Quality writing feels so far away right now. I write when I have time to think and sitting and thinking hasn't been on the agenda for a few days.
It's a season of being caught in the details of creating and producing. Constantly producing.
Going through my stacks of folders and papers, adding one date after another to my calendar, it dawned on me I also need to add 'deck time' and 'writing time' or I'll watch every single day fill up. So I added those things too!
This is my mess from this week. But the pile of trash at the far end represents an end in site. Things I'm done with and can throw away.
I need to quit for the night, but, I am praising Him even in the mess - that He walks beside me, and from our mess comes life change, and opportunity for the lost, and hope.
Tonight a full wastebasket and organized folders makes me very happy and thankful and ready to rest for another day!
This writing was nothing deep - but I wanted to just take a moment and thank my Lord in writing for the gift of another week!
I've already spoken about the fact that it takes an entire team - working together cohesively to create a production like we enjoyed this past weekend. Now I am ready to show you more of the results. You may watch the service in it's entirety by going to www.crossroadswired.com click beside Last Week: Watch Service
I am still getting feedback and tons of questions about different elements of the services, exciting when conversation continues after the lights go off! Exactly what we hoped for - thoughtful consideration of the message and in God's timing - life change! THAT is what we all prayed for !!
Sickness hit one team member after another. But they pushed through! Even tonight's rehearsal for this coming weekend got canceled until Saturday because Dan is ill.
Everyone involved in this past weekend worked diligently - to allow the Lord to use them and I will always be very, very grateful. It was such an amazing experience, I am anxious to begin planning next year's soon!
Please enjoy some of the images that I will always remember as one of the greatest team efforts in Crossroads' history. (some are taken at rehearsal, some right before the service)
Panoramic of the whole stage
Drummer Boy
One of the marching images a team member created
Our vintage accordion!
a far off shot from the sound booth - I LOVE this EP!
strings rehearsing in front of an original EP video background
My personal favorite! The electric cello!
Bass playing under 'the' star
A shot through the mic holder! Hi Scott!
Austin on guitar and Brian on percussion - amazing!
A hammer dulcimer that my son-in-law carried home from Cambodia! Played by my daughter!
Chrystie's beautiful voice!
Happy to have Brian with us this year!
I couldn't help peeking through the drum cage for a shot!
Steve Feazel...just an amazing voice!
I was privileged indeed to lead this effort - bringing together amazingly talented musicians, singers and a brilliant technical team! It was so beyond us that it was clearly God who was here - God who anointed these services and blessed those who attended. It was indeed a very special event!
I can hear the preparations for our Easter services from my office - how cool is that? Strings practicing, the lift driving into the auditorium to replace bulbs and move lighting and the good ole copy machine chugging away pushing out the programs for the weekend.
I just had to sneak down the hall and capture the beautiful moments - God's people working together! I am really getting excited about the weekend.
When you plan for so long, it's so amazing to see the work all come together!
If God calls people to Himself this weekend and life change happens...oh my goodness - I am so blessed to do this, so blessed!
God reveled something to me recently, seriously! As a mom I have struggled with differences in what my kids like and what I like. That's really what it comes down to most of the time, not theological differences, not disobedience, not rebellion just a different generation. A new genre of music. New ways of communicating. This is a generation we cannot reach without the insight this age group can give us.
One of the most obvious difference is in our tastes in music just as it was in our generation and our parents. Last night I gained new respect for the Christian Hard Core/Metal music our son plays. I have always really liked his band, but have never stayed for an entire event once he is done playing. Last night as the evening progressed I witnessed first hand, life change.
We hosted a music festival with 7 bands including a rapper at our house last night complete with stage, refreshments, porta pot and band merchandise. As dark fell on our field a young man walked to the refreshment table and asked if we were "the moms" of the last band that had played. We were. He went on to describe the affect their music has had on his life ultimately leading him to salvation.
I stood there stunned...
I asked him if he had ever spoken to Eric about this and when he said no, I asked if I could take him to meet Eric who had just finished playing his set. As I searched for my son in the crowd, I saw a group off to the side of the stage praying, there was Eric with his arms wrapped around another young man who was asking for prayer...possibly accepting Christ. Stunned again...
They are Christ to a generation and within a genre of music I could never reach.
I write this encouraging all of us to look past the outside package, see what is in your kids hearts, do they personally love the Lord? If they are respectful and connected to loved ones, showing a desire to grow in Christ, then I encourage you to empower them to explore, to create, to reach out in their own way. Then step back and be amazed - God is the God of this generation and my heart if full of Praise to Him for raising up Christian kids brave enough to be different. I have spent a great deal of my life being scared and worried about upsetting the status quo, so I deeply respect the confidence it takes to be different.
Except in cases of actual sin, I will not try to influence them to change, but, bless them to continue in the discovery of how their unique talents and gifts will shape their lives to reach their generation for God.
