Unlikely

Unlikely. That was the word on which we focused this morning. Jonah was an unlikely prophet, sent with an unlikely message to an unlikely people. Jonah's repentance may have been unlikely, but more unlikely still was the message he was asked to share with them. No soft sell here. Simply, "God hates your wicked ways and offers you utter destruction. From that unlikely message comes a most unlikely response - the people of Nineveh repent. Here's my question: Do we really believe that people can repent (realign)? I ask this because I have found myself failing to share God's message. When I take a deeper look at the reason I didn't share, often times it's because deep down inside I don't believe people will respond. Am I the only one who has experienced this? What things keep you from sharing God's message most often?

Got Repentance?

Today, our SeeWorld series focused on the second chapter of Jonah. A casual reading of the narrative might lead you to the conclusion that Jonah repents while in the belly of the fish. But a careful study of the ten verse prayer reveals 26 references to "I", "me", "my" and "mine" with only two lines failing to have a reference to Jonah himself. Consider taking a few moments to read all four chapters of Jonah. Pay special attention to Jonah's attitude. Do you see the ten verses of chapter two as true and authentic repentance? What do you believe to be evidence of true repentance? Was does authentic prayer mean to you? What was your takeaway from the passage today?

Jonah: Blindfold

Everyone loves a good story. One of the best known tales in all the Bible is that of Jonah. But is it just a big fish tale that we learned growing up or is there more to it? Are there greater insights to be gleaned than a big fish swallowed a little man? We began answering those questions during our Gathering this morning. Jonah, in essence, put on a blindfold in the hopes that if God was out of sight he would be out of mind. In the midst of his running from God, he finds himself in the middle of sailors who desperately need to hear about the love of God. Unfortunately, Jonah was silent. Do you ever find yourself in that kind of position - surrounded by people who need to hear the message of the Gospel - and yet you're silent? Why do we do that? Why do we often avoid the situations God puts in front of us daily?

Time to Throw in the Towel

The clock is ticking down toward the crucifixion. Jesus gathers his disciples around him to teach them one last, profound message. John 13 records the washing of the disciples' feet by Jesus. Our focus yesterday was on this phrase: "and having loved them, he now showed them the full extent of his love." In the context of this passage, Jesus connects love with servanthood. In other words, you really haven't loved someone fully until you are willing to serve them.

What is it about serving others that is most difficult for us? Is it that we are lazy? Do we struggle with time management? Do we not understand kingdom values? Is it pride? I'm interested in hearing your thoughts about why there seems to be a gulf between knowing and doing!

Spiritual Conversations

On Sunday we spoke about the dreaded "E" word. You know the one I mean. The word that strikes terror in churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike. Evangelism. Most non-churchgoers, when encountering the word, imagine the letters TV in front of it, opening the door for all kinds of negative images. The dominate Sales Basis Approach to evangelism (create need, demonstrate how the gospel fills that need, move for a close through the sinners prayer) has led to many of those negative images.

Jesus' dominate method of evangelism was spiritual conversations. He was a master of asking questions that allowed him to climb into their lives. The number one evangelism tool for the 21st century is the ability to ask leading questions and then actively listen. I asked these questions on Sunday and I would love to get your feedback: "What would it look like for Crosspointe to inject the evangelism model of Jesus into its DNA?" "When was the last time you engaged someone in a spiritual conversation?" What fears to do you have related to evangelism?"

Ten at Ten for Ten

The next phase of our move toward the Austin Ranch area is under way! God has seen to fit to answer our request for a meeting with the developer of Austin Ranch. The meeting is scheduled for 10/10 @ 11 a.m. That is the inspiration for my call for 10 minutes of prayer at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. for the next 10 days.

For many of you, praying for this meeting and now the meeting itself is something that you have been involved in all along. Let me challenge you to consider joining me in a whatever 10 day fast God may lay on your heart. A fast from coffee. A fast from lunch. Maybe even a fast from all food for the next ten days.

Consider sharing your stories of your fast and the results of your times of prayer!

Spiritual Graffiti

Our focus Sunday was on the power of passion. The word passion has its Latin roots in the word passio which means suffering. As someone passionate about Notre Dame football, I can attest to the connection between passion and pain (for those of you who don't follow college football, the once mighty Fighting Irish have begun the 2007 campaign with four consecutive losses for the first time in their storied history).

I'm interested in your reactions to the power of passion and our model of discipleship summed up in the phrase, be one, make one, for one. Do you connect with the phrase and the accompanying concept of personal responsibility in fulfilling Christ's command to make disciples? Did you participate in the graffiti experience at the end of the Gathering? Did it connect with you? What challenges to you foresee in fulfilling the covenant you made on Sunday?

Divine Positioning

As I said Sunday, I believe God is positioning us strategically to fulfill our divine destiny. Full possession of that destiny will require courage. Courage that is both counterintuitive and strategic. Courage like that often wanes in the face of obstacles, time and other challenges. Chief among those challenges is our natural tendency to be pulled gravitationally toward the familiar. Breaking free of the gravitational attraction of the familiar may well be our greatest obstacle.

What makes the gravitational attraction of the familiar so powerful? In what ways have you felt that pull throughout this process? What ways have you discovered to break free of this gravitational field?

20/20 Vision

Researchers at the University of Rochester have shown that people who played action video games for a few hours a day over the course of a month improved by about 20 percent in their ability to identify letters presented in clutter—a visual acuity test similar to ones used in regular ophthalmology clinics. In essence, playing video game improves your bottom line on a standard eye chart. "Action video game play changes the way our brains process visual information," says Daphne Bavelier, professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester. "After just 30 hours, players showed a substantial increase in the spatial resolution of their vision, meaning they could see figures like those on an eye chart more clearly, even when other symbols crowded in."

Wouldn't it be wonderful if each of us could improve our spiritual eyesight as simply as adding a few hours of video gaming to our daily lives? In what areas have you seen improvement in your spiritual eyesight? If you battle a vision problem in your spiritual life, what would it be? Would it be spiritual nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism or tunnel vision? How has your spiritual vision problem been corrected?

Time Travelers

Our lives seem to have a common refrain, "I'm so busy!" Author and Pastor Mark Batterson suggests that we wear it like a badge around our neck with no small degree of pride. As if our exhaustion were a trophy and our ability to withstand stress as a mark of real character.

Our challenge Sunday was about creating some space in our lives for "mindful breaths." We spoke of creating margin by observing the 6:1 rhythm of God's creation -six days of work with one day of rest. We also talked about the importance of putting first things first in our lives and creating some sacred space in which God can do some unexpected things.

What are the greatest challenges you face in godly time management? Do you even struggle with creating space in your life? How can the church assist you in that process or is the church part of the problem?

Costless Generosity

I challenge you to walk through the self-help or business section of your favorite local bookstore and find more than a volume or two on the subject of sacrifice. Books on topics like weight loss, money making and success are a dime a dozen. Why? Very few people are interested in being challenged about sacrifice.

I mentioned Sunday that our culture has mastered the art of costless generosity. We are generous to a fault with things we consider to be "extra" in our lives and donate those items to charity. That is a great thing that demonstrates good stewardship of the resources God has provided for us but it is not to be confused with sacrifice. How are you sacrificing your time, your resources and your life for the cause of Christ? What are the biggest obstacles to sacrifice in our lives?

Mission: Impossible

Life has a tendency to serve up seemingly impossible and insurmountable challenges when we least expect it. Perhaps it's that frightening diagnosis from your doctor, the unexpected call from your boss about company downsizing, or the betrayal of a spouse or a child with whom you are constantly battling. These challenges may not always be life-threatening but they are always life-altering.

How do we deal with these seemingly impossible challenges? We learned Sunday that it begins with admitting that we are in over our head followed by belief that God has a solution to our challenge. We can then catalog our resources before delivering what we have to God. Which of those four steps - admitting, believing, cataloging and delivering - is the most difficult for you and why?

Live to Party

Live to Party! What a concept. Of all the metaphors Jesus uses to describe the kingdom - hidden treasure, a precious pearl, a tiny seed, yeast - my favorite is the kingdom as a party as He taught in Luke 14. When you think of the kingdom, of church, do you immediately think about a party? Do you have a sense of urgency to invite others to the party? Do you ever find yourself at the party only to be constantly complaining about the menu? You know what I mean, the worship menu, the small group menu, the children's menu or even the teaching menu? What can we do to be the purple cow we spoke about? How can we avoid being invisible as a church and instead be remarkable?

Terra Incognita

Ancient mapmakers had a term they used to label geographic areas yet to be explored and charted. They used the Latin phrase Terra Incognita or unknown earth. It was in these Terra Incognita lands that double-headed sea monsters were thought to exist. If you managed to avoid the double-headed sea monsters you might just sail off the edge of the world.

I believe that God has placed CrossPointe in the middle of Terra Incognita as we wait with expectancy for Him to reveal the next step for us. What are the things that scare you the most about being on Terra Incognita? What things excite you the most about it? Are there some things that we should be doing as we traverse this Terra Incognita? I'm interested to know your thoughts.

Choosing BEFORE You Choose

Our Gathering Sunday centered around the importance that pre choices make in our life choices as illustrated by the life of Daniel. In essence we either make pre choices or we make bad choices there are really no other options. The biggest challenge we face in making these pre choices is our desire to please others. What observations do you have about pre choices and their importance in your life? How have good pre choices benefited you? Conversely, how have the lack of pre choices come back to haunt you?

A Million Miles Away

Sunday's message was built around the theme presented in Johnny Cash's video Hurt. What was clear from the video is that Johnny Cash was haunted by bad decisions he had made throughout his life. Even decisions that we think are benign decisions - ones without far-reaching affects - often become malignant decisions - ones that impact our lives and the lives of the people around us. I'm interested to hear response on the message and the power of the metaphor in your lives.

The 411 on Prayer and Fasting

Prayer and fasting is defined as voluntarily going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. Prayer and fasting often go hand in hand, but this is not always the case. You can pray without fasting, and fast without prayer. It is when these two activities are combined and dedicated to God's glory that they reach their full effectiveness. Having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a way of manipulating God into doing what you desire. Rather, it is simply forcing yourself to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision, and wisdom you need.

Types of Biblical Fasting

• A Regular Fast - Traditionally, a regular fast means refraining from eating all food. Most people, including myself still drink water , juice and protein drinks during a regular fast. When Jesus fasted in the desert, the Bible says, "After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." This verse does not mention Jesus being thirsty.
  
  
• A Partial Fast - This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal from your diet or refraining from certain types of foods. Daniel 10:2-3 says, "At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." In Daniel 1:12, they restricted their diet to vegetables and water: "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink."
  
  
• A Full Fast - These fasts are complete - no food and no drink. Acts 9:9 describes when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus: "For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything." Esther also called for this type of fast in Esther 4:15-16: "Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'" It is recommended that this type of fast be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time.

Occasions of prayer and fasting in the Bible

Praying for health
"David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground" (2 Samuel 12:16)

Praying for safety
"There, by the Ahava Canal, I [Ezra] proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions" (Ezra 8:21).

As an act of repentance
"When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah" (1 Samuel 7:6).

As a sign of mourning
"They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword" (2 Samuel 1:12).

Before making an important decision
Along with 1 Chronicles 20 and Esther 5, the book of Acts gives this account of the calling of Elders: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off….Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust " (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23).

Where do I begin?

Begin with the challenge of preparing your mind, heart, spirit, and body. It is important to have a clear purpose for fasting and what you hope to gain from your fast. In this case, as fellow CrossPointers, we are asking God to give us clear direction as to a temporary place for our church to worship in the area to which He has called us.

Secondly, pray to the Lord and ask Him to reveal the motives of your heart. A clean heart and pure motives are essential for authentic communication.To prepare your spirit for your fast, draw close to God through prayer and worship. Let God reveal Himself to you and why He is taking you through this time of fasting. The key to any spiritual preparation is intimacy with Jesus.

Finally, your body can be prepared for fasting through pragmatic considerations and planning. A few days before your fast, get your body ready by reducing your food intake, eating raw fruits and vegetables, and avoiding foods high in sugar and fat. I have been doing a daytime fast (sunrise to sunset) with fruits and vegetables only after sunset. I find that a complete fast from all food distracts me rather than bringing me more focused on God. Remember, fasting is about focusing on Jesus, not about abstaining from food.

Looking Foolish

On Sunday, we talked about how it is often the seemingly foolish things that God uses to confound the wisdom of this world. In fact, one could argue that God uses people most powerfully when they are willing to look foolish. Consider Noah as he built the ark or David as he faced Goliath with only a slingshot and some stones. What about professional fisherman Peter when he stepped out of a perfectly good boat to walk on water. Don't tell me that these men didn't feel at least a bit foolish for their radical obedience.

Here's the question: Are you and I willing to look foolish for the cause of Christ? What is it that often causes us to hesitate in being radically obedient to God? How does the Holy Spirit in our lives help us to look foolish for God?

Taking Risks

There are two categories of regrets. Regrets of action - regret for things that we have done and regrets of inaction - regret for things we could have or should have done. Regrets of action leave a bad taste in our mouths. Regrets of inaction leave a bitter taste that lasts forever. We are forever left with the nagging question, "What if?"

Which of these categories - regret of actions and regret of inaction - do you think will be the one that at the end of your life will haunt you the worst? What can we do to minimize the possibility of regret of inaction?

Embracing Uncertainty

As I said on Sunday, I'm no movie director but it seems to me that the greatest Hollywood films have at least one thing in common: romantic or dramatic uncertainty. Cases in point for dramatic uncertainty - Gladiator. Case in point for romantic uncertainty - Sleepless in Seattle. I would suggest that learning to embrace uncertainty in our lives is a key component to our success in chasing lions. It is the spiritual certainties in our lives - the forgiveness of sins, our position in Christ - that allow us to deal with the circumstantial uncertainties in our lives. How have you seen this truth played out in your life? How do you best deal with circumstantial uncertainties? How do those uncertainties affect your spiritual journey?

Framing Adversity

How a picture is framed will determine the focus of the piece. Artist have always known this to be true. The same can be said of the Scripture's framing of adversity. Adversity, framed by the Scriptures, becomes the seedbed of opportunity. How have you experienced adversity as a seedbed of opportunity? What adversity are you facing now that needs to be re-framed by the Scriptures?

Chasing Lions

On Sunday we introduced an obscure passage in Scripture that I doubt any of your Sunday School teachers assigned as a memory verse. I know for certain that I never done an exegesis of 2 Samuel 23:20-23 in any of my classes at RTS. The account of David's Thirty Mighty Men of Valor has absolutely no bearing on any major biblical doctrine and yet as we discovered, it is a powerful teaching text for those of us who want to chase our own lions.

What lions are you currently facing in your life now? Do you see how the size of your God determines whether you turn an run like a scaredy-cat or turn and chase the lion? Do you have any lion chasing stories to share?

Got Change?

I'm not particularly excited about the introduction of the George Washington/Liberty dollar coin. Perhaps it's because I am old enough to remember the last two failed attempts - the Susan B. Anthony and the Sacagawea - or maybe it is simply that I never have change when I need it and always have it when I don't.

The Bible is very clear that God never changes but He demands constant change from us. What are some of the changes that you are attempting to make in your life right now? What makes making those changes so difficult? Can a community of faith help in those changes?

Good Friday

We call this Good Friday, a holiday in most christian countries around the world. Consider Matthew's account of this day for Christ. What is good for us was certainly not good for Jesus.

Along the way they came on a man from Cyrene named Simon and made him carry Jesus' cross. Arriving at Golgotha, the place they call "Skull Hill," they offered him a mild painkiller (a mixture of wine and myrrh), but when he tasted it he wouldn't drink it.

After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews. Along with him, they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: "You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you're really God's Son, come down from that cross!"

The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: "He saved others—he can't save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We'll all become believers then! He was so sure of God—well, let him rescue his 'Son' now—if he wants him! He did claim to be God's Son, didn't he?" Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery.

When was the last time you stopped to consider the price that was paid by Jesus on your behalf? How often have you thanked him for the relationship He made possible by His sacrifice? Would you take some time today just to reflect on the price that was paid on this Good Friday?

Scott Hagen on Maundy Thursday

WWJD is the embroidered acrostic worn as wristbands by millions of Christian teen-agers who have gone public with their faith. Outside the Upper Room where the disciples had gathered with Jesus for the Last Supper, a few Pharisees had the same acrostic, WWJD, written across their hearts. For them it meant, "What would Judas do?"

Forever etched in history as the turncoat treasurer with a bankrupt soul, Judas Iscariot was the apostolic chameleon who kissed the Savior one moment and backstabbed Him the next. His graphic collapse taught loudly that money and materialism are no antidotes for guilt. That greed mingled with grace is a spiritually lethal mix.

His death makes any Christian wonder about the strength of his or her own commitment. Would a bag full of silver have been sufficient enough booty for me to leverage my own loyalties to Jesus? Enough to persuade me to dip the morsel and take the plunge? It was for Judas.

With a stomach full of bread straight from the Only Begotten’s table and feet freshly bathed by the Ancient of Days’ own hands, Judas darted into the midnight air. He was the willing new recruit ready to service those who would falsely accuse Jesus later that night. The ally of blood-thirsty jackals. Scum who would just as soon cut your throat as cut you a deal.

Watching him leave the Last Supper, fully engulfed in the spirit of treason, you wonder how Jesus maintained an appetite for lost souls.

The events of Friday, Saturday and Sunday have become a celebrated blur for the two millenniums of the Christian church. But one thing is clear: There would have been no Calvary had it not been for Gethsemane. The two flow like tributaries into a single stream. They are synonymous with obedience. Every word in the English language for torture, pain and suffering has been ascribed to these hours of agonizing prayer and crucifixion. But often forgotten during our Easter pageants are the events of Saturday.

Wednesday: A Day of Silence

A deathly silence fell over Jerusalem on Wednesday of Holy Week. Nothing of Jesus’ actions is recorded for us in the Scriptures. It reminds me of the 400 years of silence represented by the blank pages in your Bible between the First and Second Testaments. For four centuries God withheld an update on the progress of His redemption plan. Then from obscurity the angel Gabriel appeared to a priest named Zechariah to announce the birth of the one who would "prepare the way for the Lord." His and Elizabeth’s response to the conception of John the Baptist is remarkable after 400 years without a single syllable breathed by God to His people.

With the birth of John the Baptist and ultimately Christ, God broke the silence. Now we have silence again. No one but Jesus knew His whereabouts or activities on Wednesday. Was He among friends? Was He alone praying? Maybe He was simply resting up for what would be the most difficult days a man would ever face? What do you think was happening on this day?

Tuesday: A Day to Teach

Tuesday was a very busy day for Jesus during Holy Week. The Gospels record more activity this day then any other day during this week. He spent the day teaching in parables. The people heard parables about good and bad tenets, two sons, talents, 10 maidens and sheep and goats. (Read through Matthew 21, 22 and 25 to review the teaching of Jesus on this day) They watched Jesus reward a widow for her mighty "mite" offering, while rebuking the religious rich for their unbelievable stinginess.

The highlight of the day took place during the noon hour when Jesus joined Simon, a former leper, in his home for a meal. The meal was spectacularly interrupted by Mary's extravagant act of worship in washing the feet of Jesus with her tears, drying them with her hair, and anointing them with expensive perfume. Jesus was so moved by her act of worship that he pronounced that this act would be remembered throughout history.

When was the last time that you engaged in an extraordinary act of worship? What are some possible acts of worship in which we can engage during this Holy Week? What hinders are ability to engage in this kind of worship

The Final Week of Jesus

The final week of Jesus began just as the prophet Zechariah foretold. On the back of a donkey, along a quickly-formed parade route, in a carefully orchestrated political and religious statement. The mixture of enthusiasm, anticipation and excitement must have been contagious. The crowd gathering attracting even more spectators and participants. The sound of perhaps thousands chanting the Victor's song, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord," filling the hillsides. Writer Scott Hagen puts it this way in Seven Days that Changed the World, "Before the next Sunday would arrive, the waving palms would be replaced by the pierced palms of a risen Savior. The final week was finally under way."

By the time the sun rose on Monday morning, the Hosanna cries of the people had long since faded. In it's place the hustle and bustle of business people preparing for the flood of people to Jerusalem for the passover. In short, the city was unaffected by the arrival of the Messiah King Jesus. It was business as usual until Jesus arrives at the Temple and witnesses firsthand the corruption of His Father's House. Jesus' response may be shocking to you.

Read Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-18 and Luke 19:45-48 to get the big picture of what happened. How might you have responded if you were one of Jesus' disciples? One of the vendors? A spectator? A Pharisee?

In what ways are you tempted to treat Holy Week as any other week in your life? Is there any significance to these events in your life? What can you do to change your perspective if a change of perspective is needed?

The Power of Story

The conclusion of our series in Colossians centers around Paul's admonition that we are to "live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation (manner of life) be gracious and attractive so you will have the right response for everyone." Colossians 4:5-6 The old time-tested approach to sharing our faith is still the most effective: sharing our personal stories of faith. Do you have a faith story to tell? Have you ever taken the time to write out that faith story? How about sharing your faith story with others via the blog? Just click on the respond button and share your faith story.

Are You in Bondage?

Have you ever stopped to evaluate your faith? Is your faith bounded so tightly by rules and regulation that instead of the freedom of living the mystery with Christ, all you've experienced is faith that feels like a ten ton rock around your neck? What are the things that make your faith feel like bondage? What are the things that help you experience the mystery of your faith journey?

Out of the Box Disciples

We live life in boxes. Some of our life boxes we create ourselves and choose to live within. Boxes of fear, pride and anger along with assorted other personalized boxes. We also live in boxes that are created for us by our gender, race or socio-economic class among others. Living in a box limits us, blinds us, separates us and ultimately robs us of true life. What are some of the boxes you find yourself struggling to free yourself? What part can a group of "knit together believers strongly bonded by love" play in the process?

Drift

We were warned today, from our passage in Colossians, about the dangers of drifting spiritually. We all understand the concept of drift in a nautical sense. The ship's sails are down, the boat's oars are out of the water and the vessel's anchor is firmly aboard. The boat is drifting. Do you ever find yourself in a similar place in your spiritual journey? Do you ever sense that you have drifted further and further away from God? What have you done to arrest that drift? What has God taught you about spiritual drift in your life?

Our True Center

Webster describes center in its verb form as: "to position something in the middle or to cause something to have its focus be concentrated in a particular place or on a particular thing." The Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Colosse in the first century, argues that Christ ought to be the center of our existence. Another way of thinking about center may be to consider in our lives who or what takes priority. What does it mean to you to have Christ at the center of your life? Where is He in the priorities of your life? What other things battle for the preeminent place in your life?

Storm

Why does God do some of the things He does? How come He allows storms to come into our lives? What is the purpose of these storms? IS there a purpose in the storms? Have you ever found yourself in that place where you think, "If I get one more trial, one more storm in my life, I'm going down for the count." At times like that, we tend to become doubters. We doubt God's attentiveness to our situation. We doubt our relationship with Him. We even doubt his desire to intervene in our situation. What part have storms played in your maturing in faith?

Jazz on the Journey

This past Sunday we were privileged to have jazz artist Freddie Jones join us for Acoustic Cafe. His music was a great setting for our discussion about the parallels between jazz music and our corporate faith journey. We highlighted the need for synergy between the participants as well as the need for space so that the participants can hear one another. I suspect that as you sat and listened to both the music and the message that other similarities came to your mind. How about sharing some of your thoughts?

Off the Map in the New Year

As I said on Sunday, I believe that God is calling CrossPointe to live louder in 2007 as together we walk off the map and follow God's leading out to Austin Ranch. There is something comforting about having a road map, especially when you are traveling into an unknown area. There is a sense of guidance, a sense of comfort and a sense of security that comes with having a map at your side as you travel. God is challenging us to give up that sense of comfort and security and to trust him as the map-maker of our lives. What troubles you the most about traveling off the map? What fears are associated with such a bold move? What are the rewards of such a journey?