More Than Life!

This week has been a really busy week for me already! Work has been crazy, filling nearly 600 perscriptions a day the last 2 days! Oh, and P90X, ha ha it hasnt slacked up either! But in the midst of all of that things are going really well! Great new friendships have a emerged and I find myself changing into a new person with a new vision and a deeper desire than ever for Jesus! I love him! I dont mean wow things are going good Jesus your awesome thanks for not rocking my boat and causing me not to have any problems, no no no no!

Yesterday on the way back from lunch I was listening to a song that I absolutely love by,... of course Hillsongs called " More Than Life " ! Great song sang it many times but yesterday was alittle different, ok alot different! I stopped singing somewhere in there and I began listening to the words and I caught myself asking, " Jesus how much do you love me? " Thats a loaded question! I mean, we read about it, you can read from Genesis to Revalation and you can read about just how much Jesus loves us! But I asked and the answer blew my mind when He said, " More Than Life! " It blew me away, I just sat there for what seemed like hours and just let that sink in! I have always struggled in my life with accepting love, I just have! I thought I knew how, but after hearing that I realized that I still have alot to learn! I mean wow, we sing how much we love God more than life and when we sing it I dont know about you but I give it all I've got Captain! Ha ha but as I heard that yesterday I was lead to John chapter 17, and you can almost hear Jesus' heartbeat in this scripture!

Verse 13 says 13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

He gave Himself as a holy sacrifice so that we could be His! Today, no matter where you are right now, purpose in your heart, that everyday you will fall in love with Jesus all over again! There is no greater love than the love of Jesus! It requires action, it requires commitment, it requires all of you! Small price to pay for someone who created the world we live in and the breath we breathe! So go ahead, ask Jesus how much He loves you, go ahead, discover it for yourself! The answer may just change you forever! You will see and come to know that its more than life!

Small Groups Great Beginning!

As I start out this morning trying to recapture, alittle of the glorier! Sorry old Bruce Springsteen son came out of nowhere! Ha ha yesterday was the beginning of small groups for Crossroads Community Church! Its something that has bubbling in dreamland for us for awhile until it couldnt stay there any longer! The timing was there in my opinion and it was evident yesterday! We had our biggest attendace since launch in August of last year and my small group had some late signees and guests! My group is studying a book called " Just Walk Across The Room " by Bill Hybals which focus' on relationship oriented evangelism! It was a very fast paced day getting ready for such a great event! I even got a nap in there, ha ha felt fantastic!

I am meeting at a couple from my churches house so I had my group meet me at the cinema and they would follow me! Ha ha well that could have been disasterous as I had only been th the house once, so I pulled off the road only to have pulled off at the wrong place and of course these people not knowing wehere they are going followed suit! Yeah it happened, nobody wrecked though although I did keep the angels busy keeping it from happening we made it to the house and everyone got acquainted! We have a variety of ages, backgrounds, and thats just the ones that showed up!

After a good time of talking and eating we dove into things alittle differently, we did a intro and let everyone intro themselves, then we took prayer requests and we prayed over them! Starting to dive into the book alittle bit we were introduced to the house guests birds we could hear singing in the basement! Not just your normal churping, but tv theme song churping! So we got alttile background music going as we have a great discussion about personal evangelism! A reoccuring theme of last night not from the book but from each other was where does our treasure lie? A great question that was presented last night and was something we all needed to hear!

One question that was asked was about Luke 10:19 where it says that The Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost! He asks how did knowing the misssion free him up from the fears and insecurities we face today? It struck a cord quick with all of us! GReat discussion took place but the answer came back to us once again! Our insecurities and fears come when we take our eyes off of Jesus and put it on ourselves! Then it becomes no longer about Jesus but about how we look to others! Really hit the nail on the head and is something I think we all took away from last night, was when we are witnessing to others and following that leading to walk across the room to someone we are led to, its not about us winning them over, thats not our job! Its about showing them Jesus and not just telling them about Him!

We also dealt with an issue that I have struggled with and it came up as I began to study this book was this, when people witness to others and the person God has us witness to doesnt respond the way we think they should, we get defensive and no longer want to hear what that other person has to say! So we dealt with the intention aspect of evangelism as well! It was a very liberating night for some! Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was a great beginning!

Whats Causing All This?

What a great time while I have a minute to catch everyone up to speed whats going on in this life of a Roadie! A " Roadie " is a term that alot of us at Crossroads have nicknamed ourselves! We stay pretty connected, even with our traveling Roadies in the army that cant be with us on sundays, ( and man we miss our Kyle and Rosio ) but its also a term that I give people that follow after Jesus! A Roadie, not just along for the ride, not a groupie, God knows there are way too many groupies in churches today, but a Roadie! Roadies are in it to win it! We are a passionate, vibrant, community of believers who have a cause and that cause it to drive the hell out of you!

Yeah I said it and I aint taking it back! As christians its imperative that we never loose sight of Jesus! I mean after all we are following Him right? Isnt it His life we carry the banner of? Isnt His love we are supposed to be showing? Isnt His love in us that is making all the difference or is it sauving your concience when you go to church? Listen I have been there, been in a place where I got tired of being covered in the dust! Where I thought that I was so far behind Jesus that I will take a detour at the mall and catch up later! Or saying Hey Jesus, its too much, cant do it anymore! I have been there!

In my life as most people know I started doing the P90X workout training course with my friend and his wife. I was at place in my life where I was lazy, tired all the time, eating junk and well miserable! I didnt like myself, I let myself down and had no motivation and for me that was a breaking point! So when my buddy came to me and asked me I ordered it, you still in? I am and to this day I feel better than I ever have! I took the challenge to not only improve my outward appearance and health, I did it for my inner strength as well! Challenging myself and taking my body to its limits! I went into this praying asking God to help me! Help me be a better follower, help me to have the strength to be what you have called me to be!

I can tell you that after the first month God has answered those prayers, but it required the willingness and discipline on my part to show up and bring it! And to be a follower of Jesus in my opinion requires the same! To be a Roadie is to have that honesty that says hey I need help! It says that I dont have the answers, it shows me that if I am going to follow Jesus its going to take all of me! I can just imagine what it was like, when Jesus walked up to Peter and John and said follow me! Rabbi's didnt ask people to follow them back then, the students or kids asked the Rabbi! And if a Rabbi chose a kid, that kid would become his roadie! Being Jesus' roadie teaches us daily to love like He did! Teaches that no one is unreachible, that there isnt a place we dont go!

So whats causing all this? Whats all the commotion about? What is all this stuff about roadies? Its about a life long journey to follow after the author of Life! Its about the life change that Jesus' love makes in our lives, and in the lives of others through us! I challenge you, whoever you are reading this, to love others and treat those you come in contact with like you would Jesus! Just see what a difference it makes not only in your life, but in the life of others! Go ahead, I dare ya, I double dog dare ya!

Life of a Roadie!

It has been sometime since my last blog, I know I have been slacking but to tell you the truth life has been moving pretty fast as of late! 2 weeks ago I started the P90X workout traning system! It has totally changed my life! Not only that but life at Crossroads had been moving nonstop and it is about to get faster! Alittle over a year ago my life needed alot of direction and going to Pastor Gene's house that sunday morning and seeing for myself what Crossroads was all about was the catalyst for what is transpiring now! I will get to yesterday's service later in the blog, but the relationships I have made coming in and out Crossroads are the best that I have ever made!

This past sunday though was the best that I have ever experienced since being at Crossroads! The build up was incredible! I dont know what it was, I couldnt explain it any better than just when you stepped into the theatre, ( Crossroads meets at the College Cinema in Enterprise! ) you knew God was up to something! I knew it was going to be Kyle and Rosio Stojahann's last sunday with us and for me it was sad seeing them go, but also it turned into a homecoming service! A few families came back to Crossroads after some time away and it was absolutely glorious!

And the service was awesome! Natalie Lurie one of the Media Arts Pastors brought the message yesterday about unrealitistic expectaions in or going into marriages can lead to disappointment! Natalie brought her A game and really hit home with those in the crowd! The series during the month of Feburary is called " Game Show " and Natalie was the MC of the " Newlywed Game ." Not being married myself ( and for that fact dont know if I will be ) took away alot from the message and just couldnt get over all that God orchestrated to make yesterday happen!

Being a roadie is so much more than just meeting on Sundays and patting each other on the back and saying see you next week, its way more! Since day 1 we have encouraged everyone to stay connected through out the week! There's blogs , twitter, text messages and almost upon us is small groups! Its my belief that the roadies will infitrate this town and take it over with the love of Jesus one relationship at a time! After all Jesus said people would know we belonged to Him because of our love for one another!

P90X Baby!

Wow I know, I know, you have seen it on tv and so have I like dozens of times! And you think to yourself hmm interesting? Brutal? You name it the adjective it fits! My buddy came to me with the idea of Doing this about a month ago and I agreed to it! Little did I know what I was getting into! So I started last night right, and wow am I sore! Let me describe the start out! First you take the pictures, its how you track your progress! You take these every 30 days! I was so embarassed at what I look like now! I am, not like I am hidious looking but I just really dont like what I see in the mirror! I am determined to change it! I have gotten to the point now where I cant seem to find the motivation on my own! Not even looking in the mirror! So when my buddy talked to me about this program I was like, yeah I am in!

Last night was night one of a 90 day program! The last few times I hung out with Bo we watched some of the videos! Ha ha I was like what in the world did I agree too! Because let me tell you I have alot of lazy bones in my body! I do I'm not kidding! So this program is designed to push your body to the brink and give it your best shot! They encourage that! Dont do anything you cant do, but give it your best shot! Last night I found out that mentally I need some work as well as physically! I am going to be stretched in all areas but I know if I stick with this and give it my best, I will see results! This is testing me in all areas of my life, and I am detemined to do this and not only do it, but come out on the other side!

Practice Makes Perfect?

You know lets take a look at the phrase " practice makes perfect! " When I was a kid learning to play baseball man I would be outside throwing a tennis ball against the wall because I wanted to be a pitcher! I can still picture that same brick I always aimed for, and time after time I would throw the ball against the wall picturing myself on the mound striking out a batter! I played baseball alot when I was a kid, even played for the rec center! I played short stop and third base mostly, but I always wanted to pitch! One night I got my chance! Our pitcher got shot gunned early in the game and our second pitcher started walking people so the coach asked if anyone wanted to pitch! Well it was my chance, so I asked the coach if I could and he agreed! I was elated of course but in my mind I wasnt pitching to the catchers glove, I pictured that brick that I always practiced on! I didnt do to shabby, I pitched a few innings and eventually was added to the rotation!

Tonight I met with a friend of mine to discuss his message and while I waited on him to finish, I got to hear the Garage Band practice! The Garage Band is the youth band at Crossroads and they are really good! As Chris my friend was guiding them through some steps musically I watched as they practiced and was digging what I saw from them! I saw good effort! But it was what he said afterwards that really got my wheels turning! What is worship? He gave a brief explaination of how he came to his knowledge of what worship is! He said worship has very little to do with instruments! Worship has little to do with music? Like really? He said that as a leader you discover that worship has everything to do with lifestyle and that is so true! So what are you practicing for? To make what perfect? Worship? What is perfect? Does it mean flawless? That is one meaning of it, but what about mature? Practice makes a satisfying development? Hmmmm could be on to something there! Could practicing to love like Jesus loved, could that make a difference? Could practicing to worship God like Jesus did, think we would develop a better way of living?
I think this year I am going to practice worship more often, I think I am going to practice loving others, I am going to practice Loving God more, and maybe, just maybe something will happen, you think?

Mighty To Save!

( Psalm 59:17 (New Living Translation)
17 O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love. )

Tonight as I sit and read I youtubed my favorite worship song, Mighty To Save! I listened to countless people from Hillsongs to Chris Tomlin to some church in well I dont know where the result was the same! The lyrics draw you to a point where you find yourself at the mercy of a loving God! This song captures hope like none before it in my opinion! I have sang this song countless times and many of those it has brought me to tears! The lyrics take me as you find me, with all of my fears and failures, fill my life again! If your like me you have both! No other religion could you say this, to no other god could you come to them and say take me as you find me, with all of my fears and failures, fill my life again without paying some kind of price you cant pay, and sacrificing something that you would never have to just to recieve that, yet Jesus paid that price for me!

A real man came down from a real Heaven, to pay a real price so that when I do screw up and make a mess out of not only my life but the direction it is going, I can ask God to fill my life again! I dont know about you, maybe you havent experienced that fact, maybe you havent experienced making a mess out of life, maybe you havent experienced the love and forgiveness and the overwhelming peace that God gives as His mercy wraps itself around you like a shield and tell's you its ok! Its alright, I forgive you! Maybe you have never been weakened by your failures or crippled by your fears! I know I have! I know the creeping thoughts that keep my mind from escaping to freedom! I have also experienced the freedom that comes from knowing Jesus!

I invite you to youtube that song, listen to the words, let them soak into your heart from your ears and allow that peace that can only come from a loving God to shield you from your preconcieved ideas that you are trapped by your fears and failures and experience the compassion and love that God is and has! And give your life to follow Him, give it all! all of your fears, beliefs, ideas, dreams, failures, triumphs, tears, words, thoughts, give them to Him and let God begin a new chapter in the book that is your life!