Our church body turned 1 this past Sunday. It was great to have so many people in attendance, baby dedications, membership, amazing time in worship. I felt bad because there was so many there that I couldn't talk to all of them! I had a moment before I left as I looked at the 'sanctuary' with no one there. All the music equipment was put away, we took down the banners, all the cake and coffee were gone. It was empty. And the easy answer would be-Church is over. Time to go home!
But God has taught me something in Year 1 of our church plant and that is our Sunday gathering is just the beginning. There is never a championship won in the locker room, it's won on the field.
So no matter the raw-raw given inside, it must be accomplished outside. That's why I'm excited for year 2 of our church. I feel God has placed a new boldness in the hearts of His people. Before each week I'm receiving an email, text, or phone call about how someone asked someone about Jesus! That's what we're supposed to be doing!!
Amidst the struggles/trials/tribulations we are facing, He is wanting to move! I'm blessed by our congregation because I believe they are yearning for it. Not just for life to get better but for God to be glorified even in our troubles. It's a message that our community and neighborhoods need.
It's a message of HOPE. That all we see is not all there is. That there is a God who loves them so much He gave them His Son, Jesus.
I've started to let Philippians 1:6 change me. 'Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.'
How will people know that God is working if I don't tell them? I think if we were honest with ourselves we would say, we have squandered enough opportunities. I know I'm guilty of it. That's where the beauty of Jesus comes in because He knows. He knows I've made mistakes and yet He loves me. The most beautiful stories of Jesus are how He went to those who were in sin, and told them He had life for them. He is THE RESCUE.
Year 1 of our church was foundational. Year 2 of our church will be______ (you fill in the blank).
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Do You Really Love Me?
One of the beauties of marriage was that it made me a talker. I couldn't just show my love anymore, I had to talk about it...for hours! It was so foreign for me! My wife knows I love her, so why in the world do I need to keep saying it!!
It came down to the simple fact that she loves to hear it. If I truly love her, I will let her know in the way that she enjoys. It's not about me-it's about her. It was something that I was really bad at in the beginning and I would say that now I am greatly average at it. It is something that I keep working on as our marriage grows and also our love for one another grows.
When Jesus showed himself to Peter, he asked him an interesting question...3 times! Peter, do you love me? Now we know and understand how this conversation is supposed to go-just like I talked about before. Peter says, 'I love you', and we're done. Jesus asks Peter this question 3 times to remind him of the time he denied Christ 3 times. For Peter to be reinstated with Christ he needs to come to a place of repentance. Sometimes saying, 'I love you' is not enough. We need to repent.
But here's the incredible part-Jesus' answer. He then tells Peter to feed his lambs, take care of my sheep, and again feed my sheep. A process has taken place. Peter sees Jesus-is overjoyed so much that he jumps out of a boat into the water to swim to the shore to see him. He is hurt with grief and sorrow as Jesus brings to light his denial. Peter is reinstated because he repents. And then is given a mission-feed my sheep.
We give Peter a hard time because of his denials, but have you read what he did in Acts?? He plants churches, leads the disciples, he pastors-Peter is used by God!! Some of you are living Peter's legacy. You look at your past and no one would have guessed that you would love God and that God would use you for His glory. It's a shock to all of us. It's a shock to you, but that's how God works.
We need to get to work. If you've repented of your sin, love Jesus, have changed your life-there is one more step. We need to get to work. Jesus doesn't say, 'Great. I'm glad you love me. Make sure not to tell anyone. In fact, only hang out with people who know. You could even meet once a week in a building. It will be great.'
Hmmmm. No, I think He's calling you and me for much more...work.
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
It came down to the simple fact that she loves to hear it. If I truly love her, I will let her know in the way that she enjoys. It's not about me-it's about her. It was something that I was really bad at in the beginning and I would say that now I am greatly average at it. It is something that I keep working on as our marriage grows and also our love for one another grows.
When Jesus showed himself to Peter, he asked him an interesting question...3 times! Peter, do you love me? Now we know and understand how this conversation is supposed to go-just like I talked about before. Peter says, 'I love you', and we're done. Jesus asks Peter this question 3 times to remind him of the time he denied Christ 3 times. For Peter to be reinstated with Christ he needs to come to a place of repentance. Sometimes saying, 'I love you' is not enough. We need to repent.
But here's the incredible part-Jesus' answer. He then tells Peter to feed his lambs, take care of my sheep, and again feed my sheep. A process has taken place. Peter sees Jesus-is overjoyed so much that he jumps out of a boat into the water to swim to the shore to see him. He is hurt with grief and sorrow as Jesus brings to light his denial. Peter is reinstated because he repents. And then is given a mission-feed my sheep.
We give Peter a hard time because of his denials, but have you read what he did in Acts?? He plants churches, leads the disciples, he pastors-Peter is used by God!! Some of you are living Peter's legacy. You look at your past and no one would have guessed that you would love God and that God would use you for His glory. It's a shock to all of us. It's a shock to you, but that's how God works.
We need to get to work. If you've repented of your sin, love Jesus, have changed your life-there is one more step. We need to get to work. Jesus doesn't say, 'Great. I'm glad you love me. Make sure not to tell anyone. In fact, only hang out with people who know. You could even meet once a week in a building. It will be great.'
Hmmmm. No, I think He's calling you and me for much more...work.
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Is the New Year Already Old?
How has your kickoff to 2014 been?? Feel a lot like 2013? Well, it makes sense-it was only a week ago that we were drinking an amazing amount of coffee to stay up for New Year's Eve. But what was going through your head? Were you pumped about being a new person in the New Year?
I think for most of us, we were hoping that just because it was a new year, life would become different somehow. Life might even get better. But there is something we must remember in our lives in 2014-nothing new will come without change. New growth can't come without an amount of change in our lives.
I really want to be a better husband to my wife, Kelsey. I want her to feel taken care of, I want to comfort her-especially now as we're expecting our second child in a few months. To do this I can't keep doing what I'm already doing. If I want to be a better husband, I need to change something in my life. I need to give her more of my time. I need to REALLY listen to her when she's talking to me.
Since I'm a Christian, I follow Jesus. In 2014, I want to be better follower. For this to happen something needs to change in my life. If you look in the Bible, in the Gospel of John (and the other Gospels), after Jesus was crucified, his disciples fled, and in John 20 we find them in a locked room for fear of the Jews. Now if you're holding your Bible, you know that the next book is Acts where the church exploded! With these very disciples! But wait...they've locked themselves in a room...so how's that going to work?
Something changed!! And where did it start?? Jesus!! He stood among them and they were 'overjoyed'. Then everything changed. They entered that room with fear, but left with joy, mission, purpose, confidence.
If you want that this year, start with Jesus. Look at his life, look at his death for you, look at his resurrection for you! And then know that he is with you with his Holy Spirit. He wants you to have an awesome year, not because it's 2014, but because this could be the best year of your life!
Put aside the conflicts, frustrations, the stress-before you do anything this year-focus on Jesus.
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
I think for most of us, we were hoping that just because it was a new year, life would become different somehow. Life might even get better. But there is something we must remember in our lives in 2014-nothing new will come without change. New growth can't come without an amount of change in our lives.
I really want to be a better husband to my wife, Kelsey. I want her to feel taken care of, I want to comfort her-especially now as we're expecting our second child in a few months. To do this I can't keep doing what I'm already doing. If I want to be a better husband, I need to change something in my life. I need to give her more of my time. I need to REALLY listen to her when she's talking to me.
Since I'm a Christian, I follow Jesus. In 2014, I want to be better follower. For this to happen something needs to change in my life. If you look in the Bible, in the Gospel of John (and the other Gospels), after Jesus was crucified, his disciples fled, and in John 20 we find them in a locked room for fear of the Jews. Now if you're holding your Bible, you know that the next book is Acts where the church exploded! With these very disciples! But wait...they've locked themselves in a room...so how's that going to work?
Something changed!! And where did it start?? Jesus!! He stood among them and they were 'overjoyed'. Then everything changed. They entered that room with fear, but left with joy, mission, purpose, confidence.
If you want that this year, start with Jesus. Look at his life, look at his death for you, look at his resurrection for you! And then know that he is with you with his Holy Spirit. He wants you to have an awesome year, not because it's 2014, but because this could be the best year of your life!
Put aside the conflicts, frustrations, the stress-before you do anything this year-focus on Jesus.
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
Monday, December 30, 2013
What Matters to You?
Have you ever closed your eyes and said there is no light because it's dark behind your eyelids?
Maybe a silly question but how have we used this same kind of reasoning when deciding what is important in our lives? What matters, and what is true.
We've just come through an amazing Christmas season. Where most families in America get up, climb into their Christmas Snuggies and run downstairs to open presents, watch a fake fire on t.v., and look outside hoping for snow. We celebrate Christmas, but do we actually celebrate Christmas?
Opening gifts is an easy way to celebrate Christmas, but focusing on the actual reason could be at risk for our culture. There has been an evolution in our minds about what is helpful and needed. 'I don't have to adapt my life to anything I don't find helpful. Truth for me is what I find acceptable and helpful.'
There is no doubt that the message and person of Jesus is not necessarily "helpful" for our life here on earth because a relationship with Jesus will cause the world to hate us. John 15:18-19, 'If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world. That is why the world hates you.'
So if the world is going to hate me, why believe in Jesus?! If I believe in Jesus, I have to get up early on Sundays, I have to stop cursing, I have to love others, NO THANKS! I want my life to be about me! If it's helpful to me, then I'll participate in it!
And then we are hit with the empty tomb. Jesus rose from the dead. That matters. Why? Because I'm not getting younger and I will die someday. I want to tell my children that older family members are in heaven because they believed in and loved Jesus. You can't live your life not finding it helpful to follow Christ, and then all of a sudden-oh yes this resurrection deal matters.
Now believe me, I'm not getting into a debate over death bed conversions. I'm trying to say that if the resurrection of Jesus Christ means anything to you today, then it should be shown in our love for Jesus NOW. Because he's alive-NOW.
So I hope your Christmas was much more than the norm. And if it wasn't-don't worry. Our Lord listens and loves. Follow him today (don't wait).
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
Maybe a silly question but how have we used this same kind of reasoning when deciding what is important in our lives? What matters, and what is true.
We've just come through an amazing Christmas season. Where most families in America get up, climb into their Christmas Snuggies and run downstairs to open presents, watch a fake fire on t.v., and look outside hoping for snow. We celebrate Christmas, but do we actually celebrate Christmas?
Opening gifts is an easy way to celebrate Christmas, but focusing on the actual reason could be at risk for our culture. There has been an evolution in our minds about what is helpful and needed. 'I don't have to adapt my life to anything I don't find helpful. Truth for me is what I find acceptable and helpful.'
There is no doubt that the message and person of Jesus is not necessarily "helpful" for our life here on earth because a relationship with Jesus will cause the world to hate us. John 15:18-19, 'If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world. That is why the world hates you.'
So if the world is going to hate me, why believe in Jesus?! If I believe in Jesus, I have to get up early on Sundays, I have to stop cursing, I have to love others, NO THANKS! I want my life to be about me! If it's helpful to me, then I'll participate in it!
And then we are hit with the empty tomb. Jesus rose from the dead. That matters. Why? Because I'm not getting younger and I will die someday. I want to tell my children that older family members are in heaven because they believed in and loved Jesus. You can't live your life not finding it helpful to follow Christ, and then all of a sudden-oh yes this resurrection deal matters.
Now believe me, I'm not getting into a debate over death bed conversions. I'm trying to say that if the resurrection of Jesus Christ means anything to you today, then it should be shown in our love for Jesus NOW. Because he's alive-NOW.
So I hope your Christmas was much more than the norm. And if it wasn't-don't worry. Our Lord listens and loves. Follow him today (don't wait).
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Jesus Loves His Children
As we move closer and closer to Christmas, there is always that moment where everyone on earth asks why? Why do we celebrate Christmas? And hopefully that thought process will come around to Jesus. Who is Jesus? What did he do? Is he God? Why don't more Christians act like Jesus? (Another blog for another day).
But I hope for you that you've come to that point of the season where you settle down and ask yourself, 'Why do we celebrate Christmas?' It's still amazing to me that when I've talked to non-Christians, that they love it! Christmas is great! It's brings everyone together for meals and giving gifts to one another! It makes you wonder that just maybe...Jesus is still working. Drawing all men and women to himself.
This year I've been challenged to think of Christmas just a little differently. We've always come to the manger where Jesus was born and knelt and worshipped-and we should. Luke 2:10-11, 'But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.'
That's great news!! We have our Savior, our Messiah, our Lord!!
The difference for me this year is that I am also going to the cross. As I read the days and hours leading to Jesus' death, I'm reminded of how these cheers from 'Savior, Messiah, Lord!' changed to 'Crucify Him!'. Their expectations for Jesus had changed, and so did their loyalty. They wanted something else from Jesus!
But in reality Jesus was everything they needed. He was and still is God.
Because of that cross, I can have hope this year! Hope that the circumstances I find myself in are not the final word! Hope that God has a plan! Because of Jesus I can have joy this year! Joy to know that Jesus came in a manger, but willingly went to the cross for me! Knowing that no nail bound him to that cross, but His love for me! Because of Jesus I can have freedom this year! There is freedom in not knowing the future-I know strange, huh? 'Don't worry about tomorrow!' God has a plan and He loves His children.
Jesus loves you this Christmas season. He came as a baby, but died a man carrying the weight of our sin on His shoulders. That should cause us to remember and be glad.
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
But I hope for you that you've come to that point of the season where you settle down and ask yourself, 'Why do we celebrate Christmas?' It's still amazing to me that when I've talked to non-Christians, that they love it! Christmas is great! It's brings everyone together for meals and giving gifts to one another! It makes you wonder that just maybe...Jesus is still working. Drawing all men and women to himself.
This year I've been challenged to think of Christmas just a little differently. We've always come to the manger where Jesus was born and knelt and worshipped-and we should. Luke 2:10-11, 'But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.'
That's great news!! We have our Savior, our Messiah, our Lord!!
The difference for me this year is that I am also going to the cross. As I read the days and hours leading to Jesus' death, I'm reminded of how these cheers from 'Savior, Messiah, Lord!' changed to 'Crucify Him!'. Their expectations for Jesus had changed, and so did their loyalty. They wanted something else from Jesus!
But in reality Jesus was everything they needed. He was and still is God.
Because of that cross, I can have hope this year! Hope that the circumstances I find myself in are not the final word! Hope that God has a plan! Because of Jesus I can have joy this year! Joy to know that Jesus came in a manger, but willingly went to the cross for me! Knowing that no nail bound him to that cross, but His love for me! Because of Jesus I can have freedom this year! There is freedom in not knowing the future-I know strange, huh? 'Don't worry about tomorrow!' God has a plan and He loves His children.
Jesus loves you this Christmas season. He came as a baby, but died a man carrying the weight of our sin on His shoulders. That should cause us to remember and be glad.
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Hiking the Ball
This last Sunday I used a sports analogy when it comes to our calling as Christ followers, and yes it had to do with football. There is a major difference between being in the huddle and hiking the ball (I hope most of you understand that). But when we are in the huddle we are gaining the knowledge for the upcoming play. We usually give a big clap as we leave to signify that we are unified in our understanding of what we are going to do.
Hiking the ball is the next step. It's when the play happens. It's when chaos ensues, and we hold our breath as we see the outcome.
Sadly in the church, we have gotten confused about what the huddle is and what hiking the ball is. When we meet on Sunday mornings, we are in the huddle. We open the Bible, the one true Word of God, and get the play. We discuss and learn, and we even clap our hands when we sing! So we are in unity, especially before we leave the building.
But hiking the ball? That happens during the week. When we leave our worship building, we are leaving the huddle to execute the 'play' that you were all nodding your heads about, and giving a few Amens.
This is so hard and it convicts my heart as I'm typing this because too many times we believe we are doing our Christian duty by getting up 'early' (don't get me started) on Sunday mornings and warming a seat next to the same people you sat next to the week before. Having the same conversations every single week with the same people-WHO ARE ALREADY HEADED TO HEAVEN.
John 17 is a prayer Jesus prays for himself, his disciples, and to all believers. He knows what he's commissioned us to do and he prays for us, and its interesting because Jesus is just hours before his death. He's going to be murdered. Up until this point, he's been teaching his disciples the remaining things they need to know. Now he's done with his instruction, and he just prays for them, and as he's going to die, he's mindful of them. He's mindful of us. As Jesus goes to die, we're on his mind.
I have a hard time rationalizing that Jesus prayed for us just to get together Sunday mornings. He prayed for you and I because we will be hated for what we do. We will be hated for what we believe and who we follow, but Jesus says we will be protected.
I'm excited to pastor a church of people that are willing to hear this hard message, and I'm privileged to stand along side them in this battle we are in. I pray that wherever you worship you are challenged to go out and 'hike the ball' instead of just loving the huddle.
We have been touched, so that we might touch. We have been loved, so that we might love.
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
Hiking the ball is the next step. It's when the play happens. It's when chaos ensues, and we hold our breath as we see the outcome.
Sadly in the church, we have gotten confused about what the huddle is and what hiking the ball is. When we meet on Sunday mornings, we are in the huddle. We open the Bible, the one true Word of God, and get the play. We discuss and learn, and we even clap our hands when we sing! So we are in unity, especially before we leave the building.
But hiking the ball? That happens during the week. When we leave our worship building, we are leaving the huddle to execute the 'play' that you were all nodding your heads about, and giving a few Amens.
This is so hard and it convicts my heart as I'm typing this because too many times we believe we are doing our Christian duty by getting up 'early' (don't get me started) on Sunday mornings and warming a seat next to the same people you sat next to the week before. Having the same conversations every single week with the same people-WHO ARE ALREADY HEADED TO HEAVEN.
John 17 is a prayer Jesus prays for himself, his disciples, and to all believers. He knows what he's commissioned us to do and he prays for us, and its interesting because Jesus is just hours before his death. He's going to be murdered. Up until this point, he's been teaching his disciples the remaining things they need to know. Now he's done with his instruction, and he just prays for them, and as he's going to die, he's mindful of them. He's mindful of us. As Jesus goes to die, we're on his mind.
I have a hard time rationalizing that Jesus prayed for us just to get together Sunday mornings. He prayed for you and I because we will be hated for what we do. We will be hated for what we believe and who we follow, but Jesus says we will be protected.
I'm excited to pastor a church of people that are willing to hear this hard message, and I'm privileged to stand along side them in this battle we are in. I pray that wherever you worship you are challenged to go out and 'hike the ball' instead of just loving the huddle.
We have been touched, so that we might touch. We have been loved, so that we might love.
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
Monday, December 2, 2013
Grief, Joy, Love
As you walk through Walmart or Target this Christmas season, I'm sure there will be the 'Happy Holiday' banners all over. They might still say Peace, Joy, Love...but how about Grief. It's kind of an interesting thought, but I will claim that without grief, we are unable to feel peace, joy and even love. Not because they are opposites, but because it is a step.
Jesus tells his disciples in John 16:16 that he will be gone in a 'little while'. His disciples weren't thrilled with that answer. Why? Because the disciples were a lot like we are today-we want to know when things will happen. We have to update our Outlook calendars Jesus!! Tell us when it will happen!! But Jesus will talk to his disciples in steps. He started to talk to them about grief, and so obviously they wanted to know when that time would be over. Nobody likes grief!
In order for these disciples, and you and I, to have joy there needed to be grief. Just like for a resurrection, there needed to be someone dead. God has been doing some amazing things in my life over the past year. He's been speaking to me like never before. This season of Advent (the Christmas season) I've looked at words like Peace, Joy and Love differently. Every time I see these words or hear them in a song, I'm reminded of what happened for there to be the possibilities of us possessing these things in our lives.
Jesus died because of our sin, not because of any sin he committed. He says, 'You will grieve (because I will die on a cross), but your grief of repentance, the recognition that you've sinned will turn to joy (I will be resurrected)!'
This season I'm seeking for peace, joy and love through Jesus.
And yes, that might mean I need to go through some pain to get there.
It's worth it.
-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org
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