For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. - 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (ESV)

You have heard the numbers. You have read the stories. You have seen the pictures. All of these things make me consider my mortality. I've had times in the past when I've physically suffered or when I've narrowly avoided an accident that for a little while the illusion of my invincibility has been pierced. In these days we consider what is dangerous and ultimately deadly. While this is a frightening reality to live in, it also forces us to confront the truth. We will all face death.

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, - Ephesians 2:17-19 (ESV)

One of the things that I love about traveling is experiencing different cultures. When we are put into a situation where things are unfamiliar we are forced to look at the world in different and new ways. All of us in the last couple weeks have been forced into a new culture...whether we like it or not. Now we are forced to think about things differently. Everything from our interactions to our purchases to our travel has changed.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body "Jews or Greeks, slaves or free" and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. - 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV)

I've heard it A LOT. I'll ask someone where they go to church. They answer by saying, 'I go to (Insert pastors name) church.' It's as if that pastor is the sole proprietor & founding owner of the institution. I get it especially when it comes to gifted leaders, pastors, and teachers. It's easy to identify them with the church the pastor. But is the church just a key leader? Or is there something different going on?

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. - Romans 8:15-17 (ESV)

Fear is cruel master. It grips and paralyzes us. It causes us to act irrationally. It isolates and imprisons us, but these words from Paul are words of gospel freedom. We know what family we are a part and we are assured of our relationship to God. That reality provides a bedrock for us to move through a fearful world. Especially in light of current uncertainty we need to understand and trust these truths.

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. - 1 Corinthians 3:16 –17 (ESV)

Is going to church really necessary? We can just watch something online and get what we need. Right? What's the reason for getting together? I can hear songs by great artists online. There are a lot of sermons I can get through broadcasts or podcasts. Does it really matter if I go to church?

And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king." - 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (ESV)

1 Samuel 15 is a difficult passage. It's not difficult because of manuscript/translation issues or even really the interpretation. Those things are fairly clear and straight forward. It's difficult because of what it says. People have looked at this text and walked away from the faith because of it. In the opening of the chapter God commands Saul to do something that many find questionable. Take a look at the opening verses. No doubt these are thorny issues to talk about and they directly connect to who God is and what he does.