And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth." - 1 Samuel 17:32-33 (ESV)

There are a few stories in the Bible that most people have heard and if you grew up in church probably saw play out on flannel graphs and coloring sheets. The story of David and Goliath is one of those stories.

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?

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."- 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)

What do real leaders look like? What do they sound like? What kind of communicators are they? Should they have some level of command presence? Are real leaders born, made, or some combo? These are real and important questions when we consider who want to be and who we are willing to follow? But are they the most important question about leaders?

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?

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.