God Time

The other day I am hanging out with the kids at the house and Nathan my 10 year old gets bored with just hanging out with family. So he was doing everything he could to go to a friends or to grandma’s just anywhere so he could get out of the house! Well I really wanted for us to have a family day so we could enjoy being around each other but he didn’t feel the same way. So we were out on our deck and He begins to whine about being bored, and I encouraged him to try to enjoy his time with his family but he just couldn’t wind down. Right about that time God spoke to me and said, Danny this is what you so often do to me you run and run and are here and there and you think being busy is important but what about some time with me! So often we can get so caght up in our schedule or our own agenda that we forget or just plain out ignore Gods attempts to just hang out and love on you! So the question is: Are you hanging out with God?

Making it Happen!

Together with God we are making it happen! The vision is not only being lived out but also being seen by the community. It will be amazing to see what is going to happen this year in the life of CrossView as we take huge steps to trust God in amazing ways! Since Easter weekend we have raised a little over $40,000 That is amazing! We still have long way to go and a short time to get there, but together with the help of God we can, and will do it! I can’t wait to meet in a perminent building so that we can do more ministry in the community! The plans that we have for our childrens ministry is going to blow your mind. I really believe many children will come to know Christ through this ministry! We are going to put a huge focus to this area when we get into Goodyear!!!! We will change and transform a community with the name of Jesus and the cool thing is we get to play a part of it! God has invited us to come along side of him to impact this community and that what we are going to do! One life at a time!!!

Staff Transitions

Dear CrossView,

Sunday was one of the best days and one of the hardest days in my life as a pastor, but I realized through it all that change is sometimes hard. But, at the same time it could be the best thing to happen if it’s God’s will!

I regret to inform you that this past Sunday, Jonathan and Holly Drake made an important decision to resign as worship leader at CrossView. We are going to miss Jonathan and Holly in a huge way. Jonathan was not only a good friend but a joy to work with. The Lord used Jonathan in my life personally and professionally to challenge me as a Christian in so many different ways. I’m sure that this decision “no matter what it may seem like” was not a spur-of-the moment decision. He has been wrestling for sometime if God really wanted him in Rockmart. Having to commute everyday was hard and their house in Villa Rica would not sell allowing them to get more involved in Rockmart. But sometimes our plan is not God’s plan. During the Innovate Church conference, that our staff attended two weeks ago, Jonathan was moved by God into the direction that He had been calling him and unfortunately it was not with CrossView. I believe this was a tough decision for Jonathan that he didn’t take lightly. I know this decision was not an easy one for him, but the right one if he is following God, which I believe he is.

Jonathan and I both love Jesus and we both love His church. We both want to see people come to know Christ and we both believe the best day of the church is yet to come! Jonathan felt like he would hinder the unity and the vision of CrossView if he stayed when God was moving his heart into a different direction. I respect him so much for that! However, I write this to you with much hurt and pain because I hate to see them leave. But, on the other hand I rejoice, because Jonathan wants to be where God wants him to be!

I would have hoped his resignation would have been a public resignation where we could have prayed over Jonathan and Holly and their journey with God. Jonathan thought it would be better this way. But, it leaves the door open for speculation. So if you’re a spectator you’re saying, “well what’s the scoop? Why didn’t you tell us on Sunday?” The truth is, I didn’t know myself until Sunday afternoon. I spent most of the day confused and upset while trying to wrap my brain around everything, because I didn’t see this coming. After much thought, I came to realize that is the way God designed Jonathan. It would have been much harder for him and his family to address his leaving publicly. So it was better this way for him and Holly. As a staff we want the best for Jonathan and Holly. There was no plan to replace Jonathan. To be honest, we had hoped that he would stay with our church for the rest of his life. We all love them and we often joked about when we got old we were going to be some Rocking Sr.’s. LOL. But the truth is our plan is not always God’s plan, but God’s plan is the right plan! So with all that said, I would ask you all to pray for Jonathan and Holly as they prepare to face a new chapter in their lives. Pray that they will continue to seek God in everything they do. Also, continue to pray for CrossView as we prepare to make some decisions with worship. To avoid any further miscommunication or misunderstandings please contact us directly so we can address any concerns you may have. You may contact the office over the next few weeks. We would love to help you have some closure in this because our best days as a church are ahead! God is going to continue to do some amazing things among us! And lives will continue to be changed! I find hope in this verse:

Romans 8:28 We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God, and are called according to his purpose for them.

Love you all,

Pastor Danny

Random Thoughts

• The last two weeks off have been refreshing, just for my own spiritual health. 
• I had an opportunity in the last 13 days to visit 4 different churches and hear 18 different pastors.
• YES I was drinking from a fire hose but I have retain a lot of what I have heard!
• I am fired up about the new series coming up after this week “Live like you are Dying” .
• Got a contract on Goodyear from the school board we have 120 days to secure financing, So pray for us!
• 105k is what we have left to raise to close the deal, (I believe) I have at least 50k raised from partnering churches. 
• We are hosting a 5k in the summer email me if your church is interested in getting involved all money raised goes to build Gods kingdom!
• Can’t wait to see what God is going to do this summer! 

Excited about the Journey

2 Months ago our family packed our suitcases jumped in a van and took a trip to Gulf Shores and an hour into the trip Nathan our 10 year old  began to say, “Are We There Yet? and we were like, “NO” well he continued to do it over and over until he managed to get on my nerves really bad and I finally told him I would make him walk if he continued to ask that question. ( He knew I wouldn’t really!) and I remember telling him to just enjoy the ride. But thinking back on that experience  I began to think A lot of time when we are going on vacation no matter how old we are we still have this “Are We There Yet?” Attitude. We want to get there quick too, we just don’t say it over and over again. We just think it over, and over, but really what’s the difference? I think God wants us to enjoy the ride. I remember very little about family vacations that our family took as a child, but the thing that I remember the most was the time in the car with the family. One time on the way to florida my brother had a stink bomb that had a twist cap and he stunk the car out and my dad was driving and he put his hand back and told my brother to give him what he had, and my brother gave it to him alright he poured the whole stink bomb in his hand. needless to say we pulled over and we were all gagging from the stench! My brother got in so much trouble, but it was so funny! That experience will be burned in my memory FOREVER! The TRUTH is; So many times we gripe about the Journey. W e complain about the travel, because we can’t wait to get to the destination! BUT maybe just maybe we are missing out on “the best part” because we can’t keep our eyes off the destination long enough to enjoy the NOW! REMEMBER Psalms 118:24 THIS is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

10 THINGS I AM PUMPED ABOUT!

1. MY JOB!!!! I PASTOR THE GREATEST CHURCH IN THE WORLD! HANDS DOWN!!

2. MY STAFF!!! I DON’T THINK ANY CHURCH HAS MORE DEDICATED STAFF AS WE HAVE THEY GIVE  110%  FOR HIM EVERY WEEK. 

3. BLAKE FURGUSON BEING A NEW ADDITION TO OUR ROSTER OF STAFF PRETTY PUMPED ABOUT HIS LEADERSHIP AS HE WILL BE LEADING SYSTEMS 

4. UNLEASHED – WE ARE TAKING 40 OF OUR VOLUNTEERS TO NEWSPRING CHURCH FOR A CONFERENCE. BUT THE TRUTH IS I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THEM UNLEASHED WHEN WE GET BACK FROM THE CONFERENCE. 

5. ANTHONY AND BRITTANY MILLSAP I AM PUMPED ABOUT BROADCAST STUDENT MINISTRY CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO THROUGH THEM!!!!

6. CHURCH PLANTING THIS YEAR WE HAVE ALREADY LAUNCHED A HISPANIC WORK NOW WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH WITH GENESIS CHURCH THAT WILL LAUNCH IN ORLANDO. 

7. PRAYING ABOUT AFRICA TRIP IN NOVEMBER  WANT TO GO SEE WHAT KIND OF DIFFERENCE OUR WELLS OUR MAKING

8. I AM PUMPED ABOUT EASTER 3 SERVICES IS A MUST!!! CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO!!!

9. ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THIS YEAR AND THE PLANS THAT GOD HAS FOR US!!!!

10. I AM PUMPED ABOUT HOW GOD IS GOING TO USE YOU TO BUILD HIS CHURCH!!!!!

Child of God

The other night about 3am my 3 yr old Jewel comes running into my room scared, screaming, and crying and I jumped up picked her up and laid back down. She was saying, ” I want you dad, I want you dad!” and I calmed her by whispering, ” Your ok, I’ve got you, I’ve got you!” She was in my arms clinging on to me like a monkey on a tree. And at that very moment God spoke to me and said, This is my response to creation.(mankind) “When you seek me, you will find me.” when your scared, I will pick you up. When your crying, I will wipe away your tears and restore your joy. When your screaming, I will calm you and bring you peace that surpasses all human understanding, and in my Arm’s I will give you rest! And assure you that “Daddy’s got you, you’ll be ok, I’ve got you now!” So we need to quit running from God and run to him, because Jesus came so that we may have life, and have it to the full. We have amazing God who brings comfort.

John 14:9

“Have I been so long with you, and yet hast thou not known Me?” John 14:9

I think a lot of times in life we claim a relationship with Christ but do we really have one? I could claim I have a relationship with my wife but if I never come home it wouldn’t be much of one; if we didn’t talk it wouldn’t be much of one. What Jesus is saying is “I have called you friends!” meaning identity in thought, heart and spirit. Anything else is not friendship it’s just an acquaintance. Listen, God wants your heart, mind, and soul. It’s called intimacy. When we get intimate with Jesus we will never be lonely, we will never need sympathy, and we can pour ourselves out because he fills us back up, when we are intimate with Jesus we begin to leave impressions of him instead of ourselves.

1st Thought of 2009

As I wake from sleep January 1^st, 2009 I am reminded how great God is!

• Who would have thought God would have blessed me like he has?
• Who would have thought that he would have trusted me enough to parent 3 children (sometimes challenging but more times rewarding)?
• Who would have thought that he would allow my love for my wife Gracie to grow stronger than ever before?
• Who would have thought that he would have done all the awesome things that he has done in 2008?  The many people that have come to know Christ, the notorious Egg Drop, the awesome motorcycle in the service, and the people that have experienced forgiveness and freedom from addictions.
• Who would have thought that we would have built a youth center that would serve as our offices, and used for many other functions like “Ladies Night Out”, and nights of worship?
• Who would have thought that we would have planted a church?
• Who would have thought that after two years my burden to reach the unchurched has gotten greater and not lighter?
• Who would have thought that we would have the awesome people that we have at Cross View?
• Who would have thought we would have people from all over the United States listening to our sermons online? And many who read my thoughts on this blog or follow us on Twitter.

Listen, I say all that to say, as we follow God our lives are blessed, It’s not easy, but it is blessed!  Let me just tell you in 2009…you better HOLD ON TO YOUR FORKS!

Sunday Recap

Today was like no other at Cross View. When I first got there at 5am the rains were pouring.  I was kicking myself for not just doing the one service after Christmas service like every other church was doing. But it was just too late I began to be concerned; it’s the holidays, people will be gone visiting family, and now on top of that it is raining cats and dogs. We set up with 5 people in 45 minutes!  That was a movement of God. Everything went perfect!!! I knew that God was going to show out, and that is what happened. Many of our folks were out of town for the holiday but for the people that stayed in town, they brought their family to church with them! When all was said and done both services was full and I heard God say,” You see I’ve got a plan and if it was for one service then I would have lead you to make that decision.” It’s so exciting when you see your people show out and bring their families!!!! Our people are great!! Tear down was the same it took 45 minutes and we had about 10 extra people that stayed around and helped to tear down today! God you are amazing!!! The music was off the chain.
Jeremy Lokey is a talented man that God is definitely going to use in a huge way at Cross View. Along with Tabby and Leanne the worship was awesome!! We did miss our fearless worship leader Jonathan Drake, our guitarist Ethan Purser, bassist Andrew Swanson, and keyboardist Dusty Brogdon. Today I finished our Christmas series with the story of David and Bathsheba. We talked about how that tied into Christmas and the Birth of Jesus; I felt God use me in a huge way! On top of that I drank this HUGE Monster drink before the service so I was off the chain jacked up! I am so excited about what is to come. This coming week is a week that you don’t want to miss as I share with you what God is planning to do through Cross View!!!! It is going to be an amazing time as we look at what’s ahead!!!! So you don’t want to miss!!