A couple of weeks into joining the Cornerstone family, Pastor Daryl sent me an email informing me that I am to write a blog post. 

“What am I writing a blog post about?”

“Whatever you’d like!”

He said it like it was an exciting adventure, but it felt like being at the world’s largest buffet and being told to pick ONE thing. What in the world was I going to write about? What wisdom could I impart upon readers? For weeks I’ve been writing and rewriting possible posts in my head (aka procrastinating) and nothing seemed right. 

Then I had a rough day and realized I should write something that I need to hear right  now. Let’s talk about the lies our brains tell us and the truth God provides to snap us out of it. 

I have struggled with anxiety and catastrophic thinking since childhood. I’m talking “I failed that spelling test, now my teacher thinks I’m dumb, now they’re going to ignore me and I’ll fail more and I’ll fail the class and never get into college and have to live in a box for the rest of my life” type of catastrophic thinking. Now, I’ve come a long way in managing those spirals, but sometimes my brain likes to slip in there with a mean thought at the most inopportune moments. 

Like today- It was brought to my attention that I maybe haven’t been communicating something well (and honestly, I may just be assuming the worst from a neutral message…thanks brain), and a small voice in my head whispers, “You’re not good enough.”

Or I have a conversation with a new person and the voice says, “You overshared and now they think you are weird and shouldn’t be here.”

Maybe you’ve had moments with that same voice. 

“You’re a failure.”
“You’re an imposter.”
“Just wait, the other shoe will drop.”
“They’re just being nice, but they really don’t like you.”

Those thoughts, that voice, are hard to ignore. The words burrow in your heart and you start to believe them. You begin to doubt your gifts and abilities, and fear taking steps forward because you just know you’ll fall on your face. 

Do you know who is really hoping you will listen to those voices? Who is hoping you’ll shrink back from being who God created you to be? Satan. 

Is Satan literally whispering in your ear? Probably not, but those doubts and fears you have stem from our fallen fleshy brains and he LOVES when those fallen fleshy brains stop us from fulfilling our God given purpose. 

So now that we know that these thoughts are lies, what are the truths? How do I stop these doubts from taking over? Beyond therapy, here are some things I’ve found help interrupt those thoughts when they pop up:

First, remember where those thoughts are coming from (fallen fleshy brain) and who they benefit (no one worth benefiting).

Take a breath. 

Next, remember how God made you and how He sees you. God knew and loved you even before you were born and you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14). He created you with a unique purpose that only you can fulfill (Ephesians 1:3-6). He loves you so much that he sent his son, Jesus, to die for you so that you can be with him for eternity (John 3:16). He has you where you are for a reason and is with you even when you feel like a failure (Deuteronomy 31:6). 

Finally, look for the little ways God is showing himself and rooting you on. Friends who reach out at just the right time, coworkers who want to help, hearing one person say thank you, or having the perfect Bible verse pop into your head are gifts from Him to keep you grounded and moving forward. 

For some of us, those voices will never fully go away, but in the midst of those voices, hear this: The Creator of the universe created you, He brought you to where you are for a reason, and He has your back always. 

You are not a failure. 

You are a beautiful, purposefully created, loved beyond measure child of God. 

(Published by PDK for PMC)

There is a Bon Jovi song that says, "Never say goodbye." Boyz 2 Men said, "It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday." Nsync famously said "Bye Bye Bye," and Chris Brown reminds us that there's never a right time to say goodbye.

I don't know exactly how to say goodbye, but maybe a blog is the best way to do it. I said hello through a recorded video amid COVID. So it's not like we have a traditional relationship. No matter how we do it, it's intended to be complicated.

I remember waking up on April 1st, 2020, at 5 a.m. to get to the airport. I was leaving behind everything I had worked for to pursue everything God had created me for. The ride to the airport was silent, partly because we were tired but mainly because our stomachs were tied in knots.

Reality began to sink in as we jumped out of the cars to say our goodbyes. We were moving across the country again. I'll never forget how tightly my sister held me. It was hard to let go. And little did I know that we wouldn't see each other for almost two years after this. She cried more than I did, but it was the first time we had ever given each other a proper goodbye.

Taryn and I silently agreed that we would not look back, no matter how much we felt compelled to. Not because we were afraid of turning into salt but because we wanted to keep looking forward to what God had in store for us. We stepped onto that plane, not knowing what was waiting for us on the other side but wholly devoted to whatever it was.

Two plus years later, we're here again. Trying to move forward without looking back. It was difficult for me this time because I didn't get to do all the Cornerstone activities I had heard about. I didn't get to see PJ dominate on the court. Or experience the joy of an all-church retreat.

However, I did experience the overwhelming love and support of a community of believers that practiced what they preach. A group of boldly professing Christ followers that refused to let me leave this place the way I came. You all changed me for the better. My next steps in ministry are only possible because of the support and care of Cornerstone.

My prayer for you is this:
'that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.'

Ephesians 3:17-19

I don't know how to say goodbye to what we had, but I do know how to say I will see you again. If I don't see you again on this side of heaven, you can always find me on the south side of The Kingdom when you get there.

PMC out!

In the process of considering a female candidate for our Children's Pastor position, there may be some people wondering if we have changed our position regarding female pastors (to many, we've never had one before) and how we reconcile this with Scripture. These are two very important questions that need to be addressed.

The first question is relatively straight forward - we have not changed our position because we have always been open to having female pastors. In fact, we had a female worship pastor before Pastor Anton. The second question is much more involved and requires a careful study of the relevant Scriptures. Recently I wrote a position paper (text included below) that provides the Scriptural basis for women in leadership and preaching. In writing this paper, I recognize that there are faithful Christians who hold to the view that the pastorate is reserved for men only. While I disagree with them, I see this issue as an important, yet secondary issue and hope that we can maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Women Leading and Preaching
The purpose of this paper is to provide a biblical perspective for women preaching and teaching in the general assembly of the church and also holding leadership positions. Since this topic inherently impacts what women can and cannot do in the church, a biblical perspective must include doing our best to discern God’s will in a thoughtful, prayerful, and compassionate manner. Some churches hold the view that there are no restrictions and women can preach, be senior pastors, elders, and hold any position within the church. Other churches restrict the preaching/teaching ministry, pastorate, and eldership to men. Usually, these churches allow women to teach other women and children but not men. A third position allows women to preach and/or teach men but the office of elder is reserved for men. Adherents to all of these positions believe they are being faithful to the Scriptures even though they come to very different conclusions.
 
For the purpose of this paper, I will refer to the position that there are no restrictions on the roles a woman can play in the church as ‘Open’. The position that disallows women from preaching and/or teaching men or holding the office of elder are referred to as ‘Closed’ and the third position that permits a woman to preach but sees the office of overseer/elder reserved for men, as ‘Limited’. There is no intent to associate these terms with any pejorative meaning.
 
There are several passages that must be considered and the primary one that seems to directly address this issue is found in Paul’s first letter to Timothy.
 
1 Timothy 2:11-15
¹¹ Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. ¹² I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. ¹³ For Adam was formed first, then Eve; ¹⁴ and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. ¹⁵ Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
 
The Closed position points out that Paul could not be any clearer. He has laid down an authoritative directive that is normative for all churches no matter the time or place - women are not allowed to teach or hold authority over men.  Open proponents argue that this directive was time bound because of particular issues that the church in Ephesus was facing. They point out that there are a number of directives that Paul gives in the immediate context that we recognize as not being timeless but particular to that congregation.
 
For example, 1 Timothy 2:8-10 says,
⁸ I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; ⁹ likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, ¹⁰ but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.
 
Open proponents argue that men don’t pray with holy hands lifted up in most congregations. We don’t monitor women’s hair styles, jewelry, or fashion either. Why? Because we clearly recognize that this was not Paul’s intent to mandate a particular prayer posture or ban women from wearing a gold wedding ring. It seems most logical that there was an issue of men quarreling with one another in anger and Paul was encouraging them instead to come before the Lord with holy hands (i.e. pure hearts). Likewise, it’s most reasonable to deduce that many of the women were seeking to draw attention to themselves by their outer appearance instead of focusing on godliness and good works, the things that the Lord values. Because the prohibition against women teaching or holding authority over a man is in the immediate context of other issues particular to that church, we should not take it as being a directive for all times and all places. To do so would be inconsistent at best and hypocritical at worst. If Christians insist that women can’t teach or hold authority over men then they should also insist that men pray with lifted hands and women never braid their hair or wear costly clothing or jewelry.
 
The Closed position counters with the argument that Paul actually states the reason for his prohibition against women teaching or holding authority over men – because of the order of creation (man was created first) and the order of the fall (Eve was deceived and became a transgressor). His reasoning has nothing to do with a time-bound issue facing this particular church but instead is rooted in the unchanging fact of creation and the fall. For the Closed position, this settles the issue.
 
The Limited position recognizes the presence of contextual expressions - holy hands are a time-bound expression of a timeless principle (pure hearts). The obsession with one’s outer appearance (braided hair, costly clothes, and expensive jewelry) are a time-bound antithesis of the timeless principles of modesty and self-control (1 Timothy 2:9). But the Limited position also acknowledges that Paul’s reasoning based on creation order and the fall strongly suggests that the injunction against women teaching or holding authority over men is timeless. The question that must be asked and answered is ‘what is the Apostle actually prohibiting’?

Teaching or Holding Authority
One of the qualifications of an overseer/elder is that they are able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2). This is not a reference to possessing the spiritual gift of teaching but emphasizes their understanding of sound doctrine. They must be strong in the fundamentals of the faith so they can distinguish between sound and false teaching (1 Timothy 1:3; 4:1-6, 11, 13, 16; 6:2-5). It falls on the shoulders of the overseers/elders to ensure that the church remains doctrinally sound. But it’s clear that some overseers/elders focus on the teaching ministry while others don’t teach but focus just on the ruling ministry (1 Timothy 5:18). When Paul prohibits women from teaching or holding authority over a man he has in view those who oversee through authoritative teaching and those who oversee through exercising authority. This prohibits women from serving as an overseer who teaches the authoritative doctrine of the church nor as one who rules over the church but does not teach. Therefore, the Limited position understands that Paul is prohibiting women from serving as overseers/elders but he is not prohibiting women from ever teaching men yet their teaching must come under and in alignment with the doctrine that the male overseers/elders are entrusted to uphold. Additionally, another evidence that Paul had the office of overseer/elder in mind in his prohibition is that he provides the qualifications of an overseer/elder in the verses immediately following (1 Timothy 3:1-7).  

The Limited position is further reinforced when we consider 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 and 14:29-35. In interpreting these passages it’s important to recognize and distinguish between the timeless principles and the time-bound expressions.
 
1 Corinthians 14:29-35
²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. ³⁰ If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, ³² and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. ³³ For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, ³⁴ the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. ³⁵ If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
 
In this passage the relevant points for our consideration is that Paul says that women should keep silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak but should be in submission. It is shameful for a woman to speak in church. A thin reading of this passage would conclude that Paul is prohibiting women from talking in the assembled gathering of the church and if Paul is prohibiting women from even speaking in the church, they could never be teachers. However, the context of the passage is that Paul is addressing the issue of disorder in the assembly (v. 33). People were speaking out of turn, talking over one another. Adding to this chaos were many women who presumably were being very loud as they asked questions in a manner that was disruptive and inappropriate. Once again, we see the timeless principles of submission (v. 34) and orderliness (v. 33) and the contextual, time-bound directive of keeping silent when the church is gathered in corporate worship. The prohibition against speaking and remaining silent would apply to those women who were being disruptive and contributing to the chaos. This limited scope is clearly seen when we consider 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 where Paul clearly allows women to pray and prophesy.
 
1 Corinthians 11:1-16 (NIV 2011)
¹ Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. ² I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. ³ But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.  

While there are several issues and questions that emerge from this passage, the main thrust affirms the timeless principle of submission and headship and the time-bound expression of head coverings. But also notice that women are allowed to pray and prophesy in the church (v.5)! There is no indication that women were allowed to prophesy only in the presence of other women and children. To prophesy is to bring a word from the Lord. 1 Corinthians 14:31 says,
 
³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 
 
Notice that it says, all may learn, and all be encouraged. That means that women were giving a word from the Lord and men were being taught! When someone is learning there must be teaching!

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
Apollos was a Jew who was a strong biblical teacher who taught accurately the things concerning Jesus. But he was only familiar with John the Baptist’s baptism. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him teach they took him aside and explained (taught) to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-26). Priscilla, a woman, taught Apollos without any sense of reprimand or anything in the text that would indicate that she was overstepping her bounds.
 
Each of the passages we’ve considered affirms the timeless principle of woman’s submission to man but it does not lay out a timeless prohibition against women teaching men. In fact, it affirms that women can teach men while at the same time being submissive. At this point it’s important to articulate what is meant by a woman's submission to man. This does not mean that every woman in the church must be submissive to every man in the church. Wives are clearly called to be submissive to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1-2). But beyond this, women in general express submission in the church when they come under the elders, who are men (1 Timothy 3:1-7). Those women who teach/preach still must be submissive to the elders and their teaching must be in alignment with the elder’s teaching and doctrine. This is how Cornerstone seeks to hold to the biblical teaching that allows women to teach while still being submissive in the church. It’s also important to remember that a woman’s submission to man applies to the marriage relationship and the church (Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16), the two institutions that the Lord established to reflect His image. There is no prohibition against women holding the top positions in government, business, or any other organization.
 
Can Women be Pastors?
If women can teach/preach, can they serve as elders or pastors in a church? To answer this question, we need to look at what the Scriptures say about elders and pastors.
 
In Scripture, there are three terms associated with church leadership – Presbyteros (Elder), Episkopous (Overseer/Bishop), and Poimenas (Shepherd/Pastor). There appears to be some interchangeability between these terms. For example,

 Acts 20:17-28
¹⁷ Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders [presbyterous] of the church to come to him. ¹⁸ And when they came to him, he said to them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; ²⁰ how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, ²¹ testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ ²² And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. ²⁴ But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. ²⁵ And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. ²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, ²⁷ for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. ²⁸ Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [episkopous], to care for [poimenein-shepherd] the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
 
1 Peter 5:1-3
¹ So I exhort the elders [presbyterous] among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ² shepherd [poimanate] the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight [episkopountes], not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³ not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 
 
Each of these terms provide a nuance of meaning that provides us with a well-rounded picture of what church leadership entails. The term elder speaks to the character, wisdom, and stature of the person. The term overseer emphasizes the office and overall leadership role. Shepherd carries the idea of leading through care, protection, and feeding. Those who hold the office of overseer should be godly men of outstanding character who lead the church with tender care. This, however, does not necessitate that every man of outstanding character should hold the office nor every person who shepherds with tender care, nor every person who teaches/preaches.

There is also a measure of fluidity and liberty when Scripture uses  these terms. Paul appointed elders in churches during his missionary journeys (Acts 14:23), set down qualifications for overseers (1 Timothy 3:1-7) and mixed the terms elders and overseers (Titus 1:1-7). Peter referred to God as the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (1 Peter 2:25). When Paul listed the leaders given as a gift to the church in Ephesians 4:11-12, he listed apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds/teachers. The use of the term shepherd/teacher would certainly have encompassed the office (overseer) and stature (elder) of those who shepherd the church.

Another example of the fluidity and liberty in which the Scripture uses terms can be seen in the word disciple. It can be used as a general term that refers to all followers of Christ (Matthew 28:19) or specifically to the original twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1). Sometimes the original twelve disciples are simply called the twelve (Matthew 26:20; Acts 6:2; 1 Corinthians 15:5). The original twelve disciples are also referred to as apostles (Matthew 10:2), yet there were more apostles than just the twelve, namely Paul (Galatians 1:1), Barnabas (Acts 14:4), and James (Galatians 1:19). In Revelation 21:14, the heavenly Jerusalem has twelve foundations named after the twelve apostles of the Lamb. This means that there is a subset of apostles that are distinguished from the larger group of apostles.
 
Since the Scriptures themselves use these terms with liberty, at Cornerstone, we’ve chosen to use the term elder to refer to the office that oversees the church while making sure that those who occupy the office exhibit character, wisdom, and stature, as they lead, feed, care for, and protect the flock. We use the title of pastor to emphasize the responsibility to lead, feed, care for, and protect the flock while decoupling it from the office that has overall oversight over the church. Therefore, at Cornerstone, we can have women minister with the title of pastor since they would still come under and be submissive to the male eldership of the church.
 
Is the Office of Elder/Overseer Reserved for Men?
To address this question, we again must look at the relevant Scriptures. In addition to what has already been addressed from looking at 1 Timothy 2:11-15 above, 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 provide the qualifications of an elder/overseer. Many translations translate the qualification that an elder must be the husband of one wife. This could be a statement against polygamy. While polygamy would certainly rule out a person to serve as an elder, it’s unlikely that this is what Paul intended to prohibit. The situation of a widower and re-marriage would also seem to be outside of Paul’s intended scope since 1 Corinthians 7:8-9, 39 allows for a surviving spouse to remarry. Divorce and remarriage might possibly be in view but there aren’t any exceptions for those who have been in a permissible divorce (abandonment – 1 Corinthians 7:15 or adultery – Matthew 19:9). In the Greek, the word translated wife and husband can also be translated as woman and man. Literally, this translates as a ‘one-woman man’. Therefore, it’s likely it emphasizes that the man should be a ‘one-woman kind of man’. That is, he isn’t someone who is flirtatious or a womanizer, but is marked by faithfulness. This interpretation is consistent with the other qualifications because most of them have to do with character qualities which would be paramount for an elder to possess. Since there is no reciprocating directive that a woman elder/overseer should be a ‘one-man kind of woman’ or even a wife of one husband, it suggests that Paul had men in mind when he laid out the qualifications for elders/overseers. Those who hold to the Closed position take this to be the Lord’s intent.
 
Those who hold the Open position point out that Romans 16:1-2 refers to Phoebe, a woman, as a diakonon (deaconess/servant). [The Closed position holds that Phoebe was simply being recognized as a servant in the church, not necessarily a person who held the office of a deacon.]
 
Romans 16:1-2
¹ I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, ² that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
 
The high esteem that Paul commands the Romans to give to Phoebe strongly suggests that she was much more than just someone who served. She was a woman who was worthy of support, ostensibly because the nature of her service was critical in the mission of the gospel. Paul actually calls her a patron of many. This word carries the idea of protector and guardian. Furthermore, in the case of deacons, 1 Timothy 3:11 can legitimately be translated “women, likewise, must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things” instead of “wives, likewise…”. If ‘women’ is the correct way to interpret this passage then again, it would be addressing the character qualities of a deaconesses and not the qualities of the wife of a deacon. It would also be strange that Paul would mention the character required of a deacon’s wife but have no such character qualifications of an elder/overseer’s wife. Therefore, if Phoebe was indeed a woman who occupied the office of deaconess, then the ‘one-woman man’ requirement (1 Timothy 3:12) should not be interpreted as an indirect way of limiting the role of deacon to just men. And if this is the case, then in the case of elders, it should also not be interpreted as limiting the role of elder to just men.  

The Limited position holds that the office of deacon can be held by women because of 1 Timothy 3:11 and Romans 16:1-2. It does not view the ‘one-woman man’ qualification as being a decisive, positive statement that limits the office of deacon to men only. However, we hold that the office of elder is limited to men on other grounds - that women are specifically allowed to serve as deaconesses (1 Timothy 3:11 and Romans 16:1-2) while there is no similar allowance for women to serve as elders/overseers; and women are not allowed to be in authority over men in the church and by reserving the office of elder to men, this provides a tangible expression of submission.

The Limited position also sees Paul’s letters in the context of a male dominant society. The norm was that positions of authority were assumed to be held by men. It’s reasonable to surmise that this was Paul’s frame of mind and that he wrote the qualifications for the office of elder/overseer with men in mind. The qualifications of being a one-woman man or managing his own household well assumed his readers would readily accept these as reasonable qualifications for the men serving as an elder/overseer. They wouldn’t have thought that Paul commanded these things as a way of limiting this office to men only, because it was already normative. The fact that Paul included these same qualifications for deacons would have also been readily accepted for the same reasons. However, stating the qualifications for deaconesses probably would have been surprising and caused a shift in their paradigm, yet consistent with how Jesus honored women throughout His ministry.
 
The Open position will often cite Galatians 3:26-28 as a key text that does away with gender roles. This verse says,

Galatians 3:26-28
²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
 
For those who hold to the Open position, this verse trumps all other passages that mention distinctions between genders. But the Closed and Limited position take into account the context of this passage and point out that Paul’s point is that we are all saved by grace through faith. No one can earn their salvation by following the law and no one can merit salvation based on their ethnicity or anything else other than faith in Christ. Jews, Greeks (Gentiles), slaves, the free, males, and females all have the opportunity to receive salvation by faith. In that sense there is no distinction between men and women. But interpreting this passage as doing away with all gender distinctions would be reading into the text far more than Paul or the Lord intended.

Bearing God’s Image
When God created human beings He made us in His image.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

Males and females are created in the image of God. Not only do we have an intellect, emotions, and a will, we also have the capacity to relate to others. When wives are submissive to their husbands and women come under the godly shepherding of male elders, we bear the image of God relationally. Even though God the Son (and God the Holy Spirit) are equal with the Heavenly Father in essence, they are also submissive to Him. This concept of equality in essence, submissive in relationship, reflects the way the Trinity relates to one another and brings God glory.

When women willingly and joyfully come under godly elders in the church family, they are identifying with the Lord Jesus’ own act of humility as expressed in Philippians 2:5-8:

Philippians 2:5-8
⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Correspondingly, godly elders should respond the way God the Father responded to Christ’s humility:

Philippians 2:9-11
⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God exalts, that is, He lifts up the One who humbled Himself. The heart of a godly elder is never to suppress women but to lift them up and give them every opportunity to use their gifts to impact God’s kingdom. As God the Father exalted God the Son, this very act brought glory to the Father. It is a glorious thing when godly elders exercise their authority by lifting up others, especially women, to places of honor and meaningful service to the Lord.

Summary
Women play a vital role in helping the church to accomplish its mission. The timeless principle of submission can be lived out best when women willingly and joyfully come under the godly leadership of male elders/overseers. Correspondingly, The elders/overseers should do all they can to lift up women, providing opportunities to pastor, preach, lead, and utilize their spiritual gifts so that the church is built up to maturity.

...I was a stranger and you invited me in.
Matthew 25:35

Over the past several weeks, the world has watched as the Ukraine crisis has dominated headlines.  But this blog isn't about taking one side or the other or espousing any particular political views.  What is undeniable is the fallout that has resulted from this conflict between Russia and Ukraine.  The most jarring statistic is that over 5 million Ukrainian children and adults have fled to neighboring countries.  Unfortunately, those numbers continue to rise, in addition to the growing number of casualties.  

On this side of the world, there are numerous ways to respond to what is going on in Ukraine.  We can read the news and shake our head and get angry.  We can search for an organization to send money.  We can take a moment to pray for the safety and grief suffered by all the victims.  Or we can choose to do nothing at all.

 As followers of Christ, we know that in Matthew 25, Jesus shares a humbling warning about the sheep and the goats.  The sheep who did "for one of the least of these brothers and sisters" did it for Jesus.  They will inherit the kingdom of heaven, while those that did not will go away to eternal punishment.  God is absolutely clear about how we are to respond to those that are hungry and thirsty, those that need clothes, those that are sick, and those that are strangers.  And for this last example, Jesus states simply that we are to "invite them in".

In Cornerstone's Compassion ministry, we are blessed to be partners with both World Relief and Rescue Freedom.  Both organizations are actively engaging with victims of the Ukraine Crisis.  World Relief is helping refugees relocate to neighboring countries.  They are providing food, shelter and healthcare to displaced families.  Rescue Freedom is aiding women and children fleeing across the border by protecting them from predators who are promising safety but are actually seeking to enslave them into trafficking.  They're employing a preventative strategy to accompany their rescue and rehabilitation efforts.  

While the crisis in Ukraine continues, we have an opportunity to be faithful to God's calling for us to love on these strangers.  And while we may not be able to do this in-person yet (hoping for future Good Neighbor Team opportunities!), we can pray for and give generously to those that are able to be His hands and feet on the frontlines of Ukraine.  We can love Jesus by loving them.  

Recently Lisa and I celebrated our four year wedding anniversary and six years of being together.  I love pouring into relationships, especially as somebody who has gone through a divorce and seen how important strong marriages are to the church.  Thankfully for me, one of our favorite things to do as a couple is walk alongside other dating or married couples as we grow in our relationships, and it’s fun to share stories of how we got together.  Every marriage is different, and what makes it click is different.  

One of the first things I share when people ask how we knew each other was "the one", is that we came in with good expectations for our relationship.  I’m always reminded of two things Lisa told me early on: that she was looking for somebody to grow and change with and that at the end of the day, she trusts God to take care of her more than she trusts me.  While this might be offensive to some, I think these two statements have defined a lot of our marriage so far.  

One of the biggest truths in life is that we are always growing and changing, especially in relationship with others, regardless of marital status.  The person you are now is different from the person you were 5 years ago or will be 5 years from now.  When we started dating, I was an AV technician and Lisa was a missionary.  I was focused on career goals, and Lisa was trying to figure out going back to Japan.  We had such different goals and life approaches, and between then and now, we’ve switched places with me going into full time ministry and Lisa working in the secular world.   We’ve grown in our individual struggles too:  I’ve grown in my financial and emotional compassion for others and ability to plan and think ahead, and Lisa has learned to relax and balance work and personal life better.  At the end of the day, despite not being perfect people or even the same people we married, we still affirm how glad we are that each of us are the shortcomings we have chosen to spend the rest of our lives with.  

The other major truth I advocate for in relationships is we trust in God more than each other.  I think this is what putting God at the center of our relationship has meant for us.  When Lisa was in the process of moving to Seattle, we had a big debate (a long fight really) over whether or not we should be engaged before she arrived.  We spent time praying together and with others and ultimately had peace about Lisa moving without being engaged, although we hoped to get engaged within six months, assuming things kept moving forward.  This was one of our first big decisions and really set the precedent that we would bring God into our lives as we make big and small choices together.  Whether it’s about where we should live, how much we may give to various charities and missionaries, or who we should hang out with, we ask God to make it clear to us what His will for us is in each situation.

The Bible constantly refers to our relationship with God like a marriage (Isaiah 62:5, Rev 19:7-9 and many more). Advice on relationships (friendships and romantic) permeates the Bible, Old and New Testaments, like Proverbs 19:14, Ephesians 5, Hebrews 13:4 and many more.  So why are relationships so important to God?  I think that doing life in a God-centered way is how we are intended to be, as we demonstrate to the world and to our Christian brothers and sisters what life is like when we walk with God.  It’s not that we are perfect people who don’t make mistakes or have fights.  Instead, it’s because we make mistakes and have fights that our relationships, especially our marriages, should exemplify the love, grace and faithfulness we have received from God, as opposed to the bitterness and belittling we often see in the world.  

If you’re a single person reading this, I hope it encourages you to know that finding the perfect person isn’t impossible, because even once you find them, they will grow and change over time.  There will always be a core of who they are, but many of their thoughts, attitudes, sometimes even values will grow and change; so will yours!  So maybe my best advice is to find someone who is eager to grow and be changed by God.

If you’re dating or married, continue to focus on putting God at the center of your relationship.  I’d challenge you to grow deeper in your relationship by talking about what that means to each of you and how you can incorporate more of Him in your lives.  Hopefully, you’ll realize in getting closer to your one, you’ve drawn closer to The One too.

When my wife and I first started dating, everything we did was solely for the other person’s benefit. When I found out that she was a fan of my cologne, I would wear it every time I saw her. I pretty much bathed in it. And she knew I liked to see her in specific colors, so she would intentionally wear that color just for me. I would talk nonstop to my friends and coworkers about her. It got to the point where people started avoiding me because they couldn’t stand to hear my stories about my amazing girlfriend. By the time I finished talking about her, she could walk on water!

It’s incredible how we are the best version of ourselves when we first start dating someone. We spend hours on the phone talking, laughing, and sometimes even sleeping. We devote all our free time to getting to know them. It’s like they’re a puzzle that we’re trying to solve. And in the process of solving this puzzle, we are willing to forgo sleep, eat new foods, abandon our friends, and even wear matching outfits, all in the name of love.

Then we get married, and the puzzle no longer excites us. Now that it’s been solved, our fascination with the details is over. We no longer stay up talking. We eat the same meals every week, and sometimes our friends take precedence over our spouse. We put our relationship on autopilot, and now we’re surprised we end up in the middle of nowhere.

Oddly enough, many of us have this same relationship with Christ. When we first got saved, every word out of our mouths was about the Lord and the things He was doing in our life. We woke up first thing in the morning and jumped into our prayer time, followed by time in The Word. People avoided us like the plague because they couldn’t stomach one more church invite or one more story about what Jesus was doing in your life. Many of us even gave up secular entertainment and replaced it with the Christian version.

Now we can’t even be bothered to spend time with the Lord. We pray for a few minutes a couple of days a week, and the only time we see our Bible app is on Sunday. We no longer testify to what He has done for us, and sometimes, we even question if He has actually done anything for us lately. Our relationships with Him have settled into a predictable routine, and we are suffering without even knowing it.

In Revelation 2, Jesus writes to the church in Ephesus. He acknowledges their perseverance and patience and their value of sound doctrine. This church was credible. During Paul’s ministry, he spoke to the Ephesians, saying, “'I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years, I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.' Acts 20:29-31. The Ephesians heed these words because Jesus commends them on their disregard for those that do evil. However, despite these positive behaviors, the Lord brings attention to the fact that they have left their first love. This love wasn’t lost or misplaced; it was abandoned. Leaving didn’t happen overnight. It was a slow process.

Many of us have left our first love too. We no longer find ourselves gathering with other Christians or telling people about the goodness of God. Our prayer life has become a shell of its former self. Other times we find ourselves reading the newest books from our favorite Christian authors instead of spending time in His  Word. And while there is nothing wrong with reading new books, sometimes we inadvertently replace the Bible with these books. We have unintentionally switched our mindset from working with the Lord to working for Him.
It is hard to maintain the love we experience as newlyweds or as new believers. The excitement, the butterflies, and the roller coaster of emotions we’re never meant to be the endgame. They are an exciting part of the relationship. The goal shouldn’t be to keep that initial feeling, but rather to grow those feeling into something more profound. As we grow in Christ, our love should mature and deepen. Trying to hang on to the initial feelings only keeps us where we started.

Jesus called on the Ephesians to “remember from where you have fallen.” In other words, remember where you used to be in love with Him. Remember the time you spent in His presence. Go back to the place where things got off track. Then He calls us to repent. To turn away from those behaviors or that mindset that have diverted our attention away from Him. Repenting isn’t just saying sorry; instead, it’s a change of heart. Lastly, He says, “Do the first works.” Go back to the basics of your relationship. Go back to making time for Him again like you used to. Spend time in prayer and His word. Find other believers to engage with again.

In any relationship, generally, the “first works” are the ones that are the most impactful. Yet we often forgo these simple tasks for more elaborate ones that may bring instant, but not always lasting, results. He who has an ear let him hear that we are being called back to our first love. We are being called to repent and go back to our first works. Jesus promised that those who overcome would be given restoration and eternal life. What a fantastic reward we have in store for us. Let us finish our race strong and remain faithful to Christ in the process.

Ephesians 4:11-16
¹¹ And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

One outcome of the Protestant Reformation was the course correction that brought back the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9). We recaptured the understanding that saints were not special Christians but simply followers of Christ who were called to minister in His name under the power of the Holy Spirit. Instead of the professional clergy being tasked with doing the bulk of the ministry, they rediscovered that more can be done when the Holy Spirit is working through all believers. As pastors and elders given the responsibility to lead our church family, this verse is a guiding beacon that helps us to remember our important role to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. This approach brings glory to the Lord because it’s clear that He, not the church leader, is the common denominator in the various ministries that sprout up. It also creates a rich environment for believers to grow and mature in their walk with the Lord as they step out in faith and trust the Lord to use them.

The work of the Holy Spirit often connects a believer’s heart to a particular aspect of God’s heart. When this happens, a believer may develop a burden to see something done that would bring God’s presence into a situation of need. A person may have a strong conviction to fight for the right to life of unborn children. Another person may feel compelled to start a ministry that serves the poor. Some may feel moved to fight against racism or other forms of injustice. At Cornerstone, we love to see people living in their authority as a daughter or son of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

When a person feels moved to be involved in a kingdom-cause, the best approach is usually to find an organization that is effectively addressing that need because they have the necessary infrastructure and expertise. Sometimes, making a significant impact can best happen if many people get involved. This has been true of our efforts with raising awareness and financial support for Rescue Freedom (human trafficking) and Good Neighbor Teams (refugees). Both of these efforts have been in partnership with organizations and spearheaded by volunteers in our church family. The Serve/Salt & Light section of our app provides a few ministries where these and other grass roots, bottom-up ministry is happening.

Not only does this approach affirm the priesthood of all believers, it also expands the ministry reach of our church, because it allows the pastors and elders to focus on efforts directly related to making disciples and it prevents them from becoming bottlenecks to ministry. If the pastors and elders are asked/expected to be directly involved or lead the charge for every cause, we would always be constrained by their limited bandwidth. The infant church in Jerusalem faced the complex social issue of caring for poor widows that was compounded because of the unequal treatment of these widows, based on cultural preference at best or prejudice at worst. The matter was brought to the attention of the Apostles, yet seven godly men were selected to handle this situation (Acts 6:1-7). The wisdom of this approach was affirmed in that the Apostles could focus on their primary ministry of preaching the Word and prayer which led to the growth in the number of disciples. Had the Apostles been bogged down in the important yet not primary ministry of food distribution, the spreading of the gospel would have been stunted.

As we begin 2022, our hope is that our time of fasting and prayer will lead many people to sense God’s calling to step out in faith. Some will join an existing ministry and a few others may be called to mobilize and lead others to also capture the vision and get involved. This bottom-up approach to ministry will require much faith and sacrifice that becomes the fertile soil for a dynamic, growing, Christ-honoring, kingdom-building movement of the Lord!

I’ve been told it’s weird, but in an honest confession, New Years is my favorite holiday of the year, not Christmas.  In my family, I grew up in the Japanese tradition, and we tweaked it for the American experience.  We bust out all kinds of food, starting with ozoni (mochi soup) for breakfast, then teriyaki flank steak, chicken wings, salads, massive amounts of sushi, nacho dip and more laid out for you to snack on throughout the day.  The TV watching had an order too:  Rose Bowl Parade first, because my mom’s family is from Pasadena, and then football afterwards.  Between the food, the football, board games and family time where I get to hang out with my cousins, it is one of the things I look forward to the most and the reason I usually start Cornerstone’s January fast a day late.  

It’s also a time that we get to both reflect on the previous year and anticipate the next.  Lisa and I have an annual planning meeting and prayer time either just before or just after New Years, where we think about what we hope to see happen in the new year and listen for what our word of the year will be.  In previous years, it was “Foundations”, “Welcome”, “Indivisible” and this year, the word is “Trust”.  

By nature, I’m a doer.  My mind and body is often in constant motion, thanks to ADHD, and it’s how I show love to people.  Being a pastor has allowed me even more space to help and connect with people, which I do love so much.  In ministry, there’s always more to do, events to plan, people who need prayer, a meal or a connection and sometimes, I can become wrapped up in the doing too much.  While doing is good and necessary, it can mask a lack of trust in God’s plans.  Said another way, if I’m not careful, I may end up putting more trust in my ability to get things done than God’s.

So for me, my word of the year is encouraging me to slow down and hear more clearly from God.  Only spending time once a year during New Years isn’t enough quiet and stillness.  We often encourage taking just five to ten minutes to do daily devotions, but sometimes it is good to sit in the quiet longer.  Lamentations 3:25-26 reminds us clearly,
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    to the soul who seeks him.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
Jesus too took time to be away and reflect throughout his journey, even as there was work to be done (Luke 5:15-16, Mark 1:35), and especially before He was about to be crucified (Luke 22:39-45).  His trust that God would come through was so complete, that He didn’t always need to be doing, and knew that more could be done as He received through His time with the Father.  

In our walk of faith, there is the challenge of being engaged and active and being quiet and still before God. Maybe for you in the new year, God is calling you to be more active, to serve in one of Cornerstone’s ministries, or intentionally connect with a non-Christian friend.  Or maybe, like myself, God wants you to slow down and listen to Him more, be more reflective and away from the busyness of life.  It doesn’t mean your life becomes just one or the other; there should always be tension between the two.  But I would encourage you, as we spend this month of January fasting, to look at your life in sober judgment (Romans 12:3) and see how God may be calling you to live into the tension of activity and stillness.  

     The first time I remember taking a serious leap of faith towards God, I was 21. I was in Mexico building houses, I had almost finished college with a degree in English and I was planning to go into teaching. Summers off baby! Sign me up! That year, I’d experienced some academic setbacks and found myself increasingly disenfranchised with public education. I knew I wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people, but it seemed like every teacher I met was either frustrated by the constraints of the system or had become alarmingly jaded and was just cynically punching a clock towards retirement.
 
     Sitting on a beach in Baja, I prayed and asked the Lord to give me a sign or point me in the direction He wanted me to go. I was hoping for a big neon sign, flashing arrow, the whole shebang. Instead, I got a call from my hometown church asking me if I’d consider being an intern that summer.  I didn’t really want to, but I had just prayed that prayer, and I felt He was asking me to trust His plan more than mine. So I took the leap of faith, said yes to the internship and went back to Washington. It ended up being one of the best summers of my entire life. I felt more connected to God and joy in His presence than I ever had.

     The internship turned out to be a 4-month interview to become their new Children’s Pastor. When they asked me to pray about it, I was scared. I didn’t want to be a Pastor, I wanted to be a High School teacher, leading Young Life once a week and taking my summers off to fish. My time, my plan, my way. Turns out God wanted all of me, not just part of me. So, I took the leap and said yes. Instantly, life made more sense than it ever had. I felt more alive and more passionate about His church than ever before. God knew who He made me to be and all I had to do was submit to His calling and I found in Him the purpose my life had been lacking all along. I finally knew who I was and who He was calling me to be.

    Later on, God opened up a door for me to attend Seminary and get my Master’s. The only problem was I’d have to leave Washington and move to San Francisco. I loved Washington, I loved my church, I loved my job, but I knew God was calling me to finish school so I could focus more on ministry. He was asking me to leave everything I knew and had grown up with, my family, my friends, my tiny hometown of Toledo and the only community I’d ever known for a place where I knew no one. Even worse than that, the place was crawling with 49’er fans…yuck. I knew God had a plan for me, so I said yes and took the leap. Within a few months God had called me to be the English Ministry pastor at a local Korean Baptist Church. I was blessed to be accepted into an entirely new community and they taught me more about how to be a Pastor and Shepherd than all my hours in school. While serving there, I was also blessed to meet a local inner-city missionary girl who for some reason ended up deciding to spend her life with me! I’m so glad God prompted me to take that leap!

    I loved my church in the Bay Area. Jess and I had just had our firstborn, Connor, and we lived in a nice little house on a dangerous street with crazy neighbors. It was great. I was preaching every week, wrapping up Seminary and we were enjoying that Cali life. That year, as I asked God to give me vision for our church, He did something strange. He gave me two visions, one for my family and one for my church …separately. I was a newer husband with a brand new baby and I felt God calling me to do the least responsible thing I could think of, leave California and move back to the Northwest. No job, no place to live, just leave and follow Him to somewhere in the PNW. I was angry. I was upset. I didn’t want to leave. I liked my life. I told God I would not leave until He told me where I was going and that I had a guaranteed job to provide for my young family. I’d trusted Him before, but this was too far! So I tried it my way. I started firing off resumes, doing interviews, trying to establish a new job before we left. I heard nothing. No hits, no close decisions, nothing. Through a lot of prayer, faithful friends and lots of cool moments of God leading Jess and I together, we realized that God wasn’t going to show us the way until we took the leap and trusted Him. We had to cut our safety net and put our whole trust in Him this time. So we took the biggest leap of our lives together. We told the church we were leaving, gave notice to our landlord and began packing. Suddenly a guy named Warren Eng from Cornerstone in Bellevue reached out and said they liked my resume and wanted to talk. Taking that leap has been the greatest privilege and blessing of my life. We found our family here at Cornerstone. We planted our roots. We watched our lives intertwine and saw God do more amazing things in our lives and the lives around us than we ever have before. Every day has been a gift.

    Now, once again, God is telling us to go. He’s asking us to trust Him. He’s raising the bar again, asking us to follow Him with no safety net, no plan, not even a direction. Just trust and obey. It’s not scary this time, because we’ve been here before, but it doesn’t mean it’s not hard. It’s hard to leave the church family we love dearly. It’s hard to leave relationships we’ve built over the past 9 years. It’s hard to say goodbye. I know that it’s for the best because every time we take the leap towards God, He’s got something amazing in store. I hope our journey encourages you to begin asking God more and more where He might be calling you to take a leap, to put your faith totally in Him and follow no matter what. I have never regretted taking the leap towards God and I know you won’t either.

    A dear sister in Christ shared a verse with me recently that really speaks to where we are at as a family and I pray that it gives you the same sense of purpose and peace that it has given me.

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
 
for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8

November is a time we honor our veterans and cast our votes so it seemed appropriate to address a couple of hot topics that relate to freedom, the very thing that our veterans have served to protect. In our country, freedom is a cherished value that has defined our nation ever since the first settlers came so they could experience economic opportunity, political liberty, and religious freedom. Our constitution recognizes and protects our freedoms such as free speech, freedom of religious practice, freedom to bear arms, etc. Freedom is woven into the collective fabric of our society. And while the Bible doesn’t overtly advocate for a society to establish and defend personal freedoms, it assumes and demonstrates a respect for personal freedoms. Some examples include:

• Corinthian believers were asked to give a freewill offering to support their Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ living in Jerusalem. It wasn’t a command, but rather an appeal. (2 Corinthians 9:1-7)
• Even though Paul was an Apostle and strongly urged Apollos to visit Corinth, he left the decision up to him. Apollos decided it wasn’t the right time and would go when he had the opportunity. (1 Corinthians 16:12)
• Paul encouraged bondservants to gain their freedom if they are able to do so. (1 Corinthians 7:21)
• And of course, not withstanding the Calvinist’s argument, Scripture affirms our freedom to choose to follow Christ. (Romans 10:10, John 3:16-17)

Two issues that face our country have been postured by their advocates as an issue of freedom. Pro-choice abortionists want to protect the rights of women to make decisions concerning their own bodies and those who oppose vaccine mandates want to protect their rights to choose what to do with their own bodies. On the surface, it seems like their arguments share the common denominator that would compel a fair-minded person to support both or neither, but not just one. The knot gets even more tangled when we consider that some who oppose getting the vaccine do so because of its connection to abortion. Therefore, for some, it is a moral issue because they do not want to indirectly condone abortion by taking the vaccine. As Christians, our guiding light isn’t the constitution but God’s word, so we need to think biblically about these issues. Before we look at these issues from the standpoint of our freedom, we need to consider the morality of the issues themselves.

The issue of abortion hinges on our understanding of God being the author of life, when that life begins, and what can be termed ‘the greater harm’. Scripture affirms that God is not only the one who created the world in such a way that human beings are able to procreate, it also reveals that He is involved in the process of creating each life in the womb (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 139:13-14; Jeremiah 1:5). From the moment of conception, God determined our gene combination that would express our traits. Therefore, since God is the author of life who actively creates each life, that life should be protected. While a woman should have the right/freedom to choose what she does with her body in most cases, when it comes to pregnancy, there is another life to consider – the life of the baby. In other words, taking the life of the child is a greater harm than limiting the choice of the mother.

One common argument against those who place the life of the baby above the choice of the mother is that God Himself is not pro-life. The argument goes something like this: In the Old Testament, God commanded the slaughter of not only foreign armies, but of entire cities including women and children (Deuteronomy 2:34, Joshua 6:17-21). God commanded the death penalty for murder (Exodus 21:12), bestiality (Exodus 22:19), kidnapping (Exodus 21:16), cursing parents (Exodus 21:17), sorcery (Exodus 22:18), sabbath breaking (Exodus 31:15), adultery (Deuteronomy 22:22), and rape (Deuteronomy 22:23-25). How can Christians claim that God cares for the life of the unborn when it seems He cares so little about the life of those who are already born?

To begin to understand how God can still be thought of as pro-life even though He commanded these things, we must first acknowledge that God has the right to do whatever He pleases and to determine when killing is justified. He is always just and sinful humans can never hold a standard in which to judge the righteousness of God. We must also recognize that the way God acted in the Old Testament had much to do with His purposes for the nation of Israel that is much different than His purposes in the New Testament for His people, the church. Israel had an ethnic and political dimension to it that the church does not have. God used Israel as His instrument of justice against wicked nations (Deuteronomy 9:1-5). Also, the command to annihilate entire people groups was given to protect the Israelites from adopting the religious practices and foreign gods of those people (Deuteronomy 12:29-31). Other commands for such things like keeping the sabbath were part of God’s calling to them into a unique relationship apart from all the other nations. In addition, when God made these determinations to exact judgment for sin, He did so because He is the author of life and this judgment is left in His hands, even when the instrument of His judgment can be through people. Abortion usurps God’s authority to take a life and places it in the hands of people. To be pro-life protects the most vulnerable person in a literal life and death situation while maintaining God’s authority to give and take a life. One could argue that medical attempts to preserve life goes against God’s authority to take a life but Scripture has many examples and commands to do good (e.g. Luke 10:25-37).

While supporting a pro-life position is consistent with the tenor of Scripture, we must also acknowledge that there are complex issues if abortion is totally outlawed or restricted. For example, what should be the consequences if an abortion happens? Some advocate that the abortion providers be the ones who suffer the consequences instead of the mothers. Should the father of the baby also be held accountable if he supports the abortion? What if he doesn’t want the abortion but also refuses to help raise the child? What about a situation where the mother self-induces the abortion, would that also warrant consequences? Admittedly, these are weighty issues, yet the right to life and protection of the unborn child can’t get lost in the maze of all the perplexing consequences.

Not surprisingly, many pro-life Christians oppose the COVID vaccine because of its link to abortion. Tissue from an abortion in 1973 in the Netherlands has multiplied thousands of times into fetal cell lines that have been used in the development of the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna). Fetal cell lines from an abortion in 1985 in the Netherlands was used in the production of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. None of these vaccines used recently aborted fetal tissue in their development or production. These facts do not justify the tragedy of the original abortions, but it does remove any reasonable complicity of supporting abortion by those who take the vaccine. If God could use Judas' sin of betrayal to bring about our salvation, He can certainly bring something good from the sin of abortions that happened decades ago. In addition, there are several other common medications that use fetal cell lines in their research and development, including aspirin, ibuprofen, Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, Motrin, Tums, Maalox, Benadryl, Sudafed, Preparation H, Lipitor, Prilosec, Zoloft, and Claritin. Refusing to take the vaccine because of its association with abortion while taking these other medications is inconsistent. When you add the fact that taking the vaccine can not only protect the health of a person but also contributes to the protection of other’s health – a tangible way to love our neighbor, there are good reasons to take the vaccine. However, if a Christian has a sincere concern that by taking the vaccine they would be committing a sin, then their decision should be respected (Romans 14:1-23). There could also be other reasons why people may not want to take the vaccine or cannot take it that are unrelated to abortion, yet are legitimate.

Should our government protect the lives of its citizens by making it mandatory for people to get the vaccine? Wouldn’t a consistent pro-life stance be one that advocates that the life of both the born and the unborn be protected? A significant difference between death from COVID and death from abortion is the risk of death. According to Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/mortality-risk-covid), the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) for the United States is roughly 2%. The CFR is the ratio of confirmed deaths to confirmed cases. (By contrast, nearly 100% of all abortions result in a fatality.) Is a mandatory vaccine policy warranted for a virus with such a low fatality rate? Living in a fallen world, there are no easy answers.

But my main concern isn’t how to find political solutions to these issues, it’s how we in the body of Christ should treat one another. We need to support those who may be losing their jobs because of their vaccination status. Those who are vaccinated should not shun those who are not but continue to welcome them and connect with them. Those who aren’t vaccinated shouldn’t judge those who are. Those burdened to protect unborn children can volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center. Men and women can commit themselves to refrain from sex until marriage. Support groups can be started for those who have had abortions. While some may focus their efforts on political solutions, there are other ways we can exercise our freedom to make a difference.

The idea that we go to church is a common one and we use this phrase without giving it much thought. “Are you going to church this Sunday?” “What church do you go to?” When we use language like this, we reinforce the idea that church is a building or a place we go to worship. It also tends to shrink church down to just the corporate worship service. Sometimes we might use the expression “we are doing church together” which makes the church sound more like an activity, like “we’re doing crafts together”.

But the New Testament clearly differentiates the church from the physical meeting place.
“Greet also the church in their house.” – Romans 16:5
 
“The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 16:19
 
“Give my greetings to the brothers in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.” – Colossians 4:15

These homes were the place where the church met and nowhere in Scripture does it use the word church as an activity. The church itself should be understood as the gathered assembly of believers who have been called from the world and redeemed through faith in Christ. The church universal includes all believers, from all time, and all places. These are the clear implications of Ephesians 5:25 where it says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” But as is seen in the previously referenced verses, the universal church was also comprised of local churches in specific geographical locations and particular homes.

But is any gathering that consists of two or more Christians considered a local church? Does having coffee with a fellow believer at the local café constitute a New Testament church? Are campus ministries equivalent to a New Testament church? Does meeting in a home fellowship group that listens to sermons online, worships together, prays, and seeks to hold each other accountable to following Christ constitute a New Testament church? Certainly, this latter example seems to include many of the activities that churches are called to do. But not only does a New Testament church consist of gathered believers, there is also an organizational structure in place with qualified leadership charged with shepherding the flock, namely elders/pastors (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-4). These leaders are accountable to the Lord to maintain and teach sound doctrine (Titus 1:9), set an example for godliness (1 Timothy 4:12), equip believers for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-14), and lead their local church to fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Members of these local churches are called to honor their leaders (1 Timothy 5:17) and willingly submit to their leadership (Hebrews 13:17). Groups that meet together without the covering of qualified elders/pastors are not a New Testament church, even though there could be good spiritual fruit borne from the gathering.

The church is also referred to as the Body of Christ, with Christ being the head and believers being members of His body (Ephesians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 12:12, 27). Therefore, to be a Christian while disconnected from a local church is foreign to the New Testament. You can’t live obediently to the Lord without being part of a local church, which means participating in its efforts to make disciples locally and globally and coming under the shepherding and authority of its leaders. This does not rule out participating in activities that are outside the ministry scope of a local church, but it does mean that every Christian should offer their spiritual gifts in some capacity that helps to build it up (1 Corinthians 14:26).

When the church gathered, they worshiped together, served each other, came under the same teaching, broke bread together, prayed together, and encouraged each other (Acts 2:42-44, Hebrews 10:24-25). So, let’s stop going to church and let’s be the church that impacts the world for the glory of Christ!

Matthew 6:1-4

1“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

In the midst of Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount, he provides an important word concerning giving.  We all know that giving and generosity are part of our calling as followers of Christ.  We are to give not only our finances, but also our time, our talents and our ultimately our hearts.  And while we are all aware of this mandate from the Lord, it's that last aspect of giving which can sometimes be the most difficult - giving from our heart.  The call to tithe and give generously strikes everyone at different levels, because we're each at different places of spiritual maturity in our faith walks.  But sometimes we get so tripped up by a specific dollar amount, and that's not what God is after.  In fact, He applauded the amount the poor widow gave (two small copper coins) more than all the other donations of the rich.  He's interested in our heart posture when we give more than how much we actually give.

So how do we grow our hearts when it comes to giving?  One great way is to do as Jesus instructed in the verses above.  When we give, we don't need to announce it to everyone.  In fact, we shouldn't announce it to be recognized by others.  This may seem easier said than done, but there's a prideful part deep inside everyone of us that likes to be acknowledged.  And that can spill over into our giving habits as well.  I'm not saying we should be ashamed of giving whatever amount we do, but if our motivation for giving has been tainted, then we've missed the point entirely.  And like the passage says after all, isn't it enough that our Lord sees how much we give?

The old saying, "give til it hurts" means that we should give until it really hits us hard, and we're feeling we're having to make a huge sacrifice.  But I would argue that we should grow hearts of generosity beyond that, to the point that it does NOT hurt.  That's where we're at that place in our faith where giving and generosity become just as natural and effortless as breathing.  We won't have to think twice and hem and haw over every nickel, and debate the countless reasons why someone or something is or isn't worth our giving.  Giving and generosity should flow from us just as abundantly and non-judgmentally like grace and forgiveness does from our Father in Heaven.  At that point, giving in secret becomes an afterthought.  

In our Compassion Ministries, it's been such a blessing to see our Cornerstone family give abundantly and "in secret" this year.  Folks have selflessly provided weekly groceries to financially hurting families through the Jubilee Grocery Program.  The program (and need) has lasted over a year now, yet I am continually encouraged to see people in our church stepping up to bless predominantly low-income homes, knowing that these groceries are faceless.  But those hurting families DO know that they've been provided out of God's love.  Our recent World Relief Welcome Kit Drive through the month of September is another testimony of extravagant, selfless giving.  Hundreds of Afghan refugees are being blessed anonymously with bedroom furnishings, kitchen equipment and school supplies.  Some of these kits cost hundreds of dollars each, but we've had individuals and CGs pull together over 30 kits, answering God's call to give to the needy.....praise the Lord!!

My prayer is that Cornerstone continues to grow generous hearts of compassion to the point that it doesn't hurt.  Giving not just out of obedience to the Lord, but in our desire to be more like Jesus in having an outwardly mindset and heart for the broken.  On top of all that, when we do these things for His eyes and not the world's, our Father will surely bless us with the greatest rewards.

During my 3-month sabbatical I began reading the letters commonly referred to as the Pastoral Epistles (Thessalonians, Timothy, and Titus). What struck me in a fresh way was the importance of being grounded in solid doctrine. Of course, good doctrine has always been important to me but perhaps this familiar truth took on greater weightiness because of our current cultural moment where there are so many issues that divide our country. State laws being passed to protect the lives of the unborn. Biological males competing against biological females in sports. Racism and Critical Race Theory. Mask and vaccine mandates. Immigration and border protection. On top of all of these things, there are so many Christians who subscribe to the most perplexing conspiracy theories. Paul’s charge to Timothy jumped off the page as I read these sobering words:

“³ As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, ⁴ nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. ⁵ The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ⁶ Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion…” – 1 Timothy 1:3-6

While we can’t be certain of the exact content of the myths and endless genealogies, it’s clear that they led to speculation and vain discussions and diverted from the gospel message that Christians have been entrusted with. These people had misplaced their devotion to Christ, and without a weighty doctrine to anchor them, they drifted into the endless ocean of speculations.

Sound doctrine has to do with what we believe. Seminaries teach a course on systematic theology that typically covers among several topics, the nature of God, the Trinity, the nature of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the nature of man, salvation, the church, end times, etc. However, I was surprised when the very first topic we studied wasn’t about God per se, but our doctrine of Scripture. This was foundational, not because Scripture is more important than God, but because we can only know God because He has chosen to reveal Himself to humanity primarily through Scripture. By necessity, our doctrine of Scripture impacts all of the other doctrines, including God Himself. If your understanding of Scripture is that it is the inspired revelation of God that reveals His character, His purposes, and His plans, you will recognize its authority and seek to live consistent with its teaching even at great cost to yourself. If your understanding is that it is merely a good book, inspirational guide, or one of several revelations from God, then it will not hold the same authority over you, and you will tend to pick and choose what you follow with your comfort being the final arbiter of how you will live.
 
While a solid foundation is critical to any structure, the foundation is not the totality of the structure. A house needs a strong foundation but a livable house is more than a foundation. Our life in Christ is more than having good doctrine. This is why the writer of Hebrews says that we need to move beyond the elementary doctrines if we want to be mature.

“¹ Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, ² and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” – Hebrews 6:1-2

To be mature then means that we need to live our lives based on God’s word. The mature Christian interprets the culture through the lens of the unchanging word of God instead of interpreting Scripture through the lens of a constantly shifting culture. To know God you must know Scripture. To follow God you must follow Scripture. Inevitably, a Christian that fails to know God’s Word will wander into false teaching or misguided praxis. But those who continue to study His Word and treasure it because by it they are meeting with the living God, and diligently obey what it says, they will bloom even in the desert, they will stand tall even during a shutdown, they will shine even as the world descends into darkness.

And to our Christians brothers and sisters who have become entangled in the far-reaching web of conspiracy theories, you’ll find that the Bible is no stranger to them as well. Those who guarded the tomb of Christ and the religious leaders who had Him put to death, all conspired to purport that the disciples had stolen His body (Matthew 28:11-15). It was a conspiracy theory from the pit of hell that Satan used to thwart the spread of the gospel!

May we establish a solid doctrinal foundation based on God's word that sprouts a vibrant lifestyle that can engage our culture with God’s truth in a way that draws people to our Lord and His salvation!

I haven’t been a pastor for very long (just under 2 years), and it’s been during some of the strangest times we will ever go through.  The challenges we’ve faced with not being able to be face to face with much of our congregation for a long span of time have led to some of the hardest discussions I’ve had to be a part of.  How do we connect with people?  Is watching a live stream really being part of a church?  How do we live boldly and yet with the right amount of caution?  

Through these questions and many more, I’ve been learning what it means to truly be a shepherd and it’s not always what we think it should be.   I think the shepherd’s heart essentially comes down to 2 main aspects:  compassion and challenge.  Each person may find their shepherd’s heart more attuned towards one of these aspects or the other, but it’s the blend of both and the wisdom of which to use when that makes the best shepherd’s heart.

Compassion -  When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." - John 21:15

One of my strengths is my shepherd’s heart, especially around compassion and encouragement.  When it comes to making decisions, I will often try to find the solution that includes people and makes sure as few as possible are left behind.  I’m also a people pleaser by nature, so this falls very naturally into this aspect of a shepherd’s heart.  Caring for, protecting and sympathizing with people is easy for me, especially those who may be struggling.  This is the wonderful side of the compassion of the shepherd’s heart and the part that most of us appreciate.

It can also be a hindrance.  I’ve found that it can keep me from moving forward and living boldly.  I’m slower to shift in new directions for fear that people won’t be happy or won’t like me.  I’ve also seen that it can lead to sheltering people from the truth, which prevents them from actually growing.  

Challenge - So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ - Ephesians 4:14-15

Growth is not found without challenge (tension for those of you who know my key word).  When I was going through my divorce, I realized my faith had grown stagnant.  Although I continued to grow in my knowledge of God, I wasn’t being held accountable to change my life or my spiritual walk based on what I learned.  Part of this was withdrawing from Godly community and as a result, I stopped growing and became comfortable with my level of faith.  

The shepherd’s job in the Biblical times was not just to care for and protect the sheep but to correct their movement to the best fields or safest paths when they would start heading off in the wrong direction.  If one sheep got going in a direction, most of the rest would follow.  So the shepherd needed to make sure they all kept moving in the right direction that would give them the best life in the long run.  

Some people find challenge (you might also say correction) to be the easier side of a shepherd’s heart, but this is the area I’ve had to grow the most in, because it means pointing people in the right, but not necessarily popular or preferred, direction.  As a people pleaser, this leads to the hardest kinds of conversations I have to have.  Very few of us like being told that we’re wrong, but between being married and learning in ministry, I’ve experienced many times where I needed to be redirected to the right path.  

On top of that, I’m still learning to say it in the right way.  The adage most applicable here is “You might be right, but that doesn’t mean you get to be a jerk about it”.  This is often the case for many Christians, who may have the conviction of the right thing, but not be able to communicate it in a way that gets people onboard.  Sometimes, there’s no way around the direct confrontation, but I find it’s too easy to resort to that, instead of finding the best way to communicate the truth.  It's even harder when we on the receiving end forget to give each other the benefit of the doubt, knowing that even if we don’t express it well, our church family usually wants the best for one another.  Although it's easy to say, even we as pastors sometimes struggle with the assumptions we make about the intentions behind the words. There's work to be done on both sides of challenging communications for sure.

Wisdom to know the difference - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. - James 1:5

How do we know which one to lean into in a given situation?  That’s where the wisdom of and discernment from God prevails.  In the Bible, you’ll see times when Jesus showed compassion for the crowds around him but also challenged individuals and leaders alike when He sensed that was what was needed.  When we as church leadership pray, I find our prayers pretty much always include asking for wisdom and discernment, especially given our world circumstances.  Hearing from the Holy Spirit is so key to everybody’s shepherd’s heart, to know when to emphasize compassion and when to challenge for growth.  If you want to grow your shepherd’s heart, practice listening to the quiet whispers of God.  

My hope is that as you interact with one another that you can see the shepherd’s heart in each one of us, even if we don’t communicate it well.  If you are having a hard time with your own shepherd’s heart, pray and listen, ask your fellow believers, seek out encouragement, because we need all of us to spur each other on to love and good works.  

Picture this: you are a newly licensed teenager. You have completed all your household chores, finished your schoolwork, and would like to get some Boba with your friends. You check in with your parents and ask if you can head out, and they respond with a resounding, "No." As confusion sweeps across your face, you begin to perform a mental check of all your responsibilities and conclude that you have, in fact, completed all your obligations. You state that you finished everything and ask if there is a reason why you can't go, and the response is, "Because I said so."

"Because I said so," four words every teenager hates to hear. It is the phrase parents use when they do not want to explain themselves even when they have the moral high ground. It is a phrase that starts more arguments between kids and parents than the phrase, "I forgot." It is also a phrase that has morphed into a lifestyle and encourages people to do what they want and not worry about explaining themselves to anyone.

Speaking from experience, many of the times I got upset about this phrase growing up is because I felt like my parents did not believe I deserved a natural explanation. It felt more dismissive than informative and often left me with more questions and feelings of resentment. Unfortunately, many of us as parents have unconsciously led this way spiritually as well. We tell our kids to come to church or LifeFocus, and often when they ask "why," we respond with "Because I said so." This mindset does not draw our kids closer to God, and it drives them away. There are already so many mysteries regarding our relationships with Christ; let's not add more. It is better for us to explain the importance of a personal relationship with Christ and that as spiritual leaders in their lives, we would like to help them grow in that area. I think it is also OK to let your kids know that you worship the Lord in your household, and as a result, we go to church on Sundays as a family. They do not have to love your explanations, but that does not mean you should not give them one.

This generation is not moved by words and often questions the authenticity of those around them. That is one of the things I love about them most. You cannot phone it in with them. They watch us. They see us stress about our finances and talk negatively about others. They see us disrespectfully treat our spouses at times. Then they see us come to church on Sunday and act completely different. And we all know that church is not about being perfect, but our kids are not looking for perfection as much as they look for transparency. When you tell them not to worry about what college they are going to because God is in control, but then they watch you stress about work or a promotion, it sends mixed messages. Our actions are saying, "Do as I say, not as I do." We all hate that phrase! The fact of the matter is that our teens are going through so much every day. The world is throwing so much at them, and if we cannot begin to have an open and honest dialog with them, we risk losing them.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul says, 'Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.' It is clear that our job is not just to discipline our children, but it is also to instruct them in the ways of the Lord. That means it is our job as parents to give them a Biblical foundation for the world they live in. Biblical instruction is an area that the church has a history of falling behind in. When we do not address this issue from the pulpit or within the home, it opens the door for our children to seek answers elsewhere. Typically, these answers come with a hidden agenda from the world. If we do not begin to give our kids solid Biblical footing, then the world will provide them with a corrupted one, and it will be hard to overcome.

As a dad, I have started to allow my kids to see my flaws. My younger son struggles with anxiety, so it would be easy to tell him that we called to be anxious for nothing. He does not fully understand what that means. So instead of us as parents just throwing random scriptures in his face, we show him that we too struggle with anxiety as well and that we are learning to give God control in this area of our lives. Not only does it take away the shame he feels, but it also opens the lines of communication because now he knows we struggle too.

At LifeFocus, we have decided to take that stand and tackle the thorny issues and challenging questions. Not because it is the cool thing to do or to draw attention to ourselves but because we realize that the world is not passing up any opportunities to influence our kids. Therefore, neither can we. The only way we will reach this generation and the generations to come is if we begin to live our faith out loud and let our actions do the talking. I believe that this is a chosen generation, and it is no surprise that they have so much in front of them to distract them from what is most important, which is a relationship with Christ. So, it is our job as parents and leaders to remind them of what is important and show them why it is essential. And not just because we said so.

    Fireworks, BBQ’s, block parties, friends and family…Independence Day is one of my favorite Holidays. Some of my favorite and scariest memories are from the 4th. I’ll never forget the time I decided to make my own firecracker and ended up burning my eyebrows, eyelashes and most of the front of my hair off. My parents were so amused at my appearance they didn’t even punish me for doing something so reckless. I remember riding down the Chehalis river in a makeshift boat my friends and I made at my house and almost drowning when we hit the rapids near the bridge. I loved being a free American kid in the country and I’m also amazed I survived it!
     Nowadays, I love the annual reminder that to be an American is to be free and that in some ways I’m obligated to enjoy that promise of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” I’m glad to remember that our nation is an anomaly. Here, we can worship God freely. No government, no official, no ruler or power, no one…can take away our right to worship God as He has revealed to us. It is the founding principle of America. The hope of freely living and worshipping God compelled men and women from all over to face the oceans, the unknown, starvation and death to make a new home here.
    Our nation, especially its founding and adolescence, has its dark histories and flaws. America today still struggles, still fails and it still has its blind spots. I don’t believe that “God is an American” or that we are His chosen nation…pretty sure that’s still Israel. All that said, I still love being an American. I cherish knowing my wife, children and church family live in a place where we can freely worship God, however He has revealed to us. Not everyone can say the same.
    Today, I read the story of a young Pakistani Christian girl who was forcibly converted to Islam by a neighboring family and is now living in indentured servitude. Her impoverished family cannot purchase her freedom. She is living in slavery as a cook and made to practice a Faith she doesn’t believe in. In China, right now, there are over one million Uyghur Muslims detained in “re-education” camps. They have been imprisoned on the basis of their religion and according to many reports, the women are being forcibly sterilized and the men and women alike are used as forced labor in the cotton fields and factories in Xinjiang, where one-fifth of the world’s cotton is produced. Early in my ministry I served at a Farsi church, where many members had fled Iran to escape religious persecution under the Ayatollah. They told me horror stories of their Pastors being abducted, tortured and then thrown into a ditch near the church, their dead bodies riddled with bullets. I heard the stories of new Christians being hung from cranes in Tehran because they had committed the ultimate sin of renouncing Islam. I still hear stories like this today.
    I wonder sometimes, how people in other countries view the faith of American Christians. In so many other places in the world, being a Christian could very well cost you your opportunities, your freedom and even your life. Yet here, where we have freedom of speech, of assembly and of religion, we subject ourselves to our own forms of oppression like peer pressure, fear of rejection, fear of the mob, not being liked or possibly not having the career opportunities we wanted. How cheaply do we treat our freedom to share the Gospel? To pray out loud? To read our Bible in public? To quote Scripture at work or in school? More recently, how have we treated the freedom to gather together in church and praise Him loudly! How much would others, from all faiths across the world, like to enjoy those same freedoms? Would they so willingly give them up like many of us have done over the years?
    This Independence Day, I hope you, your family and friends have an amazing time! Eat lots, watch fireworks, play hard and laugh loud! I also hope you take a moment to reflect on the freedom you have, not only as an American, but also as a Christian who is saved by the blood of Christ and empowered by the Spirit and commit to living out that truth and that blessing, sharing His Gospel, loving your neighbor, and risking it all for the cause of Christ as He calls us to in His Word.

   24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[g] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. (Matthew 16:24-27, ESV)

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be feared above all gods.        Psalm 96:1-4

Have you wondered why we sing the particular songs we sing during Sunday Services?  I get this question from time to time, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to respond to it.  Let me start by listing some of the false reasons:

- The Lead Worshiper chooses the set list based solely upon their personal playlist & favorites
- We only sing the trendiest songs you hear on Christian radio
- We choose songs based upon what every other church is singing
- It's whatever mood the Music Team is in that week
- The Music Team plays whatever Pastor Joe tells us to

While personal taste and awareness of new songs may play a role in putting together a set list, there are several key factors which influence the song choices for a particular week.  

1) Listening to the Lord - Before I put any set list together, I pray and ask for God to open my heart to what is on His heart that week.  It could be a word, phrase or verse from Scripture that comes to mind.  It could be something that He's revealed during my personal worship time with Him.  It could be an event or story has stuck with me for awhile.  Or He could even use a conversation I've recently had with someone.  The goal is to sing the songs that God already knows would best glorify Him and bless the Body that day.

2) Theme for that Sunday - Whether it's a book of the Bible or a topical series, the message for the week is a key influence for song selection.  Ideally, a Sunday Service worship experience will flow seamlessly through its different elements.  Message and music are "cornerstones" for our corporate worship services.  But special elements such as prayer, testimonies, ministry updates, communions, baptisms and creative arts also help provide a more wholistic worship experience of our God who is creative, diverse and worthy of our best worship offering.  

3) Theme for the series - Expanding beyond a weekly focus, our songs often reflect the current message series that Cornerstone is going through.  For example, we just concluded our "Living in the Fullness of the Spirit" series that began in January.  As we learned about Holy Spirit every Sunday, it made sense to sing songs that resonated the same truth about Him.  Not every song in the set focused on Holy Spirit, but being able to respond with a song after the message allows us to draw the alignment between worshipping God with our hearts as well as our minds.

4) The Music Team Lineup - We are blessed to have enough volunteers to field a "full" music team almost every Sunday.  A full team includes multiple vocalists (both male and female) and multiple instruments (keys, guitars, bass, drums).  Some weeks we're blessed to have special instruments such as saxophones and violins.  On the other hand, we occasionally will field an "acoustic" music team, which could be as small as 2 or 3 people.  One lineup is not better than the other, as they each provide a different ambience and environment for musical worship.  But what pieces you have to play with on any given Sunday impacts your song selection.  Doing a driving, loud and energetic song sounds differently from a single musician than it does from a full band.  Conversely, a stripped down team consisting of a guitarist and a cajonist creates an intimate and organic worship environment.  Finding the right songs to compliment your lineup is an art!

There are many other considerations that also influence our song selection.  Do we have a nice balance of upbeats (clapping!) vs. ballads (raised arms!)?  Is this song unfamiliar and thus needs to be taught vs. has this song been done way too many times?  Is there a balance of traditional hymns vs. contemporary songs?  Is the song vertical (blessing God) or horizontal (blessing others)?  Are we singing about God (His character and works) or to God (relational, "I love you")?  Is the Gospel being communicated in any of this week's songs?  The list goes on and on!  

The type of songs we love to sing, like so many things in life, are very subjective.  It's impossible to appease everybody all the time when it comes to the songs we sing on Sundays.  But what we should agree upon is why we sing these songs to the Lord.  For me, Psalm 96 summarizes that quite simply:  God is great, and greatly to be praised!!

The book of Acts is one of my favorite books in the Bible. This book chronicles the birth of the church after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension and the spread of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. The book is formally called The Acts of the Apostles, but many have noted that it should more accurately be called The Acts of the Holy Spirit since it is the Holy Spirit who used the Apostles to accomplish the Father’s will. Throughout this book, the Holy Spirit leads and empowers believers in miraculous ways and the result is that the world was turned upside down. In studying this book, we can learn a lot about the Holy Spirit and the various ways He worked in the lives of these 1st century believers, especially in the way He communicated to them.

As a church, we’ve been in a message series called ‘Living in the Fullness of the Spirit’ and part of living in the fullness is hearing and following the voice of God. The idea that God speaks to us causes many Christians a lot of consternation. When the bible records the Holy Spirit speaking, it seems so clear and specific. The Holy Spirit spoke to Peter telling him “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them” (Acts 10:20). When the Lord spoke to Ananias about Saul, He said, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying” (Acts 9:11). In both of these accounts, the Spirit spoke clearly and specifically, and it was clear what Peter and Ananias were to do.

It seems when the Holy Spirit purportedly speaks today, it is often vague and general and not clear what should be done. In other words, our experience of hearing from the Lord doesn’t seem to match up with the clarity that the 1st century saints had. But is this an accurate conclusion of how the New Testament believers always heard from the Lord? Are there any Biblical examples of the Lord speaking and it was less than clear what the hearers were supposed to do?

It Seemed
Acts 15 records the leaders of the church in Jerusalem addressing the issue of Gentiles becoming Christians and whether or not they needed to follow Jewish customs and the Old Testament laws. After listening to the debate, the leaders made their decision and communicated their verdict in a letter. In the letter they said, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements…”. This less than definitive statement suggests that the leaders sensed that their decision was the best course of action as far as they could tell.

Go or No Go
Acts 19:21 says, “Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” This indicates that the Holy Spirit had guided Paul in his travel plans and Paul had made up his mind to follow these plans through. In route to Jerusalem, Paul stopped in Tyre and met the disciples there. Acts 21:4 says, “…And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.” Did the Holy Spirit tell Paul to go to Jerusalem and then change His mind and warn him not to go? Plausible but unlikely.

A more reasonable explanation is that the disciples heard correctly from the Holy Spirit that Paul would suffer if he went to Jerusalem and their concern for him led them to try to dissuade him from going. In other words, the Holy Spirit spoke to the disciples but it wasn’t clear what they should do with that information. They assumed it meant that Paul shouldn’t go so that’s the course of action they took. But Paul, having the confidence in knowing that he was called to go to Jerusalem continued with his plans and discerned that the pleas of his fellow brothers and sisters were motivated out of their love for him, not from a clear directive from the Holy Spirit.

My point is that there were times when even the Apostles and other believers in the 1st century church heard the voice of the Lord, yet it wasn’t always crystal clear what should be done. At this point I can imagine many people throwing their arms up in the air and complaining that God should be more clear! If He wants us to do something, why doesn’t He make it so that there’s no possibility for us to get it wrong?

A Maturing Relationship
Perhaps there is a parallel between our relationship with the Lord and the relationship that a parent has with their child. When a child is young, the parent has to be very explicit and clear about what they want the child to do. But as they grow older and mature, the parent doesn’t want to have to tell the child what to do at every juncture; they want the child to know their heart and values and to do those things that are consistent with them because the child has internalized them.

When we are close to the Lord, we will know His heart and He can provide us with just a vague impression with the hopes that we will be able to take it and run with it. But varying circumstances might also explain why the Lord will be very clear to us in some instances and seemingly vague in others. The bottom line is that it’s all about building a closer relationship with us. Yes, the things that He wants us to do is important but if we miss the relational aspect of his leadings, we will think He just wants spiritualized delivery workers at His disposal. So, if you’re struggling to hear what the Lord is saying to you, take it as an invitation to press in, to seek His heart more, and to draw closer to Him. We can always be sure that this is what He wants!

When my wife Lisa went back to work a couple months ago, we started taking our son to daycare.  It was a hard decision and process, as we’d been with him every moment of his life and now somebody else would be caring for him part time.  But what reassured me and continues to, is every morning, I take him to the front door and one of the managers recognizes me, greets us, and is so excited to see us.  “My little man”, she says to Dylan each time as she takes his temperature and then lets me say good bye to him for the day.  Besides the fact that I have to stay outside the building, I still always feel welcomed and cared about because of her attitude and enthusiasm.

I still remember some of the people I met first when I started coming to Cornerstone.  The first Cornerstone person I actually met was not at service, but it was Lucie at Freedom Immersion, and I was struck by how friendly she was to me.  Throughout that Freedom Immersion weekend, more Cornerstone people would pray for me and were so kind.  My first service, I was introduced to my friend David, who brought me in with his friends, and I never checked out another church.  One of Cornerstone’s strengths is how we make people feel like family from the moment they join us, and it’s one of things we hear the most comments about.  

Nowadays, my hope is to see more of our ministry continue through community groups, not just bringing people to church services.  When we do life with others, they see all sides of us and see how Jesus comes through all aspects of life.  They don’t just see the perfect Christians who come to worship on Sunday, they see the broken redeemed who live out our faith in the midst of goodness AND struggle.  It requires vulnerability not just with those who we are comfortable with, but even those who don’t share our same beliefs.  

This also means that community is going to be messy.  At multiple times, as the early church was forming, there was misunderstanding, corrections for the leaders and members of the body done in love and most of all, discomfort with adding Gentiles to a culturally and biologically Jewish church.  After visiting and baptizing Cornelius (a Gentile) and all his family in the name of Jesus, Peter shares the story and his vision to his fellow Jewish believers in Acts 11.  While there is struggle at the beginning, by the end at verse 18,

When they heard these things, they fell silent.  And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also, God has granted repentance that leads to life!”

It’s this attitude of seeing God at work that moves this Jewish church to embrace their brothers and sisters in Christ, even if they weren’t the same or they didn’t understand each other at first.  I’d encourage us to approach bringing people into our community groups with the same attitude we welcome them to service.  I hope we can say, “I will work past my discomfort to see God’s work being done in this person’s life.”  

The image I put with this blog I love because it's board game pieces called meeples (mini-peoples), but it also visually reminds us, that while we are all different outwardly and we may be all over the place emotionally and spiritually, our basis for unity is the same:  our love for Jesus, who brings us together and wants us to bring others to know Him as well.  Romans 12:4-5 reminds us of this principle,

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

COVID has made it different for sure.  But that shouldn't stop us from enthusiastically finding and welcoming people into this messy family of brothers and sisters.  

It seems each week brings another troubling verse to the disturbing chorus being played out in our fractured society – another senseless attack on a person of Asian descent. The restraining ropes of human decency have frayed, giving people a sense of license to attack others, simply because of their race. It can be particularly infuriating when these attacks target those perceived to be most vulnerable - women and the elderly. The increased number of hate crimes and hate incidents against Asians has led to demonstrations in several cities in the US and other countries, seeking to bring attention to this growing social plague, with Stop Asian Hate as the rallying cry. Ironically, this is happening as the trial begins against Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd, that ignited calls for police reform and bringing an end to racism, especially against the black community.

These recent incidents of violence have caused many people to wonder if it’s safe to go to places and engage in activities where before, personal safety wasn’t even a fleeting thought. One of my bucket list items is to drive across the country to see parts of our nation that I’ve never seen before. But there is a pause in my spirit, as I wonder how it would be to stop in a small Midwest town where we would stick out like a Roman candle. Between 1890-1960’s, there were Sundown Towns littered throughout the Midwest and the West. These communities kept Blacks and other minorities like Jews, Native Americans, and Asians from living in their towns. Through violence, threats, employment discrimination, or boycotting businesses that hired minorities, these communities made it unsafe for “other people” to live. While many of these current incidents of hatred are not as systematic or organized as the practices of Sundown Towns, they share the common DNA of racism.

Last week, two things happened. I got my first vaccination shot for the Coronavirus and I received a call from a Black classmate who is also a sister in Christ. She wanted to let me know that she was standing with the Asian community during these distressing times. With racism spreading rapidly like a virus and everyone wondering what can be done to curb it, I know the answer lies in the power of the gospel. The gospel is the vaccine against racism because it brings different people together - Jews, Greeks, slaves, free, men, women under the banner of Christ (Galatians 3:28). Through the gospel we’ve been given the Holy Spirit so we can be transformed, even from the deepest forms of racism. The call from my friend also reminded me about the importance of relationships. Just as my Coronavirus vaccine requires a second shot, there is a necessary follow-up to the gospel that the Lord uses to fight off racism - relationships. The Lord uses relationships to dismantle the human tendency to marginalize or treat with suspicion those that are different from us. Relationships help us truly see the image of God in another person and that we share common hopes, dreams, and needs.

This week is Holy Week when we reflect on our Lord’s sacrificial death and glorious resurrection. Knowing that the sin of racism was one of the sins that was nailed to the cross gives us great hope because racism is part of the curse, not part of the resurrected life. Because Christ died to bring us all into one family (Ephesians 2:11-22), whenever we choose to build relationships across lines that divide us (racial, cultural, socio-economic, etc.) we are inoculating ourselves from the virus of racism that seeks to infect all of our hearts.

Do you remember your first day of high school? I know I do. I was so excited I picked out my outfit a week before school: oversized pants and a button-up shirt with some clean Nikes. I wanted to give the impression that I belonged in high school. I wanted everyone to know that Micah had arrived. I remember every class I had that day and every teacher. If you put me back at Canyon Springs High School right now, I could take you to every single one of those classes.

I enjoyed my high school years, but I would never have made it my freshman year if it were not for my older sister. She was a senior and was popular partly because that is what we do as Clarks, not to mention she was a phenomenal soccer player. Anyways, my sister saw past my freshman arrogance and stupidity and patiently walked me through the difficulties of high school. She told me which classes to transfer out of and which teachers taught classes worth staying in. Because of her guidance, I learned the art of sweet-talking the lunch lady to hook me up with an extra cookie. Now obviously, I did not take all her advice. However, having someone who was committed to seeing me succeed while equipping me with the tools to stand on my own was a valuable experience for me.

Our walks with Christ are just like this. We come in wide-eyed ready to make a splash, without fully understanding the gravity of the commitment we just created. We get sucked into reading plans or following people that are not helping us grow, or they are introducing us to theology we are not entirely prepared to understand. Therefore, as seasoned believers, it is so essential that we bring these new followers into our communities and help them get planted.

Discipleship is such a necessary aspect of our walks. True discipleship requires discipline and submission, which are not overly exciting but very necessary. In Matthew 28, when we get to the Great Commission, the scripture is not just saying make disciples, and then you are done. It explicitly says , "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The emphasis is on teaching. It was not enough for my sister to show me how to survive high school; the teaching process began when she walked alongside me each day and checked in on me. As the months went on, her involvement in my understanding faded, but she never left me alone entirely, and I always knew I could bring my issues to her to get her advice.

Obviously, there is a significant difference between my sister guiding me through my first year of high school and helping a new believer, but the heart is the same. Our heart should be to walk alongside those who are new to the faith or going through a rough season. Jesus spent three years walking with the disciples, teaching them, and building relationships with them. While His message was always Hope, He never said following Him would be easy. Our message should be the same. The early Christians knew that living this lifestyle could cost them their lives, yet they chose to pursue it wholeheartedly. Are we willing to do the same?

Believe it or not, that is what LifeFocus is all about—walking with these youth and teaching them to obey all the commands we have been given. I think it is easy to look at teenagers and get annoyed quickly. The attitude. The angst. The fact they think they know EVERYTHING. It is all just a smokescreen, not unlike the one we all used when we were that age. So, I ask you to look past it and engage with them. Discipleship starts at home and gets reinforced at LifeFocus. Like it says in Proverbs, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” My sister was only 17 when she took me under her wing and showed me how to survive in high school. Three years later, when I was 17, my brother got to high school, and I gave him the same lessons she gave me. If a couple of knuckleheaded teenagers could figure out the art of discipleship, there is no telling what a church full of seasoned believers could do.

Acts 1:21-26
²¹ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²² beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” ²³ And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” ²⁶ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

After the resurrection and ascension, the eleven apostles discerned from the Scriptures that another person needed to take the place of Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus (Acts 1:20, Psalm 109:8). Jesus had intentionally chosen twelve disciples and this carried significance. Twelve corresponded to the number of tribes within the nation of Israel, connecting this new covenant work to the old covenant. Revelation 21 describes the new Jerusalem as having twelve gates with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on them and the walls of the city having twelve foundations with the names of the twelve apostles. Clearly, there were compelling reasons to bring on a twelfth apostle.

Two men were brought forward who had been followers of Christ from the beginning of His baptism and could testify of His resurrection. Lots were cast and Matthias was selected to the office of apostle. We don’t know much about him but it’s likely that since he had followed Jesus from the beginning, he was one of the seventy-two who the Lord sent out to preach about the kingdom of God (Luke 10). But other than this recorded selection, we never hear Matthias’ name mentioned again in Scripture.

Barsabbas was the other man brought forward who wasn’t selected. I wonder how Barsabbas felt when he was passed over for this role. Was his heart pounding with hopeful anticipation as the lots were cast? Did his heart entertain any jealousy towards Matthias? Did he subtly lobby that they do two out of three tosses? Being passed over can be one of life’s thorny challenges. Many deserving people have been passed over for promotions, awards, and recognition. Even in ministry, Christians can get overlooked or passed over at times. Why was I not asked to lead? Why was so and so given the opportunity when I could have done a better job? Why didn’t anyone express appreciation for my efforts?

The Lord’s timing and the Lord’s promotions rest in His wise counsel. Matthias might have wondered why he wasn’t selected as one of the original twelve and Judas of all people taken instead of him! Yet his faithful obedience eventually led to his promotion. Barsabbas remained faithful as well. He became a trustworthy and outstanding elder in the Jerusalem church and is mentioned in Acts 15:22 as one of the delegates sent to Antioch to represent the apostles and elders and their decision regarding how Gentiles were not obligated to follow Jewish customs.
Much of our character is formed when we are asked to do the little things. Household chores like doing dishes, folding laundry, cleaning up after your puppy may seem like mundane things, but your willingness and faithfulness to doing them can prepare you for greater things if you allow them to. The same goes for our work environments. Do you volunteer to do the things that others feel are beneath them? When people think of you, do they think of someone who is helpful or someone who is easily bothered by inconveniences?

Jesus told the parable of a master giving ten of his servants ten minas each (a mina was about three months wages for a laborer).  Those who brought back a return were commended and given authority to rule over a number of cities (Luke 19:11-27). Similarly, in another parable, servants entrusted with a measure of talents (a talent was worth about twenty years wages) and showed themselves to be faithful, were entrusted with even more authority. Both of these parables speak of promotion to greater things after faithfulness with lesser things. While we need to trust the Lord for our promotions, our faithfulness in our current responsibilities can be the proving grounds for those very promotions we hope for. Interestingly, both parables depict money, even large sums of money, as the less valuable things. Jesus specifically called this out when He said in Luke 16:11-13:

^'11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? ¹² And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? ¹³ No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.’

Will you remain faithful to the Lord even during those seasons when you feel passed over? Are you o.k. with living in obscurity as long as God is being seen and glorified? This doesn’t mean you should never volunteer for a leadership position but always remember that the Lord gives us our promotions in His timing. Our responsibility is to remain faithful with what He’s already entrusted to us.

      It still surprises me that, with how big and verbose the Bible is, it has relatively little to say about how Godly parents are called to raise kids. Sure, there’s a great verse on dealing with rebellious children that’s helpful, (Deut 21:18), if you want to go to jail that is. Seriously though, there are some solid general statements about conduct in the home in Ephesians 6 like “don’t provoke your children to anger” and such. Perhaps one of the best examples of parenting ever is found in Luke 15, the “Parable of the Prodigal Son.”

You really have to dig, though, for a clear “how to” manual on Christian Parenting. Personally, I would prefer to be able to point to a particular passage that gives the top 5 God-approved do’s and don’ts of parenting.  Where is God’s parenting book, 3 Ways to Raise a Messiah! or Christ: The Teenage Years? Can someone please show me the biblical passage that adequately prepares me for having “the talk” with my kids when they are at that age? How do I protect my kids' self-image and trust in their identity in Christ in a world that seems to be growing increasingly antithetical to a Christian Worldview? How do I raise my three sons to be strong, courageous, virtuous men of God when it feels as if there is a never-ending onslaught on the Biblical ideal of masculinity? How do I raise my daughter to be a strong, confident, God-honoring woman whose “worth is far above rubies” as the text puts it, in an oversexualized, over victimized, social media culture that is laying waste to the minds and ambitions of young women everywhere? Yes, I know it will all be ok as long as I keep my trust in Him....but speaking as an earthly parent, it would sure be nice for some examples of Joseph helping Jesus through puberty or Abraham doing something with Isaac besides almost slaughtering him like a fattened calf!

Now granted, being a Bible nerd, I can throw out a pastor flex and just say that the whole Bible teaches us how to raise our kids. The entirety of Scripture is really the story of a Father (God) loving and raising His children (Us), rescuing them when they’re in trouble (Jesus/Cross), guiding them as they grow (Holy Spirit/Sanctification), and providing for their inheritance (Heaven). Every passage informs our mind, feeds our souls, nourishes our spirit, and helps us to grow more like God, the Perfect Parent!

If I really had to boil it down though, there is one main passage that I feel sets our mandate as Christian parents, uncles/aunts, mentors, teachers and leaders:
“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)

The first part is straightforward enough, basically telling us to know God’s Word, His Commands, His Ways. We’re called to put them in our hearts and souls. Sometimes easier said than done, but I think we can all agree we could do a better job of really knowing and memorizing the truth of God’s Word.

The second part is trickier...we’re called to teach all of these things to our children every chance we get. Not just as a lecture but as a way of life. Letting every moment become an opportunity for showing, not just telling, our kids how to live as a Christian in this world. You’d be shocked how many Christian kids, youth and adults I’ve talked to over the years who can’t tell me about their parents’ faith, even though they know they were Christians! They saw them read the Bible, but they never saw how they applied it to their everyday life. They saw them go to Church and morning prayer, but they didn’t know their parent’s testimonies. They saw them serve in various ministries, but they didn’t know how, when or even if God spoke to their parents, unless of course it came in the form of a parental rebuke or lecture against their behavior as children.

The good news is that you can change that! Let the Holy Spirit guide and direct you as you seek to be an embodiment of His truth in the midst of your kids’ lives. I know that can seem daunting, but it’s the greatest gift we can give our kids. Be honest and transparent with them about what faith means to you. Share your struggles with them (with discretion). Live out forgiveness both in giving and receiving it! Let your kids see what a Godly marriage looks like! Let them see struggle and reconciliation! No amount of worldly influence can compete with the power of God’s Word lived out through your life as an example to them!

Lastly, don’t forget, God is always there to lovingly parent you, His dear child, as you faithfully parent your loved ones.

February has been designated as Black History month where we honor and recognize the achievements of Black Americans throughout our history. I took it as an opportunity to refresh, educate, and relearn the stories of men and women who have contributed to and shaped our society. I was amazed to read about inventors like Marie Van Brittan Brown, who received a patent in 1969 for a closed-circuit TV security system; Alexander Miles who invented automated elevator doors (1867); Dr. Patricia Bath who invented a laser cataract treatment devise called Laserphaco Probe (1986); and Alice H. Parker who invented the natural gas central heating furnace (1919). It was inspiring to learn of these brilliant men and women that our history books have largely overlooked.

But the reading that was most enriching and moving for me was reading a timeline of major events and milestones in our nation’s history of the Black community’s experience from 1619 when the first slave ship arrived in Virginia to the election of the first Black/Asian female Vice President in 2020. Even though this sweeping article chronicled poignant events directly related to the Black American experience with understandable references to White Americans, I didn’t read it as a disconnected third-party bystander. This history was my history. I share in it. I’ve been impacted by it.

As I read of this long and arduous trek, there was a theme that emerged that is captured in the word ‘struggle’. At every juncture to be treated as people made in the image of God, with equal rights, equal dignity, and equal opportunity, it was a struggle. Nothing was achieved without it. Freedom had to be won through a bloody civil war. Opportunity was thwarted by Black codes and Jim Crow laws. Voting was suppressed by poll taxes, literacy tests, and violence. Equal education was denied by Plessy v. Ferguson. Access to housing was restricted by red lining and discrimination covenants. Gaining civil rights had to go through the gauntlet of beatings, terror, and assassinations.

Between 1975-1979, Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime inflicted devastating pain on their country during Pol Pot’s genocidal dictatorship. Over forty years later, the country is still suffering from those four brutal years. The Black community has suffered four hundred years of oppression and it shouldn’t surprise us that there are still long-lasting repercussions from this trauma. Demanding that we simply move on without an understanding and appreciation for this traumatic history is both naïve and hurtful. Moving forward in our race relationships requires that we at least be better acquainted with this historical pain and the struggle for every inch of opportunity that has been fought for.

The Bible has been described as God’s story. The Bible is indispensable in our relationship with God because through it we get to know Him. Through the Bible, we learn about the way the Lord worked through the lives of biblical characters, the nation of Israel, the disciples, and the early church. Reading the Gospels, we are moved by the stories of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection. It’s thrilling to read the accounts of the Holy Spirit moving in the infant church. Indeed, loving God requires us to know His story. Loving others requires no less. While Black History month provides us with an annual reminder to learn more about the Black community, our regular habit should be to listen and learn each other’s stories so our love for all might be better informed and more authentic. Perhaps when we do this, we will truly be known by the world for our love for one another.

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.’     Matthew 25:34-40

2020 was an unprecedented year for all of us.  Years from now when we look back, we'll always remember the year that we first experienced a pandemic that changed the way we do life.  For most of our church family, our lives were turned upside down and challenged in a way that led to purchases of facemasks, quarantining at home and learning the definition of the new term..."social distancing".  Yet for some in society, the onset of COVID-19 meant losing  employment, not being able to put food on the table, and struggling to find hope in a season filled with hopelessness.  Just when you think you've got it bad, remember that there's always someone else that's got it worse.

In the midst of this pandemic, God has allowed His Bride to be tested to see how we would respond with a heart of compassion.  Our natural go-to in the face of such adversity is self-preservation and looking out for our families and loved ones.  And while we're responsible to take care of and look out for those in our circles, we also have the responsibility to keep an outward perspective towards those who are hurting, even if we don't have a personal relationship with them.  I feel that's what the heart of this passage from Matthew 25 is all about.  Jesus doesn't just care about the hungry, the strangers, the poor, the sick and the imprisoned.....the least of these.  He calls for us to care about them.  Jesus said that when we do it to them, we do it to Him.

The year 2020 provided many opportunities for our church to "love on Jesus".  We partnered with Jubilee REACH to provide groceries for families in the area that could not afford to put food on the table.  That list of families has grown to over 700 families now, and Cornerstone will continue to participate in the grocery drive through June.  We partnered with Bloodworks NW by setting up as a mobile blood bank in the Bel-Red area.  Not only did Cornerstone folks give blood, but our Ministry Center served as the primary location for those in the Bel-Red area to donate life-saving blood as hospitals were low in supply.  Bloodworks will be utilizing the Ministry Center once again at the end of March, the Passion Week leading up to Good Friday and Easter.  We partnered with Rescue Freedom, a global nonprofit organization which combats human trafficking around the world.  Our movie night fundraiser shattered all expectations, as we ended up raising over $90,000(!) to help free the oppressed and to combat this heinous evil.  We also partnered with World Relief as our Good Neighbor Team helped to equip, guide and love on a refugee family from Kenya settling into the country in the midst of a pandemic.  Simply amazing!

I was touched by all the personal stories of compassion as well, ranging from folks reaching out to their neighbors and establishing relationships with them to people visiting inmates in prison to bring hope and share the love of Jesus.  People bought groceries for the quarantined elderly, while others listened and walked alongside those being torn apart by the divisive issues fracturing our society.  I can honestly say that my heart was challenged and grew in the area of compassion more than any year of my life.  Although 2020 definitely brought its challenges, I believe it also was a blessing in disguise.

My hope for this year is that we all continue to live for Jesus by loving on the least of these.