"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. And the life I live in this body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
Walking by faith is a phrase that's easy for me to say but hard for me to live out. I hear it but I don't always get it. Maybe that's because it's faith and if I got it then it wouldn't be faith. (And by faith I type that hoping it makes sense to somebody!)
The first point last weekend was to choose the right object of faith. That's what really matters in walking by faith. Our faith is only as strong as the object of our faith. The description of faith in Habakkuk 2:4 is telling: "Look at the proud! They trust in themselves and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith."
I think walking by faith is more than just believing the best or hoping for a positive outcome.
My greatest struggle in this faith thing is wanting to be in control. Big surprise - I like to know what's next. I do find that the older I get (and hopefully more mature in my faith) that it's easier to be out of control - maybe because the older I get the more I realize I can't control anyway.
I wish I knew the outcome of my dad's cancer battle - but I don't.
I wish I knew that my kids future will be positive and safe - but I don't.
I wish I knew a lot of things - but I don't.
I do still have faith - faith in a good God who has good things in store for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and will work in every situation for my good as I trust and have faith in Him (Romans 8:28). That doesn't mean it's all a smooth path ahead. That doesn't have anything to do with health and wealth teaching. It has everything to do with the character of God - the God who loves me and desires to make me more like Jesus. For that I have faith.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Under Construction
Just in case you didn't notice, we're under construction around Cornerstone. Outside S.R. 747 is expanding to 4 lanes. Inside we're under construction by God's Spirit. We're widening our understanding of God's love and grace through digging into God's Word.
Philippians 1:6 tell us: "I feel sure that the one who has begun his good work in you will go on developing it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phillips). God is always at work in us in both known and unknown ways. As I look back on my 43 years God has used a lot of different tools: relationships, failures, victories, difficulties, the gentle voice of His Spirit, Scripture, songs...the list could go on and on. God's toolbox is limitless. He's always constructing in me. My biggest problem is that I'm not always paying attention!
I guess it's the 20/20 hindsight thing - I see God's work far more often when I'm looking back than in the present. I think that's what a life of faith is about - at least a part of it. Is it God or is it my own mind at work? It's the construction process at work.
Recently I was building a stone wall. With three different sizes of stones it was a puzzle. Switching stones in and out, putting some together, taking some apart and putting others back in their places. Eventually it took shape. Then, surprise, a fourth size was discovered at the bottom of a pile! Most of what had been built had to be dismantled. But the addition of the fourth size brough a whole new dimension to the wall. It looked even better.
I think that's some of how God's construction goes with us. He builds a little and we think we're done. Then He introduces a new thing and it feels like we're being dismantled only to be made into a creation more like Jesus.
Sometimes I think I've got it all figured out - I know who I am and how God is working, then WHAM! Something new. He takes away one thing and brings in something new and the construction continues.
I find that God's construction ways are a process and we don't see the big picture like He does. That's where faith comes in. It's also a matter of who is God to us. Can He be trusted? What's His ultimate purpose in our lives? that may be the first question to help us get in line with God's will - Who is God? Read the scripture and you'll find out.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Team Building - Ropes Course
The Cornerstone staff took Wednesday afternoon this week to do some team building at Camp Campbell Gard - where our own Rick
and Deb Taylor work and lead. It was a great - scary - nerve-wracking - exhilarating - breaking through kind of day. Everybody did the course - some more than others but that wasn't the point.
The first step is safety - an hour of it. The preparation time made some more nervous standing there, listening, looking and wondering. Several of us thought out loud later - "I wonder if there's a sermon in that somewhere? An hour of safety preparation and then up we go."
Some had done a ropes course before. Others had never seen one so there was a variety of responses. But everyone made it up and down and across.
This was an especially big deal for Sarah, our Office Manager. Being a cancer survivor she's ready to try things she would have never considered before. She had a blast - and pulled her partner, Micheall, around the course with her!
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Graduation
As I sat watching the high school graduates come forward last weekend I was remembering back to mine and imagining forward to my oldest daughter's next year. WOW - it's already here! Graduations are a part of life. The alternative is unacceptable. The life of a Christ-follower is all about graduations...from babies in Christ to maturity, that's God's goal.
The great danger in the Church today - I see it at Cornerstone and the Church in general as much as I see it in my own life - is we'll miss or even avoid graduations in our spiritual lives by being busy. The spiritual phrase is: "an inch deep and a mile wide." We don't ever grow we just get busier doing spiritually looking - even very good - things. But God is looking forward to our graduations.
I spoke with some of the graduates after worship - a couple from high school and at least one from college. "How does it feel?" I asked. Each of them said in their own way that while they were excited there was also some feeling of: "O my, now there is greater responsibility. I'm feeling more like an adult." I remember that feeling.
God wants us to graduate - to take steps to grow spiritually; to step out of our comfort zone (the things we know we can do) and into the learning zone (the things we know we can't do without God's help). As long as we keep overly busy we can avoid those graduations. We can also avoid them by staying only in familiar territory.
Graduation is fun, exciting and causes anxiety. It's the gateway into new territory. I'm glad I graduated from High School and College and Seminary. I've been privileged to be part of too much wonderful God stuff since then to wish I was back there - as incredible as those times were. But now I recognize some areas that are in need of a graduation in my spiritual life:
The great danger in the Church today - I see it at Cornerstone and the Church in general as much as I see it in my own life - is we'll miss or even avoid graduations in our spiritual lives by being busy. The spiritual phrase is: "an inch deep and a mile wide." We don't ever grow we just get busier doing spiritually looking - even very good - things. But God is looking forward to our graduations.
I spoke with some of the graduates after worship - a couple from high school and at least one from college. "How does it feel?" I asked. Each of them said in their own way that while they were excited there was also some feeling of: "O my, now there is greater responsibility. I'm feeling more like an adult." I remember that feeling.
God wants us to graduate - to take steps to grow spiritually; to step out of our comfort zone (the things we know we can do) and into the learning zone (the things we know we can't do without God's help). As long as we keep overly busy we can avoid those graduations. We can also avoid them by staying only in familiar territory.
Graduation is fun, exciting and causes anxiety. It's the gateway into new territory. I'm glad I graduated from High School and College and Seminary. I've been privileged to be part of too much wonderful God stuff since then to wish I was back there - as incredible as those times were. But now I recognize some areas that are in need of a graduation in my spiritual life:
- to new ways of studying scripture
- to new ways of relating with other pastors in the area
- to new ways of coaching my kids in their spiritual growth
...just to name a few. To stay in one place is not good - it's called stagnation. May we not stay there as individuals or as a church.
Monday, May 28, 2007
When I am Weak - Then I am Strong
There is so much more I wanted to say - to say in some other way. This idea of a weakness becoming strength isn't understandable outside of a relationship with God. Without God we spend our time making ourselves, projecting an image to others. It means we have to be strong, forceful, confident (at least confident looking) without a hint of weakness. Definitely don't do things you can do but be confident in saying it.
On the other hand, with God it's not about us but about Him. There is no need to make ourselves and project an image. Instead we live to make God known and project His image through our lives. When I read the account in Luke 9 of what I call the "would-be disciples" I see a relevant call for our day:
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 59 He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.
So much of our discipleship is about us: our comfort, our convenience or commitment on our terms. A pastor friend of mine calls it "soft secular discipleship." It's discipleship on our terms, not on Jesus' terms. It's putting Jesus' ideas into our world view instead of adopting His world view.
God's plan is to use our weaknesses, to stretch our strengths, to move us out of our world and into the economy of heaven.
At Cornerstone I think we're living into that - never as fast as I'd like us to (I don't think anything in my life happens as quickly as I'd like it to except growing older and my children growing up). But I also think we struggle with this idea. We want a Christianity of comfort, convenience and commitment on our terms.
Take the building we're seeking to build for student ministries at Cornerstone. It will take sacrifice. It will mean prioritizing our personal finances to support the Kingdom of God. It will be uncomfortable, inconvenient and a commitment on His terms. But that's the way it is with God's ways. It's not about us.
The same can be found in every ministry area and in our lives at home and at work. There is a constant temptation to make God's call about us - first let me do this. No, Jesus says. The mission is too important to wait any longer.
Our weaknesses are the highways God uses for miracles. Perhaps it's the weaknesses of seeking our own comfort; of waiting for our own convenience; of defining commitment on our terms. To get onto Jesus' plan for discipleship will mean throwing ourselves on His mercy and asking for His grace and strength to follow His terms laid out for us.
Where are you weak? God is waiting with miracles for you to embrace your weakness, thrown yourself on your knees and passionately throw yourself into His mission. It's the best place in the world to be.
On the other hand, with God it's not about us but about Him. There is no need to make ourselves and project an image. Instead we live to make God known and project His image through our lives. When I read the account in Luke 9 of what I call the "would-be disciples" I see a relevant call for our day:
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 59 He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.
So much of our discipleship is about us: our comfort, our convenience or commitment on our terms. A pastor friend of mine calls it "soft secular discipleship." It's discipleship on our terms, not on Jesus' terms. It's putting Jesus' ideas into our world view instead of adopting His world view.
God's plan is to use our weaknesses, to stretch our strengths, to move us out of our world and into the economy of heaven.
At Cornerstone I think we're living into that - never as fast as I'd like us to (I don't think anything in my life happens as quickly as I'd like it to except growing older and my children growing up). But I also think we struggle with this idea. We want a Christianity of comfort, convenience and commitment on our terms.
Take the building we're seeking to build for student ministries at Cornerstone. It will take sacrifice. It will mean prioritizing our personal finances to support the Kingdom of God. It will be uncomfortable, inconvenient and a commitment on His terms. But that's the way it is with God's ways. It's not about us.
The same can be found in every ministry area and in our lives at home and at work. There is a constant temptation to make God's call about us - first let me do this. No, Jesus says. The mission is too important to wait any longer.
Our weaknesses are the highways God uses for miracles. Perhaps it's the weaknesses of seeking our own comfort; of waiting for our own convenience; of defining commitment on our terms. To get onto Jesus' plan for discipleship will mean throwing ourselves on His mercy and asking for His grace and strength to follow His terms laid out for us.
Where are you weak? God is waiting with miracles for you to embrace your weakness, thrown yourself on your knees and passionately throw yourself into His mission. It's the best place in the world to be.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Giant Problems & a Big God
I told someone earlier this week that I'm going to look more closely at the planned sermons because as we're finishing up this series on storms I find myself in a particularly difficult storm this particular week.
I've spent the week with my dad as he undergoes cancer treatments while my mom is in Colorado for my nephew's High School graduation. This is why we moved back to southwest Ohio 4 years ago, to care for aging parents. I'm glad I'm here and have this opportunity. It's been a storm but God is bigger.
This past weekend Pastor Jennifer used the story of David & Goliath to talk about navigating the storms of our lives. A giant problem and a big God make for great stories - and great adventure. I forgot some of that earlier this week. Tuesday was a difficult day. Basically I forgot God. The "problems" were giant - juggling schedules, meeting needs, preparing for this weekend from a distance just to name a few. God was bigger than the problems on Tuesday but I forgot. I was irritable, a bit spastic some might say. Looking back I can see where I went wrong...
Third Day has a song called "Cry Out to Jesus" and that's what I forgot to do. Like David, I have stories of conquering lions and bears. I know the God I serve and who loves me. The words of the song go like this:
To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right
Chorus:
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They've lost all of their faith in love
And they've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough
For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering
Chorus:
When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
To the widow who suffers with being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight
Chorus:
That song covers just about everything. What will I do when the giants taunt me?
I talk often of not wanting to complicate God at Cornerstone. On Tuesday I complicated God in my own life. It really is as simple as crying out to Jesus. Is He not there to help? Did He not promise to never leave us or forsake us? (Hebrews 13:5) Did He not say He would be with us until the end of the age? (Matthew 28:18-20) Did He not promise to send His Holy Spirit to live within us? (John 16:7)
In Matthew 14 we read about Peter walking on the water to Jesus but sinking:
28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
"when he saw the wind" - that's what I did on Tuesday. I saw the wind, the swirling, seemingly relentless wind instead of Jesus.
Is there wind in your life, trying to distract you from Jesus? I know at Cornerstone there is. We're just on the front edge of building a new facility for our student ministries. There's a lot of wind to distract us but I am convinced that what we are doing is mission and vision driven. Eyes on Jesus. That's the key. The wind and the waves will come. What will you do? What will we do? What will I do?
I've spent the week with my dad as he undergoes cancer treatments while my mom is in Colorado for my nephew's High School graduation. This is why we moved back to southwest Ohio 4 years ago, to care for aging parents. I'm glad I'm here and have this opportunity. It's been a storm but God is bigger.
This past weekend Pastor Jennifer used the story of David & Goliath to talk about navigating the storms of our lives. A giant problem and a big God make for great stories - and great adventure. I forgot some of that earlier this week. Tuesday was a difficult day. Basically I forgot God. The "problems" were giant - juggling schedules, meeting needs, preparing for this weekend from a distance just to name a few. God was bigger than the problems on Tuesday but I forgot. I was irritable, a bit spastic some might say. Looking back I can see where I went wrong...
Third Day has a song called "Cry Out to Jesus" and that's what I forgot to do. Like David, I have stories of conquering lions and bears. I know the God I serve and who loves me. The words of the song go like this:
To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right
Chorus:
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They've lost all of their faith in love
And they've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough
For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering
Chorus:
When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
To the widow who suffers with being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight
Chorus:
That song covers just about everything. What will I do when the giants taunt me?
I talk often of not wanting to complicate God at Cornerstone. On Tuesday I complicated God in my own life. It really is as simple as crying out to Jesus. Is He not there to help? Did He not promise to never leave us or forsake us? (Hebrews 13:5) Did He not say He would be with us until the end of the age? (Matthew 28:18-20) Did He not promise to send His Holy Spirit to live within us? (John 16:7)
In Matthew 14 we read about Peter walking on the water to Jesus but sinking:
28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
"when he saw the wind" - that's what I did on Tuesday. I saw the wind, the swirling, seemingly relentless wind instead of Jesus.
Is there wind in your life, trying to distract you from Jesus? I know at Cornerstone there is. We're just on the front edge of building a new facility for our student ministries. There's a lot of wind to distract us but I am convinced that what we are doing is mission and vision driven. Eyes on Jesus. That's the key. The wind and the waves will come. What will you do? What will we do? What will I do?
Friday, May 18, 2007
Sparklers Are Here!
Yes, I know it's not July 4th but it is a celebration as the Sparks' boys have arrived. Born this morning are Austin and Caleb (the youngest by 10 minutes). Congratulations Ryan and Jenni!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Celebrations
Celebrate - that's the best word o describe this past weekend at Cornerstone. The weekend theme was "Praising God at All Times" taken from the book of Habakkuk as part of our "Navigating the Storms of Life" series. I'm constantly amazed - and disappointed that I'm amazed so much - at how God touches the hearts of people through the words he gives this instrument, flawed as I am. Time and again God reminds me that He is in charge if I will let Him lead and look for Him to guide. He's so willing and ready - and He can do it right at the moment as well as 6 months in advance with sermon planning.
A person who lost a job on Friday told me it was perfect - "Just what I needed to hear." A recent widow, on this Mother's Day, said she's seen the good things God has brought out of the last year and can praise God for the storms. One person said - "You were speaking to me, weren't you!"
God is alive and moving at Cornerstone and as if those comments weren't enough it was the Confirmation Celebration that would pull you over the edge. Hearing the testimonies of some representatives from the class talk about their faith - the privilege of baptism as an outward sign of that inward faith - the prayers for God's guidance for growth in lives that have experienced very few if any storms to this point (although some have endured tremendous storms already) - all of it gives me pause to praise.
We celebrated family - not just with Confirmation - as our Youth Pastor was home with his pregnant wife who is on bed rest until the babies (twin boys) are born. It was where he needed to be. I shared with the congregation that while he wanted to be here for Confirmation he needed to be there. It was one way to demonstrate our commitment to the priority of family at Cornerstone - Jesus first, family second, job/ministry third.
The order of those priorities is difficult to keep. I want to say it's difficult to keep "in today's world" but I'm not sure it's that different than in past generations. There have always been and will always be temptations and distractions away from those priorities. Many Christians say family is a priority and we can support it from Biblical passages but how many of us let our practice catch up with our theology? I'm by no means perfect but I do try to practice it. Praising God at all times is easier when our priorities are in order. We can see more clearly in our storms when we practice what we believe
Before I close I have to celebrate one particular team at Cornerstone who responded in amazing ways - the Student Ministries Team! WOW! With the staff person gone the team stepped up into some unfamiliar territory while also caring for the innumerable details already on their plates. You all are a testimony to the grace of God and the priority of Jesus in your lives. Thank you for serving Him at Cornerstone Church. Sheryl, it was a pleasure to serve with you "up front." You helped make this celebration a true celebration!
A person who lost a job on Friday told me it was perfect - "Just what I needed to hear." A recent widow, on this Mother's Day, said she's seen the good things God has brought out of the last year and can praise God for the storms. One person said - "You were speaking to me, weren't you!"
God is alive and moving at Cornerstone and as if those comments weren't enough it was the Confirmation Celebration that would pull you over the edge. Hearing the testimonies of some representatives from the class talk about their faith - the privilege of baptism as an outward sign of that inward faith - the prayers for God's guidance for growth in lives that have experienced very few if any storms to this point (although some have endured tremendous storms already) - all of it gives me pause to praise.
We celebrated family - not just with Confirmation - as our Youth Pastor was home with his pregnant wife who is on bed rest until the babies (twin boys) are born. It was where he needed to be. I shared with the congregation that while he wanted to be here for Confirmation he needed to be there. It was one way to demonstrate our commitment to the priority of family at Cornerstone - Jesus first, family second, job/ministry third.
The order of those priorities is difficult to keep. I want to say it's difficult to keep "in today's world" but I'm not sure it's that different than in past generations. There have always been and will always be temptations and distractions away from those priorities. Many Christians say family is a priority and we can support it from Biblical passages but how many of us let our practice catch up with our theology? I'm by no means perfect but I do try to practice it. Praising God at all times is easier when our priorities are in order. We can see more clearly in our storms when we practice what we believe
- What can you celebrate today?
- How are the priorities in your life?
- What adjustments can you make right now to bring them closer to reality?
Before I close I have to celebrate one particular team at Cornerstone who responded in amazing ways - the Student Ministries Team! WOW! With the staff person gone the team stepped up into some unfamiliar territory while also caring for the innumerable details already on their plates. You all are a testimony to the grace of God and the priority of Jesus in your lives. Thank you for serving Him at Cornerstone Church. Sheryl, it was a pleasure to serve with you "up front." You helped make this celebration a true celebration!
Monday, May 07, 2007
Confession and Storms
One of the hardest things to do when I started into officiating swim meets was disqualifying those little ones. O, they would cry. Sometimes parents would stomp angrily and coaches would yell. We have a saying in official's circles: "Officials don't disqualify swimmers. Swimmers disqualify themselves." That doesn't make it any easier but I've learned one thing over the years. As a swimmer I am thankful I was disqualified early on in my career. To not disqualify me, to simply ignore the infractions, would be to condemn me to a career of frustration in my efforts to swim faster and better.
In thinking more about John 4, the Samaritan Woman at the Well and her encounter with Jesus, I am thankful that God helps me understand where I've gone wrong. I'm thankful that He points out sin in my life. If He didn't I might think that I'm doing better than I am.
When our lives are in chaos, in the midst of a storm, because of our sin (not all storms are the result of sin - sometimes life just happens), the way out is confession not hiding from our failures. It doesn't feel good but it's the only way through these kind of storms. All storms aren't the result of our sin (please don't go down that road) - sometimes life happens and we are thrown into a storm. But when the storm is from our sin, confession is the only solution. Telling the truth and owning our failures is the doorway to transformation.
Confession is one of those spiritual disciplines that the Protestant Church lost when it broke from the Roman Catholic Church. Something happens when we confess our sins to someone else. James tells us in 5:13-16 -- "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Satan's main focus of attack after temptation is, I think, isolation. If he can isolate us from other Christ-followers then he can get us to a place where we are more vulnerable to temptation having no network for support. (Read Luke 8 about the Gerasene Demoniac - he lived in isolation until Jesus healed him. He wanted to go with Jesus but Jesus sent him into ministry in his hometown).
God created us for interdependence with others - for support, for encouragement and for confession. I don't know how anyone lives a vital Christian faith without a small group of other companions on the journey. I am privileged to have four groups - my family, the Cornerstone Staff, a Cornerstone small group and a cluster of fellow pastors. When storms happen in my life I know that I have a support system (and probably one too many groups but the pastors cluster is required - and I do enjoy the regular interaction with other pastors).
Many of the Cornerstone family know that my father started treatments for pancreatic cancer today. My only sister lives in Colorado, that's one big reason we moved back to this area of Ohio with all our parents in Cincinnati at the time. She is able to get away regularly to be here but on a daily basis I'm the closest and I'm thankful that we're here. I'm in the midst of a storm and know that I couldn't even think of making it without the prayers and support and encouragement of these groups. Each of these groups has been a picture of the Body of Christ as it is called to be - meals brought in, prayers offered up, encouraging phone calls and e-mails, questions of "How's dad?" and then "How are you?" Because of these connections I am blessed and able to weather this storm. I don't have it all together. I need others to help me along this journey of becoming more and more like Jesus.
So, thank you to the small groups in my life who provide a place for me to be me - to confess my failures, to ask for prayers, to depend on for strength and to receive the love and care of Christ.
In thinking more about John 4, the Samaritan Woman at the Well and her encounter with Jesus, I am thankful that God helps me understand where I've gone wrong. I'm thankful that He points out sin in my life. If He didn't I might think that I'm doing better than I am.
When our lives are in chaos, in the midst of a storm, because of our sin (not all storms are the result of sin - sometimes life just happens), the way out is confession not hiding from our failures. It doesn't feel good but it's the only way through these kind of storms. All storms aren't the result of our sin (please don't go down that road) - sometimes life happens and we are thrown into a storm. But when the storm is from our sin, confession is the only solution. Telling the truth and owning our failures is the doorway to transformation.
Confession is one of those spiritual disciplines that the Protestant Church lost when it broke from the Roman Catholic Church. Something happens when we confess our sins to someone else. James tells us in 5:13-16 -- "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Satan's main focus of attack after temptation is, I think, isolation. If he can isolate us from other Christ-followers then he can get us to a place where we are more vulnerable to temptation having no network for support. (Read Luke 8 about the Gerasene Demoniac - he lived in isolation until Jesus healed him. He wanted to go with Jesus but Jesus sent him into ministry in his hometown).
God created us for interdependence with others - for support, for encouragement and for confession. I don't know how anyone lives a vital Christian faith without a small group of other companions on the journey. I am privileged to have four groups - my family, the Cornerstone Staff, a Cornerstone small group and a cluster of fellow pastors. When storms happen in my life I know that I have a support system (and probably one too many groups but the pastors cluster is required - and I do enjoy the regular interaction with other pastors).
Many of the Cornerstone family know that my father started treatments for pancreatic cancer today. My only sister lives in Colorado, that's one big reason we moved back to this area of Ohio with all our parents in Cincinnati at the time. She is able to get away regularly to be here but on a daily basis I'm the closest and I'm thankful that we're here. I'm in the midst of a storm and know that I couldn't even think of making it without the prayers and support and encouragement of these groups. Each of these groups has been a picture of the Body of Christ as it is called to be - meals brought in, prayers offered up, encouraging phone calls and e-mails, questions of "How's dad?" and then "How are you?" Because of these connections I am blessed and able to weather this storm. I don't have it all together. I need others to help me along this journey of becoming more and more like Jesus.
So, thank you to the small groups in my life who provide a place for me to be me - to confess my failures, to ask for prayers, to depend on for strength and to receive the love and care of Christ.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Blogging as Ministry
I'm trying to figure out if blogging can be a ministry tool. I see it so often used as a way for people to vent or I listen to people talk about their "online community" as if community can occur over the Internet. Can blogging be a ministry tool?
Here's some of what I'm considering:
1. A weekly commentary on the previous week's message in the form of a "Going Deeper" study for individuals and small groups
2. A flash update of Church news
3. A spiritual journal meant to inspire and encourage others
I think it can be useful. I've seen several blogs that have been encouraging and inspiring to me. I've also run across a couple of blogs that are done by pastors for their churches.
Check back each week, on Monday or Tuesday, for some thoughts on this weeks message at Cornerstone where we're transforming our world one life at a time.
Here's some of what I'm considering:
1. A weekly commentary on the previous week's message in the form of a "Going Deeper" study for individuals and small groups
2. A flash update of Church news
3. A spiritual journal meant to inspire and encourage others
I think it can be useful. I've seen several blogs that have been encouraging and inspiring to me. I've also run across a couple of blogs that are done by pastors for their churches.
Check back each week, on Monday or Tuesday, for some thoughts on this weeks message at Cornerstone where we're transforming our world one life at a time.
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