Shows
The Living CornerstoneThe Bait of Temptation - AudioHave you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time? I certainly have. And being in the wrong place at the wrong time can sometimes get you into a mess. This is part 2 of a series on Don’t Take the Bait and this one is about the bait of temptation. Most times the thought of temptation is connected with sexual sin. And it is but not always. We are tempted in many ways and the temptations come at us endlessly at times. Jesus was tempted and prevailed. So He is our model. And being tempted is not a...2025-02-0929 minThe Living CornerstoneThe Bait of Temptation - VideoHave you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time? I certainly have. And being in the wrong place at the wrong time can sometimes get you into a mess. This is part 2 of a series on Don’t Take the Bait and this one is about the bait of temptation. Most times the thought of temptation is connected with sexual sin. And it is but not always. We are tempted in many ways and the temptations come at us endlessly at times. Jesus was tempted and prevailed. So He is our model. And being tempted is not a...2025-02-0929 min
The Living CornerstoneThe Bait of Deception - AudioHave you ever seen something online that when you saw it in real life, it was not the same? Like a vacation rental that looked beautiful, only to find that they didn’t seem to be the same places. How about being asked to click a link only to find out it was malicious? Like clickbait. The basis is to bait you into doing something that might not be good for you. Don’t Take the Bait. This week, the bait of deception is explored and how to avoid it.
A story as old as the hills, the first example of d...2025-02-0223 minThe Living CornerstoneThe Bait of Deception - VideoHave you ever seen something online that when you saw it in real life, it was not the same? Like a vacation rental that looked beautiful, only to find that they didn’t seem to be the same places. How about being asked to click a link only to find out it was malicious? Like clickbait. The basis is to bait you into doing something that might not be good for you. Don’t Take the Bait. This week, the bait of deception is explored and how to avoid it.
A story as old as the hills, the first example of d...2025-02-0223 min
The Living CornerstoneFocus on Eternity - AudioThis is the Part 3 of the Series on Focus. The first was Focus on Jesus, the second was Focus on the Mission. This message is to Focus on Eternity. All these messages are meant to give you a hope and a way to live closer to Jesus in your daily lives.
Eternity is a long time. One of the oldest stars known is estimated to be about 14 billion years old. Science also believes the universe will last about another 100 trillion years. But no one really knows except for God. He created the heavens and the earth. The scriptures clearly talk...2025-01-2723 minThe Living CornerstoneFocus on Eternity - VideoThis is the Part 3 of the Series on Focus. The first was Focus on Jesus, the second was Focus on the Mission. This message is to Focus on Eternity. All these messages are meant to give you a hope and a way to live closer to Jesus in your daily lives.
Eternity is a long time. One of the oldest stars known is estimated to be about 14 billion years old. Science also believes the universe will last about another 100 trillion years. But no one really knows except for God. He created the heavens and the earth. The scriptures clearly talk...2025-01-2723 min
The Living CornerstoneClear As Mud - VideoEverything in the Bible is perfectly clear. Right? There’s nothing that is confusing…we all understand it perfectly. Right? I didn’t think so. Today’s scripture can be confusing for some. I know it was for me. In Hebrews 6:1-3, the writer warns us to leave the elementary teaching about Christ and press on to maturity less than one minute after admonishing us for again having to teach us the elementary principles of God in Hebrews 5:12. Then, in Hebrews 6:3, the writer says we will press on to maturity “if God permits.” Why wouldn’t God permit us to press on to ma...2025-01-2034 minThe Living CornerstoneClear As Mud - AudioEverything in the Bible is perfectly clear. Right? There’s nothing that is confusing…we all understand it perfectly. Right? I didn’t think so. Today’s scripture can be confusing for some. I know it was for me. In Hebrews 6:1-3, the writer warns us to leave the elementary teaching about Christ and press on to maturity less than one minute after admonishing us for again having to teach us the elementary principles of God in Hebrews 5:12. Then, in Hebrews 6:3, the writer says we will press on to maturity “if God permits.” Why wouldn’t God permit us to press on to ma...2025-01-2034 min
The Living CornerstoneFocus on the Mission - VideoI can remember being a young 7th or 8th grader. Our school was in Central Florida and in the 60’s, it did not have air conditioning. There were swing out crank windows from ceiling to almost the floor. They would open out and ventilate the room. I tried really hard to keep my attention on the math lesson, but I could hear the other students out on the playground or something as simple as a dragonfly flying around outside would distract me and before long, I was swinging on the swings or flying around with the dragonfly. It is easy to...2025-01-1222 minThe Living CornerstoneFocus on the Mission - AudioI can remember being a young 7th or 8th grader. Our school was in Central Florida and in the 60’s, it did not have air conditioning. There were swing out crank windows from ceiling to almost the floor. They would open out and ventilate the room. I tried really hard to keep my attention on the math lesson, but I could hear the other students out on the playground or something as simple as a dragonfly flying around outside would distract me and before long, I was swinging on the swings or flying around with the dragonfly. It is easy to...2025-01-1222 min
The Living CornerstoneFocus on Jesus - VideoThis is Part 1 of a series on Focus. This message is Focus on Jesus. There is a common story of Jesus walking on the water in the Sea of Galilee, coming to a boat with the disciples inside. They see Jesus but aren’t sure it is Him. Therefore, Peter says to Jesus, “if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus does and Peter gets out of the boat. It isn’t long before Peter realizes he is in over his head. Peter loses focus. It is easy to do, that is to lose focus...2025-01-0626 minThe Living CornerstoneFocus on Jesus - AudioThis is Part 1 of a series on Focus. This message is Focus on Jesus. There is a common story of Jesus walking on the water in the Sea of Galilee, coming to a boat with the disciples inside. They see Jesus but aren’t sure it is Him. Therefore, Peter says to Jesus, “if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus does and Peter gets out of the boat. It isn’t long before Peter realizes he is in over his head. Peter loses focus. It is easy to do, that is to lose focus...2025-01-0626 min
The Living CornerstoneSo Close - VideoHave you ever gotten so close to something but just couldn’t pull it off, just couldn’t get it done? I would run about 15 miles a week. Varying it like 5 3 mile runs and a time or two, 3 5 mile runs. I would build up to a few longer runs like 5, 8 miles. I wanted to get up to 10 mile runs. When I got to 8.5 miles one day, I knew I was getting close. I worked pretty hard on it but found that I had to make some more changes in my life to get there. Certainly there were some diet issues and...2024-12-3019 minThe Living CornerstoneSo Close - AudioHave you ever gotten so close to something but just couldn’t pull it off, just couldn’t get it done? I would run about 15 miles a week. Varying it like 5 3 mile runs and a time or two, 3 5 mile runs. I would build up to a few longer runs like 5, 8 miles. I wanted to get up to 10 mile runs. When I got to 8.5 miles one day, I knew I was getting close. I worked pretty hard on it but found that I had to make some more changes in my life to get there. Certainly there were some diet issues and...2024-12-3019 min
The Living CornerstoneNo Vacancy - AudioWe have to MAKE Room……for Jesus to HAVE Room…in our lives.2024-12-2320 minThe Living CornerstoneNo Vacancy - VideoWe have to MAKE Room……for Jesus to HAVE Room…in our lives.2024-12-2320 min
The Living CornerstoneWhat Do You Have? - VideoSome people have an extraordinary ability to get things done. They may have special talents, intellect, and abilities to succeed. Think of athletes that stand out, or musicians that are able to perform on different instruments. There are hugely successful people in business, finance, AI or medicine. Our world is full of them. They use their abilities and what they have to make something happen.
There are others that maybe are not as famous or maybe not even known at all. They too have abilities. The scriptures have some interesting people that were ordinary people, going about their daily life...2024-12-1624 minThe Living CornerstoneWhat Do You Have? - AudioSome people have an extraordinary ability to get things done. They may have special talents, intellect, and abilities to succeed. Think of athletes that stand out, or musicians that are able to perform on different instruments. There are hugely successful people in business, finance, AI or medicine. Our world is full of them. They use their abilities and what they have to make something happen.
There are others that maybe are not as famous or maybe not even known at all. They too have abilities. The scriptures have some interesting people that were ordinary people, going about their daily life...2024-12-1624 min
The Living CornerstoneA Grudge - VideoEveryone here and everyone watching or listening, at one time or another in their lives, has probably had someone do them wrong, really wrong, bad wrong. Maybe even a few times! Can anyone identify with this? We all can probably. If not, just give life enough time. And what we normally do is get angry. It is a natural reaction. And the anger lingers and settles in and we resent the wrong and can easily begin to hold a grudge against them. Scripture talks about grudges. Is it ok to hold a grudge? What should we do with grudges? If...2024-12-0822 minThe Living CornerstoneA Grudge - AudioEveryone here and everyone watching or listening, at one time or another in their lives, has probably had someone do them wrong, really wrong, bad wrong. Maybe even a few times! Can anyone identify with this? We all can probably. If not, just give life enough time. And what we normally do is get angry. It is a natural reaction. And the anger lingers and settles in and we resent the wrong and can easily begin to hold a grudge against them. Scripture talks about grudges. Is it ok to hold a grudge? What should we do with grudges? If...2024-12-0822 min
The Living CornerstoneFree Speech…I Can Say What I Want - VideoI am certain that everyone hearing this message has, at one time or another, wanted to just speak their mind and tell others what they think. Free speech right? I am reasonably certain that some hearing this have done it. I am in the group of “have done it.” Since I was 18, I have had basically 2 long term jobs. A person at one of the jobs was basically an “organizational terrorist.” He had a great job with great hours but just talked negatively about the organization and people. I was with him one day and told him to just shut up becau...2024-12-0128 minThe Living CornerstoneFree Speech…I Can Say What I Want - AudioI am certain that everyone hearing this message has, at one time or another, wanted to just speak their mind and tell others what they think. Free speech right? I am reasonably certain that some hearing this have done it. I am in the group of “have done it.” Since I was 18, I have had basically 2 long term jobs. A person at one of the jobs was basically an “organizational terrorist.” He had a great job with great hours but just talked negatively about the organization and people. I was with him one day and told him to just shut up becau...2024-12-0128 min
The Living CornerstoneDistracted By Desire - VideoI always wanted a Corvette. As I was a kid growing up, there were a few men I knew that had them. Red, silver, dark blue; low to the ground, sleek, smooth, fast, loud. They were always eye catchers. To me, at the time, they symbolized success and popularity. When I was 20 and had enough money for a down payment on my first house, I almost spent it on a Corvette at a car show. A red one. I took my eye off the house and was distracted by my desire for the car. What a mistake that would have...2024-11-2524 minThe Living CornerstoneDistracted By Desire - AudioI always wanted a Corvette. As I was a kid growing up, there were a few men I knew that had them. Red, silver, dark blue; low to the ground, sleek, smooth, fast, loud. They were always eye catchers. To me, at the time, they symbolized success and popularity. When I was 20 and had enough money for a down payment on my first house, I almost spent it on a Corvette at a car show. A red one. I took my eye off the house and was distracted by my desire for the car. What a mistake that would have...2024-11-2524 min
The Living CornerstoneDid You Hear What She Said? - VideoHow does it feel to be criticized? Often it can sting a little or maybe even make us mad. Sometimes it depends on how the criticism was delivered. Delivered alone and in a positive attitude, criticism can be good. But criticism delivered in a harsh way, in front of other people or in a crowd, can be demeaning and maybe even angering, sometimes evoking a reciprocal response. It may want us to give it back to them.
Jesus, his disciples and some friends were at a house in Bethany having dinner. It was within days of Jesus being betrayed, arrested...2024-11-1825 minThe Living CornerstoneDid You Hear What She Said? - AudioHow does it feel to be criticized? Often it can sting a little or maybe even make us mad. Sometimes it depends on how the criticism was delivered. Delivered alone and in a positive attitude, criticism can be good. But criticism delivered in a harsh way, in front of other people or in a crowd, can be demeaning and maybe even angering, sometimes evoking a reciprocal response. It may want us to give it back to them.
Jesus, his disciples and some friends were at a house in Bethany having dinner. It was within days of Jesus being betrayed, arrested...2024-11-1825 min
The Living Cornerstone“God’s Number One Aim” - VideoAlyosha teaches about the purpose of Jerusalem for establishing the Kingdom. God encourages and uses His people to be involved, participate in being co-builders of His Kingdom2024-11-111h 02The Living Cornerstone“God’s Number One Aim” - AudioAlyosha teaches about the purpose of Jerusalem for establishing the Kingdom. God encourages and uses His people to be involved, participate in being co-builders of His Kingdom2024-11-111h 02
The Living CornerstoneThe Glory of Jesus - VideoJESUS IS THE REVELATION OF THE GLORY OF GOD!2024-11-0437 minThe Living CornerstoneThe Glory of Jesus - AudioJESUS IS THE REVELATION OF THE GLORY OF GOD!2024-11-0437 min
The Living CornerstoneBring What You Got - VideoWe all have faith in something. We have faith that the sun will come up and go down each day. That our heart will beat another beat, that we will be able to take another breath. It might be a little more difficult to have faith that our jobs will be secure, that we won’t get sick and that nothing bad will happen to us. Sometimes bad things happen. The Bible tells a story of 2 different people, on the same day at the same time that needed something from Jesus. One had a sick daughter that was dying and th...2024-10-2829 minThe Living CornerstoneBring What You Got - AudioWe all have faith in something. We have faith that the sun will come up and go down each day. That our heart will beat another beat, that we will be able to take another breath. It might be a little more difficult to have faith that our jobs will be secure, that we won’t get sick and that nothing bad will happen to us. Sometimes bad things happen. The Bible tells a story of 2 different people, on the same day at the same time that needed something from Jesus. One had a sick daughter that was dying and th...2024-10-2829 minThe Living CornerstoneWhew, I Am Glad That Is Over! - VideoHave you ever had test anxiety? I can still remember as a young boy in school, having test anxiety. I was good at tests, except for math. I would pray, God please let me get through this test. And I did, but I was always anxious.
One of my daughters was talking to me about some general life stuff and she said, “Sometimes I wish I could just go back to a child and not have to handle all this stuff. It was easier then.” I have felt the same way myself sometimes. But there is no going back. And God...2024-10-2130 minThe Living CornerstoneWhew, I Am Glad That Is Over! - AudioHave you ever had test anxiety? I can still remember as a young boy in school, having test anxiety. I was good at tests, except for math. I would pray, God please let me get through this test. And I did, but I was always anxious.
One of my daughters was talking to me about some general life stuff and she said, “Sometimes I wish I could just go back to a child and not have to handle all this stuff. It was easier then.” I have felt the same way myself sometimes. But there is no going back. And God...2024-10-2130 min
The Living CornerstoneWe’re Out of Wine? - VideoIt seems like most weddings now have a dinner or social time after the event. And, it is almost impossible to go to a wedding today without having wine at the dinner or social time. I am not against wine. The bible talks about wine in both positive and negative ways. And, just like anything….there can be excesses. But this story is not really about wine.
Jesus went to a wedding banquet that served wine. His mother and some of His disciples were there too. We don’t know much about the couple or the guest list. What we do k...2024-10-0627 minThe Living CornerstoneWe’re Out of Wine? - AudioIt seems like most weddings now have a dinner or social time after the event. And, it is almost impossible to go to a wedding today without having wine at the dinner or social time. I am not against wine. The bible talks about wine in both positive and negative ways. And, just like anything….there can be excesses. But this story is not really about wine.
Jesus went to a wedding banquet that served wine. His mother and some of His disciples were there too. We don’t know much about the couple or the guest list. What we do k...2024-10-0627 min
The Living CornerstoneAm I Missing Something? - VideoHave you ever used a checklist? I like checklists. They can help keep things organized, can help get things finished and can serve as a barometer of how we are doing. Checklists can help us see if we are missing anything.
Jesus was a checklist guy. There is a story in the Gospels about a man that ran up to Jesus and asked Jesus what it took to inherit eternal life. Jesus gave him a checklist of things. The man checked them off, but really knew there was another thing that he wanted more than eternal life. He even asked...2024-09-2926 minThe Living CornerstoneAm I Missing Something? - AudioHave you ever used a checklist? I like checklists. They can help keep things organized, can help get things finished and can serve as a barometer of how we are doing. Checklists can help us see if we are missing anything.
Jesus was a checklist guy. There is a story in the Gospels about a man that ran up to Jesus and asked Jesus what it took to inherit eternal life. Jesus gave him a checklist of things. The man checked them off, but really knew there was another thing that he wanted more than eternal life. He even asked...2024-09-2926 min
The Living CornerstoneSawdust - AudioHave you ever been around a construction site and gotten sawdust in your eyes? Or maybe at the beach and got some sand in your eyes. I grew up in a town with a saw mill. They cut boards of different sizes and lengths from logs. I got to go there only a couple of times and it was before there was strict adherence to OSHA rules like hard hat, hearing and eye protection. It was a treat. There was sawdust everywhere! As a kid, it only took me a few minutes to have it all over me and my...2024-09-2227 minThe Living CornerstoneSawdust - VideoHave you ever been around a construction site and gotten sawdust in your eyes? Or maybe at the beach and got some sand in your eyes. I grew up in a town with a saw mill. They cut boards of different sizes and lengths from logs. I got to go there only a couple of times and it was before there was strict adherence to OSHA rules like hard hat, hearing and eye protection. It was a treat. There was sawdust everywhere! As a kid, it only took me a few minutes to have it all over me and my...2024-09-2227 min
The Living CornerstoneAnnual Evaluation - VideoYou’re Going to Have to do Better!2024-09-1542 minThe Living CornerstoneAnnual Evaluation - AudioYou’re Going to Have to do Better!2024-09-1542 min
The Living CornerstoneGiants – Grapes…The Promised Land - VideoHave you ever heard the expression, “No Pain, No Gain?” Roots to the saying go back as far as 650 BC, to Socrates, to Benjamin Franklin, to Jane Fonda and the workout video craze. I am not saying it is always true but often in life, obtaining things of value require great effort. Such was the entry of the people of Israel into the Promised Land. The land had great resources but it was full of adversaries. Land flowing with milk and honey had large people in it that had to be overcome. And they were with God’s help.
God wants...2024-09-0823 minThe Living CornerstoneGiants – Grapes…The Promised Land - AudioHave you ever heard the expression, “No Pain, No Gain?” Roots to the saying go back as far as 650 BC, to Socrates, to Benjamin Franklin, to Jane Fonda and the workout video craze. I am not saying it is always true but often in life, obtaining things of value require great effort. Such was the entry of the people of Israel into the Promised Land. The land had great resources but it was full of adversaries. Land flowing with milk and honey had large people in it that had to be overcome. And they were with God’s help.
God wants...2024-09-0823 min
The Living CornerstoneIs God OK With Social Media?....It Depends - VideoIs God ok with Social Media? Well, it depends. Texting, FB, TickTok, X, Instagram, SnapChat…and more….MySpace if you are old enough, and Six Degrees in 1997 if you are older. The bible does not specifically address these platforms. But it does address what they do, which is communicate thoughts, feelings, words, opinions. So is it ok to just post or text whatever you want? Being OK or legal can be very different than right. Especially if you look at it through a biblical lens. How about this, have you ever texted or posted something you wish you hadn’t or wis...2024-09-0122 minThe Living CornerstoneIs God OK With Social Media?....It Depends - AudioIs God ok with Social Media? Well, it depends. Texting, FB, TickTok, X, Instagram, SnapChat…and more….MySpace if you are old enough, and Six Degrees in 1997 if you are older. The bible does not specifically address these platforms. But it does address what they do, which is communicate thoughts, feelings, words, opinions. So is it ok to just post or text whatever you want? Being OK or legal can be very different than right. Especially if you look at it through a biblical lens. How about this, have you ever texted or posted something you wish you hadn’t or wis...2024-09-0122 min
The Living CornerstoneGetting Beyond Labels - VideoLabels can be found on almost everything. Things like , nutritional labels, clothing labels, mailing labels, drink products of all kinds, "use" by labels, tobacco product warning labels, G, PG, MA labels on movies. Almost everything you can think of has labels. Most of them are put on by the manufacturer or someone other than us. But, we label things too! People, for example.
It is easy for us to label people. Happy, smart, successful, easy going, …..unhappy, stupid, failure, angry. Some people we label in a nice way while others we may label in an extremely negative way; especially if th...2024-08-2520 minThe Living CornerstoneGetting Beyond Labels - AudioLabels can be found on almost everything. Things like , nutritional labels, clothing labels, mailing labels, drink products of all kinds, "use" by labels, tobacco product warning labels, G, PG, MA labels on movies. Almost everything you can think of has labels. Most of them are put on by the manufacturer or someone other than us. But, we label things too! People, for example.
It is easy for us to label people. Happy, smart, successful, easy going, …..unhappy, stupid, failure, angry. Some people we label in a nice way while others we may label in an extremely negative way; especially if th...2024-08-2520 min
The Living CornerstoneI Hit A Brick Wall, What Do I Do? - VideoHitting a brick wall. It can mean a number of things. Brick walls can hinder forward progress because something gets in the way. So brick walls can be literal brick walls or figurative, like something is holding things back. We all have probably ran into a few brick walls during our life, possibly both kinds. One thing is for certain, life presents us all with a brick wall or two.
Joshua was the leader of the people of Israel who had spent 40 years in the desert headed to their future. He had just completed getting them across the Jordan River...2024-08-1827 minThe Living CornerstoneI Hit A Brick Wall, What Do I Do? - AudioHitting a brick wall. It can mean a number of things. Brick walls can hinder forward progress because something gets in the way. So brick walls can be literal brick walls or figurative, like something is holding things back. We all have probably ran into a few brick walls during our life, possibly both kinds. One thing is for certain, life presents us all with a brick wall or two.
Joshua was the leader of the people of Israel who had spent 40 years in the desert headed to their future. He had just completed getting them across the Jordan River...2024-08-1827 min
The Living CornerstoneThe Day The Manna Stopped - VideoBlockbuster was a store that had video cassettes of movies or games you could rent and then play on your video cassette player attached to your television. You had to get to the store early on Thursday so you would have movies for the weekend because the store was packed and you would not get what you wanted. You would take them back after you watched them for 3 days. Some of you probably don’t know Blockbuster, a VCR tape or VCR player even existed. I can’t imagine doing that now, when I can watch or download almost anything on m...2024-08-1123 minThe Living CornerstoneThe Day The Manna Stopped - AudioBlockbuster was a store that had video cassettes of movies or games you could rent and then play on your video cassette player attached to your television. You had to get to the store early on Thursday so you would have movies for the weekend because the store was packed and you would not get what you wanted. You would take them back after you watched them for 3 days. Some of you probably don’t know Blockbuster, a VCR tape or VCR player even existed. I can’t imagine doing that now, when I can watch or download almost anything on m...2024-08-1123 min
The Living CornerstoneYou Can Run, But You Can’t Hide - VideoAfrican-American Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Joe Louis was about to fight Billy Conn, of Pittsburg, in the 1940’s for the National Heavyweight Boxing Championship. Sports writers said Conn would be too speedy and outbox Louis. A quote attributed to Louis about Conn was, “He can run but he can’t hide.” Louis won with just a few seconds left in the fight. You can run but you can’t hide. Conn’s strategy was to get away/stay away from Louis. It didn’t work.
Moses lived his first 40 years in Egypt as a prince. He killed an Egyptian and had to flee from P...2024-08-0419 minThe Living CornerstoneYou Can Run, But You Can’t Hide - AudioAfrican-American Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Joe Louis was about to fight Billy Conn, of Pittsburg, in the 1940’s for the National Heavyweight Boxing Championship. Sports writers said Conn would be too speedy and outbox Louis. A quote attributed to Louis about Conn was, “He can run but he can’t hide.” Louis won with just a few seconds left in the fight. You can run but you can’t hide. Conn’s strategy was to get away/stay away from Louis. It didn’t work.
Moses lived his first 40 years in Egypt as a prince. He killed an Egyptian and had to flee from P...2024-08-0419 min
The Living CornerstoneFleeing Felon – Fugitive - VideoWe have all done things that we are not proud of. You have probably heard the saying, “If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.” If you haven’t, it means that if you aren’t willing to suffer the penalty for what you do, then don’t do it. But even knowing that…..we all can just tilt sideways and mess up. But us messing up does not mean that God still can’t help us overcome it and even do mighty things.
There are many examples in the bible about this same thing. One guy becomes a flee...2024-07-2825 minThe Living CornerstoneFleeing Felon – Fugitive - AudioWe have all done things that we are not proud of. You have probably heard the saying, “If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.” If you haven’t, it means that if you aren’t willing to suffer the penalty for what you do, then don’t do it. But even knowing that…..we all can just tilt sideways and mess up. But us messing up does not mean that God still can’t help us overcome it and even do mighty things.
There are many examples in the bible about this same thing. One guy becomes a flee...2024-07-2825 min
The Living CornerstoneSold Down The River - Video“Sold Down The River” means a profound betrayal. The river was the Mississippi or the Ohio. The term came from pre-civil war slave trade where slaves were sent south, down the river in a boat, to be sold. An article on NPR by Lakshmi Gandhi, said it was almost certain death as the slaves were housed and worked under brutal conditions to harvest cotton. In a boat, taken from your family, not knowing for certain what would happen, downstream you went. This was obviously a difficult time for our country and for those that were forced into this way of life...2024-07-2125 minThe Living CornerstoneSold Down The River - Audio“Sold Down The River” means a profound betrayal. The river was the Mississippi or the Ohio. The term came from pre-civil war slave trade where slaves were sent south, down the river in a boat, to be sold. An article on NPR by Lakshmi Gandhi, said it was almost certain death as the slaves were housed and worked under brutal conditions to harvest cotton. In a boat, taken from your family, not knowing for certain what would happen, downstream you went. This was obviously a difficult time for our country and for those that were forced into this way of life...2024-07-2125 min
The Living CornerstoneSuccess Under Stress - VideoMedical studies have shown that too much stress can cause many problems. Mayo Clinic says, stress that's not dealt with can lead to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes. WebMD says further that stress can cause mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, heart attacks, and strokes. Obesity and other eating disorders. Clearly too much stress can kill you. I see me in a couple of these. Our world is full of stress. Now some stress has been...2024-07-1425 minThe Living CornerstoneSuccess Under Stress - AudioMedical studies have shown that too much stress can cause many problems. Mayo Clinic says, stress that's not dealt with can lead to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes. WebMD says further that stress can cause mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, heart attacks, and strokes. Obesity and other eating disorders. Clearly too much stress can kill you. I see me in a couple of these. Our world is full of stress. Now some stress has been...2024-07-1425 min
The Living CornerstoneAre We Created Equal? - VideoThursday was the 4th of July. Fireworks, Food and another holiday. It was started when our country, The United States of America, declared independence from British rule. It took about 100 years for the process of leaving Britain to become established. And we had to declare it, in the Declaration of Independence.
In that document, the second sentence is a remarkable explanation of what America stood for, individually. See just how much scripture is connected with this sentence and what it means to Christians. And what it has to do with you and your independence from sin and death.2024-07-0717 minThe Living CornerstoneAre We Created Equal? - AudioThursday was the 4th of July. Fireworks, Food and another holiday. It was started when our country, The United States of America, declared independence from British rule. It took about 100 years for the process of leaving Britain to become established. And we had to declare it, in the Declaration of Independence.
In that document, the second sentence is a remarkable explanation of what America stood for, individually. See just how much scripture is connected with this sentence and what it means to Christians. And what it has to do with you and your independence from sin and death.2024-07-0717 min
The Living CornerstoneRap Sheet - VideoYou may have heard the saying, “They have a RAP sheet a mile long.” A RAP sheet is a Report of Arrests and Prosecutions. A written document for an individual based on fingerprints. There is also a number for each individual called an Offender Based Tracking System (OBTS) that is assigned to them. With the right clearance or position, you can look back into someone’s arrest record. You could see those things about others that could be surprising, embarrassing, or into areas that someone would not like to share.
The Bible is a written record also, and there are some n...2024-06-3024 minThe Living CornerstoneRap Sheet - AudioYou may have heard the saying, “They have a RAP sheet a mile long.” A RAP sheet is a Report of Arrests and Prosecutions. A written document for an individual based on fingerprints. There is also a number for each individual called an Offender Based Tracking System (OBTS) that is assigned to them. With the right clearance or position, you can look back into someone’s arrest record. You could see those things about others that could be surprising, embarrassing, or into areas that someone would not like to share.
The Bible is a written record also, and there are some n...2024-06-3024 min
The Living CornerstoneDo Short Prayers Work? - VideoWe live in a time that we can communicate or shop around the world in relatively a short amount of time. We can get thousands of answers to our questions on our phone in a matter of seconds or thousands of a second. We can transfer, send or receive money electronically in a few clicks. It seems like almost everything we want or need is being available to us faster and faster in a shorter amount of time and effort. So, what about praying? Can we get what we want or need in a short prayer? Do short prayers even...2024-06-2323 minThe Living CornerstoneDo Short Prayers Work? - AudioWe live in a time that we can communicate or shop around the world in relatively a short amount of time. We can get thousands of answers to our questions on our phone in a matter of seconds or thousands of a second. We can transfer, send or receive money electronically in a few clicks. It seems like almost everything we want or need is being available to us faster and faster in a shorter amount of time and effort. So, what about praying? Can we get what we want or need in a short prayer? Do short prayers even...2024-06-2323 min
The Living CornerstoneRevealed - VideoStephen and Sandra Hogue always wanted to start a family of their own. But after struggling with infertility for 7 years, they knew they would need to move adoption to the forefront of their plans. They began their journey into adoption with the foster care program. And that's when they realized how broken it was.
In 2013, they felt led to leave their very secure jobs and venture out in the unknown, become missionaries, and be a part of the solution for foster care communities. So, that's exactly what they did.
Their vision for OneFamily is to connect local churches and the...2024-06-161h 00The Living CornerstoneRevealed - AudioStephen and Sandra Hogue always wanted to start a family of their own. But after struggling with infertility for 7 years, they knew they would need to move adoption to the forefront of their plans. They began their journey into adoption with the foster care program. And that's when they realized how broken it was.
In 2013, they felt led to leave their very secure jobs and venture out in the unknown, become missionaries, and be a part of the solution for foster care communities. So, that's exactly what they did.
Their vision for OneFamily is to connect local churches and the...2024-06-161h 00
The Living CornerstoneComing Unglued - VideoProbably at one time or another you have seen people come unglued. They lost it for one reason or another and they didn’t act like they normally would. You may have come unglued yourself at one point of your life. Then there is the act of something coming unglued. Like when you had a plan and it was coming unraveled and not working out. Maybe it was relational or financial and it started going south. Maybe there was a plan to cover or conceal something that you didn’t want anyone to know about. Things got out, someone talked, some...2024-06-0919 minThe Living CornerstoneComing Unglued - AudioProbably at one time or another you have seen people come unglued. They lost it for one reason or another and they didn’t act like they normally would. You may have come unglued yourself at one point of your life. Then there is the act of something coming unglued. Like when you had a plan and it was coming unraveled and not working out. Maybe it was relational or financial and it started going south. Maybe there was a plan to cover or conceal something that you didn’t want anyone to know about. Things got out, someone talked, some...2024-06-0919 min
The Living CornerstoneHand-Picked - VideoDo you know what a Mayhaw bush and berry are? It is a hawthorn berry family bush that produces fruit in the early summer…..or May usually in wetlands in the southeast. They are used to make a sweet jelly or jam. There were at least two ways to get the very small berries off of the big bush. One way was to put down a large tarp or piece of plastic around the tree and shake the limbs until the fruit falls off. The second way, the way that my grandmother required, was to hand pick only the ripe or...2024-06-0226 minThe Living CornerstoneHand-Picked - AudioDo you know what a Mayhaw bush and berry are? It is a hawthorn berry family bush that produces fruit in the early summer…..or May usually in wetlands in the southeast. They are used to make a sweet jelly or jam. There were at least two ways to get the very small berries off of the big bush. One way was to put down a large tarp or piece of plastic around the tree and shake the limbs until the fruit falls off. The second way, the way that my grandmother required, was to hand pick only the ripe or...2024-06-0226 min
The Living CornerstoneHeartburn - VideoEver get heartburn? Sometimes it is because of something you ate…..or maybe drank, or both. Spicy or acidic foods are common causes. Too much alcohol can be a culprit. Even eating too fast can trigger heartburn. It can linger for hours. Also, stress and anxiety play a role in heartburn. I suspect that some of us have worried ourselves sick over things. I have been guilty of that. And going the wrong way, doing the wrong thing can cause it too.
Jesus had been crucified and buried. But before that, he told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until th...2024-05-2619 minThe Living CornerstoneHeartburn - AudioEver get heartburn? Sometimes it is because of something you ate…..or maybe drank, or both. Spicy or acidic foods are common causes. Too much alcohol can be a culprit. Even eating too fast can trigger heartburn. It can linger for hours. Also, stress and anxiety play a role in heartburn. I suspect that some of us have worried ourselves sick over things. I have been guilty of that. And going the wrong way, doing the wrong thing can cause it too.
Jesus had been crucified and buried. But before that, he told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until th...2024-05-2619 min
The Living CornerstoneMore Than Just Power - AudioDo you ever just want some peace? The pounding rhythm of the day can wear us all down. Add a few incidents that cross us up with kids or family, couple phone calls/texts/posts, bills and a broken appliance or two can push us over the edge. Then you see a nail in your tire or the car won’t start. Bam. Everyone wants Peace or Comfort.
Pentecost Sunday is about Power. The sound of a might rushing wind in a room full of people, divided tongues that looked like fire. It is the power promised in scripture. But th...2024-05-1923 minThe Living CornerstoneMore Than Just Power - VideoDo you ever just want some peace? The pounding rhythm of the day can wear us all down. Add a few incidents that cross us up with kids or family, couple phone calls/texts/posts, bills and a broken appliance or two can push us over the edge. Then you see a nail in your tire or the car won’t start. Bam. Everyone wants Peace or Comfort.
Pentecost Sunday is about Power. The sound of a might rushing wind in a room full of people, divided tongues that looked like fire. It is the power promised in scripture. But th...2024-05-1923 min
The Living CornerstoneWhy Even Pray? - VideoHave you ever wondered sometimes, why should I even pray? Does it really accomplish anything? And sometimes when I did pray, my prayers never seemed to get answered. Also, maybe you were never really taught how to pray or know how to pray. So, it is just easier to not pray at all. Even worse, maybe you don’t think God will hear your prayers because you don’t act or think right all the time and struggle with sin. And what really is prayer?
We have all probably thought some of these things over our lives. If we are even...2024-05-1229 minThe Living CornerstoneWhy Even Pray? - AudioHave you ever wondered sometimes, why should I even pray? Does it really accomplish anything? And sometimes when I did pray, my prayers never seemed to get answered. Also, maybe you were never really taught how to pray or know how to pray. So, it is just easier to not pray at all. Even worse, maybe you don’t think God will hear your prayers because you don’t act or think right all the time and struggle with sin. And what really is prayer?
We have all probably thought some of these things over our lives. If we are even...2024-05-1229 min
The Living CornerstoneThey Have An Attitude - VideoThey have an attitude! I bet you have said that before in a drive-through, at a ball game, in a long line at the bank or store, or even walking down the street. Someone has a smart response, a quick retort, a sarcastic look……or they cut you off because you are going too slowly for them. You might be on your phone at a light when it turns green and it is one of those long blasts versus a toot. They have an attitude.
How about you? I was in my vehicle the other day with my brother and a gu...2024-05-0520 minThe Living CornerstoneThey Have An Attitude - AudioThey have an attitude! I bet you have said that before in a drive-through, at a ball game, in a long line at the bank or store, or even walking down the street. Someone has a smart response, a quick retort, a sarcastic look……or they cut you off because you are going too slowly for them. You might be on your phone at a light when it turns green and it is one of those long blasts versus a toot. They have an attitude.
How about you? I was in my vehicle the other day with my brother and a gu...2024-05-0520 min
The Living CornerstoneLife Too Much Sometimes? Try This. - VideoLife too much sometimes? The answer is YES. Small things add up and before long they can drag your attitude, enthusiasm and patience down. It comes in all shapes and sizes and at all different times. Sometimes just out of the clear blue sky something can affect your daily life. We are all just one phone call, text, doctor’s appointment, intersection or conversation away from overload. And sometimes it can be just one word from a friend that puts us over the edge or triggers something inside of us. Then Boom. We explode. In 3 simple verses, Jesus is saying to...2024-04-2828 minThe Living CornerstoneLife Too Much Sometimes? Try This. - AudioLife too much sometimes? The answer is YES. Small things add up and before long they can drag your attitude, enthusiasm and patience down. It comes in all shapes and sizes and at all different times. Sometimes just out of the clear blue sky something can affect your daily life. We are all just one phone call, text, doctor’s appointment, intersection or conversation away from overload. And sometimes it can be just one word from a friend that puts us over the edge or triggers something inside of us. Then Boom. We explode. In 3 simple verses, Jesus is saying to...2024-04-2828 min
The Living CornerstoneFinger-Pointing - VideoHave you ever seen kids on the playground when something happens? Each child is pointing a finger at the other. Or how about the birthday cake is smudged and the two children point at each other when asked how the finger full piece got eaten. As we get older, the finger-pointing sort of sticks with us. Of course, it may not be physical finger-pointing, but more like on social media, texts, and those sort of things. It can relate to assigning blame or avoiding responsibility. Sound familiar?
It is in the bible too. It actually started very early in the...2024-04-2127 minThe Living CornerstoneFinger-Pointing - AudioHave you ever seen kids on the playground when something happens? Each child is pointing a finger at the other. Or how about the birthday cake is smudged and the two children point at each other when asked how the finger full piece got eaten. As we get older, the finger-pointing sort of sticks with us. Of course, it may not be physical finger-pointing, but more like on social media, texts, and those sort of things. It can relate to assigning blame or avoiding responsibility. Sound familiar?
It is in the bible too. It actually started very early in the...2024-04-2127 min
The Living CornerstoneNicknames - VideoHave you ever had a nickname? I had a grandfather named Louie Whitaker. I was named after him and I was called Little Louie, because he was the big Louie or just Louie. The name stuck with me only when I was around him. It was to distinguish us. There was a guy named Ted who was known as Tiny. But he wasn’t tiny. He was a big guy who was just a great person who helped everyone he came in contact with. If you are not careful, you can “own” your nickname and it can stick with you as wel...2024-04-1425 minThe Living CornerstoneNicknames - AudioHave you ever had a nickname? I had a grandfather named Louie Whitaker. I was named after him and I was called Little Louie, because he was the big Louie or just Louie. The name stuck with me only when I was around him. It was to distinguish us. There was a guy named Ted who was known as Tiny. But he wasn’t tiny. He was a big guy who was just a great person who helped everyone he came in contact with. If you are not careful, you can “own” your nickname and it can stick with you as wel...2024-04-1425 min
The Living CornerstoneKeep Your Eye On The Ball - AudioKeep your eye on the ball. Can be golf, life, a job or project, but I think of baseball. Full disclosure, I am not a sports fan or nut. I don’t know averages, scores or leagues. I do know that if you don’t keep your eye on the ball, it can hit you. I learned it in sand lot baseball as a kid.
Keeping your eye on the ball is important in our Christian life. Satan loves to distract and divide us so that we get hit with the ball or quit. This baseball analogy had a stadium, team...2024-04-0730 minThe Living CornerstoneKeep Your Eye On The Ball - VideoKeep your eye on the ball. Can be golf, life, a job or project, but I think of baseball. Full disclosure, I am not a sports fan or nut. I don’t know averages, scores or leagues. I do know that if you don’t keep your eye on the ball, it can hit you. I learned it in sand lot baseball as a kid.
Keeping your eye on the ball is important in our Christian life. Satan loves to distract and divide us so that we get hit with the ball or quit. This baseball analogy had a stadium, team...2024-04-0730 min
The Living CornerstoneA Conversation on the Cross - VideoHave you ever had a conversation that hinged on life or death? You had to make decisions, plans and take actions. It may be with a doctor or a loved one or sometimes, because of your line of work, like healthcare, public service….or ministry,…the conversation may be with someone you don’t really know very well or for very long.
Easter Sunday, the day we remember the resurrection of Jesus. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is all about redemption. But there is one conversation, in all of Jesus’ conversations that shows He never gives up on us. The...2024-03-3118 minThe Living CornerstoneA Conversation on the Cross - AudioHave you ever had a conversation that hinged on life or death? You had to make decisions, plans and take actions. It may be with a doctor or a loved one or sometimes, because of your line of work, like healthcare, public service….or ministry,…the conversation may be with someone you don’t really know very well or for very long.
Easter Sunday, the day we remember the resurrection of Jesus. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is all about redemption. But there is one conversation, in all of Jesus’ conversations that shows He never gives up on us. The...2024-03-3118 min
The Living CornerstonePalm Sunday – The Donkey - VideoPalm Sunday gets its name from the palm branches that were thrown on the ground as Jesus entered Jerusalem for Passover. But, the meaning of Palm Sunday goes much deeper than palm branches. It was the last few days that Jesus would be alive on earth in His human body. He was coming to Passover riding a donkey. A donkey was an animal of peace and also was an unclean animal. An animal in scripture that could be redeemed only with the sacrifice of a spotless lamb, or its neck had to be broken, killing it.
You can’t help bu...2024-03-2426 minThe Living CornerstonePalm Sunday – The Donkey - AudioPalm Sunday gets its name from the palm branches that were thrown on the ground as Jesus entered Jerusalem for Passover. But, the meaning of Palm Sunday goes much deeper than palm branches. It was the last few days that Jesus would be alive on earth in His human body. He was coming to Passover riding a donkey. A donkey was an animal of peace and also was an unclean animal. An animal in scripture that could be redeemed only with the sacrifice of a spotless lamb, or its neck had to be broken, killing it.
You can’t help bu...2024-03-2426 min
The Living CornerstoneFreedom - VideoWe are set free in Christ. Do not go back just because you mess up. Forget those things behind and go forward.2024-03-1735 minThe Living CornerstoneFreedom - AudioWe are set free in Christ. Do not go back just because you mess up. Forget those things behind and go forward.2024-03-1735 min
The Living CornerstoneI Can’t Believe I Said That - VideoHave you ever said something and then thought, “I can’t believe I said that”? I have….and I am sad to say, I have done it more often than I like. It's just normal to want to say anything we want and act anyway we want. When something doesn’t go our way or someone does something to irritate us, our natural reaction is to strike back, often without considering the consequences. An enduring statement that I heard when I was young was, “It is better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
Scripture has...2024-03-1027 minThe Living CornerstoneI Can’t Believe I Said That - AudioHave you ever said something and then thought, “I can’t believe I said that”? I have….and I am sad to say, I have done it more often than I like. It's just normal to want to say anything we want and act anyway we want. When something doesn’t go our way or someone does something to irritate us, our natural reaction is to strike back, often without considering the consequences. An enduring statement that I heard when I was young was, “It is better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
Scripture has...2024-03-1027 min
The Living CornerstoneNight Vision - AudioDon’t you wish you could see in the dark? Don’t you wish you could know what is out there in the dark? It would be so cool to be able to go out in the pitch black and look around. Well, there are pieces of equipment called NOD’s. That stands for Night Optical or Observation Device, or NVG (Night Vision Goggles). You can hold them or attach them to a helmet or they can be mounted to vehicles or aircraft. They are used mostly in the military and law enforcement. NODs look into the dark, the unknown, the pl...2024-03-0332 min
The Living CornerstoneFaith.....Dead or Alive? - VideoOld western movies would have a wanted poster. Wanted: Dead or Alive. That would mean the person would really be wanted. So, How about faith? You want it Dead or Alive? Or better yet, your faith…..is it Dead or Alive? And how would you know?
The bible talks about a dead faith and by default, then shows an alive faith. It is like static or active faith. And I am not talking about the faith needed for salvation, but for a faith to be active you take a pinch of faith, mix in some works and there you go. Al...2024-02-2524 minThe Living CornerstoneFaith.....Dead or Alive? - AudioOld western movies would have a wanted poster. Wanted: Dead or Alive. That would mean the person would really be wanted. So, How about faith? You want it Dead or Alive? Or better yet, your faith…..is it Dead or Alive? And how would you know?
The bible talks about a dead faith and by default, then shows an alive faith. It is like static or active faith. And I am not talking about the faith needed for salvation, but for a faith to be active you take a pinch of faith, mix in some works and there you go. Al...2024-02-2524 min
The Living CornerstoneLife – What’s Love Got To Do With It? - VideoThere is no greater distance than that of the gap between what I know in my head and what I believe in my heart.2024-02-1834 min