what is my motivation

As we move closer to Christmas and I see the details starting to fall into place, I have a chance to take a step back and examine my motivation.  What drives me in this process?

To produce a quality presentation?
To be seen as creative?
To create something truly unique?
To tell the same story differently then previous years?

Is my drive to accomplish pushed by a frantic desire to reach as many unchurched people in our community as possible?  Do I even think of them as I work?

I do think of them.  But I want to do more than think.  I want to wake up at night haunted by the thought of the lost perishing - everyday driven to proclaim the name of Christ until our community knows Him!

My motivation will be to proclaim the name of Christ in every decision that's made, in every creative aspect, and in every word that's spoken.   Then will my motivation stand blameless before Almighty God!

when people take things

I don't think most people truly pay attention when someone gets robbed or taken advantage of until it happens to them.

In the past few days sometime, our son and daughter-in-law got their garage broken into.

They lost 4 bicycles and their lawn mower, and we are not yet sure what else may be missing.

Today we've spent our day off building a fence hoping to keep them from repeating the burglary.

Here is the thing.  I have to admit, when I've occasionally heard about someone in our town getting robbed it hasn't affected me much.  This time it was personal.  And it hurt.  And it costs the innocent party-  time, money and work.

This is what bothers me the most.  I found out that most people don't even report robbery when it's not in their house.  They figure no one cares and nothing will be done as a result of it.  So, not only do the innocent suffer loss, but our society just lets the criminal get away with it because they've been made to feel it's pointless and bound to happen to everyone sooner or later.

If neighbors knew one another, cared for one another and stood up to the bad guys there could be hope.

Sadly few seem willing to risk their time or the hassle to make a difference.

From now on I will pay attention when someone suffers loss, even a small one.  It will feel more personal.

anticipating tonight

What do you get when you cross a very gifted communicator-teacher,

powerful worship,

meticulously prepared visual backgrounds and technical work,

a warm inviting coffee house offering outstanding quality drinks and Christmas gifts for your family,

a beautiful new art show,

lovingly cleaned facility done exclusively by volunteers,

mission projects that provide gifts for the most needy children in our area,

outstanding care and teaching for children and youth?

You get CROSSROADS!!

This weekend begins our new teaching series, "The Road to Bethlehem",  join us please as we prepare as a congregation to wrap our hearts and minds around The Christ Child!

really bad family pictures

It took many, many tries to get an even fairly good picture of our family during Thanksgiving.

I tried over and over and ornery family members who shall remain nameless, were just not having it.

I enjoy jokes and laughter and pranks and goofing around, but, I was really trying to get a few pictures that could possibly be used in our Christmas cards.  Not sure we accomplished that.  We did however make fun of one another and carried on quite loudly!

Here are some pictures that may provide a glimpse of the lack of cooperation I experienced so that you will feel sorry for me!

Eric blaming his squirming dog for bad pictures.

Aaron making faces unknown to wifey

Uncle Sam not cooperating

Alyssa demonstrating her reluctance to be photographed by modeling a new hairstyle.

thanksgiving

I took the least amount of pictures ever at a holiday.  I don't know why -

I took this picture at my hubby's side of the family - such great food and fellowship!

Ron's mom hosted us all- so good!

Then off to my side of the family where, yes, we ate again.  Crazy!

We missed Eric and Alyssa and our nephew Matt.   It just gets more and more difficult to get everyone together at the same time, but it was good.

I was blessed that my dad got out of the hospital this morning and was with us today!  So thankful!
We watched the movie "Brave" and laughed together and then it was time to go home.  Another Thanksgiving over!

This is Ron and my 37th Thanksgiving together!  I hardly remember one without him.  I am blessed.

God is so good to our family...so very good!

Crossroads' artists

Crossroads has an artist group.  They're kind of a quiet bunch.

But every once in a while they speak out, not usually with words but with the things they create.

This weekend at Crossroads the artists will speak at the Vessel Art Show.

The beginning process - painting the boards and boxes

Jen and James hanging the show in Town Square

So thankful for the wonderful talent at Crossroads!

Several of our beautiful art pieces.

The view from outside Crossroads.

Pastor Tim passed by the art show demonstrating superb balance on an Adopt A Child bicycle.

Please stop by anytime during the week when The Coffee House is open or during the weekend services and enjoy the show!

weekend report

This Thanksgiving week is packed to the gills with things to accomplish and ending with Black Friday...so little time.   We had a great reminder this weekend that it takes preparation to be Thankful - so as I go into my week I plan to build in thankful time!

It was another blessed weekend designed to help us all prepare for Thanksgiving and all the countless things we have to be thankful for!

Our setlist:

Welcome and Announcements began our service with Jamie (the middle school guy) inviting us all to stop by The Coffee House on Black Friday!  Pastor Tim wrapped up the announcements by reminding everyone what an opportunity we have to serve a needy child by participating in our annual Adopt A Child project.  Click here for announcements  

Thank You Lord - Baloche
Praise Him, Praise Him - Tommy Walker
10,000 Reasons - Redman
For Who You Are - Hillsong
Everyone (Praises) - New Life
Message:  Preparing To Give Thanks - Wendell Anderson
Ending Song:  Thank You Lord - Baloche

To watch our services on Monday, go to www.crossroadswired.com

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

changes

Many, many changes right now.

My dad will be having surgery in a week or so.  Nothing serious - praising the Lord!

My parents are beginning to consider selling their home and looking for something in town.

My daughter-in-law is interviewing for a new job.

My calendar gains new events almost hourly it seems.

The weather is inching toward coldness.

I find I reach tired much more quickly.

Constant ministry changes.

Changed several passwords today.

Changed batteries.

Changed my mind.

Changed my clothes twice since waking.

Changed my sheets today.

It goes on and on.

I believe more than I ever have, there is only one constant that doesn't change, EVERYTHING else does.

Almighty God.  The same yesterday, today and forever!

and that's ok

Today I had a wee tiny bit of time to evaluate my responsibilities and to ask, "what can I give away"?

I identified several things and have emails and calls out recruiting.  But by in large I didn't find much.  Guess it's just the creative nature of my job.  And that's ok.

I'm not sure outside of the ministry I have much to eliminate either since I barely have time for hobbies anymore.  Funny how you wrongly think once your kids are grown you'll have time to pursue all the new things you've never done...NOT!  And that's ok.

Finally I asked myself,  if I can't find things to eliminate, why do I still spend less time with the Lord then I want to?  I decided I won't stop trying to eliminate things until that area is completely fulfilling.

And then it occurred to me, maybe my thirst for the Lord is just unquenchable...and, that's ok.

a year gone by

Tonight we finally had a chance to celebrate my son and daughter-in-law's 1 year anniversary.

A year has gone by so quickly!

They now have a house, a dog, a kitten and a Columbus church family.  This year has been good to them!

I cherish much about this past year.  Their wedding was a big part of it.

Our daughter and her husband are back in Mansfield too.  They have a house, 2 cats, and are running The Coffee House at Crossroads.  A blessing indeed!

Tonight on our way home from Columbus we were listening to the oldie "Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking into the future..."

Logically you would think it would be time keeps on ticking into the past...   But time gone by definately moves us into the future.

It's been an awesome year and with 2013 just around the corner I anxiously wait to see what God has in store for us next year! 

what I learned today

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
(Matthew 7:1-5 ESV)

As I read the daily scripture reading that gets posted each morning on the Crossroads facebook page, I read this and wondered how much time in my life I've wasted being judgmental or worrying about what others are doing instead of focusing on what God has for me to do?  Humbling.

Why do I get SO preoccupied about things being fair, or judging someone based only on what I 'see' instead of knowing all the details, the whys.  And, most of all - what business is it of mine to judge at all?

One of the very reasons people are not more open to the local church is because they at some time in their lives have been 'judged' by the church or people claiming to know Christ.

Let's all STOP IT!  Love them with Jesus love and HE will convict their hearts if needed.

I believe once people become members at a church they fall under the church's authority and must be challenged if living in an ungodly way, that's not what I'm talking about.  I am talking about the daily scrutinizing and judging of one another - always pointing out others' weakness and sin.

When I read this passage today I could think of several people that I have gossiped about or secretly judged and that is DEAD wrong!  Do I want the Lord's judgement upon me in the same way I judge others  --  NO!

Remember this.... usually when you gossip or judge, it's because the very same weakness exists in you in one form or another.

weekend report

It was a great weekend once again at Crossroads.  We experienced the honor of recognizing our veterans, worshipping together, learned much from Pastor Tim's teaching and had opportunity to pray with our Elders and House Church pastors.  Such a blessed weekend together!  Here are some glimpses  of the looks and sounds that filled our auditorium.


Click on the below link to see the Veterans Day video we created.
Veterans Day video

Our setlist:
Creed - Mullins-Third Day
How Awesome is the Lord - Tomlin
Praise to Our King - Sgambellone (one of our worship leaders)
Hallelujah - ?
More Than Amazing - Brewster
Teaching:  Systematic Theology- Angelology Pt. 3 - Pastor Tim Armstrong

You can watch our services on Monday at www.crossroadswired.com

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

looking good on the outside

You may think by my title I am referring to something that physically looked good, not at all!

Tonight at Crossroads  we had a service that looked good, but for those of us involved behind the scenes it was anything but!

Don't get me wrong the Spirit was there as Pastor Tim presented a tremendous message and as people moved forward for prayer at the end of the service- it was a blessing.  But a wild scramble was happening backstage!

Our worship leader added a song earlier today that Pastor didn't know about, so he came up a song early which caused the band to leave the stage earlier than planned and the tech to scramble to get Pastor's sound up, EP screen changes and recordings started.  Our team ROCKS!!

And the way it went down was WAY better than what we had planned.

God is sovereign and in charge and amazing!  He knew how it needed to be and exactly how it would be, whether we planned it that way or not!

So blessed to be part of this team!

our home was blessed

Our home was truly blessed tonight when 5 young married couples came and ate dinner with us.  It was amazing to sit back and just watch them get to know one another and discuss marriage, and cars, and pets and life in general.

They blessed our house!

I count it such a privilege to know all of these young men and women and I look forward to years of doing life together in our homes and in ministry.

I am extremely tired so I will say goodnight.  But let me leave you with this thought.

If you currently aren't involved in a house church, volunteer ministry team or Crossroads group or CLASS, you really should find one to become involved in.  Attending Crossroads on the weekend and then just going back home is not enough to truly connect you.  It is very rewarding to serve and spend your time investing in one another.

caught on camera

As my hubby was flipping through movie titles tonight, I saw the title "Caught on Camera".  That sent chills down my spine.

Can you imagine being watched and filmed and not knowing it?  TERRIFYING!

Then I wondered, why should that scare me?  If I wasn't doing anything wrong who cares if someone watches.

So... I must stick it to me...Do I live EVERY moment as if I believe that God sees everything I do?   Absolutely, positively NOT!

I can think of several things I wouldn't have done today if I had actually been considering whether it was God honoring or not.  Nothing shameful in the eyes of the world,  just lazy stuff and a couple inconsiderate things.  I didn't live fully as if I were living for the King of Kings.

So what did your day look like?  Would you have been embarrassed if caught on camera?

Let's live as if we really believe He walks beside us.

HE knows no chaos

As I have talked to some friends and family about their experiences voting today it has really made me uneasy.  In one case a gentleman (I'm being kind) came in to a polling place where my daughter was voting and was totally disruptive and rude and yelling "how do I just vote for all democrats, what are these issues about? "  They very patiently explained they were not allowed to read or try to explain issues to anyone lest they be accused of influencing people.  You can about guess how that went over.

Anyway, I have just been somewhat tense all day, trying not to worry lest I show my Heavenly Father I really don't trust Him to be sovereign.  I also did not want to be guilty of doing what Pastor Tim taught us not to do last week, it doesn't count as handing your concerns and prayers off to the Lord when you keep going back to check on them over and over.  We need to lay them at His feet sincerely and just trust.

I have said before I have no fear about this election, I'm just apprehensive based on behavior around me.  So I decided Turbo Kick  was exactly what I needed to take my focus off of silly people and to blow off some steam!  And I did feel so much better.

Then while at Crossroads I sat down to work while my hubby was in the Elders meeting and oh my goodness God was there.  I began to review music for the next few weekends at Crossroads and to work on our stage layouts.  I felt blessed and re-focused immediately.

As I worked my playlist moved from the song we would be performing to a version of the Lord's Prayer by Tommy Walker.  By the end I had to check to make sure I wasn't singing out loud at the Coffee House.

Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory ...Forever!   Amen!

God speaks His eternal peace if we are simply quiet enough to receive it, and tonight I gladly take it, and hold it and claim it!  HIS is the kingdom!!

perfect Saturday

Today is what I would consider a perfect Saturday, and I am VERY thankful.

We slept in and as soon as we woke up our son stopped by to pick up some lighting for a video project he is shooting in town today.  So good to see him!

From that point on we have been sweeping both home and cars, washing, weed-whipping, and ironing.  Perfect.

These kind of tasks represent rest for me.  I'm not kidding.  Anything that can move at a slow pace, that is physical work and mindless brings me a sense of peace.  I think it has something to do with the fact that it creates orderliness too.  An orderly home brings me a great sense of calm when I enter.

As I work today I have been considering the state of my spiritual life as well.

So... I draw great pleasure and satisfaction from work completed in this temporary house, do I care as deeply about the orderliness of my walk with God?  Do my actions support that desire?

With this in mind, I lay down my 'stuff' and pick up the only item in this house that gives eternal satisfaction and purpose...the Word of God.

A perfect Saturday.

birthday shopping

Had a blast today with my mom and sister shopping for mom's birthday.

We've started this tradition of shopping and buying mom's gifts while we are with her, letting her pick them out instead of just picking things out ourselves and wrapping them.

We found a number of things along the way today, 75% off bead store going out of business, jewelry displays for our February silent auction, Christmas ornaments, thrift store bargains and a beautiful new purse for mom!

At one point today, during one of our many conversations something prompted me to begin thanking her for "how amazing she is".  We thanked her for how easy to get along with that she is, how she NEVER interferes in any of our business, how willing she has always been to help us and how she NEVER complains about anything!  We just took the opportunity (while we had her stuck in the car with us) to thank her for who she is!

It was a good day ending with Cheese Cake and pictures at Easton.  A perfect ending to a wonderful day!

God is good and my mom is a blessing straight from Him!

Happy birthday mom!

Eric and Alyssa joined us for dinner.

The 3 tired shoppers!