Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Christianity, Church, crossroads, Fredericksburg, Ministry, Religion, Small Groups, Virginia
It was one of those moments that reached deep inside and touched our souls. There it stood, so powerful because it was more than just a heap of bricks with words written on them. One side of each brick had 2008 written on it and all the things God had done for us. The other side read 2009 and was filled with hopes and dreams that only God could complete. It stood as one, strong as we all did that beautiful Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago.
As the month of January comes to a close along with our current series “Direction 2009” our church is starting a new chapter. This chapter is for those who are not only seeking a purpose. This chapter is for those who are seeking action.
Acta Non Verba – Action Not Words
Connect groups are back, and are here with a greater force of numbers. We have almost doubled in small group numbers since we have started and look forward to doing it again!
This semester we will be actively taking on the book “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. Together with your small group we will discuss questions like, Why am I here? What is my purpose? Each week as we meet for fellowship and worship, we will be going over each section of our books. It is imperative that everyone has a book as we start our small groups. This is so that we can all participate in the groundwork God wants to do in our hearts.
Acta Non Verba – Action Not Words
From that beautiful Sunday morning, to the starting line of small groups we can not get by just on words, its time for action. For far too long we’ve taken in words and given out words with very little action. God is calling us to live a life style of action not words. With words Jesus taught many men. With action Jesus changed the world. Yes with words we are changed but, if we take those words and put feet to them we spark a revolution. We spark a revolution in hearts and minds all over our community.
So join us this season with people who live by Acta Non Verba.
- Join a Small Group
- Volunteer to help with set-up and tear down
- Be a part of Production
- Be a part of Children’s Ministry
- Be a Part of a Church that is Taking Action Not Words
- Anthony Lugo, Leader of DETOUR Ministry at Crossroads
One of the most important core values at Crossroads Vineyard is the value of Community. If people are not connecting and building relationships with each other – then we’re not doing our job.
Relationships are a priority to us because we believe that God is a relational God. Jesus came to lay his life down for his friends – and we’ve been mandated by his example to do the same! Jesus walked with people and talked with them. He was moved by compassion for them. He played with their kids and went to eat at the homes of his friends.
The modern, busy culture that we live in tells us to keep busy, keep our head down, keep moving and mind our own business. What a clash from the life of Jesus!! People, friends, relationships and the community that surrounded him were his priority!
Now with that said, we’re not asking you to give us all of your free time (that is, if you still have any left!) We just hope that you can find 2 hours in your week to get involved in a Connect Group. You may be dreading just the thought of slicing out yet another “appointment.” But think of it this way: hanging out with good friends, eating yummy desserts, drinking a cup of coffee, stimulating discussion – does that sound like an “appointment” to you??
So what do you say? Give it a try – Check out a list of available groups and sign up today at http://www.crossroadsvineyard.org/Connect.html
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Christianity, Current Events, Economy Crisis, Elections, Politics, Religion, United States
Has turning on the news the past few weeks made you a little queasy? I have certainly had my moments. I read a blog from one of our inspirational mentors, Brian Houston of Hillsong Church in Australia the other day that really hits on how we as Christians need to respond to the big mess that our nation is struggling with right now.
Enjoy!
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Brian Houston - Pastor, Hillsong Church in Australia
The last days?
September 29, 2008
Can you ever remember a week for international headlines like those we experienced in the past week?
Here are just a few attention grabbing examples:
• John McCain: halts presidential campaign for economy crisis talks
• U.N. Head: “Global Financial Crisis Threatens Fight Against Poverty”
• Bush: “Our entire economy is in danger”
• Warren Buffett: “bail out economy or face meltdown”
• Iran’s Ahmadinejad Addresses United Nations, Declares ‘American Empire’ Reaching ‘End of Road’
• EU Warns Iran Nearing Ability to Arm Nuclear Warhead
• North Korea Removes Seals From Nuke Plant, Bars Inspectors
• Russia arrived with its Navy in Venezuela for exercises today; AND
• Russian President Medvedev announces the large scale production of nuclear vessels to begin immediately
Add to these headlines:
· The terrorist bomb and fire in Pakistan’s Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.
· The recent terrible hurricanes that ravaged the Gulf Coast which give us another example of the raw destructive power of storms and natural disasters. It was declared by many news reporters and government officials that the USA’s, Gulf Coast’s infrastructure cannot take much more of this!
Of course, in Australia, we are facing many of our own deep spiritual, social and economic problems. Many people are hurting.
It is easy to see that we are truly living in perilous times, and isn’t that what Jesus warned? That in the last days, “perilous times will come?”
Without attempting to give answers to all this, or attempting to place blame, I believe it is time for Christians to get serious!
• Serious about our relationship with Jesus and our commitment to put Him first in every aspect of our lives.
• Serious in our prayer for friends and family who do not know the love of Christ.
• Serious in our prayer for our national leaders and for those with influence over world affairs.
• Serious in our commitment to learn from the fallout that ‘the greed of a few’ has produced on Wall Street, and to set our own priorities right.
• Serious in our determination to trust God with our everyday affairs, and in our expectation to see His miraculous power at work in our personal circumstances.
Here is a good Psalm to remember:
“I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving kindness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord.”
(Psalm 27:13-14, NLV)
I love the faith adventure! But I am also very mindful of the urgency of the hour.
God bless you as you commit to living your life reliant on His great grace and power.
The best is yet to come!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Christianity, Finish Line, Goals, Life, Passion, Purpose, Religion
These days – I feel sorry for people who have no passion or purpose in life. They wake up and fall into the same routine of their every day life. Eat, work, play, sleep. And then, they wake up and do it all over again the next day. They may laugh and enjoy life at times, but its as if they’re running on a hamster wheel with nothing ahead to run towards. Nothing to attain. Just sustain life as they know it.
How sad!
I don’t want to just sustain life – I want to attain it!! God has A PRIZE for us to attain, and he wants us to run towards it, reach for it, press in closer until it’s in our grasp!! It is not his desire for us to get caught on a merry-go-round that never gets us anywhere!
There is ALWAYS MORE to life than we know. There is always more to be had, to experience, to enjoy, to accomplish! Life is so much more than wake, eat, work and play!! Jump off the hamster wheel and put on your running shoes – there’s a prize to be had, and it’s at the finish line – not on the never-ending, monotonous, boring hamster wheel.
What is your passion? What is your purpose? What is your goal? Do you have one? Or are you running the hamster wheel?
Like a man running a race, I try hard to reach the line so that I will receive the prize. Because we belong to Christ Jesus, God is calling us to receive this prize that he has for us in heaven. (Philippians 3:14, Worldwide English New Testament)
broken heart –noun
| despair; disillusionment; devastating sorrow, esp. from disappointment in love. |
Have you ever experienced a “broken heart?” Most of us have – in fact, it almost seems inevitable in this life.
I think about the broken hearts of people I have known in my lifetime. Perhaps the most broken heart in all of my memory is my mother, sitting on the diving board of our pool…rocking back and forth…weeping in agonizing wails as she watched my father and aunt perform CPR on my 1-year old sister who was never revived.
I think of my 4-year old cousin (at the time) watch his dead-beat father drive out of the driveway for the last time, never to be seen again. The look of disillusionment in his little face is a sight I will never forget.
I think of a close friend who found out that her husband and father of their 1-year old son was living a secret life of adultry, drugs, and illegal activity.
Despair. Disillusionment. Devestating Sorrow.
Also described as “the human spirit,” the heart refers to the spiritual, emotional and moral core of a human being. When a person experiences a broken heart, their spirit is crushed. The very core of their spiritual, emotional and moral existance is smashed into pieces.
How does one recover from a broken heart? For those of us who have experienced one, when you are in the middle of crisis, recovery seems impossible.
One of my favorite promises in the Bible is found in Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. A pastor friend of mine once said that God is closer to a brokenhearted person than anyone else.
1 Peter 5:7 (Amp) says, Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
He cares for you affectionately and watchfully.
As a mother, the moment I hear a scream of pain from either of my children, it’s as if the whole world melts away and nothing is more important to me at that moment than to come to the rescue of my child in need. Our Lord is the same way – when he hears the sound of a crushed spirit, He comes running.
Are you crushed in spirit? Are you broken hearted? Are you looking at a dire situation, not knowing how to pick up the pieces? Cry out to your Father who ”cares for you watchfully.” He is close to the brokenhearted and “binds up their wounds.” (Ps. 147.3)
If you need someone to talk to, please email us at crossroads_vineyard@yahoo.com.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: christ, crossroads, Crossroads Vineyard Church, decision, Fredericksburg Churches, Fredericksburg VA
Imagine yourself on a journey. You have traveled far and have experienced many things along the way – Sorrow…Joy. Fear…trust. Anxiety… patience. Hate…love. Whether weary or invigorated from this walk of life, eventually – you will come to a crossroads, where real life…meets real faith.
A crossroads signifies a point of decision. Two roads lie ahead of you, and you must choose one. One road says “I can do life on my own. I can trust in myself. I don’t need any help.” The other road says, “I need God. I need Him to guide me through this confusing, scary, excruciating-at-times life. I desperately need His help!”
My 2-year old son Caleb is constantly saying, “NO - I do it!” He is so confident that despite his toddler mind and body, he can accomplish anything. We all know that this is certainly not true…a 2 year old cannot lift a heavy object or reach something on the top shelf. His fingers are not coordinated enough to button up his shirt or tie his shoes. Although quite stubborn at times, and extremely determined – at some point, Caleb comes to the realization that if he really wants something, he’s going to need help. Often as parents, we’ll let him try…knowing that he will fail. What does that teach him? It teaches him that it’s ok to be dependent on those who are capable. It’s ok to ask for help!
We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14), but gosh-darnit, we can’t do life without Someone who is bigger than us. Someone who is capable. Someone who knows us better than we know ourselves, who knows our weaknesses and our strengths, who sees the big picture and holds the map of our lives.
That “Someone” is Jesus Christ. Jesus is more than capable of helping us accomplish this thing called life! Not only did he create us and the world we live in, but walked the earth in human form. He knows the pains and hardships of life on earth. He knows what it’s like to face temptation, He knows what it’s like to be rejected. He knows what it’s like to be stabbed in the back. He knows what its like to cry, to laugh, to be hungry and to love. He understands our weakness and like any loving parent, he wants to help us when we need help!
Are you at a crossroads today? Has your life come to a point of decision? Are you at a point where you have realized that living on your own strength is not enough to get you through?
If this is the first time you have come to this crossroads, and would like to commit your life to Jesus Christ, I encourage you to read this. Secondly, I encourage you to tell someone that you made this decision! Sharing your new-found freedom in Christ with others will solidify this commitment in your heart. And thirdly – get involved in a church family! Crossroads Vineyard Church (located in Fredericksburg, VA) would love to have you!! (See website link for information, directions, etc)
Desperate for More,
Christina Lowery
Co-pastor, Crossroads Vineyard Church
