I recently came across a musical duo named Twenty One Pilots. After youth group (A|Zero) last night I was playing it and several students were asking who was playing. After a few listens I fell in love with their eclectic style. I've now listened to their new CD "Vessel" dozens of times. My original thoughts were they were an amalgam of Eminem, Rufus Wainwright, .FUN, Matt & Kim, Owl City and Passion Pit. Every once in awhile they have a Mumford & Sons vibe on the song "Heart of Gold" and on my favorite song "Screen" there is a little bit of light Reggae. It would have to be light Reggae, because more than that I wouldn't have cared for it as much. The song's great, but the lyrics are amazing. I imagine a crowd of believers at a conference like CIY, singing the refrain...
"We're broken"
"We're broken"
We're broken people"
Over and over again with arms outstretched to God.
Here's a great answer to why they chose that name! "Ok so, I (Tyler) was in theatre class and we were studying a play called "All My Sons" written by Arthur Miller in the 40's. It was about a father who ran a company that provided parts for airplanes used in WWII. He then found out that his parts were faulty, so he comes to a moral crossroads:1. He can take the parts back and not send them out, but he will lose a lot of money in a financially tough situation. He would also taint his business and his name and be known as 'unreliable' in his trade. But this would ultimately be the 'right' thing to do. or,2. send the parts out, make the necessary money to provide for his family, not taint his name, etc. He ends up sending the parts out and twenty one pilots died because of it. His son was a pilot in the war who had lost his life. There was no evidence to prove that it was directly related but his daughter blamed her father for her brothers death. He ended up committing suicide at the end of the play. Here's how we make it relevant: I feel like we are all constantly encountering moral crossroads where the decisions that benefit the "now" will have consequences down the road; but the decision that might seem tough and tolling right away will ultimately be more rewarding. What is our purpose for playing music? We are constantly asking ourselves that question. The answer can change all the time, but for right now we are just going to stick with something as simple as "we want to make people think."
"Using our life to point others to Christ"
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
December 2012 Newsletter
Here's our December 2012 Newsletter. Right click on any of the pics below and choose "save link as..." to download the pdf.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
- Windows 7 Phones with 7.5 (mango) update can use the bing vision search. [if you don't have this update try PhraseMeme Scanner (found on the windows marketplace)].
- Android phones/tablets try QR Droid (found on the Android marketplace).
- iPhone/iPad try QR-Reader (not tested personally).
- Blackberry try QR Code Scanner Pro (not tested personally).
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
A Mind Divided
As you've read in my previous post, I am in the middle of a transition. Angie and I have been vocationally part of Team Expansion for thirteen and a half years, now I am starting as the Youth Minister for Highland Park Christian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This month, I am playing double duty. I am still full-time with Team Expansion (but also planning to use some of my remaining vacation days) until December 31, 2012, but also beginning my role at HP. Some days, I feel like my mind has multiple compartments in which my neurons keep racing back and forth. My day may start with me working on Team Expansion transition tasks and then I move onto planning for HP. Then after lunch, I might go to a meeting then finish the day working on administration/financial details for the eventual closing of the books for Team Expansion.
Because my time with Team Expansion has meant so much, I do want to make sure I live in the moment of my exit as a vocational member of a great missions organization (you might remember I'm staying on as a volunteer to continue some of the projects I've been working on). I don't want to wake up in February and think, wait...it's already over? So, I am trying to remember the years and milestones of which we have been a part.
Of course, certain things come to mind readily....the first stages of planning for the work in Ancona, going through the arduous task of learning another language (and yes, I still practice it from time to time), the first gathering of believers in Ancona, the first outreaches, the first short term group, seeing a church formed in Ancona, the planning for the work in Verona, the survey trip to several potential and spiritually needy cities in Northern Italy, working on several creative resource projects for different countries around the world and on and on.
Other things, less monumental, stand out too, eating panserotti at Etrusca in Perugia, going to my first soccer game in Perugia, eating pizza by the slice at Pizzeria Centrale, watching the American style football team "The Ancona Dolphins" play in a 2000 year old stadium in Ancona, laughing with various team members over the years, fellowship with Italian Christians, walking down ancient alleyways and taking literally thousands of photos. Our memories cannot be contained within one post, short or long. I keep thinking of more like, going to the beach in Ancona, eating at Desiderio (all time favorite restaurant)
---------------------------------
As I paused writing this post and walked into the kitchen, I was happy to learn that Angie was making homemade pizza! She had already made the pizza dough earlier and was rolling them out. While this isn't Desiderio, it's pretty close. I miserably tried to help her throw/roll one of the pizza doughs, but apparently I need more practice and Angie fixed it for me.
With pizza prepping to go in the oven, and us getting ready to watch the DVR'ed Survivor finale, I'll close this post. Throughout the month, you'll continue hearing from us and seeing changes on our website and social media. Thanks for reading and caring about us.
Because my time with Team Expansion has meant so much, I do want to make sure I live in the moment of my exit as a vocational member of a great missions organization (you might remember I'm staying on as a volunteer to continue some of the projects I've been working on). I don't want to wake up in February and think, wait...it's already over? So, I am trying to remember the years and milestones of which we have been a part.
Of course, certain things come to mind readily....the first stages of planning for the work in Ancona, going through the arduous task of learning another language (and yes, I still practice it from time to time), the first gathering of believers in Ancona, the first outreaches, the first short term group, seeing a church formed in Ancona, the planning for the work in Verona, the survey trip to several potential and spiritually needy cities in Northern Italy, working on several creative resource projects for different countries around the world and on and on.
Other things, less monumental, stand out too, eating panserotti at Etrusca in Perugia, going to my first soccer game in Perugia, eating pizza by the slice at Pizzeria Centrale, watching the American style football team "The Ancona Dolphins" play in a 2000 year old stadium in Ancona, laughing with various team members over the years, fellowship with Italian Christians, walking down ancient alleyways and taking literally thousands of photos. Our memories cannot be contained within one post, short or long. I keep thinking of more like, going to the beach in Ancona, eating at Desiderio (all time favorite restaurant)
---------------------------------
As I paused writing this post and walked into the kitchen, I was happy to learn that Angie was making homemade pizza! She had already made the pizza dough earlier and was rolling them out. While this isn't Desiderio, it's pretty close. I miserably tried to help her throw/roll one of the pizza doughs, but apparently I need more practice and Angie fixed it for me.
With pizza prepping to go in the oven, and us getting ready to watch the DVR'ed Survivor finale, I'll close this post. Throughout the month, you'll continue hearing from us and seeing changes on our website and social media. Thanks for reading and caring about us.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Crossers' Update: Important Announcement
To the friends, family and ministry partners
of Matt and Angie Crosser, Team Expansion Missionaries…
For 13 ½ years Angie and I have been working
for Team Expansion, a mission agency that seeks to reach the least reached
people and plant biblical churches in those places. With Team Expansion, Angie
and I have travelled to three cities in Italy and back to the states again,
pouring our lives into missions and creating missions resources along the
journey. That journey is coming to a close.
Yesterday, I was confirmed to become the new Youth Minister of Highland Park Christian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Highland Park has a love for the surrounding community and heart for missions. In fact, for the past decade, Highland Park has been our largest supporting church and we have been they’re largest supported mission.
Yesterday, I was confirmed to become the new Youth Minister of Highland Park Christian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Highland Park has a love for the surrounding community and heart for missions. In fact, for the past decade, Highland Park has been our largest supporting church and we have been they’re largest supported mission.
We’ve been with Team Expansion since leaving
college, so it will be sad to close this chapter of our lives, but exciting because
I intend to remain partners with Team Expansion as a volunteer. This will allow
me to continue working on several of the long term projects of which I’ve been
involved in the past few years.
Art always has been and will continue to be
one of my passions, but another passion for the past 20+ years has been youth
ministry. That is why I actually went to Ozark Christian College, so that I
could receive training to do youth ministry. After two part-time youth
ministries in college, I started my post college phase doing international
youth ministry with Team Expansion in Ancona, Italy. So, I will continue pursuing
both of these passions, art and youth ministry, as I seek God and His desire
for my life.
I will remain full-time with Team Expansion
through the end of 2012 and tie up loose ends in January 2013. If you are a supporter
or supporting church, we ask that you continue supporting this ministry through
the end of December. In January, we will finish up the 2012 annual finances,
create our final newsletter and mail out year-end reports to all supporters
along with IRS receipts.
I have been volunteering as a youth sponsor
at Highland Park in various capacities for the past year or so. I will start
with some part-time hours in December and begin full-time hours in January
2013, as Highland Park Christian Church’s new Youth Minister.
Angie and I request your prayers as we
navigate this transition over the next couple months into the beginning of the New
Year. Thank you to all of you who have partnered with us in prayer, financial
support and encouragement. We have made life long bonds with many of you and
are humbled to have been partners with you during the past 13 years of this adventure.
We will continue to dialogue with you throughout
this transition and really do hope you will join with us in our excitement to
start the next chapter of our lives.
In Christ and for His Kingdom,
Matt and Angie Crosser
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
September 2012 Newsletter
Here's our September 2012 Newsletter. Right click on any of the pics below and choose "save link as..." to download the pdf.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
- Windows 7 Phones with 7.5 (mango) update can use the bing vision search. [if you don't have this update try PhraseMeme Scanner (found on the windows marketplace)].
- Android phones/tablets try QR Droid (found on the Android marketplace).
- iPhone/iPad try QR-Reader (not tested personally).
- Blackberry try QR Code Scanner Pro (not tested personally).
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
August 2012 Newsletter
Here's our August 2012 Newsletter. Right click on any of the pics below and choose "save link as..." to download the pdf.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
- Windows 7 Phones with 7.5 (mango) update can use the bing vision search. [if you don't have this update try PhraseMeme Scanner (found on the windows marketplace)].
- Android phones/tablets try QR Droid (found on the Android marketplace).
- iPhone/iPad try QR-Reader (not tested personally).
- Blackberry try QR Code Scanner Pro (not tested personally).
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The Mingling of Immortals
A couple days ago, I was running some errands and popped into a local store. I found what I needed and went to the checkout. There were three people in front of me. There were two girls in their twenties, who were checking out at the register and a young Muslim woman was directly in front of me. The girls' dresses were very short and skimpy. Almost instantly, the contrast between their short short dresses and modestly dressed Muslim woman was striking. One was modestly dressed and the other two weren't.
As the girls in front left, I felt compelled to say something to the Muslim woman. I wanted to tell her thank you for dressing modestly, but wasn't sure what was the best way. Then her husband came in. He was also of Middle Eastern descent and dressed in a sort of casual European soccer outfit.
When they were about to leave, I stopped him and said, "Could I just tell you that as a Christian, I appreciate that your wife is dressed modestly."
He seemed happy, yet thought maybe that I was confused. Thankful for the gesture, he gently said, "But we are Muslim".
I replied, "I know, but I still appreciate her modesty."
At that point, he was visibly pleased. He told me that she is from Bahrain and when she first moved here two years ago, she found it very difficult because of how she dressed. The cashier then interrupted us to get my signature on the slip, which abruptly ended our conversation. We exchanged smiles, as they left and I finished my transaction.
I wanted to keep talking with them. I wanted to tell them that my wife and I understand dressing different in a different culture. I wanted to ask them what burdens they have faced living in a new place and share our cultural mistakes and success. I wanted to reach out to them. I have no idea how many friends they have here, they may have many or none. In that brief meeting of three souls, I wanted to do my best to represent Jesus to them. I may not ever see them again. I can only hope that any other Christians they meet will treat them as Jesus would.
In me it was the stirring of the Spirit.
Every time you come in contact with another person, it is a meeting of souls. Souls are eternal, either spending eternity in Heaven with Christ or condemned to separation from God in Hell.
And now, I am kicking myself a little. Not because of talking with them though, the only regret about that is the conversation wasn't long enough. I'm kicking myself, because I don't listen as intently every time I meet someone to hear what plans God has for me with them. Each missed opportunity is lost and I pray that God keeps my eyes open and uses me every day in every situation, whether gassing up the car or paying a bill.
The interchanges we have as we go through each day are not important. Oh they may seem important at the time, but in reality they are only important inasmuch that each soul is moved closer to God in that moment.
As the girls in front left, I felt compelled to say something to the Muslim woman. I wanted to tell her thank you for dressing modestly, but wasn't sure what was the best way. Then her husband came in. He was also of Middle Eastern descent and dressed in a sort of casual European soccer outfit.
When they were about to leave, I stopped him and said, "Could I just tell you that as a Christian, I appreciate that your wife is dressed modestly."
He seemed happy, yet thought maybe that I was confused. Thankful for the gesture, he gently said, "But we are Muslim".
I replied, "I know, but I still appreciate her modesty."
At that point, he was visibly pleased. He told me that she is from Bahrain and when she first moved here two years ago, she found it very difficult because of how she dressed. The cashier then interrupted us to get my signature on the slip, which abruptly ended our conversation. We exchanged smiles, as they left and I finished my transaction.
I wanted to keep talking with them. I wanted to tell them that my wife and I understand dressing different in a different culture. I wanted to ask them what burdens they have faced living in a new place and share our cultural mistakes and success. I wanted to reach out to them. I have no idea how many friends they have here, they may have many or none. In that brief meeting of three souls, I wanted to do my best to represent Jesus to them. I may not ever see them again. I can only hope that any other Christians they meet will treat them as Jesus would.
In me it was the stirring of the Spirit.
Every time you come in contact with another person, it is a meeting of souls. Souls are eternal, either spending eternity in Heaven with Christ or condemned to separation from God in Hell.
And now, I am kicking myself a little. Not because of talking with them though, the only regret about that is the conversation wasn't long enough. I'm kicking myself, because I don't listen as intently every time I meet someone to hear what plans God has for me with them. Each missed opportunity is lost and I pray that God keeps my eyes open and uses me every day in every situation, whether gassing up the car or paying a bill.
The interchanges we have as we go through each day are not important. Oh they may seem important at the time, but in reality they are only important inasmuch that each soul is moved closer to God in that moment.
Monday, July 16, 2012
July 2012 Newsletter
Here's our July 2012 Newsletter. Right click on any of the pics below and choose "save link as..." to download the pdf.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
- Windows 7 Phones with 7.5 (mango) update can use the bing vision search. [if you don't have this update try PhraseMeme Scanner (found on the windows marketplace)].
- Android phones/tablets try QR Droid (found on the Android marketplace).
- iPhone/iPad try QR-Reader (not tested personally).
- Blackberry try QR Code Scanner Pro (not tested personally).
Monday, June 11, 2012
June 2012 Newsletter
Here's our June 2012 Newsletter. Right click on any of the pics below and choose "save link as..." to download the pdf.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
- Windows 7 Phones with 7.5 (mango) update can use the bing vision search. [if you don't have this update try PhraseMeme Scanner (found on the windows marketplace)].
- Android phones/tablets try QR Droid (found on the Android marketplace).
- iPhone/iPad try QR-Reader (not tested personally).
- Blackberry try QR Code Scanner Pro (not tested personally).
Thursday, May 10, 2012
May 2012 Newsletter
Here's our May 2012 Newsletter. Right click on any of the pics below and choose "save link as..." to download the pdf.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QR code scanning info -
* What is a QR code? It's kind of like a bar code but it can contain much more data, contact info, web addresses, etc.
* How do I scan this on my device?
- Windows 7 Phones with 7.5 (mango) update can use the bing vision search. [if you don't have this update try PhraseMeme Scanner (found on the windows marketplace)].
- Android phones/tablets try QR Droid (found on the Android marketplace).
- iPhone/iPad try QR-Reader (not tested personally).
- Blackberry try QR Code Scanner Pro (not tested personally).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)