Category Archives: Church

December 16, 2010

How does it feel?

By Brent Kellogg

The thought hit me the – I have never been to a funeral of someone I loved dearly who I knew went to hell.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been to a lot of funerals.  I have even preached a lot of funerals. I’ve done funerals for people I loved dearly – but it was more of a celebration because I knew they went straight to the arms of Jesus and are now in heaven.

But I have never lost a family member, a friend, a person I had a close relationship and knew they went to hell…

So I wonder how that feels.  Would that change my perspective on how I share the gospel? 

We should live like eternity is on the LINE for someone… Everyday!

Leave a comment | posted in Church, Influence, Relationships

November 5, 2010

Business Cards

By Brent Kellogg

I’m convinced God uses our KIDS to speak to us.   On Wednesday evenings I get to take the kids home after church activities.  We always have to go through my office, just to make sure it is locked up.

It’s a treat for the kids. (I still haven’t figured out why)  This past week, Kalei grabbed on of my business cards out of the holder that sits on top of my desk – and handed it to me and said, “Does this change lives for God?”

I didn’t understand what she said at first… and I don’t know if she knew what she said… but she said it again.

“Does this change lives for God?”

My simple response was, “I sure hope so baby!”  

That is what our business cards should represent – a life and a church that changes lives for God.   Who knows, I might even put that on my next business card!

Cornerstone Church… “Changes lives for God!”

 - Go make a difference for Christ today!

Leave a comment | posted in Church, Faith, Influence, Leadership

October 19, 2010

DNA Podcast

By Brent Kellogg

I’m kind of excited about something new we are doing here at Cornerstone.  We have began a series of podcast to help unpack the DNA of who Cornerstone Church really is.  

You can listen on our website at www.cornerstone-ss.com  or this link will go directly to the podcast page.

Each session is a thirty minute behind the scenes conversation, where we talk about some of the core values and things that make us who we are at Cornerstone. 

The first podcast deals with the topic of “Different is Good.”  In a very church city, we try to be different than other churches.  In this podcast we talk about what exactly is different and so much more.  I hope you enjoy!

Leave a comment | posted in Church

October 15, 2010

Sometimes I Forget

By Brent Kellogg

I love doing what I do.  Being a pastor is an amazing job.  Sometimes I get so caught up in the day to day of what we do at Cornerstone, I loose sight of the big picture.   The church is not, one more sermon series, not one more worship service… It is the Bride of Christ a living body that is designed to help others.

This morning, we added a new school district to our Back Pack Program.  I went along to help make the first drop off just to meet people I had been e-mailing back and forth with for weeks!

It was amazing! We unloaded sacks to help 25 students.  It was a gentle reminder of what we do on a DAILY basis.  Sometimes I get so busy I forget we are daily impacting lives.  Maybe not in our building, maybe not on our property, but we have an AMAZING Family of people @ Cornerstone Church every day praying for loved ones, encouraging co-workers who are going through tough times and loving the way Christ asked us to love!

Sometimes I forget all that goes on!

Leave a comment | posted in Church, Communication, Missions

September 21, 2010

Life is like Solitaire

By Brent Kellogg

OK – here is your assignment, open up the game of solitaire and play a few games!  I actually did this with our staff this past week and challenged them to look for life strategies in the game of solitaire.

Our goal in life is to win… the goal of solitaire is to win! I’d love to see your comments on the things you discovered of how life is like Solitaire or the lessons you learned playing solitaire.  Just FYI – you will probably have to play at least 5 games to get the significance.

Tomorrow I will post my list of how life is like the game of Solitaire!

1 comment | posted in Church, Trials

August 24, 2010

I Have a New Life – Pt 1

By Brent Kellogg

School is back in full swing. The temperature is below 100 degrees, finally!  And the climax of what we spend about 10 months working on took place in a small village in Nicaragua last week.

I was a part of an amazing team of 46 North Americans who went on an 11 hour bus ride to a small village in North Central Nicaragua called Puerto Viejo, in the Waslala Region of Nicaragua! (You can find it on Google map.)

We set a few personal team records this past week – which was a great feeling of Advancing the Kingdom!  This was my 5th trip to Nicaragua, and our 4th team to lead from Cornerstone.

We saw 3114 (plus) patients.  It was our first time to ever see over 3,000.

We vaccinated over 1,000 animals.

We extracted close to 400 teeth.

We gave away 886 pairs of glasses/sun glasses.

We saw 763 people pray to receive Christ with 39 rededications.

We gave away 1.9 tons of beans and 2 tons of rice.

We gave away over $30,000 in benevolence items, such as new shoes, flip flops, clothes, baby blankets, ball caps and toys!!!

Thank you to an Amazing Church who helped impact a small village in Nicaragua!

If you’d like to see the video click HERE!

We have some great stories to tell, about people of influenced being saved and saving the life of a baby! I’ll share those with you later this week!

Blessed beyond imagination!

Leave a comment | posted in Church, Compassion, Faith, Missions

July 13, 2010

Good Problems to Have

By Brent Kellogg

In my prayer time this morning I was praying over a couple of issues we need solutions too when I realized, these are “GOOD PROBLEMS TO HAVE!”

We have a couple of things on the horizon we need God’s help!  And it is great to be in this place.  Our kids are at kid’s camp this week! Before they left, we had a little bit of a problem.  We took more kids than we expected.  

Not to get into the details of how kids camp works – but you pre purchase your spots!  This year – we have more kids going than we had purchased spots!  God made a way and we found a church we were able to buy some of their spots! 

In children and youth ministry – overcrowding is a great problem to have.

We send our students to Falls Creek youth camp.  And we have out grown our cabin.  It is a great facility.  But, this year – we were not able for our kids to really invite their friends to go with us – just because we didn’t have the room.  For us, Falls Creek is a great time to see kids get saved!  So we are working on securing a bigger cabin for next year.  (easier said than done!)  But a good problem to have.

Since we have paid off our debt and have money in our Forward in Freedom campaign, we are beginning the remodeling phase of our campaign.  We are adding a drive through awning to our building.  Remodeling and expanding our foyer. Moving our sound booth and adding video equipment!  This is a huge undertaking for us – and a lot of hassle involved!  But a good problem to have!

Growth is painful. Just anyone that has ever been pregnant with a growing child expanding in their belly!  That is how it feels at Cornerstone.  It feels like we are pregnant!! It’s a great problem to have!

1 comment | posted in Church, Faith, Trials

July 11, 2010

Miraculous Deposit

By Brent Kellogg

This past Sunday we announced at Cornerstone Church that through our Forward in Freedom Campaign – We’re DEBT Free!!!! It feels great.

Three months ago we asked our people to bring God their best!  Needless to say, they answered the challenge in an amazing way!   There are people who have prayed for this to happen and people who have given towards this. 

When we stop and celebrate something like this – we are so grateful to God for what He has done.  However, I’m afraid some people fall into the category of “God will take care of it!” 

But follow me for just a second!!!

All Glory goes to God! (Make no mistake!) But I want you to understand that there was no – “miraculous deposit” into our Forward in Freedom account!  There was no mysterious large gift that was given – that we have no tracking number for.  We know where 99% of the money came from aside a few anonymous donations!

This is how I have seen God work in all this and where God gets all the praise and all the glory!!! He has greatly blessed his people.  And the kingdom being advanced – boils down to people who believe the Bible. They believe in their God and his calling them to a vision and a purpose.

It boils down to people living and giving sacrificially, ‘til it hurts!  And they do that because of their God! They do that because they know God has blessed them and will continue to bless them!

It boils down to obedience.  I think too many North American Christians are missing out on the best part of life – because we aren’t generous or because we have got ourselves in such a financial mess, we can’t afford to give!

If that describes you, get help! I recommend a couple of books:

#1 The Blessed Life  by Robert Morris!  He teaches, give to give, not give to get!  That is an important concept!

#2 Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.  It is a 7 step process to getting help and control with your finances.  If available, take the course, Financial Peace University!  It will change your life.

All Glory to God – because he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing!  Thank you to God’s people who sacrificially live and sacrificially give because they love their GOD!

Leave a comment | posted in Church, Faith, Money

July 9, 2010

Disappointed??

By Brent Kellogg

I really try to watch my self and not set myself up for disappointment.  Sometimes there are things I think, “this is going to be AWESOME” and it is just good.  You know what I’m talking about – a juicy rib eye from a steak house.  You wait for it all day… and it is good, but not what you have built it up to be in your mind.

Like a road trip – that will be hours and hours of fun, and you have 2 flat tires and a major breakdown instead!

But I think I’m too far gone about this weekend at Cornerstone.   We have been working all week on the 20 year celebration that will take place on Campus at 6 pm this Sunday night.

We have some cool things happening Sunday Morning as well.  I think I’m about to go “POOF” with Excitement!

If you don’t see me this weekend… I’ve been prematurely raptured, because I’m so excited about what God is doing at Cornerstone Church!

Big announcement Sunday night at our 20 year Celebration, don’t miss it!

Leave a comment | posted in Church

July 2, 2010

How do you smell?

By Brent Kellogg

 I know it’s the first of July and that’s not a good time to ask that question. But kids say the funniest things.  Wednesday afternoon I had run home for just a bit and I took a shower and changed clothes to come to our youth service at church.

When I came down stairs – Landon (our 7 year old) says, “You smell like you are going to church!”

As a parent I had to stop and laugh at that one.   He went on to clarify – “You  just always smell like that when you are going to church!”

I hope that is a good thing!

Can people tell where you are going by the way you smell? (I know, weird) Can people tell where you are going by the way you dress, talk, eat, treat people, smile, act, give… and the list could go on and on!

We have an exciting weekend this weekend at Cornerstone.  We have an AWESOME story to share – and it is going to be a powerful time as we celebrate Freedom together with the Lord’s Supper.

I know many are on Vacation – travel safe and enjoy your time away!

Leave a comment | posted in Church, Worship

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