Tooth Fairy

Well, I'm no tooth fairy, nor much of a dentist, but I did get this one out for Andrew. I think he looks quite handsome, don't you?

Boom Goes the Dynamite

This is how just about every pastor feels on any given Sunday.

Counting Blessings

I thought I would take a moment and count a few blessings publicly...

1. I am so thankful for God and His word. ( I know pastorally it is what you expect at the top of the list, but I am sincere here.)
2. My wife and kids - They are so awesome and I literally enjoy every minute with them. (Not everyone can say that)
3. My ministry friends I have a wonderful support group of guys that I learn and grow with and who will not only pray for me but pray with me.
4. The Cornerstone Staff - Gabe and I were talking this morning about how perfectly God has built our leadership team. The funny thing is that we all enjoy each other and the ministry we do.
5. Our church - Man what a great body of believers, You guys are awesome and I am constantly blown away by you.
6. Bible Fellowship hit a record high last week without even trying. It is a testament to the individual leadership and the organizational changes we made over the summer.
7. Trunk or Treat - I said it before and I will say it again, you guys knocked it out of the park!
8. Church growth - I am so glad to see how God has grown our church in just one year. Every once and while I like to back us up to the door frame and say, wow your growing like a weed.
9. Hope - Over the last few weeks as we have studied the idea of hope, I am so glad to have a positive outlook on the direction that God is leading us as a church.
Amendment I
10. All those who I left off the first list who have now emailed me, including my mother in law, my sister and especially you!

Trunk or Treat Photos

Terry just sent me the first batch of photos from the Trunk or treat. Here is the link. Enjoy.

Daylight waiting time

Daylight savings time is an extra hour of sleep for most people, but for me it is an extra hour of waiting for church to start. I know I can spend more time in prayer and look over my sermon a few more times. but it is 5:30 and I have already done all that and still have 3 hours to wait before church. I love our church and am so excited about what God is doing here at Cornerstone. I am praying for you today, that God will do a great work in your heart and life as we give hope to the hopeless!

Time Change

Don't forget to set your alarms for 2:00 a.m. tomorrow morning in order to fall back. If not you will be one hour early for church :) All that being said, I would love to have some company if you want to come early.

What a Treat!

We had a great night at our Trunk or Treat tonight. Over 300 came out and 40 families asked to receive more information about the church. I was so proud of our church folks, and the tremendous effort that they put forth to serve the community. We doubled the amount of volunteers this year and Rene Lowe and the team from Domino's was tremendous! I will do my best to post pictures as soon as they come in. FYI I dressed as Charlie Brown and covered my car with an orange drape with a green stem as the Great Pumpkin.

Confession

I have a confession to make. Until 12 hours before our Trunk or Treat, I had no idea what I was going to dress up as. I announced Sunday that I was going to decorate my car as a ghost, and had thoughts of being a ghostbuster, but this morning I got a new idea and am now ready to go. I am so pumped about the event tonight. We will be on rain or shine, and you will have to wait and see my new idea. For some Halloween reading check out this previous post.

I Give Hope

This year we will be receiving a Christmas Offering that I am very excited about. Our offering will be going to the students of the Hope Center in Nairobi Kenya. If we are able to reach our goal we will be able to provide shoes and sweaters for every student. World Hope has a wonderful ministry of providing for the entire child in one of the world's poorest areas. We will have more information to follow, but below is a statement from our I GIVE HOPE PROJECT website. www.IGiveHope.org

Through the "I Give Hope" project you have the opportunity to provide a pair of shoes and a sweater to the students of Hope Academy. In Nairobi's Kawangware slum, crime, malnutrition, air and water borne diseases, drug abuse, and poor sanitation are endemic. Located at Hope Center, Hope Academy provides education and food for 412 children, often the only schooling or decent meals the children may ever receive. With every donation of $10 you receive a "I Give Hope" wristband and the knowledge that you have given hope to some of the world's neediest children.

Trunk or Treat

Today we delivered 3,000+ invitations to Trunk or Treat event. It is our hope that the children of Four Corners will have a safe and fun place to do their trick or treating. Let me ask you to pray for us as we prepare for this great event.

1. Pray for good weather. Tropical Storm Noel is threatening.
2. Pray for good turn out. We want to adequately serve everyone who attends. Pray for consistent turn out throughout the evening.
3. Pray for future opportunities. This event is just one in an overall determination for our church to serve the families of our community. Pray that the relationships that are established on Wednesday will continue for years to come.

We are asking all of our volunteers to be in place by 5:45 p.m. and be ready to distribute their candy by 6:00 p.m. For our guests all parking will be in the parking lot to the immediate left, and there will be attendants to help you.