<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0">
<channel> 
	<language>en</language>
	<title>Cornerstone Covenant Church</title> 
	<description>Church.  Inside Out.</description> 
	<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org</link> 
	<copyright>&#169; Copyright 2000 - 2008Church Community Builder. All Rights Reserved.</copyright>
	

<item>
<title>Cornerstone Summer Update - Entire Database</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=1</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=1&amp;article_id=57</guid>
<description>


&quot;I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for... all of you share in God&#39;s grace with me.&quot;   -Philippians 1:3-7

Well, the Hushaw clan is on our way home from a 2 week trip to the Covenant Annual Meeting in Green Bay, WI where I&#39;ve just finished transferring my ordination as a Covenant Pastor. If you&#39;ve ever traveled to the Midwest you know there&#39;s a lot of God&#39;s beautiful country-emphasis on a lot! It took us 5 days to drive out and we&#39;re on our 5 day trip home. I&#39;ve had lots of time to reflect the blessings of the Lord in the past 3 years of being a church planter and the journey along the way. 

Someone asked me when Cornerstone will stop being called a church plant. Well it&#39;s a good 10 year faith journey. We&#39;ve made it out of our infancy from our Grand Opening in October 2006 and now I would say we&#39;re in our toddler stage. We&#39;re experiencing the separation anxiety of moving out on our own from our mother church. We&#39;re in our own room (we&#39;ve moved into our first 24/7 facility-the Cornerstone Coffee Break Caf&#233;) and next month will mark our first month with no financial help from our mother church. 

Really the anxiety we will feel comes from a heightened need to live into our mission together without outside help-it&#39;s a part of growing up as a disciple in Christ. The questions for our young church is are we consumers or disciples? Or better yet, using a biblical model, are we ready to move from our mother&#39;s milk to eating solid food on our own (Hebrews 5:13-14)?

To live into our next season of church planting development will require us as a church to lean into our faith, desire a deeper walk and teaching with our Lord, and a maturing commitment of our time, treasures, and talents. 

In my view, and I&#39;m sure you would agree, that the Bible verse at the top shares two faith lessons that we are learning in our faith stretching and growing experience of being a part of planting a mission outpost. First, we&#39;re relying in our prayers on the Lord&#39;s good graces to get us through, the position of any faithful servant. And second, we&#39;re learning that the Lord always calls together in this adventure because we&#39;re better to together-we&#39;re not meant to live out our faith alone. If we can lean on those two truths then we know that &quot;from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.&quot;

Together in His Grip,

-Pastor Chris

Here&#39;s the Update:

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SUMMER WORSHIP:

We are in our &quot;Beat the Heat&quot; Summer Hours for Sunday Worship. To help our set up crew avoid the blistering summer heat, we are meeting at 9:15 weekly. July 6th we have a special worship experience planned in the Cornerstone Caf&#233; (located behind the Target Shopping Center at 78900 Ave. 47, suite 100 in La Quinta). Join us in this all church family worship on Independence Holiday-we&#39;ll have a special surprise from the Hushaw Family. Then we&#39;re back in the La Quinta High School Theater for the rest of the summer.

A special thanks to Jason Fredregill and Rev. Ken Savage for leading worship while I was away at the Covenant Annual Meeting for my Ordination Service. We are so blessed to have so many experienced leaders in our congregation!

------------------------------------------------

SPECIAL NEEDS:

We are hitting our summer financial blues early this year. Remember us as you are traveling in and out of the desert these next couple of months. For June we are at half of our funding needs and without your help we will fall well short of paying for our basic commitments. 

We need your help in two ways: 

First, remember Cornerstone in your regular giving. Probably like your own house, during the summer months our church bills actually are a bit higher with utilities. And yet at the same time our attendance is cut in half. Sometimes I have to remind folks that this is normal in the Coachella Valley across the board, but it makes it very difficult on our monthly budget. As a brand new church we don&#39;t carry any reserve which means if the money isn&#39;t there, we simply cannot pay our bills or our staff. It would be a great help and blessing if you would give your tithes and offerings to Cornerstone regularly. On Sunday you can pick up weekly Giving Envelopes in the back of worship or mail them to the Cornerstone Office address above.

To help those who like to give electronically, our church treasurer Bob Wilmeth, has set up an electronic giving form that I&#39;ll ask him to send out in July with our monthly giving reports. I am personally looking forward to this so that my tithe can be automatically given to the Lord as my first commitment before all the other things begin to crowd in. 

Second, we are well on our way to our summer Raise the Rent Campaign. The reality of our summer budget is that with attendance down we are unable to pay for the rent over the summer months. To help us make it over the hump we have asked folks to consider tithing 10 percent from their tax refunds and rebates. This is a simple way to remember the blessings of the Lord. If you are among those who are not receiving a rebate, you can still remember the blessings of the Lord by helping out. Our goal is $16,000 to pay the summer rent. Right now we are at $1,500. Let&#39;s put a roof on this goal. Can you help?

------------------------------------------------

SUMMER CAMP

We are coming up to that summer camp time. There is no doubt in my mind if a person makes the commitment to go to camp where they get away from the pressures and noise of daily life to meet with the Lord, that experience will stay with them over the rest of the year. It is a definitely a defining moment in a person&#39;s life if they can commit to it.

If you haven&#39;t signed up for the August 29-31 Cornerstone Camp, it&#39;s not too late. This will be a Cornerstone Event like no others. Call the church office or sign up on Sunday morning.

Also, we already have over 100 kids we&#39;re sending to camp again from our community thanks to the efforts of our Bargains Thrift Store Crew and efforts. If you would like to help send deserving kids to camp, please contact our outreach pastor, Todd McKerron or assistant Sue Ash, at Bargains: (760) 200-1800.</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:41:47  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>The Goal of Covenant Small Groups at Cornerstone - Entire Database</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=1</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=1&amp;article_id=21</guid>
<description>


Sometimes we mistakenly think the Christian life is primarily about entrance to heaven. We&#39;re content with conversion when God is calling for transformation. Rather than expecting the kingdom of God to revolutionize lives today, we hope it will happen in heaven tomorrow.

Somewhere along the line we swapped out Jesus&#39; gospel-through him we can be transformed into citizens of the kingdom of God, right now, today-for a gospel of heaven&#39;s minimum entrance requirement.

When Paul writes about being &quot;morphed&quot; in Romans 12:2, he gives a command, but in passive voice. He doesn&#39;t say, &quot;Transform yourself&quot;; he says, &quot;Be transformed.&quot; We can&#39;t make transformation happen ourselves; it is something God does to us. But what then is our role in it-personally and in our churches?

1 Corinthians 9:25 says, &quot;Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.&quot; Here is the reason many people give up on transformation or accept boundary markers as pseudo-transformation: we spend ourselves trying to be transformed, when the Bible calls us to train to be transformed.

There is an enormous difference between trying to do something versus training to do it. Take for example a marathon. How many of us could run a marathon right now? Even if we tried, really, really hard? But many of us could run a marathon eventually, if instead we trained for it.

Too often in our churches, people hear us talk about what an amazing person Jesus is. They leave thinking, I&#39;ve got to try hard to be like him. We&#39;re unwittingly setting them up for frustration. When the trying proves ineffective, they eventually quit or rely on external trivialities to pretend they&#39;re transformed. Authentic spiritual transformation begins with training, with discipline. As we train ourselves in godliness, we begin to overcome the limits of sinful patterns. The purpose of that discipline is always freedom-training myself to be free of the obstacles that hinder my transformation.

Training means arranging life around those activities that enable us to do what we cannot do now, even by extreme effort. Significant human transformation always involves training, not just trying. That is the goal of Covenant Small Groups. We can only be transformed when we spend time training.</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:41:47  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Get Connected - Entire Database</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=1</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=1&amp;article_id=14</guid>
<description>


Connecting Point  We are part of God&#39;s family! God has called us to be connected, dependent, and related to one another. In gathering together at Cornerstone Covenant Church, we find answers to the needs in our lives. So please take a moment to look through our site to find your role in our family and how we can be of help to you in your spiritual journey.
</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:41:47  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>A New Church - Home</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=1</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=1&amp;article_id=25</guid>
<description>
Church. What kind of image does that conjure up for you? Is it boring, irrelevant, hypocritical? 

Sadly, those words may apply to some experiences you&#39;ve had in the past. If so, we&#39;d like you to take a fresh look at faith through Cornerstone Covenant Church. Our dress is casual, our worship authentic, and our messages are designed to make a difference in the world in which you live. And your kids will love it too!

You&#39;re invited to Cornerstone Covenant Church. You&#39;ll Be Surprised!

Uplifting Christian music and singing, live dramas and practical video moments are all a part of what makes our church a special place! Our pastor presents basic biblical truths in a way that&#39;s relevant to today. Our services reflect our belief that attending church should be an enjoyable, uplifting and meaningful experience that encourages you to develop a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.

&quot;...forget the former things...do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a NewThing! Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.&quot; ...Isaiah 43:18-19</description>
<pubDate>Sat, 3 May 2008 19:47:00  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Your First Visit - Home</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=1</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=1&amp;article_id=39</guid>
<description>


Come to Worship, get directions, dress casual, bring the kids, and let the collection plate pass you by....

Come to Worship... Sunday morning 10:00-11:15am. Either bring your kids directly into worship or check them into the children&#39;s ministry or nursery (follow the direction signs or ask a greeter for directions). If you have youth, Junior High and High School students meet in worship and then are invited together for a lesson. We try hard to engage our youth--they may be in the gym for Sunday Extreme, in our skate church, or helping to lead in worship.

Get Directions... We are meet at the La Quinta High School Theater at 79-255 Westward Ho on the corner of Westward Ho and Dune Palm Drive (look for our direction signs). Look for the pull down for directions and map on our website.

Dress casual... the first thing you&#39;ll notice about us is that we are by no means strictly a suit and tie church. Sure, some folks feel more comfortable dressing in a more formal manner, and that\&#39;s great. But you&#39;ll see people in shorts, sandals, jeans, you name it, we have it. The point is not how you dress for our services, the point is that you are comfortable. Our worship experience is all about making you enjoy your time with us.

Bring the kids...its a sin to bore kids at church. We really believe that! Our kids connection staff works hard to help your kids want to be with us. No experience required for your kids--just come. We strive to make you feel comfortable about sending your kids to our safe, supervised, and fun kid&#39;s program next to the worship center. All our volunteer staff are lovingly trained and for safety, have background checks. 

First &amp; third Sundays, children are in &quot;Family Worship&quot;. Second and fourth Sundays kids go directly to Children&#39;s Choir where they learn songs they perform. Each Sunday, Sunday&#39;s Kid Connection include music, media presentations, arts and crafts, whole group discussions, and most importantly the small group break-out sessions. &quot;Kids Connection&quot;. Relax and send them on down with our qualified children&#39;s ministry leaders. We guarantee on your next visit they will be running for the doors when it&#39;s time to go &quot;Kid&#39;s Connection.&quot;

Let the collection plate pass you by... Our worship services are our gift to you. We appreciate you taking the time out of your busy lives to check us out. When it&#39;s time for our offering, please feel free to let it pass you by and accept this gift from us.

Now with all that out of the way, sit back and enjoy what Cornerstone has to offer. Through special music, multi-media presentations, contemporary music, drama, and practical messages, we present the ageless truths of the Bible in a format that&#39;s easy to understand, even if you&#39;ve never been to church.</description>
<pubDate>Sat, 3 May 2008 19:47:00  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Prayer Requests - Prayer Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=37</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=37&amp;article_id=48</guid>
<description>
If you have a need or someone you know has a need, you&#39;re invited to submit your prayer requests by clicking the email address below.  Your request will be forwarded to one of our church prayer team members. rachc311@verizon.net  or sueslove777@msn.com&quot; The purpose of prayer is not to get what we want, but to become what God wants&quot;.</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 1 May 2008 21:43:37  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Prayer Team - Prayer Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=37</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=37&amp;article_id=53</guid>
<description>


Prayer

No great movement of God thrives without a concerted effort of prayer. We are looking for people who will pray regularly and pray with passion to invite the Lord to move in and through Cornerstone Covenant Church. 

 Will you commit to pray? Let us know. We need your help!

Contact Sue Ash: sueslove777@msn.com</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 1 May 2008 21:42:46  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Prayer Ministry - Prayer Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=33</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=33&amp;article_id=31</guid>
<description>


Prayer

No great movement of God thrives without a concerted effort of prayer. We are looking for people who will pray regularly and pray with passion to invite the Lord to move in and through Cornerstone Covenant Church. 

 Will you commit to pray? Let us know. We need your help!

Contact Sue Ash: sueslove777@msn.com</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 1 May 2008 21:40:20  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Welcome to Cornerstone! - Home</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=1</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=1&amp;article_id=44</guid>
<description>


Welcome, We&#39;re delighted that you visited Cornerstone Covenant Church&#39;s website. Our desire is to make your first visit with us a positive and memorable one. Most of the questions you have will be answered by viewing our website, or visiting our Courtyard Connection following our Sunday worship service. Our Sunday worship times are 10:00 to 11:15 am. If we can assist you in any other way, please call (760) 702-1040.

Together in Christ,

-Pastor Chris

Imagine having a life that is full of meaning. A life that is full of purpose. A life where virtues like love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control are no longer the exception but the rule. Now imagine an entire community of people committed to that same kind of life. Cornerstone Covenant Church is committed to becoming a community of people who are committed to this kind of life.

Take a fresh look at faith through CornerstoneCovenant Church. Our dress is casual, our Sunday worship dynamic, and our messages are designed o make a difference in the world in which ou live. And your kids will love it too!</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:14:20  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Worship Ministry - Sunday Worship</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=26</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=26&amp;article_id=12</guid>
<description>


WorshipSing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
-Psalm 33:3 (NIV)


At Cornerstone Covenant Church, we believe that praise and worship are an active, dynamic, integral link between God and His people. This ministry seeks to serve Him humbly in a spirit of excellence through music and to lead others into His presence so that we glorify God as one body with one voice through one Spirit. Opportunities to be a part of this ministry are available for those gifted with musical ability who have the desire to serve. </description>
<pubDate>Tue, 8 Apr 2008 02:57:53  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Psalm 150 - Worship Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=32</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=32&amp;article_id=32</guid>
<description>
Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.
</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 8 Apr 2008 02:54:35  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Worship - Worship Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=32</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=32&amp;article_id=30</guid>
<description>
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
-Psalm 33:3 (NIV)


At Cornerstone, we believe that praise and worship are an active, dynamic, integral link between God and His people. This ministry seeks to serve Him humbly in a spirit of excellence through music and to lead others into His presence so that we glorify God as one body with one voice through one Spirit. Opportunities to be a part of this ministry are available for those gifted with musical ability who have the desire to serve. </description>
<pubDate>Tue, 8 Apr 2008 02:54:35  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>An Invitation to Christ - Knowing God</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=46</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=46&amp;article_id=63</guid>
<description>


How to Become a Christian

When I think about how to become a Christian, I am reminded of a runaway farm horse that came racing down the road toward me. When he saw me, he dashed off the road and got tangled in a huge bundle of old rusty wire. The more he struggled to free himself, the more tightly he became tangled. Finally he lay helpless, with wires all around him, breathing heavily and snorting with frustration.

Several people tried to untangle him, but as soon as anyone came close, the horse resumed his struggling. Then a man who loved and understood horses arrived on the scene. For a long time he talked quietly to the horse from a distance. Slowly, as he talked he came nearer. When he got close enough he began to pat the horse gently. Soon the horse grew calm enough to permit the man to begin cutting away the wire with a pair of pliers. 


As long as the horse trusted the man and lay quietly, all went well. But whenever he struggled to help free himself, he only made things worse. Finally the horse gave up and let the man cut away the wires until he was free again. Not only was he free - he was also calm enough to let the man lead him back to his owner. 

Life, like this runaway horse, is out of control. Here we are with everything imaginable to entertain us - to make life a paradise. 


Yet these things never seem to bring us peace. The world is full of trouble, and most of the trouble is caused by people. Many of us would like to separate ourselves from those who cause the trouble and think of ourselves as being exceptions, but we can&#39;t do this. None of us is perfectly good, and probably no one is all bad. It is impossible to draw a sharp line between the good and the bad. We are all tangled up with this troubled world because we are part of it. 


As the Bible says, There is no difference, for all have sinned (Romans 3:22-23). God has included all of us among the sinners so he can save us from our entanglement and set us free. 

Jesus said, If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36). We Christians are people who are continually being set free, free to live a satisfying and useful life, free from a troubled conscience, free to be what God intended us to be. Jesus offers us a purpose for living, and he assures us of the freedom to fulfill that purpose. Just like the horse, we must give up the struggle to free ourselves. We must trust Jesus to save us from our entanglement and set us free. 

The Bible tells us: It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). 
Since salvation is a gift from God, it is available to all people on the same basis. It makes no difference what you have done, why you did it, or how bad it was. If you will trust Jesus, he will come to you as the man came to the horse, set you free, forget your past, and lead you back to God. Then he will help you start to live a new, free life. 

God has done everything necessary. 

God has sent his Son, Jesus, who died for sins and rose again. This is the most important truth about the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul explained it this way: For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (I Corinthians 15:3-4). 


God has done everything necessary for us to be saved from our entanglement. He did it for us because he knew we were so deeply entangled that we could never save ourselves. We can only trust him and accept by faith what he has done for us. This is what the Bible calls &quot;the good news.&quot; 


What if we can&#39;t believe in God and in Jesus? 

In these days it is particularly hard to have faith in God because there are so many things all around us to trust in. God seems unreal. Because he knew how hard it would be, he sent his Holy Spirit to convince us how much we need him and to encourage us to turn to him. If we do not have enough faith, God&#39;s Holy Spirit will give us faith. The Holy Spirit gently assures us that God cares, just as the man gently assured the tangled horse that he cared. The Holy Spirit invites us to trust Jesus, just as the man invited the horse to trust him. All we can do is stop struggling and give God a chance. 


What does faith in Jesus mean? 

1) Faith in Jesus means to depend on what Jesus has done. We do this by accepting him as our Savior. Through Jesus&#39; death and resurrection, God offers us the forgiveness of our sins and new life. He asks us to depend on what Jesus has done rather than on what we can do. He asks us to trust in Jesus rather than in ourselves.

2) Faith in Jesus means to trust Jesus enough to repent. We do this by turning to God and confessing that we have sinned by trying to live our own lives without him, and asking him to forgive us. 


The good news from the Bible is: Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19); If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). 


3) Faith in Jesus means to confess Jesus as Lord. We do this by inviting Jesus to take control of our lives and confessing that we recognize him as Lord over all. We may not fully understand what it will mean to follow him, but we will trust him to show us the way as we go along. Even though we may fail often, God will forgive our failures. He will help us to overcome our temptations and to live useful and satisfying lives. 


This is the promise from the Bible: If you confess with your mouth, &quot;Jesus is Lord,&quot; and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). 


To believe &quot;in your heart&quot; means that you want to believe that Jesus is risen from the dead even though you may not be able to do so. If you will tell God how hard it is to believe, he will accept you and help you to trust in him.

To put it simply, we become Christians by believing in Jesus.

This means that:

1) We choose to accept him as our Savior and depend on him rather than on ourselves.

2) We repent of our sins and ask God to forgive us.

3) We turn ourselves over to Jesus, confess him as Lord of all, and invite him to take control over us. Then he helps us to believe that he arose from the dead and is able to lead us through our lives.

The Spirit of God helps us make this choice and even helps us to believe and to obey Jesus. He also gives us God&#39;s gift of salvation. 


Your response to GodOne way to respond to God is to pray to him, either in your own words or in the words of the following prayer: 

   God, I put my faith in what you have done for me through Jesus&#39; death and resurrection. I confess how hard it is for me to believe, but I am trusting you to give me faith.
   I confess that I am a sinner, and I repent and ask your forgiveness. I depend on Jesus to save me from my sins and to give me eternal life.
   I want to obey Jesus as the Lord of my life. I don&#39;t know all that this means, but I will depend on him to show me as I go along. I know I cannot earn the right to be a Christian. I accept this right as a free gift. Thank you that you have forgiven my sins, that you are my heavenly Father, and that you have accepted me as your child. Help me to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. Amen.


If you have just made this decision, welcome to God&#39;s family! God has called you and given you the faith to believe in him, and you have responded to his call. Now you are beginning a new life, a life that you have received as a gift from God. You belong to God and he will give you the strength to live this new life by faith. A good promise to remember is: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).

Since you now belong to God&#39;s family, it will be important for you to become acquainted with other members of this family. Find a pastor and some Christian people who will help you begin your new life as a Christian.
 
Scripture passages are quoted from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Tract written by Wesley W. Nelson.
Copyright &copy; 1989 by Covenant Publications, 3200 West Foster Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60625, (800) 621-1290. </description>
<pubDate>Wed, 2 Apr 2008 16:17:51  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>The Purpose of the Cornerstone Coffee Break Cafe - Cornerstone Coffee Break Cafe</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=65</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=65&amp;article_id=50</guid>
<description>


The pupose of the Coffee Break Cafe is simple. To open up a non-profit neighborhood outreach where people can gather over hot and cold beverages, support local artists, musicians and ministries in a Christ-centered atmosphere and community.

In addition to great gourmet coffees, teas, and sodas, the Cafe also features free Wi-Fi for laptop users, a new kid&#39;s room for parents and children, plenty of tables, comfy chairs and sofas for laptap users with easy access to outlets and space to gather with friends--all this in a Christian environment with background music and videos.

The Cafe acts as Cornestone&#39;s Annex ministry space and offices, Monday - Friday, 8:30am -12:30pm.

Come stop in with a friend... (located at 78-900 Ave 47 in La Quinta, behind the Target Shopping Center) or call (760) 771-9888.</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:32:27  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Bargains of the Desert Thrift Store - 'Bargains' Thrift Store</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=54</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=54&amp;article_id=51</guid>
<description>


Find Your Hidden Treasure... that&#39;s our motto at Bargains of the Desert.

Bargains is a ministry of Cornerstone to our community! Bargains has been there for homeless locals when they needed blankets and warm clothers, for students who need to work community service hours, for volunteers who are looking for a place to serve, and for the person who has been looking for the one thing that they&#39;ve always wanted.

You will also find studnests there working to earn scholarship money for camp. Last year Bargaions helped Cornerstone send 127 students to camp. This year our goal is sending 500 kids to camp!

It&#39;s not just a thrift store... it&#39;s a family... it&#39;s a part of our family.

For more information about donating or volunteering, call Bargains (760) 200-1800 or email Todd MacKerron, our outreach pastor and thrift store director, at tbargains@verizon.net 

Bargains Thrift Store is located in Palm Desert near the intersection of Washington and Country Club in the Wells Fargo Shopping Center.</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:30:12  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Our Leadership - Our Leadership</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=9</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=9&amp;article_id=4</guid>
<description>


Leadership Team: Oversight and Administration of the buisness of our church mission and ministry.Sean Dougherty, Chris Hushaw, Tom Gregory, Wendy Mitre, Mike Rodier, Juanita Savage, Mark Weber, &amp; Bob Wilmeth. Missionary &amp; Pastor at Large: Paul Larsen, Former President of the Evangelical Covenant Church ---------------------------------------------------------------------Cornerstone Ministry Staff:Kimberly Faer, Children&#39;s Ministry DirectorJason Fredgrill, Family Pastor Chris Hushaw, Lead Pastor 

Todd MacKerron, Outreach Ministry Pastor &amp; Bargain&#39;s of the Desert (Thrift Store) Community Outreach Director

Teresa Velin, Nursery Ministry Coordinator

Georgia Terlaje, Worship Arts

</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:57:42  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Our Core Values - Our Core Values</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=27</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=27&amp;article_id=20</guid>
<description>


Biblically Based 
We believe practical, relevant teaching is the catalyst for transformation in individual&#39;s lives. Scripture is inspired by God, completely accurate and our authority regarding Christian beliefs and the guide for Christian living. 

Atmosphere of Acceptance 
We believe all people matter to God and ought to matter to the church.  We want everyone to experience God&#39;s grace &amp; love. 

&quot;Doing Church as a Team&quot;
We believe God&#39;s design for a life giving church is when willing hearts are involved and every person is vital to God&#39;s plan being accomplished.

Children &amp; Youth Ministry We believe ministries to children and teenagers should be given high priority. We are committed to making Cornerstone a center for reaching, encouraging and developing the youth of our area. Covenant Small Group 
We believe that Christian growth, life-change and pastoral care happens best in small groups. We consider it vital that every Christian participate in a small group Bible study. 

Inspiring Worship 
We look for God&#39;s love in our lives as the evidence that we have been truly worshipping Him. We celebrate together with great music, teaching and prayer.Discipleship 
We believe that full devotion to Christ and His cause is normal for every believer. 

Equipping Leaders 
We believe enabling people to discover and develop their gifts is God&#39;s strategy for changing the world!</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:23:48  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Cornerstone--Church. Inside Out. - Prayer Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=37</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=37&amp;article_id=15</guid>
<description>


The LORD works from the inside out. The world works from outside in .

&quot;The world would take people out of the slums. CHRIST takes the slums out of the people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. CHRIST changes men , who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but CHRIST can change human nature.&quot;               --Ezra Taft Benson    </description>
<pubDate>Fri, 8 Feb 2008 00:05:05  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Nursery - Children's Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=11</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=11&amp;article_id=11</guid>
<description>


&quot;Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.&quot; Matthew 19:14

In the Nursery Department, kids (age 0-4 years) are served and taught the ways of the Lord through prayer, worship, and the Word of God.

In a fun, loving, Jesus-centered atmosphere, we co-labor with parents in training up their children through repetition of Bible truths and intercessory prayer. Our goal is that their little hearts are prepared to receive Jesus and experience his love!! 

Where do I go on Sunday Morning?

As you walk up you&#39;ll discover the Children&#39;s Ministry Banner.  Follow the flags to the sign-in table and to our nursery. Or ask one of our wonderful hospitality greeters at the front of the auditorium for directions and they will be happy to walk you to our children&#39;s ministry sign in table and to our nursery.</description>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:02:51  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Our Pastor, Chris Hushaw - Our Pastor</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=42</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=42&amp;article_id=54</guid>
<description>


Vision for Ministry: To join people in the exciting journey of knowing and following Jesus Christ, while equipping them to find delight in glorifying God by serving according to their gifts and call. 

A strong spiritual legacy is as follows...Reinforces spiritual realities Views God as personal and caring Integrates spiritual activities as part of everyday life Discusses Biblical truth as a way to reinforce spiritual commitments

Theme Verse:
&quot;But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.&quot; -Jesus, John 12:32</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:14:18  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Three Steps to Becoming Accountable - Men's Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=27</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=27&amp;article_id=9</guid>
<description>


Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

While your mate should be your primary accountability partner, there also is great benefit in getting &quot;sharpened&quot; by other godly Christians. If you want to see some significant growth in your spiritual maturity this may be the most important step you could take.

I have three suggestions:

First, determine your needs. What are the two or three things that seem to entangle you more than anything else? Is it finances? Lustful thoughts? Overeating? Not spending enough time with the Lord? 

Second, select a mature Christian-of the same sex-who would have the courage to speak the truth and ask you tough questions. This should not be someone who would fear your rejection, or someone who has a weakness in the same area, or someone you feel you can manipulate or control. This is especially important if you are strong-willed or have a powerful personality.

Third, approach this person and ask him to keep you accountable. Here is what you might say: &quot;Bill, I have a problem and I really need your help in an area of my life. I need for you to love me through this and hold my feet to the fire, but not be judgmental. Because, Bill, I really need to get victory over this.&quot;

Finally, meet with this person on a regular basis to set measurable goals and to allow him to ask you how you&#39;re doing. Agree to a list of questions he will ask you. &quot;Frank, have you written out a budget yet?&quot; &quot;Why not?&quot; &quot;When will you do it?&quot; And here&#39;s a powerful one: &quot;Have you lied to me at all today?&quot;

If you&#39;re trying to mature in Christ and gain victory over sin by yourself, you&#39;re missing it! Praise God that He has given us the body of Christ...to strengthen us, encourage us and keep us accountable!

Discuss: What are your greatest needs that would lead you to find an accountability partner? Who are potential accountability partners you could approach?

Pray: That God would lead you to people who He can use to sharpen you.</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:09:53  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Game Plan Men's Group - Men's Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=27</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=27&amp;article_id=6</guid>
<description>


Men&#39;s Group Game of Life
Each 4th Monday of the Month, 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM


Game Time! Jesus cuts through to the deepest issues of life with the game plan. God&#39;s Game Plan is laid out in the Bible. Are you in the game? If not, then why not join the team and run for the prize?

Contact Tom Gregory for more info: tom@gregoryplace.net</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:09:53  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Leadership Team - Launch Team</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=15</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=15&amp;article_id=36</guid>
<description>
LEADERSHIP CHANGES
We&#39;re excited to announce that our first elder leadership team is in place. 
Mark Weber-Chair, Admin. Oversight
Dick Chavarria-Vice Chair, Pastor/Staff Relationship Team, Outreach, Promotions
Wendy Mitre-Secretary, Hospitality, Charter Membership, Facility
Bob Wilmeth-Treasurer, Sunday HUB Setup Team, Prayer Ministry
Juanita Savage-Children&#39;s Ministry, Women&#39;s Ministry
Mike Rodier-Sunday Hub Set Team, Worship Team
Sean Dougherty-Stewardship Development Team, Pastor/Staff Relationship Team 
Tom Gregory-Small Group Ministry, Discipleship Campaigns, 

We praise God for both the leaders who are stepping down for a well deserved rest and those who are called to lead!
</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:06:09  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Church Planting Story - Launch Team</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=15</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=15&amp;article_id=26</guid>
<description>


What a great journey we all are undertaking in becoming a part of this new church community. It is an exciting time in our new church.

As Cornerstone Covenant Church moves forward in serving the important needs in our area we are growing into a fun, caring, community based church &quot;in the neighborhood&quot; while maintaining deep roots and support in the Covenant Church.  This support helped us get started and now as we focus on growing into the church we want to be; we need to reach out to neighbors, friends and family that are continuing to search for something more and invite them to become a part of our community church.

I&#39;m excited to have my family be a part of this church plant as I believe my family&#39;s core values match nicely with Cornerstone&#39;s.  As discussed in a recent leadership meeting Cornerstone is focusing around the 3 C&#39;s; to Celebrate in Worship, Connect in small groups and Contribute toward enhancing Family Life.

I hope that everyone that attends our services on Sunday&#39;s feels welcomed and empowered to become a part of our mission.  It is exciting to make new friends and build relationships in an environment based in Scripture and in love and fellowship.

As we move down our various paths in life, it&#39;s important for us all be a part of bringing up the next generation with a solid set of core values.  Cornerstone helps me and my family plant those values and nurture them to grow.

Thanks Cornerstone Family!

Mark Weber</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:06:09  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Important Core Group Gathering Meeting - Launch Team</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=15</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=15&amp;article_id=3</guid>
<description>


We&#39;re Planting a Church! I need your help. Join our Minisry Core Group the first Wednesday of each month and help launch this new movement of God.

Our Core Group Meetings are a time to:
1) Pray together.
2) Build relationships with one another.
3) A time of Bible Study focused on our mission and values as a church.
4) The development of ministry teams (see below) to prepare our 3 monthly &quot;Preview Services&quot; (check our website for dates and times). 

We&#39;ll see you there! 

&quot;I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.&quot; Philippians 1:3-6

Together in Christ,
-Chris Hushaw, Pastor
LAUNCH MINISTRY TEAMS FOR LA QUINTA COMMUNITY CHURCH:

As a new church, you cannot compete on all fronts with established churches that have large programs. You can, however, decide to focus on a limited number of areas and concentrate on excellence in those few initial ministries. We call these our LAUNCH MINISTRY TEAMS. This is the opportunity to be on the ground level of making one of these ministries take shape and get off the ground. You will not, in most cases, continue to serve in this specific area for the rest of your life at Cornerstone, unless you are a rare diehard for that specific ministry. Here is a taste of what these launch teams look like.

CELEBRATION WORSHIP MINISTRY TEAM: 
Worship Team Captain
Musicians &amp; Singers
Setup and tear down specific to worship team
Tech: lights, sound board, video, power point, etc.
Stage Manager

HOSPITALITY MINISTRY TEAM: 
Team Captain
Setup / Take down
Road Warriors (parking attendants)
Ushers (seat people)
Food Service: Preparations, servers (this makes huge impact)

WELCOME MINISTRY TEAM: 
Team Captain
Greeters: near the parking lot, at the building at the door with bulletins
Name Tag table
Ministry Info tables
Information table with directions and escorts

CHILDREN &amp; YOUTH MINISTRY TEAMS: 
Team Captain
Nursery: newborn - crawlers: leaders and helpers
Early childhood ministry: walkers - 2&#39;s, 3&#39;s, 4&#39;s, Kindergarten: leaders and helpers
Children&#39;s ministry: 1st - 5th grade: leaders and helpers

Youth ministry: Jr. and Sr. High school: mentors, adult supervisors
Admin to keep names and addresses straight
Note: all those working with children and teens will be required to have fingerprints on file with Cornerstone and an informational application completed. These can be obtained at a future date TBA.

SMALL GROUP OUTPOST TEAM:
Team Captain
Creating and supporting small group outpost that will build relationships, nurture the faith, and have fun together. These are the heart beat of Cornerstone. 

FOLLOW UP MINISTRY TEAM: 
Team Captain
Assimilation Team: 
Thank you for coming letters, gifts, invites to come back etc.
Connection Events: Cornerstone ConnectionPoint Gatherings and Discovery Seminars
I raised my hand ministry: table, phone calls, spiritual direction

PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM: 
Team Captain
For and/or during Sunday services
For Pastoral staff and volunteers
For community: i.e. Prayer walks, meetings
For individuals during Sunday morning services
Plan prayer events

ADMINISTRATIVE MINISTRY TEAM: 
Team Captain
Make weekly bulletins
Stuff weekly bulletins
Data entry
Admin to a specific ministry area
GATHERING &amp; GROWING MINISTRY TEAM: Team Coach

OUTREACH MINISTRY: 
Team Captain
Encouraging outsiders to come and see
Church body events: encouraging insiders to come and connect
Growth events: encouraging all people towards spiritual growth


 We&#39;ll cover some key topics for the upcoming launch, including handing out our new Invitation Cards and training folks for our Launch Sunday as we invite the community into our fellowship.

Join us this Sunday as we continue to pray, plan and prepare for the launch of our new Cornerstone on December 11th, but we need your help to bring it together!

Our Core Group Meetings are a time to:
1) Pray together.
2) Build relationships with one another.
3) A time of Bible Study focused on our mission and values as a church.
4) The development of ministry teams (see below) to prepare our 3 monthly &quot;Preview Services&quot; starting Sunday, December 11th at 10:00am.

Together let&#39;s build the Kingdom! Let me know how you can help.

Pastor Chris Hushaw</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:06:09  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Sunday Youth Minstry - Children's Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=11</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=11&amp;article_id=22</guid>
<description>


Sunday AM Youth Group.  

Is it possible to be a Christian and still have fun?  Yes!  But how do you do that?  We meet Sundays to explore what it means to be a student and to live for God. We offer great music, crazy games, weird prizes and much more!  Your time at youth group will also include a cool lesson aimed at helping you understand the amazing life that Jesus Christ offers.

 Weekly Youth Group

Junior High Impact meets Tuesdays from 6:00 - 8:00pm.   It is easy to feel overwhelmed and &quot;lost&quot; in a big crowd. Tuesday is a time to get plugged in and meet new people.  At Small Group, we offer a cool Bible Study aimed at Middle School students, along with great snacks, crazy games and a great place to hang out with your friends along with making new ones.  

High School Youth Group, called the Fuse, meets Thursdays from 7:00 - 8:30pm.  The Fuse will challenge High School age students with a relevant Bible Study aimed to challenge and prepare students to know what they believe and how to defend their beliefs in an ever-changing world.  Oh Yeah, we also provide dinner (burgers, pizza, etc.)  The Fuse is a great place to build accountability with your friends.

Student Leadership!  We are looking for students who no longer want to be part of the crowd, but on the front lines of Youth Ministry.  We want you to use your gifts and talents!  If you are interested in leading through worship, tech, drama or any other area where you feel you can help, let us know! 

Volunteers!  Do you want to make an impact in the lives of students?  Then we are looking for you.  You may think that you are not cut out to do it, but you would be surprised!  We need adult leaders who are willing to help on Sunday mornings, at Bible Studies and special events.

We also have a lot of fun on special events as we travel to summer and winter camps, go to Spirit West Coast, river trips, beach excursions and tons of other outrageous events in and out of town.  Check the calendar to see what event is coming up next.

For more information on anything mentioned above contact Pastor Jason Fredregill at 760-799-5190 or thefreds77@yahoo.com.</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:03:28  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Children's Ministry Mission @ Cornerstone - Children's Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=11</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&amp;id=11&amp;article_id=17</guid>
<description>
Kid Connection is more than Sunday school. We are a place where a child can live out their faith in Jesus Christ and have positive experiences through multi-sensory Bible learning. The Bible is our final source and inspiration as we carefully plan each and every Sunday. Sunday&#39;s Kid Connection include music, media presentations, arts and crafts, whole group discussions, and most importantly the small group break-out sessions. We believe that every person is a child of God who He carefully placed in our care to further their faith journey. We are a positive place for them to come to worship God.  Our primary focus is on the child and their family. Our ministry assists families by supporting them and giving them the knowledge and spiritual guidance needed to raise strong spiritual children. </description>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:03:28  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>CCC Student Ministries - CCC Student Ministries</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=37</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=37&amp;article_id=46</guid>
<description>


Welcome!

To find out more about Student Ministries at Cornerstone Covenant Church please go to www.cccyouthministries.com

God Bless, 

Jason Fredregill

Family Youth Pastor</description>
<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jul 2007 19:01:53  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>A Connecting Church - ChuchPlanting Movement</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=40</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=40&amp;article_id=49</guid>
<description>


&quot;Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.&quot;  -Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

&quot;The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.&quot; -1 Corinthians 12:12

The Biblical Mandate of Connection and Community 

In our Chrisitan community, too many individuals and too many independent churches are going at alone. In doing so, they are missing out in the biblical mandate of connecting in community to establish and advance the Lord&#39;s Kingdom purposes. 

With this in mind, Cornerstone is connected to a larger Chrisitan church planting movement moving throughout the United States and through global missions. The Evangelical Covenant Church is a denomination of more than 750 churches in the United States and Canada and is curretly the fastest growing denomination in America. It was founded by Swedish immigrants in 1885 as a voluntary covenant of churches committed to working together to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Covenant churches emphasize the Bible\&#39;s witness to new life in Jesus Christ expressed in a day to day walk with the Lord.  Today, it is one of the fastest growing denominations and simultaneously, continues to be committed to be &quot;kingdom minded&quot; and many of the similar values that Cornerstone cherishes:  diversity, justice and compassion, churchplanting and global missions.  It is arguably one of the most diverse denominations with at least 20% being ethnic/multiethnic churches. Below is a summary of the ECC.

What is a Covenant Church? 

Evangelical, but not exclusive 

Biblical, but not doctrinaire 

Traditional, but not rigid 

Congregational, but not independent 


The Covenant Mission

We are united by Christ in a holy covenant of churches empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey the Great Commandments and the Great Commission: 

...to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind; 

...to love our neighbor as ourselves, and 

...to go into all the world and make disciples. 

Introduction 

The Evangelical Covenant Church of America has its roots in historical Christianity as it emerged in the Protestant Reformation, in the biblical instruction of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, and in the great spiritual awakenings of the nineteenth century. We are an apostolic church. We confess the historic faith of the Apostles. We believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God, our Savior and Lord. We accept the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as &quot;the Word of God and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct.&quot; We are a catholic church. We see ourselves to be part of the universal church of Jesus Christ from the days of the apostles until now. We are a reformation church. We stand in the mainstream of the sixteenth century Protestant movement which insisted on justification by grace alone through faith alone. We are an evangelical church. We were born out of the revival movement that touched all of Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and came to flower for us in nineteenth and twentieth-century America. 

Appreciating this classical Christian heritage and hungering for an ever more vital experience of new life in Christ, Covenanters affirm a number of evangelical emphases. Among these are: 

1. The centrality of the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as the authoritative Word of God and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct. We believe it is essential to the life of the Church that it be a company of people who want, above all else, that their lives be shaped by the powerful and living Word of God. The alternative is clear. Not to be shaped by the Word of God is to be shaped by the world. 

2. The necessity of the new birth for entrance into God\&#39;s kingdom, and the importance of continuing growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ for sound spiritual health. Jesus said, &quot;Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God&quot; (John 3:3). He also said, &quot;If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free&quot; (John 8:332). 

3. The Church as a fellowship of believers, characterized by mutual participation in and sharing of the new life in Christ. Membership is by confession of personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is open to all believers. Considerations of class or race, education or pedigree, wealth or prestige do not enter. Uniformity in creedal details is not expected. What is required is that one be &quot;born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead&quot; (1 Peter 1:3). &quot;The doors of the church are wide enough to admit all who believe and narrow enough to exclude those who do not,&quot; said our forebears. We affirm no less today. 

4. The ministry of the Holy Spirit, who with the Father and the Son calls the church into being, empowers its witness, guides its mission, and supplies the gifts needed by the Church and its members to exalt Christ. 

5. The reality of freedom in Christ, who delivers us from the power of sin and moves us by his grace into a whole new experience of obedience and life. This freedom creates an ecclesiastical climate which allows for differences of opinion in matters of interpretation, doctrine, and practice within the context of biblical guidelines and historical Christianity. Such freedom &quot;is to be distinguished from the individualism that disregards the centrality of the Word of God and the mutual responsibilities and disciplines of the spiritual community&quot; (Preamble to the Constitution). 

Affirmations like these are not to be taken as creedal statements. They are rather to be understood as true and valid descriptions of what Covenanters believe and cherish as they continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of God, awaiting that day when &quot;the kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever&quot; (Revelation 11:15).

Check out the national website at: www.covchurch.org

Check out the regioinal Conference website at: www.pswc.org</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 5 Jul 2007 04:04:51  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Knowing God - Knowing God</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=38</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=38&amp;article_id=47</guid>
<description>


Hi!  I am so glad that you decided to learn more about how having a relationship with God.

How to Know God



1. Realize that you are a sinner.
No matter how good a life we try to live, we still fall miserably short of being a good person.  That is because we are all sinners.  We all fall short of God&#39;s desire for us to be holy.  The Bible says, &quot;No one is good-not even one&quot; (Romans 3:10 NLT).  This is because we cannot become who we are supposed to be without Jesus Christ.

2. Recognize that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you.
The Bible tells us, &quot;But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while were still sinners&quot; (Romans 5:8 NLT).  This is the Good News, that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place when we least deserved it.
 
3. Admit your sin.
The Bible tells us to &quot;repent and be converted&quot; (Acts 3:19 NKJV).  The word repent means to change our direction in life.  Instead of running from God, we can run toward Him.
 
4. Receive Jesus Christ into your life.
Becoming a Christian is not merely believing some creed or going to church on Sunday.  It is having Christ Himself living in your life and heart.  Jesus said, &quot;Behold, I stand at the door (of your life) and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in . . . .&quot; (Revelation 3:20 NKJV).

If you would like to have a relationship with Christ, simply pray this prayer and mean it in your heart.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner.  I believe you died for my sins.  Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life.  I confess you as my personal Lord and Savior.  Thank you for saving me.  Amen.

If you just prayed that prayer and meant it, Jesus Christ has now taken residence in your heart!  Your decision to follow Christ means God has forgiven you and that you will spend eternity in heaven.  The Bible tells us, &quot;If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness&quot; (1 John 1:9 NKJV). 

To put your faith in action, be sure to spend time with God by reading your Bible, praying, going to church, getting involved in youth group and telling others about Christ. </description>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2007 16:28:15  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>The Goal of Covenant Small Groups at Cornerstone - Covenant Small Groups</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=34</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=34&amp;article_id=38</guid>
<description>


Sometimes we mistakenly think the Christian life is primarily about entrance to heaven. We&#39;re content with conversion when God is calling for transformation. Rather than expecting the kingdom of God to revolutionize lives today, we hope it will happen in heaven tomorrow.

Somewhere along the line we swapped out Jesus&#39; gospel-through him we can be transformed into citizens of the kingdom of God, right now, today-for a gospel of heaven&#39;s minimum entrance requirement.

When Paul writes about being &quot;morphed&quot; in Romans 12:2, he gives a command, but in passive voice. He doesn&#39;t say, &quot;Transform yourself&quot;; he says, &quot;Be transformed.&quot; We can&#39;t make transformation happen ourselves; it is something God does to us. But what then is our role in it-personally and in our churches?

1 Corinthians 9:25 says, &quot;Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.&quot; Here is the reason many people give up on transformation or accept boundary markers as pseudo-transformation: we spend ourselves trying to be transformed, when the Bible calls us to train to be transformed.

There is an enormous difference between trying to do something versus training to do it. Take for example a marathon. How many of us could run a marathon right now? Even if we tried, really, really hard? But many of us could run a marathon eventually, if instead we trained for it.

Too often in our churches, people hear us talk about what an amazing person Jesus is. They leave thinking, I&#39;ve got to try hard to be like him. We&#39;re unwittingly setting them up for frustration. When the trying proves ineffective, they eventually quit or rely on external trivialities to pretend they&#39;re transformed. Authentic spiritual transformation begins with training, with discipline. As we train ourselves in godliness, we begin to overcome the limits of sinful patterns. The purpose of that discipline is always freedom-training myself to be free of the obstacles that hinder my transformation.

Training means arranging life around those activities that enable us to do what we cannot do now, even by extreme effort. Significant human transformation always involves training, not just trying. That is the goal of Covenant Small Groups. We can only be transformed when we spend time training.</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 4 Jan 2007 22:16:16  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Map &amp; Directions - Map &amp; Directions</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=15</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=15&amp;article_id=6</guid>
<description>
Cornerstone Covenant Churchmeeting at La Quinta High School Theater79255 Westward Ho Drive</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2006 01:12:38  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>No Title - Biblical Community</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=21</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=21&amp;article_id=12</guid>
<description>
Seven Functions of Living out Biblical Community in Our Covenant Small Group 

SPIRITUAL FORMATION
As a Biblical Community, we will commit ourselves to our growth and development in Christ. We will confess our areas of struggles to one another and set personal goals for our growth in Christ in the year to come as we personally coach and encourage one another to grow in our understanding of our Christian life and expect results that glorify Christ and expand his Kingdom. Through the year, we will share our progress and encourage one another monthly in our pursuit of Christ-likeness.

EVANGELISM
Each person within the Small Group Outposts will commit to pray for at least three Seekers within their neighborhood, work or school using the prayer, care, and share model of reaching out to others in our spheres of influence with God&#39;s love. As a Biblical Community, we will pray together monthly in our Covenant Small Group for our seeker&#39;s personal request. We will hold one another accountable to prayerfully touch those seeker households quarterly. We desire to win at least one household to Christ each year.

RECREATION
Home Groups and Community Groups that recreate together will find opportunity for spontaneous and genuine expressions of Christian beliefs, practices and virtues. Inviting non-believers and unconnected people to these recreational activities can often bridge the gap between isolation and connection. 

VOLUNTEERISM
As members of this Biblical Community, we will commit ourselves to support the greater Body of Christ through involvement in ministries such as youth, children, worship, and missions in the community and beyond. We will celebrate what God is doing in the greater Body of Christ through our celebration worship as well as connecting with other Christian churches to fulfill the Great Commission in the Coachella Valley, Riverside Country and to the ends of the world. Using Jesus&#39; example of servant leadership, it is the hope and expectation that every person at Cornerstone volunteer in some area.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS
As an expression of our desire to share Christ with the world, our Biblical Community will support monthly at least one International Missions Project through increased awareness, commitment to prayer, and financial contributions. 

CARE
The foundation of Biblical Community will be our commitment to care for one another. This will manifest itself in practical help to those in difficult and crisis situations through such things as prayer, hospital or home visits, meal preparation, and the like.

EXTENDING COMPASSION
In response to the social needs of our community, each Covenant Small Group will commit to participation in at least four onsite compassion projects as families through the year. Monthly, these Small Group Outposts will select, prepare for, or celebrate their involvement in their compassion project.</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2006 00:42:23  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>A Living Church - Who We Are</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=2</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=2&amp;article_id=14</guid>
<description>
Imagine having a life that is full of meaning. A life that is full of purpose. A life where virtues like love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control are no longer the exception but the rule. Now imagine an entire community of people committed to that same kind of life.  Cornerstone Covenant Church is committed to becoming a community of people who are committed to this kind of life.

Cornerstone is a place to discover how the Gospel impacts real life. If you&#39;re investigating Christianity, you&#39;ll find a safe and refreshing place to ask the most important questions about God. If you&#39;re a committed Christian, you&#39;ll love a church that exists to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ above all.

                 Be careful - a church like this could change your life.

The ministry and relationships at Cornerstone depend entirely on the Word of God. As a result, you will discover relevant, in-depth, Biblical preaching and teaching for every age combined with a &quot;community of grace&quot; where we learn together how to live faithfully and joyfully in real life.

Whatever your background, you will be refreshed by the Word of God and you will find good friends to connect with. Our dress is casual, our Sunday worship dynamic, and our messages are designed to make a difference in the world in which you live. And your kids will love it too! 

Our dress is casual, our Sunday worship dynamic, and our messages are designed o make a difference in the world in which ou live. And your kids will love it too! We&#39;re looking forward to meeting you!  next&gt;</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2006 00:31:05  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Our Affiliation - Our Affiliation</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=28</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=28&amp;article_id=21</guid>
<description>




About the Evangelical Covenant Church

With its roots in the Protestant Reformation and the home Bible study movement in Sweden, the Evangelical Covenant is a growing denomination that adheres to the affirmation of historical Christianity regarding the Bible as the Word of God and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct. The Covenant Church believes the following:

1. The centrality of the Word of God (II Timothy 3:16)
2. The necessity of the new birth in Christ (John 3:3, 14:6)
3. The church as a fellowship of believers (I Corinthians 12:12-13)
4. A conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25)
5. The reality of freedom in Christ (John 8:31-32, Galatians 5:1)

What makes the Covenant unique from other denominations is the fact that while it strongly affirms the clear teaching of the Word of God, it allows the believers the personal freedom to have varying interpretations on issues that are not clearly presented in the Bible.

Find out more information at http://www.covchurch.org/
</description>
<pubDate>Wed, 5 Apr 2006 02:48:16  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Our Mission - Our Mission</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=17</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=17&amp;article_id=15</guid>
<description>
To transform people through the work of the Holy Spirit into fully developing followers of Christ. We are convinced that a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is the best way to live. That&#39;s why we&#39;re so deeply committed to carrying out our mission. Everything that we do is geared toward helping people have the quality of life that God designed for them.</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2006 03:11:53  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Our Ministry - Our Ministry</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=19</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=19&amp;article_id=10</guid>
<description>
We have a threefold approach to helping you become a fully developing follower of Christ. 1.     Inspiration&middot;        Inspiration is an important part of church life. We are dedicated through the ministry of the Word and the ministry of Worship to inspire you toward greater inspiration in your spiritual journey.Inspiration could come in the form of renewed hope, a sense of awe, encouragement to obey God or a conviction of a way of life.2.  Instruction&middot;        Instruction is foundational to healthy Christian development. We are dedicated to helping you increase in biblical knowledge, biblical wisdom and practical application of the Word of God. Strong and growing followers of Christ study the Bible for themselves and share their discoveries with others. Our primary environment for this type of instruction is found in our Home Groups. These groups of 10 to 12 people dig deeper into the biblical passages presented in the Worship Service. These groups will provide a forum for you to ask questions about God&#39;s Word and gain answers from others who are passionate about deepening their spiritual understanding. They are the primary arena that spiritual gifts are found and nurtured for the building up of the Body of Christ.3.     Involvement&middot;        Involvement allows you to put your faith into action. We are dedicated to helping you get involved with other followers of Christ in a meaningful way. We do this through our Small Group Outposts. These groups meet in homes, in restaurants, in schools, and wherever else people meet during the week and are great places to &quot;be the church to one another.&quot; Getting involved in an Outpost allows you to live out your faith by encouraging, serving, challenging, and caring for others. </description>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Dec 2005 01:59:04  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Links - Links</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=14</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=14&amp;article_id=5</guid>
<description>
Cool Links for Kidswww.biblegateway.comwww.purelifeministries.orgwww.salvationarmyusa.org/traffickingwww.shelleylubben.comwww.xxxchurch.comwww.injesus.comwww.persecution.comwww.dailyway.comwww.townhall.comwww.angel-stardust.com/poems/ifiknew.htmlwww.billygraham.orgwww.the-cutting-edge.orgwww.crosswalk.comwww.gordondouglasisfunny.comwww.actnow.saferworld.org       </description>
<pubDate>Wed, 7 Dec 2005 11:42:02  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Launch Teams for La Quinta Community Church - Launch Teams</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=31</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=31&amp;article_id=23</guid>
<description>
As a new church, you cannot compete on all fronts with established churches that have large programs. You can, however, decide to focus on a limited number of areas and concentrate on excellence in those few initial ministries. We call these our LAUNCH MINISTRY TEAMS. This is the opportunity to be on the ground level of making one of these ministries take shape and get off the ground. You will not, in most cases, continue to serve in this specific area for the rest of your life at La Quinta Community Church, unless you are a rare diehard for that specific ministry. Here is a taste of what these launch teams look like.CELEBRATION WORSHIP MINISTRY TEAM: Worship Team CoachMusicians &amp; SingersSetup and tear down specific to worship teamTech: lights, sound board, video, power point, etc.Stage ManagerHOSPITALITY MINISTRY TEAM: Team CoachSetup / Take downRoad Warriors (parking attendants)Ushers (seat people)Food Service: Preparations, servers (this makes huge impact)WELCOME MINISTRY TEAM: Team CoachGreeters: near the parking lot, at the building at the door with bulletinsName Tag tableMinistry Info tablesInformation table with directions and escortsCHILDREN &amp; YOUTH MINISTRY TEAMS: Team CoachNursery: newborn - crawlers: leaders and helpersEarly childhood ministry: walkers - 2&#39;s, 3&#39;s, 4&#39;s, Kindergarten: leaders and helpersChildren&#39;s ministry: 1st - 5th grade: leaders and helpersYouth ministry: Jr. and Sr. High school: mentors, adult supervisorsAdmin to keep names and addresses straightNote: all those working with children and teens will be required to have fingerprints on file with LQCC and an informational application completed. These can be obtained at a future date TBA.SMALL GROUP OUTPOST TEAM:Team CoachThese are Gathering &amp; Growing Ministries. Creating and supporting small group outpost that will build relationships, nurture the faith, and have fun together. These are the heart beat of LQCC. These Small Group Outposts gives us a way toExperience Christian community.To care for each other and equip all for the Christian live.To meet with each other in accountable relationships.To develop leaders who can shepherd others at every essential seasons of life.To involve ever person in ministry and to witness to the lost and hurting world. FOLLOW UP MINISTRY TEAM: Team CoachConnectionTeam: Thank you for coming letters, gifts, invites to come back etc.Connection EventsI raised my hand ministry: table, phone calls, spiritual directionPRAYER MINISTRY TEAM: Team CoachFor and/or during Sunday servicesFor Pastoral staff and volunteersFor community: i.e. Prayer walks, meetingsFor individuals during Sunday morning servicesPlan prayer eventsADMINISTRATIVE MINISTRY TEAM: Team CoachMake weekly bulletinsStuff weekly bulletinsData entryAdmin to a specific ministry areaGATHERING &amp; GROWING MINISTRY TEAM: Team CoachOUTREACH MINISTRY: encouraging outsiders to come and seeChurch body events: encouraging insiders to come and connectGrowth events: encouraging all people towards spiritual growth</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 6 Dec 2005 00:44:33  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>How to Know God - How To Know God</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=29</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=29&amp;article_id=22</guid>
<description>
THE ANSWER: WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? There is a wonderful book which contains everything we need to know to live our lives the way our Creator intended (II Timothy 3:16,17). There are countless truths to live by found in this book, God&#39;s message to mankind, but if we were to boil everything down to its most basic message, this book, the Bible, makes three things clear... First, the Bible says that mankind has a problem, and that problem is called sin. Sin is any action or attitude that falls short of God&#39;s perfect standard. Every one of us has the problem of sin (Romans 3:23). And the Bible teaches us that there is a consequence to sin - sin separates us from a holy God (Habakkuk 1:13). In fact, the Bible tells us that end result of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and that there is nothing that we ourselves can do to solve the problem of sin. Second, the Bible says that there is a solution to the problem of sin, and that solution is the person of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). The Bible tells us that God loved us so much that he sent Jesus, His only Son, to die in our place (John 3:16). Jesus paid the penalty of your sin so that you would not have to be forever separated from God (I John 4:10). The Bible also tells us that Jesus is the only solution for our sin problem (John 14:6). Third, the Bible demands a decision. It is not enough to just know about Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for you. You must choose to put your trust in Christ, to receive this free gift of salvation that God offers (John 1:12). All of us have the problem of sin. There is only one solution to the problem - the person of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for us. Every one of us must decide... What will you do with Jesus Christ? THE DECISION: WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS CHRIST? You must make a decision. What are your options? There are only three possible answers to this question: 1. To say yes, to accept God&#39;s free gift of salvation by putting your trust in Jesus Christ. 2. To say no, to reject God&#39;s offer of salvation. The Bible says that those who make this choice will spend eternity separated from God in a place called Hell. 3. To say maybe, to try to put off the decision to a more convenient time. The Bible does say that God is patient, wanting everyone to come to the point of accepting His gift of salvation (II Peter 3:9). But none of us is promised that we will be here tomorrow, and because of this &quot;x-factor&quot; of death, trying to put off our decision by saying maybe automatically puts us in the &quot;no&quot; category. So, in reality, there are only two answers to the question, &quot;What will you do with Jesus Christ?&quot; To accept His free gift of salvation or to reject that gift. Let me ask you, &quot;What have you done with Jesus Christ?&quot; If you have never accepted God&#39;s offer of eternal life, I can think of no better time than right now (II Corinthians 6:2). If you would like to say yes to Christ, you can do it right now, wherever you are, whatever you are doing. Join me in our prayer room to talk to Him and invite Him into your life. The invitation is open - you can accept the gift of salvation and get rid of the sin in your life. It doesn&#39;t matter what you&#39;re doing or what you&#39;ve done. The offer is open to everyone. Please accept it IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST RIGHT NOW, RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE, YOU NEED ONLY ASK HIM... If you&#39;ve come this far, you probably realize you&#39;re about to make the most important decision of your life. Jesus said, &quot;Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.&quot; He also said, &quot;whoever comes to me I will never drive away.&quot; So if you ask Him, you will be accepted. The way believers talk to the Lord is through prayer. Your prayer should be your own, from your own heart to His. If you&#39;re not in the habit of praying, though, you may need an example. An example of such a prayer may go something like this: Father in Heaven,I know that I am a sinnerand need forgiveness.I believe that Your Son Jesusdied in my place,to pay the penalty for my sin,and rose again for my salvation.I want to turn from my sinful ways,so I now ask you,Lord Jesus, to comeinto my life as my Saviorand my Lord.In Jesus name I pray, Amen.The Bible says, &quot;Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.&quot; So if you have asked Him into your life, and believe He died to save you, you are a Christian, bound for Heaven. The difficulties of living as a Christian in a sinful world are many. Therefore it is essential that you immediately seek other sincere, Bible-believing Christians to help you sustain your resolve. Both individual Christian friends and a solidly Bible-based Christian church are essential. If you have taken this all-important step, please... Stop in and let me welcome you to the family </description>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Dec 2005 01:41:51  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Growing in the 10 Core Christian Virtues - 10 Christian Virtues</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=26</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=26&amp;article_id=19</guid>
<description>
10 Core Virtues - Loving God and Neighbor1. Gentleness &middot;        I am thoughtful, considerate and calm in dealing with others.Philippians 4:5, &quot;Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.&quot;2. Faithfulness&middot;        I have established a good name with God and with others based on my long-term loyalty to those relationships.Proverbs 3:3-4, &quot;Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.&quot;3. Hope&middot;        I can cope with the hardships of life and with death because of the hope I have in Jesus Christ.Hebrews 6:19-20, &quot;We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.&quot;4. Joy&middot;        I have inner contentment and purpose in spite of my circumstances.John 15:11, &quot;I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.&quot;5. Love&middot;        I sacrificially and unconditionally love and forgive others.1 John 4:10-12, &quot;This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.&quot;6. Peace&middot;        I am free from anxiety because things are right between God, myself and others.Philippians 4:6-7, &quot;Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.&quot;7. Self-Control&middot;        I have the power, through Christ, to control myself.Titus 2:11-13, &quot;11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say &quot;No&quot; to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.&quot;8. Humility&middot;        I choose to esteem others above myself.Philippians 2:3-4, &quot;Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.&quot;9. Patience&middot;        I take a long time to overheat and endure patiently under the unavoidable pressures of life.Proverbs 14:29, &quot;A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.&quot;10. Kindness/Goodness&middot;        I choose to do the right things in my relationships with others.1 Thessalonians 5:15, &quot;Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.&quot;next &gt;</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Dec 2005 01:34:49  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Living out the 10 Core Practices of the Christian life - 10 Core Practices</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=25</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=25&amp;article_id=18</guid>
<description>
10 Core Practices - Loving God and Neighbor1. Bible Study &middot;        I study the Bible to know God, the truth, and to find direction for my daily life.Hebrews 4:12, &quot;For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.&quot;2. Biblical Community&middot;        I fellowship with other Christians to accomplish God&#39;s purposes in my life, others&#39; lives, and in the world.Acts 2:44-47, &quot;All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as He had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.&quot;3. Giving Away My Faith&middot;        I give away my faith to fulfill God&#39;s purposes.Ephesians 6:19-20, &quot;Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.&quot;4. Giving Away My Life&middot;        I give away my life to fulfill God&#39;s purposes.Romans 12:1, &quot;Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God&#39;s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.&quot;5. Giving Away My Time&middot;        I give away my time to fulfill God&#39;s purposes.Colossians 3:17, &quot;And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.&quot;6. Prayer&middot;        I pray to God to know Him, to lay my request before Him and to find direction for my daily life.Psalm 66:16-20, &quot;Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me. I cried out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!&quot;7. Spiritual Gifts&middot;        I know and use my spiritual gifts to accomplish God&#39;s purposesRomans 12:4-6, &quot;Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.&quot;8. Worship&middot;        I worship God for who He is and what He has done for me.Psalm 95:1-7, &quot;Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.&quot;9. Single-mindedness&middot;        I focus on God and His priorities for my life.Matthew 6:33, &quot;But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.&quot;10. Giving Away My Money&middot;        I give away my money to fulfill God&#39;s purposes.2 Corinthians 8:7, &quot;But just as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us, see that you also excel in this grace of giving.&quot;next &gt;</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Dec 2005 01:31:30  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Teaching the 10 Core Beliefs of the Bible - 10 Core Beliefs</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=24</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=24&amp;article_id=17</guid>
<description>
10 Core Beliefs - Loving God and Neighbor1. Authority of the Bible &middot;        I believe the Bible is the Word of God and has the right to command my belief and action.2 Timothy 3:16-17, &quot;All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.&quot;2. Church &middot;        I believe the church is God&#39;s primary way to accomplish His purposes on earth today and God&#39;s delivery system to the world..Ephesians 4:15-16, &quot;Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.&quot;3. Compassion&middot;        I believe God calls all Christians to show compassion to those in need.Psalm 82:3-4, &quot;Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.&quot;4. Eternity&middot;        I believe there is a heaven and a hell and that Jesus Christ is returning to judge the earth and to establish His eternal kingdom.John 14:1-4, &quot;Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father&#39;s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.&quot;5. Humanity&middot;        I believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Savior.John 3:16, &quot;For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.&quot;6. Identity in Christ &middot;        I believe I am significant because of my position as a child of God.John 1:12, &quot;Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.&quot;7. Personal God&middot;        I believe God is involved in and cares about my daily life.Psalm 121:1-2, &quot;I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.&quot;8. Salvation by Grace &middot;        I believe that everything I am or own belongs to God.1 Timothy 6:17-19, &quot;Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.&quot;9. Stewardship&middot;        I believe that everything I am or own belongs to God.1 Timothy 6:17-19, &quot;Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.&quot;10. Trinity&middot;        I believe the God of the Bible is the only true God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.2 Corinthians 13:14, &quot;May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.&quot;next &gt;</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Dec 2005 01:29:32  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>The 30 Core Competencies - 30 Core Competencies</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=23</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=23&amp;article_id=16</guid>
<description>
Our mission in life is to be a follower of Christ. A follower of Christ is someone who loves God and loves their neighbor. Loving God and loving neighbor involves:Our beliefspracticesand our Christian virtues</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Dec 2005 01:26:05  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Our Vision - Our Vision</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=22</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=22&amp;article_id=13</guid>
<description>


Our Vision
as a Biblical Community is to reach the 90% unchurched by establishing a
network of Outpost Groups connected together as a fully functioning Biblical
Community in the 4 high school zones within a 10 mile radius of our church by
the year 2010.



Nearly nine
out of ten people in the Coachella Valley do not have a church home. We want to
reach out to them and invite them to discover that the life they&#39;ve always
wanted is available through Jesus Christ.



We will accomplish
this by living out Jesus commands in Luke 10:27 which will focus on mastering
thirty Core Christian Competencies.

&quot;&#39;Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with
all your mind&#39; ; and, &#39;Love your neighbor as
yourself.&#39;&quot;          -Luke
10:27</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Dec 2005 01:21:40  MST</pubDate>
</item>


<item>
<title>Knowing God - Knowing God</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=20</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=20&amp;article_id=11</guid>
<description>
Knowing God is simply asking, &quot;Lord, what do you want to do in my life?&quot; We desire to help you personally as a fully-developing follower of Christ. We do this through providing a number of Resource Ministries. These ministries provide you with opportunities to specialize in your pursuit of being a fully-developing follower of Christ. </description>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Dec 2005 01:20:00  MST</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Our Model - Our Model</title>
<link>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=18</link>
<guid>http://www.cornerstonehome.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&amp;id=18&amp;article_id=9</guid>
<description>


Our model for ministry is the based on the Lord&#39;s
command to &quot;Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your strength and with all your
mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.&quot; (Luke 10:27)</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Dec 2005 01:15:09  MST</pubDate>
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