Is Church Membership a Requirement?

A few years ago, during a week when I was preparing to preach Genesis 23, I found myself one day bartering for a cup of coffee at Starbucks. I wanted a half-caffeinated cup of coffee, but all they could give me was a half-caffeinated americano. Well…I was not about to pay that extra forty cents. So I started haggling. I asked if I could get an americano for the same price as a regular cup of coffe...

At the ripe age of 7, I was entrenched in the world of gymnastics. Having the ability to do the splits was the least impressive thing my little body could do at the time. I spent hours at the gym practicing routines and conditioning, and convincing my parents to buy (yet another) leotard with sparkles. The beam, however, was my personal nightmare. My coach would say, “If you are going to do someth...

“And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.”― John Steinbeck, East of EdenTwo years ago, I went through a divorce. I felt so lonely. Going to church felt like I was walking around with a giant “D” hanging over my head and those who came in contact with me would catch the horrific disease of “divorce”. In perspective, that was further from the truth and there were many people, espe...