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Are You a 412er?

You are a young adult.

That sentence could win the “Most Obvious Statement of the Year” Award.  It’s obviously not so profound. Bear with me–I do have a point.

What does it mean?  As a young adult, modern society looks at you and lowers its expectations drastically.  After all, with the common perception of college students being what one finds on www.collegecandy.com (for ladies) or www.collegehumor.com (for men), why would anyone expect more?  Popular culture says you’ve got to engage in sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll to fit the stereotype.  Alex and Brett Harris, founders of www.therebelution.com, said in their book, Do Hard Things, that, “In today’s world, the ceiling for our youth is much closer to where the floor ought to be.”  We have become so numb, apathetic, and passive that we’re willing to allow popular culture to tell us how to live.  We allow ourselves to live through college as a four-year extension of high school, accepting little to no responsibility, only this time out from under our parents’ thumb.  Well, I’m proposing something new.

1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” This doesn’t exactly fit the images we’re flooded with every day, like “live life while you’re young” and “obey your thirst.”  Let’s take up this challenge. Let’s become examples of Christianity on our campuses. Let’s make people look at us twice.  Let’s change the stereotype. Let’s be the radicals. Let’s do the truly hard things.

I propose we become 412ers, young people taking up the reigns of leadership and igniting the world, changing the way people perceive us.  Start a Bible Study, begin tutoring other students, organize a mission trip, invite people to serve the community with you, start playing in your churches worship team, volunteer at the local homeless group, write a letter to the editor of your local paper, start a book club, listen to someone’s problems, the possibilities are endless! All you have to do is get up and do it. If youth around the nation can do this, we can change the definition of young adult.  Suddenly, it won’t be a bad thing.

Are you a 412er?

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

My Friend Wants an Abortion. What do I say to her?

Your friend has just told you that she is pregnant and is seriously considering abortion. This kind of situation can be very uncomfortable, and it can be difficult to know what to say.

There are a few reactions we may tend toward when confronted with this situation. Some of us, feeling awkward, may want to ignore the conversation. Others may have the opposite reaction and feel obligated to support her in every way, even if that means encouraging her in her decision to have the abortion. Those who feel strongly about the value of life may feel the urge to preach at her, leaving her with the feeling that there’s something wrong with her for even considering it.

In most cases, none of these reactions are advisable. What should you say, then? Well, here are a few suggestions that may help.

Things to keep in mind:
•    Your friend is going through a stressful event in her life—the last thing she needs is to be told how sinful she is for considering abortion.
•    Her world has likely been turned upside-down, and she probably cannot see past her current circumstances to the future consequences of her decision.
•    Even if she herself doesn’t want an abortion, she may be experiencing pressure from every side to have one—from her family, her significant other, her other friends and mentors. Even for someone who is strongly against abortion, this is enormous pressure!
•    Your friend is her own person with free will. No matter what you say or do, you cannot make her do the right thing.
•    Remember that dealing with a situation like this is a process, not a one-time event.

What you can do:
•    Pray—the most important action you can take in this situation is to pray (on your own and with her), not only for her comfort and wisdom, but also for your own discernment so that you can best help and minister to her in this difficult time.
•    Help her realize there is no need to rush her decision. This is a big decision that deserves much time put toward thought, counsel and prayer.
•    Be there for her—this doesn’t mean you have to support her decision to have an abortion, but you can still be there for her, caring for her emotional, and physical needs, etc.
•    Encourage her to acknowledge her beliefs in the value of life, in the value of her baby, in her own self-worth regardless of her circumstances. This will help her keep from making rash, emotional decisions she may later regret.
•    Help her develop a positive view of more desirable options: keeping the baby, or adoption.
•    Answer her questions—if she asks you questions, she may be struggling inside about her decision, truly wanting your opinion. Be gentile about how you handle her questions and be discerning; remember she is probably emotionally drained and doesn’t need another person to pummel her with their opinion.
•    Watch for red herrings—because she is going through a very stressful event in her life, she may be angry. If you detect this, don’t address the red herrings directly, but try to understand the real feelings and questions behind her words; this is where the real ministry will happen.
•    Talk through her greatest fears that contribute to her reasons for having an abortion. Then walk with her to find the right solutions to these fears.
•    Gently encourage her to do the right thing—this may be the hardest part, but aside from prayer, it is perhaps the most crucial. Try not to exasperate her, but until that point, make every effort to discourage the abortion.

The Meaning of Life

An Ageless Search
What is the meaning of life? This is one of the most frequently asked questions by all of humanity since the beginning of time. It is a question naturally asked by people because they have the ability to make choices about life. The question would appear to be difficult to answer and different for every individual depending on their circumstances. It is the ultimate search for truth and purpose in life; the reason we were born, wake up everyday and exist.

The Truth
Although people have struggled for the purpose of their existence throughout history, the answer for the meaning of life is relatively simple and the same for everyone; it is to love God by choosing to have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

How to Move Forward
Once you understand the meaning of life, the next step is choosing to follow God’s plan for your life.  God made you for a specific purpose; however, before you can fulfill that purpose, you need to establish a relationship with God.

How to Fulfill Your Mission
The challenge to the meaning of life is being faithful to the calling of God and being dedicated to fulfilling the purpose that He created you for by accomplishing your life mission. The Holy Bible addresses these issues clearly to give people answers about how to lead their life in every circumstance, from poor to rich, from health to illness, from strong to weak, and from spiritual to sinful. Everybody has limiting circumstances, but God gives people this ultimate life instruction book called the Bible to help them understand how to make the right choices throughout their changing life. Learn about what God wants for you and submit to His plan for a life of fulfilling significance.

My Purpose in Life

My Purpose in Life
These turbulent times may be the ideal time to clarify your life purpose because many of the things you may have misidentified as your purpose may have been stripped away — that job or career, or those life roles — being a good parent, or a loyal employee, or an outstanding member of the community.

While these are important, they’re not your life purpose, and thinking that they are can be a major roadblock to identifying your true life purpose.

You see, your life purpose is much more than any of these. It’s about knowing who you are as a spiritual being and what you came to this life to be and to experience. Your purpose gives you a new context of meaning that begins to shape every moment of your life, especially when the currents of circumstances try to throw you off course.

Your thoughts, decisions, choices, and daily actions are shaped by a greater meaning for your life; your life purpose.

Life Challenges and Decision Making

Life Challenges
Do you find yourself in a life challenge or trial – not sure which way to turn? Has an event or illness suddenly changed the whole pattern of your life and your plan for the future? Life Challenges can shake you at your very core. It is our desire that through the articles below, you will find comfort for your past, practical help for today, and lasting hope for your future.

Decision Making
Most Christians have been taught how to find God’s will, yet many are still unsure whether they’ve found it. God does guide His people, but the question is, “How does He guide? God has an individual will for each life. Biblical decision making begins with a willingness to submit your intentions to God’s perfect will and humbly follow his direction. The problem is that most of us don’t know how to figure out exactly what God’s will is in every decision we face—especially the big, life-altering decisions. If only our decisions were risk-free, guaranteeing us the best desired outcome!

Decision Making Forces Us To:

• Accept responsibility for the success or failure of our choice.
• Experience first-hand how that decision helps or harms others.
• Identify the most reliable source of wisdom that equips us for making those decisions.