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Cornerstone Communications
USA
June 01, 2006

Dear Friends & Family,

Greetings from Raleigh, North Carolina for the last time. I leave on Sunday for Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I have had a wonderful time, and have met many wonderful Christians here. The weather has been wonderful, albeit a little warmer. The pace is so nice here. Raleigh is so laid back!

Production Update

Two for One! Tonight is Opening Night! Tomorrow is Opening Night! How is that possible? Well, because there are two separate shows, that's why! The Spanish cast will open their production tonight, and the English cast will open theirs tomorrow night. In the meantime, I've been working double time getting both casts ready for their shows.

We have had some difficulties with a "spirit of confusion". Everyone thinks that someone else is doing something. To the point that I've found myself running errands and doing things that then keep me from doing the director's job. Last night, we couldn't begin final dress, because they didn't know that there were smoke alarms, and we use a lot of smoke in our productions! So, we had to wait for over an hour to get the alarms turned off to rehearse.

Please pray that we'll be able to decidedly take responsibility and do the tasks assigned. I don't forget that this is a spiritual battle, but one that we're going to win. Lastly, please pray that the audiences will come "en masse". I pray to fill the church nightly for the next 8 performances, and to see hundreds, even thousands walk the aisle to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Taking the actors through their paces.... the Raleigh actors are very talented and on fire for the Lord.

Satan is a Fisher of Men Too

So far, 2006 has been a "harvest year". I praise the Lord for all the souls that have come into the Kingdom in 2006 through Cornerstone so far: over 2,000 souls. Glory to You, Lord! As we strive to be "fishers of men", we ask for the Lord's help to make us fruitful. However, there are some things we must be very careful to watch for to keep the enemy out of our camp. This is no time to be lazy in our spiritual lives.

You see, the devil knows his time is limited, and so he "is seeking those whom he may devour." You see, he desires to be a fisher of men, too. I've heard people say (when I witness to them) "I'm not going to ever serve the devil, but I just don't believe in God". That's the enemy's whole purpose! He doesn't care that you worship him, as long as you don't worship God!

Mark 4:14-20 is the story of the sower who sowed the Word. We see also what the devil did, and how he tries to thwart God's work. What is the bait that the enemy uses?

"The sower sows the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Speaking with Pastor Lynton Turkington at Celebration Family Church, we're exhorting the congregation that this production is an outreach to the lost, not just another show.

Jesus shows us some of Satan's bait that he tries to use against us, to keep us from following the Lord or trusting in Him. They are

• Affliction
• Persecution
• Cares of this world
• Deceitfulness of riches
• Lusts of the flesh.

Persecution is like afflictions, but it's external. It causes suffering from what others say or do to you. This can lead to misunderstandings, and thus offense. Sometimes, the enemy makes you think you're being persecuted by those who actually want to help, and uses your confusion against you. He makes you think they're bad, and are persecuting you, and makes you drive them away due to offense. The offense is BAIT! Don't bite! Return to God's Word, and believe only what He says about this.

The Cares of this world come from paying too much attention to BAD NEWS. We focus our time too much on the daily news, on problems, on bad reports, on disasters, but not on God's Word. We allow those things to overtake our thinking, which can destroy your faith. If you allow yourself to listen too much, they'll choke you. That's the BAIT! Don't bite! Return to God's Word, and believe only what He says about this.

Some volunteers work to put up the set on Memorial Day for this weekend's performances.

The Deceitfulness of riches is what happens when we get too focused on what money can do for us. You think of ways to expand your personal kingdom of clothes, cars, houses, jewels, electronic gadgets, etc. and neglect God's Kingdom. You begin to trust money and what it can do for you. You stop tithing and giving to God. That's called BAIT! Don't bite! Return to God's Word, and believe only what He says about this.

The Lusts of the flesh are anything that causes an insatiable desire to obtain. You can't rest until you have it, and so you think on, ponder, and dream of getting this desire. It can be sexual, of course. But more than that, it can also be money, or power, or something someone else owns, or the desire to be cool and fit in, and do whatever is necessary to achieve that position. That is BAIT! Don't bite! Return to God's Word, and believe only what He says about this.

You must get into God's Word. Have you? It's not too late (it never is!) . If any of these baits have made you bite, then repent today, and turn loose. It might be hard, but Jesus can help you to be set free. Don't let yourself become prey to one of the enemies many traps for you. Stay in God's Word, and He will deliver you from any bondage the enemy might have planned for you!

Hasta La Vista!

That's actually Spanish, but something all Americans use to say, "until we see each other again". It has been a blessing to be back in the USA, and I'll miss my country. I pray that the Lord would richly bless the US, and to spark revival. May one of our theatrical productions help the cause of Christ to expand His Kingdom in the US and around the world. God bless you, my friend!

For the Kingdom,
Richard Montez