a different Christmas

 This will be a different Christmas for sure!  

My daughter's first baby arrived early so I had the privilege of being down in NC with her for the past week 1/2.  What a joy to see how amazing she and Jared are parenting this little one, already pointing him to Jesus!  I have loved every moment of it!

Being here also means I'm less involved then normal with Crossroads' Christmas.  I still have responsibilities but missing all the final meetings and tweaks to the plans.  Christmas was always one of my favorite ministry seasons although some of the pastor's I've worked with didn't particularly love it - ha ha!

It's always a magnificent thing to watch everything fall into place as God's hand touches our work and forms it into exactly what His will is.  None of us ever dreamed COVID would still be controlling much of what is happening around us by December, but alas it is.  Still, I see God's leading even in things like Pastor Dave's suggestion for live animals this year - and the fact that they have to be outside.  This removed all worry about COVID by wearing masks and being spread out from one another in the fresh air!

It gives everyone at Crossroads the opportunity to invite anyone they've been wanting to invite to church to stop by...even if it's just to see the animals!  Please use this opportunity to invite families, even if you don't think they'll stay for the service it may be Step #1 in getting them to Crossroads.  Meanwhile inside the Gospel of Jesus will be celebrated through beautiful song and God filled teaching! 

Everything we plan is intentional, everything pointing them to the Savior! We'll have people out with our animals in front of the church to welcome everyone and chat with them about Christ's birth - we just need you to help us get those people here!  We'll even have a camel!

Remember if you invite people with Elementary aged kids or younger, there will be children's services just for them at all of the 5:00 p.m. services - December 22, 23 & 24.  

Even in the ugliness of all the sickness, we can still safely worship and honor King Jesus while remaining a safe distance from one another! I'll be back from NC soon and hope to see you there!

a friend named Dan

 I have a friend named Dan.  

Nearly half of my life has been spent working in ministry with him, first at a Lexington church and then at Crossroads Church.

But I've always known of him even before we met.

His reputation in the community as the top choir leader, traveling with high school choirs around the country winning top honors everywhere they went, while leading congregations in worship was very well known.

He's a guy I admire for many reasons.  He has lead me personally to understand what true worship is as I've sat in worship services under his leadership!  He's treated me respectfully as I became his boss for many years even though he was the more qualified of the two of us at times.  And the early reasons I looked up to him was based on how ugly his experience was many years ago with his Christian community involving unfaithfulness, unfair loss of his job and sin in a previous local ministry, as well as his personal battle with illness.

I know many people who disagree with one thing in their church and leave instead of staying to work it out.  No church is perfect.  He never left until now as he retires.

I've seen him remain in the Lord, searching for His will and faithfully serving as he lead us in worship!

Talent is one thing, but a lifestyle that points people to the Savior is what I long for and that's what I've seen in Dan.

As Dan retires from Crossroads, I just wanted him to know how much I look up to him and how much his dependable, talented, kind leading will be missed!!  May the Lord bless you Dan in this new season!

Events+Response = Outcome

I was reading in Jonah this morning and came across my notes from a series Pastor Dave, taught previously at Crossroads Church.

This note caught my eye and I felt it was SO applicable to what we're experiencing in our country right now.  Events+ Response = Outcome.  PROFOUND!   He went on to remind us that the only part of that equation we get to participate in or have control over is our Response!

God allows or creates the event because He knows what needs to happen in order to accomplish HIS outcome! 

I've seen a lot of disappointing responses to our current circumstances, so what do you says brothers and sisters, can we lay our opinions, our worries and our whining aside and trust God for the outcome?  Am I confused and disappointed in our current circumstance?  Of course! I had many  plans and projects that I had invested tons of times into that all got cancelled!

But, I believe fully that all God needs from me is a controlled - godly response.  And possibly to just be quiet!  Will you join me?

Fear and Trust are Opposites

God's given us today, July 10th.
How will I spend it?

If I'm scared, I am not trusting.

Fear and Trust are opposites and cannot exist at the same time.

I thought back to a recent conversation I had with a friend expressing that I was worried that it will be impossibly to even have an honest election.  I ended the conversation by saying, "but the Lord needs all of this to happen in order to fulfill his plan, so we just have to rest in Him".

As I walked away from that conversation I found myself not long afterward worrying this time about 'defunding the police departments'...

Did my worry honor the Lord?  Did it change tomorrow?  Did it demonstrate trust?

No, it instead supports a lack of trust.  AND wastes time the Lord gifted me with by allowing me to have today.  And over a period of time worry can actually shorten my life by ruining my health.

Matthew 6:27 & 34

27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

What I'm trying to be diligent about is going to prayer the minute I find myself slipping back into worry.  For me this means I need to avoid listening to news and anything that takes my eyes off of Jesus.  This refocuses my mind toward TODAY and the things that God has placed before me to care for, work on, and spend this day doing.  We have the opportunity right now to be the biggest witnesses we've ever been if we can demonstrate a calmness, a kindness and reliance on God, and refuse to become part of the frantic, endless search for answers the world is pursuing!

A watching world cannot deny God's power when they see us rest in Him instead of getting caught up in the worry frenzy around us!

a good name

Proverbs 22:1
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold."

Today's study presented this challenge, "Is having a good name a priority in your life?"

When your name comes up in conversations is it described as credible?  These days I think the dominating goal in life seems to be, "it's ok as long as I feel good".  This seems to apply to what people say, who they look up to and how they live their lives with little regard for others.  The complete opposite of how God wants us to live our lives.

We either attract people to a savior they're desperately in need of, or drive them away by how we live our lives and what our priorities area.  A good name attracts them to Christ because you're different than what the world is offering.

Everyone is currently taking offense to every opinion shared.  We now have to live terrified of making a mistake, saying anything that others may take offense to and just plain worried about saying what we really believe is true and right.

That's why it's become even more important to live so that you have a good name!  The one thing we know is true and right is a life lived in the Lord Jesus.  Even if the world doesn't think they want this - a desire for understanding eternity and the savior is deep within them and our lives can be used to make that desire a reality in their lives!

Join me in reading Psalm 112, about a good name today and let's begin to be part of the shift away from the things of this world that will never satisfy, and point them to the only fulfilling thing in this world! 

Live well today!

throw me in the sea

It's so interesting that Jonah knew exactly what the Lord was asking him to do, but still tried to run away and take a ship away from where God pointed him.  God sent a huge storm.

The story talks about all the other men on the ship throwing over cargo and asking one another to "call on their god" and ask him to reveal what is causing the storm.

When they found Jonah sleeping down below they asked him to call on his god.

Jonah knew exactly what needed to happen in order to appease God, he told the men "Throw me into the sea and the storm will cease!"   The men were hesitant to do this and kept trying to row back to shore until they finally realized doing as Jonah asked may be their only option.  So they did.

Immediately the storm stopped and the men turned to Jonah's God, the only true God, praising Him for sparing their lives.

In the past when I studied this passage I always focused on Jonah's story - how God sent a whale to get him where He had previously asked him to go.  An amazing miracle!

But this time I paid attention to the whole story and realized that the first reason God perhaps had Jonah on the ship was to introduce these lost men to Him!  Think of the story they had to tell their families and friends!!  How the minute Jonah hit the water everything was still!  

Our journey toward God is the greatest testimony we have to help us reach others for Christ!  My prayer is for a very discerning spirit to recognize what God's calling me to do with my time.  By living obediently and growing closer to Him each day, I hopefully won't ever have to be thrown into the sea to get my attention!

what I didn't miss

I had the opportunity a week ago to get away and spend time in NC with our daughter and son-in-law.

What I didn't miss was all the hatred being spewed in the news.  I never remember a time in my lifetime where hatred was stated with absolutely no regard for another's feelings or well being.  I never watched any of it or listened to any of it the whole time I was away.  And I have to say I feel more rested and so thankful!

This is our son-in-law with his mom Trish
working at the donut window.

This is an picture just of their event center and Market - 
there are over 400 acres of orchards and property.

What I got to experience instead was family coming together around a dream and countless hours of hard work, and I got to see that dream become reality while being surrounded by a family that ALL love the Lord!  

Refusing to watch the news however, doesn't mean I am unaware of what's taking place or all the injustice going on.  We've been told that to keep silent on the maters behind the beginning of all of this violence is wrong, and then criticized again when doing the exact opposite, voicing our opinion.  I can't imagine what the family is going through that lost their son and brother - and having it replayed over and over.  And I'm also sad for the innocent businesses that are being destroyed and robbed.  Some family businesses that have poured their finances and endless hours into - only to be lost forever.  Are these actions justified due to racism.  Of course not, I believe the opposite is true, it's probably creating even more hatred and fear between law enforcement and those breaking the law.  So what are we to do as believers?

During a commercial last night,  I caught a glance of people including law enforcement 'take a knee' in remembrance of the loss of life and it brought this verse to mind. 

Phil 2:9-11

Therefore God has highly exalted himself and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of JESUS every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!

Can you picture that?  EVERY KNEE - good and evil - every created human being will take a knee in confession to the sovereignty of God!!!  Admitting that Jesus Christ is Lord!!

I believe what we need to do as believers is saturate ourselves in scripture and prayer for our country and watch diligently for God opportunities to make Him known to people that are desperately searching for reason and hope right now.

Ron was approached by a young man as he was doing yard work the other day who said, "I hear you're a pastor, can I ask you a few questions?"  He went on to describe his life and that he doesn't know how to decide what he should do with his life.  Ron talked to him for quite a while and suggested some materials that might help him too.  This conversation may not have happened if there wasn't fear about Covid and all the violence going on, only God knows...

So, we must show everyone around us that Jesus is the only answer, we must watch for chances to serve those who are mistreated or scared - this could be the greatest period of evangelist opportunity in our lifetime if we stand confident in Jesus!!

covid-19

COVID-19

⇪

Two lines from a song I heard last week just keep playing in my mind...

Things aren't falling apart...
They're falling into place!

The inconveniences that have occurred in my life due to this pandemic are annoying.  Some friends are positive it's strictly political, others are sure it was caused by another country, and still some think it's just a matter of the US spending money on the wrong things and not being prepared themselves.  The only conclusion I can draw safely I think, is that it is a life-threatening virus combined with other physical weakness/disease.

But it has not touched my extended family, so I've listened to the news but gone about my 'socially distancing way'.

This morning was one of those mornings when as I read updates I was overwhelmed with just a small glimpse of what this is causing regardless of origin.

Requests for prayer talked about a gentlemen with a life threatening illness that was also found to have covid-19 when scheduled for a much needed surgery.  Other family members tested positive too.

And as our Missions' Director described how completely helpless some of the foreign villages are right now that our Crossroads teams have served before  ...  no way to get food - no way to get life saving supplies, I felt deep, deep sympathy and it drove me to prayer.

I see what the Bible teaches about God's people running back to Him when troubling times occur, and that's what's been happening with me.  Every time I get overwhelmed with sorrow and go to prayer instead of worrying or complaining about anything in my life - it's proof again - tough times draw us back to the Savior.

Wouldn't you think, especially those of us who are now considered "mature believers" would just stay there - praying and worshipping and not even notice the trouble around us?  It's embarrassing to see the depths we must fall to remain in fellowship with the Lord.  It's what He designed us for.

Our country is broken - this is when believers need to be the church!  Things aren't falling apart...they'll falling into place!  This is the exact place God's needs for His plans to be complete!

We aren't physically together but have enjoyed uninterrupted teachings and worship for years -
TIME TO USE IT!

I need a hug

Today my sister and I took some groceries to my mom. 

We kept our distance from one another, but I NEED a hug! 

We spent time laughing and cleaning and surveying what she has so we can re-stock her supplies.  We watched our favorite tv show all the while staying 6 ft. apart.  I really wanted to grab my mom and hug her!

I wore my mask, washed my hands multiple times at my mom's house and my sister wiped every surface we touched while we were there with disinfectant.  We will do what our government recommends, but the minute I'm allowed to, I'm going in for a hug!!!

I'm thankful for family, and friends and my church family - but I didn't realize how much I am physically missing everyone until today - hand shakes, hugs, high-fives - ANYTHING...who thought we'd ever not be allowed to touch?

I think it's almost over, and again, I can't imagine how hopeless and lonely it would be without the Hope we find in Jesus.

Hug whoever you're allowed to hug tonight and praise the Lord for that person like never before!

I have to admit...

I have to admit, before this time of isolation, I was a hurrier - for the first time in a very long time He has my full attention!

Considering this time at home I think of some the phrases I've heard and ignored my whole life describing slowing down - resting...

Take time to smell the roses

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

The best things in life are free

Enjoy the little things because one day you may look back and realize they were the big things

As the sun hit my tulips this morning it caused me to catch my breath at their beauty.  If things were normal I probably would have rushed by.  Instead I took time to consider, why  does the almighty God care about such detail?  It caused me to praise Him and thank Him for his attention to detail in creation - things that all the hard work and hurrying around could never duplicate...

Matthew 6:38 & 39
And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.  Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Today I encourage you to take a hard look around you - maybe go outside while we still have a glimpses of the sun (probably won't last long in Ohio!).  And worship the God that controls every detail of all of creation, including the details of your life!

now what

So...our days are filled with the following right now...  so now what?  All we hear are

warnings about face masks, gloves, staying 6 feet apart...

so far much lower numbers of people with the virus then projected....what should we believe?

separated in our own homes - I even read recently about a husband and wife staying in separate rooms of the house (yes, they get along fine)...

people are scared and now people are getting mad about not being "allowed" to return to work...

a beat up freedom

worry about losing our freedom.. it's a beat up freedom right now

people sure we'll all be forced to have embedded chips put in us (666?)

required vaccines that some are completely against

certain people supposedly taking advantage of a problem to promote their own political agenda

I could go on, and on to describe our current situation, but here is the only question we who call Jesus Lord need to consider. 

Do we really believe He is who He says He is? 
If so, then we also believe that the Lord needed all of this to happen in order to fulfill His plan.  He allowed it to happen...He is just as much in control now as He was when we were all enjoying the freedom to go wherever we wanted to.  Right?

Although we may all have some difficult situations to face as a result of the massive shut down, if we abide in Him - we need not worry, we should not worry but be continuously looking around asking Him what He needs us to do.

In difficulty the Gospel ALWAYS grows - we may get to see a revival like we've never seen in our lifetime! 

It may be difficult and very hard, and our freedom may not look the same - but, it's going to look exactly like Jesus needs it to look!  So, let's look constantly for any opportunity the Lord gives us to spread the hope that only a life in Him has a possibility of enjoying!  Let's look very different from the hopeless around us. 

Stay strong in Him!

things to do

Without exaggerating I probably have 20 times this many to go through

Besides the work I've done for my real job, I'm also trying to make this time of slowing down productive at home.

One of my final projects is that of sorting through 61 years of pictures.

As I look at each picture they each are attached to a specific memory and many people and times that I can see now I took for granted.  Sometimes quickly coming and going as if I assumed I'd always have them close.

Many are gone now,  One I miss so much is my dad, but I'm glad he's  already with our Savior or he'd be ranting like a crazy man about the government and anything else he heard on TV!  He was a blast, although slightly off-base on some of his facts!  Ha Ha!

We just received a copy of the notes Crossroads has received thanking the staff for calling and caring for our congregation in this time of loneliness and uncertainty.

But one sentence stuck out to me the most.  It was from a dear Crossroads' lady that said...

Things are not falling apart, but falling into place!

SO PROFOUND!  It simply summarized everything completely!

Within my list of things to do, I plan most of all to take a look at everything I hear and see with the eyes and ears of someone anticipating and expecting to begin to see what God intends it to accomplish!  Just as Pastor Dave taught in the story of Joseph - what looks like chaos to us is just part of what has to happen to accomplish God's plan!

Exciting!!

uncertain future

I'm sure this time away from work and school has had a different meaning to everyone, but for me, God's driven home that fact that the future is uncertain.  Certainly not something we should put any trust in!

It's not something I haven't known, but perhaps something I haven't believed?

My job has always required that I'm focused on what's next - future plans for Crossroads.  I rarely even think about what's currently happening at Crossroads except for evaluating events and the current services and attending of course.  Even while I'm home I'm looking ahead at our next trips, and guests and plans...wake up call - spend more time focused on what you know is sure, this day that God has given me.

My desire is to live 'sold-out' to the Lord, and while the things I'm involved in around me aren't wrong, they're what I put first a lot of days.  All you have to do is look at what takes up my time each day and it doesn't take long to realize just how pre-occupied I am with stuff.

Based on what my life sometimes looks like you can tell I assume nothing's going to change, like the future is certain just the way it is.

This disruption has been a wake-up-call for me personally.  I don't know if we'll go through as bad a time as other countries have before the rate of sickness slows down, but I think for another few weeks we need to assume it will and take FULL advantage of focused time with God and family and "stay in".

When have we ever had a bigger opportunity to be home?  To create a new routine with priorities where they should be.  Not giving the Lord a little more time out of our day - as if that's doing Him a favor...but by building our day with time for Him truly being central to all I do.

Pastor Wendell just shared an article with the executive team that contained this quote:

“While the world around us is filled with fear and uncertainty, this is our opportunity to shine like lights in the darkness. We can be a community of people with calm hearts like the sea, a community that has listened to His voice and announces His great power and infinite love to the world.”

Isn't it mind-blowing that God can use us even just by staying calm??  A calm spirit proves to those worried around us that we really believe that God is in control!

May we understand that just as Pastor Dave is teaching this weekend in Joseph's life, He's already got  the future totally laid out, and He knows exactly what needs to happen to get us there!

who is my neighbor

I was reading the teaching about the Good Samaritan this morning.

The conversation began with Jesus being asked "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" in Luke 10:25-37 Jesus responds, "what does the law say?"  And the man replied, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself."

Jesus says, "You've answered correctly, do this and you will live".

The man then asks, "But, who is my neighbor?" 

From there Jesus uses the story of the Good Samaritan and at the end asks him who he thinks the good neighbor was...

Who is my neighbor?  This question grabbed my attention possibly because of our current circumstances of "Stay in".

It's very difficult for me to just "abide in Him", I always feel like I should be doing something physical in order to "be a good neighbor, or friend, or wife or mom..."

This is perhaps a time like never before to Trust Him and just to wait for opportunities that He provides to be a good neighbor.  So our assignment for this morning is to Love Him with our entire being and then to be ready to serve Whoever our Neighbor turns out to be when He creates that opportunity...

Who is your neighbor?

Forced to stop

This is a crazy time, a time where our plans are all forced to stop!

It's a time that proves once again that you cannot assume you will have a tomorrow that looks the same as yesterday.

I was out early this morning getting all errands run so I could take advantage of being home, getting some projects done and then relaxing.

I saw fear in people's eyes.



I heard conversations that made me sad...a lady at the front of the line at the grocery store talked about how scared she was.  Her husband was waiting to hear if he'd be let go from his job and she herself had very few hours to count on, she said "I'm scared".

This period of time is going to give us so many opportunities to share the Gospel and explain to people that God is the only unchangeable in all of creation.   But, right now there are also practical ways we can be Jesus to people.   And I suspect that may be even more powerful than just talking right now.  There is SO much talking right now....

Watch for opportunities that wouldn't have existed a couple of weeks ago without the virus.  It's not that hard to understand how the Lord will use this time to lead people to Himself!

Men offer nothing to turn to, nothing to count on that can't change in a moment of time.

God Almighty is the same yesterday, today and forever!!

thankful for my marriage

I sat near an older couple, ok they were probably my age, recently meeting for the first time and discussing their past marriages talking about the fact that it's hard to date in your 60's, I'm pretty sure they met on-line.

It made me VERY thankful for my marriage.

We recently moved and found that it drew us closer together, a common dream and quite the challenge to empty a house after being there 23 years and squeezing into a tiny house!  So fun.

I also appreciate a ministry that offers opportunities to grow closer as a couple.  

Currently Crossroads is offering a Valentines Banquet CLICK HERE for couples and singles both and we're bringing Kirk Cameron live to speak to us about both marriage and parenting.  PLEASE register right away CLICK HERE.

I'm challenging you to take advantage of both of these events, as well as classes and groups being offered right now in our Winter Semester CLICK HERE to see the catalogue, and try to be intentional about being thankful for your marriage!

Go love your spouse well!