http://www.crossroads.frih.org South Waverly Church Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:43:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-perfect-game http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-perfect-game#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:40:03 +0000 admin http://www.crossroads.frih.org/?p=376 Yesterday the White Sox Mark Buehrle throws a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays. How exciting! Its only been done 18 times in all of major league history. I watched the replay of the ninth inning at least five times on ESPN. Eight perfect innings, then in the ninth, the Rays’ Gabe Kapler is first to the plate… the fans are tense with anticipation with what might just happen… other major leagues teams are watching via TV in their clubhouses as they prepare for night games… when Kapler hits a long drive – this just might spoil the perfect game, the no-hitter, and the shut-out with one swing. Center fielder DeWayne Wise is running back, back, back and leaps, snaring the ball just as it is about to clear the wall for a home run! Wise impacts the wall which causes a bobble… but he regains control for the out! Awesome. Buehrle retires the last two Rays for his perfect game. The fans go wild and in other clubhouses around the country the players are thrilled at what has been achieved. The terrific leaping catch adds magic and thrills to what will be legend.

I use make that exact catch countless times in my imagination as I acted out such a scenario while throwing a ball against our chimney and catching it against the wall of our neighbor’s house as I lived the dream of Little League baseball.

Plus, my Phillies, after a ten game winning streak, drop one and come back to their winning ways last night. A great night for baseball.

It is easy to determine who wins in baseball. But as Andy Stanley pointed out in “7 Practices of Effective Ministry”, it is important to clarify the “wins” in church work too. We’re experiencing some wins at Crossroads church:

Salvation decisions.
Families joining Crossroads Family Ministries.
Baptizing frequently (6 times so far this year with more waiting to be baptized).
A spirit of victory and attitude of potentially great things for the future seems to be catching on.
Successful small groups.
Terrific live music and praise.
People beginning to serve that had not done so in the past.
Thriving youth and children’s programs.
Personal spiritual growth in many.
People understanding they have a responsibility to God with their tithe and with their time.

It is not always so easy to notice the wins in ministry – but they are there on many levels – with a great deal more importance than baseball, even if they lack some of the momentary excitiement. Thank you, Lord! And thanks to the people of Crossroads.

- Pastor Jim

]]> http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-perfect-game/feed 0 http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/christians-and-government http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/christians-and-government#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:27:06 +0000 admin http://www.crossroads.frih.org/?p=371 Jesus said: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s”. Luke 20:25.

Caesar was, of course, the highest political authority of Jesus’ day. Our Lord was saying that God has delegated a limited sphere of authority to government and that we owe honor and submission to those of civil rule over us. That such authority is limited is made clear in such texts as Acts 5:29: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” When civil authorities would require us to disobey the Word of God, we must obey God instead.

Of course, civil authorities rule only because God has given them their position (Daniel 5:21; Romans 13:4; 1 Peter 2:13-15). He is sovereign.

Christians further have an obligation to pray for those placed in such positions that they will do their duty to protect our freedom to serve God and share the gospel (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

July 4th is a great holiday indeed. No other nation has enjoyed government “of the people, by the people, and for people” as have we. Though governmental power has expanded well beyond what our founding fathers ever intended and our freedoms are shrinking under the weight of big government, we, nevertheless, still have opportunity to share our faith, preach the truth and serve the Living God of Creation. So let us use our freedom to every advantage in doing just that!!

- Jim Fox

]]> http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/christians-and-government/feed 0 http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/dads-building-boats-and-lives http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/dads-building-boats-and-lives#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:02:48 +0000 admin http://www.crossroads.frih.org/?p=367 For Father’s Day I’ll repeat a post from a couple years ago:

For escaping eighth grade, my dad bought me a kit to build a pram. A pram is a snub nose dinghy, about seven feet long, three seats. He and I built it in the basement over a two or three week period.

I was excited about having my own boat. Several of my friends down the beach along the Chesapeake had prams and so we formed a little armada. Rowing, exploring, using it as a swim platform, tender to larger boats — it provided endless hours of recreation limited only by my imagination. My Uncle Joe gave me a half-horse Goodyear outboard motor which swelled my fun many fold. I still have it forty-five years later — it’s displayed in our church’s Solid Rock CAFE’.

But my thought in this blog is about the investment my dad made in my life while building the pram. I learned a lot about basic carpentry and tools, but the real lessons were about life. I learned more of his love for the sea and heard him tell some of his experiences in WWII while in the Merchant Marines. I was taught about “doing things right”. There were little things, innuendoes — things about being a man that boys learn only by being around a man.

Dads — invest time in your sons. There were the occasions that I had to help dad do things I wasn’t interested in… but this was a project for me! Dad thought that through, I think. It surely was not about rewarding me for academic achievements in eighth grade — as I said, I barely “escaped”. Fathers, find something your sons want to do and get involved with them. You will build memories and have opportunity to impart manhood and demonstrate Godliness.

And, remember, your girls need “dad time” too!

“Train up a child in the way he should go…” Proverbs 22:6

- Jim Fox

]]> http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/dads-building-boats-and-lives/feed 0 http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-emperor-has-no-clothes http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-emperor-has-no-clothes#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:53:47 +0000 admin http://www.crossroads.frih.org/?p=360 The quotes below are from leading evolutionists. Their honest concerns about the validity of Darwinism show through. This is but a surface sampling of such quotes. – Pastor

“Evolution is a fairy tale for grown-ups. This theory has helped nothing in the progress of science. It is useless.”
– Prof. Louis Bounoure (former Pres. of Biological Soc of Strasbourg and Director of the Strasbourg Zoological Museum)

“Scientists who go about teaching that evolution is a fact of life are great con-men, and the story they are telling may be the greatest hoax ever. In explaining evolution, we do not have one iota of fact.”
– Dr T.N. Tahmisian (Atomic Energy Commission, USA)

“I believe that one day the Darwinian myth will be ranked the greatest deceit in the history of science. When this happens, many people will pose the question: how did this ever happen?”
– Soren Lovtrup (Prof. of Embryology, Univ. of Umea, Sweden)

“We have had enough of the Darwinian fallacy. It’s about time we cry ‘the emperor has no clothes.’ “
– Ken Hsu (Geological Institute at Zurich, former Pres. of International Assoc. of Sedimentologists)

“Contrary to what most scientists write, the fossil record does not support the Darwinian theory of evolution. It is this theory which we use to interpret the fossil record, but we say the fossil record supports this theory. We are guilty of circular reasoning.”
– Ronald R. West, Ph.D. (Prof. of Paleobiology and Geology, Kansas State University)

“It is therefore a matter of faith on the part of the biologist that biogenesis did occur and he can choose whatever method of biogenesis happens to suit him personally; since the evidence for what did happen is not available.”
– Professor G. A. Kerkut (Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Southampton)

“The chance that higher life forms might have emerged in this way is comparable with the chance that a tornado sweeping through a junk-yard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials therein.”
– World renowned astronomer, Sir Fred Hoyle (Prof. of Astronomy at Cambridge University)

]]> http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-emperor-has-no-clothes/feed 0 http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-case-of-daniel-houser http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-case-of-daniel-houser#comments Sat, 30 May 2009 22:23:59 +0000 admin http://www.crossroads.frih.org/?p=352 We heard a lot this week about Daniel Houser, a 13 year old boy from Minnesota with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This is a treatable form of cancer with a high success rate.

Daniel and his mother fled the state in order to avoid receiving medical treatment. The state is intervening in the case and demanding that Daniel receive standard medical care.

Now, for me, I am always nervous to grant the state (federal or state level) any more power than it has already grabbed and continues to seize. Lately, it seems our rights as citizens and parents are lost to a power hungry federal government by the hour! The government has stuck its unwanted mitts into family and faith repeatedly, striking fear into my heart concerning what will be left of the land of the free and home of the brave.

The courts and the moral consensus in this country is that the parents have overwhelming rights to custody, care, and upbringing styles of their children. That is biblical. Family life is private and the state should not attempt to enter… except in such situations as Daniel’s and cases of abuse. Both political liberals and conservatives agree at this point – that the state can and should intervene to protect children whose lives are being endangered by parents refusing desperately needed medical treatment – even if they claim religious freedom. I have concern that the state could abuse and expand this power, but I believe it must be able to protect innocent children.

Parents have the right to refuse medical treatment for themselves, but they cannot deny life-saving treatment for their children.

By the way – I believe all healing comes from God. He has the power to heal any disease, anytime, anywhere. But the Bible gives multiple examples of the use of medical treatment. Luke, the author of the gospel that bears his name, as well as the book of Acts, was a physician. God has given man the wisdom to learn the science of medicine, “to think His thoughts after Him”. So use doctors and medical treatment to the fullest… but put all your trust in God. God may do a miracle, but He most often uses doctors and medicine to answer our prayers. I think it is similar to wanting God to transport us to a distant city… we can pray for a miracle, or, we can use an airplane or automobile.

]]> http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-case-of-daniel-houser/feed 0 http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/evidence-of-the-empty-tomb http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/evidence-of-the-empty-tomb#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:32:12 +0000 admin http://www.crossroads.frih.org/?p=343 For those honest skeptics – give some thought to the following evidences that Jesus arose from the dead.

FIRST — The Jewish religious leaders never showed the public the body of Jesus. When all the talk of a resurrection began to spread, why didn’t they just show the body of Jesus? That is the one thing that would have stopped the spread of Christianity. Because they could not!

SECOND — The disciples preached “Christ is risen” right there in Jerusalem immediately following the resurrection. They didn’t run off to far away villages but preached in the town where anyone could have checked with the eyewitnesses. The disciples preached where their message was verifiable and the tomb was verifiably empty! Later, of course, they spread to other cities and nations to carry the gospel.

THIRD — The Jewish authorities panicked at the news of the resurrection brought to them by the guards. They developed a lie in concert with the guards (Matthew 28:11-15) that “they fell asleep and the disciples came and stole the body”. But they became trapped by their own lie. For with it they 1) confirmed the body is gone, the tomb is empty; 2) it happened on the appointed day as Jesus foretold; 3) it happened while the soldiers were still on duty! Moreover, it is a self-defeating lie – how could the soldiers know what happened if they were asleep?!

FOURTH — The gospel accounts do NOT read like a legend. A made up legend would have the hero, Jesus, appering in great glory before the crowds of people and humiliating the Jewish and Roman leaders. A a legend of those times would never offer women as eyewitnesses. The culture of New Testament times would not take seriously the testimony of women. No, the gospel accounts read as real eyewitness testimony of the death, buriel and resurrection of Christ. Remember, the disciples were cowards, deserting Jesus – not likely that they would make up a story that humiliated themselves.

FIFTH — No early Jewish or Roman writings ever challenge the fact of the empty tomb. Though there are several other extra-biblical references to Christ, Christians or the church, not one challenge the assertion of an empty tomb. That fact was accepted by all the contemporaries of the events.

SIXTH — What changed the disciples from timid men hiding from Jewish and Roman authorities into bold “in the face of their enemies” preachers of Christ resurrected? It could only be because they had seen the resurrected Christ. If their eyewitness account had been a made-up version, would they have willingly died as maryters for what they knew to a lie? And there was no personal gain to made by a lie – it did not bring profit but the opposite. They were rejected and suffered persecution.

SEVENTH — Why would worship change from Saturday Sabbath to Sunday? This is a big deal. The Jewish disciples of Christ knew only Saturday worship – it was their heritage, their culture, their training from childhood. But the resurrection on the “first day of week” made worship a weekly celebration of Christ’s resurrection. What is tracable in the book of Acts and in the early days of the church indicate Sunday worship from that point on.

My own conclusion is that the resurrection of Christ is an historic event. A miracle of that proportion could only be accomplished by God (ANY true miralce could only be accomplished by God). It means God validated all the Jesus said and did. God verified that Christ is equal with Himself and is the only Savior of mankind

]]> http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/evidence-of-the-empty-tomb/feed 0 http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-bible http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-bible#comments Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:02:42 +0000 admin http://www.crossroads.frih.org/?p=324 Though the cover is torn
And the pages are worn
And places bear traces of tears
This Book is our guide
It must stay by our side
It can shatter and scatter our fears.

It’s the greatest Book on earth
Unparalleled it stands
It’s author God
It’s truth devine
It’s inspired in every word and line
Though written by human hands.

It’s the living rock of truth
Which all assault defies
O’er every stormy blast of time
It towers with majesty sublime
It lives, and never dies.

It’s the volume of the cross
It’s saving truth is sure
It’s doctrine pure
It’s history true
It’s gospel old, yet ever new
And will evermore endure.

Within this wondrous volume lies the mystery of mysteries.

Happiest are they of human race
To whom God has given grace
Who read
Who fear
Who hope
Who pray
Who lift the latch
Who find the way
And better had they never been born
Who read to doubt or read to scorn.

For feelings come
And feelings go
And feelings are deceiving
Our faith is in the Word of God
Naught else is worth believing.

We’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word
Til soul and body sever
For heaven and earth will pass away
But God’s Word abides forever.

(This is actually two or more poems, all anonymous. I heard a version close to this quoted by Pastor David Stokes. I’ve made some modifications. — Jim Fox)

]]> http://www.crossroads.frih.org/uncategorized/the-bible/feed 0 http://www.crossroads.frih.org/blog/christmas-eve-2007 http://www.crossroads.frih.org/blog/christmas-eve-2007#comments Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:15:07 +0000 admin http://www.crossroads.frih.org/?p=85 Christmas has always seen all the family coming home. Trish always prepared for a house full of company including the boys, Heather and family, my sister and, until recently, my mother. Cleaning, decorating, fixing several batches of Chez Mix, cookies and things. Preparing for a big turkey dinner with all the fixings on Christmas Day.

But this year is different. Since Reagan is 2 years old now, it is time to “pass the torch” to Heather and Brad and let them begin their own family traditions. So all the family will pack in to Heather and Brad’s place in Scranton. They have moved there to plant a new church. I am just thankful we will still all be together. God is good to us.

Trish and I will celebrate the Birth of Jesus tonight at our Candlelight service with our wonderful church family… then, travel down to Scranton.

Tonight at Candlelight service we will imagine Phillips Brooks, the great preacher from Philadelphia and, later, Boston, traveling by horseback from Jerusalem to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve in 1865. Standing in the fields where the shepherds almost certainly stood outside of town when the glory of the Lord and those angels appeared to announce the birth of the Savior… Brooks was so inspired he later penned the beautiful Christmas carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem” as part of the Christmas program for his church in Philadelphia.

Maybe you can put yourself in the sandles of those shepherds that night 2000 years…. can you hear the angels proclaim: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”? It gives me chills….

- Jim Fox

]]> http://www.crossroads.frih.org/blog/christmas-eve-2007/feed 0 http://www.crossroads.frih.org/blog/longfellow http://www.crossroads.frih.org/blog/longfellow#comments Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:14:09 +0000 admin http://www.crossroads.frih.org/?p=83 Pastor Chris Regas posted this on an email discussion list of which I am a part. Chris is a Liberty grad and an aquaintance of mine. It is worth sharing this Christmas season.

“Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was filled with sorrow at the tragic death of his wife in a fire in 1861. The Civil War broke out that same year and it seemed this was an additional punishment. Two years later, Longfellow was again saddened to hear his own son had been seriously wounded as a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac.

Sitting down to his desk on Christmas day, he heard the church bells ringing and ringing. This was the setting as he wrote

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good-will to men.

In this Christmas season, whether you are in sorrow or in joy, you can know God is not dead, nor does He sleep. He knows your every need and longs to comfort you. Seek Him this year instead of the outward trappings of the season. He will give your life real meaning and your hart real peace.”

Chris was quoting Pastor Kelly Carr of Wellspring, Arizona. Having known the poem and carol but not the story behind it, it struck a cord with me today. I had just seen a “This Old House” episode on TV in which they took a tour of Longfellow’s home in Boston. What a beautiful home and landmark. General George Washington made this home his headquarters during the seige of Boston, 1775-1776.

- Jim Fox

]]> http://www.crossroads.frih.org/blog/longfellow/feed 0 http://www.crossroads.frih.org/blog/golden-compass http://www.crossroads.frih.org/blog/golden-compass#comments Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:10:06 +0000 admin http://www.crossroads.frih.org/?p=81 Folks, this fantasy movie designed for children is the answer to C. S. Lewis’ “Narnia series”. It is based on a trilogy of books called “His Dark Materials” by self proclaimed atheist Philip Pullman. Pullman declares his books are about “killing God”. In his series the church, Christians and God are the evil villan.

Now the film is admittedly toned down from his books and many would not pick up on the anti-Christian themes. Moreover, the film is well acted with all the best graphic tricks. Apart from the message, the film is excellent – so say the reviewers.

I am told the toned-down subtle anti-Christian theme will get a touch more intense in the last two of the series. There is some promotion of sex too. But the real danger is that kids who like the movie will get the books to read… and they are more aggressive in their promotion of atheism.

What to do? Avoid the movie. Just do not give them your dollars. A big campaign against the film would be counter-productive, in my opinion. That would stir interest and add hype. Just quietly boycott it.

- Jim Fox

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