Fall Music Schedule 2010

Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.  (I Corinthians 14:26 NLT)

I have a picture painted on the wall in my office.  It’s a simple sketch depicting a woman on her knees pouring a jar of perfume over the feet of another; and using her long flowing hair she washes the man’s feet.  The man getting his feet washed is Jesus, and all we see of him is the foot being offered.  Her face is hidden behind her hair, and we really can’t know all that is going on inside her heart in this moment.  The sandal of Jesus is casually placed to the side, a silent witness to a tender moment of worship.  The perfume drizzles onto the foot and trails away, a lavish gift poured out and filling the room with its intrusive fragrance.  The people around are shocked at the scene, the way she debases herself, and places herself in humility below this man.  They are outraged at the impropriety.  She should know that this is not how we act.  They are angered at the waste, the expense that could be used for the poor, certainly not on this Jesus.

A lot of people watched.  A lot of people commented.  A lot of people reacted.  This one woman brought something to Jesus.  She brought a very precious offering, a sacrifice that was pleasing to Jesus.  He said so.  And he said we should remember this.  So think about this as you prepare yourself for next Sunday when we worship.  Remember that worship is about bringing an offering, one that will bring glory to God and will be for each others strength as we carry out the call of Cornerstone church to change our world.

Pastor Lorn
(check out this story in Matthew 26:6-13; Luke 7:36-50)

download a pdf of the current music schedule here

Letter to Cornerstone

Dear Cornerstone Church,

The Time has Come

I am excited.  I am increasingly convinced that God is preparing our church for its next mountain top experience.  This I believe has been confirmed by a convergence of God’s leading and directing among the leadership of the church.  Independent of one another, God has been directing the church leadership in paths that converge with the same message.

God wants Disciples

But what is a disciple?  It starts with a decision to follow.  Sadly, the church as a whole has traditionally been weak at providing the framework for its members to know what is required and how to be successful followers.  Often after the initial decision the followers are left to a wayward journey of “growing in Christ” (as a church we need to be more deliberate / intentional in the making of disciples).   The Western church has been lapse in its responsibility to challenge its followers to greater levels of devotion and commitment.  It is only when we identify the expectations and responsibilities of a disciple and we ourselves choose to take that step of obedience that we can truly see God at work in our lives.

Discipleship is more than Bible Study

If discipleship was just Bible Study then the church would be dead.  Unfortunately, the Western church often succumbs to the cultural value of “ME”.  Consider this picture:

There is a banquet room filled with people.  But this banquet is different.  The food keeps coming, it doesn’t stop.  The people keep eating and eating until they are immobilized due to their consumption.  Even then, more and more food still comes.

Ironically, the purpose of food is to nourish and strengthen our bodies for the tasks that are required of us, not to immobilize us.  Yet, that is exactly what the Western church does when we continue to feed the members yet do not challenge them to greater application.  We are all guilty of it, we are to be a community, a family which iron sharpens iron.  Consider the church of Laodicea (Rev.3:14ff), the lukewarm church.  Is this not an ample description of the Western Church?  A church that is comfortable with itself.  Comfort is dangerous because it means that you are no longer moving forward.  The problem is that not only have you stopped walking forward, but you have stopped walking and are standing on an escalator going the opposite direction!

If the 12 disciples had been satisfied with Bible Study the church would not exist.  We are called to something more!

AN EXCITING FUTURE

The discipleship process is simple: God’s challenge leads to our obedience giving us as followers of Christ  greater devotion and greater passion. As this pattern is followed we have a greater propensity to follow through on the next challenge God presents to us.  When we are obedient to God’s calling, exciting things happen!

I am Excited

I believe that within the context of the vision for our church, God is calling us to be disciple makers.

I believe that He is calling us even more so to be more radically devoted to Him and the work that He would accomplish through us.

I can say with confidence that from the parable of the seeds (Mat 13:1ff) I will not be the one that dies, gets choked or withers because I have drawn a line in the sand and said “I will go!” (Isaiah 6:1ff)

I can say with confidence that from the parable of the talents (Mat25:14ff) I will not be the one that stands before the Lord and says that I have buried my treasure.  No! I will not be satisfied with being comfortable.  As the challenges come I will stand and take hold of them, stepping forth in obedience.

And so I challenge You

Will you stand with me.  Will you take hold of the challenges God brings forth to change your life and grow His Kingdom?

What does this mean?  Simply prioritizing God and what He wants you to be obedient in and accomplish.

We as a church will be issuing a number of challenges in the year ahead.  Join In.

We as a church will be providing the training needed to be obedient to what God has called us to.  Join In.

Yours in Christ,

Clayton Lane

Cornerstone Church Moderator

P.S.  A good place to start is reading the book “Radical. Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream.” Platt, David.

Lead Pastor’s Blog II.X

I bounce back and forth between the truth that there is so much work that needs to be done versus I am so excited about where we are headed as a church family. As a general rule of church leadership summer moving into fall carries that kind of weight. Programs are getting ready to start up again. New ministries are often launched at this time of year. New people have moved in and are looking for a church. It is an exciting time each year. This year is the same and different. It is the same in that we have lots of ministries gearing up for the fall. We are truly excited about that but this year things are also different.

God has been moving in our midst this summer at Cornerstone. The Sunday in July when Mr. Mike Hack spoke was a Sunday to remember, a Sunday when people were making life-changing decisions. Mike works for a ministry called Operation Mobilization and he lives in South Africa even though he grew up in nearby Waldheim. God used Mike to awaken us to the truth that we are in a Spiritual battle and that we need to make a life decision to surrender to Jesus Christ. It seems to simple but it has such profound implications.

Our Moderator has had our church leadership read a book called “Radical” by David Platt. To say it has stirred us would be understating the truth. The message in the book is very much in line with the message Mike shared with us. We need to wake up to the truth that God is calling us to absolute surrender. The church in North America needs to wake up says Mr. Platt. Wake up to the needs of the poor in our world and the biblical truth about salvation. God is stirring in our midst, so as much as things are the same as most summers…..this year there is a difference.

It is not business as usual. It is not just another summer heading into fall. This year things are different. As you walk into a Sunday service or connect with people during the week there is just a sense that things are different in a very positive way. Cornerstone is on the move. Perhaps a wave is a good mental picture to contemplate. A fresh wave of God’s Spirit pouring over us. A cleansing wave causing us to examine our own lives and get things right with God. A wave moving us in a fresh direction of God’s choosing. We are not in control of the wave. We just choose whether we watch the wave or catch the wave. Catching the wave has an incredible excitment associated with it.

It also has our future associated with it. If this is God’s wave then we do need ride it as a church body. As a collection of individuals we need to catch this wave and ride it empowered by the Spirit who created the wave. This summer things are different at Cornerstone. This summer God has stirred within us a church family. He has called us back to the basics. Where are you? Are you riding the wave? Are you watching the wave? Are you surrendered to Jesus Christ?

Things are the same as any other year but things are definitely different this year. Have you sensed it? Come on, let’s ride the wave together.