Matthew 26:58 says,  Meanwhile, Peter was following far behind and eventually came to the courtyard of the high priest’s house. He went in, sat with the guards, and waited to see how it would end.  (NLT)

While Jesus was with his disciples He kept saying, you are seeing things from a human perspective. (Mark 8:33 and Matthew 16:23)

Jesus was challenging the disciples – look through eyes of faith! You don’t see what I see.

Matthew waiting around in the courtyard of the high priest’s house, wanting to see how it would end –  tells me Peter thinks this is it.   This is how this whole Jesus thing is going to end.  I have invested the last 3 years of my life following this man – and this is how it is going to end.

He was looking for his human point of view.  From the human point of view – he could not see an empty tomb.  He could not see a resurrection.  He could not see a Pentecost, or a changed man named Saul of Tarsus.   He could not see the gates of hell being pushed back by the advancing, living powerful church!

He thought he was waiting for it to end, but it was only just beginning!

Ask God to give you eyes of faith today – so you can see things from His perspective, not the human point of view! 

I certainly have those godly people I turn to seeking assurance knowing “they are praying.” Behind it is a subconscious thought if God doesn’t answer my prayers, I know He will answer theirs.

As pastor I am so thankful people trust me to call on me to pray with them through their trials. This morning I took one of those phone calls that hit me right in the heart. I first turned to God and said – “man it takes big shoulders to be a prayer warrior.” Because people trust us, rely on us, and turn to us in their time of crisis.

If you have that prayer warrior in your life you turn too in times of need, be so thankful they have big shoulders!

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!

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!

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!

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!

So I started jogging.  Two days ago, it was great.  It was pain-free! It was like I was jogging on the clouds! I got home, told Jeri, “Man that was easy!”

Yesterday was a whole different story.  My legs were stiff.  I had to stop a couple of times because I just ran out of gas.  It was not a good day of running!

Here is the principal I learned from my jogging adventures.  Yesterday wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t fast. It was powerful. It wasn’t even what I expected it to be… but I ran!

The same is true in our spiritual life.  So many people sit down to read the bible and it may be an intimate time with God that is faith building and inspiring.  The next day, may simply be just reading the bible… but at least you read.

I believe God celebrates the simple disciplines in our lives.  It’s not always about how you feel or what you get out of it, but the fact that you did it!!!

Not every game can be won!

What was your highest score? (Are we so focused on the win you miss the score?)

Just because you can play a card doesn’t mean it will help you.

You can play 1 card or 3 card.

          The easier way does not guarantee a win.

          The easier way – does not mean it’s the better way.

It is easy to miss a detail that can cost you a win!

Attack the Piles!  The Big Piles are some times hard to play, but attack the “hard stuff” in life.  Don’t run from it.

One card can make a difference! It can unlock the whole game for you!

Sometimes you have to make a tough choice. (do I pull from the stack or do I pull from the deck!)

There is no KEY or secret formula to a win!

I’d love to hear your lessons!

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!

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!