Wednesday, August 31, 2016

weekend report

This has been quite the week - daughter moving - babysitting grandkids, and I've never been more thankful for all the amazing opportunities I continue to have being close to our children and grandchildren!!!

But I must say, in the middle of personal crazy schedules, this past weekend was AMAZING!!

We heard one of the best messages on community that I remember ever hearing and our congregation stepped up!  And it's been interesting that in my reading this week I've come across several sections that talk about our design not to do life alone, it's amazing how God points out so many things to support what's been taught on the weekend!

And our worship was absolutely fantastic!   A lady came to me after one of the services in tears just talking about how much it meant to her - I'm so thankful for our teams!  She wanted to talk to Jocelyn, our leader this weekend.  Cool opportunities!

Here are some shots of the weekend.

Announcements:  Claire is our Communications Coordinator and
does a great job on the announcements.

Jocelyn sang Hands of God to beautifully support what Pastor Dave taught on community



Pastor Dave demonstrated what community was not -
not an inward focus on you.


Instead community is on outward surrounding of the people you
are in community with - surrounding you with protection and care!
Our Setlist:

Worship Intro Video

Open Up The Heavens
One Thing Remains
Resurrecting

Message:  Hupostasis:  Community - Lead Pastor Dave Vance

Ending Special:  Hands Of God 

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

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




Saturday, August 27, 2016

eyewitness

This amazing, peaceful, beautiful Saturday is beginning nice and slow, and it's a day where I get to decide how I'm going to spend every single minute of it!  Thankful!

I get to begin by reading I John 1:1-4

In this passage it reminds us that this Savior we follow is not just a religion.  There were eyewitnesses that watched every bit of prophesy fulfilled. They were taught it, they got to witness Jesus raising people from the dead and healing people that had no hope of being healthy again, they watched in horror as their Savior, teacher and personal friend, was beaten and crucified, and most of all they got to see Him IN PERSON risen from the dead AND watched the ascension back to heaven.

God planned it this way.  Because we're just human people easily swayed, He knew it would just be another religion for people to consider unless He removed ALL DOUBT by having multiple eyewitnesses!  The Father let Jesus' followers spend time with him after the resurrection, to touch him and even let the doubters stick their finger through his pierced hands.  God could have resurrected his son and healed those scars, but he knew men would doubt unless they saw them for themselves!

In one of Beth Moore's books she talks about how "once they saw it for themselves, there was no holding them back - they had to share it with everyone they crossed paths with for the rest of their lives.  Even if it meant they would be persecuted or killed"

OH that I could be totally rocked by Him daily to the point that I can not stop talking about Him and the hope that's only found in Christ!




Tuesday, August 23, 2016

weekend report

Well it was another glorious weekend to be in the House of the Lord at Crossroads, as well as outside!!

Pastor Dave wrapped up the Ecclesiastes series teaching us about Solomon's words concerning the vanity of life without God.  So powerful!

I love our worship together as The Church! 


The unknown element of the weekend was provided when one of our lay-pastor's families decided they needed to do something connected to flood relief in Louisiana.  So we made a surprise announcement to our congregation that they too could be involved in serving the babies of Louisiana by contributing desperately needed baby items.  And it came piling in as soon as it was announced. We have the privilege of being part of an enormously generous church!



It takes a community to pull-off all the details in these services and events - and everyone steps up to play a part!   The parking lot guys moved from helping at Crossroads to setting everything up at baptism - here waiting for that first car to arrive!  I LOVE serving with these two faithful men!

Our Young Adult (YA) group, is fast becoming a very important
part of our ministry!  So thankful for them too!

Our praise team decked out in the 20 year shirts!  So thankful!


We moved from a powerful time of worship to the beautiful outdoors to baptize 60 people!  Seeing those 60 standing by the lake knowing that this decision represents a changed life, a life determined to follow Christ is nearly overwhelming!  We celebrated as each person entered the water.

Even though each person being baptized was equally exciting - the most powerful to me personally were parents baptizing their children and staff baptizing the students and friends whose lives into which they've invested time and teaching!

I'm not sure anything makes me rejoice more than seeing dad's who are obedient, strong followers of Christ moving their children through phases of spiritual maturity!  There were several dad's who got to baptize their children - 3 of them were staff members and one of our Elders.
Scot, Pastor Dave and Pastor Doug Taylor and sons




Scott VanLou's (Elder) testimony was so moving as he talked about his son and then the fact none of us knew, that his grandfather had been part of the people involved in creating the very lake in which he was baptizing his son!  This kind of story just doesn't randomly happen - God knew who had a story to tell and it was definitely Scott!  So powerful!














Dennis (one of our Crossroads Video Directors), thought he was just attending the baptism - but, joined right in to help us capture shots of this beautiful day!

Thank you to all who served at Crossroads this weekend and at the baptism!


Our Setlist:

Phil Wickham announcement!
Phil Wickham concert

Announcements

Louder
Come Lord Jesus (Even so Come)
Oceans
No Longer Slaves

Message:  Ecclesiastes Pt. 8 - Finally - Lead Pastor Dave Vance

Exit Song: Louder

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

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




Saturday, August 20, 2016

humility

humility:
the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people.

Here's the struggle with humility.

When I speak falsely or exaggeratedly about anyone  I'm saying - I'm better than she is.  But it gets worse, even when we say things out loud that are true that could be left unsaid we loose our humility.

It's just that simple.  And it's just that difficult.

Another part of humility is being able to accept advice and correction without getting angry.

The bible very bluntly says in Proverbs 12:1, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid."

Well, that's pretty plain!

We can't learn or advance in our spiritual walk without the input of trusted friends.  Even trusting them to be honest about the areas we are lacking in....

I read today in a Bible study I'm doing, "it requires grace to receive what may, at the time,  feel like a wound, believing that wounds from a true friend can be trusted."  

Wounds from a friend hurt the worst, but perhaps don't last long when delivered with love?

Humility....sigh...

Oh how I long to be known as humble, but oh the journey to get there... asking the Lord to help us, do you want to try?


Monday, August 15, 2016

my day off

I LOVE the olympics, so on this day off I'm catching up on what I've missed the past few days.

As the news coverage picks and chooses from the vast amount of events what it will focus on, I notice something disturbing.

An agenda becomes clear as they choose to promote insignificant moments instead of athletic accomplishments, they're clearly moments that support their agenda to push us toward their view on controversial issues.

The funny thing is that no matter how hard they try the Lord puts in an amazing athlete whose trust is fully in Him to combat the agenda.  They speak of how they pray before each competition, they talk about how important their family is to them, and they give God all the glory for their accomplishment.

This forces the secular media to try again.

This should not be surprising.  We were created to believe in a higher power, to worship something and all this disobedience is nothing more than that struggle played out.

One of the stories in the bible where we see this is Noah's ark.   Can you imagine how ridiculous it seemed to everyone watching - Noah spending his life building this giant boat, and they had never seen rain?

And then at the appointed time, the door shut and the rain began that drowned everyone not inside.

And so it goes as it has all through history until the appointed time when the Lord says enough and His agenda becomes fully complete the world will search for something to satisfy themselves outside of trusting God.

The olympics has caused me to marvel at God's creation of these amazing, strong athletes while causing me to pray for those so desperate for the only thing that would truly bring satisfaction, a relationship with our Lord.








Sunday, August 14, 2016

Weekend Report

We have had a week to remember.  Not quite sure when I've been more tired - but, thankful so very thankful for the opportunities the Lord continues to give us at Crossroads!

We hosted the Global Leadership Summit Simulcast and got to serve local leaders as they attended the event and met with their teams in different classrooms at Crossroads.  A great chance to attend a top leadership conference without leaving our home town!

We quickly re-set the ministry in preparation for an amazing weekend.   We gave out every single visitors packet we had and enjoyed a fabulous time of worship in a full auditorium followed by a powerful message from Pastor Dave!  I love the Fall when families begin to prepare for school - get back into a regular routine and come back to church!

I walked around the ministry today and tried to take some shots of areas I don't always get to.   It fills me with thankfulness for all the volunteers and staff serving behind the scenes - each one equally important!

Jeff and Patty worked to provide 20 yr shirts for the congregation
Our elementary students worshipped 


Arnie directed another great weekend - he puts us all at ease
with his ability to problem solve and keep everything running smoothly!


Our faithful parking team provided umbrellas for our attendees

Sergio made sure that the lights came up just at the right time

The guys did a great job leading us this weekend! 

Our video room is always full of hard work to make sure we get all of
Pastor Dave's notes, the song lyrics and all of our videos!

These ladies were one of the Welcome Center teams that gave
out every 1st time visitor packets that we had.

So thankful for these team members!

Our Setlist:

Video Announcements

Open Up The Heavens
Good, Good Father
It Is Well
My Heart is Yours

Series Bumper Video

Message:  Ecclesiastes Pt. 7:  The Test of Unpredictability

Exit Song:  My Heart Is Yours

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

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

Have a blessed week!

Weekend Report

We have had a week to remember.  Not quite sure when I've been more tired - but, thankful so very thankful for the opportunities the Lord continues to give us at Crossroads!

We hosted the Global Leadership Summit Simulcast and got to serve local leaders as they attended the event and met with their teams in different classrooms at Crossroads.  A great chance to attend a top leadership conference without leaving our home town!

We quickly re-set the ministry in preparation for an amazing weekend.   We gave out every single visitors packet we had and enjoyed a fabulous time of worship in a full auditorium!  I love the Fall when families begin to prepare for school - bet back into a regular routine and come back to church!

I walked around the ministry today and tried to take some shots of areas I don't always get to.   It fills me with thankfulness for all the volunteers and staff serving behind the scenes - each one equally important!

Jeff and Patty worked to provide 20 yr shirts for the congregation
Our elementary students worshipped 


Arnie directed another great weekend - he puts us all at ease
with his ability to problem solve and keep everything running smoothly!


Our faithful parking team provided umbrellas for our attendees

Sergio made sure that the lights came up just at the right time

The guys did a great job leading us this weekend! 

Our video room is always full of hard work to make sure we get all of
Pastor Dave's notes, the song lyrics and all of our videos!

These ladies were one of the Welcome Center teams that gave
out every 1st time visitor packets that we had.

So thankful for these team members!

Our Setlist:

Video Announcements

Open Up The Heavens
Good, Good Father
It Is Well
My Heart is Yours

Series Bumper Video

Message:  Ecclesiastes Pt. 7:  The Test of Unpredictability

Exit Song:  My Heart Is Yours

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

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

Have a blessed week!

Sunday, August 7, 2016

weekend report

It was a great weekend as we listened to Pastor Dave talk passionately about the importance of baptism!

We had a wonderful time of worship this weekend and I loved having several student band members on our team!  We even had a mother - son combination in the band, it was great!


Mom singing lead on this song with son on synth behind!  So good!

Thanks to Amy Sloan for serving on our team - we'll miss her as
she goes away to school!


Our setlist:

Announcements on video

Simple Pursuit 
Lead Me To The Cross
Open Up the Heavens
Lay Me Down

Message: The Rite - Pastor Dave Vance

Special Music:  Beneath The Water (I Will Rise)

To watch our services go to crossroadwired.com

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



weekend report

It was a great weekend as we listened to Pastor Dave talk passionately about the importance of baptism!

We had a wonderful time of worship this weekend and I loved having several student band members on our team!  We even had a mother - son combination in the band, it was great!


Mom singing lead on this song with son on synth behind!  So good!

Thanks to Amy Sloan for serving on our team - we'll miss her as
she goes away to school!


Our setlist:

Announcements on video

Simple Pursuit 
Lead Me To The Cross
Open Up the Heavens
Lay Me Down

Message: The Rite - Pastor Dave Vance

Special Music:  Beneath The Water (I Will Rise)

To watch our services go to crossroadwired.com

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