Hello, Crossroads Family !

I’ll try to keep this short, but I want to remind you about the exciting things that are coming up at Crossroads as we begin the month of September.  I especially hope you’ll join us in worship this Sunday morning at 10:00.  Bring a friend with you !  We’re having a good time on Sundays, and the sermon will be from Daniel 4.  (Take a look at it ahead of time !)  We’ll sing some great songs like “Jesus is Alive,” “Holy Forever,” “Great Are You Lord,” “Our God Reigns,” and “Fairest Lord Jesus.”  (Our Worship Team will be rehearsing tonight — why don’t you take time before Sunday to practice up too !  )  We’ll also worship the Lord around the Communion Meal this Sunday.

I was just talking to the landlord of our building, telling her how many wonderful, strong people God has brought into our church family.  What a blessing it is to all of us that you are part of the family.  May we continue to grow in an ever-deepening relationship with God and with each other.  September will be a good time for that.  Here’s a quick look ahead without going into too much detail :

Worship this Sunday

Worship at 10:00.  Children’s Church during the sermon for ages 0-7.

Immerse begins next Wednesday, September 10, 7-8:15 pm.

Everyone is welcome to be part of Immerse !  If you’d like to know more, please contact Forrest Drury (forrestdrury@gmail.com).  I hope you’ll join us — it’s very worthwhile !

Women’s Retreat at Kamp Keirsey — Saturday, September 13

If you need additional information about this special day, please reach out to Erin Townsend (ektownsend12@gmail.com).

Women’s Fall “Breakfast & Bible Study” begins Saturday, September 20, at 8 am.

If you’re interested, please sign up by Sunday, the 14th, so we can have materials for you.  The study will be out of Ruth Chou Simon’s book, Now and Not Yet : Pressing In When You’re Waiting, Wanting, and Restless for More.  A sign-up sheet is at the church, or you may contact Erin Townsend (ektownsend12@gmail.com).

8-13 year-olds Bible Class

The next class for 8-13 year-olds will be Sunday, September 21, during the sermon.  Contact Emily Lewis if you have questions (Emilylews6789@gmail.com).

Men’s Recharge — Tuesday, September 23, 6:30-8:00 pm

All men are welcome.  We’ll have a short study and discussion on the 8th commandment :  You shall not steal.  Great fellowship and encouragement for men !  

Elders Meeting — Sunday, September 28, following the Worship Service

Thank you for praying for our elders — Shane, Cris, Forrest, Ryan, and myself.  We’ll have a lot to discuss at this meeting.

Sunday Night Small Group Study beginning September 28, 6 pm.

I’m going to be teaching a 6- or 7-week course on Understanding & Interpreting the Psalms.  I’m very excited about it, and I hope you’ll plan to be a part !  More information coming soon but reserve the date !  We’ll have our first meeting at the church on the 28th.  We will finish the course before the holidays.

Among the bridge-building efforts God has given energy to at Crossroads is an effort to pray regularly for the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department.  Diane Ray has been staying connected with the staff there.  This week, please pray specifically for Deputy Melvin Nye, for some health-related issues he is experiencing.  Thank you !

Let’s be in prayer, too, for those preparing for marriage :  Kylee Vestal & Dominick Goodwin, and Jaci Servos & Konner Sisseck.

—————————

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

— Romans 5:1

Oh, the peace forever flowing

From God’s thoughts of His own Son !

Oh, the peace of simply knowing

On the cross that all was done.

I hope you have a wonderful second half of the week !

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

New routines, new things happening in our lives, but God stays the same.  

I was encouraged yesterday by a note my daughter Esther sent me.  She had been reading Psalm 111.  Take a look at Psalm 111 sometime today (only ten verses long).  Even just scanning through it, some awesome God-words pop out :

• great
• splendid
• majestic
• righteousness :  “His righteousness endures forever” (v. 3).
• covenant
• truth and justice
• redemption
• praise :  “His praise endures forever” (v. 10).

These were truths Esther made note of from her reading of Psalm 111 :

• God causes us to remember His wonderful works.
• All He does is just and good.
• All His commandments are trustworthy.
• He has paid a full ransom for His people.
• He has guaranteed His covenant forever.
• He has a holy, awe-inspiring name !
• He is gracious and merciful.
• His righteousness never fails.
• Everything He does reveals His glory and His majesty.
• He gives food to those who fear Him.
• He has shown His great power to His people.
• His commandments are forever true.
• Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
• All who obey His commandments will grow in wisdom.
• He is worthy of our praise forever !
• His deeds are amazing !

I hope you’ve seen these things to be true in your own life, and I hope you’ll be watching for them today.  We used to talk about “God-sightings” — a direct answer to prayer ; a specific word of encouragement ; an unusual linkage of events ; a message from His Word.  Psalm 111 is reminding us to look for God and to take note of sightings of Him !

Last Sunday morning was like a whole series of God-sightings !  What a good time we had with the McCallisters, great food, having extra time to fellowship with old friends and new.  Thanks for being extra thoughtful of each other on a busy and crowded morning of worship !  Special thanks to all who served and blessed us.

Some reminders :

• Worship this Sunday morning at 10:00.  Children’s Church during the sermon for 0-7 years old.  The sermon will be from Daniel 3.  Some songs we’ll be singing this Sunday (if you want to loosen up your voice and plan ahead) :  Hosanna (Praise is Rising) ; It is Well With My Soul ; God is Able ; Yes I Will ; Never Once.  Daniel 3 is the story of Daniel’s friends in the fiery furnace.  But more than a miraculous deliverance from unjust punishment, we see the battle of the gods raging on in Daniel’s day, … and in ours.  We are in need of additional helpers in Children’s Church !  If you would like to be on a helpers rotation (does not require preparing a lesson), please let Michaela Walker know (michaelaroseann@gmail.com).  Thank you !

• Immerse will be starting up soon !  We would love to have as many at Crossroads as possible be a part of Immerse this fall.  Our first get-together will be Wednesday, September 10, 7-8:15 pm, at the church, and we’ll meet for 11 weeks on Wednesday nights.  Immerse is a reading program in which each week you read an assignment in the Bible (this fall, from the prophetical books of the Old Testament).  Then, on Wednesday nights we gather in small groups to discuss what we read during the week.  We use four simple questions as a springboard for our discussions :  (1) What stood out to you this week ?  (2) Was there anything confusing or troubling ?  (3) Did anything make you think differently about God ?  (4) How might this change the way we live ?  Let Forrest Drury know if you’re interested or need further information !  (forrestdrury@gmail.com)

• Women’s Ministry :  Our Women’s Retreat is coming up at Kamp Keirsey (just north of Nevada) on Saturday, September 13 (8:30 am – 4 pm), followed by the start of a new season of “Breakfast & a Bible Study” which will begin Saturday, September 20 (8 am at the church).  For information or questions about either activity, please contact Erin Townsend (ektownsend12@gmail.com).  If you’re interested in participating in Breakfast & Bible Study, Erin would like you to sign up by September 14 so she can order books in time.  The study book will be Now and Not Yet : Pressing In When You Are Waiting, Wanting and Restless for More” by Ruth Chou Simons.

• Men’s Recharge.  Men, the date of the September men’s Recharge study has been changed.  The new date is Tuesday, September 23, 6:30-8:00 pm, at the church.  We had a great time and discussion of the 7th commandment a week or so ago.  This is a good opportunity for accountability and encouragement among men.  Hope you’ll be there !

Other dates still being determined :

• Our young families with children are hoping to go bowling together soon !  
• Our Missions Team is giving thought to the best date for another hot dog dinner outreach at one of our local parks.  
• I would like to lead a Sunday night class at some point this fall.  Trying to sort through my schedule and find dates that work.  It would be a class on correctly understanding and interpreting the Psalms.  
• We are in need of scheduling a Membership Meeting for those interested in church membership at Crossroads.  I hope to have more information soon !

My Fall Schedule

The start of school means my return to Nevada High School for a tenth year of accompanying vocal music students.  It’s sometimes hard to visualize what other people’s jobs are like, isn’t it ?  Here’s a little sense of what my job at Nevada High School involves :

• I’m at the high school for three class periods, Monday-Friday, 9:45 am – 12:45 pm.  The three classes are General Choir, Treble Effects girls show choir, and Soundsational Singers mixed show choir.  These are rehearsal times for us.
• In addition, beginning the Thursday after Labor Day, we have a rehearsal every Thursday night during the school year from 5-7 pm.
• Later in the year, we’ll have a series of Saturday competitions which involve traveling to other schools to compete each week against 20 or so other show choirs.  Those trips involve leaving Nevada around 6 am and returning oftentimes around midnight.
• I rehearse outside of regular school hours with vocalists preparing solos for All-District choir, District Contest, and State Contest, and I accompany them to those events (Carthage, Neosho, Stockton, Columbia) during the year.
• I play the piano for awards assemblies, National Honor Society induction, Senior Sermon, and other similar events at the high school during the year.
• I am the pianist for the school musical which involves after-school rehearsals this fall and the performances in November (in addition to learning the music on my own at home !).
• We’ll have another series of show choir camps, probably in January, which will be all-day Saturday and Sunday afternoon rehearsals to complete and perfect our shows for the competition season.
• Finally, I do have to practice all that music at home which requires time and devotion.  I’m a pretty good sight-reader, but to do my best for the students I really do have to practice !

I’m thankful for the joy of being part of the community by serving students and others at the high school.  It’s a special joy for me, at this stage in life, to still be playing the piano.  God has also given me some great contacts and opportunities to build bridges.  

At the same time, you can probably see that this chops my day up into lots of little pieces (not ideal for pastors who need periods of unbroken time for study and prayer if they want to be well prepared for preaching and counsel).  And with the current and anticipated growth at Crossroads, it has become harder to divide myself and do well at both responsibilities.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Our hope at Crossroads is, this December, to approve a church budget for 2026 that will include a full-time pastors salary starting next September.  This is an important step in the life and growth of our church which would not only benefit us now but, more importantly, would put us in a better position for hiring a future pastor when the time comes.  It is, in a sense, a part of the “building” program.  

Thanks for your prayers for me — I am truly grateful and humbled — and thanks for your prayers for God’s leading through this project which our church elders — and I believe you, as well — feel God has laid on our hearts.  Thank you for your generous giving to God’s work at Crossroads !!

More Prayer

• Please be in prayer for Phil Ward, a friend of David Prickett, who is currently in the hospital and fighting Hodgkins Lymphoma.  Thank you !
• Let’s pray for individuals and families affected by the shooting today in Miinneapolis.  

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family!

I received yesterday a good update from the Evangelical Free Church Central District.  I’d like to forward it to you so you can read about what’s going on in our District (E-Free churches in Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, and Southeast South Dakota).  A growing connection with other people and churches in the Evangelical Free Church is an important part of our growth and future as a church.  Watch for the email which should have “EFCA Central Update” in the subject line.  I know these are busy days for many of us, but I hope you’ll take time to at least scan through the email.  Ideas and support from outside of ourselves are a blessing to us!

As I thought about knowing God (our sermon last Sunday from the book of Daniel), I was reminded of what J.I. Packer wrote in his book, Knowing God, about the characteristics of people, like Daniel, who know God.  

Packer writes that people who know God …

… have great energy for God.

“The people who know their God will display strength and take action” (Daniel 11:32).

… have great thoughts for God.

“… until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes”  (Daniel 4:25).

… have great boldness for God.

“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire ; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up !” (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in Daniel 3:17-18).

… have great contentment in God.

“So Daniel was taken up out of the lions’ den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God” (Daniel 6:23).

Which one of these characteristics are you experiencing currently ?  Sometimes it seems we are filled with all four, and sometimes one is more prevalent than the others.

While I’m not one who knows God as well as I should, if I were to try to answer the question, “How does a person get to know God?”, I might give these answers:

1.  By being a steady, long-term student of the Bible.  As a part of that study, find good books and teachers to help you!  I’ve recently started a book I’m enjoying called How to Read and Understand the Psalms (a subject I’m thinking may be worth studying together on a few Sunday nights this fall).  In it, I’ve been reminded that the psalms are really all about the King and not as much about ourselves as we might think.  I’ve been watching more for the King in the Psalms!  Don’t give up on Bible reading ; it will pay off, and you’ll know God better!

2.  By doing the things God instructs / commands us to do … even the little habits we may toss aside out of our wish to not be “legalistic.”  In John 7, Jesus said, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself” (John 7:17).  In other words, “If you will do what God says, then you will know Him.”

3.  By listening carefully to others.  Hearing others’ experiences with God helps us be challenged to watch for Him in new ways.

I’m still learning about God, but I do realize there’s no lasting happiness or purpose in life without Him.  

Some things I’m still learning about God include …

His patience.  He has a purpose for each stage of our life.  He is able to give strength to His children, regardless of the length or brevity of their life.

His vision.  I’m amazed at the depth of the work He wants to accomplish in us.  He loves us too much to not seek the changes within us that He knows we need.

His compassion.  As I interact with people, I’m amazed at the breadth and depth of God’s compassion.  Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).  May His compassion for people around us be a growing quality in us at Crossroads Church!

By the way, President Trump was wrong yesterday to say that by resolving the war in Ukraine he was hopeful of making it to heaven!  My heart broke to hear such a statement and then to hear some news commentators suggest that, well, maybe it’s possible he (or anyone else) could be received into God’s heaven on that basis.

The Bible says it’s not by our own works that we’re saved (Ephesians 2:8-9 ; Titus 3:5-7).  Even if we solved a world war, imagine all the ways we fall short of the perfection and holiness of God — our deliberate sins, our unintended errors, our pride, our love of self and other things more than God. 

Heaven — and a restored relationship with God — are gifts offered to us by God (Rom 6:23).  They are received simply by faith in the One who died and rose again on our behalf.  If there’s something we can do on our own to be saved — including water baptism or receiving the Lord’s Supper or ending wars — then Jesus didn’t do it all for us at the cross.  Thankfully, though, He did!  There’s nothing left that we can or must do.  “It is finished” was His cry.  

“For you know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9).

I hope you’ve received Christ as your Savior.  I don’t assume that everyone at Crossroads has ; some still need to take that step of beginning new life by faith in Him, not faith in self.  

I look forward to seeing you at some point as we move toward the weekend!  Thank you for your prayers for me as I begin my 10th year as show choir accompanist at Nevada High School.  

This Thursday, August 21 — Men’s Recharge, 6:30-8:00 pm, at the church.  All men invited!

This Sunday, August 24 

• Small-group prayer at 9:00.
• Worship at 10:00.  The McCallister family will share about what God is doing in Berlin.
• 8-13 year-olds Bible Class (tie-dye) and Children’s Church during the sermon.
• Carry-in dinner following the worship service.

Women’s Retreat — Saturday, September 13, at Kamp Keirsey, 8:30 am – 4 pm.

Women’s Breakfast & A Bible Study begins Saturday, September 20.

Immerse begins Wednesday, September 10, for everyone!

Hello, Crossroads Family!

“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.  And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:8-10).

What an interesting, powerful, and comforting statement about the Lord Jesus, our Savior!

• He was the Son of God, so not beset with the weaknesses of a sinful human nature like ours and like that of the high priests mentioned earlier in Hebrews 5.
• He “learned obedience” through what He suffered.  In other words, He fully experienced our human condition and the trials of life on earth, and was faithful to the Father through all He experienced.
• He was “made perfect” ; in other words, He completed His life course fully and perfectly.  Hebrews 2 puts it this way :  “He had to be made like His brothers and sisters in all things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest.  For since He was tempted in that which He suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Heb 2:17-18).
• He is the source of eternal salvation, the high priest for the entire human race, called by God — a high priest, not in the line of Aaron, but in the line of an Old Testament character named Melchizedek of whom there is no record of a beginning or an end ; in other words, Jesus is our high priest forever (Hebrews 7:1-3).

What an amazing Savior!  How well He knows us, understands us, and loves us!  How perfectly has He made it possible for us to be forgiven and cleansed of our sins!

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday, Lord willing, at 10:00!  I know you appreciated the message Mark Tice brought last Sunday in my place.  Thanks, Mark, and thanks to all who led and served last Sunday!

Two big events are coming up this weekend that I hope you’ll pray for and be part of :

Bicycle Repair Class :  Saturday, 10 am – 3 pm, in the church parking lot.

This is one of our efforts to build a Gospel bridge to our community, led by Mark and Elizabeth Scheib!  If you’re interested in learning about care and repairs for your bike, please stop by!  Bring your bike if you would like … and please point your friends to the class which will be accessible for both adults and kids!  Even if you’re not a cyclist, please stop by and interact with folks who will be there.  There will be invitations to Crossroads Church and also a message of Jesus’ love.  

Also, a fire engine is coming at 2 pm with water for kids to play under in the field next to the church parking lot!  Bring your kids and neighbors and their swimsuits!

Ministry Team Leaders Meeting :  Sunday, following the worship service.

This is an important meeting to share (and coordinate !) hopes and plans for the fall season.  If you are a leader of one of the ministries currently happening at Crossroads, please make an effort to stay for the meeting (or send someone from your team).  Anyone is welcome to sit in on the meeting.  I feel certain we won’t need more than an hour.  We have lots to talk about for the fall and even into the Christmas season!  Thank you for your commitment!

Calendar

Bicycle Repair Class      

This Saturday, Aug 9, 10 am – 3 pm    

Fire engine and water play at 2 pm.            

Church parking lotInformation or questions :  Mark or Elizabeth Scheib

Ministry Team Leaders Meeting        

This Sunday, Aug 10, after worship

Information or questions :  Tom Rea

Women’s Breakfast & Fellowship      

Saturday, Aug 16, 8 am                                   

54 Cafe

Information or questions :  Erin Townsend

Women’s Swim Party                        

Saturday, Aug 16, 6:30-8:30 pm                      

Heather Vestal’s home,

Information or questions :  Erin Townsend

Men’s Recharge

Thursday, Aug 21, 6:30-8:00 pm

Information or questions :  Cris Rodriguez or Tommie Ray

8-13 year-olds Bible Class

Sunday, Aug 24, during the sermonWear clothes appropriate for doing some tie-dye !Information or questions :  Emily Lewis

Carry-in Meal + Visit from McCallister Family

Sunday, Aug 24

More information coming on what you can bring !

Don’t forget that you may always come early on Sunday morning to join some praying in the Prayer Room or to listen to our Worship Team rehearse!  Thanks to all who do that currently, and to those who prepare our worship and children’s areas for the fellowship and worship that take place there!

Hello, Crossroads Family!

Thank you to everyone who turned out to help serve dinner to campers last Sunday, the first night of high school camp at Kamp Keirsey.  We had a great time!  Check out the group picture on the Crossroads Facebook page if you haven’t already.  Thanks to the servers and to those who bought and prepared food!

I’ve enjoyed preaching at the camp the past two nights.  Tonight at 8:00, my talk will be on sex and marriage.  I hope you’ll be praying for me.  Thank you!

There are many good things happening at Crossroads these days!  I’m thankful for the good fellowship and for the spiritual energy and drive God has given you … and me!  I look forward this Sunday to taking a look at a third person who, early on in the history of the Church, made a difference.  That person is Ananias of Damascus (Acts 9).  He made a profound difference, in history and for eternity, through the simple act of visiting a sick person!  

The rest of this TMG is mostly a recap of last Sunday’s elders meeting.  Please take a look.  We had good discussion; included in the notes below are some upcoming activities I hope you’ll put on your calendar.  In particular, please remember that we have a Ministry Team Leaders Meeting scheduled for Sunday, August 10, following the worship service.  Really, anyone is welcome to sit in on the meeting, but we do need members and leaders of various ministry teams to make an effort to be there.  There will be some important discussion of plans, needs, and hopes for the fall semester.  Thank you!

Elders Notes, July 20 :

Calendar

We reviewed some of the calendar dates coming up :

• Tom on vacation, July 28 – Aug 3                                    Mark Tice preaching Aug 3
• Bicycle Repair Class Outreach (more info below)          Saturday, Aug 9, 10 am – 3 pm
• Ministry Team Leaders Meeting                                      Sunday, August 10, after worship
• Women’s Breakfast & Fellowship, 54 Cafe                     Saturday morning, August 16
• Women’s Swim Party                                                      Saturday evening, August 16
• Men’s Recharge                                                              Thursday, August 21
• McCallister Family & Carry-In Meal                                Sunday, August 24
• 8-13 year-olds Bible Class during sermon                      Sunday, August 24

The Membership Meeting originally scheduled for August 17 has been postponed to a later date.

Mark Scheib is planning a Bicycle Repair Class Outreach for Saturday, August 9, in the parking lot of our building.  He is currently working on publicity and coordination with others to help him.  Please be praying already for great contacts with people through this fun event !  Other outreach ideas are in discussion.  

A vote on proposed changes in the church by-laws (allowing absentee voting) will be part of our December congregational meeting.

Ministry Team Leaders Meeting

This meeting is scheduled for Sunday, August 10, following the worship service.

The elders discussed some items to include on the agenda for that meeting.

• The schedule for the fall session of Immerse. 
• Space needs for Children’s Church and the 8-13 year-old class.  Our numbers of children are growing, and so are the children themselves !  How to divide up for the fall ?  We discussed the possibility of putting a door in the wall that separates the current Children’s Church room from the empty room next to it.  
• How to better integrate our high school and college-age students into the life of the church.       
• Tom would like to consider a Sunday evening small group if there are some people interested.  

Sunday, August 3

• Mark Tice will preach.
• Shane or Forrest will be responsible for leading the Communion portion of the service 

Space Needs / Future Growth

• We affirmed the decision to proceed with a full-time pastor’s salary as a first step in our future growth.
• We discussed the possibility of needing to change to two Sunday services eventually.  Times discussed were either 9:30 & 11:00, or 9:00 & 10:30, with a half-hour between services.
• We discussed how this might affect children’s ministry and the Worship Team’s rehearsal / warm-up.

Prayer

• We discussed some personal needs within the church and closed with a time of prayer.

See you Sunday !

I hope to see you this Sunday !  I’m grateful to have some time off next week — thank you !  In fact, I’ll be taking off quickly after our worship service this Sunday as some of my Central U.S. kids are meeting up just for the afternoon and evening this Sunday in Kansas City.  Then, I’ll spend part of next week with my daughter, Annie, and granddaughter, Fiona, in South Carolina.  Sorry, no cold water bottles at the end of my driveway next week !    

–Tom