Christmas Eve Service was so special!

I finally got my wife to share her incredible voice!

Brittany Mohrman played the violin and signed to a beautiful song!

Nathaniel adorably tackled 'happy birthday Jesus'!

I shared some amazing words from Lucado, lead some carols and communion and...

Ok I'll stop gooshing now...

Happy Birthday, Jesus! Sung by Nathaniel West

THIS IS SO GOOD!

I AM THE LORD'S SERVANT by Nancy Guthrie

It’s hard to imagine how frightening it must have been for teenage Mary to see an angel and hear him speaking to her. The Bible says that “Gabriel appeared to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored women! The Lord is with you!’ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ‘Don’t be afraid, Mary,’ the angel told her, ‘for you have found favor with God!’” (Luke 1:28-30). We can’t help but wonder what the angel looked like and what he sounded like.

As frightening as it must have been to see and hear an angel speaking to her, it must have been even more frightening for Mary to process what the angel was telling her–that she was going to become pregnant, even though she had never been intimate with a man. This would be a scandal in her village. Everyone would whisper about her. She would be shunned and perhaps sent away by her fiance, Joseph, because he would think she had been unfaithful to him. And yet, even though she probably had a million questions and concerns, Mary responded to the angel by welcoming whatever God wanted to do. She said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true” (Luke 1:38). In a sense she said to God, “I’m yours. You can do anything you want with me,” even though she must have known that this situation would be very hard for her, for Joseph, and for her whole family.

It’s easy to label what we consider “good things” in our lives as gifts from God and to welcome them with gratitude. But when difficult things happen, we don’t look at them as part of God’s good plan for us. Mary’s example shows us we can also welcome those things we would not necessarily label “good,” confident that God’s gifts sometimes come in perplexing and even painful packages. When we belong to God, we know he will use whatever he allows into our lives for good. Somehow, in God’s hands, these things also become gifts of his grace toward us.

It takes faith—faith to rest in who God is and his love for us; faith to be confident that he is doing something good in and through our difficult circumstances—to see the hard things in our lives as gifts of God’s grace.

What a special night!

So many beautiful people graced our home this evening for our Christmas Open House! And my wifey made quite the amazing spread (don't worry I helped)! I am blessed!

The whole day was amazing! There was something extra special about this morning's service! Maybe it was the great start with the 'blessing session' or Angie's amazing singing or the new sermon series or Carie's wonderfully transparent leading or...what a privilege to pastor this amazing, loving church!!

These preachers know how to party!

The AG ministers of western NE got together for some Christmasing!

I really like these people!

Hark how the bells, Sweet silver bells, All seem to say, Throw cares away, Ding dong ding dong, That is their song, With joyful ring, All caroling...

Christmas Manure

A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom and gloom pessimist.

Just to see what would happen, on Christmas

their father loaded the pessimist's room with every imaginable toy and game. The optimist's room he loaded with horse manure.

That night the father passed by the pessimist's room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly.

"Why are you crying?" the father asked.

"Because my friends will be jealous, I'll have to read all these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I'll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken," answered the pessimist twin.

Passing the optimist twin's room, the father found him dancing for joy in the pile of manure. "What are you so happy about?" he asked.

To which his optimist twin replied, "There's got to be a pony in here somewhere!"

Nate and the Presidents

I have taken my family on several short trips to Mt. Rushmore since becoming your pastor (actually that's an understatement we've been 4x in the last year, it's so fun being so close)...this is what has become of our son's President fetish, HE'S SUCH A SMARTY PANTS AND ONLY 2 YRS OLD!!!

I know your December calender is getting fuller and fuller...BUT don't forget to do some of your Christmasing with Cornerstone!

(click on the image to make it large enough to read)

the amazing Sinks

There are so many amazing people at Cornerstone!

For instance, the amazing Sinks family!

You wanna talk about Faithfulness and people who look like JESUS!

I don't think there is one piece of our church that isn't somehow touched by a Sinks!

They are a very special family! I am so thankful for each one!

I wanted to put some of the teaching the Sinks have been leading us thru on my blog.

I hope you're not missing out on this?!

Carie's quite the gifted teacher! On Tuesday Mornings 8:30am she leads a special study time for the prayer group. She's been leading some Joyce Meyer stuff.

And, John (media guru) is doing some Max Lucado stuff at Adult Sunday School, 9am.

Here's some of my highlights from their words (Carie then John)...

Thoughts are Powerful, Battle for Truth

Understand the Enemy and His Strategies

Worry, excessive reasoning and insecurity can be some of the enemy's most effective devices

Tearing Down Strongholds, Breaking Free

Write it down, Journaling can be a wonderful spiritual discipline

Agree with God, Think Responsibly

Power Thought: I CAN do whatever I need to do in life through Christ

Miracles Come in CANS, Yes I can

Controlling your emotions, instead of the other way around

Rock your box, exchange things that are not working

Overcomers Everywhere, Dave Thomas

Throw away your excuse bag, CAN DO bag

Divine Interruptions

James 4:6, Philippians 4:13, Romans 8:37, Hebrews 12:2

Experiencing the Freedom, Joy, Power, Peace, Grace, Love....of JESUS!

Jesus reminds us not to get entangled with the stuff of life - especially when it makes us take our eyes off eternal life.

Earthly rewards and honors - diplomas, bonuses, promotions and the like - fail to compare to the value of Jesus' reward.

Jesus meets our need, it is futile to live in our own strength.

Experiencing Jesus' peace often comes at great price to our idea of security - what we can control. We have to let go of what we know and step out in faith.

God sometimes allows seasons of pain to strengthen your dependence upon Jesus's grace to take you through it.

Every teaching begins with a special prayer, here's one: Dear Jesus, through this week I pray that your love - its depth, its steadfastness, and its cost - will be made evident to me. Help me to understand how I am able to pass your love on to others. Cause me to rest in the assurance that nothing can separate me from your love...

Christmas Decorating Party

Have I mentioned yet how CHRISTMAS CRAZY I AM!?

Look at all the wonderful santa helpers that showed up for the FUN!!!

I made a reef (that's how I wanna spell it)!

Look at how hard we worked!

Well I never, standing on a table at church, my word!

hee hee or should I say ho ho ho

It was wonderful having help from the professionals!

THE THREE WISE GUYS!

The headless tree! Don't worry, we didn't leave it like that!

Hey Carie! That tree lookey a little Charlie Brownish!

Good thing Nathaniel was there to show Keith how to do it!

Love's Remarkable Plan ~Lucado

Seated at the great desk, the Author opens the large book. It has no words. It has no words because no words exist. No words exist because no words are needed. There are no ears to hear them, no eyes to read them. The Author is alone.

And so He takes the great pen and begins to write. Like an artist gathers his colors and a woodcarver his tools, the Author assembles His words.

There are three. Three single words. Out of these three will pour a million thoughts. But on these three words, the story will suspend.

He takes his quill and spells the first. T-i-m-e.

Time did not exist until He wrote it. He, Himself, is timeless, but His story would be encased in time. The story would have a first rising of the sun, a first shifting of the sand. A beginning...and an end. A final chapter. He knows it before He writes it.

Time. A footspan on eternity's trail.

Slowly, tenderly, the Author writes the second word. A name. A-d-a-m.

As He writes, He sees him, the firt Adam. Then He sees all of the others. In a thousand eras in a thousand lands, the Author sees them. Each Adam. Each child. Instantly loved. Permanently loved. To each He assigns a time. To each He appoints a place. No accidents. No coincidences. Just design.

The Author makes a promise to these unborn: in My image, I will make you. You will be like Me. You will laugh. You will create. You will never die. And you will write.

They must. For each life is a book, not to be read, but rather a story to be written. The Author starts each life story, but each life will write his or her own ending.

What a dangerous liberty. How much safer it would have been to finish the story for each Adam. To script every option. It would have been simpler. It would have been safer. But it would not have been love. Love is only love if chosen.

So the Author decides to give each child a pen. "Write carefully," He whispers.

Lovingly, deliberately, He writes a third word, already feeling the pain. E-m-m-a-n-u-e-l.

The greatest mind in the universe imagined time. The truest judge granted Adam a choice. But it was love that gave Emmanuel, God with us.

The Author would enter His Own story.

The Word became flesh. He, too, would be born. He, too, would be human. He, too, would have feet and hands. He, too, would have tears and trials.

And most importantly, He, too, would have a choice. Emmanuel would stand at the crossroads of life and death and make a choice.

The Author knows well the weight of that decision. He pauses as He writes the page of His own pain. He could stop. Even the Author has a choice. But how can a Creator not create? How can a Writer not write? And how can Love not love? So He chooses life, though it means death, with hope that His children will do the same.

And so the Author of life completes the story. He drives the spike in the flesh and rolls the stone over the grave. Knowing the choice He will make, knowing the choice all Adams will make, He pens, "The End," then closes the book and proclaims the beginning.

"Let there be light!"

Life Is Like A Cup of Coffee - Inspirational Video Movie

LUV IT LUV IT LUV IT
Live Simply, Speak Kindly, Care Deeply, Love Generously
...and leave the rest to God!

one amazing Sunday after another!

Here's some pics from yesterday's special morning service, they just keep getting better!

OCC dedication and Thanksgiving story and...

(by the way, a church mouse snuck into our church and moved everything around)

and this morning we took the Operation Christmas Child boxes to this amazing drop off spot in Scotsbluff, LOOK AT ALL THOSE BOXES!

Are you missing out on this?!

Sunday evenings at TEAM NIGHT, 6:30pm we've been enjoying a really special time of worship in the sanctuary (quiet time in His presence, lights low, me on the keys) and then some titillating discussion and goodies in the fellowship hall...

Here's some highlights from what we've been dissecting recently, Rick's amazing teaching...

5 Purposes of the church: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and evangelism

we have been focusing on discipleship the last few wks

Created to become like Christ

God's Spirit working in you

We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work

God uses His Word, People and Circumstance to mold us

Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth

How we Grow

God's part and your part

Changing your autopilot

Transformed by Truth

Abiding in God's Word

I must accept its authority

I must assimilate its truth

I must apply its principles

Transformed by Trouble

God has a purpose behind every problem

Understanding Romans 8:28-29

Building Christlike Character

Responding to problems as Jesus would

Remember that God's plan is good

Rejoice and give thanks

Refuse to give up (don't give up - grow up)

Growing through Temptation

Every temptation is an opportunity to do good

How temptation works: desire - doubt - deception - disobedience

Overcoming temptation

Refuse to be intimidated

Recognize your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it

Request God's help

Defeating Temptation

There is always a way out

Refocus your attention on something else

power of suggestion - self defeating strategy - principle of replacement

Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group

Resist the devil

Realize your vulnerability

Wednesday evenings at BOOK CLUB, 7:30pm we've been pushing the limits of what is considered acceptable at church! Nothing is off limits at my book club. Let's challenge status quo, growing in relationship and challenging religion...

(you don't have to be an avid reader to attend, you will be blessed by just showing up)

Here's some highlights from what we've been reading recently, Peter's amazing teaching...

Emotionally Healthy Church

Wrong counsel almost ruined my life

Imbalanced Spirituality

The link between emotional health and spiritual maturity is a large, unexplored area of discipleship

As goes the leaders, So goes the church

workaholics for God?!

a crawl toward crisis

A new set of eyes

SOMETHING IS DESPERATELY WRONG

Are stories like these of broken relationships and occasional reconciliation the exception? Sadly, they are not

faulty models from home to church

the 'loving' small group that crashed

Identifying the emotional components of spiritual maturity

This week we begin the Biblical Basis for a new paradigm of Discipleship

Chi Alpha and Thanksgiving Potluck

ANOTHER AMAZING SUNDAY AT CORNERSTONE!

Is it legal for us to keep having this much fun in church?!

SO ENJOYED chi alpha's ministry this morning!

for more info visit:

http://www.chialpha.com/

OR join Chadron State College Chi Alpha Group on FB:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30770646894

here's some pics from all the joy...

Veterans Day Tribute

this is what happens when your pastor tries to be creative

For a real hoot re-read it in an English accent! Holly and I had a good laugh over this one. She said it sounds like Anne of Green Gables wrote it; Or maybe like I drank too much alcohol; or that it was created in the 1980's (seriously, I love it when my wife is on a roll mocking me, she's hilarious, all she needs is a brick wall and a mic) but she did say it's a good concept, just everything needs to be changed, ha ha ha...

(sometimes I worry about the people who have to listen to this cheese-head preach)

Holly feels so bad for me she's going to fix it. I been trying to not ask her help on office stuff cause she's so good I don't want her to end up consumed in it again, like our last church.

Obviously her plate is full with her new job, adoption paperwork, health concerns and needy husband and son and...

(sorry you'll have to zoom in or click on the image in order to read it, if you dare)

orphan sunday

You won't want to miss this special Sunday!

Christian Alliance for orphans made a special DVD entitled ANSWER THE CRY!

I was able to get my hands on it, YEAH! It really is AMAZING, bring your tissues!

And I'm going to close the service with a quick view of our Ethiopia memories...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJp4QZZfLuc

Holly made this video for Nathaniel's baby dedication last year, or was it the year before last?

Old Farmer's Advice

Mary O. emailed me this...I shared it in a recent sermon, LUV IT!

Old Farmer's Advice:

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered....not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Don't judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don 't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta' that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in..

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around..

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

NYM Conference

We took a wonderful group of Bayard kids to conference this weekend!

Here's some pics from the fun...

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO MARGOT'S MINISTRY TOMORROW!

Wish the band from conference could come help me lead worship tomorrow...I SO ENJOYED playing keys with them!

(I put some videos on my facebook)

In honor of Nick

Judy Deaver tearfully shared her heart on Sunday morning and then...LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!!!

In memory of her son she motivated our church to begin a SOUP SUPPER!

This amazing church really understands that MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK!

You should have seen the sign-up list, what TEAM spirit!

Come join us for SOUP every WEDNESDAY, 4:30pm (whether for need or just for friendship)!

THIS IS WHAT THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE!

Here's a couple pics from our first night, Judy said on facebook that we served 60 - 70!