I regularly reflect on Hebrews 10:19-25. You can read the passage on your own, but it essentially calls us to cling to God, cling to truth, and cling to each other because of Christ's work in bringing us to God through His death. Right now, I'd like to encourage you with the call of verse 25, that we not neglect to meet together, but that we encourage one another, and all the more as "the day" draws near. I find that last emphasis compelling. Why would the progress of time call for an increased emphasis on being together and encouraging one another? I think the answer is because of the biblical truth that as we inch closer and closer to the day of Jesus' return (and as we age in our own lives), things get more difficult, not easier. When I was a child, I only had a few responsibilities on my plate. As an adult, I have many more obligations, opportunities, and awarenesses to potentially weigh me down or discourage. As I look at the world around me, there is far more potential for discouragement than there was when I was in college. I have seen more, and am responsible for more. I think there is a universality to this experience - the world has a way of weighing on us. And as we age, life doesn't necessarily get easier (as much as we might have thought things would get easy one day). So, Scripture calls us to meet together and encourage one another. Allow me to echo that call. This is why we have discipleship groups, 242 Groups, and Sunday School classes, as well as other studies and gatherings. These are here to connect you to the encouragement found in the body of Christ. I am always worried when I see someone in the church withdraw. It is almost always a sign of ill-health or discouragement of some sort that either has hit or will hit soon. Isolation is an indication that all is not well, and is in fact itself not good (see Genesis 2 and God's creation of a wife for Adam). So again let me encourage you to find connection in the body of Christ, and be an encouragement to others, that we may all faithfully follow.