Jesus Uses Inappropriate Language

Amy and I have been going to Cross Point for several months now. It's been one of the only places I've ever actually wanted to get up and go to on Sunday morning. It's a huge church with several campuses (which used to really make me nervous) but it has never felt impersonal.

Recently, we've been getting plugged in to the many service opportunities. We started a community group, I've been shooting some event photos, and Amy has joined the Notes and Cards ministry - which, is exactly what it sounds like... they send notes and cards to those dealing with grief, requesting prayer...etc. In the first set of requests, Amy was taken back to find a young woman her age who was grieving over the loss of her dad. It was amazing to see how the process of grief provided opportunities to be Christ to others.

It was actually a sermon by one of our pastors, Blake, that encouraged Amy to join the Notes and Cards ministry. After writing to the woman who had lost her dad, Amy emailed Blake to just tell him how the sermon encouraged her. He replied, encouraged by the whole situation, and wanted to meet us. We met up with him yesterday after the service.

I was pretty jacked up for the meeting for a couple of reasons. First, I absolutely love how God has constantly used our sufferings for the benefit of others. Any chance we get to talk about it is awesome. The second and most important reason for my excitement dated back to 2005 when I came across this video:




Though we had been attending Crosspoint for several months, we hadn't been there when Blake spoke until a Sunday in early Spring. Immediately, I recognized him and texted all of my college roommates my discovery.

I told him about the whole situation when we met him yesterday. I told him about seeing the video back in 2005 and how it all came full-circle when I heard him speak at Cross Point. He laughed as he shook his head saying "so stupid..." We talked for a while about the whole situation. I was shocked to hear that this happened while refreshing from the previous weeks' message... He hadn't even started teaching. Though we had some laughs, the most amazing thing was hearing him tell about all of the ridiculous ways that God worked through that video. His ministry grew, he got loads of speaking engagements, and last year he even did an interview with MSN.

I'm so thankful for Cross Point and for the times in life when God takes something like the death of a parent or an inappropriate comment and uses it for His glory.

"When I get to heaven, I'm totally gonna pinch Abraham's t**s," he said.

I replied with: "Just to make it literal."

Blake, if you're reading this, I'm waiting to destroy you on my bike - yeah, I'm kidding... please don't hurt me....

-Jamie