Giving is Second Nature to Lucas Myers

The Sacramento Bee recently published a story about one of our church members who rises early every Saturday morning to give to others in a special way.  For several months Lucas Myers has joined his father, Gary, on a weekly trip to the midtown BloodSource to donate plasma.  They arrive each Saturday around 6:30 a.m. to be welcomed by a needle and a reason to give.  Lucas began giving last fall as a way of helping others who deperately need plasma.  Lucas was touched by the situation of a young girl at Natomas Crossroads who has leukemia.  Lucas knew that by giving each week, he would be helping to save the lives of countless others.

If you’d like to read more about Lucas and his reason for giving, visit the Sacramento Bee story online.  If you’d also like to give blood to help others, join us at Natomas Crossroads Church on June 20th.  For more information about the June 20th event, click here.

Healthy Listening Appetite

We’re in the midst of a message series on “Becoming the Bodies of Christ.”  Those who attended Crossroads on May 23 were challenged to protect our ears by listening carefully to what we hear.  As I reflected on Pastor Glenn’s key points, I thought about the statement:  “…some people have no stomach for solid teaching, but fill up on spiritual junk food-catchy opinions that tickle their fancy.”  [2 Timothy 4:4]

I want a healthy listening-appetite for …

Words that are CREDIBLE, spoken by Godly persons;

Teachings which are CONSISTENT with God’s Word;

Remarks that are CONSTRUCTIVE to other people; and

Truths that are CONVICTING from God’s Spirit.

[PhotoCredit:eatingsnowflakes]

Lazy Eyes

by Ilana Rubenstein

My quest is not to become blinded to life’s beauty.

I first noticed my daughter’s left eye wandering outwards before her second birthday. Shortly after she turned three, she was diagnosed with a “lazy eye.” The problem is that when one eye doesn’t follow the other the brain essentially shuts off its use, favoring the good eye and losing the sight in the other. So while her right eye, the “good eye,” has 20/20 vision, she has begun to lose sight in the “lazy eye.”

In order to restore the vision in her left eye, or at least prevent any further atrophy, we were sent home with a box of patches and instructed to patch the “good eye” for an hour a day, to force the “lazy eye” out of semi-retirement. And so despite her protests and tears, we began patching.

I was thinking that maybe we could all use a bit of this therapy. The Jewish people are now approaching the end of the 33-day period during the counting of the Omer when we recall a plague that killed 24,000 of Rebbe Akiva’s students in Talmudic times. We are taught that the plague came upon them because they did not have respect for each other. Our Sages explain that this lack of respect came from an inability to see the spiritual greatness in each individual.

As descendants of Rebbe Akiva’s students, we too fall short in this task. To see the greatness in others — and to act with appropriate respect — is a skill that must be honed. And like a lazy eye, without use this vision atrophies, leaving our “critical” eye to dominate.

Oxygen Deprived

I recently read an account by a recovering alcoholic. He recalled that after years of living across the street from a gray school building, he awoke one day to discover that the bricks had turned red. Indeed, the bricks had always been red, yet only in sobriety did the world come into color. This had a biological explanation: as the brain is deprived of oxygen, the ability to see in color is diminished.

This got me thinking about how we often become blinded to the beauty before us. We busy ourselves with distractions, work, entertainment, money — depriving our own brains of what they need to see our world in all its radiant beauty.

The Torah charges us to “Love your fellow as yourself.” This directive is two-fold: We must accord respect to our fellow, but we must begin by honoring ourselves. By removing the noise in our lives, this time period forces us to take a closer look at ourselves and begin the work of respectfully working on who we are.

Like the distractions that keep our brains from receiving the oxygen necessary to see the world in color, noise prevents us from listening to the music that is innately within each person. This noise can be our cell phones and Blackberries, as much as it is the voice that tells us we are not good enough, or can only succeed by beating out someone else.

Sights and Sounds

Seeing the greatness in others is not merely an exercise of vision; it requires a keen ear as well. During this 33-day period, as a custom of mourning, we refrain from listening to music. The other day I found myself setting out on a long drive without any CDs in my car. There were only so many cycles of the 24 hour news channel I could endure, and talk radio left much to be desired. I would have to sit in silence. With this opportunity to be alone with my thoughts, I found myself in a sea of worry and judgmentalism. Had I completed my to-do list? What if I don’t arrive on time? If only that person hadn’t let me down, the project would be a success... This brief encounter with my thoughts was at times uncomfortable. I am used to noise. Sefirah forces us to listen to the sounds of silence.

When we turn down the volume of our judgments and distractions, we begin to hear the music in the silence. From this place we can find respect for ourselves and others.

My daughter still fusses when it’s time to put on her eye patch, but she is quickly lost in her Lego and forgets that she’s practicing using her “lazy eye.” Watching her, my own vision has become stronger. I have become keenly aware of the times I use my dominant eye — judging and creating divides between myself and another. I have also found the ability to start practicing the use of my own “lazy eye,” looking for opportunities of compassion and understanding. These days, the world has become more colorful and the silences more melodic.

Putting it into Practice

Here are a few exercises to sharpen your eyes and ears:

• Try designating some time with a loved one without any distractions. Shut off your cell phone, don’t answer the email, and be only available to that person. Listen. Let them guide how you spend the time. Notice when you want to direct, comment or criticize.
• Choose a route you usually travel while on the phone or listening to something. Travel in silence. Is there an interesting doorknob on a house you never noticed? You might be surprised by all the details you usually overlook.
• Find an activity during which you usually multi-task. Eat breakfast over the paper? Check messages while you drink your coffee? Fold laundry while on the phone? Try doing one thing at a time. You might be surprised by what you learn about yourself and your routines.

Author Biography:
Ilana Rubenstein lives in Toronto where she studies and teaches.

[PhotoCredit:Lilyo]

Health Clinic Receives Grant from Kaiser

God just answered a prayer request for the Health Clinic by providing funding to expand and grow the free clinic.  Dr. Leonard Ranasinghe and the Medical Clinic team had requested a grant from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation to support growth of the clinic.  God answered their efforts and prayers with a $25,000 grant from the Kaiser foundation to help us continue our free medical services to the community.  Prayer works!

Blood Drive, Saturday, December 5th

Our next blood drive will be Saturday, December 5th, from 12:30 to 4:30.  Natomas Crossroads Church will be hosting another blood drive at our worship center.  In August, we had more than 40 individuals donate blood for the sick in our community.  Gary Myers and his son, Lucas, both weekly blood donors, have been organizing these blood drives for our church community.  It takes about an hour to complete the paperwork and wait to have your blood drawn.  But your hour of time is invaluable for those needing this valuable resource.

The Red Cross reports that more than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day, and over 4 million people each year receive a blood donation.  One out of every ten people admitted to the hospital need blood.  Join us in helping those in need and possibly saving a life.  The blood drive will is Saturday, December 5th, at our new worship location at 1101 National Drive, Suite A in Sacramento.  And, if you’d like, come earlier at 10:30 a.m. to join us for worship.

For more information on donating blood contact Gary Myers by email at gary(a)btcsac.com.

[PhotoCredit:Cayusa]

Wasting Time With God

Sometimes we get so caught up doing “good things” that we forget to the “best things” (at least I do). A few months ago I read a book by Klaus Issler called “Wasting Time With God”. I’ve spent 32 + years “serving” “ministering” and “doing”…SO, I figured it was time to “Waste Time With God”…and just hang out with Him for a while! I felt guilty at first, but I’m getting used to our early morning walks and talks together. I’m mad at myself (and some of my mentors for not telling me to do more of this earlier in my ministry!). How much time are you spending with God… just “Wasting Time With God?” It’s really worth the time..and effort…I promise!

Anyway, I read an article that made me think; and will hopefully make you think too. Take time to read it..if you’re not too busy…Glenn

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Thomas Merton wrote, “To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is itself to succumb to the violence of our times. Frenzy…destroys the fruitfulness of our work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.”

Perhaps the greatest assault against us living this life is the belief that we hold deeply in our heart about who we are, what we have to offer and how life works. This belief or image that has been formed over decades of interaction with our world has everything to do with the type of life we choose to live; in other words the plan that we form of how we will interact with our world. Prov. 20:5 says that “a plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out.”

Years ago I asked God to reveal to me what I truly believed about myself since He knows my heart better than me. Instantly, Radar O’Reilly in the TV series M.A.S.H. came to mind and it made complete sense. You see, Radar O’Reilly was accepted in the “player’s circle” because he could do things for them. He was needed for what he could do, not wanted for who he was; which had become my personal philosophy – the life-plan which had been scratched into my heart over the years. Therefore, my life was filled with trying to prove myself and earn my way into relational and work circles through carrying heavier loads and working longer hours. It was not a life of “noble simplicity and quiet grandeur”, but rather to have “succumb to the violence of our times” as Merton wrote.

Paul said that we can “exchange the truth of God for a lie” (Rom. 1:25) which is exactly what I had done because the lie remained in darkness unaddressed.

I confessed my accepting / agreeing with this lie, renouncing it and announcing the truth of scripture about my life.

Jesus said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31)

Peter wrote, “I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you… to stir you up by way of reminder.” (2 Peter 1:12)

Paul admonishes us to “stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth” (Eph. 6: 14)

Let us strenuously pursue this magnificent (lofty) and yet unpretentiousness (genuine), majestic (splendid) and yet unobtrusive (humble) life God has given us and called us to – that we my alter the world.

From The Noble Heart E-Letter by Gary Barkalow.

[PhotoCredit:bdgamer]

May 7th was the National Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 7 was the National Day of Prayer.  Believers gathered in various spots from the East Cost to the West Coast to pray for our nation-its leaders, its citizens, its economy…and more!

President Harry Truman first recognized the day in 1952.  Some states have organized events that heads of state attend. But we don’t need a special day, time or place to pray. It is part of the every day life of a Jesus-follower.  We can pray while getting ready for our day, driving to work, taking a lunch break or working out.

No matter where, we encourage you to get your day off to a great start by spending some time in prayer.  Connecting with God in this way gives a powerful boost to help handle whatever comes your way throughout the day.

Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.  ~Søren Kierkegaard

[Photo Credit:Kalandrakas]

Find Out What’s Happening

Wondering what’s going on at Natomas Crossroads Church?  Check out the Church Calendar under the Meet with Us tab. Since this datebook is just in the infancy stage, you’ll want to check back frequently for updates!

— Carol Moses

[Photo Credit:JoelAnman]

Financial Peace Classes

Natomas Crossroads Church is in the midst of Dave Ramsey’s 13-week course, Financial Peace.  This biblically-based accountability class is training our community to manage personal resources.  The class is taught by Dave Ramsey via DVD and is followed by small group discussions where members encourage each other to apply what they are learning.

Anyone is welcome to sit in on one class, free-of-charge. We meet Monday evenings for two hours, starting promptly at 6:30 PM.  To “get a taste” of what why we’re having fun and experiencing hope through this process, visit DaveRamsey.com and scroll down to “Useful Tools” (middle of page) and discover what will help you to experience peace with your finances.

[Photo Credits: _ES and aprayudhi]

Welcome to Our New Website

Thanks for visiting the new Natomas Crossroads Church website.  We hope you like what you find here.

We are always looking for better ways to reach more people, share church news and make new friends.  This new website allows you to find out about Crossroads Church, comment on things you read, and learn new things.  You can even read our church blog written by myself and a few friends.  I really hope you will return soon and see what new things we will be adding in the future.

Glenn

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