Serving Green County.

When it comes to impacting and changing the world around us it all starts with…simple, radical kindness.  The Bible puts it this way “kindness leads to repentance.”  I got to tell you it’s such a blessing to beable to minister alongside a campus of friends, volunteers, leaders that seem to just get it…by living out the radical kindness and love that Jesus first showed to us.  Maybe no better example of this was found this past weekend as so many people came together with the common goal of just loving on…and blessing our community.  From the volunteers on Saturday that cleaned, repaired and helped to fix up the Green County Food Bank….to the 2,500 lbs. of food collected…to the crew that put together and gave out 11 Thanksgiving Baskets…to my friends that braved the cold on Monday to help keep those in the Food Bank line warmed up with hot drinks.  What a weekend!  May we never tire of being a “greenlight” to this area…knowing that these simple acts are leaving a ripple effect in the lives of so many.

 

THE CITY THAT ALWAYS SLEEPS?

Trouble sleeping…long nights….tossing and turning…have you thought of moving? While some cities can claim the title of fastest-growing, most expensive, most hip…only one can claim the title of most-rested. That’s right…a good night’s rest maybe only a short 30 minute drive away for those in Monroe (a few days for Vancouver folk). As our very own Madison can now add 2008’s “Most Well-Rested City in America” (December 2008 – Mens Health Magazine article) to the tourism guide. Maybe it’s the abundance of dairy products in the area…the lackluster performance of Badger football…or the peoples love for plaid & flannel. Whatever the reason….Madison truly is the “CITY THAT ALWAYS SLEEPS!”

Other notable cities on the list:  PORTLAND, OR. (ranked #55)…SEATTLE, WA. (ranked #60)…MILWAUKEE, WI (ranked #68)

MOST SLEEP DEPRIVED CITIES:  #1 MIAMI, FL. … #2 CLEVELAND, OH. …#3 PHILADELPHIA, PA

Hunger Initiative in the News.

Monroe Times 11.17.08

Here’s a recent news blurp from our local Monroe Times about our Hunger Initiative and project coming up this Saturday.  Important to note, our Campus Service Day at the County Food Pantry actually starts this Saturday at 8:00a.m.

Good Times.

Have to say it’s pretty cool driving around Monroe these days, and seeing one Crossroads Yard Sign after another.  Just wanted to give props to everyone…it’s just one more way we’re able to crank up the volume of God’s voice in Green County.  Without a doubt God’s doing some pretty cool things through our campus…last Sunday was our second week of record attendance,  and while we didn’t fill the whole trailer up with food…we filled it up pretty good!!!  To say the least there will be a lot of Green County families who will be blessed by everyone willingness to pitch in and give.  Way to go Crossroads Monroe!!!  Also want to thank the Meana’s for opening up their home for the guy’s to watch the Packers & Bears Game…is was really a lot of fun…at least for Packer fan.

We Have a Winner!

We have a winner!  Congrats to the Nicholson family who braved the rain, fog, and cold to find the treasure.  For this curious as to what the clues were…here is the complete list: 1. A Place to Break a Leg (The Stage)… 2. A Place that Mooves people to Monroes past (The Cow statue at the Visitors Center)….3. A Place that provides warmth to wake up the senses (Perks Coffee)…4.  Have a seat at this place where you discover you’re not the only one who left town (Abandoned area with picnic tables off of County J road).  Once again…way to go Nicholson’s, we look forward to hearing the stories of how you use the $100 to bless someone in our community.

Monroe Scavenger Hunt Winners

Hog Roast?

Have to say…the Monroe Campus Hog Roast was an amazing time.  If you happened to miss it, or for those in the Northwest who’ve never gotten the joy of experiencing a hog roast…what can I say, words don’t do a hog roast justice…but encourage you to check out some of the videos of it.  All I can say is you’ve got to love a group of people who don’t let something like freezing temperatures keep them from having a good time.  Anyway, excited that we finally got our Campus Yard Signs in…looking to blanket the town with Crossroads Monroe Signs…sweet!  It’s been exciting to see what God’s been doing through the campus just in the short time we’ve gotten to be here…as last Sunday we finally broke 100 + adults in the main service…up from the 60 only two months ago.  We really are blessed to be able to team up with a group of ministry allstars every weekend here!  Excited to see what God does as we continue to be a “greenlight!”

Greenlight

Handed out my first green card today…and of course came across the one person who was buying for an entire office…ouch!  That said…the look on this ladies face at the idea of a church willing to give just because was truly priceless.  We had a great conversation following, just reminding me of the ripple effect one small act of radical kindness and love can have.  I don’t know what it is about this area, this community, this county…but I can’t help but feel that in the very depths of my soul God is up to something.  That as we choose to step out and be a light in Green County…by praying…serving…and believing in our community…at the end of the day those small acts will come to create more than ripple but a wave of change and hope.  God is up to something…but it’ll take us being “greenlight” for that something and someones to be revealed.