A few weeks ago, I learned about a few different types of ministry, and we talked about the pros and cons of each one. I'm not going into that part, but I am going to talk about the one that is involved in the ministry that I most associate myself with. Young Life
In Young Life, we are all about relationships. That is the best way to really get to know someone and to watch them as they grow. Even if you don't get to see their lives go to Jesus, you have a good friend, and you can see them start to change a bit. A seed gets planted, and you never know what can happen.
Well obviously this relationship has the upside, of being one of the best chances of watching lives get changed, but it's definitely the hardest. In every respect, it forces you to be intentional, and really get to know someone. This can be one of the hardest parts of being there. You can't be scared to talk to people, and even if you are, you're not relying on your power to do it anyway. My big problem with this is that we can be tricked into thinking that being in this ministry, that everything we do is helping. I know that I use facebook as a tool maybe a bit too much. I am always telling people they should go on facebook, but I don't always tell people that I want them there, from the bottom of my heart. Facebook is a good tool, but it should not be my main source of relationship building.
I've seen a few things in the recent weeks, I have seen a lot of facebook posts, regrettably maybe a few from me saying things that do nothing but turn people off to the idea of coming. We have been using it in the wrong way, and that's not okay. Why is it so hard for us to build the relationships like those who lead us built them? Why is it hard for us to do it? I blame me being an introvert, but that's not good enough. I use my excuses that are not okay to use, but yeah beside the point. We need to really run after certain people. Honestly, we've had this thing going where if 100 people show up, my head's getting shaved. Why don't we honestly, lovingly, and intentionally go after the people we want there, instead of posting it, and telling everyone at once. We should invite those who we are really loving.
Just my thoughts of today.
TJ
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Friends
I began reading "Love Does" by Bob Goff soon after I got home from Work Crew this past summer. It was a book that I had heard many things about, and, one of my best friends from Work Crew, who I unfortuanately haven't gotten to talk to much, was reading it for the entire month. He told me so much about it, and I wanted to read it so badly. Well, at the end of the month, we had this thing where if we had the verses John 15:1-13 memorized, we got the book "Love Does" and 4 Young Life cups ahah. A silly prize, but it was worth it haha. I, by the grace of God am good with memory. The Lord has gifted me a great memory, so memorizing a passage with the help of friends was probably the easiest thing I did the entire month.
Well, after receiving my book, and cups, I started to read the book after I got home, because I was already reading another book that the Minister to Students at my church sent me. After I started reading Love Does, I thought it was the best thing ever. He tells you some stories that you have to read twice in order to make sure your mind isn't making them up because some of them are rediculous. Some of the stories he tells in this book are very hard to believe, but it's a real thing. They actually happened.
Well, after a few months of reading Love Does along with a few other things, I started my normal becoming lazy. I stopped reading everything that I was reading (one of those books being the Bible itself) and I started my slow roll downhill, because I started not to follow what John 15 says. John 15:5 says "...Apart from me, you can do nothing" That was the most literal statement I've ever read. We can't really do much without remaining in Christ as that passage is so avidly about. That's a little beside the point though.
I recently remembered that I never finished Love Does, so I picked it up from one of my boxes at home, and started reading it again. One specific quote that I read today made me smile, and think. "You know what it is about someone that makes them a friend? A friend doesn't just say things; a friend does." I thought that was one of the best things that I have read in a while.
The reason that quote got to me is probably because I have seen many people who I call friends not act like it. I can honestly say I am not real friends with everyone who is on my facebook friends list. There are many people there who I have never met, simply because of college, and maybe mutual friends of Young Life friends. We've all heard the typical friend statements: "I will always be here for you" and such like that. Maybe they give you a "friends" opinion. How many of those people will actually be there for you if you need them, or if you simply want to hang out? This is the thing that makes a friend, a friend. A friend doesn't just say they will be there, or they want to hang out. A real friend WILL be there, and a real friend will be with you when you want to be with them if possible. Like the book says "Love Does" "...A friend does"
Living in this first world society where it seems like everyone has a laptop, a cell phone, their families have 2 or 3 cars, and knowing that I live in a world where I have my school laptop, which isn't mine to keep, I don't have a cell phone, My dad and I have 1 car that keeps breaking down nowadays, and I feel like because of these things people cast me away for whatever reason. Sometimes, I feel like I am seen as "lesser" or not as good as everyone wants me to be. One of my biggest struggles this year is trying to hang out with all of my friends, because I may not see them again after June 7th. Trying to do this without having a definite way of contacting them outside of facebook has been the most stressful thing I have had to do all year. It's mentally draining, and has hurt me emotionally. I hate being alone, and when I think of the fact that people don't like being with me, or talking to me, and not knowing why, it hurts like crazy.
This quote I've talked about brought up that thought yesterday, and I hate the fact that it did, but there are positives to it as well. I think that without reading this, I would be completely ignorant to the fact that I probably don't have as many friends as I think I do. Because people tell me they're going to be there for me, or whatever. When I really need a friend though, very few of them, if any of the people there at all will be there. It feels like I don't have people I can constantly depend on. It's the worst feeling in the world.
One thing I do want to say is that the quote I used is out of context. If you put the context there, it's a very happy thing to say. It wasn't meant to make me think these things, but looking at that quote by itself, it has sent me into a feeling that I don't have many people I can really rely on. On the flip side of that statement, I am grateful for the ones that are there. They help make things better. I just don't think I know who they are all the time. I look to the wrong people, and give myself to them a lot of times, for absolutely nothing. It's annoying
I don't wanna complain, but I'm worn out, and stressed out. it's not good, and I wish it would stop.
That's all for today.
TJ
Well, after receiving my book, and cups, I started to read the book after I got home, because I was already reading another book that the Minister to Students at my church sent me. After I started reading Love Does, I thought it was the best thing ever. He tells you some stories that you have to read twice in order to make sure your mind isn't making them up because some of them are rediculous. Some of the stories he tells in this book are very hard to believe, but it's a real thing. They actually happened.
Well, after a few months of reading Love Does along with a few other things, I started my normal becoming lazy. I stopped reading everything that I was reading (one of those books being the Bible itself) and I started my slow roll downhill, because I started not to follow what John 15 says. John 15:5 says "...Apart from me, you can do nothing" That was the most literal statement I've ever read. We can't really do much without remaining in Christ as that passage is so avidly about. That's a little beside the point though.
I recently remembered that I never finished Love Does, so I picked it up from one of my boxes at home, and started reading it again. One specific quote that I read today made me smile, and think. "You know what it is about someone that makes them a friend? A friend doesn't just say things; a friend does." I thought that was one of the best things that I have read in a while.
The reason that quote got to me is probably because I have seen many people who I call friends not act like it. I can honestly say I am not real friends with everyone who is on my facebook friends list. There are many people there who I have never met, simply because of college, and maybe mutual friends of Young Life friends. We've all heard the typical friend statements: "I will always be here for you" and such like that. Maybe they give you a "friends" opinion. How many of those people will actually be there for you if you need them, or if you simply want to hang out? This is the thing that makes a friend, a friend. A friend doesn't just say they will be there, or they want to hang out. A real friend WILL be there, and a real friend will be with you when you want to be with them if possible. Like the book says "Love Does" "...A friend does"
Living in this first world society where it seems like everyone has a laptop, a cell phone, their families have 2 or 3 cars, and knowing that I live in a world where I have my school laptop, which isn't mine to keep, I don't have a cell phone, My dad and I have 1 car that keeps breaking down nowadays, and I feel like because of these things people cast me away for whatever reason. Sometimes, I feel like I am seen as "lesser" or not as good as everyone wants me to be. One of my biggest struggles this year is trying to hang out with all of my friends, because I may not see them again after June 7th. Trying to do this without having a definite way of contacting them outside of facebook has been the most stressful thing I have had to do all year. It's mentally draining, and has hurt me emotionally. I hate being alone, and when I think of the fact that people don't like being with me, or talking to me, and not knowing why, it hurts like crazy.
This quote I've talked about brought up that thought yesterday, and I hate the fact that it did, but there are positives to it as well. I think that without reading this, I would be completely ignorant to the fact that I probably don't have as many friends as I think I do. Because people tell me they're going to be there for me, or whatever. When I really need a friend though, very few of them, if any of the people there at all will be there. It feels like I don't have people I can constantly depend on. It's the worst feeling in the world.
One thing I do want to say is that the quote I used is out of context. If you put the context there, it's a very happy thing to say. It wasn't meant to make me think these things, but looking at that quote by itself, it has sent me into a feeling that I don't have many people I can really rely on. On the flip side of that statement, I am grateful for the ones that are there. They help make things better. I just don't think I know who they are all the time. I look to the wrong people, and give myself to them a lot of times, for absolutely nothing. It's annoying
I don't wanna complain, but I'm worn out, and stressed out. it's not good, and I wish it would stop.
That's all for today.
TJ
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