This past Sunday a group of us walked and prayed around Bolton C. Falby Public School.
I have been enjoying it on my own, by it was an even greater blessing to do so as a group.
I thought about the people of Israel marching around Jericho, but was not praying that the school walls would come crumbling to the ground.
But there are walls that need to come down, spiritual and social and emotional and racial walls.
And not just walls in THEIR hearts, also in OUR hearts.
We were reminded again that “these people” are not a project, that we are not their liberators parachuting in to help or fix them.
They are people with dignity, people deserving of respect, people who need God and Jesus just like we do.
They are our brothers, our sisters, living in a broken world with us, needing God’s forgiveness, God’s hope, God’s help, God’s Son, God’s Spirit – just like us!
This is an opportunity to be blessed together, to grow together, to be empowered together! Continue reading ‘more prayer walking’ »

I haven’t really been that involved in the issue of organic vs. genetically modified foods, but this video is a very fun perspective on it – “and may the Farm be with you!”

Ok I admit it, I have too much time on my hands (sometimes).
But there is something so real, so fun, so… hilarious about this post… right grandma? right oma?

Today I went prayer walking in the Falby Court area.
This is the area that we are looking to relocate our services at Crossroads.
Its south of the 401, Harwood and Bayly.
At first it was nothing deep or profound… until I asked the Spirit to pray through me [Romans 8:26].
I really had no clear thoughts about what to pray for.
So I asked the Spirit to pray for me.
And what came from that was the Names of Christ.
I prayed the Names of Jesus over the apartments, the school, the vehicles, as well as the people that I saw.
That was cool, it left me with a deeper sense of how this community needs Jesus, and the ways that they need Jesus.
And also me, a deeper sense of how I need Jesus!!!
Care to join me in prayer walking?

For those who remember the muppets, and especially Beeker…
Enjoy this special rendition of Beethoven’s Ode To Joy.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not
let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. [Galatians 5:1]

As Crossroads considers changing its location, and also its ministry focus, the following video of a church plant in Michigan is an inspiring reminder of the need for sincere and serious prayer…

This week I am reflecting on words of Jesus on the cross:

“Dear woman, here is your son!” and “Here is your mother!” (John 19:26-27).

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

“I am thirsty” (John 19:28).

“It is finished!” (John 19:30).

“Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

I am reading Andrew Murray’s Abiding In Christ, a devotional book based on Jesus words in John 15:1-7.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. [John 15:4-5]

He begins by reminding us that the promise of blessing and rest in Matthew 11:28-30 is not just for those who COME to Him, but those who CONTINUE in Him.
Moment by moment, day by day, an ongoing, continuous surrender and fellowship with Him.
This is what the disciples had when they were physically following Jesus.
This is what we need to have as we follow Him today, though His presence is spiritual, not physical – it is nevertheless real.
I am with Jesus, Jesus is with me – whether I feel it or not. Continue reading ‘abiding in Christ’ »

I just heard about this, though it was several years ago (May 2005)…
Apparently our sister church in Corona California has a unique way of getting people to come to church.
What do you think?
Is this the way that we should get people to come to church?
It just sounds wrong to me.

Someone at Crossroads Church in Corona, California will be in Hawg Heaven on May 22nd. That’s when the church will draw the name of the winner of a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle. Crossroads is celebrating the grand opening of their new 3,000-seat auditorium, and in their current series, “Adventures in Friendship,” they’re using the Harley give-away as an incentive to attract first-time visitors to the church. Through this program, first-time visitors or members who bring first-time visitors are entered into the drawing to win the Harley. Crossroads is using the give-away to encourage evangelism and reach out to the community. Senior Pastor Barry McMurtrie explained, “Our goal is to become a community gathering place and this program supports that vision!” So, I guess if you happen to be in Corona, CA, you may want to visit Crossroads and enter the big drawing. Needless to say, you must be present for the drawing on May 22 to win.