weekend report

Blasting goodness! How amazing it was to worship! Lot's of people dedicating their time to serve this weekend, just like every amazing weekend!! Thanks to all our fabulous, dedicated volunteers!

Our setlist:

Jingle Bells: Denver Mile High Orchestra

Little Drummer Boy (with extended percussion)-Duncan

Joy To The World-(Unspeakable Joy) - Tomlin

Beautiful One-Hughes shortened

All For Love-Hillsong United

Announcements: Bill Hill (yes, it's his real name)

Go Tell It On The Mountain - Barlow Girl

Our announcement guy, Bill Hill, interviewed his wife, Cindy for a segment during Pastor Anderson's message...

To see what other ministries used in their times of worship this weekend go to Fred McKinnon's site.

You can see what's happening at our ministry by going to www.crossroadswired.com

GPS

I want a GPS for Christmas.

This is something I can probably justify as actually 'needing'...ish

I often turn the wrong way or take the long way. What a concept, having a piece of technology that just talks to you as you drive even correcting your errors - wrong turns.

Very cool that I already have the ultimate GPS - God's Word. Does it give instruction, yes, does it tell me when I take a wrong turn, yes, does it suggest the best direction for my life, yes.

Do I still sometimes go the wrong direction, yes. But, there really is no excuse to. It is a choice - I can listen and follow instruction or try to find my own way.

I do hope I get a GPS for Christmas - meanwhile I will try to follow the instructions I already have - and maybe do a Google maps search !

how sweet it is

Getting ready for Christmas! 20 somethings, cookie decorating, tree is up and we are eating and laughing...so much fun!





What are your family traditions?

guitarists abound

It was so fun recently to see all the guitarists on our stage!

Brilliant recruiting/developing concept - Crossroads University Guitar Class!

These are the students that most recently completed the class giving our Worship Leaders time to access each one, and keep an eye on new talent at Crossroads!

Thanks everyone! The worship was amazing!

never procrastinate

I vow never to procrastinate! It always makes things worse.

When I put off what I don't like to do, it's all I think about, dreading it - this robs my life of joy!

When I put off something that just seems too time consuming - I waste more time avoiding it than the task even takes to complete!

When I postpone assignments - they are always the ones I am asked for first!

When I procrastinate confronting trouble or something difficult - it affects more people than it needed to include and turns into a much larger problem than it was at first!

What do you procrastinate doing?

planning Christmas

I have no Christmas decorations up yet - although the Christmas cards are all out. But I've been thinking a lot about God's gift to us - his son - a baby who was sent to become our Savior. Amazing!

I decided to share a writing that I wrote recently that is going to be used on another website - it describes the emotions connected to creating services especially during this time of the year. It was written to encourage others who create or are involved in Christmas services.

The Call to Create Christmas

Christmas evokes a large variety of emotions.

Love, excitement, stress, wonder, pressure to create something spectacular, as well as great anticipation. These are just a few of the emotions I experience each and every year as I begin to develop Christmas services.

I look forward to it and dread it sometimes simultaneously.

Then I remember. I remember the wonder of his coming. God revealing His plan that Mary would conceive and bring forth God's son and call Him Emmanuel. I once again marvel that this young woman believed and accepted this extraordinary responsibility.

Why God has trusted me to create services that introduce Christ to people seeking Him is something I will never fully comprehend. It is the greatest privilege and greatest responsibility of my life outside of my family. My desire is to show our congregation just a glimpse of His glory in the midst of economic uncertainty and earthly struggle. This may be our greatest opportunity in many years.

And so I begin with a prayer that sounds more like pleading for His direction. "Please show me how to reveal your son to these people, I cannot do this alone. Use me Father...I'll do anything you ask of me to reach them..."

I remember standing at the back of the auditorium during the first Christmas service I helped to create 13 years ago. I stood in front of the sound booth and cried. His Spirit was there and His presence filled the room that night. That is when I knew that this is what I wanted to do the rest of my life. To be used to reveal the marvelous mysteries of Christ's coming is a privilege I will never take for granted.

This year approach the call to create Christmas as if it were your very first time...full of amazement and wonder. We have been called to carry His message to a broken world. May God richly bless you and your team, and fill your services with His presence!

what I learned today

Chris from our worship team recently said to me, "isn't it funny how God chooses to use us in the areas of our weakness?"

I was blessed this weekend when one of our team members told me that he experienced compliments based on his application of something I taught in one of the trainings I lead recently. That was one of the most shocking things anyone has ever said to me. I trained out of obedience, although I did agree there was a need for what I taught.

My surprise is not false humility - it is a lack of ability. You see, an area of great weakness is my ability to stand in front of a group and teach or even talk coherently for that matter! I marvel at my friends who can communicate so well. I am not jealous of them because I know God has gifted me in other ways, it is a talent He chose not to give to me. Maybe He knew being an upfront face would cause arrogance in me.

At any rate, what I learned this weekend and still thanked Him for today, was that God can use our weakest areas if we offer them to Him in obedience.

(PS I am not looking for compliments and will not post them...but, thanks.)