I once was lost, but now I’m found.

Penn of Denn

I once was lost, but now I'm found. Not just the words of a great hymn, but a description of my trip to Toronto a couple of weeks ago. I had flown into Toronto and was heading to Buffalo, New York for a meeting and missed the exit for the QEW. I must have zigged when I should have zagged and by the time I noticed my mistake, I was enjoying a great view of the CN Tower on my left and Lake Ontario on my right. And there I was without a map or a clue, realizing just how much of a small town boy I really am. During my 60 km sight seeing tour of Toronto, there was more than once that I thought how much simpler it would be, if I had someone with me who knew the way.
I wonder how many of our friends are lost spiritually without a map and without a clue and more than anything, they desperately need someone who knows the way to come along and point them in the right direction. I was lost for an hour, without you they might be lost for an eternity. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

 

Seeing Clearly

Penn of Denn

Angela and I went downtown last week and went for a walk in the Public Gardens and when I went to read a sign, I suddenly realized that everything was just a little bit fuzzy. And then I realized that I wasn't wearing my glasses. Because I wear my glasses all the time, well most of the time, well the times I don't leave them at home, I forget how fuzzy things can be without them. It's kind of like the clarity we have when we look at things through Christ's eyes. He allows us to see things the way they should be, instead of the way they are. When you look around and see friends and family who don't know Jesus personally, are you tempted to think, "It'll never happen"? Or do you see them where they could be, in a growing dynamic relationship with Christ? When you see Cornerstone, do you see it the way it is, or do you see it the way it will be? Cause you'll never know how fuzzy things are, until you see how clear they can be. And you'll never see things clear, until you look through HIS eyes. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

 

Horton Like

Penn of Denn

I could hardly believe my eyes. My little red car was in pieces, all over the body shop floor. I had left it behind two weeks before, to have some work done on the fenders and rocker panels, but it looked like it had progressed a little bit further than that. The owner wasn't there and when I called him later, he confirmed that they had discovered more rust and several other problems that needed to be fixed. I was mentally checking my bank account, wondering how much the "other problems" would cost, when Craig assured me that his quote was guaranteed and while it was more work then he had planned on doing, it wasn't going to cost me any extra. I was impressed; kind of reminded me of an elephant I met who said, "I meant what I said and I said what I meant, an elephant is faithful one hundred percent."

As Christ followers, do we have that type of integrity in our daily lives? Are we faithful one hundred percent? I think that is what Jesus meant when he said, "let your yes be yes and your no be no." Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

 

Hello Fall

Penn of Denn

Well folks, here is the reality: Summer is over. I know it's not officially over until September 21^st, but for all intensive purposes, summer is tout fini! The kids are back in school, the nights are getting cooler and a certain normalcy is returning to our lives. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to write and let you know about some of the exciting things happening at Cornerstone this fall.

Of course, Cornerstone Double Double begins on October 5^th, with our new 9:00 a.m. worship service and we are trusting that a good number of you will make the choice to attend that particular service, in order to reach more people in our community.

And I am excited about the new program that we have starting in October, called "Discover the Word". For eight weeks, we will travel through the gospel of John and I would encourage you to be a part of that journey.
Give us a little bit of your time for eight weeks and I promise that you will leave with a deeper knowledge of God's word and a better understanding of Jesus' life. And who could ask for more than that? Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

What a Ride

Penn of Denn

Bonza! (that's Australian for awesome²). I had to travel to New Brunswick for meetings this week and as is my custom, I was renting a car for the trip. When I got to the agency, there was a brand new convertible in the yard, so I asked if they would give me a free upgrade. And they did! Bonza! I love convertibles more than I love ice cream, and I really love ice cream.

So here I am driving to New Brunswick, it's 25 degrees out, the roof is down, I have "The Boss" blaring over the stereo and I'm thinking, "it don't get better than this." It was then that I realized that I hadn't done anything to deserve it. It truly was an issue of grace, but if I hadn't asked, it probably wouldn't have happened. And then I realized that my entrance into heaven was going to be same thing. I couldn't have done enough to earn it, but I did have to ask to make it happen. And convertibles are fun for awhile, but heaven is eternal. And to get the upgrade, all you have to do is ask. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Walking the Walk

Penn of Denn

To walk where Jesus walked; wow that has always been a dream of mine (In case there are any dream fairies out there!).  I read an article the other day, about a company that is now offering GPS tours leading you along a 64 km trail in the footsteps of Christ, which is kind of a cool idea, but in reality just provides a little more high tech guess.  I may never get to Israel, but I did come across a great promise in the Revelation, that says there will come a time that I will be clothed in white and walk with Jesus.  And you know that Heaven will have to be a pretty special place, if Denn is able to wear white without getting something on it.  But until that time, while I may not have the opportunity to walk where Jesus walked, I have been told in 1 John 2:6, "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus walked."  You catch that?  We are told to walk "as" Jesus walked, not "where" Jesus walked.  So the important thing is not the pilgrimage, but the lifestyle.  Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.

Why?

I’m confused, again or still or whatever. Last weekend, I read an interview in the paper with John Shelby Spong, who is an Anglican Bishop. What I’m confused about, is why he is an Anglican Bishop, or any kind of bishop for that matter. In the interview, it stated that Spong dismisses the Virgin Birth and denies God is a personal deity.

When he was asked about the divine nature of Jesus and God, Spong said, “Jesus represents a difference in degree, not kind, from the rest of us.” As for God, “Maybe the divine that we keep trying to describe as a parent figure in the sky, is the power of life that surges through the universe. Maybe it’s the love that enhances life. I’m trying to get us to see God outside the boundaries of human life.”

So, I’m thinking that Spong remains a bishop so he won’t have to get a real job and I guess you can’t blame him for that. But why would the Anglican Church have a bishop who denies the very essence of who they are? Or at least who they are supposed to be. Have a great week and remember: To see what is really possible, you will have to attempt the impossible.