I’ll be home for Christmas…

I’ll be home for Christmas, you can count on me…  

 

Can you hear the music?  You should be hearing it in your head right about now.  The truth is that, yes I will be… sitting right in my living room enjoying some much desired time with my family- celebrating the birth of our savior.  

 

Every so often, Christmas and New Years Day happen to fall on a Sunday, which creates some dilemmas for us as church leaders.  Do we have services or not?  What decision do we make so that we can honor Jesus and honor his people?  What about the staff and faithful volunteers who arrive early and stay late, and will take more time away from their families?  What about the small group of people that would attend on Christmas Sunday?  As always, prayer and wisdom were used in making this decision.  Here are some reasons as to why I will be home for Christmas this Christmas Sunday:

 

1.  We will have a 5:00pm Christmas Eve Service-  

We still want to be together with you as our church family and celebrate Jesus’ birth.  We are not just canceling a Christmas service, but we are offering an opportunity to have a Christmas service on Christmas Eve to worship and honor the King of Kings.  By offering this special time of worship together the night before, we have the opportunity to get filled up spiritually before we head out into the holidays and spend time with the very people that need Him and His love most.  The very ones that you have been specifically called to be a light to.  So please don’t miss out on honoring Him during this special season.  Join with us at 5:00pm on Christmas Eve and bring your family and your friends. 

 

2.  Our staff and volunteers-  

They don’t need to serve at church on Christmas Sunday- they do this year round, week in and week out.  Seriously people, there is far more time involved than what you see at 9am or 11am.  This small wonderful, group of faithful, committed, and AMAZING volunteers and staff have stole Tracee’s and my heart!  Honestly, I am so grateful for all of them who make our services possible every week.  Besides the time put into planning and preparing for services through out the week, just to have our services require Saturday set-ups, early arrival on Sunday mornings, and Sunday afternoon tear downs… and they do this EVERY WEEK.  I just want them as well as our entire church to enjoy this holiday season to the fullest.  I want them to be home celebrating Jesus and serving their own families during this already busy season.  

 

3.  I want to be home with my family- 

Call it selfish, but I really like these guys! 

 

4.  Hardly anyone will be there- 

91% of churches in America will be open on Christmas Sunday, yet only 14-18% of people will actually attend. Really?  

“If our target and our mission is to reach the unchurched, basically the people who don’t go to church, how likely is it that they’ll be going to church on Christmas morning?”

Oh ya, the attendance on the Sunday after Thanksgiving factored in it. Very low!  As well as Christmas Sunday’s attendance in previous years.

 

 

5.  Church is for honoring Jesus, encouraging each other, and reaching the lost- 

Very difficult to do this when the people aren’t here- lol.  Lost people aren’t coming… and I’m pretty sure most of you wouldn’t be coming.  Here in lies the reason why we have an alternative plan. 

 

6.  The House of God never closes- 

Just a reminder, You and I are the house of God where He makes his home.  A building is where His many homes come together creating His kingdom. That’s good stuff! His houses are open every day - all day!  Remember this wherever you go and whoever you come in contact with.

 

7.  Finally, we will be open on New Year’s Day to kick off the year correctly!

Together lifting up His name! We are getting geared up for a great year of seeing God show off and change lives, marriages and families.  So prepare for Jan 1st as we bring in 2012 the right way!  Putting Him first, just as we have done by having service on Christmas Eve.

 

The bottom line is I want to lift up Jesus and honor Him with everything I have!!!  That includes Christmas as well as all the other days of the year.  Having said that, I desire for our homes to honor God as well- full of love, laughter, joy and all the other characteristics of God. So enjoy this season to the fullest, and bring HIM and HIS love into everywhere you go and every one you come in contact with. 

Jesus Qualifies You!

Three years ago (2008), my mom said a pretty powerful statement that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. I was just beginning as the new senior pastor at CrossCurrent.  I was overwhelmed, nervous, a bit anxious, freaked out and yet so excited at the enormous potential and the possibilities that lied ahead for us at CC.  I was sharing with her all that I was feeling and she just said this statement that stuck. She said  “God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called”.  That statement alone helped me tremendously as I moved forward as pastor. Over the past several years, this is what God has settled in my heart- maybe this can help you in your journey:

* Jesus makes the difference-  When God calls you and I to specific tasks, we do not have to take it, force it or even prove ourselves— we just need to be with Jesus! He will give the words, skills and courage to do what He is asking you to do.  Acts 4:13

* Follow Jesus-  People will have all kinds of opinions, thoughts and feelings. If you don’t believe me, go sit in the stands at a PH high school football game and listen to the crowd when the coach calls a play they don’t like.  There are some people who are very well meaning and there are some who are not. They are filled with an agenda, selfish ambitions and control issues, they just have a need to spread negativity. Remove them off your bus. Ultimately, we need to hear what the Lord saying?

* It’s real easy to be tuned in to the voices of people more than the voice of Jesus. The fear of man is a snare and it can pull you into deep pit!  I share this from experience.  Michael, the former pastor of CC once told me that “You can’t truly lead people to freedom until you are free from the pull(words) of people” How true that is!  All people who are used by God greatly need to be free from the highs of man’s praises and lows of mans criticisms. Ultimately, what is the Lord saying to you/me?

* Schooling can suck and rock at the same time!  I have never been to bible school, but I can tell you that HSU(Holy Spirit University) is the toughest and most rewarding school you will ever be part of. The late night study times, the exams, pop quizzes, the people you are in school with, and even the unexplained assignments you didn’t think you signed up for- all this works together to make us into what He has designed and called us to.  You never graduate His school.  You can quit, drop out, complain, hate it, love it, even re-enroll, but you never never graduate.  You just keep moving to new levels.  

I want to live my life like the guys in Acts- maybe not the sharpest tool in the shed or having the most knowledge- but I do want to know Jesus and I much rather people say “but they have been with Jesus” than “wow, is he smart! lol”.  He can and will use anyone with a “Yes” in their heart toward Him… and will make you look so smart as well. It’s the best of both worlds.

Love ya and can’t wait to see how He uses you for great things-

Pastor Mark 

God does the qualifying!

Is Jesus amazing or what?

This series we are in right now- the Big and Little C- have got to be one of my favorites. I love preaching about the church and God’s heart for it.  It fires me up in a huge way. Keeps the proper perspective of what this thing is all about.  I’m still blown away at how much Jesus loves His bride and that I get to be a part of it.  So cool!  We have been hearing some incredible stories that are so humbling, and yet so inspiring!  Keeps us  moving forward. What’s the word?  Stay the course!  

Just a few of the stories I wanted to share about God’s goodness…

 

  • I met a sweet lady who came up during meet-n-greet. She began to tell me with tears in her eyes that she hasn’t stepped foot in a church in 20 years and she repeatedly thanked me for creating this environment for her to meet Jesus. Dang! Pretty much wrecked me for the rest of the service. When we create the right environments, people grow! 

 

  • I was able to meet a young couple after service who said “they used to go to church when they were younger and walked away because of the judgmental, always pointing the finger, and talking about other churches.” With tears in her eyes, she tells me “this is the first time I have felt at home in a church”

 

  • Worship was unbelievable on Sunday and just continues to increase on a weekly basis. I encourage you to come expecting and watch what happens.

 

  • We are being asked to do baptisms!  People are hungry to follow Jesus— So stinking cool.  W saw more come up this week and commit their lives to follow Jesus.  

 

  • I had someone come up after service and hug me like there was no tomorrow. She said that for the first time in 6 years, she is excited about coming to church and feels things are coming alive again in her walk with Jesus.

 

We have seen over 170 people receive Jesus since January!  Can somebody give a shout out there! I mean this is awesome people. Shout! Rejoice! Dance! Roller skate… do something!  Heaven is celebrating and need to be as well.

 

Just crazy awesome! I share these with you not to boast in us, but rather to brag on Jesus! He has been so faithful and is moving right before our eyes.  This ought to encourage us to stay the course- knowing that lives are being changed. Keep praying! Keep serving! Keep giving! Keep loving!  

 

We haven’t seen anything yet- it’s just the beginning!

 

 

Pastor Mark