On my last post, I wrote from my home that was running on half-power. After nearly four weeks of cold showers, layers of clothing, and...Read More

As I write this, only half my house has power. The other half does not – courtesy of the many atmospheric rivers we’ve enjoyed these...Read More

Have you ever had someone make a snap judgment about you without getting to know you? Or reduced your worth to only what matters to...Read More

‘Twas the weeks before Christmas, and all through the land, All the people were stirring, so many tasks still at hand. The cards yet to...Read More

With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas before us, there is a flurry of preparation. Sales ads urging us to get budget-saving deals, gift lists and...Read More

I don’t often watch the news, but when I do, I ask the Lord to reveal Himself to me so I don’t get trapped in...Read More

I know now why wine is so expensive. Because it takes forever to make! I already knew in theory that it was a long process...Read More

I’d seen aqua cycles in movies and had always been curious about them, so when my best friend purchased a Groupon for them for our...Read More

My son gets his social skills from his mother’s side of the gene pool. We recently celebrated his 7th birthday party in our local park....Read More

I wish I had a green thumb. I wish I had all the plants that Jonathan Orantes has in the background of his welcome segment...Read More

Memorial services can be an excellent calibration point for us to remember what really matters in life. Who will make the effort to show up...Read More

I hadn’t seen my father in five years.  He wasn’t even in town for the entire week I was back home in South Africa, so...Read More

As the eldest of three girls, one of the most common things said to me was, “Set a good example for your baby sisters. They...Read More

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of...Read More

This is a story 8 years in the making. It starts in 2014 when I moved into my wife’s apartment after we got married. We...Read More

Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the...Read More

Last weekend, my family and I finally got to check out a dim sum restaurant in Chinatown that had been closed for nearly the entire...Read More

On Google’s list of most-asked questions concerning Christianity, God and the Bible, the second most-asked is “What is the Bible?” Ask 10 people what it...Read More

We’ve shared a lot these past couple of years. From sheltering in place to being worried if we have enough toilet paper, to navigating relationship...Read More

Beloved, let us love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one...Read More

This question, although a good one, contains several hidden assumptions we must acknowledge before diving in: That life is essentially a progressive journey to success...Read More

There are two kinds of people in the world. There are those that constantly fill up their car’s gas tanks well before it reaches empty....Read More

I was headed home after a night with friends, and out of habit turned on my GPS. I knew the way home. I’ve traveled between...Read More

I recently deleted Instagram and Facebook off my phone. It was a long time coming. I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with social media. I’ve...Read More

A few years ago, I went to see a Bodyworlds exhibit – an exhibit that uses real human bodies donated for research after their passing....Read More

Your heart longs to be seen. To have someone bear witness to your life. A cheerleader in the ecstasy of your accomplishments. A comforter in...Read More

“We don’t talk about Bruno, no, no, no.” I apologize if I now got that song stuck in your head. If you’re a parent or...Read More

I was carrying my shrimp rolls and Thai ice tea back to the car when I noticed the sirens and flashing lights. They weren’t there...Read More

It had been exactly two years since I last stepped foot in the movie theaters, and after hearing from multiple sources that the new Spider-Man...Read More

The next best thing my elementary school self loved, in addition to the scented markers, were scratch and sniff stickers. You know, the ones with...Read More

When did Christmas become so stressful? One of my most favorite Christmas cards I ever received was one with this written on the cover: It’s...Read More

While helping our agricultural economists determine their angle for their Fall economic report, I asked them, “Will there be turkey at Thanksgiving?” This was their...Read More

When I think about the last several months, seeking a new normal and engaging more in-person, there have been a lot of awkward moments on...Read More

Being a parent is a very humbling experience in many ways. One of those ways is when you’re forced to come to terms with the...Read More

The Explorer’s Way  John: Gospel of Glory  Sign Three: Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately...Read More

Remember those memes from the later half of 2020? My favorite one was “I’m not buying a 2021 planner until I’ve seen the trailer.” And...Read More

The Explorer’s Way  John: Gospel of Glory  Sign Two: Jesus, Lord of Healing And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he...Read More

The Explorer’s Way  St. John: Gospel of Glory,   Sign One: King of the Wedding Feast When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said...Read More

CornerstoneSF is located in a historically religious, San Francisco neighborhood, called The Mission or Mission Dolores. This area is the birthplace of The Mission San...Read More

The Explorer’s Way And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about...Read More

The Explorer’s Way And we all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For...Read More

One of the questions we’re frequently asked as believers is “what’s the difference between a good person and a ‘good Christian’?” And then the one...Read More

“This wound is completely open and I can still see the sutures inside.” This is not what you want to hear from the doctor a...Read More

It’s been a rough week. If you’ve been watching the news, or at least read up on the latest COVID protocols, you’re probably feeling a...Read More

As with every Olympic Games, there are many standout moments from Tokyo this year. Sifan Hassan falling and still winning gold. Tom Daley knitting from...Read More

As a dreamer and a creative, I often look at sports and how it often mirrors our walk as Christians. Successes, failures, trying our best,...Read More

What’s in a title? Power? Wealth? Popularity? Some of us spend our lives working towards a title. The next rung up the ladder. The corner...Read More

Trader Joe’s is triggering. It hasn’t always been, but recently, every time I walk through the store I find myself overcome with anxiety. Oftentimes to...Read More

If recess wasn’t already the highlight of my 9-year old day, it was about to get better. Ms. Rojas just turned down the lights, and...Read More

Adoption is something that’s always been in each of our hearts, even before we were married. I would venture to say that it’s something that...Read More

I’ve been thinking a lot about rest lately. I’m not very intentional about taking time to rest – I sort of wait until the last...Read More

I’ve found myself in a season of rewiring. After working in the same place for more than 10 years, I’m in a new job. There...Read More

I don’t know about you but I often struggle with the idea of surrender. There’s something about sitting in the tension of action and submission...Read More

We finally debuted our original Easter musical, As It Is Written. It was a journey almost two years in the making, filled with many challenges and lessons,...Read More

I am a bookworm. I read everything in front of me. Including all the bumper stickers and branded taglines that pass me and my family...Read More

We are halfway into the season of Lent, which means there are just three weeks left until Easter. And though the countdown to Easter isn’t...Read More

Apple juice. Dead roses. Paradise sky. What do these three things have in common? They all represent a time in my life where I went...Read More

This might be dating me, but I remember calling my dad’s pager when I needed him. I also remember coming home, seeing the blinking light...Read More

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I...Read More

There is a Japanese art form called kintsugi which involves repairing broken pottery with gold-dusted lacquer. Rather than trying to hide or cover the breaks, the sealed...Read More

Without fail, every time I come near a car with the sticker “Caution: Student Driver,” I’m transported back in time to my first few days...Read More

One of my favorite quotes of all time is this by Karl Rahner: “In the torment of the insufficiency of everything attainable we come to...Read More

In November of 2016, one of the best things ever happened to this country. To all but the faithful and die-hard, it was unexpected. It...Read More

Happy New Year! So many of us have been looking forward to making the end of 2020 and a fresh start in 2021. It’s not...Read More

Every year, my nativity set is laid out the same. Pulled from the same box, from the same styrofoam, and laid out on the same...Read More

When I was a kid we lived with my great-aunt. She was great at many things but one thing that stands out in particular is...Read More

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son,...Read More

While it can feel like our cell phones have us constantly connected with no space for our souls, they can also provide us with some...Read More

We were a couple months into the pandemic when the questions from my six year old started pouring in…daily. “When will I be able to...Read More

My gardening skills leave a lot to be desired. Usually, I have killed someone’s thoughtful begonia gift before I have written the thank you note....Read More

My son Hosea’s first ever pre-school end-of-year concert did not go as planned. We both left five minutes into the performance, crying as we ran...Read More

Recently my family and I went on a road trip to get away for a few days and have a change of scenery. We had...Read More

“You’re not breathing.” “What?! Yes, I am! I’m alive, am I not?” I exclaimed in response to my acupuncturist who was trying to help me...Read More

For a seminary class recently, I was invited to listen to a message entitled “Embracing Your Brokenness” by the well known and respected author and...Read More

With San Francisco starting to move forward in safe reopening phases, we have a new opportunity ahead of us to re-engage intentionally. The jobs, church...Read More

Sometimes the words of Jesus are hard to swallow. A piercing truth that brings me face to face with my own shortcomings. A tender whisper...Read More

It’s been over 6 months since shelter in place began and now on top of a global pandemic we have fires threatening much of our...Read More

Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. I was cleaning out my email inbox last...Read More

Have you ever stared at your morning coffee and considered just how much had to happen in order for it to exist? Probably not—it’s just...Read More

I am 17 years old, and I can’t walk. I can’t move my fingers or get out of bed, and my doctor just said I...Read More

Sometimes surviving is all we can do. There are seasons so painful, terrain so tumultuous, challenges so fraught with difficulty, that just making it through...Read More

There are a few things I don’t love, but I have grown to have an appreciation for. An example is camping. Growing up, my family never camped....Read More

I follow a few accounts on social media that post game highlights and other sports-related news. Every now and then, one of them will post...Read More

Strange thing what I’m about to share, because it’s just a recap of what you already know.  We share the same memory, at least a...Read More

There’s a thing in California called a “super bloom” which happens about once every decade. It’s a rare incident in which huge amounts of desert...Read More

Reflecting on these past few months of sheltering-in-place, it feels as if time has moved quickly and slowly at the same time. There are days...Read More

Summer looks very different this year. Shelter-in-place means less travel, fewer events to attend (if any), camps closed… not even summer blockbusters to avoid spoilers...Read More

The Way Back Forward We can’t go back to the way things were. I’ve heard this said a few times during the pandemic – about how life...Read More

As I think about this time we continue to navigate and work through, the word perseverance comes to mind. One day, one week, one month...Read More

“Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10 (TPT) What comes to your...Read More

What is the grace for today? My late wife Aletha used to ask me this when I would get stressed out or overly anxious. So,...Read More

In light of our current Shelter in Place, I have not been able to go to the gym and have taken up a couple of...Read More

What toll has this past month taken on you? If it’s yet to remove the outer layers of your sanity, hack its way through the...Read More

Isn’t it so shockingly human to have all your plans stripped from you in the blink of an eye? This global pandemic has altered if...Read More

The death and resurrection of Jesus form the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Jesus prophesied that the religious leaders of his day would crucify him....Read More

You know that thing where you have a word for the year or a season? Abide. Courage. Adhesion. I don’t have one. A friend suggested...Read More

High school exams used to give me headaches.  Standardized tests, especially (hello, SAT!). One day, my dad made a useful observation.  He noticed that when...Read More

It is amazing how much can change in a week, a day, an instant. Similar to many of you, we have been sheltering in place;...Read More

Finding Balance When You Work Over 60 Hours a Week Work, work, work — for some, it feels like there are never enough hours in...Read More

When I saw the car service pull up out the window, I knew it was really over. I was being let go from the job...Read More

Nearly everyone has been asked at some point, and maybe at a lot of points, what they want to be when they grow up. Do...Read More

Social media is a powerful communication tool. These apps and websites allow us to connect with others like never before. Whether you’re into cute cat...Read More

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls....Read More

Have you ever thought about how many of your activities today would have been impossible when your parents were your age? For many of us,...Read More

Home is where you go to relax and unwind after a stressful day. It’s where we spend time with our loved ones, laughing and making...Read More

A few months ago, I came this close to calling it quits on everything in my life — work, ministry, parenting. I wanted a one way ticket...Read More

Growing up, I found it essential to have groups of friends to spend time with, go to the mall, or just grab a milk tea...Read More

A sense of purpose is central to a productive, joy-filled life. Statistical research even shows people with a stronger sense of purpose live longer than those who...Read More

Expand Your Worship It’s likely that most of us have, at some point, heard a message (or read a blog post!) suggesting that we need...Read More

In an age of social media influencers, it can be easy to misplace your faith in Christian influencers and other Christian leaders in your life...Read More

I never thought I’d quit my dream job. But there I sat, across from my boss, tears streaming down my face. I stumbled to find...Read More

Unity. It’s a word we often through around in church, but what exactly does it mean to be unified with the people in your church,...Read More

The first rule of improv is you don’t talk about improv. No, wait. That’s Fight Club. The first rule of improv is “Yes and…” Okay, technically,...Read More

Quiet time with God’s word and in prayer is crucial to restoring our souls and growing as Christians. We all know life gets crazy, and...Read More

When you find the right church, it becomes a second home — a place of warmth, encouragement, and love and where you’re accepted. The question...Read More

Whether you’re learning about Christianity for the first time, or you came to the faith decades ago, you may wonder what it means to live...Read More

With the dawn of a new year, your mind may be on self-improvement. New Year’s resolutions are all well and good, but unfortunately, they don’t...Read More

I tried to start a new Christmas tradition with my son this year. It went down in flames. Okay, maybe I exaggerate. A few months...Read More

This Christmas, we decided to get a real tree for our home. As a child, I remember my dad taking us to a tree farm,...Read More

I smile as I remember being sent to Home Depot to pick up our first Christmas tree as a married couple. I ended up running...Read More

Life isn’t always a bed of roses, so the old saying goes. And it’s true, there are seasons in life when we can get bogged...Read More

My son, Blue, jumped up to show me his finished homework after a long day. Now Blue is in Kindergarten and thinks homework is the...Read More

Every night before I go to bed, I write down three things I am thankful for that day. This is something I have done for...Read More

I was standing in line at Safeway. This particular Safeway usually only has one or two lanes open at a time. I was on a...Read More

I’ve had the good fortune of having memorable childhood vacations. Whether it was Clear Lake, Lake Berryessa, El Salvador, or Baja California, my family would...Read More

Take a moment to think about the relationship you’ve had with scripture in different seasons of your life—as a child, adolescent, young adult, in recent...Read More

As a child I remember my mom putting a verse of scripture on our fridge. I wondered why it was there. I would see her...Read More

I know it’s a little early to be talking about Christmas, but bear with me for a moment. I’ve been writing the content for this year’s...Read More

I had something happen this week that occurs more often than you’d expect. A friend and I were walking up to the side gate of...Read More

While it can feel like our cellphones have us constantly connected with no space for our souls, they can also provide us with some pretty...Read More

The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. Proverbs 10:8 (NLT)   It’s been one year since my family...Read More

My relationship with feedback is long and complicated. I’m an artist and a perfectionist so I’m doubly sensitive when it comes to receiving criticism —...Read More

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” —John Wooden Not long ago, I overhead two people talking. Don’t worry, I don’t eavesdrop...Read More

As an Enneagram Type 1, my life is basically just one long To-Do list. A never-ending catalog of goals to accomplish, obstacles to obliterate, traits...Read More

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2 If you are...Read More

“Power is a tool, influence is a skill; one is a fist, the other a fingertip.” Nancy Gibbs The skill of carrying our influence is what...Read More

Dear Cornerstone family, Greetings to all of you. Though we may not have met, what we share is what I love most about Cornerstone—a heart...Read More

Have you ever been in a waiting room too long? I’m sure you have. You’re sitting at the doctor’s office, and now the room is...Read More

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 1 Corinthians...Read More

We’re speaking for Christ Himself now: Become friends with God; He’s already a friend with you. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (MSG) Friday is my day with my...Read More

“… the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.” Tim Keller  One...Read More

“Humility is to make a right estimate of oneself. It is no humility for a man to think less of himself than he ought.” – Charles...Read More

1 Peter 5:5 (NLT) In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves...Read More

“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.” —Saint Augustine...Read More

“Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” —Angela Duckworth  Resilience is one of those qualities in life I’ve always admired. I...Read More

The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry. Proverbs 25:11  One of the privileges of leading The Journey is...Read More

“Be kind. Everyone you meet is carrying a heavy burden.” —Ian McLaren This weekend, we are going to celebrate mothers. While they deserve far more...Read More

Hello everyone. Let me take just a moment and introduce myself. I’m Pastor Raven Cannon. My husband Matt and I are the Kids Pastors at...Read More

“The only proof of life after death is life before death.” -Erwin McManus My father attended his first Cornerstone Easter play in 1998. Up ‘til...Read More

“Once a man has died, and the dust has soaked up his blood, there is no resurrection.” Aeschylus The ancient Greeks had a strong sense...Read More

“Tis better to suffer wrong than do it.” —Thomas Fuller The tragedy of the Gospel is something worth exploring. Jesus came into the world knowing...Read More

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” —C.S. Lewis As we move towards Easter,...Read More

The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” ―...Read More

“Children are not only innocent and curious but also optimistic and joyful and essentially happy. They are, in short, everything adults wish they could be.”...Read More

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 I remember reading these words when I...Read More

“Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.” —Aristotle The desire for meaningful friendships is universal, yet loneliness plagues...Read More

“There are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring.” —Ernest Hemingway...Read More

Can you believe the first month of the year is almost over?! Time definitely flies. In fact, Groucho Marx said, “Time flies like arrows. But...Read More

I hope you’re having a good start to 2019. As we look at this year, I encouraged you to consider what the shape of growth...Read More

Happy New Year! I love this time of year because I love beginnings. Whether it’s a book, project, or goal, my motivation to start something...Read More