Today’s blog is by CrossPoint Student Minister Dave Snyder. Dave blogs at www.crosspointstudents.info

WOW. That’s the first word that comes to my mind when I think about last weekend. I’m so grateful for my church’s passion to invest in men. Each year, we host a “Men’s Weekend.” Close to 600 men gather from several churches, for a time of worship, Bible study, and accountability. For the past 2 years, we have had the privilege of hosting Steve Farrar. Do yourself a favor (especially if you are a man), invest in his resources. His books are incredible. Some of my personal favorites are: Finishing Strong and Point Man. I love his passion for Christ and his family. We need more men in our churches with that passion.

The Lord used the men’s weekend to remind me of the privilege of salvation. I don’t deserve Jesus. I don’t deserve His grace or His mercy. His saving blood has covered me of ALL my unrighteousness. The Gospel, my friends, should never get old. We should never get tired of hearing how Jesus saved us. As a regenerated believer, I am overjoyed with the mere thought of His love…not His wrath, over me. His saving grace is a privilege.

The Lord used the men’s weekend to remind me of the privilege of my roles. I am Brooke’s husband and Eden’s father. Above any other privilege that I carry (besides being a child of the King), those roles are my priority. Too many men are making mistakes and their families are suffering. Too many men in ministry are ignoring the needs of their wives and children in order to receive public spotlight. I sat in a row of college students and thought of the last 5 1/2 years of my life. God gave me a wife and a daughter. What a privilege! I couldn’t get girls to like me in high school or college…and God’s grace convinced Brooke to give me a chance. If you are a man reading this…do yourself a favor; consider your role (if you are married and/or have kids) as a privilege. My sermons each week are preached in vanity if I neglect the ladies I’m entrusted to lead. I pray Brooke and Eden will always find joy and comfort with me. I pray they will grow deeper int he Gospel because of the Spirit’s work in my heart. I pray God Almighty will always be glorified in the Snyder home.

The Lord used the men’s weekend to remind me of the privilege of accountability. Every believer that walks the earth needs accountability. I wrote on this not too long ago. I’m grateful for the accountability I have with Jonathan Clark. It’s lasted close to 10 years now. Where is your accountability? Too many men are making mistakes and hiding from confrontation…because they are too afraid of accountability. Our families and our churches need men that are brave enough to embrace accountability. It doesn’t matter how “high” any man is on the chart of “Christian success,” the absence of accountability is the introduction of foolishness. A simple phone call or text message can push anyone’s desire to become more like Jesus. Pick up the phone and lift another up today.

The Lord used the men’s weekend to remind me of the privilege of ministry. For 10 years now, I have been a youth minister. I’ve seen many boys develop into Godly men over the past decade. It is a privilege to watch students grow in their faith. I don’t want to waste their teen years with shallow messages and superficial “hype” in order to draw a crowd. I’m convinced that we must make much of Jesus in youth groups. They will be entertained on their own. Let’s join our students in making war against their sins. Let’s not be afraid to teach sound doctrine as well as practical Christ-like living to them before the world tries to corrupt (2 Peter 1:3-8). Let’s work along side parents as they fight through the rough “teen-years.” My job is a privilege. West Fork, FBC Murray, Summit, and now CrossPoint have given me that privilege. I hope to never waste it.

Ok, I’m done. A few responses to a powerful weekend. I’m grateful for your time in reading this.

Can I tell you something about yourself?

You know a complainer.

The guy that, no matter what happens, no matter how good or bad a situation, he’s going to find a way to be upset about something. The girl that is constantly down on whatever you, or anyone else, does.

Here’s the reality: there is always something to complain about.

Life is often exceedingly difficult. Organizations are often in decline. Things seemingly couldn’t get worse.

If we’re honest with ourselves, “complainers” put words to the thoughts racing through our heads. But there’s a difference in having a thought and acting on it. A difference in having a thought and fleshing that out for everyone to join in with you. A difference in keeping a thought to yourself and recruiting others to moan with you. *

No matter where you are in life, you’ll find complainers.

• At family gatherings
• At church
• At the water cooler at work
• At conferences
• On vacation
• On Facebook
• By text message
• By email
• By phone calls
• By twitter updates

Brothers don’t shake hands

Complainers need a hug. They need to be told that it’s going to be okay. They need to be reminded that God is in control, and that he’s a good, loving, kind God.

But they don’t need to be put in the role of director, no matter the size or structure of your organization. In fact, it’s incredibly dangerous for your organization if these people are put into director roles.

5 Dangers of a Complaining Team Member

1. They’ll drag the whole team down with them.

Before you know it, your organization will be full of doubting, complaining naysayers who see nothing but doom and gloom. Complainers are great recruiters.

2. They compromise your vision.

They ratchet up the negative aspect of the vision God’s placed in your heart, and if you’re not careful, you are pulled into the vortex of their negativity, and your once-clear vision becomes muddied.

3. They’ll not perform their job well.

They’ll be focused on the difficult parts of their job, and be distracted from the good, positive aspects.

4. They’ll not help your organization move forward.

Stuck on past failures and current challenges, they’ll not be challenged to press forward and find new, innovative solutions.

5. They’re never satisfied.

As soon as something goes their way, they’ve found another situation to complain about. They’re toxic even in the best of times. Nothing you can do will satiate their desire for more complaints. Everything you do fuels their fire.

Nip complaining in the bud. It’s a heart issue, reflective of a heart that doesn’t rest soundly in the goodness and power of God. And it’ll rot your team from the inside out.

Don’t let complainers be directors.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

Philippians 2:14-15

(via Pastors.com)

This is one of the reasons why the Bible matters:

The printed page never flinches, it never shows cowardice; it is never tempted to compromise. The printed page never gets tired; it never gets disheartened. The printed page travels cheaply-you can be a missionary for the price of a stamp. It requires no building in which to operate. The printed page works while you sleep. It never loses its temper in discussion. And it works when you are gone from the scene. The printed page is a visitor that gets inside the home and stays there. It always catches a man in the right mood. It speaks to him only when he is reading it. It never answer’s back and it sticks to the point.

Anonymous

I cannot live without the BOOK OF GENESIS.  From Genesis I learn about GOD’S PLAN.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 

Genesis 1:26

1Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”   

Genesis 12:1-3

I cannot live without the BOOK OF PSALMS.  From Psalms I learn about GOD’S HEART.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Psalm 130:1-7

I cannot live without the BOOK OF JOHN.  From John I learn about GOD’S SALVATION.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:1-13

I cannot live without the BOOK OF ROMANS.  From the book of Romans I learn about GOD’S MOTIVATION.

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:6-11

I cannot live without the BOOK OF REVELATION.  From the book of Revelation I learn about GOD’S STRATEGY.

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom,  priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.           

Revelation 1:4-8

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen. 

Revelation 22:20-21

Tonight several hundred men will show up at CrossPoint for worship, fellowship and discipleship. The food will be delicious. The worship will be Spirit-led. The messages, preached by Steve Farrar will be timely. Here is a list of ways you can pray for us and tomorrow morning.

Pray, first and foremost, for God to be glorified.

Pray for Christ to be glorified and for each participant to be humbled.

Pray for the safety of the men travelling to and from CrossPoint this weekend.

Pray for Steve Farrar to preach the Gospel plainly, clearly and simply.

Pray for the students and men that are lost to be saved.

Pray for the students and men that are saved to be challenged to grow in their faith.

Pray for God to have His way with us.

Thank you for praying for us. I look forward to our time in worship this weekend.

One of the best decisions we have made in a long, long time at CrossPoint is to pray for a kingdom partner each Sunday.  We started the year by praying for Argo Christian Fellowship and their pastor, Jerry Mahner.  The next Sunday we prayed for First Baptist Church of Trussville and their pastor, Buddy Champion.  One week later we prayed for Clearbranch and their new pastor, Jimmy Aycock.  Last weekend we prayed for pastor Rodney Davis and his people, the Church at Bradford Road, especially as they kicked off seven days of a liquid-only fast.

Your prayers matter and your prayers are making a difference.  Thank you, also for dropping notes to these pastors.  Two of the pastors wanted me to express their gratitude to you.

Buddy Champion texted me the following message the very next week:

Please tell the CrossPoint family how much I appreciate their prayers!  What a blessing during some long days.  Each card brought an encouragement.

Last Thursday, Jimmy Aycock from Clearbranch sent me this special email:

Dear Ryan,

I wanted to take a moment to express to you my profound gratitude for your prayers for me this past Sunday.  In fact, I am deeply grateful to not only benefit personally from your prayers and the prayers of your congregation, but also for the wonderful example of Christian leadership that is implicit in those prayers.  I have received notes from many in your congregation (as well as your personal note) expressing both a welcome to the area, and the encouragement of their prayers for me as I begin to serve here at Clearbranch.  If there is a way to express my gratitude to the congregation, I would appreciate you doing so.  I am blessed by those prayers in a continuing way, and blessed as well to know I am next door to a pastor who leads and encourages his church in such a fashion.  I have not met you brother, but I am grateful for your Kingdom perspective and for your leadership at CrossPoint. 

Way to go, CrossPoint.  The Kingdom Partnerships and the prayers we pray for these pastors and their people are a great addition to our ministry.  I love you and I am proud of you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En4yDVw177Q

Today’s post is by CrossPoint’s minister to children, Beth Howe. She sent this to me last night. It was powerful, and I wanted to share it with you. For disaster relief info, follow the updates on twitter, and we’ll be sending email updates to our CrossPoint list as well.

When I went to sleep last night, I had no idea that today would be the day that my eyes would be this enlightened and my heart so burdened. You see, this morning my phone starting blowing up at 5:00am with people checking on me. My family was fine, our house was fine, we had no idea what had taken place the hours prior to that call.

I really did not realize how bad everything was until I started trying to call people without any answers. I became concerned, and then I received a call that dear friends of mine had lost everything. They were very scratched up from their house caving in on them in the basement and trying to climb out. As soon as my children were dropped off at school, I headed to their neighborhood in Trussville to lend an extra hand, pray for them, and drive them wherever they might need to go.

I had a lot of difficulty getting to my friends, ended up leaving my car on the side of the road, riding with them a little ways, then walking toward their home. We searched for a purse and phones and finally decided to take my friend to a doctor to check her back. I drove her to the doctor, to Wendy’s for a burger, to a friend’s home to get some clothes, to Target for shoes and sunglasses, and to AT&T for a cell phone.

I didn’t realize how lost you are without a phone—no real contact with anyone to let them know you are alive or you need help. Then, we once again went to the rubble and tried to pull stuff out. We were finding mismatch shoes, some books, some pictures, a spoon, a necklace, an earring, and in between we would tell a joke or two to just try to keep from losing all emotions.

I had no words a lot of the time, which is very unlike me. I knew that I had to just pray for those I did not know where hurting, were searching through rubble, whom no longer had a home. See, around 2:00 this afternoon, I learned another couple from our church that I have grown to love so much had lost everything. They have an infant son as well. So with each item, I was lost in emotion, sadness, and awe.

Then, driving home, God reminded me of his amazing strength that is bigger than any tornado. His love is bigger than any strong wind that may come our way. His sovereignty and grace is above all human power or emotion. Our God is GREAT! And in His greatness there is a time for everything under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 (ESV) says:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. 14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. 18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

We will never know what God plans from beginning to end, nor should we try to know.

But this I know for sure:

There is a time for the house to break down, and a time to build up.

A time to weep what is lost, and to laugh at what is found.

A time to mourn what has happened, and to dance at what is to come.

A time to seek, and a time to just say it’s gone.

A time to keep, and a time to just give away.

A time to speak and a time to be silent with a loss for words.

A time to tear down, and a time to sew the new.

A time to love those around you and to seek peace.

We don’t know the mind of Christ, or any need to understand what has happened. But we must be joyful in the lives spared and do good as long as we live.

It is time to do good, to help those rebuild, and take pleasure in the toil that God has sat before us. God has given us a tornado as an opportunity to show those around us how much we love them with the love of Christ. And no job is too little or too much!

Work for the Lord. “There is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work,” we know not what is after us or when you will need the help.

Dear God,

Thank you for being God. Thank you for sparing lives and homes. Thank you for allowing us to help those who need us to help search through rubble, drive to the store, provide water, and provide shelter, socks, and underwear. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to be busy serving your people and loving people with the love of Christ. I am so thankful for the day I spent with my dear friends and I pray that you will allow them the strength to endure this storm with you as their guide and friends at their service. I will never understand your ways, but am glad I was able to be a vessel of service today. I am so thankful for your immeasurable love for me and blessings you give my immediate family, my church family, and close friends. I love you!

Your daughter,

Beth

Many Christians speak of their salvation in the term of a profession of faith, yet Peter describes a progression of faith.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

2 Peter 1:5-7

Imagine this list as driving directions. You have a starting point, a series of instructions, and a final destination: “Start here, turn left at Oak Street, go five miles, turn left at the flashing light, get onto the interstate and head north, take the first exit, and it’s on the corner.”

If you miss any of those steps, you will not be able to get to the next place on the list. If you don’t turn left at the flashing light, you’ll never find the interstate. If you don’t get off at the first exit, you’ll never see your destination on the corner. That makes it obvious how important it is to follow the progression.

That’s why Peter says “make every to supplement your faith.” In other words, he’s telling us, “Make sure you don’t miss any of the items on the list as your faith progresses and matures.”

So, let’s break down our progression of faith.

For this very reason…because we are partakers of the divine nature (v. 3).

…make every effort… be determined
…to supplement… to add lavishly
…your faith – to believe that God can only save you through Jesus Christ
…with virtue– moral excellence to do what is right
…and virtue with knowledge – moral discernment to know what is right
…and knowledge with self-control – the ability to take a grip of one self
…and self-control with steadfastness – to do right under pressure
…and steadfastness with godliness – to worship God well
…and godliness with brotherly affection – love for brothers like you
…and brotherly affection with love – God-like for people not like you

Work on your progression of faith this week.