Monthly Archives: June 2009

Ever since I‘ve been a Christian (or at least since I‘ve returned to Christ after college), I‘ve thought about the question, “What is a Christian?” What does it mean to be a Christ follower? I struggle with this because I see so many people who have prayed a prayer or who claim the name of Jesus, but who totally do not live like it. When I read their Facebook or listen to a joke they tell or see the way they treat their family, I wonder. So what does it take to be a Christian; how much is enough? Continue reading →

Pastor Leo Giovinetti out in San Diego, California always has such good encouraging things to say – so I thought I’d let you read his words this week:

Some of you are facing some really difficult situations right now – layoffs, foreclosures, bankruptcy, divorce, illnesses, diseases, and maybe even the reality of death. Let me give you some encouragement. Your God has the final word in every situation and somehow, some way, everything He allows will work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
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As you read this, I’ll probably be struggling to climb up 400 or so steps up the side of a mountain to get to Chimney Rock. Or perhaps I’ll be sailing down through some whitewater rapids in an inflatable raft with a bunch of screaming teenagers. Or maybe I’ll be a couple hundred feet under ground in a cave.

That’s what we’ll be doing on our summer youth retreat in North Carolina. Don’t you wish you were me? Why are we doing those things? Because each activity offers us a chance to talk about some real spiritual truth. Continue reading →

The person sitting across from you at church is hurting. Your neighbor is struggling. We are all surrounded by people who are so lonely. Surrounded by people who are so discouraged or depressed or hurting or afraid. But we are too busy smiling and telling everyone we are fine – so that we don’t notice them. Continue reading →