Distinguishing Characteristics of Christian Community

WHEN: Friday, July 18, 2008 - 7:30 PM
WHERE: Lighthouse, Carey Building

Walton spoke (sorry for the late post!) about what distinguishes Christian community. If Christians are different from the world in that we have the Holy Spirit and are called to be salt and light, then our community should look different from the world. Yet, so often it seems like there is little tangible difference. So what should should the world see in us that is different? Walton has been contemplating this for the past month, so read on to hear his insight!

Introduction
We should come clean as who we are. Christians are not normal. We are still sinners, but at the end, we come as is. We are who we are and often when dealing with us, there will be failure and disappointment. This makes building a Christian community especially difficult. “Sometimes it is hard to find dynamic, but it shouldn’t be that hard.”

God’s Dream for Community
How do we foster a true Christian community in Cornerstone? Different people have different expectations or dream differently. Are those expectations the same as God’s? Dream mismatch between us and God can lead to unrealistic expectation. Even though the expectations can be “Christian” based, it may not come from God. There is so much potential and possibility for Cornerstone, but so many obstacles to keep us from forming a community.

Why is community important?
• It is at the core of who God is
o From the beginning, it begins with a community, the Trinity.
o After creating Adam, God created Eve to form a perfect community for Adam.
• It is who He designed us for
o American thinking is all about independence.
o “There is a human shape void in each of us and God wants it to be filled by community.”
• It is what God passionately longs for
o After Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, God continually seeks relationship with us.
o Gospel is about restoring relationship. It helps restore the gap between God & people. For us, it also helps bring Christians together (fellowship). It also helps bring Christians and non-Christians together (evangelism)
o God has his community (Trinity) in the beginning, but out of the over pouring love, he created us, so we can enjoy this community

Why is true community so hard to find?
• Lack of time is often an issue. The advancement of technology is supposed to help us work faster and more efficiently, but ironically, people are working harder than ever because they are forced to cram more tasks into this finite amount of time, hence the concept of multi-tasking.
• With so many things to do, there is less common bond between people. TV, movies, entertainments…etc have become an essential part of people’s lives.
• The advancement of technology, such as cell phone and email, supposed to improve our communication with each other. Ironically, it seems to have an opposite effect. People are less personal now. People would rather text or instant message than talking directly with each other.

Some Key Elements of True Community
• Unmasked
• Acceptance - We are often so focus on sins that we fail to recognize grace and the seriousness of it.
• Empathy
• Resolving conflicts
• Forgiveness
• Invitation to tell the truth
• Inclusion - Religious people try so hard to exclude those people, whom the society deems as the “sinners”, i.e. prostitutes, drug addicts, gangs…etc.
• Gratitude to God

Moving towards the Dream
A community should have:
• A real sense of purpose for meeting
• Everyone is bought into that purpose. Showing up to the meeting actually matters
• There’s an opportunity to serve and love someone every week.

Applications and Something to Think about
Think about your past friendships with other people and ask yourself:
• What have been the most satisfying elements about those friendships?
• How have those friendships drawn you closer to God (if at all)?

So How DO We Relate to Our Parents?

Bob Chin, on Friday, gave some great insights about how to relate to our parents. He challenged us to not consume relationships like our culture consumes goods and services: "Love is putting in, not taking out!" He also had some practical ideas about communicating with our parents. Although our parents tend to be unemotional and very private, we can help build deeper relationships by asking good questions about how our parents are or were feeling. ("What was it like living in China?" "What did you like about X?") Read on...

What influences our idea of relationships?

• Media, like TV: Simpsons, Hannah Montana, Everybody Love Raymond, etc.
• We want these kind of western, intimate relationships with parents, but our parents weren't born here, so integrating cultures

Our Asian parents are different, and thus, "Asian Christianty" is different, too. It's
• Logical/rational
• Unemotional
• Extremely closed about personal things
• What about Biblical Christianity:
• Logical/rational (Rom 13:8)
• Emotional - David danced (2 Sam 6:13-17)
• Not private, but relational (Rom 13:10)

What does the Bible say our relationship should be like?
• Ex 20:12 (honor our parents) Eph 6:2 (command with parents) - 1st of the relational commands, which means it is of high importance
• How we relate to our parents is how we relate to a significant other, friends, children
• The promise is, that if we relate well to parents it will go well-we relate the same way
• Transcends time and culture (in both OT and NT)

How does our environment affect our view and how we act toward our parents?
• We are a consumer society. We consume relationships, too. (Feel better, closer to God, etc) People expect to get something from people.
• Starbucks church model: people are consumers, so we built churches to provide a good product
• Consumption leads to disappointment
• Are we looking at our parents to consume?
* Love is putting, not taking out!
• If we can teach our kids to put in, rather than taking out, we have succeeded
• Relationships on the brink of divorce are when people don't think they are getting enough out of the relationship
• Show respect; give benefit of doubt, don't assume they don't know what they are talking about
• Have you spent the time to figure out your parents love language?

How can we communicate with our Asian parents?
• Ask questions. The key is asking good questions, which also causes them to talk and you to listen. Ask questions to draw them out "how do you feel about ..."
• Listen
• Watch your body language - parents know if you really care
• What goes around, comes around. Our kids will treat us like we treat our parents
• Christ has redeemed us and our relationships (Jam 1:22-24, Rom 8:22)
• Christ changes people NOT you
• Bob asks, is there a little child in my parents that is crying out?
• Bob's dad's dad died early, and he wishes he had a dad. This explains a lot of his relational aspects with wife, kids, etc. Bob's dad never related to him because he'd never seen his dad relate to him. Bob has difficulty with Pete because his dad didn't know how to relate to, but makes a point of spending time with him

Application
• How do you ask good questions? Need to learn to draw out how they *feel*. Expressing your feelings is an important part of depth of relationship.
• Seeing unpleasant aspects of seeing you are like your parents: remember Christ can redeem that
• What did you learn about relating to parents? Asking questions about them: what was it like living in China? What did you like about X? What was it like living with Grandma? What were your favorite foods? How did you handle mom? How do you love her?
• This is a lifetime process

Meeting the New Core Team

Kathy, Edward, and Judith are excited to be on the new core team this upcoming year. Our goal is to serve God and serve Cornerstone--we welcome any and all suggestions!

Let's see who they are...

Kathy is a newbie to Austin but a native to Texas. She teaches 2nd grade teacher for AISD and loves dogs, eating, and watching comedies. She was once a contender for a massive lychee-eating contest.

Edward was born in Taiwan and moved to Port Lavaca, TX when he was 10. He is a mechanical engineer. He loves playing tennis and eating ice cream.

Judith is an alumni of UT Austin with a degree in electrical engineering. She enjoys a good game of Tetris, trying out new things, and traveling. She started doing triathlons last year and will be attempting her third one this summer!

Relating to Our Parents and MORE

WHEN: Friday, July 11, 2008 - 7:30 PM
WHERE: Lighthouse, Carey Building

This Friday Bob Chin will be speaking to us on the topic of relating to our parents. What does a Christian parent-child relationship look like? What if your relationship with your parents isn't good, what can you do? Join us for Bob's insights, 7:30 pm at Lighthouse.

ALSO - We are pleased to announce the new Core Team: Edward, Judith, and Kathy will be leading Cornerstone this next year! Ti, Priscilla, and myself are really excited about the new Core Team, and are looking forward to see what God does through them! Please keep the Core Team in your prayers--it's a bit daunting at first. Plus, I (Geoff) have seen this year the truth of John 15:5: truly apart from God, we can do nothing to bring people to God, and leaders always need your prayers in this area.

Ti, Priscilla, and myself have enjoyed serving you all as leaders on the Core Team this year. It's been a privilege to organize events to bring us closer to God, and through it we've grown as leaders, been challenged in our walks with God, and grown in love for Cornerstone. It has been a joy and an honor to serve Cornerstone, and wish the same for the new Core Team. Please welcome Edward, Judith, Kathy!

Please pray for our brothers and sisters that are on missions trips this summer. We already have some that are on their trip currently, as well as Moses and Marilyn returned from New Orleans working with the ACC youth helping Katrina victims. Marie and Ti are in Southeast Asia with Campus Crusade working with college students. Coming up soon, Priscilla will leave July 8th - August 20th to work with Carpenter's Tools in Guatemala. Kathy , Edwin , Tim , Marilyn , Nita , and Geoff (in August) will be going to Bolivia with e3 partners to share the gospel there (July 17-25) . Our worship intern, Stanley , will be leaving in August to join CTI for fulltime ministry as well. If you know anyone else - please let us know. Please keep these brothers and sisters in your prayers as well as ACC as a whole - for Austin is our ministry field as well.

Fellowship and Praise Time

WHEN: Friday, June 20, 2008 - 7:39 PM

WHERE: Lighthouse Carey Building, ACC

Dear Cornerstone people. =) The ladies' small group (combined Annie's and Sharon/Marilyn/Pey's small groups) are inviting us to a time of fun surprise! as well as a time of praise for our Father in Heaven. =) Come this Friday to find out what we have in store for you.

ALSO - this Saturday, June 21, 2008 - Come see the musical - The Gospel Accordin' To Texas.

(A blurb from Chris Wang):
Hi y'all. You probably know by now that I'm involved with a musical in Wimberley. I'd like to invite you to come out to one (or more) performances.

The musical takes a look at what might have happened if the book of Luke was to take place in Texas. It has fun with (but doesn't make fun of) the gospel. It's a good outreach opportunity because it's still entertaining even if you don't go to church.

This Friday is opening weekend. Performances will be every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in June at 8:15pm. Tickets are $15 each or $12 for a group of 10 or more. Student tickets (for those in middle school or high school) are $8. If you want to see it multiple times, a show pass ($30) is the way to go.

The director got the inspiration to write the musical while living in Wimberley during the 80's and early 90's. Every character is based on someone he met during his time there. There are lots of little references to Texas towns, events and people.

The EmilyAnn Theatre is an outdoor amphitheater capable of seating up to 500. Unfortunately, they don't have any flyers this year, and the only thing I can find is at http://www.emilyann.org/pdf/gat_showflyer.pdf

Because it's a long show, we have to start at 8:15 even though it's still not dark yet. However, if we start any later, the show wouldn't end until after 11. Be aware that even when there's no traffic, Wimberley is still about an hour away from Austin (depending on where you live), which means you might not get home until midnight or so.

If you're interested - please let us know! We'll send out an update later on a time and place to meet up.

Saturday Plans

EDIT: We realized that we didn't really give you all too much time to preparefor the appreciation dinner on Sat, either for planning whether you wouldbe in town, or for input in planning the dinner itself. So we feel thatit would be better to do this at a later date.
Instead, we would like to invite all of you to Ti's house on Saturday at 7 pm for a potluck.In addition to dinner, we will have some community games,and a fun time of games and hanging out. We hope you can join us in enjoying each other's company!
Thank you!
Your Core Team

Cornerstone - Appreciation Dinner

WHEN: Saturday, June 7, 2008 - 7:00 PM

WHERE: Ti's house, 12227 Antoinette Pl. 78727, 832-647-2293

This Saturday (Jun 7), at 7:30 pm, we will be having a dinner to appreciate
the guys and gals of Cornerstone. The guys' gift to the gals will be

dinner and honoring them as women, and the gals will be reciprocating with a special gift.

The evening is an opportunity for the guys to value the gals as God's
daughters, and for the gals to honor the guys as God's sons. It's also
a fun opportunity to dress up in honor of each other :) We will be

sending an evite out shortly; please respond yes or no by Thursday to help with

planning.

Dinner is open to everyone, but we encourage you would play a larger role in appreciating the other gender: please contact Geoff Prewett (guys) or Priscilla Ho and Ti Le (gals).

An evite has been sent out. If you have not received it yet, please let us know and we can add you onto it.

Relationships

Cornerstone - Relationship Talk

WHEN: Friday, May 30, 2008 - 7:30 PM

WHERE: ACC Lighthouse, Carey Building

This Friday - we have the honor of David and Betty Au to speak to us on relationships. Since they've been married for awhile and have a couple of children who are also married, they have lots of advice and experiences that would be great to hear about. Please come prepared with questions to ask them since we'll be having a discussion after their talk on Friday.

Also - very soon - we'll be launching an Appreciation Dinner to honor and appreciate the opposite gender. =)

No Guts No Glory!

Softball Tournament - NO GUTS NO GLORY

This Saturday, May 24, 2008, from 10 AM to 3 PM, we'll be hosting a softball tournament at the Freescale location on Parmer.

Bring your friends and use this opportunity as an outreach event as well as fellowshipping with other churches like Vox and ATPC. This'll also be a great time to meet and hang out with people from all congregations!

Lunch will be provided but there is a $3 fee per person to play. Co-ed rules apply with every other batter being a girl so in a team of 10 - it'll be best to have 4-5 girls on the team. (Pitch to own team). Either form your own team or come individually and we'll put together teams on Saturday. Any questions - please email us back here at acc.cornerstone@gmail.com.

If you'd like to practice - we'll be having softball practice at the Freescale softball field TOMORROW (Monday) at 6:30 PM.

Stamp Out Hunger Volunteering!

EDIT: Meet at church (John Sung parking lot) at 6 PM Saturday!!

I. Cornerstone - Stamp out Hunger Volunteering!

WHEN: Saturday, May 10, 2008, 7:00-10:00 PM

WHERE: TBA

Background: This nation-wide event happens annually in mid-May. Letter carriers collect food donations to benefit those at greatest hunger risk in an effort to fight hunger during this food drive.The Stamp Out Hunger drive is a nationwide effort to provide food to local food banks and pantries, which would otherwise have depleted stocks during the summer months, to help feed the hungry on a daily basis.The nation’s 230,000 letter carriers will be collecting food donations in more than 10,000 local communities and delivering them to food bank members of America’s Second Harvest, the Nation’s Food Bank Network and other hunger relief organizations.Donations come into the Food Bank and we utilize adult volunteers (16 years old and older) to help sort the donations.
Location: CAFB, 8201 South Congress, Austin 78745
Volunteer Role: Help sort, inspect and box the food donations in our Product Recovery area.

So, Cornerstone, we need 10 volunteers for this Saturday from 7-10 PM. Please email back here if you can make it and if you want to go. Thank you! Let's serve the community together. =)

Movie Night and More

I. Cornerstone - Movie Night

WHEN: Friday, May 2, 2008, 7:30 PM

WHERE: Lighthouse Carey Building, ACC

We'll be watching Pan's Labyrinth this Friday and discussing the implications this movie has towards the gospel. Come join us for a night to relax and enjoy a movie together!

Bring a movie snack and we'll provide popcorn and drinks!

II. Asia Fest - May 3, 2008
This community event organized by the Network of Asian American Organizations (NAAO) is a great opportunity to get involved in the Asian American community here in Austin. Stop by the Asian American Resource Center (8301 Cameron Rd) this Saturday to enjoy food, activities, performances, movies from various local Asia American groups. For more information or to volunteer please contact Troy. (etroywong@yahoo.com)

For more information on the Asia Fest check it out at http://naao.austin.tripod.com/asiafestival.html.
III. Fundraiser
Mother's day is coming up on May 11. This Sunday, May 4^th you can purchase handmade designer Mother's Day cards and/or delicious cookies for your mom. All proceeds benefit the Bolivia Mission Team. Optional shipping available, so this is the easiest way ever for you to treat your mom and help missions. (see attached flier)

Potluck! Food! Games!

I. Cornerstone - Chinese Themed Potluck

WHEN: Friday, April 25, 2008, 7:30 PM

WHERE: Susan Lin's House - 13205 Armaga Springs Rd.

This Friday, Marilyn and Sharon Tam's small group is throwing us a Chinese-themed potluck! They'll cover the rice and chinese drinks and we'll bring the rest. We'll be playing a couple chinese-themed group games (oh funness!!). Please feel free to bring their own chinese games for hangout time afterwards, too.(chinese checkers, chinesechess, mahjong,etc.) (does anyone have a mahjong set?)

An evite will be sent out to cover the food - if you did not get an evite by Wednesday - please let us know!

Centrality of the Gospel

I. Cornerstone - Centrality of the Gospel

WHEN: Friday, April 18, 2008, 7:30 PM

WHERE: Lighthouse, Carey Building, ACC

Come join us this Friday as Jimmy Su will be speaking to us on the centrality of the Gospel. Over the years, Jimmy has repeatedly talked about how the Gospel should be central to our communication as Christians. I've (Geoff) recently understood just what Jimmy has been talking about--the Christian life is really just the Gospel, lived out--so it should be exciting to hear Jimmy's thoughts on the cornerstone of Christianity.

II. Cornerstone/ACC - Future Events

April 20 (Sunday) - ACC will be having a disciple-making meeting from 12:15 - 1:15 PM (lunch provided). Are you interested in participating in our discipleship program as a disciple-maker?
April 25 (Friday) - Sharon/Marilyn's small group is hosting a potluck. Please keep an eye out for an invitation later.
May 24 - Cornerstone Softball Tournament

Carpenter's Tools

I. Cornerstone - Carpenter's Tools International, Music Ministries

WHEN: Friday, April 11, 2008, 7:30 PM

WHERE: Lighthouse, Carey Building, ACC

Cornerstone is hosting Carpenter's Tools International, Music Ministries on April 11, 2008 (Friday!!) (www.ctimusic.org)

CTI is the official at large music ministry for Youth for Christ International. They are a non-profit ministry organization based in Willmar, Minnesota. For over 25 years, CTI has provided quality music and drama outreaches, working alongside established ministries in over 50 countries across the globe. (Several members of our English congregation have been part of CTI as well as our worship intern who'll join this group after his term at ACC).

Please come out and meet the group as well as enjoying a night of praising our Amazing God and being fired up for Him. We're really excited for a revival to start in our church for us to really live out our vision in Cornerstone - to Love God and see the fruit follow. We'll be joined by the youth and Covenant to bridge the cross-congregational unity and also have a fun time fellowshipping.

Camping and CTI

I. Cornerstone - Camping

WHEN: Friday, April 4-5, 2008, 5:00 PM

WHERE: Bastrop State Park (but meet at Andy Lee's house - 7901 Osborne Dr., 78729)

An evite has been sent out for this - if you have NOT gotten an evite please let us know! Please RSVP Soon so we know the amount of food, supplies to bring!

With the days getting warmer and longer, it's time again for camping! Join us for a trip to the Lost Pines region of Texas at Bastrop State Park. We will be leaving at 6 pm on Friday, April 4 from Andy's house (7901 Osborne Dr, 78729) and returning in the late afternoon of Saturday, April 5. Cost will be approximately $20.

Camping trips are always a fun way to get to know each other while enjoying God's Creation (in this case, tall pine trees that got separated from their primordial forest), so we hope you can make it!
II. Cornerstone - CTI

Cornerstone is hosting Carpenter's Tools International (CTI) in TWO WEEKS - April 11th (Friday).

A little bit about CTI - is the official at large music ministry for Youth for Christ International. They are a non-profit ministry organization based in Willmar, Minnesota. For over 25 years, CTI has provided quality music and drama outreaches, working alongside established ministries in over 50 countries across the globe. (www.ctimusic.org).

Youth is joining us as well as the young adult married group with youth performing skits and drama and CTI providing worship. We'll be sending out more information about this later but please invite your friends and family to this event.

Fellowship Time and Prayer Requests

WHEN: Friday, March 28, 2008, 7:30 PM

WHERE: Lighthouse Carey Building, ACC

This Friday, instead of a regular fellowship - we'll be meditating on God's Word together. God invites each of us to a vibrant, personal relationship with Him and He invites us to draw near to Him daily - spending time in the Bible to hear His direction for our lives, receive His correction, gain wisdom, and strengthen our faith. Please come as we share together and study His Word together. We also have some interesting FUN games (special EXCITING concert!) planned out for us as well =). Please bring your Bibles, journals and pens!

Please lift up these two fellow brothers in Christ - Pastor Gaylord and Brandon. Pastor Gaylord was in the hospital this past weekend due to a bleeding ulcer. Pray that he will heal quickly and safely and that his hemoglobin count goes back up. Please keep his family in your prayers as well.

Brandon just had surgery on his right hand due to an acute case of DeQuervain's tenosynovitis which is an inflammation of the tissue surrounding the tendons and the tendons themselves. If the surgery is successful then he will need to have surgery on his left hand as well. Please pray that this surgery will be successful as well as the future surgery. Pray that he will heal and the pain will leave him and he can use his hands again.

EASTER WEEKEND

I. Cornerstone - Good Friday Service

WHEN: Friday, March 21, 2008, 7:30-8:30 PM

WHERE: John Sung Building, ACC

Join us this Friday as we remember and give thanks for our Savior's death and resurrection together as a body under Christ.

Afterwards, we'd like to get together and just enjoy the Easter weekend with dinner. Location to be announced but let's gather together afterwards. =)

II. ACC Easter Service - 9:30 AM - John Sung Building, ACC

Easter service is this coming up Sunday! We'll be having a special Easter message and drama, followed by a time of refreshments during the second hour. On this special day, when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, please prayerfully invite your friends and family!

Together to get the refreshment time ready for a time of fellowship for our friends and family, we, Cornerstone, are in charge of drinks, setting up and cleaning up. So, please bring some drinks on Sunday and help clean and set up. Thank you!

Joint Fellowship with ACCCF

EDIT: Basketball cancelled - meet instead at 6 PM in Carey Lighthouse Building (dinner is provided by ACCCF) - however pls bring a snack or drink for snacks later. =) thanks!

WHEN: Friday, March 14, 2008, 4:00 PM Basketball (GYM), 6:00 PM Dinner (Carey), 7:00 PM Fellowship (Carey)
WHERE: Lighthouse Carey Building, ACC

Please join us this Friday as we join together with our Mandarin youth adults/college ministry, ACCCF, to fellowship together and grow together as the Body of Christ. ACCCF has kindly invited us to play basketball with them in the gym at 4:00 PM. Dinner will also be served at 6 PM in Carey and fellowship will start promptly at 7:00 PM in Carey as well. If you'd like to know more about ACCCF, their website is http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/acccf/index.html.

We're very excited to be able to join up with our sister fellowship and get to know more about each other. We'll be praying and praising God together as well as a time of fellowship, snacks, and games. We look forward to seeing you!

Daylight Savings

It's time to "spring forward"! Remember to turn your clocks forward an hour Saturday night so you can be on time Sunday to church. =) on March 9, 2008!

Evangelism Outreach

WHEN: Friday, March 7, 2008, 7:15 PM

WHERE: Lighthouse Carey Building, ACC

Dear brothers and sisters,

This Friday night, Cornerstone will be stepping out in faith to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Austin. 15% of Austin residents go to a church. It's hard to imagine that close to 9 out of 10 people here are spiritually lost, separated from God, and on the path to eternal judgment. Yet, Christ loved the world and laid down His life so that sinners could be brought into a relationship with the Father.

Christ commanded us to preach the gospel to all creation. Stepping out in faith is an expression of our love and obedience to our Savior, and God has used that to increase my faith and love for Him ("for to the one who has, more will be given" -Lk 8:18).

We will spend time in training and prayer, so no experience required! We will share the gospel using tracts and in 1-on-1 conversations with people. Come with a humble heart and a desire to serve our Lord and the lost. Please pray this week for God to prepare us and the people we will talk to. All of your are encouraged to serve with us.

Time: 7:15 - 10:45 PM
Place: Meet at ACC (Carey Building) for prayer and training. We will carpool to 6th Street.
Bring: Small Bible, coat with pockets, bottle of water

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." (Mark 8:34-36)

In Christ,

Alex


PS - If you're still reading, I want to share something neat that came to mind as I was praying for this. I noticed how this outreach lines up with 3 of our upcoming vision statements!

1) Stepping out in faith helps us grow as disciples of Jesus Christ
2) Outreaches build godly commuinty as they have included people from the youth, college, adults, and even other ACC congregations. (the youth have a conference this weekend, though, so I don't want to take people out of that).
3) Sharing the gospel is the starting point for making disciples locally

Hope-It-Up Basketball Tournament

The ACC 3-3 Hoop-it-up fellowship basketball tournament will be Saturday, 3/29. We will again have an Open division and Mastor division. Deadline for registration will be 3/23. Please contact Troy Wong <etroywong@yahoo.com>; or Leo Yeung leoyeung@yahoo.com for registration information. See www.austinchinesechurch to download copy of the registration form. See attached word document for forms and more information.