Block PARTAY!!!

You may know that Cornerstone is a church, not a building. We are the people of God seeking to build the Kingdom in Cranberry Twp. This Sunday, I'll be preaching as a part of our worship service about hospitality. We are called to be "hospitable" to people. The root word of hospitality is hospital, so I'm making the case that we're to be people who are allowing the lost and hurting of our area to receive healing. And our chief of staff at Cornerstone Hospital is Dr. Jesus! But sometimes, the hurting won't or can't come to the hospital. That's why we really need to be an ambulance...a MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit - which is apparently ambulance speak for ambulance!). We need to bring the "doctor" to the people if the people won't come to the "doctor."

So tomorrow, Cornerstone is hosting a block party. We don't have a real church building. We just lease some warehouse flex space and have lots of other people in our complex who are doing the same. For lunch tomorrow, we're throwing a block party for our neighbors. We're gonna cook dogs and burgers on the grill, and just have a good time hanging with our business neighbors.

I'm proud of Cornerstone, 'cause that's hospitality. And it is MICU... Pray that one of our neighbors who may be hurting might find some healing in our hospitality tomorrow.

I NEED your feedback!!!

OK. Yesterday, I preached from Psalm 42:1-5. If you weren't present with us, you can listen from here: Cornerstone's Website. If you were here, you know that I was preaching about how thirsty we are for Living Water. We are thirsty because we're tired of the "lion" chasing after us. And we need to drink "from the well that never shall run dry."

But after worship yesterday, many of you asked "how do we "drink" on the days when we're not in worship?" Good question. I'm prepared to give the answer in a number of ways, but I need your input.

I was going to preach from 1 Peter 4:9 this week and talk about the need to be hospitable to our community...a people that cares enough to lead people to healing through a relationship with Jesus. But now I'm wondering if I should preach a follow up message to "I'm Thirsty". I'm wondering if I should preach a message on "Drinking Daily". Whaddya think? LET ME KNOW!!! HELP!!!

The last fling of summer

Carla and I will be leaving Friday morning for a two day fling before she starts school. We are going to a water park on Friday and the Cleveland Zoo on Saturday. We'll return Saturday night, and I can't wait to preach on Sunday. I'm preaching from Psalm 42:1-5, and my message is entitled "I'm Thirsty". Here's a sneak preview: The deer is panting because he is tired of being chased by his enemy, the lion. He stops to drink, and is satisfied. I am "thirsty" because I'm being chased by my own "lions". I want to drink from the Living Water, and be satisfied... If you're a cornerstoner, I'll see you Sunday!!!

Jesus, be the center...

I'm preparing for a five week message series this Fall entitled Jesus, Be the Center. I am excited to preach it, maybe because it is what I need to hear most right now. This has been the craziest summer of my pastoral career, sans doute. My struggle is to keep Him at the center. The busyness of the church, the politics, the sickness and brokeness, the many voices calling from every direction...all because I'm called. But I'm called by Jesus...first, and foremost. How do I hear His voice first, loudest, and last? How do I keep Him at the center?

Lord, hear my call for peace. Let me take your burden upon me. Let me be humbled for you. Let the callouses of my life be scraped away, that I might be ever sensitive to your leading...your calling...your presence...

Interviews!

You can be praying for us as we hold our "second interviews" with two promising candidates for our Family Ministries Coordinator. We interview a woman for the position tonight, and a man tomorrow night. We have received about 60 applicants for the position and are feeling very confident that God is leading this process well. This is a big step, and we want to make sure that we're taking the right direction. Your prayers are appreciated!

Also, here is a picture of our nearly completed, expanded worship center. We still have additional chairs to be delivered (which will allow seating for 300) and the rear light fixtures to be installed. (Sorry it so dark)

Why can't we all just get along?

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing,even life forevermore."

That's what God said to us through David in Psalm 133. What unites us? Jesus. We can't all get along unless we all turn ourselves over to Jesus....until we have "one Lord, one faith, one baptism..." (Ephesians 4:5)

Sorry world...there is no peace without the Prince of Peace...

Hola!

Tonight, Cornerstone embarks on our very first Vacation Bible School. We are doing Group's Fiesta, and I can't wait! We have over 30 volunteers helping this week...is that amazing, or what? I had a Bible study and pizza party with our youth volunteers last evening to help them to get in the groove for the week. Sandy, our director, has done an absolutely amazing job of getting this together.

Here are some more pix: Our hallway:



The side of the worship center (and notice the carpet layer tools on the floor. They will finish the carpet at about 2:00 and VBS starts at 6:30!!!!)



Here is the front of the worship center: We'll have just enough time to set up the chairs, get the PowerPoint working, and Ole!

Coming down to the wire!!!

Here are the Saturday morning photos...we are cutting this one close! We're having a big "let's put our worship center back together so we can worship the Lord in relative order" party tonight at 7:00. Anyone wanna help?

Here is looking from the worship platform toward the new back wall and sound booth:



Here is looking the opposite way:



Here is looking down the new hallway (worship center on left and restrooms on right) with the existing hallway at the end:



Here is a look at the men's room...obviously not in use for tomorrow! Luckily, we have others!!!

I did it!!!!

Yes...I ran 3.4 miles yesterday, which is about 5 1/2K. That is the first time I've ever actually run 5K at the same time and I lived to tell about it! Now all I have to do is pick a new date for my first race and set my eyes on the prize. What a blast...to accomplish something that you put your mind to. Kinda reminds me of:

Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Filled with the Spirit

I spent some time with my good friend Harvey last night. He is my bluegrass jammin' partner. For hours we sat and played, laughed, and shared life. We sang and picked...singing the kind of music we both love: BLUEGRASS! I came home from his place last night just absolutely refreshed. And I know why:

Harvey was on fire last night. Not just his pickin', although that is amazing. He was on fire with the Holy Spirit. He (the Holy Spirit) is just the presence of God that lives in the life of the believer and allows us to act like Him! And when He is present in someone's life, you just know it. You can feel it. And His presence is contagious!

It also convicted me: Brett, are you filled with the Holy Spirit? If not, why not? Are you spending enough time with Jesus that He really rubs off on you? Sadly, the answer is NO. So Lord, today, help me to hang out with you. Help me to feel the warmth of your fire burning within me, and help me to share that fire with those around. Thank you for bluegrass, thank you for friends, and thank you for your Holy Spirit!!!!

Cornerstone Construction

Wow...it is really coming together. I'm going to attempt to upload some pictures here:

Looking from the existing platform back toward the new section:



On the left, you can see where the new hallway is:



Looking from the new section toward the old:



Down the new hallway: (bathrooms on left, worship center on right, phase II opening at the end)

Mirror, mirror on the wall....

Today was a mirror day. It seems everywhere I looked, there was a mirror involved. I started my day off as usual at the gym. Mirrors everywhere. My friend Chris and I travelled to Crafton for our accountability group meeting today and almost got sideswiped by someone playing with their mirror. The guy in the car in front of me on the way to the ministry center this evening looked in the mirror and ran his fingers through his awesome hair at least fifty gillion times. Shadrach, our pooch, was lying on the floor looking at himself in the mirror of our curio cabinet today. Half the woman I pass along the road seem to be fixing their makeup in their car mirrors. Mirrors everywhere....

Which gets me to thinking about the metaphor for my life. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 that we, the believers, are the light of the world. He went on to say that we're to let our lights shine as we do righteous things and allow the Father in heaven to receive the glory. Which really kinda means that we're not the light, just the mirrors. Our lives are meant to reflect Jesus to a lost and hurting world.

I have had a very hard week. I am tired, and weary. I think I need to go clean my mirror...

Music to calm a weary soul!

Can I tell you how much I love music? Thanks, because I really do. I believe music is a gift from God that is meant to connect our heart to His. Here are some current favorites:

1. My bluegrass gospel sessions...you know, just me and my amazing Collings D1A guitar playing and singing bluegrass music that glorifies the Lord!
2. Third Day - what a cool group...
3. Chris Rice: Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus) - I cry everytime I hear and sing this song...
4. Dave DeMarco - He is a local (New Brighton) guy who writes and leads some amazing praise music...actually saw him live leading worship at Orchard Hill Church a few weeks ago...
5. Anything our Cornerstone praise band leads...what a blast and what great friends to share music and our love for the Lord with!

Running, and discipline (like getting smacked), and stuff

Well, if you're gonna make sense of this post, you better start by reading THIS. I just got back from running. Yes, it is 86 degrees out there and killer humidity. Why, you ask, am I running? Why, I ask, am I running? Especially on a day like today when I feel like I've never run before in my life. (Which isn't actually too far from the truth!)

Well, I'm running to train for my very first 5K race which I'm running with some friends from Cornerstone next weekend. It is amazing how at 41 years old, one (namely I) can still succumb to peer pressure! At any rate, today wasn't the best run. I felt like I was carrying around a heavy weight (other than the natural one I have amassed around my waist). This fact, accompanied by my thoughts around our small group Bible study lesson in Philippians 3, sent me to Hebrews 12. "Let's throw off all the hindrances and run with perseverance." Sounds like a plan. (Note that I am talking now of "running" in the figurative sense) But it isn't always that easy. What about the days when you aren't sure what the hindrances are? What about the days when you try to throw them off when all they while they appear to be attached with Gorilla Glue (the preceding was in no way an endorsement or criticism of Gorilla Glue, just an attempt to continue my trend of using lots of parenthetical statements in this blog).

That is when it feels like you're being disciplined. I don't mean in the sense that you're sticking to your plan. I mean in the sense that you're getting smacked. (Remind me to tell you of the paint stirring stick my mom kept on top of the fridge...)

But if you read on in Hebrews 12, you'll see that discipline isn't such a bad thing. The Lord kinda says He uses it on us to make us better because He loves us. (Can you imagine God saying "Now son, this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you...?)

So on those days when it feels like you're "running" uphill...when you've got weight that you can't seem to shed...take heart. Jesus is running the race with you. He may be helping you to run, or He may be adding some weight to make you stronger. The cool part is that He is there...

Remember Bonnie Tyler?

Me neither! But I did look up on internet that classic 1978 forgettable hit "It's a heartache." She sang it, or at least was the person who was using her voice over music in the background to share those lyrics. Our Cornerstone devotions for today are taken from 2 Peter 3. Verse 9 goes like this: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Can I paraphrase? God is heartbroken at every lost soul. He says He wants everyone to come to repentance. Notice, that isn't just coming to Him, but coming to Him in repentance. That means being sorry for whatever sin you wrestle with, and then giving it to Him to rescue you from.

So, why is it that God is heartbroken over you? And what will you do about it?

Train Wreck!

OK, it wasn't actually a train wreck, it was more like a car wreck.

OK, it wasn't actually a car wreck, it was more like a fender-bender.

OK, it wasn't actually a fender bender, but I did hit another vehicle yesterday with my van. The evidence is clearly on the front bumper. It was that crazy Cranberry rush-hour traffic and someone ran a red-light and pulled right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, locked up all fours, and skidded to a near stop just in time for my bumper to smash into his tire. What happened next was amazing. He acted as if he never saw me, and just kept on driving. He got in his lane and headed on his merry way, and I got in my lane and headed on my merry way. It was as if he didn't even notice.

Now you're asking, why is he telling me this? Well, it actually dovetails with a conversation I had with someone this morning who was telling me of an experience on vacation in South Carolina where they met some people who actually worship the church in Florida where the former pastor of Cornerstone now serves. They met on the beach and struck up conversation over, of all things, a silly T-shirt.

That got me to thinking...how many opportunities does God put in our path that we just miss because we are going OUR way? How many times does He run right into the side of the vehicle of our life, only to have us respond in complete and utter apathy?

Lord, forgive me. When you need to get my attention today, please let me pull out in front of you. Jesus, thanks for being willing to wear my "tire marks" on your "bumper."

"I'm Back in the Saddle Again!"

Wow...this has been a summer. I feel like I've been away every other week. Maybe I am feeling that way because I've been away every other week!

Our Cornerstone mission trip was absolutely awesome. You can listen to the testimonies that people shared in worship yesterday by clicking here. It was so neat to be able to witness for the Lord and to grow as a church family. I'm very grateful to those who went, and I'm also very grateful to those who stayed behind to cover us in prayer and to support us financially. Thanks a zillion!!!

Today, our devotions take us to Psalm 67. We are reminded that in our praise to God, others can come to know Him. There is a huge world out there lost and hurting because they don't know Jesus. Many just know about Him. We are called to make Jesus come alive in the hearts of those that we meet today. I am praying for you as you make that happen.

Anyone care to share an online testimony, or maybe a struggle, to share the Lord?

A church on the move!

Cornerstone is a happenin' lately! First, construction has started on our new expansion!!! I am so excited...and if we are really blessed, the first phase will be done in time for our first-ever Vacation Bible School!!! Praise the Lord!

We have lined up some interviews with some very promising candidates for our first-ever full time Family Ministries Coordinator. We are very excited and are just so blessed to be able to follow the Lord's leading on faith! Let's go, Lord!

And next week, 16 of us will travel together to be in mission in West Virginia! We are going to be adding a bathroom addition on a home and we're helping to construct a "church-in-a-box!" Also, we're teaching the Bible stories for a Vacation Bible School ministering to the local children. I can't wait!!!

God is so good!

Interruptions...

Ok, check this story out: Mark 2:1-12. Our Vacation Bible School coordinator (thank you, and God bless you Sandy!) and were talking this morning about this as one of the stories we'll be sharing with our kids. This seems to be a typical day in the life of Jesus. He gets up, probably with a plan, just like the rest of us. Then, as the day unfolds, nothing goes according to the plan! Sound familiar? Well first have peace in knowing that Jesus knows what you're going through. In fact, it is His reality too.

Then, look at what He did. He did not do what Brett does (which may explain why the WWBD fad never really caught on!). He doesn't see these events as interruptions to His carefully planned day. He sees them as opportunities for ministry!

So today is another training day...another day for me to be more like Jesus. And in it, I am trying to see all the interruptions of this day as Jesus does...as opportunities share Him! Help me, Lord!

JOY!

At Cornerstone, we offer daily devotions that relate to our theme of worship for the week. They can be found by clicking HERE. Todays devotion is taken from Nehemiah 8:10. This has always been a favorite verse of mine, and it seems to go along with my reading of "The Life You've Always Wanted." Isn't it so neat how God is so wanting to line up the things of our lives to point us to Him? Why don't we pay better attention? JOY, and not just any joy. But the JOY of the Lord! Why are we so joyless sometimes? I have to say that church people (notice I didn't say Christians!) are the most joyless people. C'mon...if we have Jesus, we can't help but have joy! So today, I am happy. And I think I know why...because I have the Lord, and His joy is my strength! How about you?

Duh!

I've been reading "The Life You've Always Wanted" by John Ortberg at the recommendation of some good friends here. I have to admit that I am now working through a chapter on Spiritual Disciplines...pretty "coinkydinky" considering that I'm sorta preaching about that right now at Cornerstone!!! Isn't God cool? Anywho, I'm having one of those embarrassing "duh!" moments. You know, like when you're 41 years old and you should have figured it out by now but you didn't and it just hit you and you're excited but feel stupid at the same time so much so that you lapse into runon sentences? A few years ago, I must have been in my 30's then, I had them same experience with LMNOP. I always thought it was a single letter in the alphabet...

Anywho, the point is, spiritual disciplines are tools for training...training to be more like Jesus. They are not things that are to gain extra points with God. They are not the measure of holiness. They are not the end in itself. They are the TRAINING TOOLS! Now I get it! So my prayer life, devotional reading, personal worship, fasting, Christian service...they are tools to use in my training.

Now you know that nearly every day I go to the gym. I don't go there because I am strong. I go there to get strong. And it is fun to train to be strong. One of these days I'll be benching my own weight. But so it is in my walk with the Lord. Every day is another opportunity to get just a little stronger. OK! This helps! Thank you Jesus!

Who is this King of glory?

I'm sitting in our worship center trying to focus on Jesus in preparation for worship. I'm worshiping to a Third Day CD I found in our CD player. Right now, I keep hitting the repeat button because I'm just blown away by this song. Check out this powerful line:

"Who is this King of glory, that pursues me with His love?
And haunts me with hearing of His softly spoken words?
My conscious a reminder of forgiveness that I need...
Who is this King of glory, who offers it to me?"

Now that'll preach. Thank you Jesus for being my King of glory. May I make room for you in my life today....

Home

I think I heard it said somewhere "there's no place like home!" Yesterday, Carla had to work so I set off on a solo journey for Salix Pennsylvania. You can see it on the map HERE. Salix is home. It is the place that never changes. It is the town where you refer to the homes as "so and so's old place." It is the town of a zillion childhood memories. And it is the town where my mom and dad still live. I had a great visit yesterday. I had a baloney sammich with mom and dad. (I wanted something better, but mom wouldn't oblige.) I checked out their garden, surveyed the trees, and picked a few prematurely ripe raspberries. A good time was had...

So today, I'm back "home." Not Salix, but Cranberry Township. And what a comparison in contrasting Pennsylvania towns. Cranberry is the "anti-Salix!" And yet, it is home. It is the place where Carla and I currently put down our roots. It is the place of new friends. It is the place of a rapid, and yet somehow exhilarating, pace. It is the place where everything changes. And it is the place where we now love to call home.

Maybe home has more to do with where God is calling you to be. Maybe home is where you see Him most. For me, that has been and still is Salix. For me, that has been and still is Cranberry Township. I wonder where home will be next.....

Where Does My Help Come From?

Psalm 121 starts something like "I look up into the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord!"

OK....good news. My help, and my hope, comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. Got it.

So why do I always look for help in other places? I don't look to the "hills" but I look in equally dumb and unsatisfying places. When will I learn to start with the Lord in the first place?

Lord, please forgive me...again. And please help me...again.

Oh, and thanks...again!

Family Ministries Coordinator

Well, this is a shameless advertisement. I know my blog has readers as far away as Jefferson Hills (in the south hills of Pittsburgh), so I thought I would tap this endless sea of adherants to advertise our newest position at Cornerstone Church. I am so pleased to announce that we are going to take a big step of faith and hire a full time person to work on our team. After the announcement of our current Children's Ministries Coordinator that she accepted full time employment, we the leadership set to the task of praying and visioning where we go from here. We decided to step out and hire someone who will work with our parents and recruit and train our adult leadership so that we can better reach the children and youth of our church and community.

HERE is the link to one of the places we advertised. If you know of someone who may be interested, please pass this along. Thanks!!!

Good to be home!

I returned from Camp Allegheny yesterday and I had a wonderful experience. But there is no place like home. It is good to see Carla again, and it was good to worship at Cornerstone. We truly feel like this is our church home and we love being here!!! I really sensed the presence of the Lord among us in worship today...God is so good. I am also looking forward to returning to blogging in earnest tomorrow.

A week at camp!

I'm heading out after worship today to Camp Allegheny nestled in the mountains of Somerset County PA. I am the dean of the week long Counselor Training Camp. It is one of my favorite weeks of the year. I get the privilege of working with young men and women who love the Lord and who are called to Christian leadership. What a blast. Pray for me as I lead them, and pray for them too!

Celebration!!!!

Thousands of years ago, the Holy Spirit was working on David. God was telling him about the faith of future generations...namely us! Here's what David said about us:

Psslm 145:77 - "They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness."

You know what? He's right!!! I am celebrating God's amazing goodness to today. I am almost in tears of joy as I consider the blessings He is bringing our way. He is righteous and faithful and loving and just. And He considers us in the midst of it.

I cannot wait for Sunday...this is one of those weeks where I am so excited to celebrate the Lord and to be His church together. Give Him glory today, and let's join in giving Him glory together this weekend!

Without a Vision...

OK, I'm letting you in on a little secret. I'm giving you a heads up about Sunday's message. I'm very excited to be preaching on this. Now first, go HERE and read the passage of Scripture. I have it here in 5 different translations. Go ahead, read it. I'll wait....



Thanks! Cool Scripture, eh? There are different variations in the different translations because different people read and interpret the Hebrew differently. But the bottom line is this: we must look to see what God is up to. We must see where He is going. We must look to His future, not ours. We must have a direction, and it must be His, or we're in trouble.

Can I paraphrase it for you? "If you aim for nothing, you'll hit it every time!" We need to be people of vision, and that vision needs to be of God and where He is leading.

This is what I'll be sharing in Cornerstone's worship on Sunday. Join us, and be prepared!!!

He's back!

Well, after a great week of Annual Conference, I'm back in the saddle at Cornerstone. I really missed being here...it was a great week of being reminded of why I am here and why I do what I do. I was blessed to work with the youth this week and wish to celebrate that a little. Out of 100 youth, 35 of them joined an on-the-spot praise team. We had so many that we had to split the vocalists into two groups! They were an amazingly talented and hardworking group of young people. We had practices and led worship in four different places, which meant a whole LOT of setting up, tearing down, and moving equipment. We even had a 5:45 am practice...and they showed up! I saw Jesus a lot this week...He was hanging at Annual Conference, and He was acting like a youth. I'm so thankful to have seen Him!

If you are part of Cornerstone, you need to come this Sunday. Cancel your vacation, take two aspirin, set two alarms! You wanna be here. We have some great things to celebrate, and I can't wait (hey...that rhymed!!!)!!! Happy Tuesday...more tomorrow...