weekend report

Wow the weekend came quickly after Christmas - our team was REALLY struggling with the virus going around, but they pushed through and worship was so great!  Deering Dyer spoke about Gideon and we had a great weekend indeed!  Very, Very good to be in the house of the Lord!

Our setlist:

Pastor Tim did the announcements on Video for us this weekend.

God Be Praised/Our God Reigns - New Life
The Whole Earth - Gateway
More Than Amazing - Brewster
The Heart of Worship - Redman
Give Us Clean Hands - Tomlin

The Gideon Protocol: Strength From Weakness- Deering Dyer

The Whole Earth - Gateway

To watch our services go to www.crossroadswired.com

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

weekend already?

I don't understand how it can be the weekend again?

ok, so we didn't realize half the wall would come off!

There has never been a month like this December has been, when I have no idea what day it is.  Probably not a good thing.  This morning I got up and started helping Jocelyn tear old tile off the walls of her kitchen.   I am now exhausted and realized it's almost time to head to Crossroads again.

I am now trying to be intentional for the next couple hours to prepare my mind and heart for worship.

My point is - we have to PREPARE to receive- to apply it to our lives.  In Frances Chan's book "Crazy Love" he says, "We've conditioned ourselves to hear messages without responding.  Sermons have become Christian entertainment.  We go to church to hear a well-developed sermon and a convicting thought.  We've trained ourselves to believe that if we're convicted, our job is done.  If you're just hearing the Word and not actually doing something with it, you're deceiving yourself."

I refuse to be deceived.  I'm anxious to give the Lord whatever portion of my life He reveals that needs to change.  In just a few hours I once again have been given the unbelievable opportunity of sitting under a pastor's teaching.  I'm ready!

sacrificial offerings

Today I was reading in Leviticus.  I try to read the Bible daily using the Daily readings that are posted on the Crossroads Facebook page,  http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/2013-02-20/.

The reading was in Leviticus and described the process of preparing and offering sacrifices to the Lord.  They were given unbelievably precise instructions from the Lord, how to do it, when to do it, what to use and what parts to burn etc.  I'm sure I would have forgotten something and done something wrong.

It made me very thankful for the simplicity that Christ's sacrifice brought to my life.  I've obviously thanked Him over and over for my salvation - but had never thought about what that physically meant to me, the time and preparation and ongoing work it relieved us of. 

He died a horribly excruciating and humiliating death and rose again - so that the need for me to continue to make sacrifices was removed forever.  Amazing.

a special event

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!

T-E-A-M

Each of our Magnification team received numerous compliments for the Christmas services at Crossroads.  People who personally know each one of us, thanked us and mentioned specific details from the services that particularly spoke to them.  They would go on about our work, our creativity or talents depending on what role we played.  We then each thanked them but went on to explain that we create and execute every service as a team.  Not one of us could produce what we do without every one of us.  EVERY one of us.  I am thankful for this team, I count it a privilege to be part of this team and I pray God allows us to serve together for many, many more years.  And most of all I pray our collaborations help to lead people to the thrown of God for all of eternity.

Now I am going to give into exhaustion and say goodnight, thank you for attending our services and please have a Merry Christmas!

what day is it?

Like many of you I'm sure, I have to keep looking at the calendar to even know what day it is!  I suspect that could mean we are all way too busy!

I have a very small space of calm this morning.  It will disappear the minute my foot lands outside my door.

I plan to use it wisely.

You may be thinking - she's about to get all spiritual on us and describe in detail her Jesus meeting of the morning.

Although I plan to move to that next, I've basically been standing here eating Chex and thinking and staring - just trying to grab a little perspective on the day and the balance of the week.

Perspective is allusive.  A loss of it throws everything out of balance and all becomes unobtainable.

Perspective:  the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one,

There are some facts only known to me right now, regarding the Christmas services, our families' plans and many, many undeveloped ideas.  The trick is to communicate my perspective on these areas so it can be moved to completion.  Therein lies the dilemma.  Ideas and dreams and plans are needed in order for anything to happen or change.  But, communicating what only you see or know, that takes work.

This is the best explanation I can think of this morning regarding where my head is right now.  Just trying to gain perspective, or at the very least - remember what day it is without looking at my phone.

night #1

Tonight is our first rehearsal and night of preparing tech support for our Christmas services.

one of our EP backgrounds

The enemy knows where and how to hit us, details overlooked, changes that don't get communicated, careless words...but God is Mighty and He is sovereign and all will be as He wills it- we just need to get through the preparations!

I haven't reached the point of anticipation yet, too buried under the details right now - but, we'll get there.  Right now I am remain in a state of prayer...covering all the staff praying for protection from illness, prayer for rest and for cooperation among the team.

The details pale in comparison to the message that must get out.I've never felt so desperate for that to happen.  The only message that can bring any shred of hope to a hopeless nation and world.

A Savior who is Christ the Lord...

May our work proclaim the message of Emmanuel so loudly that many, many people meet you Lord for the very first time!