Questions about Church

I was recently asked the following list of questions, below each question was my response. I felt like this was something that everyone could benefit from.

I am looking for some input on college ministry. I never even was in a youth group or college ministry. I wasn’t in church at that time of my life.
If you have a few minutes, could you answer a few questions….as many or as few as you can.
Thank you. You just don’t know how much I appreciate it.

1. When you went to college, what kept you in church? Or what took you from church?
(that hottie, your parents couldn’t tell you what to do anymore, didn’t want to get up, my friends were going, just wanted to go….whatever it was)

1. I stayed in church because it was an every Sunday thing. It was my lifestyle (originally). It wasn't until about 4 months into the "finding a church" process that I developed my true reason for staying in church, which you will find in #2

2. If you went, what pulled you to that church?

2. I ended up at London because it was a place where I could not only learn (you can learn wherever you are as long as you are willing) but I also had the opportunity to invest in the church as well (which is the real reason why we should be a part of a church). London runs a split worship service (half hymns/ half contemporary) is welcoming to all visitors (seriously) and has opportunities to invest back into the congregation on several levels.

3. What would bring you to a service?
Cool worship, alternative, contemporary, hymns, none at all?
The time….Sunday morning, one evening, an afternoon….?
Food?

3. I personally believe that "church services" should involve the entire church, from the age of accountability into senior citizens. Time of day, or day of the week doesn't matter to me as long as if it is what is known as a traditional church service, it involves the entire church. I do not believe that a College service should ever replace a church service, though I do believe it is a good supplementation to use as a way to help ease college students back into the church (over 78% of students right now have been involved in church in the past for more than 6 months at a time).

I personally enjoy a more modern service, however recently I have come to notice that more services are becoming a show than a gathering of believers. When we reach this state in the church it is no longer what is meant to be.

4. Was it important that someone from the ministry made you feel like they cared?

4. It is extremely important that every member of the body of believers feels welcome. If members of the body do not feel welcome then the body is not living what it is teaching (unless of course it is teaching segregation, which is a sin).

5. Does age matter?
Anything else you want to share……

5. Every group of believers should at least have a group of older believers in order to train the next generation of believers into action. If you are missing this, then you lack the wisdom and direction that every body of believers needs.

Crazy Christmas Numbers

You may need to click rfcthealien.blogspot.com to view

Defined

So I spent a majority of my day today preparing to apply for internships.  Specifically with Compassion International .  I felt during the day like I had accomplished nothing.  This lead to a succession of thoughts for the rest of the evening.  (Just so you know once I finally submitted three applications, I felt that I had accomplished something).

What we do defines us.  We have heard it a thousand times (or at least I have).  I know that I am a person who enjoys ministry, the outdoors and being with people.  So when I am doing things that are the opposite of that, I feel like I am accomplishing nothing.  I feel this way because it's not who I am.  If we allow busy work (school, jobs, ect) to be all that we focus on and do, then that is what we become; Students, workers ect.

So what does this mean.  Well first as Christians, this should mean that we are Christ like; in everything. However, a majority of the time we settle, at least that's what I do.  We do what is convenient for us, (based on the worlds standards of course).  If we were followers of Christ first in our lives (which is what should be our first definer)  then the rest of our life will follow suit, in accordance to what God wants.

I think this is why I enjoy ministry so much (for as much as it frustrates me).  I believe that if I wasn't so excited about ministry, I would not be excited about Christ, and vise versa.  This would in turn cause me to be the work and school focused person, that is no longer defined as anything.

Ringing in the Bucket List

So today I rang bells for the Salvation Army.  Only for an hour so far, however I may end up going back at some point this afternoon or next week.  Anyway while I was standing there, I was like "This is something I can mark off of my list"  and then I realized that I didn't have a list.  I think you know what kind of list I'm talking about, the list of things you want to do with your life.  Crazily enough ringing bells for the Salvation Army was definitely on that list.  Doing so is one of those things that our country views as the ultimate humanitarian sacrifice (well unless you are one of the ones that are getting paid to do it, then I suppose they are happy to be paying your salary in a time of high employment rates!).  So I began to think in my head, "What else should be on my list, what do I really wish to accomplish in my life."

Here's the deal, if you don't know what you want to accomplish in your life, then technically you don't have any accomplishments.  You just have things that you have done.  Because when you accomplish something, that is something that you fulfill (coming from http://dictionary.com).  This is an interesting thought.  I believe that a person knows inside of them what they were meant to do.  They just have to search that out (obviously for Christians this entails prayer and seeking God's will in the matter).

I used to think that "Bucket Lists" were silly, however through what I have learned this semester I am beginning to see the benefit of having one.  Especially if you line out ones not only for recreational things, but accomplishments that you want to make in your career as well.  Look for a list coming from me later today as well!  I have some great things in mind, as well as some cool things that I am already able to mark off of the list.

12 Days of Conchmas

Me singing; for 12 free shirts, any day! So yeah, Conch Tees is giving away 12 free shirts to two lucky people. I decided to rewrite the twelve days of Christmas with twelve of their shirts mentioned. It was a lot of fun to write and make, hope you guys enjoy it!

Hidden Camera Resume Review

So during the application process I won a free shirt from Pongo Resume. As a way of saying thanks I made a video for them. It covers things on resumes that keep people from getting hired. The people at Pongo loved it, I hope you guys find it beneficial as well!

Coke Zero Debate

So recently I haven't been writing so much (in case you haven't noticed). I have been putting a lot of time into my application for I Wear Your Shirt. I was asked to make a video for Coke Zero, and I did it in form of a debate for several reasons. 1. If you watch their ads you see that they are questioning the legitimacy of Coca-Cola infringing on Coke Zero, so why not debate it out? 2. Coke Zero has several persuasive reasons as to why to drink it, so it makes sense. 3. Debate comes natural to me..

It's been a fun ride with this application process, thanks for everyones support!