Get ready to take a quick look back at your high school days this Wednesday in Crossroads! The 'This Generation' worship team will start off our night, and Pastor Mark will challenge us with a message on learning from the past while looking to the future. If you want to make the night more fun, bring your yearbook and wear your school gear! We'll end the night with ice cream out on the patio, and a shared gathering time with the youth. See you tomorrow night in Crossroads, at our normal time and place (not in the gym). It will be a blast!

California

Last week I had the priviledge of going on vacation with some great friends: Nick, Josh, Deric & Micah. Here we are at the condo in Newport Beach.
We spent a great deal of time around the pool, well, the hot tub, and had many interesting conversations. We met people from all over the United States, and were able to talk about Jesus with quite a few of them.
Here is a picture of the mighty Kaweah River, where we went rafting Wednesday. This is the steepest river in North America, starting at 13,000 feet above sea level. Normally a class 4 river, our guides told us that the high water pushed the rapids towards class 5! And we only fell out once. Ask Deric to show you his battle wounds.
Nick, Seth, and I enjoy the view of the Kaweah inside Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park.
Deric, Seth, Nick Joanie, Micah and I at the base of 'General Sherman', the largest living thing on the planet. This tree is thousands of years old, and it has the size to prove it.


Deric on the coast in San Diego, 'America's Finest City' This picture captues Nicks mood throughout the trip: 'Hakuna Matata'.

Here is the living room at the place we stayed. Just enough room for 7!


And you can't have a vacation without a walk-in double shower! A guy has to get clean.

Crossroads Cookout

I just got back from Orange County, California, and it's good to be back in the real OC! Just a reminder that we're having a cookout tomorrow after 2nd service in the field south of the church! Great food, kickball, volleyball, and more, so see you there! Don't forget to bring a friend!

Spiritual Gifts Survey

Join us tomorrow morning in Crossroads Sunday School for what will be a fascinating morning of discovering your spiritual gifts. We'll be going through a questionaire and discussing the giftings God has given each of us. C-112 at 9:30 a.m. What a great gift for mom, to know you went to Sunday School. See you there!

Last night I performed a funeral service up at 90th and Capitol. I had met with family members on Sunday, and they requested that a strong appeal for salvation be made that night, and so I obliged. I talked about how God can bring purpose, wisdom and comfort in trials. And ultimately trials will push us towards a deeper relationship with God, or we'll pull away from Him. What an awesome opportunity to affect the atmosphere of that service and family, presenting the truth of Jesus.

As I was walking out of the funeral home, I noticed two guys about my age wearing shirts and ties, and holding books. Immediately my 'Mormon' radar went off, and we met each other in the middle of the street. (Each of us had an interest in meeting!) I asked what they were up to, asked why they're mormon, what change this has made in their lives, and what motivates them to go door to door sharing their faith.

Then I answered those questions for them, told them about my relationship with Jesus, and invited them to Crossroads, of course! Their devotion to sharing their faith really challenged me. Was the mormon's devotion to their faith stronger than my devotion to Jesus? For whoever was stronger in their faith would be the one to control the atmosphere, greatly affecting our meeting. This will be our topic tonight in Crossroads, and I look forward to seeing you there!

Crossroads Softball Update

Nobody seems to be talking about this in the blog sphere today, so I will. Crossroads softball won both games last night against Calvary. The first game was won 11-7, and the second game was 14-13, I believe. This team is filled with great guys, and it's great fun to play with friends, and WIN! Undefeated thus far, and more to come. I'd like to publically say we have the best coach in the league: Gabe Ledbetter! Your leadership ability grows every day, and it's showing up in our record. Keep it up.

Wednesday night we went to TGI's to say good-bye to our friend Amy Ellinger. Amy will be moving to Phoenix next week, where she's accepted a position as a nanny. Amy-does the house have a pool and waterfall in the backyard? Just wondering when January comes around.

Here's a close-up picture of Amy in the red shirt. Amy has been in Crossroads since fall of 2003, and has been a huge blessing to us through her generosity, humor, and faithfulness! You will be missed!

Have you ever been punk’d? If you’re not familiar with the phrase, it comes from a MTV show in which pranks are played, usually on friends (so I’ve heard). So I’ve been punk’d big time the last couple of weeks. I don’t think any of it was intentional, but when plans fall through time and again, and when friends forget their commitment, it’s easy to become disappointed in them. I’m blessed with great friends, and I really value loyalty, so I may be prone to setting too high of expectations.

I know I’m not alone in feeling punk’d from time to time. People let us down, including close friends and people in the church. My natural response is to either become angry or blow such individuals off. After all, this is a big church, and I don’t have to like everyone, right?

I think I would be missing out on something huge if I let my natural instincts take their course. I sense that God has been molding my heart to become more like his, so I could get just a small taste of what it means to love unconditionally. To love others when we don’t feel loved back. To love those who have said things unkind. To love others so much that our first reaction to an offense is to rush to forgive and reconcile. To love the way God loves us. None of us has to think too hard of a time that we’ve punk’d God in the recent past, and yet look at the incredible friend He is to us.

I’m praying that God makes me that kind of friend.

Happily Ever After

Yesterday I was at the wedding of Nicole Shadd to John Timothy, and a guy who doesn't normally go to church began to tell me how amazed he was at the ceremony. He was touched by the prayer for the couple, their devotion to purity, and our belief that only God could make two become one.

Then last night I received an update from Sonia and Edwin Aviles (above), who I married last June, and now live in Chicago. It is so encouraging to see how God blesses couples that put Him first in their marriage, and who were faithful to obey him before they were together.

We have something like 8 engaged couples in Crossroads right now, and I have alot of anticipation for more strong marriages this coming year.

As for Nicole and John, they will be here one more month before moving to India, where John will be going to seminary!

In a previous post, I mentioned my visits with a guy who is in jail on drug charges. I received a letter from him today, and he asked if there is anyone who would be willing to write him in prison for encouragement and fellowship. This is at his request, so please let me know if you're interested, and I'll fill you in and give you his address.

Hey Guys! I just got back from Appleton, where our whole church staff was at our state convention. It was a great time. Because I was up there, I was unable to send out the e-mail yesterday, but there will be a great Crossroads tonight! We'll be talking on how confrontations with God can totally transform our lives. We'll also look at how it's possible to re-create Jesus in our image, according to our desires. Plus another great testimony on the way. I'll see you at 7! P.S. Don't forget to bring a friend!

New Crossroads Biking Group...

ENJOY MOTORCYCLING??

No matter what style of bike (well, except pedal), please join myself and others as we take on the rustic routes of South Kettle Moraine and the glacier carved roads of Holy Hill. We'll experience turn after turn of pure exhilaration and veins pumped with adrenaline. Oh yeah, make sure you bring your GEAR!!!

When: Sunday, April 30th, We'll be leaving @ 1pm sharp!!
Where From: OCAG, South Parking Lot
Where To: South Kettle Moraine then up to Holy Hill (S. of Hartford)
POC: MICHAEL HARMAN, 414-761-2688

On Saturday morning Crossroads went rock climbing at Adventure Rock in Pewaukee. The walls proved to be no match for this group.

Battle of the sexes! Heidi and Dan race to the top. Heidi won, but her portion of the wall was significantly easier than Dan's. Really.

Jeff Papendorf on the ropes.

I'm not sure what is happening here, but you got to love them Crossroad T's!

Would you put your life in the hands of Rachel or Amanda?

After Crossroads on Wednesday Crossroads went bowling at Classic lanes. Here are a few pictures that Eric Sandoval took.

Eric insisted that this picture of Adam and Mindy be shared with you all.