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.

Under Construction

During the past several months the Christian Education Wing has been dealing with water damage due to spring thaws and heavy rains.The repairs to the roof will be completed shortly. Construction has already begun upstairs in the CE Wing which means the wing will be completely closed off for the rest of the summer.

This means there will be no nursery care for the rest of the summer. We understand that this will be an inconvenience for our young families but please understand that the closure is in the best interest of the children.

We would appreciate patience and understanding at this time.

The Parenting Room and Nursing Room are available on the main level. Parenting Room is equipped with a washroom and change table.Please ask an usher if unsure where these rooms are.

If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact Mandy Nemanishen at the church 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

Summer Wednesday Connection

During the months of July and August, every Wednesday an activity will be organized for families and friends within our church  and community  to connect at.

These events are open to everyone. Feel free to invite friends and family.

Cost is covered by the individual.

Weather permitting.

Parents are to accompany their own children and are responsible for them.

JULY

July 7th: Appleby Drive Kids Club

Time:6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Meet at Kids Club Apartment ( 107-714 Appleby Drive)

The club minister to immigrant and refugee children. Tons of fun.

July 14th: Fort Carlton Provincial Park.

Time: 9:00 a.m.- 1 p.m. approx. Meet at the church at 9:00 a.m.

for those interested in car pooling.     -Bring packed lunch.

-Fire pits and picnic shelter available.

-Historical Tours of the Fort and hikes available.

Cost: Family $9.00     Adult: $4.00    Youth(6-17): $1.00

Children under 5: FREE

July 21st: Saskatoon Berry Picking

- Berries are ripe!     Meet at the church at 9:30 a.m.

- Bring a packed lunch.     $5.00 per ice cream pail.        Bring own pails.

- Place: Langham ( 30 min)

July 28th: Riverdale Outdoor Pool

- Time: 1:00 p.m..    Meet at the Pool

- Cost: Family $12.00  Adult: $6.00  Youth (6-18) : $3.60

August

August 4th: TBA(Outreach Opportunity)

August 11th: Kinsmen Park and Rides.

- 9:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.        Rides open at 10:00 a.m. $1.00 per ride.

- Meet at the park          -Bring packed lunch/snacks

August 18th: Pike Lake Day

-Leave church at 9:30 a.m.   ALL DAY EVENT: you leave when you want.

- Day Pass to Park only : $7.00  Swimming/mini-golfing is extra $.

- Fire pits and picnic area’s available.       -Nature hikes.

- Please see Pike Lake Provencial Park website for more info.

August 25th: Meewasin Park ( Free but bring snacks/lunch)

- Shelter and playground available.   Time: 10:00 a.m.- 12. 00 p.m.

- Church will bring some play supplies.

Wondering how your family will get through a church service…

With summer around the corner, many parents might be wondering how they will ever make it through the summer family services.  Between one child complaining they are hunger while another is bored and trying to keep a baby quiet, church may seem impossible.  Don’t get discouraged, talking with some parents, it does take a child time to adjust to a new routine so be patient those first few weeks. Here are some suggestions to help you out.

Explain to your child the routine of the church service. Usually, we sing songs; pass the offering plate around, special music, main speaker and then closing music.  This may be a good time to walk your child through the sanctuary to explain what a pew is, were the music comes from (instruments, speakers, sound board) , introduce them to main speaker ( usually Russ) and get them familiar with the environment.

Here are some suggestions to keep a child occupied during the service. This is a generalization so some of these may not pertain to particular age groups.

Create a special church bag. This special church bag will have toys only for church, snacks (crackers, fishy crackers, dry cereal or raisins), puzzles, coloring books, picture books and maybe a special candy. Have the child carry the bag so they feel part of the Sunday morning process. One parent suggested having soft caramel just for church service because it takes forever chew and helps keep them quiet.

Engage them in the service. We will try to have appropriate break out times during the service when Russ will ask families to answer questions together. Take advantage of this time to engage your children and ask them what they think. Also, maybe let your children be responsible for passing the offering plate and putting money into it.

This one may sound contradictory but decided to sit closer to the front instead of in the back. Just like adults, sitting in the front help keeps a person attention and the child can also have a better view of what is happening up front.

For parents with small children, make sure diapers are changed and the child is fed. Of course there will be times when you child may be ill or teething and they will be a little more noisy but that is okay. Don’t feel judged.

Feel free to take the child on a walk outside of the sanctuary half way through the service. It helps break up the time and helps the child to refocus.

There is a nursing room provide in the back of the sanctuary along with a parenting room accessible from just outside the sanctuary doors. There are toys, games, puzzles and washroom provided for your convenience.  Please ask an usher if unsure where the room is located.

These are only suggestions and parents know their child best so please use your own discretion.

I hope these suggestions can be of some help!

Israel Trip 2010 – new dates -

What can you do to really increase your understanding of the Bible?  Let me make you an offer.  This winter I will be leading a tour to Israel departing Saskatoon February 21st through to March 5th.  This will be my 5^th trip to the Holy land and with each trip I have used the same Jewish tour guide.  He is a remarkable man who will help you understand the scriptures in a way you would never have imagined.  You will come back to Canada with a brand new appreciation of your faith.  You will have a renewed hunger to study the places you have had the opportunity to visit.

Imagine with me riding in an open boat on the Sea of Galilee while reading the story of Jesus walking on water.  We will walk into the Garden of Gethsemane and you will enter the empty tomb or at least what they believe is the best possible location for the empty tomb.  I will take you to the top of Mount Carmel where Elijah fought the prophets of Baal.  We will walk the ancient cobblestone streets of old Jerusalem.  You will sit on the slopes of the Mount of Beatitudes leading down to the Sea of Galilee where Jesus fed the multitudes.  This is just a small sampling of the many places you will experience on our tour.

We will also be going into the country of Jordan for a one day trip where we will see one of the wonders of our world…Petra.  Much has been written about Petra but you really have to see it to believe.  I was blown away the first time I walked that path in that remarkable country.  Petra does have Biblical associations which you will learn about while journeying there.  For many people the trip to Israel truly ends up being a trip of a lifetime.  The greatest joy I have is when I return and hear people say, “I read my Bible differently now.”

I have a full two week itinerary and a price schedule for you if you are interested.  Please contact Kathy Janzen at our church office either by phone or email and she will get you the information you need (ask Kathy about the trip, she’s been there).

cornerstone@sasktel.net

Time for Worship

I love to worship God.  Sunday morning is honestly one of the high points in my week.  For me it’s not about going through the motions of religion.  And even though I’m the worship pastor, my joy in worship takes me so much beyond the fact that planning worship is my job.  Psalm 122 says “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let’s go to the house of the Lord’”.  I am that person.  I am glad.   This is the presence of God we are talking about.  We are destined to worship Him in eternity.  Yet Church time often becomes an optional item on an already packed list of leisure activities.

“The average person is awake 112 hours a week (assuming he or she sleeps eight hours a night).  If a person goes to a weekend worship gathering that lasts two hours, then 98.2 percent of their week is not in a weekend worship gathering.  To most people, “church” involves only 1.8 percent of their time.  The rest is supposedly not “church.”  This is pretty crazy because in reality you and I and other Christians are the church 100 percent of the time”  (Dan Kimball in Emerging Worship).

It’s funny then that time always seems to be an issue when it comes to church.  At Cornerstone, give or take, our Sunday morning worship time lasts one hour.  When you look at the hours, it’s a pretty small investment.  But it’s also a pretty large misunderstanding of what the church is.  One hour on Sunday is not Church.   Church is not the building.  Church is not the one hour program.

Church is you and me.  As followers of Christ, once we make a commitment to follow Him, we become the body of Christ.  We are the church.  Every day of the week we wake up in the morning and by the power of the Holy Spirit the first breath we breathe is church.  Christ followers live a life of a worshiper with all aspects of prayer, devotion, commitment and the study of God’s word.  This is our daily joy to live.

When we arrive on Sunday morning, in essence, we are continuing to explore what we have been doing all week.  That means we need to be reading our Bible, preparing our hearts in prayer, working to give, and serving others.  The only way Sunday morning has any corporate meaning is because worshippers are gathered.  Notice the language here.  You don’t come on Sunday to worship.  You already come on Sunday morning as a worshiper.  If we don’t come as a worshipers, then maybe we need to do a little more soul searching.

What God want is for us to be glad; to delight in His presence at every opportunity.  Coming to worship should never be an obligation or a chore.  Neither should other things in this world become more delightful in our eyes so that at the earliest opportunity we opt out of being in God’s presence.  A song written by Chris Tomlin says in the chorus that you and I were made to worship.  Worship is often a word we associate with singing, or with prayer.  It is a much bigger word than that.  Worship is about God in His mercy reaching out to us in relationship, and about us responding in love, adoration, and obedience.  Could life really be any better than joining with other followers of Christ in worship?

Pastor Lorn Gieck

You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be

Made to Worship by Chris Tomlin

VBS (Vacation Bible School)

Unfortunately, we are taking a break this year from VBS.

We know many parents and children will be dissapointed in this decision but don’t worry there are some other fabulous church’s in Saskatoon who are hosting VBS this year.

Here are a couple of churches that are putting on VBS this summer so feel free to check them out and get more information.

West Portal Church:

July 5th- July 9th    6:30pm-9:10pm Contact Katrina Funk at 382-1622                 http://westportal.ca/?page_id=13 for more info.

Lawson Heights Pentecostal Assembly:

Aug 17th-20th Contact Shawna Lavender 931-7100

St. Anne’s Parish:

Aug 9th-13th     9a.m-12p.m  Contact parish office at 931-4700

If you have any questions or concerns I would be more than happy to talk with you.

Contact me ( Mandy) at the church office.

Well, at least the Canucks showed me SOMETHING in Game 4…

Fair warning.  This blog is about the Vancouver Canucks.  Sort of.

My “playoff beard” is just starting to get it’s legs, and this past week it has been pushed to edge of elimination/shaving, one game away from being banished for another year (Melissa can hardly wait.)

As I sat on a tour bus watching game 4 between Chicago and Vancouver instead of singing along with Michael W. Smith inside (I much prefer the early 90s concert memories I have of Smitty to today anyway), I found myself muttering the same thing over and over.

“What the heck happened!?!”

See, I could show you the newspaper articles, and the video clips, and TSN reports, and all the notes from before the game (trust me, I read them. All of them.)  To a man, every player on my beloved Canuck team spoke of how they knew what they needed to do.  How they needed to have more discipline.  Make smarter plays.  Be tougher during the play, and not between the whistles.  The said all the right things.  They sounded united. Focused.  They used the right words with the right inflections, and said it with enough conviction to have you believe that they understood what was at stake, and we’re prepared to go do whatever it took to make sure that what they knew they needed to do happened.

Then they went and laid a giant collective egg.

That was definitely not how this was supposed to go.

And yet, hours later while I was laying awake in bed replaying the sobering game in my head, an even more sobering thought hit me:

Am I the same way?  Are Melissa and I, as a couple the same way?  How about as a church?  As Christians?

Now I really didn’t like the outcome of the game.

I’ve wrestled with this over the last few days.  All I can do is speak for myself, and from what I see in our culture around me, but far too often, I wonder if we as Christians know the right things to say.  We sound sincere, like we get it.  We sound repentant, even passionate about being “missional”, and “community-focused”.  We say the right things, have the right slogans, and, even, perhaps even most disheartening, the right intentions.  We actually want to do the right thing.

But then we take a hit.  We discover that it’s gonna cost.  That there is work involved.  And so we back off.

I’m so passionately frustrated when I see this pattern in my hockey team, and so quick to judge others for the same thing, but just as quick to rationalise and create excuses when it happens in my own life.  It a trait I’ve been working hard to change.

So my question is this:  What if we, as Cornerstone Church, were a place where when Christians said something, they followed through?  Where when we say we believe in the grace, faithfulness, and goodness of God, our lived reflected that trust? Or when we say we believe that mentoring and coming alongside young adults, or serving the poor, or giving our time is important, we actually DID exactly those things? Or when we said that everything we have belongs to God, and then reflected that when we set our own budgets?  What if we were a place that DID what we SAID? (wait, that sounds familiar…).

I want to be a part of that kind of Church.  I think we’re moving in that direction.  But we’ve got some more ground to cover.  We’re we jump to action, and where we have an abundance of people who just simply want to follow through on what God is calling them to.

Because this is so much more important than a hockey game, or a shiny tin cup we can dance around with.  It’s about eternity, and faithfulness, and fully grasping and joining the Adventure Jesus invites us to be a part of.  It’s about obedience, and follow through, and Jesus doesn’t just ask politely for that, like a “good idea, but only if you really feel like it”.  He commands it if we want to follow him (James 4:17).

I know some of you may already be great at doing this.  Awesome!  Please, continue to show us and teach us how.  But for the rest of us, we need to show up.  After Watoto last Sunday, I leaned over to Melissa and said “We can do more.  We HAVE to do more.”

Let’s just start with doing what we say.  (for a good example, google Vancouver Canucks, game 5.)

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