I hope this works.
On Wed. night we asked the question “What is our purpose in life?” and we read about how King Solomon had made an experiment for himself to find what would bring him fulfillment. He was not successful despite creating a world for himself of unimaginable wealth and beauty. Then we read about how Paul was willing to live with nothing for the glory of God. That no matter what the circumstances he would be content. So Solomon’s experiment failed and Paul’s purpose was to bring glory to God no matter the circumstances but what that mean “to glorify God”?
I want you to read Matthew 22:37-39 and John 13:34-35 Is giving God glory suppose to be a feeling we get? Is it easy or is it hard? What are some things Jesus did to glorify God? What have you done to glorify God?
Let me know your thoughts and Monday night I will post some thoughts and respond to any questions you might have. Feel free to comment further about last week or even how all this is going. Can’t wait to see your responses. Bring someone to youth next week that is your first step in glorifying God, by sharing your faith with others.
Pretty pumped about this one! We are starting our summer series tonight with the GOSPEL Journey Maui by Dare 2 Share. This is a series kinda like the Real World, where they really do get 7 strangers(plus Greg Stier) take them to Maui and ask them some of the really tough questions about everyone’s belief. They bring an Atheistic Jew, a Buddhist, a surfer Christian, a Mormon, as well as a few other different backgrounds and just have discussions about what they believe. Tonight’s episode is “Is There A Higher Power”.
These videos were not created to bash any other religion, it is a tool to gain understanding of what you might encounter when talking to someone else about their faith. It doesn’t give you tips or hints on how to prove someone wrong either. This will be an experience of understanding and communication. I hope that everyone gets a chance to make every episode but if not I will post a summery and you can leave comments and questions here on the site. Mohola!!
-Alec
I just bought the new U2 album and it sounds pretty good. I like some of the songs but they have had better albums. But one song kinda through me for a loop, it’s called ‘Magnificent’ and it really is. What got me thinking is the lyrics and how close they are too what a worship song sounds like. Follow this link to the lyrics and maybe you will see where I am coming from http://www.yoursonglyrics.com/magnificent-u2/. I just think it is so weird to have this song, written by a guy who seems to be seeking for God but has not listened to the words he has written. Maybe in some way we all are doing something similar. I don’t mean that we can all write songs like this one but that we miss what is happening right in front of our faces because we think God is not here. I bet if you could watch a tape of your life it would be like when you watch a horror film and you know the person is walking right into danger but you can’t stop them. You might even yell at the screen “Don’t go in there dummy, the killer is right there” Maybe we would say the same thing about ourselves “No dummy, go the other way, can’t you see how that is going to hurt you?” God doesn’t want us to mess up because he knows the hurt it will cause us. We have to open our eyes to the world around us and seek out God’s direction. What other songs have you heard from an artist on the radio or otherwise that sound like they know God but they aren’t living it?
-Alec
. Happy blogging.
I call it the Nevertheless concert because the other bands fell a little short of this band from Chattanooga. I thought they were pretty awesome and they were really nice when we got to meet them after they got off stage. It was at the rivers and spires festival this past weekend. Sorry I haven’t written in a while there will be more updates soon, had a lot to catch up on. Peace Ninjas.
P.S. Who was your favorite band you got to see this year?
I have been listening to a lot of radio at work and the song, “You Found Me” by the Fray, keeps popping up with a pretty deep question to go along with it, “Is God really listening?” So perhaps you have felt this way, or asked a similar question. In this song by the lead singer, Isaac Slade, is a story about someone who wonders where God is when he needed Him the most. He had this to say about his lyrics, “You Found Me’ is about the disappointments, heartaches, and letdowns that come with life; sometimes you’re the one who lets someone else down. Knowing whom you can trust gets hard. Difficulties demand my faith to keep believing, keep hoping in the unseen. Sometimes the tunnel has a light at the end, but usually it just looks black as night. This song is about that feeling, and the hope that I still have, buried deep in my chest.”
So when people tell you, “God is never late.” How do you respond to that? Or do you think God is angry or disappointed if we ask, “Where were you?” Let’s look at John 11:1-43, the story of Lazarus’s family after Jesus shows up after he has died. Was he late? Was Jesus disappointed in them for asking?
Maybe you are asking this question to yourself about God’s absence, but have you been honest with God about it? Please leave your answers and questions in a comment so we can all discuss it. Know that God is not absent, nor is he just waiting for you to feel alone before you seek Him. You just need to get ready to be “found”.
