The Blog

I am not a fan of the word extreme. I feel that it is a word that has been senselessly used in so many marketing ploys. Do Doritos really need to have extreme cheese flavor? I mean what makes the “extreme” version better then the regular version? A few weeks ago I walked around the supermarket I found the word extreme on so many things: Toilet paper, Sour Patch Kids, Mac and Cheese, Kool-Aid, Popsicles, Laundry Detergent, Orange Juice, Peanut Butter. All theses products were claiming that the extreme version was for people who wanted more then just the normal, for people that wanted great. The funny things is most of the products offering the extreme version were no different from the regular version of that brand. The difference was a word, EXTREME!!!
Another place I have seen the word extreme over used, has been in youth ministry. As I have been invited to speak to students around the world in all types of regions, communities, styles, and cultures the one thing that seems to blend across is that word. Fliers promote the extreme lock-in, the extreme worship night, or extreme school ministries. Again I start to wonder what pushes the lock-in from a regular lock-in category to a EXTREME!!! Lock-in, or is it just a word? Like the marketing ploy used in the grocery store, is their anything different about these events?
I start to wonder: am I living a life that is defined by a label? Do I claim to be extreme, but really I am just the normal version, or maybe I claim Jesus is my savior, but my life shows something different. There is a problem today in the American church, its that people claim Christian but there is no difference between Christian and Secular (authors note: that’s a stupid word). It’s just like claiming extreme peanut butter, but there is no difference from the regular. In the end it’s just peanut butter.
I know that God is not very happy about this. Jesus said that his followers will be known by their love, but today Christians are known as hypocrites, liars, two faced. We need a something to change. We need Sanctification. At Crossfire MC we have been talking about Sanctification in our devotion times. The Bible talks about sanctification and says: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:1-2 the message) We should look different from the world, and not fall into the traps of style, culture, or society. The word Sanctified means: Set apart for sacred use- make holy or purify. We need to live our lives sanctified. The difference in our life should not repulse people from Jesus, but intrigue them to him. Don’t just live with the label, change the inside to fit the label, otherwise your just Doritos with a lame marketing ploy.

September 3, 2008

September is finally here. This is a good month for us here at Crossfire mc. This is the month that we are able to commosion our new masters class of 09. It is shaping up to be an amazing year for us and we are all very excited for what God is going to do in and trough our programe this year.

Not much has happened in the past couple of weeks. We have started a remodling project throught the dorm and kitchen here at the church. It is exciting as well as challenging to be able to get it all done.

We also had another wedding in the ranks of our elumni. Amanda Owen, a graduate of MCI class of 05, got married to another dear friend of ours, Zach Parnell. We wish them both the best and pray that God blesses them and directs there steps.

August 21, 2008

This last weekend crossfire was proud to host another year of kids camp. We borke from the usual tradition of going to a camp for the whole weekend and had camp at the church. It was no let down. We were able to pack so many things into that little weekend including bon fire, and snip hunting at pastor Aarons house. All day at enchanted forest. Swimming at splash, and a bbq at the church after morning service. It was so much fun and the kids had a great time. So many of them decided that they were going to run the race like they never had before.

Tonight was a sad but happy night all at the same time. It was time to say goodbye to the graduating class of MCI 2008. They have all had a long, hard, and fun year. They were all given many opportunities to grow and to be changed by God. We are all very excited to see what God is going to do in there futures, but one thing we all know is that God is with them and that they are all going to be world changers.

August 9th, 2008

Camp is over and the fun is done, but, what God did at this camp is far from over. We had a lot of fun this week doing all the activities and all the different events. Tuesday we went to the coast and some were able to go horse back riding and some even went on dune buggies. Wednesday we had a free day at the church as well as a basketball tournament and a volley ball tournament. We also had a dunk tank and horse shoes. Thursday we went to Portland and were able to go to and amusement park called Oak's Park. Friday we went to the lake and had fun on and of the water.

Apart from all the fun and games, God used the speakers of the camp to deliver powerful and life changing messages. So many kids either accepted Christ for the first time or re dedicated there lives to God. The staff was also empowered and refreshed with things that some of them had lost. God was able to give vision and dreams to everyone at the camp. Be praying for all the people who have had a touch from God this week and just pray that they would find a person to disciple them so that they may continue to grow in what God has started in them. Also check out the student blog very soon for messages from all of our MCI students about there experience at camp.

August 4-8

It's here, it's finally here. Today is the first day of Impact 08, Oh Yeah. It has taken a lot of work but this year we are planing to have the best camp ever. Things have been changed around and it is going to be very exciting.

This year we have the privilege to hear Pastor Derrek Sullivan from Decatur, AL. We all know that he has come ready to share Gods word and get into these students lives. Not only do we have an amazing speaker, but we have a jam packed week full of exciting events. So get ready, hold on, because it is time for Impact 08.