34 Years and Counting...

I guess that whenever you are reading this Anne and I will have celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary, it was on the 23rd. It's funny I still remember that day like yesterday. It was a bright sunny day, we were married in the garden on the campus at Simpson College.

Because it was August and outside, we did the ceremony at 11:00 AM. Anne wore a white dress simplistic in style, but made it stunning when she put it on. Daisy's were the flowers for the day. As our family and friends began to gather the DJ started the music and we were off. Dr. Roger Bettsworth, the professor of religion on campus, did the ceremony.



I am almost positive that the guys that I asked to stand up with me were only thinking about the Kegger I had promised them afterward– if they behaved. But the only thing I could think about was the young woman walking down the grass isle towards me. I was and am still so in love with her. I was young but committed to be something to her. I wanted to live my life, whatever that was going to be... with her.

Like most couples when they start off, we had no idea where life was going to take us, but I was so glad I was going to be able to do it with her.

Honestly, I don't remember anything the preacher said that day. All I was thinking about was that Anne Marie Leonhardt was becoming Anne Marie Berry, and the most beautiful woman in the world had said yes to me.

Now here we are, 34 anniversary's later! So much has happened in between, we have lived a lot. I could say so much, but the only thing I really want to say right now is that I love her more. If I could do it all over again, I would do some things differently, but not without her.

She is the rock of my life, I can only pray that I have been her's. Our lives together have become big, have become full of so much good, but at the beginning and end of each day it's just her and I – I would have it no other way.

Solomon said that the greatest gift that we would ever receive in this life is the woman, the wife that God gives you. Can I just say that there is a reason why he was called the wisest man to have ever lived!?

Anne...my love, mi amor...I Love you!

And I love all of you...

Honey I Shrunk God...

Have you ever run out of you? Have you ever found yourself boxed-in a corner with no where to go? The issue at hand was beyond you– it's right here at this point that we become open to "Help" Where we start looking for a solution outside of ourselves...

Everyone gets here...even our hero's...

Sometimes when we get here people say things like, "God, if you are real, I could use some help!" "God, if you are out there, I have to have some help!"

You know where He is- all you have to do is look. But in order to look, you have to lift your eyes from the issue at hand...you have to take your eyes from you to Him.

Even when your current issues are screaming for your attention, you have to find a way to remind your self how able and willing God is to help. In order to do that you have to look His way.

Do you remember when we were kids how we would play with magnifying glasses? Now that some of us are older we don't play with them but use them. What does a magnifying glass do? It makes things look bigger. It doesn't change the size of the object, it just makes it look bigger.

We can't make God bigger, but we can make our perspective of God bigger. When you take a look at God your perspective becomes better. When God gets bigger to you, your problems grow smaller...

So quit shrinking God and start shrinking your problems by letting God be bigger in you life...

Glad to be a part of your life...
Love ya...

God Doesn't Mess Around with this Stuff

Friends,

In our new series "Help" I talked about guarding your heart – that led to a discussion about forgiveness. We learned that God may be merciful, but doesn't put up with his kids harboring unforgiveness in their hearts, regardless of the offense.

Jesus warned us that if we don't forgive, God won't forgive us. Paul told us that it would disconnect us from the Grace of God, obviously something that we need!

If you want to get the whole message please go to www.IAmCornerstone.com, launch the Media Player and watch, listen, and/or download the podcast!
(This lesson will be available starting 8-11-09)

Suffice it to say again that God doesn't put up with us as Christians hanging on to our offenses!

Here's the thing, as I reflected on the message I really don't want anyone to think that forgiveness automatically demands that you continue relationship with the offender. Jesus doesn't have an issue when we love from a safe distance.

We have all been offended by people, it's a given, so I am interested in some of your thoughts. I hope we can stay Biblically-based and not get too much into the emotional side of this.

But how have you dealt/dealing with this very important issue in your walk with God!

Waiting to hear your thoughts! Love ya...

Help!

Well, here I sit- in a campsite out in the woods somewhere in Iowa. The kids are off swimming and Pastor Anne and I are sitting at a picnic table with both laptops open. Go figure-we even have Wi-fi…

Last week we began the new series “Help”. Remember, we talked about the “Tide of Emotion”? It’s a fact that there are a lot of people who are at a place in their lives that if they don’t get some of it… “Help”, they are going to be in trouble. It might be in their finances, their marriage’s, or something with their kids and it’s taking them to the brink.

John Lennon said it;

"When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors."

Lennon didn’t know where to turn, but we do. So as we explore this series I pray that even in your point of need you let God in. Let Him be your “Help” in your time of need…see you this weekend…

Yes I’ll be there, two nights of camping is enough for all of us…

Love ya…

To see this series videos and others,
visit the media player on our website, or Click Here!