Crossfire Youth Ministry

IYC 2009 - We Are Overcomers!

2009-04-01T13:52:00.001-05:00

Monday Night Fire Recap!

2009-02-17T14:24:00.002-06:00

Well I want to say that more of you need to join us at MNF every week! We had a great study last night. I might be a little biased because my wife taught the study last night and she did an excellent job.

We covered Colossians 3:1-7 and talked about some very important topics. You'll have to check out the podcast to get all the details.

Each Monday we get together and study a specific section of Scripture and people are really learning a lot. We cover God's Word verse by verse and talk about what it means. This isn't something for the old folks though (no offense, you are more than welcome to join us) but this is specified for High School and College age people. A lot of people think that just because you are young you can't understand God's Word. That is not true. So please check us out sometime you won't regret it.

Check us out on the web...
www.crossfireyouthministry.org/mnf

God Bless!

Plug it in...

2009-02-12T08:53:00.002-06:00

Good morning!

Well if you were able to make it to the Crossfire service last night you will know what the title of this post is all about. We had another great time in the Lord last night at Crossfire. God is moving every single week so I want to encourage everyone out there in the Baton Rouge area to come be a part of the services on Monday and Wednesday nights.

Gabe continued last weeks message on "Viewing Ourselves As Free." This is a powerful section in Romans and we all need to here it. Gabe did another visual, or should I say audio, demonstration of the subject.

He grabbed one of our electric guitars and unplugged it. Without the plug there is no power and thus no sound. But when it is plugged in it can make a loud sound! This is how the sin nature is... When we are connected to it, it controls us and can produce a lot of evil things. When our faith is in Christ that connection to the sin nature is ripped away. No more power.

Check out his message on the podcast.

Viewing Yourself As Free

2009-02-05T11:19:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone, we had another great service last. Sometimes as a believer you don't feel free. Satan is attacking your faith and trying to move you away from the Finished Work. If you are a child of God view yourself as free. You don't earn victory but by faith you maintain that victory you have received.

Pastor Gabe preached on this subject last night and the message was clear and powerful. One of the best parts of the night was when Pastor Gabe talked about a movie in the 90's in which a character took a vacation from his problems. He related it to us that we have taken a permanent vacation from the Sin Nature through faith in the Cross.

Check out the message on the podcast!

Be with us every Monday and Wednesday night for our Crossfire Services!

Object of Faith Diagram...

2009-02-04T14:39:00.002-06:00

We received a comment requesting the diagram used in Pastor Gabe's Sermon... here it is...

Great Week!

2009-01-29T07:50:00.004-06:00

Hey everyone,

We have had a great week at Crossfire this week. Monday Night Fire was really good, I taught on Colossians 2:8-10 dealing with the Fullness of Christ. This subject is so refreshing for me to talk about the depth of what Christ has for us if we'll just place our faith correctly in Him and what He did for us. It's up on the podcast so check it out.

Last night at our regular Wednesday night service the Lord continued to move like he has all year. Brian Haney lead us in worship and the songs we sung were great. There has really been a freedom in worship this year that we keep seeing every service.

Pastor Gabe continued his message from Romans 6:6-10 on Freedom. I think my favorite part was at the end when he used a powerful visual demonstration. He called up a few people that represented different bondages. These bondages burden down the believer till they give up, when their faith isn't right. However, when faith is right, those burdens fall off. It was a really good analogy. The sermon will be on the podcast later today... here's a pic of the demonstration...

God Bless!

Freedom

2009-01-26T10:19:00.004-06:00

Last Wednesday Pastor Gabe preached on freedom...
Freedom seems to be the theme that is ringing loudly this year. The Message of the Cross affords us so much but I think the greatest gift of it is freedom.

You can check out Gabe's sermon on the podcast.

This year is off to a great start so stay connected with Crossfire through our website, blogs, podcasts, and many other media outlets.

Also due out in about 90 days or so is the brand new Expositor's Study Bible: Crossfire Edition.
It is going to be jam packed with all the information you as a young person need to understand God's Word and the Message of the Cross. Keep a look out for it.

God Bless

Knowledge

2009-01-20T09:01:00.012-06:00

Last night at Monday Night Fire we had a tremendous time in the Lord. What a privilege it is to be able to study the word of God in such a wonderful setting. Allow me to encourage you to come out and be with on a Monday night, the Lord is moving in a mighty way, and if you are looking to get plugged into what God is doing here there is no better way.

Last night we continued our study of Colossians 2:1-7. It is one of my favorite passages. We looked at the importance of doctrine and how important it is for believes to not be ignorant. Paul wants them to know the fullness of who Christ is. Paul exhorts the church in colossi in chapter two

"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Col 2:6)

Paul here is talking about doctrine. He is telling them not to look for something else, what was preached from the being is enough. Paul knew that some people would attempt to convince them that we live by something different than what saved us. This is what happened in Galatia so Paul was concerned it could happen here. So Paul teaches them what is happening when we place our faith in Christ. First, he says we are "rooted" this is something that happened at conversion but will continue until Christ returns. Our roots must be growing constantly. A tree whose roots have stopped growing is a dead tree. Secondly, we are to be "built up" this is something happening in the present, Paul is talking about our growth as a Christian. Christ wants us to be like He is this is a life long process that we must go through. The Holy Spirit, the agency by which this is done and it is only done as we keep our faith in Christ not looking away to something else. We are to keep our eyes on Christ alone.

Come join us next Monday night as we continue our study in this glorious book also don't forget to check out the podcast

Chad

Web updates!

2009-01-19T14:37:00.001-06:00

Greetings!

I have made a few updates to the website so make sure you check it out... we have new pictures and audio so make sure your checking out all the possibilities that are on the crossfire site.

We have MNF tonight at 7 so come by and check it out, we'll be starting Colossians 2 tonight. If you can't make it catch it on the podcast.

Have a great day!

You Are Why...

2009-01-15T09:42:00.002-06:00

What a service!

Last night the Lord moved tremendously at Crossfire. The Holy Spirit touched the hearts of all of us who were gather together. Pastor Gabe never got to his message as the Lord took control of the service.

The Lord was speaking to us through the song You Are Why... He was asking us if we really meant that He was everything, whether the Lord really was our focus. Many young people stayed at the alter for the remainder of the service as they knelt there with tears streaming down their cheeks.

God is good, don't miss out on what the Lord is doing at Crossfire. If you have the ability join us every week. This is the year of Freedom, don't pass on what God could do for you.

Christian Maturity

2009-01-13T09:37:00.002-06:00

Last night we had a great Bible Study, we finished up chapter one of Colossians and we'll begin chapter two next week.

We studied verses 28,29 and talked a lot about Christian Maturity and how to attain it. The audio should be up soon on the podcast so make sure you check it out.

The thing most Christians lack in Spiritual Maturity is a dependency on Christ and Him Crucified and balance. We try to explain all of this in the study so check it out.

Be with us on Wednesday for Crossfire @ 7pm!

God Bless!

We Are Overcomers!

2009-01-12T07:44:00.004-06:00

Last Saturday we had our first Winter Youth Rally, we've done Fall and Spring Rallies but never one in the winter.

It was without a doubt the best rally we have had yet! Hundreds of young people and few older ones as well showed up from around Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and a few other states as well. The best part was every young person in that room was enjoying the service and worshiping the Lord, being touched by God.

The band played great (if I do say so myself... I'm a little partial...) and the Presence of the Lord was there from beginning to end. Pastor Gabe preached an anointed Message on "We Are Overcomers" from the Book of Revelation (audio coming soon...)

Overall the experience was amazing, so don't miss the next rally.

God Bless!

2009, the year of Freedom...

2009-01-08T07:37:00.004-06:00

Last night Crossfire gathered for the first service of the year there so much to be thankful for heading into this year it's hard to put my finger on one thing that stands out about what God did for us last year.

I've been a part of Crossfire in youth camps and living here for about 9 years now. I love Crossfire and I love the beginning of a new year. I saw God do unbelievable things last year and I am expecting more this year, more than I ever have. There is a feeling in the air around here that this year is going to be the best yet, and I believe it to be true.

Gabe preached a powerful message last night which you can find on our podcast. The thing that stood out the most to me was his statement at the beginning, this would be a year of freedom. What does that mean?

Freedom, to me, entails a couple of things. First, freedom from sin, bondage's need to be broken. This can only be done through our faith anchored in Christ and what He did at Calvary. Second, freedom to live. Living for God means we need some power. The Holy Spirit supplies us the power to live for God but it also means we are freed from the religious rules and laws we place on ourselves that bury us in sorrow and condemnation. And finally, thirdly, freedom to expand. I believe this is an important one, and I don't necessarily mean numbers, I mean to expand our ministry.

God is going to open up doors in 2009 for Crossfire to expand it's borders of ministry. We are a global youth group, many don't realize how far our youth ministry stretches. As the media guy for Crossfire I get to see all our stats on the websites, and I see that people in Ireland, Scotland, India, UAE, Iran, Iraq, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, France, England, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, and many more countries are tuning into this ministry on a regular basis.

This means that this ministry is touching live all over this world, in 2009 I believe we will experience a freedom to expand this outreach. Crossfire will probably grow in numbers as God moves, but we will also be given more opportunities to reach the countries of the world for Christ. Through many technologies Crossfire will go forth to the world, radio, TV, podcast, and much more.

Join us in praying for this new year, that God will make 2009 the year of freedom for Crossfire, you, and your loved ones.

God Bless!

The New Year!

2009-01-07T10:09:00.002-06:00

Tonight is the night!

Crossfire returns tonight with electricity in the air! This year is going to be a great year for Crossfire. The Lord has been moving in our services and we thank God for what He did for us in 2008.

Why not start the year of right and join us tonight for our first service of the year. And as the year goes on expect to see amazing things take place.

Remember January 10th @ 6pm we have the Crossfire Winter Youth Rally. It's our first rally to take place in the winter and we are ready for a tremendous move of the Holy Spirit.

God Bless!

Chad P.'s Birthday!

2008-12-17T15:33:00.001-06:00

Tonight is Chad P.'s 30th birthday! Join us tonight for pizza and cake as we celebrate this special day!

Chad plays guitar for us at Crossfire and is the heart and soul of the Crossfire Band!

Love ya Chad!

New Website!!

2008-11-10T15:58:00.001-06:00

Attention everyone!!!

We are proud to announce the new Crossfire website is up and running. The address is the same... www.crossfireyouthministry.org so swing on over and check it out!!!! It's very stylish looking with lots of cool flash and stuff!

We are excited about this design and hope that every loves it!

10/16/08

2008-10-16T11:19:00.002-05:00

We had an amazing service last night. God really moved. We sang some great songs of worship. I Want To Know You, Listen To Our Hearts, and I Feel Jesus. I play guitar and got a little nervous playing Listen To Our Hearts because I had the intro but it went ok. There was a real presence of worship during the night and it was fun to play.

Gabe preached from Matthew 3:11,12. "The Holy Spirit As The Sanctifier." (Available on the podcast.) It was a powerful message that dealt with the role of the Holy Spirit in the Sanctification process.

Hope this week is a blessing!

-Caleb

Updating...

2008-10-16T11:16:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone,

I know we haven't been up to date on the website as much as we would like. We are working on completely renovating the website. It's going to look really cool! So hopefully soon we'll be finished and you will love it!

Until then check out the podcast on iTunes.

God Bless!
-Caleb

IYC Podcast

2008-09-25T16:54:00.003-05:00

Did you miss any of the services from the 2008 Crossfire International Youth Camp? Maybe you were there and you want to listen to em and relive the experience. Well now you can! Check out the new Crossfire IYC 2008 Podcast! This podcast will bless and challenge you. The greatest part is its absolutely free!!!

-Caleb

Monday Night Fire

2008-08-12T06:04:00.005-05:00

Good Morning, the sun is just beginning to rise here in baton rouge as i look out the window of my office. As i sit here and prepare for class this morning and reflect on the service we had last night at Monday night fire and can not help but feel like God is on the move and has something huge planned for this school year.

Today is our first high school chapel of the new school year and I know Pastor Gabe is as excited as I am to see how the Lord is going to move and touch each of these kids. The Lord's presence has been so strong all summer at crossfire on Wednesday nights as well as at Monday Night Fire. The Lord is doing amazing things and I hope you will come and be apart of each of them.

If you need more information email us at crossfire@jsm.org

Also remember to check out the podcast on iTunes or on our website www.Crossfireyouthministry.org

Chad Mansur

IYC 2008 Testimonies pt. 2

2008-07-29T08:22:00.002-05:00

This year’s camp was awesome!! This was my second year and I’m definitely coming back next year. Not only did we see hundreds of kids get saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, we also seen a healing take place!! This little girl was on crutches when she got there but Saturday night after service she was walking all over without them!! Not that I’m surprised because our God can do anything. This year was great. Thanks so much for taking time to make camp possible!!

-Destini

Please send us any testimonies you might have from IYC 2008. Crossfire@jsm.org or Calebb@jsm.org please mark that you want it for the website.

IYC 2008 Testimonies

2008-07-28T08:48:00.004-05:00

Here are some testimonies from IYC 2008!

I am a Christian. I hide my faith from my father who is a Muslim... I sneak to crossfire and to church. I also had to sneak to IYC '08. But I am glad I did,
The LORD changed my life and healed my heart from depression.
I just want to say thanks for everything.
This camp changed me into a happier and better person.

-Sarah

Hey there! I just wanted to e-mail y'all and let you know that this year's camp was amazing! This was my second year, and God moved again! One night, the preacher asked those who felt called to preach the Gospel to stand up, and I was one of those who stood. Before camp, I felt strongly that God had called me into Youth ministry, and after camp, I feel that even more strongly. This generation is so lost, they need a Savior, but the modern church has nothing to offer them but empty solutions. The solution is Christ and Him Crucified, and they need to know it. So many of my own friends are struggling and falling, and though they may be Christians, they don't understand the Cross. But I believe that God will open their eyes someday soon, and I have to keep placing my faith in what He has done at the Cross. God's plans are bigger than mine, and while I don't understand everything now, and maybe I'll never understand, He has His perfect reasons.
Thank you all so much for the work you put into this camp, it is appreciated very much. I am definitely coming back next year, and I plan to go to WEBC&S after I graduate high-school. Thanks again,

-Cassandra

Well I don't know were to start...youth camp was such a blessing...I rededicated my life to the Lord, got filled with the Holy Spirit, and felt the presence of God everywhere. I got to meet a lot of saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Spirit people. Pastor Gabe knows how to preach and you could tell he is filled with the Holy Spirit just by looking at Him. Brother Jeremy is also someone who you could tell is filled with the Holy Spirit. He is also someone who you could talk to for hours. Brother Johnny is another one that you could tell is filled with the Holy Spirit. He is also the type that makes you laugh in the most weirdest times of your life. Brother Mike M. is also one that you could tell is filled with the Holy Spirit. He may kick a ball and hit someone but you still got to love him...(I should know I’m one of those that he hit but I still love him)(and no he did not hit me in the face he hit me in the arm). All of the singers... you could tell they are also filled with the Holy Spirit. When they sing you could just fill the presence of God fall on you.

-Kaylynn

If these testimonies have blessed you let us know! Also if you were a part of the camp and have a testimony send it to us at Crossfire@jsm.org or Calebb@jsm.org and tell us its for the website...

Also send any pics or videos you might want to share with the world.

We need YOUR help!

2008-07-22T13:41:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone it's your friendly webmaster Caleb!

I'm glad I chance to meet so many of you at camp this year and I'm calling on all young people for their help!

If you were at IYC 2008 I need you to email me your testimonies, pictures, or videos from camp! They will be used on the website and in other publications for the ministry to promote IYC 2009! If you have something to share email it to me at Calebb@jsm.org.

Thank you!

Caleb

IYC 2008 comes to an end...

2008-07-21T09:12:00.003-05:00

Sadly today is Monday. The day campers go home... It's a sad for us because the most exciting time of the year comes to an end. It's hard to say goodbye and pack everything up when you have just come through the greatest experience you can have.

This camp was without a doubt the greatest camp we have had yet! The devil fought harder to stop this camp, he fought all the way through this camp. But he did not win! The Lord moved so powerfully at this camp and in a different way than ever before. Every year it's different. We saw more kids at this camp than ever before and I believe more saved, delivered, and filled with the Holy Spirit than ever before. We thank the Lord for that.

As a musician I feel a little biased but I think I can say without fear of contradiction that the music at this camp was better than any other year. The anointing was very strong. The preaching was unbelievable! Bro. Torrance Nash, Pastor Gabe, Pastor Donnie, Bro. Swaggart, Bro. Larson, and Pastor Mike all preached with such fire and passion! The Lord moved during the alter calls but also every where else.

I could spend a year telling stories... like the girl who came in on crutches but walked out healed! The hundreds of kids who came in bound who left free! The people who came in lost and on their way to hell but now have made Heaven their eternal home! God is good!

Stay tuned for testimonies, stories, pictures, and videos from this years camp!

P.S. If you are a camper who attended camp please email us a testimony. Crossfire@jsm.org, say you want to give it for the website.
Also if you have any pictures or videos from camp send em our way too!

7 DAYS!

2008-07-09T08:41:00.002-05:00

There is only 7 days till the greatest event to hit this country! International Youth Camp 2008!!!! Spots are running out quickly so make sure you register now. The price is only $100! Hurry hurry hurry!!!

This camp is going to be amazing! We have been in prayer and feel that the Lord is going to move so powerfully at this camp you don't want to miss out on the Presence of the Lord. If you need a touch this is the place for you. If you need healing this is the place for you. If you need salvation this is the place for you. God is going to move at this camp.

July 16th - 20th!

Register now!
225.266.8121
www.crossfireyouthministry.org/iyc

IYC 2008!!!! Coming Soon!

2008-07-03T09:35:00.001-05:00

FireCast Episode IX

2008-06-25T09:45:00.000-05:00

Clock is ticking...

2008-06-23T13:25:00.002-05:00

With only 23 days till youth camp 2008 the excitement is beginning to build! The air is thick the energy is high! HERE WE GO!!!!!!

We have been having a lot of meetings to prep for this Camp. Today we met and discussed the activities for this camp and it sounds great!!!! I can't tell you what was said but just know it involves sports, movies, and water..... and more water....

I can tell you this... if you are reading this... come to camp...

If you are from a far away area it can be better for you... you will find out more at camp!

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS!!!

Unlocked...

2008-06-16T09:48:00.002-05:00

Well I think we may have finally caught up on sleep as we return to our normal schedules after a great lock in. We had a great turn out for this lock in and we are grateful for that.

We started out the night by hanging out at the Crossfire Room. We had some pizza and watched a movie. Some people played some ping-pong and air hockey.

After that we moved over to the Ketchum where we had a lot more games over there. Basketball, volleyball, and football. The highlight of the night was our midnight service and water baptism. Some of the young people here were water baptized in the pool.

Be with us for our next lock in!

FireCast Videos!

2008-06-10T08:36:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone make sure you check out all the FireCast Videos!

They're everywhere... the website, youtube, myspace, and the Crossfire.Network so you cant miss them.

Firecast Episode VI

2008-06-09T22:12:00.003-05:00

Walker, LA!

2008-06-06T19:01:00.004-05:00

We had a great service on May 31st in Walker, LA. About 20 of us from Crossfire went to a packed house at Shady Bower Pentecostal Church in Walker, LA for a youth rally. Pastor Gabriel preached a powerful message and the altars were full that night.

God is using Pastor Gabe around the country. This weekend he'll be in Ontario, California so check it out. For more info go to the website http://www.crossfireyouthministry.org/.

Here is some more pics from Walker.

Updates!

2008-05-28T10:58:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone!

Well it has been a busy beginning to our summer here at Crossfire. We just cut the prices to Youth Camp to $100! So if you haven't registered for Camp take advantage of this amazing price. I have been a part of camps for 8 years now and I have never seen the price this low. You cannot pass this up.

We also have been planning a lock-in for June 13th starting at 8pm. So if you are in Baton Rouge and can make it come check it out. It's free! Go to the website for more info.

I'm also happy to announce that Jimmy Swaggart Ministries is now podcasting as well! A Study In The Word and Frances And Friends are now on iTunes so go check em out and subscribe! Tell everyone you can about all of our podcasts!

God Bless!
-Caleb

IYC prices slashed!

2008-05-22T15:58:00.002-05:00

Due to the economic situation in the country
we are slashing the price of camp from $200 to $100.
This is for anyone and everyone to come to camp.
You can use the extra $100 savings to go towards travel.

Take advantage of this great deal now. Call and request a IYC brochure or go to the website and print one off and mail it in. You need to be a part of this camp!

Rallies and Fire...

2008-05-05T09:40:00.003-05:00

Wow, there is a lot to write about today!

As many of you know this Saturday we had our 3rd annual Crossfire Youth Rally. The power of God showed up! The Crossfire Room was jam packed with people hungry for more of God. We got to the song "I Am Free" and once again the Presence of the Lord filled the room. People began to dance, shout, sing, and just celebrate the freedom they have through Christ and Him Crucified. Bro. Torrance Nash ministered to us from II Chronicles 32:7,8 in a message entitled "If God Is For Us!" The Lord anointed this young man to preach. The sermon will be posted on the podcast later today and everyone can go check it out. You will be blessed.

Also for Monday Night Fire we are going to be having a question and answer service tonight. If you have any questions and you're in the Baton Rouge area come be with us at 7pm in the Crossfire Room. We are studying "the Basics of the Message of the Cross." So bring you're questions that pertain to that subject. If you don't live in the Baton Rouge area or can't make it go ahead and email your questions to Calebb@jsm.org or Crossfire@jsm.org

God Bless,
Caleb

Spring Youth Rally

2008-05-02T09:33:00.003-05:00

In just a little more than 24 hours we will host our 3rd annual Youth Rally! These services are a special time for us to meet with the local body of believers. At these rallies you will always hear the Message of the Cross. This Message is what every youth group across the world needs to hear.

It is a time of refreshing and encouragement to get the Message out. So if you are in the surrounding area of Louisiana and can make we would love to have you. Service starts at 7pm on Saturday Night. We will be meeting in the Crossfire Room which is on the 2nd floor of the Sonlife Radio building.

Evangelist Torrance Nash will be ministering.
Come out and be blessed.
Call 225.768.3072 for more info.

The Importance Of Knowledge

2008-04-28T10:25:00.003-05:00

Thomas Fuller who was a Church Historian from England once said "He that knows nothing will believe anything."

Today schools and churches are filled with people who have fallen for Un-Biblical Doctrine's. It is of the utmost importance that we know the true Gospel. I remember a few years ago I was speaking with a close friend and his sister and we began talking about our faith and I asked her what is a christian? What does it mean? She could not give me an answer. This was a girl who had grown up in church and been to Christian Schools her whole life. It is sad to say that many in the church would freeze up as she did when asked that question.

It is for this reason that I want to encourage each and everyone of you to be with us tonight and every Monday that you can for Monday Night Fire and if you can't be with us in person subscribe to the iTunes Podcast. Be with us as we study the Word of God. It is time that body of Christ stops being ignorant of what it believes.

In Christ
Chad Mansur

The Basics At MNF...

2008-04-22T14:18:00.001-05:00

Last night at Monday Night Fire we began a study on the basics of the Message of the Cross. Chad taught on "why faith?" We looked at the basics of what faith is, why we need faith, and what faith does. The most important of what we looked at is where faith is placed and what that means.

In this study we hope to explain a lot what the Message of the Cross is and also answer the hard questions. We also want to define a lot of the terms we tend to use quite frequently.
Check it out on iTunes.

-Caleb

Podcast

2008-04-18T16:49:00.001-05:00

Check out the Crossfire podcast on iTunes...

Just click that link and if you have iTunes you'll be taken straight to the podcast. Once you're there click subscribe.

FireCast Episode V

2008-04-17T10:09:00.001-05:00

I Am Free!

2008-04-11T14:04:00.003-05:00

This last Wednesday at Crossfire we had an amazing service. The Spirit of the Lord was in the building as we sang out an anthem of freedom. We were singing the song "I Am Free!" The Lord began to touch the hearts of the people in the room and the Holy Spirit took over.

Soon we were all dancing in the Presence of the Lord as we rejoiced in the freedom that the Cross of Christ affords us. It is nearly impossible to describe what it's like in that type of atmosphere. As a musician I have a different perspective. I get to play for the Lord and help others worship but I also get to see the joy on the faces of the people singing to their King. This last Wednesday was a privilege as I looked out on the young people. Their actions were that of a generation who knows the Truth, the Truth that can make them free.

I told those who gathered at our Monday Night Fire service that I long for a generation who can stand up and declare the Message of the Cross to a hurting world. This is that generation. We are free!

-Caleb

Keep The Flame Burning...

2008-04-06T16:06:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow night is Monday Night Fire. We have been so fortunate to experience the Lord at each and every service we have had. The Presence of the Lord is wonderful and the knowledge of His Word that we are gaining is so important.

This week I will be teaching on John 8:37-47 and something that is just jumping out to me is the need to live for God. We have the answer to how to live for God, Christ and Him Crucified. The religious leaders of Jesus' day couldn't live for God because they didn't know God. They thought they did but all they really knew was cold dead religion.

Is that you? Do you really know the Lord? If you do you will hear His Words and obey. His Words for this generation is the Message of the Cross. Not post-modernism, emerging, or purpose but the Cross. This is the answer for living like Jesus here and now.

Check us out on iTunes and download all of our services absolutely free of charge.

Pastor Gabe joins the Crossfire webalution!

2008-04-01T15:26:00.002-05:00

That's a webalution. I have coined the term! It's a world wide web revolution. Pastor Gabe has now joined us by creating his own blog, so go check it out: Pastor Gabe's Blog. This will be a place for him to give us updates as often as he can.

Help spread the webalution!

Check us out on:

iTunes (go to store and search for Crossfire)
Crossfireyouthministry.org
Pastor Gabe's Blog

Episode III

2008-03-28T08:18:00.001-05:00

Thank you!

2008-03-25T14:25:00.002-05:00

Thank you to all those who joined us for the Easter Campmeeting! We had such a great time fellowshiping with all of those who came to eat at Cafe Du Call for the Crossfire meals. The proceeds go to help pay the bills for the Youth Camp, July 16th - 20th. It also helps to support those who cannot afford to come to Youth Camp.

We hope to see everyone back again at Youth Camp! Remember this is not just a young persons camp, this is a camp for all ages. Our ministry is focus on youth but when it comes to the Gospel and Revival it's for all ages.

Easter Campmeeting!

2008-03-19T06:58:00.002-05:00

Tonight at 7pm (central time) we begin Easter Campmeeting. We will not have Crossfire tonight but you can join us at Family Worship Center for service tonight. There will be people coming from all over the world to be in these services so we'd love to have you there!

After the evening services Weds. through Saturday Crossfire will be hosting dinners to raise money for IYC 08. The meals are $5 each. Come out and join us for a great time.

Sunday evening is the last service and Pastor Gabe will be preaching. It would be awesome if we could all come out to support him as he ministers. You will be blessed.

Check out the podcast at iTunes...

The Crossfire iTunes connection...

2008-03-15T22:27:00.002-05:00

Look for the crossfire podcast now available on iTunes!

Please go and subscribe. This is a major leap forward for Crossfire and is helping us to reach many for the Gospel. The subscription is free and it will automatically update it when there is a new message available. Go to iTunes and search for us.

Firecast Episode II

2008-03-13T12:42:00.000-05:00

What I Love About Monday

2008-03-10T10:01:00.004-05:00

I am very thankful it is Sunday night. The reason for this, I know that tomorrow night we get to have Monday Night Fire again and even though because of work I couldn't be there last week, every week prior to that the Holy Spirit has showed up in a mighty way. Not only in praise and worship, as is common in most services, but in the teaching as well.

It is simply amazing to me how after years of being a Christian and growing up with youth pastors for parents, I can still read the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will reveal things to me about what I have just read. Whether that means I understand a Scripture's relevance to the Cross or it is simply the Holy Spirit correcting me in thinking that every time I open the Bible a golden nugget of information will jump off the page at me. I know I get caught up sometimes in hoping for a great revelation of the Scripture and it is good to desire more wisdom of the Word but the Holy Spirit has really been laying it on my heart to sometimes take the Scripture for what it says.

One Scripture that comes to mind is Malachi 3:6 -"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed." This scripture was really just bugging me for some reason because I caught the meaning that the Lord is always the same but I wanted to receive that deep revelation about it, and in chapel on Friday the Holy Spirit fell upon us greatly and He spoke to my spirit and said there is nothing else to know except I am the LORD and change not and that is what will see you through all your trials and tribulations if you just have faith in Me and who I am. Right then I realized I was trying to find such a profound meaning that I had missed the power of what it really means, He is LORD and he will remain for eternity. If time is not big enough to change God than I know our circumstances are nothing He can't handle.

-Josh Watson

Josh Watson has recently joined us here in Baton Rouge. He comes from Texas and has a heart for young people. He has been a part of IYC for the last couple years and is now attending World Evangelism Bible College.

LSU pt. 2

2008-03-06T14:14:00.002-06:00

Today was the second part of our excursion into LSU. We were a little small in numbers today Levi, Sam, Chad, Jennifer, and I (Caleb) went out at noon to the LSU student union. We set up our table and Levi and Sam hit the streets. They talked to some people about the Lord and overall I think it was worth the effort. We're learning how to do this as we go because none of us have ever set this sort of outreach up before.

One thing I find is this is just as much for us as it is for the students we're trying to reach. For instance, I'm dealing with lack of boldness. It's not easy to go and start a conversation with a stranger about the Lord and the need of a Savior. I ask the Lord for boldness each time I go out there and each time I feel it a little more.

The main issue at stake is that there has never been a time like now where the Gospel is needed so much. We set our table up and we were the only Christians out there. We were surrounded by politicians and other religions. We were right next to the Islamic table and down the row of tables at the end were the Atheists. The students of our campuses in this world are bombarded with lies and it's time someone brings them the Truth.

Keep our efforts in prayer, we need more people to join us so if anyone in the Baton Rouge area wants to help give us a call. 225.768.3072

-Caleb

Witnessing...

2008-03-05T07:27:00.002-06:00

Over the past week or so the Lord has really been dealing with my heart in the area of ministry. I have also felt a need to encourage other Christians to witness to others as the Lord leads. One of the biggest things that holds Christians back from ministering is fear. I myself came up against this and through prayer and reading some Scriptures that dealt with fear I felt a release in my spirit and today I can say that I can talk to anyone about the Lord. Proverbs 29: 25 says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."

-Jonathan Snowden

Jonathan is a helper with Crossfire Youth Ministries. He is attending WEBC and is also a graduate of FCA. He helps minister to the Middle School and High School age youth.

More Abundant Life

2008-02-28T07:29:00.003-06:00

Last night we had a great service. We had a new addition to the band as well! Phillip will be joining us on the drums and did an excellent job last night. Service kicked off as we sang of victory in Christ. We overcome by the Blood.

Pastor Gabe ministered out of John 10:10 preaching on the subject of "More Abundant Life." The Lord moved and touched many hearts last night as Pastor Gabe ministered. The audio from the service will be on the website for download shortly.

We want to invite anyone who may be reading this to join us every Wednesday for Crossfire. All the information you need is on the website.

-Caleb

Worthy

2008-02-26T08:07:00.007-06:00

Monday is quickly becoming my favorite day of the week. What a service we had last night. walking out last night all I could say is, He is worthy. Last night we had Stephen and Joy Holley minister for us. They did an outstanding job, he taught out of Romans 8 (make sure you check out the download on the website). Joy and Grace closed us out in worship. The Lord moved from the start last night. No matter what we go through He is still worthy.

Keep us in prayer this week as we go back out to LSU on Thursday...

Join us next Monday at 7...
Come expecting...

-Chad Mansur

Earmarks

2008-02-25T13:25:00.002-06:00

Colossians 1:28--- “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Much of the Church has lost focus of what we are called to do. Paul gives us three earmarks of his ministry here in Colossians chapter one. First he said that we preach Christ; not some one else, not our self. He would expound on this in his letter to the church at Corinth when He said we preach Christ and Him Crucified. Second he says that they warned every man. Warned of what you might ask? They were warned of wrong direction and doctrine, false prophets, and that living in sin is not acceptable in the eyes of a Holy God. Third he says we teach every man. Again you might ask, what did he teach? He taught them Christ. He taught them how to live for God. He didn’t leave them uneducated. God didn’t save us to be ignorant. It is these three things that lead to strong and healthy believers. The Word perfect does not mean sinless perfection but rather complete, lacking nothing.

If you’re in ministry I challenge you to examine yourself. Are these three things evident in your ministry? Are these the earmarks of the church in America? Paul didn't preach fads He preached Christ.

Be with us every Monday night as we study the word of God so that we to maybe presented complete in Christ Jesus

-Chad

A Servant of Christ

2008-02-23T22:37:00.004-06:00

“For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the Servant of Christ.”
-Galatians 1:10

It is in our nature to desire to please our peers, for it is by pleasing them that we “get ahead” in life. Careers are built on this notion, as are entire lives. A politician is elected most often, if not always, due to their willingness to please the people and bend to their will. Compromise. It is a staple of today’s modern thought process, and an idea without which society could little function.

Taking all of this into account, the words of the Apostle to the Gentile World, Paul of Tarsus, ring resoundingly clear. The Servant of Christ is not a Pleaser of Men. Those two mentalities cannot walk in harmony. Either a man will desire to please men, or he will follow after Christ. There is no middle ground. There is no compromise.

-Samuel Antonio Gasc

Thunderstorm

2008-02-23T13:04:00.003-06:00

I would just like say how great the God we serve is. That has really been on my heart for about the last four or five days. Just as the children of Israel were led out of the wilderness after years of wandering, we are wandering today but God is leading us to the Promised Land. The amazing thing to me is this awesome move of the Spirit we are experiencing is not at just one particular part of the ministry. Every part, from Family Worship Center and its members, Sonlife Radio, Crossfire, and the Bible College we are all being touched by what God is doing and more importantly what he has promised to continue to do.

In my mind it is just like a storm. It is very windy and dark clouds are all around. Right before the force of the storm hits, there is a short time in which everything is calm. I believe we are in that calm period, sitting on the brink of the greatest move or “thunderstorm” of God’s Spirit that not only this ministry has ever seen but one that will touch the entire world. Once again when I think of this I know we, as a body of Christ, cannot do it by ourselves but our God can and will.

-Josh Watson

Josh Watson has recently joined us here in Baton Rouge. He comes from Texas and has a heart for young people. He has been a part of IYC for the last couple years and is now attending World Evangelism Bible College.

Experiences...

2008-02-20T07:23:00.003-06:00

This last Monday we gathered at the Crossfire Room like we do every week for Monday Night Fire. I had the service this week and I was teaching on the Holy Spirit's role in Salvation. I really struggled with clarifying what I was trying to say and by the end I was a little down. Then the Lord moved...

Everything fades away when the Lord moves. His presence is so sweet no one seemed to take notice of the clock ticking away or anything for that matter. His Spirit was in that room and nothing mattered except getting closer to Him. It always amazes me that every time I feel the Lord moving in a service that it's always new and refreshing and never gets old. We spent about 45 minutes worshipping the Lord, crying, and just seeking Him. If I could describe what I felt I would have to just say an overwhelming sense of peace. It was freedom.

The Lord is good.

-Caleb

Arise and Go

2008-02-13T22:54:00.002-06:00

“Then they told David, saying, ‘Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.’ Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack these Philistines?’ And the Lord said to David, ‘Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.’ But David’s men said to him, ‘Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?’ Then David inquired of the Lord once again. And the Lord answered him and said, ‘Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.’
And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.”

I Samuel 23:1-5

The story related in this brief passage of Scripture is an interesting one in that it is very applicable to our lives today. In it, we see yet another instance of conflict between the Children of Israel and the Philistines. At the outset, David is brought news of another Philistine attack, and it is interesting to note the details relayed to David. It was said that the Philistines were not only attacking the inhabitants of this city of Keilah, but that they were also robbing their threshing floors. In other words, the very source of food for this city was what the Philistines were interfering with. Many today are going hungry, in a spiritual sense, and as David we are hearing word of this.
Upon hearing this distressing news, David immediately sought the face of the Lord. His question was simple: Should he go and help these people that were going without food. The Lord did not leave him without an answer, but rather responded and told him to “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.” The mandate then is the same as it is one now. “Go!” This Christian walk is not one of getting comfortable and resting where it seems most convenient for us to do so, for if David did not go, the inhabitants of Keilah would have faced starvation and, almost certainly, death. These residents of Keilah are no different from those that we are around daily or the occasional stranger that we have the opportunity of meeting. The fact of the matter is that many people are being attacked by Satan, and their source of nutrition has been cut off. Some of them have never known Christ, while others have known Him but allowed the Enemy to cut off their food supply. Whatever the case may be, the command is clear: “Go.”
This is not to say that we will always act without hesitation, for despite the many victories that David and his men had seen at the hands of their God, they still hesitated when given this heavenly decree. They balked at the thought of having to move from where they were at to go to where the trouble was at. They had allowed themselves to grow so comfortable in their place of safety that the thought of moving only to head towards danger seemed backwards to them, even if it was the Word of God.
So in light of this, it is interesting to note the tone and arrangement of God’s second response to David’s inquiries as to whether or not they were really supposed to go.
God began by telling David to arise, and right now the same goes for me and the same goes for you. The Lord has seen where we have been, and He knows where we are now at. But He is telling us that even if He has led us to a place of seeming blessing and rest, there is yet much work to be done, and it will not be done unless we are first willing to “Arise and Go.”
People are dying, and people are starving! What more incentive do we need to listen to the Word of Almighty God when He says to “Go”?
I want to highlight the contrast, however, in the rest of God’s second answer to David. Whereas in the first response, He only told David to attack the Philistines, in His second reply He told them “I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” Oh, Glory to God! He is not sending us on a futile mission. This very assignment that He has given to us, He has already provided the way and the victory through it! There is not an enemy that He will tell us to attack that He has not already defeated in His death. Life sprung up from death 2000 years ago, and it is a life that will empower us to not only “Arise” and “Go” but to “Save”.
Do not be confused, for I am not claiming that we, in and of ourselves, can save a single person. But if we are faithful to heed the call of the Lord to “Arise, Go, and Attack” then the end result will be that people that were once without food and quickly deteriorating in a state of malnutrition will once again be presented with the opportunity to Eat and Live.
Keilah is waiting, and unless we Arise from where we are and Go with the power of the Holy Spirit and anointing of God to Attack the Enemy that has kept these people in bondage for so long, then we will never see the Salvation of the Lord at work. David did go. He and his men gathered together under the Word of God, and arose to go to Keilah. And it says that they struck the Philistines with a “Mighty Blow”. The Powers of Darkness know all too well the power of our God and King. Satan knows that wherever Jesus is proclaimed, Salvation will spring forward. But we must first go.
Lastly, it says that David and his men seized the livestock of the Philistines, presenting to us that if we are faithful to go where the Lord has called us and do what the Lord has called us to do, then He will give us the very things that were used by the Enemy to nourish themselves. God will take what is wrong and make it right, even if we don’t see how it could be at all possible.
I can’t stress it enough, and most possibly because I feel that this is what I must do also. This is God’s call to each and every Believer that claims His Name. He has not called us to sit in a corner and vegetate. At this point in his life, David was running from Saul, the king of Israel, who was seeking him to kill him and destroy his forces. It is very possible that if David and his men would not have heeded the Word of the Lord to go to the aid of the inhabitants of Keilah, that he and his men would have been overtaken by the forces of Saul during their time of seeming rest. In other words, we may not understand why the Lord is getting us out of our place and zone of comfort, but rest assured that it is for a reason, even if we do not see what that reason may be. If we are faithful to obey the Lord, we can know with all certainty that not only will we be spared from capture and defeat but that every one of those inhabitants of Keilah will be saved.
Do not be discouraged by the opposition, for it will often seem as if we face insurmountable odds. But if we have heard the Call and are willing to answer it, then stand and see the Salvation of the Lord, for He will work in us to deliver a “Mighty Blow” to the enemy, saving those who were condemned to die lost.
Thus saith the Word of the Lord, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

Arise and Go.

Samuel A. Gasc

Living for God

2008-02-13T07:28:00.000-06:00

The hardest thing for a young person, or anyone, is to live for God. Distraction after distraction come. Some even come from the very place that guidance should come and that is the church. The question is how do I get rid of or at least ignore the distractions? There is no easy answer because if I give you a stock answer most will tend to ignore it or it will pass them by with no true affect. So what is the answer that people will heed?

That is a difficult question. The only true answer in how to live for God is to live by faith in Christ Crucified. Most hear that and it slips by them, they get angry, or some simply dont get it. The distractions in this life vary from person to person and number so high that its impossible to answer the individual problems. The main root cause of distraction I found exists in Matthew 19. Here we find the rich young ruler who had in his mind always obeyed God's law. So in his mind there was no distaction. The problem was he looked at the outward and not the heart. Jesus didn't play around so Jesus tells him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." (Matt 19:21 ESV).

Now you may look at that and say thats a pretty loaded demand. To give up everything? The issue wasn't this young mans money but it was his focus. He had allowed his "stuff" to become his god. He had compromised his relationship for his possessions. In the end his possessions possessed him. So let me ask the question, what would Jesus ask you to give up? If there is a distraction that has a foothold in your life? Would it be a bad thing if Jesus asks you to give it up? The thing is He has allready asked you to give it up. He says earlier in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." You cannot serve God and the world. You cannot serve God and still do the things you love to do. I would like to point out that if you still love to do them that maybe you're serving the wrong things. Now I'm not saying you cant have money or have "stuff", you can. But you cannot have the wrong stuff or anything that gets in front of your relationship with the Lord.

When Jesus asked the rich young ruler to give up everything he was asked him to simply put God first in his life. When we place our faith exclusively in Christ and Him Crucified as the only answer we are putting God first. Everything else will line up. You will still have friends and fun but if God is first when he asks you to give up something it wont be something that is hard for you to do. The young man walked away sad. He had "stuff" and God would always come second to him.

So in answering the first question how do we live for God and avoid distractions I say this. Place Christ and the work of Calvary first. If it is first, everything else will line up. The distractions will come but they wont be so distracting if you are serving one master, God. When you are trying to serve the world and God you will be distracted.

The exhortation is give up the striving for earthly gain and follow Christ. Examine your heart, ask the Lord to give you the grace and strength to place Him first.

-Caleb
(taken from Caleb's blog)

Presence of the Lord

2008-02-05T14:45:00.001-06:00

Well, it's already February. This year has simply put been the best so far... We talked a lot about how much we expected the Lord to move this year but I think He has surprised everyone and blessed us with an amazing glimpse of what is to come.

Last night we gathered for our weekly Bible Study called Monday Night Fire. We have enjoyed studying the Word of God and the beauty of His presence everytime we have met together. We begin each service with a teaching and close in a couple songs of worship. We have been blessed by some great teaching but even more we have experienced powerful moves of the Holy Spirit. The last 2 weeks have been so wonderful. We have experienced free worship, because we know where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. We have all felt the touch of God like never before and we're anticipating more.

Just thinking about all God's doing is getting me excited. I can't help but glow right now because God is moving. Get ready Baton Rouge, get ready Louisiana, get ready USA, and get ready world cuz here it comes. Revival. What is revival? It is when something is given new life or brought back to that first fire. It's time for revival to hit this youth group and this world.

As an exhortation I want to tell you that we, even as young people, must stay in the Word of God. Read it and let it penetrate your heart. Let the Spirit of God touch you. Also if you have the time check out all that we have available on the website. As the webmaster I feel strongly about the tools we have available. You have plenty of downloads to check out and here what the Word of God has to say. Also check out the Monday Night Fire section on the webpage.

God bless!

-Caleb

What a Night

2008-01-29T07:51:00.004-06:00

Have you ever waken up knowing you didn't get nearly enough sleep but still feeling refreshed and renewed... That's how i felt when i woke up this morning. Why? you may ask. Because of the presence of the Lord. What a night we had at Monday night fire. There is nothing like spending time in His sweet presence. It was so thick last night as He began to touch our hearts. Words can not begin to describe the intense sweet presence that we experienced last night. For those of us who came in dry we left renewed. If you missed it last night, well I'm sorry but last night was just the beginning...

Be with us next week for "Monday night Fire"!

Chad Mansur

P.S. Don't forget Brother Torrance Nash is in town and will be at FCA all week and is ministering in big church Wednesday night

"We exalt Him...Higher and Higher"

Burn Us Up

2008-01-21T07:47:00.000-06:00

Tonight we gather once again under the not-so bright lights of the Crossfire Sanctuary for the Monday Night Fire Bible Study Estravaganza.... long title... not really the title... anyways...

I'm really excited about this year. I can feel something in the air, I believe this year is going to be one for the record books for Crossfire as a whole... Get ready! Tonight Chad will be teaching our study and we'll be breaking from the norm again to bring something Chad believes the Lord has given him for the body of Monday Night Fire and Crossfire.

Tell everyone you can to join us tonight at 7pm. The Lord is moving here in Baton Rouge and you do NOT want to miss it. Tonight might be your night to receive something special from the Lord and I'm not hyping you up, I really believe that tonight could be your night and it will be if you show up with an open heart for whatever God has for you.

Join us, 7pm. We will go eat somewhere as we always do...

-Caleb

100% chance of rain

2008-01-16T09:28:00.003-06:00

Good Morning,

When I woke up this morning at 5 am i heard the local weather guy say it was a 100% chance of rain. I began to think about it and you know that's what this generation needs. They need to walk in a place with a 100% chance of the holy spirit raining down. That's our prayer for tonight and every Crossfire service, we need floods to pour down on us. "Lord let it Rain".

So be with us tonight and come expecting rain, last week was just a taste of what to expect.

Chad Mansur

Fire Fall Down

2008-01-14T07:58:00.001-06:00

As we begin this new year and kick off Monday night fire tonight. I have been in prayer for direction and guidance as we go forward with our bible study. What a great year 2007 was. The Lord moved in a mighty way on Mondays and we are anticipating so many things in 2008. Our prayer as a staff has been that the fire would fall on these bible studies and we believe the Lord will answer that prayer in an undeniable way. So join us tonight as we continue our study in the Gospel of John, at 7:00 pm!!!

for more info you can email us at: chadm@jsm.org or Calebb@jsm.org

Chad Mansur

We're back tonight!!!!

2008-01-09T07:51:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, this is a reminder that Crossfire is back tonight. We are excited about what the Lord is going to do this year. Be in prayer because the Lord has promised us a lot of things but the devil will try to attack. We need a move of the Lord like never before.

We hope that this time off has been a time to help refresh and relax. We are excited and ready to gather together and have a great time in the Lord. Invite people to Crossfire. The best way for Crossfire to expand as a ministry is for you to get out there and invite people. We want everyone in Baton Rouge to be a part of what God is doing.

We need everyones help in spreading the Gospel. Let's not just treat crossfire like it's our once a weekly routine service. Crossfire for a lot of us leaders is a place we really care for. We all must take the initiative and spread the word about Crossfire. You give offerings each week to help Crossfire spread the Gospel... but we need more than that. We need help in the places we can't reach. Help us out at your schools. If you need help or ideas on how to do this find me (caleb), chad, gabe, or keith tonight at service and we'll talk about it.

God's going to awesome things in 2008, get ready.

See ya tonight at 7pm!

Monday Night Fire starts up again on Monday the 14th (this monday)

That Big Day

2008-01-07T08:59:00.002-06:00

So today is the big day... it has finally come. there is always so much build up to days like these that they rarely ever equal the expectation of the masses... and as i prepare for LSU to Win its 2ND national title in 5 yrs, i have begun to think about days like this...there are so many like this... so many days of great expectation but many are duds but there is coming a day of great anticipation that will not be a dud... that day when the trumpet sounds, the day Christ returns for His bride when the Hope of Glory calls his children home... that day is impossible to over hype and I'm looking forward to a day that matches the hype thrust upon it

PS Geaux Tigers

PSS also we are planning some monday night fire out-reaches so if you have any ideas or want to help out let me or Caleb know.

Chad Mansur

Hab 2:1-4

2008-01-03T15:00:00.000-06:00

Hab 2:1-4
"V1 I will stand on my guard post And station myself on the rampart; And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, And how I may reply when I am reproved. V2 Then the LORD answered me and said, "Record the vision And inscribe {it} on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. V3 "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay. V4 Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith."

A new year always brings about thoughts of fresh starts, but this year I’m reminded of all that the Lord has promised us that He would do. To be perfectly honest sometimes it’s hard not to think, “man another year and it still has not happened”. But it never fails when I begin to wonder and question and ask have I heard from the Lord. He speaks to me again and affirms all that he has said. Here in the second chapter of Habakkuk we have the Prophet of God questioning what God has said he would do. Many of us have come to that place where we say “How”? In the natural it’s all so impossible. However, it is not our job to figure out how but it is our job to believe… and I’m not just talking about just saying, “yeah yeah I think you can do it”, but rather putting everything we have and everything we are into him. Living our life with Christ as our provision…no back up plan! True faith is dying to self and living IN Christ. It’s not about what I can do alone, if we are trying to accomplish his plans on our own then we are not living by faith. We must always have our faith in Christ – what does that mean? It means trusting that he took care of everything for us at Calvary. When we talk about Christ and Him Crucified we are talking about trusting wholeheartedly that what he did was enough, that what he said was true…He died so we may live. It was His death that allowed us to be born again. Everything we need came through Calvary. That is why Paul said we preach Christ Crucified…

The Lord has given me many promises as well as many to Crossfire and I’m positive to you as well. And many times we will question did he really mean what he said? We to must here what the Lord said to Habakkuk… He told Him to wait… it is hard to wait it truly is. But what the Lord has spoken will come to pass but we must wait and not stop trusting in Him. The Lords promises to us are like babies, He births them within us but process takes time and at the right time the baby is born. We must allow God to put us through the process, if a mother skipped the process of pregnancy the baby would not live. And though the process may not be the best at times. It is through the process that we grow and are changed.

Chad

Crosstalk

2007-12-19T06:47:00.000-06:00

Crosstalk is the radio program that Crossfire broadcasts every Saturday live at 11am and re-aired 11pm over the Sonlife Radio Network. This program deals with the very things we young people go through every day. We show how the Message of the Cross is more then mere words and is something that we as young people can actually live.

Recently we have been studying the book of Galatians. Currently we are in chapter 1 verses 6-10. Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul to the churches in Galatia (the central portion of modern day Turkey) to deal with false doctrine. You see the Judaizers, a group of Jewish Christians, taught that to be saved you also had to follow the Law of Moses, specifically circumcision. In other words Christ was not enough. This was not the Gospel, and they knew better. The Galatian believers accepted this false teaching and quickly left the Message of the Cross. They went from the true Gospel to "another gospel" (Gal. 1:6,7). They were distorting the true Gospel to something that man could accomplish. This cannot and will not work.

The Gospel that Paul preached had seen much fruit in Galatia, and the people there knew better. This shows that we are to be always watching because the Bible tells the Devil comes as an angel of light. He will do everything he can to remove the faith of the believer from the Cross, cutting off the Grace of God. The exhortation is simple as we will get to in Galatians 5:1, stand fast. We are to remain firmly planted in the Cross of Christ never moving our faith from that.

Tune into the Crosstalk program every Saturday for more teaching on Galatians. The podcast of these programs will soon be available on the website. http://www.crossfireyouthministry.org/

God Bless!

-Caleb

Year draws to an end...

2007-12-13T06:37:00.000-06:00

As we look back we see that 2007 has been a huge year for Crossifre. We had the greatest IYC yet to date, more kids saved and filled with the Holy Spirit then ever before. We had a consistent growth at Crossfire. We saw the start of the Monday Night Fire Bible study. We saw the website www.crossfireyouthministry.org begin to take shape. We've seen many services where the Lord has touched many young people. Overall the year has been great. Last night was the conclusion of our services for this year and celebrated what we've seen the Lord do for us.
As the new year lays around the corner the question is, what do we expect in 2008. We are expecting the fire to fall, more youth to get saved, our services to grow, the Lord to dramatically change lives, and more... We want 2008 to be a year like no other. God is going to move. We are expecting the Lord to give us our home back, the Tucker Complex was designed for Crossfire and God will give it back to us.

Are you ready for 2008?
Join us January 9th 2008 as Crossfire kicks off the new year.
God Bless!
-Caleb

Absolute Surrender

2007-11-26T14:28:00.000-06:00

Recently I found myself reading through an old book entitled Absolute Surrender written by Andrew Murray, a South African missionary of the 19th Century. In its pages I came across a passage that seemed to hammer home a point that the Lord has been laying upon my heart for some time now. The quote reads, “The cause of the weakness of your Christian life is that you want to work it out partly, and let God help you. And that cannot be.”
How often do we find ourselves trying to add to what He has already finished for us? Jesus’ call to the multitudes was “Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” What an assurance we have that in Him we do not have to strive for that which He has already accomplished. We do not have to strive for holiness, for we are holy in Him. We do not have to attempt to atone for our failures and shortcomings, for we are found blameless before God in Him. We have no need to worry about where our strength to stand will come from, for we are made strong in Him.
True faith realizes the helplessness of one’s self and utterly depends on Jesus Christ for everything. That quote hit me hard, for we often think that we need only turn to Him for the large problems that life may throw our way. However, it is only when we begin to surrender even the “smallest” situations and circumstances of our lives that God can begin to bring about a change in the large things. How are we to trust Him to move the mountain, if we believe it is within our power to move the hill? The answer, unfortunately, is that we will not.
I have nothing to offer before God. As Paul exclaimed some millennia ago, in my flesh no good thing dwells. The only answer to our problem is a change of life. We cannot walk in the flesh and please the Spirit. There has to be a complete denial of self, a crucifixion of the flesh, wherein the end result is as Paul said in his letter to the Galatians: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Our will cannot coexist with the will of God. Isaiah wrote that His ways our higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. We cannot contribute to this life in any way, shape, fashion, or form. The only life we can ever know is when, as Paul said, "live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
The call is a simple one: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” There is no life that can be more fulfilling and more joyful than that life that is completely found and has its source in Jesus Christ. But it comes at a cost. Are you willing enough to lose control of your life to find true life? Or are you so fearful and doubtful that you still cannot believe that all that you will ever need you will find the minute you lay down control, lay down your will and transfer ownership to the One who loved you so much that He gave up all, unto the death, so that we might know life? He is all you will ever need. It is up to each and every one of us, however, to believe it. And we will never know the life that He wants us to have in Him unless we surrender our will, our life, our all to Him. Only believe.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-24T15:11:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,
Happy Thanksgiving from the Crossfire staff...

We're in the middle of Thanksgiving Campmeeting at Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, LA. The Lord is moving and the services have been awesome!

Every night we have been serving meals after the services to raise money for International Youth Camp. Tonight will be the last night we have food and we're serving ther Cajun Classic...Jambalaya!

Tune into the service on Sonlife Radio... The Lord is going to move... and remember support Pastor Gabe as he makes his campmeeting debut on Sunday night... tune in at 6pm central time to listen to him minister.

God Bless!

-Caleb

Get The Message Out...

2007-11-14T06:06:00.001-06:00

15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the
world (the Gospel of Christ is not merely a western
Gospel, as some claim, but is for the entirety
of the world), and preach the Gospel to every
creature (“preaching” is God’s method, as is here
plainly obvious; as well, it is imperative that every
single person have the opportunity to hear;
this is the responsibility of every Believer).
16 He who believes (believes in Christ and
what He did for us at the Cross) and is baptized
(baptized into Christ [Rom. 6:3-5] not water
baptism) shall be saved; but he who believes not shall be damned (Jn. 3:16).

-Matthew 16:15,16 (Expositor's Study Bible)

The subject of this verse became very clear to me last night... Some friends and I attended a local church service. This blog is not a criticism... this blog is to exhort us to get the message out...

What is getting the message out? Well as the above verse shows we are to bring the Gospel to the people, now Jimmy Swaggart Ministries and Crossfire Youth Ministry has many outreaches of which this blog and website are a part, I am a part, but even more specifically you are a part. JSM and Crossfire are attempting to get the message out on the platform God has given them...

What are you doing? This is something God dealt with me on so I share it as someone standing in the same place you are. We've got to hit the streets, the schools, the stores, the places we live, etc... with this message, the message that Christ died to save sinners like us from sin.

A few days ago Chad posted that now is the time, so I'm gonna steal that, now is the time! If we believe so strongly in this Gospel that it saves and sanctifies us than it's time we, not just JSM, Crossfire, and your local church, but us the congregation, the people of God, we must take it to the people that they cannot reach. You may say "I don't know how," well there's some ways you can start, invite them to church or just tell them to check out http://www.crossfireyouthministry.org/, or tell them to listen to Crosstalk on Sonlife Radio...

God has called every single believer to get busy and take the Message of Christ and Him Crucified to the whole world. So let's get out there and share this message with every living person you can. Get the message out...

-Caleb

The Wilderness Way

2007-11-09T15:20:00.000-06:00

“And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.”

-Exodus 13:17, 18

A few weeks back, the Lord had me speak from this verse in a devotion I gave in one of my classes. While this verse had spoken to me in my own time with the Lord and had held great truths even then, I wasn’t quite sure why He had me share it at the time that He did. I find that He does this often with us. He leads us to do something that, although it is a blessing, we don’t completely understand. It is not till later that we see the whole impact of the blessing and see truly what a door of provision was opened up in something that seemed small to begin with.
This verse speaks of the children of Israel just coming out of a mighty victory in the fact that they were finally freed from the oppressive hand of Egypt and were now on their way to the Promised Land. Yet we see here that even though there was a more direct route, God did not lead them that way because it contained struggles that they were not quite ready for. The Scriptures here in Exodus refer to it as “war”, and this same conflict that the Lord kept them from, He tries to maneuver us away from as well. What throws us for a loop, though, is the fact that not only is He leading us the long way, but it just so happens that the long way is through a wilderness!
The right way most often will not be the easy way! It will be dry and empty, seemingly a path of foolishness, yet God promised to go before them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. And He was continually before them! He never once left them to fend for themselves, just as He will never leave us nor forsake us. If He is taking us through the wilderness, be encouraged that it is for a reason! He is preparing us for what is to come. The story of the Israelites did not end there. Once they got to the Promised Land, they did go into battle time and again. However, they were not ready for it when they left Egypt. God had to deal with other things in their lives before He could give them the harder tests.
Whatever God has promised you, He will bring it to fruition… In His Time! Don’t get overanxious to the point that you wish to face the Philistines before you are ready. Let the Lord prepare you in the wilderness. It won’t always be easy, and it won’t always seem logical. But it will teach you to depend on Him. The Bible speaks of the Israelites being supplied water from the rock, eating manna in the mornings and quails in the evenings, and never having their clothes or shoes be in disrepair. God supplied for them constantly. Every day, they had to believe that He was going to be the one to give them drink and give them food. Is that the kind of dependence we have on Him? Are we trusting Him day in and day out for the very things we need to stay alive, or are we going out trying to provide those things for ourselves?
Lastly the passage says that they went up harnessed, or rather in an orderly fashion, out of the land of Egypt. Despite how things may appear to us, when we do things God’s way, it will be in a way that brings order to our lives. It will be a way that prepares us and keeps us ready for the next trial to come our way. We won’t always understand what the Lord is doing, but He just wants us to trust Him. Faith is the only way to please God, and our faith will certainly be tested, especially in the midst of a wilderness. God wants to strip us of all self-reliance and turn to Him completely, desiring Him more than the very things we thought we couldn’t live without.
At the time I gave the devotion, I didn’t fully understand why the Lord had me give it. I thought that perhaps it was what somebody else in the class really needed to hear, yet a few days later, I realized that it was I who had needed to hear it. I don’t need to elaborate too much on the situation that I faced, for I know that no matter what the specifics were, they were probably not far removed from the ones you are facing every day. The important part, though, was that I was clearly presented with two paths: One was easy and near, leading seemingly towards the promises of God. The was harder, calling for a complete denial of self and absolute trust in God that He would provide that which He had promised me. It required me to put aside what I wanted at the moment and believe that the Lord was going to make a way, even though I could not see what that way would be. These are never the easiest choices to make, for we are selfish in nature. I want what I want when I want it, yet God is calling us to seek Him first. What a promise we have in the Lord, though. He has told us that if we seek Him first, all of those things that He has promised, He will be faithful to provide.
This will ever be the choice we are presented with throughout our lives: our way or God’s way. Our way might seem right and appear to be the most productive, yet it is only in waiting on the Lord that we will ever see how much He wants to teach us before we are able to face the true heart of the problem in our life: our self.Wait on the Lord. There may be a time where you will find yourself in the wilderness, but be of good hope. It is preparing us to take the Promised Land.

-Samuel Gasc

Now Is The Time

2007-11-08T07:17:00.000-06:00

In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."

—Philippians 2:15

Monday evening I heard a song by "Delirious?" called "now is the time"... the chorus of that song says, "Now is the time for us to shine, Shine with the face of Christ divine. No compromise, for all heaven cries, Now is the time"...and I began to think about what the Lord has called us to do. He has called us to bring the Gospel which is Christ and Him Crucified to a lost and dying world. And the time is now... it is so easy to sit back and be content with what has become the norm. But we must let our lights shine so that sinners are pointed to the Savior of the world. That the weary will find rest. We must be the light that warns of coming danger, that light that points to the correct path. Now is the time... for to long we have sat back and let others do our work...but Now is the Time

Chad

Introducing the Blog!

2007-11-08T07:10:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone it's Caleb, I've decided to use blogger.com to host our blog, at least for the time being, it seems to be a good site for blogg...ing...

anyways... I'm going to getting some of leaders and helpers to stat posting some stuff. you've heard from chad and me but you'll hear from some of the others as well...

We had a great service last night, the Lord moved which is what matters, check it out in the Sermon Downloads page...

God Bless!

Caleb