we make in this world.

Yesterday, we saw so many small things happening... copies being made, office supplies being ordered, coordinating of room usage... all kinds of small, seemingly meaningless and insignificant things.

Then it all happened...in a matter of a few hours: someone called the church and Julie Sunderman, working reception, was shedding tears on the phone, leading someone to faith in Christ; Brian Robbins was playing basketball with a group of young people; we heard the sound of kids in Awana being taught by a band of faithful, God-filled teachers; joyful kids thrilled about being in church, totally pumped about their Bible memory verse; we saw Scott Whitesell and Stacey Livingston videotaping people who were willing to tell their story of how God has used Crossroads' Midweek classes to change their lives. It was like Hebrews 11, where time would get away from us if we named every teacher of both children and adults... not to mention the amazing adults who are themselves students of God's Word and God's ways, hungry to learn about their Savior and their place in His plan.

Yesterday seemed small. It was... but it was significant. It was full of small things that mattered to God.

The small things, the small places, the small people matter.... our lives matter. Bethlehem became a place from which The Ruler came... can God get into your small stuff and change the world?

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love."--Mother Teresa
"He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much...." (Luke 16:10)

Living Small,

scott & clare loughrige

Ways to grow...

· Sunday You're Invited

·Personality Power Seminar

· Purchase the series Just Be It in the Word of Life Bookstore

Whining or Dining this Thanksgiving?

2009-11-19T14:33:00.004-05:00

Whining or Dining this Thanksgiving?

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:16-18.

Trying to decide whether you'll be whining or dining this Thanksgiving? Paul wrote the above scripture before he was jailed for his faith. Did his attitude change when he encountered "all circumstances" in life... like jail? The letters commonly known as Paul's Prison Epistles; (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon) were all written while the author was in chains, in unspeakable conditions for his faith. Let"s hear from him...

"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."(Eph 5:19-20) Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." (Col 1:11-13) "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:6-7) "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Col 3:15) "I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers," (Philem 4) "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Col 3:16-17) "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." (Eph 1:16-17)

And these are just a few of his "give thanks" directions from prison. However this doesn't mean Paul was in denial about his needs. He wrote: "I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you." (Col 4:18) and "May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains." (2 Tim 1:16-17) Paul is telling us that thanks and trouble dine at the table together. Chains and cheers can eat together, love together, refresh each other. Paul is teaching us to be thankful, to ask for help and to remember those who need us. Who needs you to be Onesiphorus and remember them and refresh them this Thanksgiving? Who needs you to remember their chains?

Giving Thanks and Remembering,

Join us this week for Thanks but no Thanks: Whining or Dining this Thanksgiving?

In Conclusion

2009-11-12T13:55:00.004-05:00

Forward to a Friend | Crossroads Calendar | Mid Week Experience
Personality Profile | Online Registrations | Online Giving

In Conclusion

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom." Not only that-count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens-give a cheer, even!-for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. "Matthew 5:10-12 Message

Well there you have it - the final blessing in our series on the Beatitudes. Jesus ends the whole list letting us know that as we take on the life of the beatitudes the final result is ... some people will hate you and heaven will applaud you! You will begin to care more about people's souls than people's opinions. You will begin to live like you are committed to the one who is committed to you ...and you know what they did to Jesus. You are in good company. The purpose of all children of God, whether prophets or witnesses, is to point to the promise of eternal life with God; to show the way of salvation. People's eternal destination will change because of it. Some people will thank you for saving their lives, others will put you down, throw you out and speak lies about you. No worries... remember you are living for an audience of One! The stakes are high.

We believe God has given us the ministry of teaching people who are dying how to live life fully... and by the way, we are all dying. We don't know the day or the hour for anyone but we do know the end result. So live a sermon of God's love today. Share the truth of Jesus Christ through your deeds and your words. Find someone who needs the hope within you. Live the blessings of the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart and the peacemakers. And if you are persecuted because of it, you're in good company. Don't count on having tomorrow to live the beatitudes... the blessings. You don't know who has tomorrow. Today is the day. Love God ~ love people, share the way of salvation. Leave the results up to God.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...

Rom 1:16

Ways to grow...
· Memorize the Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

· Sunday You're Invited

· Wednesday Join the Case for Christ 5 week class

· Purchase the series in the Word of Life
Bookstore

Blessed are the Peacemakers

2009-11-05T13:11:00.003-05:00

Get Connected

New
Crossroads Calendar

Midweek Experience

From Nursery through Adult, CCM has something for everyone in your family on Wednesday nights.
A new series of classes begins November 18th.

Personality Power

5 Week Course Wednesdays
Nov 18- Dec 16
6:30-8:00

1 Day Workshop
December 5th
9:45am- 4:30 pm

Spend time identifying the God- given power of your personality, learn to diffuse the sources that drain your power and most importantly... discover God's plan in all of it!

Online Registrations

View Messages

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

Sometimes peace making seems impossible. Nations, ethnicities, families, and friends are at odds with each other... so many people are at war with themselves in their own souls. So, how do we make peace with ourselves and others in the battle zone of life? Do we deal with conflict through "an eye for an eye," settle accounts, take medication to bring peace? We may be peace lovers or peace keepers but we must learn to be peace makers... and peace makers - make war.

The Apostle Paul gives us a clue in 2 Cor 10:3-5. "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Paul is saying that the way to win a war is in our thoughts. Making thoughts obedient to Christ, declaring war on darkness through light... destroying evil with God's goodness. Don't resist war like a "peace lover" or a "peace keeper" who merely doesn't "rock the boat". They believe through passivity they win a war. That wasn't Jesus' style at all. So what does peace making look like?

The way Jesus dealt with conflict was to take it on... even take it in to himself. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him. Scripture teaches us to bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. The way we can bring peace is to make it; make it through being an instrument of peace. If someone is harassing you, take in their pain, put yourself in their shoes, pray for them, bear it for them and give them peace in return. Be an instrument for God's peace. Breathe in someone's pain - breathe out relief to them. Absorb someone's anger - offer consolation. Listen to someone's rantings - extend an olive branch. Hold reverently someone's despair and impart the hope of Christ. As you bring peace to others (like Jesus did), you'll experience His peace in your own soul. You are His instrument!

We pray this prayer with you,

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:26-27

Create in Me a Pure Heart

2009-10-29T13:53:00.003-04:00

Get Connected

Midweek Experience

From Nursery through Adult, CCM has something for everyone in your family on Wednesday nights.
A new series of classes begins November 18th.

Personality Power

Rescheduled!

1 Day Workshop
December 5th
9:45am- 4:30 pm

5 Week Course Wednesdays
Nov 18- Dec 16
6:30-8:00

Spend time identifying the God- given power of your personality, learn to diffuse the sources that drain your power and most importantly... discover God's plan in all of it!

Online Registrations

View Messages

Create in Me a Pure Heart

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God"

Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world" --CS Lewis

How are you hearing God these days? How is your heart toward God?

A few short weeks ago our beloved nephew, Isaac, heard God calling him through a song his Uncle Scott was singing in church: "Create in me a clean heart". Isaac asked his mom to print the scripture the song was based on for him to place on the dashboard of his car. When just a few weeks later Isaac passed from earth to heaven, that scripture was still on his dashboard... now it is speaking to all of us about Isaac's heart. It is a pure heart. A heart that said, "God help me, forgive me, cleanse me."

Because of Isaac's dashboard scripture, hundreds prayed at his funeral, and many more who can't be numbered are praying, "God create in us a pure heart, a clean heart." An imperfect young man now teaches us all about our imperfections. Now a young man who was in need... is revealing our deep need. He is speaking to each of us from heaven saying, "Ask for God's help, his cleansing, his forgiveness... you need it!"

We share a picture of our precious nephew whose heart remains in our heart. His family is working on establishing a foundation in his name. Isaac's life was dedicated to helping others and includes many stories that reflect his beautiful heart. Whether he was suiting up a disadvantaged Battle Creek Football player in Under Armor, setting up a hotline for the girls to be escorted to their dorms at CMU after the rape of female student, taking the shoes off his feet for a homeless man, intercity mission work, or purchasing birthday gifts for under privileged kids, Isaac continually showed his heart to his beloved family and anyone who needed him. They will honor his life by continuing his vision through a foundation (more details to come later).

How about you? Are you hearing God today? How's your heart?

Praying this prayer with you,

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 51:10-12(NIV)

Under the Influence

2009-10-15T11:37:00.004-04:00

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Midweek Experience

From Nursery through Adult, CCM has something for everyone in your family on Wednesday nights.

Personality Power

Rescheduled!

1 Day Workshop
December 5th 9:45am- 4:30 pm

6 Week Course Wednesdays November 11- December 16 6:30-8:00

Spend time identifying the God- given power of your personality, learn to diffuse the sources that drain your power and most importantly... discover God's plan in all of it!

Improve Your
Artistic Craft Day
October 24th
9 am - 12:30 pm

Stacey Livingston has prepared this hands on workshop for musicians, lighting and sound designers, projection technicians, service coordinators, singers, artists, actors and dancers to discover and to improve their natural giftings.

Online Registrations

View Messages

Under

the

Influence

If you speak words that are worthy, you will be my spokesman. You are to influence them... from Jeremiah 15:19-20 NLT

Are you under the influence? What influence is it?

Who is influencing you? Are the words they speak and the deeds they do bringing the best out of you? Think about what words or actions have influenced you for the good of your life... What words or actions have you given to influence others for their good?

In the famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that "you are the light of the world and the salt of the earth." He was influencing us to become light-filled, tasty, life preserving influencers!

Light entering a room influences the darkness so much it dispels it. Salt added to a steak preserves the goodness of that steak and brings out the best flavor. This commission to influence darkness and bring the best out in people is a high call!

How can we stay under God's influence and influence others for their best life?

Be aware of God's presence...
Be aware of the presence of the one who needs your influence...
Be aware of God's presence...

Yes, we said be aware of God's presence twice. It's amazing how beginning and ending with that awareness will influence you and subsequently influence others.

Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means. --Albert Einstein

Let him that would move the world, first move himself. --Socrates

Join us this weekend with international influencer, Dr. David Loveless (davidloveless.org), as we continue our series Just Be It!

Under the Influence,

Words from God about your diet...

2009-10-09T09:34:00.001-04:00

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Midweek Experience
From Nursery through Adult, CCM has something for everyone in your family on Wednesday nights.

Personality Power: Journey to the Center of Your Worth.

November 14th 9:30-5:00

Spend the day identifying the God- given power of your personality, learn to diffuse the sources that drain your power and most importantly.. discover God's plan in all of it!

Improve Your
Artistic Craft Day
October 24th
9 am - 12:30 pm.

Words from God about your diet...

"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat." Matthew 5:6 (Msg)

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for and of Him, and crave Him with the whole heart. Psalm 119:2

Do you have to be talked into hunger or is it just a natural response to need? Where is your hunger and thirst taking you these days? Where are you going to eat to fill your soul?

The following words found in a church bulletin describe hunger or the lack thereof: "To encourage everyone to attend worship services this year, every Sunday will be "No Excuse Sunday" and the following will be provided: Cots for those who say, "Sunday is my only day to sleep." Visine for those with tired eyes from watching TV (or other things) too late on Saturday night. Steel helmets for those who say, "The roof would cave in if I ever came to church." Blankets for those who think the church is too cold. Fans for those who say it is too hot. Rubber rooms for your children if they don't want to go to Sunday School. Cotton balls for those who say, "The music is too loud." Score cards will be available for those who wish to list all the hypocrites present. There will be meals provided for those who can't go to church and cook dinner also.....

You get it... how are your hunger and thirst for God? What does your soul crave these days? Are the places you're going nourishing? Are the things you're craving satisfying you or destroying the health of your soul? Are you filled? How's your diet? Do you need Jenny Craig to coach you?

More words from God about your diet...

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 (TNIV)

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:1-2)

"How lovely is your dwelling place,O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints,for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. Psalm 84:1-2,10 (NIV)

Hungering and thirsting for God...

Ways to be filled:

Begin your week with God-hunger this week. Join us Sunday for just be it: Blessed are Those Who Hunger

Got Power? Get meek!

2009-10-02T12:47:00.001-04:00

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matt 5:5 (NIV)

So the meek shall inherit the earth? Jesus keeps making these almost incomprehensible statements. Let's break it down a little bit...

Meek does not mean a weak, pushover, do-nothing doormat life. Jesus said He was meek and clearly He is the greatest revolutionary of all time! The movement He began over 2,000 years ago is still spanning the globe and changing the lives of innumerable people... So, how is that meek?

The word meek means "strength under control". Jesus lived this life and continues to be the role model for meekness. The power that Jesus has is immeasurable and He only uses it for good. In a world that rejects, mocks and even hates Him, He loves, heals and keeps offering new life to anyone who opens their heart to Him.

The famous philosopher and atheist Friedrich Nietzsche said this: "Assert yourself. Care for nothing except for yourself. The only vice is weakness, and the only virtue is strength. Be strong, be a superman. The world is yours if you can get it."

This is the kind of power that is self-serving, self-aggrandizing and weakens others. We all have power. Do you know what yours is? How do you use your power? Is your strength under control? Do you use it for love, healing and empowering your life and the life of others?

Get your strength/power under the control of God and see the promise of God follow.

"The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto." A.W. Tozer

Ways to grow in meekness:
Listen to the just be it series online at www.ccmonline.org
Join us this Sunday

just be it: attitudes that influence... the meek shall inherit the earth

Attend Personality Power: Journey to the Center of Your Worth. November 14th 9:30-5:00 Spend the day identifying the God-given power of your personality, learn to diffuse the sources that drain your power and most importantly... discover God's plan in all of it!

Get Connected
Core Classes
Midweek Experience
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View Messages

From Nursery through Adult, CCM has something for everyone in your family on Wednesday nights.

Blessed Mourning?

2009-09-25T09:27:00.002-04:00

Blessed Mourners?

Have you ever lost something really important to you... a person... a dream... your integrity... sight... motivation... hope... years... how about your faith? Have you taken the time to grieve that loss?

Jesus has this to say about that "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." Blessed mourning? Isn't that an oxymoron? A paradox? A bunch of bull-ogne?? The word blessed here means "possessing an inward contentedness and joy that is not affected by physical circumstances." When mourning a loss takes place in the awareness of God's presence, that blessing will come because honesty is there. When we stop trying to sugarcoat it, wax it over or give it a shiny veneer and give God the cold, hard, painful truth-- comfort will come-- again and again!

Take the time to tell God how you feel about the circumstance, yourself, others and Him! Tell Him how you are handling the truth you are facing, the fears associated with that truth. Take the time to pour out your heart like water and tell Him what has happened in the past, present and future because of your loss ... and then let Him comfort you like nobody else can.

We have lost many things in this life, including the most important commodity- people. The comfort of God has come each and every time. We have been brutally honest with God and He has been brutally honest with us. The blessing of mourning has awakened us to the presence and comfort of the God who blesses us and calls us blessed.

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness. Psalm 30:11

Blessed Mourners,

Where and how to begin the process of mourning and being comforted...
Get alone or get with a trusted spiritual friend or counselor
Bring your Bible, journal, pen and kleenex (for liquid communication :)
Tell the truth and awaken to God's presence
Scriptures for meditation before during and after prayer...

Psalm 94:17-19, 22 Psalm 25:15-17 Psalm 23:4 Psalm 31:7 Psalm 30:11 Psalm 31:24 Psalm 34:18 Psalm 119:50 Matthew 5:4

A book that has truly helped us: A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement), Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Don't miss this week! Just Be It continues...

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Core Classes

Midweek Experience

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View Messages

From Nursery through Adult, CCM has something for everyone in your family on Wednesday nights beginning September 30th.

At the end of your rope? Always!

2009-09-17T13:09:00.006-04:00

You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

Matthew 5:3 MSG

"When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on." Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt were all credited with this quotation. All 3 men were historical rope-hangers who didn't give up during important times. Then there were times that didn't seem historical or important. How did they hang on then?

The message Jesus gave with "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule" should get our attention. There is something that trumps human tenacity... and that, my friends, is humility. When we are at the end of our human capacity to hang on and will allow our desperate need for God to come alive... we experience God's blessing-- His presence.

True humility recognizes that we are at the limit of our human capabilities every moment of every day. There is always more we need even if we are endurance professionals, tenacious award winners, unshakable, unyielding, insistent, stubborn heroes. We will always come to the end of our human strength and need God to do what only He can do. So why wait until your hands are rope burned and bloody? Be blessed-- humble yourself. Humbling ourselves lessens our self-centeredness and makes room for God's power. Humble yourself-- in the presence of God and be welcomed into His house-- His kingdom, and experience true blessing!

We pray this prayer...

God teach me to see myself as always at the end of my rope. I always need more than I am able to produce, achieve, become, fix, understand, heal... I always need You. I humble myself before You right now........................................(listen). Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed am I. Amen.

Humbling ourselves,

Scott and Clare

Don't miss the upcoming series"Just Be It". An experience and study in the Beatitudes.

Get Connected
Core Classes

Midweek Experience

Online Registrations

View Messages

From Nursery through Adult, CCM has something for everyone in your family on Wednesday nights beginning September 30th.

Do or Done?

2009-09-11T09:18:00.003-04:00

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace,where in he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

So, we've been talking... all world religions are all spelled the same way "d-o" -- do ...but Christianity is spelled "d-o-n-e" -- done. Religion teaches that your effort makes you good and your goodness gets you acceptance. Relationship with Christ made you accepted in the beloved... it's already done! Do you remember the words from Heaven when Jesus was baptized? "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Then Paul tells us in the book of Ephesians that we have been accepted in Christ-the Beloved One.

Before you "do" a single thing today, you are accepted and loved. Our pop-culture has made it abundantly clear that you matter as a human-doing rather than a human-being. That mindset is why we can euthanize the old, abort the young, marginalize certain cultural groups, and disregard the poor... those that can't "do" anything for us (a topic for another eletter). Many of us have only had the experience of being accepted when we are able to "do" what's expected, impressive, or good enough, and yet the love of God has nothing to do with what you do!

This is so important. Our pastor (David Loveless) has coached us in the E3 process of living in a thriving life with Christ ... Evaluate, Embrace, and Engage... and we have been sharing that with you (click here to watch messages). Woven throughout these teachings is the profound mystery of being accepted in the beloved. This week we are going to teach you ways to Engage in your next steps to live in a growing, thriving, deeply satisfying relationship with God. Before we can even think about bringing our human effort to the journey, we have to get this: "you are already accepted and loved." Then, any effort you bring is brought out of love and desire for God and not duty or vain "doings".

Done,

Scott & Clare

*Things to do to grow and support what's already been done*

Nursery & Pre K

AWANA (K-4th)

Students (5th & 6th, 7th & 8th, 9th -12th)

Rick Warren's
Core Classes

James Bible Study

John Bible Study

Dave Ramsey's
Financial Peace University

Spiritual Direction Group

Women's Life Group

Happy, Fortunate, Envied!

2009-09-08T11:41:00.001-04:00

Psalm 119:2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for and of Him and CRAVE Him with the whole heart.

Blessed, happy, fortunate... to be envied? Are you blessed like that? How do you land a blessing like that? It's the crave factor! How is your appetite for God? Is He the leftovers you know you shouldn't waste... so you eat it? Or the meal you can't wait to experience every last bite and wish you could eat like that all the time? What are your cravings like?

Ever notice pregnant women's cravings? They have to have what they're craving and somebody better help them get it! Do you think craving's have anything to do with a blessed new life coming? It might! One thing we know from this scripture, the blessed life has to do with your seeking, inquiring and craving... so let us help you.

This Sunday: Baptism and Picnic! This Fall: Midweek Experience!
...ways to get you craving ...and ultimately blessed with new life.

Scott & Clare

All-Church Picnic &
Baptism Service

Don't miss this incredible celebration at Kenyon Lake. Register at the Information Booth or online. Bring meat to grill, a dish to pass, beverages, your own table service and lawn chairs.

Midweek Experience
Begins September 30

Every Wednesday CCM has experiences for the entire family. From Nursery, AWANA (K-4), Route 56, Route 78, Cross+Culture (High School) through multiple adult classes, we're loaded with many opportunities for you to grow. Click for more details.

September 6 & 13

Drop by CCM on Sunday mornings for a compelling 2 week study on E3 - Evaluate, Embrace, Engage.
Click here to view this week's message.

Live like you were dying.

2009-08-26T15:06:00.002-04:00

"If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."

~ Mickey Mantle ~

Mickey Mantle
Career Batting Average .298
Home Runs 536
Runs Batted In 1509

Mickey Mantle... one of the greatest, most talented baseball players in history. Mantle confessed his alcoholism and hard living had hurt both his playing and his family. Can you imagine how he would have played had he taken better care of himself and his talent! January 7, 1994, Mickey was told by a doctor that his liver was so badly damaged that "your next drink could be your last." He checked into the Betty Ford Clinic and was sober until his death. Mantle told his story in a 1994 Sports Illustrated article.He said that "he was telling the same old stories, and realizing how much of them involved himself and others being drunk, and he decided they weren't funny anymore." He repented for the cruel way he treated himself, family, friends and fans. He gave his life to Jesus Christ and began the journey of making things right...where he could.

What if you knew which day you would take your last breath? Would you be living like you're living now?

How would you be taking care of your time? Would you be doing with it what you're doing?

How about your talents? Are there talents you've buried or not fully developed? Are you investing those talents in ways you're proud of... ways that bring hope, help or encouragement?

What about your treasures? Have you used them consistently to the betterment of your community or even to help save someone's life? Do your money and treasures serve you or own you?

Be courageous... be honest... do a little evaluation... and then challenge yourself to live like you were dying.

Dear friend, take care of your time, talents and treasure... you may live a long time but even if you don't, your living will be better... will be blessed !

Matthew 25:13

"Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour."

Spiritual Practices to help:

Evaluate...

Read the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) out loud, slowly, allowing the words of scripture to minister to your soul. Listen for the word or phrase that seems to stand out to you. Stay with the word(s) that have captured your heart.

In silence listen for God's words of compassion, conviction and courage. Listen for the invitation to plan your next steps to take better care of yourself. Let God speak and help you evaluate the life you are living.

Follow through on what you hear. Write down what you heard, saw or felt.Watch for the ways God will open doors for better stewardship of your life.

Offerings: Next week we will be releasing the fall schedule of our Core Classes. Bible Study, Spiritual Formation, Leadership Development and classes for children and teens begin September 30th!

Here comes the Judge...is it you?

2009-08-19T11:38:00.005-04:00

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
~Mother Teresa

Hello Friend

Mother Teresa was so smart. It's so easy to judge isn't it? We have our preferences... our biases. Sometimes we want to point out the differences or failings of another to get the pressure off looking inward. But then some of us, when we look inward, we begin to judge ourselves in ways that aren't fair or loving.

Jesus says it like this: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matt 22:37-40.

Every law and word of Scripture hangs on these two things! So if we all took the time to emphasize loving God, our neighbor and ourselves... we might stumble upon mercy, grace and kindness! It's so true that the loving-kindness of the Lord will lead people to grow and transform (Romans 2:4) and that judgment brings fear and paralyzation to change (1 John 4:18). So start a conspiracy of love, watch mercy triumph over judgment and people (including you) be able to become all God created them to be! Let's learn from this courageous woman who loved God and loved people...

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start. Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. ~Mother Teresa

Scott & Clare

Overflowing with a Good Theme

2009-08-14T09:27:00.002-04:00

My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Ps 45:1(NKJV)

Hello Friends!

We are so excited to return this weekend! We begin with the wedding of one of our young couples... and then on to Sunday Morning. We can't wait to see you!

Our sabbatical/vacation has been filled with moments of solitude, silence, education, celebration, work, rest, awareness, sadness, prayer, forgiveness and gratitude. Our hearts are over flowing with a good theme... Since we can't sit with each one of you and tell the stories of this journey and it's profound meaning in our lives, we will try to share these things in eletters and messages in the coming weeks. Above all, we pray that the work God has done in our hearts will be given back to Him for the sake of others.

As we have watched each Sunday on the web, we are so grateful for the many people who have stepped in to take our place (in addition to their own responsibilities) and have given their very best to God and the people of Crossroads. We have a Creative Team, Leadership Team, Administrative Team and Congregation that are THE VERY BEST! We watched the videos... laughed, cried and thanked God for the goodness of our friends who have committed themselves to the most important endeavor on the earth... sharing the GOOD NEWS! You did it and did it with skill and most importantly- love for God and people.

Our hearts are full and we are ready to come back this weekend and give from that place.

Home,
Scott & Clare

P.S. One of the pastors on retreat with us took these pictures to chronicle the journey. Enjoy the beauty of Pr. Pieter Van Waard's photography.

I have prepared a place for you...

come close and see...

take the path I have put before you...

focus on my ways...

It may take a while to see it...

some things may even seem veiled...

But, stay with me...

see my light...

seek my truth...

be with me...

and I will reveal my glory...

I will make the way clear...

And do something beautiful in your soul!

It's on its way!

2009-06-26T11:38:00.002-04:00

Scripture for the week:

And then God answered: "Write this.
Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters
so that it can be read on the run.
This vision-message is a witness
pointing to what's coming.
It aches for the coming-it can hardly wait!
And it doesn't lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait.

It's on its way. It will come right on time.
Habakkuk 2:2 (The Message)

Dear Friend,
Sometimes we wait so long for our vision or promise to come, that we lose heart. Don't do it! It's on its way. The vision doesn't lie. Allow this scripture to remind you to write it down, write it in big block letters so that while you are running by it, doing other things God has created you to do, you always remember... IT'S COMING and will arrive right on time!

This week we will be teaching 100 pastors in Petite Riviere de Nippes, Haiti, at the Jericho Seminary. This is a fulfillment of a vision God gave us 27 years ago. It was sooooo slowwwww, but it is right on time! Please pray for us and our brother Shawn (our experienced Haitian missionary and body guard!) that we will give these hero pastors every good thing we have to give. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to be His hands, feet and voice. Pray that these 100 pastors will hear words that will encourage and equip them to change the country of Haiti with the power of the gospel! 100 pastors really could change this little country!

Someone asked if we will be blogging, facebooking or twittering the journey... (can you hear us laughing?) Sorry, there will be no electricity for most of the trip.

We are praying for you and the vision God has given you. Get a pen, write it down. Read it over and over. Ache for it, believe for it and watch it come to pass!

Right on Time,
Scott & Clare

CLICK HERE to invite a friend to "GOD IS ...." THIS WEEKEND as we continue with churches all over the world in the ONEPRAYER Series.

CLICK HERE for the ONEPRAYER prayer schedule

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

Upcoming Events

6/26 Safe Haven Marriage Life Group, 7 p.m.
6/28 - 7/2 Pray for our pastors while they are in Haiti
6/30 Red Cross Blood Drive
7/22 Life Group Leaders BBQ

God has a universe...you don't!

2009-06-18T10:49:00.005-04:00

Quote for the week:
"This is God's universe and He does things His way. You may have a better way, but you don't have a universe." J. Vernon McGee

Dear Friends,

This is a quote that has made us smile, given us courage and helped us through all of the vicissitudes of life. God is so immense and so close.... so much more than we ... but desires to live in us. His ways are higher than our ways... His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We are eternally grateful that the God of the Universe is our God, our Savior and very best friend!

Do you have any questions for God today? Have you ever tried to instruct God or give Him some counsel? Are your prayers sometimes more like "lists than listening"? Have you ever been tempted to shake your fist at heaven and shout "Why, God, Why?" Of course... us too!

We want to invite you to open up your heart to the God of the universe. Get alone, take 10 minutes (or more if you want to watch all four parts) and watch the video below. Let the concerns of life be swallowed up in the greatness of God. Allow your heart and faith to expand like the universe... and the God of the universe will guide you home. This God, who has a universe, loves you massively, and His plans for you... they're BRILLIANT!

Video link: How Great is Our God

Inspired to trust Him more,

CLICK HERE to invite a friend to "GOD IS ...." THIS WEEKEND as we continue with churches all over the world in the ONEPRAYER Series.
CLICK HERE for the ONEPRAYER prayer schedule

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

Upcoming Events

6/21 Father's Day
6/26 Safe Haven Marriage Life Group, 7 p.m.
6/28 - 7/2 Pray for our pastors while they are in Haiti
6/30 Red Cross Blood Drive
7/22 Life Group Leaders BBQ

Click here to forward this email to a friend

Redivivus

2009-06-12T12:07:00.002-04:00

Word for the Day: redivivus

Living again; brought back to life; revived; restored.

Dear Friend,

Do you want to live today? Live again? Be brought back to life? Choose to live on this day . . . there is no promise of tomorrow.

Scripture declares, "I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him. Oh yes, he is life itself . . . from Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (MSG).

Love God ~ Who or what do you love? Make loving God the root and watch real loving relationships develop as the fruit.
Listen obediently ~ Don't listen to the voice of pride, ego, fear or retaliation . . . obey God. He'll never fail you! Now that's living!
Embrace Him ~ You can't embrace two things at once . . . you hold one and let go of another. What are you holding on to (unforgiveness, greed, competition, sadness, revenge, deep disappointment) that keeps you from embracing the life of God? God wants you to live . . . Let It GO!!

Redivivus!

CLICK HERE to invite a friend to GOD IS ... MYSTERY THIS WEEKEND as we continue with churches all over the world in the ONEPRAYER Series.

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

Upcoming Events

6/21 Father's Day
6/26 7 p.m. Safe Haven Marriage Life Group

God IS . . .

2009-06-04T09:55:00.005-04:00

Scripture for the week:

"God is a consuming fire."

Hebrews 12:29 (NIV)

Dear Friend,

When you think of fire what comes to your mind? Campfires? Fireplaces? Romantic or family moments of warmth, relaxation or roasting marshmallows? Not me (Clare), I think of being 8 years old and the consuming fire I set that destroyed our home. Whether it was the flame itself or the smoke and water damage, the beauty of our 3500 sq. ft. home was consumed by the fire I started.

Believe it or not, in that little 8 year old mind, I think it was on purpose. You see, my dad was going to England on business for 3 months. He told us he would call us and we should not call him, unless the house burned down or somebody died! Now he said that facetiously, of course. However, an 8 year old girl was devastated that her daddy was leaving for 3 months (it felt like a lifetime!).

As a little Catholic girl, choosing between someone dying and starting a fire to get my daddy to come home was a no brainer. Murder was a mortal sin, so it was out of the question! Now I don't remember plotting to set the house on fire... but I remember 3 little girls making bonfires in the middle of the bedroom and stamping them out. Each time we let them get a little bigger before we stamped and... well one got out of control... Fire trucks came... the fire was out... the longing for daddy grew stronger.

Very, very long story short, my father came home from England, picked me up, spun me around, kissed my face and told me "things are replaceable and people are not, I am so grateful you are safe, I love you." I think I was testing his love with fire.

For me, fire is about passion. When I read "our God is a consuming fire", that makes sense to me. It's not about a campfire, a fireplace, romance or roasting marshmallows... it's about a passionate love that will cause you to risk anything to experience it. It moves you to say, "Things mean nothing to me... I want to be in the presence of this Love, hear the voice of the One I love, feel the embrace of the One my soul is consumed with."

How is the fire in your life? Do you know the passionate, consuming love of God? Have you ever said yes to a relationship with God that has you longing for more of Him? His presence? His Word? His touch? Did you have the fire once, but now you are but a flicker? There are risks you have to take to experience this kind of passionate love. If you're ready, let us guide you...

Forsake all things that keep your heart separated from God. Whether it be pride, love of things, or sin in your life... turn your back on anything that would mean more than the relationship God is longing to have with you.

Intuit the ways that bring you near to God. How are you made? When, in your gut, did you know were close to Him? Were you working for a cause? In nature? Serving others? Make sure you go to the places you recognize and feel the fire of God with you and in you.

Risk looking like a fool. There are times people will not understand your passionate love for God... love Him anyway! Be willing to be uncomfortable with others so you can be comfortable with the One whose passion took Him to a cross to die for your sins. Let yourself be on fire with love!

Experience God's love in prayer, Scripture reading and singing love songs to Him. Get swept up in the embrace of the One who says "I love you". Get consumed with the Eternal. Let your calendar/blackberry reflect ways you plan to experience God... daily alone time with Him, weekly worship time in His House, spiritual friendship with other believers, purposeful presence with those who need to know the love of God. Don't let the fire go out!!

His breath kindles coals... Job 41:21 (NKJV)

Praying for FIRE,

CLICK HERE to invite a friend to GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE THIS WEEKEND as we join with churches all over the world in the ONEPRAYER Series.

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

Upcoming Events

6/7 Experience SHAPE (301) 9:30 a.m. Enroll online
Experience Crossroads (101) 12:45 p.m. Enroll online
6/10 Clean, Repair and Care for God's House 7-8:30 p.m.

Time Brings Greed

2009-05-29T09:25:00.003-04:00

Dear Friend,

Thought for the week: Time brings greed

During a lunch with our parents this week, my (Clare's) dad told us a story of a post funeral inheritance fight. The piece of wisdom he left us with that day was "time brings greed". He explained that everyone feels loving and generous at first impulse but when people are given time to think about what they are going to get, they may decide they deserve more.

In the same way God commands us to give our "first" fruits. Why? Because if we wait... we may decide we deserve more and God gets seconds. Time brings greed. If we respond immediately to giving as God's Word instructs us, greed is defeated and the favor of God is released to us! God can only bless generosity- never can He bless greed.

Did you ever wonder why God was displeased with Cain's offering and described his future as a "cursed wanderer"? (Gen 4:11-12)

Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. (From Gen 4:3-5)

Time brings greed... we may bring some... but God is not first and he will not let His favor rest on some offering. Be determined to put God first in giving your time, talent and treasure and live in the favor of God.

Spiritual Practices this week:
1. Open your calendar and schedule your talents for His kingdom first, then your recreation and hobbies.
2. Write out your first check to God's work (tithe and offerings), then your bills.

Desiring to put God first,

"Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul."-- Henry David Thoreau

Join us this week for Recovery.God: The Real Stimulus Package. Click here for more information..
Click here to listen to last week's message.

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

Upcoming Events

5/31 Experience SHAPE (301) begins
6/7 Experience Crossroads (101)

What is God's Stimulus Package?

2009-05-20T14:07:00.002-04:00

Scripture for the week:
And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 (Amplified Bible)

Dear Friend,

What is God's stimulus package?

Our president is looking for ways to stimulate our economy. The website he is using to keep us all updated on that plan is "recovery.gov". Whether or not this plan works, there really are deeper issues that must be addressed. Self absorption, greed and lack of discipline have been the initiators of our country's calamity. So what is God's stimulus package... the Recovery.God plan?

Be attentive... to the needs of others by the leading of the Holy Spirit. What is God saying to you? How are you watching for the leading of God in your life? Are you studying His every move? Spend time in solitude, silence and Scripture. Practice listening deeply to the voice of the One who loves you, who has a plan for your life... and the lives of those He has connected to you. We can throw our energy and money at one hundred good things or we can pay attention to the investments that are directed by the Omniscient, yes, ALL KNOWING One... and see true recovery come.

Be the stimulus... yes that's right, stir people to experience God's goodness! When you're not just doing good works, but God-led acts, your love and noble activities can incite a miracle! God says the giver is the one who will have "all grace abound to you so that at all times you will have all that you need." He promises to supply "seed to the sower." (2 Cor 9:8-10) Those who are faithful to the bail out plan God leads them to participate in, will have their needs met "according to His riches." (Phil 4:19)

Be together... attend worship services, small groups, Bible studies... spend time with other people who are paying attention to God. Hear their leading and direction. Be inspired to keep following THE Commander in Chief, Jesus. The One who can be trusted with your life, health, retirement and eternity.

Be encouraging... Impart courage to people. Rid conversations of fear, worry, and doom! Choose words of faith and strengthen the hearts of people. Talk about ways God has stimulated you and brought recovery through His Eternal Bail Out Plan. Warn one another if you see danger. Urge one another to believe God and His Word... "If God is for you tell me who can be against you?" (Romans 8:31)

Now find a quiet spot... read Hebrews 10:24-25 again... slowly... savor the words... be silent... be attentive... let the Holy spirit speak to you... journal what He says to rest in... go and do what He tells you to do...

Grace, Peace and Provision,

"Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul."-- Henry David ThoreauJoin us this week for Recovery. God: . Click here for more information...

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

Upcoming Events
5/31 Experience SHAPE (301) begins
6/7 Experience Crossroads (101)
Click here to forward this email to a friend!

An Invitation to all Women!

2009-04-30T13:12:00.003-04:00

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

Click here to forward this email to a friend!

Overhaulin': What's Under Your Hood?

2009-04-21T11:33:00.003-04:00

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?

2009-04-15T14:22:00.003-04:00

Click here for more information about this Sunday

Click here to watch a message
Click here to forward this email to a friend.

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

2009-04-08T12:03:00.005-04:00

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

Click here to watch a message

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

2009-04-01T10:03:00.002-04:00

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

Do the Gratitude Dance

2009-03-25T11:59:00.002-04:00

Click here to invite a friend to Celebration Sunday.
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Scripture for the week:

You are precious to me, and so I will rebuild your nation. Once again you will dance for joy and play your tambourines....Jeremiah 31:4 (CEV)

Dear Friend,
We don't know who these guys are (see video below) but they made us dance this morning! We have been having some long talks about gratitude and the power behind it. Every time gratitude is present things happen in you and around you. Think about Jesus giving thanks and then raising Lazarus from the dead. Does anything look difficult, dark, lifeless, or even dead in your life today? Give thanks to God. Thank Him for what He has given you in the past, the breath you are breathing and the hope He wants to give you concerning your future. Don't let what's missing in your life keep you from seeing what has been given, is given and has the potential to come. God loves you... celebrate that love... put on some gratitude instead of attitude!!! Have gratitude today and everyday... maybe you might even want to do the dance and just see what happens...
Click here to view the Gratitude Dance video.

Praise Him with tambourines and dancing! (Psalm 150:4 NIV)

Doing the dance,

Upcoming Events

3/27-3/28 Cross+Culture Lock-in
3/29 40 Days of Love Celebration Sunday and Chili Cook-Off
9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
4/3 Deadline to register for Acting Classes
4/10 Good Friday Services 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

40 Days of Love: Is Sex Love?

2009-03-18T13:27:00.002-04:00

Click here to invite a friend to 40 Days of Love.

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Scripture for the week:

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:7 (NASB)

Dear Friend,

Sex? Love? What is it? Do we get it at all?

We just finished watching the short film ImNotBuyingIt, produced by Granger Community Church. The staggering statistics they report indicate that Americans are virtually clueless when it comes to matters of sex and love. Check these stats out: 96% of adult males and 94% of adult females in the US have had premarital sex. Hollywood currently releases 11,000 adult movies per year. 1 of 3 visitors to adult websites are women. 44% of US workers with an internet connection admitted to accessing an X-rated website at work. 47% of families said pornography is a problem in their home. The US has the highest rates of STD's in the industrialized world. 40% of young girls in the US will get pregnant before the age of 20. USA Today says that 56% of US residents say it is important to live with each other before getting married. Cohabiting couples have twice the breakup rate of married couples in the US. 40% bring kids into these often shaky live-in relationships. Roughly 60% of all marriages end in divorce.

Do you think broken, diseased, sexuality is the pursuit of love? Have the sexual habits of this culture helped us or stolen from us? While looking for love, people have settled for lust, fantasy and perversity. Are human beings so love starved that they will settle for sex without life long loving commitment? God help us! And guess what He wants to help! The Bible has so much to say about the habits of the heart in a love relationship. There really are ways to have relationships that are off the charts, fulfilling, and God-directed. Sex is not a dirty word. The brokenness of human beings has defiled the original intent of the Creator of sex. God himself has clearly provided the direction we need when it comes to sex and love. The habits of love found in 1st Corinthians 13 in the original language is where we find the road map of habits to real love.

Love bears all things. Loving relationships don't violate your body or person-hood. Real lovers make a habit of protecting your soul, health and your tomorrows. The original language describes love covering and giving a roof over your head. Real love doesn't expose you to danger, it gives you shelter.

Love believes all things. Love is defined here to have faith in someone and to entrust another's spiritual well-being to Christ. This love is not lust and can always be trusted. Loving relationships are secure because Christ is the Center and Director.

Love always hopes. The Greek word used here describes a loving habit that means to expect and confide. This love is exclusive and private. It is the part of a loving relationship that is safe, allowing you to be your true self but expecting and encouraging you to grow and become all that you were created to be.

Love always perseveres. The habit of perseverance is a lost art in this culture. Perseverance is defined here as "staying under (behind)", i.e. remaining; figuratively, to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere. Loving relationships live through the tough stuff and go the distance. Loving relationships are committed and surround you in all your days and look toward a blessed future together and...are willing to replace every harmful habit with a loving one.

Whether you are married or single, these habits from scripture will give you the love you long for. Don't settle for a less than best relationship or give in to being stuck in the statistics. Give in to God's ways and experience real love.

Sticking with the habits,

Parental Advisory: For CCM attenders, this week we will be discussing portions of this eletter. Please come and invite your friends to the 10:45 service. Crossroads is committed to helping families find God in this confused culture. Our services in the Main Auditorium will sometimes address strong issues not appropriate for young children. Our C.R. AdventureKiDs (nursery-6th grade) will minister to childlike needs. We strongly recommend utilizing our children's ministry.
Click here to attend Fireproof this Friday Night.

40 Days of Love

2009-03-11T12:56:00.004-04:00

Click here to invite a friend to 40 Days of Love.

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Scripture for the week:

Love keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:5

Dear Friend,

How is your record keeping? Do you remember wrongs that have been done to you? What is this scripture saying? Do you have to forget everything? Forgive everything?

Someone once said, "As long as you don't forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy rent-free space in your mind." Every human being has been hurt, offended and even betrayed. Some issues are small but others are deep and take time to heal. Yet, for the great and small situations in life the most powerful life force in every situation is forgiveness. Tragically, our family has experienced some of life's greatest and most difficult betrayals and yet has found forgiveness to be much more empowering than record keeping!

Forgiveness will clean up the clutter you've been tripping over. So many times we can't figure out why life isn't flowing more smoothly. We wonder "Why am I so tired, so depleted at the end of the day? Why don't I have more joy?" Truth be told, nothing sucks the goodness out of life more than harboring harsh thoughts about someone... including hostile and unforgiving thoughts toward yourself. The enemy of your soul would love nothing more than for you to live under the oppression of record keeping. It is the great misery-maker!

Conversely, there is nothing like forgiveness that reflects being like Jesus. It is what brought Him to earth, fueled His mission and made His final decision to give His life for you. It is the way to mental wholeness, emotional stability, freedom and unspeakable JOY!

Pray today:
God, I don't know how to forgive but please soften my heart to see the way you forgive me. Open my eyes to mercy and grace. I choose to forgive and learn to forgive. I choose love as the highest goal of my life. I receive your love and forgiveness and pray that I become an instrument of that power. In Jesus' name.

In closing, we leave you with the timeless words of Mother Teresa: "If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

Keeping no record,

Click here to join a 40 Days of Love Life Group.
Click here for details about the Fireproof Movie Night.

Day 19 of 40 Days of Love "You're So Vain"

2009-03-05T12:43:00.002-05:00

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Scripture for the week:

Love is not self seeking. 1 Corinthians 13:5

Dear Friend,

I'll never forget the first time I (Clare) sat through 9 innings of a baseball game. Scott was pitching about 110 mph (that's the way I saw it). I was in love, so nine innings wasn't too long. The years have gone on and 2 baseball playing sons later, I estimate having sat through about 1.8 trillion innings (or maybe that's the bailout number). Anyway, it's been a lot of innings. I came from a family interested in music, art and theater, not baseball. I had some shifting to do in a marriage to a competitive, live life fully -- in the body -- athletic type.

I (Scott) was a bit surprised when Clare wanted to go to an Art museum ... on our HONEYMOON! She couldn't wait to see the Henry Moore reclining figures. Henry who? And why would I want to see HIM reclining? Even today Clare is getting psyched to go to the Salvador Dali museum on the last day of our vacation. Isn't Orlando Magic playing somewhere? Only kidding. Josiah and I had a day at the parks doing coasters and Clare... she took dramamine, screamed, shook and rode them with us!

The truth is our marriage was the collision of two histories. It will be 30 years this October that we met and started colliding. One thing we have discovered about relationships that go the distance (friendships, family relationships and marriage) is that they are not self seeking. It's amazing what can happen in relationships that start to seek the other's highest joy... you begin to find joy in the other's world.

Sometimes we give in to another's world with the hope that it will pay off for us. That kind of giving is still self seeking. It may be the place we start a relationship, but it will never satisfy and create longevity. When both giving and receiving are done from a place of gratitude... love and joy are found! It is as much fun to give as it is to receive.

How much of your giving to another is based on what you might receive? When we start giving from a place of detachment, not expecting something in return, we have begun to experience 1st Corinthians 13 love that is not self seeking. If your motivations to give to a friend, spouse or even God still have receiving as the motivating force, don't stop giving but be aware that there is still some work to do in your loving. We can't stop giving, waiting until our motivations are pure... keep it up... add gratitude to your giving and watch self seeking fade.

Think about it:
What have you given recently? To whom did you give it?
What is most difficult for you to give? What is easiest for you to give?
Take time to look at what motivates your giving. Turn from that and turn toward gratitude.
Give into someone's life this week.

Seeking to love,

Love Me Tender. Love Me True...

2009-02-25T11:07:00.003-05:00

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." --Unknown
Dear Friend,

Has somebody ever lied about you? Misrepresented you? Misunderstood you? Has your name been unsafe in someone's mouth? The answer is-yes.
This morning we prayed for truth to come to light for a dear friend who is facing misrepresentation. As we prayed, we felt the truth of God's Word begin to rise on their behalf... on your behalf.
Lies come at us in many forms. Lies can masquerade in fear of the future, insecurity, unworthiness, distrust... and the only way to defeat falsehood is with the truth.

"They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil; and in the days of famine
they shall be satisfied." Psalm 37:19 (AMP)

"Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from
the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39 (AMP)

"But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!" 2 Chronicles 20:17 (NLT)

"Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert
and active, watching over My word to perform it." Jeremiah 1:12 (AMP)

The Bible says, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth" (1 Cor 13:6). The truth is: If God is for you who can be against you? (Romans 8:31) Really, who cares what or who is against you when God is on your side? The enemy of your soul would love nothing more than to misrepresent God's intentions toward you. God's name is not safe in the mouth of the enemy... neither is yours! Take the time to learn the truth about God...the truth about what God says about you... about your situation. Even when God corrects you, he tells you the truth tenderly. The Holy Spirit comforts you and counsels you into all truth. You will always find your name is safe in the mouth of God.

God TRUE-LY loves you,

Click here to join a 40 Days of Love Life Group.
Click here to sign up for March Madness...MAN UP!

2009-02-19T17:58:00.002-05:00

Click here to send this eletter to a friend.
Click here to invite someone to 40 Days of Love.
Click here to watch 40 Days of Love messages

Scripture for the Week
"Love is Patient..." 1st Corinthians 13:4a

Dear Friend,

Love is patient. What? We know you don't have time to read about love being patient. It takes too long, requires too much effort and really there must be a more expedient way to get love. Yet life and most assuredly love requires patience. Most of our living is done in the position between "the now and the not yet." In other words, between the love we have and the love we are longing to experience, we have to wait and we have to be patient.

We could help develop your patience by writing a long laborious eletter but we'll try not to torture you. We just want to help you pay attention to the patient-love challenge given to us by Paul in 1st Corinthians. To use the words patient and love together like they belong to each other is a serious challenge! We could all be patiently loving if there were no people involved in the challenge. You know those people that don't do it your way, have let you down, irritate the heck out of you.

Maybe an illustration will help us move forward in patient-love. The story of the olive tree is exactly the image we need. It is said that there are olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemene that would have been there when Jesus prayed in the garden the night He was betrayed. Olive trees grow on barren, sandy ground with little water and nourishment. Yet, they can live thousands of years (that's longevity!) and are loved for their beautiful wood, olives and don't forget ...olive oil mmmmm. Seems that patient growth is worth it.

David communicated that he wanted to trust in, rely on, be patiently waiting for God's love. In Psalm 52:88 he penned these words "But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever... sounds like patient love. Longevity at its finest.

Consider the relationships you have: Could this be God's love lab to develop patient-love in you? Can the disappointments you've experienced be the sandy soil God is creating your longevity with? Is the lack of water in those relationships causing you to go deeper in your faith or are you tempted to run or retire? Even if you're not getting all the nourishment you need --hang on! Keep growing in love! Be patient for ever and ever...

We would never suggest anyone stay in an abusive relationship. Never be patient with abuse! We are offering the patient-love challenge to those relationships God has given you, because in order to experience the beauty of longevity, we must develop patient-love. Honestly, it just takes patience :)

Patience practices:
Hold your tongue...listen attentively
Wait your turn
Give up the remote
Give the love your looking for...serve the one who hurt you
Stay where you are-like an olive tree
Last but not least --pray

Patience Blessings,

Scott & Clare

All You Need is Love

2009-02-11T13:01:00.000-05:00

Click here to send this eletter to a friend.
Click here to invite someone to 40 Days of Love.

Scripture for the Week

1 Corinthians 14:1a (MSG)
Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it--because it does.

Dear Friend,

Do you believe the Beatles were right in saying "All you need is love"? What if we were to say that every area of your life depended on love... your job, your business, your money, your health, and your relationships? Do you think we're crazy? Maybe, but we think we're right!

What if we applied the principles of loving like our life depended on it to our jobs? That would include loving what we do, loving our employees and our bosses. Don't stop reading! Imagine a job where business decisions were made based on a person's highest good... like someone's life depended on it.

How about money? What if the financial investments we make, the spending we do and all our fiscal responsibilities were based on love? Could money become a product of love instead of the object of love? What if the treatment of finances reflected that life depended on it's being used well?

Lets talk health. Do you think we would be healthier if we realized that taking care of our health was about loving others and ourselves? If so, then could strong health and energy cause us to become a love machine that doesn't punk out, stress out or wear out?

And of course, relationships. Everybody knows love is at the core of our relationships... but is it really? Is our relational world giving us and those we're in relationship with the juice, the care and the love they deserve?

Consider the last conversation you had with those that have been given to you. Are you happy with the way that conversation ended? Is there something you can do to rectify it? How much attention are you giving to going after - pursing - apprehending love like your life depended on it? What should you do to remind yourself that your life depends on love? Here are some thoughts:

Value: Bring clarity to a person's worth. Take time today to tell or show somebody how important they are to you.

Empathy: Walk in someone else's shoes. Purposefully place yourself in someone's story. What do they need? Can you help meet that need?

Preference: Give another person first choice. Where can you lay aside your desires to fulfill another person's desire? What can you sacrifice to prefer or give deference to someone as an act of love?

In closing, we take this opportunity to invite you to our 40 days of Love series beginning this Sunday either live or via the internet (click here). For 7 weeks we will be devoting our Sunday messages and weekly e-letters to ways that we can encounter love personally and grow in giving love away. We also invite you to enjoy the adventure of 40 days of fasting and prayer. We encourage you to join us in fasting and prayer during these 40 days to see love increase in our lives and our world. To get you prepared for the 40 days, click here to watch last week's service. We believe these 40 days can change us and our world!

Galatians 5:14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Going after a life of love,

Do You Love Me?

2009-02-11T12:56:00.000-05:00

Scripture for the week:
John 21:17-19 (MSG) Then He said it a third time: "Simon, do you love me?" Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, "Do you love me?" so he answered, "Master, you know everything there is to know. You've got to know that I love you."

Dear Friend,

Whoa! You can't blame Peter for being upset that Jesus thinks his love is "questionable". Imagine Jesus asking you this question 3 times! Put your name in the blank; " ________ do you love me?" This is one of those questions that gets to the heart of the matter, the center of your soul. No bull... no pretense or pretending... just tell me "________ do you love me?" Clearly, Jesus was trying to rattle or wake up Simon Peter's love... and all the readers (us) who would come after him.

Jesus has some answers to his question in the preceding and following verses. It appears that love is a verb. It's a moving, saying, doing kind of word. Yet God not only wants love to be a verb but then... an adjective. Simply put; God wants love to be experienced in you, through you and then maybe best of all... describing and defining who you are.

When was the last time you felt unquestionable love move through you to another person? You know, the kind of love that is so clear, so true, so passionate that it isn't questioned. Do you feel like your love is asleep or... in a coma? Ask yourself "Does God or anybody else know that I love Him or them?" Would the VIP's in your life say you are "loving"?

If love is a saying, doing, moving kind of force that leaves a trail behind us - that describes who we are - let's take 20 minutes and experience it:

Get alone - and say to God:

God I love you. I want to love you more.

Spend time with those words. Savor them... Write or sing them to God.

Then listen. Just listen. Hear what God wants to say to you. Receive those words into your heart... into your world. Write what you feel, hear or see.

Then respond. Allow your love to be a verb - and then become an adjective. Jesus finishes his love conversation with Peter saying, "Feed my sheep." Feeding is loving. Who needs you to lead them to the nourishment of God's love? Who desperately needs you to be loving with them today? Let a trail of love follow you and describe your experience with love.

Loving Him and you,

Ways to wake up the love:

Invite a friend to Crossroads to hear the message of God's love.
Click here to forward this eletter to a friend.
Sign up for a 40 Days of Love Life Group.

Super Sunday

2009-02-11T12:55:00.000-05:00

Dear Friend,

Crossroads is celebrating Super Bowl Sunday this weekend. This would be a great weekend to invite a friend to experience church as the kick-off party. Watch for footballs and interviews with notable football types! : ) To invite a friend click here.

Super Bowl Sunday is a big deal to so many people. As one of our Steelers fans put it: "When your team is playing in the Super Bowl, it's like going to the prom. A lot of nervousness, build up, anxiety and hoping have gone into one night. Like your team, you want you and your date to be at your best. If things go badly you can wind up feeling like someone dumped a bucket of paint on your prom duds. If things go well, it's one of the happiest memories of your life. As you can tell, I care about the Steelers way too much!"

Football is a thrill, but wouldn't it be great if people had the same passion and build up for the things of eternal value? This Sunday the faithful "A2:42" play will come out of the playbook to get us started. Kick off party begins @ 9 and 10:45 a.m.

You're welcome to use a whole seat, but you'll only need the edge!

2:42 Hike,

It's Life or Death

2009-01-21T12:37:00.000-05:00

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.

Quick Links
Watch our series 24:Redemption
Invite a friend to the 24 series this week!
Subscribe to our eletter
Join us this week at Crossroads for 24: Redemption

Your Next 24 hours...Suddenly

2009-01-14T12:16:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-07T13:09:00.000-05:00

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

Where is God?

2008-12-17T10:26:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-11T11:07:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-02T14:27:00.000-05:00

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.

2008-11-21T15:24:00.000-05:00

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

2008-11-18T14:10:00.000-05:00

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

2008-11-14T11:53:00.000-05:00

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.