Miracles

Miracles By Walt Whitman

Why, who makes much of a miracle? As to me I know of nothing else but miracles, Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan, Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky, Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of    the water, Or stand under trees in the woods, Or talk by day with any one I love, or sleep in the bed at night    with any one I love, Or sit at table at dinner with the rest, Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car, Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive of a summer    forenoon, Or animals feeding in the fields, Or birds, or the wonderfulness of insects in the air, Or the wonderfulness of the sundown, or of stars shining so    quiet and bright, Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring; These with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles, The whole referring, yet each distinct and in its place.  To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle, Every cubic inch of space is a miracle, Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with    the same, Every foot of the interior swarms with the same.  To me the sea is a continual miracle, The fishes that swim—the rocks—the motion of the waves—    the ships with men in them, What stranger miracles are there?

Mark 9:35

The one constant in life we all face is change and there is nothing to be done about it.  Embrace it, reject it, ignore it, maybe even bury it or close our eyes and let it pass.  No matter what we do change occurs and a new set of circumstances present itself even if we distract ourselves from the shifting ground beneath our feet.  I like the idea of attaching myself to change for this allows me to not hold to tightly to today's circumstances.  I am asking God to change me and I have and am changing into something, and only God knows what that is. 

     Well I have found a new thing!  See I have a crazy love for Christ, my family, and the church I pastor and along with this revelation I also found out  that I have a crazy kind of love to help as many people come to know Christ as possible.  The new change is an old idea "whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else." (Mark 9:35)  I am attaching myself to this change and am going to lead by serving. 

     The only problem is I have no idea what this new change is or how it will change the things around me but I will keep you updated.  Let the serving begin.

PRAYER

In our marriage class last night we ran across the following prayer by author Gary Thomas --
 "Lord, how can I love my spouse today like she's (he) never been loved and never will be loved?"

Update

The fast is nearly ¾ over and I find myself thinking about how difficult it can be   to know the will of God.  Commonsense can be used to make a quick decision, my instincts and experience can lead me to making a good natural decision but what does God want.  How do we find a “wisdom that will enter your heart” (Prov 2:10) a “knowledge that will be pleasant to your soul” in the midst of the confusion we all face.  I know what my mind says for selfishness speaks loudest, then if that is rejected then it easily jumps to the natural to figure this out, but that leaves God out and I merely use what I know.   Paul lets us know that the “righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17).  To live by faith leads me to trust God without seeing, to dig deeper in the word and prayer, to shake off the natural and go to into the deep things of God. I guess a 24 hour fast is not going to do this but I seem to be diving anyways into the deep.  Wonder what I will find?  Quite possibly not the natural or the common but the perfect will of God which is the very thing I long for.

Declare a holy fast

When:  October 23, 2012 8:00 PM to October 24, 8:00 PM

“Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD” Joel 1:14

1.     I am asking all small groups and Bible Studies who meet on Wednesday to begin their groups with prayer- seeking Gods will for Cornerstone Church and it’s attenders.

2.    To seek for forgiveness of sin with true repentance.

3.    To break addictions and strongholds that prevents an intimate relationship with God.

4.    That God would restore broken relationships.

5.    That we would return to heart holiness and our services would be free to experience the power of God.

6.    That harmony and unity and peace would be shown in relationships between Cornerstones attenders.

7.    That the staff of Cornerstone would be blessed with unity of vision and that our families would be protected.

8.    That the Church Board would experience the insight and discernment to know the will of God.

9.     That wisdom would be given in the next set of elections and that the Holy Spirit would lead the body of Christ in discerning the Fathers plan.

I Like Coffee

I like coffee, always have and I especially like Tim Horton’s coffee and I am not sure why.  It’s bold and I like that, but I think it is really the sleeve they put around the coffee cup that keeps me coming back.  The other day I pulled up to Tim Horton’s and ordered my large coffee and asked like I always do for a sleeve.  The teller stated,  “they were out of sleeves” so I guess I would have to drink my coffee sleeveless.  The sleeve and the cup go together like a ball and glove, like Garry and Annette, and I as I drove back to the office drinking the sleeveless coffee it was a constant reminder of how much I missed the sleeve.

During the summer we have vacations, family reunions and many other necessary things that divert our attention. To keep your faith strong we still need to worship God and keep a good pace in our devotions.  This summer we are encouraging taking a break and many of our summer Sunday Nights are fellowship geared.  Remember to keep your relationship with God vibrant by starting it with a daily devotional, continuing to pay your tithe and by involving yourself in mentoring others about Jesus Christ.  You really could be the sleeve, that something extra in you families’ life that makes their day better.

Ashes to Fire

The cross of discipleship is exactly the same for every follower of Christ "it's the cross upon which each of us is crucified to our own selfishness." When we willingly die this death, we are liberated into the life of the kingdom. The call at Cornerstone is not only to be a kingdom builder but to have the king in us.

Ashes to Fire

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid: that foundation is Christ Jesus." The prayer this evening took me back to a prayer offered many years ago as I sought God with my whole heart for the first time. John Wesley prayed "Cleanse me from all filthiness of flesh and spirit that I might follow you with a pure heart and mind."

Ashes to Fire

Pretty pumped about Ashes to Fire starting tomorrow with daily personal devotions beginning in the morning and I hope to see everyone at the Ash Wednesdays service at 7:00 PM.

 

Like most of you I am thinking about what I am fasting for lent and I want to encourage you to use this time to become passionate in about your relationship with Christ.

God Is Doing a New Thing

God is doing a new thing and I want to be a part of it and  over the next few weeks I will be sharing the new thing      

      "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord"  Psalm 150:6

The writer of Psalms (119:64) gives a s his personal theme of  "seven times a day  I will praise you"  

1.  God is restoring praise to the body of Christ all over the world.

Great Sunday

Great Sunday as I had a chance to not only serve communion at the 11:00 Cornerstone service but the opportunity to drive quickly go to Theater Six to serve our teens and college students in the Uprising Service. Great day and I am looking forward to next week start of two services 9 & 11.

Big thank you’s to Judy, Renae, Brenda for a great meal, Ryan for did a super job in the youth service and Les a fine job putting together the Adult worship. Expressions were super again and Brooke led the children- I am in awe and have a very grateful heart.

Back to Church

This Sunday is the national back to church Sunday and I have mulled it around and have decided this Sunday, just this one I am coming back to church. Reminds me of a story I heard. “ A man said to his wife I’m not going to church today, the people aren’t friendly, the music too loud, the temperature is too hot, the seats are not comfortable and I am tired of standing and sitting , standing and sitting and they always expect me to put something in the offering. His wife said honey you have to go to church today, you are the pastor.” See you this Sunday.

"Push"

A few weeks ago I pulled into the Kroger parking lot and saw a young man pushing his truck and at the same time trying to jump in and pop the clutch. It appeared this was one of his many attempts as I could tell from the frustration he exhibited while slamming the truck door.

It reminded me of my younger days both the car not starting and slamming the car door so I came to his rescue. I pushed from the tailgate and he from the driver’s door again and again and again… You get the picture, my good deed had turned into the marathon of truck pushing and there was nothing to show for it. I guess it is true good intentions are not enough but in this case I am sticking with it is the thought that counts.

I could quote from Romans 8:28 “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” or from Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew there strength, they will soar like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Ever been in a situation that you have the promise and the ability but the situation does not go as planned. I could push no more, asked if I could call someone for him or take him somewhere, he refused and I limped away and went into Kroger’s.

The door of opportunity has a sign on it “Push.” In this case I was not responsible to start the truck but to offer a helping hand - the results belong to God.

Are you and God on the same page?

Human: What is a century like to you?
God: It is like a second.
Human: What is billion dollars like to you?
God: Like a penny.
Human: Can I have a penny?
God: Sure, just wait for a second.

The Invitation

    This past weekend was an eye opener for me as I watched Calebb march out on the stage with the other officers to take the oath of office to become 2LT Calebb Proehl.  A few months ago Calebb invited me to be part of his ceremony at graduation by giving him his first salute.  An Army tradition is to give the enlisted man who gives you the first salute a silver dollar as respect to those enlisted men who serve.  I cannot tell how great it made me feel to get the invitation to be included in his big day. 

     As we drove home it got me thinking about the power of being invited.  It first made me feel a part of the ceremony not just an observer; secondly it made me feel that I was important.  Thirdly it made me feel comfortable when I showed up to do the salute.  On the other hand not being included can make us feel insecure, left out as if I do not have the code word to get in the party.

     As the church grows we need to be intentional about the invitation to others to be a part of Cornerstone.   A phone call, an invitation to dinner, or even extra effort to show you care will help others to be feel included.  The power of the invite is that we take the time to include others outside of the doors to the Church.

Blind Faith

During my senior year of high I skipped school and went down to the local recruiter’s office and signed up for the Army. I didn’t tell my girlfriend who is my wife now or my parents I just signed on the dotted line and off to Columbus they took me to be inducted.  I was young and ready to tackle the world but I also had a blind kind of faith that things would work out.  Similar to the blind faith it takes to trust the Lord when your reach exceeds your grasp.  Living by faith in a time when you have no guarantee of success is similar to what the Lord requested of Abraham when he told him to “leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:10)  To live with blind faith requires surrender not blind risk.  The Lord is not telling us to risk blindly on our own dreams and efforts but to yield control to his will and follow him with faith in His plan for us.

HOLINESS

     I like to collect globes and by current count have at least 12 in my office.  I can date them by the changes in names of countries and cites or by the type of stand they have.  Anyways the thing I like about globes is that they are complete but changeable.  Changeable in that they are correct for their era but the newer models show the changes in country names and borders.  This is similar to holiness in that we are complete today but tomorrow the Holy Spirit will expand its boundaries in our life and ask us to reset.  

                            Holiness is both instant and progressive.  

     All of my globes are perfect for their day but each new one is progressively updated as changes in the world occur.  Changes are going to happen in your life and God is going to change your boundaries but holiness is never out of date or behind but we must understand that God is never finished updating us.

Praying With Persistence

Last week I preached about Praying With Persistence.  Part of the message was directed to what happens when God troubles the heart and what could be the cause of that trouble.

 

1.  Sin

2.  The Spirit leading us into heart purity. Hebrews 12:14

3.  Being outside of God's will.

4.  A negative attitude.

5.  Refusing God. Hebrews 12:15

6.  Going against light.  John 8:12

 

The key to the troubled heart is trust as Jesus states "Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God, trust also in me."  John 14:1

PURPOSE

I know I have heard it before, "I am not buying into this mentoring stuff."  Why do I need someone who is ahead of me in the faith to mentor me, why do I need someone behind me in the faith to mentor too and why do I need friends similar to me in the faith to laugh and cry with.  I will tell you why it is called Purpose.  Purpose means that I am not going it alone but bringing others along on the ridiculous journey of faith.

Live on Purpose-  Get involved in the life with someone who can help you with your journey.

Live on Purpose-  Develop relationships with friends to laugh and cry about successes and failures.

Live on Purpose-  Become a mentor to someone coming up in the faith to help them develop lifelong relationships through Christ.

Praying With Power

Praying with power is the ability given to those who are transformed and not conformed.  Being conformed is adjusting to certain acceptable patterns that meet the norm of those around us.  Paul said not to conform to the patterns of this world which we all can agree is probably not a good thing but what if the conforming is in the church and not in the world.  What if the norm is ineffective prayer, giving we we have extra, reading the Bible on occasion.  Being transformed is something different it is the relationship that is constantly seeking Gods will, not confirmation from others acceptable mediocrity.  Being transformed is powerful in both our living and our prayers, being transformed is pleasing to God.