Get Smart for Homecoming

Ok, so I usually post on Mondays, but since homecoming announcements started yesterday already, I thought I'd shoot this one out today.

My wife and I always see movies late.  We don’t even get them through Netflix or Redbox.  We are proud users of the public library!  Anyway, we watched Get Smart with Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway recently.  What a hilarious movie!  The best part about the story was watching the ‘dorky’ guy come out on top.  He shows up the pompous, cocky The Rock, solves the case, AND gets the trust-issues prone girl, Agent 99. 

What does this have to do with homecoming?  Well, I’m talking to guys here.  I know you’re thinking about if you’re going to ask a girl to the dance or not.  You probably think you have to be the Rock to do that.  But, let’s face it, you’re shrimpy, feel awkward, whatever.  Steve Carrell proves you wrong!  You can get Agent 99!  You’d be surprised how many not-hunk guys win the hearts of gorgeous ladies. 

Impress the girl you’re thinking about in three ways.  First, sharpen up a bit.  If you’re like most guys, you don’t think about your appearance much.  Dress a bit neater, shave, throw some gel into that hair, spiff up your style of glasses.  Oh, and floss and suck on some Altoids.  It goes a long way. 

Second, take initiative.  Ask a girl to the dance!  Yes, it takes guts and you may get rejected.  Welcome to the world of being a man.  Unfortunately, too many guys would rather sit back and let the girl do the chasing.  Trust me, no woman wants to marry a lazy, “you do it” type.  I asked my wife out four months before she said yes!

Last, get loveable.  When James and John asked Jesus if they could be great in His kingdom he didn’t criticize them.  Instead, he redefined “great”.  He said, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”  Jesus was not giving girl advice here, but the principle He’s giving is that when we begin to look out for other’s interests and needs, that is true greatness.  So, be interested in her.  Do you sit by her in a class?  Ask her about stuff.  Don’t creep, but just be kind; be helpful.

Remember, you’re probably not determining your future spouse here, so take a risk, have fun, and ask her. 

It's good to doubt

I asked my first period class to come up with questions that they would like to ask God.  I had them write those down on a 3x5 card.  A few cards added something after their question.  It was something like "I'm not doubting You, but..."  I thought: it's actually good to express doubt.

When we're younger we live in a world dominated by child-authority relationships.  We learn to listen, obey, and respect.  Of course, as you mature your relationships change.  You learn to develop more intimate connections.  You develop friends where you share more personally.  You admit difficulties or feelings that bother you.  That's one thing that makes friendship what it is. 

Too often, many of us never enter friendship with God.  We remain in the stage of listening, obeying, and respecting.  But if you are a believer, Jesus calls you friends.  And friends can admit doubt.  Doubt is only a problem when it hides.  There it slowly erodes your heart and mind.  Instead, bring your doubt into the open.  Bring it even to God himself!  He's big enough to handle it and wants to be there for you and help you process it. 

So, don't be afraid to ask questions and don't be afraid to begin by bringing those questions to your Friend.

Why are you here? Part 4

….Then came a fateful day:

I walked into chapel on a Tuesday in November planning to sleep, or at least act like I was sleeping.  I had the seat at the top of the bleachers where you could lean in and ‘rest.’  I figured that yet another pastor or teacher would drone on.  However, it was one of the guys I had been hanging out with on the weekend that was speaking that day.  Crazy!  Wait a minute, I thought.  He’s funny!  Why would he be talking about God?  He gave a simple message that day: live for God.  Live for God every day.   Something burned in my heart.  I’m not making that part up.  Seriously, I physically felt a yearning in my soul to have that kind of purpose.  I really believe God was calling my soul. 

 

That evening, in my room, I knelt and asked God to begin working in my life like he had been in my friend’s.  I had finally found something worth living for.   I found purpose.  My soul had found what it was meant for: to connect to my Creator and to live for His glory.  What does that mean?  Well, I hope that is a part of what comes out on these blogs.  The key for me was that, instead of God being a part of my life that I pulled out for special occasions and Sunday mornings, He became my whole life. 

So, why are you here?  Like any really worthwhile thing in life, you can’t answer it with one sentence.  Worthwhile things are too complex for that.  But I’d suggest that real, exciting, meaningful life begins here: connecting personally with the Father. 

Why are you here? Part 3

I was a freshman at LW in 1990.  Yes, I went to LW.  Weird, I know.  I grew up going to church and went to a Christian grade school.  I believed in God and even had moments of ‘I dig God,’ but something struck me on a Tuesday in November of that year. 

I was pretty stoked (how’s that for a ‘90s terms!) about high school because it was so different from grade school.  Teachers weren't harping on you for every little thing and there were so many new people!  In particular, I had made friends with a few upperclassmen and that was a major thrill!  I danced for the first time at a dance (what a concept!), actually liked some of my classes, and best of all, I started to go out on the weekend with friends. 

 

It was about this time that I began being really conscious of how I felt about myself and my life.  Maybe when I was younger I just didn’t think about it.  But, now, with all this exciting stuff happening I knew that I could feel good about myself when I had had a good time.  Going out with my upperclassmen friends on the weekend was a huge part of whether I could feel good or not. 

It was pretty shaky ground to base my life upon, however.  Arguments with parents, criticism, a boring weekend, getting dumped, all of these made me feel crummy and depressed.  Still, most of the time, I was in good spirits.  Then came a fateful day.