Category Archives: Influence

How does it feel?

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!


Business Cards

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!


I have a New Life – Pt. 3

Coming back from a great spiritual experience, like a retreat or a mission trip, we all hope to hang on to the zeal and excitement that is birthed in our lives.  I hope sharing some of the stories from our trip to Nicaragua has passed along some of the passion we experienced while we where there.

At our church, we constantly pray, God raise up people of influence and help us to reach people of influence in our community.   While we were in Puerto Viejo, one afternoon I was looking for the missionary who was working with us in the field.

One of the team members found him, in a little class room in a pretty intense meeting with the administrator of the school facilities we were using.  They were in there for a long, long time.  I was getting worried.  Is he upset that the North Americans are trashing out the place?  Have we done something to offend him?

When I saw Roberto (the missionary) come out, I went to him and asked, “Is everything ok? Do I need to do something?”  He just smiled at me and with the excited move of his fist, simply said… “New birth brother! New birth!”

I was ecstatic!  That was awesome! Talk about reaching a person of influence.  We had reached one of the most influential people in the village, the school administrator.  The man who molds and shapes the minds of the young people!  

That evening in the tent service, he and his wife came and stood in front of the whole community declaring his profession of Christ in his life!  That is worth the whole trip! And that is why we go!


Double Sided Coin

I e-mailed our prayer team last week and shared this double sided coin.   It seems daily we are getting prayer requests to pray for people. And each request represents a hurting person or family or situation.

I am so thankful for the prayer team of people we have at Cornerstone Church, I believe who really pray for each person or situation – if they know them or not.

It seems our prayer request traffic has picked up a bit.  And it dawned on me, while the situations are a “bad thing,” the fact that people trust us enough to share the painful details of their life is a “great thing.”

In my prayer time today I found myself saying, “God, there are so many hurting people.”

Then it was just that affirming impression from God, “That is why you are here!” WOW!!!!

It is a double sided coin – people are turning to Cornerstone Church looking for help, and the Hope only Jesus can offer!  And I get to be a part of what God is doing!  I LOVE IT!

If you have a prayer request you can share it by clicking  HERE.


One Great Week!

I had a moment today that is somewhat laughable.   Some of you are going to think I’m a terrible person – others may join in and laugh with me.

I was working on my day off!  I know, BAD BRENT!  But we are working to get things ready for an AMAZING EASTER SUNDAY!  While I’m going 100 miles an hour – I had not ONE, but TWO sales people… “WANT TO TALK WITH THE PASTOR.”

Usually, sales people would call or e-mail and make an appointment, but these guys just dropped in!  And they caught me working my tail off!

The first one, I gave him 3 minutes.  When he said, “network level marketing,” I know my eyes glazed over.  In 30 more seconds I was shaking his hand and showing him the door.

The second one was a little more humorous.   I had Joe Shepard on the scaffolding, waiting for me.  Ryan Ramey, looking for something for me.  I quickly ran out to my office – and on the way back into the big building I saw a gentlemen. 

“You looking for someone?”  I asked.

“I’d like to speak with the pastor. Is he here?” He said.

I said, “He is, but he is really busy right now. You might call his office and make an appointment.”

Then I just walked on in the building, shaking my head of course.  I don’t think I lied to the guy – I just didn’t have time on my day off to hear another “Network Level Marketing” presentation!

I know that Glazed over look well… It seems when I invite my friends, neighbors, and people I meet to church – they kind of give me the same look.  But this is ONE week – people may be more sensitive to an invitation.

I hope you will BEGIN RIGHT NOW praying for the right person to invite to church.  Pray for the right moment to invite them.  And Pray God will move upon their heart to go with you!

I think EASTER would be so much better if someone you invited GOT SAVED!!!!

It’s going to be a GREAT Week!


Spiritual Gifts pt. 5

Today – we will post the questions about the Teacher.  (Sorry for the delay in getting the last 2 gifts up – we’ve been on Spring Break Vacation!!)

The same as the other gifts, on each question rate yourself 0-5.  Zero being – that is “NOT” me. Five being – Yep, that describes me to a “T.”

1 – You love to learn  (You feel an internal pull to read bible. You also have notebooks of sermons you have never preached.)

2 – You have a systematic approach to how you study and present material.  (You read the Bible with a plan.)

3 – You have a high level of self discipline, endurance and consistency.

4 – Credentials and education are very important to you.

5 – You are more interested in content that people.  (You are happy to lock up in your study all day.)

6 – Accuracy is very important to you.  (A verse out of context will make you mad)

7- Fact only please!  (You don’t want opinions or feelings!)

8 – You can take a hard idea that is difficult to understand and simplify it so others can learn.

9 – You spot details and facts others miss. (can look at a spread sheet and find a 32 cent mistake)

10 – You love to see other people learn. (You love to watch people “GET IT”)

Thanks for all the feed back on the Spiritual Gifts.  I hope this helps you to discover who God has created you to be.  A couple of good resources I recommened to help you learn more – Craig Groeschel’s book  Chawzon It is a great book that has some good resources connected to it about having a “vision for your life.”

Have a great week with Jesus.   I’ll see you after Spring Break!


Pastor

Here are the questions for the spiritual gift of a pastor.  Rate on a scale of 0 – 5.   Zero being “not at all”   Five being – “that’s me!)

1 You need deep friendships with mutual loyalty and commitment. (Relationships are DEEPER than they are wide.)

2 You value high participation in a project.  (It isn’t about the project, but the relationships.)

3 You are more concerned with internal hurt than physical distress or needs.  (More concerned about the internal hurts and wounds)

4 You attract hurting people (Rescuers)

5 You are a very thoughtful person

6 You enjoy serving and being behind the scenes.  (don’t want the mic. Don’t want to be out front.)

7 You postpone conflict – OR NOT AT ALL – unless it will “fix it”

8 You can share in other’s emotions! (You truly celebrate with them and cry when they cry)

9 You rely on emotion to make decisions.

10 You worry about wandering / uncared for believers.

Have a great week – we’ll finish these tests later this week!


Gifts pt 3 (Evangelist)

Here are the qestions for the spiritual gift/office of Evangelist.  On a scale of Zero to FIVE rate each question.  0 – that is not me.  5 – yep, thats me alright!

1 – You set goals and strive to accomplish them.

 2 – You can easily adapt your communication style to connect with different people.  (doesn’t matter age, background, socioeconomic status.)

 3 – You intentionally have relationships with lost people and are comfortable with them. (its not awkward for them or you)

 4 – You always look to turn conversations to spiritual things.

 5 – You worry about lost people. (it is a consuming passion if someone is not saved)

 6 – When it comes to the bible and Christianity, you only focus on Salvation. (there are other topics in the bible, but Salvation is all that matters)

 7 – You experience True Joy when someone gets saved.

 8 – You place a great deal of importance on “Repentance.”

 9 – When presenting a topic (salvation) you press for a decision.  (Good sales people, know how to close the sale.)

 10  You have led multiple people to Christ.  (It never dawned on you)

Have a great day with Jesus!


Live like you are dying!

Reading Numbers 31:2 – kind of struck a chord with me.   Moses, go fight the Midianites and then you are going to die.

Wow…

If you knew it was your last mission for Christ, how would you handle it?  If you knew it was your last sermon to preach, your last song to sing, or your last date with your spouse, how would you handle it?

We began service a few weeks ago with a country song, Live Like You Are Dying by Tim McGraw.  It was AWESOME!  The point of the song is – if you only had a short time to live – what would you do with the rest of your days.

Too many people in Moses situation would say, forget this – I’m out! You guys can clean up this mess.

Some people would just have a pity party and spend the rest of their days sending out invitations!

Others would finish strong! Which is exactly what Moses did.  He maintained the purity God had called him and the Nation of Israel to!

If you knew it was your last battle – how would you respond?

Have a great day with Jesus!


Obscurity

I’m reading Chuck Swindoll’s book David, a Man of Passion and Destiny. In his description of David, Chuck said something that was just too good not to pass along.

David grew up in obscurity.  That’s another way God trains His best personnel –  in obscurity.  Men and women of God, servant-leaders in the making, are first unknown, unseen, unappreciated and unapplauded.  In the relentless demands of obscurity character is built. Strange as it may seem, those who first accept the silence of obscurity are best qualified to handle the applause of popularity.

Now that makes sense.  And it also explains why Moses spent 40 years on the back side of a desert. Why David was called from the shepard’s field and many of the disciples were called from the waters they fished.

I guess if we can handle the silence of obscurity and still serve, we can handle the pressures of leading. 

Unfortunately, too many of us need applause to keep us motivated.  Too many of us need approval and popularity to find reason to make a difference for others.

 Ever find yourself in a place where you feel all alone – this may just be why!      


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