Being Part of a Church Family

This week I have really been thinking about church and how important it is in my life. It's summer. Often what happens in the summer is that people race to enjoy the super-short, nice weather season that we have here in Minnesota. Often, at the expense of church attendance.

Now, before I go any further, let me clarify that I completely understand this! I don't want to guilt anyone into coming to church or feeling bad about missing a weekend service. We all need breaks, and we all need rest from the craziness of life.

This week, however, has me really thinking about all the wonderful friends and family that I have come to know and love as a result of my church home, The Crossing.

You see, this week, one of our Crossing family, Kirk Trisdale (click to visit his CaringBridge site), had a run in with a wasp. As a result, he is right now fighting for his life in intensive care. It has been astonishing to see the amazing outpouring of prayer and support from his church friends and family. People showing up and praying at the hospital, bringing food and clothes to help his wife, people praying, and posting prayers on social media. I am blown away by the family of God!

Please pray for Kirk and his family and friends. Watching his church and his family rally around him has really made me appreciate the good things we have as a part of Christ's family.

Hebrews 10: 24-25 (NIV) "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

It is so beneficial to us to keep meeting together! Something about worshiping Jesus together brings us close. Being together stirs love in our hearts that otherwise wouldn't stir, and moves us to perform good deeds we could only do as the body of Christ, together.

So, if you've been missing church this summer, I want to gracefully encourage you to go this weekend! Worship with your family and experience Christ in His house! It is really easy to fall into the habit of not going. Don't forget that we were designed to do life in community, as a part of something bigger than just ourselves.

Beauty in Every Circumstance.

This morning I looked out my kitchen window. Wow, it was really beautiful. There is about 2 or 3 feet of snow, my old shed, some critter prints in the snow, and the sun is catching the glint of ice crystals on the snow. 

It looks like diamonds were scattered by someone on the surface of the snow. And I think to myself, "That's awesome. Too bad it's a thousand below zero."

Ever do that? Look at something that is so amazing, then throw the negativity of our present circumstances over it so that we can't enjoy the blessing?

Life gets like that. God will bless us with amazing things: our spouse, our family, good friends, our home... and we allow our problems to outshine the blessings.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

I want to challenge you today to have a day of joy. Spend some time in prayer and thank God for your blessings, regardless of your circumstances!! God's will is that you will have joy! Stop looking at your problems and focus on Jesus! Soon your season of cold will melt into warmth. In the meantime, you are blessed!! Be thankful!

I am praying that you will have a great day as you walk in thankfulness. You are blessed. Just stop and think of all the ways that you are blessed. Forget about the fact that it is 5 below zero. Even when it's cold out, there are diamonds on the surface.

If nothing else, you have a relationship with the Creator of the universe. Chances are if He can speak things into existence, He will change your circumstances!

God bless and have a great day! 

God Is On The Move In Zimtown

Today is my Sabbath. A Sabbath is a day to reflect on all the good things God has done and to be thankful and rest in Him.

This morning, Tracy and I have been enjoying our coffee and thinking back on all the good things God has been doing in our lives and doing at the Zimmerman Campus. Over the last few years, we've had the blessing of worshiping and serving Jesus with some of the most amazing people. We've seen firsthand how God heals marriages and brings freedom from addiction. We've seen people coming to know Jesus for the first time, and people grow in their relationship with Christ. And we've watched God form a family of believers in Zimtown that are committed to loving each other and pointing people to Jesus. 

We believe in faith that the best is yet to come! The town of Zimmerman has a population of a little over 5,000 people. We believe each person matters to God, is loved by God, and is a son or daughter of the King. And we know that our Crossing Zimtown family has the potential to reach every single soul for Christ! Jesus has equipped us with everything we need to grow His Kingdom to the glory of God the Father. That's why we do what we do. 

John 21:15-17 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep."

I really believe that ministry is done out of a love for Jesus. The most exciting thing about doing ministry is seeing others grow in their love for Jesus. I really believe that God is building a community of believers in Zimtown who love Jesus and are excited to share His love with others! God is up to something amazing at the Zimtown campus and we are so blessed to be a part of it.

Here are a few pictures we were looking at this morning as we remembered what God has already done and are looking forward to what He's going to do!

Zimtown in the Westwood Elementary Days

First Service In Our Building

The Auditorium in our building. Before paint & stage & truss & lights....

Taste Of The Crossing

Wild West Days Parade 2011

Wild West Days Parade 2012

Mustaches!

One Of Our Many Potlucks After Church

We get to act like this & still be loved!

Getting ready to serve Jesus -- Thrill & Move!

Favorite Ministry Moment: Baptizing our son, Connor.

We're so excited for a fresh new season of serving Jesus at the Zimmerman Campus. We're expectant about what God is about to do in the lives of the people in our community. And we're praying for a whole bunch of people to experience what we've had the honor & blessing to experience over the last few years. The best is yet to come!

Our YEAR OF FAITH series starts this weekend. We'll see you Sunday at 10am!

Day 1 of fast.

Starting off on January 1 fasting and seeking God in prayer. Seems weird to fast, to let go of what normally sustains you, and asking God to fill that void.

I don't really like to fast, but I do like the results. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness in Luke chapter 4. He ate nothing (fasted) and was tempted by the devil.

He fought off temptation with scripture, and emerged after 40 days full of the Holy Spirit's power.

During my time of fasting, I am just trying to be like Jesus. I am leaning into God's word, praying to be full of the Spirit's power, hoping to be able to minister to people by pointing them to Jesus.

Why ALL Crossing Campuses Matter!!

First off, I want to thank you for taking the time to read this. If you are reading this, I think it's because God has something he specifically wants to say to you.

As many of you know, The Crossing Church now has 4 campuses. I want to share some of the reasons why we have so many campuses:

1. People need to know about Jesus!! The more campuses we have, the more opportunities there are to let people know that God is for them and not against them!!
2. Convenience: How cool is it that you can go right down the street for an awesome Crossing service?
3. We really believe that the church is the only hope for all the world! Every town should have a place where people can go and get changed, loved, and cared for.

If you attend The Crossing and you have never checked out the campus in your town I am challenging you to do so this weekend!! This weekend is going to be amazing at every campus. I am challenging you to start getting involved in what's happening in your city. Start inviting people to the campus down the street and see your city and neighborhood change!! My hope and prayer is to see every town with a Crossing campus in it on fire for God and changed because the love and hope of Jesus became real in ton of people's lives!!

I get to do ministry with some of the most amazing, selfless people on Earth. People who are committed to seeing Jesus show up in their city. I challenge you to get involved and volunteer and make a difference, and watch as Jesus shows up and changes the world through The Crossing campus in your town! God's hand is on this church... at EACH & EVERY campus. Some of us on a large scale, some of us on a small scale. But life-change happens ONE LIFE at a time no matter which campus you're at. And every life MATTERS to God.

So, come and join your neighbors and help make your town the hardest place to go to hell from!! Come and check out The Code of the Samurai this weekend, it is going to be off-the-chain amazing!! Go to www.crossing-church.com and see where the campus closest to you is!!

Praying what you preach.

The talk this weekend at Crossing Church was amazing. It really got me thinking about planting and harvesting. So I wanted to talk about 3 seeds that I want to plant in my life this week, I hope you will too.

First is Preaching. Everyone who calls themselves a Christian has the responsibility to preach. Preaching simply by talking. Talk about what Jesus has done in your life and share how much His love has changed you. Preach.

Next is Practicing. If you are going to preach, you had better make sure to practice what you preach. Your life should be a reflection of what you profess with your mouth. This part is a little harder - it means you have to put in the work of living out what you say, not just paying lip service.

Last is Prayer. If you are going to follow Jesus and try to live like He lived, you should be in constant conversation with Him asking Him to share with you how He did it!! You need to ask God to change you and empower you to do the practicing after the preaching. Prayer is the thing that brings the first two into line and makes them work. Without prayer, you are doing it on your own and when you do it on your own it will not work.

So, now here is the challenge I have for all who just read this blog:

Will you preach? Will you talk to your friends and loved ones about Jesus? Will you invite them to your church so that they will hear how much He loves them and wants to do life with them?

Will you practice what you preach? Will you set an example worthy of wanting to follow?

And finally, will you pray? My wife and I are committing to pray at least a half an hour each day this week for the city of Zimmerman, the Zimtown campus, the Zimtown volunteers and leaders, and for lost people who don't know Jesus.

I firmly believe that God blesses you when you talk to people about Him, serve Him with your life, and seek Him and His wisdom and guidance. No, wait, I know He blesses you when you do this.

So join us in prayer this week and pray that He fills our church with people who need HIM! Plant the seeds of Preaching, Practicing, and Praying.

Zimtown Thank You!!

I just wanted to take a few minutes and thank all the people who volunteer to serve and do stuff around the Zimtown campus to make it happen each week.

Thank you!! Without your hard work and dedication to seeing people meet Jesus each week the Zimtown campus would not happen. You are all amazing, keep up the hard work. What you are doing is making a difference in Zimmerman and making it one of the hardest places to go to hell from.

Good Job, I look forward to serving with you all each week, you are the highlight of my week. I am truly blessed to have you in my life and to serve you and serve with you, keep it up!!