Crossway Life

I am always on the hunt for new tunes.  The thrill of the hunt for me is driven by the joy of music, driven by the desire to grow as a songwriter and driven by the hope of finding new songs to use for Sunday morning worship.

One can get absolutely lost in the flood of new CD releases (which ones are any good?  how can I possibly wade through all this?)  Anytime someone provides a suggestion to check out this band or that song, it is a big help.

Recently someone suggested to check out several songs from songwriter/worship leader Chris Tomlin, from his new album “Hello Love“. I found several wonderfully written songs on the album, including a few that we may introduce in worship in the months ahead.  My personal favorite is the song that I hope to share on Easter Sunday: “I Will Rise“.

Ah, the thrill of the hunt.  Have you stumbled on anything lately?

Few things are more disconcerting to me than to have someone angry with me. During my years as a contractor I would, from time to time, encounter a customer whose anger would flare at me. Once I remember doing an estimate for a customer who had just bought a home. Since he was not living in it at the time, he gave me the key to let myself in. Upon finishing for the day I left leaving the back door wide open. I was oblivious to my mistake. Later that evening I received an irate call from the homeowner who was furious. At first I didn’t know what he was angry about, but then it slowly dawned on me what I had done. I was guilty and without excuse. As I apologized profusely, I winched uncomfortably as I absorbed his wrath.

How often do we live our lives oblivious to our own sin? Sin that is incredibly dangerous and arouses the just anger of God. It’s like living in a home with a permanent gas leak. At any moment the whole house could blow up because of one spark. Sin is so serious that if nothing is done it will bring upon us God’s full fury. Heb. 3:10-11.

Whether we know it or not, God’s anger toward us is our biggest problem. It is not something any of us can avoid. Fortunately and for our sake, God the Father has taken our sinful condition seriously. He foresaw our predicament and sent his son Jesus to die on the cross so that “through a single offering he could perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” Heb. 10:14.

This Easter I want to take the time to remember that the most influential person in the whole world is not angry with me because of what His Son has done for me on the cross.

photo by leviathor

Every Friday features a post from one of our pastor’s wives specifically for the women of Crossway Church.

Cindy Michaels. The name may not mean anything to you, but I would have loved for you ALL to have known her, and as I told some friends at her funeral last Saturday, she is a woman I want to be like when I grow up!

Kurt and I got to know Paul and Cindy Michaels as the guys were attending the Sovereign Grace Ministries’ Pastor’s College three years ago. After Pastor’s College, Paul and Cindy returned to Living Hope Church in Harrisburg to serve the church there.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Live life with eternity in view.” But this was something I really didn’t understand the meaning of until recently, as I saw that my dear friend, Cindy truly knew how to do it!

As Paul said last Saturday of his wife, “She was an extraordinary woman!” She experienced both life and death with eternity in full view. This was obvious in the way she approached all of life. I could go on and on with an extensive list of the ways she did this, but I’m just going to highlight two that affect me greatly: her mothering and her dying.

Paul and Cindy had three children, all now young adults, and just hours after she passed, Paul was sitting with them at their dinner table, and asked them what they remembered most about their mother. “She was so gentle and kind”, was ALL of their response! WOW! This was not just a response of grieving children, but was an accurate description of this woman’s dealings as a mother. How do I know this? Because she was ‘so gentle and kind’ in literally ALL she did, so to believe that she was that to her children was simple! Paul even commented that she “killed him with kindness”. Cindy’s life was marked by gentleness and kindness. Cindy also knew how to COMPLETELY leave her children in the hands of God. Over the last few years, they saw many difficult times with their children, and Cindy’s quick and faith-filled response of, “God will have His way,” provoked me more than I can say. She knew that the Holy and Just God was the One with the power to change and save, not her, and she could leave it all to Him!

As Cindy faced death, she did so with joy. Did I say joy? Yes, actually joy! I got to spend some time with her recently, and found that even though she was suffering immensely, she never complained, and actually said with a gentle smile, “Hey, I’m in a win-win situation! If God chooses to heal me and give me more years, I win, and if I get to go be with Him without any more suffering or sin, I win! She truly could not wait to see her Savior face to face. It was unlike anything I have EVER seen!

So, how could Cindy really be this way? It seems completely unattainable when I struggle with anger toward my children daily, and know the inner battle between the desire to live here on earth, and the desire to be with God. I firmly believe it was Cindy’s love for the Gospel and Scripture that brought these things into proper view for her. This was a woman who made time for God’s Word, and loved that time. So, when faced with temptation, she had the perfect weapon already in her hand- “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”(Eph. 6:17) So, my desire, by God’s grace, is to learn to love God’s Word more, and have it in my soul, and I am so grateful to God, and my dear friend, Cindy, for reminding me that, “…for me, it is good to be near God” (Psalm 73:28), for it is there that I truly live with eternity in view!

I will miss my dear friend greatly, but I know she is rejoicing with the Savior, and, ladies, I’m excited to get to introduce you all to her there!

On Tuesday, in his final installment of a 4 part interview with David Powlison, CJ asked the following question. I thought David’s answer was particularly discerning in how he juxtapositioned the place of evil in relation to the gospel.

Where in ministry are you most regularly tempted to discouragement?

“I don’t tend to get discouraged in ministry. I think that I was convinced early on that evil is incomprehensibly deep and tangled, and that life is shadowed by death. The fewer the illusions, the less prone to disillusionment. Jesus came for all this sin and suffering, continues to enter in with light, mercy and power into imperfect and broken lives, will return to make right all that is wrong. “Tis mercy all, immense and free….” Kyrie eleison.

I do get discouraged simply as a man, by my own shortcomings, lovelessness, and weakness …. But time after time the place of discouragement has become the door for the mercies of Jesus to delight and refresh me.”

You can read the entire interviews here.

The Millersville care group is led by David Howell, who is strongly supported by his wife Becky.  Corporate meetings are held at the Howell’s home in Millersville.  Despite our name and meeting location, we’re really a city care group at heart as all of our members reside in Lancaster City.  The members of our group include Joel & Sheila Ginder, Josh & Bekah Landis, Travis & Sharon Martin, Michael & Kara Miller, and Lane & Lori Randolph.  The group was formed 5-years ago with a focus on young married couples.  Since that time we’ve transitioned to a group of married couples with young children.  Seven children have been born into our care group over the past 2-years and there are eleven children total.

Having couples that are experiencing the same seasons of life together has been a joy and strength of the group.  In addition to creating some funny moments, having this commonality has provided a sense that we are all walking out this Christian life together and God has used it to bring us close.  One very practical example is the unity of motherhood within the group. Since the babies started arriving, the women in the group have become a go-to source for one another on pregnancy and child rearing issues.

This past fall the Martins became members of Crossway and were added to our care group.  It is to the group’s benefit that we have added a couple that loves to relate to God’s people and has experienced more of life, marriage, and parenting than the rest of us.

If you were to join us for a meeting, you would quickly realize that it is open season on anything foolish the guys say or do.  It’s great to laugh with each other, and more than that, there’s something good about the people who know you best helping you to take yourself lightly.  It seems to pave the way for honest & humble sharing, which stands out beyond the joking.  To that end we honor the Lane and Lori Randolph for their example of how to live in the light.  The Randolphs really seem to understand the fact that God uses others to help us grow, and they consistently take advantage of the Lord’s design for biblical fellowship by repeatedly opening their lives to the group.  They are quick to share, and they share specifically. They also take to heart the encouragement of those around them.  As a result, you can see God’s grace at work in their lives.

In the life of the church, there should be few more soul-stirring moments than witnessing a baptism.  Just this Sunday evening, five people of varied ages and life-experiences stepped into the water in obedience to the Savior’s command.  During these moments, the grace that brings salvation from sin and enables dedication is palpable – God has brought these five folks, and all the rest of us, into his family by his mighty, saving arm.  What a cause for the church to gather and rejoice!  As I reflect on Sunday’s evening service and the saving grace that brought these 5 people into the waters of baptism, the words of Jesus come to my mind:

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10)

Christ’s words are very convicting to me.  What brings me joy in this life?  The kind that causes angels in heaven to dance?  Does the observing of unbelievers made Christians by the sheer, miracle-working grace of God stir me to leap and dance?

I believe God would have me to share in that joy.  If ever my status is unmoved by sinners repenting, then I can be assured that the Holy Spirit will be adding discipline and sanctification to my life – all for my joy.

Last night we celebrated the baptism of 5 new believers as they publicly declared their resolve to forsake sin and follow Jesus. At Grace Baptist Church on Marietta Avenue in Lancaster, Crossway members and the family and friends of Peter Wenger, Rosa Falcon, Andrew & Kim Goslin, and Jimmy Leonards gathered to witness their baptism.

Peter Privitera instructed those present in the significance of baptism to the new believer and Doug Plank lead in worship. It was a joyful and moving evening as the participants each shared personal aspects of their coming to faith in Jesus Christ.

Peter Wenger

Rosa Falcon

Andrew Goslin

Kim Goslin

Jimmy Leonards