Joel, be serious. - Joel

I must say that one of my pet peeves is when people compare me to Joel Osteen. It is enough to make one not want to ever smile again. I have never been much of a Joel fan, maybe that is why I cringe at the comparison. To be honest I respect what Joel has been able to accomplish in drawing tens of thousands of people to church in spite of his zipity do dah. I have not read Joel’s book but had to write today to let you know that there is a new board game coming out based on the book by Joel “Your Best Life Now” You can check it out at www.endlessgames.com/press.html . Not to be taken too seriously this is a real game by the makers of Bull Craps dice game and Bull Spit Card game ( I guess based on the PBR) I want to go on record right now to say. “Joel, this has gone far enough.” “It is time to grow up and get serious about church, life, heaven and hell.” Somebody do something before Mattel replaces Ken with a Joel doll.

Moe Mentum

Today I finished up the first message in our new series on Moses. Moses was one of the most unique and colorful characters in all of the Bible. I am looking forward to seeing how God created such a wave of momentum from a baby in a river into a sea of people parting the Red sea. Moses' story will excite you and allow you to see potential in your own life through accepting God's plan for your life. This Sunday we will see that Moses' parents were key in positioning him for success as they, themselves followed God in the face of powerful opposition. In truth it was God who did the miracle as he gave Moses life, when all other babies were being tossed into the river. God brought Salvation to Moses along the banks of the Nile through Pharaoh's daughter, and Moses got on board with God's plan for leading God's people out of bondage in Egypt and into the promised land. The great part about this story is that it can become our story as well. God has given you life. He created you special. He made you the way you are in the place you are at this time because he has a plan for you. God has offered you salvation from spiritual death, through the substitution of His Son Jesus. You can receive Salvation by accepting Christ's payment for your sin. Finally, Moses' story can be your story if you will accept God's plan for your life. Moses had many temptations as the Prince of Egypt, but He chose to accept God's plan instead. I hope that you will join us this Sunday as we expound these thoughts in the first part of our new series on Moe.

Welcome Aboard!

It is with great excitement that we welcome Mrs. Sue King to the staff at Cornerstone. Sue and her husband Dave have been faithful members since the very beginning of Cornerstone. She will come on part time to help with managing the church office, a job that, until now has been multitasked by the pastoral staff. Of course, multitasking is the ability to mess several things up at one time. Her addition will greatly organize the week to week operations of the church and allow us to continue the strong growth by being more effective in ministering to the people who attend.

What can you buy with no money?

Isaiah 55
I was just reading my Bible and a came across a verse that said “you who have no money come.” I thought to myself. That’s me, no money. Then it said to “come and buy.” And I thought, how can you buy something when you have no money? Then it said “Why do you spend money on things that are not bread?” and “your work on things that don’t satisfy.” Wow! We do that all the time. We waste our hard earned money on things that don’t satisfy. Still intrigued I read on. God says “Listen to me, and you will eat that which is good. Let your soul delight itself in God’s fullness and your soul shall live.”

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, he said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Then, when he was at the well of Samaria, his disciples were off buying food and he was sharing salvation with the woman of Samaria, the disciples returned with food and he was not hungry. He said that his “food was to do the will of the One who sent me.” So often in life we …can’t get no satisfaction. We try and try… in truth it is possible to be satisfied, even when you have no money. How you ask? First we must hang onto every word of God. Second, we must do the will of the one who sends us. A life of satisfaction comes through communion with Gods word, and connecting with God’s will.

Why Good People Die

A good man died this week. Grandpa Gibbs was known for his prayer notebook. Many people coveted being in that binder. He would sit and look at pictures and notes and talk to God. A mutual friend lamented that she will miss his prayers. I guess you can still pray from heaven right? Now it is just in person. In Isaiah 57 the Bible ponders why good people die. In an almost sarcastic way it questions why people never seem to learn that good people die to get away from the evil to come in this life. Life is often a hard thing. Death is a wonderful thing for good people; people who have entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Death was a good thing for Grandpa Gibbs. He is with the Savior, and the woman he loves. Verse two says ‘They shall enter into peace” so the next time someone wonders why good people die, you can tell them that God said in the book of Isaiah that for a saved person, the seemingly untimely death is to avoid the trouble that would have come into their lives and so that they can enter into eternal rest with their Savior. That is why good people die.

Bricks & Mortar

Bricks and Mortar is a term people use to refer to something with substance. I thought it would be ironically funny to call the blog by that name. As a new church the one thing that everyone wants to know is “Are you planning on a building?” This has always been a frustrating question for me. Not that I don’t understand the need of a church building as a tool, but that so many of my peers (other pastors) along with “church people” think that a building is what legitimizes a church. Don’t take me wrong here; I do want one day for us to have a place of our own. But only in God’s timing and that will be when the cost in money and attention will not hamper, but help the church. As far as legitimacy goes, I am glad that God is not judging us on the number of buildings we erect, but the lives that are built. I also wish that the average guy on the street would look past rented facilities and try us out. We had a great family visit last year. They came a few weeks and seemed really to enjoy the church, but opted for another church in the next town (without a pastor then and still to this day). When following up, they said, “We just did not want to do the church in a school thing.” You probably can tell that it still hurts to this day. They chose bricks and mortar over a really dynamic young church that just so happens to meet in a school. One day I guess I will understand that, but I hope that I will never accept it. Bricks and Mortar stands for substance; Cornerstone is a church with substance and that is a legitimate enough reason for me.

Building Life Together!

Four Corners is an easy place to build a house, but a difficult place to build a home. The majority of communities are made up of people from all over the country with more reasons not to come together than they have to come. One of our stated goals as a church has been to help families not only strengthen their home, but to help them connect with other families in the community which will in turn provide long term stability.

Most people long for community, but are not willing to pay the price to obtain it. Like any relationship, community takes work. But, the benefits far outweigh the cost. It is only through paying the price of transparency, that those in our community can see our hurts and come together to meet our needs. It is only by paying the price of time, that we can get beyond the superficial wave and smile relationship we have with most of our neighbors. Legend says the handshake was invented by knights of old who, when approaching another knight, would extend an open hand showing vulnerability and the innocence of a weaponless hand.

It is hard to develop community with our neighbors. It takes a vulnerability that many of us are not comfortable with. However, staying inside our homes, emerging only to commute back and forth to work will never build the deep relationships that God intended us to have with one another. Take a chance today, open your front door, walk over to the neighbor’s home and invite them into your life. It will take vulnerability and time, but it will strengthen your community and home.

Church Planting Cures AIDS in Zambia

One of the first goals we had when the church began was to help other churches start around the world. This coming Sunday we will have a young couple coming to speak who will be going to Zambia Africa to start churches. Jim and Barbie have already spent a year interning with another church in Zambia and will be leaving in March to begin their lives as full time missionaries.

The missions program of Cornerstone focuses on church planting. We understand that all missions have value and are important, but we believe that the best investment we can make in a community is to plant a church that will service that community spiritually and socially for the long term. When many people think of missions they think of clinics and feeding stations that meet an immediate need. In Zambia, where Jim and Barbie Waters will be going, the life expectance is only 33 years of age. Most of this is due to the fact that it is a country ravaged by AIDS. Some would argue that those people need Doctors and medicines. However, Doctors and medicine only treat symptoms. Missions according to Cornerstone takes into account the physical and social needs while focusing most of its attention on the deeper spiritual needs of the people. AIDS will continue to be a problem in all societies where drugs, prostitution, and sexual immorality are not replaced by a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.

I have always been astounded by the fact that AIDS could be cured by one single generation who chose to say no to drugs and yes to monogamy. Billions of dollars are spent every year to find a cure to a problem that stems from sin. It is a matter of stewardship for Cornerstone Baptist Church. We could spend resources on treating the problem, or invest in planting churches that will give people the cure.

If you are a regular at Cornerstone, let me encourage you to begin giving a little each week so that we can help send Jim and Barbie Waters to Zambia Africa to plant churches. If you do not attend Cornerstone, then contact Jim through their website at http://www.jesusloveyou2.com/ . Until Next time…

Sunday Synopsis

Things I liked about Sunday:
1. There was a great spirit at church on Sunday. The feeling of anticipation was in the air. As if everyone knew that God was going to do something special.
2. The Moss Family came forward to dedicate themselves to being godly parents to their new baby Brianna.
3. We had some great first time guests who really connected with the church.
4. There was a positive response to a message about money. – Who knew?
5. There were 160 people in attendance, a record for a regular Sunday. (Only topped by Christmas 05 – 182 & Easter 05, 203.)
6. The Junior Church kicked off a new program, and according to my kids on the ride home, “It was really, really good.” Great Job Tom and Sissy!
Things I did not like about Sunday:
1. I had a typo on the slide show which was so bad, that the staff did not tell me because they thought I did it on purpose.
2. Several families who are regular attendees were not there to worship with us. This always seems to bum me out.
3. The Hughes family was in Bahrain instead of Four Corners. – Really glad for you, but we miss you a lot.
4. The A/C must have been set to heat, because it never came on. So much for never let them see you sweat.
5. My new barber Bob did not come. (Well there is always next week.)
6. Two Words – Daytona 500 (or is that three words? Daytona Five Hundred)

On a serious note, Sunday is always the greatest day of the week for me. Kerri DeVane told me on Saturday, how the people at work laugh at her new found religion. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I got to get my Jesus fix. I am addicted.” And that is what I like about Sundays. People, getting fixed by, and fixed on Jesus.

Independent/Baptist

I began this blog as a way to better communicate with the people of Cornerstone. I realize that there will be others who read here as they peruse the blogosphere and some who check out the blog before attending church. That being said this entry is more for the people who attend Cornerstone each week and are active in the life of the church. Independent Baptists are a diverse group. There are those who claim this title and believe that they alone are the bride of Christ. I am not that arrogant. There are those who by nature are reclusive and want to do their own thing. There is a crowd that holds to the doctrines that the Independent Baptists hold true with a strong stance against any type of mingling with other denominations or groups.

In reality, I guess I am an Independent Baptist by default. When we decided to come to Four Corners and begin a church I grappled with the idea of claiming any denominational name. In this area, being an Independent Baptist puts you in a ultra conservative camp that I do not feel comfortable with. On the other hand, I have friends who are Baptist in doctrine but do not want people to associate them with the negative side of Baptists. For example the Disney Boycott of bygone years. (This would make for a difficult start in West Disney) On the other hand I believe that people want to know what they are getting into. They need to know that the church’s doctrine is sound.

I am a Baptist, not because of denominational reasons, but because of the doctrines (teachings) that Baptists traditionally hold. I want people to know that when they come to Cornerstone that we believe that the Bible is the complete inspired word of God. I want people to know that we believe that salvation is in Christ alone. That we believe in a literal heaven and hell. That we believe that the church is God’s tool for taking Jesus to a lost world. These are important things when deciding on a church. I want our church to be known as one who has strong convictions about important things.

I am independent because I do not want to be tied too closely with any group that exerts outside control over the local church. I want our church to have the freedom to choose where our missions dollar is spent and the freedom to join or leave any group without any fear of reprisal. It is amazing to me that some denominations exert more control over the church than the people in the local congregation. They move pastors from church to church like pawns on a chess board. They require exorbitant franchise fees from the local church that, in my opinion, hamstring the local church. (Sometimes fees in excess of 10% of all offerings going to the headquarters.) I am independent because I believe it is the biblical model for doing church and that it is the healthiest way for our church to run.

I guess that labels will always come with consequences. There will be people who see that we are an Independent Baptist church and put is the camp of the extreme. For Cornerstone, the emphasis is on the independent and the when the label Baptist is known for fighting global warming (like Rick Warren and some other Southern Baptists) more than sharing the good news of salvation, then we will have the independence to change the name to protect the innocent.