TMG
Hello, Crossroads Family!
I feel like every event of our church family is a unique one! Last Sunday was a unique gathering of the family, and a good one! There’s always a lot of life at Crossroads, and it makes me glad to see people coming to church happily and with an appetite to experience God. We’re blessed to have some very young people in our church, and to have some young adults, and others in between! Thanks to our Nursery/Children’s Church team, and to our Youth Group leaders for all you do! Let’s remember to pray for them and to support them in their work!
Today, I ended up reading two passages in the Bible where it seems I always have to go to some reference books to remind myself what it is God’s trying to say ! Do you ever have that problem?
One was the description in 1 Kings 6 about Solomon’s building of the temple. In particular, I struggle to visualize the many details given about the construction of that building. I have trouble understanding why Solomon built the first floor rooms on the outside of the temple narrower than the second floor rooms, and the second floor narrower than the top floor rooms (1 Kings 6:5-6)! The idea of “offsets” in the walls isn’t always clear to me! I find I have to stop and think about it and many times read what someone else has written about it!
Beyond that, why does God include all these details? (Could it be so that we have a sense of the detailed work He does in our own lives, we who are now the temple of the Holy Spirit?)
Then I was also stumbling through 1 Peter 3:18-22, where Peter talks about Jesus going, after His resurrection, to make proclamation to spirits in prison. “Wait a minute,” I thought to myself, “I feel like I used to understand this! Now it doesn’t seem to make sense again!” My own spiritual dullness, I guess!
It’s frustrating when the Bible seems hard to understand, isn’t it? But inevitably, after we wade through the hard parts, we come to parts that are clearer. For example, after the difficult part I read initially in 1 Peter came this clearer part: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may lift you up at the proper time, casting all your cares upon Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). That’s pretty simple to understand, isn’t it? And it’s a great encouragement to take into the new day!
Like a parent concerned for his children, sometimes I get concerned that we’re not all regularly getting personal time in the Bible. When we miss our regular reading of the Bible, we enter into a new day just like everyone else. Our spirit hasn’t been fed, we’re not spiritually ready, and the results can be disastrous as the day rolls on.
God’s Word is food for us — absolutely necessary for the person who is spiritually alive and wanting to experience God’s help and guidance throughout the day. Try to develop a habit of reading a short portion of the Bible every day (morning time is probably best), and don’t be discouraged by the difficult parts! You and I are learning to know a God who boggles our mind, so it’s not surprising that some things are hard to understand! All the more reason to meet with Him daily; and the best way to do that is to spend a little time in the Bible! Let me know if you need help,… or if you can help me understand offsets in the temple!
Things Going On…
Church Directory
Heather Hall has done a great job putting together a new Crossroads Church directory. Thanks to all of you for your input! Hard copies are available on the back table Sunday. I’ve attached an electronic copy to this email if that can be useful to you. We’d like for everyone at Crossroads to have one!
Youth Group this Wednesday
Youth Group this Wednesday evening starting at 6:30 at Jessica’s house, *contact us for location*.
Home Group this Thursday
Our new Home Group starts this Thursday, 6:00 – 7:15, at the home of Alex and Emily Lewis, *contact us for location*. I hope you’ll join us! Everyone is welcome! We’ll have a good time beginning a study on discipleship from the Psalms of Ascents, Psalms 120-134.
Worship this Sunday
I hope you’ll join the family for worship this Sunday morning, 10:00, at the Community Center. We’ve arrived at the exciting and wonderful end of Revelation, the return of Jesus to the earth. But before we dive into them, we’re going to review the events we’ve covered already in Revelation and ask ourselves, “Are we possibly already in the Tribulation?”
Church Picnic
Our elders are organizing a picnic following worship on Sunday, June 18, Father’s Day! Pulled pork, buns, water, and paper products will be supplied. Could you help out by bringing sides and/or desserts? We’ll meet at one of the local parks, most likely Radio Spring.
Church Night at the Griffons Game
This Sunday evening is Church Night at the Griffons Game. 7:00 at Lyons Stadium. Admission is free. Church affiliation will be tallied at the gate, and the church with the most attendees will receive a $75 donation to their church’s youth group.
Summer Camps
Some of our Crossroads people are involved in Christian camps this summer. The Riverside Cowboy Camp runs June 14-17. Some from Crossroads are a part of that camp each year. Jessica and Kelsi lead the high school camp at Kamp Keirsey near Amsterdam, Missouri, July 16-20. Some from Crossroads have served at Kamp Keirsey in the past and will again this summer. Please keep these camps and young people in your prayers! Thank you!
Prayers
There are many things to pray about at Crossroads. Please watch the bulletin insert on Sundays for special prayer needs. Let’s be diligent to pray for our need of a church home. Praying for, and giving toward, that need, are first steps we can take as our part in God’s work of providing. Thank you!
— Tom
Leave a Reply