TMG
Tom’s Midweek Greeting
Crossroads Community Church
Nevada MO
July 6, 2018
www.nevadacrossroadschurch.org
Hi, everyone!
I hope you had a good Fourth of July – wherever you celebrated, and whoever you were with – and I hope you’re having a good rest of the week today!
In my personal reading of the Bible, I’m coming to the end of the book of Psalms. Those last several psalms are like fireworks – one burst after another of praise to the Lord!
This morning I was reading through Psalms 146 and 147, and I was struck by a beautiful list that popped out from those two psalms of faithful and tender ways the Lord cares for his people. Here’s at list a part of that list:
He…
• … gives food to the hungry 146:7
• … sets the prisoner free 146:7
• … opens the eyes of the blind 146:8
• … raises up those who are bowed down 146:8
• … protects the strangers 146:9
• … supports the fatherless and the widow 146:9
• … thwarts the way of the wicked 146:9
• … heals the brokenhearted 147:3
• … binds up their wounds 147:3
• … supports the afflicted 147:6
• … brings the wicked down to the ground 147:6
• … favors those who fear him and who wait for his lovingkindness. 147:11
That’s pretty exciting! I hope you are seeing ways in your life where he’s taking care of you! We should give him praise for his kindness and his faithfulness!
This Sunday
I’m looking forward to our worship this coming Sunday morning at 10:00 at the Y, and I hope you’ll be there! During our sermon time, we will finish our series in the book of Acts! Congratulations! I hope you’ll be there Sunday for the exciting finish entitled, “Our Final Destination.” Paul made it to the destination – Rome – he had longed for. What’s our final destination as individuals and as a church?
A new friend to Crossroads, Joe Chenoweth, will be worshiping with us this Sunday. Joe is one of the 3-person team that’s helping to organize the new Young Life ministry in Nevada. He’s also a member and elder at Cornerstone Community Church up the road in Harrisonville (which happens to be a “sister” Evangelical Free Church of ours!). Joe’s going to do two things while he’s with us this Sunday:
1. During our service time, Joe will share briefly about Young Life. Several from Crossroads have been part of the initial Young Life organizational meetings. Others are needed, however – from Crossroads and throughout Nevada – to pray for, and to serve in a support role in this outreach to young people. You’ll enjoy hearing Joe’s vision for what God can do through a Young Life group.
2. Following the service, Joe will meet for lunch with our Crossroads elders and wives. In addition to his involvement with Young Life, Joe has a heart to help local churches grow in their vision for ministry. Specifically, he has developed a plan he calls “Walking the Walls” (from the Old Testament book of Nehemiah) to help churches assess where they are and where they want to be. In Nehemiah’s day, many Jews had moved back to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. They were back in their home, but the walls of the city were in disrepair, and so the city itself was still vulnerable. At Crossroads, we’ve experienced new growth too – well over 50% of our congregation have come within the past three years! Now, what can we do to reinforce our “city” and build a long-lasting ministry together? I’m interested in how Joe could help us envision that process. Would you please pray for our time with him? Thank you!
Other News and Information
Welcome, new members! Richard and Marie Roberts have completed the Crossroads membership process and will officially join the church as members this Sunday! We are blessed to have Richard and Marie with us!
Middle School / High School Youth Group. Youth group will happen this coming Wednesday, July 11, from 6-8 pm. Contact Forrest for location and details.
Coming up. Sunday, July 15, will be a Sunday devoted largely to prayer. We’ll learn about prayer and take time to pray together. I will be on vacation from July 15 in the afternoon through July 24. Shane McCasland, who has filled in for me in the past, will bring the morning message on the 22nd. Many of you were blessed by Shane’s message the last time he was here.
Three Years…
It was three years ago this week that my three youngest kids and I arrived at my new home in Nevada! I don’t know about you, but for me the time has flown by! God has done amazing things in our lives in this short period of time.
Coming to the end of these three years seems to me a little like coming to the end of Acts – not “the beginning of the end,” but maybe “the end of the beginning.” We’ve made a beginning together, and now we’re building on it!
As I was thinking today, here are some things I love about Crossroads Church. What I love is…
• … that there’s lots of laughter (It’s great when a church allows itself to laugh together!)
• … that we have people who are flexible
• … that we’re growing :
o … growing in number
o … growing in the number who feel called to mentor others spiritually
o … growing hearts to serve
o … growing in genuine fellowship
o … growing in a desire to learn the Bible
o … growing in our identity
• … all the people who set up and tear down on Sundays
• … the good singing
• … new people who are ministering
• … our heart for Cottey College students
• … our diversity – in backgrounds, experiences, and gifts
• … the flexibility you’ve accorded me in allowing – and supporting – my involvement at Nevada High School
• … your love of baseball, softball, and barbecue
• … intentional praying, and people who believe in the importance of prayer
• … that young people and children feel welcome
• … the great cooks
• … that there is a concern for each other’s extended families.
What about you? What do you love about Crossroads?
“You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds” (1 Peter 3:8, The Living Bible).
What do you love about the Lord today?
See you Sunday!
— Tom
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