NEWSLETTER # 5 (January 2008) Greetings My Cross-Eyed Friends! I hope you are experiencing all the wonderful grace and blessings of our Lord and Savior as the new year unfolds. I love the “new year” beginning. It always gives me a feeling of getting a second chance at life. Okay, a ten thousandth chance! As the year changes I automatically think, “Okay, this is it, this is my year! This year I am going to straighten out some things that I didn’t do too well last year. This year I am going to reach goals that I fell short of last year. This year…” Well, you know what I mean. The problem is that my new hope for “this year” closely resembles my plans for the last “new year.“ Apparently, I keep struggling in the same areas. I am glad that I have a God that offers me a “new year” opportunity every day. The Book of Lamentations reminds us that His mercies are new EVERY morning! Oh, great is His faithfulness! Even when I am not faithful, He is! Even when I fail, He doesn’t! Even when I fall short, He always comes through! Wow, what a God! NEWS First, I am going to try to put out the newsletter a little more frequently than in the past. Hopefully, it will come out at least every six weeks, if not sooner. It has proven to be an important tool to share “what God is doing” in our lives. Secondly, Wow, God is doing some amazing things in our lives! He is showing himself to be faithful and true as always. As we move forward with Crosseyed Ministries with fear and trembling, He continues to open doors of ministry and confirm His plan for our lives. As I mentioned in the last newsletter, God allowed me to experience the “Jehovah Java” Tour. I was able to use my passion for Stand-Up as an outreach to the lost and hurting by speaking in a number of Christian Coffee House across NC and VA. Christian Coffee Houses are kind of a new concept within the Church. They are a more laid back ministry that offers a time of relaxation and entertainment as a way to reach people that probably would not come to a regular church service. I was blessed so much by being able to be a part of what God was doing in each of those places! Like I said, I “performed” Stand-Up Comedy and weaved life stories, struggles, and humor to go from craziness to the cross. God really moved and lives were touched. Of course, the one most touched was me! I was touched by God’s confirmation that this was definitely a ministry that I was to take part in, but even more importantly, I was touched by how awesome our God really is. When I say the phrase, “Coffee House” what comes to your mind? I picture STARBUCKS or maybe the meeting place on the hit T.V. show FRIENDS where Joey, Rachel, Chandler, and the gang hung out at. So, when I was invited to speak at these “Coffee Houses”, that is kind of what I had in mind. Oh, we have such an amazing and creative God! I was blown away at the uniqueness of each one of these places. Everyone was started with the idea of being able to use them as a way to reach others for the Lord, but it was beautiful just how differently each set after that goal. One was very similar to a STARBUCKS environment. It was laid back, but a very high traffic area with customers coming in and out. A great opportunity to have the unchurched hear the good news of Jesus! When most entered and heard the goofy guy (me) talking about his “issues”, they hung around and were introduced to the only one that can help with THEIR issues, Jesus. Another Coffee House was more like a Christian Retreat. I know, it sounds odd, but it is attended by mostly Christians and is used as a place to get away from life. A safe place for the family and it is used to encourage Christians to continue a close walk with the Lord. They have Christian bands and musicians all the time and decided to give “Christian Comedy” a try. It went wonderful and was a great time of encouragement for everybody. Again, we went from craziness to the cross and saw that there is really only one “issue fixer”. Another Coffee House was more along the lines of a Church event that they do monthly. It was another great opportunity to share Jesus and His provision in our lives. Then, I spoke at a Coffee House that just radically shook me to the core. The story behind this outreach is just amazing. The church itself is located in the midst of a fairly wealthy neighborhood with many young, professional couples and their young families. The church felt that no one was really reaching this group. So, the idea of a Coffee House seemed to make sense for this demographic. With the Coffee House up and running they experienced a problem, the young professional families just did not come. For a while this was disheartening. The church knew God had led them to start this ministry. Then God began to reveal to them HIS plan. Week after week, a few of the homeless and down and out from inside the city began to come. The church went from “selling coffee” to giving away meals. Their goal became clear, help the homeless and share the gospel as they did it! To make a long story short, when I spoke there were about 60-70 homeless and/or struggling who were in attendance. The thought that just kept coming to my mind was the classic WWJD concept. As I watched these people serving the ones that could not serve themselves, I kept thinking, “Now, that’s what Jesus would do!” I pray that I never forget that night. God continues to amaze me with His plan and provision. He continues to open many doors. In my next newsletter, I will comment on those cool doors of ministry. Here is a list of my 2008 dates SO FAR: (sorry some have already past) January 4 - The Encouraging Cup Coffee House, Fletcher NC January 10-11 - NC Vocational Evangelist Conference, Asheboro, NC January 13 - God’s Blessing Center, Milton NC January 29 - Roxboro Christian Academy, Roxboro, NC February 14 - Roxboro Christian Academy, Roxboro, NC February 25-26 - NC State Evangelism Conference, Greensboro, NC March 1 - Converge Your Faith Conference - Virginia Beach, VA March 15 - RAK Productions Fundraiser, Chesapeake, VA March 29 - Grace Reigns Down - Eden, NC April 4 - Men’s Retreat. Parks Springs Campground, Caswell, NC April 15 - Hope Fest, Beverly Hills Baptist Church, Rockingham, NC April 17-19 - Youth Revival, Old Lea Bethel, Leasburg, NC April 20-23 - Beaver Island Baptist Church, Mayodan, NC April 26 - Caswell Senior Citizen Assistance Pastor’s Breakfast, Caswell, NC April 27 - Strawberry Jam Youth Outreach, Franklin, VA May 24 - Lee County Community Outreach, Lee County Fairgrounds, NC June 1-3 - Christian Comedians Association Conference, Anaheim, NC June 6-7 - Hosting Lindsay’s Dance Recital, NC DEVOTION “The Buzzard, Bat and Bee” Recently, I read something that I found very interesting. Do you realize that if you put a buzzard in a pen three or four feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, despite his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner? The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a running start. If it does not have space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly. He will remain a prisoner even though freedom is available above him! The same is true with the ordinary bat that flies around at night. A remarkably nimble creature in the air, but it struggles to take off from a level place. If it is placed in an open top cage on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and painfully. It’s only hope is to find some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. If it cannot find an elevated place to jump from, it will die in the cage even if there is freedom right above it! Similarly a bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself even though freedom is available from above. I cannot help but notice that in many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat, and the bee. They are struggling through life with all their problems, frustrations and burdens. Even to the point of feeling like a prisoner in their own world, not realizing that the answer is right there "above" them. This story reminded me of a hymn that we sang at church this past Sunday. The name of the hymn was “What A friend We Have In Jesus.” One of the verses in that hymn goes like this: “Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” We struggle trying to make a way ourselves when the answer is above. The Bible offers us a wonderful promise that we should hold tight to every day in every struggle, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).” Those that trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord have access to the unlimited mercy and grace of the almighty God whenever they need it! Are you tired of fighting alone? Maybe it’s time that you look up! Verse To Meditate On: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.“ 1 Peter 5: 5-7 PRAYER REQUEST: 1. Continue to Pray for my family. We have been experiencing some very strong spiritual warfare over the last year. Pray that God would protect our hearts and minds, and draw us closer to each other and closer to our Savior! 2. Pray for safety and graces as I begin traveling more in this ministry. 3. Pray that God would provide enough opportunities to support my family. 4. Pray that God would either provide me with trustworthy transportation OR do as He did with the children of Israel. He kept their shoes from wearing out during their 40 year trek through the wilderness! He can keep my old car from collapsing if He chooses! 5. Pray for my Health. I need to get more serious and focused on my battle with diabetes. I say battle, but honestly, I have not been fighting too hard. It’s time to start fighting back and get it under control. 6. Pray that God will lead me to a Godly group of people to help me form the Board of Directors for Crosseyed Ministries. This is an important process in what God has called me to do. I have to handle it properly. 7. I am really struggling to balance my secular job, Pastoring Shiloh Baptist, AND the new ministry. Things at church are going wonderful, but with my travel schedule, I am not as available for our members as I need to be. I usually am available for most of my “preaching duties”, but there is sooo much more to being a Pastor than just showing up to preach. Those other areas are where I am falling short. Of course, there has been no complaints and amazingly they are very supportive, BUT me not being there is not very healthy for our church. The schedule of my secular job is also making traveling a little more difficult. My boss is WAY understanding, but soon I will be asking off for too much time, too often. He will go along with it, but it’s not fair to him. Pray for wisdom as I sort through it all!   Well, I guess I have taken enough of your time. Please visit our website and email me sometime. I NEED THE ENCOURAGEMENT!. God Bless you and thank you for spending time with me! Ronnie Wyatt