TMG
Tom’s Midweek Greeting
Crossroads Community Church
Nevada MO
May 20, 2020
Hello, Crossroads Family!
I’m looking forward to this coming Sunday’s worship service! For as many as can and would like to, we will worship together outdoors at the Osage Prairie YMCA at 10:00! Bring a lawn chair and also a sweater or jacket in case it’s cool. We will try to finish the service no later than 11:00. The service will be live streamed on the Crossroads Facebook page, so if you’re not able to be physically present, you can follow on Facebook. There will also be a pre-recorded sermon on the church Facebook page, and on my personal Facebook page, so in case we have difficulties with the live stream you’ll still be able to find Sunday morning’s message!
I look forward to some of us being together this Sunday! Please pray for me and others setting up Sunday morning, and for all the logistics of an outdoor service. May all be for God’s glory and a blessing to everyone in attendance!
Kamp Keirsey in Amsterdam, MO
Kamp Keirsey is a summer camp not far from us that our own Jessica Baker has been associated with for much of her life. (If I understand correctly, Julie Kemper also has served at this camp!) Kamp Keirsey is owned and operated by the Osage River Baptist Association and has a great program of camps this summer for young people of all ages. Jessica, along with Kelsie Kershner (whom many of you have met at Crossroads) will direct the Senior High School camp July 19-23. The week of camp costs only $105 per person. I encourage you to take a look at the camp’s information at www.kampkeirsey.com. Also, the camp welcomes visitors if you’d like to drop by one day during camp this summer. If you have questions, take a look at the website or be sure to ask Jessica or Kelsie! Summer camp can be a life-changing event for young people!
Some Summer Reading
I’m glad so many in our church are readers! In addition to regular reading of the Bible, God has blessed us with many good Christian authors writing on a wide range of subjects having to do with life and our relationship with the Lord. Here are a few of my favorites, some of which I come back to regularly. Maybe one of these would be of interest to you for some summer reading.
Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late: 10 Biblical Strategies for a Lifetime of Purpose, by Robert J. Morgan is a book I need to re-read about once a year. The author lays out some simple personal disciplines, based on biblical examples, that we can easily implement to help us find purpose and fruitfulness in our lives.
A really good daily devotional book, also by Robert J. Morgan, is All to Jesus. In 365 single-page devotions, this book takes you to verses in the Bible using the word “all.” (“Yes God is mighty …. He understands all things,” Job 36:5, is an example.) There are tremendous lessons to be found in the word “all” as it’s used in the Bible.
Champagne for the Soul: Rediscovering God’s Gift of Joy, by Mike Mason, is a book with short chapters that help a person re-learn God’s gifts of joy and happiness. The book is “a call to throw of all worries and complaints and to come share your Master’s happiness (Matthew 25:21).”
The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer, is a wonderful, probing look into the attributes of God. If you want to refresh your vision of who God is, this is a classic to come back to often. Short and easy to read, you’ll be left marveling at who God is.
A good book that will help you better understand worship is Warren Wiersbe’s Real Worship : It Will Transform Your Life. This book presents a biblical and practical look at personal and church worship. It has helped me understand keeping God, not self, at the center of worship.
The Book of a Thousand Prayers, compiled by Angela Ashwin, is a big book of about a thousand prayers written for all kinds of occasions, people, and seasons of life. Someone gave me this book years ago. I benefit from reading prayers that other people have formulated. There are many helpful ones in this book. Taken a little at a time, they can renew your vision of God and your personal prayer life.
Of course, 21 Things God Never Said: Correcting our Misconceptions About Evangelism, by R. Larry Moyer, is a book I enjoyed reading last year that helped clarify my understanding of the clear Gospel message. If you’re wanting to review the basic Gospel message, or become a more inspired witness for the Lord Jesus, this is a good book to read!
A couple of concluding thoughts:
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.” (C.S. Lewis)
“My unknown future is in the hands of an all-knowing God.” (unknown)
May God bless you and use you as we look to Him for the remainder of this week! I look forward to seeing some of you on Sunday morning at the Y!
— Tom
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