Hello Dave, I hope Mercy and Riki and yourself are all doing well! Anyway, this is sumthing that is of great importance to me. I really need your advice though... from a secretive perspective... :} Okay, I have been going to TBT for a few years and I have been falling further and further away from Christ. NOT TBT to blame! No, TBT is a great church, and for all it does for people! And I really do enjoy the youth activities, the 30Hour Famine most of all... :) but... I feel I would do better in a different church...But the past year, I have been so lost in my Christian walk and just... life itself. Church has not really helped me a lot. I have been spending time with a different youth group and I really enjoy them. The group all know each other's names, and are all so close. The youth pastor is so helpful...I don't know...I don't mean to sound so rude... I love Kelly and your Spark segments, and my friends at church... and I just really do but I am scared that TBT is not the church for me. I hate that, but it's true. So wow, I guess my question to you is what do you think about like... people trying different churches.. do you think that that would help me? The church I would think of joining is Palo Verde Church of Christ. The youth group just says like, they are christians, not any type of christians... so what is a Baptist church? How is it different than say, this Church of Christ? Thank you so much... and I love TBT! I honestly do, but I really feel that I need something else, a little more... intense I guess is the word? I need to be more involved in a Christian family and TBT is sort of... in clicks. (e-6/30/2003 3:40:04 PM) I can understand a little bit where you're coming from. I have been at TBT most of my life and in Junior High/High School no one would talk to me. No one would be my friend. It crushed me. I hated the cliques. God showed me one day that to have friends I must show myself to be friendly. (Proverbs 18:24) Having friends was my responsibility. I would just sulk around, never smile, and be very quiet. Then God showed me that my behavior actually made it hard for people to be my friend. The fellowship aspect of church is important but, not the most important. Church should not be a social club. Your Christian walk is primarily lived out side of the church. If Sunday is the only day you're in God's Word, worshipping, praying, etc., it's no wonder you feel spiritually starved. A church group can only do so much. The rest is up to you. We will all stand before God and give an account of our lives. God will hold us responsible and not our church. I know you're not blaming TBT. I just want you to see what I had to see: seeking God is my responsibility. Having friends is my responsibility. I can empathize with your struggles and desires. I went through them myself. Something radically shifted my life when I was 17. To borrow a line from JFK; I stopped asking what my church could do for me and asked what I could start doing for my church. I started speaking in the high school class at 17. The moment I got involved, people started opening up to me and I began to feel more like I belonged. Even now I have a lot of people that don't like me. I don't go to TBT just for the friends or people there. You're not going to find a perfect church where evryone likes you and things are super perfect. I go to TBT because God has called me to reach young people there. I try to read God's Word everyday. I try to talk to God as often as I can. I try to catch preachers on TV every night. Much of my spiritual growth happens outside of the church. That should be true of every Christian. Of course we want you to stay at TBT but, we would never stand in the way or object to what God is leading you to do. We will always support what God has put on your heart to do. We would never try to be the Holy Spirit for you. You did say you felt far from God. Just make sure God wants you to do this. There are a lot of great churches in town. Some people are led of God to a different church and we applaud that. Some people leave not by God's leading and find themselves in the same situation just different faces. Are you going to Camp? You'll not want to miss that no matter what God leads you to do. I try not to judge a church by its denomination but by what they teach and believe. Most churches & ministries have a statement of beliefs (TBT, Spark) you can check out. I hope that helps. If you feel you want to talk in person or have me pray with you for God's guidance in your decision, I'm available. Telling Kelly or I your specific concerns about what you think the youth group lacks could only be helpful. Hey, I just wanted to thank you a ton for the list of bands that play music, like the punk I was listening to. I love Sanctus Real and I feel so much more... releived to not have to skip certain songs that cuss a lot or say disrespectful things about Christ. THANKS!!!! (e-6/24/2003 12:33:49 PM) Your 2,000 lbs. of thanks are appreciated. Sanctus Real will be on the festival con Dios 2003 tour in Sept. - Oct. Stay tuned for the exact date you can catch them live. What are your veiws about tattoos? Your body is a temple, and I know this, but I really want a tattoo of the Christian Fish. I think it would be really great to have that symbol for the rest of my life... to be branded with that statement. I heard that the fish was important to christianity b/c when christians werent alowd to meet, one christian would make the top part of the fish and then if there was another christian in that area, he would put the other half C and they would meet. What a wonderful think to have as a tattoo. Does the Bible say anything sort of relevent to tattoos? Iv been thinkin a lot about getting one. (e-6/24/2003 12:46:53 AM) I personally would never get one, they're not for me. I've worn temporary tattoos, however. Tattoos are way too permanent for me. My wife has a small tattoo on the top of her foot. I do not see anything in Scripture that says God would be displeased by a tattoo just because it's a tattoo. The verses that apply cover quite a bit. 1 Corinthians 10:23 & 31 NKJV 23 "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. ... 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." So first we must consider the full impact of our decisions and how they effect others. I'm not sure of your age (I'm assuming 18+) but how your parents feel may need to be taken into consideration. Ultimately our actions must give God glory. Also the placement of the tattoo is important. Tattoos are usually put on with the purpose of being seen. As Christians we are not to put stumbling blocks in front of other people to stumble over. Even the placement of the tattoo must honor Christ. So in summary, Tattoos are not for me, may be for you, give glory to God. Also as a side note, many Christians are still not allowed to meet. In school I heard that if you drop a penny of the Empire State building, it could kill somebody. Is that true? (e-6/20/2003 1:21:20 PM) I generally advise students not to believe everything they hear in school. Things like: Evolution, 'everybody is doing it', 'Cafeteria food is good for you', etc. I'm sure it would but, I'd doubt you could find a volunteer to test it out. The 102-story Empire State Building measures 1,250 feet (381 meters) from the sidewalk to the roof. The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is 32 ft/s^2 (9.8 m/s^2). That means the penny will be moving faster and faster as it drops. So I'm just doing a rough calculation here (Math hurts my brain) but, it would take about 6 seconds for the penny to hit the ground depending on air resistance and other factors. A penny may not weigh much but, neither does a bullet. So even if you had a metal plate in your head, an encounter with a penny dropped from the E.S.B., would give you a splitting headache to say the least. I hope that makes 'cents'. Hello Dave, I just read the Spark letter. Thanks for all the information. I was wondering if I could ask you some personal questions. Why was Pastor's decision a HUGE test of faith? A huge test of faith in what? I am not questioning from some sort of judgemental viewpoint, but I am just curious. You obviously don't have to answer these questions, especially to satisfy my curiousity. And I do not want to upset you in anyway, just a concerned family member in the body of Christ. I will definately be praying for you in this area. (e-6/13/03 10:08:47 AM) Thank you for your concern and prayers. I would prefer not to discuss this (beyond my request for intercession) in a public forum and especially not anonymously. Feel free to contact me directly and openly with your concerns. I'v been going through depression since the seventh grade, Im now going to be a junior in HS. I often tell myself that I made up the dream of having a God to calm my nerves, and make me feel loved by Him. During the hard times, I hear Satin telling me that He is not real, and that I just needed to beleive it. You know what Im saying? Like, that it's all lies. Like telling yourself that the home your searching for, is just around that next corner. How can you know that God is real? And that He is capable of loving ALL His children, even children like me, who seem to be so lost in everything, weather it be right or wrong. What do you look to when you feel this way?How did I get so lost? How am I capable of such irritation in His flow of things, in His plan??? Or better yet, how can I get back to the place I once was? In my Christian walk, I just, can't even remember the baby steps, they seem so huge from here. (e-6/5/2003 10:51:56 PM) I don't claim to have all your answers but, I'll give you a few thoughts You're not the first one to feel that way. Proverbs 12:25 NKJV "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad." Let me give some of the good Word; 1 Peter 5:7 NIV "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Yes, God loves even you. Why? Because God said He does. As to the question: "How can you know that God is real?". We've posted the entire text of the Ken Ham booklet: Is There Really A God?, here. Stop by the High School Class and we'll give you a hard copy (with pictures!). No matter how hard it may seem, if you turn it over to God, through Him you can do anything. Seek and you'll find. Take God up on His promises. We'll also be here to help you in any way we can. I lately have been listening to non Christian bands a lot. I like punk bands, even though a lot of what they say goes against the 10 Comandments saying to respect your parents. I love listeneing to the songs though, because it is so hard to respect such people as my parents. They are not Christians, and just, they are horrible to me. I hate breaking any Comandments, and just, this music, just makes me feel releaved to know that others feel the same way about their authority. Is it so wrong to listen to punk music? (e-6/5/2003 10:57:22 PM) A Listening to punk music is not wrong. There are many punk bands that glorify God, encourage people positively, and build people up. God wants you to honor and obey your parents. If our parents ask us to do something clearly against God's plan and only then can we not obey (i.e. you parents ask you to kill someone). Otherwise we must honor and obey not because our parents are great people, they have fallen short of God's glory and need God as much as we do, but because God requires we do. Sure lots of people have bad parents. But how will you parents ever come to God if they don't see God in you? You don't want your parents to be without God no matter how bad they are to you. Love them to God. Let them see how much you love God by obeying them and honoring them even though they don't deserve it. We certainly don't deserve what we have from God. I'd drop that band from you play list. Get some punk music that's going to encourage you to do what's right. I'd suggest bands like Relient K, Dogwood, Slick Shoes, etc. |
Your Voice |
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Hello Dave, I hope Mercy and Riki and yourself are all doing well! Anyway, this is sumthing that is of great importance to me. I really need your advice though... from a secretive perspective... :} Okay, I have been going to TBT for a few years and I have been falling further and further away from Christ. NOT TBT to blame! No, TBT is a great church, and for all it does for people! And I really do enjoy the youth activities, the 30Hour Famine most of all... :) but... I feel I would do better in a different church...But the past year, I have been so lost in my Christian walk and just... life itself. Church has not really helped me a lot. I have been spending time with a different youth group and I really enjoy them. The group all know each other's names, and are all so close. The youth pastor is so helpful...I don't know...I don't mean to sound so rude... I love Kelly and your Spark segments, and my friends at church... and I just really do but I am scared that TBT is not the church for me. I hate that, but it's true. So wow, I guess my question to you is what do you think about like... people trying different churches.. do you think that that would help me? The church I would think of joining is Palo Verde Church of Christ. The youth group just says like, they are christians, not any type of christians... so what is a Baptist church? How is it different than say, this Church of Christ? Thank you so much... and I love TBT! I honestly do, but I really feel that I need something else, a little more... intense I guess is the word? I need to be more involved in a Christian family and TBT is sort of... in clicks. (e-6/30/2003 3:40:04 PM) I can understand a little bit where you're coming from. I have been at TBT most of my life and in Junior High/High School no one would talk to me. No one would be my friend. It crushed me. I hated the cliques. God showed me one day that to have friends I must show myself to be friendly. (Proverbs 18:24) Having friends was my responsibility. I would just sulk around, never smile, and be very quiet. Then God showed me that my behavior actually made it hard for people to be my friend. The fellowship aspect of church is important but, not the most important. Church should not be a social club. Your Christian walk is primarily lived out side of the church. If Sunday is the only day you're in God's Word, worshipping, praying, etc., it's no wonder you feel spiritually starved. A church group can only do so much. The rest is up to you. We will all stand before God and give an account of our lives. God will hold us responsible and not our church. I know you're not blaming TBT. I just want you to see what I had to see: seeking God is my responsibility. Having friends is my responsibility. I can empathize with your struggles and desires. I went through them myself. Something radically shifted my life when I was 17. To borrow a line from JFK; I stopped asking what my church could do for me and asked what I could start doing for my church. I started speaking in the high school class at 17. The moment I got involved, people started opening up to me and I began to feel more like I belonged. Even now I have a lot of people that don't like me. I don't go to TBT just for the friends or people there. You're not going to find a perfect church where evryone likes you and things are super perfect. I go to TBT because God has called me to reach young people there. I try to read God's Word everyday. I try to talk to God as often as I can. I try to catch preachers on TV every night. Much of my spiritual growth happens outside of the church. That should be true of every Christian. Of course we want you to stay at TBT but, we would never stand in the way or object to what God is leading you to do. We will always support what God has put on your heart to do. We would never try to be the Holy Spirit for you. You did say you felt far from God. Just make sure God wants you to do this. There are a lot of great churches in town. Some people are led of God to a different church and we applaud that. Some people leave not by God's leading and find themselves in the same situation just different faces. Are you going to Camp? You'll not want to miss that no matter what God leads you to do. I try not to judge a church by its denomination but by what they teach and believe. Most churches & ministries have a statement of beliefs (TBT, Spark) you can check out. I hope that helps. If you feel you want to talk in person or have me pray with you for God's guidance in your decision, I'm available. Telling Kelly or I your specific concerns about what you think the youth group lacks could only be helpful. Hey, I just wanted to thank you a ton for the list of bands that play music, like the punk I was listening to. I love Sanctus Real and I feel so much more... releived to not have to skip certain songs that cuss a lot or say disrespectful things about Christ. THANKS!!!! (e-6/24/2003 12:33:49 PM) Your 2,000 lbs. of thanks are appreciated. Sanctus Real will be on the festival con Dios 2003 tour in Sept. - Oct. Stay tuned for the exact date you can catch them live. What are your veiws about tattoos? Your body is a temple, and I know this, but I really want a tattoo of the Christian Fish. I think it would be really great to have that symbol for the rest of my life... to be branded with that statement. I heard that the fish was important to christianity b/c when christians werent alowd to meet, one christian would make the top part of the fish and then if there was another christian in that area, he would put the other half C and they would meet. What a wonderful think to have as a tattoo. Does the Bible say anything sort of relevent to tattoos? Iv been thinkin a lot about getting one. (e-6/24/2003 12:46:53 AM) I personally would never get one, they're not for me. I've worn temporary tattoos, however. Tattoos are way too permanent for me. My wife has a small tattoo on the top of her foot. I do not see anything in Scripture that says God would be displeased by a tattoo just because it's a tattoo. The verses that apply cover quite a bit. 1 Corinthians 10:23 & 31 NKJV 23 "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. ... 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." So first we must consider the full impact of our decisions and how they effect others. I'm not sure of your age (I'm assuming 18+) but how your parents feel may need to be taken into consideration. Ultimately our actions must give God glory. Also the placement of the tattoo is important. Tattoos are usually put on with the purpose of being seen. As Christians we are not to put stumbling blocks in front of other people to stumble over. Even the placement of the tattoo must honor Christ. So in summary, Tattoos are not for me, may be for you, give glory to God. Also as a side note, many Christians are still not allowed to meet. In school I heard that if you drop a penny of the Empire State building, it could kill somebody. Is that true? (e-6/20/2003 1:21:20 PM) I generally advise students not to believe everything they hear in school. Things like: Evolution, 'everybody is doing it', 'Cafeteria food is good for you', etc. I'm sure it would but, I'd doubt you could find a volunteer to test it out. The 102-story Empire State Building measures 1,250 feet (381 meters) from the sidewalk to the roof. The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is 32 ft/s^2 (9.8 m/s^2). That means the penny will be moving faster and faster as it drops. So I'm just doing a rough calculation here (Math hurts my brain) but, it would take about 6 seconds for the penny to hit the ground depending on air resistance and other factors. A penny may not weigh much but, neither does a bullet. So even if you had a metal plate in your head, an encounter with a penny dropped from the E.S.B., would give you a splitting headache to say the least. I hope that makes 'cents'. Hello Dave, I just read the Spark letter. Thanks for all the information. I was wondering if I could ask you some personal questions. Why was Pastor's decision a HUGE test of faith? A huge test of faith in what? I am not questioning from some sort of judgemental viewpoint, but I am just curious. You obviously don't have to answer these questions, especially to satisfy my curiousity. And I do not want to upset you in anyway, just a concerned family member in the body of Christ. I will definately be praying for you in this area. (e-6/13/03 10:08:47 AM) Thank you for your concern and prayers. I would prefer not to discuss this (beyond my request for intercession) in a public forum and especially not anonymously. Feel free to contact me directly and openly with your concerns. I'v been going through depression since the seventh grade, Im now going to be a junior in HS. I often tell myself that I made up the dream of having a God to calm my nerves, and make me feel loved by Him. During the hard times, I hear Satin telling me that He is not real, and that I just needed to beleive it. You know what Im saying? Like, that it's all lies. Like telling yourself that the home your searching for, is just around that next corner. How can you know that God is real? And that He is capable of loving ALL His children, even children like me, who seem to be so lost in everything, weather it be right or wrong. What do you look to when you feel this way?How did I get so lost? How am I capable of such irritation in His flow of things, in His plan??? Or better yet, how can I get back to the place I once was? In my Christian walk, I just, can't even remember the baby steps, they seem so huge from here. (e-6/5/2003 10:51:56 PM) I don't claim to have all your answers but, I'll give you a few thoughts You're not the first one to feel that way. Proverbs 12:25 NKJV "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad." Let me give some of the good Word; 1 Peter 5:7 NIV "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Yes, God loves even you. Why? Because God said He does. As to the question: "How can you know that God is real?". We've posted the entire text of the Ken Ham booklet: Is There Really A God?, here. Stop by the High School Class and we'll give you a hard copy (with pictures!). No matter how hard it may seem, if you turn it over to God, through Him you can do anything. Seek and you'll find. Take God up on His promises. We'll also be here to help you in any way we can. I lately have been listening to non Christian bands a lot. I like punk bands, even though a lot of what they say goes against the 10 Comandments saying to respect your parents. I love listeneing to the songs though, because it is so hard to respect such people as my parents. They are not Christians, and just, they are horrible to me. I hate breaking any Comandments, and just, this music, just makes me feel releaved to know that others feel the same way about their authority. Is it so wrong to listen to punk music? (e-6/5/2003 10:57:22 PM) A Listening to punk music is not wrong. There are many punk bands that glorify God, encourage people positively, and build people up. God wants you to honor and obey your parents. If our parents ask us to do something clearly against God's plan and only then can we not obey (i.e. you parents ask you to kill someone). Otherwise we must honor and obey not because our parents are great people, they have fallen short of God's glory and need God as much as we do, but because God requires we do. Sure lots of people have bad parents. But how will you parents ever come to God if they don't see God in you? You don't want your parents to be without God no matter how bad they are to you. Love them to God. Let them see how much you love God by obeying them and honoring them even though they don't deserve it. We certainly don't deserve what we have from God. I'd drop that band from you play list. Get some punk music that's going to encourage you to do what's right. I'd suggest bands like Relient K, Dogwood, Slick Shoes, etc. |
June 2003 # of submissions = 7 |
