Step out. That was my New Year’s Resolution this past January. They’re just two words, but they hold a two-fold meaning for me.

The goal of week 3 is to begin to ‘see’ our neighbors through God’s eyes and that because of that fresh vision we would love and serve them well...

I was thirteen and had just undergone the Catholic Sacrament of Confirmation. The head priest had performed the ceremonial prayer as I piously knelt in front of the altar. To my family and the congregation, this meant I was now a member of the church. To me, this meant I no longer had to go to Sunday School and could thus live my quietly growing agnostic life in peace. There was just one thing left to do - something I had been dreading for weeks now. I had to go to confession.

The goal of week 2 is to convey the necessity of the unity of the body of Christ. A unity that is rooted in the love shared between the Father and Son, which should compel the whole Church, expressed as both “all believers” and “all local churches” to love each other well. As we will see, this oneness shared by the Church was the last thing Jesus prayed for.

A few weeks ago, we had our first Community Group of the fall semester, and like every good Christian group in America, it was a potluck dinner. As the night was winding down, I ended up in a side conversation with some other group members about the nature of true Christian community in contrast to just having friendships with other people who are Christians. Is there a difference?

Over the next 4 weeks, our church will be participating with 73 churches in the greater Charlotte area, reaching over 41,000 people at those churches in our city with a unified message. To share what is at the core of what all Christians and churches value, no matter the denomination, or background...

The other day I was having a conversation with a friend of mine, and it reminded me of the importance of the gospel and how easily we take it for granted. I was sharing how there have been few opportunities lately to share the gospel with others, and we started talking about this verse.

Have you ever casually mentioned you will pray for someone and then completely forgotten? Conversely, has your prayer ever been answered in an extraordinary fashion, and you’ve forgotten to acknowledge the graciousness of our Father who is the provider of all good and perfect things (James 1:17)? This is an all too common theme for the present-day Christian who struggles with the practice of disciplined prayer and thanksgiving (myself included).

My wife and I recently purchased a home in Charlotte, and we’re excited to officially put some roots down in this city. It is a milestone moment in one’s life when making a decision that large. As I drove on Park Road to our new home, I was struck by the potential outcomes that come with a move.

I didn’t set out to write a blog post on fellowship. I actually tried to write about joy. When I sat down to write on a break in between clients, this is what ended I ended up typing instead. I couldn’t get it out of my head, so maybe someone needs this. I know I do.