This past weekend we talked about having relational margin in your life.  What are some questions you should ask about the people you allow into your inner circle?  Here are some suggestions:

                Are they modeling character qualities you admire?

                Are they going anywhere in their lives at the moment?

                Do they look like they will ever get anywhere in their lives?

                Do they constantly look at the negative and complain?

                Are they always blaming others and refusing responsibility?

 If you can’t answer these in a positive way about the people your friends with, then show them the door.  You don’t have to be mean.  You don’t have to have a superiority attitude.  You don’t have to get emotional.  It is a rational decision.  In light of where you want to go with your life, who do you need to get out of your life? 

 If you’ll make the change, God will bring new friends into your life.  Friends that aren’t out to manipulate you, they want to celebrate you.

Ever hear anyone say, “Don’t get too close to the edge or you might fall in”?  I never really had to worry about that because I’ve always had a fear of heights.  I’m always careful to give myself margin when it comes to looking over the edge of a cliff, balcony, ledge or anything higher than the third rung on a ladder. 

I can’t tell you how many times I wished I could have been there for people who got to close to the edge in other areas of life, such as affairs, substance addictions, or broken relationships.  Then, because of my knowledge of people, I think, “would they even have paid attention to me if I had been there”?  Maybe, somebody already was there saying, “I wouldn’t go to lunch with him if I were you” or, “I hear that stuff can be really addicting” or, “Perhaps you should think that over some more before you say that.” 

Seems to me the problem is more in ignoring the voices than the lack of them.  Plus, there’s always that voice inside of us isn’t there?  That one that whispers, “I wouldn’t go there if I were you” or “That doesn’t seem like a wise thing to do in your life right now.”  Between our conscience and the voice of the Holy Spirit, you’d think we all would be making better choices - what do you think?   What area of your life do you need to place a line of margin?  

*More on this topic in our weekend series called: MARGIN

Can you imagine a book without margins?  Can you imagine trying to read it?  Yet, how many of us try to live life without margin every day?

Our culture tries to take it to the limit, but in doing so runs the risk of going off the edge.  What would happen if we established margins in our lives that would warn us before we step across the line?  What difference would it make in your friendships, your finances, or your marriage?   In a time when it seems the only way to keep up with all the demands is to push to the edge, there is another way. 

This weekend I’ll launch a new series that will explore the benefit and ways to create margin and space in your life.  Start looking at your life and the lack of margin now, then I hope you’ll be with us on Sunday!

Yesterday we were blessed to have the ministry of Andy Lapins with us for our weekend services.  He reminded us of how the effort we make to reach others for Christ is an investment and not an expense.  Andy mentioned four types of investments it often requires, that of time, effort, money and faith.  A good question to ask is, “Which of these four investments have I been unwilling to make to reach others for Christ?”   

We’re gearing up for double-in-a-day Sunday, officially called “Back To Church Sunday” on September 12th.  Our goal is for everyone to bring one person to church with them on that day.  If we all do that, we will actually double the church in one day.  The purpose is not about numbers, even though the Bible shows God is in to those, it is about reaching people, which God is all about. 

Start praying now about who God would have you reach out to, make an investment in their life, then invite them to church on September 12.  I believe God can use this new commitment in our hearts to reach others by guiding us to those He wants us to reach. 

Here’s a suggestion, make a list of three people that you would like to reach and then start praying for them daily.  Look for opportunities to plant or water seed.  Ask God to give the increase by the drawing power of His Spirit.  And finally, and most importantly, live the life in front of them that demonstrates the full life Jesus came to bring.

Many are talking about it.  Movies are made about it.  Theologians and scientists debate about it.  It’s the end of the world. 

What most agree on is that it is inevitable.  The questions for many are “When will it happen?” and “How will it happen?”  I’ve got a better question: “Will you be ready for it?”  If you know something is coming and you don’t know when exactly it will take place – then, how should you live?  Shouldn’t you live like it could happen any minute? 

If we don’t know exactly when it will happen, (The Bible says no one knows except God Himself) then how should you treat your spouse, your parents, your friends, or strangers?  See, this brings up a whole new set of questions.  If we don’t know when the end of the world will occur, then what movies should we see?  What TV shows should we watch?  How should we dress?  What is most valuable in light of eternity?  Where should we invest our time, talents and treasure? 

This weekend, I’ll be tackling this topic in the conclusion to our ON DEMAND series.  I hope you’ll be there for this important message that will answer the most important questions about The End of the World.  Below are some teaser links that reveal some truths about biblical signs we are living in the last days. 

Earthquakes:  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

 ONE WORLD GOVT  http://www.clubofrome.org/eng/new_path/

 MORE…http://endoftheworld.net/

Yesterday in service I shared about the various ways God uses to speak to us, but I left a couple out:  dreams and visions.  It wasn’t so much intentional, as I believe that dreams and visions are a rare thing that God uses.  In addition, it causes some people to think that dreams they have came from God that were more the result of overeating.  Let me be clear, God can and does use dreams and visions to communicate to people, but not every dream is from God. 

How do you know if a dream is from the Lord?  It will line up with God’s Word and principles, and it will come to pass.  A vision is more like a dream that you have while awake and the same rules apply with it. 

We should not seek dreams and visions but rather the One who gives them.

I’m getting prepared for the third part of our series ON DEMAND.  This weekend’s topic came in second place in the text voting for sermon subjects.  The title is:  How To Hear From God.  If you have ever struggled to hear from God, never heard from God or desperately need to hear from God then don’t miss it! 

Here’s a taste: we’ll examine the ways God speaks, how to position yourself to hear, and posture yourself in prayer.  I can’t wait to preach it!

We had a great launch to our new series ON DEMAND over the weekend.  Our topic was How To Handle Stress and many people made commitments to do several things:

To surrender everything to God

To stop carrying my burdens alone

To stop some things in my schedule

It’s a lot easier to make commitments than it is to keep them.  Have you noticed that in your life?  One of the best ways I’ve found to make changes is to continually remind myself of the promise I made.  I tell myself that the pledge I made wasn’t just to me, but to God.  Feeling the magnitude of the that commitment helps me to fight off the temptations to slip back into my old self.  Another thing is to set up reminders of the promises I’ve made.  This can be notes on my desk, writing in my prayer journal, or sticky notes in my car.  I keep them there until the commitment sticks in me. 

 What works for you?  If you know what it is, then do it!  If you don’t know what it is, then find out.

I am anxious for my summer break that is coming up soon.  Every year I remember how I used to feel indispensible and often indestructible at the same time.  I would tell myself things like, “I can’t be gone more than one weekend or the church will fall apart.”  What I have come to recognize is that this is a form of pride.  It stems from a need to be needed, which is unhealthy.  Over the past few years the Lord has helped me deal with this pride and come to realize that it is the body of Christ, not an individual. 

One of the things I love about Crossroads is the many volunteers who understand this concept and live as the body of Christ, ministering one to another.  There is only one personality that the church should be focused around and if it isn’t Jesus, then we’re all in trouble. 

This past weekend I was blessed to see many new volunteers sign up to get involved in what God is doing among us.  Each of you are going to experience what it feels like when the pleasure of God is over you in direct response to being used of Him.  Together, by using our gifts for His glory, we can accomplish what otherwise seems impossible. 

Another thing I’ve discovered is that I’m a much better pastor when I take time to get away and rest.  Out of that time of refreshing, I’m able to come back and pour myself out for another season of ministry.  A healthy pastor makes for a healthy church, and that doesn’t happen by accident. 

We’ve got an awesome fall season planned that I believe is going to see results like we’ve never seen before.  Because of many of you stepping up to a new level of commitment and involvement we will be ready to reap the harvest God intends.  Many are catching the passion of stewardship and not just showing up, sitting down the turning around and coming back three weeks later. 

As we work together, we will see God do some amazing things in our community – let’s do it! 

I am anxious for my summer break that is coming up soon.  Every year I remember how I used to feel indispensible and often indestructible at the same time.  I would tell myself things like, “I can’t be gone more than one weekend or the church will fall apart.”  What I have come to recognize is that this is a form of pride.  It stems from a need to be needed, which is unhealthy.  Over the past few years the Lord has helped me deal with this pride and come to realize that it is the body of Christ, not an individual. 

One of the things I love about Crossroads is the many volunteers who understand this concept and live as the body of Christ, ministering one to another.  There is only one personality that the church should be focused around and if it isn’t Jesus, then we’re all in trouble. 

This past weekend I was blessed to see many new volunteers sign up to get involved in what God is doing among us.  Each of you are going to experience what it feels like when the pleasure of God is over you in direct response to being used of Him.  Together, by using our gifts for His glory, we can accomplish what otherwise seems impossible. 

Another thing I’ve discovered is that I’m a much better pastor when I take time to get away and rest.  Out of that time of refreshing, I’m able to come back and pour myself out for another season of ministry.  A healthy pastor makes for a healthy church, and that doesn’t happen by accident. 

We’ve got an awesome fall season planned that I believe is going to see results like we’ve never seen before.  Because of many of you stepping up to a new level of commitment and involvement we will be ready to reap the harvest God intends.  Many are catching the passion of stewardship and not just showing up, sitting down the turning around and coming back three weeks later. 

As we work together, we will see God do some amazing things in our community – let’s do it!