Looking back on 2008 (Part II)

2008 has been a great year for Crossroads.

During this year we have seen every aspect of our ministry move to a higher level.  I have to be honest and admit that I don’t think some areas moved to where they really should have, but they all did move in a positive manner.

One of the highlights of this year has been watching people actually get their minds around what God has called us to do.  The interesting thing about this is that it’s usually been the new Christians who really understand.   I’ve been amazed at how many of those who are supposedly mature in their faith simply can’t get it.  They can’t understand the importance of putting others first.  They say they get it, but their actions show different.  If there’s anything that makes me feel good about what we’re doing it’s watching these new believers jump in with both feet and get totally immersed in what God is doing at Crossroads.

I’ll try to post a few more times today on 2008.

Looking back on 2008

The next couple of days are going to be bitter/sweet for me.

2008 has been an amazing year and it’s one that I really hate to see come to an end.  During 2008 we have seen God do some amazing things at Crossroads and for all of those I am truly thankful.

Many of you started attending Crossroads during 2008 and some of you had been here only a short time before that.

Over the next couple of days I am going to try and reflect on some of the things that I’ve seen us do right and some of the things I know we are going to have to improve on.

Stay tuned……I will be posting off and on during the next two days.

Sunday Rewind….

I continually stand amazed at what you guys do at Crossroads.

Yesterday was an amazing day.  It was amazing in every way.  It was totally unbelievable because eveyone totally dropped the ball.  Yes, that’s exactly what I said.

Here are a few things that I noticed about Sunday:

• The band did a terrible job….
• The attendance in all three services was the worst we had all during 2008.
• Even the offering was the worst we had received all year.
• Our volunteers failed to show up in every department
• The building was freezing…..
• The sound and lights were awful.

Well, I guess that’s about all I noticed……I’m looking forward to this coming Sunday when we can change all of this. 

And just in case you stumbled onto the blog and think things are going bad at Crossroads….the reason that things were like they were this past Sunday was because we took the day off (in other words, no one was there at all!)……a gift to everyone to invest in time with their family and friends, a way to honor and thank our volunteers…..and it’s all good.

Peace….and see you on the 4th of January!

Last Sunday I struggled…..

I love sports just like most everyone.

I really enjoy both basketball and football.

And what an amazing year this has been  for the Tennessee Titans.  I have been so impressed with the great record that they have compiled so far this year.

But I have to be honest. 

Last week when they were playing for the home field advantage I had this weird bitter sweet feeling.  I really wanted them to win, but there was another part of me that wanted them not to win simply because it seems that it can really impact people coming to church. 

I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true.  Many people use the football game to stay home and not attend any church service.  And yes that even means people who attend Crossroads.

So now you know my struggle…..I want the Titan’s to win but it’s sad that people put them before God.  I guess it’s like I know….it’s a matter of the heart and the reason I know is because I’ve been there.  I’ve struggled with those same “heart” issues.

What do you think?

Great Truths (Edition 3)

Here is the last in our installments of  “Great Truths”.

This edition gives us some truths about growing older:

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

2) Forget the health food.  We need all the preservative we can get.

3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.

4) You’re getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

5) It’s frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

6) Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.

7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

“Useless Friday Info”

It’s that time when we gather around and see what knowledge is being shared from the depths of humanity.

We call it “Useless Friday Info” and here is this week’s edition:

“The Barbie doll was first introduced at a toy fair in New York by the Mattel Company.  The day was March 9, 1959.”

“Barbie’s full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts and she is from Willow, Wisconsin and she went to Willows High School.  Her favorite color is pink.”

“J.J. Audubon’s “The Birds of America” was published in 1840 and is the most valuable book in the world.  It sold for $8,802,500 in March of 2000-the highest price ever paid for a book.

“In 1874, Levi Strauss began selling blue jeans for $13.50 per dozen.”

“The first sneakers were made in 1916 by the U.S. Rubber Company.  They were called Keds.”

“To make a fresh wreath last longer, grab a can of hair spray and spritz it all over as soon as you get it home.  The hair spray traps the moisture in the needles.”

“Do you have a stuffy nose?  Try chewing a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints.  They’ll clear up your stuffy nose.”

Christmas question

We all love Christmas.

We get to spend time with family and friends.  We get to eat all of those amazing dishes that only get prepared once a year.  And then we get to open the gifts.  Everyone just loves the gifts.

But here’s the question.

What was the “crazyiest” or “worst” gift that you received for Christmas 2008?

I’m waiting to hear…….?????

Christmas Eve at Crossroads

The weather on Wednesday couldn’t have been much worse.  It was raining so hard that it was coming down sideways.  The parking lot as well as most of the streets were full of water.  It look like the recipe for a disaster.

Several months ago we felt that we needed at least two services and now with the weather situation it looked like we had made a mistake.

But when the time came we couldn’t have been more pleased with the attendance.  Both of the services were very well attended and it looks like it couldn’t have been much better.

I want to personally thank those people who took the time out of their schedule to make it happen.  It was a great afternoon in my mind.

2009 promises to give us lots of opportunities to do what God has called us to do and I hope that we can continue to step up and make it happen.

Thanks again for helping both of these services to be a great worship experience for all who attended.

Christmas thought….

“Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as it is about opening our hearts.” -Janice Maeditere

“Xmas The Series”-Video Week Three

Here is the final video from “Xmas The Series”.