Francis Chan Questions

Francis Chan asked some really good, life altering, game changing questions in his sermon that he gave at Bethlehem Baptist. He asked questions like "do you think your spiritual reputation matches the truth in God's eyes?" and "are you lukewarm?". To answer the first question, to be honest, I don't really know the answer. I'm not sure what exactly I am projecting about my spiritual life to the outside world. I don't act like I have it all together spiritually, and on the inside, I don't have it all together. Also I don't think about how I want people to perceive me, I just act like myself, so I don't think I am sending a false message. On the other hand, I have a lot of knowledge about the bible, so it may seem like I know it all, but God knows, I don't know everything about the bible, and Christianity. To answer the second question, I don't think I'm lukewarm, the way Francis Chan explained it. I do believe in God and I don't fake that I believe or don't believe anything. I do however go through low points in my spiritual excitement, and I don't pretend that I don't have low points.

MEW-Love Houston

Missions Emphasis Week is about how we can live missionaly in our lives, in the community and in the school. it is similar to Spiritual Emphasis Week where we have chapel everyday, except on the last day we go out in the community and do community service as representatives of the school. I thought the theme of Missions Emphasis Week, Love Houston, was ok. I don't really like Houston, so it was weird to LOVE Houston, but the point taken was that we should love the people in our community, which I liked. My favorite part was the band, the Robbie Seay Band, they are awesome, so it made my worship much better than normal. I didn't really feel that much more encouraged to love my community though, when the week was over. My experience at The Parish School was incredible. the school and their mission was so amazing and impressive and interesting that i am going to volunteer there starting after spring break because they have occupational therapy for kids at the school, and that is what i want to do with my life. it was frustrating for me that we had chapel everyday because not all the chapel talks were interesting, especially chap z's talk.

Teen role models

According to the article "Teen Role Models: Who They Are, Why They Matter" teenagers are more likely to pick people to be role models who they know closely, such as parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Secondly, teens pick pastors, coaches, teacher, and church members. Thirdly teens chose famous people such as Bill Gates, Britney Spears, and Barack Obama. Teens are the most likely to chose people they know well because they know their characteristics and they also support the teens. My role model is Tweety Eastland. She is the owner of the camp I attend, and she is my role model because she is the sweetest, most Godly woman I know, and I want to be just like her. She has a compassionate heart for younger girls like me and she is so supportive of me and my friends that go to camp with me. You can see how close she is to God and I truly admire it, and I want the same kind of life that she has. She has the perfect marriage and the perfect family. He is also very sweet and polite and she is such a lady.

Community Service Day

Schools:
The Parish School is a great institution to work at because they help kids with learning disabilities and they are always in need of an extra hand. They also help kids with social disorders such as autism. They provide occupational therapy so kids can adapt to normal life. The Parish School helps kids learn to live in this world with the disabilities that they have so they can go to a normal school and have a normal life. Ways that we can help out the school are small chores like folding laundry and organizing book shelves.

Ecclesia:
Ecclesia recently purchased a new warehouse to transform into their new church. Everyone on staff was so friendly and focusing on being a community and working together. Our group helped with construction jobs such as caulking the outer wall, painting the outer wall, and sweeping the inside. It was really cool to help out building their new church and I am so excited to see how the warehouse will be transformed into a house of God.

Why is it so hard to encourage others?

Why is it so hard to encourage others?
I think it is because it makes the person who is giving the complement or word of encourage feel vulnerable because they are being serious and revealing their true thoughts and feelings about the other person, even if the word of encouragement isn't all that deep or even meaningful. In today's society we tend to shy away from being serious and genuine. We feel more comfortable hiding our true feelings behind joking exteriors. We love to laugh, and thats not a bad thing, but there is a time and a season for everything, including a time to be serious and genuine and a time to be funny and joke around. The trouble is we are completely leaving out the seriousness of life and only operating in "silly mode". It is impossible to be genuine and serious while also being silly; the three words do not mix, and that is why it is so hard for people (kids especially) to be encouraging and complementary to others.