Crossroads own Brian Glass is going nationwide on ABC News. check out the story here. Click on the video. Brian is credited at the bottom. In Brian's words. "My animation is the very last footage on the video for this story" ( they used a piece of blender animation Brian Created).
I used to dream of pastoring in a church that had at least 5 event items scheduled for each day on the church calendar. What was I thinking? We’re in the exciting and sometimes painful process of going in the opposite direction at Crossroads. You’ll hear our new informal motto often in staff, management, and volunteer gatherings: let’s do more with less. What does that look like?
Continuum Planning
We’re learning how to be intentional in arranging what we do so that we can answer 2 questions: what is this a next step from and what is this a next step toward? We are working on aligning what we do in our foyer environments with what we do in our living room and kitchen environments. Here’s a recent example. The weekend main stage topic was God’s plan for budgets, finances and priorities. People could take a next step from that foyer environment into a living room environment with a Good $ense Solutions seminar. Participants in the seminar could take a next step one-on-one financial consultation with a financial coach. Being simple and smart, doing more with less is driving us to define our process and defend what we do on the basis of a next step continuum.
Anticipation Planning
We are also learning how to look further down the road so that we have ample breathing room to create the next steps continuum. Our weekend mainstage staff invested a couple of days this summer hammering out a mainstage topic outline that encompasses almost 12 months. As I meet with our various teams (women, singles, kids, Cruisers, students, etc.), we study that outline, looking for strategic next step opportunities appropriate to the team’s target and mission. Excitement is growing with our serving teams as they begin to appreciate the impact of doing more with less…planning with the next steps continuum and mainstage topic anticipation.
The past 2 Sundays I’ve spent time with kids during our Kid Crossing experiences. I find that I need regular time with kids to help me focus on the things that really matter. Here’s a significant thing they taught me this round: eye-level learning rocks.
I joined a 3 year olds small group. (I was impressed with the quality of their small group environment. Even 3 year olds “get something” from small groups.) Here’s what they taught me about eye-level learning: they’re eager to engage with me when I join them at physical eye level. That meant sitting down on the floor so I could see their eyes and they could see mine. One particularly delightful young lady, Olivia, scooted over and helped me learn about the color of her name. I loved Olivia’s big blue “O.”
I led a 3rd-5th grade boys small group. (Forget the small group circle. More like small group amoebas.) Here’s what they taught me about eye-level learning: they’re eager to engage with me when I join them at relational eye level. That meant expressing interest in things going on in their lives before asking them to be interested in the Biblical lesson I wanted to work with.
What types of eye-level learning are you experiencing in your life? Where could you employ eye-level learning to help improve your expression of Christ’s presence in your life?
Steaks Eatery just reopened up the road from me and with it comes an unusual opportunity to create culinary and digestive history. It’s “The Big Kahuna,” a $14.95, 2.5 pound hamburger guaranteed to shock and delight. Picture a bun as large as a Frisbee. Meat 1.5 inches thick. Your choice of condiments. One pound of fries on the side. Finish it in one sitting and your photo is enshrined on the restaurant wall.
I’ve been thinking about who might be up to a Big Kahuna challenge. Last night my inspiration arrived during a particularly greasy Chinese take-out dinner. And so I lay down my first Big Kahuna challenge: Scott Winstead, are you up to the challenge? I’m buying if you’re eating. If you survive and succeed, I’ll even spring for the commemorative Big Kahuna victory T shirt. I have but 2 conditions:
1. Assembling a cheering section for you during your BK challenge.
Saw Mat Kearney at the Blind Pig on Friday. Cool Show. Great Band. It was most cool to see a Christian dude out in the world doing what he was made to do and meeting people where they were at. Check em out if you get a momento.
Based on the trailer I thought it was going to be a Napoleon Dynamite-esque or Nacho Libre type visual and story telling treat. Turned out to be the worst excuse for a movie I have ever seen. I do not offend easily and most of the time I'm probably on the cusp for most people in some of the things I view as having reedeming potential.... but...... Offensive just to be Offensive is not humor (and believe me there is no race, creed, gender, socio or economic group or stereo-type they left unturned) We made it through the first quarter of it and got up and left.Don't waste your time. If you do, don't say you weren't warned. It's that poorly done.
This month in Kid Fusion and in our Kindergarten - 5th Grade kids worship experiences we will focus on the virtue of Cooperation: Working together to do more than you can do alone. Last Sunday I challenged the families to find a project to work together on, something they can each use their own individual talents (individuality: discovering what you are meant to be so you can make a difference) and work together to do something to make a difference. I can't wait to hear what Kid Fusion families did. This coming Sunday I'll be grabbing a few of them to share their stories of cooperation. Kid Crossing Families will get a way to cooperate together to make a difference in other peoples lives beginning this Sunday as we kick off our "Make It Happen" campaign. We're giving all Kid Crossing families the opportunity to participate in a serving project. Each week in November we'll be collecting non-perishable food items, mittens and hats, and new, unwrapped toys. It's a great opportunity for us to cooperate together, and with the Salvation Army to help make a difference in the lives of other families. See you this Sunday!
