Contending for Our All

2-minute drill 11-4-09

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:36:00 +0000

I love Psalm 40:1-3!!

2-minute drill 10-9-09

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:42:00 +0000

It's been a long 3.5 weeks. My last day without anything work related was Sept 12th. In times like this Psalm 31:7-8 is big for me. Also, I used to be a sports fanatic. Additionally, in watching the Twins tonight I always want to put in mind the fact that God is bigger and better...than a Carlos Gomez base-running mistake and an umpire's blown call.

2-minute drill 10-8-09

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:18:00 +0000

Challenging words from Mt. 7!

2-minute drill 10-7-09

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:36:00 +0000

Psalm 30:9 - How will I use today?

2-minute drill 10-6-09

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:38:00 +0000

We might have the vision and means to be a kingdom person. And we might even have the good intention to follow through. But, with that, do you and I intend to obey? Even more so, will we obey?

2-minute drill 10-5-09

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:29:00 +0000

The 2-minute drill!

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:25:00 +0000

We'll give this a try. Throw it against the wall and see if anything sticks.

A short story

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:23:00 +0000

John’s list of grievances against the so-called God was long. If he existed how could he be so apathetic toward the poor? How could he be negligent of those suffering? And how could he possibly prosper the rich who campaign with God only to legislate like the devil? So, it was better to trust in anything than a God who couldn’t do crap about the crap he read online.

John learned life and death at a young age. Mom died from a congenital heart defect when he was 6. The irony is that, as a nurse, she was where she needed to be, but it didn’t do a damn bit of good. She died at the same hospital where she nursed so many back to health. That drove Dad to the proverbial bottle. He was one of those drunk dead beats the paper threatens to list on their front page. They never did. He never changed. He died 3 years later of liver damage.

So, John stayed with an aunt and uncle in New York City. NYC is expensive. They could only afford a one-bedroom apartment. It took about 3 or 4 months for John to acclimate to the tight quarters. Once he did life got better. His uncle became the father he never had. He taught John how to shave, wear a jock strap, and speak with girls.

His uncle demonstrated with his wife to help John out.

Without asking permission he petitioned his wife, “Hi, my name is Paul. What’s yours?” John and his aunt would greet such leaps into character with reserved laughter.

His wife acquiesced putting the dish towel down, “Judy.”

“Judy? That’s a great name,” he responded as he smiled. “Judy, what’s your favorite color?”

“My favorite color?” she mused.

“Yes. What’s your favorite color?” he said as he circled around her.

“Green, I guess.”

“You guess? You mean you don’t know your favorite color?” The tone of his voice left John wondering if this was still part of the act.

His aunt stated, “Green. Yes, green.”

John’s uncle paused in his circling still lost by her flippancy. After gathering his thoughts, he questioned, “Judy, do you prefer the city or the countryside?”

“The countryside. Most definitely. Without a doubt.” Her assertive response brought a cackle from John. Like a younger brother mimics his older, Judy’s laugh always followed John’s.

Paul was left to wonder if he’d be able to redeem this conversation. Unbowed, Paul asked, “What’s your day look like tomorrow?” Judy didn’t hear him. She was still lost in laughter with John. “What’s your day look like tomorrow I said.”

Judy realized the act continued. She resorted to real life, “I have a appointment between nine and eleven and then I’m scheduled for a 2:30pm with our lawyer to look over our living wills.”

The two now stood eye to eye her hands in his, “Would you be willing to honor me with your presence? I’d like to ask you to lunch. I’ll take care of everything. I’ll pick you up from work at 11am. We’ll head out on 371 towards Buffalo. I know of a countryside stop that will remind you why green is your favorite color,” he said with a wink. He continued, “It’s one of the most beautiful scenes in all of New York state. And I can’t imagine a more beautiful woman to spend it with than you.”

John didn’t know exactly when it happened, but he knew that his uncle had touched his aunt’s heart. What had begun as a lesson for him ended with an unmistakable connection. His aunt was lost in her lover’s eyes. And his acting had stopped awhile back. These two loved each other. John could see that. He hoped for that some day. Right now, he didn’t need all that. He would settle for just talking to a girl.

Photo Booth

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:08:00 +0000

I just got my new laptop, a MacBook Pro. The Photo Booth has to be one of my favorite apps.

#1 - I was thinking high school senior photo.

#2 - I'm not a fan of my teeth.

#3 - That's fun.

#4 - Turned out alright but was still learning about the application. hah!

LDI RAIS'N 5K 5K

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:19:00 +0000

Support Hope’s Leadership Development Institute through participating in this FUN RUN 5K. Prizes awarded randomly and not based on finish time (thank God!). All participants receive a one-of-a-kind T-Shirt because that’s what you are AND a complimentary hug from a current intern. Tell a friend!

Our aim is to have 50 runners raise $100 each for a total of $5,000. That's like 100 people giving you a buck, 10 people giving you $10, or you could just ask your parents for one Benjamin. Whatever works.

Do it for the fun. Do it to support LDI. Do it to raise chaffing awareness. Do it to run. Just don't not do it.

What is LDI? In short it is a 1 to 3-year journey through which God raises, trains, and empowers his followers to pursue him, lead his church, and spread his kingdom during their time spent at Hope and for the rest of their lives.

LDI: Think Biblically, Live Uprightly, Lead Courageously.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18th, 2009, 11:00am-1:00pm
Lake Harriet, Minneapolis

It's nice to meet you.

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:18:00 +0000

"Hi Blog. My name is Cor. It's nice to meet you."

"Hi Cor. My name is Blog. Where the frick you been?"

It's a lie.

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:39:00 +0000

Don't believe the lie that "God has a wonderful plan for your life" if you interpret "wonderful" to mean easier. It's a lie.

Entertain me!

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:28:00 +0000

I came to an undeniable conclusion: I'd rather be entertained than not entertained. Stick with me.

A couple Friday nights ago Jill was at an overnight. After the boys were sacked out I checked email, several blogs, a few websites (which I had checked earlier but needed to find out if anything NEW had happened...entertain me for crying out loud...with a new story or a BIG headline, and it better be accompanied with dramatic video), YouTube, Facebook, TV, my personal movie collection (only so many times I can watch Titans in a one-year span). It was 12:30. I wasn't ready for bed, yet there was nothing left to entertain me.

I've been running this idea of entertainment through my head ever since then. I think I have bought into a lie: Western culture has taught that it is okay for me to demand entertainment 24/7. To be honest, if we had cable I'd probably still be clicking around the horn.

I couldn't find entertainment in my Bible glossary. My best efforts link it with rest...though I'm not sure how much this actually brings me rest. In me, it seems to all the more create an insatiable appetite for more - more knowledge, more shock, more friends (of the FB variety), more drama, more, more, more.

Jesus seems to be entertained by another varitey: dead hearing, blind seeing, dead being raised. Sounds cool. Pretty dramatic. Pretty shocking stuff.

I feel the call to throw off a sin that has entangled: entertainment. Don't know what or how this will look. Come talk to me about it.

Reflections that could change the way you read the Old Testament!

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 19:09:00 +0000

St Augustine once said: "It is not the OT that is abolished in Christ but the concealing veil so that it may be understood through Christ...The New Testament is hidden in the Old and the Old is made accessible by the New." I experienced a “discovery” of the NT hidden in the pages of Genesis.

In grace, God revealed to me many similarities between Joseph and Jesus. Truly, the Old Testament Joseph points to the New Testament Christ! Joseph is not the Christ but is a pointer to the King, a foreshadow of what was to come, and an OT John the Baptist!

Just a few examples:

1. Both Joseph and Jesus found favor with people who were outside their own ethnic/cultural identities. Joseph experienced this with an Egyptian captain of the guard (Genesis 39:3-4), with an Egyptian prison warden in (Genesis 39:21), and with the Egyptian Pharoah (Genesis 41:39-40). Similarly, Jesus found favor with a Samaritan woman and her community (John 4:39-42) and Magi from the east (Matthew 2:11-12).

2. Both Joseph and Jesus were greatly tested but instead remained loyal to their king. Joseph was invited by Potiphar’s wife to come to bed but he refused (Genesis 39:7-8). And Jesus was invited by the devil to bow down and worship him (Matthew 4:8-9) but Jesus refused stating “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (Matthew 4:10). As well, there is the commitment of Jesus to endure the cross and follow the Father’s will even while being “overwhelmed to the point of death” (Mark 14:34-36).

3. Both Joseph and Jesus were given authority – Joseph by the Pharaoh (Genesis 41:40-44) and Jesus by the Father (Matthew 28:18, 1 Corinthians 15:27-28).

4. Both Joseph and Jesus had people flock to them because they believed these men could help. Joseph had people come to buy grain from him during the famine (Genesis 41:57). Jesus had people come to be healed and set free (Mark 1:40, 3:7-8)

5. Both Joseph and Jesus had prophecies fulfilled. Joseph once spoke of his brothers bowing down before him (Genesis 37:9-10) and it came true (Genesis 42:6). And Jesus, well, there are too many to reflect here (Isaiah 9:7 & Luke 1:32-33, Isaiah 7:14 & Matthew 1:18).

6. Both Joseph and Jesus are depicted as being sent by God with a purpose of saving others. Joseph tells his brothers that is why God had orchestrated the events of his life as he did – to save lives (Genesis 45:5-8). And it was “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The following verse makes it abundantly clear: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).

7. And in saving many both Joseph and Jesus bring those they save into service to their kings. Joseph asked of the people’s money, livestock, land, and bodies – their very lives (Genesis 47:25). Jesus commanded that all people should lose their lives for the sake of God (Luke 14:26-27).

8. And perhaps the most famous words of Joseph (“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” Genesis 50:20) have to find a parallel with Jesus’ rebuke of Peter. Peter would not have it that Jesus would die but Jesus made it clear to Peter, “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Mark 8:33).

That’s so sweet. The similarities have been there all along and I’ve just failed to see them.

Irenaeus once said, "If anyone reads the Scripture carefully it will find some word, some hidden treasure in the field, which is Christ."

I encourage you to go find those hidden treasures, to go find Christ, in the fields of the Old Testament!

Reflections on Romans 1

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 19:08:00 +0000

Why is Paul eager to preach the gospel to those who are in Rome (1:15)?

Well, there is a group of people who knew God’s decree and didn’t do it (1:32). This group knew God, but did not honor him as God (1:21). This group knew God, but did not give thanks to him (1:21). What can be known about God is plain to this group because God has shown it to them. (1:19). His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made (1:20). So, this group is without excuse (1:20).

But, this group did not see fit to acknowledge God (1:28) or honor him or thank him (1:21). This group exchanged the truth about God for a lie (1:25). This group worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever (1:25). They became futile in their thinking (1:21). Their foolish hearts became darkened (1:21). In doing the things they did, they claimed to become wise but instead became fools (1:22). In doing the things they did, they claimed to be wise but instead exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles (1:23).

So God GAVE THEM UP (it is bad news when you hear God giving you up!) to a debased mind to do what ought not be done (1:28). God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity (1:24). God gave them up to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves (1:24). God gave them up to dishonorable passions (1:26) where they exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error (1:26-27).

Consequently, they were filled with all manner of unrighteousness (1:29-31). This group of people heartily approved of others that followed in such practice of unrighteousness (1:32).

It is to this group of people that Paul is eager to preach the gospel because it is the POWER OF GOD to save this VERY SAME GROUP!

Paul was under obligation to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish (1:14). Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, for the gospel is the POWER OF GOD for SALVATION to EVERYONE who believes.

That is GOOD NEWS! If the gospel of God is able to save that type of person it gives me assurance that he can save someone like me. Thank you God!

Reflections on Psalm 7

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:51:00 +0000

Chris Roberts made a comment at a marrige retreat I attended that really got me thinking about my relationship with God. He said we may be drawn to our spouse because they have specific things that are different than us. And we dearly appreciate those things because we don't possess them ourselves. I know in my relationship with Jill that she has TONS of abilities, gifts, passions, personality, and looks (the category in which she has the biggest lead on me!) that I don't have. And I love that about her. Then Chris said these same things that I love about Jill could become an annoyance to me. Why? If I have always been a procrastinator, I may be drawn to Jill's timeliness UNTIL I really want to procrastinate. Then I could become annoyed because my desires for doing nothing collide with her personality to get 'er done. In those situations I would be wrong to do anything but TREASURE her. I can't in moment love that trait and then the next hate it. To put it another way, it would be inconsistent for me to cherish her as she helps me get my thesis in on time and then be annoyed with her for getting me to my root canal on time.

I'm learning that these comments regarding marriage are applicable to our relationship with God.

In the Psalms, God is viewed as the righteous judge. And we are drawn to him. We love and appreciate the fact that God will not let the guilty go unpunished. We treasure the fact that in the end evil will be called to account and reprimands will be made. We are drawn to God because he will “bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure” (Psalm 7:9). God is committed to righteousness. More so, he is righteous. He cannot be unrighteous. And so we “give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and [do] sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High” (Psalm 7:17).

Then, after a period of time, we can begin to dread the righteousness of God. Why? How can this be? There comes a time in every person’s life where we realize that we’re not perfect. And so God’s commitment to confront evil results in his confrontation of us. We are the guilty to be punished. We are the ones called to account and needing to be reprimanded. We are the wicked producing violence. Though we “have the desire to do what is good, yet [we] cannot carry it out” (Romans 7:18). It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of a holy God! As the psalm states, “He will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows” (Psalm 7:12-13). And so an attribute of our God that drew us to him can become to us an aggravation.

You and I want to be on the good side, counted amongst the righteous, free from punishment, secure in the lives we are living, and at peace with the infinite, holy one. But, daily, even moment-by-moment, we “find this law at work: When [we] want to do good evil is right there with [us]” (Romans 7:21). We want to be blessed – delighting in the law of the Lord and meditating on it day and night (Psalm 1:1-2). In our best moments we identify with the psalmist who says, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked” (Psalm 84:10). And so we try and we try and we try. And with even our best efforts, our most resolute attempts fall short, woefully short of the righteousness of God. And so we end up doing the evil that we do not want to do (Romans 7:19).

Where we were at one time praising the Lord for his righteousness we now despair because that same righteousness indicts us. It is these moments of failure that for us become our greatest aggravation. Our zeal for God can waffle towards apathy. The God “who searches minds and hearts” (Psalm 7:9) knows that “every inclination of the thoughts of [our] hearts [is] only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). He has declared that our thinking has become futile and our foolish hearts darkened (Romans 1:21). What hope do we have? What can we possibly do?

Should it be as has been proposed in secular arenas and even some theologians that we should abandon the justice of God as being archaic, even barbaric? If in doing so we lose the certain judgment that evil demands, we all ought to say “no”. Everywhere we look we want and even demand justice. We want the domestic abuser to be punished, the racist to be rebuked, and the home wrecker to be confronted. We want the liar to be caught, the embezzler to pay back, and the rapist to serve time. We want the murdered to be brought back to life and the murderer to be brought to justice. We all want justice. I should say, “We all want justice except when that justice is directed towards us.” But, we need the righteousness of God. So, what can we do with such events?

Perhaps, we should do as the authors filling four giant bookshelves at Barnes & Noble direct and self-help. I can try harder, learn more, think positively, act selflessly, cook better, live courageously, feel more tenderly, and lead sacrificially. I can get more masculine, more feminine, more connected, more independent, more confident, more humble, more flexible, more inflexible, more tolerant, and more intolerant. Maybe I should become more idea-focused, more people-focused, more driven by money, more driven by generosity, more diverse, more focused, more global, more local, more outgoing, more introspective, more spiritual, and more secular. We think to ourselves, “If I could just do these things then I would be okay, then my life would be better, more worthy of others.” And we fail to see that whatever the author is selling now becomes the standard to which we have fallen short. And we try and we try and we try. And while we try we think to ourselves, “this is worthless. I’ll never be like them.” And it’s true. It’s true with them and it’s true with God. We will never be like him. We will never be good enough. Self-help will never help us enough.

It is like chasing after the wind (Ecclesiastes 2:17). We know that there is evil outside of us of which we can do little about. We desperately desire peace, love, and goodness in our world but cannot make it come to be. But we keep chasing. And if we have lived long enough, we realize that there is sin within us of which we can do little about. We ache for our lives to be different, to become like we see in books, or movies, or dreams. And it just doesn’t happen. But we keep chasing. We chase after the wind. What can we do? Why is it so difficult? Who can help us?

David writes that the answer lies with God. “O Lord my God, I take refuge in you” (Psalm 7:1). How can the answer lie with God? Will God not cast us out amongst the wicked to receive his judgment? Each one of us believes we should be counted amongst the pure, honorable, and perfect. Yet, the Bible makes it clear. For “no one is good--except God alone” (Luke 18:19) and of us “there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12). We “have together become corrupt” (Psalm 53:3) and made an affront to God. We deserve his righteous judgment. And we will receive his righteous judgment. He will take his revenge on us – not those other bad people – but us. We’re the bad ones. We need rescuing. We need saving. We need goodness.

Only God can possibly rescue us, save us, and bring us to a place of goodness, holiness, and righteousness. It is only God who is able. The only way God has made for us to escape his righteous judgment is by laying on [Jesus] “the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). The apostle Paul laments: “Who can save us from this body of death?” He answers his own question: “Thanks be to God who has given us the victory through Jesus Christ” (Romans 7:25). This was, is, and will be his plan as it states, “It was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer” (Isaiah 53:10). So, it is at the cross that God’s righteousness joins together with God’s mercy and the combination yields the greatest story ever told. It simply reads, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). He is able to rescue us and he is willing.

But, some might say “what about injustice, evil, and violence? Where is payment for those things?” He says, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay’” (Romans 12:19). He says, “Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath” (Zephaniah 1:18). Essentially there is no way out. For those who fail in their self-help attempts certain and imminent judgment awaits. He says, “[I] will judge the world in righteousness; [I] will govern the peoples with justice” (Psalm 9:8). He says, “The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and the liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 21:8).

Payment for sin will be made. But, the point is that God, the righteous judge, has demanded that all sin be atoned for AND he has paid the penalty for you. The Bible says, “There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified (declared not-guilty!) freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:22-24). The first half of the verse essentially declares that all are guilty and the second simultaneously declares that we can be found not guilty by way of what Jesus has done.

So the declaration is made: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7). Knowing and experiencing the glory of God in the face of Christ is not just the best way to die, it is the best way to live. And God gives each person equal opportunity.

The question then becomes: Are you willing to swear your life’s allegiance to God? It is a boyfriend asking his girlfriend to marry him because she will never find another that loves her as much as he does. It is God getting down on a knee and saying to you, “There is no life out there like I can give you.” And that life is in God’s son. He says, “to all who receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gives the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). His own commitment to righteousness demands justice for your sin. But Jesus Christ has “bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Do you believe that? It’s as clear as 1 Corinthians 1:30 makes it: “It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.” And if this were not enough it comes with an eternal promise. One day “He will wipe every tear from [your] eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things [will pass] away” (Revelation 21:4). Do you believe that? Will you trust that he will do as he says?

May it never be that the righteousness of God rouses both delight and dismay. May it never be that his justice attracts and aggravates. Do not be confused by what you read in your Bible and see in your newspaper. “In his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:25-26). It is with this knowledge that we can treasure the righteousness of God. Why? “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18). That, my friends, is Good News! So, from our inmost being we can pour forth “thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High” (Psalm 7:17).

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 18:07:00 +0000

Linus tells Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about

I am thankful for...God!

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 23:51:00 +0000

There is much to be thankful for during this Thanksgiving weekend!

God exists. He is Creator. He has written his words down and placed them in a book called the Bible so that we can better know who he is. God has wonderfully revealed himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ who was fully man and fully God. Through his life, his death on the cross, and the fact that he was raised from the dead and currently lives again he made a way for us to know and experience God. Through Christ, God has extended to us an invitation to be adopted into his family. This offer is extended to all who receive him and believe in his name. As we choose to become a follower of God we are given the Holy Spirit who enables us to live for him in all things. And we are given the promise that with Christ is not just the best way to die, but he is the best way to live - far better than wealth, fame, pleasure, power, security, and comfort. And we are told that one day he's coming back. His current delay is so that you can hear this word, trust in him, and be saved and then turn and encourage others to do the same.

Now that's Good News!

Pastor Cor

While you're going, make disciples.

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 19:52:00 +0000

God is sooooo cool. At Tuesday night's HOC meeting we talked about making disciples. One of the points shared is that Matthew 28:19-20 could very well be translated "Going, make disciples." As you're going, while you're going, make disciples. You don't have to go somewhere to make disciples. Just make disciples as you're going about life. I would have never thought God had this in mind when I went to the dentist!

So, we're doing the casual conversation thing which I'm becoming pretty good at, being a pastor and all. Then he asks me what I do. "I'm a pastor in downtown." There is usually a pause after I bring this up in conversation. The person then decides if they want to continue asking more questions about this or change the subject all together. Well, he pursued further to the point of asking for my card and when services were! His dental assistant then said that she and her family were looking for a church! Praise God!

I didn't get them to pray a prayer. I explained some about Hope (we take the Bible seriously, emphasize the teachings of Jesus, the imputation of Christ's righteousness...ya know, the usual) but not much. And I invited them to come and check us out. Then I left and he went to do someone else's fillings. It wasn't an evangelistic crusade, churchwide outreach, or picking somebody at random. It can be but it doesn't have to be. But, hopefully, they took one step closer to Christ. And come Sunday they'll take another step by coming to Hope. Pray for them to come.

Wow! I was getting the first cavity fillings of my life. And God showed up! I just wanted to encourage you that as you go make disciples!

It's over!

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:42:00 +0000

My run of 28 years has come to an end. For 28 years I had been able to claim that though I incessantly drink Mountain Dew I had never gotten a cavity. I can't anymore. In fact, tomorrow I will get 3 fillings! The 28-year run has come to a screeching halt.

But, look on the bright side. I'm still 28 years without a headache or nosebleed. I'm thinking if those two are going to end they happen conjointly when I receive a massive blow to the head. I'll be on the look out for any flying anvils.

Don't be fooled

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 20:32:00 +0000

There have been 3 advertisements today that caught my attention. I can only remember 2. An ad for a local casino with a guy saying, "I take happiness in all sizes: $5, $10, $25, $50, & $100." Another one said "We've all dreamed of something bigger." What was the "bigger"? The TV show Friday Night Lights on NBC. Don't be fooled. Money does not equate to happiness and Friday Night Lights (the TV show or actually playing) is not the something bigger we all long for. They fill for a moment but don't satisfy. Only Snickers does that. I joke. I kid.

The question I used to ask myself almost daily is "What is it all about?" A couple of weeks ago something changed. Bethel theology professor David Clark once remarked, "Sometimes theology answers your question and sometimes theology changes your question." Theology changed my question. No longer do I simply ask, "What is it all about?" Recently I have taken to asking, "Who is it all about?" i'm founding out that as I learn to answer that correctly the what comes much more easily.

Ans: Who is God. He is the happiness and something bigger.

The joy of being a dad

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 20:54:00 +0000

One of the joys of being a dad is playing with my boys. We rassle. We dance and sing to the Wiggles. If you don't know the Wiggles, you're not 3 years old. We cry when we're short on sleep and food. Oh yeah, I'll cry.

But, one of our great activites is running. We play chase around the dining room table and upstairs in the boys rooms. Upstairs this has transformed into running and jumping on Drew's old crib mattress. Isaac will yell "go". That's his role. Drew will take off from his room into Isaac's. Then I come trailing after. Drew jumps once and then twice on his mattress before doing it all over again. And again. And again.

Daddy gets tired of the same ol', same ol', so I've been changing up the routine. My newest fun is trying to time my jump. If I time it perfectly I can essentially catapult Drew through the air on his second jump. After a couple of minor boosts in his vertical I hit one just perfect. Drew took off like a rocket. After 1, 2, no 3 flips he ended up horizontally heading towards the ground with face first. Daddy didn't catch him and he hit his nose and mouth. There was crying. There was kissing his owies. And then there was more of the same. It's great being a dad!!

I think there is a spiritual analogy in there somewhere. We play Drew and try our best. God comes behind us and adds MUCH to our limited efforts. Perhaps, at times, we do not expect him to come through in such a big way even though we invite him to play with us!!! And we land on our faces because we didn't really think prayer would actually work - that God would really answer.

PRAY BIG! BELIEVE GOD! HE DELIGHTS IN BEING RIGHT THERE WITH YOU!

Where I got the title for this blog

cor@hopecc.com (Pastor Cor) — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 05:45:00 +0000

I've just got done reading a couple of great books: Contending for Our All by John Piper and Confessions of a Reformission Rev. by Mark Driscoll. I highly recommend them. Contending for Our All is a look at 3 historical Christian figures: Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Greshem Machen. What I am learning is that many of our current theological and ministerial bru-hah-hahs have been experienced in prior generations. Sure, they are nuanced fitting our current cultural, historical, technological, philisophical, etc. context, but the divinity of Jesus Christ and his role was debated as much then as it is now. The true meaning of the gospel was debated as much then as it is now. Here are three that contended for our all, for the truth, for the gospel, for Jesus Christ - who he is and what he secured on our behalf through his life, death, and resurrection. If you are looking for an abrasive pastor that doesn't mind aiming the gun at you and pulling the trigger read Mark Driscoll. One example: a man called him in the middle of the night broken up because he had lusted. After a brief conversation the man asked Mark to pray for him. So he prays "Jesus, thank you for not killing him for being a pervert. Amen." I'll try not to adopt this as my personal approach should any of you come to me in the middle of the night!