Here are a couple of quick highlights from Pete‘s message today. For those of you who know Pete, his preferred method of communicating is one-on-one, so today he shared with us the things that he would say to you if he had the chance to sit down one-on-one over coffee and chat. I always love these messages because they are challenging, very inspiring and thought-provoking.

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Ephesians 1:15-16 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

1. I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD OBEY GOD IN AN AREA OF YOUR LIFE THAT SCARES YOU TO DEATH.

2. I PRAY THAT YOU WILL LIVE WITH A SENSE OF JOY AND GRATITUDE IN YOUR LIFE.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

3. I PRAY YOU WILL USE YOUR GIFTS AND ABILITIES TO SERVE SOMEONE ELSE

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

4. I PRAY THAT WE DISCOVER THAT CHURCH IS NOT ABOUT US.

Yesterday I had the privilege to hang out with two young women that attend Cross Point. One of them I just met this week, the other I have been getting to know over the last couple of months.

They are both single 20-somethings.

They are focused and purposeful – one just opened her own business, the other is headed off to NYC for an amazing internship and then headed to grad school.

One is going through a break-up, the other is just beginning a relationship.

They both love God passionately.

They both are skeptical of the church. They each in their own way experienced some junk in the church growing up that has made them question God, question their faith, question the church, question religion.

They have doubted. One rebelled.

They both have renewed hope in the church because of their experience at Cross Point and that makes me so excited!

I believe these ladies represent the feelings of their generation. They are looking for a faith that is real, a little raw and a lot honest. They want to see the church practice what we preach and LOVE people first. They don’t expect perfection… in fact they loathe the facade of perfection. They know Cross Point won’t get it all right and that is ok as long as we don’t pretend to. They don’t expect the people at Cross Point to be perfect, they just want to see us striving to be Christ-like.

These young women give me hope that this generation is not as lost as some have feared. They are just trying to find a place where faith is authentically lived out.

I’m proud that Cross Point has become a place where this generation is finding renewed hope in the church. I’m humbled by the responsibility we have to create such a place.

Is your church a place where the disenchanted can find new hope?

Pat Rowland spoke today at Cross Point Nashville about “Leaving a Legacy”. Here are some highlights:

• Scripture reference was 1 Samuel 1:10-13, 28 about Hannah
• Legacy is not just how you are remembered, it is about how you have affected those around you
• Legacy doesn’t come just by chance
• Memories alone won’t have the same impact as the legacy you create

Oh and I have to mention that the highlight of the day for me was my husband singing the Sanctus Real song “Legacy”. I know I’m a bit biased but he is a rock star, isn’t he?

Seriously though, what are you doing to leave a legacy? How are you building into the lives of those around you?

We finished the Plan B series today at Cross Point Nashville. This series has impacted so many lives. The stories of how God is working through the “Plan B’s” for so many people have been extremely moving.

Here are some things that Pete said today:

• John 16:33 – we have to embrace both parts of this verse: “in me you may have peace” AND “in this world you will have trouble”
• We are not exempt from Plan B’s, but we can have the confidence that Jesus has overcome the world.
• I don’t have a bow to give you this morning (can’t package this up nice and pretty). I want to give you a bow. I want to tell you it’s all alright.
• The stories you have shared with me during this series have rocked me to the core.
• There is only one place to go in the midst of your Plan B – the cross of Jesus Christ.
• The cross is not just the place you start, it’s the very center of our story.
• The cross is an anchor for your soul. It’s not just something that gets you into heaven.
• He (God) has a perspective on life that we simply don’t have.
• When you look at the cross, it reminds us the extent to which God will go for us.
• God has redemptive power. He takes the worst things in our life and turns them to good.
• The cross is proof that there is purpose in the midst of your circumstance.
• There is not always a bow, but there is always hope because there is a cross.
• God’s love will supersede whatever you are going through!

If you couldn’t join us today, be sure to check back at CrossPoint.tv for the audio of the message.

Today at Cross Point we had the privilege to hear the story of Todd and Angie Smith and the amazing life of their daughter Audrey Caroline. Little Audrey only lived 2 1/2 hours outside of the womb, but the impact this precious baby is having through the sharing of her story by her parents is amazing. Todd and Angie shared their story in a video interview with Pete, and Todd sang the song “I Surrender All” to close the service. It was an amazingly emotional and powerful day. Thank you Todd and Angie for so graciously sharing your story amidst the pain of your loss. We have been honored!

If you were not able to attend today, I’ve included the video and the link to Audrey Caroline’s blog. Here are my take-aways from the day:

• Trust is not expecting things to happen the way you are hoping them to happen, but rather knowing that God is with you no matter what the road in front of you holds.
• The challenge of balancing the tension of planning for loss and hoping for miracles
• Rest in knowing that your Plan B is not a surprise to God
• We don’t control outcomes
• Trusting God doesn’t mean we understand it, get it or like it
• Do I interpret God through my circumstances?
• Do I believe that God is who He says He is?

The blog: http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com

Today is Administrative Assistants’ Day so I wanted to take a minute to say a huge THANK YOU to Ashley Warren for everything that she does here at Cross Point. Her title is actually Office Manager and she takes care of the general office needs, runs our First Impressions ministry PLUS assists Pete and myself. It’s a huge job and I’m so thankful for her great attitude, relentless dedication and passion for ministry.

We love you, Ash!

Tomorrow at Cross Point Nashville you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for a small group.  If you have never been a part of a community group, I encourage you to give it a try.  I know that the idea of a small group of people meeting in someone’s home can be a little intimidating, especially if you haven’t been around here that long, but I promise if you will give it a try you’ll find a group of people who are just as eager to create friendships and grow in their faith together.  There will be approximately 20 groups featured in the lobby tomorrow.  Make time to stop, talk to some of the leaders and sign up!

And Cross Point Dickson, your group fair is coming up next Sunday.  If you are still interested in leading a group, be sure to email Chad at chad@crosspoint.tv

• Cross Point was featured on national television as “America’s Church of the Week” on the 700 Club.  It was a feature on our service project with Safe Haven Family Shelter.  It was cool to see the Cross Point volunteers in action – congrats everybody!  The video is on YouTube.  Here’s a link.  I tried to embed in my blog but experienced technical difficulties (most likely user error).  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdJn3b-9g7M  
• I ran my first 8 minute mile!  I’ve never run a mile that fast (that I know of). 
• I’m packing tonight to head to NYC tomorrow for the Q Conference.  I’m getting excited!!  (I’ll be more excited once I’m finished packing – I hate that part). 

So, I’ll be blogging from The Big Apple this week – stay tuned!

Tomorrow I get the best of both worlds… I’ll be spending the morning at the Dickson campus and then coming back to Nashville for the 6 p.m. service there.  Can’t wait to worship in both places!

Woke up to rain again this morning.   It was pretty dreary all weekend and I was really hoping for some sunshine to get the week off to a good start.  Oh well. 

Speaking of weekend, here are some of the highlights for me:

• Ran 10 miles – furthest I’ve ever run.
• Went out for dinner and a movie with Merlyn on Friday night.  Went to Calypso Cafe (my favorite) and saw the movie “21″ which was pretty good.  I can’t remember the last time we actually went out on a date!
• Saturday was low key.  Spent the morning doing a little work and cleaning the house.  Merlyn had to work, so I did some shopping and started “New Moon”, the second book in the Twilight series.  Love it!
• Sunday was a good day at Cross Point.  We started the new series Plan B: What to do when your dreams are shattered.  I think this is going to be a great series.  I was challenged by Pete‘s message yesterday, especially the part about wanting to keep control of our lives rather than trusting them to God.  I can’t seem to get this.
• I finished Sunday night with small group at my house.  I love my small group!  We had some great honest, transparent discussion about some of the things we had difficulty trusting God for. 

  So that was my weekend, now I’m looking forward to what my dreary Monday holds for me today!  How about you?