This week I’d like to selfishly use this space simply to express my appreciation for CBC. If you spend time on social media in or observing discussions about the church (which I don’t advise), or if you sit back from a distance and analyze the church from afar, or only read about the church in books and interact over it in academic settings, it can be easy to become disenchanted with the church. It is easy to dispassionately and apathetically criticize a non-defined, impersonal entity like “the church,” and think the group is foolish and beneath you (all the while forgetting that these are the people Christ loves). However, your view of the church inevitably changes when you get to know and are tangibly blessed by genuine, Spirit-filled believers. Personally speaking, this church has been very kind and generous to me and my family. When we had to spend extra days in the hospital after the birth of Leo, many people sacrificed time and energy to help us and watch our kids (and during a busy Thanksgiving week). We don’t have extended family in the area, so we had to lean on the people of CBC. Not only did we have enough help, I found myself thinking that I might have to be careful to not let the whole church know we needed help, lest we be overrun with help. That’s one reason I love not just “the” church, but “this” church. Because this has been my consistent experience with CBC – people are eager to love, serve, help, and pray. You won’t experience that from afar. But as a part of the church of Christ, as exemplified at CBC, you will see God’s love. Thanks to CBC for demonstrating the love of Christ.