I haven’t posted consistently here since November because every time I went to write something, words didn’t suffice. This week, and the past several weeks, have been so unbelievable that I really can’t describe my feelings into coherent words yet (see Deb’s blog post in brief). The ups and downs of life that have occurred is something I have never faced before, and I don’t really know where to start, other than to say we have a great God, worthy of every ounce of praise we can muster.
As a way to just get myself started unpacking the events of the last few months I thought I would start with my job at Cornerstone and go from there. I’m well into my third year (see I Have Now Joined the Ranks of Church IT), and starting in 2011 I moved into a slightly different role, one that I am really looking forward to in the year ahead. It has been quite an adventure, something I would never trade if I had to do it all over again, and this past week was a big exclamation point on that statement.
Thinking over the reasons why I love my job I started realizing there were 100′s, so in a nut shell, here are five off the top.
1. It Combines My Life Passion and My Career A “life passion” is probably inadequate to describe my faith. Being a Christian isn’t about being passionate about something, like I love Auburn football, or love to eat, it is who I am. Being able to go to work every day and play a small part in something big is huge to me, but it’s more than that, it’s the combination of the 100′s of reasons I love working for the Church.
This is a catch all reason. Everything about my faith is played out each day, for better or worse, and I have the honor of being supported by the members of Cornerstone. The support that I receive in my life, especially over the last few months, transcends a “job” and has become a way of life.
2. The People I Work With are Unbelievable I can’t say enough about the staff at Cornerstone. In the almost 25 years I have spent in the work force so far, I have never worked with a greater collective group of people than those staff and those who lead the church than at Cornerstone. I could write a post about each of them and how much they mean to me individually, and as a group.
3. Cornerstone’s Vision and Direction This is something the staff and leaders talk about all the time. Where is God leading this church, and how can we best follow His direction. Much of what goes on at Cornerstone Church comes from the statement Leading People To Know and Serve Jesus, and our jobs, whatever that job is, should ultimately work towards that goal, and I love that.
4. Margin, Prayer, and Study, are Expected Finding time to live the life we are called to live out as Christians can be hard. We get so busy with work and everything else that is life, but as a Christian we are called to live out our faith Monday through Saturday too. At Cornerstone, the leaders expect us to live out a life of faith that is taught in scripture, and I love that about my job.
5. The Willingness to Learn and Adjust An amazing quality of Cornerstone Church is the willingness of the leaders to listen, learn, try something new, fail if needed, then adjust and try again. This is no small thing at all, and few businesses, let alone churches, can stop that train once it gets rolling, or try something new to try to make a difference in someone’s life.
That’s my top 5. If you’re in the Auburn area please come by on Sunday morning (or during the week), we would love to meet you.
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I have asked this question many times before, but happens when we have faith, but no love in our heart? Does it not become an empty faith, or is it just something we do to go through the motions, or is it actually possible to have faith without love for one another. Hard to deny this in the life of Christ, and the cliche we hear a lot is having the love of Christ in your heart, but isn’t it a command given to us in scripture.
I will be the first to say this is very, very, very, very hard sometimes, and may seem almost impossible other times, but it is still written out in many places, like John, Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians to name a few:
- John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:33-35 (in Context) John 13 (Whole Chapter) - John 13:35
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-36 (in Context) John 13 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:9-11 (in Context) Romans 12 (Whole Chapter) - Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:12-14 (in Context) Galatians 5 (Whole Chapter) - Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (in Context) Ephesians 4 (Whole Chapter)
My question is always, how do we/you show that love to one another? Sometimes it is as simple as writing a thank you note to a fellow brother like this below.
Getting a hand written note is almost unheard of today, so to me, receiving a note in the mail from a brother was very special and showed his love for my family. There is something about having to take the time to write with an actual writing instrument like a pen or pencil (something I rarely do) and addressing an evelope and putting it in the mail. The love shown is of course time. I was told once by a pastor that kids translate love as time spent. I think we all do this. Some don’t recognize this as valueable, but any time anyone spends time for you or with you, they have just given you the most precious thing that they have the power to give you.
