Monday, April 30, 2012

In light of what He has done...

Crosspoint Family,

When you think about all God did for the Israelites, it’s really almost comical that they would grumble and complain.  Think about it.  They saw the plagues....the Nile turned to blood, frogs everywhere, gnats, flies, livestock dying, boils, VW sized hail, locusts, darkness......and they heard the wind of the “destroyer” passing over their homes and visiting every Egyptian home taking the firstborn.  Then they saw the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire leading them on their way.  They ate food that fell from the sky.  They walked across the dry floor of the Red Sea.  They heard God speak and felt the earth tremble at Sinai. Complaining and grumbling in light of all of this makes Israel look like a bunch of buffoons, doesn’t it?  Their longing for meat pots and a place to be buried in Egypt and the yoke of slavery makes them look ridiculous...........from here.  From here.....they look like they just don’t get it. 

I ask you to consider, Crosspoint family, what we look like when we complain or grumble or moan or belly-ache in light of what He’s done for us?  In light of the victory won on the shores of our dark chaotic hearts, how then could we complain?  It must be because we lose sight of what He’s really done for us in Christ.  Maybe it’s because we forget our imprisonment to sin and death.  Or possibly because we get so caught up in the trauma of the moment we fail to stick our head above it and see what a Good and Gracious God has secured for us in Christ. 

I urge you to discuss the gospel with your family this week.  The way we keep this reality in view is by intentionally engaging it and I think you’ll find Exodus 14 is a family gospel lob!!! Is the gospel in view IN your trials?  How might you keep it in view?  Are you fueled by gratitude and marvel and wonder that God would care for you with His best and only Son, Yeshua?  These matters are worth discussing and thinking on.  The dinner table is a good place to talk about it.  Long car rides are good too.  In the park, in the den, in the cubicle, in the front yard/back yard/side yard.  I’m praying you’ll connect to these great realities this week.

If the gospel came into focus for you this week for the first time and you need to talk with someone about where to go from here.....send me an email and we’ll set something up.  It’ll be time well spent. 

Ben McGraw

Monday, April 23, 2012

Giddy

Crosspoint family,

I’m excited about what God is putting in front of us right now.......some really MASSIVE and scary and awesome opportunities are coming into focus.  I love that we’re entering into some things that if God is not in it, it will fail.  That sort of “all in” mindset (and heart-set) is the character and nature of faith........”the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.    I’m seeing a blurry dot connection between this conviction of things not seen (ie faith) and “at present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him”.  The Hebrews preacher is putting in front of a little seemingly insignificant house church the call to step out in faith and be the instrument God uses to bring the everything in subjection to Christ!!  What marvelous purpose!?!  What meaning?!?!?  What design?!?!  What identity?!?!  It makes being part of His bride so much more than life improvement but purpose providing and identity shaping.  It makes being part of His church a crazy and indescribable privilege.  I hope and pray some of those things are coming into focus for you and your families. 

Here are the breathing out notes from yesterday:

1.  Pray with the elders about our involvement with Bethel AME in their efforts to connect to those north of downtown.  Pray about like-mindedness in the gospel.  Pray about the possibility of a tutoring ministry.  Pray also about the big dream of a Christian school in that area.

2.  Pray about God’s possible plans for a maternity house at Cleek Retreat.  Pray for a possible role of coming alongside Dixon Baptist Church in this work.

3.  Come alongside the ministry of the Raffa Clinic.  Here are the opportunities:
Client Advocate – a year commitment of 3-4 hours/week
Nurse – a year commitment of 3-4 hours/week
Receptionist – a year commitment of 3-4 hours/week
Class facilitator, prenatal and parenting – teach a class that meets for an hour and a half once a week for 6 weeks.  Commit to teaching three six-week classes/year
Hope mentor – a year commitment of 1-2 hours/week
Men counseling – this position is in the works. 

If you’re intimidated and maybe a little frightened with the thought of serving in these types of positions, that’s normal and really kind of good.  When you step out faithfully and willingly in them, you’ll have a front row seat to God using “the foolish things to confound the wise”.  You’ll know how every preacher and teacher and shepherd and worship leader at Crosspoint feels.  You’ll actually sort of enjoy seeing Him work in spite of you.  :)
Praying for the faithfulness of this body to step out and breath out and respond to the martial call of Hebrews. 


Ben McGraw

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Light and funny...

Crosspoint family,

While I enjoy light and funny stuff, I don’t want to LIVE in light and funny.  I don’t want to, at the cost of dealing with serious matters, medicate with funny and stupid stuff because it leaves me numb or insensitive to the truly important.  In God’s grace it seems like God gives me occasion to do or attend a funeral just often enough to remember as it says in Deuteronomy “in due time their foot will slip” and that no matter the mark we leave or how well we avoid thinking about or dealing with death.......the bell will toll for thee.

I read this article today  (
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1566473601001/swan-drowns-kayaker-in-chicago-park?intcmp=features ) and thought about a guy in the prime of life in the middle of an activity that screams “life” taken in a blink and standing before his Creator, ready or not.  This guy was drowned by a swan while kayaking?!?!  By a swan?!?!  Yes, a big white bird!?!?!  It immediately made me think a quote from Jonathan Edwards’ sermon Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God, “the manifold and continual experience of the world in all ages, shows this is no evidence, that a man is not on the very brink of eternity, and that the next step will not be into another world.  The unseen, unthought-of ways and means of persons going suddenly out of the world are innumerable and inconceivable.

Given this reminder of how we’re all perched on an invisible brink..............I’m especially burdened after Sunday’s message for ANYONE who’s oblivious to Pharaohs' advancing army and the eternal destruction awaiting them.  I’m especially burdened for ANYONE who thinks they can build a bridge of good works over the Red Sea before the army arrives.  I’m especially burdened for ANYONE within earshot of the ministry of Crosspoint who’s missed or who’s assuming the surprise work of Yeshua in delivering an unlikely undeserving people for His own glory......from death to life........from darkness to light......from doom to hope, meaning and purpose.

If any of you are wrestling with questions of faith or want to know how to follow Christ or need help sorting through your faith, please talk with another believer in your life about it.  Or talk with a small group shepherd or deacon.  Or send me an email and I’ll connect you to answers.

This matters........don’t tarry.


Ben McGraw

Freedom!!!

Crosspoint,

In the last few weeks we have been in Hebrews 2:14-18. God has used this time to shape our understanding of dominion, the role of the church, deliverance from Satan and the power of death, and joy in our redemptive and compassionate God who took on flesh... If you were not here on Sunday, I want to strongly encourage you to listen to the sermon... Below is a link...

http://www.crosspointfellowship.us/worship/sermons.php

As we considered Israel leaving Egypt in Exodus 14, we saw a mighty God exercising dominion for the good of His people. But in a short matter of time, Israel revealed their desire to return to Egypt, like a dog returning to its vomit. "You can take the people out of slavery, but you can't take the slavery out of the people..." Please take the time to listen to this sermon and see God's design for us to be able to flourish and faithfully exercise dominion in every aspect of our lives.

Personally, this series of sermons has helped me to continue to anticipate the "not yet", while more fully and more rightly walking in the "already". Have a great day!!!

J. Scott Sutton