Caring For The Pastor Of Care...

Let me begin by saying thank you so much for all the phone calls, kind words, and most of all prayers over the past few days. For those who don't know, my grandmother passed away Friday morning at 2:06 am. I went to Middle TN and was blessed to preach at her funeral.

This happened at a particularly busy weekend for me. I had a youth trip planned, I am active in Sunday morning services at our church, and I was trying to set up a place for a fundraiser for our Ecuador mission trip later this year. Crisis normally happens at times like this. For a moment I thought, "I'm the pastor of care (at our church), who do I call when I need care? But this thought would quickly vanish.

I called the people in the church I had built relationships with. Some through life groups, some are fellow leaders in the church, some are close friends. I had people say last minute, "I'll go on the trip, you be with your family." I had people tell me, "We will cover what you do at church, go be with your family." I even had someone meet me early at the bank to take care of a deposit that I needed to get done before I left town. This is what being part of a body of believers is all about.

Not very long ago, I took a lady to see her husband who had just had a heart attack. She didn't have a way to get to Knoxville, so I said I would take her. While on the way, we were talking and she told me about how she was out of church and didn't have anyone in her life that would take her. My heart broke for her.

Crisis will happen in our lives. It is not a matter of "if" its a matter of "when." This is why we so strongly encourage everyone gets involved with a Life Group at Crossroads. We need each other.

A special thank you to everyone who stepped up for me in my time of need. May my God bless you for your love and faithfulness.

In Christ,
jon walton

You're So Vain...

I was just listening to the radio and heard an add about a bikini contest being held in Knoxville. Not only was it a bikini contest, but the sponsors are a plastic surgeon, a fitness center, and a diet supplements store! Suddenly the song "You're So Vain" came to mind.
We are so consumed with physical appearance in America. It's actually kind of sickening. I am so glad that my God, my Savior, does not base what He thinks about me on how I look. He loves me, no matter what I look like.

Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b HCSB)

So how do you look at people?

Taking Away The Comforts...

I changed the sheets on my bed this morning. It wasn't because they were dirty, or wore out, they just weren't comfortable. I have this thing with certain textures. A fuzzy blanket makes my skin crawl. Since my wife put these new sheets on the bed, I haven't sleep well. I finally couldn't take it anymore, and put our old (washed) sheets back on our bed. I expect to sleep well tonight!

I have a lot of "comforts" in my life. I have air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. I like cold drinks, a tv for entertainment, and carpet in my house so I don't have to walk on cold floors. I don't really need any of this to survive, but it makes life easier. I count these all as blessings from God. But what would happen if all my "comforts" were taken away? Would I still like my home like I do now? Would I be content in the summer? Winter? When I wanted to relax? When I was thirsty?

What about at church? If we didn't have a building to meet in, would we still come? If we didn't have air conditioning? Heat? Coffee? Coke? Snacks? A screen? What if it were like this?


"Oh God, forgive me for being so selfish. Forgive me for being too consumed with my comforts. Lead me to Your truth, even if it means taking away my comforts. Amen."