If Today Was Your Last Day

Here's a video from a very well known group - Nickelback. This song illustrates what I feel like should be the actions and attitudes of Christians. Unfortunately I think we too often miss it...

Intimacy with Christ

God is not a rock.

Therefore, we should not treat him like one. God has a heart. Therefore, he wants a real relationship with us. He wants us to be intimate with Him. It should be our goal as Christians to not just practice religion, but to strive to have a deepening relationship with Christ. An intimate relationship with our Creator and Savior.

The question came up in my Growth Group last night whether it is easier for women to experience intimacy with Christ than for men. So I did what any smart young man would do... ask his smart young female friend :)

As we discussed the question, it was evident to me that the first thing that needed to be decided was what the term intimacy meant. We decided that it means a close relationship with someone. So close that only you and that person can share it together. It comes almost natural, but it has to be worked at. Real intimacy does not conflict with one's conscience. We know that what is happening is completely true, honest, and pure. And finally, this desire is shared by both sides of the relationship.

As I take that explanation of intimacy to heart, I realize that intimacy with Christ should not be any easier for a man than a woman. Intimacy with our Savior is the purest sense of the word. It is a close relationship with Him that requires work on our part, yet the feeling is mutual. THE FEELING IS MUTUAL! Can you believe that the Creator of the universe wants an intimate relationship with you?!

Intimacy with Christ is something to be grasped. I pray that I can find it, and live my life for it.

Interesting Video

This video was shown in chapel a few ago and I used it in youth group the next week. It's an interesting picture of the American School, and how students act or feel. "Moment" can be used as a great illustration or discussion starter.

go to www.bigstufmedia.com to see how to get it

Change and Future

Well, Recently I've been hit with two really big realizations.

The first is with Change. I need to always let Christ work through my life and be used by him. Such a cliche statement, right? Well, if in order to move beyond cliche and get real, I need to understand that allowing Christ to control my life means I will probably always be changing. As much as I love it when I'm up, and hate it when I'm down, I should never sit on one emotion, situation, plan or purpose. Instead, I should seek to let God speak to me and direct of my life. Thus, I will constantly be changing.

That leads me to the second realization; about my future. Although I should always be willing to change, there is a specific path that God laid out for my life far before I was even thought about. Yes, with the creation of the universe, God created my life, every stage, every experience and every possible outcome to my decisions. I love that idea. The idea that my job here on earth is to seek Christ and the path he wants me to take; and if I fail, He will use my failures to help me become a better vessel. I recently listened to a podcast by John Eldredge, in which he had the following quote:

"Ask not what the world needs, but instead ask what makes you come alive. Because what the world needs are men and women who are alive!"

I want to be alive!