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What is Christianity? Some say it is a philosophy, others say it is an ethical stance, while still others claim it is actually an experience. None of these things really gets to the heart of the matter, however. Each is something a Christian has, but not one of them serves as a definition of what a Christian is. Christianity has at its core a transaction between a person and God. A person who becomes a Christian moves from knowing about God distantly to knowing about him directly and intimately. Christianity is knowing God. "Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." --John 17:3

Something to think about: "Although Christianity is flourishing, many of us who are Christians have gotten caught up in this increasingly bankrupt culture. We have adopted many of the values of the world around us. Maybe it's the new sexual ethics of cohabitation or pornography, rampant greed and materialism, or winking at the needs of the poor. Gal. 5:9 explains why adopting these values is a problem: "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." So when we try to have the best of both worlds, we exchange the truth of God for a lie and the glory of God for idols, we do what seems right in our own eyes, we get engrossed in the secular world, and we worship created things instead of the Creator."

So you have decided to give your heart to Christ and follow Him with all your heart. You made a solid commitment to spend time with Him everyday, but weeks later, you find yourself going back to your old habits and spending less time with God. Whatever your reason may be, you wake up one day and realize that you have backslid. "Backsliding is often subtle. This is why every Christian needs to regularly use the following steps to make sure they are not backsliding from their Christian walk. Remember that God is always with you no matter how many times you backslide, but you must do your part too."

Many Christians find it difficult to get into a daily habit of Bible reading . So this week John Piper addressed four common causes of Bible neglect in the Christian life, like: "I don't read my Bible because . . . . . . it seems so irrelevant to my life." . . . I don't have time." . . . I go to church every Sunday [or Saturday, or whatever day it may be -Leo]." . . . I find it confusing." What follows is a slightly edited (and abridged) transcript of his answers."

A lesson on Christian contentment. Why having little is better than having the riches of the world.

How would you like to lose 59 pounds?

"When you feel you have lost control of the problems life has handed you, do not give up on the faith once instilled in you. Instead, look for the signs God has put in your path."

"You wonder why it's so hard to find some peace of mind? Well, peace is hard to come by when you live in a warzone. And like it or not you are in a war - a very serious one. This war is cosmic in its proportions. It involves God, humans, angels, demons, principalities, powers, nations, and antichrists. And do you know where the front of the battle is? It's in your head."

"Hopefully you find these statements to be characteristic of your life. If not, ask yourself, Why not? "

"Is it our place to judge our fellow man? No. Never. Our place as fellow human beings and compassionate individuals is to listen, offer support, encouragement, and a safe place to for our brothers and sisters to be who they are. Here's a collection of heart-breaking stories about people who were judged when they should have been loved."

When you doubt that God exists, does that mean that you are headed to hell? Can our doubt be a sign of our faith?