We stopped in at the Jackson, MI Culver’s. The frozen custard is worth the trip (bring on the carmel cashew. Bet that one shows up in heaven), but I also discovered something pretty radical. There were kids everywhere, but absolutely no clowns, animated characters, indoor playgrounds, or royal crowns. Is it possible that even kids can be satisfied with nothing more than great quality eats?
Does this raise anything about our church’s strategies with children?
I tend to think of forgiveness as an event. Like: “I forgive you. Now it’s done.” My box has been expanded, pushed around by the PA Amish community’s response to the recent murders of 5 school-aged girls.
Jenny Schroedel wonders how an entire community can forgive so quickly. Is it because they understand forgiveness in a different way? Possibly. She notes in a recent column that Amish people view forgiveness as a lifestyle, not simply as an act. Living forgiveness makes an act of forgiving far more possible, even in the face of the horrific. Seventy-seven times forgiveness. I can’t see any other way to do it.
Our Crossroads “Women Who Worship” serving team organized and conducted a women’s retreat this past weekend. (They were very strategic in topics tied to our weekend main stage and in developing next steps for attendees following the retreat. It’s the do more with less philosophy we’re embracing here.)
What do you think of this?
Our Senior Pastor, Scott Winstead, leaves for 6 weeks this summer. Our Executive Minister, Rick Mink takes his vacations. Kyle Mitchel, Pastor of Students, Pete Bishop, Pastor of Technology, myself : likewise. No surprise, right? Business as usual and nary a blip on the office disturbance radar. But, send the ladies to an overnight power retreat and we see who the real Crossroads movers and shakers are. The church office has to shut down for an entire afternoon.
Wendy, Tracey, Faythe, Shari, and Laura – what would Crossroads do without you?! I’m glad I’m on your teams!
