I have never cried this much for anyone, my heart just aches over this lost like none other.  However, I am encouraged by all the support I witnessed, all the hugs we exchanged with each other, all the prayers to the Father, and the tears we have shed together.  Our sister Donna is home with the Lord this we know, for the Bible tells us so.  Here are some scriptures I prayed at the funeral service that reflect on our assurance of salvation, and emphasize that salvation is not earned or deserved but a gift from God, who sent His only begotten Son out of His vast, infinite, and eternal love for us:

John 3:16-18; John 10:27-29; Rom 8:37-39; Eph 2:8 (perhaps there are some passages you would like to share with us as well)

Rev. Hector Ramirez did an excellent job in moderating the service with exhortations that reinforced these truths, and then Dr. Bruce Terpstra brought it home with a heart-felt sermon expressing that all the goodness and near perfection we saw in Donna was the light and life of Christ being exemplified through her.  I will ask Bruce to make that sermon available either by transcript or in a form of a blog for our memories and for ‘keep sake.’

Rest in Peace and His Presence Donna – Yeathus Johnson

In my next blog I will talk about the resources of have been reading to help me get through this difficult time.

If you would like to help out the Tilli Family:  A memorial fund has been set up with the Metropolitan District of the C&MA to help with funeral costs. Cornerstone is asking that in lieu of flowers you help with a gift to this fund.

Please make the check payable to:
Metropolitan District of the C&MA
PO Box 7060
Newark, NJ 07107
In the memo section, Please write BENEVOLENCE

Cards may be sent to: Rev Bob Tilli, Cornerstone Chapel, 620 Route 23 North, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444.
If you need any more information, please call the church office.

Thank you for your love, prayers and service

Read Psalm 42

Today, my soul still longs for the Living God.  God is a living God!  God is El, meaning He is mighty, full of strength, powerful, compassionate, jealous (protects and preserve our relationship); He is living, vigorous, refreshing, our source of life, the author of health, prosperity, and vitality.

But why does the psalmist select the deer of all animals?  Why not the goat, sheep, bull, or bird?  The deer is the perfect metaphor, which explains David’s life at this time when his enemy was pursuing him.  Deer were admired for their grace and agility having an ability to sense danger quickly, they were swift.  They would face long journeys for water during the dry seasons.

Satan may have power, is fast, strong, and big but hold on…the story is not over, have you not heard “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Just as a deer needs his source of life, so we need you Lord, you are our source of life.

How am I dealing with grief?  Just as I stated above, and I am asking all to pray, give to the Benevolence Fund and “Go hard after God like we have never done before.”

Please check out this website http://www.griefshare.org/

Books to review and purchase:  Finding Your Way after the Suicide of Someone You Love
By: David B. Biebel, Suzanne L. Foster

Grieving a Suicide: A Loved One’s Search for Comfort, Answers & Hope
By: Albert Y. Hsu

Take the Dimness of My Soul Away: Healing After a Loved One’s Suicide
By: William A. Ritter

Read Psalm 42

The psalmist wanted God to become a reality at that moment not just an inference, he needed God to be more than an ideal, more than a principle, or invisible image.  He desired God’s presence “right now;” he needed a fresh revelation, a manifestation of the living God, a new experience.  David needed a present word from the Lord.  Jesus gives us the words of life.  Jo 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life

When our souls thirst for the Living God we will be encouraged by Jesus’ words such as those from Mt 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

“God we need you! I am hungry for You.  Fill us Lord to overflowing, so that out of belly will flow rivers of living water.” – Yeathus Johnson

If you would like to help out the Tilli Family:  A memorial fund has been set up with the Metropolitan District of the C&MA to help with funeral costs. Cornerstone is asking that in lieu of flowers you help with a gift to this fund.

Please make the check payable to:
Metropolitan District of the C&MA
PO Box 7060
Newark, NJ 07107
In the memo section, Please write BENEVOLENCE
Be assured there is no other Benevolence fund at the district and all funds collected will go to the Tilli Family.

Cards may be sent to: Rev Bob Tilli, Cornerstone Chapel, 620 Route 23 North, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444.
If you need any more information, please call the church office.

Thank you for your love, prayers and service

• Pray, pray, pray with all types of prayers (Eph 6:18)
• Ask “How are you doing?”
• Send a personal message (encouraging cards and messages on FB are appropriate)
• Don’t evaluate the person’s response or lack of response, allow them to grieve
• Rarely offer advice
• Don’t avoid grieving people, presence is everything even if you are just sitting quietly and praying
• Save your own stories of loss, let the spotlight of attention rest on the bereaved person
• Be prepared to help grieving people get help
• Recognize that you can’t fix it and avoid attempts to deliver “a quick spiritual fix”
• Find scriptures that will speak to their soul deeply, ask permission to share don’t assume anything

Remember, your prayers “at this time” is more important than your answers.  A simple scripture and especially a psalm is more meaningful “at this time” than a long “power-punched” sermon.  A hug and tears “at this time” is more comforting than “calling it the way it is.”  - Yeathus Johnson
  
What else could you do?  We will be taking a benevolent offering to assist the family.  If God prompts you to assist, please respond quickly.

Please make the check payable to:
Metropolitan District of the C&MA
PO Box 7060
Newark, NJ 07107
In the memo section, Please write BENEVOLENCE
 
Cards may be sent to: Rev Bob Tilli, Cornerstone Chapel, 620 Route 23 North, Pompton Plains, NJ 07107.

I sensed the Spirit saying to me a few years ago that the church that refuses to work with other churches will be ineffective in the coming decade. I believe the time of the autonomous independent local church is coming to an end. Since we are part of a denomination we have an advantage in that we already have many things/values in common. Therefore I wanted to determine the first steps in how our churches in the South Region could partner together.  As a result I organized three Strategic Gatherings to be catalysts for cooperation in making sure every man, woman, and child in our region has an opportunity to hear, see, touch the truth of Jesus Christ.

Bob Riconda

Max McLean (nationally known Alliance Seminary alum) and Warren Bird have written a book-with-DVD titled Unleashing the Word. It’s designed to help your readers (and maybe you too) release the passion of the living Word. It’s story based, many taken from our district churches and from the Scripture reading team at Max’s current church, Redeemer Presbyterian in Manhattan.

Although the book is about reading Scripture aloud, I want to show you Max McLean quoting the Bible, because you’ll quickly see the power when the word is unleashed. See these two highly engaging examples from Mark:

Warren blogged about the book here, with links on how you can order it.

I highly recommend it.

When pastors meet with their staff, how much time is given over to discipleship verses management?  You might respond, “They shouldn’t need discipleship at this stage in their life.”  I can only answer that question in the context of my own life right now.  I serve as District Superintendent and have been a pastor for 28 years.  I should have my life in order by now.  Indeed, at times I feel like things are humming along and my life’s priorities “appear” to line up with Christ.  This summer helped me to remember that the sanctified life is not a straight line growth pattern.  Life hit us this summer in a way that challenged my disciplines.  What was once a steady pattern suddenly became a challenge.  Responsibilities were thrust upon me that I did not ask for.  We said good bye to my father in law when he died suddenly in July.  Now we have a struggling mom who needs more than we can give.  Life is like that.  Now I have to find Jesus in it all.  To that end, I need to be discipled.  Our staff need supervision – yes.  But what they also need is to be discipled.  They need to wrestle with their hopes and dreams with someone who cares for them.  They need someone to listen and speak into their lives.  When a staff person is given priority time by their senior pastor to be developed as a disciple, not only does that person grow in maturity, but that person moves from being an employee that was hired to get a job done, to a team member this is highly valued.  Coaching is a tool that can assist us in this process, especially when the coaching of staff is not directed at the tasks of ministry, but at their relationship with Christ and the implications for daily living.  Let’s build each other up in the faith!  This same principle applies to our elders and other leaders.

I never liked the analogies on the SAT’s but let me take a stab at one here. Coaching is to discipleship as a fishing rod is to fishing. Coaching is a useful tool in the making of disciples. Perhaps we should consider how our discipleship process needs to change to implement coaching principles so we can see great obedience to Christ by seeing the heart of Christ formed in them. I will be writing more about this in the future.

The principle of “Energy Transformation” is the key to empowering this opportunity.  Even negative forces can be tapped for positive gain.  For example, I can be wiped out by a strong ocean wave, or I can learn to ride the same “destructive” wave with a surf board, and enjoy the ride.  How can we as spiritual leaders use the negative and failing economy to move people forward in their faith?  I believe this is an important topic of conversation, and I hope to see many people blogging on this topic. 

Let me share with you what one church is planning to do this month.  The church recognized that many people have less dollars to spend and that many families can no longer put food on the table.  They have taken that negative energy and used it to launch a food program with Angel Food Ministries.  Through this organization, the church can provide $65 dollars worth of groceries for $30 (feeds a family of 4 for one full week).  The menu includes a healthy diet of meat, dairy, bread, etc.  The church simply takes the orders and then picks up the boxes of food for distribution once a week.  The program has no restrictions on who can order so church members as well as community members can participate.  Way to go Christ Community Church in Newton and Pastor Frank Leone!

You can see how this could help people and the church in the community.  Members are saving $35 per week (church of 100 families could save $3,500 per week).  The community is served and the church is experienced by the community as a compassionate people.   People in the church could even purchase a box of food for someone they know has lost their job.  This organization even takes food stamps, so those on public assistance can maximize their purchases.  Additionally, this is a great way to get a small group into community service. 

I hope you will post your ideas on how you are turning this financial crisis into an opportunity to advance the gospel of Christ.