Last week, Ernie and I attended our local county fair.  It was a good day for the fair … sunny and warm and lots of people.  We enjoyed strolling through the various exhibition buildings and looking at the normal displays of 4-H, handwork items, canning and animals.  We traveled through time as we toured the old country school and mercantile store; we marveled at the antique tractors and all the things that could be accomplished by the working steam engines.  We checked out the businesses that had booths there, spun the ‘wheel to win a prize’, which we didn’t.  We even bought some fair food (it truly would have been a sin not to!) and enjoyed a small town band’s lively performance while we sat in the shade and ate.

We were encouraged at the number of churches and religious organizations represented as we journeyed through the fairgrounds.  At one booth, we were introduced to the Christian Motorcyclists Association, an organization based in Hatfield, AR.  In visiting with the local chapter’s president, we learned that CMA has been around since 1975, has over 161,000 members and more than 1290 chapters in the US.  They are known worldwide and are currently represented in 32 countries.

Totally supported by motorcyclists and enthusiasts who believe in Jesus Christ, their main purpose is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with motorcyclists of all ages; they achieve this by attending motorcycle rallies, tour, races, etc. and conducting worship services at these events.

Once a year, they host a sponsored Run for the Son event with participating motorcyclists from across the US.  Monies raised are split between these 3 main projects:

The Jesus Film Project – Movies are produced depicting Jesus life and His Good News in more than 1300 languages and then delivered to billions of people in their heart language

Open Doors – For over 60 years, this ministry has worked in the world’s most oppressive and restrictive countries, strengthening Christians to stand strong in the face of persecution, equipping them with Bibles and other Christian literature, supporting the advancement of women and children, and involving themselves with Christian community restoration.

Missionary Ventures – Through this project, motorcycles, bicycles and other forms of transportation are supplied to indigenous pastors and evangelists working in jungles, mountain villages and distant towns limited only to foot traffic.

Of all the handouts on the table, this is the one that grabbed me the most.

  Here’s what it says on the back:

‘When you look in the mirror, do you see the person you want to be, or are you disappointed in the reflection looking back?  Have you passed by God during your life?  God sees you fulfilled and satisfied, riding the path He designed just for you.  He sees you as a great parent, trustworthy worker, and faithful friend.  He envisions you living the life He has planned for you, but most of all He sees you connected to Him in a loving and eternal relationship.  When you take a closer look in the mirror, you will see Jesus standing behind you, waiting for you to turn to Him.  He can put the right reflection in our mirror if we just humble ourselves and ask Him for forgiveness.

Won’t you take a closer look and see what you have passed by?’

“Dear Lord, forgive me for passing You by.  I am ashamed at what I see in the mirror.  Please forgive my past sins and take me to Heaven when I die.  Right now put me on Your perfect path and give me the strength to walk it out every day.  Thank You Lord for making me the person You see in my mirror.”

What a wonderful organization with terrific insight; what a wonderful ministry!!!

For more information about the Christian Motorcyclists Association, click here.

While I waited as Ernie distributed our crosses to some of the people we had visited with (including the CMA chapter), a man in his mid-40’s sat down next to me on the bench, pushing his wheeled walker to the side so it wouldn’t be in the path of other fair-goers.   As we started chatting, his glasses told me the vision in his left eye was gone; his speech told me he had suffered a brain injury.

He freely talked about the day, 19 years ago, he took the snowmobile out for a ride.  He had too much to drink; he drove too fast; and the tree stopped both vehicle and rider abruptly, sending his head through its main trunk.  He spent 3 weeks in an induced coma to relieve the swelling in his brain; he spent months in intensive care, more time at the Courage Center.  He lived in a nursing home for 3 years and a handicapped group home until just recently.  He had to learn how to walk and talk again, how to feed and dress himself.  He said, while in the hospital, he found out he was going to be a dad to the only child he would ever have; and, at the same time, he learned the divorce papers were on their way.

He told his story showing no pity for himself, just matter of factly.  As I listened to him, a sense of pride came out when he told me about the job he had at Wal-Mart and how long he had worked there and that he had just bought a house where he could live independently.  He said he ‘owned’ his condition now, living it every day.  He knew God was in his life; he knew the accident, caused by his foolishness, was for a reason.  He said he felt like he was to be an inspiration to others and that he was doing the best he could to fulfill God’s plan.

As our conversation came to a close, I thought ‘How often do we forget what we have in search of what we think we deserve?’   As humbling as that conversation was to me, I know this man inspired me.

On our ride home, Ernie and I talked about the fair and how much we enjoyed it, probably more than any other fair we have ever attended.  It wasn’t just because of the exhibitors or the vendors or the fair-goers or even the food … it was because we both felt God’s presence there.  Yes, it was a good day at the fair indeed!

God is good all the time; all the time, God is good!

We thank the following CTW family members for sharing the cross during the month of July:

St. John’s Lutheran Church – Sutherlin, OR

CUPS – Lafayette, LA

My Father’s House – Minneapolis, MN

Linda – AZ

Good Samaritan Homes, Inver Grove Heights – Inver Grove Heights, MN

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church– Billings, MT

Joan – MN

Know God, know peace

No God, know fear

It happened here: St. Joseph, MI.  And here: Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Roswell, NM; and Cape Coral, FL.  It also happened here: Orlando, FL; Piketon, OH; Appling, GA; Chesapeake, VA; Woodburn, OR; Edgerton, MO; Baton Rouge, LA.  And here: Hiram, GA; Brooklyn, NY; Pittsburgh, PA, and Chattanooga, TN …  And this is just a sampling.

Attack, suicides, pain, assault, rioting, lawlessness, distrust, jealousy, hate, greed, gang killings, violence, vandalism, obstruction, terror, panic, confusion, horrific murders, sadness, protests, senseless tragedy, danger, inconsolable weeping, shootings, massacre, fear, mayhem, demonstrations, unrest, abuse, destruction, assassins, lack of respect, calls for justice, aggression, interruption, belligerence, denial … just to name a  few.

I’m reminded of the movie, Elf.  Buddy, the elf, lived at the North Pole with Santa and the other elves but knew something was different because of his human size.  When Papa Elf told him that his biological father (Walter Hobbs) lived in New York City, Buddy left the North Pole in search of him.  Arriving in the Big Apple, Buddy found his real dad and through DNA testing and a series of events, went to live with his new-found family, much to the dismay of Walter because of Buddy’s simplistic and childlike ways.  Buddy soon found himself employed at Gimbels Department Store, home of ‘Santa Land’, where he met and fell in love with Jovie, a disenchanted store clerk who possessed a beautiful singing voice.

On Christmas Eve, Santa was making his way across the US, dropping presents for all the good little boys and girls, when his sleigh’s engine broke off over New York City, due to the lack of Christmas spirit there, and he crashed to the ground in Central Park.  Buddy was returning to the Hobbs house from his date with Jovie when he came upon Santa and his dilemma.  He started working on reattaching the sleigh’s engine and was only partially finished when Santa is chased from Central Park by the horse riding police.  As Santa’s sleigh bobs and weaves out of control, citizens, as well as a TV camera crew, have gathered in the Park to watch.  Jovie sees this newscast on TV and remembers Buddy saying to her, ‘The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear’ and rushes to Central Park to lead everyone in singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town.  Only when curmudgeon Walter, the last holdout, joins the crowd in singing is there enough Christmas spirit to power the sleigh and Santa is back in business!

In 1918, Irving Berlin, a Russian Jew, wrote God Bless America for his mother, who often used this phrase to express her gratitude at having the US to flee to from prejudicial violence in her native Siberia.  It wasn’t until 1938, however, that a revised version was introduced to the public by Kate Smith on her radio show’s Armistice Day broadcast.

This revised version is written in the form of a prayer for God’s blessing and peace for the nation.  It is considered by many as the unofficial national anthem and can be found in many church hymnals.  It has been sung in many Hollywood films, at sporting events and for patriotic celebrations and demonstrations for over 70 years.  And, who can forget the memorable gathering of both Democrats and Republican congressmen and senators, following the September 11, 2001 attacks, as they joined their voices to sing God Bless America as a prayer on the steps of the Nation’s capital?  Not The Star Spangled Banner, not America The Beautiful, or even My Country Tis of Thee … why do you think they chose to sing God Bless America?  Maybe it was the lyrics, maybe it was the tune, maybe it was because it’s a prayer??

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God Bless America
Land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains
To the prairies
To the oceans, white with foam
God Bless America
My home sweet home.

Isn’t it time we raised our voices and sang loud for all to hear?

My Prayer:

To be ever conscious of my unity with God, to listen for His voice, and hear no other call.
To separate all error from my thought of man, and see him only as my Father’s image, to
show him reverence and share with him my holiest treasures.

To keep my mental home a sacred place, golden with gratitude, redolent with love, white
with purity, cleansed from the flesh.

To send no thought into the world that will not bless, or cheer, or purify, or heal.

To have no aim but to make Earth a fairer, holier place, and to rise each day into a higher sense of life and love.

Amen

Thank you to the following for continuing to walk with our crosses in His service during the month of June:

              Sandra – NV

              Don – MN

              Shirley – NJ

              Birch Ridge Resort – Cass Lake, MN

              Trinity Lutheran Church – Fergus Falls, MN for mission work in Canada through the LAMP Program

              Narrows Community Church – Outing, MN

              Brenda – KY

              Jayne – MN

              Bethany Nursing Home – Brainerd, MN

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

– 2 Chronicles 7:14

We wanted to share these lovely comments from our family members:

‘I just have to share this wonderful story about how everyone is making God’s love visible, one cross at a time! Recently, I was traveling through Arizona with my bowling friends. We stopped in Oatman to take in the sights and fun of this little historical town. On the way back to the car, I noticed crosses hanging by a building, with a sign that read ‘Please Take!’ Well, because I’ve been passing out Cross The World crosses for over a year or so, I recognized them as the same! After getting into the car to leave, I saw a nice little gentleman carrying the bag that you ship the crosses in. I got out of the car and stopped the gentleman and said, “Excuse me sir, but I thank you for passing on the crosses. I do the same thing in Minnesota!” He gave me a big hug and said, “God bless you!”  We thanked each other and parted. I was so excited that I forgot to ask his name or even give him mine! But the girls were so amazed that these crosses do get PASSED ON ALL OVER THE WORLD! Thank you so much for the wonderful work you do making God’s love visible, one cross at a time!’

– Darlene, MN

‘I will be giving the crosses to my customers and the homeless here in Arizona.’

– Sandee, AZ

‘I forgot to order these in time to hand out at my Health Fair at church but will use them at another time.  Thank you for all you do!  I recently gave them to several ladies in a Bible study; they loved them.  Two crosses are being sent to Spain by one woman!’

– Diane, MN

I’ve been passing out these wonderful crosses to the homeless instead of money.  It’s amazing to see people’s faces light up when they see the cross and hear the words ‘God bless you!’.  Thank you for this awesome ministry.

– Denise, MN

‘On behalf of the New London-Spicer Ministerial Association, I want to thank you for providing a box of crosses for us to distribute to our graduating high school seniors.  The crosses were distributed to each member of the senior class at the conclusion of this year’s Baccalaureate service.  So, please know the crosses will be quite literally ‘crossing the world’ with our young people.  Thank you for lovingly carrying out this wonderful ministry.  May God bless you as you spread the gospel one beautiful piece of wood at a time.’

– Rev. Keith Pearson,
Peace Lutheran Church, New London, MN

Having someone who understands is a great blessing for ourselves. 

Being someone who understands is a great blessing to others.

– Janette Oke

Last month, LAMP (Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots) collaborated with USA volunteers and Pelican Narrows’ local missionaries to host a WOW (Women of Worth) conference to the women in northern Saskatchewan. At this conference, held in Pelican Narrows, the women who attended soaked up the love of Christ received through the ‘wisdom centered’ workshops, presenters, skits, gift bags, handmade quilts, Bibles and fellowship.  Our crosses were hand carried by faithful missionaries from Hosanna Lutheran Church in Lakeville, MN; the following photos were taken during their visit:

To see more about this year’s WOW Conference, check this out:

If you are interested in more information about Women of Worth, click here.

We are very thankful to the folks at Hosanna Lutheran Church and LAMP for including Cross The World in their thoughts and materials.

Last Sunday, Bob and Pam, from Washington, visited our church, and visited with Ernie and me about our crosses.  Bob had attended our service last summer while on a fishing trip with a friend.  During that visit, he was given 2 crosses which, upon returning home, he shared with his wife, Pam. Her friend was dying of cancer and Pam, in turn, passed one of the crosses to her who readily accepted it and, according to Pam, never let go of it.  Pam said she had waited a whole year for the opportunity to come to MN and attend that little white church on the hill, just so she could see where the crosses came from, meet the people who made them, and tell us her story.  As she spoke, tears flowed.  There was sadness on the loss of a good friend, there was joy on finally meeting the source of the cross, but, most of all, there was comfort for we all felt God’s love as the four of us stood in a close circle.  It was a beautiful coming together, one that we will never forget.  God’s timing … God’s goodness … God’s presence in our lives … priceless!

Thank you, Pam and Bob, for your story.  And, thank you to all of you who share your stories with us.  Ernie and I continue to be humbled by how the cross has affected someone in your life.  We are thankful for all of you, the foot soldiers of Cross The World because it is you who are making God’s love visible, one cross at a time.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Our family grew last month!  Here’s our newest members (as well as some very welcome returning members):

Faith Lutheran Church – Crosslake, MN

Community Lutheran Church – Bullhead City, AZ

Hope Presbyterian Church – Spicer, MN

Peace Lutheran Church – New London, MN

Susan – OR

Cross Lutheran Church – Buffalo, MN

Denise – MN

Community United Methodist Church – Albertville, MN

Darlene – MN

Don – MN

Boy Scouts of America/Tomahawk Scout Reservation – Birchwood, WI

Sandee – AZ

Bethany Nursing Home – Brainerd, MN

LAMP Ministries

Bob – WA

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

– Ephesians 5:19-20

Recently, Cross The World attended the Living Local Expo in Crosby, MN and we delighted in handing out over 550 crosses to the attendees.  We wanted people to experience the privilege of assembling their own cross this year.  Our pastor, Stanley Mikles from Narrows Community Church in Outing, MN, was there to lend a helping hand.  He’s also an awesome teacher … one of those teachers the kids are drawn to like bears to honeypots … so, of course, it wasn’t long before our booth was filled with eager hands awaiting his instruction.  We are sharing the miracles that were born that day.

Our God is an awesome God!  Rejoice in His goodness!!

We thank these folks for sharing the cross during the month of April:

Marion – MN

Faith Lutheran Church – Monticello, MN for mission trip to Guatamela

Denise – MN

Annette – MN

United Methodist Church of Willmar – Willmar, MN

Dave – MN

Sue – MN for the LAMP program

Faith Lutheran Church – Crosslake, MN

Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church – Lake Havasu City, AZ

Community Lutheran Church – Bullhead City, AZ

Avera Health – Sioux Falls, SD

My Father’s House – Minneapolis, MN

Carla – MN

We observe two very important holidays in May … Mother’s Day and Memorial Day … both days of honor.  I found some interesting facts about each that you may not be aware of.

MOTHER’S DAY

Moms are very special and we treasure them every day but this Sunday, May 8^th, is THEIR day …  Mother’s Day!  It’s a day we honor our mothers for how much love they show us.  They are our safe haven when our world is crashing around us … they never give up inspiring us when we just don’t feel like we are measuring up … they support us when no one else will … they soothe our fears and kiss our boo-boos away regardless of our age … they set the loving example for us to emulate.  Our moms are oh so very special!!

We remember them by sending cards (Mother’s Day is the 3^rd largest holiday for card exchange, following behind Christmas and Valentines Day), about 133 million will be exchanged this year!  More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year, often causing phone traffic to spike by as much as 37%!  And, florists realize 1/3 of their annual retail sales on Mother’s Day alone!

All interesting facts, but did you know that recognizing Mother’s Day as a national holiday just about didn’t happen?  Here’s the story:

In 1908, a woman named Anna Jarvis conceived the idea of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families. Her version of the day involved wearing a white carnation as a badge and visiting one’s mother or attending church services. But once Mother’s Day became an official US holiday in 1914, it was not long before florists, card companies and other merchants capitalized on its popularity.

While Anna had initially worked with the floral industry to help raise Mother’s Day’s profile, by 1920 she had become disgusted with how the holiday had been commercialized. She outwardly denounced the transformation and urged people to stop buying Mother’s Day flowers, cards and candies. She resorted to an open campaign against Mother’s Day profiteers, speaking out against confectioners, florists and even charities. She launched countless lawsuits against groups that had used the name “Mother’s Day”, eventually spending most of her personal wealth in legal fees.  She even actively lobbied the government to see it removed from the American calendar.  At the time of her death in 1948, Anna was penniless and broken, living in a sanitarium, and disowning the holiday altogether.

But, despite all Anna’s efforts, Mother’s Day remains a recognized holiday.  But, maybe we don’t need the cards, flowers or phone calls Anna fought so hard to do away with  … maybe we should simply dedicate more personal time with that irreplaceable woman in our lives, telling her how much we love her, how much we respect her, how much we value her.  Maybe it’s time to thank her again for who we are today because, without her, who knows how we would have turned out??

My mom is in heaven, enjoying every day with her Savior … singing in His choir, tending His flower garden, walking hand in hand with Him on a daily basis.  I still talk to her almost every day, telling her how much I love her, how much I value her guidance, how much I miss and long for the warm squeeze of her hand in mine and seeing her love for me through her warm brown eyes.  And, every time I visit with her, I thank her for being my role model because, despite my best childhood efforts not to, I turned out just like her and I really can’t think of a better tribute to her!  Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!!  I’m glad Anna didn’t succeed in her efforts.

MEMORIAL DAY

And, when we think of Memorial Day, we wonder ‘why poppies?’  Here’s how that came about:

The connection between the red poppy and soldiers killed on the battlefield goes back to World War I, one of the deadliest wars in history. Over 16 million people were killed and 20 million wounded during this war. Ferocious battles in places like Belgium and France created a landscape full of burned fields, fallen trees, and torn up soil. Seeds of poppy flowers are very plentiful as well as very light and they travel on the wind, scattering across the ground, laying dormant for decades. When the soil is disturbed, these dormant poppy seeds begin to grow. This is why red poppies appeared on so many European battlefields during the war. While flying over these scarred battlefields, a soldier named John McCrae noticed the red poppies growing there. This prompted him to pen the famous poem we all know, ‘In Flanders Fields’.

But, how did wearing of the poppy come into play?  Well, in 1918, Moina Michael, who was employed at the New York headquarters for the Overseas War Secretaries, read McCrae’s poem and thought of wearing a red poppy as a show of support for the troops from WWI, thus starting a tradition that is honored to this day.  Like John McCrae, Moina also wrote a memorable (but maybe lesser known) poem about the poppies growing in the battlefields.  This is it:

We Shall Keep the Faith

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the faith
With all who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the torch and poppy red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.

One day, a professor entered the classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They all waited anxiously at their desks for the exam to begin. The professor handed out the exams with the text facing down, as usual. Once he handed them all out, he asked the students to turn over the papers.

To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions – just a black dot in the center of the sheet of paper. The professor, seeing the expression on everyone’s faces, told them the following: “I want you to write about what you see there”. The students, confused, got started on the inexplicable task.

At the end of the class, the professor took all the exams, and started reading each one of them out loud, in front of all the students. All of them, with no exception, defined the black dot, trying to explain its position in the center of the sheet.

After all had been read, the classroom silent, the professor started to explain. ‘I’m not going to grade you on this; I just wanted to give you something to think about. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot and the same happens in our lives.

Our life is a gift given to us by God, with love and care, and we always have reasons to celebrate – nature renewing itself everyday, our friends around us, the job that provides our livelihood, the miracles we see every day. However, we insist on focusing only on the dark spot – the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the complicated relationship with a family member, the disappointment with a friend.

The dark spots are very small when compared to everything we have in our lives, but they’re the ones that pollute our minds.’

Take your eyes away from the black dots in your life.

Enjoy each one of your blessings each moment that life gives you.

Be happy and live a life filled with love.

One of our CTW family members, Frank, shared this heartful email he received recently.  While his wife shopped at a local woman’s apparel store, Frank visited with Lisa, the sales clerk.  After paying for their purchases, the last thing he did before leaving the store was hand Lisa a cross.  Here is a copy of the email he received later that day from Lisa:

“Today, you gave me that wooden cross and I thank you so much for that!! You have no idea of the timing of getting this from you today!! Nearly 2 years ago this coming May, I will have 2 years behind me of being diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. I had a major surgery at Mayo Clinic to remove the tumor called a Whipple surgery. I go in every 3 months for MRIs and blood work watching a lesion on my liver and making sure it has not yet metastases. I have been having some really good days and some not so good days lately. I anxiously await the appointments at Mayo and this cross brought tears to my eyes!!!!!!! Thank you so much!  Lisa”

Frank has requested the CTW family to include Lisa in their prayers.  Please pray that God will lay his healing hands on her liver and pancreas to stop this cancer from progressing; pray that He will give Lisa and her family the strength needed to carry them through this health crisis, that He will fold them into His arms and surround them with His love, peace and comfort. Amen.

We thank these members of the Cross The World family for their continued service in His name during the month of March:

New Life Church – Foley, MN
Stella – OR
Immanuel Lutheran Church – Pepin, WI
Nan – NV
Shirley – KS
Trinity Lutheran Church – Detroit Lakes, MN
Trinity Lutheran Church – Billings, MT for a LAMP mission trip to northern Canada
Wendy – KY
Jil – MN
Bob – MN
Mike – MN
Lois – MN
Tiffany – MN
Nelly – NV
Ridge View Estates Assisted Living – Pipestone, MN
New Covenant Church – Minneapolis, MN
Grace Covenant Church – Little Falls, MN

What use is an umbrella if your shoes are leaking?

When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.

– Helen Keller

March is a perfect month for serving others. We received this recently from Thrivent and felt it applied to what we should be doing for others this month so we wanted to share:

As God’s stewards, we have the opportunity and responsibility to make a difference by serving the Lord. God has empowered us to faithfully use our gifts, passions and talents to positively impact our churches, communities and the world.

Reflect on the account of the tongue-tied Moses, whom God equipped to be the leader of a vast nation. Study the life of David, an obscure shepherd boy, whom God used to defeat a giant and prepared to be king of Israel. Marvel at God’s patience with Gideon, who asked God for test after test before he was confident enough to undertake the task God entrusted to him. We might find new situations and challenges to be risky or uncomfortable, but just as God was with Moses, David and Gideon, the Lord will be with us in all we undertake in God’s name.

Let’s compare the cooperation of the body of Christ to that of a basketball team. The success of the team depends on the contribution of each player. The guards need to bring the ball down the court, run the offense, make the correct passes, and contribute in scoring. The forwards and the center need t5o rebound and score. All of the positions work together on defense. Each team member plays an essential role on the team and has extraordinary value to the coach and other players. If one of them fails to contribute, the whole team suffers.

We too, as followers of Christ, have a part to contribute on God’s team. As Romans 12:4-5 says, ‘For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.’

When we choose to give our time, energy and talents to serve others, we are taking part in God’s work to share the love of Christ and give God glory. With God working is us and through us, we can make a difference!

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us gifts and talents to use in service and love for others. Place in our hearts a desire to live faithfully and do the things you have prepared in advance for us to do. Today, we pray that you would bless the work of our hands. May we be good stewards of your blessings and may many lives and hearts be impacted today. May all honor and glory be yours. Amen.’

Minnesota Food Share’s March Campaign is the largest food drive in the state for the entire year. The Campaign theme for 2016 is “A DIFFERENT KIND OF FOOD FIGHT”. During the month of March, all participating food shelves will be accepting donations of food, hygiene items and dollars to purchase food. Remember that each pound of food equals one dollar; every dollar donated to your local food shelf enables them to purchase $10 worth of food. Also during March, most donations are matched so the buying power doubles! Please consider letting God work through us this month by our donations! For more information, click here.

Here’s some CTW family feedback:

Thank you so much for the beautiful crosses. I give one to each new resident that moves into our Assisted Living building. They love them! God bless you for the work you do!

– Denny, The Pines in Jackson, MN

Thank you so much for continuing this mission of Cross The World.

– Dar, MN

My sister’s Methodist Church in St. Paul gave these crosses out last week. I was the lucky ‘Pass It On’ recipient. Thank you so much for your mission to Cross The World! What a great ministry!

– Pamm, WI

More photos from Faith Lutheran Church in Monticello!  These very busy and faithful hands prepare cross necklaces which will accompany Faith’s missionaries to Guatemala later this month. Talk about taking part in God’s work and loving every minute of it!! TO GOD GOES THE GLORY!!!

 We just wanted you to see what we did with your crosses. We added a necklace and beautiful beads. Each cross is unique and amazing and has your tag written in Spanish. We will hand out 300 crosses when we go on our Helps Mission trip in March. Thank you for being the major provider in this ministry of Cross the World one cross at a time. What an exciting time to be alive and be a servant of the King—–King Jesus.

A day of making cross necklaces to give to people of Guatemala during our Helps Mission trip in March. A beautiful labor of love from giving people of Faith Lutheran Church. God Bless you all!

Crosses were placed in these loving hands during the month of February. We are so proud our family is growing!!

Birch Ridge Resort – Cass Lake, MN
Gerald – ND
Community Lutheran Church – Bullhead City, AZ
Brenda – KY
My Father’s House – Minneapolis, MN
Faith Lutheran Church – W Fargo, ND
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Boyertown, PA
Cathie – MN
KTIS Christian Radio – St. Paul, MN
Community Lutheran School – Readlyn, IA
Northern Light Christian Church – Hermantown, MN
LaGrange First United Methodist Church – LaGrange, GA
First Lutheran Church – Little Falls, MN
Green Valley Baptist Church – Las Vegas, NV
New Life Christian Church – South Heights, PA
Dar – MN

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
– 1 Peter 4:10-11

‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called Children of God! And that is what we are!’           1 John 3:1

Last month, we invited you to share your cross stories with us and you obliged!  Now, we want to ‘PASS IT ON’ to everyone:

‘Thank you so much for providing the crosses we have used to proclaim Christ tremendous love. This past year we made the crosses into necklaces with a cord necklace and beads of wood and plastic. We gave out 300 in Guatemala while we were there with the HELPS ministry in Huehuetanago. We will take more of them again this March. In June, we passed out 300 cross necklaces at the Monticello Walk and Roll Day. Besides handing out the crosses, prayer was prayed with the people. In February, we presented 50 cross necklaces to the Teen Challenge group who performed at our church.  In September, we gave away cross necklaces at The Fall Festival at Faith Lutheran Church.  At present, crosses are being made into necklaces for this years Guatemala mission trip.’

  Crosses we gave out to community.

One taken with one of my patients in Guatemala.

These crosses were made at my kitchen table by loving caring hands of people the Lord raised up to give their time and talent in this endeavor.  All PRAISE AND GLORY…

–  In Christ precious name, we are Pastor Jim Tetlie and Karleen Sime, Parish Nurse. We serve at Faith Lutheran Church in Monticello, MN

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‘I just wanted to say thank you for making these! I was recently on vacation in Arizona and Community Lutheran Church in Bullhead City, AZ had hung some of your crosses at a tourist location with a sign saying ‘Free – Take One!’. I just thought that was the neatest thing – it felt like God was saying ‘Hello!’ I brought mine home and showed it to my pastor and our church will probably order some too. I just want to have some to share with people. Thank you again!’

– Wendy, KY

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‘Our company has a Christian Employee Resource Group at work. We plan to give these crosses away at our Easter event to our CERG members. I love how we can bring God into our workplace!’

– Tammy, MN

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‘Our youth group took them to Omaha, NE this summer!’

– St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Olivia, MN

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‘Crosses … how to get more.. They really work, I’ve been carrying one for a long time. I’ve had several operations this year, 4 so far and one to go. My cross is with me 24/7 and I carry one extra one to give one away. I gave them all away and I needed one last weekend to give one to a friend who needs one badly. I told him to pray each day and I’ve had nurses pray with me before the operation. So prayer works;, it makes me feel good also. Please let me know where I can get more crosses; I need to pass them on. Thank You. Prayers are with you always.’

– Doug, MN

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‘First Lutheran Church, Galveston, TX gave 2 crosses tied together to everyone who came to Cluster Meeting in August.  The Cluster is a meeting (Cluster) of Lutheran Churches in our area – LaMarque, Texas City, Santa Fe, Alvin, Dickinson, and possibly 2 more. We meet twice a year at different Churches in the Cluster. Usually we have a devotional, business meeting, exchange things going on in each Church, take a collection that is given to a needy project in our area and have lunch. We are all in a part of the Gulf Coast Synod of the ELCA. I believe that everyone liked the idea.’

 – Joyce , TX

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THANK YOU to all of you who shared … you are truly an inspiration to us!  If some of you readers haven’t taken the opportunity yet, but would like to, to share how the crosses have impacted others, just send us your stories and we’ll include them in our next month’s post!  WE LOVE TO SPREAD GOD AND HIS LOVE EVERYWHERE!!!

This last month, we received a request for crosses that will be carried to a children’s home in Jamaica. The congregations and individuals that are part of the Sunbeam Association for Mission are changing lives … their own and those of the Jamaican boys who live on the streets and have no means to support themselves. Through their actions and love, they are spreading the word of Christ to the world. The mission teams return home invigorated for the Lord and united in a common cause to serve others here at home and abroad. For more information about this ministry, click here.

Crosses were sent to these CTW family members to share during the month of January. Thank you!!

Kay – MN
Don – MN
Latter Rain Ministries – Fargo, ND
Casey – MN
Rev. Herb – MT
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church – Glenwood City, MI
Charlie – MN for mission trip to Jamaica
Tammy – MN
Avera Health – Sioux Falls, SD
Esther – MN
The Pines, a Good Samaritan Society campus – Jackson, MN
Wendy – KY
Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church – Inver Grove Heights, MN
Salem Lutheran Church – Deerwood, MN

CROSS IN MY POCKET

I carry a cross in my pocket
A simple reminder to me
Of the fact that I am a Christian
No matter where I may be.

This little cross is not magic
Nor is it a good luck charm
It isn’t meant to protect me.
From every physical harm.

It’s not for identification
For all the world to see.
It’s simply an understanding
Between my Savior and me.

When I put my hand in my pocket
To bring out a coin or key.
The cross is there to remind me
Of the price He paid for me.

It reminds me, too, to be thankful
For my blessings day by day
And strive to serve Him better
In all that I do and say.

It’s also a daily reminder
Of the peace and comfort I share
With all who know my Master
And give themselves to His care.

So, I carry a cross in my pocket
Reminding no one but me
That Jesus Christ is Lord of my life
If only I’ll let Him be.

We received some exciting news from Dr. Robert Rahn, founder of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation based in Macomb, MI!  The accounting of his trip is so awesome, we just had to share it with all of you!!

CROSSES DISTRIBUTED IN YAMBIO, SOUTH SUDAN

On November 22, 2015 your crosses were distributed to the children who were in attendance at a worship service at which five Lutheran deaconesses were commissioned after completing their four year course of study. The previous day was a five hour service of graduation for 10 men who are entering the ministry. The Lutheran Heritage Foundation assists in the training of these students by sending faculty members to do the teaching. Concordia Lutheran Institute for the Holy Ministry is operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Sudan/Sudan (ELCSS/S). Three members of the class graduated while living in a refugee camp in Gambela, Ethiopia, where they went after finding themselves caught in the midst of a tribal war.

I had with me three packages of crosses totaling 75 individual wooden crosses. I had made arrangements with the Sunday school teachers that after the children received a blessing and went on to their classes that they should come forward for their cross. As Dr. Bernie Lutz and I started to distribute the crosses, I feared that the children were going to break down the communion rail because of their anxiousness to make sure they received their prize. When the last child was given the cross it also marked the last cross we had in our package. I had no idea as to what number of children I could expect and certainly did not expect the number to be 75. I was sorry not to have more crosses as there were children (not part of the S.S.) looking in the church windows to see what was going on.

The ELCSS/S is made up of 150 congregations and 40,000 members with congregations throughout both Sudan countries. When I completed the church service I removed my clergy cross and gown and gave it to a Pastor whose church was destroyed by Muslims and everything in the church, including his vestments, was lost.

We pray that the crosses distributed will help to remind children and adults that peace comes from knowing Jesus, Who died on the cross for our sins and that through His shed blood on that cross and the open tomb of Easter we have the assurance of eternal life.

Thank you for the part Cross The World played in bringing the message of the cross to children and adults, some 300, in attendance that day. Our last distribution took place in Gambela, Ethiopia, described in an earlier release.

We are pleased to provide pictures of the distribution.

Thank you Cross The World.

And, we say ‘Thank You, Dr. Rahn!’ May God continue to bless your mission work and keep your travels safe.  Here are some photos of the cross distribution:

God’s presence and love being felt by all; there just isn’t anything more to say!!

We also thank our Cross The World family for their activity during the month of December. Here is an accounting of where our crosses traveled to:

St. John’s Lutheran Church – Akeley, MN
Helen – ND
Marvella – MN
Jon – MN
Immanuel Lutheran Church – Lidgerwood, ND
Avera Health – Sioux Falls, SD
Brenda – KY
Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church – Helena, MT
Dodie – MN
Kristina – WI
Becky – MN
Carla – MN
Pam – MN for family in Mississippi

In 2015, our little crosses traveled great distances and graced many people.  We can’t begin to tell you how thankful we are to you for making such a ‘King‘ sized difference in so many lives. Without your help, many, many people would not have felt God’s boundless love this year and received Him as their Savior!!  What a Christmas present this is to us all!!  For everyone, we say ‘Thank You!’

Here is our recap of the states and countries that received our crosses (if I’ve left anyone out, please let me know!):

The states are:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin

The countries are:

Canada, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Japan, Sudan, and Thailand

And, we are thrilled to acknowledge the following for bringing others into our CTW family by sharing God’s cross during the month of November:

Christelle – MN
Beaver Tree Service – Longville, MN
Cedar Valley Church – Bloomington, MN
Curtis – MN
Central MN Adult & Teen Challenge – Brainerd, MN
Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church – Benson, MN
Bill – MN
Mary Ann – MN
Dodie – MN
Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church – Cornville, AZ
Diane – AZ
Buddy – AZ
Lake Union Covenant Church – Dassel, MN for mission work in Alaska
Grasston Baptist Church – Braham, MN
Bibles for Missions – Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada for mission work in northern Canada
Trinity Lutheran Church – Cedarburg, WI
Bev – MN
Narrows Community Church – Outing, MN

Two churches in Dolan Springs, AZ recently experienced fires set by an arsonist (who is currently awaiting trial) … the Dolan Springs Baptist Church (which received extensive damage) and Mount Tipton Community Church (which was totally destroyed). One of our CTW church families sent us the message that 50 crosses were sent to the people of these churches to comfort them and also to remind them that ‘they are still a church, even without a building’. Bless this family for spreading their love to these people whose hearts have been broken by the fires; God is truly at work!!

“Yes, they came to my inn at Bethlehem, and how well I remember the couple; it seems but yesterday.

He was a manly sort of a man, the kind that would cause you to look again if you saw him once; kindly and dignified, with a long beard; a strong man with quiet manner. There was something that charmed me about the woman who was with him, and … well, I just can’t tell you … anyway, one could see that she might soon become a mother.

It rather worried me that I didn’t have a place for them, but so many had come for the registration, you know. Sanballat, rich merchant, had come down from Damascus; Thaddeus, one of my old customers, had come up from Gaza. A party from Hebron came just at nightfall, and, since I knew them all, I could not turn them away.

Joseph told me that he was from Nazareth, up in the hill country of Galilee. He thought, of course, he could have a place to stay. And, as he asked me, he looked toward Mary and knew that I would understand.

I did understand, and I tried to think which of the men I could ask to move and make place for the couple. But how could I ask these customers of mine to inconvenience themselves; after all, I did not know Joseph and Mary. I said to myself, ‘Oh well, somebody will look after them. I must not disturb the others, and it is a beautiful star-lit night.’

‘Here, I have it,’ finally I said to myself, ‘we can make room for them in the stable, and some way they will get along.’

I have wondered a lot about them since they have gone. He was a manly sort of man with his long beard and dignified look and quiet manners. And the woman, she was like a princess. I wish now, that I had said to the men in my inn, ‘We must make a place for this man and this woman from Galilee!’

But I didn’t, and I am sorry. After all, they might have been people of consequence.”

– The Innkeeper

From our hearts to yours,

We wish you a Very Blessed Christmas!

We salute our veterans this month for their service and commitment to our country. November 11th is the official celebrated Veterans Day but because of what these soldiers did for us, I think we should consider recognizing and honoring them for the entire month! We need to celebrate these heroes for their patriotism, their love for their country, and their willingness to serve and sacrifice for us. What a privilege they have provided us to live in a free country; let’s not forget them!! Please take some time to thank the servicemen and servicewomen you know for their dedication to protecting and keeping us safe.

Happy birthday greetings to one of our Cross The World directors! Mary Schemel will celebrate big on the 26th … turkey for Thanksgiving and cake for her birthday!! Happy birthday and much love Mary!!!

On a rainy Friday a couple of weeks ago, some of the folks from Heartwood Senior Living paid a visit to our Cross The World woodshop.

During their short stay with us, Ernie walked them through the steps of cross production, starting with the stack of wood patiently waiting in the corner for its turn to be turned into something beautiful. He explained the many pieces of equipment used during the production stage and the function for each piece … the planer, the table saw, the miter saw, the drill press …

… all the way to the final stage of stringing the crosses, which most of the visitors have much experience with! Here they are, checking out Ernie’s technique …

Everyone had a wonderful time; we were so blessed with their visit.

And, Cross The World remains so blessed to have the enthusiasm and energy of the Happy Hands, Happy Hearts group. We love them all!!

Christmas is on its way and the woodshop is purring away. We just want to remind you again that, if you are interested in receiving crosses for the Christmas season, please send your requests in as soon as you can.

Thank you to the following for sharing crosses during the month of October:

First Baptist Church – Bemidji, MN
Joan – MN, for mission work in India
Grace Lutheran Church – Ada, MN
Paradise & Hulbert United Methodist Church – Newberry, MI
Gerald – ND
Rick – OH
St. Anthony’s Vocations Ministry – Tigard, OR
Bev – MN
Les – IA
Carla – MN
Narrows Community Church – Outing, MN
Marlys – MN
New Pathways – Brainerd, MN

All of us at Cross The World wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Spend time with your family, enjoy each other’s company, give them plenty of hugs and let them know you love them … and remember to give thanks for all you have and for all you have been given.