You're Welcome Here...

I recently had two very different experiences with two people regarding Crossroads. In fact, it was two instances that were really polar opposites. Looking back on the two, I see God working in both situations and in me.

Experience 1: I was getting a haircut recently and the young woman had a tattoo on her hand. One thing I have learned about people with tattoos is that they love to talk about their tattoos, so I began a conversation about them. She said the one on hand was one of many. I told her how I never could get one, but she explained how much she loved them. She told me how she also wanted to one day go to Hollywood and cut hair of famous people. I told her that I was a youth pastor and that is what one of my youth wanted to do as well. (I always look for an opportunity to steer the conversation toward God. Thanks Franklin Graham.) She said she always wanted to go back to church, but she never felt welcome with all her tattoos, piercings, and dyed hair. I smiled and said, "You're welcome at Crossroads. We don't care about that stuff."

Experience 2: Someone visited our church one Sunday because theirs was closed. About a week later this person saw me and for some reason felt the need to criticize Crossroads and the way we held services. He said it wasn't "church," that our women dressed like men, and the preaching was bad because we didn't mention Hell once. He was doing this loudly in a public place. Now, I would like to say that I handled this situation with all grace and understanding. Being patient with him and calmly disagreeing with him. That is what I would like to say. Truth is, I got mad. Really mad. I asked him to go outside and in a rather stern voice told him, "I love you, but don't bad mouth my church." We argued a bit and I ended the conversation with, "If you don't agree with how we serve Jesus, that's fine, but you don't need to bad mouth us to me."

As I sat and thought about the second experience, I realized that people like him are the reason the girl with tattoos won't go back to church. Because too many people see what they don't like as sin instead of seeing sin as something they don't like. Be wary of comments like "That's just always the way we have done it." and "That's the way I was raised." We can not allow our feelings or what we think is right to over ride what the Word of God says.

Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ. - Colossians 2:8

"God, may I turn to you for wisdom. Jesus, may I turn to you for forgiveness. Holy Spirit, my I turn to you for direction. And may others called by Your Name do the same. Amen."

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Strange Peace...

With all that is going on with our church right now, it is just odd that so many people have peace. if you don't know, the theater where Crossroads Community Church meets closed its doors on December 31st, 2010. What did that mean for us? Well, we were originally told on a Friday that we had the following Sunday and that was it. Now, for pretty much everyone that should induce panic mode. That should be the cue to freak out and scramble to find somewhere else for a growing congregation to meet. But something amazing happened. The leadership of the church didn't. In fact I don't think anyone in the church did. Did we talk about it? Sure. But instead of going into panic or freak out mode, we prayed. We all talked about the fact that we really were not worried, but we had peace about the situation. You see, I believe(as do all the leadership and most of the members of Crossroads) we serve a God that is bigger than where we meet. He meant it when He promised "I will never leave you nor forsake you." God meant it when He said, "I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you, not destroy you." My God is just that awesome.

So what happened? Well, the theater is closing, but God provided a way for us to stay for a bit longer anyway. The board of investors of the theater meet and agreed that we should stay until the theater sells. I don't know what God will do next, but I do know that He is showing just how faithful He is. God is going to give us something better than what we have had. He is still working miracles in the midst of all this.

How do I know Jesus is still working miracles? Because in the midst of all this, my 6 year old son, Isaiah, told me last night, "Dad, I want to ask Jesus into my heart." And he did. At a time when its seems like things could go very wrong, God makes things go very, very right. Thanks God. You are always my Lord. Thanks Jesus, for saving me, my wife, and my son. You are awesome God. And I love You.

In Christ,
jon walton

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A Hug...

I have recently been talking to a lot of hurting people. Some people in financial need, some people going through difficult circumstances, some people who have been hurt physically, some people who have bee hurt emotionally, and some people who have made unwise choices and now reaping the consequences. Part of who Christ has made is is to truly care about those I come in contact with. When each person has told me all the pain they are facing, my heart has truly broke for them. They are trying to make sense of what has happened to them and looking for hope.

In almost every case, when they are truly hurting, I have noticed something. A hug can turn a hopeless situation into the beginnings of the solution. There is something about a hug from a friend or loved one that helps. It is comforting. It is peaceful. It is a feeling of being safe. When you are being hugged, you feel protected from the outside world. It lets others know you care about what is going on with them. It helps them see there is hope.

I am not perfect, but I am trying daily to be more like Christ. So just as He brings me comfort when I need it, I will strive to bring others comfort when they need it.

He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
-2 Corinthians 1:4

May you be hugged when needed, and may you hug when needed.

In Christ,
jon walton

A Handshake...

One night not long ago, my son wanted some crackers for a bedtime snack. The crackers he wanted was for a baby shower that my wife was going to the next day, so we told him he couldn't have them. Disappointed, he hung his head and just sat at the table. I felt sorry for him and said, "Tell you what buddy, if there are any left, mommy will bring them home and you can have them tomorrow night for a snack." He immediately perked up, ran over to me and stuck his hand out for me to shake. A bit perplexed and amused I asked "What's this?" Through a laughing breath my son replied, "We made a deal. We need to shake on it." I did and that was enough. He trusted that what was spoken would happen just from that simple gesture.

I remember when there was a certain amount of trust among almost everyone in that way. A handshake was all you needed to know that what ever was said would happen. It didn't matter if you knew the person or not. If you shook on it, it was going to happen. People had a general trust granted to each other. But something happened to me the other day that made me realize just how far our society has gotten away from that level of trust between people.

As I was leaving Wal-Mart, an elderly lady was checking out in front of me. I had only a few items, and she had several. It was cold, snowing, and the wind was brutal. I simply asked her as she was paying for her items, "Ma'm, can I help you load your groceries in your car?" Now, I said this in as caring of a voice as I could, but the look on her face would have said otherwise. She looked at me as if I had just threatened to take her money, steal her car, and leave her for dead. The young man at the cash register didn't help matters either. Bewildered he looked at me like I had just screamed profanity at the Pope. She assured me quite fervently, "NO! I can do it just fine. In fact, my husband is waiting for me!" I smiled and said, "Ok, God Bless." The cashier just gave me a mean stare as he rang up my items and I paid. As I went out, I watched this elderly lady walk to the end of the parking lot and load her groceries by herself.

Have we really gotten that un-trusting of other people? That we can't even offer help that people don't think you are taking advantage of them?

I don't know about you, but I am going to keep offering help. I may get strange looks, people may continue to turn me down. But no matter what, I will be as much like Christ as I can. I will always offer help.

In Christ,
jon walton

The Long Walk...

I'm not sure why, but Isaiah (my son) has recently be showing a lot of disobedient behavior. I'm not sure if it is a "phase" or if he is beginning to test the limits we have placed on him. Now, don't get me wrong, he is great most of the time, but there are a few things that we just will NOT allow to slide.

For example, last week he told me that he wanted to take a blanket and stuffed animal to school with him for nap time. I thought to myself, "A blanket maybe, but a stuffed animal?" So I asked him "Isaiah, did your teacher tell you that you could bring a stuffed animal, or do you just want to?" He insisted that she had said they could, so I told him plainly: "We'll take it, but I will go with you and ask your teacher. If she says she didn't say you could bring it and you have lied to me, you will be in trouble. Are you sure she said you could bring a stuffed animal?" He still persisted that it was ok.

As we entered his classroom, I asked again if he was sure. The reason I was being so cautious is because lying was something he had started doing. This was behavior that is not tolerated. It is always punished. He still persisted that it was allowed. I asked the teacher if it was allowed and sure enough she informed me that a stuffed animal was not allowed. I looked down at my son and he looked back up with a half scared, half mad face. I excused us from his teacher and told him to follow me. He did, although it was slowly. We walked down the hall a few feet to the bathroom. I walked to the last stall and turned around to see Isaiah very slowly walking toward me. He had already started crying, his bottom lip protruding out from his upper lip.

As I watched him walk to me, I remembered that I had walked that walk with my dad as well. When I knew I had done wrong and knew discipline was coming. I have also walked that walk with God. Times that I was knowingly disobedient and did what I wanted to do instead of what God has commanded. Its a long walk to that last stall in the bathroom. It reminded me of this verse:

for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in. - Proverbs 3:12

I'm reminded of why my dad disciplined me, of why I discipline my son, and why God is still disciplining me when necessary. Because my dad loves me, I love my son, and God loves me.

May God discipline you when you need it. May you have to take that long walk. And may you learn not to have to take it again.

In Christ,
jon walton

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Excited...

We have a dog given to us from a great friend. The dog, Sister Rosemary, is a female Malta-poo. (Half Maltese, half Poodle.) She has turned out to be a great family pet. She is very loving, she doesn't mess in the house even when left for long periods of time, and she loves to play which is great for our son.
Rosy gets super excited when we come home. She is barking, wagging her tail, and there isn't a chance she will stop shaking for a good 10 minutes. As soon as we enter she is running, jumping, and doing everything she can to show us just how happy she is that we have come home.
At first this little display was a bit annoying, however after considering why she is doing what she is doing, it really is an honor. She is showing how happy she is to see us. Why? Because she loves us. She is looking forward to playing, getting petted, getting feed, in short: having all her needs met, both physical and emotional.
It made me think this morning, "If I believe Jesus can meet all my needs, both physical and emotional, am I as excited to meet with Jesus as Rosy is to meet with me?"

What about you? Are you excited to meet with Jesus? Excited enough to run around?

In Christ,
jon walton

Taking Care of Those Who Don't Deserve It...

I just had to take my dog, Daisy (a Jack Russell Terrier), to the vet the other day. She had gotten bit by something and the wound just wasn't healing properly. In fact, it was getting worse. The vet said she would need to have the wound washed out daily, medicine applied daily, and she would need to be on antibiotics for about 2 weeks. Total cost of the visit and medicine: $116. I looked at Daisy and said, "That's more than I paid for you 10 years ago, dog." Daisy just looked up at me, wagged her tail as if to smile and say, "But I'm worth it!"

I love my dog. She has been my faithful companion since June of 2000. She has always been great with kids, she catches most of the mice around our house, and she always greets us as we come home. She really is a great dog. But she is the one that went out and got in a fight with whatever she did and got the wound. It was her fault.

That's the mindset of a lot of people when they see someone who needs help. "They probably did that to them selves. They drank too much. They committed the crime. They wouldn't work." So does that excuse us from helping them? It doesn't if we are followers of Jesus Christ.

Then the King will say to those at His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God and appointed to eternal salvation], inherit (receive as your own) the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you brought Me together with yourselves and welcomed and entertained and lodged Me,

I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me.

Then the just and upright will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and gave You food, or thirsty and gave You something to drink?

And when did we see You a stranger and welcomed and entertained You, or naked and clothed You?

And when did we see You sick or in prison and came to visit You?

And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me.

Matt. 25:34-40

This Sunday at Crossroads, we are doing just that. We are putting our Faith into Action. We are closing our church service and serving the community. Even those who don't "deserve" it. God loves us, so we will love them.

In Christ,
jon walton