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Pastor DaronCrossLife Blog

Easter means that you live with Jesus in a place of love, acceptance, invitation and welcome.

Courage

Pastor DaronCrossLife Blog

Two warrior are remembering how another warrior was killed in battle. “Some say he died bravely,” one of the warriors recalled with a hint of pride and approval. The other countered, “Others say he was afraid.” “Is it possible to be brave if you’re afraid?” the first asked. “That is the only time you can be brave.”1 Courage, they say, …

How and Why to Prepare for Holy Communion

Pastor DaronCrossLife Blog

Holy Communion is a sacrament, a “sacred act,” which means it is God doing his job. Like a server at your favorite restaurant does their job. They “serve” you, just like God serves you in Holy Communion.  In Holy Communion, God promises the forgiveness of sins. In Holy Communion, God opens the door for a believer’s fulfilling, resurrected life today …

Horizontal and Vertical Worship

Pastor DaronCrossLife Blog

We work hard trying to improve our lives. Better hair. More healthy habits. Get a grip on balancing our budget and our calendar. When was the last time you worked hard to improve your worship life? As in, actually evaluating what you’re doing when you attend a worship service at your church, analyzing your thought patterns, testing your assumptions, pursuing …

Holy Week Overview

Pastor DaronCrossLife Blog

You send a two page email to a long distance friend, and all but the last 6 or 7 lines you are describing a single issue in your life at the moment. Do you think your friend would get the impression that this issue is important to you? Would you believe that almost half of the Gospel of John in …

Worship Jesus More

Pastor DaronCrossLife Blog

When you know the difference between horizontal and vertical dynamics in worship, then you worship Jesus more.

Thrown Out

Pastor DaronCrossLife Blog

God in heaven, you have helped my life to grow like a tree. Now something has happened. Satan, like a bird, has carried in one twig of his own choosing after another. Before I knew it he had built a dwelling place and was living in it. Tonight, my Father, I am throwing out both the bird and the nest. …

Be More Afraid

Pastor DaronCrossLife Blog

My cousin and I were cruising downhill on our skateboards, as 12-year-olds love to do. The street was perfectly sloped to give us some good speed, and was off the beaten path so we didn’t deal with cars.  As I sped down the hill on my skateboard, I caught sight of a paper bag on the street just ahead. I …

Don’t Eat Bacon?

Pastor DaronCrossLife Blog

One of my favorite smells is the smoky aroma of hot coals cooking barbecued pork. Related to that would be the attractive smell of fresh, hot bacon. One of my least favorite odors is pig farms. I guess I’m conflicted. So were God’s people in the Old Testament. God had commanded, “The pig, though it has a divided hoof, does …

Mushroom or Oak Tree?

Pastor DaronCrossLife Blog

I asked a group of our church kids, “How many of you like mushrooms?” I saw some wrinkled noses, and heard a few “ewwwwwww!” responses. 3 of the 25 kids raised their hands. “How many of you have ever tried to climb a mushroom?” I heard giggles, and a few “no wayyyyyyyy!” responses. “What would happen if you tried to …