Tag Archives: God

A Story About C.cada

Posted on by under C.cada: Arts and Stuff

For those of you who may not be familiar with it, C. cada is the artists community of Cornerstone Church our mission is to: give artists from every genre an opportunity to come together to discover, develop, and deploy their talents in ways that will better the church and the community.

The C.cada Cross. One of our collaborative projects

The C.cada Cross. One of our collaborative projects

I haven’t written much about our doings because we have been so busy doing them but God has been good! We are currently working on several projects as a group:

1. A group of our artists is in the planning stages of redoing the pediatrics play room at our local hospital.

2.  One of our artists just finished collaborating with a local elementary school on the show, Aristocats. In fact, I have to unload our portable sound system, which they used, after I am done here.

3. We are in the midst of preparing for an outdoor art show in honor of our town’s 250th anniversary. Here is our link if anyone out there is interested

http://artistdayapart.com/winchendon-250th-anniversary-art-contest/

4. Plans are underway for C.cada to be a collaborator with many other town committees on a town Makerspace project.

5. One of our artists is preparing to lead worship for a Frontiersmen Camping Fraternity Fellowship in May

6. One Desire, our church youth band is cutting its first album.

7. Clayton Phelps, one of our artists is playing out several times a week reaching people with the gospel through his guitar. In fact yesterday he played at GALA another art association’s art show.

That is just a taste of the exciting stuff going on. Books are being written. Music is being played. choirs are singing. Paintings are being prepared for shows and galleries around the area. GOD IS GOOD.

A few months ago our group project was a short story writing prompt. I have already shared Deb Maciorowski’s offering with you and mine but here is another from our very own Charlotte Dorais

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First Day

 

          The flashing school bus lights warned me how late I was. My first day teaching Junior High was causing me enough anxiety without being the last one to arrive in my class room. I had planned on time to pray and make final preparations for the day before the first students arrived, this day would only be blessed if I depended on God to lead me. I prayed God this is your day and I need you more now than ever. Thank you for your peace.

          Last nights dream was playing like an old silent film in my mind. Still shots of the class room and each student flashed one by one. I knew a few of the kinds personally from church, but so many of the faces were strangers and the fact that this class was special needs excited me. God see potential where no one else does. He would lead me to the best plan for each student.

          The parking lot was filled and late comers like me were left to the back 40. Shouldering my heavy bag I trotted the length of the parking lot. First bell rang as I entered the class room door and most of the students were paired up and talking excitedly to one another. As the final bell rang I turned to close the door Jeff rushed past and slide into an empty seat. Jeff was one of my church kids and I counted on him for support. My greeting to him was ignored and he kept his head down and eyes averted. 

          These students would spend the day with me, one by one we would get acquainted and develop an individual teaching plan. I looked forward to the challenge.

          Marie stood in the front by my desk and introduced herself to me, she knew all the students and offered to assist me in any way I needed. I knew God had sent her. As I turned to get material to pass out I saw Jeff slip out the door. Rule number one broken the first hour of the day, no one leaves the room without permission. I decided to step out and look for him and he was right outside the door with his face to the wall praying, God make it stop.

          My quick pray was give me words, and I ask Jeff to tell me what had to stop. His said a line from a book:

He heard the crunch of leaves behind him, he turned……

was playing nonstop in his mind and he couldn’t turn it off. I suggested he finish the thought, when he turned what did he see? All fear left him as he replaced the lie with Jesus. God’s power is always work and He never fails us when we cry out to him. I was where He meant me to be.

 

 

 

Charlotte L Dorais

I can honestly say what we are doing is hard work but it is so exciting! I am convinced that God is in this because the results are beyond us. We are offering what we have. We know it is not enough and yet He is multiplying us even as He multiplied the fish and loaves.

The Simple Complexity Of Healing

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles
Image by Debby Maciorowski used with permission

Image by Debby Maciorowski used with permission

The stream of Christianity I swim in holds as one of its four cardinal doctrines the following statement : “Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.” http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Statement_of_fundamental_truths/sft_full.cfm

I believe in divine healing. I have personally experienced it. I believe supernatural power to heal is found in the atoning work of Christ ( Jesus death on the cross and resurrection from the dead).  I believe that all Christians have access to this healing power. I believe it is received simply by praying and receiving by faith the healing work.

BUT IF THAT IS TRUE…

Why is it some people get healed and some people don’t?

I have a friend who has been healed of certain ailments in the past and who is seeking healing for another sickness just now. Yet the healing has not come to pass. Many well-meaning (I am certain) Christian friends are telling her that the reason she is not being healed is simply because of her lack of faith.

I find that answer a little too narrow for my liking. Healing is  simple. We pray for it, expect it and then receive it apart from any work of our own. We don’t have to jump through hoops for it or say seven different types of prayer while standing on our heads rowing down the Delaware. Yet heaing is also complex in that it fits into God’s plan like a puzzle piece. It is a part of the puzzle not the whole puzzle. God wants to heal as a part of His plan but physical healing is not the whole plan.  And sometimes I think we try to put healing in place of some other works God would do.

Sometimes the reason God does not heal is because a person lacks faith; But I am convinced that sometimes God does not heal because healing  doesn’t fit into the part of the puzzle He is working on in our lives.  We get cancer and we begin to cry for healing but God is really trying to get us to set our houses in order and reconcile broken relationships. We break a leg and cry for instantaneous healing so that we can take care of ourselves when God is trying to get us to learn to trust Him and others more so we can grow in humility. We develop chronic arthritis and begin to harangue Heaven about a pain-free life now and God is really interested in the fruit of patience He is developing through the fiery trial.

I agree, lack of faith can hold up healing.

But so can:

the process of sanctification,

God’s need to bring us into people’s lives for the purpose of evangelization,

AND

God’s sense of timing.

Dear brothers and sisters, before we throw around our platitudes about why certain people are not being healed of certain things we had best pray and realize that healing is a part of God’s very complex plan. We had also best humble ourselves and admit there are parts of that plan that are wonderful beyond our ability to comprehend. Once we have done that maybe, just maybe, we will bring a better answer to our struggling comrades than condemning their faith.

Pastor Wrinkles: House On Fire Pt. 44

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles
The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

Since I last posted on the Book of Acts I have had some great on-line conversations with Eric, Deb and Robin concerning Acts chapter 19. I think one of the key things I noted about the chapter was its time line. So often when we read a chapter of the Bible we think that everything happens in about as much time as it takes us to read the verses through but that is not generally so. Acts chapter 19 spanned a solid two and a half years. That is significant. You try to think back over your last two years. That’s a lot of water under the bridge isn’t it?

If you would like to go back to some of our previous classes and join the conversation you can find them at our House On Fire Page under the Pastor Wrinkles heading above.

Here is today’s study: Acts 19: 23-20:1

23 About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy.25 He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows:

“Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 26 But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! 27 Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!”

28 At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. 30 Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. 31 Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater.

32 Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. 34 But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. “Citizens of Ephesus,” he said. “Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven.36 Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.

38 “If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges. 39 And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly. 40 I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.” 41 Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed.

Paul Goes to Macedonia and Greece

20 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia.

TODAY’S QUESTIONS:

What actions and attitudes caused the riot?

Was it Paul’s fault?

Was it the church’s fault?

Was it Demtrius fault?

Let the Change Inspire You!

Posted on by under Photography

This post is written in response to Ese’s quote & Shoot Challenge from last week: INSPIRATION

Find other sources of inspiration at

http://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2014/03/15/ese-s-weekly-shootquote-challenge-inspiration/

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” ― Maya Angelou

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
― Maya Angelou

 

Never let the changes in life get you down.As you walk them with faith, changes are just placed before you to light your path to the greener pastures.- JEL

Turbo Follow- Week 6

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

I am loving this discipleship class

 

 

Cornerstone Church Winchendon is into week 6 of a congregation-wide study written by, Daniel McNaughton and Bryan Koch, entitled Follow: Learning To Follow Jesus. Each Sunday our pastoral staff is preaching from one of the seven attributes covered in the book while the congregation reads the daily devotions and participates weekly in a life group focused around the topic at hand.

 

The group I am tasked with leading has been dubbed “Turbo Follow”. Rather than approaching the class as a traditional Bible study we have chosen to act as an accountability group. The class begins with a brief overview of the daily devotionals. Then participants break into smaller, accountability groups. Each group participant asks questions of their fellows concerning the teachings. At the end of each class individuals are asked to decide what God would have them do in light of what they have learned. Then we pray for each other. This week we will be discussing: Learning to Love

Last week we had our discussions on Learning to be an influence for Jesus through various evangelistic styles. Here is a synopsis of each day’s devotional material:

Day 1: Some of us are invitational evangelists meaning we invite people to come on an experiential journey with us.

Day 2: Some of us are story evangelists meaning we reach people by sharing our personal stories of how Jesus works in our lives.

Day 3: Some of us are friendship evangelists meaning we reach people through personal relationship.

Day 4: Some of us are Teaching evangelists meaning we reach people by direct communication of the gospel message.

Day 5: Some of us are servant evangelists meaning we reach people by meeting their felt needs.

Here are the questions we asked of each other this week:

1.    On a scale of 1-10 how are you doing in following what God has told you to do this week? As we open in prayer what could we pray for you that would help you to follow Jesus closer?

 2.    Of the five ways of influencing people (inviting, storytelling, befriending, teaching straight, serving) which are you strongest in?

 3.    How are you using that method of influence in your relationships right now?

 4.    Who would you like to pray for so that you could have an opportunity to influence them towards Jesus?

 

I would love to hear what God has been showing you through this week’s questions!

Heaven Pt. 140: Shuddered or Shuttered?

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

Mel4With all the writing I have been doing for Turbo Follow and House On Fire it has been a while  since I visited the Heaven posts. This group of blogs was created as a word study using the word “heaven” through the Bible.

When last we spoke in this vein we were in the midst of the Book of Job. You can find other Heaven posts at

http://wp.me/P39vIx-fv

Here are my thoughts on Heaven today:

The foundations of heaven tremble;
they shudder at his rebuke. Job 26:11 NLT

It is fascinating to me and more than a little sad that when God is angered the heavens themselves shudder but mankind for the most part remains unrepentant and shuttered against God. The fact that all men have this uncanny ability to harden their hearts and wink at sin is a disaster of unmitigated proportions. It’s bigger than a tsunami. It’s more deadly than global climate change or the loss of the ozone.

Of all creation it seems that men are the one species native to Earth  able to circumnavigate the displeasure of God and ignore it. God is angered and the birds flee the sky. God shakes with fury and the hills and the mountains melt like wax. The sky itself grows dark and the moon glows red to reflect and respond to the anger of the Lord. Mankind alone in the midst of creation does not bow. This is a fact echoed in history…in current events…and in prophecy.

Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory. Rev. 16:9

Now that may sound truly disheartening but it makes the miracle of salvation all the more miraculous. If the hearts of men are so shuttered and hardened against God by the power of sin the question is not why aren’t more people coming to Jesus and getting saved but like the disciples asked “Then who in the world can be saved?” Mark 10:26

Jesus answer is the same today as it was then “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” Mark 10:27

The power of sin is mighty and it has wrought inestimable damage on the history of our race; But the power of God is greater still and He is about the business of undoing the works of the devil. So for a moment I join the heavens in shuddering that I may someday join the New Heaven and the New Earth in rejoicing over the miraculous redemptive power of my God! In fact my rejoicing starts today! His grace has saved me!

Have you ever experienced a time when you felt the weight of sin you had done? How did you move past that?

Pastor Wrinkles: House On Fire Pt. 43

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles
The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

 

I am so blessed by those of you who have been jumping on board with the biblical discussion posts I have been shooting out into the blogosphere. It is just so wonderful to hear what God is speaking into the lives of so many of His servants. It is even more wonderful to hear that His Spirit has been saying some common things to many of us.

If you want an opportunity to jump in on any of this week’s discussions you can join the dialogues at

https://josephelonlillie.com/2014/03/12/the-born-again-experience/

Or

https://josephelonlillie.com/2014/03/11/turbo-follow-week-5/

Now here is today’s discussion starter on the Book of Acts:

Paul Ministers in Ephesus- Acts 19:8-22

8 Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. 9 But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus.10 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.

11 God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. 12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.

13 A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15 But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.

17 The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. 18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. 19 A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. 20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.

21 Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!” 22 He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.

This part of Paul’s journey is long. Almost two and a half years are spent in Ephesus.

What have you done in the last two and a half years? 

What events preceded Paul’s decision to move on?

Do you think they had any bearing on Paul’s decision to move on?

How does the Spirit confirm His messages through life events?

The Born Again Experience

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

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For about two years now I have been following a blog written by a wonderful Christian woman named Jessica Hoff. Recently she and some of her other contributors have been discussing the concept of the born again experience. Specifically how is it different from “religion” and is this thing called being born-again a moment or a process?

http://jessicahof.wordpress.com/2014/02/28/how-do-we-know-god/

http://jessicahof.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/born-again-2/

http://jessicahof.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/being-a-christian-4/

As I have read the posts and the thoughts of her commentators I thought I might add my two cents concerning being “born again”.  If Jessica decides the post worthy of a reblog she has my permission in advance to do so and if not then I shall take no offense as at the very least it will fill a little bit of my corner of the blogosphere with thoughts that make me happy.

In this corner of Christianity ( being the American Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal cooperative fellowship) we use terms like “saved”,  “redeemed”, and “born again”  interchangeable to describe the conversion experience; That is the “I once was lost and now am found” experience.

Like Geoff who wrote http://jessicahof.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/being-a-christian-4/  I believe that being born again is not about coming to God for therapy (although Jesus is the Wonderful Counsellor).  Being born again starts when a person realizes that his sin separates him from God and that there is a need for forgiveness. Being born again takes place when a person realizes that Jesus died on the cross to  take mankind’s punishment for sin. Being born again takes place when a person confesses his sin by prayer to God and receives by faith forgiveness of that sin.  Being born again takes place when Jesus comes into a person’s life and brings a dead spirit to life by  supernatural work. In short, a man is not born again because of anything the man does but because of what Jesus did on the cross and what Jesus does personally in that man’s life to make the man come to life through the Holy Spirit. Prayer and confession only make a pathway for Jesus to come in. ( See John 3:3-6,16-18, Rom. 3:23 Rom. 6:23, Rom. 10:9, Eph 2:1-10)

At the moment a man is born again by the supernatural work of Jesus Christ that man is granted eternal life and a home in Heaven ( John 1:12, 3:16).

But let’s not pretend that obtaining Heaven is the pinnacle of Christianity. Being born again takes place in a moment of time but the born-again experience is an eternity of walking out (it’s a process called sanctification in the Bible). If the only point of being  born again was going to Heaven then God would have beamed us off of Earth at the moment of conversion. Being born again is as much an experience and a walk as it is a moment. Once I  was born again I was called to begin living as a born again Christian.

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph. 5:8-20 NIV

Now I don’t live as a child of light to be saved or born again but because I am saved because I am born again. I was born again and my name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev 21:27) 32 years ago and I have not been the same since that day!

A Jolly Book

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

share-your-world2

 

 

It is time for SYW once again and this week Cee has come up with four humdinger- homerun-questions (is triple hyphenation linguistically correct?). I especially love the new question she is giving us!

Describe yourself in a word that starts with the first letter of your name.

Jolly.

If 100 people your age were chosen at random, how many do you think you’d find leading a more satisfying life than yours?

Not very many. I feel like I am living out my purpose and while I have not accomplished everything I set out to I am on my way. I have learned more than half the fun is in the journey anyway.

If you were a tree, would you become a book or furniture? Please describe.

Oh most definitely a book. It would be a big book for sure and for certain, no short stories or poetry compilations please! Just a flat-out adventure that goes on and on until it comes at last to a satisfying end leaving room for a sequel.

You are trapped in an elevator, who would you want to be trapped with?

I am assuming we can choose more than one person; So I would choose to be trapped with a really good storyteller to while away the time with, an optimist to keep our spirits up. A pizza delivery guy who just happened to be delivering Hawaiian pizza to the 15th floor and of course an elevator repair man/ acrobat who can climb through the ceiling tile like you see in the movies to fix what’s broken.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful that God helped me to accomplish so much last week. Every week it just seems like the work expands along with the blessings. Here are some of the high lites from last week.

C.cada choir

C.cada choir

 

Special Touch Bowl-A-Thon

Special Touch Bowl-A-Thon

 

 

 

I am loving this discipleship class

I am loving this discipleship class

 

Hey go on over to Cee’s place and see what her other subscribers have said!

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/03/10/share-your-world-2014-week-10/

 

Turbo Follow- Week 5

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

imagesCA74DISE

Cornerstone Church Winchendon is into week 5 of a congregation-wide study written by, Daniel McNaughton and Bryan Koch, entitled Follow: Learning To Follow Jesus. Each Sunday our pastoral staff is preaching from one of the seven attributes covered in the book while the congregation reads the daily devotions and participates weekly in a life group focused around the topic at hand.

 

The group I am tasked with leading has been dubbed “Turbo Follow”. Rather than approaching the class as a traditional Bible study we have chosen to act as an accountability group. The class begins with a brief overview of the daily devotionals. Then participants break into smaller, accountability groups. Each group participant asks questions of their fellows concerning the teachings. At the end of each class individuals are asked to decide what God would have them do in light of what they have learned. Then we pray for each other. This week we will be discussing: Learning to influence the world for Jesus!

 

But this post is a weekly follow-up of our last class. For those of you who are unable because of business or geography, to join us on Thursdays this blog is a perfect way to virtually join in on the fun.

 

Last week our devotion covered Learning to Heal:

 

Here is a summary of the daily readings from Dan Mcnaughton’s Book,  Follow:

Day 1:  In order to be healed we have to allow God to touch us: Walls must come down!

Day 2: Jesus has authority to heal!

Day 3: Healing is God’s idea first!

Day 4: Faith is required for healing.

Day 5: Healing is given to be given away to others.

And here are the questions we discussed with each other in our last class:

Turbo Follow Questions Week 4- Learn to Heal

 1.    Tell the group about a healing (spirit, soul or body) you have received in the past.

 

 2.    What do you see as the greatest challenge to God’s authority in the realm of healing?

 

 3.    What can you do to eliminate that challenge from yourself and those in the realm of your influence?

 

 4.    What healing would you like to believe God for in yourself or your family life?

 I would love to hear from you about healing!