Dear Cornerstone Family,
One of the earliest miracles emphasized in the New Testament is the healing of the single leper:
40 “And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
Mark 1:40-42 (NASB)
There is a tremendous psychological side to this miracle. One, especially a Jew, just doesn’t touch a leper. This man had not experienced human touch in many years. Nor had he been able to touch anyone. I can imagine his family brought out food and drink for him to have and left it in an area, and after they had left, he would come out of the shadows and get it. No interaction or fellowship took place. He probably could have waved at them from a distance, but he could never hold them in his arms again, never touch them, or feel their touch.
But now the Lord Jesus touches him, and He cleanses him! What an incredible event!
The way that Jesus dealt with people when He walked the earth is the same way He deals with us now; and is the way we should deal with each other now.
In verse 41 above, Jesus proclaimed to the man, “I am willing”. When we approach Jesus, we enter into His ‘willingness’, not into His ‘reluctance’.
It is a struggle for some truth seekers, or even some Christians, in becoming committed fully to Christ. Many times, they become paralyzed by a crippling fear of the perceived impacts of the next steps they take and what these steps will mean to their past or future life. This struggle will always exist between God’s Greater Plan for our lives and our fleshly, or worldly, desires.
Join us this Sunday as we discuss God’s Mercy more deeply and some guidance from the Bible on overcoming these fears.
Pastor James Jacobs
Cornerstone Church of Poway
P.S. Check out our new mobile-friendly website!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kid’s Camp – Life is wild, God is good!
Make Kid’s Camp the mane event! This epic African adventure engages the whole herd. At Roar, kids explore God’s goodness and celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them through this wild life. June 17th-June 21st. 9 am–12 pm. $55 first child/$50 siblings includes t-shirt, snacks, and take-homes.
Register online at https://www.cornerstonepoway.com/kid-city/kids-camp/
Men’s Breakfast:
Guys…the Men’s Breakfast is this Saturday, June 1, 8-10:00 am, in the church café. You won’t want to miss it! Donation accepted. Sign up at the table in the courtyard or rsvp to Jim Ellington: rvrmn@cox.net.
Mikie Nava – Celebration of Life:
Mikie’s Celebration of Life service will be on Sunday, June 9, at 2 pm here at Cornerstone. She touched many hearts and we were so blessed by her years of service and friendship. Continue to pray for her family during this difficult time. Please call the church office if you would like to help at her service.
Tuesday Family Night (on break):
Tuesday Family Night gatherings are on break for the summer and will resume in September. The teens will continue to meet weekly in the Xtreme Youth room.
