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.

Bald Tires & Bad Brakes

Most of you know that my wife, Sue, and I have been on a Harley riding journey through Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and now as I write this, Utah.

However, this weekend, I will be at The Crossing. I'm really looking forward to it!

In regards to this road trip, the memories are many. The arguments are few. The sights are most often supernatural. Yet, the one thing that I can't get away from daily are the decisions I have to make.

Sue and I marvel at how the decisions that I'm constantly choosing between are often, no joke, between life and death. I've had to make decisions in the middle of severe lighting storms, as well as, while looking at the radar of what might be heading into our path. Decisions to stop, speed up or juke to the right or left when deer or elk are crossing the road. Decisions to pause and refill, refuel and/or relax. It's not a good thing to have slow reflexes when you're on two wheels.

One of the big decisions was to wait a day and get a "kinda" bald rear tire replaced, even though I REALLY wanted to ride a mountain pass that's been on my "bucket" list. In fact, as I write this, I'm contemplating another choice I have of whether or not, tomorrow, to get my brakes checked. A sensor light keeps coming on, but the problem is I have plans to go to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon before we finish this journey and I REALLY want to go. What do you think I should do?

Isn't it true, our lives are the sum total of the decisions we make; daily decisions, weekly decisions, monthly and yearly. Some of us in the moment make wise choices and others of us make some pretty stupid ones. We don't have all the time necessary to learn how to make the best of choices. The reason being, good choices are frequently learned from making bad ones. I learned a long time ago, I'd rather learn from others who have made both good and bad decisions. This way I'm taking advantage of the experience of others.

One such person who made a dumb decision was a guy named Jonah. You might have heard of him. He's the guy who was swallowed up into the belly of an incredibly big fish. His stupid decision was to say "no" to God and do what he wanted to do. It cost him BIG TIME! But you've been there and so have I. We've made some dumb decisions and it has cost us; cost us money, relationships, jobs, business, etc.

The good news is this, God continuously offers dumb decision makers like us the opportunity for a Second Chance. I want to ask you to join me this weekend as we dive into this very subject. Invite someone to come with you!

In fact, this Saturday night is the last night of our free Summer Concert Series following the Saturday night service. Moi Navarro's band is playing. Let me tell you, I've heard this guy and he's really good!

Either way, Saturday at 5:30 p.m. or Sunday at 9:15 or 11:15 a.m., I look forward to seeing you this weekend as we learn to make smart choices and wise decisions!

See you this weekend,

Tim Celek
Lead Pastor

The Crossing

Day One! Road Trip!

What a day! It started off early. We spent the night in Palm Desert at a friend's home. Sue & I got a great start at 5 am. What beauty to see the sunrise over the desert landscape. God's goodness on display.

When we did this ride 2 years ago, I thought it was hot then, today the temp gauge on the Harley read 115, it was hotter this time. However the smell of pine trees heading into Prescott, the twisty road to Jerome, and the Red Rocks of Sedona, more than made up for the heat. We love riding. Sue does, I do. I'm blessed to have someone like Sue.

We ended our day reading God's Word together. We read the Gospels of Matthew 1, Luke 1, and John 1. I'm encouraging everyone to journal using something called S.O.A.P. I've already stated the "S" the Scriptures. The "O" stands for observation. My biggest observation was how from the people of the Old Testament listed in Matthew, to Luke's Gospel with Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and John the baptist and then to John's writings about the first disciples, Andrew, Simon, Phillip, and Nathaniel...to this very day, God uses ordinary people. People like YOU and me.

It's all about Jesus, yes, however, God uses us in big ways. As frail and fouled up as we are God works in and through ordinary people. The "A" stands for application. My application is to do my best not to allow my stupid biases and petty judgments to get in the way of seeing how God desires to use those who cross my path so very often at The Crossing.

"P" is for prayer, which is what I'm off to do, right now!

So read through the Gospels in 30 days. We'll travel with Jesus together.

Thanks for reading,

Tim Celek
Lead Pastor
The Crossing
tim.celek@thecrossing.com

Gospel Road Trip on the Harley

Sue & I are starting today, reading through the gospels in 30 days. I hope you'll do this with us. You start when it fits into your schedule. Go to YouVersion.com & set up an account. Select reading plans, go to the partial bible section & select 30 days through the Gospels. Begin the exciting journey of learning about Jesus and his life. It's ALL about Jesus. Please share with me what you're learning as you read God's Word at tim.celek@thecrossing.com

I'm writing this from Blythe, CA. We're on the Harley headed to Sedona, Arizona. I'm looking forward to some incredible God made scenery from the Red Rocks around Sedona & the Grand Canyon. Can't wait!

You can go to my Facebook account to see pictures I'll be posting.

Enjoy your 4th of July.

Tim Celek
Lead Pastor
The Crossing

Earliest Memories

I'm kicking off a new 3-part series this weekend titled "Memories." It has me reflecting about life; my life and the multiple THOUSANDS of memories that often swirl around in my mind. There are a ton of memories, both good and bad, that take up space on the hard drive of my heart.

You know how on computers you can empty the "trash can" of your deleted files? Generally, on both PCs and Macs, there's the dialogue box that says, "Are you sure you want to permanently delete these files?" This question used to bug me when I first starting using computers. I always thought when I initially deleted them that they were GONE. Yet now my computer was telling me they were still there and I had to take an extra step to FULLY eliminate them from the hard drive.

As I peruse, particularly the painful memories of my past, I wish, I really do, that I could permanently delete them. The cool part is that in Jesus Christ I AM a new person. So even without the ability to fully forget, with the Holy Spirit's power living inside of me, I can be set free from my past to live a reinvigorated life in the present.

They say there are two things true of every person, "death and taxes." I'm going to add a third, "memories." Mine aren't the same as yours, and vice versa, but we've all experienced things, some good, some bad. The question then is, how do we live a positive life of freedom in Christ right here and right now? Do not miss this weekend or any weekend over the next three weeks as we tackle this topic! It's going to be GOOD, really good!!!

See you this weekend,

Tim Celek
Lead Pastor
The Crossing

The OC Marathon and The Crossing Church

I'll get to the OC Marathon and The Crossing Church, but first a recap of Easter weekend at The Crossing! In raw numbers we were up 20% over last year's Easter weekend which is an increase of over 1,000 people. We were packed with adults and children which is both a good thing and a God thing. Yea God!

We were able to use the "new" auditorium fully and learn a bit of what we'll need to know when it opens full time in the middle of June. Sure we've got some bugs to work through, but a big shout goes out to all of you who attended either Good Friday or Easter weekend. Thank you for your understanding and patience. But most of all, thank you for inviting and bringing people to hear the life changing news of John 3:16, "that whosoever believes in Him (the risen Jesus Christ) should not perish but have everlasting life."

This weekend we kick off a new series and I'm pretty amped! The series is titled "Hope Lives." However, THIS Sunday is the OC Marathon. Due to the close proximity of the Marathon there will be various road closures which I'm convinced will cause back ups on the 55 fwy and potentially Newport Blvd. So please take a look at this link for what roads are closed and during what hours. The one thing I will say, don't let the inconvenience of a little traffic or road obstacles stop you from coming to church OR come on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m.

Either way, I WILL see you this weekend at one of our six services, Saturday 5:30 p.m. or Sunday 8:30, 9:30, 10, 11, 11:30 a.m. I'm sure looking forward to it.

Tim Celek
Lead Pastor
The Crossing