Crossroads Church

Today we worshiped at Crossroads Church, 707 Thomson Park Drive, Cranberry Township, PA 16066, 412.494.9999, www.crossroadsumc.org, Mike Arnold, Campus Pastor.

Scripture – NIV

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 –

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Matthew 28:19-20 –

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 18:1 –

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Bob’s thoughts:

With most of our grandchildren participating in a presentation this morning, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to be here to enjoy them. We were doubly blessed to be here for a baptism.

The message today was about prayer. The pastor told of a little boy who had been acting up in a Southern church and as Mom was escorting him out he exclaimed loudly, “Y’all pray for me now.” I think we sometimes are like this; we have been prideful and, like a child, we did not think we needed Him. But when our world starts to collapse, we cry out for God NOW.

I was reminded of a time I was waiting for rush hour traffic to allow my entrance onto the Parkway West, I will never forget the car bearing down behind me at a high rate of speed. My mind picture of my vehicle being driven into traffic was instant as was my prayer: “Jesus!” There was not time for anything else. In the microsecond before impact, the car was moved to scrape the guardrail and pass a hair’s breadth from me. Although most of the right side of the car was attached to the guardrail, it sped into traffic without slowing down. I have not doubted the power of sincere prayer since.

The pastor mentioned someone he had been praying for for 5 years and how that prayer was suddenly answered.

My wife has told me about how one of our daughters couldn’t sleep one night because of concern for me. The two of them prayed for me to stop smoking and drinking. I think it was about 10 years later when God answered their prayer and I was completely transformed.

I am supportive of the church’s current endeavor to encourage “500 spiritual conversations and 500 radical acts of love.”

I need to relate one of my favorites: My son-in-law and I made a shopping trip to a local Giant Eagle. When we returned to my truck, there was a woman waiting for us. She said she simply had to wait and meet the person who had this decal on the dashboard. It was a bumper sticker: “Try Jesus, if you don’t like Him the devil will gladly take you back.”

She spoke of a series of ills that had befallen her family and that she needed to talk to me so much that she had sent her husband to do the shopping, and it was evident that was not too acceptable to him.

I asked if we could pray (I often wondered what my son-in-law thought of that) and she seemed calmer. I gave her the bumper sticker and was touched as I watched as her eyes tear up. It certainly seemed like enough of a God thing and done and over.

A few weeks later at the Family Christian Store I put a replacement bumper sticker on the counter, and each time I came back with other items, the decal was gone. Three decals were bought by others before I finished shopping. When I told the cashier the story behind the purchase, I couldn’t help but notice the customers waiting behind me take interest in the story. Who knows if or how God might have continued to use that simple story to His glory.

Jan’s thoughts:

Today we had the joy of watching 7 of our grandchildren take part in singing some of the KidzXP (Vacation Bible School) songs during worship. They all are an outgoing, high-energy bunch and it was a real delight to watch all the (many!) children and the adults who led them over the last week.

We were pleased to again see the brothers and sisters in Christ who are members here, as well as meet some new friends. We’ve found this to be a warm, welcoming congregation.

We had the privilege of witnessing an infant baptism, which was obviously a special day for that family and the church family.

The message was week two of a series entitled The Bless Revolution. Last week must have been an introduction, because this week’s lesson was called “Begin With Prayer.”

A little background: this church (and presumably the other campuses that comprise it) have undertaken a challenge to impact their communities with the love of Christ by “seeking 500 radical acts of love and 500 spiritual conversations.” Members complete a card with a description of these acts or conversations and they are displayed on a wall.

Hence the “Begin With Prayer” message in which he discussed: “why we pray – because we love others and because we hate the effects of sin in the lives of those we love; how we pray – persistently, regularly, and watchfully.”

“Specific things to pray for: that God will make them curious about spiritual things and that God will surround your friend with witnessing Christians. Ask that they may clearly grasp that they need God’s grace and plead for a clear understanding of Jesus as Savior and Lord.”

Then came today’s challenge to those present: we were to list 5 people we know who are far from Christ and set an alarm on our phone or whatever would work to remind us to pray for those 5 daily at a specific time.

I remain optimistic about this church. They are growing numerically, I am a first-hand witness to how they help each other and how they reach out into their community and around the world. I’m grateful my family is part of this church family and that we can visit occasionally.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray this congregation will take this golden opportunity to act for You in the community and that You bless their efforts. Amen.