www.BobbySykes.com

I’m going to start a new weekly series called “App of the Week”. Basically, I’m going to share what I’ve found to be “must-have” apps for the iPhone or Mac. Obviously this is exclusive, but if you don’t have a mac or iPhone/iPod/iPad, you’re missing out and you should have one or all of the above listed products. Yes I’m an Apple Fanboy but I can’t help it. Their products are just so sexy.

To kick things off in the spirit of blogging, I want to feature the Wordpress app for iPhone. If you blog or maintain a Wordpress driven website, this is definitely a must have.  You control most of the features of Wordpress as well as submit or draft blog posts. This app costs nada which is my favorite feature.

Can be dl’d here or in the app store.

I’m stoked. Through some good connections we have an opportunity to install the new Allen&Heath ilive series digital mixing console with a digital snake that I trained on last week. This will be another big step in our production growth and position us for the future in terms of video production and web mixdowns. Matt Price has already done some great things with our analog system and I can’t wait to see how this improves our house sound and in-ear mixes.

Polo…Wow, it feels like I haven’t blogged in months. Oh wait! I haven’t. I’ve broken rule numero uno in the blogosphere world and haven’t been remotely close to faithful to my subscribers.

To say it’s been hectic in Bobby’s world(Not Howie Mandel’s) would be an understatement. We installed a new sound, lighting, and part video system since my last blog. We’re also nearing the finishing stages of construction on the new Kid’s/youth wing here at Crossroads.You can now subscribe, listen, and download podcasts of past messages including last weeks where Pastor Tim sang the “Man Song”. To go to our iTunes page click Here

My plan is to be more faithful in my blogging attempts in the future to keep you updated on the inner workings of Crossroads tech as well as myself.

After an insanely busy couple of weeks and a couple more insane weeks to come, we’re going live with the new lighting. Thanks to Theo Reed and a few other committed guys we’ve got the intelligent lighting installed and running as well as a new set with some freekin’ sweet LED bars. Crossroads take a minute new sound system this week so expect some serious bumping next week with the 15000 watts.  Sweet!!!

I apologize if you’re a podcast and video message follower as last weeks is not live on the website yet. Videos and podcasts will be updated this upcoming week. I mean, after 2 70+ hour weeks I can only do so much. 

Again, thanks so much to all my volunteers that make this stuff happen. It’s not in vain as we see people’s lives changing on a weekly basis. The next time you’re at Crossroads take a minute to tell the tech boys and girls what a great job they do. They’re there for a lot more than just Sunday morning to make the wheels go round of our worship experiences.

Construction has begun outside but inside will not be outdone. Over the past week a lot has happened in our main auditorium. Lights are being installed, the stage set is completely changed. It’s awesome. Also, equipment is finally starting to arrive after weeks of waiting and the smell of packing peanuts and bubblewrap is in the air.

A huge shout out to the guys that are helping turn all our crazy dreams into a reality and help with the installs: Theo Reed a.k.a. “The man”and John Haas.

We’ll need tons of help the next two weeks as well so get with me if you can make it out.

B

Apparently the new technical renovations Crossroads is about to go through is publication worthy. I’ve been conversing back and forth with the publisher/editor-in-chief of Church Production Magazine (CPM) and they along with Peavey’s PR team wants to highlight how we’re using technology in our church and the new gear we are installing throughout the next month. For those of you who haven’t heard of CPM, it’s not just a “churchy” read for Christian nerds like me, it’s a very well known production magazine that usually features the largest churches and the latest trends in production and they put on 2 large conference/expos every year with well known keynote speakers and all the big gear reps like Yamaha, and a bunch of other names you wouldn’t know.   And in case you didn’t know, churches are the largest group of consumers of the latest gear in Pro Audio, Lighting, and video. Sidenote- World Harvest was featured a couple years ago for their new TV studio they built in CPM.

But anyway, this is an awesome opportunity for us especially considering our size and age. This could also open some doors for us to help other “little fish” realize what can be achieved even on small budgets with volunteers. So, even if you’re not a gearhead like me go subscribe @   churchproduction.com so you can see our mug in a few months on there.

A lot is going on at Crossroads Church. We’re preparing to launch a new series “180″ and believing for huge growth this fall along with construction of the new building and parking lot beginning next week. If that isn’t awesome enough, the order has been placed and we are finally installing a new sound system along with some killer lighting.

Yes, within the next few weeks our main auditorium is getting a technical makover and it’s gonna knock your socks off. (Sorry Red Sox fans). In fact, if you stand too close to the new quad 18″ Subwoofers your socks may literally get blown off.  That would be sweet huh?

I’ll be posting updates and pictures as things progress so be prepared. And if you know what DMX is or can tell me what a subgroup is or you have any skills  such as but not limited to birdhouse construction, coffee drinking, or Christmas tree decorating, let me know because we’re going to need help with everything from wiring to cleanup.

So yesterday at Crossroads Church we had a few issues. They weren’t as bad as I probably took them but they seemed to  bother me worse than usual. They were in the form of PT’s mic distorting, video glitches, music playing in the in-ears while we’re trying to play a song. You know, the little things that most people don’t notice but they drive me crazy. No, I’m not some anal freak that has to have everything just right(or am I?) but I like to see Sunday morning services go off without a hitch and we all go home happy. That didn’t necessarily happen yesterday at least for me and I really had a bad attitude about it even up to a few hours ago…

So we (the staff) all had our Monday meeting this morning going over yesterday’s services and connect cards. Some of the connect cards included “First time commitment” on them which is always awesome. In fact I’m always elated when I see that because that’s what drives me and it’s the reason I do what I do. As I started thinking about that, I realized God doesn’t need us to be perfect all the time to move on people’s hearts. Don’t get me wrong, I believe were called to serve to the best of our ability and strive for excellence but when we have “those days” it doesn’t mean God says, “well, I’ll be back next week cause you guys just don’t have it today” rather God has an opportunity to show us that it’s not so much about us as it is about HIM.

So may you be imperfect, so that God’s perfect will can be carried out.

The new crossroads church website has officially been launched and it packs some very nice new features. The old one has been sent into the black hole of cyberspace never to return. They say the only constant in life is change so embrace it. Make sure you check it out and use the “invite a friend” feature for our upcoming series “Seasons”. Joe Miller and PT did a great job working closely with OZGworks designing and implementing some cool concepts at crossroadschurchwired.com

I personally love change. If something stays the same for too long it becomes stale and boring. It drives my wife crazy because I’m always wanting to change things around the house or buy different clothes. The point is a rolling stone gathers no moss. Some things change because we want them to and some things change due to things outside of our control.  There are things that need to change but we don’t want them to or we’re afraid to take the step fearing the unknown. What needs to change in your life that you’ve been putting off?

As a person who’s ministry has become his job, it’s easy to overlook the importance of what we do. Sometimes we volunteer, serve, work in an area of ministry for so long that it becomes routine and can sometimes seem unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

As a lowly volunteer we can forget why we do what we do. I mean, we’re not the pastor or the worship leader. They’re super important and we just vacuum the floors of the auditorium or change the slides on Sundays or mow the grass. Does it really even matter that we stay late on Friday night and come in early Sunday sometimes even spending the day on Saturday at the church? It probably doesn’t make a bit of difference that we pour our heart and soul and precious time into a ministry that is never appreciated or even noticed sometimes.  Maybe it’s not worth the sacrifices we make such as time with family and hobbies. I can think of a thousand other things I could be doing on a Friday night.

Well, the truth is that’s what our adversary would want us to think. There’s been quite a few times I’ve asked myself, is it worth it? It is worth it and I’ll tell you why.

1 Cor. 12:27 Together you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of that body.

I truly believe every position in the church is equally important to the rest as that’s what the Bible tells us 1 Cor. I encourage you to read chapter 12.  Because of all the sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears that have been poured out at Crossroads, we’ve seen lives truly changed in a big way. God uses each one of us in different ways at different times to Glorify the “Body”. Even if our small parts go unappreciated, the Body of Christ is ultimately glorified and lives are touched.

Here’s a story of the Chilcote Family. I want to dedicate my small part of compiling this awesome story to all the “unseen”. I am so thankful for the people God has sent to this church and I could never express what an Honor it is to serve next to guys. Because of you, we have this…..