Back to Back Goodness!!!

Two DIFFERENT services!  Two SPECIAL messages!  Two DISTINCT sets of music!  Two opportunities to celebrate Christmas!  Two occasions to remember Christ’s birth!  I want to SEE you at both! 

Here are the details:

First:  Regular Weekend Services

Saturday, December 22 at 5pm and Sunday, December 23 at 9:15 & 11:15am

·         Regular Children’s programming at all 3 services

·         Following these 3 weekend services is the Winter Wonderland Experience.  You will want to bring your children’s snow gear. There will be SNOW for the kids and kids at heart, sledding and snowman making!

Second:  Christmas Eve Special Services

Sunday night, December 23 at 6pm

Monday, December 24 at 1:30, 3:00, 4:30 & 6 pm

·         Special Christmas Eve programming at these 5 services only

·         All Services are identical

·         Nursery and preschool children’s programming are available at all 5 services

·         Spanish Language & ASL Interpretation provided at 6pm service only

Back to back goodness.  Two times to celebrate and praise our Savior!  Invite someone.  Bring someone.  This is the time of the year to ask someone to come to church with you.  Give them the gift of the Good News!

I hope to see you the next couple of days at BOTH sets of services, the regular weekend services on Saturday or Sunday AND then at one of our Special Christmas Eve services!

Merry Christmas,

Tim Celek
Lead Pastor
The Crossing

Politics, Presidential Race & the 73 Freeway

Over 11 million people were riveted to their televisions or internet feeds this past week for round 2 of the presidential campaign sparring match between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.  Unfortunately or fortunately, I was not among those dissecting the candidates’ every word and move because I had a previous commitment.  However later that evening as I was channel-surfing, I did listen to a bit of the "post-game" analysis.  The decided winner was somewhat in question, depending on what network I landed on. 

If I had a dollar for every person who’s asked me how I'm voting or who I think is the best candidate, geez, I just might have enough green stuff to retire early.  I won't tip my hand as to how I’m voting, but what grieves me and doesn't surprise me is just how many people are looking for a "political" savior.  Almost seems like Old Testament times when people clamored for a king, when they had THE King right before their very eyes.  
 

Hey, politics and politicians can direct and even change laws, but ONLY the transformational power of God's Spirit can change a life and a heart.  Yes, I encourage you to vote.  It is a genuine privilege, one that I will not pass up!  However, let's be WAY more intentional about directing people to Jesus.  Ultimately, He is the ONLY WAY!
 

Finally, this weekend the 73 freeway will be closed.  Please make plans to use alternative routes because you will not want to miss this weekend at The Crossing.  The biblical guidance and direction during this series is rocking people's world.  Your positive feedback has been off the hook!  So be there this weekend, Saturday night at 5:30 pm or Sunday at 9:15 or 11:15 am.  So many of you are excited about this series that you are bring people with you.  Way to go!
 

Believe me, I KNOW God’s Spirit is going to move BIG TIME this weekend.  Do not miss out!  
 

Thanks for reading.  See you this weekend,

 
Tim Celek
Lead Pastor
The Crossing 

Roadkill, Resting and Relaxing Harley Riding

On a motorcycle you see, smell, and experience so many more things than in a car.  I am fascinated by how critters, skunks, squirrels, chipmunks, or deer will attempt to RUN across the road at the precise time I am whizzing by on our Harley.  Don't you dare worry!  All except the deer are generally harmless to the bike and myself.  I KNOW you were thinking about me and the bike, right?

Anyway, it’s always funny to see how these animals will scamper across the roadway. Some will stop and stare as if to say, "I dare you, go ahead and see if you can hit me!" For others, it's as if they're looking at a friend who they left on the side of the highway declaring, "Watch me, I can make it and nothing can touch me; I'm that fast!"  For others, it seems like they're running solo in life and they are thinking, "I just like to live on the edge.  I'm born to run.  Can't get enough of the adrenaline."

Now, I don't know enough about animals to know what is running through their puny minds, but often as I look at the various states of roadkill, I think to myself, "How sad; your life didn't need to end this way.  If only you hadn't run!"

Then I stop and think at the various times in my life where I was a runner.  Nope, not of the exercise variety. I'm speaking about running from something in life.  When I’m running fast and furious, the end result has never been positive, not at all.  I guess I could call it "human roadkill."  Yes, at times I've seen people who are "runners" physically die, but more often than not, that's not what takes place.  Human roadkill is when a part of us dies emotionally, spiritually or relationally because, in some fashion, we are running from God!

And we've ALL been there!  So I encourage you…make sure you come THIS WEEKEND to The Crossing.  I will be speaking in our new series, The Voice, on the life of Jonah.  That dude was a runner.  His story is our story.  He ended up as "human roadkill"; no physical death, but a haunting experience nonetheless.  His experience changed him forever.

I am counting on you being here this weekend.  I know God WILL speak to you and change YOU forever!  So join us Saturday night @ 5:30 p.m. or Sunday @ 9:15 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. By the way, this Saturday we're going to hold the Saturday service outside in the amphitheater.  Bring your beach chairs or blankets, some dinner if you'd like.  There will be food you can purchase at the service from  the following four traveling food trucks:  the Pit Stop Grill, Eat Em Up Truck, DesiAmigos or Mustach Mikes. Either day you come, I absolutely know you’ll be glad you did. 

See you this weekend, 

Tim Celek

Lead Pastor

The Crossing

It ONLY Happens Once a Year!

It does ONLY happen ONCE a Year!  No, I'm not referring to Cinco de Mayo, which is this Saturday or School Makeovers or Mother's Day which is the following weekend or even our Women's Retreat which is taking place in June.  

And no, I'm not talking about the end of JOYRIDE, our series in Philippians, this weekend or Made to Stick, the new series that launches next weekend.  

I am talking about the OC Marathon.  It is THIS weekend, specifically on Sunday.  Most of us are not running, maybe we should be, but that's another story.  I mention it because the traffic in and around The Crossing could be a bit congested. Therefore, look over the link of the road closures and create a plan to get to The Crossing earlier than normal.  

I guarantee you, this weekend is going to be good!  So don't miss out, Sunday at 9:15 & 11:15 a.m.  Don't let the traffic deter or delay you.  Or come on Saturday night where we kick things off at 5:30 p.m.

Have a stellar weekend, 

Tim Celek

Lead Pastor

The Crossing

It's that TIME of year!

It's that TIME of year!  The days aren't technically longer, yet there's increasing amounts of daylight at the end of the day to enjoy.  I absolutely love it!  More time to enjoy a longer motorcycle ride with Sue and with friends.  More daylight hours!  

What do you like to do?  Go to the beach, then do it!  Go hang out at an outdoor coffee shop, then do it!  Go for a run or a walk, then do it!  My hope is that you will not only enjoy the extended time of daylight this Sunday, but also over the course of the next few months.  In fact, I'd encourage you to ask someone to go with you to the beach or for a  walk or to the coffee shop .  Make it a party!  

Before I end, I want to thank you for being a part of The Crossing Church family.  These past months have been off the charts in terms of ministry movement.  We have seen powerful examples of God's work in the lives of thousands.  I would encourage you to join in the fun this weekend at The Crossing.  We are in the middle of a series titled, Hope Lives.  We are giving great thought to  God's heart for people, both locally and globally.  This weekend is going to be off the hook!

See you this weekend,

Tim Celek

Lead Pastor
The Crossing
Facebook: Tim Celek

P. S. Make sure to set your clocks ahead on Saturday night so you don't miss out on all the exciting happenings at The Crossing on Sunday morning at 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.

Full Disclosure, I want to get rid of certain parts of the Bible

Allow me to be fully disclosing; there are some people I have no problem "loving" and then there are others who I find it difficult to "love."  How about you?  One more thing since I'm bearing my soul, there are times in my life where I wish I could cut "certain parts" out of the Bible.  The reason being, I just don't want to be accountable for those parts and/or passages because of how it gets at my character or activities or judgements.  
 

One such Bible passage is Luke 10:25-37.  You might know it, not like you could quote it or anything, but you may have heard it referred to at times.  I've heard its phraseology used in movies, TV shows, magazine articles, in general conversations, when someone says, "Now there's a Good Samaritan!"   

No doubt you could be thinking right about now, "Tim, you're sick.  You want to cut THAT passage from the Bible?  Why would anyone want to do such a thing?  It's a classic.  The Samaritan dude went out of his way and totally demonstrated specific care for someone.  How can you not want that for yourself?"

I get it.  I can understand how you would think that way.  I'm just being honest with you, that's all.  This story destroys me EVERY time.  First, there are three guys in this story. More often than not, I'm like the first two folks.  Yikes!  And even when I'm a bit like the third guy, the Samaritan, I'm not really like him.  I want to limit my involvement in time, in effort, in cost.  I just don't like the story.  I mean, I do, but I don't.  I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. 

So it might seem odd to you, when I tell you that this weekend (February 25 & 26), I'm going to teach from this passage of the Bible, Luke10:25-37.  I am asking that you read it over before you come to TheCrossing this weekend.  Even though I'd prefer to cut it out because I don't really like what Jesus said, I need to hear it; but not just hear it, I need to get it and live it!  This weekend, Saturday night at 5:30 pm or Sunday morning at 9:15 & 11:15 am, I am asking you to join me as we learn together some of the harder stuff of life.

See you at The Crossing,

Tim Celek

Lead Pastor
The Crossing website: thecrossing.com
Facebook: Tim Celek