When you live a life of love, it always serves to build the lives around you into a greater narrative. Nehemiah had nothing to gain politically from this wall. When a nation’s walls were in ruin, they had no pride; they were in reproach. Nehemiah wasn't near Jerusalem but he had a burden for it. He prayed for four months about the wall before he spoke a word about it.

What would you ask for if the wealthiest, most powerful man in the world asked you what you wanted? The king of Persia asked Nehemiah this very question. Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king. This was not a servant or slave role; this was a position of privilege and honor. The king asked him what he wanted because he could tell he was sad.

In a big city like Chicago, surrounded by so many people, it’s surprising how easy it is to feel so alone. Often times we reach to fill the void of loneliness with everything but God. And like Kevin, we all discover that doing life alone is not as exhilarating as we hoped – especially when we find ourselves in a moment of crisis.

It’s so easy to get caught up celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem, and miss the true meaning behind why we celebrate. The true gift of Christmas is that we get to experience life with Jesus now and for all eternity. So many families have the gifts and the tree, but they are so busy looking for Santa that they miss their Savior

As we are in changing seasons, there are toxic agents that try to invade and bring spiritual death and destruction to the body of Christ. The church in the book of Acts had to sneeze out seven things.

We are in the middle of a series called “Let's talk about it.” We are learning that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). You have a testimony, and it is powerful. In this Thanksgiving season, let’s look back and talk about our testimonies-- the times when God showed up in our lives and delivered us.

God doesn't want us to do life on our own, to be isolated or independent. Not only does God want a personal relationship with us, but he wants it to be an interpersonal relationship-- that it’s God and my friends, God and my family--that I’m not getting into heaven alone. God wants us to live interdependently, not independently. The independent spirit is actually not from God. Have you ever met anybody who’s had any measure of success that’s done it all on their own?

Your decision for Christ may have been a private act where you raised your hand, with all eyes closed, and said a prayer accepting him  but baptism is a public affair. It is an announcement of your new life and identity in Christ. You are immersed in water to confirm that your past and the old you is buried, your sins are forgotten.  You emerge out of the water brand new.