Choosing The Right "Brand"

I got a message on Facebook from a young mom in our church this week that really blessed me. She wrote,

Hey pastor, Just wanted to share something with you... My son Nathan who is two years old took a crossroads magnet off of the fridge this morning and looked at it and said, "Jesus Loves Me!" How awesome is it that he associates the crossroads symbol with Jesus' love for him! It gave me chills and warmed my heart to know that a child as young as mine has that kind of understanding. God bless you and your family!

Several years ago when we changed the name of our church to Crossroads Church, we did so for a lot of reasons. We had been founded as Bethel Assembly of God Church. When the church moved to the corner of I-10 and I-49 and built the worship center we're in today, they added Crossroads Cathedral to the name. So we were Bethel Assembly of God Crossroads Cathedral. (It would barely fit on the letterhead!) We felt Crossroads Church was easier to remember, and didn't sound as denominational or religious. It also provided a catch phrase that capsulizes our mission statement: Reaching people at the crossroads of life. When we designed our logo, we were careful to make it contemporary and appealing. We really have bought into the idea that "branding" is important. We believe that just like Nike or McDonalds' success hinges upon how their product is branded, the church must be conscientious of what people associate us with as well. This email tells me our brand is working. You see, it really is all about the love of Jesus isn't it? If a little boy can look at the Crossroads logo and be reminded of that, then by the grace of God we're doing something right!

What We Have In Common With David Letterman and Jimmy Swaggart

It occurred to me today that David Letterman and Jimmy Swaggart have something in common. Most of you have heard by now about Letterman's confession this past week of having multiple affairs with women who were members of his staff. This revelation came on the heals of an alleged extortion attempt by a CBS producer who was trying to get some hush money from the star of The Late Show. As the story unfolded, I started thinking about how many people David Letterman has made the butt of his jokes through the years for the very sins he himself was committing and then it hit me: That's the same thing Swaggart did! Remember Jimmy Swaggart? The televangelist who confessed to sexual sin in the late eighties. Before the confession of his own failures, Mr. Swaggart used to rail on the failures of others pretty strongly. Instead of making jokes about them like Letterman did, he preached sermons. Sermons about how sinful all the people are who were doing the very same things he was doing in secret!

I guess we all do this. I guess we all have a tendency to focus on the things we hate about ourselves when we see it in the lives of other people. Our pride won't let us deal with those sins in our own lives, so we feel like we have to target the things we struggle with in someone else's life and call them out. Instead, here's what the Bible says we should do. Galatians 6:1, Brothers if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

I know there will be plenty of people who will line up to say Letterman is simply reaping what he has sown. That he had it coming! I've decided not to do that. I've decided to pray for David Letterman and his family. I'm praying for Jimmy Swaggart as well. While I'm at it, I think I'll pray for me and you!

A Pastor's Appreciation

October is the time of the year our nation has selected as Pastor Appreciation Month. As a Pastor, there's a group of people that I really appreciate and that's my executive staff. They are eight of the most talented, loyal, creative, intelligent and godly people I know. David Baudoin is our Executive Pastor over Pastoral Care, Marty Hoey is our Children's Pastor, Coy Watson is our Musical Director, Shawn Marcell is both our Student Pastor and our Master's Commission Director, Richard Gaspard is our Media Director, Courtney Lantier is our Accounting Director, Holane Davidson is our Office Manager and my personal secretary and Rhett Wyatt is our Properties Manager. In addition to being such incredible employees and department managers, these people also are some of my very best friends and I thank God for them. Pastor Appreciation month may be intended to be the month people show appreciation to their pastor, but for me it's a time I reflect on how much I appreciate the people God has surrounded me with. Any success I've known, any accomplishments I've made are because of God's grace and the wonderful team of people He allows me to work with every day!

Watching A Winning Season?

3 – 0! That’s the Saint’s record three weeks in to the regular season. I know it’s far too early to be making predictions, but who can resist? As a native Louisianian, I anxiously await each football season in hopes that this could be the year our beloved New Orleans Saints might have a winning team, might even make the play offs and, dare I say it: Might even go to the Super Bowl!

You’ve got to admit, the speculation is more substantial this year than perhaps any other season before. We have a legitimate running game, some great receivers, possibly the best QB in the NFL, a strategic, smart coaching staff and a much better defense than the one that cost us our chances for a successful season last year.

We face two undefeated teams the next two weeks and have a fairly difficult schedule throughout the remaining season. The Jets and the Giants both have to come to the dome for their showdown with the Saints and that should give us an advantage. If the Saints get past the Giants week after next, there should be no question about their potential!

I missed the first two games while on our cruise in the Caribbean. The Saints won both of those games, putting over 40 points up on the board in both games. Yesterday’s game began with the Saints opening drive resulting in a touch down. I didn’t get to tune in until after they’d scored and the remaining part of the game that I personally viewed, they struggled and were only able to add an additional field goal. As soon as I turned off the game to drive to a meeting at the church, the Saints scored another 17 points, beating the Bills 27 - 7. Could it be possible that they play better when I’m not watching? What a bummer it would be to have a winning season that could only be possible by my willingness to refuse to watch!