Easter is a BIG conversation, and asks asks a BIG question: Did Jesus come back from the dead?

Standing out as a Christian is not about highlighting differences.

Standing out as a Christian is not arguing your faith.

Standing out as a Christian is not judging or avoiding people who are different.

Standing out as a Christian is posting your political views on social media…

Standing out as a Christian is not protesting in front of organizations you disagree with.

Standing out as a Christian is not boycotting another organization.

Standing out as a Christian is not isolating ourselves or our children from the world.

You know what would really stand out in our culture…not highlighting differences but highlighting Jesus.

There is one vine (Jesus) with millions of branches (Followers of Jesus) bearing lots of fruit. Love is our fruit. Jesus passes down the love of God to us, so that we might continue to transmit that love to those around us.

If you aren’t abiding in Jesus' love and then abounding in Jesus’ love for other people, you are not fully following Jesus.

God's spirit works in partnership with God's word; you won't understands the way of the spirit any more than you understand the word of God.

Without Scripture there is no explanation of who God is and where we come from. Without the Holy Spirit there is no understanding of what scripture says about how we connect with God and love like him.

No matter what, God is good. When you feel like life is falling apart, you can still believe that God is good. God’s not good because of what has or happened in your life. God is good because of Jesus.

How long are you going to be a prisoner of your past?

If you want healthy relationships, vulnerability is the way forward, and it starts first with vulnerability with God.

Denying our guilt, or excusing our guilt, always empowers it to wreak havoc on our relationships.  Guilt creates a debt/debtor relationship between us and other people.  

Christianity is this: I hurt you. I faced my guilt. I ask God to forgive me and he gave me what I don't deserve, so the least I can do is come back to you and give you what you do deserve.