This Thursday is a national holiday we call it Thanksgiving.  It was originally intended to be a day set aside to simply offer thanks and praise to God for His provision and faithfulness.  But like any other expression to our creator, if we don't care for it and remember what the meaning and purpose isit can quickly deteriorate into something far less. It's interesting to me that the more we let things slide as a nation soon a holiday set aside to honor God can become a time for everything but Him. 

From the food that will be devoured and the football that will be consumed, to the preparation for the Christmas sales the next day, Thanksgiving has the potential to mean a time to thank me and take care of me, while forgetting about God.  But that is not how you and I choose to operate, in fact just the opposite the more we use are lives to give thanks to God and live a life of thanksgiving the Lord will give us more to be thankful for.

The Word of God tells us to give thanks continually and joyfully, so this Thursday becomes a great opportunity to continue what we are encouraged to do always.  Give Thanks.

Here is a partial list of the some of the things that I give God thanks for....

I am thankful for God's grace and for His awesome provision for all things big and small.  I am thankful to God for His mercies that are new every morning, We are thankful to God for His awesome presence that gives new hope and great joy. We are thankful for the privilege of prayer and for God's incredible patience with us all.  We are thankful for the direction of God that he so wonderfully continues to give as we follow Him.  We are thankful to God for His gift of putting us into families both biological and spiritual to encourage and lift us up.  We are thankful for a great spouse and children who remind us every day to trust God and to lean on Him.  We are thankful for the wonderful people that make up Cornerstone Church, who view things more and more from the perspective of Heaven.  We are thankful for all that God has done, is doing and is about to do.   Now it's your turn what things are you thanking God for this Thursday and everyday.     Happy Thanksgiving!

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Every so often, not often enough I get the idea that I want to take a good assessment of all the stuff that one can accumulate in the course of a year.  Paper and nick knacks can pile up and things that it seemed that we could not live without, all of a sudden become just so much clutter.  You know what I mean, when it is time to jettison, to get rid of and to stop allowingthe stuff that is really unnecessary to clutter our lives.  Giving is a great way to live an uncluttered life.  In the final analysis the best way that giving de-clutters our life is by way of following the Lord in obedience and allowing Him to decide what is really important.

Jesus talked a lot about giving, and what it meant to give in a way that blesses the giver and the receiver.  He said in the Sermon on the Mount that when we give from the stuff we have whether compassion, time or resources we should be care not to do it to be seen my men.  In other words the giving part although essential to Christian living is not done to gain the accolades of men. The Promise here is that our Heavenly who see everything that is done in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6)

Paul in the same way spoke about the fact that when we give we are sowing and investing in things that will make a difference.  He says that whoever sows (gives) sparingly will also reap sparingly but those who sow generously will again be blessed in the same way.  Paul says that God loves a cheerful giver.  (2 Corinthians 9:6, 7)

Giving is at the heart of the message of Jesus and Giving should be at the center of the followers of Jesus who want to please the Lord and de-clutter their lives from stuff that can get in the way.  The Power of Giving is the power of focus, allowing the things that really matter the things that really make an eternal difference to come to the service and take the lead in our lives with Jesus.

I am always amazed at our church family and how they respond to the needs of the world at large, I am praying for all of us that as we live for Jesus giving out of an act of obedience to God will be come as natural as breathing.  Everything we have belongs to Him anyway all we really are, are stewards for God, taking what He has given us and investing for eternal returns.  My prayer for my life and for all who read this blog is that giving to God will become something that grows us spiritually while at the same time keeps us focused on the eternal.

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This example of divine giving is demonstrates the amazing power of giving. Even though the gift that God gave was rejected by many, the gift of Jesus changed and still changes the world.  At times we look at the idea of giving, as something we do to ease a heavy conscious or appease a guilty one. But the Word of God tells us that God loves a cheerful giver, one who gives not our of compulsion but out of a genuine deep understanding that to give is to love and to give is to show that we understand God's gift to us.

We need to remind ourselves and others that giving is not optional for the Christian life it is essential to Christian living .  The Bible tells us to give and it will be given unto you press down shaken together and running over.  You show me someone who is stingy with what they have, and I will show you someone who does not grasp the love of God.

The power of Giving is first and foremost expressed in love for someone else, without a desire to receive in return.  If we give to get we can become very selfish and limit it's  power. Mother Teresa who was used by God for decades to love the lowest of the low the least of all in India, gave to those who were dying and needed care when no one else would, understood the power of giving of herself and her resources. One day a group of students had come from the United States to Calcutta India where Mother Teresa ministered to the outcast of the city.  The group was volunteering to help and on that day their assignment was to serve food for thousands of hungry and starving adults and children.  The team went out on their task serving thousands of people over many hours in the hot and muggy conditions of Calcutta.  The next morning Mother Teresa walked by the group and stopped in front of one young lady.  Abruptly, she asked the young lady a question.  "Did you enjoy serving food yesterday?"  The young woman burst out, "Oh, yes it was wonderful I enjoyed it so much."   "Good" Mother Teresa replied, "because if you don't enjoy it, it doesn't count."  What a great lesson about giving, if we give anything, ourselves our resources or our time and don't enjoy it and do it gladly we miss the whole point of giving. Giving is an expression of love to others and more importantly our love for the God who has demonstrated how we are to give.  The Power of Giving does not only change the recipient but the giver as well.

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This Morning at Cornerstone is our Missions Fall Celebration.  It promises to be a wonderful time with worship, special music form our Vietnamese fellowship and a time for us to take steps of faith that will impact our world through giving, praying and going.

One of the highlights will be our friend Dick Brogden from a countryin North Africa who will challenge us and make us understand that our world is still in great need of the message of truth that only Jesus gives.

Some of you may not be aware of the story of how our Dick's life and Cornerstone's became interwoven by God's plan, but it is a story of the power of partnership.  Back in the year 2000, we had just completed our second sanctuary on this property here on Annapolis rd.  It was a step of great faith, the largest we had ever taken up to that point and we were celebrating God's goodness to us while at the same time asking God for supernatural provision to help us to pay off the building and move forward with God's work in and through us.  On a Wednesday night in the early part of that year we had this young missionary speak to us on a Wednesday eve.   The crowd was not large but it was a night when God was attempting to move us forward and asking us to listen and follow His voice.  Sometimes one of the last things that churches will do when they are going through a building program or trying to pay off a building is to look beyond their own walls to the world, but that night with God great grace we were able to see a wider view of the world.

Dick shared about his heart for this country in northern Africa and for the Muslim people there unreached yet wanting to know real truth.  At that time seven years ago Dick and his team was attempting to blaze new ways of reaching this difficult but needy people.   He challenged us as he spoke about a vision for a tea house for Muslim women who could come to a safe place and begin their journey towards truth.  Also of a dream to build a center for people who could come and learn English and open a way for Muslims to interact with believers and in turn find truth. And about an idea to have a school that would teach Muslim children in a way that expresses God's love and mercy and that would in turn open the door for families to investigate the claims of Jesus.

That night some seven years ago was challenging to say the least. Right after the service the members of our church leadership at that time met and felt moved by God to make the biggest single pledge we had ever made up to that time.  Even during difficult moments as we were asking God for miracles we pledged to give 100,000 dollars as the lord provided in the next year.  It was a night I will never forget because it was a night of a beginning of a powerful partnership that changed the course of two areas one here in Maryland and one in a North African nation.

Over the next months God did miracle after miracle and eight months later we completely paid off that Pledge and Dick was able to move forward with some of these dreams.  Eighteen months after that Wednesday night encounter we paid off the mortgage on our new facility. Which open the door over the last five years for us to grow and touch more lives here in Maryland but also allowed us to more than double our missions giving to reach people lost and hurting around the world.    Since that time the vision that God gave Dick has also grown into a remarkable ministry to Muslim people that is literally affecting that nation and surrounding nations with hope, truth and life.  Dick will be sharing more about that this morning during our celebration so you may want to listen to the sermon on line to find out more.

God believes in the Power of Partnership. No one and no church is meant to go it alone and do their own thing.  We are meant to partner together in a way that will bring glory to God and advance the Kingdom of God in ways that will overwhelm us all and touch the world. 

Now, seven years later we are in the midst of challenges after just getting into our new sanctuary in April and here again Dick is here with us, what does God have planned for us as we reach the world, what is the Lord's next step for partnership and what is God's plan for us as we move forward by His Grace?  What we must do is obey His voice follow His heart and respond in ways that will enable us to partner with Dick and others in ways that will change the course of eternity for the world. 

Next installment:  The Power of Giving!

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One of the things that have come out of our study on Heaven are more questions and a fresh realization of what God has prepared for us. I received a great email from a young man in our church who asked will our pets be in Heaven?  What a great question and it shows that we are beginning to look with anticipationof what God has prepared for us.

The Scripture tells us that there are animals in Heaven and that on the New Earth; the Lion will lie down with the Lamb.  In fact a look at the Word of God tells us of the place of animals when it describes Jesus as our triumphant King riding a white horse leading the armies of God to final victory.  I believe that there will be animals in Heaven, those we are familiar with and those we have yet to know.  God does all things well and as the scripture says all of creation is longing and waiting for the redemption that is to come.  

But the young man's question was not merely about animals in Heaven, but was more specific asking whether or not pets will be there.  Now first let me say that God has the ability to do anything He wants so this not beyond the realm of His reach.  Since Heaven is a place of immeasurable rejoicing and the Lord longs for all those who follow the Lord to share the Joys e has planned for us, this could very well be part of God's plan.  Joni Erikson Tada, says that she believes there will be pets in Heaven in some form because of the close bond that people have on earth with them.  Interesting enough even may theologians like A. W. Tozer  believe that this is also a great possibility. 

The thing that it is most important for us to remember about Heaven, is that it is a place that God has prepared for those who love Him.  No one knows better than the Lord what things make us content and what things bring joy to our lives and smiles to our faces.  There are certain things about Heaven that we will just have to wait and see, but one thing is certain, our gracious Lord has prepared things for us that are too great to miss.  I am praying that we not only rejoice for ourselves but also tell others about the great things HE has planned.  Even so come quickly Lord Jesus!

Next Installment -  The Power of Partnership

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Sorry about the long delay in the next entry.  Hopefully that will not happen again. 

I was thinking about Heaven and all that awaits us there.  We listed several things in the last post that are part of my dreaming about Heaven.  But there is so much more.  It is my asswertion that one of the joys that God  has waiting for us in the life to comeis the ability to make things open to us to know things that have transpired and why.  I believe that part of eternity will be given to being able to sit down with Heroes of Faith, those we know of from the Bible and those that we will know in Heaven and find out what transpired in their lives.  More thank that because God is able to do so much more than man can do I believe we will be able to relive some of the action of the events that have stirred our hearts.  What was it like for David coming against Goliath, I beleive we will be able to see first hand and then talk to David himself about it.  How about beign there when Moses part the Red Sea and walking across with the nation of Israel on dry ground? Or the first moments of creation and the heart of God to create mankind. More than a mere DVD  on the best flatscreen imagineable. I believe we will be able to experince the sights the sounds and the emotions of thiese great momemnts of triumph and those difficult moments of struggle. And be able to garner first hand information. Modern Day Heroes like those who are even now contending with their very lives for Jesus will also be there to tell us how they made it and how God's strength and hope sustained them.  For me I long to sit down with Corrie Ten Boom and Oswald Chambers, AW Tozer and CS Lewis heroes of a bygone day who will be able to tell me their stories first hand. Each one of us have a story to tell of God's faithfulness and grace, Each one of us have been blessed by God more than we will ever know with His protection and provision.  It is possible that your testimony is more powerful than you understand now, and to be able to tell others who make up this great cloud of witnesses will bring even more Glory to God and will result in praise that will resound in Heaven forever.  So what do you think about being a part of the answer and of all that God has planned.  I can't wait to see Jesus face to face and I can't wait to see all that He has planned for us.  It is going to be awesome, I'll bring the Popcorn.

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Like a great story that you never want to end, this will be the reality of Heaven and eternity with God.  When the Lord promises those who follow Him here on earth an eternity filled with wonder He is not kidding. Jesus tells us of those servants with whom the Master is pleased because they have followed His commands and have been faithful to live their lives in ways that will honorour King.  He says that they will hear the words from the lips of the creator, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joys of your Lord."  It will be the sweetest sound you and I have ever heard.  Sounds great doesn't it? But what are the joys of the Lord.  This is where the story really gets good.  Imagine with me for a moment that you want to give a special surprise to someone you love.  Imagine if there was no limit on the cost and you  can access  all the great things, you have dreamt of giving to those you care for. Then imagine the look on their face when you give them there special surprise gift.  As great as that would be, that moment would fade away into a beautiful memory.  But when our Lord Jesus plans and prepares surprises for those He loves, who have followed Him and obeyed Him, those suprises will never end. If God can make us marvel at each new sunrise and sunset on this earth what will each moment with Him in Heaven be like?  Just imagine!

Given the fact that our Lord is the Creator God, endless in power and possibility here is part one of a list of what I believe are some of those "Joys" will be.  These are some of the things that I Imagine and look forward to.

1. Fulfilling interaction with God without any barriers.

2. Experiencing the presence of the Lord in waves of unending love

3. Seeing new attributes of God on a eternal basis. 

4. Enjoying the experience with others we knew on earth

5. Getting to know the stories of others who we meet in Heaven

6. Asking and dialouging with great men and woman of faith (Having some one on one time with Abraham, David, Moses, the disciples etc.) Finding out how they did it.

7. Laughing with others and enjoying true happiness. Laughter will be a great part of Heaven.

8. No longer dealing with the results of sin. (Pain, sicknes, death, grief)

9. Telling others our stories of God's grace, and as we do becoming overwhelmed again at what He has done for us. Which will only make us want to worship Him more.

10. Having a new body that will be able to enjoy all that He has prepared. (Great food with no calories, seeing things with our eyes that overwhelm us constantly.) But the best thing about this new body will be the fact that we can be in the presence of God! 

11.  Sharing the happiness of others who have made it to Heaven.  Like a never ending  joyfilled celebration.

12. Being reunited with Loved ones who have gone before and are also sharing in their masters happiness

13.  Traveling throughout the universe God has created to see and enjoy all that God has prepared for those who love Him. (This is why I believe God has created the Universe with it's vastness and exceptional beauty and possibility.) I believe that this travel will not be done by space craft but that our new bodies will be able to go from place to place just by thinking where to go. 

14. Never being out of God's presence and favor

15. Understanding in a small part what God gave up for us

16. Worshipping the Lord with unrestrained and lavish praise. There will be no holding back in Heaven, no wondering whether or not people are watching.  (more on this in a future entry)

17. Having our new minds and newbodies not getting tired or weak, but at the same time enjoying perfect rest.

This is part one of the list, Part II will have some things that might make you think twice, so please check back for the next entry.

What does your list look like?

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I was thinking the other day about the mysteries of this life that I just don't get.  You know what I mean, when things that are so hard happen to people who love the Lord.  An email was snet to me recently from a friend of ours in Iraq, who told me about two Iraqi women who were killed by some guns for hire.  When we see those reports on television we assume thatthese women were up to no good.  Well in this case there could be nothing further from the truth. These two women were actually our sisters in Christ who were very involved in ministry in Bagdad and were some key components to some new and excitng oppurtunities that our Lord is opening. My first question at times is like you I am sure "Why?"  The believers in Iraq have taken this news of sadness and grieved over their loss here on earth, but have not greived like others around them.  Although  they do not understand all the answers to the Why? questions they are trusting God and thanking God that these two sisters our with the Lord.  But this situation begs the question about our time with the Lord in Eternity. Will we understand why? Will the Lord answer all of our questions about those things that don't make sense to us on earth?  One of the neat ladies of our church has often commented that when she gets to heaven her and Jesus will have to "do lunch" so that some of the unclear and confusing things can be explained by her Master.  

     Believe me when I say it is hard often times to understand and yet that is exactly why we look forward to what is to come.  One of the great things that is to come when we are with the Lord forever is to understand from a different perspective.  We are so tied to Earth and we treat life here often times as if it is paramount to everything in the universe. Life is sacred it is so wonderful for us to experience and to serve the Lord while we are in this body.  But because we are limited in our thinking and limited in our view, sometimes these confusing things just overwhelm us.  The Word of God says that Jesus promises certain things to those who overcome.  Sometimes what we must overcome is our own view that God somehow missed it .   But overcomers have more to look forward to than we might think.  Revelation chapter 3:21  "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His Throne."  Do you see that?  The promise is for all of us who overcome we will have the right to sit with Jesus and celebrate all that has been accomplished.  But part of the time with Jesus will also be a time for a deep conversation with Jesus.  This is one of the times that we will "Do Lunch" and it is here that the Lord will not only allow us to see from a different point of view but also will allow all of our questions to be answered by His presence and His grace. 

We must remember that this life is not all there is and that this world is not our ultimate goal.  So what things will you ask Jesus?  I have a funny feeling that many of the things we do not understand here will be made clear to us just by looking into His face.  One of the question I think that I will ask Him is, "How could you love me so much." It will be a sweet time fo communion and conversation with the Lord of our lives. So friends lets make sure that we do not become sidetrack by life here.  Hebrews 12 says to "Fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith"  Together let us make a determination to be together and have that beautiful conversation with Jesus.

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In our consideration of what Heaven is like and what we have to look forward to, I was wondering what are the things that grab your imagination?  If you and I were having a candid discussion what are the things that you are anxious to experience?  For me there are several things and if you don't mind it would be great to discuss some of them with you.

 First and foremost it is a great longing of my heart to see Jesus! That may seem simplistic to some but in all seriousness that longing continues to grow and grow.  It has always been my feeling that just to see Him will be more than enough.  I love the song from Fanny Crosby who was blind but wrote hundreds of songs.  She penned one that said, I shall know Him I shall know Him as redeemed by His side I shall stand.  I shall know Him I shall know Him by the prints of the nails in His hands."  Fanny Crosby said that even with her earthly infirmity her one desire was to feel the hands of Jesus and know that those wounds were willing taken for all of us. I guess for me to see Jesus will be more than just seeing Him, but in a selfish way it has always been in my mind that when we see Him, it will be a one on one encounter, which seems very selfish, but when it comes to seeing my Lord, I think (Hope) he forgives me.  It is just that to see His eyes and to understand that His presence would be open to me is almost too  much to even imagine.

If you are like me, most of the time we don't feel that we deserve to be in His presence not here on earth but certainly not in Heaven.  Yet the word of God says in the book of Jude, that Jesus will present us before the Father without fault and with great joy.  When I read those words it always seems like a moment of intimacy and oneness with the One who has redeemed me. I am looking forward to that moment and have great expectation of things to happen that words especially earthly words can not express.  We sing the song I can only Imagine. Asking the question what will we do when we see Him? No doubt my first response will be to lay prostrate before the Lord and yet I don't want to look away from those eyes of love.  Our Lord Jesus who is far more than we can begin to fathom is waiting with open arms for us to come and be with Him. The last chapter of the book of Revelation says "The Spirit and the Bride say Come"  That is what I am longing for. That longing to be with Jesus and to know His full acceptance and grace and to see in His eyes the approval and joy of a loving God who with great joy welcomes His servants into His presence forever.  What an incredible day.  Another song written about that moment is "What a day that will be when my Jesus I will see, when I look upon His face the one who saved me by His grace, when He takes me by the hand and leads me through the promise land, What a day glorious day that will be."

Of all the things that Heaven offers, nothing will be greater than being with Jesus.  Nothing will fulfill the deep longing of our hearts like being with Him.  Nothing will ever come close even with all the joys that Heaven offers to being with the Master who would rather die than to lose us for eternity.  The Word of God says that God is love.  Imagine being in the presence of Jesus, face to face with Love itself.  What a day Glorious day that will be. 

In the entries to come we will look at other wonders of Heaven, but suffice it to say.  Just to make it to Heaven and to see Jesus will make anything and everything we do in this life for the Lord, more than worth it.

I long to see my Savior first of all!  How about you?

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