What makes the difference in life is not the ferocity of the storm, but the depth of our character. Who, of us, gets the inside track to our God (Psalm 15)? What an incredible question. It is a question that begs an answer from us. I love the bible, because we actually gain the answer.

David writes, in Psalm 15, that the person who is blameless and who does what is right and who is a truth-teller and who refuses to gossip and who fosters healthy relationship and who handles his resources and who treats people with dignity. Those characteristics give an inside track to God. A person with 'character' is after the heart of God. A person gains character by going after the heart of God. Romans 12.1 - 2 are such amazing verses. Paul is writing and begging that the reader will allow Christ's character to be formed in his heart. This character will find outward, practical, expression. As we prioritize our lives around Christ and His values and His truth and His ways, there is a heightened sense of the reality of God in us. His presence is revealed for those who turn toward Him.

Emerson wrote wisely, when he wrote, 'what lies behind and what lies before are tiny matters compared to what lies within.' Christ lies within and his life must create reverb for His glory and for His Kingdom. Over the next few weeks, we are going to hang around the truth and the challenge of living a life based on character. Character is not defined by emotion or feeling, but forged in the fire of truth and conviction.

Character is the willingess to do what is right, as defined by God, regardless the cost - Stanley Character is predicate upon our passion for the Word; for Christ; and for a conviction to live in His truth. Wow, I am impassioned that we deeply root our lives in His life and that those who see us... who see our fellowship see deep water and deep lives and deep passion and see a taste of the depths of the Christ-life. I hope that they meet a group of people who have an inside track with God and because we love Him with our core, that inside track is changing all of who we are!

By Grace.... For Glory,

Mark