Cornerstone Community Church

Dear Cornerstone,

January 2010, ... can you believe it? New year, new decade, new goals, new diets(?), ... ugh! Sometimes we think back and remember things we don t want to repeat. Recently I shared Bulletin Bloopers and things we wouldn t want to see happen again in our bulletin. Here are a few Bloopers that were put into the bulletin of other churches:

* Ladies, don t forget the rummage sale. It s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping
around the house. Bring your husbands.

* Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 pm. Please use the back door.

* For those of you who have children and don t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

But when we live defensively avoiding mistakes, staying clear of evil, or purposing not to do too poorly in our spiritual walk, it's like trying not to lose an athletic competition, or as in the Parable of the Talents that Jesus shared, ... burying the talent.
Instead of living life trying to avoid the negative, we could consider 1 Peter 2:4-12 which talks about specific things we can intentionally do in response to our Cornerstone, Jesus Christ, things like ...

1. Draw close to Him, the Living Stone. (verse 4)
2. Recognize that you are being built into a spiritual house, a royal priesthoodto offer acceptable
   sacrifices. (verses 4-5)
3. Trust in the Cornerstone. (verse 6)
4. Declare His praises. (verse 9)
5. Abstain from sinful desires. (verse 11)
6. Live such good lives before others that they will see our good deeds and glorify God in
   response. (verse 12)
   
   In these verses we see the four facets of our 2010 Vision which continues to follow God in where He s been taking us, and is going to take us this coming year.

Vision 2010

I. Live laying a Foundation of Prayer:

* Coming to the Cornerstone in prayer, depending on God for the results He wants to
accomplish this year.

* Praying from a pure heart as an acceptable sacrifice to Him.

II. Live a Lifestyle of Care for others.

* Caring for the spiritual household, the Cornerstone Community, and trusting Him to
meet the needs of CCC through us.

* Caring for those not yet part of CCC to such a loving degree that they will see God
through our good deeds

III. Live with a Willingness to Share the love message of Jesus.

* Love others until they ask why.

* Then share of the source of your love, ... the love God has given youin Jesus Christ.

IV. Live with a Devotion to Prepare others spiritually.

* Spiritually prepare others, ie. disciple them toward maturity, fulfilling the Great
Commission, and letting this be a spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God.

* Prepare others to:

- Trust God
- Declare His praises
- Live out the Christian life
- Prepare others spiritually and practically to do the same. 2 Tim. 2:2

As we move out together this coming year with this vision, look to see how God will use you, grow you, and mature you in His kingdom purposes found in our 2010 Vision. And as we care, share and prepare others for His work, may God receive the glory at Cornerstone!
God bless you,

Pastor Rich