He Gave His Blood, Why Not Give Yours?

Oh, this will be fun! I mean it!

June 3, 2007 - GO Factor is offering the table and the needle for you to give blood!

Do you know how many lives are saved each year, because the Blood Bank has blood? Thankfully, when my wife had surgery - there was blood available! Mary is still alive and kicking, I mean cooking -- because someone cared enough to give their blood.

And at CrossRoads -- we'll be doing this on a SUNDAY! How convenient! Come and worship, and then give blood! (What a fun offering time!)

Don't worry -- we're not doing blood donations in the auditorium (unless we can work out a way for me to give on the stage while Glenn preaches...hmmm)

Anyway, I think this is an awesome GO Factor event - and proves how serious we are about giving ourselves to others. Let's all give -- it's fun! And, you get free cookies!

I Get to Frame Again!

Well - it's finally time! I can't wait!

The Monroe County build season is finally upon us. The building for Habitat for Humanity begins on May 11, which is just around the corner.

Now is the time to sign up and reserve your spot!

Go to http://www.habitatmonroemi.org/ and you can find the exact schedule for the build - and then use your abilities on the day(s) that work!

Remember -- even if you can't swing a hammer -- we can use you! There are places for EVERYONE to serve. This is your chance to GO -- so, as Ty would say "LET'S DO IT!"

I'll be there -- I hope to see you there!

ILove -- Relationships!

Well, this weekend should be fun!

I get to preach on relationships! As part of our series called "Finding God in Your Ipod", it's my turn to share some of my favorite tunes. And from the likes of the music of the Doobie Brothers (Long Train Runnin!) and Tina Turner, and Beyonce, and Carrie Underwood, plus some other fun stuff, plus the Word of God -- I'll share THE SECRET of relationships that work - wow - this ought to be a blast! I can't wait!

There's my head, now where is my hat?

Florida!

What a great week or so! We drove to Florida, enjoyed the sun and surf, and incredible food. We stayed next to my parents - in the same motel on the beach -- and had a great time!

There is nothing like spending a week with family. People sometimes ask me "how can you afford to vacation?". My answer is "I can't afford NOT to vacation." I've spent so much time away from home this winter -- traveling (all good stuff) -- and it was just so nice to reconnect with my wife and children! I relearned their names and everything!

I noticed each morning there were families walking together from their motel rooms, carrying buckets and sandtoys, or chairs and snacks, and acting like they liked each other. And I thought "It's not fair that those who have money to vacation also have 'full' families, parents, kids and sometimes grandparents." And then it hit me - perhaps one reason that these families are together is that they've carved the time and saved the money to spend a week together. Maybe because they've made "togetherness" a priority, that they actually enjoy each other!

I've been blessed to have parents who made sure we vacationed together, every year -- just us as a family. A week or so after vacation, we'd go into the living room and watch the slides -- and relive the fun! And today, we all like each other, and spend time together. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Why I'm not a Missionary

I guess this explains it. Here I am in the Morocco section of Epcot. Once I put on the hat, the rest is history.

If I ever do any missionarying, I guess I should do it where they don't wear hats.

Yay God!

Tonight at CrossRoads, Glenn preached an amazing Easter message about Life! Real life! How God brings real life to everyone -- even the doubters or the one's who come to Jesus later -- maybe even last. And I was privileged to serve at the "giveaway" table -- where we gave a Bible and CD to whoever invited Christ into their life. I think 16 people came and received Bibles -- 16 new members in the family of God! What fun!

Well, I'm ready for a rest...

Yay! Vacation!

After Easter Sunday services, we'll head down south for a much needed break.

I can't wait! It's been a long winter, with lot's of trips away from my family, and finally, one with all of us together. We'll travel by car 1100 miles south. After Sunday services, we'll jump in the car and drive until we're in the sunny south!

Our Easter break is the most looked forward time for my family -- it's a time to reconnect -- no computers (which means no blogging) and little t.v. and lot's of fun! I'll jog with my daughter, read with my son and play underwater with my youngest.

I've often said "I can't afford NOT to go on vacation" because I don't vacation alone - but with the kids. These days of driving and talking and laughing are worth everything!

So, for a few days, I'll be gone. Reading and dreaming and restoring my strength for more GO!

So, at the Crydo-household, we've been in this series of meetings about the computer and t.v. It seems, according to the Crydo-Grinch (me) that too much time is spent in front of the screen and not enough time spent doing anything worthwhile. (I am biased).

I'm proud of my kids -- they've been very positive about the changes I've mandated, and they've discussed things with good insight and great attitudes.

So now, there is paper work before each computer session, rules and regulations and I have to be the gestapo, to make things work.

But, it's good. And I'm sure that later, they'll thank me!

Your Healing is at stake...

So, this morning I was reading at my normal study spot: the shrine of St. Arbucks, and came across Isaiah 58. There is some powerful stuff there dudes!

Two parts I want to point out and think about today...

First: from verse 8, it says regarding us providing care for those without -- the lonely and the left out: "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear..."

Huh, what? Who's healing? One would think that when you care for those who are hurting, who are lost and lonely, who are broken -- that THEIR healing is at stake. But no, the writer clearly says that OUR healing is at stake.

We all have broken places (felt them before? me too!) and we need healing. It's found in serving others.

Second: just listen to verse 10:

...and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Let it shine!