Opportunities for Great Joy...

When I found Cornerstone Church of Mt. Crawford in 1991, I was a burned out missionary and a confused youth pastor. Sherri and I had returned from 18 months on the mission field and the transition was the hardest thing we had experienced in our marriage at that point in time. We didn't know about re-entry culture shock. We just figured that adjustment would take time and we would find our way. But the more we tried the harder it became, until we were invited to this life giving church in Mt. Crawford, Va called Cornerstone.

I still remember that day. It was a day that would change our lives forever. We discovered a community of believers who seemed excited to worship Jesus. They were eager to hear the truth of God's Word and willing to put faith into action. We were like dry sponges in a rainstorm. It was awesome.

I could not have predicted where that day was going to lead us. After a season of healing, restoration and clarity, we joined a group of believers attending Mt. Crawford Cornerstone who dreamed of planting a Cornerstone Church in our home area of Augusta County. I remember those days being filled with such excitement and high levels of faith. We were so convinced of God's power and presence that we would have stormed hell with a water pistol if given the opportunity.

Not long after the church was planted I was asked to pray and consider being the Sr. Pastor of this new, exciting church. I remember the moment God impressed on my heart to say YES. I was outside tending to a burning barrel of trash. I was talking to God and asking for direction. I can't say I heard an audible voice as Moses did at the burning bush, but nonetheless I felt my heart warmed by the Holy Spirit and a peace came over me as I heard the Spirit whisper, "Trust me."

The next day I let Pastor Gerald Martin (Cornerstone founding pastor) know that I was willing to be considered. There were several other men, all much older and more seasoned than me, who were also being considered to serve as the Sr. Pastor. At that time I was 28 years old and had served as a youth pastor for three years before heading to the mission field. I didn't have a seminary degree but had earned a Bachelors degree in Pastoral Ministries. However, the mantle fell toward me and here I am 22 years later still pastoring the church I love.

These 22 years have had many ups and downs . We've had many victories and heartaches along the way. We've had our share of adversity, failure, pain and problems. Not everything has been perfect. I guess that's what happens when imperfect people are involved.

You've probably heard the saying, "Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you respond to it." I believe that to be very true. Adversity isn't an option, it is part of life. No one is exempt.

But adversity can be a trap as well. Sometimes, maybe too many times, people get comfortable with their pain. They start to spiritualize it as a way to justify their unwillingness to move forward into health and wholeness. It's sad to watch but too many Christians fall into this trap.

I started a new sermon series at Cornerstone Augusta recently entitled "Under Pressure." This series will take us through the Book of James. At the outset of this challenging letter James says, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  (3)  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  (4)  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing" (James 1:2-4; NLT).

Did you catch what James said? He said WHEN troubles come your way, not IF they come your way. We will all have troubles, trials and tribulations in this life. No one is exempt. But you and I have a choice when we are faced with such circumstances. We can embrace them as opportunities for great joy or we can succumb to the pressure and have our joy striped away.

I'm grateful for the troubles I've seen. That's not to say I've liked them. I'm just grateful that God has used them to shape my character. And because my character is not perfect, I have more troubles in my future.

As HeartLink Network moves forward to build the kingdom of God we will experience challenges, but let us choose to embrace them as opportunities for great joy.