How to be a Great Person

This Sunday at Crosswalk, we will tackle the subject "How to Be a Great Person." One of the key points is Humility. I'm at RCP's family camp this week and in one of my conversations with the evening speaker, he said, "This is my prayer: Lord, please humble me but don't humiliate me!" 

Can you relate to that? Jesus indicated that in the Kingdom of God, great people are humble people. In his book Humilitas, John Dickson illustrates the beauty of humility in the life of Sir Edmund Hillary. Many of you know that Hillary, along with his Sherpa friend and guide, Tenzin Norgay, was the first scale the heights of Mt. Everest. 

As a result of this great achievement, Hillary was knighted; then he was made New Zealand's highest commissioner to India, Nepal, and Bangladesh; and then he received the British realm's highest award, the Order of the Gater (membership of which is limited to just 24 individuals!). But despite Sir Edmund's achievements and rewards, he was also known for his humility and grace. Here's a story from the book that captures his profound humility:

On one of his many trips back to the Himalayas he was spotted by a group of tourist climbers. They begged for a photo with the great man, and Hillary obliged. They handed him an ice pick so he would look the part and set up for the photograph. Just then another climber passed the group and, not recognizing the man at the centre, strode up to Hillary saying, "Excuse me, that's not how you hold an ice pick. Let me show you."

Everyone stood around in amazed silence as Hillary thanked the man, let him adjust the pick, and happily went on with the photograph.

Are you kidding me?! Showing Sir Edmund Hillary how to hold an ice pick is like showing Willie Mays how to hold a baseball bat, or showing Tiger Woods how to hold a golf club! Yet rather than take offense, Sir Edmuch showed grace and humility. Dickson goes on to write:  We are repelled by pride. Edmund Hillary's greatness, however, is somehow enhanced by this humility.

This Sunday we will look at practical ways to share in the greatness that Jesus commends to us! Linda Jackson will be back from the Philippines, we will be receiving new members, and commissioning our short term missionaries. This will be another great day at Crosswalk! See you in church! 

Love in Jesus,

Pastor John Christie

A Olympic Story of Faith

One of the most exciting female athletes for the United States is Maya Moore. She is the youngest member of the U.S. Women's basketball team, and a committed follower of Jesus! If you scroll down her Twitter page, you'll find quotes like this: "As we read your Word, Lord, romance our hearts with an awareness and insight of your presence." And here's a great quote about her attitude towards life and atheletics: "I often use the word free to remind myself that God wants me to live my life and compete on the court free in him. Free to play great, free to make a mistake, free to learn from them. Of course I want to win and play well, but no matter the result, I want to look back at the performance knowing I've honored the Lord." You can read more about this wonderful Olympian by clicking HERE.