In this day and age we find ourselves fully immersed in the culture of social networking. We spend hours each day on facebook or texting our friends. This new way of communicating is great for keeping in touch with those we care about. It gives us the freedom to stay connected almost anywhere, anytime. It is quite an age we live in isn't it?
So why do I find it hard to believe that this new culture of communication is, in fact, a healthy thing? We've come to the point now where folks would rather text than have a face to face conversation because it's just more convenient. We say things via Facebook that we wouldn't ever dream of saying to someone if they were right in front of us. We add "friends" like it's a contest to see who can collect the most.
It's a pretty astonishing concept that a person can have two completely different personalities, one online and the other in real life. The question is how similar are the two? And if they differ, which one is the real you?
God teaches us in 1 Samuel 16:7 "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord look at the heart.
While social networking teaches us that we can be anyone we want, God teaches us that what really matters is what is in our hearts. We were created for a relationship with Him and He is the only one we need to worry about impressing. Don't lose touch with who you really are. God created an amazing person on the inside. Just think of Facebook as a great way to share that with others!
So...remember this the next time you post a half-naked picture of yourself, or before you make some off putting comment on someones wall, or before you send out that rude text message. You are a child of God. Does your online personality say the same thing?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
How are you today?
“How are you today?”
Connor Teske: This is the first day I can make it to frolf club, so good!
Alex Dockter: I’m doing alright besides the fact that it’s Monday.
Alli Ward:,Callie Roth, Laurent Moug, Nick samuelson, Elliot Koch: I’m doing great thanks for asking. How are you doing?
Austin Swecker: I’m sore! I can’t really serve at all.
Erica Volk: I am wonderful how are you?
Steve Anderson: I am doing well! Yourself?
Haley Koehn: Not Good! I feel like crap, I am sick
Kelsey Gilbraith: Ok I guess, you?
When someone comes up and asks you how you are doing, is your regular answer usually, "good," "fine," or "it’s another long Monday?" Most of you usually just give the answer that they are always expecting... but what if we answered a different way! What if you all the sudden answered, "I am Amazing..." or "Passionate..." or "I am excellent..." or "Truly blessed....and how are you?"
Most people might just smile, let your answers sink in, or even give you a wide-eyed look of panic! But most of all they are going to wonder why you are the way you are! They are going to see an energy that they are not used to, something we call Passion.
Last week at Real Life we talked about passion, and the idea that passion is contagious. It has its own energy -- an energy that's observable and transferable. Best of all, you can't fake it. Almost anyone, with only a bit of intuitiveness, can sense a lack of sincerity, authenticity and depth. It is that one thing that separates the things that are said, then the things that are being done! It makes us who we are.
You see, if I am passionate about something it will infect (yes like a disease) the others around. If I am passionate about a certain band, my friends might go home and take a listen on youtube. Passion will help people start to question certain things… you see, If I am passionate about something in the wrong way or a bad topic, I will still infect the people around me, but probably negatively. However, if it is a positive passion, for a good reason, you are going to impact others! Can you imagine if the people around you were passionate about the same things! And then it would continue to affect the others around you… (kinda like one of those volks wagon commercials!)
Most people are afraid to be passionate, because they are scared of being judged, scared because they lack the zest and the confidence to express our own values and beliefs! And those that have never tasted passion will only ride along the passion of others!
Passion doesn’t guarantee success, but I promise you, it is something for you to experience and worth taking a chance for. And remember, next time someone asks you how you are, maybe you should really tell them!
Adamantium
Connor Teske: This is the first day I can make it to frolf club, so good!
Alex Dockter: I’m doing alright besides the fact that it’s Monday.
Alli Ward:,Callie Roth, Laurent Moug, Nick samuelson, Elliot Koch: I’m doing great thanks for asking. How are you doing?
Austin Swecker: I’m sore! I can’t really serve at all.
Erica Volk: I am wonderful how are you?
Steve Anderson: I am doing well! Yourself?
Haley Koehn: Not Good! I feel like crap, I am sick
Kelsey Gilbraith: Ok I guess, you?
When someone comes up and asks you how you are doing, is your regular answer usually, "good," "fine," or "it’s another long Monday?" Most of you usually just give the answer that they are always expecting... but what if we answered a different way! What if you all the sudden answered, "I am Amazing..." or "Passionate..." or "I am excellent..." or "Truly blessed....and how are you?"
Most people might just smile, let your answers sink in, or even give you a wide-eyed look of panic! But most of all they are going to wonder why you are the way you are! They are going to see an energy that they are not used to, something we call Passion.
Last week at Real Life we talked about passion, and the idea that passion is contagious. It has its own energy -- an energy that's observable and transferable. Best of all, you can't fake it. Almost anyone, with only a bit of intuitiveness, can sense a lack of sincerity, authenticity and depth. It is that one thing that separates the things that are said, then the things that are being done! It makes us who we are.
You see, if I am passionate about something it will infect (yes like a disease) the others around. If I am passionate about a certain band, my friends might go home and take a listen on youtube. Passion will help people start to question certain things… you see, If I am passionate about something in the wrong way or a bad topic, I will still infect the people around me, but probably negatively. However, if it is a positive passion, for a good reason, you are going to impact others! Can you imagine if the people around you were passionate about the same things! And then it would continue to affect the others around you… (kinda like one of those volks wagon commercials!)
Most people are afraid to be passionate, because they are scared of being judged, scared because they lack the zest and the confidence to express our own values and beliefs! And those that have never tasted passion will only ride along the passion of others!
Passion doesn’t guarantee success, but I promise you, it is something for you to experience and worth taking a chance for. And remember, next time someone asks you how you are, maybe you should really tell them!
Adamantium
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The Mission
The reason we write this blog is two-fold; first it's to share with you the reader anything that is on our hearts and minds having to deal with faith, church, God, and the like. Secondly it's to recap what we have been talking about at Real Life lately.
Real Life is a high school student youth group that meets at Hope Lutheran church in Fargo ND to discuss topics and issues in everyday life.
Last night we cast our mission for Real Life with what else but...a mission statement. Real Life exists for these reasons:
"Seek out those in need of God's grace, grow deeper in our own faith through His word, and to be the change that the world needs to see."
We are a group of believers, non-believers and those still questioning. One thing we hopefully all have in common is the desire to grow in our faith. Real Life is simply a place for you to come and experience the love of God in a safe and comfortable environment. It's a place where you can be yourself, express yourself, and grow at your own chosen speed.
If this sounds good to you, we hope to see you next Wednesday.
Markonius & Adamantium
Real Life is a high school student youth group that meets at Hope Lutheran church in Fargo ND to discuss topics and issues in everyday life.
Last night we cast our mission for Real Life with what else but...a mission statement. Real Life exists for these reasons:
"Seek out those in need of God's grace, grow deeper in our own faith through His word, and to be the change that the world needs to see."
We are a group of believers, non-believers and those still questioning. One thing we hopefully all have in common is the desire to grow in our faith. Real Life is simply a place for you to come and experience the love of God in a safe and comfortable environment. It's a place where you can be yourself, express yourself, and grow at your own chosen speed.
If this sounds good to you, we hope to see you next Wednesday.
Markonius & Adamantium
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