Worship is Inescapable

Found this quote on Ray Ortlands blog.  “No human being escapes the necessity of conceiving some good outside himself towards which his thought turns in a movement of desire, supplication, and hope.  Consequently, the only choice is between worshiping the true God or an idol.” Simone Weil, First and Last Notebooks (Oxford, 1970), page 308.

Missional Mothering | The Resurgence

Missional Mothering | The Resurgence

Glancing or Gazing?

“I don’t gaze at men and glance at Jesus. I gaze at Jesus and glance at men.” ~ E. Stanley Jones

The Power and Importance of Prayer

The power of prayer has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders of the divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure, and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." Hudson Taylor

Wednesday Reflections about Sunday

 

Sunday was surely one of the highlights of my ministry here in Homer.  As I have reflected on what God has miraculously done in the last year or so to make this happen, I am in awe that we are known, loved, and blessed by such an awesome God! 

I am thankful to God that some many of you who have given of your time, talents, and treasures to make this a reality.  You have labored hard and long and financially contributed to make this dream a reality.

I am thankful to God that many of the older generation have lived to see and worship in the new sanctuary! 

I am thankful to God doing more than we could ask or imagine in his financial provision.  Every time I tell the story, my faith is encouraged.

I am thankful to God for the teams that I was blessed to participate with during this process - the Building Committee, the Advisory Board, the Trustees, and the Elders.  It was an exciting and hard and grace filled year!  God has blessed us with many faithful and gifted leaders.

I am thankful to God for the team of ministry minded individuals we worked with from Church Solutions Group.  Their wisdom and insight into building design, sound, lighting as well as their ability to get great pricing on materials and equipment was worth every penny we spent for their help.  It is not only us that are blessed by this relationship, but the next generation is as well.

I am thankful to God that we have an awesome facility in which to minister more effectively and be a blessing to our community.

Lastly, I am thankful to God that in the end, the church is the people, and I love the people of CCC whom God has called me to pastor.  Thank you for allowing me to serve you and extended the grace to grow as your pastor and leader for the last seven years!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor David

Kathy's Corner: First Sunday in our New Sanctuary!

Kathy's Corner: First Sunday in our New Sanctuary!

FRANCIS CHAN IS BACK! (Jan. 2011) latest message to the Cornerstone church

Here is a passionate appeal to stop playing and really follow Jesus! Set aside one hour and really absorb what Francis Chan has to say.

Walking with God

I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light. -- Mary Gardiner Brainard

God's Work in our Salvation

Normally I read through the whole bible yearly and last year I read through the New Testament five times but this year I am saturating myself in one book of the bible at a time until I have a grasp of that book.  Depending on the size of the book, I expect to spend one to four months reading through each book of the bible.  I started in Matthew and have read it through several times since I started February first (I was one month behind reading through the New Testament five times last year).  Today as I read through chapter thirteen I was struck again with how sovereign God is in my salvation.  For instance, Matthew tells us that Jesus said to his disciples, "to you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given (11).  Spiritual knowledge of the kingdom is a gift God gives only to those whom he chooses to give such knowledge.  I saw this stated similarly in chapter sixteen, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven (17). 

Peter is blessed because God the Father has revealed this truth to him not because he is morally, spiritually, or intellectually superior.  The key of this knowledge (see Luke 11:52) is God revealing his son through the proclamation of Christ.  This key to the kingdom that comes through the proclamation of the gospel both draws and includes men as well as hardens and excludes men (see Mat 13:10-17).  We see this inclusion in Acts 2:14-39; 3:11-26 and this exclusion in Acts 4:11-12; 8:20-23 so that by this means the Lord added to his church those being saved.  What God has done in heaven is played out in the preaching of the gospel - inclusion and exclusion based upon Gods work in the heart of man!