Moving Daze

If you are a part of Cornerstone, you know that we are moving to a new, more permanent location this month. This is a very busy and joyful time for our church.

Originally, we planned on moving out of Marcus Cinema this Sunday and having our first service at the new location on May 10. Unfortunately, when you are dealing with construction stuff and inspections and permits, things don't always meet intended deadlines.

So, we will patiently wait one more week. The new schedule is as follows:

May 3 - regular service at Marcus Cinema
May 10 - shortened service at Marcus followed by loading everything and moving it to the new building.
May 17 - First service at 8930 Commerce Loop Dr!

Please continue to pray as we move forward. I'm praying that God will use this new facility to glorify Himself in greater ways. And that we will better fulfill his call to love each other as much as we love ourselves.

I'm so grateful for the days behind us and even more grateful and excited for the ones ahead!

Here's a biblical goal for us to pursue as we move forward:
Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

Okay... I'm gonna have to blog about that passage soon!

Cornerstone Interview: The Popas

Occasionally, I will be interviewing people who attend Cornerstone so that you, the people of Cornerstone, can get a glimpse into their life and why they come.

Our first interview will be with Bryan and Amanda Popa. Before I give you the interview, though, let me say that I love them both. I am so blessed to be called their pastor. It is a privilege that I don't take lightly. So, what am I waiting for? You need to get to know them.


1. How long have you been married?
4 years on July 8

2. Tell us something that everyone should know about your spouse.
Bryan: Amanda has an undiagnosed case of OCD. She hates clutter, is a Nazi about cleaning, wants shoes off in the house, needs to see vacuum lines in the carpet, likes having a blanket cover her toes, etc., etc. She is ranked nationally when it comes to being organized – I believe she’s #6 in the state of Ohio. But I can’t complain, she keeps me in line, our calendar straight, and our house in order – it’s actually a blessing. She is someone that has compassion for serving others before herself. Amanda is an amazing spouse, best friend and will be a fantastic mother!
Amanda: Bryan has a borderline unhealthy love for our pug dog Crosby. He looks forward to getting down and wrestling around with him on the ground every night after work - it's very funny to watch. He also enjoys picking Crosby up upside down by his legs and pretending like he's a "pig". They snort back and forth at each other (don't worry, this is totally normal). On a more serious note though, after seeing how much he loves Crosby, he says that he's excited to see how much more he will love our son than he loves our dog!

3. How long have you been attending Cornerstone?
We started coming the summer of 2006. We found out about Cornerstone because Kate and Amanda taught at the same school together. We wanted to start coming earlier but had an obligation to stay at the church that was linked with the school.

4. How have you been involved at Cornerstone?
Amanda: I think that Bryan leading the Monday night Life Group has been the most rewarding "service" that we have gotten to do at Cornerstone so far, we also participate in the nursery set up every other week and Amanda serves in the nursery as well.
Bryan: I’m super excited about rallying men together in community with purpose of living for Christ at our places of work and more importantly leading our families.

5. What's it like for you to be a part of the Cornerstone Community?
AWESOME! We feel like God allows us to get a glimpse of what He truly desires for His Body at Cornerstone. It's more than we could have asked for in a church before we found it. We enjoy being real with people and having true community that is deep, raw, difficult, challenging and Spirit-filled.

6. What is a favorite verse and why?
Bryan: Colossians 1:16-17 "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." I love it because it’s all about Jesus; He created everything, he’s before all things and he himself holds everything together. EVERYTHING!
Amanda: A favorite passage of Scripture for me usually depends on what I am studying, because the whole Bible is full of my favorites! Currently I'm studying Ephesians with Megan Kirkwood who is discipling me and I'm learning SO MUCH about how the Church Body is designed to be the fullness of Christ. I love these verses because we are told that it is through Christ that we have access to the Father and because of this, being built on Christ we are to be fitted together in unity so that we can be a holy dwelling place for God - how sweet is that?! The whole book of Ephesians is full of wonderful verses about how we are to live in a manner worthy of our calling, preserving the unity and bond of peace with the Body and I am so challenged by how we are to do this through the Spirit only, not in our own strength.
"For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." Ephesians 2:18-22

7. How can we pray for you?
We would love prayer for direction in our lives - as God's children, what does he have for us while we are living in Columbus? How can we be stretched more and live outside of the norm? We would also love prayer for wisdom and selflessness in parenting and for our marriage as we add a little one this summer.

Listening with Our Eyes

Yesterday evening I was hanging out with my family and we noticed a rainbow that was directly in front of our home. It was the brightest I remember seeing. It arched high into the sky and could be seen clearly end to end. My wife and four boys gathered around the living room window with me to behold it's beauty.

I thought: "God made that." So bright and so beautiful. And yet it does not compare to the brightness and beauty of Him.

Then today I saw a picture taken by the Hubble Telescope. It was described as a "peculiar group of interacting galaxies that contains a 'cosmic fountain' of stars, gas and dust that stretches over 100,000 light years." Beautiful. And grand.

Again, I thought: "God made that." What a blessing that we can even look at it. Yet it does not compare to the beauty and grandness of it's Creator.

Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."

God made that rainbow and he made those galaxies for a purpose. Not so a small family of 6 could gather around a window and say, "Wow! That is it! That's real beauty." Indeed, that might be true. But we ought to listen with our eyes. That rainbow, those galaxies and many more things... things you are looking at today that I will not see... they are saying something. They are declaring to you and to me that God is glorious! He is a master creator and a loving Savior. They beckon us to look beyond them to someone more beautiful.

If we will only listen with our eyes.

Good Friday Worship

I want to encourage you to worship and remember today. Here is a simple Good Friday service you can do with your family this evening. If you want, you can invite others to come too. It is focused on a chronological reading of the events that took place around Jesus' betrayal and crucifixion. If you have small children, maybe just sing a verse of Amazing Grace (or another song about Jesus' sacrifice and grace) where singing is encouraged. I'll give you a couple songs to choose from but you can obviously pick something different if you feel it is more fitting or appropriate.

Gather together and sing (Here I am to Worship; Amazing Grace)

Read
Matthew 26:36-46
Luke 22:47-53

Sing (Child of God; Amazing Grace verse)

Read
Mark 14:53-65
Matthew 26:69-75

Sing (You are My King)

Read
Matthew 27:1-2; 11-23
John 19:1-16

Sing (Jesus Paid it All)

Read
Luke 23:26-53

Sing (Amazing Grace)

Pray with your family or friends, thanking Jesus for his amazing sacrifice and the blood that was shed to cover your sins.

Passion Week: Thursday

This is the toughest post for me this week. So much could be said about the day before Jesus' death. I encourage you to read what I will not focus on. It's a lot, but read it thinking about the fact that Jesus was to be arrested less than 24 hours later. Amazing. Here are the things Jesus did on Thursday that I'm not commenting on.

Passover Meal and Last Supper
Matthew 26:20-35; Mark 14:17-26; Luke 22:14-30

Upper Room Discourse
John 13:1-17:36

What I want to comment on is Jesus praying in Gethsemane

Mark 14:32-42
And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

In all of history there has probably not been a more passionate, desperate prayer. Jesus is literally on the verge of doing what no one else could ever do. Bear the wrath of God.

His prayer is so intense that Luke says that an angel appeared to strengthen him and that his sweat became as drops of blood. Imagine what Jesus was going through inside.

As he prays though, he is not self seeking. See what he prays? "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” I know that anything... ANYTHING is possible for you. So, remove this cup. Yet, not what I will, but what you will.

Was there another way? No. Because this was THE way determined by God. But Jesus, knowing that God could do anything he wanted to, asks. But submits to what God wills... not what God has to do, but what God chooses to do. Jesus submits to God's will rather than his comfort.

Why did God will it to be done this way? Love. Romans 5:8 says that, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Thank you, Jesus for submitting to the Father's good will. Thank you Father for showing that you love us, the best way you possibly could.

Passion Week: Wednesday

Luke 21:37-38
And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.

Two days before he is betrayed, brutally beaten and killed, Jesus is busy. What is he doing? Putting his affairs in order? No. Taking trips with friends to places he never got to visit? No. (That's a dumb one, I know... he created every place and there's no place he hadn't been) Golfing? No.

The last few days of Jesus' life were spent teaching. He genuinely loved people. He came to save people and he wanted them to know the truth which would set them free.

May we honor Christ this Easter as we follow in his steps. Wouldn't it be great if we didn't leave the teaching, the truth, out of our relationships and plans this week?

Passion Week: Tuesday

Matthew 22:34-40
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus did a lot of teaching on the Tuesday before his arrest and crucifixion. If you want to read the rest, here are the texts:

- The disciples see the withered fig tree (Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-21)
- Temple controversies in Jerusalem (Matthew 21:23-23:39; Mark 11:27-12:44; Luke 20:1-21:4)
- Olivet Discourse on the return to Bethany (Matthew 24:1-25:46; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36)

But I want to mention this part of Matthew 22. Jesus is asked what the most important thing for us to do is. And he answers. Are you grateful? I am. I didn't have to answer. There were other questions that Pharisees asked, which he refused to answer. He didn't have to answer this question, but he did. He really is good.

His answer, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." The most important thing for you and for me to do is to love God. Not half-heartedly, but completely. With our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole mind. That doesn't really leave much space for other first loves.

But Jesus is so good and loving that he answered another question too. He told us what the second most important thing is. To love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. This takes effort, but our best efforts are far short of enabling us, unless we are living the greatest command.

And so I ask myself and you this Easter week: Are we genuinely loving God with our whole heart or just the part leftover at the end of the day (or week, or month, or year)? He only wants the whole thing. He's worth more.

If you attend Cornerstone you might remember the "Learning to Love" series from November 2008. I encourage you to listen to the sermon, "Learning to Love pt 2 - Why Love?" that I preached November 16. Click here and then go to the "Sermons" page and scroll down to find that sermon.

Passion Week: Monday

Mark 11:12-14
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

In just a few days, Jesus will be arrested, beaten, and crucified. Yet he continues to teach the disciples along the way.

Two things are important to note from this fig tree encounter.

First, Jesus was hungry. Jesus was human. That's not to say that he wasn't God. He was. But he was fully God and fully man. So he got hungry just like we do. He got hunger pains with that hunger. He felt like we feel. And so I imagine that we could never understand the pain that he genuinely felt as he willingly took God's wrath on himself to demonstrate his love for us.

Second, Jesus doesn't think much of fruitlessness. The cursing of the fig tree signifies the judgment of God on the fruitless Jewish people, who had turned away from God into empty ritual and legalism.

Oh, may we not journey through this week ritualistically! May we worship, truly worship, the Son who came to demonstrate the Father's love for us... for you and for me.

Passion Week: Sunday

John 12:12-15
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!”

I wonder how many were gathered along the road that day. I wonder how loud the cries were as the people called out to the King of kings. I imagine it was a beautiful scene.

But I can't help but remember that only days later their voices were raised again. Maybe louder. But the tone changed. Instead of "Hosanna!" they cried, "Crucify him!"

If you gathered with people this Palm Sunday and raised your voice to worship the King of kings, don't follow the pattern of the crowd 2,000 years ago. Some will be tempted to end this day of worship on the internet searching for pictures Jesus died to redeem them from. Some will go from raising hands to the Lord to raising their hand to their spouse or children. Or maybe just using words to provoke or abuse them... God's sons and daughters. Again, Jesus died to redeem you from that.

I'm going to post each day this week about the events of Jesus' last week. Let us continue to lift our hands, raise our voices and give our hearts to Him. He gave his life so that we could.

Half Way to Jesus

My birthday was this week. I turned 36. In my mind, it's a significant birthday. It's not 40, I know, but it's significant.

Psalm 90:10 says "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away."

I'm pretty good with math. If my calculations are correct, that means I'm at least half way to Jesus! That might seem silly to you as you read this, but to me it's both exciting and sobering.

Exciting? Self explanatory, I hope. Like I said, I'm at least half way to Jesus! What could be better?

Sobering? Yes. In a good way. A couple verses later in Psalm 90:12 it says, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." A heart of wisdom. When I realize that my life is fleeting (the first half was definitely a vapor) it helps me to stay focused on what's really important.

So how do I want to spend the rest of my vapor? Here are some of the resolutions I'm re-committing to for the remainder of my life.

- To read through the entire Bible at least twice a year.
- To know God’s Word so well as to know nothing else but to live and breathe it in all that I do.
- To devote myself to the disciplines of reading, meditating, and the memorization of the Scriptures more than the watching of television.
- To live a life devoted to God filled with joy, that I might proclaim with Paul, “To live is Christ! To die is gain!” I want God to be glorified not only in my hope in living but in my hope in dying.
- To endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can.
- To live a disciplined life in which my children rise to find me reading, praying, working, living and loving… not sleeping.
- To never have to apologize to my children for cheating on their mom… physically, emotionally or visually.
- To preach the Word! Never to compromise what God teaches so that I will be better liked.

This is not my whole list, but one that I hope encourages you to consider the same. As I contemplate it, I am reminded and thankful that it is not I but Christ living in me!

By the way, here's what I noticed about the picture of the hourglass. It only makes me nervous when I'm not doing what I know I should.

Teach us to number our days, Lord, that we may truly gain a heart of wisdom! I can't wait to see you. The grains of sand in my hourglass will be gone before I know it. May each one fall to the glory of You.