“I’m just so discouraged.”
 
That was the sentence that opened the conversation with my pastor friend. Things were going ok at his church. His family was good. His health was fine. But to him, it felt like all the efforts for the gospel were falling short. He went on to summarize for me the things that really were weighing him down. He said things like:
 
Take a look at the world; it’s falling apart. The hate is so prevalent everywhere. The war in Israel just puts a spotlight on the brokenness that is this world.
 
Take a look at our nation; we are more divided than ever, facing mounting problems and concerns. Wokeness is running wild, and human decency seems to be fading.
 
Take a look around; depression, divorce, addiction, self-harm, pain, abandonment....the list goes on. People are really hurting. It is overwhelming, and seems like we are losing ground, not taking new ground.
 
Take a look at home; everything is more expensive. It’s harder than ever to raise kids. Just look at all the negative influences they have these days. Marriage is stressful, too.
 
Take a look at me; I used to be so happy, but now I pretty often feel overwhelmed and not good enough. I used to be optimistic, but after all of this, I don’t know if I’m really that hopeful anymore.
 
Can you relate at all? If we aren’t careful, we can easily start thinking that these and many other factors are THE factors. But friends, they are not. These are what the apostle Paul refers to as “light and momentary troubles.” He said our problems:
 
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
 
It doesn’t mean our troubles aren’t bad or hard; quite the contrary. The very definition of a trouble is that it drags us down, causes us pain, or hurts us deeply means that in view of eternity, they really don’t hold much weight. Against the power of Jesus, they cannot stand tall and last long. Paul understood troubles more than most. And yet, he said they are “achieving for us an eternal glory.” There is something much, much bigger happening than the things that tend to weigh us down each day.
 
If we aren’t careful to keep everything in light of eternity, it will be easy to let it really get to us and stall us in our tracks. Even many of the things we do that are good can become wearisome. Who isn’t tired of parenting over and over and over again on the same things? Who doesn’t grow tired of trying to make more progress at work that constantly stalls out or have a conversation with a One about Jesus that goes nowhere? The natural flow of life can be discouraging and draining. That is why Paul said elsewhere:
 
Galatians 6:9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
 
That isn’t a pep talk like, “Just keep swimming!” No, it’s a life mission sort of statement. The harvest is coming, and the blessing will be there. Don’t let the burdens and frustrations knock you off course or cause you to grow tired of all that is good. Stay on track, and later see the blessing of God.

saiah was a prophet of God in Judah who delivered a hard message to God’s people: Turn from your ways, or else. God’s blessings in your life are many, and his umbrella of grace is powerful. But if you continually choose to step out from under it, the consequences will be severe. But Isaiah’s message was also filled with hope. He knew God’s faithfulness was real, and he foresaw a day where God redeemed the remnant of Israel to bless the world once again through them. In a moment of foreshadowing what one day could once again be Judah on path to honoring God and living the life he prepared for them, Isaiah said:
 
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
 
Notice the connection to the perfect peace that God will bring in Judah and the thought processes of the people. They go together! We are of course always moving in the direction of our most powerful thoughts. We are not the nation of Judah, but we are the people of God. And the warning for God’s people then is a warning for God’s people today: Mind your mind! What you think is who you become. Don’t let rogue thoughts live rent free in your heads. Capture them and make them subject to Jesus (2 Corinthians 10).
 
This weekend, we wrap up our series, “Winning the War In Your Mind”. But the battle will not be over when the series is complete. It’s only the beginning, really. My hope and prayer is that we take some of the tools and lessons learned to continue to take captive our thoughts and truly win the war in our minds. Take a moment and read Philippians 4:4-7 in prep for our time together Sunday. There are hardly more relevant, practical, and meaningful words than these for the world we live in today. I hope you’ll plan to join me for worship and invite a One with you!
 
Also Sunday, we have a team of 6 leaving town for an overseas trip to Sri Lanka. This is the first time we’ve been back to Sri Lanka since COVID and some bombings at multiple churches on Easter a few years ago. Our team will partner with Josh Howard and Ignite to do some evangelism training for local leaders and run an evangelistic Good News outreach event to several thousand people in northern Sri Lanka. Please be praying for them.
 
Next weekend, we’ve set aside an entire Sunday to focus on, talk about, and pray for our Global Missions Partners. There is so much Cornerstone is part of overseas, and I can’t wait to share together on November 19th. We will also talk about the upcoming future trips, each of which are going to be a fantastic opportunity to grow in faith. I hope you’ll be prayerful about possibly attending one of those trips.
 
See you Sunday!

I wanted to get a note out to you early this week due to the sensitivity of the information and what is happening globally this week. As you have no doubt heard, the world has been rocked by what is now being declared a war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Extremist group Hamas. Below is a quick summary of the situation followed by a prayer guide. I hope you will join me in praying daily for the people in the Middle East.
 
To date, over 1,600 people have been killed (more than 1,000 civilians in Israel), with almost certainly more to come. The battlefield is towns and villages on and near the Israeli/Palestinian border in homes, streets, and places of business.
 
While the entire situation is beyond complicated, the tensions of a 16-year siege on the Gaza Strip that has left millions of Palestinians without any hope for their future has erupted in violence. 2023 has been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank in twenty years. On the other hand, Israel is declaring a commitment to protect their borders against the hatred toward their nation and terrorism against their people. It’s super messy and totally heartbreaking.
 
Naturally, thousands of families across Israel are terrified. Many of them are being called out of the reserves to fight. Others have had to flee into safe rooms to the sound of blaring sirens, unsure what may happen to them, their homes, or their families along the way. Thousands of Palestinians are also scared. Whether they are Israeli citizens, living in the West Bank or living in Gaza, and whether or not they agree with Hamas’ approach, their current reality and future is unknown. We know this violence will likely lead to more and more violence.
 
As is often the case in war, innocent families are being killed. Hamas knows they are killing innocent people, including other Palestinians in Israel. The Israelis know that attacks in Gaza will certainly produce civilian casualties. This is the horror of war.
 
Friends, we must pray for and long for a day when the violence will be no more. We must pray for a day when Israelis and Hamas can live together and side-by-side without violence, with dignity and freedom. Below is an adapted prayer guide from an online source customized for us. Perhaps copy/paste or print this out and make it part of your daily prayer time until this war is ended.

1. Pray for peace.

In Psalm 122, mentioned above, we see the simplest way to start our prayers: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels. For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’" (Psalm 122:6-8). Pray for God to bring peace to the region and to the heart of every Israeli and Palestinian.

2. Pray for relationships.

The book of Genesis records how the Jewish people descended from Isaac, and the Arab people from Ishmael (Genesis 25:12-18). In God's heart is a deep desire to restore loving relationship to these two "brothers." Pray for a restored relationship between the historically broken peoples of Israel and Palestine.

3. Pray for forgiveness.

Modern Israel is far from being a "holy land" in its behavior before the Lord. The same kinds of sin befalling all modern nations—abortion, abuse, injustice, and sexual immorality—also exist in Israel and Palestine today. In Ezekiel 36, just before God promises to bring the Jewish people back to the Land of Israel, He says: "I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you" (Ezekiel 36:25-26). Join with this promise in praying for forgiveness and repentance in Israel and Palestine.

4. Pray for leadership.

The leaders of Israel and Hamas (terrorist group) each have an investment, responsibility, and opportunity as they represent their people. May God use each of them, despite their hearts for him, toward his ultimate aim in the region and among the people. May they lead with wisdom and not simply emotion.
Pray the words of Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; He guides it wherever He pleases.”

5. Pray for salvation. 

All Israelis and Palestinians....Jews and Arabs....Muslims and Christians....all are created in the image of God. He loves each of them and longs for them to know the peace of Christ. Only Jesus can salvage the pain and brokenness in the Middle East and beyond. Please pray that the message of Christ will be proclaimed and received.

Ephesians 4
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
 
*Information and source cred given to multiple news sources, the Center for Israel, and Telos. 

Church!
 
Last Sunday was nothing short of amazing. In all, 57 people were baptized. Each of them has a different story and different ways they came to the conclusion to give it all to Jesus.
 
One of the recurring themes Sunday was family. So many different families made decisions together. A few of them include:
Three siblings from one family over two different services
A generational trifecta, including Granny, Grandma, and Great Granddaughter
Husband and wife (multiple times)
Parents and three grown kids
Parents, daughter, and son-in-law
Twin siblings
 
Others came alone. Others came with friends. Still others came surrounded by their church family. Old and young. Male and female. Black and white. Married and single. Military and civilian. It was a beautiful picture of the grace of God.
 
One of my observations personally being right there with people is seeing their emotion as the strongholds are broken. Whenever someone makes the decision to be baptized, they are committing to give Jesus the keys and let him fight the battles. It becomes obvious in the moments right before they go into the water. They are releasing those strongholds to him. What an incredibly beautiful picture of the gospel.
 
Please be praying for each of these 57 people and the others who have already committed to be give their lives to Jesus this weekend.
 
Sunday, I also shared a simple but useful evangelism tool called the “Three Circles” for each of us to memorize and be prepared to share as conversations allow. We have provided a link to a digital copy for you to save to your phone or work on at home. Here’s the link: https://onecornerstone.org/3circles
 
This week, our staff went on an annual off-site retreat to connect, plan, and celebrate together. I’ve told you before, but we have an incredible, humble, and hard-working team that is dedicated to ministry. I’m so thankful to serve with them. Below is a picture of our team from lunch the other day. It’s one of the rare moments where EVERYONE is in the same place at the same time.
 
I look forward to seeing you this weekend as we continue to talk about our vision and the campaign we are in together for the future. God has not only offered us forgiveness through his son, but he has enlisted us to carry the mission to the ends of the world.

This is it! This weekend is Baptism Weekend at Cornerstone!

As of the time of this writing, at least 25 people are planning to be obedient to Jesus and be baptized Sunday. Incredible! I’m praying God will double that number and move powerfully among us. While the stories of life change will continue to be shared, here are just a few who will be baptized:
One man who has followed Jesus for years (grew up Catholic), but his faith has come alive in walking WITH Jesus
A family of 5, both parents and 3 mostly-grown kids, all being obedient to Jesus
A school teacher who is committing to a life of loving Jesus
A mom and grown daughter who together are saying, "Yes!" to Jesus
A number of children and students who are ready to jump all in
A first-tour military member who recognizes her need for a relationship with Jesus
A husband and wife
A father and son

Each of their stories are unique. Each of them have come to this conclusion in different ways and at different times. But each of them are saying, “YES” to Jesus on Sunday. Would you please stop for a moment and pray for them, asking God to give them great courage and encouragement in their decisions?

Also, pray for others who are almost there, but need the Holy Spirit to move in their hearts and nudge them over the edge. Everything about our culture pulls AGAINST saying yes to Jesus. The commitment...the surrender....the public nature....the connection to a church...giving someone else (Jesus) the keys to your life-- all of it is counter-cultural. But it’s also FREEING. Please be praying.

I’m also sharing a great tool for relational evangelism (sharing with your Ones) called the “three circles.” There are a number of versions out there, but I will be sharing OUR version and teaching you how to share the gospel with someone in two minutes time.

This past week, I was at a conference called, “Spire”, and I kept hearing two things over
and over:
Healthy churches are thriving and growing
People are more open to Jesus than they have been in a LONG time

Both of those things excite me! We are seeing the growth, and we are seeing the openness. Don’t stop praying for your Ones. Invite them to come with you Sunday if they are local (or online). Make every effort to have conversations that lead to Jesus.

With the excitement of the weekend, there may be a few delays with kid’s ministry, busy parking, tight seating, etc. Be patient and remember people are being baptized. It will help you work through it.

I’m praying with you and for you. Can’t wait to see you Sunday!

God is MOVING at Cornerstone, friends. Here are a few updates related to our vision that we can celebrate together, pray about together, and perhaps even PLAN for together.
 
This Is For Everyone Vision Campaign
 
We are actively making room for our Ones by building a new worship center. There is quite a bit of movement behind the scenes with our future building campaign. Mechanical, plumbing, structural, architectural, and electrical engineering are making great progress.  We are in initial conversations with a few banks about our potential borrowing ability. All of that means we are close to the 6-month mark from finalizing all initial planning and hopefully actually breaking ground on our worship center! Pray for God to prepare the way for things to continue to move forward!
 
This week, we crossed over $500,000 given to this campaign (with a goal of $3 million in 3 years). We praise God for this fantastic milestone. There is of course much more work to be done, but together, we will see God do what none of us can do alone.
 
When we launched the campaign last spring, we had $2.4 million pledged toward our goal. To date, we have seen 282 different persons/families give to the vision. 72 of those are folks who were not part of the initial pledge. Praise God! If you’ve not joined the campaign, you are missing out! You can find out more here.
 
Baptism Sunday!
 
Buildings and structures are nothing without the movement of God in hearts, calling people to repentance and salvation in Christ. Our mission will always be focused on helping people know and walk with Jesus.
 
On Sunday, October 1st, we will have a special emphasis on baptism. I’ll share a gospel message that is also a message YOU can share with a friend or family member at a coffee shop or soccer game, and I’ll teach you how. I’m prayerful that it will be not only helpful for your witness, but challenging for a number of folks in our midst that are ready to say yes to Jesus themselves.
 
If you have been contemplating baptism and would like to talk to someone about being baptized on October 1st, please click here. We already have people scheduled to be baptized in every service. Of course, some people will decide that Sunday that “today is the day”. Please pray with me that God will move powerfully, calling people to him.
 
To help us prepare for the weekend, I’m going live on Facebook each Thursday to tackle some popular questions about baptism, including, “Why do I need to be baptized? When should someone be baptized? What if I was baptized as a child?” Check those out and add any questions you also may have.
 
I’m fasting from food next Thursday in prayer over Baptism Sunday.  You are invited to join me if you’d like, giving it all to Jesus, asking him to do what only he can do.
 

I want to talk to you for a moment about the next three weekends at Cornerstone, which are primed to be God-filled and powerful gatherings as we worship Jesus together.
 
Sunday, September 17th
We are continuing in our Joseph’s series, covering the text where Joseph comes back into relationship with his brothers, who previously sold him into slavery and left him for dead. Will he forgive them? How could he forgive them? Forgiveness is such a huge topic for all of us. If you have a friend you’ve been wanting to invite to church, this is a great weekend to bring them. We will have a special prayer time for people to respond to either choosing to be forgiven or offer forgiveness in Jesus’ name. The forgiveness of Jesus is like nothing else in this world. I’m praying God will penetrate our hearts and take hold of the hearts of our Ones who join us Sunday.
 
Sunday, September 24th
As we conclude our Joseph series, we will talk about offering our identity to God and replace it with the identity that Jesus offers us. That day, we are going to celebrate and recognize in person everyone who has been baptized at Cornerstone in 2023. We will be incorporating our light wall into the service that weekend with a renewed emphasis on our Ones. We will also be praying for those who are considering choosing him and being baptized with a prayer for the following week, Baptism Sunday!
 
Sunday, October 1st
Baptism Sunday! Would you please join me in praying every day between now and then for God to move powerfully on 10/1? While people are baptized almost every weekend at Cornerstone, we occasionally put an emphasis on this critical faith decision to help foster conversations and give people a date to choose this next step in faith. Because Jesus calls each of us to follow him and to be baptized, we want to help every person make the decision to be obedient in baptism.
 
In his book “Divine Direction”, author and pastor Craig Groeschel says, “It’s often the start that stops us.” That phrase could be applied to so many areas of life from diet to exercise to relationships to education. But what we decide to do with Jesus is the starting point for every other decision in life. It is where the most significant eternal decisions are made that filter into everything else. Sometimes, it’s the start that stops us. For whatever reason, we just never quite fully get going in following Jesus and being baptized. When someone is baptized, there is no question what they are doing. They are taking a step forward toward Jesus, stepping into his grace and acting in obedience to his call. I am praying each day (hopefully with you!) for every heart associated with your church that needs to take this step to say yes to Jesus on October 1st.
 
Leading up to the weekend, I am going live on Cornerstone’s Facebook page at 12:30p on the next two Thursdays to answer questions people have about baptism. Questions can be submitted by responding to this email or via the Facebook page.
 
That day, I’ll present a clear gospel presentation as well as teaching our church a simple tool for sharing the gospel with their Ones as we launch a recap series on our vision, “This Is For Everyone”.
 
God is moving, friends. Don’t miss it! Lean in, be present, engage in faith, and join your church in this season of spiritual fruit and growth. Can’t wait to be with you Sunday.

For 15 years, Cornerstone has partnered with Central India Christian Mission to spread the gospel to some of the most unreached and difficult parts of the world in India and 12 surrounding nations. To date, more than 1 million people are now Christ followers in churches launched by CICM in the past 40 years. We are part of literally changing the percentage of Christians on record in the nation of India.
 
Last weekend, our global partner Josh Howard delivered a fantastic and challenging message to Cornerstone. It was such a joy to have Josh, his wife Lashi, and their family with us for the weekend. They are like family at Cornerstone. Personally, I’ve served on the board of directors for 6 years and will be wrapping up that term at the end of 2023.
 
This past year has been one of the most difficult years in their lives due to persecution and government pressures in India. As an American, Josh was forbidden from teaching or preaching in India or doing any public ministry at all within their borders. As the leader of the children’s home in Damoh, Lashi has led through 34 government raids and 51 inquiries, all aimed to persecute the home because of their faith. These raids are spontaneous and unannounced, complete with armed military guards on campus, striking fear in the children and staff alike. In each raid, accusations of forced conversions and inappropriately handling the children were issued. None of them were ever substantiated, but they have all been on edge for more than a year now. Dr. Lall (Lashi’s dad and the director of the mission) was threatened, issued a warrant for arrest, and multiple times was taken into custody and questioned by the police because of accusations made by Hindu extremists. At one point late last year, the entire extended family was on the run fearing for their lives for a period of more than 6 weeks. Each day, they did not know where they would end up that evening. There are too many other challenges along with these to even try and list them. As you can imagine, it has been an incredibly challenging season for our beloved partners in India.
 
And yet, God is so good. Despite these incredible challenges, 65,000 people have come to Christ in 2023 through the mission. 178 new churches have been established. 304 pastors have completed in person training for church planting, and 6,970 students are being trained in ministry online in 16 Indian states and 3 additional countries. Relief work through medical ministries and flood relief have helped thousands in multiple regions. Their online ministry, called Hindi Church Online, has reached over 13 million viewers in 124 countries to date this year. Even in persecution, and often compelled by persecution, the power of God moves and is evident. Praise God!
 
Recently, Josh Howard transitioned out from CICM to expand the ministry of Ignite and disciple making beyond India. While Lashi still remains with CICM every day and they are still based in Damoh, Josh is now leading Ignite and working closely with E3 Partners, a global ministry focused on disciple making movements globally. This year, Josh and his team held conferences and trainings for disciple making in the US, Poland, and the UK along with their active ministries in India and Sri Lanka. God is opening doors to expand into Pakistan and other countries in south Asia in the coming months. Please be in prayer for Josh as he makes this adjustment in leadership.
 
Cornerstone will continue to be Josh’s “living link” church, providing funding for his salary as he raises additional funds for the incredible work. We will also continue to support projects through CICM, such as their upcoming fall youth conference, which Cornerstone has funded for more than 5 years now.
 
A team of 6 from Cornerstone will head to Sri Lanka in November to assist with a crusade-style event and additional Ignite trainings. Please be praying as that team prepares and as God prepares hearts to receive the gospel.

You already know this, but we have a super special staff at Cornerstone. I’ve been in ministry full-time for 23 years now, and the staff at our church is the best I’ve ever worked with. Their.   attitudes, the passion, their love for Jesus, and their abilities combined contribute in huge ways to make Cornerstone a special family.
 
On Wednesday, our staff participated in a quarterly outing for team building. This one was     special, as we didn’t tell them where they were going or what we were doing in advance. As we drove toward downtown St. Louis, ideas and speculation were discussed among the various cars filled with staff members. After we pulled up to Busch Stadium for the afternoon Cardinals game, each person was loaned an appropriate Cardinals jersey and ushered to our suite, complete with food and drink for the entirety of the game. For some, it was their first game of the year. For many, their first time in a suite. The Cardinals won on a walk-off homerun on the last out in the 9th inning. It was awesome.
 
But it isn’t just the Cardinals winning that excites our team. Being together excites our team. Pulling in the same direction toward our mission excites our team. Seeing people come to Jesus and take next steps and grow in faith excites our team. Feeling valued and that their contribution matters excites our team. It would be impossible for me to list all the sorts of sacrifices and      efforts our team makes to love our church well. But at the risk of leaving out MANY of the.        incredible things, here are a few that come to mind when I think about our team:
 
Cathy Wright is in year 46 of ministry AT THIS CHURCH. We are all indebted to the example she has been and continues to be for our church.
 
All of my Lead Team have either exceeded or are approaching 10 years leading faithfully at   Cornerstone.
 
Taylar Knight (worship leader) lives in University City, MO and drives over to Cornerstone.     multiple times per week. But on Sunday, worship rehearsal starts at 7am, and Taylar and her husband (along with the rest of our Creative Arts team) and two small kids are there before     virtually anyone else to prep for service.
 
Our family team works long hours on Wednesdays, sometimes serving for 12-13 hours during the school year, loving our students and children well and setting an atmosphere to help them grow.
 
Many others work behind the scenes to create and run systems, check and process finances, set up meetings, oversee and proofread publications, develop other staff day to day, encourage and uplift our global and local partners, and so much more. Each and every one of them are so    valuable to our mission as a church family.
 
I get many of the accolades as the most visible staff member at our church. But in so many ways it is this great team that carries incredible weight with honor, integrity, and respect that is an incredible foundation of leadership for our church. I’m so thankful for them. Would you pause and pray for 2-3 of our staff right now, asking God to lift their hearts and encourage them in their faithfulness? If you need a refresher, you can find our staff page on our website here.
 
I’m excited to have Josh and Lashi Howard from India with us on Sunday. Josh will be preaching and sharing stories of how God is moving overseas. You won’t want to miss our time together in worship. See you Sunday!

This is GROUPS sign up season at Cornerstone, and we long for everyone to find the community and growth that comes from following Jesus in community with other people.
 
Are you in a group? If not, maybe you can relate to one of the reasons below to NOT be in a group.
 
Why Not Be In A Group?
“I don’t really know anyone.”
Groups can really help with that. While it can be intimidating and risky to jump into a group with strangers, it can also be incredibly fulfilling. God is moving, and often hand crafts relationships we would have never seen coming.
“I don’t really have time.”
Probably true! In today’s world, it seems like every minute is taken up by something. However, it is critical that we make sure the “big rocks” get attention and commitment in our lives. Is there something in your life that needs to go in order to prioritize Christian community better?
“There are some weird people in groups!”
There is legitimate concern that a new group may be filled with people that drain you or you don’t connect with. It takes all kinds to make up a church. But the reward is worth the risk. In situations where things truly just don’t work, our team can help make adjustments. But sometimes, being in a group with a different kind of person with a different perspective can be very meaningful and helpful for growth. Plus, it’s a chance to extend the love of Jesus in a unique way.
 “Other people knowing your ‘stuff’ is risky!”
Yes, it is! But it’s also the best way to care for others and be cared for. As we follow the “one another” commands in Scripture, we see God grow us in ways we won’t grow otherwise.
“We tried a group and had a bad experience.”
Yep, that happens too! Sometimes more than once. But that doesn’t mean God doesn’t have something special around the corner for you this time.
“I may have to miss some, so I don’t want to commit.”
Commitment and being present are of course important for a group. But don’t let the potential of missing keep you from a blessing.
“What about our kids?”
Many of our groups either provide childcare (on campus) or organize their own childcare (in homes) in creative and useful ways.
 “I would, but my spouse is just not there yet.”
There are gender-only groups for folks who don’t have a spouse or need/desire to have a group that is not structured for couples.
“There isn’t really a group near me.”
Cornerstone has groups literally all over the MetroEast, including on campus. While you may need to drive a bit for the ideal group, the sacrifice is worth it! Most of us will drive an extra 10 minutes just for a certain food or ice cream. We can do the same for meaningful spiritual growth with others.
“No one asked me to be in a group.”
Consider yourself asked! I really believe it is a great way to grow in faith and be a blessing to others simultaneously. Would you please prayerfully consider signing up for a group at Cornerstone?
To find a list of groups, click here.

I’m sorry.

Those can be powerful words, can’t they? No, this is not a confessional today, but a quick look at a passage I was compelled by this week while reading the “Verse of the Day” from the YouVersion Bible app. It’s a great way to start your day, BTW.

Here’s the verse: 2 Corinthians 7:10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

Paul is suggesting that there are at least two ways to say, “I’m sorry”, and they are NOT the same. They look identical, but often sound different. They certainly have different meanings. Here is what I believe is the difference.

Meaning #1 of “I’m sorry”

We speak harshly, treat someone poorly, make a selfish decision, cause hurt, or speak with contempt. When that sort of thing happens and we either are personally convicted or held accountable by someone else, we are cut to the heart. Then, the natural and right response to someone else (or to God) is, “I’m sorry. I really am. How can I make it right?”
When offer that kind of, “I’m sorry,” you are making a genuine effort to restore a relationship, and hopefully the other person can tell. When we experience sorrow (feeling sorry) because we know what we’ve done hurt God or someone else, we then move away from sin or more hurtful actions. Paul says that is the kind God wants for us. When we listen or are convicted with humility, Godly sorrow is the result, and it often results in the fruit of the Spirit. Paul goes as far as to say there is no regret there (even if we don’t like how we acted), because our posture is moving away from that direction and toward salvation.
This is why when we start a sentence like, “Well, I’m sorry BUT....” (With an elevated tone), we probably are NOT that sorry, just agitated.

Meaning #2 of “I’m sorry”

This version of that sorrow is thinking down on ourselves, thinking we are worthless or unvaluable. “Worldly sorrow” as Paul calls it doesn’t lead forward, but deeper in the hole. While many things can lead us down that path, “I’m really a sorry/bad/worthless person” doesn’t lead to repentance. When we mess up or are not what we wish or where we wish in our lives, we should instead remember the truths of God and his promises, make appropriate apologies where needed, and grab on tight to Jesus. Thinking negatively of ourselves or believing the lies that our actions diminish our value in God’s eyes is a tactic used by the Enemy to keep our focus on ourselves and not on Jesus’ saving power.
Are we “sorry” people? In summary, yes, we are. We should do better and be better, but sin is awfully powerful and present. But thanks be to God, we aren’t valued by our sin, but by our Savior. Let’s experience Godly sorrow, and together move further into the arms of Jesus and what he says about who we are.

Summer is here!
 
While so much of summer is surrounded by trips, camps, family gatherings, and hopefully some downtime from the normal routines, it also is a fantastic time to start or continue spiritual disciples and see some real growth in faith. There are endless suggestions as to the best way to do that, but here are a few relevant to our church family this summer.

1. Get In a Group!
 
We don’t typically launch new groups in the summer, but we do have two new groups launching next week. If you are new to Cornerstone or looking to grow and get more connected, consider joining the women’s group or joining me with a group that will discuss foundations of faith for the Tuesdays in June. You can sign up here.

2. Go to Camp!
 
Ok, YOU probably can’t go to camp as a camper, but if you have kids or grandkids or neighbor kids, THEY can go to camp. We already have so many of our Cornerstone kids and students signed up for camp, but many of our weeks still have room. There is hardly a better investment of time in the summer for our kids than to get them to camp. Check out our available weeks here.

3. Join a Reading Plan!
 
Every week, Cornerstone uses the YouVersion app to put our sermon notes and service elements in their live feature for churches. If you’d ever like to follow along and take notes digitally on a Sunday, check it out. But YouVersion’s primary purpose is to help you read the Bible. There are thousands of reading plans that will alert you each day and help you keep track of your reading. We will be covering the fruit of the spirit this summer, so consider a plan that helps expand on them.

4. Join a Team!
 
As we say goodbye to some of our military folks who are relocating, we welcome new folks and backfill serving positions across our church. If you are not involved in serving, summer is a good (and helpful) time to add folks to a team. There are literally hundreds of places to serve across our church from children’s ministry to tech to greeting. If you are interested in serving, speak with a team leader or check out serving opportunities here.
 
Sunday, we wrap up our short parenting series with a panel of parents talking about their experiences and Biblical truth that guides them in their parenting. Even if you are not a parent, these principles are so important and useful. While it’s easy to get out of a regular worship rhythm in the summer, we can counteract that with setting the priority out of the gate to make Sunday worship a fixture in our week’s schedule.
 
God bless!

This Is For Everyone Monthly Update                  
 
Each month, I want to take a moment and give you a quick update on our vision campaign, This Is For Everyone. Sometimes there may be more to share than others, but I’m excited to share things as they happen so you can join me in excitement and prayer for what God is doing.
 
First, let’s celebrate how God continues to move in and through our church. This spring has seen some pretty exciting things with some great stories attached. One college student told me last week they put two college friends on their light bulb on our Ones wall, and she led both of them to Christ in the past month. How incredibly exciting is that? Keep praying, friends. God is moving, and he hears our prayers.
 
Our plans for expansion continue to move forward as well. To date, we can celebrate that 350 families have given or committed financially to our “This Is For Everyone” campaign with $275,416 given so far. The ultimate goal is 100% participation at 500 families and a hopeful finish line of $3 million given in 3 years. If you haven’t yet jumped in on the campaign but would love to join us, please click here.
 
Last week, our team submitted the “footprint” of our new building and renovations to our design company and architects. Plans seem to always be a work in progress and subject to change. Currently, the new build to the east side (closer to Green Mount Rd.) will include an approx.. 850 seat worship center (with the ability to expand to 1200 with a future balcony) and 3,500 square feet of new lobby space for gathering. New baptistry rooms and bathrooms along with backstage areas like baptistry rooms, tech rooms, green rooms for the musicians, and multiple storage spaces will fill out the new build. It is very exciting, and like you I wish it could be finished tomorrow!
 
Our renovation project, which will begin after the worship center is open, will include over 5,000 square feet designated primarily for Student Ministry, including a stage, storage, and multiple breakout rooms.
 
This project will also include a kitchen repurpose/remodel and additional space for children’s ministry (approx. 3,900 additional sq. feet). With the help/wisdom of around 150 folks in our church, our lead team and elders have approved a plan that will both maximize our current space and set us up for future growth.
 
A few key prayer points regarding this project:
Pray the official drawings can be done in a timely manner to keep us on track.
Pray the bids for the build can come in quickly and will be affordable so we can move forward as soon as possible!
Pray for the continued growth or fundraising with the project as to limit any debt we need to incur to complete the build.
 
If you’ve ever built a home or worked on a larger project, you know these things seem to be slow and tedious, which is where we are today. But careful planning and thoughtful execution will set us up for the most cost-effective and ministry-minded spaces in the near future.
Have an awesome week, and see you Sunday as we wrap up, “The Missing Peace”!

I spent a good part of this week in Arizona with a group of 6 pastors I’ve been meeting with twice a year for 7 years. They lead churches in Nebraska, Arizona, and Colorado. They have been at their churches from 1 year to 30 years. When we get together, we hold each other accountable, talk about our celebrations and discouragements, talk about our walk with Jesus, and discuss what we see happening in the nation and in the world regarding church. Here are a few insights from this week:

1)Things are trending up.
There are many markers in our world that show a decline in church attendance, church investment, and even belief in Jesus. The rise of the “nones”, the fastest growing religious group in our nation, is real and is discouraging.

But among those realities is a serious interest in all things spiritual. Today’s prominent cultural generation, Generation X, is less consistent and likely to be involved in church. But studies are showing, and my pastor friends are confirming, that they are a very spiritual generation. While some of the church scandals and traditions of the past aren’t resonating with them, they are deeply spiritual. As a whole, our nation and our world is more spiritual today, not less than before. That is an incredible opportunity for a church that is Biblical, practical, and serious about reaching people on a personal level and not just an organizational level.

Along with Cornerstone, several of my pastor friends have seen an increase in engagement and attendance lately, with people asking genuine faith questions and pursuing Jesus in some exciting new ways. That is an opportunity for us as we pray for our Ones and ask God to give us opportunities to share the truth with them.

2)The need is clearer than ever.
It doesn’t take long watching the news or scrolling headlines to realize that our world is broken and doesn’t seem to be self-correcting. If you have eyes to see it, the Evil One’s schemes can be seen everywhere: calling good evil and calling evil good. Somehow, much of our world is deceived by his tricks and manipulation. People are more anxious, stressed, broken, and confused than ever in my lifetime. The need for a Savior is more obvious than ever, and we have the best news there has ever been and a fantastic family to connect with people.

3)The urgency is now.
I’m not one to typically shout, “The sky is falling”. Yes, our nation is growing less Godless every day. Yes, many of the things of morality and sound thinking are being dismissed and marginalized. But historically, as the nation walks away from God, the church rises up. Across the world, the church is not just growing, but thriving in Iran, China, India and Indonesia, countries who are completely against the gospel of Jesus and some even legally persecute Christians. The incredible stories coming out of those nations is so encouraging. The truth really is the truth. And our urgency is now. Our friends, our relatives, our Ones....they need the truth. They need us to share the reality of Jesus, even imperfectly and with our own confusion or doubt.

When we have feelings and thoughts like, “I don’t want to be pushy” or “I don’t know if they want to know about Jesus”, I’m reminded that the time is short. Sure, don’t be pushy or annoying. But be persistent. Be intentional. Recognize that the time is short, and we only have this one life.

I can’t wait to meet your Ones and as needed help you baptize them into Christ. Already, three people on our “This Is For Everyone” light wall have surrendered to Jesus. I am so excited to see God move even more.

CHURCH!

I’m still just riding the wave of what God did in church at Easter! We set up a tent and almost 100% more chairs than we use on a typical Sunday....and they were all full plus some. We invited our Ones, and many came. We invited families to stay and play, and they did. We invited the Holy Spirit to come, and he showed up.

Easter this year was just another one of those moments that is a clear reminder that there is something special about worshipping a holy God together. There is nothing that replaces an in-person worship experience with the church body. In total, Cornerstone saw about a 40% boost in attendance from a “normal” weekend this year, and we were already up around 20% since Christmas. God is moving, and I’m so grateful to be part of it!

Sunday, I’ll be announcing two exciting things: the running totals from our This Is For Everyone commitments as well as our First Fruits offering. I hope you are as encouraged by it as I am.

We will also be starting a new series called, “The Missing Peace: Finding Hope For Relationships.” Because if you are like most people, you have some struggles with other people from time to time. Relationships are tough, and frankly they default or naturally settle to “not so great” instead of “fantastic!”. Thankfully, God invented relationships, so he has some incredible things to teach us about how to have the best relationships possible.

We will have a theme verse in Romans 12:18, which is this simple yet difficult charge: “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone”. That’s it! That’s basically the secret to incredible relationships! But it feels and often IS more difficult than this verse.

We will be sharing six Biblical principles that may not completely fix every relationship overnight...far from it. But they will help us to make and keep better relationships moving forward when the tensions get high. Take a moment and read Romans 12 in prep for Sunday, and maybe underline or highlight a verse or two that really stands out to you along with verse 18. This will be a fantastic series to bring your Ones to, as they likely have relationships in their lives that could use some wisdom, too. See you Sunday!

This is it! This weekend, we celebrate one of the greatest and most incredible truths of the Christian faith: the tomb is empty.

The tomb is empty means....

.... Jesus conquered death.
.... Our sins have been paid for, and we are redeemed.
.... Death has no power of the power of Jesus.
.... Death doesn’t have the final word.
.... The Enemy has been defeated.
.... There is hope for everyone, no matter their story or past.
.... There is nothing you are struggling with that a resurrection can’t fix.
.... Nothing but the tomb is meant to be empty.

I could go on! The empty tomb is hope, and life, and vindication, and restoration, and meaning, and purpose, and joy, and celebration, and so many other things for those who are being saved. Thank you, Jesus, for the empty tomb.

Last weekend, we made commitments as a church family toward our This Is For Everyone vision campaign. We are still compiling totals for the commitments, as more come in every day. We will have a running total NEXT Sunday (4/16). Overall, all signs are very encouraging, and I’m blown away by our church’s generosity. If you haven’t made your 3-year commitment yet and would like to do so digitally, here’s the link.

I can’t wait to worship with you Sunday as we celebrate the Resurrection. To me, Easter is one of those gatherings that should be an, “Of course I’ll be there. Wouldn’t miss it!” sort of celebrations. This year, Cornerstone will be celebrating under a huge tent in the front yard near where our new worship center will be built. On top of what gathering means on Easter, this year carries an extra layer of meaning as we launch out with our vision to reach our Ones and make room for them in our family.

Here are a few notes as you prep for our Easter celebration Sunday:

•Our services are at 9:00 and 11:00, with family activities (inflatables, a scavenger hunt, petting zoo, etc.) in between and after services.
•Donuts and coffee will be available all morning, as well as a tent for Next Steps in case you bring your Ones who may need some more info on Cornerstone.
•The tent is big and awesome. This will be a memorable Easter. But the floor is grass, and we’ve had some rain. Our team is taking steps to dry it out, and this shouldn’t be a deterrent. But maybe reconsider white shoes if you have a choice.
•We are taking our First Fruits offering this Sunday toward the This Is For Everyone vision campaign. Please prayerfully consider giving Sunday to help us jumpstart the giving to the campaign. You can of course do that in person or digitally.

I’m preaching my sermon today and spending time praying for our Ones. Friends, Jesus is ready to do a major work in their lives. Let’s pray them up and invite them in!

This is a big week for our church!

Sunday represents Commitment Sunday for our “This Is For Everyone” 3 year vision campaign. On Sunday, each person or family that is part of Cornerstone is encouraged to fill out their commitment card and turn it in toward our goal of raising $3 million over the next 3 years above and beyond our normal giving to build a new worship center and renovate/repurpose several spots in our current building.

If you have not yet determined what God wants you to give, please prayerfully do so! Our goal is for 100% of our church to be a part of this journey. That means every single, couple, or family considering what they can give financially toward this goal.

Let me strongly encourage you to be present at church on Sunday! I can’t wait to share a special “Ones” story with you as well as the final message in the series as we take to heart the challenge of Jesus’ words regarding loving others as a way of life. During services on Sunday, we will all be encouraged to leave our seats and take our commitment cards to specific places in the worship center as an act of worship together. As around 100 of our leader families have already committed $1.4m, I am excited to see how the other 350 or so families will commit so that together we can do something that none of us can do alone.

Here's the challenge: Commit SOMETHING. Whether you have the ability to do something significant or are facing financial challenges, the call is to do SOMETHING. Do something that honors God with what he is providing in your life to be a part of what we are doing together, and I know God will move in power.

Our desire as a church to reach our Ones and welcome them into our family is no small task. It is easier for a church to shrink back and just try and do well with the folks God has already brought them. Love each other well, meet a few needs, and celebrate the Good News of Jesus. But that is a limited perspective on Jesus’ call! He has not only invited us.... but commanded us to GO. He told us to be the light of the world. He gave us the responsibility to share his truth with those who do not yet know. And friends, we are on the cusp of an incredible season of life change and vision as a church. I can’t wait to celebrate with you Sunday.

NEXT week is Easter. If you haven’t made the call or sent the text or walked next door or across the office and invited your Ones to Easter, this is the time! We will be in the front yard in a tent where our future worship center will sit to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Make plans to come early or leave late to enjoy some time as a family across the campus with inflatables and petting zoos for the kids and donuts for the adults (or whichever works best for your family!). Pray for good weather and make plans to be here! It is going to be exciting!

I am so thankful to be on this journey with you, church. See you Sunday!

Church! What an exciting day last Sunday was for our church. If you were present in person, you know we each wrote our Ones names onto a light bulb and placed it in our This Is For Everyone light bulb wall. That step for each of us was a commitment to love them and pray for them each and every day. What an incredible picture of our love for Jesus, trust in God, and heart for our Ones! I absolutely cannot wait to hear story after story of God bringing our Ones to faith.

This Sunday is part 3 of our series. I am so excited to share this message with you and together take some serious ground in reaching people with the Good News of Jesus. Read Mark 2 as you prepare for this weekend. I can’t wait to see you there, expecting God to do powerful things among us.
 
If you are watching the calendar, you know that Easter is just around the corner on April 9th! Easter at Cornerstone is going to be really special this year, as we are having our services at 9:00a and 11:00a in a HUGE tent in the front yard where our future worship center will sit. It is an exclamation point for our campaign, pointing to our confidence that God will do what only God can do both in the hearts of our Ones and in helping us raise the $3m needed to launch this journey. Along with our worship services, we are utilizing parts of our building for family activities like inflatable games. If you are a family, come early or stay late to spend some time on campus enjoying a beautiful spring day (I’m praying for that for sure!) and having a great day with your church. If you are bringing some Ones with you, let them know we have extra activities for their kids and age-appropriate classes for children of all ages.

A few ways to invite:
Physical Easter Card – We have printed some professional invite cards that you can pick up on campus this weekend to share with friends. It’s a simple way to open a conversation asking someone to join you for Easter.
Social Media Post – If you are on social, consider sharing one of Cornerstone’s Easter posts on your own pages or send them directly to people you’d like to invite.
Personal Conversation – I know, just actually talking to people is old-school, but you just never know! Maybe just have a conversation and invite someone to join you? They just might say yes!
The statistics tend to always suggest that Easter is one of the MOST open times of year for a conversation about faith or an invite to church. I’m praying that you are able to talk with your Ones and share our awesome church with those near and around you.

Cornerstone Family!
 
I am so excited about what God is doing in our church right now. Can you feel it? We are growing. We are seeing people surrender to Jesus. Kids, students, and adults alike are being baptized and accepting Christ. Families are finding healing and hope. People who have never been to church or who have never really walked with Jesus are opening their lives to him through our church. Kids are learning and growing in faith and raising the bar for mom and dad. Students are pushing back against the pressures they face and counter-gospel agendas around them each day and walking in truth. People from different cultural backgrounds and perspectives are linking arms to serve and do life together in Jesus’ name. It is truly exciting.
 
It seems like a very appropriate and timely season to launch a brand-new vision campaign this weekend called, “This Is For Everyone”. I’ll be sharing so much more over the next four weekends, but this is not just a series...it’s a 3-year vision campaign. Our desire is that more than ever Cornerstone will be laser-focused on praying for and reaching our Ones. Do you have a One? Is there someone in your life that you know could use the love of Jesus, and perhaps God could use you to reach them? This month, literally hundreds of thousands of prayers are going to go up on behalf of our Ones. We are going to take the hill in the name of Jesus on behalf of our loved ones and friends and neighbors and other soccer moms that we hope to see receive the power and love of Jesus. For some of them, it seems almost impossible. They just aren’t open to it. And yet, we know that God can move MOUNTAINS if we take it to him.
 
Don’t miss the next four weeks leading up to Easter! It’s one of the most exciting seasons our church has ever faced with a vision that is God-sized and yet so completely reachable. This weekend, you’ll be given some tools to pray for and reach your Ones. If you are like most people, it’s not that you don’t care about your One, it’s just that life can get in the way and squeeze out the priority to pray for them and look for opportunities to share with them. Hopefully, this series will help us re-prioritize our Ones. For others of us, it will be identifying a One for the first time. God will be blessed as we pray for and take steps to reach those he has put in our reach with his truth.
 
Also launching this weekend is the 3-year campaign to expand and build on our Shiloh campus. I’ll be sharing more details starting this weekend, but I am excited to invite you to join the rest of our church on a fantastic journey to make room for our Ones.
 
As we are growing, our 9:00 and 10:15 services are increasingly snug. That’s a great situation! Our team is actively taking creating approaches to add seating and make space. If you can shift and attend the 11:30a service on Sundays, there is additional space to worship. Would you consider joining me at 11:30a?
 
Take a moment and read Luke 7:36-48 in preparation for this weekend. Have there been times or situations where you had the attitude of the Pharisee? What about the woman with the perfume? May our attitudes and our approach together as a church be about reaching and welcoming those who are willing to come to the feet of Jesus. See you Sunday!

Over the last week and a half, I was privileged to travel to Israel with 31 other folks from our church. To see the Bible come to life by visiting the Bible places where God did amazing things through his people, and where Jesus was born, did ministry, and ultimately was crucified and raised to life is hard to put into words. Nothing I write here will do it justice, quite honestly. But I want to share a couple of insights with you so that together we can celebrate our awesome God.
 
1) Our God has always been incredibly faithful.
 
Everywhere we went in Israel, we were reminded of God’s incredible faithfulness to his people for generations. We visited ancient Jericho, a city which is only referenced in the Bible. You may remember the story from the book of Joshua. After marching around the city 7 times, God caused the walls of Jericho to come tumbling down. While there has been plenty of discrepancy historically about Jericho, today most experts recognize that the city walls from that era surprisingly fell outward, crumbling as they fell, and providing a perfect bridge for those outside the city to enter it. Similarly, there is a burn layer in the ground from the same era, as depicted in Scripture.
 
As I reflected on God’s promises fulfilled so many years ago in Jericho, I was reminded that God is still faithful and has been every day in between. He is still breaking down walls every day and walking with his people through their battles. As we often sing at Cornerstone, the battle belongs to the Lord.
 
2) In God’s Kingdom, what seems strong is weak, and what appears weak is strong.
 
I could write about this one for hours, as it became evident at virtually every location. Let me share just one example with you now. We visited the city of Caesarea, a coastal city on the Mediterranean built by Herod the Great. Even today as it lays in ruins, it is impressive. State of the art architecture and ornate decorations made Caesarea rival even mighty Rome in many ways. As one of Herod’s palaces was built literally INTO the ocean, it was a mighty and impressive city. And at one point, the apostle Paul was a prisoner there. One man, who had seemingly no power, had previously sailed from its coast to spread the gospel to the Gentile world. And later, he was a powerless prisoner who was eventually sent to Rome in an appeal to Caesar. Anyone who saw the situation would immediately assume Herod and Caesarea held all the power. And yet, today it is Paul whose heritage is remembered and celebrated every day worldwide, while Herod is all but forgotten outside of the Biblical text. God works best in the midst of weakness.
 
3) Jesus’ words are still confounding and transforming hearts.
 
One day, we visited the Mount of Beatitudes, the approximate location where Jesus delivered his sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7). When we visited first thing in the morning, the place was slammed. Buses were everywhere, and people were spread out across the grounds, sort of like I imagine it was at that first sermon. And I was reminded that all these people were there because Jesus’ words have in some way shaped their hearts. They are moved by him, 2,000 years later, and have come to pay respect to what he said. You are the salt of the earth. Give to those who ask of you. Love your neighbor. Pray for those who persecute you. Forgive as God forgives you.
Today, while the location is a reminder, it is the words of Jesus that continue to penetrate hearts and shape lives into the image of the son of God. I’m so glad he calls me his child, and I am so glad to celebrate it with you. See you Sunday.

Currently, I’m in Israel with a great group of folks who joined me for a tour of the land where
Jesus walked to take steps personally to grow closer to him.
 
Many times, seeing the very places and experiencing the surroundings of the location where some of the most incredible things in history happened, our hearts are shaped, and our faith grows.
 
Later today, our team will head to two very contrasting but powerful locations. Since I can’t teleport our entire church over, I’d like to share with you a few thoughts about these two places as you continue to grow in your faith back home.
 
Place #1 – Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls
In a remote area of Israel in 1947, a young shepherd boy looking for a stray goat found what became one of the most astounding and significant archaeological finds in modern history. Likely due to an emergency exit from the area due to persecution, Bible scholars from 600 B.C. (just before the time of the Babylonian Captivity) hid scrolls of Biblical text and commentary all through caves in the hillside. They were hidden there for more than 2,000 years and have become an incredible encouragement for Bible believers and scholars. The copies of the Bible found at Qumran were over 1,150 years older than the oldest complete Hebrew manuscript found prior to 1947. This find was a huge encouragement to the Christian community, because it confirmed many of the texts in the Bible almost word for word. As the years have gone on, the finds at Qumran have brought more and more confidence to the Biblical text. While no one has lived at Qumran for a couple thousand years, what happened there continues to be life-giving as we remember it today.
 
Place #2 – Masada
Masada means, “fortress”, and is likely the place King David referred to when talking about God as his fortress (I Samuel 23). Along with Biblical reference, Masada was a fortress built by King Herod for safety. It is most notably a location where 967 Jews who had revolted against the Romans in around 72 A.D. fled and were held up in the mountain fortress. The 15,000 Roman soldiers essentially barricaded the Jews into the fortress but could not breach it. However, as they plotted their eventual assault on Masada, the Jewish families did the unthinkable. Each father would end the life of his family members, 10 were chosen to kill the survivors, and one was selected to kill the 9 and then himself. This plan was executed, and when the soldiers marched in, they found the almost 1,000 residents all dead.
 
What in the world do these two stories have in common? Well, one is a story of an unknown and unsuspecting series of caves, which for 2,000 years were unknowingly filled with LIFE. The message of the love of God, which gained confidence from these findings, continues today to set people free from bondage, war, and the lure of power. The other, ironically built by a Jewish king for safe keeping, became only a graveyard of death. One is an unsuspecting place that was quietly beaming with life. The other was an incredible and immaculate fortress, which ultimately became a place of death.
 
All of that to say that despite what we can see, and despite what often seems like a world of power, war, sin, hopelessness and death, life and hope and salvation are awaiting in a cave nearby. God is always moving and working. He is doing so in your life today. Praying for you all from Israel!

Church! I’m so encouraged, as I hope you are, by the many ways God is moving and blessing our church. We are growing, we are reaching new people, and we are taking next steps toward Jesus each and every day.

In the past two weeks, you came out in INCREDIBLE ways to help fund the Invest Wall to send our kids (and kids who aren’t our kids YET, but we hope to help connect them soon!) to camp this summer. This Sunday, the invest wall wraps up, and we are poised to EXCEED our goal of 200 shares for camp this summer. Do you have a kid, grandkid, neighbor, or friend you should tell about camp? All the camp dates are out for this coming summer. You can find all of the information here.

This Sunday, we start a new series called “Faithful.” In Hebrews 11, the Hebrew writer gave us this incredible list, often called the “Hall of Faith,” of people from Israel’s history who lived a life of faith worthy of modeling. Each of them had their own circumstances and situations, but all of them were faithful to God until the end. We are going to spend 3 weeks looking at three of those stories: Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. As we live out our “Year of Faith” as a church, we will look at what it means to be faithful and consider what steps we need to take in order to grow in faithfulness to God. Please take a moment to read Hebrews 11 as preparation for worship this weekend.

As we are celebrating some great crowds over the past few weekends, we also must remember to be patient with each other. If there is a line in the parking lot or you are redirected to a spot that isn’t your preference, that is an opportunity to choose surrender. If you find a seat more snug than your preference in worship, it is an opportunity to celebrate and be thankful for those around you. If you have to wait in line for your coffee or to check in your kid, that is an opportunity to channel the spiritual discipline of patience. None of those things are ultimately all that challenging, and are signs of life in a growing church. As you leave your house Sunday to come to worship, take a moment and pray for Cornerstone. We want to be a force against darkness in this community and reach people far from God with the gospel. Your presence and your joyful spirit will be a fantastic step in that direction.

Before you arrive for church Sunday, I will be landing in Israel with 34 folks traveling to the Holy Land for 10 days. We will take communion and pray together on Sunday from Caesarea by the Sea, a key city in the NT for the expansion of the gospel to the world. The team has been meeting for a few weeks in preparation for the trip, reading Scripture, and learning about the places where Jesus walked. Please be praying for this trip, that God will move in our hearts and provide safe travel. I’ll share some stories and details with you after we return.

I pray for you every day and truly love you, church! Can’t wait to see how God will continue to grow us and stretch us this year into a new chapter of faith together.

Yours and His,
Chris VandeLinde

Have you seen the news lately?
 
I know, it can be a painful process to absorb the daily stories that many times paint things in a negative light or tell you bad news you didn’t know and frankly didn’t want to know. Sometimes, news outlets seem so biased on their reporting that they are not only trying to tell you what happened, but also what to think. And yet other times, the news can provide some helpful highlights of what is happening in our region or around the world to help keep us informed. It takes a good bit of work to sift through the onslaught of information to find what is truly useful.
 
Years ago, I was challenged by a more seasoned leader to stay up to date with the major headlines to not lose touch with the culture around me. Knowing what is happening and how others are thinking is critical to living in a world in desperate need of a Savior. How could I communicate accurately and relevantly if I am out of touch with the things on the front edge of the headlines? Today, I want to point out three recent “happenings” to you with some perspective toward the gospel.
 
#1 – Tyre Nichols killed by 5 Black Memphis Police Officers
So much could be and has been said here. Does our nation have some police brutality, some unruly citizens, some real racial issues, some false narratives about racial issues, and an overall confused appreciation for human life? I’m most certain the answer is ‘yes’ to all of these. Do you know what solves the hundreds-year-old deeply rooted racial issues and systemic troubles we face in this country? Not politics. Only Jesus. Hearts must change before any action really makes a lasting difference. I’m praying for the Nichols family as well as those officers and their families. None of them will ever be the same again.
 
#2 - Sam Smith and Kim Petras Perform ‘Unholy’ at the Grammys
Last week, the Grammy Awards were hosted. Many of the usual suspects (i.e. Beyonce) were honored. One of the performances however has caught the public eye in a unique way. Singers Sam Smith and Kim Petra have a top hit called, ‘Unholy’ that was performed live, complete with a full Satanic devil costume, fire blazing, and Petras locked in some sort of cell. Some news outlets describe the supporting dancers as demons. Christian news outlets have gone berserk, while personalities like Madonna (who introduced the song) celebrate pressing the envelope as cutting edge and necessary in modern culture. Another layer here is that both artists are transgender, celebrating sexual gender fluidity.
I don’t recommend you watch the performance or look up the song. Nothing really redemptive there. Nor am I just taking shots at Smith and Petras. What I am pointing out is that our culture continues to move further and further from Biblical truth while deep down longing more and more for the things of Jesus.
Interestingly, despite incredible fame and success due to the song ‘Unholy,’ Smith has another song called, ‘Pray.’ Smith doesn’t believe in God, mind you. But something in him knows he’s missing something. Here are some sample lyrics:
 
“I have never believed in You, no / But I’m gonna pray /. . . I am still your disciple. / I’m begging You, please. / I’m broken, alone and afraid. / I’m not a saint / I’m more of a sinner / Maybe I’ll pray / Pray for a glimmer of hope.”
 
Instead of spending much time bashing culture (turn off the tv when its obscene? Yes. Start a boycott against NBC? Not so sure), let’s speak into the sliver of hope that is in every heart living without the saving knowledge of Jesus. We still carry the greatest truth the world has ever known, even if they are actively rejecting it. It’s still true.
 
#3 – ‘He Gets Us’ at the Superbowl
On a positive front, the movement He Gets Us has purchased two commercial ads during the Superbowl. The intent is to get people thinking about Jesus and how they have something missing without him. If you watch the game, look for these commercials Sunday and say a prayer that God may use a short spot on tv to open hearts to his incredible grace.
 
See you Sunday!

Yours and His,
Chris VandeLinde

February marks the beginning of Black History Month in America. As a white Christian growing up in the south, I remember once joking sarcastically (and inappropriately) with a friend early in February, “When is White History Month?” It was not only an uninformed statement, but unrighteous. The work God needed to do in my heart (and continues to do) was to shape my worldview around the appreciation of and recognition of the beauty of ethnic diversity and the memory of both the tragedies and positive strides specific to black history in our country.
           
For non-black believers, it is important for us to remember that Black History Month is not for “them,” but instead for all of us. We often say at Cornerstone in regards to racial diversity in our church that we long to see Cornerstone look more and more like heaven. In heaven, the image of Revelation describes people from every tribe, language, people, and nation represented (Revelation 5:9). That is not uniformity, but true diversity, celebrating the beauty, history, and uniqueness of both cultures and races. We are better together as we understand each other’s histories, differences, and uniqueness. After all, it was God who “made from one man every nation of mankind.” (Acts 17:26)
           
For Christians, appreciation for both the stories of pain and achievement in black history grows as we draw closer to Jesus and God’s view of all people. My encouragement for our church is to make the embrace of Black History Month part of your personal spiritual journey this month. Pray first for your own heart in regards to your personal biases, prejudices, and worldview (no matter your skin color). Almost certainly, there is room for Jesus to work. Then pray that our church, with intentional efforts from each of us, will look more like heaven tomorrow than it does today. Then, perhaps spend a few moments this month just growing in your education of how faith shaped the landscape of African Americans in our nation’s history.

The history, specifically about how Jesus was central to abolishing slave trade in the US and shaping the nation’s faith through black pillars of faith in those early years, is fascinating. Here are just a few samplings of some heroes of faith from the black community and the early stages of the United States of America.

Lott Carey (1780-1828)
Born into slavery, Carey learned how to read the Bible and eventually purchased his freedom from enslavement. Lott led the first Baptist missionaries into Africa, eventually settling into ministry in Liberia. Lott is a phenomenal example of trusting God in the midst of impossible situations.

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
Sojourner Truth defied the odds by escaping slavery and becoming a strong voice in the abolitionist movement. Led by her relationship with Jesus, Truth was best known for her role in women’s rights and her speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” She eventually had a meeting with Abraham Lincoln as she became one of the foremost human rights activists of her time. It is clear that Sojourner drew her strength from Jesus and gives hope to all who serve Christ.

George Washington Carver (1864-1943)
George Washington Carver is an amazing example of what perseverance looks like. Despite both the blatant and institutionalized racism he encountered while pursuing higher education, Carver never gave up and eventually became the first African American to earn a Bachelor of Science degree. His example of moving forward despite the opposition all around him speaks volumes to staying the course.

*Credit for biographies to GoMinno.com

Yours and His,
Chris VandeLinde