Rebecca & James ... and ice cream

Hope you didn't miss the concert ~ Rebecca tamped down the Bluegrass, and James lifted his UNCANNY Randy Travis-sounding voice. What talent!

Thank you to Sammy who (once again) brought singers together for CBC members to enjoy ~ and participate with... what an assembly of musicians!

Then of course, right before August slips off the yearly map, declaring summer over and "fall" on its way, there was the ice cream. I only tasted two: the first and third place winners (only because the first was next to me, and I was dishing out the third place entry.)

It got down to giving people "tastes" of each flavor as CBCers are apparently an ice cream lovin' crowd, and it went quickly. Homemade ice cream reminds me SOOOOO much of my Dad and that old crank he turned and turned and turned until we thought we'd die from waiting.

Official Ice Cream Judge, Randy Shuffield, you're a lucky man.

p.s. Did Brenda Baker rock those colors in the foyer and cafe or what?! Good job, Brenda!!!

In the Eyes of a Hummingbird

Showing up in the mornings; slowing it down to a crawl
Backyard’s sprawling oak; under His heavens it’s all small.
I take with me now the One Year Edition
Old Testament said aloud, it’s better if I listen.

Still, my mind’s so prone to wander; stealing my attention
Oh let me capture the truth, fragrant like sweet jasmine.
So I say to the LORD, “What do You want me to see?”
How shall I take up Your cross and be more like Thee?

And I’ve begun to notice the oddest thing!
When I’m deep in His word a blessing He’ll bring.
A hummingbird that feeds on poolside yucca blooms
Then I know He’s drawn near; wings swift, emerald plume.

Of course this sounds crazy, unless you know what I do,
This little bird only shows up when He’s teaching me truth.
Even ADD thoughts remain quiet and alert
It’s a gift really, of invaluable worth.

So this morning when I sat in my usual chair
With my One Year Bible, I knew He was there.
He appeared on whispering wings two feet from my face (!)
Looked me straight in the eye, smallest delivering His grace.

Praise and Worship Night Aug 30

Sunday, August 30, at 6:30 PM, featuring Rebecca Hendricks and James Hinds.

Joe White, President of Kanakuk Kamps and Men at the Cross said, "Rebecca's incredible heart and passion is the center of each song she sings. Her music is uplifting and her God-given talent shines on each note! God has truly blessed her with an amazing talent!"

Join us as we lift our voices in praise.

Also, there will be a homemade ice cream competition. Sign up to enter the competition by contacting Andrea. We're providing childcare for kids through age 5. Reserve though this link. Check out our guest at www.rebeccahenricks.com.

Faithful friends

Thanks be to God for our friendships, those relationships that lift us up and help us remember what it looks like to follow our LORD's truths!!! Do you have at least one friend with whom you can look in the eye and allow them to see, really see, into your eyes? Do you let this person
know who you really are? This would be someone you're not hooded with but one who draws you out of hiding. Do YOU realize what a rare gift this might be for you? If you have such joy in your life already, does He/SHE know how much you treasure their deep commitment to you? This friend may not agree with everything you say or do, but he/she will often still come along side, and that takes the deepest devotion and love between two people. I have found these are the hands that reach over with His strength and pull us back onto the narrow road. These are the friendships which God carefully constructs to meet us, "...at such a time as this." (Esther 4:14)

It's been my prayer throughout the years that He would send someone along side me, and He faithfully brought certain people in and out of my life ~ umbrellas over me ~ watching and interceding when they were needed. And He faithfully has again sent three friends through which He works. These sweet friendships with other strong believers feel different; there is a kinship, a nurturing that is the fragrance of Christ (2 Cor.2:15), and I find I long for their influence.

Yes, it takes time and effort and TRUST (!) to develop this kind of love, but it reverbertes in your heart like no other. I hope you have someone, a friend with whom you can depend. I pray
God is bringing someone closer to you and onto your pathway... right now.

Yoga ~ Fall 2009 at CBC

After a fun 5-week pilot class this past July, CBC will again offer yoga classes this fall, led by Sherri Sund. (Sherri has practiced yoga for 25+ years and has been a certified yoga instructor for the past 10 years at the YMCA.) The classes will begin Thursday, Sept. 10th, and will end in Nov. Class time is 6:30pm ~ 7:30pm.

Each class is designed for beginner and intermediate participants so prior experience is not necessary. What you WILL need is comfortable clothes, a YOGA mat (you can purchase VERY cheap ones at Ross, Target, TJ Max, Wal-Mart, etc.) The cost will be $5 per person, per class, and all proceeds will be donated to CBC.

Wanna get outta the house and RELAX? Grab friends and family and come join us! Any child under age 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Hope to see you there!

Listen to My Life

Yoo-hoo! Girlfriends! May I have your attention for a quick moment? I just spent three days with Cheri Hudspith and two other women going through a marvelous program called Listen to My Life. This is Cheri's exciting, deep and sensitive ministry, and our group was Cheri's second retreat.

It was a wow-er with "aha" moments tumbling one after another for each of us. Introspective work can be unexpectedly (and incredibly) poignant, and our LORD met us as Cheri led us with her gentle servant's heart. God has clearly called her front and center for this ministry, and I pray you and other women you know will step up in faith to embrace Him in this unique format. I'm SO glad to have been a part of this!!!! Here's how to contact Cheri: cheri_hudspith@yahoo.com

Oh y'all... let God lead Cheri in helping you hear the melody that is your life ~ He wants you to know He's been there all along and can be trusted in your future.

Dr. Bock comes to CBC (8/16/09)

Wasn't Dr. Bock's sermon an interesting unveiling of God's word? Have you ever thought of repentance to mean the horizontal living out of the Word? I understand the vertical aspect of it, but have not before considered or heard that by definition that word means the
SPECIFIC fruit- of-the-Spirit behavior with which we are to bless each other. I suppose I just thought true repentance helps us live a more purposeful, loving life, as a result of our repentance.

How like the LORD to reveal some of His mysteries to those seeking understanding; don't you love it? And ... as a result of our Father crossing the pathways of an SMU relationship with Steve (who helped lead Dr. Bock to Christ), God blessed our church body all these years later when this man stood in our pulpit. Faith means there are no coincidences...

Repentance means ... well, you already know!

Fall 2009 Studies

Fall classes are online now and we've got a great line-up. Check them out here, then register online or at church.

Women's Studies

Women's studies are now online and this year we're offering online registration. Go here to check out the classes and register.

Online registration

You can register online for MOPS here.

You can register online for Teen MOPS here.

You can register online for the September Career Transition Workshop here.

You can sign up for CBC Families here.

Live Band Tonight

Tonight at the Shops of Highland Village: Dance Fuse Variety Band, from 6 to 9. Last week's band was really fun and it's a great thing to take the family to. Tip: if you wait until 7:30, there will be more shade.

Children's Ministry is Seeking Outstanding Volunteers

We know you walk among us. In you beats the heart of a musician, a dancer, a worship leader, an administrator, a greeter, a workshop leader, or a small group facilitator. We've got some great kids looking for you to entertain them, guide them, and watch them grow.

Crossroads has an awesome Children's Ministry due to the efforts of people like you and we could use some more. This isn't the Sunday School you attended as a child. There's music, cooking, movie-watching, drama, popcorn, experimenting with science, and more!

Contact Pastor Roddy if you might be interested.

Comedian ~ Tim Hawkins

Oh Dear ...

Last night at Trietsch Memorial Methodist Church, when comedian Tim Hawkins took the stage (in front of a crammed-full sancturay), I started laughing. And I'm still laughing. Before my friend, Linda, mentioned going, I'd never heard of him.

He had the audience wheezing, sputtering and shrieking as soon as the mic clicked on. His schtick on Legos, Marriage-as-a-Roller-Coaster, kids running around pools and a million other regular life things were BEYOND hysterical. I'm tellin' ya ~ I could hardly breathe, and I'm a yoga instructor for crying out loud!

After the show, he was selling his DVDs and CDs, etc., and if the lines hadn't been so long we'd have bought at least one right then and there. Instead, I think I'll order online and be pleasantly surprised [again] by this guy's clean, creative comic act when it arrives on our doorstep. We gotta get this guy to CBC! (It was $15 per ticket at Trietsch.)

If you're in a mini church and want something fun and different for your group to do as the summer winds down ~ one of Tim's DVDs may be it. I firmly believe laughter is the rocket booster that jettsons us from life's snapping jaws. http://www.timhawkins.net/video.php

If you hate it, I'll buy it from you... then we're going to have a long talk.