The Most Dangerous Baby on Earth!

Dear Crosswalkers,

I'm sure many of you saw the recent news item about the Cannonball that couldn't be stopped. The crew from the TV show Mythbusters fired a homemade cannonball in the bay area city of Dublin as part of an experiment. Unfortunately, it missed the target. Then it kept going, and going, and going. According to one account, it "tore through a cinder-block wall, skipped off a hillside … bounced in front of a home … ripped through the front door, raced up the stairs and blasted through a bedroom … exited the house, leaving a perfectly round hole in the stucco (see photo), crossed six-lane Tassajara Road, took out several tiles from the roof of a home … and finally slammed into [a family's] minivan." Yikes!!  The local police sergeant said, "Crazy, crazy, crazy. You wouldn't think it was possible." This one little six inch cannonball had an almost unbelievable journey with some remarkable effects!

At Christmas, we celebrate the fact that a little baby was born that had an incredible journey from heaven to earth and whose effect on planet earth was beyond calculation. In the Christmas story in Matthew's gospel, King Herod considered Jesus to be the most dangerous baby ever born. How could a newborn infant be a threat to a king? On the most elementary level, it was because the wise men were searching for the baby who was born to be King of the Jews. But on a deeper level, here's the prophecy of Simeon about the baby Jesus:

Luke 2:34-35 - Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

And so it has been for 2,000 years... The baby born on Christmas has caused many to fall, but he has been a joy for so many others!  MAY JESUS BE YOUR JOY, NOW AND ALWAYS! 
 

Love in Jesus,

Pastor John

10 Big Lies Exposed by Christmas

Dear Crosswalkers,

This Sunday we will begin a mini-series from Matthew's gospel called "The Real Reason for the Christmas Season." We will feature Christmas songs and a very straightforwardmessage about what Christmas is really all about. It's called, "Why God invented Christmas," and if you have some friends or family members who need to hear the gospel, this would be a great Sunday to invite them to join you in worship! 

Recently I read a blog by James Emery White. He was issuing a warning to beware of the deceptive message that in encoded in American Culture. This deceptive message stems from the 10 big lies our culture insidiously wants us to believe. Obviously there are more than ten, but here is his list: 

1.   It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere, since all religions are basically the same.

2.   Christians are anti-science/anti-intellectual, and anyone who is a Christian must have checked their brains at the door.

3.   Marriage and family are purely social constructs and are therefore fluid and malleable by the current society.

4.   Personal significance and importance lies in gaining fame and wealth. 

5.   There are no absolute, transcendent truths in the moral or spiritual realm.  All such truth is relative.

6.   Sex is physical, not spiritual.  Do with it as you will.

7.   Science is the ultimate arbiter of truth and determinant for both fact and meaning.

8.   The separation of church and state necessarily means the separation of religion and the public square.

9.   Churches are man-made organizations that you can take or leave, inherently corrupt and compromising of true spirituality.

10. The Jesus of the New Testament is a fabrication and not historically accurate.  It should not be believed.

Perhaps you can think of some others. If so, why not email me and I'll add it to the lists for on-going study for the future. It is crucial that we stand for God's truth in a society that is becoming more and more hostile to it. What is remarkable is how the Christmas story in some way refutes most of these lies! Come this Sunday as we look at the truth of Christmas from a different perspective!

See you Sunday! 
 

Love in Jesus,

Pastor John

The Word of the Ages and the Word of the Year

Dear Crosswalkers,

This Sunday will be a Great Day of Worship filled with choices! At our 9:00 a.m. service we will feature the message How God’s Plan Unfolds in Your Life! This is based on the Parable of the Measure and the Parable of the Seed Growing Secretly. Fascinating insights await you from the teaching of Jesus our Lord! Then at 10:35 we will enjoy The Great Christmas Giveaway!  This is an inspiring musical performed by combined kids from Crosswalk and Sunnyvale Christian School. This is a muscial production that promises to rock the house! Two fabulous choices make for a great day at Crosswalk!

THE WORD OF THE AGES

The Word of the Ages is God's Word, the Bible. Here is the KJV of Psalm 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. While I'm personally partial to the modern and updated translations of God's word, I think we should all pause and thank God for the King James Version, which celebrated its 400th anniversary this year. Check this out: More copies have been made of this book than of any other book in the English language!  The "genesis" of the KJV began in March 1603. After a long reign as Queen of England, Elizabeth I finally died. The Scottish King James VI, her cousin, was the heir to the throne. At that time, Scotland was one of the poorest kingdoms in Europe. When James heard that he was at last going to inherit the throne of England, it was said that he was like "a poor man … now arrived at the Land of Promise." At his bidding, the new translation was published in 1611. You can read the fascinating back story in a well written article in the National Geographic magazine by following this link:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/12/king-james-bible/nicolson-text

Here is a quote from the article to see how the KJV has influenced our way of speaking:

"If a child is ever the apple of her parent's eye or an idea seems as old as the hills, if we are at death's door or at our wits' end, if we have gone through a baptism of fire or are about to bite the dust, if it seems at times that the blind are leading the blind or we are casting pearls before swine, if you are either buttering someone up or casting the first stone, the King James Bible, whether we know it or not, is speaking through us. The haves and have-nots, heads on plates, thieves in the night, scum of the earth, best until last, sackcloth and ashes, streets paved in gold, and the skin of one's teeth—all of them have been transmitted to us by the translators who did their magnificent work 400 years ago."

The article quotes the Very Reverend Dr. John Hall, dean of Westminster Abbey.  He is the man who conducted the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton in the abbey earlier this year (which, by the way, was a very biblical and spiritual ceremony). Speaking of the KJV, he says, "There are moments which move me almost to tears. I love the story, after Jesus has been crucified and has risen, and he appears to the disciples as they are walking on the road to Emmaus. They don't know who he is, but they talk together, and at the end they say to him, 'Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.' That is a phrase—so simple, so direct, and so powerful—which has meant an enormous amount to me over the years. The language is full of mystery and grace, but it is also a version of loving authority, and that is the great message of this book."

THE WORD OF THE YEAR

Back to our friends from across the pond, we have a news story regarding the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the granddaddy of all dictionaries. Every year they pick one word or phrase that best defines the most significant social change of the past year.  They call it"the word of the year." This year, OED experts from both the U.S. and from the U.K debated some popular new terms. The list included the following: occupy, podcasting, Arab Spring, and bunga bunga. However, they settled on the "squeezed middle." The OED defines it as "the section of society regarded as particularly affected by inflations, wage freezes, cuts in public spending during a time of economic difficulty …." An OED spokesperson and judge defended the choice, stating that "it's something that, in a way, we all feel we belong to." You can read the full article at this link:

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/11/28/oxford-english-dictionary-picks-squeezed-middle-as-word-of-the-year/

Of course, the Word of the Ages has a lot to say about whatever the Word of the Year happens to be. Staying with the KJV we have this verse: John 16:33- These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. The word "tribulation" is from a Greek word that means "pressure." It is used in secular Greek of a heavy weight that is used to press the oil out of olives. In the world we will always feel like the "squeezed middle!"  But as the world is busy squeezing us and pressuring us, we can be of good cheer, for the Lord has overcome this world for us! 

See you Sunday! 
 

Love in Jesus,

Pastor John

This Little Light of Mine...

Dear Crosswalkers,

I came across a story that touched my heart and got me thinking about Christmas in the Silicon Valley. The article was entitled "An Epidemic of Loneliness." In it, a British medical doctor named Ishani Kar-Purkayastha shared about his interaction with an 82-year-old hospital patient named Doris. According to the doctor, Doris seemed healthy and ready to be discharged from the hospital on December 23. To his surprise, she kept complaining about mysterious health issues. Dr. Kar-Purkayastha wrote: "Yesterday it was her arm that was hurting, before that her hip. Truth is, Doris is an incredibly healthy 82-year-old, and we can't find anything. I have no doubt that it will be the same today."

When the X-rays came back normal, he told Doris that she would be discharged and would have to go home. Looking toward the floor, Doris quietly said, "I don't want to go home …. It's just that I'm all alone and there are so many hours in the day." Then after a long pause, she sighed and asked, "Doctor, can you give me a cure for loneliness?"

Dr. Kar-Purkayastha reflected on this incident:

I wish I could say yes. I wish I could prescribe her some antidepressants and be satisfied that I had done my best, but the truth is she's not clinically depressed. It's just that she has been left behind by a world that no longer revolves around her, not even the littlest bit.

There are thousands like her… for whom time stands empty as they wait in homes full of silence ….They are no longer coveted by a society addicted to youth …. [Doris] is alone, and it brings home the truth of this epidemic that we have on our hands—an epidemic of loneliness …. The most difficult part is that I don't know how to solve this, although I wish I could. For now, I simply retract my diagnoses. Sheepishly, I insist that Doris spends her Christmas this year on the ward, and I can see her mood lift. But as I steel myself for the inevitable influx of unwanted grandparents whom I know will arrive, I cannot help but wonder how it is that things could have gone so badly wrong.

How is it that things have gone so badly wrong? Of course a variety of factors come into play, but surely our independently minded culture, our lack of community, and our national tendency to withdraw from a faith community all contribute to this epidemic of loneliness. Add to that our self centeredness and you have a lot of lonely people. I wonder if Doris was a part of a church family.  Would it make any difference?

We are at the very beginning of the Christmas season. My challenge is for us to make a difference in the life of someone else. Who are we missing in our church family? Who haven't we seen in a while? Who is separated from their family and in danger of falling prey to the epidemic of loneliness? 

James 1:27 - Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
 

Love in Jesus,

Pastor John

THREE TREMENDOUS THANKSGIVING TRUTHS

Dear Crosswalkers,

Thanksgiving is one of our great American traditions that focus on God as our Creator and Provider, and seeks to cultivate in us what is a dominant virtue in the Bible: Gratitude.   Here are three wonderful truths about thankfulness.

First, over the history of the Christian church, there have been many great thinkers that have inspired us with teachings about gratitude. Here’s a link to a list of 13 great quotes about having a thankful heart: 

http://takingtheyoke.blogspot.com/2010/11/13-thanksgiving-meditations.html

For example, it starts with quote from G.K. Chesterton, who said this:

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." 

WOW. Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder! It is a great devotion to simply go to this blog and read through these inspiring quotes.

Secondly, speaking of happiness doubled by wonder, recent studies confirm the temporal value of gratitude and Christian commitment. A November 2010 article in The Wall Street Journal summarized the research which showed a number of positive emotional and physical health benefits from having an attitude of gratitude:

Adults who frequently feel grateful have more energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not, according to studies conducted over the past decade. They're also less likely to be depressed, envious, greedy, or alcoholics. They earn more money, sleep more soundly, exercise more regularly, and have greater resistance to viral infections.

In a new twist, researchers are discovering that thankfulness brings similar benefits in teenagers and even in children! The research says that “kids who feel and act grateful tend to be less materialistic, get better grades, set higher goals, complain of fewer headaches and stomach aches, and feel more satisfied with their friends, families, and schools than those who don't.” The researchers concluded, "A lot of these findings are things we learned in kindergarten or our grandmothers told us, but now we have scientific evidence to prove them …. The key is not to leave it on the Thanksgiving table."

    Yet another study conducted this year confirms what we’ve    known for a long time: People who attend worship services    regularly are more optimistic and less depressed than      non-religious peers.  You can check out this story in Time

    online by following this link:

http://healthland.time.com/2011/11/11/study-religious-folks-have-a-sunnier-outlook/

Of course, we need to read these studies with godly wisdom and discernment. Our goal as followers of Jesus is not happiness but holiness!  The purpose of the church is not to make us happy through increased social connections but to launch us on a mission for and with Jesus! Joy is a by-product, not a goal.

And this brings us to the third lesson about Thanksgiving, which is from history. It is a widely circulated myth that the Pilgrims first came to America to escape religious persecution.  WRONG! Over a decade before they boarded the Mayflower and came to America, the Pilgrims fled England to Holland to escape persecution. Holland was by far the most tolerant and religiously diverse society in Europe at that time. The Pilgrims found religious freedom there, but they also found a society that was full of immorality and non Christian values. In 1620 they came to America to escape the corruption they found in the “old world!” THEIR MOTIVE WAS NOT TO ESCAPE PERSECUTION BUT TO PURSUE PURITY!

They left the open society of Holland to establish a society that practiced biblical principles. It is good for us to remember their example of braving the high seas and the fierce weather and an uncertain future because they wanted to establish a society that honored God above all! At Crosswalk, may God be so honored in our midst!

We have much to be thankful for this year.  As we gather around the thanksgiving table, let’s be grateful that pursuing holiness leads to happiness. I am grateful for the privilege of being your pastor. May God bless you with a joyous and restful Thanksgiving holiday!

Love in Jesus,

Pastor John

"I find your lack of faith - disturbing"

Dear Crosswalkers,

Leanna and I are back from two weeks in Scotland, and we had a wonderful time. Between long hikes in the beautiful Scottish countryside and historical treks to castles, monuments, museums and gravesites, I was able to read three wonderful books.

First, For Kirk and Covenant: The Stalwart Courage of John Knoxby Douglas Wilson. I also read another book on Knox, but this was the best for his place in the history of the church. John Knox was a gifted preacher who brought the Protestant Reformation to Scotland in the mid 1500s. He lived a hard and courageous life. He stood for the truth of God against the church and government of his day. He preached his first sermon privately in the Castle of St. Andrews, and his first public sermon in the Holy Trinity Church of St. Andrews. He was pastor of the historic St. Giles Church on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. To be sure, he had some rough edges. He lived in hard times, and those times called for boldness and bravery. But he was God's man who left a powerful legacy in Scotland and the world. Lord willing, I will share something from his life this Sunday.

The Second book I read was The Destiny of the Republic: A tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candace Millard. This is a fantastic read about the assassination of James A. Garfield, the Civil War hero and the 20th president of the USA. He was a committed follower of Jesus, who never wanted to be president, but was essentially nominated and elected by acclamation against his will. Can you imagine that? He said, "This honor comes to me unsought. I have never had the Presidential fever; not even for a day." A mere 200 days into his presidency, he was struck down by an assassin’s bullet. He lingered for two and half months before breathing his last, an unfortuate victim of medical malpractice due to the limited technology of the time. During his short time as president, he successfully fought corruption and left a legacy of great faith and remarkable courage.  The photo shows Garfield's monument in Washington D.C.   Here are a few of his quotes:

If wrinkles must be written on our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old.

I would rather be beaten in Right than succeed in wrong.

There is nothing in all the earth that you

And I can do for the Dead.

They are past our help and past our praise.

We can add to them no Glory,

we can give to them no immortality.

They do not need us,

But forever and forever more we need them.

The third book is more contemporary (I don't just read history!), it is The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller. For over twenty years Keller has been the pastor of a large church in downtown New York. He has spent most of his ministry reaching modern secular urban dwellers that have a natural disdain for all things religious. The book begins well with a quote from Darth Vader "I find your lack of faith - disturbing!"  Keller then goes on to show we live in a paradoxal world where both faith and secularism are growing. He then responds with a pastor’s heart and a theologian’s sharp mind to the top seven objections he has encountered to the truth about Jesus in his years in New York. Here they are:

    There Can’t Be Just One True Religion

    How Could a Good God Allow Suffering?

    Christianity is a Straitjacket

    The Church is Responsible for so much Injustice

    How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?

    Science Has Disproved Christianity

    You Can’t Take The Bible Literally

He answers each of these objections in an utterly compelling and convincing way.  The second part of this book presents the case for Christianity.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!! In fact, it may develop into a future sermon series!
 

Love in Jesus,

Pastor John

Easy to be Confused... and Lost!

Dear Crosswalkers,

Halloween is coming up, and special thanks to all who volunteered to help at our Community Trick or Treat event which will be this Monday, Oct 31, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on our campus.  Also, thanks to all who have donated candy for our event!  We have received 9,000 pieces of candy, and to reach our goal of 10,000 we need only 1,000 more pieces!  If some of you bring candy this Sunday we will easily make it! We still need volunteers to help hand out this candy! If you can help, please email us or call our church office!

This is a fun and safe and sane event in an otherwise crazy holiday.  This  year we have a new feature as our youth will be putting on a black light puppet show! Please pray that this event will have a positive impact on our community!!

I came across an interesting story that shows how easy it is to get confused at best and lost at worst.  Some of you will think this story funny, others will consider it downright scary.  A dad and mom took their two kids to have a fun afternoon at a 7 acre corn maze on a farm near Salem, Massachusetts. As you can see from the photo, it is a maze with the Halloween season in mind!  Unfortunately for the family, it was a classic case of a fun day gone bad when they got disoriented and lost in the maze. Dusk was turning to darkness, and the panic-stricken mom called 911. The family huddled together until police came with a tracker dog.  The distressed family was found in minutes; they were only 25 feet from the exit! The mom said, "We thought this would be fun. Instead it's a nightmare. I don't know what made us do this."  You can read the whole story here: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/10/13/family-calls-911-after-getting-stuck-in-corn-maze/

What happens when people who love the Lord get confused or even lost, not in a eternal sense, but lost to the reality of God in their lives? This Sunday we are going to look at a beautiful passage from Mark's Gospel that will remind us of God's purpose in calling us to be a part of his family. This message will give us the victory over negative circumstances that can leave us helplessly confused in the maze of human life. In fact this Sunday would be a perfect day to invite a friend or family member to come to church with you. The message is entitled, "What it means to Follow Jesus!"

Love in Christ,

Pastor John

A Fullfiller of Good Intentions

Dear Crosswalkers,

Speaking of action, I just finished reading the massive three volume biography of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris.  Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States, and most scholars place him in the top five of all U.S. presidents.  He is enshrined on Mt Rushmore. The books are 2,245 pages of the fascinating history of an incredible life.  Roosevelt was born sickly, and in response he dedicated himself to living what he called “the strenuous life.” His 60 years of life were packed with adventure and accomplishment. I can’t even begin to sum up his exuberant personality and high intellect and raw courage. He was a man of faith and a man of action. 

At his funeral, his favorite hymn, “How Firm a Foundation,” was recited rather than sung:

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!

What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

The author concludes his third and final volume of TR's life with these words about the former president: "He was a fulfiller of good intentions." I was greatly inspired by Roosevelt's life and legacy.  In today's world it's so easy to excuse ourselves from an active life by falling back on our intentions. May it be said of Crosswalkers - We are fulfillers of good intentions.

One incident shows his persona perhaps more than any other. After 8 years as president, Roosevelt took a break and then reentered politics and campaigned for president again, this time with the independent Bull Moose Party. In 1912 he was in Milwaukee to deliver an important speech, in fact the last speech of his campaign. Thousands of admirers lined the motorcade route, hoping for a glimpse of the great man. Roosevelt was in an open-air motorcar, waving his hand and flashing his famous toothy grin at everyone.

Suddenly, a crazed man pointed a pistol at the former president and fired a single bullet into his chest. Roosevelt was knocked across the car and visibly dazed. Blood began oozing from his chest. Police officers tackled the gunman.

Immediately, TR’s advisers planned the quickest route to nearby a hospital. But the wounded Rough Rider wouldn’t even consider it. “You get me to that speech. It may be the last one I ever deliver, and I’m not going to miss it,” he ordered to his entourage.

Minutes later, Teddy Roosevelt was standing before a huge audience, unaware that their hero had just been shot.  Roosevelt said, “Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible. I have just been shot, and even now the bullet is in me. So I cannot speak for long, but I will do my best.” He held open his coat and revealed his crimson stained shirt. The audience gasped.  Medical personnel offered help, and Roosevelt’s handlers again tried to get him off the stage.  But he refused.  He spoke for just over an hour and a half! Can you imagine that? He grew pale, and his voice weakened, but he gave the speech of his life.  Slowly he turned to his friends and advisors and said, “Now, we can go to the hospital.”

A thunderous applause erupted and continued until the he had left the building.

At the hospital it was discovered that the bullet’s speed had been slowed because it passed through the handwritten transcript of his speech that was tucked in his coat pocket. Then it ricocheted off the steel case for his glasses and went into his chest. Amazingly, he survived.

He was a fulfiller of good intentions. Note his priority: It was the message. A person with a message that must be shared is a powerful wonder to behold!

Jesus was also a fulfiller of good intentions. Mark's Gospel shows the Lord as a man of action with a message that must be shared. We are returning to our series through the Gospel of Mark and this Sunday we will look at how the Lord Jesus modeled a life of grace in the midst of a judgmental society. Jesus was also a man of courage, and a man of action. He is God in a human body, and this week we will be encouraged to live a grace-full life and become fulfillers of good intentions!

Blessings,

Pastor John

P.S. Many thanks for all of you who responded to last week's email with movie reviews of your own! Many of you have seen and recommend Courageous! Also, missionary Marty Hooper passed through our office and highly recommended Seven Days in Utopia, which is a film about God and Golf!

Let's Go to the Movies!

Dear Crosswalkers,

This Sunday we will wrap up the series entitled "A New Vision for Crosswalk Church." I hope you have been blessed by the new direction we are taking! Many of you have commented about how pleased you are at this new direction. Life for us will be all about living by EMPOWERED PRAYER. Then it is about going deeper in our Christian life. It is called SPIRITUAL FORMATION, and it's all about Christ being formed in us! Life is truly an adventure when you dedicate yourself to becoming more like Jesus! To move us forward though, we need the next level, which is LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. Last Sunday we saw that everything rises or falls on leadership, and that God's plan to change the world always involves calling a leader to step up with a burden to meet needs and a passion to glorify God. Leadership is not just for those with titles, it's for those who have a testimony. It is about influencing others by rightly handling the word of truth.

Now we will wrap it up this Sunday with the pinnacle of our Triangle for Tomorrow. It all points to reaching our community (and beyond)! David Bolhorst will be bringing the message this weekend. You won't want to miss the message  as it is the capstone for the series!

There is also a community service event planned for those who are free on Sunday afternoon. 

    Where: Ortega Park in Sunnyvale    When: Sunday, Oct. 16th from 1-4pm    What: Spreading mulch in the park using shovels and wheelbarrows

The parks and recreation department will provide the tools needed but you are welcome to bring gloves and shovels. Please plan to join the happy crew who will serve our city in this way!

There are some new movies out that are of interest.  One is a Christian film entitledCourageous. This is from the makers of Fireproof and Facing the Giants. A secular film website gave is 6.1 stars out of 10.  The plot concerns a tragedy that leads four police officers to struggle with their faith and their roles as husbands and fathers. As a group, they make a choice that will change their lives. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm sure men will be encouraged by the positive message of this film (Rated PG-13).

Another recent film is Machine Gun Preacher.  This is a secular film that has gotten good reviews for telling the true life story of an ex con who get converted to Christianity and ends up on a mission in Sudan. A review in the Minneapolis Star Tribune says this:  "The film intelligently explores the impact of religious conversion on a man of explosive impulses. The story is inspired by the experiences of Pennsylvania ex-con Sam Childers (portrayed by Gerard Butler), a violent biker and drug dealer whose wife, Lynn (Michelle Monaghan), found religion while he was in prison. She drags the reluctant ex-con to services. His baptism introduces Sam to a Christian community of fellowship and affirmation, and a new sort of addictive high... Then Sam visits Sudan and has a revelation. He becomes consumed by the plight of child refugees, Christian southerners pushed out of their villages by northern Muslim raiders. He tells Lynn that God has spoken to him and returns to build a modest orphanage. This puts him in conflict with the murderous local warlords, who abduct young boys and brutally train them to be soldiers."

Again, I cannot genuinely recommend movies I haven't seen, but I am intrigued by a secular take on an essentially spiritual reality. Warning: This movie is rated R for Violent content including disturbing images, language, some drug use, and a scene of sexuality. Clearly, you will want to research further and use discretion if you want to see this film.

One film I did see was Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt. I thought this was a great movie, but then again I like baseball.  The reason I would recommend it is because there is a lesson about God's grace.  The baseball team featured in the movie was the Oakland A's, and I saw them as a parable about the church. Specifically, the story reminded me of how God delights in choosing and blessing unlikely people.  In 2002 the Oakland A's couldn't compete with big market and wealthy baseball giants like the New York Yankees (an annual salary budget of $40 million for the A's compared to $125 million for the Yankees). The film is about A's General Manager Billy Beane (played by Pitt) and Peter Brand (a fictional character who represents Paul Depodesta), an economics major at Harvard.  Together, they went after overlooked players who had skills that most baseball teams didn't value—like on-base percentages. The story is primarily about "innovating to succeed"; but on another level it's also about God's grace and the wonderful way God builds his church by choosing what is weak to shame the strong. It's fun to see spiritual lessons even in very secular films!

I hope to see you in church on Sunday!

Blessings,

Pastor John

iWorldview

Dear Crosswalkers, The death of the co-founder of Apple is big news in the Silicon Valley and in the world. Shrines are appearing at various Apple stores. In San Francisco, flowers and candles appeared, and post-it notes covered the store windows.  One simply said, “isad,” and another followed: “isad2.” Of course we all admire his creative genius. He has been compared to Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Walt Disney, which is elite company.  As a visionary leader, he is a champion. He had the courage to live out his motto to "Think Different." In so doing he encouraged many other great leaders and innovators to see things, not merely as they are, but as what they can be! Steve Jobs is credited for inventing the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad.  In a culture that cherishes technology, he is at the top of the heap. Our school is filled with iMacs, and I have been blessed with ipods and itunes, not to mention my iphone. Is he a genuine hero? That is not the terminology I would use. A genius, yes! A hero of technology? Affirmative! A visionary leader extraordinaire ? Unquestionably!  Here in the Silicon Valley he will be rightly cherished and fondly remembered for his absolutely stunning accomplishments. Jobs died yesterday at the relatively young age of 56 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His life was a gift from God, and we should pray for his family. We should also appreciate the way God gifted him, and see his visionary leadership as a gift to the world. At the same time, it is appropriate to evaluate his spiritual legacy in the light of God's word. Back in 2005 he gave a now famous commencement address at Stanford University. Clips of this address are being prominently featured on TV, and quotes from the address are cropping up everywhere. It is important that we are discerning about the veracity of his speech in the light of Biblical truth. Below are some pertinent quotes from that speech in italics, with my comments in ALL CAPS: "Sometimes life's going to hit you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith." GREAT ADVICE, BUT FAITH IN WHAT? "When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: 'If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.' It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?'"GOOD QUESTION! GREAT ADVICE! "And whenever the answer has been no for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something." AGAIN, GOOD PRACTICAL ADVICE! WE DON'T NEED TO BE STUCK IN AN UNHAPPY AND UNFULFILLING SITUATION. GOD GIVES US THE POWER TO CHANGE OUR LIVES FOR THE BETTER! "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose." UNTIMATELY, IF SPEAKING ABOUT MATERIAL GOODS, THIS IS SPOT ON. NO HEARSE EVER PULLED A U-HAUL TO THE CEMETARY! HOWEVER, THE LORD JESUS SPOKE ABOUT THE TRAGEDY OF GAINING THE WHOLE WORLD AT THE EXPENSE OF LOSING YOUR SOUL!  THE TRUTH IS, WE DO HAVE SOMETHING TO LOSE, OUR SOULS. "No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it.”  THESE WORDS ARE A GOOD REALITY CHECK! “And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life." WITH ALL DUE RESPECT FOR HIS BRILLIANT INTELLECT, I HOPE WE CAN AGREE THAT THIS IS NONSENSE! IN FACT IT IS THE EPITOME OF A SECULAR WORLDVIEW. FAR FROM THE BEST INVENTION OF LIFE, THE BIBLE CALLS DEATH “THE LAST ENEMY.” IF WE HAVE NO SOULS, AND IF THERE IS NO ETERNAL LIFE, AND IF EVOLUTION IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE, AND IF MOMENTARY FAME IS A MARK OF A GREAT LIFE, THEN DEATH MAY BE THE BEST INVENTION OF LIFE. BUT IF THE BIBLE IS TRUE, THEN LIFE IS A PRECIOUS GIFT FROM GOD. AND SO IS ETERNAL LIFE. THE BEST INVENTION OF LIFE IS NOT THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, BUT THE LIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE! "It is life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true." OK, BUT CLEARED AWAY AS RUBBISH? AS ANTIQUES THAT HAVE LOST THEIR VALUE? AS JUNK TO BE DISCARDED? THIS IS THE UTILITARIAN WORLDVIEW WHICH POSITS THAT LIFE IS ONLY VALUABLE IF YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING TO SOCIETY. ON THE CONTRARY, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT ALL LIFE IS OF VALUE BECAUSE WE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD! ULTIMATELY, WHO YOU ARE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU CAN DO. "Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life." THIS IS WONDERFUL ADVICE, CLEARLY IN LINE WITH BIBLICAL TRUTH!  "Don’t be trapped by dogma -- which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."   UNFORTUNATELY, THESE NICE SOUNDING WORDS EMBODY THE ESSENCE OF NEW AGE PHILOSOPHY IN WHICH YOU ARE YOUR OWN GOD. THE NEW TESTAMENT SAYS THAT GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR HEARTS! OF COURSE THERE IS A SENSE IN WHICH WE SHOULD FOLLOW OUR GOD GIVEN DREAMS, BUT AREN'T THESE WORDS A BIT ARROGANT? IS EVERYTHING ELSE SECONDARY TO YOUR HEART AND INTUITION?  THE TRUTH IS YOUR INNER VOICE CAN BE VERY MISLEADING. THE BIBLE SAYS OUR HEARTS ARE DECEPTIVE ABOVE ALL ELSE. THE FACT IS WE NEED THE WISDOM OF OTHERS. WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER! WE HAVE ALL BEEN BLESSED WITH THE WISDOM OF OTHER PEOPLE'S THINKING! AND MOST OF ALL WE NEED THE WISDOM OF THE SCRIPTURES. WE CAN DECEIVE OURSELVES, BUT GOD’S WORD WILL NEVER DECEIVE US. IT IS A LAMP FOR OUR FEET AND A LIGHT FOR OUR PATH. WE CAN LET OURSELVES DOWN, BUT JESUS WILL NEVER LET US DOWN. HE HAS WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE. HIS TRUTH IS OUR JOY! Steven Paul Jobs leaves a mixed legacy, as most of us will. I encourage you to embrace the courage and innovation and visionary leadership of his legacy. When it comes to matters of eternal significance, I encourage you to listen to the Bible! This Sunday at Crosswalk, we will celebrate the word of truth as the one way to help us influence others for all eternity.  It will be a great day at Crosswalk; I hope to see you in church. Blessings, Pastor John

DEAD SEA SCROLLS ARE NOW ONLINE! The Dead Sea Scrolls (first discovered in 1947) are now available in digital format. Click here to check it out for yourself:  http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/ But here's a fascinating story demonstrates the trustworthiness of the Bible. The Great Scroll of Isaiah from the Dead Sea Scrolls was written in about 150 B.C. The Aleppo Codex, one of the best manuscripts for our version of the Old Testament, was written in about 1000 A.D. Now you can compare those two versions of Isaiah chapter 1—written over 1,100 years apart! To do so click here:  http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/chapters_pg It's stunning how much they agree! All of the variations are minor differences. So don't let anyone tell you people changed or corrupted the Bible over the passage of time. It simply didn't happen that way. God used the diligent ministry of those ancient Hebrew scribes (the Masoretes) to carefully preserve and copy his Word.

The Incredible Journey

Dear Crosswalkers, Bono, the lead singer of the group U2, gave this testimony about his own walk with Christ: Your nature is a hard thing to change; it takes time…. I have heard of people who have life-changing, miraculous turnarounds, people set free from addiction after a single prayer, relationships saved where both parties "let go, and let God." But it was not like that for me. For all that "I was lost, I am found," it is probably more accurate to say, "I was really lost. I'm a little less so at the moment." And then a little less and a little less again. That to me is the spiritual life. The slow reworking and rebooting the computer at regular intervals, reading the small print of the service manual. It has slowly rebuilt me in a better image. It has taken years, though, and it is not over yet. This Sunday, we are looking at the second part of Crosswalk’s vision for the future.  The first and foundational part of the vision is Empowering Prayer. The Second is Spiritual Formation. This refers to the journey of going deep with God; of allowing the Holy Spirit to form your character so that it becomes more like that of our Lord.  The New Testament actually speaks of Christ being formed in us! Galatians 4:19 (ESV) says, “My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!”  Our goal this Lord’s Day is to go deep into God’s purpose for us to become more like Jesus! This is a great week. Monday and Tuesday I was at Redwood Christian Park teaching at the first National Conference for International Leadership Institute! The conference will last all week, and I was privileged to teach classes on Spiritual Leadership and Servant Leadership. I will return on Thursday and Friday. Last weekend, a group of Crosswalkers attended a clean water seminar at Saddleback Church in Orange County. They are equipped now to bring clean water to the next mission trip to the Philippines (as well as “the Living Water” of the gospel, of course!).  At our school we have our biggest fundraiser of the year, the Walk-a-thon, this Friday.  On Saturday we feed the homeless and preach a message of encouragement at the Refuge in Washington Park. Plus this week we are dedicating ourselves to living a life of absolute dependence on God through Empowering Prayer! Today, I’m praying that you will experience a spiritual breakthrough this week! Blessings, Pastor John

For Whom the Bell Tolls

 

Dear Crosswalkers,

This Sunday we will be looking at the foundation of Crosswalk’s vision for the next 3 years, which is Empowering Prayer. In researching the Bible’s teaching on how prayer can empower us to impact our world and become all God wants us to be, I came across some remarkable testimonies about the power of prayer from Church History.  One such testimony concerns John Donne. Here are glimpses of some of his more famous works:
No man is an Island, entire of itself;
every man is a piece of the Continent,
a part of the main.

All mankind is of one author, and is one volume;
when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out
of the book, but translated into a better language.

Any man's death diminishes me, because
I am involved in Mankind; And therefore
never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
it tolls for thee.
The lines “No man is an Island,” and “for whom the bell tolls,” have become an indelible part of English literature.

"Jack" Donne was born in England in 1572, and spent his youth in rebelliousness which found expression in erotic poetry. Secretly married to Anne More, Donne was thrown into prison by his disapproving father in law. Showing he didn’t lose his sense of humor, he wrote: “John Donne, Anne Donne, Un-Done!” Eventually released, Anne bore him 12 children in 16 years of marriage before she died. Turning to Christ in faith, Donne came to see himself as a prodigal son saved only by grace.

In his middle age, Donne’s life was filled with poverty and discouragement, but also by a deepening devotion to Jesus and prayer.  During this time he dedicated his poetic skill to the great themes of love, death, and God's mercy. In 1615 he became an ordained Anglican priest, and 160 of his sermons survive to this day.

In 1623, during a near-fatal illness, the bedridden pastor heard from his window the church bells of London announcing that the Black Plague had taken more victims. Donne was convinced he, too, had the plague and would soon die.  This is what is meant by his famous phrase, never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

Much to his surprise, Donne recovered, but as he endured physical suffering and emotional fears, he discovered the gift of Empowering Prayer, and poured out verses reaching out to God. Some of his prayers deal with the toughest of all questions, “In the darkest of days, how can we experience God’s purpose?”

Here is a portion of his Empowering Prayer, with Donne’s 18th Century language updated and clarified by author Philip Yancey:

O eternal and most gracious God, you have reserved your perfect joy and perfect glory for the future when we will possess, forever, all that can in any way conduce to our happiness. Yet here also in this world, you grant us…glimpses of that stored treasure. Just as we see you through a glass darkly, so also do we receive your goodness by reflection…

…I received your blessing, O God, but I bless your name most for this, that I have has my portion not only in the hearing, but in the preaching of your gospel.

O most gracious God, on this sickbed I feel under your correction, and I taste of humiliation, but let me taste of consolation, too. Once this scourge has persuaded us that we are nothing of ourselves, may it also persuade us that you are all things unto us.

In a brief few hours you have shown me I am thrown beyond the help of man… By that same light, let me see that no vehemence of sickness, no temptation of Satan, no guiltiness of sin, no prison of death—not this first, this sickbed, nor the other prison, the close and dark grave—can remove me from the determined and good purpose that you have sealed concerning me.

I can read my affliction as a correction, or as a mercy, and I confess I know not how to read it. How should I understand this illness? I cannot conclude, though death conclude me. If it is a correction indeed, let me translate it and read it as a mercy; for though it may appear to be a correction, I can have no greater proof of your mercy than to die in you and by that death to be united in him who died for me.

...When your Son cried out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" you reached out your hand not to heal his sad soul, but to receive his holy soul. Neither did he desire to hold it from you, but surrendered it to you.

I see your hand upon me now, O Lord, and…my true healing lies in silent and absolute obedience to your will, even before I know it. Preserve that obedience, O my God, and that will preserve me to you; that, when you have catechized me with affliction here, I may take a greater degree, and serve you in a higher place, in your kingdom of joy and glory. Amen.

This Sunday will be a great day at Crosswalk! Please come with the expectation that God will meet us as we worship together, and that we will experience for ourselves the joy of Empowering Prayer!

Blessings,

Pastor John

Why America May Go to Hell

Dear Crosswalkers,

Last Sunday I mentioned the new Memorial in Washington D.C. dedicated to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  In an article written by Cornel West, professor at Princeton, it is noted that not long before he was murdered, Dr. King said that his dream for a more democratic America had become "a nightmare."  Why?  Because of the continuing presence of "racism, poverty, militarism and materialism" in American life.  Here’s something interesting:  According to the article, on the Sunday after his assassination, King planned to preach a sermon titled "Why America May Go to Hell." I always think my sermon titles lack imagination.  King’s title is truly provocative!  However, as West points out, "King did not think that America ought to go to hell, but rather that it might go to hell owing to its economic injustice, cultural decay and political paralysis." Cornel West (who has some radical political ideas that I certainly think would be disastrous for America) calls King “a courageous and visionary Christian blues man, fighting with style and love in the face of…catastrophes he identified." Who can argue with that?  The Memorial honoring Dr. King is based on his words “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”

It is certainly a beautiful image and one worth honoring.  This is especially true because ultimately hope is found only in Christ, of whom the Scriptures say:  “And his name will be the hope of all the world”(Matthew 12:21 NLT).

Whether or not America may to go to hell is an interesting question. Of course, the Bible tells us that salvation is an individual matter.  Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) says “…It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Interestingly, Jesus speaks of judging the nations (see Matthew 25:31-46), but the bottom line reference must be to all the people of the world.  Perhaps America can go to hell figuratively, but in likelihood only if there are a lot of individuals headed that direction as well!  The political paralysis, cultural decay, and economic injustice Dr. King spoke of are certainly with us in abundance today, but so is a devastating secularism and departure from a host of biblical values. The answer is always found in people turning or returning to the Lord, and allowing his Holy Spirit to fill and direct their lives in a way that transforms our culture.

This Sunday will be a great day at Crosswalk!  It is the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on America.  Personally I think it is a shame to speak only of the “tragic events” of that day.  Let’s call it what it is.  We will honor those who died on that day and look at some enduring lessons for us.  This will be in the context of a fascinating passage from Mark chapter 2 which indicates the type of people who Jesus came to save.

We kicked off our Wednesday Night Dinners and classes last night.  The food was good, the company was fantastic, and we celebrated Perry Williams' 98 birthday with candles and cake and ice cream!  If you missed the fun plan on joining us next week!  Blessings on all who are committed to being in a small group or class in order to grow your faith!

Hope to see you Sunday,

Pastor John

Scariest Story about the Bible?

Dear Crosswalkers,
 
In her book Amazing Grace, Kathleen Norris shares what she calls "the scariest story" she's ever heard about the Bible. Norris and her husband were visiting a man named Arlo, a rugged, self-made man who was facing terminal cancer. Arlo started talking about his grandfather, who was a devout Christian. The grandfather gave Arlo and his bride a wedding present: an expensive genuine leather Bible with their names printed in gold lettering on the front. Arlo's wife sent a thank you note, as custom and courtesy dictate, but the couple never opened the box nor looked in the Bible. For months afterwards his grandfather kept asking if he liked the Bible. Arlo told Norris, "The wife had written a nice thank-you note, and we'd thanked him in person, but somehow he couldn't let it lie, he always had to ask about it."
 
Finally, out of pure curiosity, Arlo opened the Bible. "The joke was on me," Arlo said. "I finally took that Bible out of the closet and I found that granddad had placed a twenty-dollar bill at the beginning of the Book of Genesis, and at the beginning of every book … over thirteen hundred dollars in all. And he knew I'd never find it!"
 
What treasures have you yet to find inthe Bible?  In Psalm 19:10-11, we read this about the words of God:
They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.
 
God has given Crosswalk Church a new vision for our future together.  You will be hearing a lot about this in the weeks to come. A significant part of that vision is LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.  Please do not be discouraged or put off by this title in any way. Everyone is an influencer, and that means everyone in some sense is a leader. God wants us to grow in his grace and become more effective influencers in the world.  We will be introducing new ways for you to grow in your faith over next several months.  
 
Here are two ways to grow your faith: 
 
1.  INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE is offering a NATIONAL CONFERENCE in our Backyard!  For 5 days at the end of September, you can be a part of an incredibly successful training event. We will be looking, in depth, at the 8 Core Values of Christian Leadership.  All the information, with a link to register, is featured below.  It would be fantastic if we could get some Crosswalkers to attend this training.  I will be making a couple of presentations, as will Peter Pereira and Al Vom Steeg, both great friends of Crosswalk.  If you can't make this deepest level of training, we are offering Christian to the Core here at Crosswalk, beginning Weds, Sept 7, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.  Linda Jackson and Leanna Christie will be the facilitatiors.  This class covers the same 8 Core Values of Leadership!!
 
2. READING GREAT BOOKS is always a way to grow deeper.  I just finished a fine devotional book edited by our own Rev. Edward Taylor.  FAITH IN THE FIRE:  Wisdom for Life, contains the writings of Gradner C. Taylor, who TIME Mag. calls "the dean of the nation's black preachers." There are so many great quotes in this book!  Here are a couple:
 
"There is a language of grace, which we have only learned to stutter in its simplest words. There are vistas and distances we have not begun to reach. We are growing... We are becoming and we are not yet what we should be!"
 
"Hold on, even when it seems as if nothing is going to happen.  So one prayer, one struggle, one effort and then another - nothing happens.  But keep praying.  Keep hoping, keep serving, one more effort, and one more day like all the rest and we shall waken satisfied and in God's likeness. Hold on, work on, pray on, believe on, and trust on, and God will make it well.  Be patient!"
 
This is destined to become a devotional classic, and it can be purchased on Amazon at this link:http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Fire-Gardner-C-Taylor/dp/1401929621
 
THERE ARE TREASURES IN GOD'S WORD FOR EACH OF US!  This Sunday we will open the Scriptures again and be blessed by the Holy Spirit.  See you in Church!
 
Growing with you,
 
Pastor John