Practice, Practice, Practice

Last week I had the opportunity to be in Louisville, Kentucky.   Louisville is a very old city and it is famous for several things, among them being the Kentucky derby, as well as being the birthplace of boxer Muhammad Ali.  For fans of baseball, it’s also the place where they produce the Louisville Slugger.  1.8 million or so baseball bats are made at the factory in downtown Louisville every year.  I got to see the process first hand (I also got to hold the bat Mickey Mantle used from 1961-1964) and they had lots of stories about the game of baseball and the players, as they toured us around their factory.  One story in particular was about the high standards they used in producing bats for the professional players.  They have these mechanical routers that can cut through a baseball bat in about 30 seconds.  These are great for the recreational players, but for the pros something else is demanded.  They have this very precise computer controlled router that cuts a bat to the exact specifications of each player. Each player knows exactly the feel of their bat.  In fact, they told the story of how one player sent a bat back to them because it just didn’t feel right.  They measured it and sure enough, it was out something crazy like a hundredth of an inch.  The guy giving the factory tour explained that these players swing their bats continually, uncountable amounts, and that of time makes them extremely discerning.

Psalm 119 has the dubious honor of being the longest chapter in the Bible.  I’d like to suggest that you read it.  I mean it, go right now and sit down and read it (I can hear the groans already – you don’t really mean all 176 verses !!??!).  To count the verses is to relegate this chapter to mere Bible trivia, and it is so much more than that (and yes, I do mean all 176 verses).  You see, Psalm 119 is actually the climax of the book of psalms.  It’s a 176 verse ode to how great the word of God is.  Verse 105 says : “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path”.  This great Psalm is a discussion of God’s word and how the writer needs to spend time in God’s word.  God’s word is what will help the writer live a live pleasing to God.  Time in God’s word enables a follower of God to obey.  Reading, meditating, and memorizing God’s word is what keeps a person on the path God has for them.  If there is any chance of being discerning in the life of following Christ, it has to do with spending time, lots of time, continually in God’s word.

I may not be a professional baseball player, but I am a follower of Christ.  Baseball is just a game, yet there are people that devote themselves fully to it, and give it their best personal time – all in the service of a game.  And so I’m challenged.  Because being a disciple is far more significant.  I want to develop that kind of discerning sensitivity to the word of God.  Only then will I be able to excel in service, and be obedient in every aspect of my life.

Where In The World Is…..?

Dan Jensen has been a part of the Cornerstone community for the last few years.  Helping out in student and music ministry areas (and the best

Pepsi driver around), Dan left last fall to head to Briercrest College in Caronport.

Right now though, Dan is on his way to Africa.  Kenya, to be specific, with a group of Briercrest students from across North America.  As a representative of Cornerstone Church while he’s there, we thought it might be cool to give you a heads up on where he’s going, what he’ll be up to, and how you can be praying for him and the team.  Here’s the main gist of what they schedule is in Dan’s words:

“The opportunities we have are amazing and the schedule is full.  We will be doing a number of campaigns in four or five communities (preaching, speaking, singing, praying – basically being ready to do whatever we are asked to do).  We will be visiting and ministering in 2 AIDs orphanages, and we will be ministering to widows and orphans in the village.  We’ll also be helping to lay a foundation for an orphanage home in Kisumu that will give up to 32 kids a home, and help establish a poultry farm to help the locals.  We will be helping to build 10 water springs and 2 wells in strategic locations in remote villages.  We also have the privilege of leading meetings at the University of Kisumu.  All of this is done with the local church, and all of it in just under four weeks.”

Busy schedule for sure, and part of Dan’s spiritual family, we want to invite you to be praying alongside and for Dan and the team.  Not totally sure who Dan is?  No problem!  God will make sure the dots get connected

Here’s the longform itinerary in case you’re curious what they will be up to each day:

July 24-26: Travel

July 28: University Event in Kisumu

July 29-Aug 1: Bunyore Campaign

Aug 2: Building fresh water springs/wells

Aug 3: Ministry to Operation Joseph kids and familes (AIDS ministry)

Aug 4: Orphanage ministry in Kakamega

Aug 6-8: Maseno and Kisumu Campaigns

Aug 9-11: Boyani Revival Service

Aug 12-13: Laying foundation for orphanage ministry

Aug 16-19: Wrap up and return home.

Lead Pastor’s Blog II.IX

I want to follow up the message from Sunday July 18 with some thoughts that may help those who were there or even challenge those who were not in attendance. If you missed that Sunday you may want to listen to the podcast once it’s up on our website.

The thrust of the message was that we are called by our very relational God to serve Him. When God showed up on Moses’ job site in Exodus 3 He was coming to call Moses into service. Each and every one of us who dare to call ourselves Christians are called to serve. As I pondered the message on Sunday afternoon I wondered why I would not serve God. Why would I deliberately choose to not serve this incredible God who has done so much for me? Every day of my life I am the beneficiary of His abundant grace. Every day there are new opportunities for me to grow in my understanding of what He has in store for me as I walk with Him. Every day it is a privilege to serve this indescribable God. Why would I not serve Him?

The truth is the evangelical church in North America has an abundance of people who make that choice each day. They choose not to serve. Now the reasons are many. It may be that some feel too stressed or too busy. It may be that some feel inadequate. I have heard the old standby of I did my time indicating that currently their job is simply to take up a spot in the service on Sunday morning. I have been given the line that I’m attending university so I can’t serve. There are many more excuses given as to why people choose not to serve. Honestly though there are very few excuses that hold any water when we talk about serving God.

Maybe we have the wrong vision when it comes to serving. Maybe we think in terms of holding some kind of position in a church like an elder or youth sponsor or Sunday School teacher. We look at the positions and conclude they are outside of our individual skill sets hence we don’t or can’t serve.

When I talk about serving I am thinking of a big picture idea not a small picture idea. I am thinking of those who indeed hold actual positions of service but also those who make coffee or set up chairs or pick up people for church. The list of possible service ideas is only limited by our creativity. People serve through their financial giving or through praying. People serve by visiting shut-ins or those in the hospital. People serve by tutoring students who struggle with school or taking food supplies to those struggling with financial issues. Really people serve when they are in the business of meeting needs. God called Moses to meet a need….lead the nation. They had been in bondage to Egypt and now God was about to answer their cries for freedom but a leader is needed. Moses is called into service.

Each and every one of us are the same as Moses in that we are called into service. It is just simply a matter of figuring out what and where God wants us to serve because He DOES want us to serve. I will speaking about this again in September when we will be having a minsitry trade fair offering all kinds of opportunities for people to get involved. As I said on Sunday I want to raise the bar when it comes to serving at Cornerstone. I want us to see and buy into the idea that it is both a privilege as well as a responsibility to serve God. We are going to establish a culture where people see serving as a natural part of our church DNA as opposed to some kind of added chore if I attend this church. We are in the process of developing a small group minsitry whereby you can attend and discover what your spiritual gifts, abilities and interests are so as to help you make wise choices when it comes to serving.

Serving is not some kind of spiritual punishment. Serving is God’s way of allowing us to engage His plan for the world. Serving is a privilege that leads to joyful satisfaction understanding I am doing what God pre-wired me to do.

As we raise the bar we will also be raising the sense of expectation about how God will use us in accomplishing His purposes. You can’t read the scriptures and find people who regretted serving God. It is just the most fantastic concept that God would allow me the honour of serving Him. There is more to come on this topic but I feel a bit better now. Have you discovered the joy of serving?

Lead Pastor’s Blog II.VIII

I read these words recently: “Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit a great sin.” (II Kings 17:21) I just sat back and stopped reading at that point. Jeroboam was a king, a leader of the nation God had chosen. Can you imagine those words being penned about you personally? I said it out loud with my name and the name of the church I lead inserted in place of Jeroboam and Israel. It just sent a shudder down my spine.

It is such a challenge to live life in the place of leadership but we all do in some way. Perhaps it is as a parent or on your job site or in a volunteer position. Leadership is an immense challenge but also an incredible privilege. Parents would you like it said of you that you enticed your children away from the Lord and caused them to commit a great sin? Wow doesn’t that just grip your heart with a certain sense of fear? It seems God takes note when we lead people astray and we will one day give an account of our actions.

This past Sunday we had one of those special moments as a church family. As my friend, Mike Hack of Operation Mobilization, spoke God moved within our body of believers. There was a challenge and a warning. The challenge was in regards to whom we bow our knee in service and worship. The warning was that there is a very real spiritual battle going on and the evil one is out to deceive as well as destroy. People were making serious decisions. Some bowed and prayed. Some wept. Others just wandered out like everything was the same as usual. This was not a Jeroboam moment where people were being enticed away. This was more of a Hezekiah kind of moment. A few days ago I read these words about this king, “This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord.” (II Chronicles 31:20)

Two different leaders with two very different influences on their followers. Of Hezekiah it was said that he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. Later on in II Kings it says of the people of Israel that while they were worshipping the Lord they were serving their idols. In other words God was not number one. I think much of the North American church is right here. God is in play but not number one. Other pursuits, priorities and passtimes surpass God in our personal lives. We still worship when it is convenient but honestly He is not number one.

Today that can all change. Today each one of us can make an individual decision that will put God in His proper place in our lives. Today because of God’s wonderful grace we can bow our knees willingly to the King of Kings. Today is a day of opportunity. Will you seize it?

At the end of your days would you rather have the life impact of Jeroboam or Hezekiah? It is your choice. Choose wisely my friend.

Under Construction

The hammers are going, supplies are being brought in and the smell of paint will soon overcome the Christian Education Wing and everything will soon look fresh and clean ready for fall programming.

The summer has been a busy one of construction for the CE wing.  People have been working very hard to get it ready for the fall time and I would like to thank everyone who has helped us so far.

I want to thank families for being so patient and understanding during this time since it has been an inconvenience with the upstairs including the bathrooms being out of commission. But soon the upstairs will be done.

We don’t have an exact date yet of when the upstairs will be open so please keep posted through Sunday morning announcements and bulletin.

Feel free to continue using the nursing room and parenting room downstairs.

If you would like to help with clean up, we would greatly appreciate that. We are looking for helpers to assist in washing/cleaning toys, tables, book cases, etc. Contact the office.

I’ll Be On the Next Plane

I finally had the opportunity to see the movie This is It which is essentially a compilation of the rehearsal footage of Michael Jackson and his creative team preparing for upcoming concerts in London.  While those concerts will never happen, this movie does give people a chance to see the creative process as it unfolds in the midst of spectacle and technology.  It’s really interesting to see how these very skilled people interact with each other, and what drives them to perform at such high levels.  In particular, they focus on the team of dancers, and the auditioning process.  They auditioned hundreds of dancers, and only the best will come to this audition – dancers that have spent years learning and training.  As they interview individual dancers they talk about how they jumped at the opportunity to perform in this show.  One guy from Australia talked about how he found out about the audition two days before it happened, and how he jumped on the first plane to make it.  He jumped on the first plan, just for the chance to audition – no guarantees.  He just jumped at the opportunity.

It really made me question my commitments; to God and to the service of his name in the church.  It’s all very easy to say one is committed, but what does that look like?  Do I actually demonstrate commitment in my life, or is it just an aspiration?  Is Christ significant enough in my life that I am motivated to action?  Think about the worship gathering.  Do I make it a priority to come to church and worship with other believers?  Do I come engaged and prepared, or am I just looking to be served.  These dancers weren’t there to get tickets, or to be impressed by the show.  They wanted to be a part of it.  And what about serving God?  When an opportunity comes along to serve, do I jump at the chance, or do I have a list of reasons why I can’t be involved.  I’ll use music in the church as an example, though we could apply it to any kind of service we offer to God.  Say we had worship team auditions.  We would advertise and set a date and a time. Please come - opportunity to serve God by being on a worship team.  Would people line up outside the building waiting for it to start?  Would people come from near and far just for the opportunity to serve God in the church?  Would we find a person would buy a plane ticket and travel half way around the world just for the opportunity to try serving?  If we weren’t skilled enough would we be challenged to go back and work hard and develop our gifts?

Paul’s letter to the Philippians says “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Sometimes I live a very weak version of following Christ.  But there is an alternative: the power of Christ’s resurrection.  While there is so much in this world that can be enjoyed and explored, Paul reminds us that there is nothing more significant than knowing who Jesus is and what he has done.  That is the greatest adventure we can live.  But Paul also says it isn’t an easy road.  Spiritual maturity doesn’t happen over night.  It comes with spiritual discipline and sacrifice.    I need to continue to prioritize God’s word in my life, and be happy when I’m called on to serve.

Nothing is greater than being able to serve God and glorify Him through my life.  I need to be driven to pursue excellence in the service of my God.  And the reward is beyond great.  It is a life that moves me from the sidelines, from observer status, into a life of amazing and complete fullness.

I’ll be on the next plane.

Pastor Lorn