2010 is gone and 2011 is here!

I can't believe it has been almost 2 months since I updated my blog.  I would like to share what 2010 has been for me and what is waiting for me in 2011.

If I had to describe what 2010 was for me, I would say it was a "Valley"!  No doubt!  That is what it was!

Ministry/Church wise it was difficult year of changes.  We changed 3 paid (although not that much) positions to unpaid positions and reduced the salary of another position.  That was painful, but our finances could no longer support the staff.  It was hard to suggest and hard to recommend and painful to recommend because this effected the livelyhood of people I have known and have relationships with.

This also meant changes to our ministries.  Some people began to assist in ministry and things seemed to be progressing well.  But the loss of members was devastating when Jesus took the home.  I must admit, I am selfish with people.  I don't want to see them go, but God had His plan for them.  I truly miss Carol Olson who was always a great source of knowledge, creativity, and love.  She was always willing to do whatever it takes to reach people for Jesus.  Her husband, John, loved her so much that even in the last days of her life, he stood right by her bedside and looked at her with love!

We also lost our last surving charter member, Olive Dobbins.  She had been in and out of our church for awhile during her last year.  She struggled hearing the music or messages.  But yet she would remain faithful to attending Sunday School and Worship Service.  Her years of dedication and laying the foundation of what would become CornerStone Baptist Church, shows her love for Jesus.

During this past year, our attendance has shrunk tremendously.  No real explanation for it other than life events in people have caused them to make changes as to where they live.  I hate to see people leave the church.  It is painful as a Pastor to see people leave, but God has other plans.

Lastly, in my own personal life things have been chaotic and challenging.  Seasons of changes has just come and caused alot of pain and personal self-reflection.  Am I doing what God wants me to do?  Is it time to quite being a Pastor?  Am I being a good husband, father, grandfather?  Am I passionate about my own personal commitment to Jesus?  Why are things happening?  What am I supposed to do?

Today, I realize that 2010 is gone.  That year was a "valley" year!  But now 2011 is here and God gave me three things he wants me to do this year which I am sharing on January 9th.  They are things that I have never attempted before and it is where God wants me to lead as a Pastor our church.  So I ask for your prayer.

One final thought that I would like to share.  If you are a follower of Christ, remember these two things.  Love God and love people!  It is as simple as that.  It is the core of where we should be in our relationship with Jesus.  I pray for all of you right now, that you experience Jesus' love in all areas of your life.

Happy 2011!

In His Amazing Love and Grace,

Pastor Waldo Barela

Sunday afterthoughts 05.16.10

I have been lagging on my Sunday's afterthoughts, but here they are:

• Many of our regulars were out on Sunday, but that means we shouldn't be discouraged.
• Our children nearly outnumbered our adults/youth in service.  THAT IS AWESOME!
• God wants our marriages to be built on trust and not just love.
• Trust and Love is a must in a healthy marriage.
• Even the most successful people can fail in their character and marriages.
• King David's story about his encounter with Basheba sounds like a "Godfather" story.  Lies, manipulation, murder.....it is all in there.  (2 Samuel 11)
• The Bible amazes me with the stories it tells.  It is not about the good things, but the bad things as well.
• Our chuch, CornerStone, needs prayers.  Many of our people are sick or attending to sick family members.
• I need to be more committed in my marriage.  I can't lead unless my marriage and leadership in the marriage is healthy.
• You will never ever get away with sin.  NEVER.  (2 Samuel 12:13)
• God will always forgive you!  (2 Samuel 12:13)

Sunday afterthought 2.28.10

Here are my Sunday afterthoughts:

*Having many things to do can wear you out, but God's love should never wear you out.
*Having a church family means alot, but I appreciate it much when you see them in action with you.
*We learned that being a Christ follower means nothing without love!
*When people are hurting, we need to help. Be in help mode.
*My grandma's memorial service was done well with songs, bible verses and prayer.
*My grandma sought to bring many to the church, when God called her home and the service was done, there was at least 300 People at Trinity Cristo Del Rey!
*Losing a loved one is tough, but our memories will never fade.
*I will see my grandma again one day, will you see me or her?

Sunday afterthoughts. 02.14.10

Inspired by Perry Noble, I am posting my Sunday after thoughts:

• People need to be real 24/7 and we must live for Christ 24/7.
• I love my Boomers class, they teach me alot about myself and the world around me.
• Guest speakerers are not only a good break for pastors, but also a good lesson for pastors.
• It is hard to love when you face trials and the unexpected happens, but we must continue to love.
• Shopping teaches you alot about the community around you. Who they are and what they need?
• When we can live like Jesus, then we are perfect....until then I will continue to strive to be like Him.
• My heart breaks when I see so many people lost, and so little people showing people how they can be found.
• We all make mistakes and we need to learn, live, and be accountable for them.
• Love will conquer all things....Yes....I need to learn to love like Jesus did.
• John 3:16 says how much God loves us, how much do we love God?

In His Love,

Pastor Waldo

Unexpected

Unexpected
The Christmas Story-Part 1
December 6, 2009
CornerStone Baptist Church
Pastor Waldo Barela

The Christmas Story is familiar to everyone. We can remember the final scene at the manger. But before we get to the final scene, we must remember the other events that took place. This wasn’t an ordinary child, this was God’s Child. He would enter the world God’s way.

For me, sometime life is routine. I get up, shower, get dressed, maybe eat breakfast and then head off to the train station. I wait for my train which is usually on time, sit in the same spot, reading the same book and then take a nap before I go to work.

But on this one particular occasion, I headed outside of my house to get into my car. As I began to leave, I noticed some yellow circles about 3 inches round. It looked a little splatter on our van. Then I notice another and then another. I noticed more on the second story window of my house and some of the yellow splatter marks on the garage door. We had been paint balled. My routine was over, because the unexpected happen.

When the unexpected happens, we get angry, hurt, and disappointed. We get into this rut of unbelief and a period of anger. Has something unexpected happen to your life? Perhaps the unexpected happen to you, when you lost a job or the house you lived in. Perhaps the unexpected happen to you, when you saw your child’s report card and saw the 4th and 6th letters of the alphabet on there. Perhaps the unexpected happen to you, when someone was struck with a severe illness or health problems. Perhaps the unexpected happens to you, as you find yourself struggling to meet your finances. Perhaps the unexpected has happened to you when you got up to go to work and you have a flat tire. We are not immune from unexpected events in our lives. They happen and we can all relate to some of the things I said. How are you going to respond to these events? Joy! Hurt! Disappointment! Struggle with your faith.

One of the Christmas Stories tells us of a man who would get the shock of his life. The woman he loved and was married to would give him news he didn’t expect. What news was it? How did he deal with the unexpected? Let’s find out in Matthew 1:18-24 and read a scene from the Christmas Story.

18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, Let’s stop there. Joseph has an agreement a contract to get married to Mary. A young woman, possibly 14 or 15 years of age. It is Joseph who has fallen madly in love with this woman. He plans on spending every moment of his life with her. Joseph and Mary together forever. Indeed, Joseph was a proud husband to be with a skilled job as a carpenter. Perhaps Joseph imagined the many children they would have together and raise together. Oh….what a joyous marriage this would be. Let’s read on.

but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
In modern terms, we say OMG. Oh My Gosh! How could this be? My woman is having a baby. It is not mine. How can this be? Doesn’t she love me? Doesn’t she know what this will do to her? I never expected for this happen! It is not my fault. I am a righteous man, how can this happen. What am I going to do? Wait a minute, I have an idea. I can ask for a divorce. That’s it! I can get out of this agreement. But I want to do the right thing. I don’t want Mary and her family to be shamed. So here is what I will do.

19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Joseph was going to get out of this agreement somehow. He was going to do it in a way that would allow his reputation to continue and for Mary and him to separate quietly out of the public’s eye. He was working through the unexpected the way we handle these problems. We take the easy way out. We solve it the way any reasonable human being would solve it. It would be quick. I am going to divorce myself from the unexpected. I am not going to deal with it and watch it go away. The problem will take care of itself. I am going to remove this person out of my life even thought we have been friends from 15 years. I am just going to continue live my life in the same old way. I don’t’ need to make any changes. The wisdom that Joseph used was his way. But look at what happens next.

20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Joseph…here is the deal. This woman Mary who you are scheduled to be married with well you are going to marry her. Take her home to be your wife. Here is the reason Joseph, the Holy Spirit (God) has given Mary a son. Not only that his name is to be Jesus. God has sent Him to save His people from their sins.

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

God intended for His son to have a mother and father. To have that motherly influence, but also the fatherly influence. Joseph has an important role in the Christmas Story. He had faced a surprise that he would not expect. But God showed him what he was to do. Look at how Joseph responds.

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. Matthew 1:18-24 (NIV)

The story of Joseph teaches us to Listen, Love and Learn when the unexpected happens. Joseph looked for the easy way out (divorce). We look for the easy way out as well. But Joseph listened to God’s messenger, the angel. He took in what he said. And he loved Mary and married her. He married the woman he loved. But he also learned something. He learned how important it was to follow the steps that God wanted in his life. He followed the path that was put in front of him. He never forgot that experience. Someone listened to Joseph tell his side of The Christmas Story. How can you listen, love and learn today?

What if as parents, we paid closer attention to the needs of our children. What could we listen, love and learn about them? What if as students, we began to listen, love and learn from our teachers. How much more can we become educated in class and in life? What if we as a church begin to listen, love and learn from our community? How much better can we serve them?

Basic Human Need

Do you struggle with relationships? Forming relationships? Suriving relationships? There is a basic human need "to be loved". I learned that this week in our study on The Five Love Languages. We have desire for attention...yes...but what we really have is a desire to be loved. To love some one is intentional. You can't fake it. If you do, it is not a real relationship. It is built up on fantasy.

If I want to improve my relationship with my wife, daughters, son, friends, coworkers, I must learn to love them. It is the basic human need.

Who do you need to love?

The Church that hurts

It is amazing when churches lose perspective. When I say "church", I really mean the people. After all, church would not exist without people. It has been said that, "Church would be perfect if it did not have people in it."

God has created a community of believers to exist in a local setting to carryout his mission, purpose and plan. But one of the first things we need to be reminded of is "love". Not just any kind of love, but the love that comes from someone who is far greater than anyone on this earth. A love that extends beyond human reasoning, beyond any love we can see today demonstrated. Even when people don't deserve it, God's love extends to them as the sun's rays extend to our faces.

The church that hurts is the one that has lost it's love. John talks about the church of Ephesus. In it he writes (from the words of Jesus) from Rev. 2:3-4:

and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.

This sounds like a great church. A church that has undergone great trials and works so hard in the name of Christ. It is not tired, but strong. It sounds like a church you and I should be a part of. It sounds like a church that would welcome visitors, people who do not know Christ, but are searching for him. But watch this next verse. Verse 4.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Vers 5 tells us what we (the church aka people) should do:

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.

This morning, I repent. I have lost my first love. I have lost HIS LOVE. I must labor now, I must lead now, I must go now. Church...will you join me?