Sunday Night Thoughts

We had yet another amazing day at PCC! Today was Celebration Sunday. We were celebrating all that God has done in and through PCC during our fall Finacial Peace series. Here are some of the highlights:

• We had over 140 salvations during the 8 week series
• Today we baptized 129 of those people
• 700 adults got plugged into our community groups this fall
• Our tithe was up 22% since we started the series and up 64% over last year
• 3 teachers who came to PCC earlier this fall as a result of the Teacher Appreciation Outreach gave their heart to Christ and were baptized today
• I baptized 2 of my personal friends who just gave thier heart to Christ this fall at PCC
• Over 300 volunteers showed up to serve meals to the community this Thanksgiving
• All of us is better than one of us. We accomplish more working together than as individuals
• It's really fun to give
• Generosity is contagious, it captures the heart and imagination of our community

Thanksgiving Outreach

Just a quick shout out to all the PCCers and local blog readers to invite your friends to have lunch with the PCC family this Thanksgiving Day. This is a local servant evangelism outreach where our express desire to help those that are in need or just alone for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Tons of PCC volunteers will be here on Thanksgiving to welcome our guest and serve them a free lunch. I'm so proud that PCC would spend part of their day serving this community. Love you guys! You're the best.

Again the come and go lunch will be held this Thursday from 11-1. If you are coming to serve, don't forget to bring a dessert.

10 Reasons Your Going to Fail

I came across this post by Tony Morgan entitled 10 Reasons Your Going to Fail. I thought it was worth sharing.

10 Reasons Why You’re Probably Going to Fail

1. It’s not your passion. If it doesn’t make your heart beat fast or cause your mind to race when you’re trying to sleep, you’re probably doing the wrong thing.
2. You don’t have a plan. You need a vision, and you need to identify specific steps to make that vision become reality. That includes a financial plan. (I happen to believe you need direction from God on this.)
3. You’re waiting for it to be perfect. Test-drive it. Beta-test that new idea. You’ll fall into the trap of inaction if you think it has to be absolutely right from day one.
4. You’re not willing to work hard. Everything worth pursuing in my life has involved discipline and perseverance.
5. It’ll outgrow you. Keep learning. Keep growing. But more importantly, build a team of people including leaders that can be who you’re not.
6. You’ve had success in the past. I’ve watched organizations hang on to a good idea for too long. Time passes. Momentum fades. It’s risky to let go of the past and jump on the next wave.
7. You’re unwilling to stop doing something else. Complexity is easy. Simplicity takes discipline. You can’t build a healthy marriage if you’re unwilling to give up dating other women. Who/what do you need to stop dating?
8. You won’t build a team of friends. Anyone can hire from a resume. You need to find people you want to share life with. In the long run, great relationships will get you out of bed in the morning.
9. You won’t have the tough conversations. When breakdown happens (and it always does), someone needs to put on their big-boy pants and initiate the difficult conversation that leads to relational healing.
10. You’re afraid of failure. When fear consumes you, it will cause you to do stupid things. You’ll let negativity distract you. You’ll embrace the known, and grow comfortable with mediocrity. The more often you fail, though, the more often you’ll find success.

Williams Website

I took off yesterday to spend time with my family and with our new boy William. We had a relaxing day just being together as a family. I turned off the cell phone and took a break from email too. Talk about a refreshing day.

You need to unwind regularly and recharge your battery. It's amazing how a little rest goes a long way.

On my day off, I also spent some more time with my Mac and built Will a website. You can check it out here.

Another William Video

Sunday Night Reflections

1. Enjoyed preaching at PCC today. Great services. The worship was the amazing. We are so blessed to have such talented musicians and vocalist who lead us in worship.

2. Came home and totally collapsed on the couch. I literally haven't slept in like 5 days. It was so good to be in my own bed again.

3. Pastor Matt did a great job team teaching with me today. I appreciate his help on a difficult weak to pull a message together.

4. Baby William is a great cute little butterball. He only cries if he's hungry or wet. What a kid. He wants to eat just about every hour. Poor Bekah.

5. My other kids, Kate, David and Henry are all recovering from colds. They haven't been able to shake this cough and fever stuff. We're doing our best to keep them away from Will.

6. I'm really excited about the Celebration Service coming on Nov. 29th. We are going to baptize tons of new followers of Jesus, share stories of life change and celebrate all that God has done through this Financial Peace series. If you haven't been baptized as an adult, it's time to go all in.

7. Can't wait for our Christmas series that begins the first weekend in December. We are calling it "Radio Christmas." It's going to be a creative, fun and powerful series to invite your unchurched friends to attend.

8. One of my friends came to church today and they loved it! It's so awesome to have a church that you can invite your friends to.

9. I'm so blessed to Pastor PCC. Thank you God for this awesome opportunity to be part of such a great church.

10. Bekah and I are praying about what we can give in the special Christmas offering next week. I know God is going to do bless us if we are obedient to do what he tells us to do.

Home Sweet Home

Baby William

Baby William Crosby was born at 3:51pm on November 12, 2009. He weighed 8.13 pounds and is 19 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing well. Dad is still a little frazzled. God is good.

Bekah in Hospital for Delivery

Time Questions

King David said, "My times are in your hands." (Ps. 31:15) In other words, David said, "every moment of my day belongs to you, God, as well as my life as a whole." That fact challenged me today as I read it. It made me ask some tough questions about my life.

For example:

• What do I need to start doing?
• What do I need to stop doing?
• Where should I spend my free time? How does that impact my entertainment choices?
• What about my family? Am I spending both quality time and quantity time with them?
• Am I investing enough of my life in my ministry - to my family, to my church, to my neighbor, to my community.

I think the statement "My times are in your hands" also carries with it the implication that I need to make my life count. Eternity hangs in the balance. To waste my time is to waste my life. In other words, what I live "for" is far more important than what I live "on." My prayer today is for God to help focus my life so that I can make the most of it for Him.

Ministry In The Margin

Much of the ministry of Jesus was unplanned. He walked by a funeral one day and saw a widow and drew out of that scene some profound truths of His Kingdom. On another instance, he looked at a field of flowers filled with sparrows and made spiritual application for how we are to simply trust God. One day at a wedding he changed water into wine and began his public ministry with supernatural power and spiritual truth.

I find the most significant moments for ministry come in the margin in life - the times that are unexpected and unplanned. When I make a run to the store and bump into someone I know and God gives me an opportunity to share Christ's love with them standing in the check out aisle. Or I meet a complete stranger in need and I'm able to be Christ's hands extended to them. This is ministry in the margin of life.

I pray that God's Spirit makes me more and more sensitive to these unplanned and unexpected opportunities in life to give a helping hand, a timely word of encouragement or a listening ear on behalf of Christ.

Am I too busy to minister in the margin of life? How can I be more sensitive to God's Holy Spirit during my everyday? If I am too busy, what can I do to slow down enough to notice the needs around me? Just some thoughts I'm wrestling with today.

Best Hiring Practices

I recently did a podcast interview with my good friend, Dick Hardy. Dick is the founder of The Hardy Group, an organization designed to help pastors with everything but preaching.

The podcast dealt with best practices for hiring new staff.

You can check out the podcast here.

Happy Birthday David III

Today my oldest son, David III, turns 4 years old. I'm so proud of this little guy. Sure, he can be a bit mischievous from time to time, but he has such a sweet spirit. We're celebrating this evening with a Spiderman birthday party. I can't wait to give him his presents. Then on Friday the rest of the family will join us for another fun time in honor of David.

As I look forward into the future, here are some of the things I pray for my son:

*That he has a heart fully devoted to God

*That he fulfills Gods purpose for his life in his generation

*That he develop his God-given gifts for God's glory

*That he makes wise choices

*That he surrounds himself with good friends

*That he defends the defenseless

*That his heart will burn to reach the lost for Christ

*That he have a love for knowledge and do his best in academic pursuits

*That he would develop a love for music and learn to play an instrument

*That he keeps laughing and enjoying life

*That he will always stay close to his mother

*That he looks out for his older sister and younger brothers

*That he finds a great Christian girl someday and has a family of his own