PASSION - 5/10/17

DEAR FAITHFUL CREW LIVING REAL LIFE,

Real life warns you about having too much passion for anything. There is danger in putting all of your heart and life into any one thing. I’m sad to say that church often does that to us just much. Remember that Jesus did not come to turn struggling boys and girls into good boys and girls, but to bring life to dead things. God told the Israelites to build a temple in the dessert because “he wanted to dwell among them”. Then God sent his only Son because he wanted to dwell among us and remind us that a full life is life in God. If we have chosen to follow Christ, the Holy Spirit is in us, and desperately wants to remind you everyday of the passion that God has for you and I, and to invite us into a life lived fully for God in response, full of joy, laughter, serving one another, and wrestling deeply with Scripture that will ultimately lead us closer to the Lord. I pray that as you prepare for the summer season ahead that you recognize once again, and first, God’s passionate love for you as his child.

Peace in Christ,

Brett

BRANCH - 4/19/17

DEAR FAITHFUL CREW LIVING REAL LIFE,

I'm not sure it's fair. But tonight I'm asking you to do something that is probably the single hardest thing for me to do: Trust in God. There will be times in your life when your really have no choice. But usually, many things will compete as you want to gain your own control -- as you live in a world that tells you that your own power is most important. Live confidently, sure. Work hard, of course. But remember God's promises. Remind each other of God faithfulness in the dark times. This is the one characteristic that will move you closer in your walk with God. To be a strong Christian is not something YOU do, but what you allow God to do through you.

Let go of the branch, God's got this.

Peace in Christ,

Brett

FIELD - 02/08/17

Dear Faithful Crew Living Real Life,

Hope to see you tonight @ 7:00!

When you take a look at Scripture and notice the way God works... He's chasing after us.... He's relentless.  God never gives up trying to get our attention. Our distractions are many and also in hot pursuit of our time and our devotion. As patient as God is, God can't help leaving the comforts of heaven and entering into our "field" and inviting us to work with Him. And the work, we discover, brings us deeper joy than we can imagine. In what "field" is God meeting you at the moment? At school or home? In your thoughts or conversations? In your freetime or busy-ness? Where is God trying to get your attention.

Keep listening and responding, and God will remind us of His infinite grace, and will lead us to places we could never expect. Return your attention to Him fully in all you do!

Peace Always in Christ,

Brett Shoe

NAMES - 02/01/17

DEAR FAITHFUL CREW LIVING REAL LIFE,

If you had to pick a new name for yourself that reflected what God is doing in your life, what would you choose? My guess is that we begin to think immediately about the ways we have failed God—ignored God—turned our backs on God—or worshipped other gods. Our name might reflect our own inadequacies.

Please remember the story of Jacob. Jacob might have given himself the name “Deceiver”—or “Thief of his Own Brother”—or “Unworthy to be called God’s own”. And there were probably names for any of those. Jacob would have known—he was always naming stuff.

But we have to hear this in Jacob’s story: God renamed him Israel. Do you know what Israel means? The ending (“EL”) means God. But the root of the beginning, because for some reason the Hebrews thought it would be fun for us later if they didn’t put any vowels in their words, could mean a couple different things. It could either mean to “struggle” or “strive”, or it could mean “honest” or “righteous”. I have a theory that it means both. Israel then, is BOTH to struggle with God, AND to be made righteous before God. They go together, just like they did for Jacob.

I hope that every CREW member has a real and memorable encounter with God this coming year, or at least a few in your lifetime. But—spoiler alert—it might come with a little or a lot of struggle. Be encouraged and reminded that often God uses tough life circumstances to rename us, draw us closer to Himself, and make us honest, new, righteous. When we struggle with God and live to tell about it, God wants us to tell about it---about how God changes us from the inside out, to be a light to the world.

Welcome to a life of struggle in relationship with God.

Yeah, sorry about that.

But welcome to a community, like the people Israel, that struggled together and found joy and real meaning in being the people of God’s promises.

Peace Alone in Christ,

Brett Shoe

FROM THE INTERN - 01/25/17

Dear Crew Family,

We are almost into the second month of the year 2017, and what a hectic ride it has been! This year brings up new challenges, new relationships, and of course the strengthening of faith. I know for me, in just this short amount of time my life has been flipped and twisted in ways I didn’t think were possible. Things have happened that I didn’t even think would happen in just a short month. But, it has allowed me to be brave, and to be bolder with how I live my life through Christ. Don’t be afraid when new chapters open, or even when they close. Life wouldn’t be the same without a little rain! This is the year to branch out and to open your mind to the possibilities you didn’t think were possible in the years before. God is a gracious god, one who provides for his children in need. Don’t be shy! Allow the new chapters to unfold, to change your views, and maybe even enlighten them.

P.s. Being bold through Christ doesn’t have to be big. It can be as small as speaking up about something you’re passionate about, or even willing to defend.

Always,

The Youth Intern, Zoë

EWE - 1/11/17

DEAR FAITHFUL CREW LIVING LIFE,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

…or because I hope the Lamb of God is walking near to you…

HAPPY EWE NEAR!

I don’t know what 2017 will bring, but I do know that in many ways for many of you, 2016 had it’s share of ups, downs, and waaaay downs. As a community of Christ, we cannot take the reality of the past year away from each other. But we can offer to walk alongside one another through this next year in a new way.

I am hoping that in 2017 we can be more than friends. Now, please don’t misunderstand me. What I mean is that for those that commit to be in a group together, friendships can be strengthened. But for those who are also seeking to grow in their relationship with God, they can be more than friends, they can be a church. A church is a light to the rest of the world. And the rest of the world will know who God is because of the way we treat one another. Let’s find ways to rescue each other from the grips of busyness, school pressure, and our identities that are shaped in things other than the image of God!

I am thrilled to share another year of life with a group that has already grown both in numbers and in depth, and one that is itching to get outside of the walls of this church together to be the hands and feet of Christ.

You may be in the position to be asking the question: What kind of a God is this? You are not alone. Abraham must have asked the same question (see Genesis 22) when God asked him to give up his only Son. Turns out he didn’t have to. But, how must he have felt? How must Isaac have felt? Fast forward to Jesus and we realize we can ask the same question about God who did not hold back from sacrificing his only Son for us. He became the lamb of God that died for us.

My prayer is that this Lamb, this sacrifice, reminds us to be thankful that God walks near to us even in the valleys when we are asking, “What kind of a God is this?”

Let’s walk together.

Peace alone in Christ,

Brett Shoe