weekend report

I don't think we could have squeezed another thing in this weekend's services.  We were literally ushered to the throne by our amazing youth band, youth announcements and Rap...yes, I said rap.   The youth lead the entire first half of our hour together this weekend.

You HAVE to go to www.crossroadswired.com on Monday and watch this weekend's services.

A big shout out to our amazing Magnification team - Milo, Dan and Steve.  You would assume when the youth lead it gives them a break - NOT SO.  It takes the entire team even more time to prepare for weeks in advance when the youth leads us  -  so thanks guys for your never ending patience, your leadership, your Godly example and the use of your God given gifts to help shape these young people for God's work!

Our setlist:

Beautiful Lord - Leeland
Awesome Is the Lord Most High - Tomlin
10,000 Reasons - Tomlin
The Stand - Stanfill
Announcement Video:  Veda Boor
RAP:  Parents Just Don't Understand - Nick Molnar (original artist Fresh Prince)  - we only did the first 2 verses of this song due to the content in the final verse.
Message:  JUNIOR Pt. 3 - Fathers and Sons - Senior Pastor Tim Armstrong
Exit Song:  Awesome Is the Lord Most High  


Here is just a sample of the rap taken at rehearsal...don't worry - we were missing one letter!  We spelled JUNIOR correctly in the actual performance!!

Please take time to check out our weekend services tomorrow at www.crossroadswired.com or listen to any of our past messages.  (You can also download our Crossroads App which makes watching and listening to everything even easier!)

This is Hannah with her baby project from school.  At one point this weekend the baby was screaming so loudly the Staff in the office area of the church had to shut the doll behind multiple doors!
 (what goes on behind the scenes - stays behind the scenes!)

Our Youth band is the BEST!!

This is 'the car' from the RAP

Also, please check out www.theworshipcommunity.com to see what other ministries did in this weekend's services!

broken windows

I noticed as we drove around yesterday that several aparently abandoned  houses had broken windows in them.

It caused me to wonder why someone would want to vandalize?

Boredom, on a dare, angry, showing-off, messing around or accidentally broken?

Whatever the reason, they were broken it leaves an appearance of neglect.  It lets things in that should stay out.

This is a picture of our dining room.  What a contrast our window is to the broken windows.  Our window functions as it is intended to - it keeps unwanted things out.  ALSO when the window is intact, it allows things in that are desirable - like the reflection of the beauty of the day.  Breathtaking this morning!

When it is not broken, it allows things from the inside to be seen and not heard.   A perfect example of how our lives are.  No one listens or remembers a thing you are saying if your actions don't support your words.

Pastor Tim taught a week ago on the importance of parents and grandparents and caregivers being an example to the kids around them - not to just 'talk' the good talk but to live out consistently what we say.  We HAVE to be someone of integrity that kids can just look at to see what we allow in our lives.  That shows them what is important to us.

If our talk is not backed up with action it causes us to live a broken life,  it become like the broken window above letting things in that ruin our lives - that discredit our testimony completely causing our words to become meaningless.

Our Savior is waiting to 'repair' what is broken in your life.  You too can be living in a way that demonstrates what you believe,  each and every day!

encouragement to leaders

There is nothing that encourages me to continue to lead more than the next generation!  Tonight I had the privilege to work with the youth Improv Team preparing for this weekend's services.

As I waited to take the stage with them, I watched in pure amazement as the stage was completely filled from side to side, and from front to back with the youth band.  The fact that this stage is full is a huge shout out to the vision of our worship leaders!  Leaders that realize one of the main responsibilities in leading is to always be looking ahead.  Totally unwilling to stay where we are, even though where we are right now is an excellent place.

We all care deeply about the youth and young adults at Crossroads.  And the weekend is going to be so amazing!!

minutes

Once I am home at night I actually watch the clock more intensely then during the day.  In fact, now that I think of it I rarely watch the clock during the day.  My day is spent working ahead, planning and creating things always in the future, so my days are long enough because nothing is ever really finished.  But night time flees far too quickly, so I watch it closely, checking the time every few minutes as if watching keeps it from ticking away.

Tonight I watch the clock - attempting to allow enough time to finish laundry, between writing and preparing for what tomorrow requires.  The days are connected by projects that begin one day and are finished the next.  And by clothes that are worn one day and washed the next and by all the simple things that can slip by with the ticking of minutes.

These ticking minutes do  not count something lost but count every breath the Lord gives me, some I would chose and some I would not yet all are things He places in my life each day.  Each tick a blessing in itself.

Another day is ending now and I end it thanking Him for provision, and another day in Him.

my day off

It is January 23.  Winter.

I was awakened by thunderstorms this morning.

Now as I sit on my couch reading and writing, it looks more like spring.

This is what I see from my window...

Small marching crows.  Systematically circling our field below.  Marching, marching as if participating in a military drill of some kind.  Others patiently standing guard in the trees high above their comrades.

As my attention moves across the trees, a tiny white face catches my eye.  The head has a splash of bright red on top, a little red crown.  I only notice it because the continuous motion of tapping the tree catches my eye.  An ongoing search for unaware insects just below the bark.  Small chips of wood now litter the ground below, a testimony to the diligence of the relentless effort above.

The next movement I notice is the once again raging torrent of water within the swollen banks of our creek.  The water is in continuous motion, brown and cloudy from mud and snow and gravel removed from driveways in its path.

Then high above the trees just the tiniest wispy tufts of see-through cloud blow past at an astonishing rate of speed.  Seen only briefly before passing out of sight.

God's creation does not rest.  Even if unseen by human eyes it moves forward pursuing its final destination and resting place, making preparations necessary for survival when given a chance to emerge from their winter hiding places.

David's Psalms describe it perfectly!



Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
he rides on the wings of the wind;
he makes his messengers winds,
his ministers a flaming fire.
He set the earth on its foundations,
so that it should never be moved.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they fled;
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
to the place that you appointed for them.
You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.
You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills;
they give drink to every beast of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
they sing among the branches.
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
(Psalm 104:1-13 ESV)

weekend report

Another weekend come and gone...in the scope of eternity did it count?  I know it did!

Fabulous - easily applicable teaching, hilarious drama and excellent time of worship!  Good to be in the House of the Lord again!

Our setlist:

Announcement video featuring our High School guy - Jesse Rider (and pop-ups by our middle school guy Jamie Koenig!)  The dynamic duo!
Worship:  Thank You For Loving Me - Tommy Walker
Worship:  Rescue - Desperation Band
Praise:      Rising - Baloche
Praise:      Today is the Day - Brewster
Drama:     Do As We Say - (Skit Guys)  Maureen Browning and Jimmie McCready
Message:  JUNIOR: Pt. 3- Senior Pastor Tim Armstrong
Exit Song:  Today is the Day


To watch our services or listen to our podcasts go to www.crossroadswired.com


To see what other ministries included in their set lists this weekend go to www.theworshipcommunity.com


CHECK BACK - I MAY UPLOAD THE DRAMA AND ANNOUNCEMENTS!

anticipation at Crossroads

One of the things I love the most after spending all week preparing for the weekend services is the anticipation right before the auditorium doors swing open.

Tonight I watched as grandfather taught grandson how to greet people as they came through the front doors.  People lit up when they saw the little guy coming toward them with outstretched hand.  This beautifully supported the message Pastor Tim was about to teach us, one of his points to parents was how important it is to 'model' how to live as Christ followers.

I then turned toward all the fellowship and noise  happening in our cafe.  It was near capacity as excited friends greeted one another and purchased treats and coffee.

And finally the doors opened allowing us all to head in and prepare for the culmination of a weeks worth of preparation.

I was curious after watching everyone prepare tonight,  just how many hours it took to prepare this weekends' service.  I quickly made a rough estimation of the hours that go into EVERY weekend, ONLY by the Magnification teams - I have NO idea how many hours it takes everyone else to prepare!

Programming team:  Worship guys, Tech staff and myself = 120 hours minimum (we each spend about 30 - 35 of our 40 hours on the current weekend)

Teaching Pastor:  30 of 40 hour week (probably varies by teaching pastor)

Praise team and Sound volunteers =  11 hours is just how many hours rehearsal and the services require for EVERY team member.  All the singers have to memorize their music so they spend countless individual hours preparing on top of the 11.  A rough guess at how much time is spent collectively would be based on 12 team members = 132 hours .  And almost all of these faithful volunteers also work full-time!

Then we have a lighting volunteer that designs the lighting most weekends = 4 hours

If there is a new set design that usually adds 5 or 6 hours...I could go on and on.

All this to say - please join me in thanking all our amazing staff and volunteers.  All of us here  were brought together by the Lord to serve with one another and to present His message of hope with excellence to our community!  May God be greatly honored by everyone's work!

You won't want to miss this weekend at Crossroads!