just between us...

maybe you don't know what i do. maybe you have no idea what someone in youth ministry does through the week. well, john bunn from http://www.johnbunn.net/ was walking by my office the other day and thought the books and materials i've been reading looked funny. he thought it would be funny to put a picture of it on his blog, but never got to it. so, i thought i would give you a little insight into what i do through the week AND what we will be studying in HSM (high school ministries) the entire month of february.

okay, so we've all been there before. you know, the place where you're really frustrated with someone. you may or may not have to interact with them often, but you find yourself constantly frustrated with this person. you might have to work in teams with them, or you might just bump into them every once in awhile. they might be under your authority - or you might be under theirs. either way, we've all been there. we've been frustrated with someone.



think about this - when you know someone's heart it is easier to "deal" with them.



when you know someone's heart it helps you understand why they do the things they do.

when you understand someone's heart who is misunderstood - you can understand why they say the things they say.

when you get to know someone's heart you have insight as to why they view the world the way they do.

when you know someone's heart you realize that they are just as messed up and broken as you are.



here's the challenge - most likely there is someone in your life who you are frustrated with or just don't understand. my take - get to know their heart, it will drastically change your perspective.

this past summer i read the book of ephesians. it's an amazing book, and it seemed like the verses were punching me in the gut as i read them. have you ever felt like that? you're reading the bible and the verses and the truth in the words just hits you so hard. this summer ephesians was like that for me.

last night i was re-reading ephesians and these two verses just jumped out at me...thought i would share...

it's
IN CHRIST
that we find out
WHO we are
and
WHAT we're living for.
Long before we first heard of Christ and
got our hopes up,
HE HAD HIS EYE ON US,
had
DESIGNS ON US
for
GLORIOUS LIVING,
part of the
Overall purpose
HE
is working out in
Everything
and
Everyone.


ephesians 1:11-12


here's what i'm saying...

everyone wants to find out who they really are. teens, college aged people, and adults. everyone. we are on this journey to find out who we are, how we're gifted, and how god can use us. so, we go on this search. we take tests. we read books. we consult our friends. we look to our family. seek validation from the people who know us best. we go to great lengths to find out who we really are, don't we? but, the bible is pretty clear that we can find out who we are and our purpose in the person of jesus christ. crazy, huh? you want to find out why you were created and how you're wired? look to jesus.

lastly, god has an overall purpose for our lives. in fact, it says god has an overall purpose that he is working out in everything and everyone. many times we get frustrated with our situations, or we get frustrated with the way people respond or treat us. why? why do we get so upset? i think it's a problem of perspective. when you realize that god's overall purpose is to grow you and the people around you more like him you can take everything in strides. when you recognize that the person you are frustrated with is on the same journey in their faith as you - you give more grace. when you realize that your current circumstances are in your life to draw you closer to jesus and make yourself more like him - you can have peace. when you understand that god is still working in your heart and life - you don't have to keep striving and grasping.

when you understand who is in control
and
everything happens for a greater purpose
you can
live at peace with yourself, your circumstances, and other people.

the past couple weeks have been busy, yes. watch me acknowledge christmas and the new year. yay. it's 2009 - acknowledged.

here's what i'm saying today...

over the past few weeks i've been talking to people about this facebook status thing/twitter messages. it seems as though there is this misuse of both feeds to passive-aggressively send messages to people who may have hurt or upset each other. oh yes - this has been happening since the beggining of facebook. i, too remember the days of yore when i was in college and someone would write not-so-subliminal messages to each other using their facebook or other online venting device.

here's the bottom line. all of us need to get better at conflict. nothing is accomplished with passive aggressive messages or rude glances. no problem has ever really been resolved in the virtual world without direct contact.

have i been a culprit of this? of course.
do i see how hurtful this can be? definitely

this past year my good friend dave has really been teaching me how to approach conflict. i usually choose to run from these feelings and emotions and just "ride the wave" of conflict, but in the end nothing is resolved. usually what happens is most of us stuff the feelings for awhile untill the conflict comes up again and we start over with the vicious cycle - resolving nothing.

moral of the story? don't be passive aggressive - be direct. this is the only way to change and grow.

ps - if you think every status update or twitter feed is about you...get over yourself.