One in 1.7 million

If you were one of the many people who preordered or stood in long lines at the Apple store to purchase the Iphone 4, you were one in 1.7 million.  You were unique and had the latest gizmo since slice bread.  Okay, maybe not slice bread, but you were in a unique group.  You were the envy of Iphone 3 users, you were the envy of those of us with Blackberry phones.  People would be asking you a lot of question about the phone.  How much it cost?  Is it really that much better and faster?  How much memory does it have?  You would have the one thing that many of us desire.

But think about this.  There are over 6.8 billion people on planet Earth.  That makes you and I, one in 6.8 billion.  That is in smaller comparison the Iphone 4!  But it also you makes you unique.  It also makes you valuable in the eyes of God.  You see, Jesus told a story about some sheep.  He had 100 of them and he could account for 99 of them.  What about the other one.  Wouldn't you give up?  Who cares?  You have 99 other ones, no need to look for the one that is lost.  But that is exactly what God does, he searches for the one who is lost.
 
 ^4-7"Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, 'Celebrate with me! I've found my lost sheep!' Count on it—there's more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.  Luke 15:4-7 (The Message)

When God finds you and rescues you, He, the angels, and all of us on this Earth are going to celebrate.  God is looking for you and when He rescues you, you will never be the same.

The Hardest Job...

I don't know about you, but I do like the show on the Discovery Channel called Dirty Jobs.  Mike Rowe is the host and he searches for some of the dirtiest and sometimes hardest jobs in the world.

Some jobs are just disgusting.  Others are unimaginable.  Still others come as a surprise to us, because we didn't even know such a job existed.  But Mike, reluctantly, takes on the job and gets dirty.

In Exodus, God had told Moses, "You 'da man!"  Okay, maybe not quite like that, but God revealed Himself to Moses through the burning bush and said, "I am going to get you guys out of Egypt.  I have seen it and now I am going to take you out of the bad company.   I am going to give you a land flowing with milk and honey!"  "That sounds good, God but..." Moses might have thought.  "What if they won't believe me and will not obey me..." Exodus 4:1 (HCSB)

Moses answered God, but if you read the last verse of Chapter 3, God did not ask him a question.  Moses was fearful of the job.  He knew it was going to be the hardest job and he didn't believe in himself.  Later on in Chapter 4 after God provides more details,  Moses says, "Please, Lord, send someone else." Exodus 4:13.  The job is just too hard.  I am not qualified, I don't speak well and people are not going to believe it is you.

I would agree Moses had the hardest job in the Old Testament.  Moses had the hardest job being the spiritual leader that God wanted him to be.

What do you believe is the hardest job?  Perhaps, a police officer or firefighter.  Perhaps, people who serve in our military.  Perhaps, being a single mom, school teacher, or counselor.  I believe all those are some of the toughest job.  But I believe, like Moses, that the spiritual leader that God has called in the local church is the Senior Pastor is the hardest job.

I know because I have felt like I wanted to give up!  I have felt like saying, "Why me, God?"  I struggle with being on fire every single Sunday.  There have been times where I have felt like leaving it.  Where I have felt like enough is enough.  Sometimes I feel as though I am a firefighter, putting out one fire after another.  Sometimes I am surprised, like Moses was when he came down with the tablets, about how people are.  Sometimes I am surprised by people's actions.  I put alot of effort in trying to organize our leaders, shepherd our church, and outreach to our community.  God I feel like leavingYour church and let someone else do the job!

The Senior Pastor is one of the hardest jobs on the planet.  There is alot of work that goes on "behind the scenes".  There is preparation on Sunday Mornings, there are visits to be made, there are problems, crisis and surprises that come around.  Maybe.  But if you are a Christ follower and you go to a local church, you need to get behind your Senior Pastor.  I am not a big name Senior Pastor like Andy Stanley, Rick Warren, Perry Noble and whole host of others.  But these guys have shared their ups and downs of being a Senior Pastor. 

Back to Moses, alot of the Hebrews didn't want to get behind Moses.  They started going their own way.  They didn't even begin to understand what Moses was doing.  As I have read his story, Moses put up with alot of complainers and whiners.  The job didn't pay well, but the rewards were great.  And even though Moses did not make it the promised land, he still remained faithful to the hardest job.

What about your Senior Pastor?  Are you make it hard or are you getting on board with what God wants to do?  Are you going back to Egypt or are you going to the promised land?  Make your choice, because I have.

Sunday afterthoughts 06.06.10

We had a blessed Sunday and there were many prayers that were given specifically for this service.  With that, here are my Sunday afterthoughts.

• We had 4 visitors on Sunday and that is always great to see. 
• I got so excited at the end of the service that I had to be reminded about the offering during our service.  A funny moment, but it goes to show everyone that Pastors are human.
• The music was great and I just want to say a big thank you to my friend, Jeremey, for coming out and bringing his band to bless us with music.
• Sometimes when you are on the spritiual high, the enemy wants to drag you, the church and everyone aroudn you down.
• Leaders are called to see the problem, develop a solution, involve others and pursue the goal.
• If you go to church, you don't know how much it means when a person complements your preaching.
• Thankful to all the Pastors (Rick Warren, Andy Stanley, and Perry Noble) for the amount of energy you invest in God's people, outraching to the community, and challenging church leaders.
• When people get your point, it is so rewarding.  When people got Jesus' point, the angels began applauding.
• We had one person come to Christ!  That makes yesterday's service totally worth it!

An Open Letter to CornerStone

Below is an email sent to members and friends of CornerStone:

As most of you know, we are having a guest worship band this Sunday. I want this to be another outreach event. We have had postcards made and the event is Sunday. This is a time where we need to be proactive with our faith. We can't go any longer with watching people go down the road to destruction. It is time we start acting like the church has called us to be. We can no longer sit down and make excuses. We can no longer limit ourselves through finances. I don't know about you, but it is my understand that God is greater than anything on this earth. God is so loving even when people are hard to love. If I remember correctly, He sent His son to earth to show us and teach us the seriousness of a follower of Him. In fact, if memory serves me correctly, His Son (Jesus) died on the cross for me and for YOU and for the 12,000 people in YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. Our church has been around for 55 years and yet we still struggle to share our
faith, invite and encourage others, and connect with this community. That type of behavior has to be unacceptable in our church.

Jesus gave us a mission. His mission. His mission is to be the church's mission. It was simple. He said, "Go...." We can't just say, "Come to church." We need to say, "I would love to see you there and in fact I will meet you there." Make your invitation personal and not just handing out a postcard and prayer. We are called to be in action. We are called to continue to reach others in the name of Jesus Christ. We can not be the same church, we need to be God's Church. The one he established 55 years ago! The one that had a passion to communicate the gospel.

A few weeks ago, I met with most of our church leaders. I asked them to evaluate themselves and their ministries. Your church leaders have some serious business to tackle. Some self reflection and some honesty in their service here. I laid out alot of information on them. Shared with them the vision God has for this church. We can't be afraid any longer to take steps towards that vision. We must do what God has gifted us to do to get the church there. We will work hard and evaluate our church and its ministries.

So what am I asking you to do? I am asking you to pack our church this Sunday. I am asking you to make the extra effort and be challenged. I am asking you to make sure you attend! I personally have invited people from my work and people I know. I am hoping to have at least one couple attend this Sunday. Don't let the enemy get a footstool in our church. By not doing nothing or by simply making it another list on your prayers is not all that we should do.

Are you taking ownership in this church? Do you believe in the Vision, Mission and Purpose that has been laid out for you? Take the Vision, Mission and Purpose to heart! Make it happen. Don't wait. Move. Move NOW! Support! Encourage your leaders! Don't say you support the church, but support the church in action.

I normally don't write e-mails this late, but God has been moving me in ways I can not express. He has put some challenges in my role as Senior Pastor. He is little by little peeling away at my outer shell and breaking me down periodically. He shows me that being a leader isn't easy and it is full of risk. I trust God and sometimes trusting him in ALL things is difficult. However, I am prepared to follow His lead and what He has shown us and the message that continues to be on my heart from God is to lead this church to being The largest family oriented church in our mission field. We have a huge parking lot, a great facility, and now it is time to pack the pews, pack the church and make it overflow.

Jesus wouldn't have done anything differently and neither should we.



In His Love,



Pastor Waldo