Just Walk Across the Room

I'm taking a course right now at ET called 'Just Walk Across the Room'. This course has, so far, been very enlightening and motivating. It's about witnessing to others and the importance of being patient and not pushy. It also stresses that sometimes the best kind of witnessing is done without words (which I whole heartedly agree with).

But the discussions have got me thinking about a few things (paticularly the one from tonight) and I want to try to reiterate those thoughts..

Tonight we talked about how, for most people, the longer you're a Christian, the more you develop a Christian lifestyle... Christian music, Christian movies, Christian friends... For those of you who are Christians - how many friends do you have that are not saved? I know for myself, my Christian friends definetly outnumber my non Christian friends.

Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing..people like to surround themselves with people who they can share with so it's only logical. However, I've seen so many Christians surcumb to the "Bubble Effect". This is where people stay inside their "Christian Bubble" because it's safe and familiar. It is our responsibility to get out of that bubble and well, walk across the room.

For those of you who don't know me, I'm not a partier or a drinker (heck I get drunk off fumes!), but I don't mind going to places where alcohol is served. There have been a few times now that I have tried to arrange outings with my Christian and non Christian friends to places like the Queens or Tabu. But everytime I get a swarm of responses from my Christian friends telling me that they cannot go because they don't want to risk being seen there by someone from their church. That it wouldn't look good.

At first this gave me an overwhelming feeling of guilt. All I could think is "Wow... if so many of my Christian friends refuse to go to these places, should I be going?" I have come to the conclusion that no, there is no reason for me to feel guilty. The unsaved are being left behind. If we boycott places where they are - how can we witness to them? Heck think of who Jesus hung out with! Was it the priests? NO! It was the prostitutes and thiefs. It was the lowest of the low (not that I'm saying people at the Queens are low lol). Yes He was judged for it... but judgement didn't stop Him.

So many people have a preconceived notion about Christians. They think that we are hypocrites, judgemental and stuck up. Let prove them wrong! If you're friend says "Hey lets go to the Queens" GO (and don't get drunk)! Prove to them that being a Christian doesn't mean you can't have fun. Of course, if the person is an alcoholic or something this may not be the best idea ;)

Use your common interests with your friends as a way to get to know them. If you have a shady path share it with them so they can see that you've been there and that there's hope. Be persistent but not pushy. Be patient.. the seed you plant may not start to grow for years.

Anyways... I'm sure some of you have thoughts on this. Any comments?

argh :(

so I have somehow managed to create for myself a very nice pile of debt.
i fell victim to the world of student loans and credit cards...

"you're going to increase my limit for me even though I'm maxed out? aw thanks!"

...

ugh I am so stressed. Thankfully Ivan is really good with numbers and helps keep me from loosing my head. I think I need to move. I have way more space than I need and yah, it's just stressful. I don't even know how I'm gonna pay my bills this month.

*sigh* please help me Jesus...

Been a while since I actually posted! Just thought I'd let you all know I'm still alive. I've started seeing someone...his name is Ivan Sullivan. Couldn't be happier :) Work's going great...moved into the web department. And helping out with youth still - doing the 30 hour famine this weekend. That's about it! Now you can't say I never update...lol

I turn polar bears white
and I will make you cry.
I make guys have to pee
and girls comb their hair.
I make celebrities look stupid
and normal people look like celebrities.
I turn pancakes brown
and make your champane bubble.
If you squeeze me, I'll pop.
If you look at me, you'll pop.
Can you guess the riddle? (without google!)

Superbowl coaches "...showing you can do it the Lord's way...."

"I'm proud to be the first African-American coach to win this," said Dungy during the trophy ceremony Sunday night, according to the Associated Press. "But again, more than anything, Lovie Smith (coach of opposing team) and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that."

- Tony Dungy

Two Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13-18

Two Kinds of Wisdom
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

And I surrender all to you, all to you

I'm giving you my heart, And all that is within
I'm laying it all down, For the sake of you my king
I'm giving you my dreams, I'm laying down my rights
I'm giving up my hopes, For the promise of new live

And I surrender all to you, all to you
And I surrender all to you, all to you

I'm singing you this song, I'm waiting at the cross
And all the world holds dear, I'm counting all as loss

The sake of knowing you, The glory of your name
To know the lasting joy, Even sharing in your past

These are the words I sang at church tonight with real compassion. Lately I've had really earnings in my life to move on to 'the next phase'. I guess I'm at the age where a lot of people I know are getting married...even having kids. I've been finding myself yearning for that....but I know that's not what God has planned for me - not yet anyways. So tonight, as we sang "I surrender all to you..." I was actually singing "I surrender it all, all the dreams, hopes yearnings, anything that might distract me from You." I prayed that God just takes all those feeling away until I'm ready for them.

Then surprise, surprise. What do you think the sermon was on?

That's right - love. What is love? How do we know when we're in love and how do we know when we're ready for marriage?

(And who says God doesn't listen?)

We talked about the myths of love and the rules God has laid out for us. The first myth was that Love is a feeling. Love isn't a feeling, it's a choice we have to make. It's like in that Hugh Grant movie, 'Four Weddings and a funeral'. (I tried to find a clip but failed) There's a scene where Hugh says to the other guy..'Do you ever worry that you'll never meet the right person? That you'll never feel that thunderbolt?' (I'm paraphrasing) And the other dude says 'Well I've never really been looking for the thunderbolt. Just a nice girl that likes me, and doesn't get physically sick at the sight of me.'

I think that's the problem with a lot of people. They're just looking for the thunderbolt. The thunderbolt is great, but it fades away. Love takes work and persistance. It doesn't happen automatically. I know when my dad left a few years ago he took me aside and said, 'I just fell out of love with your mum'. That's something that has always bothered me....because it's code for 'I just didn't want to put in anymore effort.'

Tonight they talked about how there are steps to knowing whether you really are in love or not.

(1)Is there passion?
Despite popular belief...God like sex. God invented sex. There are a couple things about sex that the bible clearly states.

a) Sex is for a man and a woman (not a man and a man, a woman and a woman, a woman a dog...lol ya you get the picture)
b) Sex is for a husband and a wife.
(see Proverbs 5:15-18 or Heverws 13:4)
c) Sex is meant to be pleasurable for both partners.

(2)Is there friendship?
Because while the sex may be great...the hot and heavy passion won't last forever. And when it starts to fade there needs to a strong friendship. Don't just get twitterpated like the dudes in Bambi!! (see below)
Bill Hydes said "Love's friendship that has caught fire."

(3)Can I committ?
I've heard of wedding vows being changed to say "...for as long as we both shall love." One letter can make a big difference. Get to know the person, you're going to be spending a lot of time with them. Spend time in courtship - talk...don't be like the dude from princess bride!! lol (you know the one...he's a farm boy and all he ever says to Buttercup is 'As you wish'and then all of a sudden they're madly in love)



Anyways, that's my rambling. Something that's kind of cool is I'm doing more and more volunteer work with kids...and that seems to be replacing that burning desire for the whole family thing...which is a good thing I think. But what I've really learned is that God's grace is sufficent.