Calendar of Events:

4 - Independence Day (office closed)

11 - Board Meeting

16 - Workday

24 - Missions Meeting

30 - Family Game Night @ Crossroads, hosted by W@C.

In addition:

July 10 - 16 WildSide Camp (grades 6-8)

July 17 - 23 FDC (grades 9-12)

July 21 - 24 California Rodeo

July 31 - Aug. 5 Adventure Camp

(grades 2-5)

Jesus on the 4th of July

We gather 'round to celebrate On Independence Day

Pay homage to our country As the children run and play.

With barbecues and picnics And fireworks in the air

The flag we own is proudly flown To show how much we care.

The stars and stripes spell freedom She waves upon the breeze

While bursts of colors can be seen Above the towering trees.

This is all quite wonderful We revel in delight

But God above in divine love Has brought this day to light.

With just a stroke of liberty A touch of His great hand He gave democracy to us

And helped this country stand.

The stripes upon our stately flag Were touched by His sweet grace

Each star of white that shines so bright Reflects His loving face.

So as you turn to face the flag For battles that were fought

Be filled with pride for those who died And freedoms that were bought.

But don't forget to thank the One That gives the bright display

The reason why we paint the sky On Independence Day

Internship Reflections Bryan Cobley

I cannot believe that it has already been a month that I have been interning with Crossroads. I was praying for

this internship to happen since I first came here to preach in December and now it has been flying by. It also brings

sadness because I do not want this summer to end. I have been enjoying my time here in Salinas and I feel like there is

more I can do, but do not have enough time to do it. I have met wonderful people in the Crossroads family and I have

learned so much. I was even able to learn how to drive the old Ford tractor and overheat it.

Looking back

As I reflect on this past month and remember the nervousness I felt going into a new environment, new people,

and staying with a family I have never met, I can say that there is no such thing as a stranger at Crossroads. The

welcoming immediately has one feeling like they have been going to this church their entire life. The Crossroad’s family

accepted me with open arms and with open insults. I immediately felt like part of the family. I have been privileged to

be able to learn from Pastor Ray this past month. He allowed me to follow him to hospital visits, Bible studies, city

council meetings, and meetings with other ministers in the area. He has shown me areas in ministry you cannot learn

from attending Bible College such as how to get rid of birds that surround the church.

One of my favorite moments with Crossroads that I want to reflect on is the moments when the Carr family was

leaving Crossroads to embark on their new adventure as a family. Those moments were ones that I have never

experience before at a church. The churches I have been a part of wouldn’t know if a family has left unless you were

close to them, but even if they did, they would not go above and beyond to say goodbye to them and wish them best of

luck as the family at Crossroads did. I remember after my freshman year at Boise Bible College, I returned to Modesto

for the summer and a person I was talking to said, “Hey where have you been the past few weeks? I feel like I haven’t

seen you here lately.” Crossroads is more than just a church building; it is home.

Looking ahead

I am in a peculiar position in this internship that I don’t think anyone from my college has ever experienced

before. I have the ability to help a church through a leadership transition by stepping into the temporary role of the

former minister. This was not the initial role of the internship when I was first applying, but I am excited and nervous to

see where it leads me. I like to tell people that by the end of the summer I will know if I am on the right path or if I need

to change schools and degrees. I do have an amazing support team of the elders, and members of Crossroads who want

to help me succeed and gain as much experience as I can to take wherever God leads, when I graduate. I have two

months left here in Salinas and hope I can make a difference in the lives of the church family as well as the people of

Salinas. I am excited to see what God does with this church and with me the rest of the summer.

FREEDOM

In trying to come up with the words I wanted to share, I had a difficult time trying to piece together exactly what I wanted to

say. I am already a day late for the article due for July, so my husband helped me by sending me to the internet…yes, Jerry

actually knew where to direct me. Some of you may not be aware that Jerry is not a very techy (not sure if that is a word)

person. I am not very techy either, maybe a little more advanced than Jerry, (but not by much). So, I am very happy to share

this article I came across. The author, Debbie McDaniel, put the words together for me, that I could not wrap my head around

this time.

“Freedom is powerful. It is a gift. A treasure. The most significant, important gifts in life are always worth fighting for. And

often, they come with a great price. They are not free. Somewhere along the way, someone paid dearly for the liberties we

enjoy so freely today. But often, we forget. It’s easy to take them for granted. We enjoy freedom, but most of us alive today

have always had it. We may not even be fully aware of just how many men and women have paid dearly for the gifts we enjoy

today. The price was paid through many long years.

This is a week to remember. This is a week to say thank you. To those who have gone before us. To those who protect and

serve our nation today. And most importantly, to our Savior, who paid the ultimate price, so that we can live free. Forever.”

When I stop to reflect on how this country came to be, I remember that it was because of religious freedom that propelled the

group of Pilgrims to come to a new land where they could freely practice their religion. And as the country grew, it became

apparent that they would have to fight to free themselves from a tyrannical government who tried to keep them from being

free and independent from England.

I sometimes think we confuse our Christian walk with the freedom and independence that we fought for, and continue to

fight. Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for us through His blood, and grace. Our freedom is through Christ, and His sacrifice,

but we need to remember that we need to be dependent on God. As Christians we cannot be independent from God, because

we will never be able to conquer sin and death alone. We will always need His help, guidance, and His word, so that we can

remain free from the power of sin, and live in eternity with Him.

“The framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.” Billy Graham

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; the people He choose for His inheritance.” Psalm 33:12

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17

In His Love,

Debbie Lemmon

Saturday, July 30, 2016 Questions - Becky Cromer

More details to come ...

***COOKIES FOR COWBOYS***

The Salinas Valley Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian

Cowboys will be hosting a Contestant Hospitality Center

for the contestants and their families during the California

Rodeo, July 21-24, 2016. The contestant’s favorite snack

in the contestant center are the yummy “homemade”

cookies baked and donated by the churches of Salinas and

the 4H’s of Salinas and King City. Your cookies will be

picked up sometime after 9 am on Wednesday, July 20th.

Your delicious cookies crumble less and travel better when

on a plastic or paper plate secured in a recloseable plastic

bag or secured tightly with plastic wrap. Please sign up in

the foyer or let Brandy know if you are able to donate

cookies to these hungry, yet extremely grateful cowboys.

Thank you! Your help is appreciated!

JULY BIRTHDAYS

JIM LIPPERT 7/01

KRIS LIPPERT 7/03

TOM DELACRUZ 7/07

MICAH SIMPSON 7/08

SAMANTHA REYES 7/10

TONNA HENSON 7/29

Saturday, July 16, 2016

8:30am - 11:30am

“Many hands make light work”

Independence Day Cookies

Ingredients 2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup dried blueberries (or blueberry flavored craisins)

1/2 cup dried cranberries (or dried cherries, chopped)

Instructions 1. In a medium bowl combine the dry ingredients of flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 2. In a stand mixer or with a hand-held electric mixer, cream together the butter with the brown and

white sugars. Add the vanilla and the egg. 3. Fold in the chips and dried berries. 4. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.Drop the cookies by the teaspoon-full onto a parchment lined

tray. Bake for 11-13 minutes then cool on wire rack.

Sunday Morning

Please join us for one of our Bible studies.

Plan to arrive early and join us for coffee and pastries.

9am

Nursery thru Adult

Kids Korner - Tina Hall (Ages 4 years thru 4th grade)

Class - Leader

Adult – Jerry Lemmon

Men – Perry Vargas

Women – Ginger Stark

College Age – Bryan Cobley

Pre/Early Teen – Alan Stark

10:30am

Nursery/Toddlers

Pre-K

K-5th grades

Sunday Evening – 5:30pm @ CCC

Alan Stark - will resume Sunday, July 10, 2016

Wednesday Morning – 9:30am @ CCC

Women’s Bible Study

Chronological Walk through the Bible

See Susan Vargas or Tonna Henson with any questions

Wednesday Evening – 6:30pm in Gonzales

Bryan Cobley

Thursday Evening – 6:30pm in Gonzales

Women’s Bible Study

Becky Cromer - will resume in August

Summer Intern : Bryan Cobley

Church Secretary: Brandy Stark

Phone: 831 444 9104

Office Hours: 9am-2pm, Monday - Friday

crossroadschurch@sbcglobal.net

Like us on Crossroads Christian Church Salinas

Our Vision

GLORIFY GOD

Our Mission

Grow in Christ

Serve in Love

Bring others to Jesus

Crossroads Christian Church

Current Groups/Classes

Elders:

Jerry Lemmon

Alan Stark

Lyn White