Monday, August 31, 2015

My day off

1 load of laundry is the extent of my cleaning today I've decided!  Protest!

Outside my window today I see little patches of orange and yellow, and although I LOVE the fall in Ohio, I am not prepared for what lies beyond it.  The horrible predictions for this winter are already out there so I choose to pretend it's further off then it is.

I'm trying to decide what will make it feel the most like a day off - the older you get the more you think about making time count.   And we were created to rest.... and spend time in the Word.

As I studied in Daniel today the devotion I was studying ended with this prayer, Father, capture the hearts of those lost in kingdoms of their own making — ourselves included — and seize our affections for you and you alone, the only true King. 


Kingdoms of our own making...whoa.  

I'm trying to view any potential conflict  or decision making first through the eyes of examining my own heart - does any push-back come from my 'selfish kingdom'?  From a 'how dare you question me' attitude?  I sure hope not, but what a question to use before reacting?

"My day-off prayer...Lord I'm SO interested in living for you, seeing with your perspective, understanding those that need help and that need you, and for a day of rest.  Amen."





Sunday, August 30, 2015

weekend report


It's hard to believe that another weekend is over - time is flying!

Pastor Dave did a great job communicating God's love while addressing sin in our lives.  So thankful for truth!

Our worship was engaging with a super informative time of Q & A at the end with our Senior High Pastor and Senior Pastor Dave Vance and a time of prayer where many felt lead to share very difficult things they are going through.  How privileged I felt to have someone that doesn't even know me share what they needed our help with and how much they valued our prayers.  Humbling to say the least that God could use me!

There is growth going on at Crossroads - I'm not just talking about numbers, I'm talking about
a movement among our next generations - preparing, growing in the Lord, serving...so good!

Here are pics from the ministry this weekend:

Jeanette Chase, I don't know how she does it!  She's our
Director of all the Family Ministries - does amazing work!
She graciously took care of announcements this weekend.
Sarah was one of our summer Worship interns and came
back to help us out this weekend!
Miguel is our other intern - he and Sarah are husband and wife
and completing school - I HIGHLY encourage husband/wife
interns - the best!
worship was strong and the congregation joined in like crazy!
student ministry vocalists are getting ready for next weekend!

Student Ministry band was busy preparing too!

And here are our elementary students preparing for worship leading!
Our setlist:
Since it was a 5th weekend our regular 4 worship teams take a break and we usually use the students, but we thought we'd save them for next week.  So our 3 staff worship leaders and our two summer worship interns lead with our band

Multiplied - our summer worship Cedarville intern Miguel lead this song beautifully!
Announcements:  Jeanette Chase, Director of Family Ministry
My Heart is Yours
From the Inside Out
Cornerstone

Message:  Pt. 7 The Design Confusion; Homosexuality - Pastor Dave Vance
Q & A - this segment was a Q & A about the most asked questions regarding this topic and our Pastor invited our High School Pastor to join him on stage.

Come As You Are - Closing song while people came forward for prayer
Dismissed with Prayer - Pastor Dave

To watch our services on line go to crossroadswired.com

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


Saturday, August 29, 2015

my words

The Lord has been bringing to mind lately, that ALL of the words that come out of my mouth should point those hearing them toward Him.  No idle words.

Convicting to say the least.

According to everything I see playing out around me, it could be very possible that there may be a limited amount of time left during which we can freely speak and write freely.  So I'm feeling prompted each time I open my mouth that it needs to count.  No idle words.

It's made me think about everywhere I've placed or spoken my words.


  • I've written texts - some of which are pretty sarcastic at times.
  • I've written blogs - although I'm usually pretty careful with my posts, my goal isn't to criticize it's to journal my own life instead of writing it long-hand.
  • I've spoken openly in front of people, and teams and family.  
  • AND I've spoken behind closed doors - nothing evil but nothing I would speak directly to the subject of my closed-door conversations.
My suspicion is that anything that can't be spoken to someone's face should not be spoken.  

Every minute of our lives, every second that He's given us has to be about living, talking and acting like a child of God.  A life lived well, words chosen carefully and every participation in something needs to be measured against the guidelines He laid out to us in His Word.

This side of heaven we will never be perfect, but, I long to please Him - to hear "Well done thou Good and Faithful Servant..."






Thursday, August 27, 2015

betrayed

I've been working on Christmas@Crossroads this week.

I am once again feeling privileged beyond my dreams to be able to take pieces and parts and form the skeleton of what the services will become with everyone's contributions and surrounded by prayer.

In searching the web for all the latest ideas and gadgets and bells and whistles I found myself in tears watching the simplest of things.
I Love this drawing

One short drama I watched was of actors portraying the experience of Mary being told by an angel that she was with child, and not only pregnant without intimate relationship, but carrying the long awaited Savior of the world.

The actress portrayed beautifully the innocence of a young girl being told SHE was the chosen mother of the Savior.

Her belief and trust in the Lord had to be HUGE.  Amazing!

Then the actor that played Joseph was told by Mary she was pregnant.  He cried, felt completely betrayed, probably accused her of being unfaithful, and moved from utter disbelief to horror and again burst into tears and left.

It was the first time I've ever really thought about how betrayed Joseph must have felt.  He thought he'd just lost his promised wife to another man, he knew what a pregnancy out of wedlock would mean for Mary, and he loved her.  Even in his deepest moments of feeling betrayed, he loved her which caused a deep pain the likes of which I've never known.

And then Joseph's suspicion of betrayal was erased as an angel of the Lord told him not to hesitate to take Mary for his wife.  And that he had been chosen to be the Savior's earthly father, can you imagine?

Would you believe that kind of message?

These were normal human beings chosen to be used of God in a supernatural way that only He could orchestrate.  Almighty God had to reduce His only son to that of a human to save His creation.

Now to somehow communicate that message to our congregation...

It will of course only happen with that same divine help from the God of the Universe who is still reaching out to his fallen creation.

Please pray for us!


Monday, August 24, 2015

weekend report

You would think after being part of something for 18 years, it would start to feel old, or normal - but being part of the Crossroads staff feels brand new every day!  This weekend was a prime example - before I give you a lot of detail take a look visually at 'some' of what went on!


Friday night Shelby Family Swim Night - kids helping
to prepare for the guests!
amazing choir




Our High School being taught the same thing as the main room
helping them to learn how to prepare for marriage - so good!

Jesse teaching the Middle School students


Sunday night concert - Trouper up first!
Trouper
Milo & Mike Knell's Simple Fire truck - serving great pizza
at our Sunday night concerts!
 There's never a dull moment!  We all enjoyed a Family Swim Night on Friday night and it continued straight through into the wee hours of Monday morning following our Young Adult Sponsored concerts!

Our Setlist:

Announcements/welcome:  Jocelyn Nicolas - Student Ministry Coordinator/Asst. Worship Leader

Set A Fire
Broken Vessel (Amazing Grace)
God Be Praised
The Lord Reigns

Message:  Pt. 5: Submission By Design - Pastor Dave Vance

To watch our services go to Crossroadswired.com

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



Monday, August 17, 2015

weekend report

It's only fitting that I find myself sitting in the hospital waiting room at 3:00 a.m., waiting to meet my first granddaughter!  It's just the most magnificent ending to a truly God-filled amazing weekend!

We were not certain Pastor Dave would make it due to being ill this past week - but he did and his message about what husbands should be to their wives was so good!   This summer has been so strong at Crossroads, I'm beginning to wonder (and hope), that we'll be packed to capacity this Fall?!  The youth was close to their limits based on 'fire codes'!  How exciting!

We topped the weekend off with a beautiful demonstration of how God is moving in people's lives at Crossroads by baptizing eighty-something people at our annual outdoor baptism!

It's just been amazing!


I love it when the brass play - so powerful and fun!
Milo and Jim carrying on!



The Tech department hard at work!

Aaron getting the mix just right!

Jesse and Dylan - I love our students!

Linda and Claire just saying hi!

Eric and Jesse baptizing!

Oliver happy as can be with the pizza snack at the pond!
Anxiously awaiting their baptism!


Praise team leading us in worship!
Our Setlist:

Blessed Be Your Name - instrumental
Victory In Jesus - Special Music
Confirmation of new Elders
Made New
My Heart is Yours
Courageous - special music
By Design Video transition
Message: Pt. 4 - Leaders By Design - husbands/ Pastor Dave Vance
Exit Special: Courageous

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

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


Tuesday, August 11, 2015

my day off

I have an opportunity this morning to serve a new group of people who will be meeting at Crossroads, and I couldn't be more excited!

Pastor Dave is an encourager of identifying passion areas within our jobs, so I've been thinking about the things that I love doing, and serving guests at Crossroads, communicating the message of Jesus thematically through the inclusion of creative pieces within a service or event, and producing events are definitely my favorites. During the Leadership Summit I saw a post that said "18 Friday's until Christmas", so as soon as the details of the Summit ended I was looking through my Christmas notes again.

I have two primary areas of focus and development right now, our next teaching series and Christmas - so here we go!

I get asked occasionally what my job entails, so I thought I'd list some of what's involved.  I'm considering offering a CLASS in the Winter that would allow a few people to create a service or event, and the opportunity to hangout behind the scenes one weekend.  We'll see!

When we create a new series these items are involved:
  • Pastor decides on title and content of the teachings
  • We brainstorm about a fitting 'visual'
  • A video promo is usually shot or created to use for advertising within the services as well as on Social Media
  • Our graphic designer begins to develop the ideas for print:  this visual will be used on the Pastor's Notes; Background on the stage; advertising; archives for messages; website
  • Worship team works on thematic song selection for all the services falling within this series
  • I write scripts for all of the announcement segments
  • We shoot any videos that need to be used as transitions or featured pieces
  • Meticulously go over every element in each service in our programming meetings to make sure they all connect and support the topic and that nothing distracts from the teaching.
  • The organization of any additional artists or set design work
I could continue, but you get the idea.  I'm blessed beyond anyone I know, I love what I do and as I'm enjoying my day off, I have just been praising the Lord from whom all blessings flow!  



Monday, August 10, 2015

weekend report

When a service contains an anointed teaching, the Lord's Supper and amazing worship - well, it's just a little taste of heaven.

This service came at the conclusion of a long week of multiple, unbelievably good events and opportunities to serve.  It was the perfect conclusion.

We anticipate the same this weekend as we baptize many Christ followers ready to publicly proclaim their choice to follow Him and their desire for their life to publicly show it!  A message I got today was from a friend telling me his entire family is going to be baptized, that made me rejoice all day long!

Here are just a few of the elements of our services this weekend shown in pictures.

our beautiful communion table (thanks Jackie)

Those Tech guys running things!

a breathtaking moment...

Always willing to listen!

Our summer crowds!
 Our Setlist:

Opening Video announcements & Prayer

By The River - special music

Stand Alone Message:  Baptism - Lead Pastor Dave Vance

Down To The River To Pray - special music
Lead Me To The Cross
Jesus Paid It All

Communion transition

Amazing Grace
This is Amazing Grace

Closing Remarks and challenge to sign up for Baptism

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

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