Why won't God just make me a better, mature christian right now?

Have you ever asked that question?  To God?  To a friend?  To a pastor?  As growing christians, we tend to get frustrated with our "spiritual" shortcomings. We don't wake up as early as we need to in order to spend quality time in God's word. I'm so lazy! We can't bring ourselves to share the gospel with that co-worker we know needs Jesus. I'm so dad-gum scared! We determine our actions and appearances based on what others think. Why do I care so much! There are so many examples of stuff like this.  Things that...

The Greatest Offender Becomes the Greatest Defender

Today I was reading Acts 9, along with the Summit Church's bible reading plan (summitRDU.com/Bible), about the conversion of the greatest opponent to Christ and the Christian faith that has ever lived, Saul of Tarsus.  Just one chapter before his conversion, Saul was pulling people out of their homes and putting them in prison.  He "approved" the ESV says of Stephen's execution. He was binding those who had been set free in Christ.  And then, in the middle of the road, on his way to another raid of another town, it happened. Saul...

A Sinners Prayer

Below I have posted a prayer that came out of my time in God's word this morning.  May this be the prayer of an ever increasing number of weary souls who have finally discovered that they can find life and rest in no one but Jesus, His cross, and His resurrection.  Show me the gravity of my sin by showing me the cross Show me the gloriousness of Your love by showing me the cross Show me Your worthiness of worship by showing me the cross Show me the depth of Your grace by showing me the cross Show me your faithfulness never-ending by...

God's Dream for Your Life

Check out the call to discipleship and God's dream for your life that Wes Smith gave at SC United on September 7th!  The dude talks really fast but it's a good word.  "You can't microwave a disciple, you gotta slow cook 'em!" God's Dream for Your Life from Summit College on Vime...

Čao from Belgrade! Cako cte?

Hello everyone!  I apologize that it has been so long since my last update.  So we are getting towards the end of City Project, which is the summer discipleship program we have through the college ministry at the Summit.  We are currently in our international portion of the program.  Each student goes to one of three locations including: Nairobi, Kenya; Taipei, Taiwan; and Belgrade, Serbia.  I am in Belgrade with a team of 9 students and two other staff.  We have been here for about a week and have been on the go...

Jesus In My Place

So I wanted to take a quick minute and share with you my thoughts on the new worship album from the Summit Church released on iTunes today.  Of course I am biased toward this record because I am on staff with the Summit and I get to serve alongside the folks who crafted this album.  However, I am writing this review on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ my savior, and the glory He deserves.  There are 13 tracks on this album, 11 of...

Infinite Power and Infinite Love Meet at the Cross

Mark 15:29-30  "And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, 'Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!'" I was spending time today reading through the last week of Jesus' life on earth.  While reading this passage really struck me.  These people were mocking Jesus and yelling at him to bring himself down from the cross if he was truly the son of God.  I have thought before to myself, "Why didn't Jesus just come down from the...