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!!

Stormy weather.

Ever feel like Jesus asked you to do something and when you obey all hell breaks loose? It feels like a storm is raging in your life and you are headed toward destruction? Ever feel that way? I have.

There are times when I feel like I am doing the right thing and everything is falling apart, waves are crashing, wind is howling, and there is not a chance I am going to survive.

The disciples had one particular experience like this. Mark ch. 4: Jesus tells the disciples to hop in a boat and go to the other side of the lake. They all hop in and part way across a storm hits, not a little one either. Wind is blowing, waves are coming into the boat, death seems imminent.

Where is Jesus? He's in the back of the boat, snoozin'. He just got done serving, and preaching his guts out and he is tired. So the disciples really freak out, they wake him up and ask if he even cares that they are gonna die!!

You see up to this point the disciples have only had a glimpse of who Jesus is. He is a great teacher, a miracle worker, an amazing leader. But he is about to reveal the most awesome thing about who he is.

He stands up in the boat and says the wind and waves "Peace, be still!" Then it is dead still, a great calm comes over the water and waves.

You see, I think a lot of us forget one huge thing about Jesus, he is God!! Up until now the disciples just kind of looked at him as a really great man. But he is so much more, he is also God.

Psalm 65:7 (speaking of God) 'who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves'.

It is at this moment that Jesus' followers realize that Jesus is much more than just a mere man. They know that only God can still the waves and the wind like this. Jesus looks at them and asks "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

The disciples look at each other and are filled with great fear and say, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

So where is your faith at today? Are you rowing frantically trying to figure out what is going on, or are you realizing that Jesus is God and with a word he can calm the storm? Have faith, Jesus allows you to go through storms so that you can see one thing, He is God, don't forget that.

Keep the faith!!

I was thinking that sometimes it is really hard to always be faithful. Sometimes it just seems like life is kicking you in the teeth and all you can do is let it happen.

It is times like these when I think of Ephesians chapter 6:16, "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." You see, life gets really hard sometimes, you lose your job, a loved one dies, you get sick, bad things happen. The first thing I want to do when life gets hard is doubt that God loves me and that he has blessings in store for me, in other words, I put down my shield.

In battle, one of the most important things you have is your shield, it keeps you from getting shot!! I want to challenge you today, if you are getting shot at, to keep your shield up. Stand on what God promises you and march forward through the onslaught, believing what scripture says. God will protect you, he does love you, he wants good for you!! Lean into him in times of trouble, don't doubt his love for you, he will see you through.

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

We don't always know why things get hard or what the results will be, but God does. Trust him with your future he will deliver you. Don't allow yourself to get shot by dropping your faith, keep moving and trusting in his Word.

Confidence.

Hey, I know it has been a while since I have blogged anything, so to get back in the swing of things I thought I would make it a quick one!!

Genesis Ch. 5 "... When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them..."

Sometimes I really struggle having confidence. I think at some point in every one's life they struggle with this. I just want to remind you today, that you were made in God's image. That means you are an amazing creation! You have the ability to do awesome things, just like God.

There is a story in the book of Genesis where all the people get together and and decide to build a city and a tower that will have it's top in the heavens. Now I don't have an hour or so to get into the wrongness of what they are doing or why it happened, but, one thing I find really interesting about this story is what God says about these people.

And the Lord said , "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing will now be impossible for them." (emphasis added)

Now, of course, in this story the people were not doing God's will. But, the amazing thing God says, before he confuses all their language so they can't finish their city and tower and make a name for themselves, is that nothing will be impossible for them. You see, God created us to do amazing things.

Now we live in a fallen world and often times man uses his God given abilities to do evil, like in the story of the tower of Babel. But the good news is we can use the abilities God has given us to do many amazing, Godly things.

If we use our abilities to do good things, unlike the people in the Babel story, God really does bless what we do. Just remember God created us in his likeness, and blesses us when we bear his image well!! You really do have the power to do the impossible when you follow God's will for your life!!

Have confidence!! God blesses!!

Leading by following.

I read Joshua this week and it made me think a lot about leadership. I think a lot of times in life we feel like the task before us is so impossible that there is no possible way we can do it. In my life I have often times allowed fear and anxiety to rule over me and I have missed out on some huge things because I was too scared to step out of my comfort zone and take a chance.

I think for a long time that is the biggest reason I didn't want to follow Christ fully with my life. I was scared to lose something. I thought I would miss out on the fun stuff in life. When I finally did fully step out in faith and give it all, I realized the stuff I thought was fun wasn't really all it was cracked up to be.

So when I started to follow Christ, he began to allow opportunities in my life to arise that really stretched me out of my comfort zone. A lot of the time I was still too scared to take a chance and trust that God would provide for me so I didn't act. But, the times that I did act, I saw that God came through in huge ways and always provided everything I needed to do what he was asking me to do. Through that process of not allowing fear to rule me but following what God was asking me to do I began to grow. I became closer to God and trusted him more and started to worry less. I started to take chances, fight down fear, and step out of my comfort zone to do things I thought were impossible for me to do.

If you are struggling with fear, struggling to grow, I would say what is God asking you to do that scares you? Just do it!! Push against that fear and break through it. Be ruled by God and not fear!! The only way you will overcome fear is to smash into it head on, trusting in God, and break through it. If God asks you to do something, it is because he knows you can do it.

There are so many times when I have done things and looked back and gone, wow that did not get accomplished because of me, I couldn't have done that without God. God will provide the strength you need. 2nd Corinthians 12:8 ..."My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me.

You see, if you follow Christ well, you will lead well. All it takes is to be obedient, and you will overcome fear, He will work through you. You just have to do what he asks, He does the rest, He provides the strength in your weakness.

So, back to Joshua ch 5:13-6:21... The Israelites are coming up to Jericho, the city has like the most fortified strongest wall ever seen by them, and here is this guy with standing there with a sword. This is Jesus by the way (commander of the LORD's army). And the LORD tells them to walk around the city and basically play marching band music and yell real loud and the wall will fall down.

So, I don't know about you, but I would be a bit nervous, but ok, I'll do it. They do it, and as anyone who went to Sunday school knows the wall dropped like the ball on New Year's Eve, done all over but the crying. Strange, but see, all Joshua had to do was follow and he led well.

If God has called you into leadership in any capacity and you wonder how you can be successful. I would say it is as simple as be a good follower!! You don't have to do it on your own, that is not what God ever calls us to do!! We need to follow well, then we can lead well. This means you first follow Him, if you are at work you do what your boss tells you to do, provided it's ethical... etc. If you are leading at church you follow the leaders God has placed over you.

I have been blessed to work with some really great leaders. Eric Dykstra, the lead pastor at The Crossing has taught me a lot about leadership and I am grateful that God has allowed me to be in a position to learn and follow. If you lead at a church, make sure you honor those God has placed over you. Don't bad mouth them in any way in front of others, if you got a beef take it to the person you have the beef with. If you don't like something going on at church, don't gripe all over the place, take it your leaders...

Leaders follow well, they don't look at the people they are leading and complain about what they have to do. If Joshua had went back to the Israelites and said, this guy with a sword just told me we have to go play marching band music and yell loud to win the day, that is so dumb, I can't believe it. Oh well I guess we better do what he says... Who would have followed him? I would be like, screw that, if you don't have faith I'm not putting my neck on the line to follow you!!

Leaders have a huge responsibility to lead well. Some day I hope to hear Jesus say, well done good and faithful servant, because I served and followed well.

Celebrate the wins!!

Okay so I was just thinking how when often times we make resolutions and don't keep them. I thought one way I could keep going with them is to make sure to celebrate those moments when you actually see the fruit of your labor.

So the other day I totally reacted in a calm way to a situation that I would have normally became angry. And it made me think that all the work and prayer I have been putting into not getting angry about stupid things has actually started to pay off in small ways. Praise God, he does answer prayer and changes you through it.

So I am gonna take this moment and thank Jesus for once again reaching into my life and changing me for the better.

I think it is really important to celebrate when we see God working in our lives. So many times I get caught up in how crappy I can be, that I forget that Jesus says I am forgiven and when he looks at me he sees a child who he loves and is good.

Stop believing the lies!! Celebrate the good things, and do away with the bad. God will change you, just make sure when he does you notice and thank him, and then celebrate!! I think it is amazing that over the course of a Christian's life God changes you to be more and more like Him.

So don't give up, celebrate the wins - even if they seem small, and keep pushing yourself to be more like Christ. Follow his example, read the bible and pray that he changes you.

My verse for the last week that has really spoken to me is Luke 6: 46-49 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

What have you built your house on? When times get hard do you fall apart? Make sure if you say you follow Christ you read his word, and then do what it says. Life is hard make sure you build a good foundation!! Let Christ be your rock.

That's all I got!! God is good!!

Refuse To Have Enemies.

So one of the big things I am working on in 2010 is not getting angry, in a bad, not so useful way. One of the biggest wastes of my time is when I let what other people do bother me. Seriously, think of how many times a day you let people make you upset. Someone says an off handed comment about you, a tailgater in traffic, sometimes even your family does it, for example there have been several times when my kids have said less than kind statements about me. And we let it all ruin our day.

What if in 2010 we followed the advice of scripture? What if we prayed for our enemies? What if we forgave people immediately without hesitation or even a reason to? What if we put others before ourselves?

I think a lot of times we are so prideful that we forget that God calls us to love our enemies, pray for them, and think of others as better than ourselves.

Colossians 3:8-10 'But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.'

If you have said yes to Jesus, then you have a responsibility to work hard at not getting angry, to not saying bad stuff about other people. We are called to put on the "new self", that is who we are in Christ - NEW!! Don't do the old stuff that revolves around yourself, strive to become who God wants you to be.

There are things that we should get angry about: poverty, starving children, victims of injustice, bullys, domestic violence, drunk driving, the list could go on forever. I've made a decision to not get angry about stupid stuff while the rest of the world literally goes to hell.

I am challenging myself to let go of stupid anger, and to make a difference in the world. I want to challenge everyone else to get angry the right way. Give to the poor, help earthquake victims, give a homeless guy a sandwich and a Coke rather than shaking your head at him. Life is so short and I don't want to waste another minute of it cursing the guy out who just cut me off in traffic. Refuse to have enemies, instead of finding ways to have them.

Witness Protection Program.

Did you ever see one of those movies where someone goes into the Witness Protection Program because they testified against organized crime? The whole deal is this, you fear for your life and you won't say anything unless the government gives you a new identity and starts your life over again in a different state with a new house and job.

So let me ask you this: Are you in the Witness Protection Program?

I was reading Genesis Ch. 20 today and Abraham did this thing where because his wife is good looking and they are going somewhere they have never been before around people they don't know he tells everyone that his wife is his sister. What, really? And not only that, it's not the first time he's done it.

Ok, so my first inclination is to say he is just dumb. But then I think, I do this all the time. I tend to kind of lay low and feel out a situation and make sure I feel real comfy before I ever reveal that I follow God. Why? Same reason that Abraham gives to Abimelech: "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'"... (Gen. 20:11). I think often times we jump to conclusions about people, like they will think I'm crazy, or weird, they will make fun of me, so we don't truthfully, fully represent who we are.

Peter did the same thing. About 5 minutes (give or take) after he told Jesus he would never deny him, he's going Jesus who? Not sure who you mean, you must have me confused with someone else!! I think we all go through this, especially as new christians. There is good news though. Peter went on to become one of the greatest leaders in the history of the church. No he wasn't perfect and he still screwed up, but he learned it is better to not pretend.

You see we are all called to be witnesses. But if we put ourselves in the Witness Protection Program and people find out who we are in a different way other then from our own mouths we are not very good witnesses at all. Be brave, take a risk!! In the end, when Abraham came clean about who his wife really was, things went much better for him. Read the story!! Don't jump to conclusions about how you think people will react, you just never really know. God will not let your life get wrecked because you stand up for who he is and for who you are.

Learn from Abraham and Peter, God can do awesome things through you, but it will never happen unless you check out of the Witness Protection Program and be yourself!!

New Year Resolutions

Okay so I'm not much for New Year resolutions. In fact I don't think I've ever done them in any sort of earnesty. Here it goes though:

• I am going to spend more quiet time with God. Time spent alone, away from distractions, just talking and listening
• This one is linked to the previous one, I will spend more time listening to God. This has always been one of the hardest things for me. I will try to just concentrate on hearing his voice and not get distracted by my brain. Gotta pray more for that one!!
• I will let go of un-righteous anger. There is a right way to be angry and a wrong way to be angry. I will get angry at the things I should and not at the things I shouldn't.
• I will not let fear rule in my decision making.
• I will take more risks in 2010. Jeremiah 29:11; "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Well there it is, I could sit here and think of a million more things but those are the main four I will concentrate on for the next year.

Gonna keep this blog post short and sweet, hope you all have a great year!!

Christmas gifts.

So this Christmas season has had me thinking a lot about gift giving. I know as soon as I start talking about gifts everyone thinks ok ok, here he goes, he's gonna start talking about it's better to give than it is to receive. Well... sort of, but not really. I have actually been thinking about the gift God gave me about 6 years ago.

A lot of you know me as the mild mannered, funny, joke telling, church goin' guy. That was not always me. You see, there was a time when you couldn't have dragged me through the doors of a church if the world was all on fire and that was the only safe place on the planet. There was a time when I couldn't give a crap about pleasing God, much less care about how anyone but myself could be made happy.

As far as faith, I was truly what you would call a mocker. I thought as long as I believed in God I was as good as gold, going to heaven, if there was such a place. Also, as we all know, only really bad people go to hell, and I had never done anything really bad. I was content to live my life the way I wanted to, drink as much as I want, look at as many women as I want, pretty much live for whatever made me happy at the time.

When I saw people who were "living" for God, all I could do was make fun of the Bible thumpin' holy roller who thought they were better than everyone else. I had some bad experiences with people in my life who claimed to be God followers and as far as I was concerned they were hypocrites and I wanted nothing to do with it.

So what does that have to do with Christmas gifts? Well, for me that lifestyle started to be not fun. It was empty, ridden with guilt, and quite frankly just kinda started to feel wrong. I started to feel that there was more to life, like, maybe this wasn't all it was cracked up to be. It is amazing to me how much I clinged to things that were totally wrecking me. So I started to pray. I didn't pray like all feverishly or religiously, I just kind of started asking God to make himself real to me. To show me what life was all about. Maybe it was out of desperation, maybe it was out of guilt, maybe. I think it was God calling me back to him. I can see all the eyebrows of people who don't buy it going up in disbelief, hang in there though, I'm getting to the point.

So about 6 years ago, something amazing happened. God showed up in my life in a way I couldn't shrug off or dismiss as coincidence. This guy from Texas came to where I worked at the time. We were short handed at work and he flew up from our Texas plant to lend a hand and help out. All this guy could talk about was Jesus. I mean he was a total nut. But for some reason I just couldn't stop listening. I mean he wasn't preachy or anything he was just talking about how God was working in his life and the life of his family and I just knew that God had put this person in my life to get my attention. The kicker was this, he said that at first when his boss approached him about coming to Minnesota, in -20 degree weather by the way, he said no way. However, the following Sunday he felt like he needed to do it. He told his wife if they asked him to go again, he would know it was God wanting him to go. So sure enough, they asked him again.

So he showed up. He talked about Jesus, I listened. I knew deep in my soul that God had sent him to talk to me. I made up my mind then and there that God was indeed real, and that I would follow His plan for my life from that moment on. God gave me a great gift. I felt his love for me and I knew it was real. All the stuff that had kept me away from him no longer mattered, what mattered was he loved me.

I was reminded of that story this Christmas when I read John 17: 1-3 '"Father the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he may give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."'

See God wants us to know him. That is why he sent his son, Jesus. Jesus prayed that prayer just before his arrest and crucifixion. He died for our sins so we could have a relationship with God and receive the gift of eternal life. That is the greatest gift I have ever, or ever will receive.

It's funny to me now to look back and think how much I resisted God. How many times I mocked those who had faith and loved Jesus. My hope is this Christmas, if you are the mocker, to give God a chance. Think and pray about what life is all about. Ask God to show you the truth.
If you are someone who has a mocker or someone in your life who is extremely resistant to faith or even talking about it, don't give up on them. I was one of those people, big time. God will soften hearts, trust in him, keep the faith.

Thanks for reading, have a great Christmas and a happy new year.

Wisdom. Where are you getting it?

I have been thinking a lot lately about where people get wisdom. I mean it seems time and time again people are hearing bad advice and running with it. The more I think about it the more I realize that we are constantly bombarded with advice. You've got Oprah, Dr. Phil, Maury, Kathy Lee, The Today Show, radio, podcasts, magazines, newspapers, bloggers (ironic huh?), co-workers, friends, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, books, all telling us how to do things.



People are all too glad to be helpful. I thought I would just take a few minutes today and rant a little about where we get wisdom in our lives and how it can wreck us or help us.



So first of all, I am not saying that talkshows and books and friends and family are bad places to gain wisdom. I just get a little freaked out that people hear bad advice and it can wreck them. We've all been there, took the wrong advice or wisdom and it worked out bad. For me, the dumbest advice I ever take... is my own. Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." In other words, I am really dumb, on my own... If you go through life and just do things because YOU think it is the right way, you are screwed.



About a year ago our washing machine broke. So... I became the Maytag repair man. I thought hmmm, must be the motor, I'll just order one online and slap it in myself. Motor shows up on the door step, I put it in, plug in the machine, it fills with water and...... nothing moves. Crud!! Okay so now pride kicks in, just a little, not too much, tee hee. Okay so it must be the timer, duh. Go online order a timer, shows up, put it in, washer fills up with water..... nothing - again. I have never gotten this thing fixed to this day, luckily friends of ours intervened into the insanity and blessed us with a new washer.



If you are like me, it is really hard to look anywhere but within for wisdom, and let me tell you there just simply is none in there. You have to be extremely careful where you look for wisdom, for some it's not looking within for wisdom, it is looking to anyone who will listen. This too is dangerous. Proverbs 14:15 "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps."



Did you hear that? A prudent man gives thought to his steps... This does not mean a prudent man knows everything. But, he looks in the right places. It is so important to look in the right places. Don't just listen to any idiot with an opinion, including yourself. Heed wise counsel. Look for someone with their stuff together. If you're having money problems, talk to someone who has it together financially and do what they are doing. If you have issues with your kids, talk to someone who doesn't appear as crazy as you do and learn!!



I think often times we are too prideful to admit that we don't know what to do, so we either seek help in the wrong places, or with foolish people who don't know anything, or we just don't seek help at all and just suffer. Seek wisdom from those who you know are wise!! We all know people who are wiser than us. Suck it up and ask for help!!



The first place to look should always be God and his word. Pray and read your bible, ask him to show you the steps to take, I promise he will. Just be careful who and what you listen to, tune out the idiots and listen to the wise people!!



Proverbs 13:14 "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death."



Don't be like me, just call the Maytag man!!

Thanksgiving.

Today is the big day. The day when most of strap on the 'ol feed bag and eat ourselves into oblivion, and then flop down on the couch and melt into a turkey induced football coma. Gotta love it.

I would urge all of you though to take a moment and thank God for all that He has blessed us with. I hear a lot about the bad economy, the health care debate, and how much things generally suck. I want to remind everyone of how good we really do have it, for the most part.

We live in a country where we have freedom. We all, for the most part, have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. Even if you don't have some of those things, we still live somewhere that we have an opportunity to get them.

This Thanksgiving and Christmas season give thanks for what you have, and not only that, think of those who don't have as much as you do. There are a lot of people who are in need. Homeless people, people who just lost their jobs, can't afford to get food, can't afford to buy their kids gifts for Christmas. We all at some time or another have had the gift of help from somebody. This summer and fall a lot of my friends and neighbors and family came together in some way or another to make sure that the roof on my house got replaced. It was amazing to see God work through people!! To see people give up their time and cash so that a friend could not wake up on Christmas morn with a lap full of holiday snow.

I would implore and beg all of you to help someone in need this season. Contact a local charity and see if you can adopt a family for Christmas, give your time or money to a local mission where they feed the homeless, every time you walk by the red Salvation Army kettle throw in some cash or change. If we all do a little it adds up to a lot, and we can change the world, just a little for the better.

Matthew ch 25: 34-40; "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

We have so much to be thankful for, let's share what we have with others. Let's give, so others also can have something to be thankful for.

Thanks for listening to me rant, have a great Thanksgiving, God bless you all.

First Blog Post Ever?!!

Okay so here it is. This is the first blog I have ever posted. I hope it doesn't suck. My name is Jason, I am a Christ follower, A husband to a beautiful wife, a father of two great kids, and a total screw up. I am hoping by doing a blog I can be a help to others, share my thoughts on life, and express myself. So here it is:



Today I did something I have never done before. I am trying to get more and more into God's word 'cuz I think it helps to grow you as a person and as a Christian. Lately at church (crossing-church.com) we have done this thing called the EZ313. Basically, it gives you daily bible readings and you take the verse or phrase that most talked to you and write it down, what you observe about it, apply it to your life, and ask God to help you do what it says. (SOAP, Scripture Observation Application Prayer) This has been an amazing help to my daily bible reading. But one of the things that was talked about at the last series at church (Eat This Book) was how the bible was written down by scribes. So I took a chapter of the bible and wrote it all out by hand. I was amazed at how much more the Word stuck out and how much more I got out of it by reading it and writing it. I was also amazed by how long it took just to do one chapter, and how many times I had to look back and forth from bible to paper. It totally gave me a new appreciation for how much work it was for the people who were scribes and had to do all this by hand on an animal skin to get copies of the bible before the printing press. Amazing.



So, the chapter I chose to start in was Matthew chapter 5. I figured to start in the Beatitudes would be kind of cool, and shorter than doing a whole book of the bible which was my original plan.



A couple of things that really stuck out for me were:

• 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.' If your desire is to do what is right, you will be satisfied. Righteousness is doing what God asks you to do.


• 'Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' When you strive to do what is right, you will face opposition, people will make fun of you, they will hate you, and some of your days will suck. But, the kingdom of heaven is yours!! This is really cool because often times I lose sight of what is most important, being a Christ follower is not always tulips and daisies and all things nice. Persecution is not fun, but the reward for doing what God wants us to do is so much greater than the pain we suffer here.

These were just a couple of the things that stuck out, there were many more, the whole chapter really spoke to me. It gave me a new perspective when I paid attention to each word and phrase as I wrote it down. Really cool!! Give it a try I think it will change how you view God's word.