Christmas Time

Each year it seems to sneak up on me. I know it comes every year on December the 25th, but I just keep allowing it to sneak up. Here at Crossroads Central, the weather has been in the 60's and 70's so that isn't very Christmasy. Right now it's a brisk 35 or so, so it feels a little more like it, but by Christmas day it's suppose to be back in the high 60's. The question was asked, what is Christmas to you. I began thinking about it and realized how things change. A little over 3 years ago, our son was born. I thought about how much I enjoy seeing him get excited about Santa. And yes we do believe in Santa at the Martin House! I thought about how much our lives changed once he was born. This little one came into our life and we were blessed beyond belief. But then I thought about the most important birth ever. The birth of our Savior Jesus. As the world welcomed in the Messiah, Mary and Joseph celebrated the birth of their son... but I wonder, did they ever sit and wonder what He would do when He grew up? Was there ever a time when they wondered what He was going to be? As my wife and I look at our son and dream of what he will become, Mary and Joseph knew from the day He was born, that He would grow up to die for the sins of the world. A celebration cut short. Knowing why He was here, how could they truly enjoy watching Him grow. Because of that birth, the world was changed forever. Eternity was changed forever. As shepards and wise men celebrated, God must have begun to weep looking at His sacrifice.

Christmas is much, much more than a day, it's an eternity. Celebrate the true meaning. Understand what it really means... and share the gift with all you see.

My prayer for you is that you will have an amazing Christmas. Look forward to celebrating with you all oneday in Heaven.

In Christ Alone

KennyM

Crossroads StudentMinistry

Summer of Mac Ends...

So the Summer of Mac is officially over. It has been an amazing Summer. Crossroads was very busy. God has blessed us so much. As we watched a group of Seniors graduate and start college and careers, we welcome in many new 7th graders. What a great time.

This Summer we studied many different things. Studies based on TobyMac songs, that really seem to fit where we are at Crossroads. Summer of Mac: Making sure that we're not just going through the motions. That our life matches up with what we say we are. Let's Get This Party Started: A Party is a group of people joining together for one purpose. We at Crossroads have one purpose... To Grow in Christ. In our growth, we will become the witnesses God designed us to be. Whoopsie Daisy: Not being that dog in Proverbs that returns to it's vomit. We all make mistakes, do we learn from them and move on or do we roll around in our sin. The Slam: Like it ain't been done before. God has a different ministry in each of us. Make your ministry different from all others. Allow God to use you uniqueness to do an amazing thing. Love Is In The House: The House... a place of dwelling. When Jesus Christ comes into our life, we've asked His spirit to dwell within us. So we are a house for the Holy Spirit. Is there love in this house? If we don't share our love... the love of Jesus, then our house is empty. Extreme Days: The times we live in are extreme. It's hard to find anything good. Do you stand for God in extreme conditions, or do you give into the world? In The Light: God is Light, in Him there is no darkness at all. God said "Let there be Light"... if God is light and He said let there be light... well, Let There Be God. What kind of light are you shinning. Gone: Making the most of every opportunity to shine for Jesus. Don't let any chance pass you by. This might be your only shot at sharing God's love with that person. I'm Yours: We all belong to something... do you belong to God? Who to represent... can others see God owns you... Diverse City: We're all different... it takes different things to reach different people. If we are different... how do we as Christians differ from the world? Irene: People make mistakes everyday. Some of those mistakes effect us for life. How do you react to the Irenes... the people who have chosen to do the wrong thing... Boomin: We are to be the Portable Sound for God. Our words are to proclaim God and His love. We can't proclaim if we don't know anything about it. God didn't give us a wimpy voice... boldly proclaim God.

It's been a great summer... join us on Wednesday nights to see what He does next.

We Are

Crossroads

Attack

Battle: a large-scale fight between armed forces, any fight or conflect... to fight. Attack: to use force against in order to harm, to speak or write against.
John 15:18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first."
Do you ever feel like you're constantly under attack? It never seems to fail when things are going well, you get blindsided by the enemy. satan, (small letters cause he aint as big as my God) uses anything and everything he can to get you down, to hurt you, to try and cause you to stumble.
Before you give your life to Jesus, you're under satan's thumb. It's more like he has you on a mason jar in his cellar. (mason jar... yep I'm a southerner) He's not concerned or coming after you to0 much because he knows where you are and that you're not doing any good for Jesus. Then it happens, you give your heart to Jesus and a earthquake or hellquake hits. satan walks into his cellar and notices your jar has been shaken off and broken. You are no longer under his thumb. Your out of his control and into God's. That is when the attacks begin. Satan knows that if you're out of his control, you're doing God's will and he hates that.
Being under attack is part of our walk with the Lord. How do you react when the arrows fly your way? I have had an amazing summer. Two mission trips, record numbers at Crossroads, the opportunity to speak in several churches, my family is healthy, and God is all over me... and I have also been under a major attack. Attack of my character, of my ministry and of my church. Honestly I want to go to the attackers and go redneck on them... (yep southerner) but that is just what satan wants. John 16:33 says "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace, In this world you will have trouble, But take heart! I have overcome the world!"
Don't allow satan to win. Put on your armor and get ready for a fight.

Summer of Mac

So... Summer is coming to an end. It has been an amazing summer. Like so many others, Crossroads has been very busy and hasn't posted anything in a while. So, hopefully this will let everyone in on what's been going on.
We started with VBS. Over 400 children this year. Crossroads is a vital part of our Children's VBS. They staff, and help in many ways during this week. From teaching, to video and audio help, they are very involved.
Crossroads went back to Tupelo, Mississppi for WorldChangers. It was an amazing week. We made many new friends and touched the lives of over 31 families as we finished all 31 projects. We also had the opportunity to build a relationship with some folks from Hunter Street. We love you guys, and hope to join together again soon.
In a twist to WorldChangers, Kenny was asked to speak at Meridian, Ms. He also was asked to speak during our week at Tupelo. What a wonderful opportunity.
this Summer has been the summer of mac. In Kenny's twisted mind, he started looking at the music of TobyMac. Each song has a BibleStudy with it he said. So he took the titles of some of Toby's music and did studies for us each week. "Let's get this party started", "Whoopsie Daisey", "The Slam", "Love is in the house", "Extreme Days", "In the Light", "Gone"... if you didn't get to come to these.... you missed out.
Hope you've all had a great summer and pray that this will be your best school year ever.
We Are
CROSSROADS

Life of Mission

"You can be a WorldChanger, shinning the light for those in danger, sharing the love of the Lord and the Savior, you can change your world, go out and change your world".. What an example of what God has called us to do. Changing the world. I have had the opportunity this week to hang out with WorldChangers in Meridian, Ms. It has been wonderful seeing these Sr. High students go out each day and make a difference. To see them come to a closer relationship with who God is and what He's all about. To see the WC Staff leading these students in worship and work. I have seen adults of all ages working with and helping in so many ways. To see Calvary Baptist in Meridian hosting this group and rolling out the red carpet. It takes many things to change the world... what would you do to change the world. Let's be WorldChangers... start in your heart today!

We Are

CROSSROADS

The Next Chapter

To the Class of 2008...

First of all congratulations. It has been a blessing to have worked with some of you for almost 10 years. Some of you, I didn't have nearly enough time, you came in late in your school career and now it's over. Whether you've been around for years, or you've only been here a short time... Thanks for being part of the Family.

It has been wonderful to have you in my life and now it's time for me to let go. My greatest desire for the past, however many years you've been here, has been to see you grow in a living relationship with Jesus Christ. Not to know who He is, but to have a living relationship with him. I know you know this, but I'm not serious about much... my relationship to Jesus, my family, and my job. I take my job seriously. At Crossroads, we call em like we see em. Not politically correct, but with a desire to be eternally correct. Sin is Sin and we don't candy coat it. I think you know that. In doing this, I tried to show you the importance of making the right choice the first time.

Now it's time for you to turn the page and begin the next chapter in the book of your life. I pray that you have learned Biblical Principles that will guide you as you begin this new step in life. That you would fully allow God to lead you and that you will be the one... the one to make a difference in someones life, the one to invest back in your church and Crossroads, the one to be the Christian God has designed you to be.

May you take the Blessings God has already given you and use them to grow in Him.

We love you all...

We Are

Crossroads

You have value...

One of the latest things for teenagers is EMO. I know it's been around for a while, but in the past few months, it's been showing up more and more. From what I see, it's just the newest way for teenagers to say what they've been saying for years and years. "Nobody hears men, no one understands, life is hard... Guess what, heard it before.

One of the saddest things I deal with is students that think they have no value. I have had so many students that feel that they are all alone, that feel they aren't good enough. I guess as I get older, I forget what it was like to be a teenager. The hardest thing I faced was unhealthy comparisons. I didn't have as much as some, so I wasn't as good. I didn't have a nice car, so I was lower than them. I wasn't the coolest, so I just didn't fit in. Sounds familiar doesn't it. I think we have all dealt with inferiority before. Guess what... I can't be what others are. I am not suppose to be like them, I am me. Just as each thumb print and every eye is different, every person is different.

I have seen more teenagers getting into the Emo thing. To be in this crowd, many will dye their hair black, wear mostly black clothes, sweaters (usually dark colors) scarfs... most of them dress from the thrift store, or from hand me downs. Some even resort to cutting themselves to fit into this emo lifestyle. All because they don't fit in. Well, what happens to the kid that doesn't fit in the emo group... what will the next title be?

Please understand that I'm not labeling people, I just want anyone to know that struggles with fitting in... you're not alone. I'm reminded of a person that didn't fit in. He was mocked at every turn... His name is Jesus Christ. So when you think you don't fit in, and you're not worth anything, think of the one who died for you... He saw some value in you. Don't by into the lies. God loves you and wants you to enjoy life. It's too short to be miserable.

We Are

Crossroads