Hi Mark,

I’m happy to hear you’re going to church and enjoying it. It really does make a difference in our walk with Jesus to be walking it with others. We weren’t made to do this (mainly) alone, but with the Spirit of God primarily and then with fellow believers.

In your previous email you listed five or six questions about church. I’m only going to give answers to two of them. This isn’t because I don’t think the other questions are worth answering; it’s because I think it would be better for you to speak to your pastor and maybe others in your church about them. I’m happy to have the conversations and I hope they continue but, just so we’re both on the same page, you have a pastor and he’s not me.

Hey Mark,

I didn’t expect to hear back from you so quickly, but I’m glad I did.

Your follow-up questions about your salvation are good on a couple of levels. One, they’re good because they’re where you’re at right now. I think it’s best to deal with the questions you have no matter what they are. I don’t see the point in being disappointed or nervous because of particular questions. If you have a question or a bunch of questions—whatever it or they may be—let’s look at them.

Hi Mark,

It was great to get your email today!

Even though we haven’t talked for a while, I’d been praying for you—as I know others have as well. That’s why it was so great to get your email saying that you’ve come to believe in Jesus. I’m grateful to God for what he’s done to you and for you and I pray that he would continue to have mercy on you as you grow in your love for and understanding of him and find your way in his kingdom. I’m happy you emailed me, and I hope we can continue this conversation!