This week's investigative report

Featuring the culinary skills of Freddy Acevedo:

Lost season finale

***Spoilers Below!! This post discusses the Lost season finale! If you haven't seen it and don't want it spoiled, stop reading now!***

Wow, so that was awesome!

I stayed with Lost all season, even though there in the middle it was more out of momentum than interest. Within the last five or six weeks, though, it really got good again (I attribute it to the writing team hiring a comic book writer by the name of Brian K. Vaghn - but I'm a nerd like that).

The season finale last night actually had me cheering a couple of times - like when Hurley came riding in with his van and saved the day. I know it's kind of sick that I cheered about Hurley running over a guy and killing him, but I like to think I was cheering more about the fact that he stopped listening to everybody and proved his worth.

When they showed the first flashback with Jack and his beard I told Sara I thought it was actually a flash-forward, but then I changed my mind about three times before the end. Now a day later when they implied that it was actually a flash-forward I've changed my mind again and decided it actually was a flash back and that our crash survivors have actually been on the island before and that history keeps repeating itself somehow. I have nothing to support this theory, I'm just trying to come up with bizarre theories that sound plausible so I can be fascinating at parties (as fascinating as you can be at a party talking about nerdy theories about TV shows).

Sawyer continues to be the most interesting character for me.
He's so completely out of his element being forced into community and relationships with his fellow survivors. And now we're seeing a new facet of him ever since he killed Locke's father. As one might imagine, when you devote your whole life to revenge - and then you get it - you're probably gonna feel pretty lost afterwards. Obviously the show's title works on several levels.

So let's talk. I know several of our readers watch Lost. What did you like about last night's episode? What did you hate? What did you think of Charlie's sacrifice? How about Jack's willingness to sacrifice the lives of a few for the good of many? Is Naomi really a bad guy? Did anybody else want Jack to keep punching Ben?

Talk!

Congratulations!

Congratulations go out ot Clark and Amy Cranfill! Their daughter Lucy came into the world on Monday at 4lbs 1 ounce! I was told Lucy's very pretty middle name but I'm not sure how to spell it and I don't wan to butcher it here, so I'll just wait for confirmation and post it later.

Congrats Clark and Amy!

Nature once again proves more entertaining than fiction

Three or four different incredible things happen in this home video of animals on the African plane. It starts kind of slow, but then picks up pretty fast. By the end it's kind of a nice picture of the strength of a herd.

There's a bit of animal violence - so be warned if you're squeamish about that kind of thing. It's from a distance though, so it's not really gory or anything.

Linda's Story

It's far too easy to devolve into thinking that following Jesus = showing up each week for a church service. Or to think that God isn't doing much more than what we see or can do on our own.

Our stories can change all that. Hearing about what God is doing in someone else's life reminds us that He is at work and that we are changing and growing.

Linda will be getting baptized on Saturday night to express here commitment to Jesus. Here's her story:

I walked alone on this earth for 27 years before God brought me from my UR (usual routine) to Kentucky. I didn’t immediately find God. At first my move to KY was rough because of some “harassment” issues at work. I retreated into solitude & became even more of a workaholic. But God didn’t give up on me. God pursued me and kept reaching out to me. Throwing me branches that I didn’t finally grasp on until I found Crossroads. I got connected through a Woman In Touch (WIT) program called the “Refresh & Connect” facilitated by Nancy Reifschnedier. This opportunity let me get connected to others in the church without the “intimidation factor”. The women of WIT (like Nancy, Martha, Mary Lu, etc) were inviting and encouraging without pressuring.

Nancy invited me to attend service with her and her husband Doug so I wouldn’t have to sit alone. At that time, I was very intimated to walk into church alone. It wasn’t much longer after that that I celebrated a huge victory. I was running late and arrived at church after the service started. In the past, my fear & insecurity would have gotten the best of me and I would have walked away. But because of what God was doing in my life I walked in and sat down in the back row. I continued to grow in my faith and learn more about God and what it means to be a Christian through the wonderful sermons at Crossroads and additional opportunities like Woman In Touch Bible Studies. Like the Patriarchs bible study, which initially I was hestitant to participate in because I didn’t “know” the bible but with encouragement from Martha decided I would give it a try. It was through those sources that I learned who God is and started to become aware of His presence in my life.

I first accepted Christ during a Reverb service on April 2, 2006. Since that time I have continued to grow and learn more about God and what it means to follow Jesus. I’m so excited about being baptized because to me it’s a way to make a commitment to God that despite the fear, insecurity, or doubt (which I now realize I will continue to face), I will no longer give in or give up. I will choose today and forever more to no longer depend on myself but to depend on God alone and those in His community that would help me continue with my spiritual development until the day He brings me home.

How's your memory

I don't have a good memory. Both my short term memory and long term memory leave a lot to be desired. The only thing I have a good memory for is the content of old comic books from when I was a kid - so basically, I can retain completely useless information about men in tights beating each other up. Awesome!

How about you? How's your memory? If you're not sure - put your short term memory to the test here. You'll be shown 15 words over 15 seconds. Once you've seen all the words you'll be asked to write down as many as you remember. The first time I did it, I only got 4. The second time I got 6 and the third time I got 9.

Give it a try and let us know how you did.

A Note From Glen

Thought you might like an encouraging reminder that God is working behind the scenes at Crossroads. Please take the time to read the email recently sent to Melissa Cheeseman:

“I wanted to drop you a note and say how AWESOME our new building is (Donations Center building behind our Main Room). I am so excited!! My husband has been helping others build it and he cannot believe how well built the building is – it will stand forever.

Because we are not in a small group, it has been wonderful getting to know those working on the building. Wow, what great people God has placed in our church and crossed our paths.
I have been wanting to share a story with you for quite some time but just never stopped doing my paper work and taken the time but this is a true story that all should know about the donation center. Fred’s message a few weeks ago – spoke about how we know if God really is real since we can’t call him up and say “how about we meet for lunch this week?” Because we can’t touch him physically – I have asked myself that very question but the Donation Center proved to me – he really is with us and hears our needs.

A co-worker and I worked the trailer the 1st year or so together then she took a job teaching in one of our special needs schools so she had to back off some because of the time factor. However, she came by my office at the Board of Education one day and requested – Did we have a “Hooked on Phonics” set. She had an older student (young man) that could not read and she wanted to work with him. I told her, my daughter had one at home that we had purchased when she was little and now that she was twelve and reading – I could bring her ours. Sometimes we get busy and put things off… Everything imaginable has come through the donation center, but about a week or two after her request – I opened the door to the shed – never knowing what I might find – and there set a complete, well taken care of, $250.00 Hooked on Phonics set in the original box.

I was amazed – I knew if I turned around – God was going to be standing right there on Todds Road in our little gravel parking lot. He had actually heard my co-worker’s request and this student’s needs.

I delivered it to her at her school on Monday.

Now, I am convinced God is really real and that our little Donation Center and our very generous giving folks that attend - contribute to those in need. It’s like having an angel on our shoulder.
As you always say in your closing message – “God, thanks so much for loving us as much as you do!”
Thanks for the building and your contributions – you are the one that has made it happen!!
Those working on the building have even become great friends!”
That is the power of the church. One person generously shares, another volunteers time to distribute, and God use us to make a difference for his children. In the process he is forming friendships among those who take the time to invest of themselves. Pretty cool!

On another encouraging note, nearly 50 children were dedicated last weekend (largest in Crossroads history). It was so moving to see so many young families with a desire to raise their children to love and honor God.

This weekend, I return from the “Wedding/Speaking Circuit” to continue our series “Counterintuitive.” We will look at the idea that Jesus isn’t for everyone. If you know anyone considering following Christ, strongly encourage them to join us.

Can’t wait to be with you this weekend,
Glen

How I learned to stop worrying and love my DVR

Backstage on Sunday I heard Fred tell somebody that getting a Digital Video Recorder for their tv would be the best seven dollars a month they ever spend.

I've had a DVR for probably about a year now. It is, as Fred suggested, pretty awesome. And I didn't realize how much it shaped my viewing habits until last week when it went on the fritz for a few days. I had plans to come home last Thursday night from work, watch The Office and Scrubs - and then catch the previous night's episode of Lost that I had missed. Because my DVR wasn't working properly I ended up having to stream Lost off of the ABC website instead. Not a big deal at all, but at the time it seemed like a huge hassle.

So, the DVR is working again and last night Sara came over for dinner and a little TV. Having a DVR means we get to sculpt our viewing experience instead of having it dictated to us by schedules. Our Monday night viewing was as follows:

-An episode of Tyler's Ultimate (an awesome cooking show from the Food Network)
-An episode of Human Giant (sketch comedy show from MTV)
-A musical performance by the Avett Brothers from last Friday's Late Night with Conan O'Brien
-The last two episodes of Heroes back to back.

All with no commercials thanks to the handy fast-forward button (I've discovered that fastfowarding through commercials at the highest setting and stopping right as the show comes back on is an art).

So, what about you? If you have the option to sculpt your viewing experience, what's it look like? What would your perfect Monday night television block look like?

Congratulations!

This past weekend at Crossroads, we celebrated Mother's Day by recognizing the parents of kids born in the past year. This time lets our entire church community celebrate together this special time.

We don't want to just celebrate one weekend, however. In the future, if you would like to share a picture or just let us know that you or a relative of yours is having a baby, please email me at ggilmore@xroadschurch.org so our community can know.

Congratulations again to all of the new moms and also to the ones who have been at it for a while!

Getting Trashy...

A few months back we explored the idea that God trusts us to take care of His Creation. This week we're taking another step in that direction as we begin recycling the waste produced at our church building.

A recent waste audit showed that nearly 50% of the trash that goes into Crossroad's dumpster can be recycled. If we all do our part, we'll keep nearly 31,000lbs of trash out of our local landfills.

What can we recycle at church? Almost anything you'd put in your Rosie at home.
However,DIRECTIONS (our weekly program) & OTHER PAPER;
PLASTIC WATER & SODA BOTTLES (& all plastics #'d 1 & 2);
AND ALUMINUM CANS will be what most of us will deal with at church.

At this time we CAN'T recycle our communion cups, coffee cups or other coffee trash.

So, this weekend look for the nearest blue recycling trash can and pitch in!

As requested

A very kind lady with questionable taste in entertainment approached me at church on Sunday and asked if I could put my video piece from this week up on the web. So, by request:

before they were lost

Entertainment site EW.com has a feature this week that shows you what shows, movies, and music videos you might remember seeing various Lost cast members in. Check it out.

They also did it with Heroes.

I totally remember Hiro being on Scrubs now.

First Wednesday

In case you missed the announcement (or haven't figured out what the name means yet), First Wednesday is tonight at 6:30 at Crossroads. First Wednesday is a time for community and more intimate opportunities for worship. I can't make it tonight, but I've been to the last two and I can say, without a doubt, that it's totally worth your time to go.

Summer movie season

With Spider-Man 3 opening this Friday the summer movie season kicks off with a bang. What are you planning to see? Anything? I'll definitely see Spider-Man 3. I've been a big comic nerd all my life, but usually find comic book inspired movies to be a big disappointment. The Spider-Man movies have consistently been the exception to that rule. The first two were really fun and I expect the third one will be too.

I'll also probably be seeing Pirates of the Caribbean (May 25th). I thought the first Pirates movie was nearly perfect. I couldn't believe that a movie based on a fairly stupid Disney ride could be that good. The second one I think suffered a bit from sequel-itis (all flash, no heart). I'll see the third one, though, for, if nothing else, the promise of more Jeffrey Rush. He's awesome.

I'll see Evan Almighty, the sequel to Bruce Almighty starring Steve Carell. Here's how the Internet Movie Database describes it's plot:

"The last time we saw Evan Baxter (Steve Carell), he was being tormented by rival Bruce Nolan onscreen, live from their Buffalo TV station. But as time passed and Evan has made up with Bruce, he's gone onto bigger and better things. Newly elected to Washington D.C. as a congressman, Evan has left Buffalo, New York in pursuit of a greater calling. But that calling isn't serving in the illustrious ranks of America's politics, but being summoned by the Almighty himself (Morgan Freeman), who has handed Evan the task of building a new ark, much as Noah did before. With time passing by and his family belittled by Evan's new found realization, Evan will have to do the work that God has given him in what promises to be an unusual adventure for a man who just wanted to serve his country, might actually be serving humanity."

I'll see Transformers for nostalgia's sake even though I expect it to be pretty awful.

And I'll see The Simpsons Movie because... well... I love The Simpsons.

That's all off the top of my head. Here's a list of upcoming movies for the next year. What do you plan on seeing this summer? Anything look good? Anything look terrible?