December 2017 Newsletter
Save The Date-
December 7: Pearl Harbor Day
December 25: Christmas Day
January 1: New Years Day
Prayer Corner: Prayers for safe travels throughout the Christmas season, and for peaceful gatherings amongst family and friends. We also pray for a revival as we approach the New Year of 2018, that people would come to know the Lord, turn from their sin, and follow Him. God Bless & Merry Christmas
A Christmas Story
By Bill Powell
I am sure most of you have seen the movie “The Christmas Story.” Watching it is a tradition of mine each Christmas Eve. I have it on DVD. Let me tell why. You see, even though the movie portrays it as being in Indiana, many of the scenes were filmed in Cleveland, Ohio. The house is a tourist attraction to this day. Every time I watch the movie, it reminds me of when I was a little boy. I grew up in Cleveland. Until I was five I lived in a neighborhood just like in the movie. Actually, it was not very far away. We walked to school, and there was always a bully or two like Toddy and Farkus. We had to bundle up with boots, mittens, scarf, and earmuffs. Just so you know, every kid was aware of the fact that if you stuck your tongue on a metal pole in the winter it would stick to it. We had all tried it.
Back then there were no malls or shopping centers. So, to go shopping we would go downtown. In the movie, there is the big department store with the elaborate display in the window.
That was Higbee’s, and next to it (which they don’t show) was Halle’s Department Store. I remember looking in the window in complete awe of the toys, trains, and animation. I always wanted a BB gun, but my mother and father would always tell me,” You’ll shoot your eye out!” For real, they did say that. I never got one. Cap guns were the rage for little boys. I was no exception. I had many a pretend encounter with Black Bart and many other cowboy scoundrels.
What the movie reminds me most of, though, is not portrayed. Back then, I remember singing Christmas carols in school. School always had a play of the real Christmas story. Kids dressed up and performed the manger scene. wise guy. Every neighborhood had the occasional Christmas carolers going from house to house. There was no outcry of separation of church and state. Manger scenes were at many of the government buildings. The celebration of the birth of our Savior was common and expected. A large portion of the population went to church. What would a Christmas scene be without snow, a one horse open sleigh, and a church? Christmas time was special. We pray you will enjoy yourself this Christmas with all your traditions and childhood memories. Most of all, let your light shine, the light of our Savior, as this season commemorates His birth. Tell everyone Merry Christmas. Invite someone to your church. Remember those in need, grieving, or sick. Make a pledge to bring some joy to the world. I can’t vouch for Santa coming, but I can for Jesus coming. Be ready. Joh 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. From all of us here at The Cornerstone, Merry Christmas.One of the best parts was being a wise man. The part I played best was being a wise guy. Every neighborhood had the occasional Christmas carolers going from house to house. There was no outcry of separation of church and state. Manger scenes were at many of the government buildings. The celebration of the birth of our Savior was common and expected. A large portion of the population went to church. What would a Christmas scene be without snow, a one horse open sleigh, and a church? Christmas time was special.
We pray you will enjoy yourself this Christmas with all your traditions and childhood memories. Most of all, let your light shine, the light of our Savior, as this season commemorates His birth. Tell everyone Merry Christmas. Invite someone to your church. Remember those in need, grieving, or sick. Make a pledge to bring some joy to the world. I can’t vouch for Santa coming, but I can for Jesus coming. Be ready. John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. From all of us here at The Cornerstone
MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
By Chris Johnson
Christmas time is here, and with its arrival we usher in the most wonderful time of the year! The Christmas season is a time of celebration and fun change as we decorate our homes and businesses and purposefully enjoy many special festivities. Even the Cornerstone changes as we celebrate the season. Our music format shifts to 100% Christmas music; we adorn our studios with all kinds of festive decorations and we collect blankets for the homeless, toys for the foster children and don’t forget about “warmies and such”(socks, lap blankets, robes, soaps, lotions, etc.) for some of our local nursing/retirement homes.
The Christmas season is particularly special because we enter into a time of reflection concerning the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ! This profound message of the Christ child’s coming is one that reverberates deeply within us and as we consider the great love of God expressed in the giving of His Son we stand in awe and amazement just as those lowly shepherds did 2,000 years ago. On a personal note, 2017 has been a year filled with great joy for the Johnson family too. God’s kind gift of our daughter, Eden Marie, to our family is a special source of joy this season, and Noah J & Levi sure are happy older brothers.
Stephanie and I have had the joy of celebrating each one of our children’s births while I’ve been employed at The Cornerstone, and we thank each one of you for your kind words and faithful prayers as we’ve grown together with you. We also pray for you, and it is our earnest prayer that this Christmas season will bring you and yours a greater love for our Savior. As we journey toward the New Year of 2018 let us pray that God will open many doors for the Cornerstone to continue to reach the lost with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ and also that the saints who regularly listen will find their lives transformed by the sanctifying grace of our God through the Bible teaching, family programming, and Music with a Message heard everyday throughout East Central Florida! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Christopher, Stephanie, Noah J, Levi and our sweet baby Eden Frances Marie Johnson!
It's Christmas!
By Christina Hutchinson
It’s Christmas! Well as I’m writing this, not quite yet, but I am excited! Ryan and I get to spend our first Christmas together in our new place and experience Christmas with a new and fresh perspective. I can’t wait until we establish some Christmas traditions that will continue for years to come! In years past we used to try and open one gift on Christmas Eve and open the rest on Christmas Day. Guess what ended up happening every time… we couldn’t open just one gift. We would end up opening them all! But it was all in good fun. I don’t plan on letting that happen this year. I do plan on the two of us setting the tone in our home for this Christmas season. It is easy to get caught up in business, the gift shopping, and everything else that comes along with the holidays. But like I mentioned in my last article, I want to take the time each and every day to be thankful and to be the light of Christ throughout this Christmas season.
TIME TO CELEBRATE
By Denisha Stearns
We just finished collecting shoeboxes here, and it is time to celebrate! What was the best part of Operation Christmas Child Collection Week? The best part was in knowing that each of the 3,000 shoeboxes brought to the Cornerstone was packed full of toys, school supplies, and toiletries with some boy or girl in mind. I am in awe of the thoughtfulness of the people who shared with me their packing experiences! Some people collected all year long to fill their shoeboxes. Some shoeboxes represented the genders and ages of their grandchildren or their own siblings. One family made sure their boxes were well supplied with the best soap and the softest towels. One boy thought someone might enjoy wearing a hat like he wears. I met some people for whom shoebox packing was a first, and others who have made it a family tradition through generations. Amazingly, churches found themselves with more shoeboxes to deliver, not less, despite the hurricanes, and the witnesses to the blessings of God continued through the week. Where God guides, He provides, and He is an abundant God! Like Bill mentioned in his article, “we were all children once.” We all know what love feels like. I wish for the children receiving these shoeboxes to feel that love. More importantly, I want them to know and feel the love of our Savior, Jesus. And good news! This opportunity is made available to every child who is going to receive a shoebox this year as well as every parent and adult who will be watching and listening. If you have been encouraged toward love and good works by participating in this event, or even by reading this article, there are more opportunities for you to share God’s love and Christ this Christmas, either through The Cornerstone or in your personal lives, churches, or social circles. Think of the eternal blessings. As Jesus said in his parable about the kingdom of heaven to the servants who were faithful over a few things, “Come, and share in your Master’s happiness!” At that time (and maybe with more than a few shoebox recipients), we will REALLY celebrate. Merry Christmas!
Like Bill mentioned in his article, “we were all children once.” We all know what love feels like. I wish for the children receiving these shoeboxes to feel that love. More importantly, I want them to know and feel the love of our Savior, Jesus. And good news! This opportunity is made available to every child who is going to receive a shoebox this year as well as every parent and adult who will be watching and listening. So please pray. If you have been encouraged toward love and good works by participating in this event, or even by reading this article, there are more opportunities for you to share God’s love and Christ this Christmas, either through The Cornerstone or in your personal lives, churches, or social circles. Think of the eternal blessings. As Jesus said in his parable about the kingdom of heaven to the servants who were faithful over a few things, “Come, and share in your Master’s happiness!” At that time (and maybe with more than a few shoebox recipients), we will REALLY celebrate. Merry Christmas!