We’re in!

Probably wondering where we’ve been?! Maybe not, but we finally made it into our house… Looking forward to having guests with us over the coming months…

Can I just be honest… I’m scared!

It’s one thing to ask God to do something big. It’s quite another when He looks you in the eye (so to speak) and asks you to do the big thing. “But God I’m insignificant, I can’t do that, what if?” (read the story of Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Peter or any other Bible character). In that moment your motives and perspective are uncovered. Am I trusting myself to control the circumstances and the outcome, or is my trust completely and wholeheartedly in God? “I’ll do it God if I can see the outcome!” “I’ll do it God if you let me know what happens next!” “I’ll do it Lord if you bless me!”
And God’s saying, “Do it because I asked you to and know that you can trust my character!”

That’s where Jennie and I are at right now. I thought the big things, like pack up your family and move across the country, might be done for a while. But God’s got more instore. I thought we were out on the water, but as it turns out we’ve been sitting on the edge of the boat… now we’ve got to jump.

I am so convinced God has an incredible future in store for Cornerstone, we love God and we love the church. In the light of all this I’ve been mediating on the book of Ephesians. I love that book, Paul is so explicit about God’s plan, I love how he puts it “it’s the Church guys! And that’s you and I partnering together with God and each other to see the Kingdom come here on earth…” Just a few key statements from Ephesians:

The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. Eph 1:23

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Eph. 3:20

In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. 2 And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, 3 alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. 4 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. 5 You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. Eph 4:1-6

God’s Spirit works deeply and gently in us, not pushing us but partnering with us to do the big things. When we embrace that fact it gives us the freedom and confidence to run on the road God has called us to travel. Sometimes that’s asking forgiveness, sharing our faith, giving generously and sacrificially, worshiping passionately giving no consideration to what others think, going on a missions trip, share a thought with someone (sometimes the God’s big ask is a little thing that feels like a big thing)… Trust God and respond to His big ask, knowing you can trust His character!

Statistics & Stories

Behind every statistic there’s a story. Behind every face there’s a life filled with experiences… This past weekend we had 17 guests in our two weekend experiences at Cornerstone. That’s 5% of our attendance on Sunday. I’ve been blown away as I’ve contemplated that number. However, the more significant and oftentimes overlooked fact is that each person carries with them a story. I’m constantly amazed at how God leads people. Regardless of whether a person seemingly has a relationship with Christ or not, God is intimately involved in the details of a person’s life, leading all of us to repentance with His kindness.

I love to hear peoples’ stories. There’s a God story being weaved in and through each one of us. Oftentimes we race through life failing to see that story unfolding in our own life and the lives of others. As we head into fall, I’m making a fresh commitment to taking time to hear and value peoples’ stories. It takes time. It’s not always convenient. But it’s invaluable, especially when we recognize that God is unfolding in each person’s life a story that has the opportunity to glorify Him.

So for Colin & Natalie,  Trent, Kevin & his family back in Colorado, Amy and everyone else on Sunday that visited Cornerstone I’m amazed at the stories and the fact that even if just for a few minutes I got to hear their story and recognize the hand of God in their life. While the speed of life often focuses us on statistics and blurs the stories, I’m challenged to sit and really hear stories…

The Great Escape

Spent Saturday at the Great Escape with the Rajtars. Kids had an absolute blast. Swimming, water parks, roller coasters and of course dip-n-dots. Some pictures for your enjoyment.

Monday Morning Update

Another great weekend with dozen or so visitors. Great worship with Kelvin Sapp and a word titled Living a Full & Balance Life with Jim Donnelly (2004 National Principal of the Year).

Eight areas in our lives we should examine as we seek to live a full and balance life

1. How do we relate to authority and leadership? How do we value the authority we may have in our life (parenting, work etc)?
2. Purpose. How well do we serve and what kind of attitude do we serve with?
3. How well do we take responsibility even when no one is watching? (integrity)
4. Health. How well are you taking care of the temple of the Holy Spirit (your body)?
5. Debt & Materialism. Are you controlled by your possessions or do your control your possessions?
6. Are you reading the bible?
7. Do you live with with a clear vision?
8. Are you prepared to defend your spiritual heritage?

Great quotes:

• “Bees hum while they work – they don’t whine.” Laurie Beth Jones
• “The only thing a title can buy you is a little time – wither to increase your level of influence or to erase it.” John Maxwell
• “Volunteerism is the rent we pay for the space we take up in life.” Anonymous

Dad

I’ve been reading a book by Lanny Donoho called God’s Blogs. It’s an interesting read, Lanny writing as God in a daily blog on a variety of subjects. (I love books like this that take a creative approach to communicate truth, it’s disarming). Anyhow continuing yesterday’s theme of dreams and parenting I read a great blog (from God) titled Dads. Thought I would pass an excerpt along…

“I’M blogging today while I’M watching lots of dads raise their kids. Actually the blog isn’t just for dads… it’s for moms and dads alike, but toward the end of the blog I’ll be doing one of those clever analogies where we look at Me being the dad and you being the kid, and since most of you picture Me as a father figure more than as a mom, hey… we’ll keep it to you dads.

There are lots of you doing a good job and trying really hard. On your best days when you’re not exhausted and pulled in a hundred directions… and when your head is clear and no one has pushed your buttons all day… here’s what you really want.

• You want your kids to learn to live wisely
• You want them to be obedient
• You want them to know how to treat other people
• You want them to respect life and discover their gifts and use them to the best of their abilities
• you want them to feel loved, and you want to hold them when they fell rejected and alone and like a failure
• You want them to learn to overcome obstacles and get up and dust themselves off and try again
• You want them to know all about kindness and initiative and discipline and selflessness
• You want them to understand that success isn’t necessarily what they have been taught by society
• You want them to help those who are in need
• You want them to walk through life honestly and with integrity so as to be respected by those around them

Of course, if you’re like most loving fathers, a lot of things really AREN’T SUCH A BIG DEAL. It really doesn’t matter how far your kids can hit the ball or if they can hit it at all. It doesn’t matter whether your kids are more interested in science or sports history or cooking or law or preaching…”

“What most dad want for their kids (whether they realize it or not) is simply for them to be all that I have created them to be. Of course we all know that My definition of success and worth is usually different from the norm. (BTW, all dads love to hear their kids talk great about their dad to others, and they love it when they hear “I love you, Dad,” and when they get to look their kids in the eyes and talk and hug and laugh.)

So… here is that analogy I promised. You already are guessing part of it. But I’ve got a parallel for you to consider. Catholics, Episcopals, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Nazerenes, non-church goers, Jews, all of you. Hey! Kids! You’re My kids! There are a bunch of things that really aren’t that big of a deal to Me…

I’M your Dad! I can’t not love you.

Here is what I want and desire most for you and from you.

• That you discover Me and My love
• That you discover your giftedness so you can be all I want you to be
• That you are kind and obedient and humble and selfless
• That you know that I want to hold you when you feel like a failure or you feel alone or rejected
• That you see there are way too many things you think are a big deal and in reality they are pretty little things that separate you all way too much

Oh yeah… and …being the Dad I AM…

I love it when I hear you tell others about Me. And when you say “Daddy, I love you.” WOW! If you’re a dad, you know how that makes your heart feel. Imagine what it does to a God-sized heart.“

Spend a little time pondering how God loves you. And if you’re a parent make sure to hug your kids today!

We’re going to the moon!

Survived (and enjoyed) NYC with three kids. We arrived home last night exhausted. So to stretch out our family vacation a little longer we ordered some pizza and watched a movie together. If you’ve not seen the Astronaut Farmer I want to encourage you to rent it (there are a few unsavory words).

I’ve been thinking a lot about dreams recently (see this post), and seeing NYC through the eyes of your three kids got me thinking about it some more. Aidan in particular was wide eyed – it was one thing to see it from the ground, with all the lights and people, an entirely different thing when I took him to the top of the Rockefeller Center. Pretty cool to see him gain a new perspective and just stand there wide eyed taking it all in. Suddenly he could see Central Park, the financial district, Lady Liberty. He had new perspective. Fresh vision.

Back to the movie. The Astronaut Farmer is about a regular guy who has a crazy dream of flying to space. There are so many incredible one liners in the movie (”You’re teaching people how to read history I’m going to teach them how to make history.”) But in one telling moment when things seem to be falling apart, grandpa turns to the dad and makes this statement, “You’re one fabulous father. Many couldn’t even get their family to eat dinner together, you’re getting your family to dream together.”

Wow did that impact me. I flashed back to Aidan on top of the Rock seeing all of NYC, and began to ask myself am I getting my family to dream together? Are my kids apart of the dream or are they just along for the ride until they can get off the train?

As a parent (more on that tomorrow) I’m finding it increasingly important that my kids don’t just understand the principles we live by, but the passions that drive us. I recall Frank Damazio saying that kids will always pick up on your passions before they embrace your principles. So were are you going as a family? In the words of the Astronaut Farmer, “we’re going to the moon!”