Greg Laurie visits Northwest

> I spent a wonderful Saturday in Mountlake Terrace with about 1,500 other men at a Christian men’s conference featuring a number of inspiring speakers including Greg Laurie. Laurie, who hails from southern California, has been compared to evangelist Billy Graham. He is a full-time preacher, too, but his outreach ministry now dates back 20 years with a total attendance in excess of 4 million. Most of those attending the “Men on Fire” conference were members of Calvary Chapel fellowships in the Northwest, but there were a few other churches like ours who took the opportunity to spend a day in worship, prayer and teaching. There was much to remember from the messages brought by various speakers, but I recall the importance of the reminder that even after he denied Jesus, his disciple Peter was forgiven. Evangelist Billy Graham often played the song “Just As I Am” as thousands streamed forward to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. I am reminded often that there is nothing I can “do” to “clean myself up” so that I am worthy to be called into God’s presence. It is only God’s grace (undeserved love and acceptance) and surrender to Jesus in light of His sacrifice for my sin that allow me to live in the peace and promise of eternal life with Him. If you are interested in a great daily devotional, I encourage you to visit Greg Laurie’s website and sign up to receive his email messages: www.harvest.org.