My friend, Ron Ethridge has posted a blog about CrossPoint. Click here to read it.
I sincerely appreciate Ron’s observations. However, I think his opinion is skewed for two or three reasons. One, Ron is a lifelong friend of mine, and I therefore believe he review is based more on his love for me than his serious critique of CrossPoint. Two, Ron has only been our guest two or three times in the past five years, so his intimate knowledge of our church is lacking. Three, I am confident there are many who would disagree with Ron, and they may have good reason for doing so. With that said, however, I do appreciate Ron’s appraisal. My prayer is that CrossPoint would someday embody each one of his glowing remarks.
Thank you, Ron. You do know you are a CrossPointer at heart. And, I trust you know how much our family of faith loves you.
It’s not often we disagree my friend, but this is one time I will respectfully do so for the following reasons.
#1. I know you better than many people and what is happening at CrossPoint is God, not Ryan.
#2. I have been a pastor for over 20 years and as such I am able to make observations that are to a great degree objective rather than subjective.
#3. It is not subjective to report what I observe. I look at people’s faces… I listen to what they say… I sense the Spirit’s presence.
#4. I have been to many different churches and I’m telling what I observed that cannot be faked… contrived… or manufactured. What is happening at CrossPoint is genuine work of God at this point.
#5. I know that CrossPoint is not perfect. Maybe my evaluation seems to be skewed or over the top to some, but it is an honest perspective from one who has been around a little bit and knows the real thing when he sees it.
#6. As for those who would disagree, CrossPoint is not where God has called them. But people’s disagreement with my evaluation does not invalidate my observations.
#7. If you had responded any way other than the way you did to my comments, I would be on the phone talking to you about your need for humility and the possibility that being humbled is just around the corner for you and the church.
God be glorified!
OK, Ron, you made your point. And as I have asked you in the past, please continue to pray for CrossPoint. Pray also for me. It is humbling to be present when a church is born and then to watch it mature in Christ. And by the way, if you are not pastoring a church in July I want you to preach in my absence one Sunday. Grace, my friend, grace.
I didn’t mean to be ascerbic or virulent… as you know, this past Sunday ministered to me and mine. It’s just when I’m moved deeply I must give full expression to my thoughts. I guess that’s the shortcoming of the written word… it doesn’t communicate well some times.
As for the July thing… that would be a great honor if God so wills it. Thank you!
Shoot, y’all make me want to sing, “Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya…” Hey Ron!! When are you going to visit your other 3 friend’s churches? Buddy, well you’ll just hear him preach Ryan’s sermons, Jimmy, or John? (And before you say it, I know the churches are God’s, but you know what I mean!)
Hey Stu… would you mind telling everyone else what “Stu” is short for?? I’ve heard Buddy preach… attended his church on a Sunday. Next time I go to the coast I’ll be stopping in with Jimmy. As for John, he’s too linear for me…
Linear? Does that have anything to do with inner ear problems? ANd, did he say stand by a pole?
You know