Hey All!

Nothing super inspirational today, but wanted to give you a heads up on a few things.

The first thing is we are looking for 50 people to sing in our Christmas choir. We need 50 people per service. This does not mean all 50 have to volunteer for all 7 services, it just means our goal is to have 50 at each Christmas service. If you know families who stay in town for Christmas and would like to be a part of our Christmas choir, please email Gwen @ gewnbudish@crossroadschurch.cc.

The second thing to make you aware of is we are looking to have another mid-winter worship arts volunteer appreciation. This appreciation is going to be off the hook! It will be both our worship arts volunteers from Eagan and Woodbury together at one place in Saint Paul. We are thinking about doing brunch at the Chatterbox (they have ribs an all sorts of good stuff). We are looking at a couple dates on Sundays after church in February. Just wanted to let you know that is in the works.

Lastly, I just want to say you all have been doing a fantastic job. The comment cards we have been receiving on the worship have been very positive. This takes everyone—from the sound, to the lyrics, to the people on stage. Know that you’re making a difference for the kingdom! Thanks for all you do!

That’s it from me. Can’t wait to worship with you again this weekend!

Worship Arts Devos for Nov 19 & 20 2011

THEME: Route 66 (Acts)

PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 15:1-9
How many of you have ever been on a ROAD TRIP? As you probably know, the point of a ROAD TRIP is rarely about the destination...it’s ALMOST ALWAYS about the journey. We take ROAD TRIPS because ROAD TRIPS have the power to change us.

Saul, on the ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP to Damascus in Acts Chapter 9, is tripped up by a person he meets on the way named JESUS. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of or been tripped up by this guy named Jesus (-:, but he has a way of changing our perspective. This is what happened to Saul. He was so changed by this encounter with Christ he even changed his name to Paul. You might have heard of him. He has written a ton of books in the New Testament.
I sometimes wonder, what did Paul learn from this ROAD TRIP of a lifetime? What lessons did he walk away with from this TRIP? Fortunately for us, he recorded this lesson later in his life...so lets take some time to look at it. So, if you would turn 1 Corinthians 15 and read verses 1-9.

DEVOTIONAL POINT:
He says, “Listen up! I am nearing the end of my journey (and it has been a crazy one)...and I want to tell you very simply what I have learned. I told you once before...but I want to tell you AGAIN...because what I have learned on my ROAD TRIP is the MOST IMPORTANT thing you will ever know!”

He says, Don’t get caught up in the distraction (was the earth created in 7 literal days or 7 million years). Look at Jesus and answer the question: Did Christ DIE for your sins / Was he BURIED / Was he RAISED / Did he APPEAR! Paul says to us: “If you want to figure out your faith...you need to start here. You need to deal directly with Jesus and what he did for you.”

And so ask yourself...Have you done that? Have you ever embraced that personally? Many of us have, but what on your journey is keeping you from seeing that truth in your life today? What sort of stuff has bogged you down that distracts you from the message of Christ? If you feel comfortable, share with us on Thursday so that we can pray for you.

Music Summary: Why we picked what we did?
1. No One Like You (Opener. Praise/Adoration. There is no one else in history who has the power to change us, to save us.)

2. In Christ Alone (Song of Proclamation. In is only in Christ that we are able to find our hope and nothing, not the powers of hell or the schemes of men, can separate us from the love of God in Christ from us.)

3. Came To My Rescue (Song of Preparation. Jesus is the only one who can rescue us from our sins and the breakdowns we may find ourselves in on the great ROAD TRIP of life.)

4. Our God (Song of Declaration. It is only Christ who has the power to turn water to wine and preform a miracle in us that changes our trajectory towards him. There is none greater then Christ.)

5. Jesus Paid It All (Song of Response.)



Posted on Tue, November 15, 2011 by Jon Oney filed under

4 comments (Add your own)

1. Kevin wrote:
Good song picks this week as always Jon.
I also want to thank you for the worship arts appreciation functions. It does feel good to be appreciated.

While were at it.... (this will seem corny but it needs to be said). Thank you for what you do too. You are doing a great job in your new role. You also sing and play well so that it is enjoyable for all of us as well as those in the audience.

I like the "don't get caught up in the distraction" passage. It seems to me the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Your faith should be more about your relationship with GOD than anything else. I think too many churches actually get in the way. This is part of the reason my wife and I left Catholic services. I am NOT A CATHOLIC BASHER. I repect and agree with most of the tenants of the Catholic faith. But.... Too often I felt that the emphasis of the faith was more about adhering to all of the Catholic - ism's than it was about helping to strengthen my relationship with GOD.

In a way... worshipping in a non-Catholic environment became (for us) a straighter path to what the untimate goal was. A relationship with GOD unfettered and uninterfered with by the concepts and wishes of mortal men with vested interests.

Hope this makes sense... sorry to go so deep, but those are my thoughts. Peace and see you Thursday.

Tue, November 15, 2011 @ 2:54 PM

2. Pyo wrote:
that the true whproisers will worship in spirit and truth John 4:23 We can t worship God without His Spirit that He s given us. I mention this because we only know He is worthy of our worship because what He has done for us, even though He d still be worthy had He done nothing.

Sun, February 12, 2012 @ 3:10 PM

3. Okorie wrote:
I realize this is an old coemnmt, but, it's not even really that. There are lots of things that christians are and do today that would've gotten them killed in Old Testament days (Nobody's perfect). Because of this, Christ fulfilled the law and came to save us. When we start condemning each other and turning BACK to legalism, then we are forgetting what Christ died for and only putting him back on the cross. Ephesians 4 is clear about this.

Mon, April 23, 2012 @ 4:45 AM

4. Thomas wrote:
This song is one big fat lie. Christ is only in whose who have turned from sin. If we chosoe to live in sin then Christ is not with us. You can't be gay and christian, you are either one or the other. I pray God opens all your eyes to the truth. Romans 1 is clear about this.

Mon, April 23, 2012 @ 6:07 AM

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