My dentist Experience

Tuesday I went to he dentist because I had a sore and maybe a lose filling. Today almost $3,000 later I have 2 crowns, a synthtic filling and a sore mouth.

I also found out that when I was 12 and had that silver put into my cavities - it was a mistake. Did you know that the silver will eventually break you teeth? It expands and contracts and when you get my age it cracks your teeth and you pay to have it removed.

So you pay to have it put in and you pay big bucks to have it removed. I know there is many spiritual applications of this that apply but you will have to help me think of them because right now my mouth hurts.

More extra-strenght tylenol please - I can still hear the drill. (It was a great dentist and the crowns were in and done in 2 hours - no temporal stuff at all - but it is never enjoyable!)

Opportunity to Invest in God's Kingdom

I am officially an approved Church Planter for Central Carolina Presbytery to the Steele Creek area of SW Charlotte. My first task is to raise the money that will allow me to minister there. So, here is a quick way to get the word out to those faithful blog readers.

 The way I am approaching this portion of my ministry is much like Paul did with the church of Philippi. 

Philippians 4

10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

 14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

My application of this passage for this blog:

" You know me, and you know the needs of getting the gospel out. You also know about what it takes to do church planting. We all know God will provide one way or the other. But it was you that provided out of poverty and God will credit your account. Everyone that is affected by the gospel in Steele Creek and each missionary or ministry that touches people for the Lord through Advent Presbyterian will be credited to your account. Each gift you give is affirming to me and I know God will provide for you when you provide for the advancing of the Kingdom!"

Today you do not need to send a messenger like Ephaproditus to give you gifts, there are numerous way to support this work of grace. The language below is  from Mission to North America  (MNA), the church planting arm of the PCA. They are handling the finances for this church plant.

There are four ways to give to the Advent Presbyterian Church Plant

partnering with MNA for cash management services:

1. You can make your donations by mail.

Mission to North America

1700 N. Brown Road Suite 101

Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8143

§  Please make your checks payable to MNA

§  In the memo line of your check specify  Ken Cross (we prefer the name rather than an account number)

§  100% of your contribution goes directly to this project!  There are no fees charged by MNA for these services.

2. You can make your donations online by credit card.

§  Go to www.pca-mna.org

§  Click the “Support MNA” tab (2^nd from the right)

§  Choose “Donate Now” 

(Link: https://processor.pcanet.org/mna/donationsII/donation.cfm)

§  From the ‘church planters’ drop down menu, select “Cross, Ken – Steele Creek (Charlotte), NC”

§  Create a user account by entering your donor information, name, address, email address.

3. You can make your regular donations automatically via electronic funds transfer from your bank, or by a recurring credit card charge.

Please contact Michael Hutcheson at (678) 825-1223 or mhutcheson@pcanet.org. 

4. You can donate stock by contacting Charles W. Schwab:

Stock Company: Charles Schwab & Associates

Main phone number: 1-800-435-4000

Account number: 16360225

DTC Code: 0164 Code 40

 (DTC stands for Depository Trust Co., which is part of the Federal Reserve System of the Central Securities Exchange)

 After each gift is received, a receipt will be sent to the donor.

So here is my initial pledge card. If you want more information just make a comment on this blog and I will be glad to contact you. Or here is a new e-mail address just for fund raising for Advent Presbyterian Mission. 

ken@adventpres.org

STATEMENT OF PLEDGE TO SUPPORT -  Advent Presbyterian Church Plant

MINISTRY OF KEN CROSS – Steele Creek (Charlotte), NC

 

Yes, I (we) would like to express my (our) intent to pledge support to Advent Presbyterian Church Plant and to MNA by:

 

o PRAYER:  I (we) would like to pray for the development of this ministry and for the hearts of people to be touched by the Gospel.          

o Daily     o Weekly

 

      o  FINANCIAL TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFTS:

v One Time Gift of $__________________

 

v  Ongoing pledge of  

$___________ per ________ for ________years

                       (M)onth, (Q)uarter, (Y)ear         1, 2, 3 or 4

 

v Pledge date range:  

Start________ Month/Year      End ___________ Month/Year

 

       o Receive Church Planter prayer letters.  (Please DO NOT check if you are currently receiving the prayer letter)

 

       o Agree that funds may be advanced to the church planter based on the above pledge with my (our) understanding that as I (we) continue to give in fulfillment of my (our) pledge, I (we) are replenishing to MNA the funds MNA has advanced to Ken Cross.

 

NAME________________________________________

        (Title, Mr., Mrs., Ms.)         (First)          (Last Name)

 

ADDRESS______________________________

 

CITY_______________________  STATE___________  ZIP_______

 

TELEPHONE________________________ 

EMAIL_______________

 

SIGNATURE______________________________ 

DATE _____________

 

Please make checks payable and mail to: 

Mission to North America

1700 N. Brown Road Suite 101

Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8143

                                                   

 o  I would like information on electronic funds giving.

This contribution will be made with the understanding that Mission to North America has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds, to assure their use for the intended exempt purposes.  

REVILO is a wonderful place to entertain

Just to be blessed to have a place that can entertain others and make great memories is wonderful. Here are a few memories!

Jesus preached this to Pharisees because He loved them, I preached it to myself and New Hope PCA for the same reason.

http://sermon.net/sermons-New_Hope_PCA_of_Clemmons_NC-11416.html

Today's sermon was on Luke 11:36-52.

Benefits of Opposition

Those of you who know me well know that the last 7 months have been full of opposition. I am not going to post what you think I will say but I do have a quote that greatly encouraged and challenged me from John Ortberg.

I have given up the idea that there is an opposition-free church out there. But I have gained something else—an appreciation for the gift of opposition. When it comes, I learn something about my motives. When it comes, I get to test my courage. When it comes, the truth about my humility (or lack thereof) is revealed. When it comes, blind spots get exposed that would otherwise do damage. When it comes, I am given the opportunity to grow strong. When it comes, I discover that I am the opposition in more lives than I ever would have guessed.

And then I meet the force stronger than any opposition. The force that can call opponents a brood of vipers. The force that can also forgive opponents because "they know not what they do." In opposition, there is grace.

John Ortberg is editor at large of Leadership and pastor of Menlo Park (CA) Presbyterian Church.

You can tell he has pastored for a while. Pray that all this will be true of me!

Heath Ledger

I am not a big movie critic but I did see the new Batman movie this week. Then one of my daughters told me that the actor that played the Joker was dead. What a waste. He made the movie and he nailed the Joker character! My daughter said his name was Heath Ledger. So I googled him and it made me even more sad when I realized who he was.

CNN said this about him: Heath Ledger was found dead of a drug overdose in a Lower Manhattan apartment.

Heath Ledger was unresponsive when a housekeeper found him in a Manhattan apartment Tuesday.

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more photos »

The Academy Award-nominated actor was 28.

Ledger was found naked and unresponsive, facedown on the floor at the foot of his bed by a housekeeper trying to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse, said police spokesman Paul Browne.

"Pills were found in the vicinity of the bed," he told CNN.

I was shocked to find out he has been in some of my favorite movies.

A Knight's

Tale & The Patriot

Why would I have a post about such things? 

It brings to my mind - that people can succeed and be so unhappy. Heath was obviously a talented actor with real skills but had a terrible life.

24For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

 25For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Now for the question of the day - has this Biblical contradiction made sense to you? Many people think that people like me waste their lives serving the Lord. I have friends that think I would do better in business - more money, less stress, less betrayal, less heartache ... but there also would be less joy for me because it would not be what God has called me to.

Heath, according to the articles I read, never felt he was talented, and was unhappy. I do not know about his soul. But be assured I care about yours. If you ever feel like taking too many pills, or some other such self-destructive act - call me. You are of much value and I will remind you.

Turf Counseling

Had a great time today with my long time friend Harry. It was the 2nd time all year I played golf. We had a great day and the weather could not have been nicer, a welcomed break from the humidity. The competition was fierce but Harry won with 2 birdies at key times - the way we play a birdie anytime if wonderful. I had one today on a chip in from the sand - Darrell would have be proud of that shot! So both of us had enough good shots to keep our clubs for another round in the future.

But we don't play to compete - but to laugh and ask good questions of one another and to simply care for one another. The Scriptures do say the we are in debt to one another and the payment is love!

Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

Thanks Harry for being an example of this verse in my life!

In VA Beach with Oliver

This summer Oliver is working for a Christian Ministry called Summer Shine.  It is a ministry at some of the largest KOA camps in the nation.  They hire high school and college young people to come up with activities, do maintenance, do outreach, and preach on Sundays to the clients that come to the campground.  Oliver has had to be available to preach every sunday. I have been so proud of him.  

We are here visiting him and getting to see what he has been doing all summer.  We are staying in a cabin with Mo and Bekah.  He has his own little camper that he stays in.  He woke up this morning and was out trimming and cutting down weeds at 6:30 am.  We were able to take him out to dinner last night at the local Outback.  We had a great time getting caught up.  

I have been nostalgic all day thinking about the time in the near future when all the kids are scattered, and it might be a rare event when we get to all be together.   Makes me even more grateful for the times that we have now.  What a blessing my children have been to me.  Karen has been in Southern Pines all summer babysitting, and I miss her so much.  Katie and Michael are in Columbia trying to find a place to live, and getting Michael signed up for classes in the Fall.  How I will miss them.  I will even miss Addis, their black lab!  God gives us family as a precursor to what heaven will be like.  Thank you Father.  

Awaiting the Bridegroom...................Lynn

lynnsmusings 

If I had gotten that Corvette

Praise the Lord for high insurance!

When I was 17 I had saved enough money working full time at Walker Drug Co. to buy a 1974 silver Corvette Stingray from Eastlake Auto Sales in B'ham. AL. It had a hard top and a rag top! Perfect! I had cash money to buy it with no payments - then I called the insurance agent to sign up - I will never forget that conversation, "Son, you cannot afford that car - but, but ... you are right sir, I can't afford that car!" The monthly payments for the insurance was astronomical for a 17 year old boy and a sports car that could fly!

I had wanted a corvette since a girlfriend taught me to drive a stick  on her brother's yellow corvette.

Thinking back now that I am over 50 - I still want a Corvette just like the one I saw so many years ago. They are harder to get into and especially get out of for an old man, the suspension is not a smooth as a cheap Honda - but "IT IS A CORVETTE!"

If I had gotten that idol of my youth then so many things would have been different. I would never have gone to college - the insurance payments would have had to be made .... would not have met Lynn, kids would look different ...

Last month my brother sold a wonderfully restored Corvette to pay for lawyers - what a shame and I never got to drive it.

God's providence - do you think there will sports cars in the cities of the New Heavens and Earth? Hope so! Notice below how much extra it was for a 454 cu. inch  270 HP upgrade.

Options

RPO	Description	Production	Price
*	Custom Interior Trim	19,959 (53.22%)	$154
	Optional Rear Axle Ratios	1,219 (3.25%)	$12
A31	Power Windows	23,940 (63.84%)	$86
A85	Custom Shoulder Belts (standard with coupe)	618 (1.65%)	$41
C07	Auxiliary Hardtop (for convertible)	2,612 (6.96%)	$267
C08	Vinyl Covering (for auxiliary hardtop)	367 (0.98%)	$329
C50	Rear Window Defroster	9,322 (24.86%)	$43
C60	Air Conditioning	29,497 (78.65%)	$467
FE7	Gymkhana Suspension	1,905 (5.08%)	$7
J50	Power Brakes	33,306 (88.81%)	$49
L82	350 cu. in. 250hp Engine	6,690 (17.84%)	$299
LS4	454 cu. in. 270hp Engine	3,494 (9.32%)	$250
M21	4-Speed Manual Transmission, close ratio	3,494 (9.32%)	n/a
M40	Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission	25,146 (67.05%)	n/a
N37	Tilt-Telescopic Steering Column	27,700 (73.86%)	$82
N41	Power Steering	35,944 (95.85%)	$117
QRM	White Stripe Steel Belted Tires, GR70x15	9,140 (24.37%)	$32
QRZ	White Letter Steel Belted Tires, GR70x15	24,102 (64.27%)	$45
U05	Dual Horns	5,258 (14.02%)	$4
U58	AM-FM Radio, stereo	19,581 (52.21%)	$276
U69	AM-FM Radio	17,374 (46.33%)	$173
UA1	Heavy Duty Battery (standard with LS4)	9,169 (24.45%)	$15
UF1	Map Light (on rearview mirror)	16,101 (42.93%)	$5
YF5	California Emission Test	n/a	$20
Z07	Off Road Suspension and Brake Package	47 (0.13%)	$400
Total Production: 37,502  Coupe: 32,028 (85.40%) Convertible: 5,474 (14.60%) Notes: Base Corvette Coupe with 350 cu. in. 195 hp engine and wide ratio four speed manual transmission: $6,001.50. Base Corvette Convertible with 350 cu. in. 195 hp engine and wide ratio four speed manual transmission: $5,765.00. *Includes leather.

Owning your Sin

I started reading a new book today by Paul Tripp, WHITER THAN SNOW. It is a series of devotions on Psalm 51. 

Here is just one paragraph (p. 22): "Here's the point. Before you can ever make a clean and unamended confession of your sin, you have to first begin by confessing your righteousness. It's not just your sin that separates your from God; your righteousness does as well. Because, when you are convinced you are righteous, you don't seek the forgiving, rescuing, and restoring mercy that can be found only in Jesus Christ." 

Here is a sports article about Josh Hamilton, who just put on a great display at the home run derby in the last All Star game in the house the Ruth built. I didn't get to see it because we don't have TV hooked up but this article was a perfect illustration of the paragraph above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU_DmJ4F3BA

The Shack

My wife put a link on her blog for a pdf document that gives a review of the bestseller THE SHACK. For the more visually minded I found a good review that is on youtube by Mark Driscoll.  See it here.

Dr. Eugene Peterson of the Bible paraphrase THE MESSAGE gave this strong review on the cover of the book. Who wouldn't want to a book likened to PILGRIM'S PROGRESS?

After watching Pastor Mark Driscoll, I will read this book and see with whom I agree. He makes some very important points.

Now I guess I need to go read the book. Lynn just finished it!

Have you read it? What did you think? I would like to know before I read it. Make a comment.

Highland Games

Lynn & I returned today from a great mini-vacation in the mts of NC. Dan and Beth hosted us very graciously. Here are some pics: 1.Katie married into the Mackenzie clan which historically were protectors for the Cross Clan! 2. Beth in front of her clan banner. 3. Bagpipe parade - a great spectacle. 4. No that is not me be throwing the 56 lb. hunk of steel 5. That is Lynn, Dan & I eating shepherds pie - yum, yum good! 

We also went fly fishing in the Watauga River. Pic of that at a later date!

From the McKenzie's...

Well hi everyone... it has been a while. It has been a roller coaster of a ride these last several months, but God has continued to show Himself faithful in all situations. He has really been teaching us that we have had to live day to day.
Since May Michael and I have been living between Southern Pines and Albemarle. God has blessed us with a room in both towns, with zero rent which is and has allowed us to save money. (Michael has really hated :) having two great mom cooks who always make sure there is icecream in the freezer )
Through this time Michael has been accepted to Columbia International University (CIU) in South Carolina. He has had an interview in Columbia, but we are waiting to see if this is the job that God has in store.
We are currently looking for a cheap apartment or house to rent while we will be in Columbia.
Please pray for: a place to live, Michael entering school again, for jobs, for us to find the church God wants us to attend and financially we will continue to be debt free through all these upcoming changes.
We are going to try to have a new entry to update you fairly often, so keep reading for more...

A More Clear Future

Yesterday was a very important day. 

If you have been reading this blog for a while you know that for the last month I have been meeting with Tim Taylor. I have a previous picture on a previous blog post. We have been trying to determine if we can work together to plant a church in Charlotte. We came to the conclusion that we could, and that we sensed God is at work. We have asked one another hard questions, gone boating together, worshipped and prayed together. Most recently we have developed a VISION STATEMENT, a TIMELINE, DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES for this yet to be planted church.

Now back to yesterday – we met with the church planting committee of our Presbytery (Pastors and Elders from many churches). It was somew

hat strange that we were making this proposal to the committee that I have been on over a decade. We had a thorough discussion about this “Planting Team” concept. The men wanted to make sure that I was emotionally ready after the hard last days at Sandhills Presbyterian. These good men wanted to know how much I had in the tank. I said a lot of things about my calling, vision, stewardship of gifts, experience … but I also said that I there would  always be scars to carry. But I have made the spiritual decision to continue to allow my heart to be broken and betrayed. When, as a pastor, you are unwilling to do that, you will inevitably quit getting involved with people. I honestly said that at this point I am about at 65% and moving toward 75%. Tim shared his heart too.  In the last year and a half he has been so sick he could not prepared for ordination.

 Broken and damaged men are trying to start a church for broken and damaged people – what a concept. Shouldn’t perfect people be starting churches? If that is true, no churches would ever be started. “God uses the weak things of this world to confound the wise …”

The Church Planting committee eventually asked us to leave the room so that they could discuss the proposal. They met for a long time and then asked us back in to tell us what they will present to the full Central Carolina Presbytery July 27^th.    They want to call

 me to be the church planter for the presbytery in the Steele Creek section of Charlotte. Tim will be my asst. and after his ordination in October will be ordained to that po

sition. This was great news! It is not a done deal yet, but this was the major obstacle. The whole presbytery will still have to approve their recommendation.

After the meeting I was driving back to Southern Pines to cut the grass, pick up pinecones and pack another trailer of stuff, when a long time friend from California called to check up on me. Terry and Christie are “friends are friend forev

er” kind of loved ones. They have only seen one of our kids, Katie, and that was when she was less than 2 years old. I told Terry of the events of the day and he said he wanted to be our first supporters in this Kingdom work. What an encouragement – not just that he is willing to support us, but that he cares for Lynn and I and our kids. Even though he has only seen them in photographs.  [By the way he is not a Presbyterian but really loves the Lord. He is still studying and will come around in due time!]

So in some ways I have to wait until Presbytery makes the final decision. But my first task is to raise $150,000 for my salary and ministry expenses to start the church. So if you are a praying person – pray. If you are not a praying person, let’s talk soon!

Happy Anniversary Rich and Anne

I hope  dinner at Magnolia Inn was wonderful last night and the steak we worse than the one we had together Monday night! Just kidding! 

One year and many many more!