Blog | Cornerstone Church in Lodi

Haitian Tragedy

Posted: August 20th 2012

We are really shocked. This sad news happened Saturday Aug. 18th in Port au Prince. Our friend, Pastor, and Haitian missionary to his people in the little town of Merceron was murdered.

We cannot believe the great loss. He started this new ministry with only 5 people. Today there is at least 50 believers. They are in the process of building a new church. They are learning and growing in the Lord.

When our team was there we visited every home in the village and witnessed to them. They a…

Maggots

Posted: August 13th 2012

I discovered we have them. They are nasty and look like slimy little creepy crawlers. I can't tell you how gross they make me feel. I don't like to admit it but they are a reality at the Payne household.

A few days ago, I was preparing 50 pounds of chicken thighs for our outdoor Sunday Barbecue. I bought chicken thighs with the "bone in" because they are so much cheaper than those with the bone already extracted. Yes they were 50 per cent cheaper.

So after deboning the chicken thighs …

Pedal Boats And Yachts

Posted: July 24th 2012

We were at Lake Tahoe for our family reunion this year. There were 13 of us which included the youngest of 2 years and the oldest. The oldest would be me but I'm not telling my age because ...... well, I can't remember that far back.

It was a great week and we saw all kinds of boats from the smallest little pedal boats for kids to the biggest yachts that cost thousands.

Next to our house was a very beautiful family cruiser with living accommodations down below and a great deck up above.…

His Bright Light

Posted: June 28th 2012

The light was so bright I could not see anything. My eyes were dazed and almost blinded from the intensity of it.

It was early morning just after sunrise and the sun had momentarily burst through the clouds. That's when the intensity struck my eyesight from the overwhelming glare off the Pacific Ocean. It was stunning and beautiful with the break of dawn.

I had just finished reading this verse from Ps. 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation" and then "whom shall I fear". When God lig…

Quick Learner

Posted: June 5th 2012

We have the cutest little Shitzu dog named "Precious".

She has more energy than a teenage girl at a Justin Biber rock concert!!!

She loves to run, jump high, tease our other dog and wake up early in the morning. There is never a dull moment when she is nearby.

She loves to chew up everything she can get her mouth on.Outside she finds flowers,wood chips,grass and smelly things to devour. Then she is still hungry.

She is also very protective of our other dog "Jabez". When Jabez needs t…

Man From Hell

Posted: May 28th 2012

We were visiting one of our favorite restaurants in Stockton recently. As we entered the eatery a man sitting in the bushes was begging for money.

I didn't even respond to his jibberish. Then I noticed as we were eating he kept circling the restaurant, approaching patrons, and trying to get money from them. One family started to leave the restaurant and noticed him outside the door so they turned around and found a different exit so they wouldn't have to face him.

He looked so old b…

A Very Large Tattoo

Posted: May 15th 2012

We were on vacation. It was a very beautiful day with soft breezes wafting by, great cloud formations, sun playing hide and seek and tropical temperatures. It was a special day at Hanalei Pier.

Soon a young man came by playing with his little 3 year old daughter. I noticed on his back was a very large tattoo of a cross. It was displayed almost the entire length of his back and had Jesus on the cross.

I was intrigued and wanted to ask "Why?" But he was gone down the beach under the bridge…

The Yellow Shopping Cart

Posted: April 17th 2012

It was owned by a local grocery store. I tried putting it in the back of my Honda. It was so heavy and huge. It weighed more than anyone could have guessed. I tried many different ways to fit it into the rear of the car.

It was just too wide, too long, too tall.

After all my efforts and sweat and tears and total frustration, it finally squeezed in the car at an awkward angle and by pushing as hard as I could I moved it forward far enough to close the swinging rear door.

A police…

Excruciating

Posted: April 4th 2012

Sometimes we say, "I bumped my head and it was excruciating"-------NO not really!

Or we will comment, "Yesterday I tripped and sprained my ankle and it was excruciating" --------NO not really!

You may hear, "I hit my thumb recently with a hammer and it was excruciating" ---------again, NO not really!

EXCRUCIATING by definition truly means. "PAIN THAT COMES OUT OF THE CROSS". It is a Latin word and literally says "Out of the Cross".

Now we all know where that word originated and to…

What To Do In A Crisis

Posted: March 14th 2012

Everybody faces this on ocassion. It isn't fun and we don't like it. In fact we all hate it!

In the O.T. Elijah had a crisis and he got so depressed that he fled to a cave and just wanted to die. I think many of us feel that way when we feel overwhelmed.

When the officer called me on the phone and said the name of my oldest son. I couldn't believe my ears. He said that he rolled his VW down a very steep embankment. I thought it was a movie, someone elses life and son. This happened many y…