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.