News & Updates

My son likes to go busking.  Don’t worry if you don’t know what that is.  It’s not naked street dancing.  It IS street musicianship.  Michael likes to play his guitar whenever and wherever, but especially on a street corner where people can walk by and fling dollar bills into his guitar case. I told Sherry how our son is never going to want to really work.  Every time he goes busking, he rakes in about $40 for an hour of…

It happens every year, and every year it yanks my inner chain.  It’s happened for years and years, so I guess it’ll never really stop.  I’m certain no harm is meant, but nonetheless… it is what is it. What is it?  In short it’s this quaint little quip, “How was your vacation?”  Sometimes I’ll take the time to explain about my study break.  You know … I’ll paint a martyr’s picture of studying eight hours a day, thinking, writing, and…

Ever watch “Gold Rush” on Discovery Channel?  I’ve watched a few times.  It seems insane. It seems there is nothing that the Hoffmans, Schnabels, and Dakota Boys won’t do in their search for gold. Did you know California is a state largely because of the Gold Rush?  Fortune seekers, called 49ers because most arrived in 1849, accounted for the largest migration in American history. While some became rich because they struck gold, simply supporting the chaos made others rich., i.e.…

I like to watch Shark Tank.  Anxious entrepreneurs are paraded in front of venture capitalist sharks for the chance of fame and fortune.  Sometimes I place myself before the sharks to victoriously convince them ALL to invest in my latest world-changing invention.   It’s the simple joys of reality TV that can suck the best of us in. I’ve seen great opportunities fritted away on Shark Tank.  Most often, selfishness and greed impede vision.  This quickly erases incredible moments of opportunity. …

I’ve been at a week of kid’s camp in southwestern Ohio this week.  We’ve had about one hundred 4th, 5th, and 6th graders converging in the sticks of Sinking Springs, Ohio to learn about God.  Particularly, we’ve been teaching through the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20. Today we will tackle the final two:  lying and coveting.  This only means we gave a sweaty, valiant effort at teaching stealing and adultery yesterday.  Yep.  You read that right.  We sweated the…

Over 1,500 man hours were logged last weekend as we literally tore into our campus to begin the necessary work of turning our facility into an EPIC restoration community center.  WOW!   So many great hearts turned out to serve their brains out on a Father’s Day weekend.  I really was blown away by all that took place during this incredibly messy F.I.A. (Faith In Action) Sunday. Is this what a disciple of Jesus looks like?  Does discipleship look like people…

RESTORATION WORK WEEK We could really use your help to finish our restoration projects we began on Faith In Action Sunday! Individuals that would like to serve can come at these hours: Monday, June 24, 5-9pm Tuesday, June 25, 5-9pm Saturday, June 29, 9am – 1pm Community Groups are welcome to come help at any time of the week. Just let Ben know and he’ll have a project ready for you. Contact benpropst@cumberlandchurch.org  

Sherry so enjoys her summer off from being a teacher’s assistant throughout the year.  She loves her time at home with the kids.  She loves our summer excursions, but also creates quite a list of to-dos while she’s “not working.”  There are basement projects, bedroom projects, painting projects, and fun/family projects on her radar.  It’s a great time… but there’s also a lot to be done. This Saturday and Sunday represents not just another lazy summer weekend, but also Father’s…

Sometimes there’s just a lot going on at CCC.  Here’s just a sampling:  Discipleship training; Community Groups;  Father’s Day F.I.A.;  VBX;  Student Ministries; and restoration ministries which include food, clothing, child development, counseling, computer skills training.  Whew.  It makes me tired just typing the list. And then… as if God didn’t notice all the good we’re trying to do… we’re told to deny ourselves.  We’re commanded to lose our lives.  We taught to pick up our own crosses stemming from…

Have you ever seen someone completely misuse something?  My son tries to golf with his baseball bat.  My daughter puts a diaper on her baby doll’s head and calls it a hat.  I microwave eggs (don’t knock it until you try it).  If one has never seen the intended use of something, it makes sense how one could misuse it.  Right? What if we have been misusing “discipleship?”  Could it be that there is an intended use of discipleship, and…