Great Weekend!

I had a busy weekend, but a great time. I was honored to perform a wedding for some new friends at Jumonville on Saturday. It was a beautiful time of celebration.

Cornerstone worshiped the Lord on Sunday...great stuff. We kicked off a September series called "Have We Forgotten" where we're remembering the events of 9/11 and the lessons God taught us through that. We're trying to recommit ourselves to loving God and one another more as we remember the days immediately after the tragedy. We interviewed one of our own, Kimberly, who is a flight attendant for American Airlines. She lost friends in two of the planes that went down that day. It was a moving testimony and a powerful reminder. We also had a "cookout" lunch after worship in our warehouse space. We had a blast...some new folks who even hung around to eat with us. Great times indeed and a great way to start the week.

Too Busy to Blog

In response to BARB, I have decided to blog that I cannot blog because I'm too busy to blog. I hope you enjoy my blog about not blogging.

Why Does It Take So Long...

...to figure some things out? Like just within the last week, I finally figured out that if you fold towels longways first, they unfold to hang right on the rack without having to refold them. Why did this take so long?

I love Jesus, but I hate the church...

Well we (aka "the church") better wake up. This seems to be the sentiment of a new generation. I have our leadership team reading "Unchristian" by David Kinnaman so that we can grasp the realities and the opportunities of this cultural statement. I would love to hear some of you weigh in on this and let me know your perspective, whether you "go to church" or not.

In brief, I think we have perverted the concept of church into our own image. I believe that Jesus never intended an institution. I realize that there is a need for purity in belief and preservation of the message of God as revealed in Jesus Christ and sustained by the Holy Spirit. But does it have to be through an institution? And is God bringing this institutional era to a merciful end? And would it be so bad if He is? Curious....curious indeed...

Stop, In the Name of Love!

In Psalm 46:10, God reminds us that we are to be still in order to know He is God. Well now that is easier said than done. I tend to be the kind of person who's foot is always shaking if I have to sit somewhere. I tend to have lots of thoughts rolling around in my head at one time. In brief, I find it very hard to be still.

And the nature of our society feeds my illness. We live in a busy, busy world these days and activity is often even associated with godliness. At least by us, it is. I'm not sure God sees it that way.

Have you ever thought that the answer to life's problems, and Kingdom issues, is not to do more, but to do less? Let's face it, doing more isn't helping! So maybe if we did less and just "were" more, we'd discover...rediscover perhaps...God. And then He can and will be God!!!

On Vacation...

Carla and I will be on vacation. We are leaving after worship on Sunday, August 3rd. I'll be back "to work" on Tuesday, August 12th. Peace out....

VBS starts!

Keep us in prayer as one of our summer outreach to kids begins this week. We're hoping to bless the socks off of some kids and to help them to desire a relationship with Jesus that is life changing. I'm so thankful for a huge group of helpers to make it happen!

12

Well I went out last evening in the incredible heat for my first real bike ride since my surgery. I went 12 miles and averaged over 14 mph so I was quite pleased with my first foray. And my bike still rocks!!! I'm just praisin' the Lord for His healing!

He's Back!

I have been traveling a lot in my ministry this summer...annual conference/summer camp/mission trip. God stuff, no doubt. But I'm glad to be able to put my hand to the Cornerstone plow for a season. We are at a very odd spot in our history. We are 8 years old, and in many ways we act like an 8 year old! We are trying to grow up, but we're also confused about what growing up means. We have some big dreams for the future, but we struggle to work toward them with real tenacity sometimes. We seem at times to be more concerned with what we're going to get for Christmas, as opposed to what we're going to give, if you know what I mean. Indeed a blessed time to be in ministry, and indeed, a challenging time as well. Our leadership team is meeting this evening to reconnect and to seek the Lord's face as we continue our journey. Pray for your leadership, whomever they may be, as they need your prayers more and more as the times change and we Jesus-followers seek to be faithful to Him and to the changing world!

A Few Days Off and Then On a Mission

Carla and I are taking Friday and Saturday off for some rest and relaxation. Sunday, after worship, 25 people called Cornerstone Church are going to Philippi WV for a week of remodeling and community children's ministry. Should be awesome. Keep us in prayer!!!!

Leaders...

...have to make decisions that people don't always understand. Leaders have to make decisions that, often times, people don't agree with. Leaders have to sort through the multitude of voices to hear the voice of Jesus in the midst. Leaders have to follow that Voice at any cost. Are you a leader?

I'll be at Camp Allegheny in Somerset County!

H20 Camp!!! I can't wait...should be a blast!!! I'll be gone from Sunday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. Have a great week and I'll touch base w/ ya when I gets back!!!

Web Article

Click Here to Read it Live

Youth Bring Heart to AC08

On a clear Friday morning at Grove City College, youth from across Western PA planned and led a special worship service filled with God’s spirit. At the conclusion, the congregation gave a standing ovation for the effort and heart poured out by the youth to honor and praise God. “That was amazing! Clearly God is at work here!” commented several people in the congregation of over 300 at the 6:30 a.m. gathering.

With a band of four acoustic, two electric and one bass guitars, a drum set, several flutes, an alto sax, a keyboard and over 20 vocalists, the youth band raised the roof of Harbison Chapel in passionate praise. Smiles of joy emanated from band members wearing the day’s red “Love” page shirt.

Janne Walters, a member of Wurtemburg UMC, offered the message on the AC2008 youth caucus theme of “Got Fish?” In an engaging style, she challenged all in attendance to share her Christian mission to invite others to be disciples of Jesus Christ – to go fish!

Featured was a beautiful skit depicting the struggles of a young woman (Rachel Pinkerton of Mars UMC) conflicted to “dance” with Jesus (Sam Richardson of First UMC in Bradford) in joy or succumb to the temptations of alcohol, violence, malice and sex. The poignant interpretation touched the hearts of young and old alike.

“That was a powerful testimony!” said the Rev. Steve Morse, chair of the Sessions Planning Worship Team. “I want even more people to experience what I have witnessed here this morning.”

The AC2008 youth band was coordinated by the Rev. Brett Probert, pastor of Cornerstone UMC in Cranberry Twp. He is always the first to point out that the youth direct the selection and sound of their music even though Probert directs the band.

Each year, the Youth Caucus serves annual conference through many services and hospitality such as:
• Distribution of sessions materials to the body
• Assistance on the plenary floor with microphones and flags
• Service with worship in communion, offerings and more
• Raising funds for the Youth Service Fund and Nothing But Nets campaigns that change lives around the world and here
• Offer snacks, drinks and other items in the YSF Snack Booth in the Display Area

In addition, the youth engage in a Bible study series, have pizza with the bishop, sing, play video games, sing karaoke, watch movies and make life-long friends.
For information on the youth ministries, contact Renaye Hoffman at 800-886-3382, ext. 227.

Highlights from AC

As you can see, I accomplished much this past week.

I'm out....

I'm going to be at Annual Conference at Grove City this week. I HATE the politics but I love working with our youth. They love Jesus...imagine that. Pray for us, and know we'll be praying for yins!

I graduated!

Today, another milestone in my life's journey. I graduated again!!! I now have a masters degree in right knee health. Of course I still have some limitations, but praise God, I'm about 97% there!

The people at OPT are fantismo. They are fun, personable, and mostly, they know what the hecks they are doing. Good stuff!

The Big 4-0!!!

I took a road trip to St. Alban's WV yesterday and for the first time in years, I kept track of my gas mileage (dad, please forgive me for I have sinned). I got 40 miles to the gallon on the trip. Sweet! She may be old, wrecked, small, dirty, have crank windows and manual door locks, and a 1.9 liter weedwacker engine, but I'll see you at the gas pumps! (or not!!!)

What a Great Weekend!

Carla and I had a great day off on Saturday, then we had an awesome worship service yesterday. To top it all off, we went with some people from Cornerstone to minister to kids whose parent's are battling cancer. We went to a member's farm and had singing, games, food, and horse rides for the kids and their families. What a great church....what a great time!!!

New & Improved Bible!

In light of recent conversations with family and friends, and in light of some conversations between me and God, it is clear that we need to update the Bible. And the Lord spake unto me and said: "Brett, change thou my timeless words and maketh them unto this new generation a morsel more tasty, that it not maketh them to sweat, and that transformation into my likeness be no longer so required!" (PS: God always talketh unto me in the King James Version.)

Now I've not completely finished the editing yet but I thought I would share at least some of the highlights of the new Bible version, to be known as the NETDV (New Easier to Digest Version).

Genesis 1:1 - "Stuff happened. Mankind created God in order to explain stuff. We should be smarter than that by now."

Psalm 23 - "Oprah is my shepherd. She tells me what I need to know. She makes me feel good. At the end of the day, that's what really matters....that I feel good."

Matthew 28:18-20 - "Then Jesus came to them and said "it doesn't really matter what you believe, as long as you believe something. And if you go to other parts of the world, make sure it is strictly for business or pleasure. I mean, c'mon, you don't really want to share me with them and risk offending them, do you? Sheesh.""

Luke 9:23 - "If you want to go to heaven, just be nice. I think that pretty much the only people who go to hell are the really, really bad ones. Don't be so hard on yourself. Just make sure you are comfortable in this life, and again, try to do no harm. Surely being a Christian can't be all that hard."

John 14:1-6 - "Then Jesus said to them "hey, I'm outta here. Check ya later." Thomas said "where are you going?" Jesus said "you know...I'm just kinda there...I'm the karma within. Choose your path, they're pretty much all the same. Again, the important thing is to follow your heart, believe something, and please, don't be so darn headstrong and stubborn about things that really don't matter. You believe what you believe and I believe what I believe and that's good enough."

Romans 3:23 - "Everyone messes up...don't worry about it. Just try your best to not hurt anyone else."

Revelation 3:20 - "You feel that? That's your conscience. You pretty much know right from wrong. As long as you keep to yourself and you don't offend anyone else, it's OK."

This is just a tasty morsel. I've also decided to edit this online using this blog as the tool. If you'd like to suggest a translation, feel free!

Sound the Feasting Horn

Carla and I feasted today...bacon-wrapped filet mignon on the grill, grilled shrimp and veggie shishkabobs, and homemade black raspberry pie. I'm very glad that the feast was not ruuned.

American Idle

That's right, not American Idol, but American Idle. We are a very lazy lot, we are.

Why Go Anywhere Else?

I mean, look at these pix. I took these less than 30 miles from my home. PA is a bootyful state indeed!

Between a rock and a hard place...a self portrait

Hemlock sprouting from the rock...

A contrast in texture

The road less traveled...

Mayday in PA

Vision

I'm heading to McConnell's Mills State Park today for a day of prayer and seeking the Lord. Pray for me, and know I'll be praying for you!!!

God takes care of me!

So I need an old fashioned oil lamp for my Kids Talk this coming Sunday. I goes into Walmart and I'm wondering if they'll have such a thing. Lo and behold, I see this sign!

So I starts looking under the sign to find an oil lamp and lo and behold but here is what I sees:

ONE oil lamp!!! Just what I needed. Thanks Lord, for your signs, and giving me just what I need and just when I need it!

I'm wiped out...

So I have this cold, right? I love getting sick because you are instantly bombarded with a zillion people who know "just the thing..." The other day, I'm having conversation with a woman I BARELY even know.

Woman: "So you have a cold?"

Innocent Victim (me): "Well, ya."

Woman: "I know just the thing. Vitamin C. Take 1,000 mg (which, parenthetically, why don't we just call it a gram? I mean, isn't a 1,000 milli somethings equal to one of the basic units of somethings? I mean, I don't know much but as a fellow student once told me, Brettric is Metric - parenthesis MINE!) of Vitamin C. Take 1,000 mg every hour."

Then, and I swear I am not making this up, she looks me straight in the eye and she says emphatically "the key is DIARRHEA!" OK, now she really has my interest. And she must have known it because she continued.

Woman: "As soon as you get diarrhea, you'll know you have reached your body's tolerance level for Vitamin C. Then just back off 1,000 mg and take that threshold amount and you'll get over your cold."

Me: "Thanks, I think."

Now I guess I have two options, both of which involve wiping. I think I'll just live with the cold for another day or so...

Aw, just shut up already.

In our house growing up, we weren't allowed to say "shut up." Mom, Dad, if you're reading this...I'M NOT IN "OUR" HOUSE!!! So I can say what I want. (PS: Please don't cut me out of the will....I am in the will, aren't I?)

Anywho, my rant today is about the ranting about gas prices. I'm tired of hearing it (and hearing myself say it). Carpool. Stay home. Get a Prius. Walk. Move.

This is a global issue...in other words, more that just ME is affected by this. I happened to live in a country where people have almost nothing. They can easily spend a week's wages on a bottle of kerosene with which to light a lamp. Make that two weeks now. And what choice do they have? Not so much...

So let's shut up. We have options. We have freedom. We have choice. And, truth be told, we have money.

This blog entry is like so verbified!

The English language is dynamic....always on the move....constantly shaped by a rapidly changing culture. The latest trend is to, as I will call it, verbify words. This is the art of taking a noun or an adjective and turning it into a very by adding various suffixes. Let me illustrate using some recent examples I've heard:

Santaclausify - It is the act (verb) of making someone into a Santa Claus (noun) like figure.
Greenify - the act (verb) of making my home more green (adjective), or environmentally friendly.

It is almost like the now almost forgotten McSpeak which was made infamous by the McDonalds commercials of the days of old. Maybe I'll try to mcspeakify my language. Why don't you mcthoughtify about that for a while?!

I'm going to be petty...

Richard Petty that is!

Tomorrow, April 25, I will turn 43 years old.

Please send cards, gifts, and cash donations to:

Brett Probert

109 Persimmon Place

Cranberry Twp. PA 16066

He's Back!

I'm back from vacation and excited to be. I feel like there are some really cool things happening in my life and in the life of C3 right now and I'm privileged to be on the ride. I feel like I have a better sense of what Paul was saying to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6: "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God..." Good stuff...and I'm a fannin'.

Great Little Getaway

My parents sent me and Carla on a weekend vacation as a Christmas/Birthday/Flag Day gift. We went to Lancaster where we saw some really fantastic bluegrass bands, the wonderful play Daniel, and rode the rails of the Strasburg Steam Railroad. We had a great time!!! It was only for a few days but we made the best of it and enjoyed every moment!