New York was fabulous, of course. As expected, the thing that affected me the most was walking through the Times Square/Broadway strip. We got in Friday morning, checked our luggage and began wandering aimlessly through the Square.

The next few hours were filled with surreal moments, as the realization hit me that this larger-than-life place actually existed and I was actually in the middle of it. We saw all the famous sights you always see on TV: the place the ball drops, theatre after theatre, Virgin Records, the giant Toys-R-Us, Caroline's Comedy Club, the Late Show with David Letterman, and the billboards...billboards everywhere: flashing, streaming video, wrapping around the corners of buildings, painted on the sides of buildings, ticking stocks and the latest news.

As I think back now to the excitement and wonder I felt in that first few hours, I think of how it relates to my relationship with God. Every one of us as Christ-follwers has at some point had connections on some level with the living God, moments when we realize that a relationship with Him is not just about reading stories and life instructions and talking to air - that He really exists.

Think back to a time when that hit you. What did it feel like? What did you want to do? How did it change you?

And more importantly, why don't you feel like that now?

Each of our journeys consist of hills and valleys, points where we feel close to God and points where we feel far away. What we must realize is that no matter how far we feel from Him, He is always reaching towards us. He always wants us to experience Him in the fullest, most real way we can. My prayer for you, and for myself, is that you find that love, that you rekindle that excitement, that you truly feel what it is to know that God is real.

NY was a lot of fun to visit, but I am SO glad to be back home where I can spend time with my family - both my immediate family and my extended family: all of you. I missed you guys, and I have a small souvenir that I brought back for each of you.

See you Sunday!