April 2015 Newsletter

The Challenge of Narcissism
The New Age Movement calls us to look inside ourselves, to explore ourselves, for the solution to our problem is within. We do not need a savior to come to us from somewhere else; we can be our own savior. Unfortunately, some of this teaching has permeated the church, with some Christians urging that we must not only love God and our neighbor, but we must also love ourselves. But no, this is surely a mistake for three reasons. First, Jesus spoke of “the first and great commandment” and of “the second,” but did not mention a third. Second, self-love is one of the signs of the last days (2 Timothy 3:2). Third, the meaning of agape love is the sacrifice of oneself in the service of others. Sacrificing oneself in the service of oneself is clearly nonsense.

What then should our attitude be to ourselves? It is a combination of self-affirmation and self-denial – affirming everything in us that comes to us from our creation and redemption, and denying everything that can be traced to the Fall.

It is a great relief to turn away from an unhealthy preoccupation with oneself to the healthy commandments of God (united and reinforced by Jesus), to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. For God intends his church to be a community of love, a worshipping and serving community.

Everybody knows that love is the greatest thing in the world, and Christians know why. It is because God is love. The thirteenth-century Spanish courtier Raymond Lull wrote that “he who loves not, lives not.” For living is loving, and without love the human personality disintegrates. That is why everybody is looking for the authentic relationships of love.

-John Stott, The Radical Disciple

Cornerstone Update
It is here: the last month of the school year. That’s right; graduation is in a few weeks (April 26th). To be cliché, it has flown by. I shouldn’t be surprised at how fast the semester has gone, yet I always am. As soon as spring break ends…BOOM…it’s finals week. That means that the last Cornerstone will be “Senior Share,” a special Cornerstone in which the seniors share memories and give advice. That means that Pancake Study Break is coming up, an event in which we hand out all-you-can-eat, free pancakes for students who need a break from studying. That means that our annual kickball cookout is coming up, where we dine on the best hot dogs you will ever eat and play a rousing game of kickball. That means that the senior breakfast is coming up, where we get to dine with seniors and their families. That means graduation, which always brings large changes in our ministry. We prepare and mourn as Seniors graduate, and prepare and celebrate as we receive new freshmen into our ministry. It is the cyclical life of being a campus minister; a roller coaster of emotions. And I would not trade it for anything. I have been doing this job for eight(!) years, and I still fall in love with what God has called me to each and every year. For that, and for the students God has put me in contact with, I am truly blessed.

Meet the Students

Meet Steph Diewald, a sophomore, Communication Science and Disorders major from Downingtown, PA. Steph has been a part of Cornerstone since her first week at Pitt. Read more about her:

1. What is your favorite movie, book, and band/music? My favorite movies of all time are really The Little Rascals and High School Musical, but when I’m in mature company, I say When Harry Met Sally so as to not have the movie taste of a six year old. My favorite book is The Fault in Our Stars. (Fun fact: I got to be an extra in the movie, and made the cut for about 0.2 seconds as I walk across the screen holding a cup of coffee!!) My favorite music is 90’s rock, specifically Matchbox Twenty and The Goo Goo Dolls. Anything with an acoustic guitar is always good. Also Taylor Swift.

2. What has been your involvement in Cornerstone? I started actively coming to Cornerstone events at the very beginning of my freshman year, and was given the opportunity to be on the Freshman Ministry Team starting in the spring of freshman year. Now I co-lead a small group bible study, which was slightly intimidating at first, but is now a really beautiful opportunity for me each week to be in smaller community with about 12 other girls, where we’ve been going through the book of Galatians and just talking about our lives (with the occasional trek to SkyZone or the Milkshake Factory).

3. How has Cornerstone helped you during your years at Pitt? It overwhelms me in the coolest way to think about the impact my experience in Cornerstone has had on my life and my relationship with God. To find such a close-knit, delightfully weird, and loving community at a critical time in my life has been the biggest blessing by providing me with an outlet for all of my faith questions, as well as peers and mentors who both encourage and challenge me as I discover more and more my need for a Savior. I find myself increasingly in awe of God’s gift of grace as my understanding of God’s greatness grows and I come to realize my own shortcomings. It has been especially neat for me to be able to seek out ways to glorify God through Speech Pathology and my passion for language in general. As I go to my classes, I am constantly finding all sorts of ways that God is working in my field to care for His people. The intricate system that allows humans to communicate is so complex that we can’t even fully understand it yet. Communication is such a precious blessing that God has given many of us to allow us to support, learn, and be united with one another, and I am so grateful to have my Cornerstone community to urge me to find the ways that I can serve God in all aspects of my life and not just a designated, separate sphere of it.

Financial Update
Please read the following new pledge letter. Click on the link for the full picture, or on the picture itself. If you would like to donate, please use the information on the navigation bar or email me at amoore@ccojubilee.org.

Financial Pledge Full (Link)

Moore News

It is my favorite time of year: baseball season. Yes, I love watching the Pirates, but now that I am a father of older boys, I get to participate again! Luckily I’m blessed with three boys that have taken an interest in baseball and two of them (Benjamin and Joshua) are playing…and I get to help coach them. Both Ben and Josh are playing on the same team Benjamin played for last year (The Mariners), and both are doing really well. Granted, Joshua took a little bit more to adapt to a league higher than his previous league, but it did not take long. Both Ben and Josh are natural baseball players, and take instruction very well. It has been awesome watching them grow in my favorite sport!

Asher, we felt, was still a bit young to join a team, so he has joined soccer again. I was playing both soccer and baseball with him in the backyard, and was stunned at how much he has improved in both. He had some great foot skills and soccer, and was hitting everything in baseball!

Emily is adjusting to sport’s life again, but seems to love watching the boys play. She manages to juggle the three boys, work around my crazy schedule, stay active in the church, and manage a household all at once! No idea how she does it, but she is surely appreciated.

In Christ,
Andy Moore

March 2015 Newsletter

Jubilee Testimony

Meet Kati Lynn Davis, a junior English writing major from Oxford, PA. Kati Lynn transferred this year from Deleware County Community College and has been a part of Cornerstone since her first day’s at Pitt. Read about her experience at the Jubilee conference…

I joined Cornerstone when I transferred to Pitt this fall, and I can honestly say not a week went by that I didn’t hear the word “Jubilee” at least once. Everyone I know has been talking about this thing since I got here and raving about how amazing it is, how it helped them reconnect with God, how it changed their lives, etc. I wanted to be as excited about it as they were, but to be honest, I had my doubts about going. I was afraid that I would get my expectations up for Jubilee just to be let down; that I would maybe experience the spiritual high during the conference, but then come back to campus and go through the spiritual crash and burn afterwards. I found myself thinking “What if I come back from this conference and my life is exactly the same? What if I don’t have that moment where God speaks to my heart and suddenly I transform into a whole new person? What if ‘this changes everything’ isn’t true for me?”

I’d like to say I did experience one of those big, mind-blowing God moments while I was there, but it wasn’t quite like that. It was more of a series of small moments that God used to chip away at my doubtful heart: moments that occurred during the worship and the large gatherings and the breakout sessions and even the time with friends in between. One moment in particular occurred during a session I attended Saturday morning called “Vocation and Creatives: A Call for Culture Shapers,” led by Bill Denzel. As an English Writing major who dreams of writing and publishing my own books, I’ve always struggled with the idea of glorifying God with my stories. I felt like being a Christian writer meant having to be the next Karen Kingsbury or Josh McDowell; in other words, I believed that I had to write specifically “Christian books” in order for God to be pleased with my work. I also felt that my dream of being a full-time writer was somewhat selfish because it’s not a service job (like a doctor or a teacher) where I would obviously be making a difference in people’s lives.

And then Bill said something that really hit me: our dreams come from the Holy Spirit. This small statement helped me to fully grasp the truth, and the truth is that God had a vision and a purpose in giving me my passion for telling stories. Bill used the examples of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, men with Christian worldviews who didn’t necessarily write “Christian” books, but did tell stories that point people towards truth, beauty, and goodness… stories that still have an impact on people’s lives today. Christian artists are important to God’s kingdom because we are helping to create the culture around us by imitating our Creator and making things that are true, beautiful, and good. During the session, Bill used a quote by St. Catherine of Vienna that struck me: “If you are what you are meant to be, you will set the world on fire.” God has given us His light, and He wants us to burn brightly no matter where we go and what we do in this life… and this really does change everything.

Spring Break Testimony

Meet Nick Lotz, a junior chemical engineering major from Nashville, TN. I have gotten to know Nick through our work together on the prayer team, but especially on the Habitat for Humanity spring break trip. See what he has to say about the trip…

In my faith I have struggled with choosing how to act on our call to service. I'd feel anxious about whether the avenues I chose for helping others were the right ones, and whether my own actions have really made a difference. When the options for the five Cornerstone spring break trips were first presented, I spent several days wrestling with indecision. Ultimately, the realization that so many families lack a safe and stable home even in a country as wealthy as ours called me to travel and work with Habitat for Humanity in Florida.

On Saturday, March 7, twenty members of Cornerstone and Panther Habitat set out for sunny Clay County, FL. Right off the bat, I noticed incredible dedication from everyone in the organization. A local church in Charlotte provided us with meals and accommodations during our travel. Clay County Habitat board members and other members of the community donated their time and resources to make us feel welcome as we spent the week renovating and repairing homes. I met and worked with several amazing, kindhearted people with whom Habitat has served and partnered. Some of these wonderful folks include Pam, who brought us lunch on our first workday; Wanda, a school cook and grandmother; and Austin, a fourth grader who loves math and his gold Velcro sneakers. I also connected with some of the most hardworking yet fun-loving Pitt students I have ever met, and our constant laughter could be heard whether we were sweating at a build site or relaxing our sore muscles at the beach.

Like other times I've volunteered, I first wondered if I chose the right trip and if God called me to the right place. I truly believe He had. Helping others through physically building them homes was fun, fulfilling, and also sobering. The tremendous need still present in communities across the nation is enough to make one cynical and discouraged. However, Habitat is an incredible organization that provides tremendous support for those in need of a home, and those Habitat helps often reciprocate by becoming volunteers themselves. Throughout our time in Florida, our hosts continuously expressed how grateful they were for our help. Having now returned home, I likewise feel immense gratitude toward the new friends I made, and to God for helping me grow and reframe my perspective toward service. Jesus stated in Matthew 25:40 that “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters, you did for me.” What was previously a source of self-accomplishment is now a means to better serve Him through serving others. It was a trip I’ll never forget, and is one I can’t wait to make again next spring.

As you now know I took over as the advisor for the Pitt Habitat for Humanity. This role has given me the unique opportunity to meet and work with students. One such opportunity was taking part in this amazing Spring Break trip to Orange Park, Florida to help work on houses with nineteen students, including Nick. The trip costs $300 and I have raised half of that with $150. I would like for you to prayerfully consider supporting me in this endeavor, so I can raise the other $150. The expenses included transportation, housing, and food for the week. If you are able and willing, I’m asking for your support or help to cover trip expenses. I realize that some of you already support me and I am thankful. So, I am asking that you to pray about giving an extra $10-$50 on top of your usual contribution. If you would like to help support me on this trip, please make a separate check out to:

Bellefield Presbyterian Church
Attn: Habitat Trip
4001 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa 15213

Financial Update
Please read the following new pledge letter. Click on the link for the full picture, or on the picture itself. If you would like to donate, please use the information on the navigation bar or email me at amoore@ccojubilee.org.

Financial Pledge Full (Link)

Moore News

It seems that the family managed well without me over Spring Break. In fact, they were rather busy. Joshua and Benjamin will both be playing baseball again this year. The difference is that they will be in the same league and on the same team, The Mariners. Joshua had is evaluation (try out), and nailed it making a spectacular catch in the process. I even heard one of the coaches whisper to another coach, “Best swing yet.” Yes, I am a doting, proud father…and a really good eavesdropper. Joshua and Benjamin together should be quite the dynamic duo.

Asher remains his sweet loving self, and is quite the comedian. He constantly has us laughing, and sometimes he isn’t even trying to be funny. His personality is truly contagious…and I think he knows that. He is the perfect mixture of extravert and introvert. Needless to say, he constantly keeps us entertained. I often wonder how Emily will be when he goes off to school in the fall.

Emily has been truly busy, and has started a part time job with our neighbor Doug Graham at an auction company called AYP Today (Auction Your Possessions Today). She seems to really enjoy it so far, and has seamlessly eased her way back into the working world. I honestly don’t know how she does all that she does.

We thank you so much for your time, support, and love! We pray that you constantly look to our Lord Jesus Christ for everything!

In Christ,
Andy Moore

February 2015 Newsletter

He Claims All
For it is not so much of our time and so much of our attention that God demands; it is not even all our time and all our attention; it is our-selves. For each of us the Baptist’s words are true: “He must increase and I decrease.” He will be infinitely merciful to our repeated failures; I know no promise that He will accept a deliberate compromise. For He has, in the last resort, nothing to give us but Himself; and He can give that only insofar as our self-affirming will retires and makes room for Him in our souls. Let us make up our minds to it; there will be nothing “of our own” left over to live on, no “ordinary” life. I do not mean that each of us will necessarily be called to be a martyr or even an ascetic. That’s as may be. For some (nobody knows which) the Christian life will include much leisure, many occupations we naturally like. But these will be received from God’s hands. In a perfect Christian they would be as much part of his “religion,” his “service,” as his hardest duties, and his feasts would be as Christian as his fasts. What cannot be admitted—what must exist only as an undefeated but daily resisted enemy—is the idea of something that is “our own,” some area in which we are to be “out of school,” on which God has no claim.

For He claims all, because He is love and must bless. He cannot bless us unless He has us. When we try to keep within us an area that is our own, we try to keep an area of death. Therefore, in love, He claims all. There’s no bargaining with Him.

-C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Habitat for Humanity Spring Break Trip

This past year, I took over as the advisor for the Pitt Habitat for Humanity. This role has given me the unique opportunity to meet and work with students. One such opportunity is taking part in an amazing Spring Break trip to Orange Park, Florida to help work on houses. I cannot, however, do this alone. The trip costs $300, so I would like for you to prayerfully consider supporting me in this endeavor. The expenses include transportation, housing, and food for the week. If you are able and willing, I’m asking for your support or help to cover trip expenses. I realize that some of you already support me and I am thankful. So, I am asking that you to pray about giving an extra $10-$50 on top of your usual contribution. If you would like to help support me on this trip, please make a separate check out to:

Bellefield Presbyterian Church
Attn: Habitat Trip
4001 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa 15213

Meet the Students

Meet Nick Bersin, a freshman from Long Grove, Illinois with a dual major in German and International & Area Studies who is on the Russian & East European Studies track with minors in Polish and linguistics…quite the mouthful. Nick is quite the friendly person, speaks fluent German, and loves to give hugs. Read more about him…

1. What is your favorite movie, book, and band/music? Favorite movie: Monty Python & the Holy Grail. Favorite book: I really want to put something like Lederach's The Moral Imagination to seem thoughtful and worldly. Or C.S. Lewis' The Problem of Pain to show I know something beyond the main works of the greatest Christian thinker of the century. Or Goethe's Die Leiden des Jungen Werthers so you know how thoroughly versed I am in German literature. But, I only read 30 pages of the first and haven't even touched the last, so I'll just tell you I'm tied between The Bone People by Keri Hulmes and Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Richard Wright's Black Boy is a close second. Favorite music: Ellie Goulding, Macklemore, Matisyahu, German stuff (especially Casper), melo-death, folk metal, Rend Collective, Mumford & Sons, and black metal.

2. What has been your involvement in Cornerstone? I've been coming regularly on Wednesday nights and came to Freshman Bible Study first semester and am now being trained to lead that Bible study next semester as part of the Freshman Ministry Team. I am so, so excited to be able to get to know even more people and welcome them to Pitt and Cornerstone -- I love people and building new relationships. That's why I learn languages and study other cultures -- language is how you access a person on an intimate level, and the better you can speak their language the closer you can get to them. Particularly if it's one few people learn (like Polish or Serbo-Croatian). By studying how people view themselves through the examination of their literature, history, institutions, religion, personal stories, and social structures, you can gain a more holistic view and build a stronger relationship with them, along with getting a better perspective on yourself.

3. How has Cornerstone helped you during your year at Pitt? My first full day of orientation, I was leaving my advising appointment and still thinking about everything new that was happening. For some time I have had the thought of finding a ministry in the back of my mind, but after looking through the list of organizations on Pitt's website, I felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of them and had no way to distinguish on from the other. As I was walking in search of new adventures for the day, I saw a group of people in red shirts (or maybe pink -- I don't really know since I'm a bit colorblind) handing out water bottles. Having also once done campus outreach, albeit in high school, I immediately knew what kind of group this was. I approached them and asked when they met, and they gave me the info on all their activities that week. I went to each one, and from the very first, I knew that I had found home. I could tell that I was going to form some very special bonds with these people over the coming semester(s), and I was right. Never do I feel like I have to go through something alone, or that I don't have real friends here, because I have this massive, awesome family.


Financial Update
Please read the following new pledge letter. Click on the link for the full picture, or on the picture itself. If you would like to donate, please use the information on the navigation bar or email me at amoore@ccojubilee.org.

Financial Pledge Full (Link)

Moore News

This month I had the privilege to fly out to San Diego, California to be a groomsmen in Sean Keefe’s (my best friend from college) and Melissa Covert’s wedding. It was an awesome time, and I enjoyed every single minute. About eleven years ago, Sean flew out to Colorado for Emily and my wedding, so it was really nice to return the favor. It was honestly one of the more beautiful weddings I have ever seen, and I’m so incredibly happy for them. It was also my first time to California, which was amazing. I can honestly say that I now realize why people fall in love with California when they visit. It was such a good time! I only wish that Emily and the boys were there to experience it with me.

All the boys are doing great. Both Benjamin and Joshua are excelling in school, both receiving the award of High Honor Roll as well as many other awards. Asher is really eager to start school and join his other brothers. I think it will be a tough transition, however, because he is such a homebody. Let’s pray that it is not.

Emily will be starting a new job soon. Our neighbor, Doug Graham, owns an online auction company, and Emily will be helping out with it. She hasn’t had a job outside the home since Ben was born, so I know she’s excited to try something new.

I hope this newsletter finds you well, and that God is blessing you richly!

In Christ,
Andy Moore

January 2015 Newsletter

Guilt and Shame
“Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” –Genesis 3:7

We often see guilt as a bad thing, and it can be. I believe, however, that true guilt is a grace: it brings the guilty to seek forgiveness and to repent. We must remember that if it wasn't for guilt, none of us would have come to Christ. Guilt is the realization that we are in need of forgiveness, and if it wasn't for the realization of our wrongdoings against God, we would never realize that we need forgiveness. Guilt is a good, and at times great, thing.

But what happens when guilt becomes a bad thing? What happens when guilt escalates and becomes shame? We see a story of shame and how God deals with it beautifully in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve realized they were naked and desperately sought to cover themselves when their innocence evaporated. Guilt, fear and shame gripped their hearts. Their nakedness represents their sinful vulnerability before God. So, they tried to cover their nakedness, their shame, with fig leaves.

Leaves wither away. They crumble. They do not last. Fig leaves were a temporary solution to a permanent problem. We too, like Adam and Eve, try to cover and mask our shame with fig leaves, only to have them wither away, leaving us naked, exposed, and vulnerable. So we replace fig leaf with fig leaf, temporary with temporary, and we mask our shame.

But then God did something beautiful: he performed an act of magnificent grace. “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them”. (Genesis 3:21) Adam and Eve’s self-made attempts to cover themselves in inadequate fig leaves were replaced with clothing made by God. God's provision recognized their sin and shame, their nakedness, and covered them with grace. Just as an animal was sacrificed to cover the shame of Adam and Eve, Christ sacrificed himself to cover our shame for good. Are you suffering from shame that you just cannot let go? Quit trying to cover yourself with fig leaves, and give it over to God. He will cover you.

Spring Break
As many of you know from reading past newsletters, I took over as the advisor for Habitat for Humanity in the Fall Semester. This role has given me the unique opportunity to meet and work with students. One such opportunity is taking part in an amazing Spring Break trip to Orange Park, Florida to help work on houses. I cannot, however, do this alone. The trip costs $300, so I would like for you to prayerfully consider supporting me in this endeavor. The expenses include transportation, housing, and food for the week. If you are able and willing, I’m asking for your support or help to cover trip expenses. I realize that some of you already support me and I am thankful. So, I am asking that you to pray about giving an extra $10-$50 on top of your usual contribution. If you would like to help support me on this trip, please make a separate check out to:

Bellefield Presbyterian Church
Attn: Habitat Trip
4001 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa 15213

Meet The Students

Meet Nicole Russo, a junior Marketing and Human Resources double major from Coopersburg, PA. I have really gotten to know Nicole through our work together on the outreach team. She has been awesome to work with. Read more about her:

1. What is your favorite movie, book, and band/music? My favorite book is probably To Kill A Mockingbird. Atticus is one of my favorite characters of all time. My favorite movie, I seriously can't pick! I love all types except horror. I watch so many movies but I could list a few of my top favorites: The Bourne Series, The Dark Knight Series, The Lion King, Inception, and The Pink Panther Series (the old ones with Peter Sellers). (I still have more favorites but the list would be too long) My favorite band/artist that's another tough one I love most types of music, but if I HAD to choose one band to listen to for the rest of my life it'd probably be The Beatles.

2. What has been your involvement in Cornerstone? Starting fall semester of this year I became a leader on the Outreach team and it has been such an amazing experience! We plan events throughout the semester to spread and show God's love on campus. Some of those events include: A few Saturdays during the semester handing out hotdogs at night on campus, every Wednesday selling tea for a suggested donation of 25¢, and playing hide and seek in the cathedral. I love being involved in outreach because I want to show students on campus what Cornerstone has done for me. It's an absolutely amazing community that I can lean on, be my broken imperfect self in, and grow in Christ with, and I hope to show others the love that was poured into me through these events.

3. How has Cornerstone helped you during your years at Pitt? Cornerstone has helped me in so many ways. Freshman year I was leaning on myself and thought I was alone in my problems. Over the past year at cornerstone two of the main things I've learned are: one, giving my problems to God and letting Him lead my path is the best way to live life, and two, I'm not alone in my problems and having a community (in my case Cornerstone) to lean on and grow in Christ with is KEY. Otherwise, I probably would have fallen apart without God. So thank you to my amazing campus ministers and friends in Cornerstone for being a second family to me and helping me grow in Christ. Y'all rock!

Financial Update
Please read the following new pledge letter. Click on the link for the full picture, or on the picture itself. If you would like to donate, please use the information on the navigation bar or email me at amoore@ccojubilee.org.

Financial Pledge Full (Link)

Moore News

The Moore household had quite the wonderful Christmas! After our initial Christmas celebration, we were able to get away for a week to my hometown of Oak Hill, WV and visit my parents, and my sister, brother-in-law, and four nephews were able to come in as well. So you could say we had two Christmases. These two Christmases gave Benjamin, Joshua, and Asher seemingly hundreds upon hundreds of Pokémon cards and Star Wars paraphernalia which now litter our house. Admittedly, a good portion of the Star Wars paraphernalia is mine. It was a much needed time of relaxation, especially since I don’t get home as often as I would like. It is always cool to show the kids where I grew up…though Emily says that I tell the same stories over and over. Oh, both Emily and I added a number to our age…so, good birthdays as well.

We hope this newsletter finds you well, and that you were blessed richly over Christmastime!

In Christ,
Andy Moore

Bellefield Kids - How to Worship a King

I thought that you all might enjoy our children, along with the Bellefield kids, singing, "How to Worship a King." Merry Christmas!

2014 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas everyone! Please click on the image or link below to read my Christmas Newsletter.  God Bless!

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." -Philippians 2:5-7

Christmas Letter (Full Size Link)

November 2014 Newsletter

Our Arrabond
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” –Ephesians 1:13-14

Along with his mark or seal, the Holy Spirit serves as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. We understand from the Greek and Roman culture of that day that it was customary to make a deposit, an arrabon as they called it, on the purchase of a possession. The arrabon was a down payment which announced more of the same would be coming – the first installment. Today we often call it “earnest money.” Thus we understand that the spiritual life given to us by the Holy Spirit is an arrabon of what is to come. The celebrated Greek scholar Bishop Lightfoot of Cambridge says, “The actual spiritual life of the Christian is the same in kind as his future glorified self.” It is the same in kind, though immeasurably less in degree. It is a true foretaste.

Imagine the sublimest, most treasured experience of the Holy Spirit we have ever had and then realize they are only a foretaste, the tip of the tongue on the spoon, of what is to come. Remember the release in coming to Christ and knowing you were forgiven? Remember the time when in worship you were smitten with awe? Remember the time you followed the Spirit’s leading and were wonderfully used? Remember the satisfaction of finding the fruits of the Spirit surprising to you with the goodness where you once responded wickedly? Think of all this and multiply it a million-fold. Here on earth we have experienced the first dollar of a million celestial dollars – the earnest. We have the dawning of knowledge, but then we will have the midday sun…

Do you have the arrabon of the Holy Spirit? It is the real thing, but nevertheless just a taste! What will the first five minutes be like when we come into the fullness of our inheritance? The first fifteen minutes? The first hour? The first day – week – month – year – thousand years? We must celebrate our seal or arrabon as his Spirit bears witness with our spirit because that foretaste is going to multiply a million-fold.

-R. Kent Hughes, Ephesians: The Mystery of the Body of Christ

Meet the Students

Meet Danny Snyder, a Sophomore Actuarial Mathematics and Spanish major from Hummelstown, PA (outside of Hershey). Danny has been involved in Cornerstone, thus far, through Freshmen Ministry Team, and I have also had the privilege of discipling him. He is funny, outgoing, and hyper. Read more about him…

1. What is your favorite movie, book, and band/music? These are all tough questions, because I have lots of favorites... I'd say my favorite movie is Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi. It's just too awesome and action-packed with many feels to not love it! Music is the hardest (I could easily give 10 groups/composers as I like jazz, rock, classical, and indie music) but I'd say Fleet Foxes, they're an Indie band that have some of the most beautiful harmonies and textures I've ever heard. My favorite book would have to be Redwall by Brian Jacques. I loved the whole series as a kid, even it was just about a bunch of forest animals fighting with tiny swords.

2. What has been your involvement in Cornerstone? Since my freshman year (I'm currently a sophomore) I have both participated and now help lead Freshmen Bible Study, which has been a true blessing to my life and my walk with Christ. Additionally, I have played guitar and sang for worship in the past, and plan on continuing leadership in Cornerstone in some manner this coming Spring. I've also gone to Cornerstone events, went to the Dominican Republic last Spring break on one of the mission trips, and have enjoyed participating in outreach events when able (handing out hotdogs Saturday nights is the best!). I sadly haven't been as involved this year due to becoming a Resident Assistant at Pitt which has kept me from being super active.

3. How has Cornerstone helped you during your years at Pitt? Cornerstone has been essential in my continued faith in Jesus. I came to college seeking to find a group to help me grow in Christ and found an INCREDIBLE community! Having so many fellow friends who are Christians and phenomenal leaders (especially my Disciple group leader, who may or may not have three super adorable boys) has changed my life forever! The strength that I've found in my faith and beliefs has been supported by Cornerstone through experiences in reaching out to others and the mission trip to a poverty-stricken society that literally transformed how I perceive life in general. I can't imagine being at Pitt and not being involved in Cornerstone, like seriously...

Financial Update

For the past two months, we have included a financial ask letter to go along with our newsletter. This letter vulnerably explained our current financial state, as well as asked for your help. You all not only responded, but went above and beyond anything we could ever think of. We are so overwhelmed at your kindness and generosity that we are at a loss for words. Thank you for giving, and for following Jesus. We are always in awe how God has used everyone to help support this ministry, and could not do it without God working through you. The journey is not over, however. We could always use financial help to increase our ministry account, so that when those tough months happen we will be prepared. If you are interested in supporting this ministry, I would love to meet with you. Please contact me using using the information on the navigation bar or email me at amoore@ccojubilee.org

Moore News

Benjamin and Josh’s futsal (indoor soccer) league has officially begun. Unfortunately, they got drubbed in the first game 8-0. To be fair, their team had not even had a practice yet. Needless to say, Ben and Josh where not quite adjusted to the speed of the new game, along with the size of their opponents. The second game went a little differently, and we won 4-2. Ben had a beautiful goal in that one as well. He got the ball with a player to beat, and totally juked the kid out of his socks and ended up nutmegging the goalie (when the ball goes between the goalie’s legs). The best part, though, was his celebration. Joshua also did really well, and will be a star (I think) when he adjusts to the speed of the game. He has a lot of offensive skill and is working on being a bit more aggressive defensively. It was really fun to watch them play!

Asher might just be one of the sweetest children in existence. He is very counter-cultural in the fact that he often puts others before himself; often giving and not receiving. It probably also helps that he still has a very sweet “baby” voice, which just melts your heart. Currently he is really into the show Star Wars Rebels, which (being a huge Star Wars fan) brings a joyful tear to my eye.

Emily has been staying busy with the Bellefield Women’s Ministry, even helping to organize a retreat. She has a genuine passion for Christ and loves sharing that passion with friends and family. It has been wonderful to watch Emily and the boys grow spiritually!

We pray that this newsletter finds you well, and that God continues to minister to your lives! God Bless!

In Christ,
Andy Moore