Special New Year's Weekend at The Crossing

Christmas is now past. In fact, I hope your Christmas was spectacular. No, not because you received some incredible present or gift, but because you were able to celebrate Jesus. Our 6 Christmas services were amazing. God moved. People were touched. The name of Jesus was made famous.

Christmas is over which means we are just days away from another New Year. I must confess, I'm not all that into the drop of the ball or the reverie of a late night/early morning party. However, I am giving great thought to some important questions like, "How will I be different at the end of 2012?" Or "Where in my life do I need to yield more of me to become more like Him(Jesus)?"

I don't desire to repeat another year…all over again, as the same person I am today. Yet unfortunately some folks do. They won't be another year wiser personally, or richer relationally or spiritually more mature. I am sure you're wanting to be different 365 from now. Here's how…

There are all kinds of reasons why it would be easy to blow off church at The Crossing the weekend of December 31/January 1, but don't do it! To start the new year, I have a special New Year's message just for you (it's for me, too). The times are Saturday, December 31 at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday morning at 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. Come before going out on New Year's Eve or bring your coffee and I'll see you in the morning, either way, stop by. I guarantee you, you'll be glad you did.

Happy New Year,

Tim Celek
Lead Pastor
The Crossing

Christmas Services at The Crossing

Why wrap gifts and presents? I mean, really. Nobody cares about the wrapping. Almost immediately it goes in the trash. I don't get it.

And before you go off on me, thinking I'm some sort of Scrooge or Grinch, I'm not, I love Christmas. I love to give to gifts. It is so fun to give. I've just always struggled with the wrapping paper. I just as soon give my gifts in the paper bag or the plastic bag from the department store. It's what's inside that counts, right?

However, there IS one gift given that I am so glad came in special wrapping. This particular gift is Jesus. He was wrapped in skin. It sounds a bit weird to say it that way, but it is true. Because He came in human form, He can relate to us. "Wow," is about all I can say…and "thank you, Lord!"

This coming, Thursday, Friday, Saturday…we will be celebrating God's gift to humanity. I'm looking forward to seeing you at one of our Christmas services.

Merry Christmas,

Tim Celek
Lead Pastor
The Crossing

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Wouldn't it be awesome if some of that cold white stuff made it's way to Orange County? Some of you might think so, while others wouldn't be all that thrilled. However there is something we CAN get excited over, the arrival of Jesus. Yet with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, many get more amped in preparing for the killer deals, instead of planning for the advent of the SAVIOR of the world.

At The Crossing we are taking the entire month of December to ready ourselves spiritually, personally, and relationally for Christmas! I promise you it IS going to be a great month. We kick things off this weekend, December 3 & 4. DO NOT miss out! I GUARANTEE you, you'll be encouraged. I PROMISE you, you'll be refreshed. I ASSURE you, you'll be energized.

At The Crossing, we are seeking to recapture a bit of the startling and astounding GOOD NEWS proclaimed that very first Christmas. So I urge you, set aside each weekend during this often chaotic and hectic month to celebrate Jesus with us at The Crossing. I am praying BIG prayers that you will meet Jesus in new and fresh ways over the next 30 days.

Making Jesus Famous,

Tim Celek
Lead Pastor
The Crossing

Time Change Weekend, "Fall Back!"

Yippee, this weekend we get what will seem like one more HUGE hour of sleep on Sunday.  This, quite possibly, is the best weekend of the year; sorry it's due to such shallow reasoning.

Being from the Midwest, this has always been my favorite time of the year.  Through the months of autumn, September, October and the beginning of November, the colors of leaves were often vibrant and the air crisp.  The leaves would fall and we'd rake them into incredibly large piles and proceed to dive into them while catching football after football after football.  Fun times, great memories!  So. Cal. is a bit different, but I enjoy Fall just as well.  I appreciate the change in temperature and the soon coming winter rains.

This weekend is going to be OFF the CHARTS!  Such amazing feedback from last week as I shared the speaking with Sue, my bride.  Thanks!  We have 3 more weeks of this series, Sex, Dating, Mating.  I promise you, you do not want to miss any one of the three.

Come Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. and sleep in on Sunday!  Or after that wonderful one hour of elongated slumber, attend on Sunday at 9:15 or 11:15 a.m.  The next two weekends we will dive into the book of the Song of Solomon.  If you've never engaged much with these chapters in the Old Testament, I can tell you from experience it's amazing that God gave us the gift of these words.  It's really clear, sex IS His idea.

So whether it's Saturday or Sunday, I look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Tim Celek

Lead Pastor
The Crossing

A Great Beginning

It's quite difficult to not put "sex" in the subject line of this email, but then your spam filters would kick it into junk mail and that would not be a good thing. However, it is a good thing that we are talking about sex in the church, after all, it's all around us; magazines, internet, TV, movies and advertisements.  It's about time the church discusses it, since God is the author of our sexuality.

In just one week, the buzz is huge.  So DO NOT MISS this weekend!  Just to remind you, we have service times on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday morning at 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.  We have children's (nursery – 5th grade) programming and Junior High (6th –8th grade) at all 3 service times.  

What is amazing is how often in the realm of relationships we'll "settle" or compromise.  I see it more so with women.  Often someone is looking for "Mr. Right," but they settle for "Mr. Right Now."  This compromise only leads to hurt, emotional drama and trauma.  God DOES have something better in store.  

Ultimately, what a man AND a woman desire is intimacy.  Yet, societally we have substituted sex, something easily obtainable, for that which seems elusive, deep intimacy with another human being.  Do not miss this weekend as we continue to unpack timeless truth from God's Word.  Plus, bring a friend!  

See you this weekend,

Tim Celek

Lead Pastor
The Crossing 

New Weekend Series at The Crossing

It's every where; television, internet, magazines, movies and NOW at The Crossing.  We are launching a new series, "Sex, Dating, Mating."  Someone asked me, "Why in the world would you talk about these things in church?"  I said, "Because God talks about it and He talks about it A LOT.”

Plus, the world we live in is consumed with it.  Think about it.  Movies like, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, What Woman Want, Hitch, There's Something About Mary, The Proposal, Knocked Up, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,  He's Just Not that Into You, Crazy Stupid Love, No Strings Attached, etc., etc., capture audiences with plots about dating, marriage and the intricacies of sex.  The escapades displayed in movies such as these and more have become the classrooms where the vast majority of culture takes their cues.

God desires incredible marriages, but unfortunately faulty foundations for marital unions are poured during the days of dating.  Check out this 7 week series beginning this weekend.  The series will be provocative and will cause you to think.  This series could irritate.  In fact, I'll go even further, it may just change your life.  You do not want to miss it.  Bring a friend, you will be glad you did!

See you this weekend,

Tim Celek

Lead Pastor
The Crossing

P.S. See you Friday night, October 7, at fan-ta-bu-lous on the campus of The Crossing.  Get there early.  The pre-program begins at 6:30; the main event starts at 7 p.m.