Love146

As a church we’ve been asking ourselves how can we can make a difference in our community and around the world this Chris

tmas… after all Christmas changed everything, and it still does. Out of this desire to make a difference we’ll be hosting some special, and perhaps uniquely different services for the Chirstmas season. This weekend we’ll be hosting Rob Morris from Love146. An incredible organization working to end the trafficking of kids in the sex trade industry as well as safehomes to restore these kids. If you’re in town and don’t have a church your at this weekend drop by and hear about the incredible work this organization is doing. Your Christmas can still change things! Check out some Love146 videos here.

Is it okay to be proud?

Over the past couple of weeks the Lord has had me reviewing some of the incredible things He’s been doing at Cornerstone… It’s left me awestruck at His greatness and proud of the folks that call Cornerstone home. On a given weekend there are generally between 220-240 adults and around 100 kids of those 220+ adults 149 jumped into small groups this fall (that doesn’t include any of our students in GC and our small groups for 1st-6th graders).

There are over 145 people serving on at least a monthly basis in the church. All kinds of new volunteers dreaming up new ways to serve and make a difference. I’ve also had the opportunity to hear some incredible stories of service to others in our community take place through our small groups, not to mentioned the 50 families in our community served with turkey and all the trimmings to make sure they had a Thanksgiving dinner. And now as we head into Christmas the church is rallying to support Love146, Smile Train, Living Water, Hope of Life and provide socks and shoes for orphans in Mexico.

I have to tell you that it’s so humbling to be a part of such a great group of people stepping up and out to make a different. Cornerstone I’m proud of you!

Allow God to pop the bubble wrap!

I’m sure you’re probably aware of the whole Mike Guglielmucci (author of the Healer song) episode and while it’s sad what has happened, there’s a grace that I’m sure Mike’s experiencing as he gets the help he needs and God can still anoint a song regardless of the messenger. The blogosphere has been passionately abuzz with opinion and comments about the story. But this morning I stumbled across this post, and it added fuel to a fire that I’ve been investigating in my own soul. What am I allowing in my life to ruin me for the cause of Christ? Or have I so bubble wrapped my life that I’m insulated from “feeling” anything too deeply and as a result not moved to do anything too outta the boat. Rather moved to play it safe and live in balance.

I’ve always been inspired and challenged by Royce and Elizabeth Iverson. A couple who many would say had everything going their direction and living a great life in Portland, Oregon. However they were ruined for the cause of Christ when they allowed themselves to see things from an eternal perspective. I remember Royce on many occasions telling me, “all this stuff won’t mean a thing in heaven. I’ve only got one life to live and I don’t want to get to the end of my life and have regrets.”The ruining had begun. And it would radically change the trajectory of their life – they quit jobs, sold homes and possessions and moved from their comfortable, nice neighborhood in Portland to Uganda with their two kids to start a medical clinic and orphanage called Hope Village (video here). They had been ruined and moved to never look back. It was forward with what God had put in their heart or death of a vision which would slowly antrophy the rest of their spiritual existence. They chose to be ruined, and as a result choose life.

So in the midst the Mike Guglielmucci episode, or whatever local level irritant you’re encountering let me ask you what is ruining you? As we head into the fall, back to school, back to what might be a normalizing of work and corporate schedules is there something that’s going to ruin you this fall? Is it something with your kids that will cause you to change your schedule or lifestyle so you can invest in them. Is it something in your church, your community or in the world that you know is God challenging you to let yourself be ruined by it, so moved and changed from the inside out that you have to do something about it. A neighbor that needs your support and encouragement. A community that has needs they can’t meet on their own. An area of your church that’s struggling because you’re not there passionately engaged in making it better.

Whatever it is, let’s allow God to pop the bubble wrap!

Hope Village

I’ve blog before about the incredible work that the folks with Hope Village Uganda have done and are doing. Please watch the video and engage with what God is doing in Uganda.