April 27, 2009 by admin.

     What does it mean to be satisfied? Perhaps the best way to describe satisfaction is by expressing the absence of something else. For example, when we are satisfied after a meal, it is the absence (however temporary) of hunger. When we are satisfied after a drink, it is the absence (however temporary) of thirst. Talking to the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus spoke of an eternal satisfaction that is possible through him. Because Christ bore the guilt of our sin on the cross, God’s satisfaction is the absence of our condemnation.  There’s a sense of wholeness there.

   A benefit of our relationship with God is that the Holy Spirit transforms us into the likeness of Jesus.  Since God’s ways are not our ways, when we become more like his son, we start to do things differently than how we used to do things. A big example of this change is in our relationships with others. 

   When it comes to experiencing relationship with each other, it is a habit of our old nature to only put forth an effort if we’re certain that the amount of love we show will be reciprocated.  As Pastor Don explained, care-giving is a foundational characteristic of authentic relationships. Care-giving follows the example of God’s nature to take the initiative of showing someone else love, without regard to whether or not it will be reciprocated. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

   How do we exhibit true care-giving? We have three action items that will help us to develop authentic relationships with one another. First, we should actively listen to one another without thinking of the point we want to make, but instead seeking to hear the heart of the person who is speaking.  Second, we should try to thoughtfully remember what that person is going through as we live our lives day to day (example: “Susan said her dad was having heart surgery today”). Finally, listening to another person and thoughtfully remembering their situation should result in action-oriented responses (example: sending Susan a card, or offering to sit and pray with her during her father’s surgery).

   A final important piece in care-giving is graciously accepting the love that others offer to us. In our pride, we like to refuse others’ expression of love toward us, but as Paul points out, it is essentially denying our need of relationship with that person. “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’”  That’s not the way God intended the body of believers to work.

   When we practice care-giving, which involves loving and being loved, we experience the wholeness that God has intended for us.  We enjoy a level of relationship that is a glimpse of the perfect relationship that exists within the Trinity. When that happens, our satisfaction is guaranteed.

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April 22, 2009 by admin.

This past Sunday was the first message in a new series on building community through authentic relationships. Its focus was that of self-disclosure, or knowing and being known.

I’m not sure where you’re at in your faith journey, but my guess is that when it comes to talk of community, you are somewhere along a specific line. That line represents the spectrum between never before hearing about community, and hearing about it all the time.

For me, community has been a buzz-word at Cornerstone University for the last four years, and to be honest it’s easy to hear the word and immediately check out.

But during Pastor Don’s message, I found the Holy Spirit searching my heart and revealing things about myself that I knew I had swept under the rug.

As Pastor Don talked about the main barriers to opening oneself to a full community, I had to think about which of them resounded with me the most. The barriers are fear, pride, shame, and laziness. To be honest, I saw each one working within me. In the words of Donald Miller in Blue Like Jazz, it’s easy to consider life as a movie starring me. The story is about my daily stresses, and my faith is about me and God.

As I was reminded on Sunday, God created us for relationship so we may know the relationship that naturally exists within the Trinity. Unfortunately, the reality is that community with others can be hard, and -on occasion- painful.

So how do we fight the urge to write off community? How do we get past the barriers of fear, pride, shame, and laziness? What is the alternative to declaring to the world that we are rocks that feel no pain, and islands that never cry?

Pastor Don had two suggestions as we seek to open our hearts wide for others. First, truly listen. He (or she) who has ears to hear, let them hear. As you listen to the struggles or joys of others, it will be easier connect with them, and learn how to share more of yourself.

The second thing you can do (and probably the first thing) is ask yourself, “why don’t I want people to get too close?” A little bit of introspection never hurt anyone, and you might find the Holy Spirit walking alongside you, helping you find the answers.

As you begin to open yourself up through self-disclosure, you will have the opportunity to experience a level of relationship that is far more fulfilling than one with, say, a Wilson brand volleyball.

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