Ok. So I’m leaving for Thailand in less than six days. It some how makes me feel a bit guilty to be so excited to be going – knowing that I leave my loving family behind. It makes me feel better remembering that the last time I went I was equally excited to go, but even more excited to come home!

I was thinking today about how little anxiety I have about the trip. That’s awesome. Cuz first time I went, I was a basket case for quite some time.

Anyway – I’ll be posting regular updates on my blog here and at the church web-site which is ccchutch.com. I’m too lazy to link it, just cut and paste, okay?

TTYL

Post-encounter. What can I say except it was exactly what the title says it is – it is an “Encounter with Jesus Christ.” Am I glad I went. Most certainly. Would I go again – yes. Would I recommend it to anyone else? I would recommend it to every single man on the planet. It is an awesome experience. And mostly it’s an awesome encounter with the cross of Jesus Christ.

It’s one of those things where, you know, it’s not about getting new information, it’s about letting the news of the Cross really filter into your heart and letting it do what God intends for it to do.

The next Men’s Encounter at Oronogo is November 6-8. And yes, if there are ANY men from Crossroads who wish to go – please do. It only costs $100.00 per person – and if you can’t afford it, we’ll try to find you a scholarship. Just shoot me an e-mail if you can go! (lee@ccchutch.com).

So anyway – I’m going to this men’s encounger this weekend with Christ’s Church of Oronogo. A good friend of mine who used to live in Hutch and moved down to southeast KS went and raves about it. I’m looking forward to it. It sounds to me a bit like spiritual boot-camp, which is a good thing.

I know the whole point of boot-camp is to break you down and build you back up again. I think all men need that occasionally. Not just spiritually, but all the way around. I’ll let you know how it went when I get back. I’ll be out of pocket for a couple of days.

Wishing you all the best.

Wha. . . ? Happy New Year in August? Well – yeah actually! For all practical purposes – my family, like most I think, really starts th new year when the kids are off to school. I mean really – that’s when schedules change for 9 months. That’s when new teachers are assigned, new friends are made, new programs are started both at school and at church. So yeah – Happy New Year!

That being said – maybe it’s a good time to make a New Year’s resolution, or to reflect back on the old ones. You remember – back in January when you resolved to lose 10 pounts, stop smoking, start kissing your wife goodbye every day, all that stuff.

So how did you do? Yeah – me neither.

‘-)

I admit it. I have largely lost the drive to blog. First of all, let me say that I think a person generally gets into blogging because he or she believes that the words they share are going to make a difference. Frankly, though, it’s frustrating. Not because I don’t have readers. Which my lack of recent blogging has, I’m sure, brought my readership to a dwindling halt), but because it’s hard in our country to believe that a writer can make a difference.

What I find myself becoming more and more passionate about is politics. And I hear that it’s bad policy for preacher’s to harp on politics. So I keep my mouth shut. Or at least that’s what I’ve done historically.

Not sure I’ll keep my mouth shut much longer. But I realize that some of my opinions may have a tendency to get me in trouble with some. Is it worth the  risk? I don’t know. I don’t really care if I offend democrats or republicans, but I don’t want to intentially offend Christians – some of which are on boths sides of that political line.

Well, that’s enough for now. Maybe I’ll keep on blogging and write about church stuff and hit the occasional political soap box. So what do you think – would you keep reading if I harped on political issues occasionally?

Hey what if you went to church and were met by this preacher’s wife?Mike got this one of Ginger a few weeks ago. Couldn’t help but share it on my blog. Yeah, I’ll probably get in trouble, but it’s worth it.

"Surprise! I'm taking a picture of you sitting there looking busy!"

Greetings Friends,

Crossroads is happy to welcome and announce the arrival of our summer ministry intern – Elizabeth Frazier from East Peoria, IL. She is a student at the Univeristy of Illinois and will begin her Senior year this fall continuing her major in psychology. Make sure you welcome her aboard when you get a chance. Also, Elizabeth has set up her own blog at 4Christ914.blogspot.com to write about her CCC experiences and share with us this summer. I’ll be putting a link to it on our home page relatively soon. We look forward to a great summer with Elizabeth.

I really appreciate the encouragement that so many of you have given me concerning the most recent sermon series on Equipped in Ephesus. It has been a joy for me to share these sermons as the Spirit leads us to a better understanding of what it means to be “equipped” for ministry.

By the way – I want to wish the Keele family (my family) a happy second anniversary. No – not wedding anniversary. Officially, this Sunday, Ginger and I start our third year at CCC! Wow! Of course – Savannah can’t celebrate a second anniversary – but we’ll let her tag along for the ride! Thanks to you CCC for putting up with the Keele clan for 2 whole years! We look forward to building more and bigger and better relationships with you all still. As I have said before – I believe the best is yet to come!

God bless and have a great week!

Lord, an intercessory prayer for self. May I examine all that is “me” – both within and without. May I lay all on the altar of sacrifice to you. Father, in obedience to the greatest of all commands I give you.

• My heart. I pray that I would more gladly leave behind all earthly loves to love you above all and with all. May I be more bold in setting you up as the passion for which I live. “Take my heart and let it be consecrated Lord for Thee.”
• My Soul. My very self. The body and spirit that are who I am – I give to you. I give you my personality my very life.
• My Mind. May I more willingly and eagerly pursue you in knowledge and understanding. May I more fully devote the energies of thought to a pursuit of spiritual intellect.
• My Strength. May my devotion to you be tireless, relentless, taxing and yet invigorating!

Lord, I lay the influence of my life at your feet as well. I give to you the influce I have with my family, my co-workers and my friends. May I lead others to give themselves to you that we may in unity become instruments of your kingdom. May we all give our pursuits, our ministries, our methodologies, our time together, our time alone, all to you.

May we be bold enough to ask: “What must be given up? What must be pursued? Where does our God want us to go? What does he want us to be?”

Father let no material thing or earthly methodology be so sacred to us that we would not leave it behind at your request.

We lay everything on the alter of sacrifice – without fear – with faith that you will provide every good thing for us according to your love, your mercy and your divine abundance!

In Jesus Name. . .

While the luggage we bring with us varies from person to person, and our journies begin from roads and places all over the geographical and spiritual map, God has eternally been calling each of us and leading us all to the ONE road. It is the road that leads us to the ONE place He desires us all to reach and experience in our own ways. It is the road to of the cross.

It is here on this ONE road that our lives converge. We, who reside at the foot of the cross, find unity here. Together we stand, or kneel, wide-eyed and open mouthed before the horror, the majesty, and yes, even the beauty of the cross. It is our mission now to walk this Cross Road and to call others to join us in this calling.

While the road leads us to the cross – it is not the cross itself  that is the object of our wonder or the point of our journey. The cross, as such, merely represents the culmination of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. It is not the end of the road for our Savior. Rather, it is a symbol of his comprehensive willingness to die to self for the sake of the Father – and then move on.

So here at the foot of the cross we are struck by its vacancy. There is no body on the cross. The empty cross points then, to the tomb. There is no body in the tomb either. The empty cross, to the empty tomb – all points to a risen savior. A savior not whom we once served, but whom we still serve. As the earthly ministry of the Christ ended with a glorified savior now exalted to the right hand of God – so our earthly ministries will end in Sabbath rest. The Cross Road leads us first to self-denial or death to self that we may take up our own cross daily. Dying to self, then, leads to the remarkable truth that we we still wait for the redemption of our bodies – we are by faith raised with him and seated with him in the heavenly places.

Ultimately our tombs are also destined for abandonment. At that moment, at last, God who brought Jesus from his tomb will bring us from ours – preserving us body soul and spirit ont he day of his appearing. And there will end the Cross Road.

Thus is our journey.