Crossroads Celebration Church

Crossroads Church through the assistance of Jeff and Jen Fleming were able to give away a car to a deserving young lady. Diana Burnell received a 1998 Grand Prix to get her to college this fall and to work and where ever she needs a ride.

Diana has practically raised herself these past 17 years and done a fine job of it too. This past year of being a senior at Woodward/Granger High School she has finished well with holding down two jobs and taking college classes as well. I know she was an A student in college because she has taken two classes from me. [I am the pastor of Crossroads and a professor of Ethics and Philosophy at DMACC] Diana has been a good candidate for this offering.

Crossroads not only gave Diana the car, but a Bible and a check for gas and insurance as well. This has been another outreach to impact the community. And Crossroads has made an impact on the community. Diana’s story with Crossroads has been published in the Ankeny Press Citizen. When I was garage sale shopping the other day, with my truck and Crossroads signs on the truck, someone asked, “Are you the church that gave away a car?” And of course it was a privilege to share an affirmative answer.

Crossroads Church meets every Sunday at SE Elemetary on Trilien in Ankeny

Join us for worship at 10:30 am and drive away happy knowing the Lord goes with us through all the crossroads of our life!

Crossroads has been challenged to make an impact on the community and the people of Crossroads have responded. Sunday, June 7 the women’s bible study planted flowers in a community park. Upon arrival the bed was a muddy mess, but the forecast didn’t look promising for a future date of planting so these women went ahead and dove in. Literally dove in. See the photos of mud on hands and feet, yet what a lovely flower bed they created.

Thanks for stepping up and making an impact on the community.

Crossroads Church meets at SE Elementary School on Trilien in Ankeny every Sunday at 10:30 am for worship come and join us. See what blooms in your life!

Having just written about a young boy that goes through my crossing intersection to school, I thought it only fair to write another one for the other gender.

Rachel is in fifth grade and goes to Crossroads Church here in Ankeny. She is a dynamo. I don’t know any other kid who is a great helper like she is. She helps clean up after church every Sunday. She is strong, pulling our large storage cupboard through the halls of the school all by herself. She is very respectful of her elders and enjoys younger children as well. She enjoys cleaning; like vacuuming and other chores that require some manual labor. And she does a great job of it, never complaining and taking her time doing it right.

I know she also has some parents that have taught her well. Rachel is truly a blessing to have around. I think our world is in good hands when I see our young people doing such tremendous things.

Thanks Rachel for being a wonderful young lady!

Joey has been through my crossing guard corner most every day that has been decent weather. His mother and little sister have been through also. Especially last fall when he was getting the hang of things, like getting to school.

Yesterday was the last day of school and for our final greeting, Joey said, “Thanks for being an awesome crossing guard!” Wow that made my day, not only saying “thank you” which is rare at this corner, but that I was “awesome”. I wonder what I did that was awesome?

But let me tell you that Joey is awesome and I think I know where it comes from. Joey would pass through my corner and give me a candy at May Day and Easter and Christmas and Halloween. He was always polite and respectful in our greetings. I could see his house from my corner and when he would get to a certain point at the back of the house, he would wave and wave and wave, I’m assuming to his mother and little sister and dad if he were still home that day.

Joey is awesome because his parents are teaching him love and respect and all the good characteristics that will not only make for a fine boy, but one day grow up to be a solid man. He has learned to celebrate the holidays big and small and he seems to have a pleasant demeanor that enjoys life. These are the things that make him awesome. If only we all grew up like Joey, what a world this would be.

It reminds me of 1 Timothy 4.12 that says we should not put down our youth but learn from them.

Reaching and Teaching from Crossroads Church in Ankeny, Iowa.

Mark Tuttle

Last Sunday we were pulling up to the school building where we host our church Crossroads. We had a new visitor. He was very persistent to get in the main door. Waiting very patiently. We got out of the truck and he did not seem to be bothered by our presence.

I hate to admit that we did turn this one away from worship.

It’s hard enough to get people in the doors to worship God, but to turn them away. I believe that our doors are open to all people. It’s the ducks that worry me. What kind of mess would they leave?

Let’s flock together this Easter. Let’s not turn anyone (human) away. Hey, maybe I could get the duck to come back on Easter Sunday and be our Easter (duck) bunny.

Mark Tuttle, pastor of Crossroads, a Free Methodist Church in Ankeny Iowa invites all to come and celebrate with us this Easter season. I promise we will not turn you away.

Ok, so there was a little fun this week for spring break. We went and played disc golf. That was our adventure for the week. But we got a lot accomplished this week. Thanks to Jeni and Rachel and Matt for coming and painting. What a crew.

Here are some photos to show what we accomplished in two days.

Spring Break, has never been a pleasure trip for me. In college one year I helped my father-in-law tear out the guts of a hog confinement. So early in life I learned that it wasn’t always about exotic beaches and swimsuits and drinking games.

In fact the pleasure has been to accomplish something other than studies and help someone else out. Now that I am back at college this time as a teacher, I still get spring break. And again it is fun to do something totally different than correct papers and exams and prepare for daily lessons. This week I have some young friends of mine, Jeni and Rachel are on their spring break and we are spending two days painting the set for the local community theater. I tried getting one of my college students to join us, but he is home helping his parents fix the siding on their house.

The only exotic I will get this week is some 1800 Russian scenery, that I get to make up in my head. And I don’t usually think of Russia as a warm get-away spot. The good news is that for March in Iowa we are to get 72 degrees.

If you are local to Ankeny check out the Neil Simon play “Fools” it runs the last two weekends of April and the first weekend of May. You will know that the set was a spring break project for several people looking for something different to do and to help out someone else.

Mark Tuttle is pastor of Crossroads, a Free Methodist Church in Ankeny, Iowa

Last weekend I spent some time with some awesome youth in a retreat called Chrysalis. A friend of mine gave a talk on prayer. He used an illustration of driving some distance and listening to Chuck Swindoll on the radio and as he was moving away from the tower, he was getting static. He prayed for God to bless him with the rest of the message. The static went away and he heard the message till the end very clearly. As soon as Swindoll was done, the radio went to all static. What an awesome God.

Also over the weekend, I was talking with another friend and saying that I was trying to photograph eagles on the Des Moines River, but they were too far away for my camera. It is a nice camera but not the expensive kind with the long zoom. My friend said, ask God to be the zoom and bring the eagles closer to you for a closer picture.

I was also in prayer this week about a career change and trying to decide what to do. So I laid a fleece before God in hopes of getting an answer. Lord, bring an eagle up close to my camera so I know you want be to continue doing what you called me to do. Today, the eagle came closer and seemed to almost stand still in the air so I could get my close up shot of the eagle. Maybe we shouldn’t test God that way, but I recall God telling us to test his faithfulness in Malachi about money and tithing.

So today, God was my zoom on my camera. God affirmed my calling and answered my prayer. By the way I got several closer shots of the eagle. What’s next? I saw a mink crossing a log while I was waiting for the eagle. Didn’t get a picture of it, but maybe that will be my next prayer.

Actually, as I look back on this week. God has blessed me immensely with answered prayers and answers I didn’t even think about praying over. All week, all I could think about was the majesty of God in the image of the majestic eagle. Enjoy.

Mark Tuttle – pastor at Crossroads – a Free Methodist Church in Ankeny, Iowa

We are finishing a teaching series in worship at Crossroads Church in Ankeny. We have been studying the film “Fireproof” and using scripture about how to love each other and God. This week Caleb has been saving up for a big boat and yet he donates $24,000 to buy his mother-in-law a hospital bed and a motorized wheelchair. It is about sacrifice. And the big question is what daring act of sacrifice are you willing to make to help someone else out?

Will you spend time to visit someone in prison? From my experience this one is a time sacrifice.

Will you help someone pay their bills or mortgage? This could be a sacrifice of money. I know “Fireproof” is only a movie, but the idea of $24,000 is a lot in my kind of budget. But I know it is a blessing to help someone else out with $50 or $100 or even $1,000, if it can make a difference in their life.

And the cool part is that making a sacrifice for someone is blessing them, but it will also bless you.

Are you willing and able to do a daring act of sacrifice this week for someone else? Talk to your family and friends and ask, “How can I help you?”

The robin has always been my best and favorite sign of spring. This week we have had 40′s and 50′s and even 60 degree weather the week before Valentines Day. The huge amount of snow has melted and is almost gone from the landscape. My father has seen five robins in two sightings where he lives. I am certain that I have heard the robins myself several mornings. But alas, I have not seen one single robin. They have been tormenting me. My hearing is dulled by a cold and yet I hear robins, but do not see. The forecast is for 6-8 inches of snow tomorrow, but I still believe the sign of spring is still out there, despite my lack of seeing what my heart longs for.

Isn’t that faith! Believing without seeing. I know that the spring flowers are just waiting to come up. I know that my father wasn’t lying about seeing his robins. I know that the trees will bud soon. The signs are always there and the seasons are like clock work. These are the witnesses of spring. Why do we not trust the witnesses of the resurrection? Many reliable friends and followers of Christ were there to see and believe. I know that I believe even though I wasn’t there to see. How about you? Do you have faith?