Tuesday, August 31, 2010

amazing or frightening

There is a little 10 year old girl making waves right now. Her voice has the maturity of a seasoned performer!

I worry about where fame will take her...I watched footage of her brother swinging and laughing with her without a care in the world...that carefree childhood vanished instantly when she took the stage. Her name is Jackie Evancho.

click here to watch this little one sing

I don't know what to hope for her - I almost hope she doesn't win...for her own sake.


my day off


A touch of Christmas!

Cookies baked and iced, decorations up, Christmas dinner finished and the programming team is officially launched for this Christmas at Crossroads!

New blood is always a good thing. Those of us who have been at this for some time are weary and it is time indeed to tap into the next generation at Crossroads.

I have never worked anywhere in the secular workplace or in ministry where such intentional focus has been aimed at the next generation. I could not be more encouraged or excited about our future. Equipping and developing new leaders has become my passion! So exciting!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

weekend report

Check back later for pictures and hopefully video! Having technical difficulties right now!

SO GOOD to be in the house of the Lord!

The Family ministries (youth band) led us in worship this weekend - they LEAD US TO THE THROWN! So powerful!

In the afternoon we hosted our 2nd Annual Car Show and danced to the adult band rockin' oldies in the parking lot!

Our morning setlist:

Beautiful Lord - Fee
SermonSpice video: "An Honest Welcome" very powerful welcome!
Opening Praise: Draw Me Close (Kutless)
Praise: Awesome Is The Lord (Tomlin)
Worship: Amazed (Brewster)
Worship: Revelation Song (Gateway)
Message: War of the Roses Pt. 3

To watch our services go to www.crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries used in their worship services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

Saturday, August 28, 2010

an early scary morning

Promptly at 8:00 a.m. this morning my cousin arrived with flatbed, wench and determination.

We have been battling a slowly dying - very messy cherry tree that hangs directly over our home covering our deck with very messy tiny cherries and precariously sitting at the top of a steep hill.

As I watched the preparation, which included tying a small weight to the end of a rope and in excellent cowboy form 'roping' the branch - I wondered how this tree could possibly fall away from the house. The truck and flatbed sitting below with wench secured - floored it to get out of the way of the falling tree as it fell perfectly landing right between to large trees without injuring either!

Now the shop kids in the Hillsdale shop class, can continue their award winning creations using beautiful cherry wood! Everyone wins!

Watch the video to see how close to the house it truly was!!

Friday, August 27, 2010

connections

Why do you 'make' connections?

To fill empty spots in your life?

To feel important when it's a significant connection that helps your career or gets you where you're going more quickly?

To have others around who can be a measuring stick for your life - accomplishments - expertise in a given subject?

To surround yourself strategically with those we consider 'less' to make us feel like the leader or better about our own shortcomings?

God never intended for us to do life alone - He desires a Godly community around us. But, beyond the close circle of friends we are able to maintain - is there purpose in connections?

We can certainly learn from those outside our circle - we need to serve and help those outside our circle when possible - but, I feel it is impossible to continually maintain any kind of significant connection for the long haul if you are not doing life together...

This article is really to myself - self examination about my motives. Realizing it's so easy to bite off more than you can chew - and certainly more than you can ever fully digest...

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

a lot to learn



Right now there are more things I want to learn how to do than any other time in my life!

I plan to use the winter months to dig in and learn! First I need to save some money - then I'll begin! Everything I want to do is connected to design and computers. We shall see!

So...what would you like to learn how to do if time and cash was not limiting you? Leave me a comment I would love to know!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

crossroads

I have been thinking a lot about Crossroads lately. Yes, I am an employee. Yes, I work on something that has to do with Crossroads most everyday - that's what ministry is. But, beyond that...

I have watched a lot of video from other ministries lately, found some 'how to's' to pass on. But mostly it's made me realize what we have.

We are not perfect , we are just a bunch of people searching for God together. We make mistakes in our journey, we can always do better in our journey and we are sometimes slow to reach any kind of maturity. But we move together.

We have lost several that we know and love recently - in those very same weeks we have been blessed with several new lives. New lives to teach, new lives to love.

We all need to look outside occassionally to see what is inside - we are not perfect but we are Crossroads a community moving toward God together.


Monday, August 23, 2010

my day off

I decided to not only clean the house, but to clean up some old emails - 300+ on the account that I give to on-line places and use for ordering things.

Smart move, found some things I actually needed to follow up on. Important follow up.

I had to cancel a meeting for tonight due to a couple missing people that were unable to attend. This has created a day originally dedicated to preparing for that meeting - now empty with absolutely no time restraint. I cannot remember a day where I had absolutely nothing to prepare for. Such a weird wonderful feeling! So thankful!

God knows just when I need to relax the most - I believe He cares about small things. I praise Him today in the small things.

Can you believe God cares even about the small things in your life?




Sunday, August 22, 2010

weekend report

Wowza! What a weekend!

Announcements from the rainy parking lot, moving monologue with video, dynamic worship and a tremendous teaching of God's Word- so good!

Our setlist:

Opening Instrumental: I Don't Need No Doctor
Original 'baby' video asking people to remove noisy children from auditorium.
Announcements: We shot live announcements from the parking lot to advertise our 'shop and drop' event where our congregation brings groceries and drops them behind their car allowing our missions team to pick them up to be delivered at a local food bank.
Praise: How Great Thou Art - Baloche
Praise: Chosen Generation - Tomlin
Worship: Rescue - Desperation Band
Worship: From the Inside Out - Hillsong
Monologue/Video: We reshot the video "The Source" originally done by Notes From The Journey. Joseph Gillum - did the monologue
Message: War of the Roses Pt. 2; Cause of Division - Tim Armstrong, Sr. Pastor
Exit Song: Chosen Generation

To watch our services on the web go to www.crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries included in their worship services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com


Saturday, August 21, 2010

reunion today

It is with a little sadness I put my scalloped potatoes into the oven today in preparation for my family reunion. Preparing food brings to mind all the dishes my aunts are known for. Over the years you begin to look forward to family specialties. This year some of the most popular dishes and some of the dearest relatives will be missing.

We have lost several aunts, an uncle and cousin this past year. These deaths leave huge holes among my relatives. Hard to lose people that make up your extended family. Just doesn't seem right to have a reunion without them.

I guess a part of my sadness is also due to the fact that in the near future there may be no more gatherings with extended relatives. It is natural of course for younger cousins to eventually begin their own traditions and so they will.

Today as I go, I plan to video tape and take tons of pictures. This past year has shown our family like never before how quickly life changes. I will do my best to catch as much of it as I can so the memory of our family will linger just a little longer.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

a little manipulative

I have to be prepared tomorrow for a video shoot at Crossroads. Steve is preparing the space to shoot the video - my job was to write words on 50 tile, so....

I took the tile home - spread them across the picnic table- found the markers and waited for the college kids to arrive. Curious as to what I was doing it wasn't long until they jumped in and started writing! Mission accomplished - I am now in my bedroom working on the details of the weekend services while they finish the tiles and prepare for their Bible study!

A little pre-planning, things in place and curious students! Perfect!

such detail


As I worked on event projects on my deck yesterday I saw this little spider also working away...I wondered...

How does the spider spin a web that catches other insects yet runs around on it himself and never gets caught?Why does God care about such detail? Does He find it interesting? Is it necessary in creation - one thing supporting another? Or, does He do it just for us to see, trying to reveal His unlimited power and magnificence in even the smallest design.

Kind of funny to think of man's creations vs God's perfect creations.

Man creates things then gets stuck in his own web...


Tuesday, August 17, 2010

next things

I have many next things - picnics, meetings, plans, creative elements to choose and organize, new actors to watch, and new leaders to train.

But, what is now?

Now: at the time or moment immediately past

So...at this time I am working on what's next. Does that mean I am totally missing now?

Sunday, August 15, 2010

weekend report



















Sunday as we prepared for sound check - I was overcome with wonder at all the people serving and enjoying one another, I saw the parking lot team praying, our Go Mission team was gathering groceries from our congregation for a local food bank, cafe team scurrying to serve coffee and other goodies, and right after church - people being baptized - over 30 people! So thankful, so exciting, so in love with my Lord!

We were blessed again at the end of our day when a friend invited us to a fabulous Mexican dinner!

I so much enjoyed our weekend and felt blessed to be witness to lives being changed for eternity!



Friday, August 13, 2010

leadership in between

If you are in any kind of leadership, you probably find yourself caught between.

Between projects, between unhappy co-workers, between management and employees and between the vision and reality. In many ways that is what leadership is - being between the people you lead and wherever it is you are leading - pushing forward the vision while dealing with reality.

Nancy Ortberg said this, "Vision is full of possibilities and optimism. Reality is more often filled with disappointments and difficulties. And a leader needs to stand between those two things."

This is difficult especially if the reality is that the vision is not being supported or accomplished. I love living within an exciting vision, but reality is the everyday often very small steps toward the vision.

I am a leader and I stand between.

The only reason I do is because God has placed me there.




Thursday, August 12, 2010

Mansfield sights and sounds

These pictures say it all.

Mansfield...tractors, trucks, multiple horned goats, horses dressed up, way too small donkeys pulling way too large people in tiny little wagon and of course...Ribeye sandwiches!














This is my warm up for the Ashland County Fair and the World's fair in Bellville - can't help it, once a country girl always a country girl!

See you there where I'll be eating french fries with vinegar!




Wednesday, August 11, 2010

a small group luau








It has been a summer of luau parties for us! This may be our last this year!

Good friends, good food and a beautiful night!


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

what I learned today

Recently Pastor Tim talked about how the Holy Spirit dwelling in our lives is the one who reveals the truths of scripture. Without His indwelling we cannot understand and apply the Bible to our lives.

I realized today as I sat on my deck - how quickly my soul becomes empty. How I was longing to feel His stirring of my soul.

I was reading through an old prayer about the trinity this morning, here is a couple of the lines:

Three persons and one God, I bless and praise thee,
for love so unmerited, so unspeakable, so wondrous, so mighty to save
the lost and raise them to glory.
O Triune God, who commanded the universe...

I could just feel the gratefulness of this writer from long ago. How overwhelming it is indeed to think that this God created us and calls us to Him for eternity. I cannot imagine even a day outside of His love.

my day off


I LOVED today!

I began the day outside which was magnificent - and even more so because I was with my hubby, sister and brother-in-law riding the bike trail!

It was so peaceful and beautiful - truly a great way to begin the day.

After riding and talking for 10 miles we had to eat of course which basically negated any physical accomplishment we had made up to that point - but, we had to keep up our strength!

Upon arriving home I went into high gear - moving all the remaining piles of wedding disorganization into all their proper places or into new areas of now empty closets and bedrooms.

Providing relief to my over stuffed closet was so overdue, and yet carrying some of my things into my daughters empty room had sad moments for sure. I put off doing it for several weeks just to get used to the fact she is gone.

She called today - just to give an update on what has been happening. When I hear the joy in her voice, and follow her on line as she blogs and posts pictures that say 1,000 words...I cannot be sad.

And so my first real day off in quite a few weeks comes to an end as I post this writing. I head for bed with a sense of satisfaction on many levels today. Physically, spiritually, domestically and parentally. That's not really a word - I just made it up!

Sunday, August 8, 2010

weekend report

We worshiped so hard this weekend! I heard so many comments about the services this weekend- a huge compliment to all that had a part in making it all come together!

Our setlist:

Opening Instrumental: Hold My Hand
Announcements on video: Bethany Ezawa
Praise: Everlasting God - Brewster
Awesome Is The Lord: Tomlin
Amazed: Brewster
Above All: LeBlanc
Revelation Song: Gateway
Got Milk? Get Wisdom: Wendell Anderson
Exit Song: Above All

To see what other ministries used in their worship sets go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

To watch our services go to www.crossroadswired.com

Saturday, August 7, 2010

why push

Pushing begins early in life. We push to be first, we push to be the best athlete in school, we push for the best grade, for scholarships and raises. But some where along the way we stop pushing and kind of settle in.

It is a curious thing when people that 'don't have to' push themselves - push anyway.

Fellow Director at Crossroads Deering Dyer text me while running 15 miles today. Are you kidding me?? I told him to jog by and I'd toss him an EGO Waffle, but by the time I saw the text he was back home soaking his feet. (sorry for the gross picture he sent me - it is being used to make a point)

Now all of us could just sit back and by watching our intake of food probably maintain, but what drives some people to push themselves to be physically fit while others try to remain comfortable? An interesting question.

I want to talk about more than just the physical aspect of our lives, Spiritually, on the job, caring for your family, volunteering at church, so, do you choose Easy or Difficult - Simple or Complex - Mediocre or Excellent... This discussion has nothing to do with the 'America Dream' whatever that has become, or sacrificing your family to earn higher wages and more stuff. God asks us to prepare well to be ready for whatever He calls us to.

Which pattern do you see in your own life - that of always taking the easy way out or that of always pushing further than required? I long to hear from my maker "well done"!




Friday, August 6, 2010

I just want order

Have you ever felt like your life is so busy that you cannot even begin to make progress? Especially on something new?

That is where I am right now!Just as I thought things would settle down Ron and I ended up moving our daughter to Boston at the beginning of this week. We certainly wanted to see her apartment and make sure they were safely there, but, it just seemed to begin another week of being too tired to think.

I need to crawl out of it quickly, I have a couple new projects I need to create as well as details of 2 September events that I am really excited about.

This picture shows the contents of my purse and the bag I carried to Boston to work on, and back and forth from the office all week long. The pile contains, thank you cards to be finished from the wedding, coupons that need to be organized in order to make my grocery list and fill our empty refrigerator, bills to pay, the meager beginning of a few work projects and a lot of reading I was hoping to have done by now.

I show you this, and write this not for sympathy, this coming week promises routine - but for suggestions.

A friend of our son's said to me tonight as we rushed in after work and prepared to rush back out to help friends that were moving, "you need to just sit down and relax!" I honestly feel like that is impossible right now.

My question to all of you is this, are you all better at a slower pace than I am? If so, tips please!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

who is the most blessed

I was talking with some of the Prayer Team the other day and we began to discuss things coming up at Crossroads, including the Mission trip to Cambodia.

We began to talk about how difficult it is to understand why God chooses to bless us, especially here in America with so much when so much of the world lives in poverty.

One of the girls asked this and I cannot stop thinking about it.

Are we really the most blessed? With all of our stuff we still want more, yet satisfied enough with our stuff not to really need God, at least not until something goes wrong with our perfect life.

The believers my friends have had contact with overseas live a completely content life. They spend large amounts of time studying the Bible and praying, always praying. They have no distraction from their dependence on the Lord. They see Him in every need that is met.

So, who do you think the most blessed really are? Us or them?


Sunday, August 1, 2010

weekend report

Such an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G weekend! Pastor Tim teaching from I Corinthians - Amazing! Praise and Worship including a Crossroads original - Amazing! And a video that plugged our upcoming baptism also a Crossroads actor's original script - Amazing! Enjoy the Baptism video and watch our service on line at www.crossroadswired.com!

To watch our original baptism video click here...Wide World of Sacraments .

Our setlist:

Bennie and the Jets - so fun!
Baptism video and Announcements
Redeemer - Kutless
Majestic - Brewster
Shout To The King - Sgambellone (Crossroads worship leader)
For Who You Are - Hillsong
Your Name - Baloche
The Secret: Hidden Wisdom I Corinthians 2:6 - 16
Exit Song - Your Name

To see what other ministries used in their worship services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com