Excerpts from Sunday!
(Please click on pictures to enlarge)

Wow!  The last Sunday in 2008
December 28th

With a hardy 'Welcome' and a beautiful opening prayer,
we have Pastor Barry Hansen.

Our wonderful choir!

Pastor Bryan wanted to thank everyone who helped
and participated in "Dreams and Wishes".
Despite the cold and the fact that 75% of the people
in Fitchburg and the surrounding towns still didn't have power
due to the major ice storm that had hit 2 days earlier,
everyone showed up to help and
636 kids registered, and 750 kids came.
Over a thousand people getting touched by God!!!
A special 'Thank you' to Candace for all her hard work.
Over $30,000. worth of toys were given to the children.
PRAISE GOD!!!

A fantastic testimony of God's mercy and love
was given by Tracy with husband, Jay.
The video below explains what their daughter, Samantha,
who was barely 8 months pregnant, went through.

"Our God is an awesome God!"
 

The Baptism of Adrian
Adrian is Crossroads audio/video technician.
He has brought Crossroads from the mid-20th century,
right up to the 21st century with all the newest of audio/video techniques!
He is an asset to our church, and now more importantly,
he is a warrior in God's Army!
Please click HERE to share in the joy
of Adrian's Baptism!
 

And now on to part 2 of.....

Last Sunday, Pastor Bryan gave the sermon called ~
"Developing a Pure Heart".
This Sunday's sermon is called ~
"Developing a Passionate Heart".

Christianity will either make you better or bitter.
The Grinch was made fun of because he was different,
so he became bitter and began to hate.
But little Cindy reached out to him with love.

The love of God heals ALL things.

The Grinch isolated himself.
His problem was, his heart was 2 sizes too small!

Last week we talked about developing a pure heart.

It's unbelievable that Jesus would clean us of all our sins.
My life has never been the same.
God has changed my life.

The key verse comes from Proverbs 4:23 ~
"23.Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life."

You need to memorize that.
You need to give your heart to God.
Your heart will never be broken again if God has your heart.
Everything else is secondary.

My heart is the center of my being.

Guard your soul as it is the wellspring of your life.
It's the heart that steers everything.
For out of the heart the mouth speaks.

The first step ~
Develop our hearts for Jesus.
After hearts are purified, you need to become passionate.

What are YOU passionate about?

What if I followed you around for 24 hours?
Within 3 days, I would know, because people live out
their passions.  It's the fuel that flames your heart.

Your passions are like a river that flows.
If a river isn't controlled, it can do a lot of destruction.

You have to let a leader lead.
Whatever is in your heart will eventually come out.

We need to be passionate about God.
You NEED the power of God in your life.

Prayer ~ Stand firm and the devil will flee.
It's the power and presence of God that will
flee the enemies in your lives.

You need Jesus.  He's your protector.
If we give our hearts to Christ,
we have access to almighty God.
USE IT!

God is good.
Psalm 16:11
"11.You have made known to me the path of life;
       you will fill me with joy in your presence,
       with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

You want to know about your future?

Ephesians 3:12
"12.In him and through faith in him
we may approach God with freedom and confidence."

The second step ~
We need to have a passion for God's people.

Mark 12:31
"31.The second is this: "Love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these." "

You should also love your neighbor as yourself.
We want people who love people.
People who are an 'outreach' and not an 'in-reach'.

We need to be concerned and compassionate about God's people.

Acts 2:44
"44.All the believers were together and had everything in common."

Romans 15:7
"7.Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you,
in order to bring praise to God."

This church needs to be a place of acceptance.

We are called to be fishers of men,
not keepers of the aquarium.

We need to be passionate about God's plan.
God has a plan for each and everyone of you.

Now go, and sin no more!

Sunday, October 12th, 2008

Pastor Renee welcomed everyone to Crossroads!

Debbie leading the way in Worship to our Lord.

Adey prayed over our tithes as Don and Rod
prepared to receive everyone's offerings.

Pastor Renee then invited Victor up to the altar
so we could all wish him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Victor was very emotional
as he spoke to us about his time spent in the war
and the many, many times the Lord saved him.

Happy Birthday Victor!!!

Pastor Barry gave the sermon
while Pastor Bryan was away.

vs. 2
"2.This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh is from God,"

There are false prophets and false messages.
We need the pastors and the people to stand up and give the true Word.
If scripture says there are false prophets,
than you know there has to be real prophets
and we need the real prophets especially in these last days.

How are you going to know if someone is preaching the truth?

John 17:17
"17.Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

The only way you will know the truth is if you read the Bible
and KNOW the truth.

Nowadays, the Gospel is all about me, myself and I.
Whereas, the true Gospel was found on the cross.

vs.3
"3.but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming
and even now is already in the world."

The spirit of the anti-christ has been in the world forever, for centuries.
Just because someone says "Peace", doesn't mean they are from God.

vs.4
 "4.You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,
because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

If you call yourself a Christian,
you are a child of God and have overcome.
To know God is to love.
To know God is to know love and experience God.

You can't have revival without Jesus,
and you can't have Jesus without revival.
Where God is, is revival,
where Jesus is, is love.
GOD IS LOVE!

vs.9-18
"9.This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10.This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11.Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12.No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another,
God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

 13.We know that we live in him and he in us,
because he has given us of his Spirit.
14.And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son
to be the Savior of the world.
15.If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God lives in him and he in God.
16.And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
      God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
17.In this way, love is made complete among us
so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment,
because in this world we are like him.
18.There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,
because fear has to do with punishment.
The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

God is love, powerful and merciful.
He is also awesome and judge and jury.
To the degree that we need love in this world
to make the world have some sense.
We also need truth and justice.

If you've ever been in a sport, you have to have 'rules'.
If you don't, all you have is confusion.
God's rule is not to disobey the rules,
so you don't end up in utter chaos.

God has called on some people to suffer or to be missionaries.
God has a plan for each and everyone of us.
God's plan is perfect!

It's awesome to be able to come to the altar
and pour out your heart to God.

I praise God with all my heart, and He rocks my world!

In Psalms, it talks more about dancing for the Lord,
than raising our arms.
God has implemented rules for our enjoyment.
He is perfect balance - God of love, God of wrath.

Love will compel you to buy flowers, to do the laundry -
and all the wives say "AMEN"!
Love will compel you to let your husband go golfing.
Love will compel you to let your husband go hunting -
and all the husbands say "AMEN"!

Love compels you to do what is best for someone else,
give up your lunch so someone else can eat,
give up your seat to someone else who needs it,
to give up that last brownie.

Love compels you, drives you, to put others first.
Love compels you to do what is best for others.
Not just to praise them when they do something right,
but also to correct them when they do something wrong.

If we believe God is love, then God will correct us,
because He loves us.  He will confront our errors.
God's justice requires our correction.

There are 2 types of people,
people of God or people of the devil.
There are 2 types of people,
"those who accept Me (God) and those who reject Me."

God said the only way to heaven,
is that we must be saved through His Son Jesus Christ.
It just takes a simple decision of the heart.

God will take you just the way you are.
It is by grace we are saved through faith.
Because you have to receive that message of love
that God gave to us.

God sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.

What is the greatest fear in life?
Death?  Hell?  God's wrath?

The love of God has supplied a solution
to the greatest fear of mankind because love casts out all fear.

The message this morning is overcoming fear
and the way to overcome fear is through the love of God.
Fear can not enter your life without permission.
Jesus has called upon you to be an overcomer.

Hebrews 4:14
"14.Therefore, since we have a great high priest
who has gone through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess."

Jesus was tempted, too, but His love of God overcame His fear.

Are you an overcomer?

Let us all stand and make a confession of faith.....

October 5th ~ Missions Sunday

On this beautiful cool, crisp fall day,
Beth opened our 11:00am service in song.

Pastor Mike welcomed everyone to Crossroads
and prayed for the Holy Spirit to go out upon the service.

Announcements were given by Pastor Renee
and a video presentation of the "Inside Out Tour" was seen.

The Worship team sang praise and gave worship
to our Lord Most High.

For our offering,
Tony gave some excellent examples on how one can
change and altar their lives to be more worthy and giving to God.
Crossroads Choir sang "Thank You Lord" during the offering.

And now, the moment we have all been waiting for.....
Pastor Bryan's Sermon!

Pastor Bryan said his sermon for today was from "2 Peter"

.

Peter struggled.
Peter was on the mountain of transfiguration with Jesus.
The Bible says false teaching slipped in.

There is an important part of knowledge that says "NO".

God is not mean, cruel or rude, WE'RE LIKE THAT.

Today we are producing 'diluted Christians'.

As Christians, we need to release the Spirit of God to the people,
so God can work and flow through us.

Peter denied Jesus and went through it.
Peter denied Jesus 3 times.

There is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.
Jesus knew that Peter was going through it.

I am looking to connect with your spirit today,
because there is too much false preaching around.

You can know God, but do you REALLY KNOW HIM?
Does your lifestyle show you know Him?

We have to put our agendas aside.
Even myself, I used to be the
"President of Critical Ministries".
I once was in a church with a pastor that I didn't agree with.
I felt like I was on the Titanic and trying to get on the boat
before the women and children.
Then God spoke to me and told me,
I should give 110% to the head pastor,
whether the church was going down or not.

Don't even think you can talk down to people
like you used to be.

The church always needs to be inclusive like when
Jesus died on the cross.

Jesus never gave a harsh Word to the sinners.
He got mad at the puffed up religious folks.

We need to remain humble under God.
The only person you are deceiving is yourself.

We need to get ready.
JESUS IS COMING!
JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Break down the walls.
Jesus is coming soon.

The more we can get right with God,
the more we can get the bad out of here,
out of the city of Fitchburg.

There will always be people that come in (church)
and think they know better.

2 Peter 1:3-4
"3.His divine power has given us everything we need for life
and godliness through our knowledge of him
who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4.Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,
so that through them you may participate in the divine nature
and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

Knowledge is good, but you need His power to go with it.
Through His divine knowledge and power,
it makes His spirituality and blessings.

Knowledge without application will not bring transformation.

We need to change folks.
We need to shut up and grow up.

Everybody's called, but few are chosen.

2 Peter 1:5-9
"5.For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness;
and to goodness, knowledge;
6.and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance;
and to perseverance, godliness;
7.and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
8.For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,
they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive
in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9.But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind,
and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

When you are doing the right things for God,
that means you are not doing the wrong things for the devil.

Do something good for God,
that way, you are not doing something for the devil.

Knowledge without action is dead.
Faith without action is dead.

If you're knowledge is not building someone up,
you need more knowledge.

2 Peter 1:10-11
"10.Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling
and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,
11.and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ."

I hear people say, "I could fall tomorrow."
NOT if you live what is in the WORD.

You have the prescription.
Have faith and goodness, then add knowledge.
Stop being bad, and be GOOD!
That's a prescription to a successful life!

Now let's stand.....

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

It has finally stopped raining and it looks like the Lord
is about to bring us His Son
to let the Son of God shine through with all His Glory!

  
Pastor Barry welcomed everyone to
Crossroads Community Church
and lead everyone in prayer!
Pastor Mike responding to Pastor Barry!

Pastor Renee went over this week's Bulletin.

Worship was held with Patty leading the way!

Pastor Barry spoke about our weekly tithes and read
Deuteronomy 8:18
"But you shall remember the LORD your God,
for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth,
that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers,
as it is this day."

Immediately following the collection and the Crossroads Choir singing
"Thank You" another fantastic video was played introducing

which is starting this week, Wednesday, October 1st!
Thank you Adrian!

And now, our faithful leader...
Pastor Bryan Tomes!

Do you know, that the minute you step out of God's plan,
you step into God's wrath?

There are 2 paths you can go by ~
the Right way, or the wrong way,
God's way or your way.

Around 600BC God decided to punish the people for their wickedness.

They were taken into captivity in Babylon, which is now Iraq.
Captivity was to last 70 years.

Jeremiah 25:11
"11.This whole country will become a desolate wasteland,
and these nations will serve the king of Babylon 70 years."

That was a prophecy that has come true.
After the 70 years, they were to rebuild Israel.

A small group of people returned called 'the Remnant'.
They were called to build the City of God.

WE are now the temple of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:16
"16.Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple
and that God's Spirit lives in you?"

We have a responsibility to build the House of God.
We must prepare the Temple of God.

God can't live just on the foundation.
Salvation is an elementary teaching of Jesus - Jesus 101.
You need to grow and become more like Jesus.
Jesus came like a man, just like you and me.

The walls represent the boundaries in our lives.
There are certain things we shouldn't do.

We need to press on into the deep end and become more like Christ.

The title of my sermon today is
"PERVERTED PRIORITIES"

To pervert the Bible, is to twist it up.
There is no GREY area with God.

You need to line up what is on the outside
with what is on the inside.

You can't grow by just having one meal a week.
You need to read the Word EVERYDAY.

September 21st at our 11:00am Service

Our mighty Crossroads Choir had people on their feet
shouting "Hallelujah" ~ "Praise God" and
bestowing honor and glory to our Lord!

Pastor Renee introduced another fantastic video presentation by Adrian
for our upcoming "Inside Out Tour" that is starting October 1st!

Beth eloquently prayed over our tithes.

"God so loved the world that He GAVE"

During the collection, the Choir sang "Thank You Lord."

PASTOR BRYAN'S SERMON...
FAMILY BUSINESS

"I am not going to preach to you this morning.
I am going to teach this morning."

I believe that a Word that you hear,
can be a Word that you preach.

Everyone loves babies.
People say that babies are like a 'processing machine'.
Learning, growing makes a baby healthy, natural.

But 5 years later, if that baby is still acting like a one year old,
you know something is wrong.

Kids have "trial" and "error".

This morning, we have 'Family Business'.

We need to grow in Christ.
If you've been in church for 10 years
and not growing in Christ, it is not right.

If you stop learning, you stop leading.

The Bible says we need to train ourselves to be Godly.

If someone says they can't stop something,
yes they can, THROUGH THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST!

GOD DOESN'T BLESS A MESS!

We all have the power to fall away.
But you can be victorious in Christ.
He will deliver you and set you free.

He is the warmth on a cold night.
He is the cool on a warm, hot day.

I say these things because I love you guys,
but I am going to preach it from the Bible.

Salvation is your safety and protection.
Some people lose their salvation every day.

If you have a shield, and that is Christ,
and you step out of the box and receive God's wrath,
you can always step back into the box of salvation.

Hebrews 5:11-20
"11.We have much to say about this,
but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.
12.In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers,
you need someone to teach you the elementary truths
of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13.Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,
is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14.But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use
have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

There are some people in the church
who have been here for 20 years, that have never grown. 
THEY'RE STUCK!

WHY?
Because you are not processing.
We need to tell people about Christ and show them!

Some people are running around with just the helmet of salvation on
and nothing else!
They're naked ~ spiritual streakers.

I'm here today to encourage you to be a better Christian.
God has a plan to use you until your dying day.

When God helps you, He might bring people to help you,
but NOT DO IT FOR YOU.

There are basic elementary truths that God has for us.

Hebrews 5:13
"13.Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,
is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness."

Salvation is infancy, but you can't stay a baby.

Do you know why people complain?
Because they are not filled in their life.

You need to mature.
You need to stop drinking just milk.
You need to continue to grow.
Keep on growing.

Hebrews 5:14, 6:1-2
"14.But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use
have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
6:1.Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ
and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance
from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,
2.instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands,
the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment."

We have the option of Water Baptism.
I shouldn't have to argue with people about getting baptized.

Christ is our example.
It's Biblical that God commands us to do it.
Even in the early Christian church, they argued about being baptized.

Hebrews is trying to tell you ~
WHY ARE WE EVEN ARGUING ABOUT THIS???

If the Bible is telling us to do it,
then the mature thing is ~ DO IT!

There are so many 'roller coaster' Christians.
Don't you want to be a rock that people reach out to?

You can not preach deliverance if you are not delivered.

Hebrews 6:4-6
"4.It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
5.who have tasted the goodness of the word of God
and the powers of the coming age,
6.if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance,
because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again
and subjecting him to public disgrace."

You need to watch who you talk to.
You need to be trained.
But you need to be trained by people who have been
properly trained.

As Christians, we need to be constantly growing
in the things of God.

Hebrews 6:7-8
"7.Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop
useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.
8.But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless
and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned."

As Christians, we need to be producing fruit, not thorns.

Hebrews 6:9-12
"9.Even though we speak like this, dear friends,
we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. 10.God is not unjust; he will not forget your work
and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people
and continue to help them.
11.We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end,
in order to make your hope sure.
12.We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those
who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."

That is our promise to you.

If we see people in church doing something wrong,
we need to tell them.
We need to say, "I hope you are mature enough
to  handle what I have to tell you."

If you can't receive a Word, you shouldn't preach one.

The bottom line is Hebrews ~
"You're going to grow, or you're going to die."

Continue to grow in the things of God.

Now go, and sin no more!

September 14th, 2008
Communion Sunday
Family Service Sunday

Our Sunday morning service opened with
Crossroads Choir!

Worship

Announcements were given by Pastor Renee.

Pastor Bryan dismissed the little ones.

"13.People were bringing little children to Jesus
to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
14.When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.
He said to them, "Let the little children come to me,
and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15.I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God
like a little child will never enter it."
16.And he took the children in his arms,
put his hands on them and blessed them."
Mark 10:13-16

Pastor Bryan introduced Dorisa Guzman as Crossroads new
MINISTRY STAFF COORDINATOR!
Dorisa will be responsible for recruiting volunteers
for the different departments within Crossroads,
and sending out friendly reminders to volunteers
when it is their turn to usher, greet, cover the nursery, etc.
Thanks Dorisa for taking on this very important ministry!

Pastor Bryan invited Adam, Joy and Baby Autumn
to come forward for the Dedication of Autumn.
To share in this joyous occasion, please click on Autumn
to go to her Baby Dedication page!

Communion...

After Communion, Pastor Barry prayed over our tithes.
while Debbie, Dave and Jason played a special song for everyone!

Pastor Renee introduced Crossroads'
INSIDE OUT TOUR
coming October 1st, where there will be something
for all ages!
An audio-video presentation was given for
the Inside Out Tour by Adrian!
It was FANTASTIC!

And now Pastor Bryan's sermon ~
BREAKING THROUGH IN WORSHIP

John 4:21-24
"21.Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming
when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
22.You Samaritans worship what you do not know;
we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23.Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth,
for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24.God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." "

You must worship God in spirit, because God is Spirit!
You must worship God with Spirit and in Truth and
worship Him on the inside as well as on the outside.

John 4 says 'These are the kind of worshipers God seeks.'
He desires/demands we worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Now Matthew 15:21-23 says