The View From Up High

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.  Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  2 Corinthians 5:16-17

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year.  A good cup of coffee tastes even better when it is enjoyed on a crisp morning.  It is nice to take a walk on a warm afternoon and feel the sun on my face a few more times before winter descends.  Fall is a time to get out my sweaters, find the flannel sheets for the bed, and rediscover my love of persimmons.  I will even admit that I like driving down a street with lots of fallen leaves on the ground, then looking in my rearview mirror to see them swirling in my wake.

By far the best part of fall is seeing all the trees turn beautiful colors.  There are maples turning red, oaks fading to ocher, and ginkgos becoming a lively yellow.  I like trees in fall colors so much that I have a picture hanging above my couch of Quaking Aspens in splendid autumn gold.  A few weeks ago I went to the mountains to take a walk through some Aspen groves and came home disappointed they were still mostly green.  If I could I would go every day just to watch the trees slowly fade from green to yellow to gold before finally falling to the ground.

A row of maple trees stands in front of my home.  During the summer the leaves are a wonderful shade of deep green.  Even now as I walk down the sidewalk to the mailbox, all I can see are green leaves everywhere above my head.  It seems the trees haven’t gotten the message yet that the days are shorter, the nights are cooler, and good trees should be turning colors for fall.  When I go upstairs to my bedroom though, I can see something more.  From my bedroom window I look down on the maple trees.  From that view I can see red leaves on the top of each tree.  You would never know it standing out on the sidewalk and looking up through the branches.  But nevertheless the red leaves are there on top even if they can only be seen from above.

I was looking down at the maple trees a couple of days ago when my thoughts started wandering to something else.  Sometimes I have days or weeks or even whole months when I feel like I am not making any progress at all in my spiritual life.  I may even start to feel like I am loosing the growth I had previously obtained.  It is easy for me to get discouraged if I don’t see regular progress.  I can even start to get self conscious and wonder if other people at church or at work can see what I sense inside, that my spiritual life is slipping.

Looking at those trees from high up at my bedroom window got me to thinking about what God sees when He looks down at me.  I realized that God doesn’t see me the way I look at other people or the way I look at myself in the mirror.  God looks at me from up high.  Is it possible that even when I don’t think my spiritual life is doing very well, that God looks down and doesn’t see that at all?  Maybe the only thing God chooses to see is the bit of growth I have managed to eek out.  The longer I do this spiritual life, the more I realize that I am my own worst enemy.  God loves me and He loves you too.  He sees the best that I am, and the even better person I am becoming through His grace.  Now I just need His help to let that idea change how I see myself.

[PhotoCredit:Unsharp Mask & jondejong & jpctalbot]

Free Medical Clinic on December 5

Our free medical clinic is available to anyone with no health insurance or who cannot afford treatment. If you have insurance, please use it so that this free clinic can be for people who have no other access to a doctor.

Are you worried a lingering sore throat might be strep throat? Are you diabetic and need help getting your blood sugar under control? Are you worried about cholesterole? 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.

This month we have three health care providers for the clinic. This means we will be able to register 60 patients to be seen. Additional patients will be accepted at the end of the day if there is time available. We are sorry to limit the number of patients the doctors see, but we also want to provide quality care and that takes time. We hope you understand.

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: Dec 5, Jan 2, and Feb 6.

[PhotoCredit:Robert S Donovan]

Blood Drive on December 5

Giving blood is one of the most generous gifts a human being can give to another.  Every day hundreds of people in our region need blood.  We often think first of victims from an auto crash or a traumatic industrial accident.  We imagine doctors in the emergency room working frantically and calling for blood to save a life.  However, many more people also need transfusions including: burn patients, those fighting cancer and leukemia, many premature babies, those going for heart surgery, and organ transplant recipients.  All of these people will need blood or products extracted from donated blood in order to survive.  It is not an exaggeration to say that regularly donating blood means you will accumulate a list of anonymous people that are alive only because you decided to give the gift of life.

Crossroads Church organizes blood drives in conjunction with BloodSource.  The drives happen on a regular schedule at the frequency recommended by doctors as healthy for donors.  We provide a safe and welcoming place to give blood, often with extra special refreshments.  Medical staff from BloodSource take you through the process of donating.  We think you will find it a very worthwhile and gratifying experience.  The blood drive will begin at 12:30pm in our our worship center located at 1101 National Dr and will conclude at 4:30pm.

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

[PhotoCredit:makelessnoise]

Christmas Concert on December 4

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care is a local provider of care for people near the end of their lives.  Their mission is, “To preserve the quality of life for those who have a limited time to live.”  They also support the family who supports the patient with a benevolent foundation.

This Christams Concert will feature seasonal orchestral music.  Desserts will be served as well.  The event is free and open to the community.  All donations received during the concert will benefit the Foundation for End-of-Life Care.  The concert will begin at 6:30pm at 1101 National Dr, Suite A.

[PhotoCredit:divemasterking2000]

Friday Prayer on December 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: Dec 4, Dec 18, and Jan 1.

[PhotoCredit:dottorpeni]

Friday Prayer on November 20

Is it possible to have too much prayer in your life? We don’t know yet. So far we haven’t prayed enough to run out of things to talk about with God! This coming Friday evening we will meet together for a simple meal at 6:30pm, followed by prayer until about 8:00pm. If you have never prayed in a group before, you are welcome to join us and just observe quietly. If you have something personal that you want to pray about among friends, we will gladly join in praying with you and for you. At Crossroads we are on a journey of learning what it means to pray to God and hear what He has to say to us. Please consider coming along with us!

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: Nov 20, Dec 4, and Dec 18.

[PhotoCredit:Grant MacDonald]

Not What I Expected

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23

This last week I used a half day of vacation to stay home from work.  My home builder was scheduled to send out workmen to repair several items that were just not quite right.  I was expecting a carpet layer to come and fix the carpet in the living room where it had come loose on one side.  I was expecting a painter to come and fix a problem on a wall.  Finally, I was expecting a cabinet installer to come and either fix or replace one of my cabinet drawers.  I lay in bed a little longer that morning relishing the extra time to start my day.  I finished my breakfast expectantly, knowing the workmen could arrive anytime after 8am.  Soon it was mid-morning and none had arrived.  Then it was time to make lunch and still none had arrived.  I finally left for work at noon, with not one of the workmen arriving as promised.

Later in the week my car was at the auto detailer for a complete cleaning inside and out.  It is something that I get done once a year since I never have figured out how to properly wax a car.  The steam cleaning inside gets out all the dirt I get in when I am camping or just hauling things around.  I dropped my car off in the morning before work.  As the afternoon drew to a close I was looking forward to seeing it all clean and shiny again.  When I arrived to pick it up, the man in charge very directly reported that a piece of trim in the front seating area has been accidentally destroyed during steam cleaning.  I was disappointed that now two things had gone wrong during the week.

In both cases I had to make a decision about how to respond.  In the first case I felt like I had wasted four perfectly good hours of vacation time sitting at home waiting for workmen that never came.  I could have used that time to go hiking or visit family or take a vacation.  I had every right to be angry about the lack of respect for my valuable time.  In the second case I had a hard time understanding how simple steam cleaning could lead to a piece of broken trim.  The men cleaning my car just needed to show a little care and concern for what belonged to me.

I could have responded by getting mad, demanding to talk to a manger, and yelling a little until I got what I wanted in each situation.  I sure am glad that I didn’t do that.  I later received a phone call from my home builder apologizing profusely for the workmen never arriving.  He explained that he had written my work items in the wrong month on his calendar.  He rescheduled for one week in the future, and promised to call two days before to confirm.  What is more, he made an unsolicited offer to come and personally supervise the workmen scheduled to complete the repairs.  When I picked up my car, the man in charge showed me my clean car, and pointed out the broken part.  It was partially hidden and I probably wouldn’t have noticed for days or even weeks if he hadn’t mentioned it.  But he did mention it and without my asking, offered to order a replacement and get it to me within a week.

I must confess that I have become pretty jaded from all my past dealings with home builders, auto mechanics, travel agents, and salesmen.  I often go into a business transaction assuming the other person is trying to rip me off and make an extra buck for himself in the deal.  I am on high alert for anything that looks like me getting less than I deserve.  This last week was not like that at all.  To my shame, I was treated more than fairly as two different people did everything in their power to make it right when I got less than their best.  Next time I make a mistake or cause an accident I will have to try and follow their example.

[PhotoCredit:sparktography & iboy_daniel]

Fortune Cookies From God

“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ”  Jeremiah 29:11

I think that one of the best things about living in California is the chance to enjoy so many varieties of ethnic food.  I especially enjoy the variety of foods we have from Asia.  I truly am a sucker for a good Vietnamese spring roll.  I like all kinds of Thai food, so long as it has a peanut sauce or a red curry drenching it.  On a night when I need something light, a nice Japanese Maki roll can sure hit the spot.  My favorite neighborhood place is a Chinese restaurant around the block.  The combination of always-fresh vegetables from local fields and recent emigrants eager to share tastes from their home country is very satisfying indeed.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the meal is the very end when the fortune cookies arrive.  I don’t know exactly who invented the fortune cookie, but I think it must have been a person who was a better entertainer than chef.  There is nothing quite so fun as finishing dinner with a group of close friends and then going around the circle.  Each person cracks open their fortune cookie and reads the little paper out loud to the group.  Usually the fortune is so general that every one just laughs at it.  “Good luck will arrive unexpectedly.”  “You will soon meet a new friend.”  The fortune is so broad that it is guaranteed to come true.

There are times that speaking with God feels to me like cracking open a fortune cookie.  I remember one time when I had been praying about something particularly important to me, something that I had prayed about many times.  A few hours later I had a fleeting sense that God was going to grant my request at some time in the future.  Years later I was still praying about the same unfulfilled request.  I reminded God of what I thought He had told me so long before.  I asked how much longer I would have to wait for it.  I had a sense that the answer was “soon.”  It is probably the only time I have laughed during prayer because I remembered that Jesus told His disciples that He would return “soon.”

I used to get frustrated with God because I felt like I was praying and He wasn’t listening.  As I have grown in my relationship with God and in my ability to pray, I understand now that I only felt He wasn’t listening because I didn’t hear Him speaking back to me.  Today there are times when I sense His voice… at least I think I am hearing His voice.  Then I start to get doubts.  I begin to wonder if I am turning my own desires into words from God, kind of like reading a fortune cookie and forcing it to fit current events in my life.  I suppose that wondering if I am hearing God is progress since I used to think He wasn’t even listening.  Now I know that God is listening.  Instead of hearing His voice, more often than not I have the sense that He is trying to speak to me but I just don’t get it.  From time to time my heart gets into just the right alignment with God and a few words from Him break through into my consciousness.  Perhaps in a few more years my ears will be better tuned to hear His words to me.

[PhotoCredit:Greencolander & bingbing & zzzack ]

Love & Respect on November 13-15

Researchers and counselors affirm it, and the Bible has been saying it for ages. Cracking the communication code between husband and wife involves understanding one thing: that unconditional respect is as powerful for him as unconditional love is for her. It’s the secret to marriage that every couple seeks—and they are discovering it at Love and Respect conferences all over the country.  Natomas Crossroads Church will host a video conference on Friday, Saturday, and Saturday, November 13th to 15th.  At this conference you’ll learn how to:

• Stop the Crazy Cycle of conflict.
• Initiate the Energizing Cycle of change.
• Enjoy the Rewarded Cycle of new passion.

If you’re ready to enjoy marriage as God intended, plan now to attend this conference! Cost: $50 per person or $95 per couple.  This includes your conference workbooks and child care.  Also included are meals: Friday dinner, Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner, and Sunday brunch. Registration: Download the registration form here and submit it to Lisa Myers. For additional information contact: Lisa Myers by email Lisa(a)btcsac.com or you can call her at 916-480-9904 if you do not have email.

Free Medical Clinic on November 7

Our free medical clinic is available to anyone with no health insurance or who cannot afford treatment.  If you have insurance, please use it so that this free clinic can be for people who have no other access to a doctor.

Are you worried a lingering sore throat might be strep throat?  Are you diabetic and need help getting your blood sugar under control?  Are you worried about cholesterole?  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.

This month we have three health care providers for the clinic.  This means we will be able to register 60 patients to be seen.  Additional patients will be accepted at the end of the day if there is time available.  We are sorry to limit the number of patients the doctors see, but we also want to provide quality care and that takes time.  We hope you understand.

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: Nov 7, Dec 5, and Jan 2.

[PhotoCredit:respres]

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