Little Children Dancing

“He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 18:2-3

Last week at Crossroads I was near the back of the worship center. I had a chance to watch everyone during the songs at the beginning of the worship service. All of the adults were standing and most were singing along with the worship team. One of the songs was a favorite of mine so I was singing along too. On one side a couple of people had a hand raised toward heaven. But most were just standing there and half the men had at least one hand in their pockets. It was all very nice, and well, orderly.

In the back of the worship center there was a completely different kind of worship happening. Several of the children were dancing around in large circles and singing. I’m not sure if they knew all the words, but they were singing just the same. Well, really they were half singing and half yelling out to God. And they were dancing. It was quite a difference from the adults up front that were standing sedately and singing the words in perfect cadence, if not quite perfect pitch.

For a while now I have been thinking about what Jesus said, that I have to become like a little child. I think it is so typical of many of the sayings Jesus left for us. Just when I think I have it figured out, I discover it might have had a second, or third, or fourth meaning. There are layers to what Jesus said when he was on Earth. Maybe this year I am ready to grasp a meaning that I wasn’t prepared to learn last year. Last week I was thinking again about what Jesus might have meant when he said I must become like a little child.

The children at Crossroads that morning were dancing about with a simple and pure joy that I long ago lost from my life. I suppose I decided that I have to grow up. I figured that little kids run and dance, but adults don’t do silly things like that. I guess I took it to heart when someone told me that adults are mature and measured as they live their lives. But what if Jesus was saying that I need to express joy in being close to God? What if God smiles when I try to dance and sing, just like a proud daddy watching his little girl at a ballet recital? What if God wants me to act younger at the same time I am learning to think older? I kind of think so. And that is going to be a hard thing for me to do because I have always been better at thinking than at playing. I’m not even sure where to start finding more joy in my life. Perhaps all of us adults need to find some of the kids, hold hands, and let them teach us how to dance in a circle. I think maybe God is starting to smile a little bit already.

[PhotoCredit:Richard Messenger & david.nathan.cox & adwriter]

“Esther – It’s Tough Being A Woman” Begins September 16

Monday, 6:00 – 8:30 pm  except Sept 16, Oct 7 & Nov 4 when we meet on Wednesday (so you can attend Healthy U on Monday)

Sept 16 – Nov 16, 2009

$25.00 registration fee - includes workbook, light supper, child care and DVD teaching by Beth Moore
 
Going up against heavyweights bent on her destruction, Esther trusted God and landed a blow that saved her people. The Old Testament story of Esther is a profile in courage and contains many modern parallels for today’s woman. Esther’s destiny can be yours as you know more deeply the God who is in your corner.

More details:  Nancy Sayers, 916.791.4892, nancy.sayers(a)gmail.com

“Intuitive Eating” Begins September 16

Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:00 pm

Sep 16 – Nov 18, 2009

$100 Registration Fee – includes study handouts, instruction by registered dietitian Stephanie Miguel

Intuitive eating is an approach that teaches you how to create a healthy relationship with your food, mind, and body–where you ultimately become the expert of your own body.   You learn how to distinguish between physical and emotional eating, and gain a sense of body wisdom.   It’s also a process of making peace with food—so that you no longer have constant “food worry” thoughts. It’s knowing that your health and your worth as a person does not change because you ate a so-called “bad” or “fattening” food. 

The class will cover 10 principles of intuitive eating, from the book,  Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD and Elyse Resch, MS, RD, FADA.

Evelyn Tribole is an award-winning dietitian with a counseling practice in Newport Beach, California. She was the nutrition expert for Good Morning America and qualified for the 1984 Olympic trials in the women’s marathon.

Elyse Resch has been in private practice in Beverly Hills as a nutrition therapist for 25 years, specializing in eating disorders and preventative nutrition. She is a certified child and adolescent obesity expert and was the treatment team nutritionist on the Eating Disorder Unit at Beverly Hills Medical Center. She is a Fellow of the American Dietetic Association and participates in organizations and activities that revolve around healthy lifestyle choices.

For more details, please contact Stephanie Miguel, 916.717.9163, stephmiguel(a)hotmail.com

[PhotoCredit:pink shebert & Geoff604]

Healthy U on September 14

Bronwyn Schweigerdt, MS

“Preventing and Reversing Diabetes”

 

Bronwyn Schweigerdt has a Master’s degree from Tufts University’s world-renowned School of Nutrition. Learn how to prevent and “undo” Type II diabetes by eating foods that naturally regulate insulin and glucose levels. You may be surprised to learn certain foods can dangerously increase insulin and glucose (hint: NOT carbohydrates), and where they’re found in the diet. If you are a diabetic or at risk of becoming one, this rarely heard info could greatly improve the quality of your life. The author of Baby Steps to Permanent Weight Loss is a college nutrition instructor and a popular public speaker who weaves humor into her presentation to discuss delicate topics, uses real life stories and gives practical, useful tools that can be integrated easily into everyday life. She is a newspaper contributing columnist and she works with Compassion International, promoting the health of needy children around the globe.

Dinner service begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the presentation at 7:00 p.m.  Please note the new location: 1101-A National Drive (southwest corner of National and North Market).  Space is limited and cost is $10 per person.  Please call 916-482-8123 for reservations by Friday, September 11.

“Strong Women – Soft Hearts” Begins September 12

Women’s Study in cultivating a wise heart & passionate life
     Saturday, Sept 12 – Nov 28, 2009
     $10.00 for book by speaker, author and professional counselor Paula Rinehart

This study will offer hope and help for you if…

• The day-to-day business of living has robbed you of passion & vitality.
• You sometimes find yourself wanting more—then feeling a little guilty because life isn’t supposed to be just about what you want.

This study will help you hear God’s call in your heart of hearts to follow him on the unpredictable, but exhilarating journey of life.  It will help you listen and say yes to that call to become the strong, wise, loving and fulfilled woman you were always meant to be.
 
More details:  Shirley White, 916.718.0786, ShirleyLWhite(a)hotmail.com

[PhotoCredit:Nganguyen]

Free Medical Clinic on September 5

Our free medical clinic is available to anyone with no health insurance or who cannot afford treatment.  Are you worried a lingering sore throat might be strep throat?  Are you diabetic and need help getting your blood sugar under control?  Do you need a prescription refill to take to the pharmacy?  Our medical staff will see patients 5 years old and up, and can help you with these types of basic medical care.

Quality medical care is provided for people who need it.  Friendly volunteers will greet you and help with the medical history form.  All of our clinic staff maintain the strictest standards for keeping medical records confidential between you and the doctor that will treat you.  Spanish translation is also available when necessary.

If you have any questions about the clinic you can reach one of our staff by calling 916-514-6163.  The staff can provide detailed information about the type of care provided at the clinic.

This is a recurring event that happens the first Saturday of each month from 1:00 to 6:00 pm.  The next several events will be: Sep 5, Oct 3, and Nov 7.

[PhotoCredit:Robert S Donovan]

Friday Prayer on September 4

Are you experiencing a hungering desire to know yourself better? To get closer to God?  To make a difference in your community?  These yearnings are inborn—yet it may take you years to appropriately identify them.  Once recognized, how do you deal with these longings, which leave you restlessly empty until satisfied?  Prayer!  Prayer moves you inward into personal transformation, upward toward intimacy with God, and outward to minister to others.

We will begin with a potluck dinner together at 6:30.  Following dinner, we will spend about an hour together in prayer and finish up around 8:00.

This is a recurring event that happens on the first and third Friday of each month at the Crossroads worship center.  The next several times: Sep 4, Sep 18, and Oct 2.

[PhotoCredit:prakhar]

On The Road Again

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.  Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to God just as he had done before.”  Daniel 6:10

This week I have been away from home on a business trip.  It is a part of my job to travel about four or five weeks each year.  Sometimes it is to go to meetings or a conference, but this week it was to coordinate some work with a colleague located in another state.  Sometimes it is just easier to get work done together and without the distractions of my phone ringing or new email messages arriving every few minutes.  So last Sunday I went down to the airport and caught a flight to Mississippi.  Tomorrow I will return home after a week away.

There are parts of traveling that I really enjoy.  I have been able to see some beautiful parts of America.  I have been able to enjoy regional cuisines that we do not have at home in California.  I have gotten to see how other people live differently, and possibly better than I do.

There are also things that are really hard about being away from home.  I have a routine when I am at home.  During breakfast I always read from my Bible.  I have a little book I use that has a scripture reading for each day, and also highlights different places in the world where missionaries are working to reach people with Gospel message.  I have a special time of prayer before I leave for work.  I usually take my meals alone so I have plenty of time for more than just saying Grace; I have time to actually talk with God.  In the evening I have yet more time to look at the scripture reading that my small group is studying and spend some time praying again.  While it isn’t a lot of time when I add it all up, it has become part of my routine over the last year and I do look forward to it.  I truly enjoy it and can’t imagine going back to life without it.

I must admit that my routine falls apart pretty quickly when I am traveling.  I always bring my Bible and I know I can pray to God from anywhere.  But somehow it just isn’t the same as being at home.  When I am eating with colleagues, I cut Grace down to just the bare minimum.  My Bible sits on the nightstand mostly untouched.  I hurry through my morning prayer time so I can get off and meet my colleagues earlier.  God was able to use Daniel in amazing ways during his lifetime.  I suspect God will have a hard time using me for anything more until I can learn to keep my routine with Him, even when it is inconvenient or I am out on the road.  Oh Jesus, how I wish I could be more consistent with You.

[PhotoCredit:drewski2112 & JacobEnos & Hvnly]

Friday Prayer on August 21

Some days prayer comes easy and you might wish you could just pray all day instead of going to work.  Other days prayer comes hard and you don’t know what to pray about, or even forget to pray.  We are all on a journey to learn more about prayer and what God wants to do in our lives.  Come along with us and see what God wants to do with you!  You are welcome to join and just listen.  You are welcome to bring into our group things that you are praying about.  We welcome your prayers with us and for us.  Together we experience more in our time together with God.  We will begin with a potluck dinner together at 6:30.  Following dinner, we will spend about an hour together in prayer and finish up around 8:00.

This is a recurring event that happens on the first and third Friday of each month at the Crossroads worship center.  The next several times: Aug 21, Sep 4, and Sep 18.

[PhotoCredit:BaronBrian]

Bible Reading and Prayer

February 15

<< Feb 14 | Feb 15 | Feb 16 >>

Morning

Who can say, “I have made my heart pure”?

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.—Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.—We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.—In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.—If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Prov. 20:9; Ps. 14:2, 3; Rom. 8:8; Rom. 7:18, 19; Isa. 64:6; Gal. 3:22; 2 Cor. 5:19; 1 John 1:8, 9 (Read full verses…)

Evening

The floods lift up their roaring.

Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!—O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.

“Do you not fear me? declares the Lord; Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass.”—“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”—When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Ps. 93:3; Ps. 93:4; Ps. 89:8, 9; Jer. 5:22; Isa. 43:2; Matt. 14:29-31; Ps. 56:3 (Read full verses…)

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