Now What?

Okay, we've re-thought what Christmas is all about. We have been challenged to spend less for us, so that we can invest in "heavenly things." So how do we "GIVE MORE?"



Glen spoke a lot this week about the foundational reality that Christmas, by it's very meaning and nature, is relational. It was all about God providing relationship with Him again through the gift of his Son. By giving us His Son we can know more about who God is. We got to see Him in the flesh. Now we have a much clearer understanding of who God is for the sake of relationship with Him.



So a couple questions I want to ask:

1. How do you give a "relational gift?" One thing we have done in our family, especially on Mother's, Father's, and Valentine's days are to give "With You" coupons. They say things like, "Redeem for One Night Out with Dad" or, "Good for a 10 minute back rub." How have you found ways to give of your self relationally?



2. Does it still look like or feel like a cop out? If you give someone a relational gift are you afraid they are going to think you are cheap? I guess the other question is, "Do you care at this point what they think or are you willing to break the materialistic mold and just do it because you feel like it's right?



Bring it! What do you think?



Griff

Ooouuch!?

I think I stepped on some toes today including mine. It’s tough for us anytime we challenge the status quo. For our culture the status quo is to spend A LOT at Christmas time. I think the original motive was and is still good but somehow we have become like a runaway train out of control. I wonder how it went from giving simple, meaningful and many times needed gifts to people you love in the spirit of sharing and generosity to an excessive and materialistic stuff exchange with people you love but who already have most everything they need and want? (Sorry, that’s got to be a run on sentence).

In case you weren’t there we read a story from Little House on the Prairie about the incredible excitement over a few simple things like a cake, candy, a cup and a penny. I don’t know if we can ever get back there. We just don’t live in that place. But, other people do.

I think its hard any time you go against the flow of what most of our culture does. I don’t think we want to be weird or seem like joy killers. Isn't that the point though? We want there to be more joy that has somehow seemed to escaped us in all the wrapping and ribbon and plastic. What kind of response did you have to the message this weekend? Did it spark an idea in you? Did you feel like I was way off base? Weigh in and tell us what you think God wants us to do with this whole “spend less to invest more” mentality.

Griff

Seeing Christmas from the "Other Side"

It struck me this weekend to think about just sinful my life has been. We don't like to think about it but that reality is always lurking in our subconscious. We have become very good at avoiding it. We just think about something else or look for someone that is a worse sinner (like there is such a thing) than us and that somehow makes us feel better.

It's kind of weird to think about our sinfulness when talking about Christmas. It doesn't seem to fit "the season." It's even stranger to think about a baby being born to die; for me. How is it right for a baby to be given to remedy that deeply shameful part of who I am? I guess it's not right, it's love.

I know it's not a good thing to focus too much on our sin. After all, because of Jesus, it no longer has any part in our identity. The bible calls us saints more than sinners. However, I do think it is good to consider how deep our sin can go and just what God did for us in giving us a Savior Child. If we lived out of that gratitude it would probably change much of the way we lived. What do you think that would look like? Just think how our lives, lived from this deep gratitude, might touch a watching world.

Your thoughts?

Griff's Thoughts on Christmas

Another Christmas season is upon us. For many of us, it really is a special time of year that is unique to any other. I know my wife turns into a kid at heart and loves all the great stuff that makes up the Christmas season. One of our favorite things to do every year is go to a Christmas tree farm, pick out a live tree and cut it down ourselves. One of the farms we have found has free hot chocolate and live reindeer! Does it get any better than that? (I guess maybe free tress?) There are all kinds of great traditions and memories that many of us love to revel in through this season and it’s always sad to us when it’s over.

Even though we love Christmas as much as we always have, it’s interesting that we have gone through some changes in how we choose to celebrate Christmas. In the last couple years we have gone through some steps to simplify and focus the way we celebrate. Some of our attempts have been better and more meaningful than others but all in all it has been a good exercise this think through how we go about celebrating the birth of Christ.

In our upcoming series we are going to ask you to “Re-Think Christmas.” Maybe that is a new thought for some of you. Maybe for others it isn’t new at all. What are your thoughts about the way we have come “as Americans” to celebrate Christmas? How have you already, in years past, begun to “Re-Think Christmas?”

Staying Married

In January my (Lynn Buckles) parents will celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary. They have taught me a lot about faithfulness, perseverance, and commitment. Three years ago my dad had a major stroke and last year was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My mom has been his primary care taker and that has not been easy. The phrase “for better or for worse” takes on new meaning as I watch her care for him without any expectation that he can reciprocate. In his message on staying married Glen said “staying married is about commitment and dogged determination to fight for the marriage, not each other. It is finishing what you started. The success doesn’t rely on everybody’s being compatible or happy or a champ in the sack. The people who stay married are the people who won’t consider divorce.”

Those are great words to live by and I am thankful my parents have been a good model of that to me as I continually learn to faithfully love my wife, Janene (27 years)!

Think about this question: How secure would it make you feel to know that your partner was committed to you no matter what?

NO Debt Whatsoever

Some of my fondest memories come from when I was growing up. Two of the greatest influences in my life were my grandad and my grandmother. They lived on a little farm in Ensor, KY (never heard of it have you?) where they had their own garden, grew tobacco, and raised a small amount of cattle. It seemed so simple to me. I'm sure there were a lot of struggles, but as a kid, I just wasn't aware of many of them.

One of the best things I learned from them was the discipline of saving money. They built their own house with the help of neighbors and family, paid for their cars with cash, and had absolutely NO debt whatsoever. I understand that times are different now, but I learned a lot from them and how they managed their time and money.

This weekend we will look at the subject of thriftiness. What would our grandparents say about the way that we handle money - credit card debt, student loans, wants vs. needs, instant gratification, home equity lines of credit? If you get a chance, read Matthew 6:25-34 and Proverbs 22:7. If there is some financial wisdom that you remember from your grandparents or an example of their thriftiness, talk about it in the comment section.

Let's Stay In Touch...

"It feels kind of surreal."

That's what I've been saying for the last week or so and it still rings true.

Although my time at Crossroads is officially over, I'll always count myself a part of this family.

Thanks again for allowing us to call this community home. You have truly blessed us. In my 15 years of working for churches, I've never been around better leadership, staff and people. Crossroads is the healthiest church I've ever been a part of. Now, my job is to replicate that health in Raleigh.

I appreciate all of you who took the time to say goodbye this past weekend. Many of you asked how to keep up with us in the future. Here are a few ideas:

You can email Fred at: fredsturner@gmail.com
I will check my church address for a little while longer, but go ahead and switch over now.

Although this Teaching Blog will continue, this will be my last post here.
You can find my personal blog HERE. (www.justanotherfred.blogspot.com) You can subscribe and receive updates via email when I post if you'd like.

I'll be serving with Connections Church in Raleigh. Find them online HERE.
Drop by to see what's happening in the days ahead with our new community.

Once again, thanks for letting us into your lives for the last four years. We are definitely the better for it!

Weekend Prep

This weekend we'll bring the "Yeah YOU" series to a close with a teaching conversation around the theme that "Yeah YOU Can Keep Moving".


We'll be looking at a couple of stories from Mark 6:1-13. Check them out before then if you get the chance. You may want to give them a read in the Message paraphrase for a fresh take. Find it HERE.

Front Porch Wisdom...

Have you ever marveled at the stuff people could do a couple of generations ago? For the most part, our grandparents knew how to build houses, fix cars, grow food, live within their means, be neighborly, stay married, raise kids- and a hundred other things that seem so challenging today.

We live with more information and conveniences than ever- but is life really better today? Are we any better at living it? While we can’t recreate the “good old days”, we could stand to grab some of the timeless wisdom that blessed and sustained those who came before us. Our next teaching series will focus on some of the biblical values and life skills that seemed more widespread a couple of generations ago.

To get the ball rolling, we'd love to hear from you about the "front porch wisdom" you've gotten from your grandparents, older relatives, mentors, etc.

Are there any pieces of advice you refer back to time and again?

Any character traits you've tried to emulate?

Any fond memories or stories of the wise sages in your life that you reach back to for inspiration?

How Was Your Experience...

...this past weekend with Pastor Felix Williams and the rest of the folks from Mt. Calvary leading our weekend services?

How do you feel about being a part of a church that is willing to raise the topic of and begin to engage in racial reconciliation?

Changing the World

Just came across this quote:

"You begin saving the world by saving one man at a time; all else is grandiose romanticism or politics." - Charles Bukowski

Does this ring true for you?

Why or why not?

Is It Even Possible???

Wow. Great discussion on the last post. When I look at the types of things we all want to change about this world, it makes me wonder if change is even possible.

A couple of us mentioned that what we want to change is ourselves and we can't even seem to get that done.

What do you think? Can people like us change the world?

If not- why not?

If yes- how?

Yeah, YOU Can Change The World...

This weekend we'll conclude the "Yeah YOU" series with the idea that each of us can make an impact on this world.


If that's really true- and you had the power to change one thing about this world, what would it be?

Resources from this weekend

This weekend we explored the idea that God can use any of us (YEAH YOU) to help someone else on their journey with/towards God.

We tried to take some cues from Philip in Acts 8:26-40: Making ourselves available to others, asking questions and listening, engaging in dialogue-not debate, etc.

We watched Philip's friend- the Ethiopian- respond to God and be baptized as a sign of his desire to follow Jesus. We also got to see a video of some recent baptisms of folks within the Crossroads' community.

If you'd like to learn more about baptism, we'll be offering a one hour baptism class during each of our weekend services on October 13th & 14th. You can register online for a class HERE, or contact Missy Cheeseman with any questions mcheeseman@xroadschurch.org, 263-4633 ext. 293.

If you decide you are ready to take the plunge (literally), stop by our main room anytime between 2-4pm on Sunday, October 14th for an Open Baptism. Bring some clothes you can wet in and a towel and we'll get it done.

Also, if you'd like to read a bit more on this topic of evangelism, Glen recommends these resources:

Jim & Capser Go to Church: Frank Conversations about Faith, Churches and Well-Meaning Christians

Evangelism without Additives: What if sharing your faith meant just being yourself?

Vocab Test...

One of the things I love about Crossroads is that we don't drop theological or religous terms just to sound impressive. (Propitiation anyone?)

This weekend we'll be talking about EVANGELISM. You might not hear that exact term, but it will be the topic of the day.

What does the word EVANGELSIM mean to you?

What associations does it carry for you?

Are there other words or phrases you use in place of this term? If so, why?

Refrigerator Rights...

This weekend we talked about the idea that each of us was made to belong to other people.

As a practical picture of this, Glen talked about the concept of "Refigerator Rights".

Authors Will Miller & Glenn Sparks introduced this idea in their BOOKof the same title.

Will's BLOG defines the concept this way:

Refrigerator Rights Relationships are people who can open your refrigerator without having to ask permission. And when you are in their home you can do the same. They are people with whom you feel open, cared for and relaxed. They know the real you behind the facade.

Do you have anyone like this in your life? More than one person?

If so, how did you get to this level of belonging?

If not, why not? Are you afraid? Too busy? Something else?

Is there anything in your fridge worth eating anyway?

Belonging...

This weekend we'll continue the "Yeah YOU" series with a teaching about belonging. The gist is that in Jesus' church, there is a place for everyone- the black sheep, the wallflowers, the introverted, those with low self-esteem or social anxiety, the shy,the abrasive, etc. etc.

This may feel strange to us, because life doesn't usually work this way. We're used to seeing the beautiful, privileged, talented and charismatic people receiving the golden tickets of inclusion while the rest of us are left with our noses pressed to the glass.

Or maybe that's just me.

What experiences have you had when it comes to beloging?

Where have you been accpeted?

Where have you felt like you didn't fit?

What made the difference for you?

Which Is Harder For You?

This weekend Greg Chandler did an outstanding job of leading us in a conversation on forgiveness.

When it comes to this topic, which is more of a challenge for you?

Granting forgiveness to others?

OR

Asking for and accepting it yourself?

As you are willing/able, give us some insight as to why you answer the way you do.

I Heart You Tube

Thanks to Anonymous who added a link to the video for Yahweh in the comment section of the last post.

Join my nostaglia by following this link to watch U2 circa 1983.

Make sure you watch at least until the white flag comes out.

U2 Gets Me...And 100 Million Other People

I know they may be the band everyone likes (or likes to hate due to their mass appeal) but I've been a U2 fan since the first time I saw the "Sunday Bloody Sunday" video filmed at Red Rocks in 1983. The passion of Bono, the white flag, the Edge chiming away on guitar- it all got me.

Nearly 25 years later, their music still speaks to me.

This morning on a walk my Ipod dialed up "Yahweh" from their "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" project.

The lyrics form a prayer that speaks about our desire to change:

Take these shoes
Click clacking down some dead end street
Take these shoes
And make them fit
Take this shirt
Polyester white trash made in nowhere
Take this shirt
And make it clean, clean
Take this soul
Stranded in some skin and bones
Take this soul
And make it sing

CHORUS:
Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn

Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands
Don't make a fist no
Take this mouth
So quick to criticize
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss

CHORUS

Still waiting for the dawn, the sun is coming up
The sun is coming up on the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean

CHORUS

Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city
If it be your will
What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And let it break

You can listen to a 30 second sample or purchase the song HERE.

Several things about these lyrics echo my own journey: a feeling like I don't quite fit into my soul, my deisre to let my life be used for God instead of selfishness and violence towards others, and a longing to completely surrender myself to Jesus.

How about you? Have you heard this song? Do any of the words feel true for you? Is there another U2 song that captures some part of your soul?