Graduation
I think you've put it beautifully when you say
Hebrew 12: 1-4
Brothers and sisters:
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of our faith.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him
he endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
Get involved in a church!!! Make a concerted effort with your walk with God.
As you leave school, leave your family and church, it is the oppurtunity to make new choices and to decide what you want to do with your life and spare time. Unless you make a concerted effort to join and get involved in a new church (despite the difficulty of not knowing anyone and trying to fit in), it is so easy to just not go and after a while your relationship with God suffers until the point where it isn't important for you anymore and not only do you not go to church but also you don't talk to God either. There is a reason, the new testement repeatly says to continue to meet together!!
SO go find a good church and get involved!!!!
Jus
I wholeheartedly agree with Jus!
The ones who go on in their faith are those who make a timely commitment to a local church and find some way to serve there.
Where are you going next year?
Maybe we can suggest a few good churches to pray about?
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Stay tuned for details of the next "Church Crawl" in Brisbane. Even if you're not going there next year it may help in working through some of the issues you'd face in turning up at a new church.
It will be a joy to have you around next year!
So are you taking 12 months off before going to Uni or looking at doing something other than further study? Spill the beans :)
More importantly, what type of ministry (programmed or otherwise) do you think the Lord would have you give yourself to next year? No pressure, just inquiring :)
right - next year... hmmm....
well i was planning on going overseas for a year, but that never eventuated, so now im just going to work in dalby for a bit, work out what i want to do and then if that involves further study then i will do that and i will have money to pay for it from working next year so that seems to be the plan at the moment.
As for ministry programs, julie has me praying about doing sunday school again (personally i feel sorry for the little kiddies) and Truth Zone, but we shall see...
wow - i bet God was having a good old chuckle when i wrote that... I never imagined i would be in ENGLAND of all places this year. He has a good sense of humor, He has! Just thought i would put in a quick update about whats happening (although this is prolly the wrong place to put it but ohwell). Holidays start on the 5th of July for me and we have 2 months off for the summer. It will be crazy. Im taking the first week or so to just sleep and get ready and also to do some stuff with church because i havent been able to go for 3 weeks straight because i keep being put on duty in the boarding house (so unfair when im the only Christian in that house but they wont listen to me...). Then its off to London for a night in a hostel before heading on a 14 day express tour of Europe where i will be visiting Paris, Munich, Prague, Berlin and Amsterdam. Then its back to London for 2 nights in a hostel before i meet up with my parents and Matthew at the beginning of August. Thats when the real fun begins. A week in London, then Disneyland Paris. After that its off to Ireland and then through England to Bideford (the town where I live). By then it will be the end of August and I will have a few days to sleep before work starts on the 4th of September (or something like that). Then it will be only 3 & 1/2 months and I will be back home! Its already going so quickly - it will be a blur by then!
God Bless
love Lauren
Ok, well this isn't exactly happening "in" the church, but i think it worth of "Upcoming Event" status. In a mere 16 days Keita, Emma, Thomas, Saxon, James, William, Scott and Mitch (the year 12 ex-edge-ers) will be graduating (those who are still in school anyway, which i think is all of them but im not sure). Thats pretty scary. I would have to say that the church has been really really supportive, and its a great feeling when you know that the church is praying for your upcoming exams. I would like to ask for prayer for everyone as we come near the finish line with final assessment and stress levels at the max that we would have a clear focus on our Lord and that we would put things into perspective instead of getting caught up in all the crazy.
So, any thoughts, advice, comments, etc for the graduating class of 2007?
there's more to living than being alive