Hello, Crossroads Family !

Someone is powerwashing my house this morning.  We all need a good powerwashing of our lives from time to time, don’t we !  Let’s pray God would do that for us !  

I’m grateful for our church family and the mission we’re on to grow ever deeper in a relationship with God and with each other.  And not only with each other but also building Gospel bridges to those around us in our community.  

I appreciate that you put up with a pastor who is always asking questions.  One of the things I’ve loved about being part of the Evangelical Free Church is its commitment to emphasizing the “primary” things of the Christian life and allowing for differences on things we might consider to be “secondary.”  At the same time, the longer I walk with Christ and the more I contemplate making all of life His, secondary questions also seem to be important.  So I appreciate that you’re willing to dig and discover and grow and, to the best of our ability, follow our great Savior obediently in all things !

I appreciate your compassion.  What a wonderful quality of this congregation !  And with compassion, you also have much passion.  You’re passionate about the people and projects that are part of your life, and you’re passionate about understanding God’s Word.  I’m grateful for that.  Jesus was also a passionate person ; it’s written about Him that zeal for God’s house “consumed” Him (John 2:17).

With passion, let us also work hard to maintain and grow unity.  One of you was speaking to me recently about the Nevada High School football team, telling me that it’s a good team this year because the young men play unified.  Unity is important in all things, and especially in a church.  Love is our bond of unity.  Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples : if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).  

As I came online to write this TMG today, I glanced at an internet headline — one of those headlines that is not very important but says temptingly, “Click on me !”  The headline read, “Survey : These 10 fast food chains have dipped in quality in 2025.”  I didn’t bother to find out which chains these were, but it caused me to think that the quality of life at Crossroads Church has increased, not decreased, this year … thanks to all of you !

Here’s some good news I received this week from Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church, the church I pastored for fifteen years in Hermann, Missouri.  I learned in an email that an announcement was made last Sunday morning that the church had made its final mortgage payment !  I’m thrilled to hear that !  That’s a project we began in 2009, so it feels like they have done a great job in faithfully pursuing God’s call upon them.  It was roughly a one million dollar building project at the time, although the loan itself was not as much as that.  Emmanuel EFC, at the time, was a congregation much like ours.  So, let’s trust God to provide and to lead as He has already done so many times for us.  Thank you for giving generously to the church as we begin to head down the final part of 2025.  Remember that our hope is to increase giving in such a way that we can include a full-time pastor’s salary in the 2026 budget.

I look forward to the ways God will encourage, bless, challenge, and powerwash us during the second half of this week — including at Immerse (tonight, 7:00) ; at the women’s Breakfast & Bible Study (Saturday, 8 am) ; and at worship this Sunday morning at 10:00.  We’ll have Children’s Church during the sermon for 0-7 year-olds, and also our 8-13 year-olds Bible class.  (Thanks for praying for children and young people at Crossroads !  We could still use some additional helpers in Children’s Church.)  Our new “Family Fellowship” group (families with young children) is going bowling Sunday afternoon.  Would you pray for a great time of encouragement and relationship-building for these parents and their children ?  Thank you !

Some dates and reminders :

Immerse tonight, 7:00-8:15, at the church.  Everyone is welcome !  Come, no matter how much or little of the reading you’ve done !  You’ll enjoy the fellowship and discussion.  A good midweek break !

Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study, Saturday morning, 8-9:15, at the church.  This is a good time of fellowship and encouragement to women !  Contact Erin Townsend if you have a question (ektownsend12@gmail.com).

Men’s Recharge next Tuesday, September 23, 6:30-8:00 pm, at the church.  We’re meeting this month on a Tuesday instead of Thursday !  Men, I hope you’ll come out and be encouraged by the fellowship and discussion.  I understand chili is on the menu that evening !  Come hungry.

Sunday night Bible Study group starts September 28, 6pm, at the church.  I’ll be leading a study in “How to Read & Understand the Psalms.”  More information in the bulletin this Sunday.  Bring a Bible and an interest in better understanding how to approach the psalms !  We’ll meet for six Sunday nights.

In addition to all of the above, we have an Elders meeting on Sunday, the 28th, following worship.  We’re tentatively looking at Sunday, October 12, as a date for the next Hot Dog Dinner outreach in the parking lot of Walton Pool.  I’m planning to schedule a Membership Class in October.  Would you let me know if you would be interested in attending ?  That will help me nail down the date.  Thank you !Some prayer needs :

Austin Forkner, Julie’s son, has injured his leg.  Would you keep Austin in your prayers.  Austin has suffered a lot of physical injuries as part of his Motocross career.  We also give thanks to God that LJ Austin, Julie’s dad, is recovering well from heart surgery.

Let’s continue to pray to God for our nation’s need for healing ; for protection for those who lead in various capacities ; and for peace.  God hears.  

A different perspective of ministry to churches and pastors

Mark Farran is a friend of mine who serves with the Evangelical Free Church Central District as one of the district’s Associate Superintendents.  Currently, Mark is filling in as Acting Superintendent due to a heart attack suffered by our Superintendent, Mike Shields.  Mark and his wife were missionaries with the Evangelical Free Church in Romania, and after that they served Zion Evangelical Free Church in Bland, Missouri, just down the road from Hermann.  The letter below is one Mark sent out this week as part of the regular Central District update.  It may give you a different perspective on church ministry and ways you can pray.  I think you’ll also enjoy getting to know Mark a little bit.  Thanks for praying for him and for his wife Jamie, and for Mike Shields and all the Central District staff.  They are able to serve thanks to the financial support of individuals and churches in our district.

See you soon !

— Tom

I regularly get asked, “What is it like stepping into the superintendent role?”  As I have processed this question many times now, I always have a variety of emotions surface.  The first is gratitude.  I am so thankful for how much Mike taught me over the last three years.  He brought me along to meetings, taught me why he made decisions the way he did, and would constantly ask me, “If you were in my shoes, what would you do?”  Even before I was in the role he was teaching me how to process what it would be like.  

The second emotion I feel is low grade anxiety on the amount of work to be accomplished.  My heart resonates with the Apostle Paul’s statement about the daily pressures and anxiety for all of the churches (2 Cor. 11:28).  Our churches and pastors regularly encounter hardships.  It is taxing to watch faithful servants of Christ endure adversity and mistreatment.  What is most burdensome, however, is when leaders and churches lose sight of hope and the immeasurable greatness of His power towards us who believe.

The third emotion I feel is appreciation.  I have an immense appreciation for our pastors and lay leaders.  Nothing encourages me more than seeing a unified pastoral and elder team courageously pressing forward with a Gospel-centered vision.  All across EFCA Central we have leadership teams who are committed to growing as life-giving churches.  Some of those leadership teams are:

• Pursuing a name change to communicate relevance to their community.  
• Working towards leadership health by diving into the tedious work of bylaw revision.
• Striving to become more hospitable by revamping their process of how guests are welcomed and loved.  
• Boldly confronting unhealthy areas in the church. 
• Pressing forward with building programs and capital campaigns to have a bigger impact in the community. 

Each one of these churches have leadership teams which are living out the values of life-giving churches: Gospel Clarity, Gospel Boldness, Gospel Compassion, and Gospel Humility.  

Churches living out these values display it with an insatiable hunger to see God work.  Life-giving churches have committed leaders who pray for God to be at work in their church and community.  In a world that is so complex and multi-faceted, there is a refreshing simplicity to Gospel ministry.  We are called to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ.  

As you consider your church today, take some time to pray for your pastoral staff, elders, and lay leaders.  Pray for your congregation to have a hunger and thirst to grow, and for your community around you to be reached with the Gospel.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might. (Ephesians 1: 15-19)

It is a joy serving Christ with you all!
Mark Farran

Hello Crossroads Family !

This is early for the TMG, but I wanted to make sure you got a reminder of things happening this week !

Immerse – Wednesday night, 7:00-8:15, at the church

Even if you didn’t sign up, please come !  Immerse is a good time of fellowship, encouragement, and learning from God’s Word !  We’re reading the Old Testament prophetical books this semester.  The format of the Immerse Bible (no chapter or verse numbers) makes understanding the message of these books clear !  It’s one of the best readings I’ve experienced of the books of Amos and Hosea.  If you have the Immerse Bible, please try to read p. A15 through p. 54 before tomorrow night.  Those pages correspond to the books of Amos, Hosea, and Micah if you don’t have the Immerse Bible yet. Read as much as you can, and even if it’s only a little, come join us Wednesday night !

Women’s Retreat — this Saturday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, at Kamp Keirsey

If you’re carpooling, please meet in the church parking lot at 7:30 Saturday morning.  Let’s pray that God would bless this gathering of women, build relationships, refresh lives, and give strength and wisdom to those leading.  Email or text Erin Townsend if you have questions about this Saturday.

Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study begins Saturday, September 20, 8 am, at the church

We hope you’ll sign up by this coming Sunday so we can order materials for you !  There is a sign-up sheet at the church.  This is a 6-week study using Ruth Chou Simon’s book Now and Not Yet.  More than that, it’s a time of connection and encouragement each Saturday morning with other women who know and love the Lord.  Contact Erin Townsend if you have questions or need more information.  Thank you !

More :

• Next 8-13 year-olds Bible Class — Sunday, September 21, during the sermon.
• Men’s Recharge — Tuesday, September 23, 6:30-8:00 pm.
• Elders Meeting — Sunday, September 28, following worship
• Sunday Evening Small Group Study in the Psalms begins September 28, 6 pm, at the church :  “How to Understand & Interpret the Psalms”

Prayer & Praise

• Let’s be sure to keep the McCallister family in our prayers as they visit individuals and churches who are part of their support team and as they adjust to life in the U.S.
• Bud and Jan Beal are new to Crossroads.  Bud is having some surgery on his hand today.  Thanks for your prayers for Bud and Jan.
• Continued healing for Forrest and others fighting illness and injury.
• For Erlinda as she attends a work-related workshop this week.
• Please pray for friends of Bryan Townsend’s family in Arkansas.  Sherry Miller, the mother of these family friends, experienced a brain aneurysm and is in ICU in Little Rock.  Thanks for your prayers.
• We thank God and pray for the women’s retreat this Saturday, and especially for those who will be teaching and facilitating the day’s activities.  
• My daughter Emma speaks this Friday at a women’s retreat at Hidden Acres Camp, in Iowa, organized by our Evangelical Free Church Central District.  Thanks for your prayers for what she will be teaching to women from Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas.
• Let’s pray for those from Crossroads who are, or will be, traveling across the country and to other parts of the world this month :  Diane Knoche, Cris & Donna, Griff, Catherine Moss, and others.  
• Let’s be sure to pray for those from Crossroads who serve in public schools, area colleges, and in homeschools.  Grateful for those who teach children — there are a lot of us at Crossroads !  Let’s pray that God would raise up young people who know and love the Lord !
• Let’s be sure to pray for Blaiz Pace and Rachel DeWeese as they adjust to student life at Pitt State and build friendships there.
• We are envisioning a door in the wall that currently divides the children’s room from the small room adjacent to it at the church.  This would provide some additional children’s space for our growing group of kids in Children’s Church.  Please pray as we seek the proper materials and approach to this project.

Thank You !

This note from Kylee Vestal.  Kylee’s and Dominick’s wedding date is November 1.

Crossroads Church Family,

I would like to sincerely thank you for allowing us to use the church to host my bridal shower.  It was such a wonderful and meaningful day, and being able to celebrate in a space that holds personal and spiritual meaning made it even more special !  Your kindness and generosity during these last exciting moments before the big day truly mean so much to me.  Dominick and I are so blessed to be part of a church family that continues to show love in so many ways.

With many thanks,

Kylee Vestal

Final Thoughts

Jesus said two interesting things about how He went about doing things in life :

• “The Son does nothing unless it is something He sees the Father doing” (John 5:19).
• “I speak these things as the Father taught Me” (John 8:28).

In other words, the Son does only what He sees and hears the Father doing.  A friend of mine told me this week that if we lived this way, most of us would be sitting around doing nothing because we don’t know what the Father is doing or saying !  His observation caused me to realize my own need to take time to discern what the Father is doing, and to join Him in that rather than just my own projects or ideas.

The Bible says, “They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).  Let’s be people of action and responsibility but who are also able to wait and take their cues from God as He gives them to us.  For the Christian, waiting involves prayer.  We can trust God fully as we stay in communication with Him !

I look forward to seeing some of you at Immerse tomorrow evening !

— Tom

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!