Unity’s connection to the Holy Spirit

Posted: February 1, 2011 in discipleship
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In Acts 4 all the believers are together and praying.  This results in a manifestation of the presence of God and everyone is filled with the Holy Spirit.  The very next thing that happens is the affirmation that everyone was of “one heart and mind” and they held everything in common.  In other words that had complete unity….physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

We must realize that whenever there is disunity that is an indication of a void of the Holy Spirit and the only thing that will bring unity is the filling of the Holy Spirit.  In other words where there is an absence of the Holy Spirit there is always disunity; at the same time where there is a presence of the Holy Spirit there is always unity.

May you live a life today full of the Holy Spirit and as a result may your relationships be full of unity.

Peace from Pastor P

When the plan changes…..the empty tomb

Posted: January 26, 2011 in Faith
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How often do we prepare, plan, vision, and examine the next steps in our lives and then at the last moment God turns us in a different direction.  At times it may feel like you are flying by the seat of your pants and its pointless to go through this planning and envisioning.

However, I want to look at it a different way.  I want to look at our planning, preparing, and visioning as the necessary step that brings us to the empty tomb.  Without the planning and preparing of the ladies to take care of Jesus’ body (Luke 24:1) they would have been sitting at home grieving and missed the experience of resurrection.  Its as if God uses their planning and preparation to bring them to the empty tomb where they experience God’s plan.  Even though God’s plan leaves their plan and preparation as worthless it is the journey and devotion to their planning and preparation that positions them to experience the truth of the Resurrection and God’s plan for their life.

Today is not a day to sit idle grieving or thinking about what could be with your life.  Today is a time to prepare, plan, and vision of what your next steps might be.  However, know that the true value is not your own plan and vision but the journey of your preparing and visioning is the rode that will lead you to the empty tomb and God’s dream for your life.

 

Peace from Pastor P

The Great Triumph

Posted: January 12, 2011 in discipleship, Faith
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Verse of Inspiration–Luke 10:20 (the great triumph)

One key question that humanity has dealt with over time is why do bad, tragic things happen?  Another question that simultaneously happens in regards to Jesus is why do followers of Jesus (if He has defeated evil) still experience these tragedies?  A reality that we can be sure of in our life is there are going to be tragedies and pain that we experience regardless of our faith of lack there of.

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that the great triumph in our lives is not “our authority over evil but God’s authority over us.”  The promise of being a follower of Jesus is not guaranteed authority over evil but the promise of God’s authority over us.  It is this authority over our lives that empowers us to faithfully walk through those times of tragedy knowing the ultimate victory we have received through Jesus.  It is in this realization that God will use our faithfulness during times of tragedy to reach those that are far from him.

As you struggle this year be reminded that these struggles are a reality of life.  May you be reminded that the promise of Jesus is not your authority over evil but God’s authority over you regardless of and because of the circumstances of your life.  May you live confidently in the promise of God’s authority over your life and the ultimate deliverance from evil through Jesus the Christ.

Peace from Pastor P

Choosing a Spouse

Posted: January 11, 2011 in Love
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Verse of Inspiration–Gen 24:19 (choosing a spouse….whole story in Gen 24)

On what grounds do you choose a spouse?  What is your guideline?  What makes someone spouse material?  What makes you spouse material?

I think that we so often sell ourselves short and we are so lonely that we jump into a commitment of marriage and we make the decision based upon a feeling instead of based upon guidelines and expectations we have for our life.  There’s a story in scripture where Abraham sends off a servant to find wife for Isaac.  Abraham’s servant prays for the would be wife and in the prayer proclaims that the woman that goes above and beyond is the one for Isaac.  This is a great guideline in pursuing a relationship with a significant other.  Do they go above and beyond?  Do you go above and beyond?  If the answer is yes, then it’s a relationship with pursuing.  If they don’t go above and beyond then don’t settle but keep moving forward trusting God will bring your “Rebecca” into your midst.

 

Peace from Pastor P

Do you laugh at God’s plan like Abraham did?

Posted: January 6, 2011 in discipleship, Faith
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Verse of InspirationàGen 17:17 (Abram laughs at God’s plan)

It is so easy for us to by cynical about our life, the world, and especially God’s plan for our lives.  In fact, for most of us when we hear God’s plan for our lives we simply laugh and shrug it off as, “yeh right.”  When we hear God’s plan for our lives is it so far beyond our comprehension that we shrug it off and dismiss it quickly.  Our cynicism becomes a tool that evil uses to cause us to be deaf to God’s huge dream and plans for our lives.

My hope for you today is that you would not laugh with cynicism at God’s plans and dreams for your life but that you would believe through faith that this God has your best interest in mind and that following Him is saying “yes” to living a life beyond our wildest dreams.

Peace from Pastor P

God’s intent for your life

Posted: January 4, 2011 in Hope
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Verse of inspiration–Gen 9:7 (telling Noah to enjoy life)

Living in this world it is so easy to allow the pressures and stress of life to pull us down to a point that we really don’t enjoy life.  There is even a piece of this associated with God and that being a follower of Jesus actually causes life to be more of a drag.

But yet God has a different plan.  God desires nothing more then for us to enjoy life to its fullness.  God desires nothing more then for us to enjoy living with complete freedom the way were created to live and this is only possible through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  For it is through a relationship with Jesus that we are set free from allowing the worries and stresses of life to have a priority in our life.  Through Jesus we are able to be free to be fruitful, reproduce, live life lavishly with every ounce of our being.

Enjoy your life today; it is a gift given to you by God.  A gift for you to enjoy; don’t miss the opportunity today to celebrate the gift of you.

Peace from Pastor P

Who should serve on the Crossroads Pit Crew?

Posted: January 3, 2011 in new church
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Hey Jesus Freak!

This Wednesday at 7pm is our Pit Crew Meeting.  We will talk about the morphs that will take place as we go to two worship experiences and give everyone a chance to sign up where their gifts can best be used.

Hands down, the #1 reason why someone comes back to Crossroads after their first time is because of our pit crew’s (Hospitality Team) commitment to creating an environment on Sunday that welcomes the transforming presence of Jesus.  I can’t tell you how many times someone has said to me after a first time experience at Crossroads, “Pastor, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt anything like this before at a Church.”

Serving on the pit crew has eternal significance…whether that is cleaning on Wed. nights; taking out trash on Sunday morning; hosting guest before worship; etc…IT HAS ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE!!!

So who should come on Wednesday night?…..Anyone who wants to begin or continue to make an eternal impact for Jesus Christ on Sunday mornings at Crossroads.

You can register by clicking the following link….. http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=qqnwdtdab&oeidk=a07e38lme3i84d015f2

We will send out descriptions of all the different pit crew roles to those that have registered tomorrow evening.

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