One of the things that I love about planting a church is the time that I get to spend leading worship. If I wasn't a church planter, a person who starts new churches, I think that I could really find fulfillment in a ministry that revolved around leading worship and evangelism. Leading worship is one of the most fulfilling activities during a Sunday service for me. It is especially good when you have a great team to work with. Musically speaking our band is well above average, not good enough for a record deal, but good enough that I would play with them anytime, anywhere, in front of any crowd - and that is awesome! But when it comes to worship I believe that the band at Crossroads is one of the best I have ever seen, and definitely the best I have ever been a part of. The band at Crossroads is made up of ordinary people, serving an extraordinary God!

Take Chris and Melissa Leccese for instance. Here is a couple that live an average American life. Chris is retired military, Melissa is still serving in the Army. Yet every weekend they take time to come together with the rest of the band to practice and learn new songs so that they can lead the congregation before the throne of grace. Or take Jennifer Noennig, a single parent of three kids, who makes a living working in retail sales. Being up in front of people is not Jennifer's style, but God has called her to this ministry, and he has enabled her to answer the call by his grace and power. You might even look at Tia Hurt, a recent college graduate turned school teacher, who learned how to play the bass guitar for no other reason than to be a part of the worship team at Crossroads so that she could glorify God through it. Tia's husband Mike even serves as a sound man for the band.

Lastly you could look at my family. Sara runs a daycare out of our home, works tirelessly as a mother raising our three kids. Add to that a little boy David that is living with us while his real mother is in drug rehab, a husband like me who drives her nuts, yet every time she sings her heart out, plays the tambourine, and runs the powerpoint. You might even look at me. A young man, only 31, who never finished his college degree. I served in the Army doing satellite communications, learned to play the guitar as a hobby, and even worked as an industrial maintenance man for a while.

The whole band is pretty normal people, but the God that empowers us is so awesome that he can take this band of average brothers and sisters and use us for his glory and honor. I am so proud to serve the Lord with these folks that I just can't put it into words. May God grant you spiritual gifts, and wisdom to use them in service to him as he has done for us. This is what the apostle Paul means when he says, "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:6-8

As I sit in my office and contemplate the Christian life I am led back time and again for the need of genuine fellowship with other believers. We are told in Acts 2:42 that the early church continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship. And in the breaking of bread and in prayer. I would like to take a moment to focus in on the word steadfastly.

What does steadfastly mean to us? I think for a lot of Americans we are really unsure of what steadfastly would mean today. We seem to be swayed by an ever changing society so easily. One day we are poking fun of people who are wearing bell bottom jeans and the next day we ourselves are wearing them. One day bands like Nirvana and Green Day are considered alternative music and the next day mainstream. Sure music and fashion change rapidly, but God's word and his standards are always the same. (Hebrews 13:8) And we are to continue steadfastly in the principles outlined there in. But does this really define steadfastly? No it doesn't, but I will point out now that steadfastly means "attend continually" or "to give constant attention to a thing."

We might labor to give constant attention to study of God's word, and even application of it in our lives. Yet we continually run from the numerous references that we are to fellowship with one another and unite ourselves with a local body of believers. I have heard all of the excuses about how, "I don't need to go to church to worship God," which is true and to which I reply neither do I, yet we are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves as some are inclined to do. (Hebrews 10:25) Then we go to the next level which is really my heart.

Many people will come together for worship with the church, but never go further in. They will never join a small group study. They will never attend a church function that is designed to build relationships with one another in the church, and they will never let anyone get to know the real them. All the while complaining that they feel disconnected from the church as a whole, and speak continually of how they really have not made any close friends inside the church, let alone begun to become the church family that God desires us to be.

Yet even with all of this I say that every time they do come I hear them testify as they walk away what a good time they had, and how much it meant to them. Yet as we walk away from those moments of fellowship and intimacy the deceiver is, that is Satan, begins to whisper in our ears saying things like, "you know you don't really need that," and, "you can be a Christian without hanging out with them all the time." Or perhaps he points out to them how the world is going to look at them as "church folk" because they have decided to join in fellowship.

To this I say God says fellowship with one another steadfastly, it is the enemy of our souls that wants to keep us out of fellowship with one another. The father of lies will fill our heads with many reasons not to come, but I pray that God fills your heart with the only reason to come, and that is because he has asked it of you and you are obedient unto Him. So continue steadfastly, that is give constant attention to, your relationship and fellowship not only with God but with other believers.