Go Green!

Green Revolution

I’m excited…we finally got in our “Green Cards,” not to be confused with legal documentation…Holli and I are legal residents don’t worry!  Our hope truly is to start a Green Revolution of radical kindness in Green County…by simply being open to the opportunities God brings our way to bless those in our community.  So what is a “green card” you ask?  Simply put, it’s a pay it forward concept…so say, you’re cruising through the Koffee Bean drive-thru…and you see someone pull in behind you (especially if that vehicle is a blue Chevy Trailblazer), how about buying their coffee for them leaving behind this green card.  Truth is the opportunities to use these cards as a tool to bless are endless…from plowing the snow from a neighbors driveway, to paying for someones groceries, to buying somebodies gas…just let God lead!  On each card it has a little info about Crossroads, as well as explaining a little about the why we’re doing what we do.  Would love to hear some of your “Green Revolution” stories in the coming weeks as you step out in radical kindness.  Setting up a blog, just for this very thing as well as a list of current opportunities of how to get involved in our community…and continue to creatively live out God’s love to those around.

Weekend Pics

Thought I’d share a few pics from the weekend.  Started a new series at Crossroads…Holli and Nikki did a great job with the stage!  Anyway, really cold out here in the metropolis of Monroe…yesterday actually had snowflakes…yes, snow in October….who knew? 

crossroads monroe

 

Urban Retreat

It was good to get away for awhile.  Don’t hear of many people taking urban escapes from the country, but got to tell you it was just what the doctor ordered.  Holli and I took some time in “Cream City” (still don’t know why that’s it’s nickname…but whatever), but it was great just getting to see the sights, the people, and just the experience of Mikwaukee…which I must say is one pretty cool city.  Checked out the “Titanic” Exhibit at the Milwaukee Museum…worth the trip…amazing to see stuff from the wreckage.  And yes, no urban retreat would be complete without touring all the local Starbucks…a little piece of heaven I must say.  By the way, thanks to so many of you who wished me Happy Birthday…especially want to thank Von & Sally for the massive 40oz bag of coffee…sweet!

Milwaukee at Night

At the Bottom of the Cup.

Staring at the shower, sipping my final cup of Starbucks Anniversary Blend, and reading an article about the Blazers.  It’s official…dealing with a serious bout of homesickness.  While we’re certainly meeting some great people, and having some great experiences…really feel like I hit a little bit of a wall personally.  Really underestimated how much we’d miss home…from the friends to the frapuccinos.  Anyway, we realize it’s a season that comes with transitions…hoping to get a good Starbucks fix this week to get us through as Holli and I take off to Milwaukee for a few days to celebrate my 34th birthday.

Sloganized.

We live in a world of slogans.  From “Have It Your Way” to “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas” to “I’m lovin’ It.”  We’re a slogan society when it comes down to it, just name it…place, program, people, even the church gets into it.  I’ve even decided to get in the game…how about this…Seth “Easy As Sunday Morning” McRae…nice ring to it…huh?  Anyway, I thought I’d share some of the best and worst slogans I’ve come across in life.

The Best & Worst of Church Slogans…Best: “Only God.” or “Love Wins” / Worst: “The Church That Love Built” (Just sounds creepy to me)

The Best & Worst Food Slogans…Best:  Drive-Thru Coffee Shop in Salem, Or: “Home of the 72ounce Coffee” (What a beautiful thought) / Worst: “Finger-Lickin’ Good” 

This is great…I just found a link that helps you create your own slogan…like a said we’re a society of slogans…SLOGAN GENERATOR.  It’s great, you enter one word and it makes up a slogan for you.  Here’s just some of the ones it created for me: ”Australians wouldn’t give a Seth for anything else.”/ “We’re with the Seth.”/ “No one does chicken like Seth.”

Thought I’d have some fun with it…threw Crossroads Church in as well, here’s some of what it came up with:  “You too can have a Crossroads Church like Mine” (Catchy) / “Can you feel it? Crossroads Church”  / “The Incredible, Edible Crossroads Church.”  (Not really sure what that means, but man it’s catchy)/ “Crossroads Churific”

Anyway…let me know some of your best & worst when it comes to slogans…also love to hear what slogans you came up with through the “sloganizer.”

Rookie Team Shocks the World!

Over 20 teams…over a thousand spectators and critics…and only one champion!  Yes…that’s right…ladies and gentleman not only can Crossroads Monroe claim the largest contingent of Tractor-Pull fanatics, the best coffee in town, and just one cool campus altogether — we can now hold claim to the best chili in Green County!  Thanks to the cooking efforts of Jim & Mark, an upstart group, newcomers to the event, the rookie team from Crossroads shocked the world, atleast the few hundred still left, by claiming the 17th Annual Monroe Chili Cook-Off Championship.  I know, this is not a time to brag…we’ll just let the giant gold plaque do the talking.  Way to go Monroe…forget Disneyland, I’m headed to Crossroads tomorrow, anyway need to help set-up. 

2008 Chili Champions!

It Takes Heart!

Sweet…another Rocky Marathon on television…a 24 hour reminder of why Sylvester Stallone is truly one of the greatest cinematic performers of our time…sheer poetry!  For those who maybe Rocky newbe’s, here’s the general idea, every movie Rocky is faced with an impossible opponent, an opponenet who literally beats the snot out of Rocky for 11 of 12 rounds until out of nowhere inspirational music begins to play, and thoughts of Adrian (his wife) begin to motivate him onto victory.  In a nutshell, that’s pretty much how everyone of the Rocky movies ends, atleast the good ones…don’t really count Rocky 1 & 5, both duds.  Anyway as I watched Rock take on Mr. T in a fight for the ages…I noticed something else, that led Rocky onto victory.  See Rocky always managed to win not because he had more skill, more brains, or more braun…but rather he had more heart!  When faced with the impossible, Rocky met it with heart.  Truth is, as we move forward to meet the unique, maybe even overwhelming challenges and needs of Green County…it’s going to take heart.  It’s not going to be five year plans, or steering committees that will make the difference, but a group of Christ-followers willing to roll up their sleeves, willing to fight the good fight…and radically, unconventionally, love people with the same radical love God showed us.  The Bible tells us that “perfect love casts out fear,” I love that, because it speaks such truth.  When you get down to why people don’t got to church it all comes down to one word…fear.  It’s fear of being rejected, fear of being an outsider, fear of being condemned, fear of being hurt.  It’s fear that drives people from church, and it’s only love…radical, messy love that will steer them back. Our goal in the coming months as a campus is not to be a perfect church, filled with perfect people, and perfect programs…but rather to live out God’s perfect love to an imperfect world around.  How are we going to turn the tide in Monroe? How are we going to make God’s voice louder in Green County?  How are we going to take on the impossible?  With heart!  For it’s God’s love that wins the day…always!