There is typically a gap between the values that we hold and the behaviors that we exhibit. This gap often produces guilt and stress, because we know what we want to be ... but we miss the mark. I call this gap the "Values Gap", and it is the area in which RightSizing is needed.

This message is a practical guidance to help people understand their Values Gap by helping to articulate the values they believe should form their life, and the values that actually contribute to behavior.

Becoming a Christian means that the fundamental vision and direction of one's life will change. That probably doesn't seem like a shock to most people. However, it may come as a surprise to hear that the Christian will need to be retooled and resupplied so that this new direction will progress successfully.

This message simply introduces "RightSizing", and reminds us that becoming a Christian means dropping some things and acquiring other things.

Challenging the truthfulness of the resurrection of Christ, and even the existence of God, is a common dialog in agnostic and atheist circles. A central theme to these debates is that anything about God can be neither proved nor disproved. Now, at face value, this would then seem to be a matter of personal inclination - I can choose to affirm or deny God, the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection, the raising of Lazarus, even the biblical miracles.

Yet God is not one to be proven, rather He is known through experience. Would it surprise you to know, that in the context of this argument ... the disciples chose to deny the resurrection? Based purely upon personal inclination, they chose to NOT believe in Christ. That is, until Easter became real.

The pursuit of maturity (that is, fulfilling our spiritual potential in our community of faith), is not without an adversary. This adversary, Satan, lobbies against your maturity and ultimately the maturity of the Kingdom.

But, it is not helpful to merely consider Satan as a tormentor and source of negative experience; rather, consider also that Satan is a blockade to your spiritual maturity. He may tempt you with deceptive relationships, career moves, fame, etc. in an attempt to draw you away from God.

Whenever we begin to live out a life of spiritual community, we will begin to get in close proximity with others. When we are isolated and remote from others - effectively strangers - most will look polished and their flaws are easily concealed. But, in close proximity, flaws, sins, and annoyances become apparent. This creates conflict and discomfort, and ultimately threatens the unity that is essential to Christian maturity.

This message highlights the "smells" that become apparent when we get in close proximity, and reminds us of direction from Christ about resolving conflict and issues as soon as they are exposed.

Just because something claims to be "Christian" doesn't mean that it is of God - there are cults and manipulative leaders. To avoid falling for the latest fad Christian movement, it might be helpful to just remember a healthy approach: know your vision & identity, be equipped to move toward this vision, and get on the field - do it!

Over the last eight weeks, I have been going over the topic of spiritual maturity, contrasting it with spiritual immaturity. This message reviews these topics and perhaps provides some cohesive guidance, depending upon where one might be spiritually.

Lent is a traditional time in the Christian calendar in which we are reminded of our position with God. That is, the world does not revolve around us, but we revolve around God. Lent meditates on humility, sacrifice, and devotion. It is a time when people are reminded to love others and God. (It is also a time, traditionally, when people prepare themselves for baptism).