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What's in a name?
Tommy Hopper @ Nov 14, 2007 06:51 PM
My name is Tommy, my brothers name is Jerry. For many years of my life I asked my cartoon loving Dad if we were named after the cat and mouse. Dad said no, with explaination on how he came up with the names. Once dad passed away my mom "fessed up". We were named after the cartoon characters! It did not bother me though, because short of his family Dad loved nothing more than the cartoons.
Recently I proposed a new name for CCF. The name is Crossroads Church. Like my name, the name comes from something important to me. Ever since I moved to Kingwood I have felt we Christians who reside in this area are on the crossroads of the world. No only do we have many nationalities living in our area, but we also communicate through our work and friendships with people from everywhere or who know someone from everywhere. We are definitely not isolated!
Along with living at the crosroads, we have great spiritual stories to tell. The Bible speaks about "standing stones" or "stone altars" positioned where great God moments happened. These stones were positioned as an oppotunity for those present to remember what God had done, but also to tell new "passerbys" the story when they asked about the rocks.
We, followers of Jesus, are standing stones of our faith. God has done wonderful things with us, for us and through us. Our responsibility is to live like people of faith and tell our stories. We are at the crossroads of many cultures and areas of the world, we have a voice and we have stories of hope, life and salvation.
I like the name Crossroads Church. It has meaning, it is a standing stone itself. One might say, "why did you change your name from CCF and why did you choose Crossroads?" You might reply, "do I have a story to tell you"!
Recently I proposed a new name for CCF. The name is Crossroads Church. Like my name, the name comes from something important to me. Ever since I moved to Kingwood I have felt we Christians who reside in this area are on the crossroads of the world. No only do we have many nationalities living in our area, but we also communicate through our work and friendships with people from everywhere or who know someone from everywhere. We are definitely not isolated!
Along with living at the crosroads, we have great spiritual stories to tell. The Bible speaks about "standing stones" or "stone altars" positioned where great God moments happened. These stones were positioned as an oppotunity for those present to remember what God had done, but also to tell new "passerbys" the story when they asked about the rocks.
We, followers of Jesus, are standing stones of our faith. God has done wonderful things with us, for us and through us. Our responsibility is to live like people of faith and tell our stories. We are at the crossroads of many cultures and areas of the world, we have a voice and we have stories of hope, life and salvation.
I like the name Crossroads Church. It has meaning, it is a standing stone itself. One might say, "why did you change your name from CCF and why did you choose Crossroads?" You might reply, "do I have a story to tell you"!
Comments
I too have gone by many names over the years. I have experienced many different roles as well, daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, grandmother, musician, and nurse to name a few. It is not important to me that what I am called be significant to others but significant to me. I can see where changing the name of CCF will be a chance to be a reflection of where we truly live daily, in the crossroads of life. Whether it be neighbors, coworkers, fellow worshippers or strangers we become acquainted with, everyone looks both ways at a crossroad and based on the signal in the intersection makes the appropriate move. Let us be the light in the intersection that points the way to Christ and how He lives through us. CCF or Crossroads? It matters not to me as long as I can point people in the right direction through my stories of hope, life and salvation.
C Allred
C Allred
I like the name "Crossroads". It has multiple meanings. Carol's comments about stopping at a cross roads and making the appropriate decision was a great thought.
I think about how as individuals we can be at crossroads in our lives and we are definitely at a crossroads as a Church. It's like a new beginning. I also think of the Journey that we are on being a crossroad in the sense that we are to take up our cross and follow Jesus. The road we travel is truly a "cross" road. I like the idea of someone asking me, "What church do you go to"? "Crossroads Church". It's very unique and won't be confused with other church names that have the word "Community" in them.
I think about how as individuals we can be at crossroads in our lives and we are definitely at a crossroads as a Church. It's like a new beginning. I also think of the Journey that we are on being a crossroad in the sense that we are to take up our cross and follow Jesus. The road we travel is truly a "cross" road. I like the idea of someone asking me, "What church do you go to"? "Crossroads Church". It's very unique and won't be confused with other church names that have the word "Community" in them.
I am not a great writer but felt to respond when I heard that crossroads could possibly be the new name of our church. It brought many things back to me. I thought of all the crossroads I have been on in my life and believe me it has been many! I have taken alot of wrong turns and have had to struggle to get back to the right road where i should have been in the first place and one of those roads brought me to CCF. Best turn I ever made! I realized that there was a church out there that I could call home with many new and wonderful friends that have helped me in more ways than I can count. So for me the name CROSSROADS couldnt be a better name because it was that crossroad I took that brought me where i am today!
I believe that a New Name for our church would be a reflection of the New Journey that has begun in our lives as a body of believers.
"Crossroads" implies to me that we will, at times in our own spiritual journey, come to a crossroad and will have to make a choice as to which direction we will take. There wil be roads that will lead us to a different experience as we live our life. But the question is, will we choose in our own strength/our own wisdom or will we ask Christ to lead us down the path He has prepared for us? If we do seek to follow his lead, he will give us the strength for our journey. We will never walk alone. Our Guide will always be there with us, side-by- side encouraging us along the way.
So, is Crossroads Church a reflection of who we are as a family of believers? You bet! And I KNOW that this new journey is going to be filled with the awesome truth of who God is and the excitement of experiencing him in a more deep and personal way!
As one of my son's favorite Disney World rides says,...
"HOLD ON TIGHT, CAUSE HERE WE GO...!"
"Crossroads" implies to me that we will, at times in our own spiritual journey, come to a crossroad and will have to make a choice as to which direction we will take. There wil be roads that will lead us to a different experience as we live our life. But the question is, will we choose in our own strength/our own wisdom or will we ask Christ to lead us down the path He has prepared for us? If we do seek to follow his lead, he will give us the strength for our journey. We will never walk alone. Our Guide will always be there with us, side-by- side encouraging us along the way.
So, is Crossroads Church a reflection of who we are as a family of believers? You bet! And I KNOW that this new journey is going to be filled with the awesome truth of who God is and the excitement of experiencing him in a more deep and personal way!
As one of my son's favorite Disney World rides says,...
"HOLD ON TIGHT, CAUSE HERE WE GO...!"
Personally, I am looking forward to telling people that we wanted to shorten our “CCF” acronym, so we no longer have “F”ellowship at our church. Ha! I slay myself…
Seriously, I think it’s a great name, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen good friends leave, we’ve grown smaller and it’s been difficult at times. But lately, there has been this sense of renewed purpose, a new identity in the air. It’s evident in the way Tommy talks, and the disciplines we are practicing as a church body. We are small compared to some congregations, but that “monkey” appears to have been taken off of our back, and because of that we in some way seem… stronger. It’s like CCF has come to its own crossroads.
It seems like my girls and I have been through so much since we walked through the door back in August 2005. I can hardly believe it’s been over two years that we have been coming here. I can remember “cell shopping” like it was yesterday. So much transformation has occurred within our family after finding our “home”. I think “Crossroads” is perfect because when Amy and I arrived, we were very much at a crossroads in our own lives. We were blessed to receive the “nudging” of the Spirit, and step-off of the “old highway” onto something much more exciting, irresistible, rewarding, challenging and purposeful.
It seems like both CCF and the Garcia’s have been on their own journey of transformation and establishing identity over the last couple of years. There is always significance in a name change. “Crossroads” Church not only identifies us by name, but it describes where are at - right here, right now. It’s exciting…
Seriously, I think it’s a great name, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen good friends leave, we’ve grown smaller and it’s been difficult at times. But lately, there has been this sense of renewed purpose, a new identity in the air. It’s evident in the way Tommy talks, and the disciplines we are practicing as a church body. We are small compared to some congregations, but that “monkey” appears to have been taken off of our back, and because of that we in some way seem… stronger. It’s like CCF has come to its own crossroads.
It seems like my girls and I have been through so much since we walked through the door back in August 2005. I can hardly believe it’s been over two years that we have been coming here. I can remember “cell shopping” like it was yesterday. So much transformation has occurred within our family after finding our “home”. I think “Crossroads” is perfect because when Amy and I arrived, we were very much at a crossroads in our own lives. We were blessed to receive the “nudging” of the Spirit, and step-off of the “old highway” onto something much more exciting, irresistible, rewarding, challenging and purposeful.
It seems like both CCF and the Garcia’s have been on their own journey of transformation and establishing identity over the last couple of years. There is always significance in a name change. “Crossroads” Church not only identifies us by name, but it describes where are at - right here, right now. It’s exciting…
A rose by any other name is still a rose. From my passed experience CCF by any other name is still going to be CCF. The church I grew up in on the north side of Houston was called Freeway Forest Baptist since it was founded around the late 1950’s or early 1960’s. My dad has served there as a deacon, teacher, and choir member since we started going there when I was a teenage in 1972. About 22 to 25 years ago some thought it needed a name change. The church had moved and was no longer about a block from US 59 but was at JFK and Lauder RD. Some felt that no one could relate to the name anymore. They had in mind a name that would give it prestige and sound more regional. So, it became First Baptist North Houston. I don’t really think it made one bit of difference. At the end of the day it was the same church with the same people, except for the ones that were really pushing for the name change. Most of them left to go attend other churches. Most of the ones that were left behind there were the ones that had attended Freeway Forest Baptist Church, A. K. A. First Baptist North Houston.
Well the church after Jan 1st will have a new name, Crossroads Church. I guess by my previous blog entry everyone knows that I was not one of the 99% that had a positive feeling about it. But that really did not matter anyway, because in the end, there was really one person’s vote that determined it was going to be changed. I hope it works out well. God Bless.
It has been brought to my attention that my previous blog entry could be interrupted in a way as to imply that there were only the pastor’s directives that mattered in changing the name of the church. That there was not more input and planning by multiple persons that were actually involved in wanting to change the name of the church. I apologize if my entry was construed as calling anyone on the staff or others a liar as to the method of changing the name of the church. I have know the pastors for over 15 years and I have no doubt as to their character as being up right and straight. So, now after being called down on how my blog was worded by a phone call and on the open floor of the church I make this vow not to ever add another opinion to any more questions or statements on this blog. It is not worth the stress or scrutiny. Thank you.
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