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Who Dat?

Check out this great short video about New Orleans and the Saints from one of Crossroads' college students, Craig Turner!

Desensitized

I went and saw "Book of Eli" today. Personally, I'd give it a 7-out-of-10. I actually want to go see it again now that I know what's going to happen. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about.

It's bloody. There are some intense fight scenes. Denzel Washington's character (Eli) is basically indestructible.

There is no sex or major nudity (girl in a nightgown, girl in a makeshift-top showing cleavage, and a guy with his shirt off).

Ever since I walked out of the movie, I've been trying to figure out what was feeling strange to me, and then it hit me...

I was thinking of writing a review for this movie. I started putting the first draft of the review together in my head when, all of a sudden, I heard myself say, "If you can get past the blood and gore and foul language, then I would definitely recommend it, especially since there's no sex."

How bad is it for me to say, "Oh, it's just blood and gore and death and killing and cussing. No big deal!"

For some reason, that just doesn't sit well with me.

Thoughts from Holland, MI

For the past ten days, I have been trudging through almost two feet of snow for one mile twice daily (follow that?). I spent half of my childhood in central Indiana, so I am very accustomed to snow. But even after ten days of it, I am ready to leave it. It's great to visit.

During the trudging, I have had a good deal of time to think and reflect on many topics. I decided when I got here that I would carry a journal with me and begin the practice of writing down ideas, sayings, thoughts, and conversations that catch my attention. As I was reading over the things that I have already written down, I figured that this would be a great place to share some. So here we go:

• God is not at the forefront of my mind regularly. He should be. He needs to be. My struggle is that I'll get into "Caleb-mode". For example, I will have a planning meeting for something, and instead of thinking of God and His mission, I think of my desires and what I think the mission should be. Many times when I go to sporting events at the local schools, I will inevitably go in with the mindset of "this is my job"/"this is what I need to be doing". Instead, I need to walk in thinking and praying, "God, lead me into conversations with people and show me how to show them You."
• One of the classic "salvation" questions has been, "If you die tonight, what would happen to you?" I'm beginning to think that question is faulty. Instead, I think the question should be, "If you wake up tomorrow, who will you follow?" The previous incorrect phrasing puts the focus of salvation on the end result. It makes "being saved" as a ticket to not "burning in hell." But isn't following Jesus about life today? Isn't the real question about who or what one will follow every moment through the day? Because if I place my computer over God, then my priorities are out of place. If I place my kids over God, then my priorities are out of place. If I place my Wii over God, then my priorities are out of place. Shouldn't our concern be who/what we follow, and not where we're going to end up?
• Over the course of a two-hour class here at seminary, a classmate ate an entire container of Altoids. I wonder if he was trying to help his intestines smell better.
• Just a thought to ponder: Christianity is not simply learning about the incarnation of Jesus. It's taking on and living out the incarnation of Jesus.

If you have thoughts that you would like to respond with, please do. Would love to have conversations with anyone and everyone about these things.

Church's Primary role

Most of us would probably choose more than one. But, if you had to choose, which would it be and why?

The church is primarily about:

• saving individual souls
• defending the truth
• making the world a better place/helping people live better lives
• being a signpost of the reign of God
• offering a glimpse of heaven
• being filled with the Holy Spirit
  

Crazy Love

Starting in February, our youth will be challenged to be involved in a group that will meet twice a month, memorize Scripture, do some homework, and read through a book called "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. More information will come about this group. Over the next weeks, please pray with your youth about their involvement with this group. For those that are actively involved and complete the assignments and the book, there will be a reward trip.

For now, check out this website for more info on the book and read a sample chapter.

Tim Hawkins

Friday evening, 30 youth and volunteers will be heading to First Bossier for an evening with Tim Hawkins. If you have never heard Tim, you are definitely missing out. Check out this short video. Then go to his website here and watch many more clips.

New Skillet video - Hero

Check out this awesome new music video from Skillet. This is "Hero" off of their new album "Awake". I have it in my office if anyone wants to borrow it!

schedule updates

Okay, so in an attempt to get out all of our information about activities and happenings between now and Christmas, this post will be solely dedicated to that end. Also, please note the calendar at the bottom of this page, as it has been updated.

Dec 4-6

We will be joining with Christ Community for a youth conference. There will be a speaker, a band, service opportunities, lots of games, and lots of food. Cost is $40. If anyone knows they will have trouble paying for it, please tell me. That is not a good reason for not attending because there are LOTS of people in our church who have given scholarship money. The students will be staying Friday and Saturday nights in homes. Still working on which homes those will be. It will start at Christ Community on Friday, December 4th at 5:30pm and end on Sunday morning, December 6th. Crossroads students who attend the conference will arrive back at Crossroads on Sunday morning at 10:45am for worship. Please reply ASAP!

Dec 12

We will head to the Community Soup kitchen in Monroe. We'll meet at Crossroads at 9:15am, serve at the kitchen, go have lunch together, and return to Crossroads around 1:30 or 2. Each student will need to bring $5 for lunch. Also, the kitchen runs on donations. So, we are asking each family to scour their home for canned goods, toiletries, and clothes that are available for donation.

Dec 13

Shane & Shane, Phil Wickham, and Bethany Dillon will be in concert at Howard Auditorium (on Tech's campus). Show starts at 7:30. I think everyone just pays $10 at the door. We will NOT have Student Life this night because of the concert. More details about meeting up and heading to the concert as the date gets closer.

Dec 18

Tim Hawkins LIVE at First Baptist Bossier. Tickets are $10. Bring money for dinner, too. Parents, if you need to know who Tim Hawkins is before saying your student can go, check out www.timhawkins.net.

Dec 3, 10, and 17

We have a 3-week community group study this December. Our focus will be "Living Like Jesus". Guys meet at 507 (I think?) Homer St. Girls meet at 1109 Carey Ave. Groups meet from 7-8:30. Bring yourself and your Bible!

The Great Escape 2010

The Great Escape from Youth Conference Ministries on Vimeo.

6th-8th grade students and their parents, check out this video for what we will be participating in this coming summer! And watch the whole thing, because there is someone towards the end that you will recognize.