550+ Students at CrossPoint Tonight!!!

We quit counting at 550. There was no well known guest speaker or big name band. There is, however, an Almighty God who desperately wants to save the lost -- He showed up!! Prayer warriors, please continue to lift up our student ministry. It is much needed. Revival is here!!! Captives are being set free, chains are being broken, and people are crossing the line of faith!! To HIM alone be the glory!!! There were quite a few salvations and well over 150-200 re-dedications!!

Care Group #1 Breakfast

Hello Care Group #1!! It's our Sunday for Breakfast!! Please leave a post and let everyone know what you will be bringing to help cut down on duplicate items. Thanks! Dianna

How we worship

I read this wonderful post on a blog I subscribe to called Eyes Right. Dean Shareski put things in such a scriptural context. Having been raised in a traditional Baptist church, I had never done anything but be quiet and reverent in worship to God. I know that God accepts our praises any way we give them, but there are times when I feel the need to raise my hands in worship. But why??? I am copying some of his post here and will link to it as well. Thanks for this insightful post, Dean.

So here’s why we lift our hands in worship and what it means:

• To remind us of our covenant with God.
• Genesis 14:17-23
• Lifting of hands in courts of law signifies an oath

• To show our reliance on Him.
• Exodus 17: 8-16
• We need to physically see and demonstrate our reliance on God to each other
• He likes it
• Psalm 134 :1-2
• If God likes it, why wouldn’t we do it?
• To show surrender
• Psalm 141:2
• When someone is captured, they often are asked to put their hand up in surrender

So this isn’t about what church you go to or what style of worship you prefer, it’s something God has asked us to do because he desires worshippers. So the next time you raise your hands in worship, perhaps, if you’re like me, you’ll know better why you do it. If you don’t, why not?

Eyes Right

Girls Night In

Hey, ladies!

Our next Girls Night In is scheduled for Friday night, September 14th at my home. I have asked the photo jewelry person to come, so bring your favorite pictures!

Please bring your favorite appetizer and we will have a snacky supper. You can start coming at 6:00. We'll eat around 7:00. Please note that Shea (the jewelry lady) will be leaving around 8:00, so if you want or need to come late, don't be too late or you will miss her!

I am all ears as far as suggestions go for what else to keep us occupied, so if you have any ideas, let's hear them! You do not have to purchase jewelry to come to the Girls Night In! That is only a small part of the evening!!!

Respond here to let us know if you are coming and what you plan to bring.

Mawwaige...

I cannot help but hear this voice in my head when I hear the word "marriage". Enjoy this clip from my husband's favorite movie, The Princess Bride:

Marraige Quiz

As we prepare for this next study, I have been looking for interesting facts and information regarding marriage. I found this little quiz. See if you know the answers to these questions about your mate:

1. What does your spouse do at work? Be specific ("he's an executive" isn't enough, give specifics, duties).

2. What is your spouse really good at?

3. Has he or she won any awards, commendations, trophies? For what?

4. What is your spouse's favorite comfort food, when growing up?

5. What is your mate's dream job?

6. What did your spouse want to be when he or she was a child?

7. What is you mate's top goal in life?

8. What does your spouse see as his or her greatest accomplishment thus far?

9. How many cousins does your husband or wife have?

10. What is the name of your spouse's high school best friend?

11. What is your mate's favorite color?

12. What is your spouse's favorite sport or hobby?

(http://marriage.families.com)

Prayers O' Plenty

Thanks to all you prayer warriors who have prayed for our student ministry over the past couple of weeks. Just a few things in review:

• 12 salvations last Wednesday night (Aug. 15)
• 5 recommits last Wednesday night (Aug. 15)
• 275 total in attendance (middle and high school) last Wednesday night (Aug. 15)
• 400 +/- in attendance Friday night at the Daniel Bashta concert (thanks Jonathan and Jenny B. for your sacrifice in making it happen!! You rock!!!!!)
• 200+/- in attendance for D-Now weekend
• 26 salvations on Saturday night (Aug. 18)
• 1 wild 10:45 service that was nothing more than the passion that our students have ALL THE TIME, not to mention 1 hacked off pastor that got his house annihilated by toilet paper in the wee hours of Sunday (Chris Howell's son was a willing and proud participant).

Tonight we start our 6-week series called "EPIC: SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF". We are anticipating a crowd of 350+ tonight alone. If you have time to read this, please close your eyes and pray for the lost souls who will enter our doors tonight. It's going to be huge!! It starts at 7pm if you want to check it out!! More updates as God continues to move in a mighty way.

UPDATE:

We had 332 people Wednesday night (August 22) and there have been 10-15 salvations that I know of at random times this week just because our students are sharing Christ with their friends before, during, or after school!!! We are expecting 450 +/- next week (August 29) as our students will see the most clear and creative presentation of the gospel that our student ministry has EVER DONE!! To Him be ALL the glory!! PRAY PRAY PRAY!!

Guys Night Out

Come on, guys! I know it is hard for you to respond, but I know you can do it!

Guys Night Out scheduled for Saturday, September 8th - Dinner of your choice and bowling to follow. Respond here if you are interested!

Casting Crowns in Concert

Casting Crowns, our class's favored group, is coming to town November 2nd. Several of us are going and would like to sit as a group. If you are interested in going, tickets go on sale on August 24th. I will be purchasing our group's tickets on that date for anyone who is interested and has paid. Tickets are $26 a piece (including estimated processing costs). Please comment here if you are interested in going together.

Daniel Bashta In Concert!!!

If you have never heard this guy, you are in for it!! If you like Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Hillsongs United, Jars of Clay, U2, or Dave Matthews Band, you need to make it here this Friday night. You can check him out at www.myspace.com/danielbashta This guy comes from Colorado Springs and studied under Ross Parsley(sings "I am Free"). Daniel has a huge song out called "Dry Bones". If you want to hear the next Chris Tomlin in this rare opportunity, you need to be at CrossPoint at 9PM this Friday night. We pushed it back so everyone can go to the "Meet the (fill in your favorite high school team here)". We'll take a $5 donation at the door and a love offering will be taken. This is cheap considering the next time you are able to hear him, you'll have to buy a $20 ticket.

Please see the flyer below an do your best to tell everyone about it.

Care Group #2

Breakfast this week - August 12th.

Comment here to let everyone know what you are bringing.

Bill Cosby Himself Video

Thanks to Scott for the lesson on discipline yesterday. He also played a clip from "Bill Cosby Himself", and I was able to find that particular clilp on YOU TUBE today, so I hope you enjoy.

SKATE PARTY

For those of you who missed the "Back To School Skate Party" you missed out on lots of fun! We all had a blast! Thanks to all who planned it, and we look forward to doing it again! Here are a few pics of our evening:

August LC Notes

Hey, guys, I know that most of us were at the Skate Party (whoo fun!) So while Jenny and Jonathan and I went to Leadership Community I took a few notes.

Ryan talked out the grand opening of our new building and if you hadn't already taken a walk through at the picnic, we were allowed to go and see it. It is quite a sight when you go through those doors. It's impressive. On a GOD sized scale. I wonder if I will ever "get used to" seeing what God can do.

Ryan focused on John 13:1-17. This passage centers on Jesus washing his disciples feet before they share a meal together. Ryan reminded us that when we receive salvation through Jesus Christ, we are cleansed of every impurity of each sin that we commit past, present and future. He explained that Jesus gives us the oppurtunity to come to him daily and let Him wash our feet; to be cleansed by spending time with Christ when we have gotten dusty and grimy from the time we spend in the world. Ryan pointed out that we are servants in the Kingdom of God. Ryan pointed out that Jesus served His disciples by washing their feet because this lowly, commonplace taske had been neglected by their host. Jesus didn't go to the host and ask "Who will you send to wash their feet and mine?" Instead Jesus did what servants do, he saw a job that needed to be done and he did it. This was a job no one else wanted to do, a dirty, lowly job and Jesus did just because it was what needed to be done.

Hope this keeps ya'll in the loop since we played hokey and went skating ;)

See you all soon and have a GREAT week!

Back to School... oh so SOON!

Yes, dear parents, it is that time again... August 9th (for most of us) is Parent Liberation Day aka the first day of school. This means we all get back to the routine meaning we are back into our routine for Sunday School as well.

Breakfast will be provided by Care Group #1 tomorrow... don't forget!

Love you guys!

Determining Your Love Language

Thanks so much for the fun and interactive time this past week! I am putting the handout here and an online version of the profile test we took. I hope you and your spouse are working on speaking the languages to each other and to your kids. Have a great week!

Love Language Test

Sunday's Handout

This is my Prayer

This was sent to me by a friend of mine and I really needed to hear it. Maybe it will be a blessing to you as well.

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day, I thank you for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I am blessed because you are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and you keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from you. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. I know that when I can't pray, you listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do your will. Continue to bless me, that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong, that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted, that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood, I pray for those who don't know you intimately. I pray for those that do not believe. But I thank you that I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love, and joy in their homes that all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows that their is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in your hands for you to fight. Thank you Lord for living in my heart.

5 Love Languages

Hey Family Ties, Gang!

I just wanted to remnid you all that on Sunday we'll be walking thru how to determine your child's primary love language. Please be extra observant of your kids this week and take notice of what really makes them KNOW that you love them.

If you guys see anything that really jumps out at you or if you try something that really works or just crashes and burns... tell us about it... for example. Right now I am procrastinating putting away laundry from our vacation... because I want the kids to help.... SO NOT WORKING... =)

School

Okay, this may not be the most appropriate venue to express my concerns, but I had to let you know... I am absolutely terrified of sending my baby into the big, bad world (a.k.a. public school). I have gotten just a taste of how bad it can be by experiencing summer camp this year. It has been HORRIBLE!

Those of you who have entered this new stage of life with your children or you are an educator who could shed some light on how to prepare my child and MYSELF for this new experience, please shed your words of wisdom. Has anyone else felt like me? Please put me out of my misery and let me know that my fears are normal.

Share your favorite passage of scripture that you turn to when you are afraid or worry about something.

Reminder for Sunday

Hey, guys!

Just a friendly reminder that money is due THIS SUNDAY, the 22nd for the Skating Social at Trussville PlayStation on August 5th. The cost per family is $20 and can be given to Rhonda Shelton, Jenny Brannan or Pam Prickett.

If you won't be there on Sunday, email me and let me know that you are still planning on attending. We can make arrangements to meet up.