I heard this cute story recently and I just had to share it with you. A distinguished Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. When little Jimmy heard that he enthusiastically spoke up and said, “My Mummy looked back once while she was driving her car, but she turned into a telephone pole!”

Satan tries so hard to get us to look back. He uses people, many with good intentions, to remind us of painful memories and situations that are firmly nailed to the cross.

Apostle Paul makes a few statements in Philippians 3:13-14 that instruct us on how to embrace our future and not get bogged down in the past:

Phil 3:13-14 NLT … No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.

Paul was focusing all his energies on forgetting the past and straining (making great effort) to accomplish his life’s mission. The past should not be a road block to the future and should not serve as a reason to quit the race God has called us to run.

I urge all of you to focus your attention on what is before you and give everything you have to accomplishing all God has called you to do. After all, who wants to turn into a pillar of salt or a telephone pole?

An empty suitcase isn’t that difficult to carry. However, if you over pack it, it could be a struggle to lug around. After 25 years of traveling the world via planes, trains, and automobiles, I assure you heavy suitcases can be a royal pain in the backside. When you are the one carrying it you tend to pay more attention to the packing process.

Our hearts can act as a type of suitcase and if we are not careful, sin, the issues of life, worry, grief, bitterness towards people, fear, so many things, just weigh us down to the point where we feel we cannot go on. Every day can become drudgery and weariness of spirit can put us in the depth of depression and despair.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us we have a race to run. Our race is not a 100 meter sprint, it is a marathon. Can you imagine running a long distance race carrying a heavy suitcase? Your chances of finishing the race, let alone winning the race, would be slim. The same is true as we seek to run the race God has called all of us to run.

I encourage you to do as I have and millions of others have done. Open your suitcase (Your Heart) and get rid of everything Satan has slipped in there. Remember, he is sneaky and you will need to check it daily to make sure he hasn’t slipped some excess weight in there without you knowing it. If we want to faithfully finish our race we cannot be toting a heavy suitcase filed with Satan’s junk.

Matt 4:19…”Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” (NLT)

I love fish. I have always been a lover of fish. To say the least, I have had more than my share of fish and chips in my years of living!!!

My perspective about fish changed a few years ago when some friends took me to a fish processing plant. There I got to see how the fish is taken from the large fishing boats, cleaned, packaged, and presented in filet form to cities all over. I was informed by some of the locals that the majority of the fish they process would never see a freezer; it would be served fresh.

As I watched this process I heard God speak to me. God showed me what Jesus had in mind when He told His disciples to follow Him and He would make them fishers of men. It would demand hard work and long, long hours. To be a fisher of men you have to understand that fish are not caught in a deep fried form with fries on the side. There will be “stinky” situations that will demand we have a strong spiritual stomach. They will be less than perfect and they will need to be cleaned (by God and not by people) and that process could take some time. Being a fisher of men will certainly have its challenges.

I am encouraged to know that if we catch the fish, God will clean the fish. If you are up for the challenge I say let’s go fishing.

I love fish don’t you?

I am sitting here and listening to the Newsboys singing the song “I am Free”. How is FREEDOM to operate in our lives?

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NLT)
17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

FREEDOM was given for the express purpose of reflecting HIS Image. Where He is welcome, FREEDOM is not only experienced, but expressed. I know a lot of people who are in prison and behind bars that are freer than most people living life. They have found that your outward situation does not have to dictate your INWARD PEACE, that how people label you does not define your true identity in Christ. True FREEDOM is not living like you want to, it is living like you should…it is living the way He wants us to.

The only thing GOD is ever satisfied with is Himself. That’s why our own righteousness is nothing more than filthy rags. The only way I can express the image of Christ, is by living in the freedom of Christ…this becomes a LIVING LETTER, a TESTIMONY and TROPHY of HIS GRACE for all the world to see…I’m in Him, and He’s in me…and by His power, I’ve been set free! FREE TO LOVE, FREE TO LAUGH, FREE TO LIVE…CHRIST IN ME.

LIVE FREE IN HIM TODAY!

Blessings,
Pastor Scott

It’s not unusual for ministries to take a close look at other churches. Often, they’re in search of the recipe for success.

It’s great that churches can learn from each other. Our church has certainly been helped by it, and we hope other churches have found value in what we’ve been able to offer.

But there’s something important to keep in mind as we study others. We have to realize we have different ingredients.

When you do the same things as Ministry X, you can’t assume you’ll get the same results. God has given you and your team unique talents, resources, and vision to reach your community.

We’re better off building a recipe that takes into account the ingredients we have.

What are some key ingredients for your ministry?

Sitting here in a hospital waiting room as a relative is being operated on and I find myself occupied with one of my favorite pastimes…people-watching. Hospitals are filled with so many different faces filled with so many different emotions. Like the new mom who is being wheeled out to the car and the new dad filled with excitement making sure they are both taken care of. Or like the family who is waiting for the news of their loved one who is battling cancer. Faces filled with excitement, concern, sadness, anxiety and hope.

In contrast, the local church has many of the same faces on a weekly basis…but the difference is, while the hospital offers hope through the skills of the medically trained, the church offers hope through Christ. Obviously we depend on the wisdom of the medical professionals. But if we can add to the situation the comfort and strength of Jesus, no matter the outcome, that source of hope cannot be quenched. So the next time you are in a place where you see a face that is lacking hope, take the time to offer the hope and peace that passes all understanding. Jesus is the hope for all situations!!

At the end of every year I go back and look through my calendar from the previous year. Amazing how many memories are so easily forgotten! As I do this I’m filled with gratitude. And I’m overwhelmed by all the people we have touched along the way with the faithfulness of God. Such a healthy and holy ritual.

So one year-end ritual is looking back. The other year-end ritual is looking ahead. I review my life goals. Then I try to figure out what my priorities will be for the new year. As I ponder what the new year will look like I am reminded that no matter what it looks like, God is always with me. With that in place I can conquer many things!! I’ve got a few choices, goals, and habits I’m working on for 2010 and I am excited to see what God has in store for all of us!!

Last weekend I was reminded of a few lessons that have to be relearned all the time:

1) Ministry Flows out of Relationship

One of our core values at Crossroads is “Ministry Flows Out of Relationships”…this core value demands time on our part to allow relationships to be built. Time can be our enemy so make sure to control it, not allowing it to control you.

2) Go the Extra Mile

So many people make this a reality every weekend. I am blessed to find so many doing different things behind the scenes that would be considered going the extra mile. One illustration is Pastor Travis stepping up and speaking for both services on less than 10 hours notice. We also have a couple of guys who show up early every week to blow and sweep the parking lot so that it is clean when everyone else arrives for services. That is going the extra mile. So many others also step up to help make our weekend services happen.

3) Do Little Things Like They Are Big Things.

One lesson we all need to be aware of is making sure we do not overlook the seemingly small details of life and ministry. I believe it is in these areas that we allow God to see our faithfulness and in doing so he allows us to do the Big things in time!! Stay faithful in the little!!

As Christ Followers we need to have our priorities set. Not all inclusive, but a good start for us should look like this: 1.Worship, 2.Work, 3.Witness. As we look to close “09” we can celebrate all that God has done. But with that same attitude we need to look forward and ask God to speak into our lives concerning our priorities for 2010.

Ever been offered a free subscription to a magazine for the first year? Why would we be offered something for free? It’s because magazine companies understand the status quo bias. Most of us will forget to cancel. And it’s not really that we’ve forgotten. We’re just too lazy to make a simple phone call or write a simple letter. Right? That is human nature! We tend to keep doing what we’ve been doing. And the problem with that is this: if you keep doing what you’ve always done you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten.

I am absolutely convinced that each one of us has room to grow. In order to grow we need to be open to look at those things in our lives which we have done from one year to the next. I understand that change is difficult for some but all of us need to make changes to grow. Take some time to look at your life on all levels: relationally, emotionally, spiritually, physically. What changes do you need to make? What do you need to do more or do less of? What habits do you need to break or establish?

As we get ready to begin a new year, you need to challenge the status quo. Don’t maintain the status quo. Challenge it.