Our ideal church is one filled with people who love God passionately and love one another genuinely. We want our church to improve people's lives, not burden them. We aspire for our church to be relevant in everyday life. We long to see people live victoriously. No one wants surprises, scandals, or secrets from the church leadership, so we promise to be honest and forthright concerning church matters.
No one should have to go through life alone. We want to do life together with people who love us just the way we are, but exhort us to get better. Everyone should have a place to be themselves, without having to put on airs. At church, we want every person to find good friends who are a delight and who provide comfort and stability during life's difficult times. We want to build a church where people laugh freely and often.
We want every Sunday to be a family reunion. We want Sunday to be the best day of the week. We desire a church where people stay for years, grow old together, and watch their children grow up, get married, and have children of their own.
This what we try to accomplish at Cornerstone Church.
Peace,
Stan
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Changes
Ch-ch-ch-changes. We all want to grow and progress in live. BUT, we seldom want to change. We want "things" to change. WE just don't want to have to change anything. I have found that if I want "things" to change I have to change. I will have to change what I am doing, saying, who I am associating with, etc.
Some changes are forced upon us. We just lost our youth and music pastors, JD and Jame Swilley. They have been with us for seven years. They did a wonderful job. I did not want anything to change. Guess what, "Life happens!" They now live in Colorado. My kids are growing up and moving away from home. I don't like that either. Whitney lives in Tulsa. Morgan leaves on Monday for Thailand! I am glad for them, and sad for me.
Ch-ch-ch-changes. We should embrace change. It is part of life. If our children don't grow up and sprout their wings and fly, then there is a big problem. This change is good and healthy, even if it is painful for the parents.
If my financial situation is going to change, I might have to make changes. If my marriage is going to change, I will have to make changes. If I am going to be more healthy, I will have to make changes. Change, grow, live!
Peace,
Stan
Some changes are forced upon us. We just lost our youth and music pastors, JD and Jame Swilley. They have been with us for seven years. They did a wonderful job. I did not want anything to change. Guess what, "Life happens!" They now live in Colorado. My kids are growing up and moving away from home. I don't like that either. Whitney lives in Tulsa. Morgan leaves on Monday for Thailand! I am glad for them, and sad for me.
Ch-ch-ch-changes. We should embrace change. It is part of life. If our children don't grow up and sprout their wings and fly, then there is a big problem. This change is good and healthy, even if it is painful for the parents.
If my financial situation is going to change, I might have to make changes. If my marriage is going to change, I will have to make changes. If I am going to be more healthy, I will have to make changes. Change, grow, live!
Peace,
Stan
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Hope
The lack of hope is a great tragedy in life. Pearl S. Buck said, "We must have hope or starve to death." I see so many people that have little or no hope. They seem to only be existing in this world, not really living.
Helen Keller has always been such an inspiration to me. She said some amazing things about hope. Here are a couple: "When one door of happiness closes, another opens" and my favorite "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do."
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT), "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 31:17 (NKJV), "There is hope in your future, says the Lord." Every person with a relationship with God through Jesus Christ has hope for the future.
There is hope for you!
Peace,
Stan
Helen Keller has always been such an inspiration to me. She said some amazing things about hope. Here are a couple: "When one door of happiness closes, another opens" and my favorite "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do."
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT), "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 31:17 (NKJV), "There is hope in your future, says the Lord." Every person with a relationship with God through Jesus Christ has hope for the future.
There is hope for you!
Peace,
Stan
Monday, August 11, 2008
King's Kid
Romans 5:17 (NKJV), "For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." Because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, we reign in this life. The idea of reigning suggests that we are royalty. In fact we are. Romans 8:14 - 17 (NKJV), "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."
We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We have not earned this position; it is a gift. We have received abundance of grace. Grace is the ability of God freely given to us. We have been given the gift of righteousness. Righteousness is the ability of God to stand in the presence of God without any sense of guilt or shame, as if sin never existed in our life. Jesus became sin, so we can be made right with God.
Jesus' authority is our authority. Jesus gave us power of attorney to use his name. Jesus is the name above every other name. Every knee bows to that name. All the resources of the kingdom are at our disposal. Psalms 24:1 (NKJV), "The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein."
When the crippled son of Jonathan was found, King David called Mephibosheth to come to him and to eat at his table continually. In the same way, our Heavenly Father calls us to dine with Him continually. Live like a king's kid, because you are.
Peace,
Stan
We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We have not earned this position; it is a gift. We have received abundance of grace. Grace is the ability of God freely given to us. We have been given the gift of righteousness. Righteousness is the ability of God to stand in the presence of God without any sense of guilt or shame, as if sin never existed in our life. Jesus became sin, so we can be made right with God.
Jesus' authority is our authority. Jesus gave us power of attorney to use his name. Jesus is the name above every other name. Every knee bows to that name. All the resources of the kingdom are at our disposal. Psalms 24:1 (NKJV), "The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein."
When the crippled son of Jonathan was found, King David called Mephibosheth to come to him and to eat at his table continually. In the same way, our Heavenly Father calls us to dine with Him continually. Live like a king's kid, because you are.
Peace,
Stan
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Hearing From God
While interviewing potential candidates for our job openings in our youth and music departments, one candidate said something quite thought provoking. He said that he wished God would just speak to us in an audible voice about our decision. That would be nice, but we can't count on it.
Romans 8:14 (NASB), "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." One thing we can count on is that God will lead us by the Holy Spirit. We must trust guidance He gives us, which is followed by supernatural peace. We can train ourselves to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Regular reading and study of God's Word helps us to hear the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible. This is the language He speaks. Knowing God's written Word helps us discern the subtle leading of the Holy Spirit. Usually the Holy Spirit will lead us in small, unimportant matters. As we learn to trust those inward impressions and that still small voice, we gain confidence in following His leadership in more weighty matters.
God will speak through others. Usually this is in agreement with what we already know to be true inwardly. Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice..."
Peace,
Stan
Romans 8:14 (NASB), "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." One thing we can count on is that God will lead us by the Holy Spirit. We must trust guidance He gives us, which is followed by supernatural peace. We can train ourselves to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Regular reading and study of God's Word helps us to hear the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible. This is the language He speaks. Knowing God's written Word helps us discern the subtle leading of the Holy Spirit. Usually the Holy Spirit will lead us in small, unimportant matters. As we learn to trust those inward impressions and that still small voice, we gain confidence in following His leadership in more weighty matters.
God will speak through others. Usually this is in agreement with what we already know to be true inwardly. Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice..."
Peace,
Stan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
