Long Lost Blog

Today I got an e-mail...in the e-mail it said that someone had posted a comment on my blog. My first thought was "Blog...I don't have a blog, I've been identity theft-ed..." But then I remembered the blog I had to start for a class way back freshman year. After following the link to MY blog I caught myself reminiscing about what my life was about then, and how much I have grown up in the last 2 years. I guess on the surface not all that much looks different. I am still on staff at the same Church I was just starting at when I first started my blog, I still lead Young life at Mt. Healthy (something else I had just started), and I am still in school though now for a different major (Secondary Ed), if I just look at how I am spending my time, not that much is different.

As much as my schedule looks the same though my life feels so different. Although I had great friendships in the past the friendships that I have now, some with the same people, are built out of faith in Christ. It's funny when you commit your life to Christ, that first day, you have no idea what you are in store for. My faith has lead me places that I would never have gone otherwise. I understand now that I still don't have any idea where my faith will take me, however, in that I realize that life with Christ is wholly different than life without. It means much more than a one hour per week commitment to a local church, it's a life altering decision that has ramifications far outreaching the scope of my understanding. If you let God in, your life will change, ALL of it.

The Young Life team I am on is completely different now than it was 2 years ago. I am the only person still leading there now that was when I got placed. My Co-leader, Leah, is one of the most incredible women I have ever known. I have learned so much from her about everything from loving people to understanding how women think to fashion and a thousand other things. I am so excited to see how God is going to use us in the lives of High School kids this year. So many doors have been opened for us to do ministry in the school this year already, that I have to believe that our vision for reaching high school kids with the Gospel of Christ is in line with what God is doing in that community.

I feel like my life is being netted together right now. Like all the stuff I have been doing separately and independently of one another are coming together. I was leading Young Life and working at the church and going to school. Now I am leading Young Life because I have a heart for kids and going to school to become a teacher because I have a heart for kids, and working at a church to both finance doing those things as well as feed myself as a Christian. I hadn't realized it because anytime you have a job, even in ministry, it is easy to at times become frustrated with the organization or the people you work with. It just happens. In spite of that I have realized the importance of loving people the way they are while at the same time encouraging them to reach the potential God has in store for them. The pastor at the Vineyard (where I work) says "the person you are becoming is much more important than the person you are." LOVING PEOPLE IS ESSENTIAL. I don't just mean when they do things you like, or when they are easy to get along with. I mean identifying people in your life that you have to choose to commit to no matter what. Choosing to love them even when they suck, because frankly all of us suck sometimes, people are just annoying and mean and well sinful, and because of that it is hard to love people all the time. In spite of that, we have to, we are commanded to by the Word of God (Ephesians 4:1-3). With that in mind doing all the "stuff" of life isn't so bifurcated. When my motivation for getting good grades is the same as my motivation for doing contact work with high school kids or doing a good job at work, it is much easier to remain motivated. Having the same motivation in things implies having the same goal in mind, to know the will of Christ and live in His perfect will.

That's all I have for today though. I think what I have here is a good synopsis of what's been happening in my life of late as well as what I have been learning. I haven't yet decided if I am going to continue to write a blog. I like the idea of getting my thoughts out and at least somewhat organized. We'll have to see what time allows.

in Him
matt