CrossPoint Newsletter

Ninth Edition 1/8/2024

I always love the beginning of the new year, not because of resolutions or holiday parties, but just the freshness of a brand new start, the anticipation of things to come, and the hope that what's in front of you is better than what's been behind you. 

I always imagined that's how the children of God felt as they wandered in the wilderness with Moses before they came into the promised land. There must've been hope and anticipation of better things ahead, a land flowing with milk and honey and everything.

I was recently reading about that part of our heritage in Numbers 13. It was the story of God telling Moses to send out spies into the land:

"1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them." - Numbers 13:1–2

The Lord goes on in the following verses to tell them they have three jobs to do on their super spying mission:

• Spy out the land and, look at everything, take inventory so that you can bring back a report.
• Be courageous as you move with the confidence and instruction of God.
• Bring back some agriculture examples to evidence just how good the land is to all those waiting to hear the spies' report.

Well, they did… ok.

On the first assignment, they knocked it out of the park. Moving on foot from Paran, where the nation was camped, to regions all about the promised land, they covered more than 200 miles on foot. Seems aggressive, thorough, and worthy of applause (good job, men).

On the second assignment, again, great job. They cut down some grapes so big and fruitful they had to be carried on a pole between two guys. It was impressive and probably pretty tasty.

But, on the third assignment…there was a problem.

The report of the spies was anything but positive. It was filled with fear, worry, and concern. As they traveled throughout the land, they saw giants, fortified cities, and struggles to come. They were intimidated and fretful, anything but "of good courage" (Numbers 13:20).

It made me wonder why God would send them to spy out the land if that were to be the effect. 

But here are a few things to ponder:

• God did not send them on recon for information. He was fully aware of what was in the Promised Land.
• God sent them to see the land so they could see for themselves and "be encouraged."
• The fact that they were not encouraged says more about the spies than it does the task in front of them or the God leading them.

You see, these spies missed something in the original assignment. The verse we have already read said, "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them." - Numbers 13:1–2

As they spied out the land, they compared their small size to the giants that lived there. They thought about the fortified cities compared to their nomadic tents. They considered the home-field advantage of the Canaanites as they would be playing an extended series of road trip away games.

They forgot God had already said it was NOT on them because He was giving it to them.

In this new year, there are several challenges in front of you. Things big, looming, and intimidating. But stop looking at the road ahead through the eyes of your human weakness and see it through the lens of the God who lives inside of you. As a follower of Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit of God to lead, guide, and protect. You are not alone, and you will not move into 2024 alone.

So, my friends, let's "be of good courage" and keep in step with the Spirit. This will be a great year!

Andy Addis

Lead Pastor

As we wrap up the year, it’s amazing to look back and see all that God has been doing at CrossPoint Concordia. We have been without a location pastor since the beginning of the year, but that has not stopped God from moving in and through His church. Just this month we celebrated life change as we baptized two people! Praise God! We have also seen an increase in people who are involved in serve teams. We celebrate the servants heart we continue to see grow in our congregation. Lastly, we have seen God's protection and healing in our congregation. From the passing of our location pastor in January to battles with cancer and other life threatening accidents, God has brought healing to individuals and families in our congregation.

Join us in prayer:

• That God will show us clearly who is to be the next pastor of our church, and that he will be a spiritual warrior to lead us forward. 
• That we utilize our building fully as we seek to reach and serve our community.
• That there would be unity between the churches in Concordia as we work together to save the lost. 

Doug Rogers

Interim CrossPoint Concordia Pastor

I love early January. I usually pull out a fresh notebook, set audacious goals, and dream about what lies ahead for the year. The sadness I feel in taking down our Christmas decorations is quickly replaced by the aroma of new opportunity. My plans are laid, my energies are heightened, and my optimism for the year ahead is strong. The words of C.T. Studd stir me up to live a life that counts, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” I don’t know about you, but I want to expend all of my energies for the glory of Jesus Christ. I am fired up! And yet…I am still tired. Even as I write this, my eyelids are heavy and they blink slowly as I longingly look down at my empty coffee cup wishing there were just a few more sips left.

We can have all the New Year zeal in the world, holding our ambitious resolutions in one hand and a large cup of coffee in the other, but we still have to face the fact that eventually today, we will have to get off our feet, lie down, close our eyes, and sleep. For us mere mortals, sleep is inevitable. It’s recommended that the average adult gets at least seven hours of sleep per night. Quick math tells me that we will sleep about 1/3 of our life on earth. You can be “that person” who argues for how they don’t need as much sleep as most people, but at the end of the day your body still requires it (and you’re probably shedding years off of your life only sleeping 4 or 5 hours a night). Not so with God. He never sleeps.

Psalm 121 is a “Psalm of Ascent.” God’s people would sing these psalms as they made their journey to Jerusalem for annual feasts, and they are great psalms for us to sing and pray as we make our pilgrimage journey through life as Christ’s disciples.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:1-4).

Where will you look for help this year? Starbucks for caffeination? Your calendar for organization? Or will you embrace your limitations by looking to Jesus? 

Our ambitions may be good and godly, but we must hold them in tension with our limitations and stay dependent upon Jesus. Abide in him. Listen to and obey the Word of Christ, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

The year is new, our days are numbered, and our energy is limited. Our God is immovable, eternal, and all powerful. Let’s make this year count for the glory of God and the mission we have to make disciples, but let’s not be so foolish as to operate out of our own strength. Our help comes from the Lord.

Jason Waller

Lead Pastor