Creatures of Habit

If you were to search for the definition of "creature of habit", this is who you would find. Rupert, our Lhasa Apso. He does the same thing every day. He sleeps on the same chair. He waits by the door beginning at 4:45 for Brian. He only eats Burger King cheeseburgers, not McD's. I can't believe I just admitted that.

Change is hard for me too, under most circumstances. However, making changes based on what I believe to be true is not as difficult. Painful, yes. But not difficult.

I spent the first 27 years of my life stumbling around, searching for something or someone to fill the divine gap in my soul. When I became a Christ-follower and saw the transforming power of the risen Christ in my daily life, I was no longer satisfied in letting my days simply "go by." I long for every day of my life to be a living "thank you" letter to Jesus Christ. I don't have the desire or the time to play guessing games when it comes to the use of my time, energy or resources.

So, yes. I am a creature of habit in many senses of the word. Probably too many (just ask Brian!), but not in those areas I treasure most.

Sabbath

(Mt. Sinai in the rain)

"We've left the Sabbath in the dust of our schedules."

Dr. Bob Laurent

Facing Fears

My best friend faced a fear head on last night. What she lacked in calmness after the fact doesn't compare to the satisfaction she still feels today. She knew I needed to hear her story because she also knows I'll be "chasing a few lions" of my own this week. Thankfully, we'll be together when I do!

Tomorrow, I'm looking forward to:

• Teaching the intro to Philippians in the Adult Bible Study.
• The kick-off to our NEW teaching series "Meet the Holy Spirit."
  
• Visiting relatives in Spartanburg
• Putting the finishing touches on our upcoming landscaping projects.
  

Hope to see you at CrossRoads in the morning!

I'm a Fan of the Chase

Today I received this sampler in the mail -- two chapters in booklet form designed to give readers a taste of Mark Batterson's soon-to-be released book,"Wild Goose Chase". If you were blown away by his last book, "In the Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day" prepare yourself. You're in for the chase of your life!

A few of my favorite excerpts:

• "The Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit that has always intrigued me. They called Him An Geadh-Glas, or "the Wild Goose." I love the imagery and implications. The name hints at the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger and an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious at first earshot, I cannot think of a better description of what it's like to follow the Spirit's leading through life than a Wild Goose Chase."
• "Take the Holy Spirit out of the equation of my life and it would spell b-o-r-i-n-g. Add Him into the equation of your life and anything can happen. You never know who you'll meet, where you'll go, or what you'll do. All bets are off."
• "In the beginning God made man in His image. Man has been making God in his image ever since."

Trying to narrow down my three favorite excerpts from this 30 page booklet was as difficult as watching Jason Castro end up in the bottom 3 last night on American Idol. OK, a lot more difficult.

I don't know the release date for the book, but I am looking forward to the chase!

Oops

I have so much to learn in the blogosphere. The post I began writing last weekend wasn't completed until tonight. Yep, you guessed it. It shows posting on March 20 instead of today.

Check out "Designer Skills" on March 20 below. It's short and sweet. Sorry for the confusion!

Live Your Story

I continue to move slowly and methodically through my latest read, "To Be Told", by Dan B. Allender, PhD. I see now, more than ever, why Courtney, Kim, Wendy, and others chose to read through this book together. It was obviously written with trusted friends in mind.

Here's one excerpt that still has me thinking one week later.

"Too many people are missing their story because they're watching the stories of others. We live our story vicariously through television, sports, magazines, and talk shows. Such stories may occasionally educate us, but most often they sedate us. They free us from admitting that our own life is dull and lifeless. They attract us because they offer life without risk. They are deathly safe."

I can relate all too well. How about you?

One Amazing Day

Easter 2008
Easter morning began with Shari Bajan, a Messianic Jew, preparing, serving, and leading the Adult Bible Study in the Passover Seder. It was simply amazing! (see pictures below) Thank you, Shari!

We couldn't fit everyone in one picture! As you can see, children, teens and adults all participated in the celebration. We read and sang in Hebrew (okay, we attempted to read and sing in Hebrew!) It was fun, meaningful and unforgettable.


Our 1st-5th graders brought the house down with Hillsong's rendition of "Jesus Loves Me". Is there anything more moving than to see and hear the praises of our kids being sung to the risen Savior? Child-like faith. Gotta have it.

I had the opportunity to help out in the nursery during second service so I missed Steve's message. I heard it was great!

David, Milly and band ended Easter morning's set with my favorite corporate song ever -- "Shout Unto God!"

Yes, indeed. The enemy HAS been defeated and death COULDN'T hold Jesus down. These facts are true every day. Let the celebration continue!

A Son's Love

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' John 19:25-27

Today, as I read through these verses, I was struck by the love Jesus showed for his mother by referring to her as "woman" instead of "mother". This wasn't the first time. Remember John 2:4? Mary informs Jesus the wedding party was out of wine. "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." At first glance, the term seems a bit harsh, but if you were to dig a little deeper, you would find this to be a polite term used in their culture. Polite, yes, but it's obvious that Jesus is distancing himself from his mother. He is gently breaking the news to her that He is no longer her responsibility.

Let's linger in John 19:26 a little longer. Moms will find this pause especially uncomfortable. We have an innate knowledge of the power our children's words hold over us, whether they are 3 or 33. Jesus knew it too.

The word "woman" must have brought immediate comfort to Mary's heart or else Jesus would have remained silent. As a loving Son, Jesus wanted His mother to remember who He truly belonged to. As her Savior, Jesus wanted her to remember His only purpose in life. His time had now come.

The lesson for us as parents? Remember that our kids are not our own. It was God who wove them together in the depths of the earth. It was His eyes that saw his/her unformed body. It was His omnipotent power that ordained their days before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139: 15, 16) Jesus' words to Mary over 2,000 years ago holds incredible freedom for parents today who are willing to grasp these truths and live accordingly.

As a mother, I'll admit there are times when I become fearful over my sons' futures. I want them to be safe and secure (and okay, close to home.) But as their co-heir in Christ, I desire only God's plans and purposes for their lives. Whether or not I can see or understand those plans makes no difference. That's not my calling as a parent.

While gasping for every word, Jesus reminded Mary, and us today, that while parents play a vital role in the lives of their children, it is God alone who gives them a purpose for it. We must decrease that He might increase.

Thank You, Jesus.

Designer Skills

I purchased this camellia a few years ago without knowing its color (hey, it was a good deal) and I remained clueless until it bloomed last weekend. Imagine my delight! Brian commented how the colors were timely as it bloomed on Easter weekend.

Yeah, this is a froo-froo posting, but I can't resist. God often uses his design skills to stop me in my tracks. I thought you might enjoy the pause as well.

Welcome Spring!

Here's why Spring ROCKS...

• Easter Sunday. We will celebrate our risen King like crazy at CRCC. Steve, Rich and David have an incredible morning planned. More importantly, people will be exposed to the Gospel more on this day than any other day in most churches.
  
• My sleeping plants emerge from a long winter's nap. My "sleeping" garden budget emerges too! Just ask Brian. On second thought, please don't.
  
• More grilling...less cooking.
• Quiet time on the front porch instead of a cozy den.
• Gardening becomes a substitute exercise. Give me a shovel instead of tenny-shoes any day.
• Everything seems renewed. The soul, body, mind, and spirit. It's a refreshing season!
• Spring cleaning. OK, so those who know me well know I'm stretching this one a bit. I LOVE the idea of spring cleaning, but it's funny how that rarely translates into a major cleaning day or week.
  
• Family frisbee golf games in the park
• The Adult Study class begins a new study in Philippians next Sunday. It seems like the perfect study for this season. Can't wait!

What would your list include?

Location, Location, Location

Luke 23:32,33: "Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left."

Tonight, I find myself thanking Jesus for the very placement of His cross. Matthew, Mark and Luke all make note of the location: "One on his right, the other on his left." (Mt. 27:38; Mark 15:27) It's no secret that Jesus could have placed Himself anywhere upon that hill, but He chose to take His final breath between two criminals. He chose to make Himself accessible to both.

Isn't access a beautiful thing?

To the "insult-hurling" criminal, access to the living Christ has the power to transfer one from a crude wooden beam to paradise all in one breath.

To the "paradise-bound" criminal, access to the power of Christ can bring paradise to earth. A whole new way of doing life. A kingdom life in the here and now.

The question I'm left asking myself tonight is a common one. How accessible am I choosing to be to the One who made it all possible? How about you?

Monday Highlights

• Having my patience pushed to the max. I go to Wallymart for $3.05/gallon gas. The car ahead of me appears to have finished filling up because (a) the driver is IN the car and (b) the motor isn't running. Logical conclusion, right? Wrong. She's on the phone! A couple minutes later she now has two cars behind her waiting in line. Surely she'll get that baby cranking and out of our way asap. But wait! Her door opens and she proceeds to fumble for her credit card. She had not even begun the pumping process. What should have taken 3 minutes took almost 10 minutes. Waisting time is a huge pet peeve of mine. Moral of the story? Our time is worth more than the savings (a whole $.52) - but the grace she received was priceless.

• A book I had pre-ordered, "The Back of the Napkin", by Dan Roam, came today! It's highly recommended by Seth Godin, so it has to be good, right? Dan Heath, author of "Made to Stick" (check it out on Rich's book selections) had this to say about it: "Inspiring! It teaches you a new way of thinking in a few hours--what more could you ask from a book?" This I've got to read.

Some have asked when I have time to read. Being an empty-nester certainly helps. I try to read books such as "To Be Told: Know Your Story, Shape Your Future" in the evening. The heavier stuff seems to sink deeper at night, at least for me. Books purchased to help hone my communication skills are read during breaks in the day. Breakfast, lunch, waiting for appointments (or the gas pump!), sitting in the allergy clinic, etc. I always try to carry a book and pen (fountain, of course, thanks to the hubster) as my books are always marked like crazy. Now if I could just apply everything I learn! That's the most time consuming part of it all, isn't it? Thanks for asking!

Sunday Highlights

• I enjoyed being a part of the First Impressions huddle this morning. This is one dedicated group of volunteers. Brian Woodard does a great job heading up this ministry.

• Shawn LaBelle knocked this morning's class out of the ballpark as he introduced the history behind the Passover. He asked us to do a few things this week in preparation for next Sunday's Passover Seder: (1) Think about our own heritage. Whose "shoulders" are we standing on? (2) Examine our heart for leaven/sin. This won't happen in the chaos of life. We must set aside time. (3) See Jesus as our personal Passover Lamb.

• I met a new friend who contacted CRCC via the Web site last night. I also had the pleasure of meeting Travis and his fiancee, Kris, this morning. God seems to be moving in an exciting way for Travis, Kris, Brandon and Megan. We're excited for them!
  

• Steve's message on the tree of knowledge of good and evil was insightful. Can't wait for next week! David began the service with an amazing acoustic song. Check out his blog for the song list. I think the song was "True Love."

My afternoon highlight? Zach's NGU Ultimate Frisbee team placed 5th (out of 15 teams) in a Wilmington NC tourney this weekend. Go Ninja Geese!!!! Thanks for the updates Sarah!

Can't Wait 'Til Sunday

Here's why:

• CRCC begins our two-part Easter series, "Tale of Two Trees." The graphic alone should give you some indication of what we have to look forward to in the morning. This story never grows old.
  
• Dr. Shawn LaBelle will introduce the different elements in the Passover Seder to the Adult Bible Study class, as we prepare to celebrate the Seder together in class on Easter morning, led by Shari Bajan.
• Hopefully, a nice relaxing afternoon and a fun game of frisbee golf.

Well, the lightening is increasing, so I must go!

What I'm Reading

I ordered this book after reading Kim Rhodes' blog.
I began reading it after seeing a post about it on Courtney Reichley's blog.

John Eldredge nails it with this review: "This is a book worth reading. Because this journey is worth taking. To know who you are. To make sense of your life. To discover the role God is giving you in his story. That is a life worth living."

OK, so I'm only on Chapter 3, but I'm quickly learning this is a book to savor. It reads more like an evening meal in France (according to Karen T.) and less like a buffet at the Golden Corral. Seeing how the stories of my life are interwoven with God's story is pretty schweet. It's not a sappy book (whew!) but it does aim straight for the heart. If you would like to read it along with me, let me know and maybe we can set up a book blog?

ALSO -- if you're a blogger, don't miss the blogging tips Rich picked up from the Unleash conference held yesterday. Any repeat reader of Rich's would agree that he should be writing his own blogging book. Mercy. He's inspired many to give it a try.

CrossRoads Community Church...NOT!

Ever wondered why this picture is missing from our promotional ads or Web site? This post is for you.

Years ago, while at the office (which is detached from the main facility) I mentioned needing to go up to the church. Tony Gibbs quickly corrected me... and I've never looked at "church" quite the same since. He asked, "The what is up there?" gulp. He was right. The church was nowhere in sight.

The church was at home taking care of little ones; at work delivering mail, engineering tires, styling hair; sitting in line at Starbucks, and peeling out of school parking lots (no comment.) The only thing standing a few hundred yards from the CRCC office was a facility made of cement, siding, and very thin interior walls (just ask our Adult Bible Study! ha...)

After a verbal spanking in 1 Corinthians 3, Paul tells the Corinth church...

We are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. (1 Cor. 3:9)

WE are the building -- not the other way around. Thanks for the great reminder Tony!

A Snapshot of Worship

A snapshot from tonight's corporate praise and worship time at CrossRoads:

The evening began with an amazing video called "I Love You." It set the stage.

Three "stations" kicked worship time to a whole new level:

• 6 x 6 wooden beams strewn across the back of the auditorium. After a time of self-examination, sins were written on a piece of paper and driven into the wood with a hammer and nail. The sound of nails being driven into the wood as we sang "Taste and See" will be a moment I'll never forget.
  
• Two 6' long pieces of glass set up like a chalkboard. We were asked to go and write the name of a person who was far away from God on the glass. In doing so, we were committing ourselves to praying for them. Hundreds of souls were prayed for tonight as we brought the boards on stage at the end and corporately cried out in prayer for them.
  
• Communion. A vivid reminder of why we gathered tonight.

Down front, people were being prayed for, families were being restored and children seemed to be asking Jesus into their hearts from where we were sitting.

A special shout out to those who cared for the little ones while parents were given the opportunity to experience tonight's gathering. You made a difference.

Jesus, You made ALL the difference. Thank You for giving us a reason to celebrate tonight...and every night.

1,000+ Baptized

Check out the awesome video on Mark Waltz's blog here.

Our youngest son, Zach, went on a missions trip to India for an entire summer (it seemed like a year to me.)

It's exciting to see what God is doing there!

Rescued!

Check out our mini-project for the night. Digging up daffodils from an old home place here in town. In what now is a vacant lot, there once stood an awesome 1920's wood-shingled bungalow home, known as "the Cannon house." That is, until the city tore it down about a year ago. :( Brian and I still kick ourselves for not taking a picture before d-day.

Why do I enjoy "rescuing" old flowers so much?

• I appreciate the work that someone, many years ago, put in to planting and caring for them.
  
• I love the fact that the homeowners enjoyed seeing them grow and bloom throughout the years. Now we'll be able to do the same.
• They're free. :)

If you spot old flowers about to meet their maker, let me know!

Teach Less, Learn More

"One might say that he who teaches best teaches least."
John Milton Gregory

Perhaps this is easier said than done for those of us who learned to teach a Bible Class (aka Sunday School) back when the teacher did all the talking, all the reasoning and all the problem solving for the class, with little to no interaction between the "students" and the teacher (and we wonder why the traditional Sunday School setting is on the decline.)

I shudder to think of the many times I have shown up to teach a 1 hour class with 1 hour's worth of material. The times I have simply spewed what I had learned that week with no thought given to how (or even IF) it would be received. The times I left no room for uncomfortable silence or thought-provoking questions. Or worse, the times when I grieved the Holy Spirit by leaving no room for Him to move in the minds and hearts of His people before I had to move on to the next point in order to finish all I had prepared. Lord, forgive me.

God continues to use Dr. Howard Hendricks' classic book "Teaching to Change Lives" to challenge and transform my thinking on this subject. I'm still fumbling my way through the learning process (and often failing) but it's mornings like today that, I believe, prove John Milton Gregory's theory correct.

During this morning's Adult Bible Study, there was a continual flow of interaction, lots of laughter and learning. Does this happen every time I prepare to teach? Unfortunately, no. Sometimes not even close, but it is exciting to see what happens when I'm willing to prepare well, but less. Less of me, all of Him. I know this desire to be true of Brian Woodard and Dr. Shawn LaBelle as well.

I can't close tonight without giving a shout out to those who are a part of this amazing class every Sunday morning at CrossRoads. Notice I didn't say "attend." These individuals are a part of this class because it's a two-way street. We learn so much from each other. This class isn't afraid to ask tough questions and they're full of grace when we lack the answers.

I thank God for you!

Meet Max

Here's the latest addition to the family, Max, a two-year old retriever/lab mix. Brandon and Megan purchased him today at the Greenville Humane Society. He is as sweet as he looks. It will be interesting to see how Maya adapts but they seem to be off to a good start. Congrats!

God Sighting!

Written in my staff notes from Wednesday: Pray for Assimilation Pastor at Grace Church - baby is not expected to live but a couple of minutes outside the womb.

God Sighting via Rich's post today. Praise God!

Teaching, Part 2

In Teaching, Part 1, I shared HOW I became a teacher. Today, as I prepare to teach on Sunday, I'm reminded of just some of the many reasons WHY I love to teach (I'll share more in the future):

• I love to learn. I have SO much to learn about God and His Word, but what I do learn I can't wait to share with others. When creative illustrations come to mind it pretty much makes my day. Of course, the pitfall comes when I confuse my own "quiet time" with the Lord with prepping for a class.
  

• I love "light bulb" moments. "Yea! I get it!" That's when I know the Holy Spirit is doing His thing. Those moments spur me on.
  

• Teaching humbles me. For obvious reasons. It is a total dependence on God - what are His plans for His class? His purposes? Is there any sin - anything in my life - that would hinder the working of the Holy Spirit? Do I need to make something right between Brian and myself or others? Tough, but necessary questions.
  

• Because I'm not the true teacher. The Holy Spirit is (John 14:26) Whew.
  

I would appreciate your prayers as I prepare to teach on brokenness through the lives of Adam and Eve in our Adult Bible Study class this Sunday. We're going back to Genesis...where it all began!

Get on Board!

Have you signed up for Discovering CRCC 101 yet?

When Brian and I took the 101 class over 6 years ago we were blown away! Back then, the crowd was smaller, so Steve and Becky would graciously host the meeting in their home. That was the first "blow away" factor. The Pastor is going to have the class where? The location has since changed but the casual atmosphere hasn't. Steve still does a great job of making the class fun yet informative. Time flies! And just between us... he usually dismisses at 8:30 instead of 9:00!

So go ahead...sign up and find out what all the excitement is about. God is doing an amazing work at CrossRoads and there's no better time to get on board! Click here to take the first step. You'll find the Core Classes online registration under "members/events."

To those of you who have completed 101, let me know if I missed anything!

Shots are Sinful

I hate shots. Always have. I was the kid who walked around picking up trash off the pediatrician's floor in hopes that he would have mercy on me, choosing antibiotics instead of the needle. Let's just say I gave up on that idea pretty quickly. No wonder I'm a germ phobe.

Now I receive 3 shots a WEEK, thanks to my allergies. You name it. I'm allergic to it. I guess the only cool thing about these shots is what they do (I have to find some light at the end of this tunnel!) One shot injects pure allergens of mold/dust, the second injects pure allergens of trees and the last one injects pure allergens of venom. The shots begin with minute doses of each allergen, eventually building up to a maximum dosage within 3-5 years. After this time, most patients become immune to the very things which they were once allergic to.

Sin often operates in immunotherapy mode, doesn't it? You know what I mean. Sin rarely becomes a part of our life in an instant. It often begins with minute "doses." We allow it to slowly seep into our thinking, attitudes, and behaviors. Slowly but surely, the irritation of sin begins to lessen. It doesn't bother us as it once did. And then, unfortunately, if left unchecked, we can easily find ourselves becoming immune - or numb - to the sin in our lives.

Wouldn't it be great if we could recognize sin as easily as we do the sharp point of a needle? There's only One who can provide that kind of sensitivity, the Holy Spirit. Let's pray for it!

Preparing the Heart for Easter

I wish I had started reading this devotional guide sooner, but I guess there's no time like the present. Check out this incredible online devotional guide. It is now posted on CRCC's Web site under "Recommended Resources." Be blessed.

Vulnerability

What do you find yourself most vulnerable to today? Temptation? Criticism? Complacency? Fill in the blank _______________.

In the closing laps of the Las Vegas' Dodge 400 run yesterday, Jeff Gordon spun out and crashed into the most vulnerable and dangerous spot on the entire race track - the one wall where the safety barrier had not been added. Why had it not been added? I understand it was due to the owner's feeling that it wasn't worth it, due to the probability of a driver hitting that particular area. Tell that to Jeff Gordon.

How often do we bank on the same wishful thinking? We see our vulnerability, and yet we doubt the destruction that can come as a result. It's often only after the fact that we have a newfound respect for our God-given "safety barriers": His Holy Spirit, His Word, Prayer, hanging out with His family, etc.

Chances are, that wall will have a safety barrier installed prior to the next race. Let's not put it off any longer. What barrier(s) can we begin to build into our lives today in order to prevent destruction tomorrow?

Choices

"To NOT choose IS to choose." This was just one of many great insights Steve shared during his Kingdom message this morning. While jotting it down, I couldn't help but think of the many years I hitch-hiked down the road known as BROAD.

"For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." (Matthew 7:13)

I lived the first 26 years of my life choosing not to choose. I knew Jesus was God's Son, that He was born in a manger and that He had even died and risen again. Wasn't that enough? Unfortunately, these are the only requirements in some churches. Deception greets us at the wide gate and invites us to join the multitudes.

I fell for one of the enemy's most deceptive and successful ploys: Confusing knowing about Jesus with knowing Jesus. I didn't realize that to know Jesus (ginosko) meant to be in relationship with Him. To experience Him. To love Him. To know Him in a way that cannot be obtained by mere intellect, but one birthed through the Holy Spirit.

At the age of 27, I entered into a relationship with Jesus. No longer did I just know about Him, but I knew Him by experience and I long to know Him more and more every day. He transferred me from death to life, from cursing to blessing, from a broad road to a narrow one...and I've never looked back. Thank You, Jesus!

I Heart Magazines

I love magazines. They're my weakness. My downfall. Some of my favorites are...

• Outreach - Top 25 Most Innovative Churches list is worth it alone. I do miss the free marker tags though!
  
• Old House Journal - We have a circa 1911 house. We need all the help we can get.
• Cottage Living - Because I'm a Becky Keyes' wanna-be. She is crazy clueful when it comes to decorating (and so much more!)
• Any and EVERY Gardening/Landscaping - I love to plan, create and dream! Now I just need a tiller.
• WNC - Because one day I dream of having a weekend cabin in the mountains.
• Saveur/Fine Cooking - Not because I CAN cook but because I WANT to cook. My tendency is to cook/eat the easiest (and quickest) meal possible. But a couple years ago, I realized how many wonderful memories I had of my grandmother's cooking. I want to be that kind of mom and grandmother too! All the kids are coming over tonight for spiral ham, crockpot mac and cheese and hopefully a pound cake (if it turns out okay!)